June 2006 Central Mass Bird Sightings

Sightings are listed in reverse chronological order. The email address of birders submitting reports, as well as other Central Massachusetts birding info can be found via the Central Mass Bird Update homepage.

Bird News:

Bird Sightings:

6/27/06 -- Princeton, Grafton
  • Two adults loons and one chick were observed for about an hour this morning at the southern end of Paradise Pond in Princeton. Between 8:30 and 9:30AM, the chick was seen climbing aboard the adult's back several times for a leisurely ride in the calm water on this beautiful day. The chick also swam alongside or behind the adult for a while. The other adult ranged widely during this time, disappearing for a while, then reappearing at a distance or near the other loons. This second adult fed the chick and had several snacks all to itself. The observation point was the first Pond pulloff on Rte. 31 heading north.
  • We then stopped at Windle Marsh off Westboro Road in Grafton to check on the ospreys. Two adults were observed a few times in April and May. Today, one adult was at the nest, and one nestling's head could be seen above the rim. This young osprey, active and holding its head erect, appeared to have some white feathers marking its face and throat. The first adult flew around the area briefly. There was some whistling, then the second adult flew in to deliver a fish. (report from Beth Milke and Olivia Herbert)

    • 6/25/06 -- Ware River IBA
    We conducted our yearly BBS of the Ware River IBA. The area we cover is actually a bit less than half of the entire IBA and consists of the dirt roads and surrounding environs between Rutland SP and Barre Falls Dam (A.C.E.). The habitat is mixed managed forest, some field and marsh, crossed by Army Corps of Engineers dirt roads all surrounding the Ware Rivers. The area around this parcel is rapidly being developed. Weather was overcast, but despite dire predictions of flooding rains, we had just a damp gloom. Water levels on all the streams are very high, more typically like what one would see in early spring. Usually, this area is great for butterflies, but because of the dark cloud cover, we only managed a Pearl Crescent and a European Skipper. Mosquitoes were abyssmal as you would expect. Great Blue Heron (4ad: all young have by now left thier rookeries here).
    Complete census list here (report from Mark Lynch).

    6/24/06 -- North Worcester County
    This afternoon I did brief surveys of 4 lakes where Common Loons have previously bred:
  • Lake Wompanoag : 2 adults and 1 newly hatched chick enjoying a ride on a parent's back while they was fishing several hundred meters away.
  • Upper Lake Naukeg (Ashburnham): 3 adults together constantly diving, no young seen.
  • Paradise Pond (Princeton): 1 adult and 1 newly hatched chick riding on parent's back.
  • Notown Reservior (Leominster): 1 adult seen diving at long range, no young seen, but I did not see the other adult, which could have been hidden behind the islands or still (hopefully) incubating on the nest.
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    6/24/06 -- South Quabbin Reservoir (Quabbin Park);
    We got out to South Quabbin for several hours this afternoon. The weather was darkly overcast with occasional showers and some rumbles of thunder. Bird number and variety was on the low side, perhaps because of the weather, perhaps because the breeding season is already well along and song is starting to let up for some species. Common Loon (2ad); Double-crested Comorant (1imm); Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (2); Canada Goose (17ad+10yg); Bald Eagle (1ad); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Black-billed Cuckoo (1); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (3: low); NOTA BENE: NO Least Flycatchers, which is a first. E Phoebe (11); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); Eastern Kingbird (2); Yellow-throated Vireo (1: extremely low count); Red-eyed Vireo (51); Tree Swallow (4+ 1 nest box with several audible yng being fed); N Rough-winged Swallow (2); Barn Swallow (1); Blue Jay (9); A Crow (13); Black-capped Chickadee (18); Tufted Titmouse (1); Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); House Wren (1); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1: very low); Eastern Bluebird (1ad+2 newly fledged yg); Veery (9); Wood Thrush (5); A Robin (10); Gray Catbird (16); Cedar Waxwing (6);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); Yellow (1); Chestnut-sided (14); Magnolia (1); Yellow-rumped (1); Blackburnian (1); Pine (15); Prairie (2); A Redstart (19); Ovenbird (8); C Yellowthroat (5: low);
    Scarlet Tanager (5); Eastern Towhee (11); Chipping Sparow (26); Field Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (5); Swamp Sparrow (1); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5); Indigo Bunting (4); Red-winged Blackbird (30+); Common Grackle (4+ 1 tending a nest in a WOOD DUCK BOX in the middle of a pond with 3 yng in it); Brown-headed Cowbird (9); Baltimore Oriole (6); A Goldfinch (6); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    6/18/06 -- High Ridge WMA, Westminster
    Birds seen and/or heard this morning on part of the Westminster side of High Ridge WMA between 06:30AM and 11:00AM. :
    Wood Duck 1; Mallard 3; Hooded Merganser 1; Great Blue Heron 14; Mourning Dove 4; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2; Downy Woodpecker 4; Hairy Woodpecker 4; Northern Flicker 2; Pileated Woodpecker 1; Eastern Wood-Pewee 6; Alder Flycatcher 1; Least Flycatcher 2; Eastern Phoebe 3; Great Crested Flycatcher 2; Eastern Kingbird 2; Warbling Vireo 2; Red-eyed Vireo 19; Blue Jay 8; American Crow 2; Tree Swallow 21; Barn Swallow 2; Black-capped Chickadee 21; Tufted Titmouse 5; White-breasted Nuthatch 1; Brown Creeper 1; House Wren 5; Eastern Bluebird 2; Veery8; Wood Thrush 10; American Robin 22; Gray Catbird 11; European Starling 22; Cedar Waxwing 17; Yellow Warbler 8; Chestnut-sided Warbler 5; Black-throated Blue Warbler 1; Yellow-rumped Warbler 2; Black-throated Green Warbler 3; American Redstart 5; Ovenbird 8; Common Yellowthroat 12; Scarlet Tanager 5; Chipping Sparrow 10; Song Sparrow 14; Swamp Sparrow 5; Northern Cardinal 1; Rose-breasted Grosbeak 8; Indigo Bunting 6; Bobolink 42; Red-winged Blackbird 27; Common Grackle 10; Brown-headed Cowbird 6; Baltimore Oriole 26; Purple Finch 4; House Finch 1; American Goldfinch 8. (report from Tom Pirro).

    6/17/06 -- Broad Meadow Brook Breeding Bird Survey, Worcester
    Here are results from the 16th Annual Breeding Bird Survey at the Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (report from John Liller).

    6/17/06 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
    Birds tallied on the Gardner side of High Ridge WMA this morning between 0530 and 1130. Totals of 53 Species and 439 individuals, the "regular stuff" but I did have nice looks at the Goshawk and Bittern.
    Wood Duck 1; American Bittern 1; Great Blue Heron 3; Green Heron 1; Northern Goshawk 1; Broad-winged Hawk 2; Mourning Dove 6; Downy Woodpecker 4; Hairy Woodpecker 6; Eastern Wood-Pewee 8; Alder Flycatcher 1; Eastern Phoebe 6; Great Crested Flycatcher 3; Eastern Kingbird 3; Red-eyed Vireo 31; Blue Jay 12; American Crow 8; Tree Swallow 9; Black-capped Chickadee 23; Tufted Titmouse 12; White-breasted Nuthatch 5; Brown Creeper 5; House Wren 7; Winter Wren 1; Veery 6; Hermit Thrush 2; Wood Thrush 11; American Robin 16; Gray Catbird 14; Cedar Waxwing 13; Yellow Warbler 4; Chestnut-sided Warbler 3; Black-throated Blue Warbler 7; Yellow-rumped Warbler 2; Black-throated Green Warbler 5; Black-and-white Warbler 11; American Redstart 3; Ovenbird 31; Northern Waterthrush 2; Common Yellowthroat 18; Scarlet Tanager 7; Chipping Sparrow 5; Song Sparrow 16; Swamp Sparrow 3; Northern Cardinal 3; Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4; Indigo Bunting 2; Bobolink 15; Red-winged Blackbird 31; Common Grackle 26; Brown-headed Cowbird 6; Baltimore Oriole 3; American Goldfinch 11 (report from Tom Pirro).

    6/16/06 -- Church/Elliot/Norcross Hills, Templeton
    Birds seen and or heard from the Church/Elliot/Norcross Hills area of Templeton last evening 6/16/06 between 07:00PM and 09:00PM: Canada Goose 6; Mallard 16; Wild Turkey 11; Killdeer 4; Mourning Dove .6; Whip-poor-will 1; Chimney Swift .6; Hairy Woodpecker 1; Northern Flicker 1; Eastern Wood-Pewee 1; Eastern Phoebe 1; Eastern Kingbird 1; Red-eyed Vireo 1; Blue Jay 3; American Crow .2; Tree Swallow 5; Bank Swallow 4; Barn Swallow 8; Black-capped Chickadee 1; Tufted Titmouse .1; House Wren 1; Eastern Bluebird 1; Veery .3; Hermit Thrush 11; Wood Thrush .2; American Robin .10; Gray Catbird 1; Northern Mockingbird 1; European Starling 10; Cedar Waxwing .6; Yellow Warbler 1; Yellow-rumped Warbler .1; Pine Warbler 5; Black-and-white Warbler .3; Ovenbird 6; Common Yellowthroat .2; Scarlet Tanager .3; Eastern Towhee 2; Chipping Sparrow 7; Savannah Sparrow 4; Song Sparrow .12; Northern Cardinal .4; Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1; Indigo Bunting 5; Bobolink .21; Red-winged Blackbird 8; Common Grackle 3; Brown-headed Cowbird 2; Baltimore Oriole 1; American Goldfinch 8; House Sparrow 10 (report from Tom Pirro).

    6/14/06 -- downtown Worcester
    Here are some photos, taken by Emily Eaton, of the Peregrine falcon chicks that recently hatched downtown. There were 4 eggs, 3 hatched, and one chick fell off the ledge and was killed, leaving two chicks. It is not known exactly when they were born, but there were 4 eggs and 3 live births - 2 males and 1 female. They were banded 5-31-06.
    The 4 eggs
    The two young
    The young female trying out her wings
    (photos by Emily Eaton) (report fide Brian Mulhearn).

    6/13/06 -- Hubbardston/Paxton
  • It seems as though it takes some of the neotropical migrants a tad longer to get settled in and/or pass through Hubbardston. In a pattern similar to last spring's INDIGO BUNTINGS finally showed up and started singing around 6/5 at the Mt. Jefferson Conservation Area. Similarly, "our" RED-EYED VIREO showed up the same day. On the other hand, BOBOLINKS are plentiful at Mt. Jeff (since mid-May) and nesting. A BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was singing there on 6/8, and a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was calling loudly from an inpenetrable tangle of shrubs and foliage on 6/9.
  • Moore State Park in Paxton was full of bird song and activity this morning (6/13). The only unusual observation was of one brilliantly-plumaged BARLTIMORE ORIOLE which behaved and appeared normal in other repects, but which was singing a somewhat hoarse/harsh version of the normally warbling song. The pattern of the song was similar, but the quality of the song made the bird sound like an entirely different species. Made me wonder about his success in attracting a mate. . .
    (report from Wendy Howes).

    6/13/06 -- downtown Worcester
    It appears that one of the falcons is injured. This has been reported to the Fish & Wildlife and someone is on their way here now. The falcon has been on a lower roof of the Commerce building (back side of the building facing Unumprovident) since yesterday. It occasionally flaps his wings and hops around on one foot and sometimes lays down on the roof. (report from Brian Mulhearn).

    6/11/06 -- Wachusett Reservoir Gate 28/Sterling Peat, Sterling
    Thanks to a report from Kevin Bourinot about Yellow-throated Vireos nesting near Gate 28 at Wachusett Reservoir, I went there this morning hoping to find the nest. I clearly heard the Yellow-throated Vireos but I didn't find the nest. Also present were Orchard Orioles (2 males and at least 1 female in the vicinity of the power lines and the first pond), Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Prairie Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Eastern Wood Peewee, Phoebe, Tree Swallows, Eastern Kingbird, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Turkey Vulture, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Song Sparrow, House Finch. I also encountered an American Toad and lots of Little Wood-Satyr and Common Ringlet butterflies. Gate 28 is off Route 12 in West Boylston just north of the intersection of Route 12 and Route 140. Parking is very limited -- possibly 3 cars. There is quite a network of paths through the woods and along the shore that are accessible from Gate 28.
    I also stopped at Sterling Peat and heard another Yellow-throated Vireo calling from across the street. There were also adult and young Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Brown Thrasher, Willow Flycatcher, Phoebe, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Eastern Kingbird, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow (1 -- all the nest holes in the mound were empty), Mallard (1 lone female), Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Flicker and an Osprey. (report and photos from Bruce deGraaf).

    6/8/06 -- Boylston
    At 4:50 PM, on my way home from work I saw a BLACK VULTURE flying NE over route 140 just before the route 70 intersection in Boylston. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    6/4/06 -- Barre Falls Dam Barre
    In an abbreviated Forbush Bird Clud walk, 5 observers recorded the folowing species in the Barre Falls Dam area on Sunday. Enroute home, we had 1 adult black bear crossing route 68 at the Hubbardston/Princeton line. (report from Dick Knowlton).

    6/4/06 -- Northbridge Sewer Plant
    A nice variety of birds was found at the Northbridge Sewer Plant off Rte 122 during two visits this weekend. It is requested that visitors check in at the office first.
    Killdeers were seen in several locations: on or near the gravel beds and in the far back which abuts Goat Hill Trail. The shrubby, rocky slopes in this area also revealed two spotted sandpipers near large puddles, two yellow-throated vireos, two brown thrashers, a few prairie and blue-winged warblers, a yellow warbler, three indigo buntings, and five eastern towhees. To our surprise, a black-billed cuckoo flew out of hiding to perch in plain sight. A look into the woods near the tow path revealed a red-bellied woodpecker and a wood pewee.
    Other birds seen on the sewer plant property: two red-tailed hawks on a snag, a yellow-shafted flicker, two mourning doves, six cedar waxwings, a red-eyed vireo, three eastern phoebes, five American robins, two eastern bluebirds, a wood thrush, several red-winged blackbirds, ten brown-headed cowbirds, and three baltimore orioles.
    (report from Paul and Beth Milke and Nancy Demers).

    6/4/06 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
    At 9:45AM an osprey with a fish was sitting in the large oak tree in the middle of the field at River Bend Farm. (report from Nancy Demers).

    6/3/06 -- High Ridge WMA - Smith Street, Gardner
    A few highlights in the soaking rain: American Bittern - flying; Hooded Merganser; Great Horned Owl - mobbed by crows. (report from Peter Morlock).

    6/3/06 -- Quabog IBA
    We had a "lessening" of rain in mid-morning and headed out to the Brookfields to bird a few parts of the Quabog IBA. Though there was always some rain, the heavy stuff held off for about an hour and a half. A partial list is below. For the areas we covered, many species numbers on the low side. Common Loon (1ad); American Bittern (1); Great Blue Heron (2); Canada Goose (4ad+3yg); Wood Duck (4); Mallard (2); RING-NECKED PHEASANT (1m: are these even "countable" in Central MA anymore?); Virginia Rail (1); Killdeer (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (1: low); Alder Flycatcher (2); Willow Flycatcher (1); Eastern Phoebe (3); Eastern Kingbird (3); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Warbling Vireo (2: low); Red-eyed Vireo (3: extremely low); Tree Swallow (41); Bank Swallow (30); Barn Swallow (12); Eastern Bluebird (1); Veery (2); Gray Catbird (9: low); Blue-winged Warbler (2: low); Yellow Warbler (19); Chestnut-sided Warbler (5); Ovenbird (1); American Redstart (10); Common Yellowthroat (17); Scarlet Tanager (3); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3: low); Indigo Bunting (3); Bobolink (6); Baltimore Oriole (1: low); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    For previous sightings, see May 2006 Archives or Archive Index