TUFTS VETERINARY SCHOOL
Turkey Vulture - 1;
Red-tailed Hawk - 1;
Wild Turkey - 13;
Killdeer - 1;
Chimney Swift - 5 (courtship);
Eastern Kingbird - 2;
Warbling Vireo - 1;
Blue-winged Warbler - 1;
Yellow Warbler - 1;
Common Yellowthroat - 2;
Savannah Sparrow - 3 (including pair);
Bobolink - 6 (including female carrying food);
Baltimore Oriole - 2;;
After 20 hours, here is an unofficial comparison for MILFORD4 between
Atlas 1 (1974-79) and Atlas 2 (to date for 2007). Note that the Atlas 2
results also include Supporting and Incidental reports.
ATLAS 1: 9 possible + 11 probable + 16 confirmed = 36 potential breeders
ATLAS 2: 10 possible + 39 probable + 22 confirmed = 71 potential breeders
(report from John Liller).
6/20/07 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton
This morning, I checked out the Fisherville Pond area in Grafton, part of
MILFORD2. Highlights were:
Double-crested Cormorant - 1 (immature);
Green Heron - 1;
Willow Flycatcher - 1;
Cedar Waxwing - 1 (collecting and carrying nesting material);
Carolina Wren - 1;
Gray Catbird - 13;
Brown Thrasher - 4;
Warbling Vireo - 3;
Red-eyed Vireo - 1;
Blue-winged Warbler - 1;
Yellow Warbler - 9 (including birds carrying food; also feeding young);
Pine Warbler - 1;
Prairie Warbler - 2;
Common Yellowthroat - 3;
Eastern Towhee - 1;
Field Sparrow - 2;
Song Sparrow - 11 (including birds carrying food);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1 (male);
Baltimore Oriole - 3;
Orchard Oriole - 1 (male);
(report from John Liller).
6/19/07 -- Grafton/Upton
This morning I birded the MILFORD5 block, which contains parts of both
Grafton and Upton. Highlights:
Wood Duck - 2 (2 juveniles; I assume the female was nearby but I could not;
find her);
Killdeer - 1;
Spotted Sandpiper - 1;
Chimney Swift - 5 (including courtship in air near chimney);
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2;
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3;
Eastern Phoebe - 4 (including bird carrying food);
Great Crested Flycatcher - 4;
Eastern Kingbird - 5;
Tree Swallow - 5 (including newly fledged bird and adult feeding young in;
air);
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 3;
Barn Swallow - 1;
Cedar Waxwing - 1;
Carolina Wren - 2;
House Wren - 4;
Gray Catbird - 27 (including bird carrying food);
Brown Thrasher - 1;
Eastern Bluebird - 1;
Veery - 2;
Hermit Thrush - 1 (carrying nesting material; this is the first Hermit;
Thrush I have recorded in any of my blocks);
Wood Thrush - 2;
Yellow-throated Vireo - 1;
Warbling Vireo - 6;
Red-eyed Vireo - 4;
Blue-winged Warbler - 5;
Yellow Warbler - 5;
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 4;
Pine Warbler - 4;
Prairie Warbler - 3;
Black-and-white Warbler - 2;
American Redstart - 1;
Ovenbird - 8;
Common Yellowthroat - 9;
Scarlet Tanager - 5;
Eastern Towhee - 15;
Field Sparrow - 4 (including adult feeding young bird);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 8 (including pair w/ male carrying material);
Indigo Bunting - 3 (including pair);
Baltimore Oriole - 11 (including female seen entering nest);;
(report from John Liller).
6/19/07 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At 7 PM this evening I went to the Clinton Dike that overlooks the bushy
island at Wachusett Reservoir. I wanted to see what might be roosting on the
island and the sand bars. On and around the island there were: a pair of
adult common loons, 1 great blue heron, 200-300 ducks, mostly mallards, some
blacks and 1 wood duck, 200-300 mostly ring-billed gulls, and feeding with
the swallows, 1 BLACK TERN. When not feeding the tern perched on a white
buoy that is to the right of the bushy island.
(report from Bart Kamp).
6/19/07 -- Institute Park, Worcester
At noon, notable were 7 Mute Swan (here is a
photo
taken today), 1 Eastern Kindbird on nest, 2 Cedar Waxwings (one seen on nest
being fed by mate), 1 Warbling Vireo singing, 1 Pine warbler singing, and 1
Baltimore Oriole calling. (report and photo from Rick Quimby).
6/19/07 -- downtown Worcester
This morning we birded 1.5 hours in the downtown block of Worcester:
WORCESTER NORTH12. This morning we visited Green Hill Park (briefly),
BioTech Pond and Salisbury Pond. Here are the results:
Mute Swan (pair w/5yg at Salisbury. We watched the adults pulling out
cattails practically by the roots and laying them on the water for the young
to eat);
Green Heron (2 at BioTech; 1 at Salisbury);
Canada Goose (20);
Mallard (25ad+ 1f w/11 young at BioTech and 1f w/5 young at Salisbury);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Ring-necked Pheasant (1m);
Ring-billed Gull (3);
Chimney Swift (16);
N Flicker (5);
E Wood Peewee (5);
Willow Flycatcher (1);
Eastern Kingbird (4);
Warbling Vireo (9);
Tree Swallow (1 newly fledged young);
Blue Jay (3);
Black-capped Chickadee (3);
Tufted Titmouse (5);
House Wren (1);
Wood Thrush (5);
American Robin (44);
Gray Catbird (19);
N Mockingbird (6);
Cedar Waxwing (8: nest building seen);
Yellow Warbler (5);
Pine Warbler (5);
C Yellowthroat (2);
Eastern Towhee (6);
Chipping Sparrow (8);
Swamp Sparrow (2 singing birds);
Song Sparrow (10);
N Cardinal (6);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2);
Red-winged Blackbird (60+: many newly fledged young);
C Grackle (40+: many newly fledged birds);
Brown-headed Cowbird (8);
Baltimore Oriole (10);
House Finch (8);
A Goldfinch (2);
House Sparrow (120+: many newly fledged birds);
PLUS: at BioTech (4+); Muskrat and (3); young Raccoons up a small bush that
had berries. At Salisbury: many large carp either spawning or having trouble
with water levels and 1 large adult raccoon.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/18/07 -- Leicester/Spencer
Highlights from the Burncoat Pond Audubon property at
the end of Polar Spring Rd. (off Rt 9), near the
Leicester/Spencer line:
Great Blue Heron; Wood Duck; Ruffed Grouse with ~6 young; Great-crested
Flycatcher; Eastern Kingbird; Eastern Wood Peewee; Baltimore Oriel working
in nest; Brown Creeper; Black and White Warbler; Blue-winged Warbler;
Black-throated Green Warbler; Black-throated Blue Warbler; Ovenbird 6;
Common Yellowthroat; Veery 4; Swamp Sparrow; Bobolinks 12.
(report from Alex Dunn).
6/17/07 -- Worcester
This morning we spent 5.5 hours birding WORCESTER SOUTH10. This Atlas
block's Primary Atlaser is JOHN LILLER. This block is contiguous to and directly
south of WORCESTER NORTH12, our "downtown" block that we have been
atlasing
for several months now. Worcester South10 is also the block that contains
all of Broad Meadow Brook MAS. John has already racked up quite a list of
birds for this Atlas block by birding the sanctuary, and BTW will be once
again conducting the annual Broad Meadow Brook Breeding Bird Count next
Saturday to upgrade that list. Today, Sheila and I birded the rest of that
block, in other words, all areas of Worcester South10 that are NOT the
sanctuary. This morning we visited the north half of the Blackstone River
bike path (the south half is not in this block); ; the old industrial area
along the river; the western half of Dorothy Pond; Holy Cross College
campus; Park Hill Golf Course, and the power lines behind Holy Name School.
One of our most interesting discoveries was of a large parcel of forest
south of the Mass Pike, east of the golf course and west of Haywood Glen
Drive. On old topo maps, it showed a hidden pond in the middle of this
forest, but with an old trail running along the southern end of the pond. By
accessing the power lines from the end of the new developments on Haywood
Glen Drive, we did find this trail and hiked it through some nice deciduous
forest to a well-hidden swampy-bushy pond, which had some of the
characteristics of a bog. This morning, we noticed that many birds had
fledged young and song is definitely past peak.
Double-crested Cormorant (3);
Green Heron (2);
Turkey Vulture (11: mostly around the landfill that is now being extensively
worked on. This is where Grasshopper Sparrows used to breed. They may still,
but we will have to wait till all the re-capping is done to find out.);
Canada Goose (5adults+10 young at Dorothy Pond);
Mallard (29: no young found);
Red-tailed Hawk (7: including 3 newly fledged birds);
AMERICAN KESTREL (pair)
The male was seen hunting along the Blackstone and
up and over the Ballard Street landfill. Later in the AM, while birding
around the abandoned factories along Tobias Boland Avenue, we had both of
them interacting and saw the female carry food to the top of the building
and out of sight.
Wild Turkey (1f);
Killdeer (7ad+1 newly fledged young);
Spotted Sandpiper (1);
Ring-billed Gull (3: Dorothy Pond);
Rock Pigeon (69);
Mourning Dove (43: some newly fledged birds);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2);
Downy Woodpecker (18: several newly fledged birds);
N Flicker (2);
E Wood Peewee (3);
Willow Flycatcher (8)I confess, I never knew this species was this common
in the city. I knew that it bred on Broad Meadow of course, but it also
breeds at a number of places in this block as well as possibly in 3
locations in the block to the north
E Phoebe (2);
Great crested Flycatcher (2);
Eastern Kingbird (10);
Warbling Vireo (27: some seen feeding young);
Red-eyed Vireo (11);
Blue Jay (9);
A Crow (5);
Tree Swallow (22: some fledged young);
N Rough-winged Swallow (8: several nests along the Blackstone);
Barn Swallow (43);
Black-capped Chickadee (31);
Tufted Titmouse (11);
White-breasted Nuthatch (3);
Carolina Wren (11);
House Wren (7);
Eastern Bluebird (pair);
Wood Thrush (3);
American Robin (180+: many newly fledged birds);
Gray Catbird (59: feeding young observed);
N Mockingbird (16: newly fledged young observed);
Brown Thrasher (1 carrying food to nest);
E Starling (136: many newly fledged young);
Cedar Waxwing (12: nest building observed);
Yellow Warbler (24);
Pine Warbler (2);
Black and White Warbler (2);
A Redstart (7);
Ovenbird (3);
C Yellowthroat (19);
E Towhee (12: we watched 1 female building a nest);
Chipping Sparrow (36);
Field Sparrow (4);
Song Sparrow (67);
N cardinal (17);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2);
Indigo Bunting (2);
Red-winged Blackbird (85+: many newly fledged young);
C Grackle (63: many newly fledged young);
Brown-headed Cowbird (7);
Orchard Oriole (1m);
Baltimore Oriole (12);
House Finch (9);
A Goldfinch (4);
House Sparrow (115: many newly fledged young);
PLUS: a HUGE Snapping Turtle attempting lay eggs next to the Blackstone
River bike path parking lot; Painted Turtles crossing new housing
development roads to lay eggs; Muskrats and many butterflies and odes.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/17/07 -- Grafton/Millbury
Kim Kastler and I birded in the MILFORD1 block this morning, which
includes parts of Grafton and Millbury. We began in the Nelson Pond area
in Grafton, moved on to the Martha Deering WMA in Millbury, and finished
checking out the Riverlin Rd. area, also in Millbury. Here is our list:
NELSON POND:
Double-crested Cormorant - 5 (immatures);;
Great Blue Heron - 3;
Canada Goose - 35 (plus 6 young);;
Wood Duck - 5;
Mallard - 3 (plus 4 young with female);;
Osprey - 2 (adults at nest plus 1 young bird in nest);;
Mourning Dove - 3;
Chimney Swift - 1;
Downy Woodpecker - 2;
Northern Flicker - 2;
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1;
Willow Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Phoebe - 3 (fledgling w/ adults near area of probable nest);;
Tree Swallow - 16+ (including bird entering nest; also many young birds);;
Barn Swallow - 1;
Cedar Waxwing - 4;
Gray Catbird - 7;
Northern Mockingbird - 2 (both entering probable nest site);;
American Robin - 10 (including bird carrying material; also several;
fledglings);;
Tufted Titmouse - 3;
Blue Jay - 3;
Warbling Vireo - 7 (including bird carrying food);;
American Goldfinch - 7;
Blue-winged Warbler - 2;
Yellow Warbler - 5 (including pair);;
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2;
Common Yellowthroat - 7;
Eastern Towhee - 1;
Chipping Sparrow - 4 (including bird carrying nest material);;
Song Sparrow - 6;
Northern Cardinal - 4;
Red-winged Blackbird - 20+ (including several females carrying food);;
Common Grackle - 20+;
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2;
Baltimore Oriole - 5 (including pair carrying food into nest)
MARTHA DEERING WMA/RIVERLIN:
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 (adult);;
Mourning Dove - 2;
Downy Woodpecker - 6 (including fledgling chasing adult);;
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 2;
Eastern Phoebe - 1;
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2;
House Wren - 1;
Gray Catbird - 7;
Eastern Bluebird - 1;
Wood Thrush - 4;
American Robin - 5;
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1;
Black-capped Chickadee - 1;
Tufted Titmouse - 4;
Blue Jay - 3;
European Starling - 2 (including bird entering nest hole);;
Warbling Vireo - 1;
Red-eyed Vireo - 2;
American Goldfinch - 1;
Blue-winged Warbler - 4;
Yellow Warbler - 2;
Pine Warbler - 1;
Ovenbird - 2;
Common Yellowthroat - 2;
Scarlet Tanager - 3;
Eastern Towhee - 4;
Chipping Sparrow - 1;
Song Sparrow - 2;
Northern Cardinal - 2;
Red-winged Blackbird - 7;
Common Grackle - 1;
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1;
Baltimore Oriole - 7;
(report from John Liller).
6/17/07 -- Gardner
The following were seen and/or heard from various points in Gardner this
morning (the Fitchburg 1 block) from 0530 to 1030. I visited the Smith Street
section of High Ridge, Mount Wachusett Community College and the Wompanoag
MAS and viewed the lake from Raymond Street. The only "real" surprise was
the Marsh Wren from the "upper Marsh" at High Ridge WMA, I have only 3
records of Marsh Wren from the area, never during breeding season. The
cattail "crop" seems to be expanding in the marsh from past years!
Species and number reported:
Canada Goose 4;
Wood Duck 2;
Mallard 1;
Hooded Merganser 12;
Ruffed Grouse 1;
Common Loon 1;
American Bittern 1 High Ridge;
Great Blue Heron 4;
Green Heron 3;
Broad-winged Hawk 2;
Killdeer 4;
Mourning Dove 6;
Downy Woodpecker 1;
Hairy Woodpecker 1;
Northern Flicker 1;
Pileated Woodpecker 1;
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1;
Alder Flycatcher 3;
Willow Flycatcher 3;
Eastern Phoebe 1;
Great Crested Flycatcher 1;
Eastern Kingbird 3;
Blue-headed Vireo 4;
Warbling Vireo 2;
Red-eyed Vireo 7;
Blue Jay 7;
American Crow 9;
Common Raven 1;
Tree Swallow 16;
Barn Swallow 8;
Black-capped Chickadee 9;
Tufted Titmouse 5;
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2;
Brown Creeper 5;
House Wren 3;
Marsh Wren 1;
Veery 3;
Hermit Thrush 4;
Wood Thrush 3;
American Robin 9;
Gray Catbird 7;
Northern Mockingbird 1;
European Starling 2;
Cedar Waxwing 7;
Nashville Warbler 1;
Yellow Warbler 5;
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1;
Magnolia Warbler 1;
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2;
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1;
Black-throated Green Warbler 6;
Blackburnian Warbler 1;
Pine Warbler 4;
Black-and-white Warbler 6;
Ovenbird 16;
Northern Waterthrush 1;
Common Yellowthroat 12;
Canada Warbler 1;
Scarlet Tanager 1;
Chipping Sparrow 4;
Song Sparrow 12;
Swamp Sparrow 9;
White-throated Sparrow 1;
Northern Cardinal 2;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3;
Indigo Bunting 2;
Bobolink 13;
Red-winged Blackbird 29;
Common Grackle 27;
Brown-headed Cowbird 2;
Baltimore Oriole 3;
Purple Finch 2;
American Goldfinch 15;
House Sparrow 2;;
(report from Tom Pirro).
6/17/07 -- Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, Princeton
The last two late afternoons a pair of Evening grosbeaks have
come to the feeders at the cottage.
(report from Dick Knowlton).
6/16/07 -- Oxbow NWR, Harvard
On a Forbush Bird Club trip
to Oxbow NWR in Harvard, 53 species
were seen or heard. Our most interesting sighting was a pair of waxwings
building a nest. Here is the
complete trip
list.
(trip report from Jeffrey Roth).
6/16/07 -- Brookfields
Today we birded the WARREN7 block for the Breeding Bird Atlas II. Almost
this entire block is in the Quabog IBA in the Brookfields. We visited a
number of marshes, rank fields and woodlots as well as several sections of
the Elm Hill Mass Audubon property and parts of the Quabog and Richardson
WMAs. What was interesting is how many bird species now have fledged young
including Great Blue Herons, starlings, robins, Red-winged Blackbirds,
woodpeckers, grackles among others. We even saw Tree Swallows bringing food
to totally fledged young. Bird song has also noticeably lessened, being now
most vigorous at and just after dawn. There is still song later, just not as
much as a week or two ago. After dawn, parent birds seemed far to busy
getting food for nestlings, which was going on all around us.
American Bittern (4 in various marshes, and another 1 flying over and
landing in a wet grassy field);
Least Bittern (1);
Great Blue Heron (3);
Canada Goose (just 1);
Wood Duck (3+1 f w/3yg);
Mallard (8: we almost hit a female w/5 ducklings that were crossing Route 9
at dawn in East Brookfield, outside our block. They made it.);
Red-tailed Hawk (pair);
Ring-necked Pheasant (1m);
Ruffed Grouse (1);
Virginia Rail (4ad+ 1ad w/at least 2yg);
Killdeer (3);
Rock Dove (3: actually tough to find as a nesting bird in this block);
Mourning Dove (13);
Black-billed Cuckoo (3);
Chimney Swift (11);
Belted Kingfisher (2);
Downy Woodpecker (5+2 newly fledged yg);
N Flicker (9);
Pileated Woodpecker (1);
E Wood Peewee (4);
Alder Flycatcher (6);
Willow Flycatcher (10);
Least Flycatcher (5);
E Phoebe (3);
E Kingbird (7);
Yellow-throated Vireo (4);
Blue-headed Vireo (1);
Warbling Vireo (13);
Red-eyed Vireo (18);
Blue Jay (4);
A Crow (2);
Tree Swallow (58);
Barn Swallow (11);
Black-capped Chickadee (29);
Tufted Titmouse (14);
White-breasted Nuthatch (2);
House Wren (2);
Marsh Wren (20 singing birds: this is Worcester County's most significant
colony of this species);
Eastern Bluebird (2);
Veery (10);
Wood thrush (3);
A Robin (70);
Gray Catbird (58);
E Starling (60+);
Cedar Waxwing (24);
Blue-winged Warbler (3);
Yellow Warbler (49);
Chestnut-sided Warbler (2);
Black and White Warbler (4);
A Redstart (6);
C Yellowthroat (31);
Scarlet Tanager (4);
Chipping Sparrow (7);
Song Sparrow (18);
Swamp Sparrow (31);
N Cardinal (20);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (6);
Indigo Bunting (10);
Bobolink (15);
Red-winged Blackbird (170+);
C Grackle (60);
Brown-headed Cowbird (13);
Baltimore Oriole (11);
Purple Finch (2);
A Goldfinch (17);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/16/07 -- Ashburnham
Birds seen and/or heard between 5AM and 12:30PM,
covering Ashburnham and small portion of Winchendon (75% of the time was on
foot):
Canada Goose 2;
Wood Duck 1;
American Black Duck 1;
Mallard 1;
Ruffed Grouse 1;
Wild Turkey 13;
Common Loon 1;
Great Blue Heron 2;
Turkey Vulture 2;
Broad-winged Hawk 2;
Killdeer 3;
American Woodcock 1;
Mourning Dove 9;
Belted Kingfisher 1;
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1;
Downy Woodpecker 4;
Hairy Woodpecker 3;
Northern Flicker 2;
Pileated Woodpecker 1;
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1;
Alder Flycatcher 4;
Great Crested Flycatcher 2;
Eastern Kingbird 2;
Blue-headed Vireo 3;
Red-eyed Vireo 14;
Blue Jay 13;
American Crow 6;
Common Raven 1;
Tree Swallow 22;
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1;
Bank Swallow 2;
Barn Swallow 6;
Black-capped Chickadee 34;
Tufted Titmouse 5;
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2;
White-breasted Nuthatch 1;
Brown Creeper 4;
House Wren 2;
Winter Wren 2;
Eastern Bluebird 1;
Veery 7;
Hermit Thrush 14;
Wood Thrush 1;
American Robin 8;
Gray Catbird 9;
European Starling 5;
Cedar Waxwing 18;
Nashville Warbler 4;
Yellow Warbler 5;
Magnolia Warbler 3;
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4;
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3;
Black-throated Green Warbler 3;
Blackburnian Warbler 4;
Pine Warbler 9;
Prairie Warbler 1;
Black-and-white Warbler 6;
Ovenbird 19;
Northern Waterthrush 2;
Common Yellowthroat 22;
Canada Warbler 6;
Scarlet Tanager 5;
Eastern Towhee 6;
Chipping Sparrow 5;
Field Sparrow 2;
Song Sparrow 16;
Swamp Sparrow 14;
White-throated Sparrow 9;
Northern Cardinal 1;
Red-winged Blackbird 15;
Common Grackle 60;
Brown-headed Cowbird 2;
Baltimore Oriole 1;
Purple Finch 1;
American Goldfinch 16;
House Sparrow 2;
Here are a few
photos from the trip
(report from Tom Pirro).
6/15/07 --Fitzwilliam, NH/Winchendon, MA
Birders Brad Blodget, Marion, Joe and Wendy Larson strolled a
segment of the Cheshire branch of the B & M Railroad, beginning at State
Line (MA/NH border) in Fitzwilliam and going inward (south) to Winchendon in
the morning. These are the birds seen or heard during out 2.5 hour
perambulation, after emerging behind the Brooks Pharmacy in Winchendon next
to Railroad Street. Birds listed chronologically and all were in Winchendon:
Yellowthroat, Red eyed Vireo, Black & White Warbler, Canada Warbler (2),
Veery, Brown Creeper, Chickadees, White Throated Sparrow, Blue Headed Vireo,
Song Sparrow, Hairy Woodpecker, Chipping Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, American
Robin, Swamp Sparrow, Grackle, Ovenbird, Purple Finch, Kingbird, Red
breasted Nuthatch, Mourning Dove, Titmouse, Black Throated Green Warbler,
Yellow-rump Warbler, Red wing Blackbird, Pine Warbler, Broadwing Hawk, Blue
Jay, American Goldfinch, Wood Pewee, Baltimore Oriole, Catbird, Cardinal (a
male hawking large insects!), House Wren, Chimney Swifts, Turkey Vulture,
House Sparrow. (report from Marion Larson).
6/13/07 -- Leominster
This
Chukar has been frequenting my yard in Leominster for the last two days.
(report and photo from Ian Ann Bothwell).
6/12/07 -- downtown Worcester
We birded for 1.5 hours this morning in WORCESTER NORTH12, the downtown
block. This morning we concentrated on tiny BioTech Pond, the old State
Hospital grounds (still an out-patent facility and part of U. Mass Med), and
Green Hill Park. Amazingly, after all the hours we have spent atlasing this
block, this morning we added 2 new species to our list, both found in a large
area of Red Pine and exotic spruces.
Green Heron (2: at BioTech. These seem to be always here now and may nest
nearby, if not right at the pond);
Canada Goose (70+ 4yg);
Mallard (6);
Red-tailed Hawk (pair at the state hospital, plus another);
Wild Turkey (2);
Ring-billed Gull (1);
Mourning Dove (2);
Rock Pigeon (60+);
Chimney Swift (18);
Downy Woodpecker (3);
N Flicker (3);
Willow Flycatcher (1);
E Phoebe (1);
Great Crested Flycatcher (2);
Eastern Kingbird (4);
Warbling Vireo (7);
Red-eyed Vireo (1);
Blue Jay (3);
A Crow (2);
Barn Swallow (6);
Black-capped Chickadee (10);
Tufted Titmouse (2);
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (1: State Hospital);
BROWN CREEPER (1 singing: State Hospital);
Wood Thrush (4);
American Robin (63);
Gray Catbird (6);
N Mockingbird (2);
Brown Thrasher (1);
Cedar Waxwing (9);
Yellow Warbler (3);
Pine Warbler (5);
Chipping Sparrow (12);
Song Sparrow (5);
Swamp Sparrow (2 still singing at BioTech);
Red-winged Blackbird (30++);
Brown-headed Cowbird (3);
Baltimore Oriole (12: sev. nests);
House Finch (8);
A Goldfinch (4);
PLUS: Muskrats at BioTech Pond and White-tailed Deer at the State Hospital.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/12/07 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
Kim Kastler and I did a point count at the Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife
Sanctuary this morning in conjunction with the Breeding Bird
Atlas. BMB is in WORCESTER SOUTH 10. Here are our totals, including
birds not recorded in any of the 5 circles:
Double-crested Cormorant - 1 (flyover);;
Great Blue Heron - 1;
Mallard - 4 (2 males, 2 females);;
Turkey Vulture - 1 (flyover);;
Rock Pigeon - 3 (flyovers);;
Mourning Dove - 6 (including a leucistic bird);;
Black-billed Cuckoo - 1;
Chimney Swift - 1;
Belted Kingfisher - 1;
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2;
Downy Woodpecker - 5;
Hairy Woodpecker - 3;
Northern Flicker - 2;
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 8;
Willow Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Phoebe - 2;
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2;
Eastern Kingbird - 2;
Tree Swallow - 5 (including birds nesting in natural cavity);;
Cedar Waxwing - 3;
Carolina Wren - 2;
House Wren - 2;
Gray Catbird - 8;
Eastern Bluebird - 4 (including male feeding young in nest);;
Wood Thrush - 7;
American Robin - 17;
Black-capped Chickadee - 2;
Tufted Titmouse - 6;
White-breasted Nuthatch - 7;
Blue Jay - 12;
American Crow - 3;
House Sparrow - 6;
Warbling Vireo - 2;
Red-eyed Vireo - 5;
American Goldfinch - 4;
Yellow Warbler - 6;
Prairie Warbler - 1;
American Redstart - 3;
Ovenbird - 1;
Common Yellowthroat - 10;
Scarlet Tanager - 2;
Eastern Towhee - 10;
Field Sparrow - 5 (including adult carrying food);;
Song Sparrow - 19;
Swamp Sparrow - 2;
Northern Cardinal - 7;
Red-winged Blackbird - 17;
Common Grackle - 28 (including several adults feeding newly fledged young);;
Brown-headed Cowbird - 14;
Baltimore Oriole - 9;;
(report from John Liller).
6/11/07 -- Fisherville Pond, Grafton
As we neared Fisherville Pond this morning around 10:30, we saw an osprey
flying low. From the bank, we saw the osprey perched on a low branch below
the yellow apartments (Broad Meadow?). A good-sized fish was draped across
the branch. A moment later, a second osprey flew in and perched briefly
next to the other one but quickly flew to a different tree nearby. The
ospreys remained in this position for about an hour. Then the second osprey
took off, circled the pond once or twice, caught a fish, and flew out of
sight. When we checked back about 30 minutes later, the initial osprey was
still on the same branch with the fish. (report from Beth Milke and Nancy
Demers)
6/11/07 -- Grafton
I spent several hours this morning birding in the Grafton area as part of
the Breeding Bird Atlas. Highlights were:
MERRIAM RD./ADAMS RD./HENNESSEY (MILFORD4)
Great Blue Heron - 1 (plus 3 young birds on nest);
Green Heron - 1;
Red-tailed Hawk - 1;
Killdeer - 1;
Northern Flicker - 1;
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 1;
Willow Flycatcher - 2;
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Kingbird - 1;
Tree Swallow - 2;
Barn Swallow - 8 (plus young calling from nests inside barn);
Cedar Waxwing - 5;
Carolina Wren - 1;
House Wren - 2;
Gray Catbird - 3;
Wood Thrush- 2;
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1;
Yellow-throated Vireo - 1;
Warbling Vireo - 4;
Red-eyed Vireo - 4;
Yellow Warbler - 6;
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1;
American Redstart - 1;
Ovenbird - 4;
Common Yellowthroat - 1;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2;
Eastern Meadowlark - 2;
Baltimore Oriole - 3;
FISHERVILLE POND (MILFORD2):
Double-crested Cormorant - 8 (2 adults, 6 immatures);
Great Blue Heron - 1;
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 (plus young bird calling from nest);
Northern Flicker - 1;
Willow Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Kingbird - 2;
Tree Swallow - 4;
Cedar Waxwing - 3;
Gray Catbird - 5;
Brown Thrasher - 1;
Warbling Vireo - 2;
Blue-winged Warbler - 1;
Yellow Warbler - 5;
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1;
Prairie Warbler - 1;
Common Yellowthroat - 3;
Field Sparrow - 1;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1;
Brown-headed Cowbird - 3;
Baltimore Oriole - 4;
ST. PHILIP'S CEMETERY (MILFORD2):
Great Blue Heron - 2;
Wood Duck - 2 (pair);
Turkey Vulture - 2 (flyovers);
Red-tailed Hawk - 4 (2 adults plus 2 young perched on other nest in marsh);
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1;
Eastern Kingbird - 1;
Tree Swallow - 6;
Eastern Bluebird - 2;
Warbling Vireo - 1;
Yellow Warbler - 1;
ALSO:
Osprey - 1 (bird on nest across tracks from Old Westboro Rd., feeding;
young?);
Bobolink - 4 (Tufts Vet School along Route 30);
Pine Warbler - 3 (Institute Rd.);
(report from John Liller).
6/10/07 -- Gate 45-49, Quabbin Reservoir
We spent from dawn till mid-afternoon birding two of our Quabbin blocks for
the Breeding Bird Atlas II: WINSOR DAM4 and WINSOR DAM5. This area includes
parts of the towns of Hardwick and Ware and runs from Gate 45 south to and
including Gate 49 and is essentially the SE section of the reservoir.
Today's birds were mostly typical breeding species of this area, but there were a
few surprises.
Double-crested Cormorant (2);
Turkey Vulture (3);
Wood Duck (1+1f w/11young);
Mallard (1f);
Hooded Merganser (1f and another female w/6 young);
Common Merganser (2 f);
Broad-winged Hawk (2);
Red-tailed Hawk (4);
Ruffed Grouse (2);
Spotted Sandpiper (1);
Ring-billed Gull (1);
Mourning Dove (7);
Black-billed Cuckoo (1);
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (2);
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (4);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3);
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (4+ pair still feeding young in nest);
Downy Woodpecker (4);
Hairy Woodpecker (7: including 2 nests w/young);
N Flicker (3);
Pileated Woodpecker (1);
E Wood Peewee (19);
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER (1)singing and calling almost continuously along the
shore road in Winsor Dam5. We watched this bird for awhile and only saw it
call and eat insects. This species has bred nearby (Gate 45); in years past
Alder Flycatcher (2);
Least Flycatcher (17);
E Phoebe (4);
Great Crested Flycatcher (11);
E Kingbird (11);
Yellow-throated Vireo (11);
Blue-headed Vireo (8);
Warbling Vireo (4);
Red-eyed Vireo (88)we watched a flock of jays scour the upperstory of the
forest for awhile and then find and devour the contents of a Red-eyed Vireo
nest while the parents mobbed them. To my eyes, it looked like this was an
organized search for nests, eggs and young
A Crow (2);
Common Raven (1);
Tree Swallow (13);
Black-capped Chickadee (25);
Tufted Titmouse (13);
Red-breasted Nuthatch (4: a pair was seen carrying food to a hole);
White-breasted Nuthatch (20);
Brown Creeper (11: 2 nests found);
House Wren (1);
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (8);
Veery (43);
Hermit Thrush (10);
Wood Thrush (14);
A Robin (23);
Gray Catbird (33);
Cedar Waxwing (8);
WARBLERS:
Blue-winged (2);
Nashville (1);
Yellow (8);
Chestnut-sided (50);
Black-throated Blue (19);
Yellow-rumped (14);
Black-throated Green (9);
Blackburnian (2: not a lot of hemlocks in this area of Quabbin);
Pine (20);
BLACKPOLL (1 singing male: late migrant);
Black and White (13);
Worm-eating (1);
Ovenbird (39);
Louisiana Waterthrush (1)while standing on the shore of the big water
scoping, this bird flew in and began to work a small sandy stretch of shore
like a Spotted Sandpiper. It caught a few things either in the water or in
the sand (we could not see what they were); and then immediately flew over
the road and up a stream. I have never seen Louisiana Waterthrushes working
a shoreline like this before.
C Yellowthroat (43);
Canada (1: very low)
Scarlet Tanager (22);
E Towhee (46);
Chipping Sparrow (28);
Song Sparrow (8);
LINCOLNS SPARROW (1)while on the shore road, trying to figure what to do
next, this bird popped up in a dense tangle not ten feet from us in perfect
light. We watched the bird in silence for over ten minutes as it preened
extensively, picking out every field mark of an adult Lincolns. As it
preened, a large fleshy dark patch appeared on its mid-lower belly that
reminded me of looking like a dark brood patch. But likely it was just the
skin under the feathers, I guess. We had surveyed this area before and never
heard a Lincolns song, though we had found another Lincolns in here a
few
weeks back, which we obviously thought to be just a migrant. Though
Lincoln's have rarely bred in MA, it has typically been in the northern Berkshires
in places like Florida SF or Moran WMA in Windsor. This habitat in Quabbin
where we saw the bird was a large area of wet dense tangles; logs and brush.
Eventually the bird just hopped down into the middle of this mess and though
we tried for a while, spishing et, we could not refind the bird without
severely destroying the habitat. We will obviously search again for this
bird. The latest spring non-breeding record mentioned in Petersen and Veit
is JUNE 2, 1991, interestingly in Dana in Quabbin
Swamp Sparrow (1);
N Cardinal (6);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (22);
Red-winged Blackbird (79);
C Grackle (70+: we watched an adult fed several almost fledged young in
a
hole in a dead tree in the middle of a swamp. I never thought of grackles as
cavity nesters before.);
Baltimore Oriole (39);
Purple Finch (2);
A Goldfinch (5);
NB: For this years Atlas, we had taken on 9 (count ~Qem); blocks. As of
today, we have reached or exceeded the 20-field hour benchmark for 8 of
those blocks and have 2.5 hours to go in the last, which is downtown
Worcester. Of course we will still be upgrading and adding in all the
blocks, but the bulk of the fieldwork is done.);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/10/07 -- Princeton/Charlton
This morning I participated in Mass Audubon Wachusett Meadows Breeding Bird
census compiled for the past 40 years or so by Fran McMenemy. Today I was
teamed with Alan Marble. The highlight of the morning was watching a pair
of Cedar Waxwings building a nest in some grape vines we inadvertantly
parked our vehicle under.
From Noon-3PM I decided to do some atlas birding in Charlton to make up for yesterday's
rain shortened day. I walked a powerline right of way from Freeman to
Carpenter Hill Roads. Highlights:
Canada Goose (pr w 4 young);
Eastern Kingbird 1;
Great Crested Flycatcher 1;
Eastern Wood-pewee 2;
Veery 2;
Wood Thrush 2;
Gray Catbird 4;
Blue Jay (Carrying food);
House Wren 2;
Northern Flicker 3 (1 carrying food);
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1;
Red-eyed Vireo 2;
Yellow-throated Vireo 2;
Blue-winged Warbler 2;
Pine Warbler 2;
Black-and-white Warbler 2;
Yellow Warbler 5 (including a pair of Cowbirds looking over a territorial
pair);
Prairie Warbler 12 (1 carrying food);
Ovenbird 5;
Common Yellowthroat 12;
Field Sparrow 6 (including 2 pair agitated at me);
Swamp Sparrow 1;
Eastern Towhee 5 (1f carrying food);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3;
Scarlet Tanager 2;
Baltimore Oriole 2;
Red-winged Blackbird (carrying food);
(report from Paul Meleski).
6/9/07 -- Worcester
Through this morning we birded WORCESTER NORTH9. This block is our ~Shome
block~T, running form Park Avenue to the east side of the airport, but does
not include the Parson~Rs Cider Mill hiking area or the Greater Worcester
Land Trust property to its north. The east side of long hill of Worcester
Airport remains the key areas for species variety, especially warblers, but
this location has been severely degraded since the first atlas in the 1970s.
The formerly extensive forested hillsides have been developed for the most
part, leaving only small wooded parcels now difficult to access. Needless to
say, all the grassland species were from the airport.
Double-crested Cormorant (1imm);
Green Heron (1 in small frog pond of Coes Pond Village Condos);
Canada Goose (18ad+6yg);
Mallard (11);
A Kestrel (1m: airport);
Killdeer (5ad+3yg);
Rock Dove (4: not that common in this block, except in my backyard!);
Mourning Dove (18);
Chimney Swift (7);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Downy Woodpecker (1);
E Wood Peewee (7);
E Phoebe (1);
Great Crested Flycatcher (4);
Eastern Kingbird (11);
Tree Swallow (6);
N Rough-winged Swallow (8);
Barn Swallow (6);
Blue Jay (15);
A Crow (7);
Tufted Titmouse (8);
House Wren (15);
VEERY (2: we were hiking from Boynton Park down to Cascades Park when we had
this and the next species. Because this area is on the line between
Worcester North6 and Worcester North9, we had to brake out the serious topo
maps to determine exactly where these birds were);
Hermit Thrush (1);
Wood Thrush (6);
American Robin (63);
Gray Catbird (34);
N Mockingbird (3);
Brown Thrasher (1);
Cedar Waxwing (10);
E Starling (65+);
Warbling Vireo (3);
Red-eyed Vireo (11);
WARBLERS:
Blue-winged (4);
Yellow (6);
Chestnut-sided (7: all on Airport Hill);
Pine (3);
Black and White (2);
A Redstart (4);
Ovenbird (8);
C Yellowthroat (16);
Scarlet Tanager (4);
N Cardinal (20);
Indigo Bunting (2);
E Towhee (12);
Chipping Sparrow (25);
Field Sparrow (2);
Savannah Sparrow (11: all airport);
Song Sparrow (23);
Bobolink (3);
Red-winged Blackbird (12);
E Meadowlark (2);
C Grackle (44);
Brown-headed Cowbird (18);
Baltimore Oriole (15);
A Goldfinch (7);
House Sparrow (130++);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/8/07 -- SE Quabbin, Hardwick and Ware
We birded Gates 45-49 in Quabbin from c.4: 30PM to 8PM. This represents two
blocks for the Breeding Bird Atlas: WINSOR DAM4 and WINSOR DAM5, in the
towns of Hardwick and Ware. There are a number of logging operations going
on this year here and bird numbers could well be lower than they normally
are. Also, bird song in the afternoon is much poorer than early in the
morning. Totals:
Common Loon (1);
Great Blue Heron (3: it is likely there is a rookery in this area);
Canada Goose (3);
Wood Duck (10ad+ 1f w/11yg);
Hooded Merganser (2f);
Wild Turkey (2);
Mourning Dove (8);
BARRED OWL (1newly fledged young bird and 1 adult. We began to hear a Barred
call at about 5:30PM. I did an imitation and the immature bird came in and
was quite vocal and actually followed me down the road);
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (3);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2);
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2+pair feeding noisy young in nest);
Downy Woodpecker (2);
Hairy Woodpecker (2birds+ nest w/yng);
N Flicker (1);
Eastern Wood Peewee (13);
Least Flycatcher (13: we watched 1 territorial bird chase Redstarts off);
Great Crested Flycatcher (4);
Eastern Kingbird (9);
Yellow-throated Vireo (6);
Red-eyed Vireo (49);
Blue Jay (10);
Tree Swallow (19: NONE nesting in boxes);
Black-capped Chickadee (7);
Tufted Titmouse (2);
White-breasted Nuthatch (2);
Brown Creeper (1);
Veery (41);
Hermit Thrush (3);
Wood Thrush (6);
A Robin (21);
Gray Catbird (38);
Cedar Waxwing (14);
WARBLERS:
Blue-winged (2);
Chestnut-sided (28);
Black-throated Blue (5);
Black-throated Green (2);
Pine (12);
Black and White (4);
A Redstart (52);
Ovenbird (22);
C Yellowthroat (19);
Canada Warbler (2);
Scarlet Tanager (19);
E Towhee (36);
Chipping Sparrow (18);
Song Sparrow (4);
Swamp Sparrow (1);
N Cardinal (2);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (8);
Red-winged Blackbird (29);
C Grackle (70+: feeding fledged young);
Baltimore Oriole (29: on/in nests);
A Goldfinch (2);
On the way home, we stopped by Worcester Airport in the dark and witnessed a
spectacular display of fireflies.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/8/07 -- Grafton Conservation Area, Grafton
This morning, Kim Kastler and I surveyed the Grafton Conservation Area on
Merriam Rd., part of MILFORD4. Highlights:
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1;
Hairy Woodpecker - 2;
Northern Flicker - 1;
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Kingbird - 1;
Cedar Waxwing - 2;
Carolina Wren - 1;
House Wren - 6 (adult entering box with food);
Gray Catbird - 10;
Veery - 4;
Wood Thrush - 1;
Warbling Vireo - 2;
Red-eyed Vireo - 1;
Blue-winged Warbler - 3;
Yellow Warbler - 3;
Black-and-white Warbler - 3;
Ovenbird - 5;
Common Yellowthroat - 9;
Scarlet Tanager - 1;
Eastern Towhee - 2;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2;
Indigo Bunting - 1 (male);
Bobolink - 1 (male);
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2;
Baltimore Oriole - 3;;
(report from John Liller).
6/8/07 -- Westminster and Fitchburg
This morning (0530 to 1130) I birded in Atlas Block Fitchburg 7, primarily
along Bean Porridge Hill Road in Westminster and Flat Rock Sanctuary in
Fitchburg, with the following highights: Wood Duck 7 plus 7 yng (PY),
Green-winged Teal 2 (P), Turkey Vulture 4, Red-tailed Hawk 1,
Virginia Rail 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Sapsucker 2 (CF),
Hairy Woodpecker 4 (CF), Wood-Pewee 11,
Alder Flycatcher 1, Least Flycatcher 3, Phoebe 1, Great-crested Flycatcher
2, Eastern Kingbird 2, Warbling Vireo 3, Blue-headed Vireo 3, Red-eyed Vireo
40, Barn Swallow 2, Tree Swallow 23, House Wren 3, Winter Wren 1,
Gnatcatcher 1, Bluebird 1 (I think this is the first one I have had in any
of my four blocks), Veery 3, Hermit Thrush 2, Wood Thrush 3,
Cedar Waxwing 6,? Nashville Warbler 1,
Chestnut-sided Warbler 12, Yellow Warbler 5, Black-throated Blue Warbler 11,
Black-throated Green Warbler 1, Prairie Warbler 3, Pine Warbler 3,
Black&White Warbler 11, Louisiana Waterthrush 1, Ovenbird 23, Redstart 1,
Yellowthroat 28 (DD), Canada Warbler 1, Scarlet Tanager 7, Towhee 17 (CF),
Field Sparrow 1, Swamp Sparrow 4,
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 (CF), Indigo Bunting 4, Cowbird 2, Baltimore Oriole.
(report from Chuck Caron).
6/8/07 -- Charlton
I walked a powerline right-of-way from Bond to Freeman Rd from 6am-8am this
morning in Atlas Block Worcester S 3 (Charlton).
Highlights:
Wood Duck (pr);
Mallard (1f, 5y);
Red-tailed Hawk (pr) (A);
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1;
Northern Flicker 2;
Northern Mockingbird 2 (T);
Gray Catbird 5;
Veery 1;
Wood Thrush 1;
Barn Swallow 2;
Tree Swallow 4 (NY);
Cedar Waxwing 1;
Yellow-throated Vireo 2;
Warbling Vireo 2;
Red-eyed Vireo 1;
Great Crested Flycatcher 2;
Willow Flycatcher 1;
Least Flycatcher 1;
Eastern Kingbird 1;
Eastern Wood-pewee 2;
Blue-winged Warbler 1;
Prairie Warbler 3;
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1;
Yellow Warbler 4;
Common Yellowthroat 6;
Ovenbird 2;
Swamp Sparrow 4;
Field Sparrow 2;
Eastern Towhee 1;
Scarlet Tanager 1;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2;
Purple Finch 1;
Baltimore Oriole 2;
Also,
Chimney Swift 4 (Charlton Town Common);
House Finch (NY);
Killdeer 2 (1 PY-almost fledged);
European Starling (recently fledged young everywhere).
(report from Paul Meleski).
6/8/07 -- downtown Worcester
This morning we birded the Breeding Bird Atlas II block of WORCESTER
NORTH12. This is the most urban block in all of Central Massachusetts,
centering on downtown. It includes the middle section of Lake Quinsigamond,
but not the much more interesting and birdy north and south sections.
This
block does NOT include the important birding locations of Broad Meadow Brook
or the areas of Blackstone River to the south. This morning we birded tiny
Salisbury Pond (across from WPI);; Green Hill Park; BioTech Park and the
State Hospital Grounds and overdeveloped Lake Quinsigamond. We also birded
CROW HILL. This property across from Ecotarium (formerly New England Science
Center); is partially owned by Ecotarium (a small section); but the hill
proper and most of the surrounding area has been saved by the Greater
Worcester Land Trust. I had not birded Crow Hill in some time, but I will be
back here again soon, especially in migration. Here we found this blocks
only breeding Indigo Buntings; Blue-winged Warblers, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
and Field Sparrows as well as a nice show of butterflies. We ended the
morning spending some time with the downtown Peregrines. All this smack in
the middle of a major city!
Double-crested Cormorant (2);
Great Blue Heron (3);
Green Heron (6: 2 at Salisbury Pond; 4 at BioTech Pond, where they may try
to breed);
Turkey Vulture (1);
Canada Goose (86 ad+34 yg);
Mute Swan (pair w/5yg at Salisbury Pond; 1ad);
Mallard (22ad+1yg);
Red-tailed Hawk (3);
PEREGRINE FALCON (pair w/3yg on Chestnut Street Fallon building)
The young peregrines were banded this
week by Fish and Wildlife. If you drive to the absolute top level of the
Worcester Plaza Garage (cost: $2);, you can actually see enough into the nest
to sometimes see all three young. One bird in particular is very precocious,
looking out of the box continually, up at the adult perched atop the box;
preening the flight feathers coming in. Sheila even saw it visually
following a damselfly that was buzzing around the box. One adult was perched
atop the box; the other on a building nearby. The box adult called
several
times.
Ring-necked Pheasant (1m);
Wild Turkey (m+f at State Hospital);
Killdeer (1);
Spotted Sandpiper (1);
Ring-billed Gull (26);
Great Black-backed Gull (10);
Rock Pigeon (183);
Mourning Dove (26);
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1);
Chimney Swift (47);
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Downy Woodpecker (4);
N Flicker (8);
E Wood Peewee (7);
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1: late migrant);
WILLOW FLYCATCHER (3: 1 at Salisbury; 1 at State Hospital; 1 at Crow Hill);
E Phoebe (1);
Great Crested Flycatcher (3);
Eastern Kingbird (12);
Warbling Vireo (23: many birds attending nests);
Red-eyed Vireo (16);
Blue Jay (18);
A Crow (7);
Tree Swallow (9);
N Rough-winged Swallow (3);
Barn Swallow (4);
Black-capped Chickadee (23);
Tufted Titmouse (9);
White-breasted Nuthatch (4);
Carolina Wren (4);
House Wren (8);
Wood Thrush (2);
A Robin (173: many newly fledged birds about);
Gray Catbird (56);
N Mockingbird (8);
Brown Thrasher (5);
E Starling (168: many newly fledged birds around);
Blue-winged Warbler (4);
Yellow Warbler (19);
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (2m at Crow Hill, calling constantly and
feeding in the alders/birches. An unlikely breeder, I guess);
Pine Warbler (5);
Prairie Warbler (pair atop Crow Hill);
A Redstart (4);
Scarlet Tanager (5);
E Towhee (19);
Chipping Sparrow (28);
Field Sparrow (7);
Song Sparrow (27);
Swamp Sparrow (1 still singing away at BioTech);
N Cardinal (9);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3);
Indigo Bunting (2);
Red-winged Blackbird (49);
C Grackle (75+);
Brown-headed Cowbird (9ad+1 fledged yg);
Orchard Oriole (1m);
Baltimore Oriole (25);
House Finch (13);
A Goldfinch (12);
House Sparrow (160+: many young fledged);
PLUS: Many butterflies at Crow Hill including Tiger Swallowtail; Pearl
Crescent; Little Wood Satyr (60+);; Hobomok Skipper (15+);; Dusted Skipper
(20+);.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/7/07 -- Millbury/Grafton
This morning, I spent time in MILFORD1 (Millbury) and MILFORD2 (Grafton).
In MILFORD1, I checked out Riverlin Rd., including the Martha Deering WMA.
In MILFORD2, I checked out Potter Hill Rd. Here are highights:
MILLBURY
Red-tailed Hawk - 1;
Mallard - 1 (female plus 9 young);
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1;
Hairy Woodpecker - 2;
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 5;
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Kingbird - 1;
Tree Swallow - 2;
Cedar Waxwing - 4;
House Wren - 1;
Gray Catbird - 9;
Eastern Bluebird - 2 (pair carrying food);
Wood Thrush - 2;
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1;
Warbling Vireo - 3;
Red-eyed Vireo - 5;
Blue-winged Warbler - 3;
Yellow Warbler - 4;
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 2;
Pine Warbler - 2 (including one collecting and carrying food);
Ovenbird - 1;
Scarlet Tanager - 4;
Eastern Towhee - 4;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3;
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 (including female that seemed to be looking for;
nests);
Baltimore Oriole - 6
GRAFTON
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1;
Northern Flicker - 2;
Eastern Phoebe - 2;
Tree Swallow - 1;
Gray Catbird - 2;
Warbling Vireo - 2;
Blue-winged Warbler - 1;
Yellow Warbler - 4;
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1;
American Redstart - 1;
Common Yellowthroat - 4;
Common Yellowthroat - 2;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1;
Bobolink - 1 (male displaying);
Baltimore Oriole - 1
(report from John Liller).
6/7/07 -- Institute Park, Worcester
The young swans have now fledged from the nest. Although I only
saw 3 poking their heads above the rim of the nest yesterday, there
are actually 5. They can now be seen swimming together in the pond.
Here is a
photo taken at 12:45 today. (report and photo from Rick Quimby).
6/7/07 -- Mt. Watatic, Ashburnham
Birding in Atlas Block
Ashburnham 5 from 0530 t0 0800, highlights were:
Wood Duck 3, Sapsucker 1, Hairy Woodpecker 3, Phoebe 1 (NY),
Blue-headed Vireo 7, Red-eyed Vireo 7,
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, Winter Wren 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Hermit
Thrush 5, Waxwing 2, Nashville Warbler 3, Magnolia Warbler 1,
Black-throated Blue Warbler 3, Yellow-rumped Warbler 12, Black-throated
Green Warbler 5 (numbers seem low this year), Blackburnian Warbler 17,
Black&White Warbler 7, Northern Waterthrush 1, Ovenbird 34 (CN),
Yellowthroat 3, Canada Warbler 1, Scarlet Tanager 8, Towhee 5, Chipping
Sparrow 4, Song Sparrow 1, Swamp Sparrow 1, (zero White-throated Sparrow),
Junco 15, and Evening Grosbeak 2.
(report from Chuck Caron)
6/6/07 -- Ware River Watershed IBA
Today we spent from dawn till 3PM atlasing in two blocks that are in the
WARE RIVER WATERSHED IBA partially in the towns of Rutland, Barre and
Hubbardston. These two blocks are BARRE11 and BARRE12. These atlas blocks
include Barre Falls Dam; a bit along the Burnshirt River; along Coldbrook
Road; from the Prison Camp north to Rt.62; as well as some other areas. Much
of the habitat is mixed forest along Army Corps of Engineers dirt roads, but
there are also some suburban and rural settlements in Barre11. There are
good stands of hemlock, and even some stands of non-native spruces, but
mostly it is mixed forest with some small rivers and a number of small
beaver marshes. All species appeared to be well into their breeding cycles,
and some species like ravens, crows and hawks even now have fledged young.
We are happy to say that we hit the 20-field hour milestone for both blocks
today. Now it's on to the 20+ hours. Below is a combined list for the two
blocks.
Great Blue Heron: 2 rookeries: one w/12 nests and 21 almost fledged birds
and the other w/11 nests and 24 almost fledged birds. We also saw 3 other
adult birds);
Turkey Vulture (6);
Canada Goose (4);
Wood Duck (1m);
Mallard (pair waddling down a heavily forested road, with no water in sight+
another pair);
Hooded Merganser (2f);
Bald Eagle (1imm-2);: at two different times in both blocks an immature eagle
was seen);
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (1ad: seen very near to where we had one last week);
N Goshawk (1ad);
Red-shouldered Hawk (2);
Broad-winged Hawk (4);
Red-tailed Hawk (3);
Ruffed Grouse (3);
Killdeer (1);
Rock Dove (pair at the dam);
Mourning Dove (9);
Black-billed Cuckoo (1);
Chimney Swift (5);
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (3);
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2);
Hairy Woodpecker (9);
N Flicker (7);
Pileated Woodpecker (1);
E Wood Peewee (7);
Alder Flycatcher (5);
Least Flycatcher (10);
E Phoebe (3);
Great Crested Flycatcher (10);
Eastern Kingbird (10);
Blue-headed Vireo (41: we watched a group of 6 of this species angrily mob a
Blue jay that was definitely trying to rob a nest);
Warbling Vireo (1);
Red-eyed Vireo (112);
Blue Jay (16);
A Crow (3);
C Raven (1);
Tree Swallow (58);
N Rough-winged Swallow (12);
Barn Swallow (42);
Black-capped Chickadee (93);
Tufted Titmouse (18);
Red-breasted Nuthatch (14);
Brown Creeper (13);
House Wren (1);
Winter Wren (2);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (22: a high count for this area);
Eastern Bluebird (4);
Veery (34);
Hermit Thrush (21: these were all over the roads gathering food for
nestlings);
Wood Thrush (8);
A Robin (84);
Gray Catbird (8);
N Mockingbird (1: actually one of the most unexpected birds of the day,
considering the location);
E Starling (6: small farm);
Cedar Waxwing (42: it seemed every stop had a few waxwings if you waited
long enough);
WARBLERS:
Blue-winged (4);
Nashville (4);
Yellow (7);
Chestnut-sided (34);
Magnolia (8);
Black-throated Blue (12);
Yellow-rumped (18);
Black-throated Green (40);
Blackburnian (10);
Pine (24);
Prairie (6);
Black and White (11);
A Redstart (16);
Ovenbird (104);
Northern Waterthrush (1);
C Yellowthroat (36);
Canada (5);
Scarlet Tanager (20);
E Towhee (15);
Chipping Sparrow (61);
Song Sparrow (14);
Swamp Sparrow (8);
White-throated Sparrow (9);
Dark-eyed Junco (3);
N Cardinal (4);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5);
Indigo Bunting (1);
Bobolink (8);
Red-winged Blackbird (80+);
C Grackle (64);
Brown-headed Cowbird (7);
Baltimore Oriole (9);
Purple Finch (16);
House Finch (1);
A Goldfinch (26);
PLUS: Wood Frog (seen);; A Toad (seen);; E Garter Snake (pregnant);; Woodchuck
.
BUTTERFLIES included large numbers of Tiger Swallowtails (94);; Little Wood
Satyrs; Red-spotted Purple (10); and White Admiral (1);; Hobomok Skippers.
Blooms included Bunchberry and Pink Lady~Rs Slipper everywhere; and Pointed
Blue-eyed Grass.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/6/07 -- Institute Park, Worcester
Highlights at noon were 5 Mute Swan (2 ad, 3 young in nest), 2
Eastern Kingbirds (nesting), 2 Cedar Waxwings, 2 Warbling Vireo,
1 Yellow Warbler, 1 Pine Warbler, and 1 Baltimore Oriole.
(report from Rick Quimby).
6/6/07 -- Fitchburg
This morning I birded portions of Atlas Block Fitchburg 7 from 0600 to 0830,
primarily at the High Rock sanctuary and Crocker Conservation Area, but also
at the Nashua River and along Alpine Road. I don't know if it was the late
start or the wind, but things seemed very quiet. Highlights were:
Turkey 4, Turkey Vulture 3, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Wood Pewee 2, Great-crested
Flycatcher 2, Blue-headed Vireo 1, Yellow-throated Vireo 1, Warbling Vireo
1, Red-eyed Vireo 18, House Wren 1, Hermit Thrush
1, Wood Thrush 1, Cedar Waxwing 4,
Nashville warbler 2, Yellow Warbler 2, Chestnut-sided Warbler 4,
Black-throated Blue-Warbler 5, Black-throated Green Warbler 1, Prairie
Warbler 7 (CF), Black&White Warbler 5, Ovenbird 11, Yellowthroat 10,
Scarlet Tanager 2, Towhee 12, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2, Cowbird 3,
Bobolink 8, Baltimore Oriole 1.
(report from Chuck Caron).
6/5/07 -- Charlton
Revisiting a couple places I previously surveyed, a Winter Wren continues
singing in the same spot where I found it May 23. A migrating Mourning
Warber was also heard this morning before work (6-8AM).
(report from Paul Meleski).
6/5/07 -- Leicester
This morning we birded the Breeding Bird Atlas II block of WORCESTER NORTH6.
This is almost entirely in the town of LEICESTER. I did quite a bit of
hiking today: from Rt.56, down the snowmobile path to Mannville Street; from
Mulberry through to Mannville by way of Spider Gates Cemetery; from Mulberry
Street up and over Sylvester Street to Reservoir Street by Lyndebrook
Reservoir; and finally past the dead end of Walbridge Street, and instead of
taking the Greater Worcester Land Trust trails out to Southwick Pond, we
hiked straight almost down to Rt.56. This latter route used to be a
driveable road once many, many years back, because deep in the middle of
the forest, almost obscured by shrubbery, the old street sign still stands
where you cross from Paxton into Leicester! Most of the land here is now
owned by the Worcester Water Department. We also birded the fields around
the airport. Birds today consisted entirely of breeders, with no
non-breeding migrants in evidence. This is our second block (of 9) in
which we have passed the 20 field hour milestone.
Great Blue Heron (2: nb: there is apparently another rookery on the western
edge of this block on private Leicester Water Department property as we have
had birds flying in and out of there);
Green Heron (1);
Canada Goose (pair w/2young and 2 other adults);
Wood Duck (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (3);
Wild Turkey (13);
Spotted Sandpiper (1);
Mourning Dove (15);
BARRED OWL (3)
I hiked Sylvester Street first thing in the morning when it
was overcast and very misty. When I got to along the ridge, it was almost
dark. I began to hear a series of very odd deep hoots and other calls I was
not familiar with. I thought it sounded like a Barred, so I imitated a
Barreds typical call and almost immediately a newly fledged young flew in
and we began a lengthy discussion of call and response, me doing typical
Barred calls, the young bird doing a variety of hoots and calls. Soon, amid
a flock of jays, an adult also flew in behind me, and began the who cooks
for you call as well as the ascending hoot. As I was leaving, two
adults
began to have one of the typical vocal duets or as it is called on the Birds
of North America: Raucous Hoot/Caterwauling, doing the intense call and
response calls that rise in inflection and end in maniacal laughter. It was
quite a show)
Chimney Swift (pair );
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Hairy Woodpecker (1);
N Flicker (1);
E Wood Peewee (10);
Alder Flycatcher (5);
Willow Flycatcher (1);
Least Flycatcher (1);
E Phoebe (7);
Great Crested Flycatcher (2);
E Kingbird (7);
Blue-headed Vireo (1);
Warbling Vireo (1);
Red-eyed Vireo (38);
Blue Jay (38: adults feeding fledged young);
American Crow (13: ditto);
Tree Swallow (1);
Barn Swallow (13);
Black-capped Chickadee (34);
Tufted Titmouse (14);
Red-breasted Nuthatch (4);
White-breasted Nuthatch (1);
Brown Creeper (4: we didnt note this species in this block till today!);
House Wren (8);
Veery (17);
Hermit Thrush (1);
Wood Thrush (22);
A Robin (66);
Gray Catbird (41);
N Mockingbird (1);
E Starling (30+);
Cedar Waxwing (9);
WARBLERS:
Blue-winged (9);
Yellow (6);
Chestnut-sided (18);
Black-throated Blue (9: pair seen mating);
Black-throated Green (4);
Blackburnian (1);
Pine (19);
Prairie (2);
Black and White (7);
A Redstart (21);
Worm-eating (1);
Ovenbird (39);
C Yellowthroat (25);
Scarlet Tanager (15);
E Towhee (12);
Chipping Sparrow (19);
Field Sparrow (1);
Savannah Sparrow (12);
Song Sparrow (23);
N Cardinal (12);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (11);
Indigo Bunting (3);
Bobolink (46);
Red-winged Blackbird (41);
E Meadowlark (7: all carrying food to nests in grass);
C Grackle (27);
Brown-headed Cowbird (6);
Baltimore Oriole (3);
Purple Finch (1);
A Goldfinch (19);
House Sparrow (60+);
PLUS: White-tailed Deer (1);; many Red Efts; blooms included Sarsparilla.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/5/07 -- Ashburnham
This morning in Ashburnham (block Ashburnham 6) highlights were
Canada Goose 2 ad, 2 yng., Common Loon 2, Double-crested
Cormorant 3,
Great Blue Heron 2, Cooper's Hawk 1, Wood-Pewee 2, Phoebe 2, Alder
Flycatcher 1, Least Flycatcher 1, Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 in appropriate
habitat,
Great-crested Flycatcher 2, Kingbird 5, Blue-headed Vireo 4, Red-eyed Vireo
13,
House Wren 5, Winter Wren 1, Veery 7,
Hermit
Thrush 2, Waxwing 12, Yellow Warbler 4,
Magnolia
Warbler 1, Black-throated Blue Warbler 9, Yellow-rumped Warbler 4,
Black-throated Green Warbler 2, Blackburnian Warbler 2, Pine Warbler 2,
Black& White
Warbler 5, Ovenbird 16, Northern Waterthrush 6, Yellowthroat 11, Canada
Warbler
3, Scarlet Tanager 3, Towhee 2, Swamp
Sparrow 8, White-throated Sparrow 2, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1,
Baltimore Oriole 3. (report from
Chuck Caron).
6/3/07 -- Westminster and Ashburnham
Highlights from 0445 to 0945 in
Westminster and Ashburnham (Block Fitchburg 4), again basically covering all
of the
roads in the block: Wood Duck 4, Hooded Merganser 1 female, Turkey 2, Green
Heron 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1,
Hairy Woodpecker 1, Flicker 2, Blue-headed Vireo 6, Warbling
Vireo 1, Red-eyed Vireo 41, Wood Pewee 4, Alder Flycatcher 1, Phoebe 3,
Great-crested Flycatcher 1, Kingbird 8, Creeper 1,
House Wren 9, Veery 6, Hermit Thrush 2, Wood Thrush 10,
Waxwing 8, Yellow Warbler 4, Chestnut-sided Warbler 12,
Black-throated Blue Warbler 3, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, Blackburnian Warbler
1, Prairie Warbler 1, Pine Warbler 3, Black&White Warbler 3, Ovenbird 52,
Northern
Waterthrush 2, Redstart 3, Yellowthroat 22, Scarlet Tanager 5, Towhee 9,
Swamp Sparrow 2, Indigo
Bunting 5
(T), Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4, Bobolink 6, Baltimore Oriole 6,
(report from Chuck Caron).
6/3/07 -- Rutland
This morning we atlased the STERLING3 block in Rutland. This block abuts the
Ware River Watershed IBA and includes a sliver of that land: much of Prison
Camp Road and Longmeadow Brook marshes. This block is also the eastern
adjacent block to the one we atlased Saturday. Most of this block is in the
town of Rutland, which is rapidly being developed. Many of the farms that
would have existed during the first Atlas (1970s); are now housing
developments. Still, a few farms remain. The town has also created a classic
"Rail Trail" that runs through some choice wet woodland. Unfortunately the
two sections of the trail are not connected, likely due to property right of
ways. There are several good-sized well-vegetated ponds in this block, one
of them in a WMA with the rail trail running right beside it. The rest of
the block is typical suburban Massachusetts, with a town hall, churches,
convenience stores, Dunkin Doughnuts et. We birded through most of the AM,
till we got a flat, and I even continued after that until the tow truck
came. The weather was unsettled, with sheets of mist and fog by mid-morning.
Double-crested Cormorant (1imm);
American Bittern (1);
Great Blue Heron (1: the small rookery in this block is now empty);
Canada Goose (6);
Wood Duck (9+1f w/11 yg);
Mallard (4);
Hooded Merganser (7 young+2 f+ 3females that appeared to be together)
These
three adult female Mergansers were watched in a brushy well-vegetated pond. They were
first noticed all together perched atop a Wood Duck box. First one, then
another would carefully peer into the entrance, typically uttering a soft
version of their call. They would also sometimes gently peck each other, but
also often just preened. Then, first one, then another got down into the
water, only to reassemble atop another Wood Duck box near the other. Here
they repeated the same behaviors. But sometimes 1 bird would fly down, swim
and dive a bit, but would soon return to the others atop the box. We watched
them for more than 15 minutes and saw no young emerge from the boxes, though
it seemed they were calling to birds inside. Researching this behavior at
Birds of North America On-Line, I could find no reference to this behavior,
but I was wondering if these females were preparing what is called a
"creche" of ducklings, in which several broods are corraled together after
leaving thier nest holes and watched over by 2 or more females.
Ruffed Grouse (1);
Wild Turkey (2);
Virginia Rail (1);
Killdeer (1);
Spotted Sandpiper (1);
Mourning Dove (11);
Barred Owl (2);
Whip-Poor-Will (4);
Chimney Swift (2);
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Downy Woodpecker (4);
Hairy Woodpecker (5);
N Flicker (4);
Pileated Woodpecker (2);
E Wood Peewee (15);
Alder Flycatcher (12);
Willow Flycatcher (3);
Least Flycatcher (12);
Eastern Phoebe (3);
Great Crested Flycatcher (10);
Eastern Kingbird (33);
Yellow-throated Vireo (5);
Blue-headed Vireo (4);
Warbling Vireo (12);
Red-eyed Vireo (57);
Blue Jay (23);
A Crow (9);
C Raven (1);
Tree Swallow (45: nesting mostly in natural cavities);
Barn Swallow (30+);
Black-capped Chickadee (36);
Tufted Titmouse (20);
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2);
Brown Creeper (9);
Carolina Wren (1);
House Wren (4);
Veery (46);
Hermit Thrush (10);
Wood Thrush (7);
A Robin (90);
Gray Catbird (34);
European Starling (8);
Cedar Waxwing (23);
WARBLERS:
Blue-winged (4);
Yellow (30);
Chestnut-sided (21);
Black-throated Blue (7);
Yellow-rumped (7);
Black-throated Green (14);
Blackburnian (5);
Pine (6);
Prairie (3);
Black and White (9);
A Redstart (13);
Ovenbird (49);
Northern Waterthrush (7);
Louisiana Waterthrush (3 pairs: this block offered an excellent Waterthrush
show today. In one small section of the rail trail, I had birds foraging for
food on the trail right in front of me and two singing birds asserting
territory just over my head);
C Yellowthroat (64);
Canada (4);
Scarlet Tanager (31: we watched 1 female carefully gathering thin grass
blades from the forest floor and carrying them up to her nest);
E Towhee (13);
Chipping Sparrow (29);
Savannah Sparrow (4: These were found on the new schools unmown grass
fields);
Song Sparrow (44);
Swamp Sparrow (25);
N Cardinal (7);
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (8);
Indigo Bunting (2);
Bobolink (5);
Red-winged Blackbird (165+);
C Grackle (40+);
Brown-headed Cowbird (10);
Baltimore Oriole (41);
Purple Finch (2);
House Finch (3);
A Goldfinch (10);
House Sparrow (30+: while waiting for the tow truck, we watched one pair
copulate 15 times in a row in less than 5 minutes);
PLUS: It was a big day for TURTLES to lay their eggs. They were everywhere
where there was dirt, sandy or gravel roads. In one short stretch of the
rail trail next to a pond I counted well over 30 Eastern Painted Turtles and
4 HUGE Snapping Turtles. We spent a lot of time moving turtles off roads
that cars traveled down. This was particularly difficult (and even
dangerous); for the large heavy Snappers, who are famously pugnacious, quick
and in no mood for help after laboring all hours laying eggs. In these cases
you definitely earn the title turtle wrangler. One particularly big
Snapper had even laid its eggs in the middle of the new schools parking
area. ALSO: while hiking at dawn down one section of the rail trail, a
rather huge PORCUPINE lumbered right across my path giving me not even a
turn. The paths were covered with Red Efts. Besides the typical blooms,
there was a nice show of Columbine and Clintonia.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
6/3/07 -- Rutland State Park and Barre Falls Dam
On a Forbush Bird Club trip
to Rutland State Park and Barre Falls Dam, 66 species
were seen or heard. Here is the
complete trip
list.
(trip report from Dick Knowlton fide Joan Gallagher).
6/3/07 -- Asburnham
This morning I birded the Ashburnham 3 block from 5AM to noon. Shamefully, I
have not birded this area very much over the years and its only a few miles
from my home. The Great Egret was a surprise and obviously just a "floater"
and not a breeder. The Am. Bittern was in suitable habitat for this species
in northern worcester county and southern NH.
Species observed:
Canada Goose 4;
American Black Duck 1 flying overhead;
Mallard 1;
Hooded Merganser 2 females in flight;
Ruffed Grouse 2;
Wild Turkey 1;
American Bittern 1;
Great Blue Heron 2;
Great Egret 1;
Green Heron 1;
Northern Goshawk 1;
Virginia Rail 1;
Killdeer 1;
Mourning Dove 8;
Barred Owl 1;
Chimney Swift 2;
Belted Kingfisher 2;
Downy Woodpecker 1;
Hairy Woodpecker 2;
Northern Flicker 2;
Pileated Woodpecker 2;
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2;
Alder Flycatcher 6;
Willow Flycatcher 1;
Eastern Kingbird 3;
Blue-headed Vireo 2;
Red-eyed Vireo 8;
Blue Jay 12;
American Crow 9;
Common Raven 3 2 juv and 1 adult on nest;
Tree Swallow 13;
Bank Swallow 4 nesting a small colony;
Barn Swallow 12;
Black-capped Chickadee 26;
Tufted Titmouse 2;
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2;
White-breasted Nuthatch 2;
Brown Creeper 1;
Winter Wren 1;
Veery 8;
Hermit Thrush 9;
Wood Thrush 1;
American Robin 9;
Gray Catbird 6;
Cedar Waxwing 7;
Nashville Warbler 6;
Yellow Warbler 5;
Chestnut-sided Warbler 4;
Magnolia Warbler 4;
Black-throated Blue Warbler 5;
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6;
Black-throated Green Warbler 14;
Blackburnian Warbler 4;
Pine Warbler 8;
Prairie Warbler 1;
Black-and-white Warbler 10;
American Redstart 1;
Ovenbird 22;
Northern Waterthrush 2;
Common Yellowthroat 18;
Canada Warbler 8;
Scarlet Tanager 4;
Eastern Towhee 5;
Chipping Sparrow 4;
Field Sparrow 1;
Song Sparrow 5;
Swamp Sparrow 7;
White-throated Sparrow 9;
Northern Cardinal 1;
Indigo Bunting 1;
Red-winged Blackbird 21;
Common Grackle 39;
Brown-headed Cowbird 4;
Baltimore Oriole 2;
Purple Finch 3;
American Goldfinch 8;;
For the most part everything above was in suitable breeding habitat with the
exception of the Great Egret.
Here are a few
photos from this morning
(report from Tom Pirro).
6/2/07 -- Ashburnham
Highlights from 0500 to 1015 in Ashburnham (Block
Ashburnham 5 and a little in Ashburnham 4), basically covering all of the
roads in
the block: Canada Geese 29 adults and 6 young, Wood Duck 13,
Black Duck 3, Hooded Merganser 1 female, Killdeer 2, Herring Gull 1,
Barred Owl 1 (scared the daylights out of me when it started calling
from
a tree about 30 feet away from me just after dawn), Hummingbird 1, Sapsucker
1, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Flicker 1, Wood Pewee 8, Least
Flycatcher 1, Alder Flycatcher 3, Phoebe 5, Great-crested Flycatcher 5,
Kingbird
6 (CN), Blue-headed Vireo 6, Red-eyed Vireo 27, Raven 2
adults and 3 young (These birds were in the middle of Harris Road. The
three
juveniles were almost as large as the parents. They had a large egg that
the
young kept trying to break open while the parents nervously watched from
perches or flew back and forth over the young calling. Eventually one of
the adults
landed and broke the egg open.), Brown Creeper 1, House
Wren 1,
Winter Wren 2, Veery 12, Hermit Thrush 3, Wood Thrush 2, Cedcar Waxwing 12
(Interestingly, on 5/31 in
Ashburnham 6,
I had 51 waxwings in three large flocks, but today all 12 birds were in
pairs.), Magnolia Warbler 1, Black-throated Blue Warbler 6, Yellow-rumped
Warbler
4, Black-throated Green Warbler 4, Blackburnian Warbler 1, Pine Warbler 2,
Black&White Warbler 1, Ovenbird 45, Northern Waterthrush 3, Yellowthroat 19
(CN),
Canada Warbler 2, Scarlet Tanager 7,
Swamp Sparrow 23, White-throated Sparrow 3, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak 5, Bobolink 1,
Baltimore Oriole 7, Purple Finch 3.
(report from Chuck Caron).
6/2/07 -- Grafton
This morning, I checked out Nelson Pond in Grafton (off of Route 30), part
of MILFORD 1. Highlights were:
Double-crested Cormorant - 5 (1 adult and 4 immature);
Canada Goose - 11 (plus 8 young);
Wood Duck - 5;
Osprey - 2 (While one bird was on the nest, the other came in with what
looked like a snake. I did not see the actual exchange because the nest
was blocked. However, when I observed the nest next, it looked as though
the bird on the nest was tearing apart the snake and feeding pieces to
young in the nest that were not visible to me.);
Spotted Sandpiper - 1;
Northern Flicker - 3;
Willow Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Phoebe - 3;
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Kingbird - 2 pair;
Tree Swallow - 8;
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1;
Cedar Waxwing - 5;
Gray Catbird - 8;
Warbling Vireo - 6;
Blue-winged Warbler - 2;
Yellow Warbler - 8;
Prairie Warbler - 1;
Common Yellowthroat - 3;
Eastern Towhee - 1;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1;
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1;
Baltimore Oriole - 6;;
(report from John Liller).
6/2/07 -- Hodges/northern half Buffumville Lake ACE, Oxford/Charlton
I spent around 5 hours this morning surveying Hodges Village Dam ACE in
Oxford and the northern half of Buffumville Lake ACE in Charlton. Most of
the areas surveyed were in Atlas Block Worcester South 6. Any
semi-significant observations in Webster 4 and are so noted, as some trails
peripherally crossed into the block at the southern end. The river marsh
vegetation is now only beginning to recover after being inundated by the
earlier season heavy rains. Marsh growth should have been further along by
this time. Maybe a late season nesting or better luck next year for any
waterfowl or marsh breeders.
Mosquitoes at Hodges were horrendous. Deer Flies making their introduction
for the year. 2 Eastern Cottontail, 3 Red Squirrel, 1 Beaver, 1 Woodchuck
and 1 White-tailed Deer were recorded, as were 4 Deer Ticks before they were
flushed down the sink.
Highlights:
Hodges Village Dam
Habitat: River bottomland with hemlock swamp, pine/oak upland on periphery
Wood Duck 4 (2pr);;
Double-crested Cormorant 1 (calling on a pond before flying off);;
Green Heron 1( low flyover);;
Wild Turkey 1 (hen);;
Killdeer 3;
Northern Flicker 1;
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1;
Hairy Woodpecker 1;
White-breasted Nuthatch (carrying food);;
Brown Creeper 2;
House Wren 4;
Eastern Bluebird 1;
Wood Thrush 2;
Veery 5;
Willow Flycatcher 1;
Eastern Phoebe 2;
Eastern Kingbird 3;
Great Crested Flycatcher 2;
Eastern Wood-pewee 11;
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 (Webster 4);;
Cedar Waxwing 6;
Gray Catbird 18;
Brown Thrasher 2;
Yellow-throated Vireo 2 (1 Worc S 6, 1 Webster 4);;
Warbling Vireo 6;
Red-eyed Vireo 7;
Blue-winged Warbler 1;
Black-and-white Warbler 2;
Pine Warbler 6;
Prairie Warbler 4;
Yellow Warbler 14;
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3;
Black-throated Green Warbler 1;
Northern Waterthrush 1;
Ovenbird 6;
Common Yellowthroat 11;
Eastern Towhee 10;
Field Sparrow 1;
Swamp Sparrow 1;
Scarlet Tanager 6;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2;
Baltimore Oriole 7 (incl f on nest);
Buffumville Lake ACE
Habitat: Undeveloped lake edge, pine/oak upland.
Hairy Woodpecker 1(very agitated at me);;
Eastern Wood-pewee 6;
Eastern Kingbird 2 (pr); (Nest building);;
Eastern Phoebe 1;
Great Crested Flycatcher;
Wood Thrush 3;
Gray Catbird 5;
Warbling Vireo 5;
Red-eyed Vireo 10;
Pine Warbler 9;
Black-and-white Warbler 1;
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4;
Ovenbird 9;
Common Yellowthroat 2;
Song Sparrow (carrying food);;
Scarlet Tanager 2;
Baltimore Oriole 3;;
(report from Paul Meleski).
6/2/07 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
This morning, in addition to the species that were reported yesterday
around the bushy island in Clinton there were: 1 male Blue-winged Teal, 2
Dunlin in breeding plumage, 3 Semi-palmated Plovers and a mixed group of
20-25 Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. On May 30th I saw the Common Loon
incubating on the nest on the loon platform near Wood Island.
I learned today from reservoir security that the reservoir is being lowered
in anticipation of improvements to be made to the dam spillway. Work will
begin at the end of June and continue until November. The reservoir will be
kept low until then. Also there is one baby eagle in the nest. Bill Davis or
someone will be banding it next week.
(report from Bart Kamp).
6/2/07 -- Ware River Watershed
We spent 10 hours (collectively) birding BARRE12, a Breeding Bird Atlas
block smack in the middle of the Ware River Watershed IBA. This block
includes the 3 Army Corps of Engineers flood control dikes (which I did
hike); Blood Swamp; Elm Avenue, most of Coldbrook Road and the Rt.122
bridge over the Ware River. But this block does NOT include Muddy Pond,
Whitehall Pond, most of Prison Camp Road or the important Longmeadow Marshes
(those are in the block to the east). The habitat is dense mixed forest,
with some nice hemlock stands; some fields, most overgrown; criss-crossed
with Army Corps dirt roads and power lines. There are a number of beaver
marshes, but no large standing water like a pond or lake. The small Ware
River wends it's way through much of the block. Because this is pretty much
solid forest, we had NO Rock Pigeons, starlings, English Sparrows, House
Finches et. Since we have been doing breeding surveys of this area for
several decades, for the most part we knew where to look for certain key
species. BUT: The mosquitoes, black flies and Deer Flies were positively
plague-like today making atlasing very difficult and unpleasant at times.
Great Blue Heron (4: the rookery had only 1 adult standing on the nest);
Canada Goose (pair w/2yg);
Wood Duck (pair);
Mallard (2m);
Hooded Merganser (1f);
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (1ad: zoomed across a beaver marsh low, mobbed by
kingbirds and redwings);
Broad-winged Hawk (pair+1);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Ruffed Grouse (1: drumming is starting to decrease in frequency);
Wild Turkey (1 female w/at least 3 tiny yg+ another female);
Virginia Rail (1);
Mourning Dove (6);
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2);
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2);
Downy Woodpecker (1);
Hairy Woodpecker (3: w/1 nest w/yng);
N Flicker (1);
Pileated Woodpecker (1);
E Wood Peewee (11);
Alder Flycatcher (8);
Least Flycatcher (12);
E Phoebe (2);
Great Crested Flycatcher (5);
E Kingbird (13: nest found);
Yellow-throated Vireo (4);
Blue-headed Vireo (26: pair watched carrying food);
Warbling Vireo (5);
Red-eyed Vireo (45);
Blue Jay (26: fledged young being fed);
A Crow (3);
Common Raven (1);
Tree Swallow (32: nesting in natural cavities and boxes);
Barn Swallow (20+: 1 colony under bridge);
Black-capped Chickadee (52: we both came across several flocks of birds that
were adults with fledged young);
Tufted Titmouse (5);
Red-breasted Nuthatch (18);
White-breasted Nuthatch (7);
Brown Creeper (8: several nests found);
House Wren (1);
Winter Wren (2);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (12);
Veery (31: 1 bird flushed off nest);
Hermit Thrush (19);
Wood Thrush (6);
A Robin (31);
Gray Catbird (20);
Cedar Waxwing (22);
WARBLERS:
Blue-winged (3);
Nashville (4: about average for this area);
N Parula (1: our only non-breeding migrant today);
Yellow (5);
Chestnut-sided (45);
Magnolia (11);
Black-throated Blue (11);
Yellow-rumped (15);
Black-throated Green (39);
Blackburnian (18);
Pine (23);
Prairie (11);
Black and White (29);
A Redstart (6);
Ovenbird (81);
Northern Waterthrush (3);
C Yellowthroat (48);
Canada (5);
Scarlet Tanager (28);
E Towhee (32);
Chipping Sparrow (35);
Field Sparrow (9);
Song Sparrow (12);
Swamp Sparrow (7);
White-throated Sparrow (2: low);
Rose-breatsed Grosbeak (13);
Indigo Bunting (5);
Bobolink (7);
Red-winged Blackbird (81);
C Grackle (57);
Brown-headed Cowbird (11);
Baltimore Oriole (18);
PURPLE FINCH (16+ 3 newly fldged yg; we also oberved another female carrying
food);
A Goldfinch (17);
PLUS: White-tailed Deer; several Beavers; several huge Snapping Turtles
laying eggs; Bull Frogs (at one small beaver marsh located in a deep,
steep-sided kettle hole, the chorus of the numerous bulfrogs was positively
deafening);; Green Frogs; Gray Tree Frogs; Red Efts.
The numerous odes included a good number of River Jewelwings. Butterflies
included an amazing count of (97); Tiger Swallowtails and several Pepper and
Salt Skippers.
Blooms included the ever present Canada Mayflower; huge beds of Lilly of the
Valley; many Pink Lady's Slipper; and a nice show of Columbine.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll)
6/1/07 -- Fitchburg and Westminster
Highlights from 0600 to 0730 in
Westminster and Fitchburg (Block Fitchburg 7), mostly on Bean Porridge Hill
and
Potato Hill Roads in Westminster and McIntire Road in Fitchburg: Wood Duck
8,
Green-winged Teal 1 female, Great Blue Heron 1,
Hairy Woodpecker 1, Least Flycatcher 2, Alder Flycatcher 1, Wood Pewee 2,
Kingbird 5 (ON), Blue-headed Vireo 1, Warbling Vireo 2, Red-eyed Vireo 7,
House Wren 1, Veery 1, Wood Thrush 1,
Cedar
Waxwing 2, Chestnut-sided Warbler 3, Black-throated Blue Warbler 2,
Black-throated
Green Warbler 1, Pine Warbler 1, Black&White Warbler 2, Ovenbird 4,
Redstart
1, Common Yellowthroat 15, Swamp
Sparrow 2 (CF), Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1, Bobolink 1, Baltimore Oriole 6.
(report from Chuck Caron).
6/1/07 -- Grafton
This morning, Kim Kastler and I checked out several locations in the
Grafton section of the MILFORD 2 block. We began at Fisherville Pond,
both behind the Riverview Apartments and along the power lines. Our best
sighting here was not avian; we watched as 6 different Snapping Turtles
layed eggs behind the Riverview Apartments. (The smallest had a carapace
of about 10 inches in length, the largest and probably the oldest had a
carapace of over 20 inches in length.); We then moved on to Dauphinais
Park, with a quick stop along the Blackstone in Sutton. We finished by
checking out the marsh behind St. Philip's Cemetery. Highlights:
FISHERVILLE POND:
Double-crested Cormorant - 3 (immatures);;
Great Blue Heron - 4;
Red-tailed Hawk - 2 (plus 1 young bird on nest);;
Black-billed Cuckoo - 1;
Chimney Swift - 4 (feeding off surface of water);;
Northern Flicker - 2;
Willow Flycatcher - 2;
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Kingbird - 4;
Bank Swallow - 1;
Cedar Waxwing - 3;
Brown Thrasher - 2;
Warbling Vireo - 3;
Blue-winged Warbler - 2;
Yellow Warbler - 7;
Prairie Warbler - 2;
Common Yellowthroat - 3;
Eastern Towhee - 1;
Field Sparrow - 1;
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 3;
Baltimore Oriole - 3;
Orchard Oriole - 1 male (in same location as week before);;;
SUTTON:
Spotted Sandpiper - 2 (courtship display);
DAUPHINAIS PARK:
Red-tailed Hawk - 2;
Chimney Swift - 1;
Willow Flycatcher - 1;
Eastern Phoebe - 1;
Blue-winged Warbler - 2;
Pine Warbler - 1;
Prairie Warbler - 1;
Ovenbird - 2;
Common Yellowthroat - 1;
Scarlet Tanager - 1;
Eastern Towhee - 2;
Field Sparrow - 1;;
ST. PHILIP'S CEMETERY
Great Blue Heron - 1;
Wood Duck - 3 (including female w/ 8 young);;
Hooded Merganser - 1 female;
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 (plus 2 young on nest);;
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1;
Hairy Woodpecker - 1;
Northern Flicker - 2 (both entering possible nest hole);;
Eastern Kingbird - 1;
Tree Swallow - 8 (including two birds entering and exiting hole);;
House Wren - 1;
Eastern Bluebird - 3 (including pair bringing food to young in cavity);;
Warbling Vireo - 1;
House Finch - 1;
Yellow Warbler - 1;
Common Yellowthroat - 2;
Baltimore Oriole - 2;;
(report from John Liller).
6/1/07 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At noon today on the sand bars around the bushy island at Wachusett
Reservoir in Clinton there were 5 Black-bellied Plovers, 5 RUDDY TURNSTONES
and 2 Bonaparte's Gulls.
(report from Bart Kamp).
6/1/07 -- Paxton/Leicester
We started the morning hiking the wonderful SOUTHWICK POND property of the
GREATER WORCESTER LAND TRUST . This area is in our Breeding Bird Atlas
block: WORCESTER NORTH6 ( http://users.rcn.com/gwlt/images/southwick.gif );.
The trailhead is at the end of Walbridge Street off Rt. 122 in Paxton where
there is parking at the dead-end cul-de-sac. It is a great place to hike and
bird, with lots of Mountain Laurel understory, wet woods and then along the
edge of a big pond. The trails are well signed and well maintained. Habitat
is mixed forest, but at one point the trail also runs along the edge of a
brushy field. The only downside was that the wooden bridge/trail out to the
cuaseway between two ponds had been damaged, was under water and therefore
unpassable. Birds seen/heard this morning were likely all breeders:
Great Blue Heron (1);
Broad-winged Hawk (1);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
Hairy Woodpecker (1);
Eastern Wood Peewee (6);
Great Crested Flycatcher (1);
Eastern Kingbird (3);
Black-capped Chickadee (10);
Tufted Titmouse (5);
Blue Jay (2);
Red-eyed Vireo (6);
Veery (4);
Wood Thrush (4);
A Robin (4);
Gray Catbird (4);
Blue-winged Warbler (1);
Yellow Warbler (2);
Chestnut-sided Warbler (1);
Black-throated Blue Warbler (4 singing males);
Black and White Warbler (3);
Ovenbird (5);
C Yellowthroat (3);
Scarlet Tanager (8);
Song Sparrow (2);
N Cardinal (1);
Rose-broasted Grosbeak (4);
Indigo Bunting (1);
Red-winged Blackbird (4);
C Grackle (15+);
Brown-headed Cowbird (5);
Baltimore Oriole (6);
A Goldfinch (2);
PLUS; The forest floor was covered with Canadian Mayflower and there were a
few Jack In The Pulpits too. Red Efts were all over the trail, making an
obstacle course of our hike.
AFTER: Staying in Worcester North6, we headed to the roads behind Worcetser
Airport. Here we had:
Common Loon (2 ad br flying overhead, low);
Wild Turkey (11);
N Flicker (2);
Alder Flycatcher (2);
Veery (1);
Gray Catbird (10);
Red-eyed Vireo (10);
WARBLERS:
Blue-winged (1);
Chestnut-sided (5);
Black and White (2);
A Redstart (14);
Ovenbird (3);
C Yellowthroat (4);
Savannah Sparrow (5);
Song Sparrow (8);
Indigo Bunting (3);
Bobolink (40+);
Red-winged Blackbird (4);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
For previous sightings, see
May 2007 Archives or
Archive Index
