June 2009 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:

• ONGOING -- Asian Longhorned Beetle Information
• 6/14/09 -- WICN radio interview with naturalist BERND HEINRICH
• 6/28/09 -- WICN radio interview with artist BARRY VAN DUSEN

Bird Sightings:

 

6/27/09 -- Lunenburg

A group of Central MA atlasers gathered together this morning to "block bust" AYER 1, an atlas block in LUNENBURG. The atlasers were Dan Berard, Deb Berard, Sheila Carroll, Marci Driscoll, Mark Lynch and Pat White. We are starting to have this blockbusting pretty well knocked. Sheila and I do a 3-5 hour run-through the block the week before to get the lay of the land, locate any habitats that will need special attention (like refuges, conservation lands et) , and decide how to most effectively divide up the territory. This is critical because we need to be able to inform atlasers ahead of time whether they should be prepared to hike. We are also able to note the common species, and make a target list based on those sightings. Typically common species like chickadee and titmouse are even "Confirmed" during this run-through, so atlasers are more focused on less common species, typically the migrants, waterfowl and raptors. Atlasers are given their territory and the species list before hand. In the field we keep in touch via cell-phone tree system. We then meet at some local place in the afternoon to eat and compile. It's really fun "birding with a purpose".

Today we recorded 80 species, versus the 44 species recorded during 1974 atlasing. Among the 50 CONFIRMED species were: Wood Duck; Virginia Rail, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, three vireo species, Red-breasted Nuthatch (just fledged young found and photo'd), Veery, Scarlet Tanager and Swamp Sparrow. A number of warbler species were confirmed too, including Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue (always tough), Yellow-rumped, Pine, Prairie, Black and White, Northern Waterthrush, and Common Yellowthroat.

There were an additional 8 PROBABLE and 22 POSSIBLE species noted. Interesting species found in these categories included Mute Swan (3 adults), Cooper's Hawk, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Hermit and Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Indigo Bunting. Only one lone Rock Pigeon was found despite considerable efforts to confirm its presence in the block: such is blockbusting!

The swans were a particularly interesting find and confirm that they are now found south to north in the County. They have already been CONFIRMED in Ayer 2, the block below this one. In about 2 decades this species has spread up the Blackstone Corridor from Rhode Island into towns like Westborough, Southborough, Northborough and Marlborough and now up into Lunenburg.
Another really successful day of block busting atlasing! Congratulations and THANKS to all involved. See photos on Sheila's blog. (report from Mark Lynch).

6/26/09 -- East Brookfield

While atlasing a block in East Brookfield Friday, we witnessed a male Baltimore Oriole bringing food to a nest far out near the tip of a branch in a small tree. As it got to the nest, the oriole was viciously attacked by two Eastern Kingbirds, who attacked the bird with such fury that they drove it to the ground and even then continued to attack it. Eventually the oriole flew to a nearby tree, took refuge deep in the foliage, and periodically called. One of the kingbirds returned to its nest -- about 3 feet further down on the same branch as the orioles nest! There it sat tight on the nest while its mate perched atop the tree and began to venture out to catch some insects. We stayed for a while, but though the oriole continued to call near the nest, it never ventured close to the nest again. Under the nest we found a broken egg and a primary feather of a male oriole. (report from Mark Lynch).

6/23/09 -- Lunenburg

We spent the morning atlasing a block that centers on LUNENBURG, Ayer 1. The weather was overcast, but actually mostly free of rain. The largest body of water in the AYER 1 block is Hickory Hills Lake, a rather private recreational lake with extremely little public access. The Mulpus Brook, which flows out of this lake, is one of the tributaries of the Nashua River. Here are details of this area. Along both the north and south banks of this brook is a nice parcel of conserved land with well marked trails , the Cowdry Nature Center Property. Obviously, the breeding season is well under way.
Species recorded: Great Blue Heron (3); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (1); Wood Duck (4m); A Black Duck (1: possible nester); Mallard (4m); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Virginia Rail (7); Mourning Dove (9: some starting a second nesting); Chimney Swift (4); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2+1ad w/3 just fledged yg); Downy Woodpecker (13); Hairy Woodpecker (4); N Flicker (8); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Pewee (6); Willow Flycatcher (2); E Phoebe (16: several fledged yg seen); Great Crested Flycatcher (3); E Kingbird (8); Blue-headed Vireo (4); Warbling Vireo (2); Red-eyed Vireo (32); Blue Jay (15); A Crow (9); Tree Swallow (28); Black-capped Chickadee (57); Tufted Titmouse (40); Red-breasted Nuthatch (1); White-breasted Nuthatch (20); Brown Creeper (5); Carolina Wren (6); House Wren (7); Veery (1); Hermit Thrush (1); Wood Thrush (9); A Robin (44); Gray Catbird (55); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (9); Cedar Waxwing (4);

WARBLERS: Yellow (1); Chestnut-sided (1); Black-throated Blue (1); Yellow-rumped (5); Black-throated Green (2); Pine (13: including an adult f feeding a just fledged cowbird); Prairie (4); Black and White (4); A Redstart (6); Ovenbird (2); Northern Waterthrush (1); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (15);

Scarlet Tanager (5); E Towhee (5); Chipping Sparrow (51); Song Sparrow (17); Swamp Sparrow (18); N Cardinal (41); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Indigo Bunting (4); Red-winged Blackbird (64); C Grackle (53); Brown-headed Cowbird (12); Purple Finch (1f); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (22); House Sparrow (40+);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/21/09 -- St Philips Cemetery, Grafton

I saw my first Black-crowned Night Heron at St Philips today. It was perched on a branch at the far right of the wetlands hear the open land and houses. The two Green Herons are there as well as two Great-blue Herons and Eastern Bluebirds who are nesting in a snag in the middle part of the wetlands. Pictures are on my blog. (report from Kimberly Allen).

6/21/09 -- Southbridge

We spent the morning atlasing in SOUTHBRIDGE, where despite the rain and mist, there was still a lot of breeding activity. This area on the Connecticut border still has some interesting wet woodland lots and hemlock areas in between houses. Here can still be found small remnant populations of species like Alder Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and warblers like Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green and Blue. Unfortunately, much of this area is still being developed. Thanks to the Opcaum Land Trust, at least some parcels have been saved. Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (3); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (4); Ruffed Grouse (1); Wild Turkey (1ad+3yg); Virginia Rail (2: excellent cattail marsh, north end of Morse Pond); Killdeer (2); Rock Pigeon (12: we birded mostly well south of the town, otherwise this number would be much greater); Mourning Dove (6: fledged young seen); Barred Owl (1); Chimney Swift (2: again, many more IN town); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (7); Hairy Woodpecker (7); N Flicker (1); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Pewee (12); Alder Flycatcher (2); Willow Flycatcher (2); E Phoebe (13); E Kingbird (7: fledged young seen); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Blue-headed Vireo (2); Warbling Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (31); Blue Jay (6); A Crow (25: fledged young found); Tree Swallow (2); Bank Swallow (7); Barn Swallow (28); Black-capped Chickadee (42); Tufted Titmouse (15); Red-breasted Nuthatch (3); White-breasted Nuthatch (7); Brown Creeper (1); Carolina Wren (5); House Wren (4); E Bluebird (3); Veery (22); Wood Thrush (7); A Robin (22); Gray Catbird (35); N Mockingbird (3); E Starling (29: many fledged yg); Cedar Waxwing (6);

WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); Yellow (3); Black-throated Blue (1); Yellow-rumped (1); Black-throated Green (8); Pine (17); Prairie (1); Black and White (5); Ovenbird (25); C Yellowthroat (12);

Scarlet Tanager (7); E Towhee (4); Chipping Sparrow (38); Song Sparrow (10); Swamp Sparrow (4); N Cardinal (20); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Indigo Bunting (3); Bobolink (2); Red-winged Blackbird (50+); C Grackle (59: many fledged yg); Brown-headed Cowbird (16); Baltimore Oriole (4); House Finch (8); Pine Siskin (4); A Goldfinch (11); House Sparrow (71);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/14/09 -- Southbridge

Seen/heard while atlasing in SOUTHBRIDGE today: Great Blue Heron (2); Turkey Vulture (6); Canada Goose (40ad+57yg); Mallard (1f w/9yg+2m); Hooded Merganser (1f w/4yg); Red-shouldered Hawk (pair); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Killdeer (3); Spotted Sandpiper (3); Rock Pigeon (51); Mourning Dove (49); Chimney Swift (68); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (4); N Flicker (6); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Pewee (8); Willow Flycatcher (3); E Phoebe (14); Great Crested Flycatcher (4); Eastern Kingbird (16); Yellow-throated Vireo (3); Blue-headed Vireo (3); Warbling Vireo (12); Red-eyed Vireo (34); Blue Jay (22); A Crow (26); Tree Swallow (68+); N Rough-winged Swallow (25+); Bank Swallow (20+); Barn Swallow (77); Black-capped Chickadee (18); Tufted Titmouse (44); Brown Creeper (1); House Wren (13); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1); Eastern Bluebird (4ad); Veery (14); Wood thrush (5); A Robin (68); Gray Catbird (31); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (62); Cedar Waxwing (7);

WARBLERS: Yellow (14); Black-throated Blue (1); Pine (16); Prairie (1); Black and White (2); A Redstart (16); Ovenbird (27); C Yellowthroat (16);

Scarlet Tanager (4); E Towhee (6); Chipping Sparrow (47); Song Sparrow (35); N Cardinal (5); Indigo Bunting (1); Red-winged Blackbird (100+); C Grackle (118); Brown-headed Cowbird (19); Baltimore Oriole (45ad+12 newly fledged yg); House Finch (24); Pine Siskin (3); House Sparrow (98); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/13/09 -- Sturbridge/Warren

Today another determined group of birders met and "blockbusted" WARREN 9 , a block mostly in Sturbridge, for the Breeding Bird Atlas II. The atlasers were Dan Berard, Dan Berard Jr., Deb Berard, Kevin Bourinot, Sheila Carroll, Lisa Hennin, Mark Lynch, Pauline Metras, Kathy Mills, Bill Rasku, and Thomas Sharp (see group photo in Sheila Carroll's blog). We broke into 5 teams and covered the block for 4.5 hours each, meeting for lunch in Spencer to compile data.

Like last week's effort, teams kept in touch via cell phones using a phone tree system. In this way, the entire group kept up with what species was already "Confirmed" and what species still needed to be found or more closely observed. Now that we have 2 blockbusting efforts under our belts, the feeing by all involved is that this is a fun and efficient way to survey a block. Though this technique is not as thorough as spending 20+ hours observing stretched over several months, blockbusting is still an amazingly successful strategy.

WARREN 9 is a very varied and productive block, with several ponds, some nice power-line cut-overs, and the western sections of WELLS STATE PARK . Today we managed 93 species in a morning's effort with 57 species CONFIRMED, 12 PROBABLE, and 24 POSSIBLE and 2 OBSERVED. Compare this to a total of 62 species found in Atlas 1.

• CONFIRMED species included Great Blue Heron (active rookery in state park); Wood Duck, Red-tailed and Broad-winged Hawks, Brown Creeper (all over the park), four species of vireos, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (sev. teams); Cedar Waxwing, Field Sparrow, . Confirmed warblers included Blue-winged, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine, Prairie, Ovenbird and Common Yellowthroat.
• PROBABLE species included Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black and White Warbler.
• POSSIBLE species included Turkey Vulture, Virginia Rail, Winter Wren, Common Raven and ACADIAN FLYCATCHER (Wells SP: seen and well observed for 40+ minutes). Possible warbler species included Black-throated Blue, Northern Waterthrush, and Canada all species notoriously difficult to observe closely.
• Two species were listed as just "Observed": Double-crested Cormorants (3 fly-overs) and Osprey (we were VERY close to the active nest the next block over).

Many, many thanks to the dedicated Central MA atlasers who participated today! (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/12/09 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Daily sightings have settled down to the (probable) nesting species: Mute Swan, Mallard, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, N. Flicker, Tufted Titmouse, Am. Robin, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Pine Warbler, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, and Am. Goldfinch. Also of note today was a calling Willow Flycatcher, and yesterday there was a Black-crowned Night-Heron (2nd year). (report from Rick Quimby).

6/10/09 -- downtown Worcester

I was able to go up to the Fallon building today with Emily Eaton to get pictures of the Peregrine Falcon chicks. Two of the three female chicks were outside of the nest box. Photos and details can be found on my blog. (report from Kimberly Allen).

6/9/09 -- Wachusett Meadows Sanctuary, Princeton

Update on the Wachusett Meadow Heron Rookery Status:

Late last summer the beaver dam (which is not on MAS property)
breached and the lake drained. The beaver never made an attempt to
rebuild, thus the water level is not sufficient to support the
rookery. GB herons will not nest where there is no water.I think the
main reason is probably fear of predation.(racoons etc). They did
arrive right on schedule this spring but quickly moved on. There is a
Green heron apparently somewhere in the immediate vicinity because we
see and hear it out in the swamp almost daily. In addition there have
been several sightings of Am. Bittern although we have not heard them,
so my guess is they were passers by. Of interest is the extensive mud
flats that have been created and the sighting of some shorebird types
that were not previously known here. There were 2 Pectoral sandpipers 
on May 2nd, a first for the sanctuary. A Solitary was present right thru
Bird-a-thon and we have had reports of Greater yellowlegs. Killdeer
are a constant presence, probably breeding somewhere out there. We
will be watching for more of that activity as the fall migration gets
under way.

(report from Dick Knowlton).

6/7/09 -- Barre Falls/Ware R. watershed

Here is the complete trip list for the species recorded on the Forbush Bird Club trip. (report from Dick and Peg Knowlton)

6/7/09 -- Brookfields and Warren

Sunday we did some very "directed" atlasing in two of our blocks in the Brookfields. At this time of the year you start working on "upgrading" particular species from POSSIBLE to PROBABLE to CONFIRMED. You know where to go. It's just a waiting game to observe some breeding behavior.

Among the birds we had in the Brookfields were: Great Blue Heron (1: there are small rookeries all around our blocks); Canada Goose (17ad+12yg); Wood Duck (3m); Mallard (pair); Hooded Merganser (1f flew out of a tree cavity and began to wildly circle the small pond around and around calling, then perching in the water near the cavity. We were making her nervous, waiting for her young to leave the hole, so we left); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Wild Turkey (2); Virginia Rail (5); COMMON MOORHEN (1: obviously a surprise. Found in a small isolated marshy pond, w/perfect habitat); Killdeer (4: first broods have already fledged in several locations); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Belted Kingfisher (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (4); Hairy Woodpecker (5); E Wood Pewee (9); Alder Flycatcher (2); Willow Flycatcher (4); Least Flycatcher (4); E Phoebe (11: we saw adults feeding fledged young); E Kingbird (4: several nests found and photo?d); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Blue-headed Vireo (3); Warbling Vireo (14); Red-eyed Vireo (65); N Rough-winged Swallow (3); Bank Swallow (2); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1); E Bluebird (pair feeding young in tree stub in small marsh, next to a Tree Swallow nest also in a tree stub); Veery (9); Wood thrush (3);

WARBLERS: Blue-winged (3); Yellow (31); Chestnut-sided (7); Black-throated Blue (3); Black-throated Green (5); Pine (14); Prairie (4); Black and White (1); A Redstart (12); WORM-EATING (1: still calling in same place for 2 years running); Ovenbird (22); Northern Waterthrush (2); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (25); Canada (2);

Scarlet Tanager (16); E Towhee (7); Field Sparrow (only 1); Swamp Sparrow (20); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3); Indigo Bunting (6); Bobolink (55+); Baltimore Oriole (11);

Then we headed over to our block in nearby WARREN. We had found an overlook of the heavily forested, steep chain of hills that include Colonel's Mountain, that run down the western part of our block. From that overlook in less than an hour we had: BLACK VULTURE (1: still present); Turkey Vulture (13: minimal count of birds seen all at once, but actual count of total birds may have been much higher as birds were seen heading out and not returning); Red-shouldered Hawk (2); Broad-winged Hawk (4); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Common Raven (1);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/6/09 -- South Quabbin Park, Quabbin Reservoir

Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip were Common Loon, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher (found by Fran McMenemy), Yellow-Throated Vireo and many Orioles. Here is the complete list of the 68 bird species recorded. (report from John Shea, fide Joan Gallagher).

6/6/09 -- Southbridge

This morning a hale and hearty group of the Central MA atlasers attempted our first BLOCKBUSTING party for the BREEDING BIRD ATLAS II. We "busted" SOUTHBRIDGE 8, an interesting block on the Connecticut border. This block is in Southbridge and Sturbridge, south of Rt. 20. Rt. 84 runs through the block. The birding features of this block include the western section of West Hill Dam (A.C.E.); and a large parcel of forested land on the state border with several trailheads. Permission was granted to visit a string of small reservoirs typically off limits to the public. A small section of the Leadmine WMA is also in this block.

The Blockbusters consisted of (see group photo on Sheila Carroll's blog): Dan Berard Sr; Dan Berard Jr,; Deb Berard; Kevin Bourinot; Sheila Carroll, Rebecca Ciborowski; Alex Dunn; Simon Hennin; Mark Lynch; Paul Meleski; Jane Moosbruker and Steve Sutton. We broke into 5 parties, began at 7AM and met for the compilation at noon. All parties had copies of the topo maps for the block and were assigned specific areas to work in. A previous morning scouting the block enabled us to generate a hit list, and knowledge of the habitat and birds in central Massachusetts allowed us to arrive at a pretty comprehensive target list of possible species. We stayed in constant contact via cell phones, using a phone tree system so all anyone had to do was to call 1 person every time a species was upgraded or "Confirmed". This system worked fairly well, though there were some dead areas in the block for phone reception.

In this one morning 93 species were recorded, versus 42 species in Atlas 1!!!!!. Of those: 52 were "Confirmed"; 14 "Probable" and 27 "Possible". Interesting species in the confirmed and probable category: Osprey (pair on nest just off Rt.84); Pileated Woodpecker; Great Crested Flycatcher (nest found); Blue-headed Vireo (local in this part of the County); Bank Swallow; Red-breasted Nuthatch (ditto); Veery; Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush; Field Sparrow; Indigo Bunting; Purple Finch and Pine Siskin (fledged young w/ad). Confirmed warblers included: Blue-winged; Yellow; Black-Throated Blue; Yellow-rump; Black-throated Green; Pine; Prairie; Black and White; Redstart; Ovenbird; Louisiana Waterthrush; C. Yellowthroat. Other interesting species found included Turkey Vulture; Northern Goshawk (ad); Red-shouldered Hawk; E. Screech Owl (very local in this part of the County); several territorial Ruby-throated Hummingbirds; Willow and Least Flycatchers; Yellow-throated Vireo. Warblers included N. Parula (most likely just an odd singing bird and not a breeder); Magnolia; Blackburnian (several: very local in this part of the County); Worm-eating (possible breeder in good habitat); and Canada (several).

Over lunch everyone agreed Blockbusting was really a fun way to atlas, and an effective way to survey a block. Because we were each assigned a small area to bird, you stayed in one or just a few spots, or hiked, and spent more time tracking species down to observe behavior. Because you knew if one team already had confirmed a species, birding was much more directed. In other words, you knew what species needed to be more closely observed. Also: all prime birding spots were covered during the prime birding hours of the early morning. And because we stayed in contact with each other, in many ways blockbusting was even more fun than a CBC. Of course, some species like pewees and Ovenbirds are difficult at this time of the year to Confirm despite all the teams working on them.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see May 2009 Archives or Archive Index