June 2013 Central Mass Bird Sightings

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

Bird News:

Bird Sightings:

6/29/13 -- Barre
Today we birded mostly the western edge of the WARE RIVER WATERSHED IBA: Gilbert, Granger and Gilweee Roads. We did NOT bird Rutland State Park-Barre Falls Dam (Prison Camp Road, Coldbrook Road et). The habitat was mostly mixed forest with some wetlands and suburban lots along the edge. The weather for a good part of the morning was dark, dank and periodically it rained. Bird song has dropped off for certain species.
  • Birds recorded: American Bittern (1); Great Blue Heron (3 individuals plus in the hidden rookery: 1 nest w/1 almost fledged young and another nest w/3 almost fledged young); Turkey Vulture (3); Canada Goose (pair w/4yg and 3ad w/4yg); Wood Duck (2); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (2); Ruffed Grouse (4 drumming); Wild Turkey (4); Killdeer (1 overhead); Mourning Dove (6); Black-billed Cuckoo (2); Barred Owl (1); Chimney Swift (1 flying and calling over forest); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (6); Downy Woodpecker (4); Hairy Woodpecker (5); N Flicker (3); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (10); Alder Flycatcher (1); Least Flycatcher (6); E Phoebe (14); E Kingbird (8); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Blue-headed Vireo (5); Warbling Vireo (3); Red-eyed Vireo (76); Blue Jay (15); A Crow (8); C Raven (4); Tree Swallow (12); Barn Swallow (8); Black-capped Chickadee (49); Tufted Titmouse (11); Red-breasted Nuthatch (11); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); Brown Creeper (5); House Wren (4); Winter Wren (8); Golden-crowned Kinglet (1); E Bluebird (3); Veery (49); Hermit Thrush (25); Wood Thrush (1); A Robin (34); Gray Catbird (23); Cedar Waxwing (7);
      WARBLERS: Nashville (1 singing bird); Yellow (5); Chestnut-sided (3: low); Black-throated Blue (2: low); Yellow-rumped (12); Black-throated Green (28); Blackburnian (2); Pine (26); Prairie (4: including 1 female carrying food to a nest); Black and White (5); Ovenbird (82+1 just fledged and still partly downy yg. I also had 1 bird do a distraction display: fluttering wildly as it pattered across the trail right at my feet chipping all the way); C Yellowthroat (37);
    Scarlet Tanager (22); E Towhee (6); Chipping Sparrow (25); Song Sparrow (13); Swamp Sparrow (23); Dark-eyed Junco (1: possible breeder); N Cardinal (3); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2); Indigo Bunting (3); Red-winged Blackbird (13); C Grackle (11); Baltimore Oriole (1); Purple Finch (3); A Goldfinch (9);
  • PLUS: Butterflies included Eyed Brown (1); Banded Hairstreak (3); and Great Spangled Frittilary (2). Blooms included lots of Partridgeberry; Whorled Loosestrife and Birdsfoot Trefoil. Odonates included many Eastern Pondhawks; Chalk-fronted Skimmers; Blue Dasher; Variable Dancer; Common Whitetail; Halloween Pennant; Widow Skimmer. Other Inverts included Virginia Ctenucha and at least 4 Elderberry Longhorn Beetles. Wood Turtle (1).
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 6/26/13 -- Chauncy Pond, Westboro
  • We saw the 2 CASPIAN TERNS (1ad br+1 ad non-br) this afternoon ( photo 1| photo 2) . When we pulled up, they were being watched by another birder resting on the small beach with a small flock of Ring-billed Gulls. The gulls took off never to return and the terns also took off, but stayed at Chauncy, flying back and forth, diving often. Because the terns were for the most part facing away from us when they dove, we could not see what, if anything, they were catching and eating. But one time, one bird caught a small sunfish and swallowed it while flying. The birds kept looking like they were going to land again, and flew close, but a group of kids walked on the beach and began to throw stones in the water. The terns continued to fly around but as other birders were pulling in (4:10PM); one bird flew to the left and out of sight (towards the boat launch); and the other flew along the north side of the pond and off in the direction of Little Chauncy. We waited for awhile and they did not return. We checked the boat launch, Little Chauncy, Bartlett Pond and SuAsCo and did not refind these birds.
  • Other birds between the beach and the boat launch at Chauncy: Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (2); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); E Kingbird (3); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (1); Tufted Titmouse (2ad+4 just fledged yg); White-breasted Nuthatch (1ad+1 just fledged yg); E Bluebird (2); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1 f carrying food);
  • BARTLETT POND: Mute Swan (pr+5yg); Mallard (12);
  • SUASCO: Double-crested Cormorant (14); Mute Swan (53+pr w/5yg); Osprey (1ad at nest w/2yg); Belted Kingfisher(1);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 6/26/13 -- Chauncy Beach, Big Chauncy Pond, Westboro
    My father Ken found 2 Caspian Terns at Chauncy Beach, Big Chauncy Pond, Westboro today at 11am. I went down and saw them as well. The were roosting with the RB Gulls on the beach on the other side of the fence along Chauncy St. They also flew around the pond hunting for fish while I was there. (report from Nick Paulson).

    6/25/13 -- West Boylston
    A male Scarlet Tanager was in our yard on rt 110 near the reservoir.  It was in a sour cherry tree.  (report from Lauren Espe).

    6/16/13 -- Royalston
    Today we birded ROYALSTON, concentrating on the Tully Lake area, Falls Road, sections of the Tully Trail, and the Birch Hill Dam Army Corps area. The weather got overcast and breezy by late morning, but the rain held off.
  • Totals: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (39+pr w/5yg+4ad w/7yg); Mallard (2); Broad-winged Hawk (2); Wild Turkey (7); Killdeer (1ad w/3 just fledged yg); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Mourning Dove (11); Chimney Swift (3); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (4); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (6); Pileated Woodpecker (5); E Wood Peewee (11); Alder Flycatcher (3); E Phoebe (20); Great Crested Flycatcher (3); E Kingbird (6); Blue-headed Vireo (6); Warbling Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (108); Blue Jay (11); A Crow (4); C Raven (1); Tree Swallow (22); N Rough-winged Swallow (8); Barn Swallow (4); Black-capped Chickadee (26); Tufted Titmouse (6); Red-breasted Nuthatch (4); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); House Wren (1); Winter Wren (4); E Bluebird (2); Veery (9); Hermit Thrush (12); A Robin (35); Gray Catbird (11); Cedar Waxwing (9);
      WARBLERS: Yellow (2); Chestnut-sided (10); Black-throated Blue (14); Yellow-rumped (5); Black-throated Green (22); Blackburnian (6); Pine (8); Prairie (2); Black and White (6); A Redstart (3); Ovenbird (53); C Yellowthroat (38);
    Scarlet Tanager (10); E Towhee (12); Chipping Sparrow (33); Song Sparrow (29); Swamp Sparrow (5); White-throated Sparrow (1); Dark-eyed Junco (1); Indigo Bunting (2); Red-winged Blackbird (21); C Grackle (12); Brown-headed Cowbird (3); Baltimore Oriole (8); Purple Finch (7); House Finch (1); A Goldfinch (6); Evening Grosbeak (4) (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 6/14/13 -- Holden
    In the last two weeks, we have had a number of sightings in the Holden/West Boylston/Northern Worcester area. On four occasions, there is an albino Red-tailed Hawk residing in the Holden/West Boylston area flying along Rt. 12 (Sunoco gas station to Sovereign Bank) and up to my house about a mile away in Holden. Body is almost pure white but a distinctive Red tail. On two other occasions ( 6/1 & 6/11), my wife & I saw a Merlin flying in the neighborhood. The pointed wings, the long tail, the color, and rapid flapping were a dead give away. Don't know if the bird is nesting locally. Also, a Hairy Woodpecker with one young is feeding on our maple trees. The final insult, besides all this rain, is that the tree frogs are still looking for mates. So much for an early summer. (report from Steve & Kathy Olson).

    6/13/13 -- South Bay, Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
    We have been checking regularly on the nesting COMMON LOON in South Bay, Wachusett Reservoir. The nest was on one of the islands, towards the north tip. On Wednesday morning 6/12, she was still on the nest though the water level had risen considerably. This morning, 6/13, she has left the nest. The water level had risen again over the day and the north end was more flooded than yesterday. A pair of Common Loons was in South Bay, but we could not see any young. It is possible they were under her wings. If you see any young, please post. Also present there walking from gate 17A-17B: Great Blue Heron (1); Double-crested Cormorant (4); Killdeer (2); Spotted Sandpiper (c.5-6); E Wood Peewee (2); E Phoebe (3); E Kingbird (2); Wood Thrush (1); Pine Warbler (5); Ovenbird (2); Baltimore Oriole (1). Also: 2 large dark RED-EARED SLIDERS sunning on the baffles. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    6/10/13 -- Bartlets Pond Way, Sterling
    I found the Osprey nest today (see 6/5 report) at Bartlets Pond Way, Sterling. It is at the top of a dead tree at the east edge of the pond. (report from Scott Ricker).

    6/8/13 -- Brookfields/Sturbridge
    We birded the QUABOG IBA, which includes the four ponds of the Brookfields and Wells State Park (Sturbridge), and had the following totals:
  • Common Loon (1ad at South Pond); American Bittern (1 pumping); Great Blue Heron (4ads: nb: we checked the nests at Wells and they seem to either have fledged or are abandoned); Turkey Vulture (4); Canada Goose (8); Wood Duck (pair); Mallard (7m); Osprey (4: 3 came out of the marsh where the heron rookery is at Wells to mob two TVs); Bald Eagle (1ad: Lake Quabog: It landed in some pines and there MAY have been a second bird there); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Wild Turkey (2); Virginia Rail (8); Killdeer (4); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Mourning Dove (17); Chimney Swift (19); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (4); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N Flicker (3); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (9); Alder Flycatcher (3); Willow Flycatcher (5); Least Flycatcher (6); E Phoebe (23); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); E Kingbird (10); Warbling Vireo (13); Red-eyed Vireo (29); Blue Jay (2); A Crow (6); Tree Swallow (78); N Rough-winged Swallow (3); Bank Swallow (10+); Barn Swallow (68); Black-capped Chickadee (26); Tufted Titmouse (18); Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); White-breasted Nuthatch (6); Brown Creeper (4); Carolina Wren (2); House Wren (3); Winter Wren (2); Marsh Wren (8); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1); E Bluebird (5); Veery (4); Hermit Thrush (3); A Robin (60+); Gray Catbird (46); N Mockingbird (1); Cedar Waxwing (3);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (2); Yellow (21); Chestnut-sided (7); Black-throated Green (5); Blackburnian (1); Pine (15); Prairie (4); Black and White (3); A Redstart (24); Ovenbird (25); C Yellowthroat (42);
    Scarlet Tanager (7); E Towhee (3); Chipping Sparrow (34); Field Sparrow (3); Song Sparrow (34); Swamp Sparrow (19); N Cardinal (14); Indigo Bunting (2); Bobolink (7m); Red-winged Blackbird (97); C Grackle (23); Brown-headed Cowbird (3); Baltimore Oriole (21); House Finch (4); A Goldfinch (11);
  • PLUS: many Tiger Swallowtails, several DUSTED Skippers and our first Great Spangles Fritillary of the year. Along a dark forest stream in Wells we also had a nice showing of DARK FISH FLY.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 6/5/13 -- Downtown Worcester
    I was able to get a photo of one of the Peregrine Falcons this morning. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    6/5/13 -- Sterling
    Possible nesting Osprey at a pond adjacent to 3 Bartlets Pond Way, Sterling. I saw an adult carrying a fish on 6/3 and single adult today. Looks to be a nest on the cell tower near the pond/Rt 12. (report from Scott Ricker).

    6/3/13 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    Highlights at noon was an imm Black-crowned Night-Heron (1st spring), in the trees on the island across the pond. It was also there on Fri 5/31. If looking for it, you need to have just the right angle, because it is behind leaves from many viewpoints. (report from Rick Quimby).

    6/2/13 -- Barre Falls Dam & Rutland State Park
    Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip included twelve species of breeding warblers, two Broad-winged Hawks, numerous Bobolinks, the Barre Falls nesting Common Ravens, and a Northern Mockingbird (uncommon at this site). Here is the complete list of the 66 species recorded. (report from Donna Schilling).

    6/2/13 -- Royalston-Winchendon
    We spent the morning birding the dirt roads of the OTTER RIVER STATE FOREST and the adjacent BIRCH HILL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA in the towns of Winchendon and Royalston. The weather was hot and it got down right windy by noon, and bird song really diminished.
  • Species seen: Ruffed Grouse (1 ran in front of the car); Killdeer (pair w/1yg on the grassy area next to lake Denison. These were running around and among 3 HUGE Snapping Turtles that were laying eggs in the same area); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Mourning Dove (3); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Yellow-bellied sapsucker (2: 1 attending a nest hole w/yg); Downy Woodpecker (1); Hairy Woodpecker (3+ 2 ad attending 2 different nest holes with noisy yg); E Wood Peewee (3); Alder Flycatcher (7); Least Flycatcher (4); E Phoebe (6); Great Crested Flycatcher (3); E Kingbird (6); Blue-headed Vireo (10); Warbling Vireo (3); Red-eyed Vireo (49); Blue Jay (9); A Crow (3); Tree Swallow (3: 1 in a nest in a dead snag); Black-capped Chickadee (24); Tufted Titmouse (2); Red-breasted Nuthatch (13); Brown Creeper (1); Winter Wren (1); Veery (1); Hermit Thrush (15); A Robin (18); Gray Catbird (11); Cedar Waxwing (6);
      WARBLERS: Nashville (2); Yellow (10); Chestnut-sided (16); Magnolia (1); Black-throated Blue (3); Yellow-rumped (10); Black-throated Green (16); Pine (22); Black and White (5); Ovenbird (37); Northern Waterthrush (1); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); Mourning Warbler (1); C Yellowthroat (29);
    Scarlet Tanager (3); E Towhee (10); Chipping Sparrow (14); Song Sparrow (11); Swamp Sparrow (9); White-throated Sparrow (8 singing birds); Dark-eyed Junco (1); Indigo Bunting (2); Red-winged Blackbird (23); C Grackle (17); Brown Headed Cowbird (2); Baltimore Oriole (2); A Goldfinch (6);
  • PLUS: 1 very large and dark COYOTE.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 6/1/13 -- Wachusett Reservoir
    At 2:40 pm there was a black tern at Wachusett reservoir, flying around open water in the Northeast. I saw it while at the narrows after a hike in from gate 8 in Boylston, and it could probably have been viewed from mile hill road. It was spanning the entire north half of the reservoir. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    For previous sightings, see May 2013 Archives or Archive Index