June 2015 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:

6/29/15 -- Warren
A few highlights from a morning birding around WARREN: Great Blue Heron ( at one rookery there were 4 active nests w/11yg birds; but one of these nests was more recent than the others, and the birds in that nest were VERY young. Two nests that had been occupied were apparently abandoned. 9 other adults were seen around at locations other than the rookery); Wood Duck (1f w/7yg+8 other birds); Osprey (1 perched near nest on microwave pole located between Dunham Brook and the Mass Pike. This nest HAD been taken down, so this was a newly constructed nest. BUT we saw no activity IN the next, so it appeared unoccupied); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1ad); Virginia Rail (2); Black-billed Cuckoo (1 carrying food to a nest); Belted Kingfisher (1); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Warbling Vireo (7); Red-eyed Vireo (29); Winter Wren (1 singing); Veery (13); Wood Thrush (5); Scarlet Tanager (6); Swamp Sparrow (10); Indigo Bunting (3); Baltimore Oriole (9ad+ 1adM feeding 3 just fledged yg);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

6/24/15 -- Wachusett Reservoir
We spent the morning birding a few areas around WACHUSETT RESERVOIR. Highlights included: Common Loon (2ad+1ad w/2 chicks, best seen from Gate 17); Double-crested Cormorant (11); Great Blue Heron (2); Turkey Vulture (2); Bald Eagle (1ad+1imm); Broad-winged Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1: soaring with an Eastern Kingbird attacking its head and neck, actually appearing to ride the hawk for a few seconds); Wild Turkey (2ad w/6yg+1ad w/8yg); Spotted Sandpiper (3); E Wood Peewee (3); E Bluebird (3); Hermit Thrush (2); Pine Warbler (9); Ovenbird (6); Scarlet Tanager (7);
  • At the DCR's managed grassland area we had many Red-winged Blackbirds and (4); Savannah Sparrows, but did not see a meadowlark. Butterflies included Great Spangled Fritillary and Eastern Tailed Blue and dragonflies included many Prince Basketails and a SPATTERDOCK DARNER, well photoed by Sheila.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 6/23/15 -- Downtown Worcester
    I did not have my binoculars, but there appeared to be a young Peregrine Falcon at the nest site atop The Bancroft Commons Building at noon today. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    6/20/15 -- High Ridge Management Area, Westminster
    The following were seen and/or heard during a late morning walk at High Ridge today: Wood Duck 8; Great Blue Heron 53 (Including adult and your at 19 active nests; Cooper's Hawk 1; Broad-winged Hawk 3; Mourning Dove 2; Barred Owl 1; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1; Downy Woodpecker 2; Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 3; Eastern Wood-Pewee 2; Least Flycatcher 1; Eastern Phoebe 1; Great Crested Flycatcher 1; Eastern Kingbird 1; Blue-headed Vireo 1; Red-eyed Vireo 22; Blue Jay 5; American Crow 1; Common Raven 1; Tree Swallow 22; Barn Swallow 2; Black-capped Chickadee 7; Tufted Titmouse 8; Red-breasted Nuthatch 1; House Wren 6; Eastern Bluebird 1; Veery 9; Hermit Thrush 1; Wood Thrush 4; American Robin 7; Gray Catbird 22; European Starling 3; Cedar Waxwing 20; Ovenbird 9; Black-and-white Warbler 2; Common Yellowthroat 12; American Redstart 2; Yellow Warbler 1; Chestnut-sided Warbler 3; Black-throated Blue Warbler 1; Pine Warbler 5; Prairie Warbler 1; Black-throated Green Warbler 1; Chipping Sparrow 12; Field Sparrow 1; Song Sparrow 7; Swamp Sparrow 2; Scarlet Tanager 4; Northern Cardinal 1; Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2; Indigo Bunting 5; Bobolink 46; Red-winged Blackbird 18; Common Grackle 4; Brown-headed Cowbird 1; Baltimore Oriole 8; American Goldfinch 7;
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    6/16/15 -- downtown Worcester
    Went to Worcester City Hall Plaza today looking for the Peregrine Falcons. After 25 minutes finally heard the screeching from one or two. Turns out there were three of them dog-fighting over City Hall & the plaza. All three went around the City Hall clock tower and one flew north and disappeared while the other two landed on the stone work on the clock tower. The two Peregrines stayed on the clock tower then would take off and harass each other in flight. Never did any of them go near or onto the Bancroft Tower building where they were supposed to have bred....they would fly around the Peoples Bank building and City Hall and the T & G Building. After about 50 minutes or so, the two remaining peregrines took off towards the south towards Chandler St.

    Here is an explanation of why Peregrine chicks have been relocated this summer, from Tom French.

    (report from Scott Ricker).

    6/15/15 -- downtown Worcester
    Just to let everyone know, Worcester's pair of Peregrine Falcons had 2 chicks this year. They nested on the Bancroft Tower Building on Franklin Street. Tom French from Mass Fisheries & Wildlife took our 2 chicks to a nest in Brockton that had only 1 chick, this gave him a place to put the 4 chicks from the Custom Tower in Boston. So now we have 2 adults (the female from last year -- photo here), and 4 chicks that will be fledging very soon.
    (report from Emily Eaton).

    6/13/15 -- downtown Worcester
    This afternoon, I watched two Peregrine Falcons atop the City Hall watch screaming and dancing around wings expanded. Ultimately, I saw three, one a bit smaller next to what I assume is the mother. Here are three videos I took with a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge camera zoomed in: (video 1| video 2| video 3). One video has three peregrine falcons with one flying in with a kill. (report from David Rosario).

    6/10/15 -- Royalston
    Today we birded around the western half of ROYALSTON and had the following (highlights): Great Blue Heron (1 with full crop flying north); Turkey Vulture (4); Canada Goose (8+at least 2 yg); Killdeer (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (6); Pileated Woodpecker (2); E Wood Peewee (6); Alder Flycatcher (8); Least Flycatcher (6); Blue-headed Vireo (9); Red-breasted Nuthatch (8); Brown Creeper (4); Winter Wren (1); Veery (8); Hermit Thrush (4); Wood Thrush (1); Cedar Waxwing (7: including a pair nest building) Scarlet Tanager (6); Purple Finch (10: including 1 doing an amazing song/display flight similar to, but much higher, than that of a Common Yellowthroat).
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    6/9/15 -- Wachusett Reservoir
    Today we spent the morning birding Wachusett Reservoir. Highlights included: Common Loon (6: 1 on a nest; a pair and the rest singles); Double-crested Cormorants (14: all immatures); Great Blue Heron (1); Osprey (1); PEREGRINE FALCON (1imm: inside Gate 37. Took dive at some turkey young and then perched. The bird appeared to have an injured right foot and held it up and close to the body. At one point I thought I saw a metallic blue band on the left foot); Wild Turkey (3+1 ad with at least 3 young); Spotted Sandpiper (6); Pileated Woodpecker (2); Willow Flycatcher (2); Scarlet Tanager (3); Field Sparrow (2); Orchard Oriole (2 adM singing away). NB: we did not hear meadowlarks in gate 37, but it was windy and the Peregrine was perched right there.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    6/8/15 -- Downtown Worcester
    There was a Peregrine Falcon perched atop The Bancroft Commons building just before noon today. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    6/3/15 -- Gardner
    Birds seen and/or heard from 5 brief stops (mid-day) along Raymond Street in Gardner, all birds are likely breeders in the area:
  • Species Count: Canada Goose ... 8; Common Loon ... 1 (calling from lake Wompanoag); Turkey Vulture 1; Eastern Kingbird 1; Blue-headed Vireo 4; Red-eyed Vireo 6; Blue Jay 2; Tree Swallow 10; House Wren 1; Hermit Thrush 1; American Robin 4; Gray Catbird 1; Ovenbird 4; Northern Waterthrush 1; Nashville Warbler 1; Common Yellowthroat 2; Blackburnian Warbler 1; Pine Warbler 2; Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2; Canada Warbler 2; Chipping Sparrow 2; Field Sparrow 1; Song Sparrow 2; White-throated Sparrow 1.
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    • 6/1/15 -- Downtown Worcester
    At 11:40 this morning, I watched an adult Peregrine Falcon land, then take off from the nest site at the top of The Bancroft Commons building. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    For previous sightings, see May 2015 Archives or Archive Index