March 2001 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.

3/31/01 -- Hardwick

Highlights around Hardwick today include Great Blue Heron(1), Turkey Vulture(9), Hooded Merganser(8), American Woodcock(2), Eastern Phoebe(5), Cedar Waxwing(12), Eastern Bluebird(7) and Purple Finch(2). (report from Chris Buelow)

3/31/01 -- eastern Worc. County

After a truly misearble day of weather on Friday, we set out to see how birds were "getting along". Here (Worc. County) there had been initially several inches of snow (more to the north) and then torrential rain and freezing rain. This left several inches of heavy wet slushy snow on the ground for today and the ponds STILL mostly frozen (small ponds 90% or more frozen). Some species seemed to be having a tough time of it. Killdeer were on small grassy wet seeps in the snow covered fields. Large flocks of blackbirds were found in several locations. Robins were mostly seen around sumac and also around those grassy seeps. We watched a lone Tree Swallow hunt low over a totally snow covered field at Bolton Flats and you got a real sense what some of these early migrating species face. There were a few flying insects about.
BOLTON FLATS (VERY flooded, and more frozen and snow covered than last week. Most waterfowl in the more southern Lancaster corn fields): Canada Goose (193); Wood Duck (92: mostly males); Green-winged Teal (14); Mallard (264); A. Black Duck (43); N. Pintail (4); Ring-necked Duck (34); Red-tailed Hawk (4); Killdeer (3); N. Flicker (1); Eastern Phoebe (1); Tree Swallow (1); E. Bluebird (4); A. Robin (87); A. Tree Sparrow (12); Song Sparrow (37); N. Cardinal (19); Dark-eyed Junco (69); Purple Finch (2); Red-winged Blackbird (310+); C. Grackle (875+)
STERLING PEAT (still about 60% frozen): Canada Goose (33); Wood Duck (5); Mallard (19); Ring-necked Duck (14); Hooded Merganser (4); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Killdeer (9); A. Robin (30+); Red-winged Blackbird (60+); C. Grackle (35+)
WACHUSET RESERVOIR/RIVER ROAD END: Tree Swallow (8 flying over ice and small bit of open water by bridge. Reservoir still 80% frozen)
SuAsCo, WESTBORO (still 90% frozen): Great Blue Heron (7 birds/5 occupied nests in an ice covered pond); Turkey Vulture (4); OSPREY (1 on nest, this is the only nesting pair in the county); Red-tailed Hawk (3); A. Kestrel (1 nearby on Rt. 9); Killdeer (4); Great Horned Owl (1 still on nest: tough birds! Sitting out there exposed to the elements); Eastern Bluebird (1); A. Robin (40+); Eastern Phoebe (1); Fox Sparrow (1)
WESTBORO WMA (section north of Chauncy Pond): Canada Goose (12); Mallard (9); A. Black Duck (2); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Ring-necked Phaesant (1m); Killdeer (8); A. Robin (186); A. Tree Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (20); N. Cardinal (12); Red-winged Blackbird (2300+: HUGE flocks moving all about); C. Grackle (720+); The real treat here was watching two different MINKS, one for about 15 minutes. We watched it hunt in a wet grassy field from a small rise, delighted as it gallomphed about in plain sight, sticking it's nose into every grass tussock looking for prey.
BARTLETT POND, NORTHBORO (95% frozen): Mute Swan (pair: shudder...) (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/29/01 -- Salisbury St (north), Worcester

Arriving home from work at dusk, I heard an American Woodcock "peenting" somewhere between my driveway and Salisbury Street. I also heard another one (or the same bird) overhead doing its display flight. After the pleasure of watching Woodcock in the back field of our previous house in Bolton, I never expected to count Woodcock again as a yard bird here in Worcester. (report from Simon Hennin)

3/29/01 -- High Ridge WMA, Westminster

I've been working up at the High Ridge WMA in Westminster this past year for the Hunter Education Bureau, so I've been watching the bird life here. We've got an active feeding station here, so birders may want to walk in on the weekend. For birder's interest, the orange gate at the end of Overlook Road in Westminster is open to visitors in cars during business hours Monday - Friday except holidays. This is how we get to the office on the WMA.

Today (3/29), a Northern Shrike was perched on the top of a small tree just before reaching the parking circle and a Pileated woodpecker hammering away at a dead tree trunk at our parking circle by the office--8 AM.
On 3/27/01, a turkey vulture was perched on a chimney on our building ( 9:30AM); we watched it 10 yards away for 20 minutes through a window before it flew off to join another vulture.
On 1/2/01, 7 Bluebirds were sighted flying around the Hunter Ed office! Regular visits to the feeder by a pair of cardinals as well as the usual other backyard birds. (report from Marion Larson).

3/29/01 -- various locations

Fran McMenemy and I were out from 8:30 this a.m. till about 5 p.m. We saw:
EAST DOUGLAS, near rte. 146, Mumford River: 3 Common Goldeneye, 36 Common Mergs., 22 Hooded Mergs., 1 Bufflehead D, 10 Wood Duck, 33 Ring-necked Duck, 2 Killdeer, 2 Turkey Vulture, 6 Tree Swallow.
LACKEY DAM: 18 Common Mergs., 20 Ring-necked Duck, 2 Wood Duck.
WHITINSVILLE, Mumford River: 19 Ring-necked Duck, 5 Common Mergs., 1 Wood Duck.
WHITISVILLE, Whitin Pond: 25 Common Mergs., 2 Hooded Mergs., 14 Ring-necked Duck, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Great Blue Heron, 1 Bufflehead.
NORTHBRIDGE, Riverdale: 20 Common Mergs., 2 Mute Swan ( probably the pair whose nest was washed out).
GRAFTON, Fisherville Pond, Railroad Ct. East: 1 Double-crested Cormorant, 1 Mute Swan, 1 American Wigeon D, 6 Northern Pintail (3 pr), 10 Wood Duck, 10 Green-winged Teal, 1 COMMON TEAL (EURASIAN TEAL), 13 Ring-necked Duck, 529 Canada Goose.
GRAFTON, Fisherville, Riverview Apts.: 1 Mute Swan, 2 Bufflehead, 17 Common Mergs., 10 Ring-necked Duck, 280 canada Goose, 8 Green-winged Teal, 2 Wood Duck, 1 Gadwall D, 2 Red-tailed Hawk.
GRAFTON, Rte. 122 Cornfield: 4 Killdeer
SHREWSBURY, Creeper Hill Rd.: 11 Ring-necked Duck, 9 Common Goldeneye.
SHREWSBURY, So. Quinsig. Ave.: 2 Mute Swan, 1 Northern Shoveler Drake still hanging out with a female Mallard.
SHREWSBURY, opposite Worcester Sand and Gravel: 6 Common Goldeneye, 23 Common Mergs., 2 Hooded Mergs., 3 Ring-necked Duck.
CLINTON, Coachlace: 4 Ring-necked Duck, 2 Common Mergs., 15 Canada Goose.
CLINTON, South Meadow Pond: 5 Ring-necked Duck, 1 Hooded Merg.
STERLING, Sterling Peat: 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Killdeer, 5 Hooded Mergs., 40 Common Grackle, 1 Tree Sparrow.
STERLING, East and West Lake Wauchacum are still ice covered. West has a narrow strip of open water.
STERLING, Stillwater River Basin on Wauchacum Rd.: 10 Common Mergs.
WEST BOYLSTON, near River Road had no gulls and was almost completely iced over again. [ed. note: at 1:30 pm I had 12 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Hooded Mergansers, and 1 Bufflehead at this location]
WEST BOYLSTON, Rte. 140: small assortment (<50) of the regular gulls at 4 p.m.
WORCESTER, Curtis Pond: 12 Hooded Mergs., 43 Common Mergs.
WORCESTER, Notre Dame Cemetery: approx. 200 Red-winged Blackbirds.
WORCESTER, New Swedish Cemetery: 6 Wood Duck, 9 Hooded Mergs., 45 Common Mergs., 1 Ring-necked Duck.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/29/01 -- Old Centre Area, Winchendon

We have had a Saw-Whet Owl in one of our small owl nestboxes for the past couple weeks. Its too early to tell if it's nesting in the box or simply roosting. The box is located in a Hemlock grove at the intersection of our pond and brook. Photos here: photo 1 | photo 2 | photo 3 | photo 4. (report from Rick Galat).

3/28/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

At noon, there were EIGHT Great Blue Herons, the most I've ever seen at one time at the park. As I watched, all 8 of them rose in the air in front of me, circling higher. I had a kettle of GB Herons! Four of them left in a generally southward direction, and the remaining four perched in a tree on the island. Other highlights included 7 Hooded Mergansers, 23 Common Mergansers, a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (m) displaying, and 2 Belted Kingfishers. (report from Rick Quimby).

3/28/01 -- SuAsCo, Westboro

This morning we visited Osprey Point in the SuAsCo in Westboro. The Great Horned Owl is sitting very nicely on her nest and her head is completely visible. To the right, 4 Great Blue Herons were standing on their nests. Excellent views. While we were there two of the herons made a reconnaissance flight around the colony and we had great views of them in flight. While walking in to the Point we heard, but didn't see several Woodcocks. Also, in Northboro, we had our first Eastern Phoebes (2) of the season. (report from Jim Hogan).

3/28/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

I was at Institute Park this morning at about 6:00 AM and had six great blue heron in addition to about 24 common and six hooded mergs. ( See Rick Quimby's recent report on the same birds.) I also saw the wood ducks but not the ring neck ducks. I have never seen as many as six great blues at the pond. They were all among the reeds along the south east edge of the pond. I spooked them and they flew across to the west side where we normally see them. I would guess there is little open water suitable for herons in the county. (report from Bob Ricci).

3/27/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Noontime highlights included 5 Great Blue Herons, 5 Wood Ducks (3m, 2f), 2 Green-winged Teal (1m,1f pair), 9 Hooded Mergansers, and 22 Common Mergansers. (report from Rick Quimby).

Note added: Joan Zumpfe visited the park yesterday (3/26) and saw 3 Ring-necked Ducks.

3/25/01 -- Westboro

I birded for a total of three hours in three different areas in Westboro and totaled up 25 species. At the Walkup & Robinson Reservation a pair of Red-tailed Hawks circled overhead. Tree Swallows (2) and Eastern Bluebirds (2) were on nesting boxes. American Robins (85) were searching for food in the meadow behind. Below the Westboro MassWildlife Headquarters a Northern Shrike perched up and allowed me a terrific look at it. (This bird has been in this area since December.) A Killdeer called loudly from a nearby cornfield.
Note: The Walkup Reservation is under siege. This spectacular Sudbury Valley Trustees Property is being encircled by development. It was a sad experience to walk out to the "meadow" and find it abutting a future building/parking lot. (report from Ann Boover).

3/25/01 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

1 great blue heron, 3 turkey vultures, 1 killdeer, 1 barred owl, 2 phoebe, 30 robins, 11 bluebirds, 35 golden- crowned kinglets , 11cedar waxwing , 20 red-winged blackbird, 30 grackles. Golden- crowned kinglets were the most plentiful bird of the day; all birds seen on xc ski route Rowley Hill. (report from Richard Spedding).

3/25/01 -- Gardner

This afternoon we had an Am. Woodcock arrived in our back yard on an open patch of ground (which there very little of up here on north worcester county). Its nice to view such a handsome bird in full daylight and leisurely observe its feeding behavior. It was still present this morning before I left for work. Also yesterday 3/24 there was a Horned Lark at the Gardner airport , a few pairs typically nest there each year. Finally, yesterday 2 Tree Swallows were circling about the Gardner sewage Treatment plant. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/25/01 -- Salisbury and Leesville Ponds, Worcester

Today there was a FOX SPARROW in my backyard (Tatnuck Square) scratching for seeds under my bushes.
Yesterday (Saturday 3/24) I saw a Drake RED-BREASTED MERGANSER at Institute Pond around 6:30AM among 42 Common Mergansers and 10 Hooded Mergansers. At 10:30 AM that day I saw a Drake RED-BREASTED MERGANSER at Leesville Pond among at least 80 Common and 5 Hooded Mergansers. Probably the same Drake that everyone else has been seeing. (report from Peter Morlock).

3/25/01 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester

A late afternoon trip to Leesville Pond in the city of Worcester (Blackstone Corridor) we had: Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (22); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (12); A. Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (1); Hooded Merganser (12); RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (1m: fairly uncommon migrant in county, though common along the lower Blackstone Corridor from Pawtucket/Seekonk River down. This male was actively displaying to a female Common Merganser. Probably the same bird found by Rick Quimby at Salisbury Pond earlier); Common Merganser (88); Eastern Phoebe (1); Later, as dusk fell, West Hill Dam and River Bend Farm (Blackstone Corridor) we had American Woodcock (4) and Eastern Screech Owl (2). We heard another woodcock in Sutton. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/25/01 -- E. Worcester County ponds

We spent the morning checking the "Boro" ponds and Bolton Flats. Most ponds are STILL 90-98% frozen, so number and variety of waterfowl were low. Bolton Flats however, was another story. We started the day in Grafton with a FISH CROW.
SuAsCo (98% frozen): Great Blue Heron (2 feeding at stream mouth); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Killdeer (3); Great Horned Owl (1 on nest); Eastern Phoebe (1); Red-winged Blackbird (20+); Brown-headed Cowbird (2)
WESTBORO WMA (behind Chauncy Pond which was 99% frozen): Canada Goose (43); Ring-necked Phaesant (1m); Killdeer (12); Horned Lark (9); Eastern Bluebird (1m); A. Robin (110); Song Sparrow (20); Eastern Meadowlark (1); Red-winged Blackbird (660+); C. Grackle (20+); Rusty Blackbird (10+); Brown-headed Cowbird (92); Purple Finch (2); A. Goldfinch (27)
LITTLE CHAUNCY POND (95% frozen) Mute Swan (1); Wood Duck (2); A. Robin (40+); Song Sparrow (7); Red-winged Blackbird (30+); Note: almost got stuck in the snow.
BARTLETT POND (98% frozen: no ducks)
SUDBURY RESERVOIR, SOUTHBORO (95% frozen): Canada Goose (38); Mallard (3); Buffelhead (1); Hooded Merganser (5); Common Merganser (16); A. Robin (166); Song Sparrow (32); Red-winged Blackbird (32)
FORT MEADOW RESERVOIR, MARLBORO (not Worcester County/97% frozen): Canada Goose (8); Mallard (4); Common Merganser (1)
BOLTON FLATS: Note: all the birding was done from the periphery as the entire area is pretty flooded. You would probably need waders, not just "wellies". There were undoubtably more ducks to be found exploring actually IN the flats, but one would have to flush up a huge number of waterfowl. Canada Goose (1164); Green-winged Teal (16); Mallard (544); A. Black Duck (192); N. Pintail (4); Red-tailed Hawk (7); Killdeer (5); A. Robin (175+); A. Tree Sparrow (3); Song Sparrow (42); Red-winged Blackbird (600+); C. Grackle (450+)
Nota Bene: A check of Wachuset Reservoir revealed it was still 98% frozen and we had NO ducks.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/24/01 -- Lake Quaboag and vicinity, Brookfields

HIghlights from a Forbush Bird Club trip included: Wood Duck; Green-winged Teal; Ring-necked Duck; Hooded Merganser; Common Merganser; Turkey Vulture; Red-bellied Woodpecker; Northern Flicker; Eastern Phoebe; Tree Swallow; Golden-crowned Kinglet; Eastern Bluebird; American Robin; Red-winged Blackbird; Brown-headed Cowbird. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/24/01 -- various locations

After the Forbush Bird Club trip, Fran McMenemy and I found a Red-breasted Merganser (m) at Leesville Pond along with almost 100 Common Mergansers. (It's presumably the same one that has been seen at various locations the past few days). We checked the gulls at the end of the day at Thomas Basin (West Boylston) and from Gate 26 at the Wachusett Reservoir,but didn't see the Red-breasted Merg at these places.

Highlights: Pond on rte.9, behind Cheapo Depot in Leicester: Mute Swan 2, both in the water.
At Leesville Pond: Wood Duck 6 (3 pair), Common Merganser 98 (mostly Drakes), Hooded Merganser 8, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 1 (drake), Killdeer 1 calling.
At Notre Dame Cemetery: Northern Flicker 1 male.
At Curtis Pond: Common Merg 14, Hooded Merg 8.
At Lake Quinsig from Sunset Beach on Old
Faith Rd.: Great Blue Heron 1, Common Merg 14.
South Quinsig. Ave., opposite # 397: Mute Swan 2 adults, one appeared to be working on a nest, and Wood Duck 5 (3D, 2F). Looking from Creeper Hill Rd. to the Lake: Mute Swan 1.
Fisherville Pond (Grafton): Mute Swan 1 A, Ring-necked Duck 12, Turkey Vulture 1, Northern Mockingbird 1.
Riverdale (Northbridge): it appeared that the nest where we saw a Mute Swan sitting on has been washed out by high water, no Mute Swans were seen. Riverdale had Ring-necked Duck 8 D, Common Goldeneye 1 D, Turkey Vulture 1.
At a corn field on rte. 122 in Grafton: Wood Duck, 2 D. Lake Ripple: Common Merg 1 D.
Sterling Peat: among Canada Geese was an adult SNOW GOOSE, Wood Duck 2 (pr.), Ring-necked Duck 12 (10D, 2F), Hooded Merg 1 D and a Beaver splahing his tail hard near his home.
Thomas Basin (West Boylston), Common Merg 43, Hooded merg 1 D, Common Goldeneye 2 (pr.). At 5:35 p.m., a CSX train with 6 engines and 98 cars disturbed the approximately 1000 gulls and they left. We headed to Gate 26 on 140 and saw the the gulls that had left Thomas Basin. With them were Bufflehead 1 D, Common Merg 13 and Common Goldeneye 5 (4D, 1F). (report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/24/01 -- Blackstone Corridor pond survey, RI section

We did a fairly complete survey of ponds in the RHODE ISLAND section of the Blackstone Corridor this morning, with the exception of James Turner Reservoir in East Providence and the Lonsdale Marshes. By and large, the Blackstone River was swollen well over its banks and flowing very swiftly, so we concentrated just on descrete ponds. The towns involved include Smithfield, Greenville, Cumberland, Glocester (spelled correctly), and last, but by no means least: Burrilville (motto: "THE place to be in the 21st Century!"). This covers essentially the northern quarter or less of the state and are towns most MA birders probably have never birded before.
Many of the ponds were still well frozen, with ice covering from 50-95% of the pond surface, depending on the location, with most bodies 80% or more frozen. Many of these ponds are very built up along the shore and heavily recreated on. There is very little emergent vegetation. The geography is hilly suburban sprawl with small woodlots. It looks like what western MA will become if the onslaught of development isn't slowed or stopped soon. Several small (by western MA standards) but interesting Wildlife Management areas can be found in the western areas. We begged off land birding because the wind really picked up. Obviously, if more water had been open, out totals would have been much higher. Best variety and numbers of waterfowl were found in Slatersville Reservoir and the reservoirs in Cumberland.
Common Loon (1 breeding pl); Great Blue Heron (2); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (144); Wood Duck (4); American Wigeon (2); Mallard (110); A. Black Duck (17); Ring-necked Duck (36); Greater Scaup (2); Bufflehead (4); Common Goldeneye (3); Hooded Merganser (7); Common Merganser (194: always the first migrant duck to head for small open spots in otherwise frozen ponds); Turkey Vulture (12); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (24); Tree Swallow (1)
On the way home we stopped by the Rt. 146 overlook of the Mumford River in Uxbridge, MA (part of the Blackstone Watershed) and from one measly overlook (WITH emergent veg along the bend in this small river) had: Canada Goose (87); Wood Duck (9); Mallard (16); A. Black Duck (6); Ring-necked Duck (96); Bufflehead (1); Common Goldeneye (11); Hooded Merganser (8); Common Merganser (111); Killdeer (1).
A bit further up 146 in Millbury, a kettle of 13 Turkey Vultures and 2 Red-taileds were spotted in the same place and at the same time we had another good kettle last week. BTW: LOTS of road killed skunks all over. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/24/01 -- Hodges Village/Lake Quinsigamond, Oxford/Shrewsbury

Highlights of an early afternoon walk yielded 1 Fox Sparrow, 6 Wood Duck, and a flyover of 32 Snow Geese between rain/snow showers. I also took a quick look for the Shoveler at Lake Quinsigamond to no avail, but I did manage a Pied-billed Grebe there. (report from Paul Meleski).

3/23/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

The RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (m) was still present at noon, along with 82 Common Mergansers and 11 Hooded Mergansers. The RBMerg was actively displaying, pointing its bill straight up and extending its neck for a couple of seconds, then rocking back with rump tilted up in air and head lowered, but bill still pointed upwards. It did this a number of times, but unfortunately the female Common Mergs didn't seem very impressed. Eventually the RBMerg gave up and went back to feeding. (report from Rick Quimby).

3/21/01 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury

At 10 a.m., on Lake Quinsigamond, Fran and I observed a Double-crested Cormorant and 10 American Coot. We looked from behind Maironis Park on South Quinsigamond Ave. The Northern Shoveler showed up after we waited across from 397 So. Quinsig. Ave. Also seen was 1 adult Mute Swan, 4 Wood Ducks, 2 drake Common Goldeneye, a drake Hooded Merganser and a Red-tailed Hawk. There were 3 Muskrats, too. Earlier, at Flint Pond I saw 7 Common Mergansers (4D, 3F) and 3 Hooded Mergansers (2D, 1F).
I also checked out Institute Park (Worcester) at 1:15 p.m., hoping to see the Ruddy Duck. Among the 21 Common Mergansers was the drake Red-breasted Merganser. It's probably the same one that was seen on 3/20 at Thomas Basin. There was a pair of Hooded Mergansers and a Great Blue Heron, but no Ruddy. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/21/01 -- Moose Brook Valley, Hardwick

Seen this afternoon along Brook Road was an Eastern Phoebe, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks nest building. Earlier this week a Great Horned Owl and 2 Barred Owls were heard calling along the Moose Brook Valley. (report from Chris Buelow)

3/21/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

A noontime walk yielded the following highlights: 4 Wood Ducks (2 pairs), 1 Ring-necked Duck (m), 9 Hooded Mergansers, 35 Common Mergansers, 1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (male; rare inland, and a new species for the Institute Park list), and 1 Belted Kingfisher. (report from Rick Quimby).

3/20/01 -- various locations

These are highlights from a day of birding with Fran McMenemy today, the first day of spring. It was calm and sunny all day, with temperatures ranging from the mid 40's at 8:30 a.m. to the mid 50's by mid afternoon. Fran especially wants to emphasize the fact that the Northern Shoveler, in breeding plumage, can still be seen at the South Quinsigamond Ave. sight where the club has often stopped to see Mute Swans.
DUDLEY: Great Blue Heron 4 (most likely migrating); Wood Duck 2 (a pair); Common Merganser 2 (drakes);
WEBSTER: Northern Mockingbird 2 (I thought we finally had a Phoebe, but the Mocker fooled me)
DOUGLAS / MUMFORD RIVER: Common Merganser 84; Hooded Merganser 13; Wood Duck 25; Ring-necked Duck 31; Common Goldeneye 1 F; Killdeer 1
WHITINSVILLE / MUMFORD RIVER and WHITIN POND: Common Merganser 15; Hooded Merganser 2 (a pair); Wood Duck 2 ( a pair); Ring-necked Duck 39; Canada Goose 132
UXBRIDGE / RICE CITY POND: Common Merganser 1 D; Hooded Merganser 1 D; Canada Goose 49
RIVERDALE: Mute Swan 2 (1 on nest); Common Merganser 21; Common Goldeneye 1 F; Ring-necked Duck 17; Canada Goose 62
GRAFTON / FISHERVILLE POND: Mute Swan 3; Common Merganser 4; Ring-necked Duck 3; Canada Goose 126; Killdeer 1
WESTBORO / SUASCO: Great Horned Owl 1 (adult siting high on nest, good views)
SHREWSBURY FLINT POND, EDGEMERE, SOUTH QUINSIGAMOND AVE (opp #397), Northern end of LAKE QUINSIGAMOND: Common Merganser 11; Hooded Merganser 7; Common Goldeneye 5; NORTHERN SHOVELER 1 D;
Sterling / STERLING PEAT: Killdeer 5; Horned Lark 29
CLINTON: Killdeer 2
WEST BOYLSTON / RTE. 140 (gate 25 area) and THOMAS BASIN RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 1 D; Common Merganser 62; Hooded Merganser 10; Common Goldeneye 6; Ring-necked Duck 6; ICELAND GULL 1 (2nd year); Killdeer 1; Eastern Bluebird 2 (male); common GULLS (approximately 1,000 total, mostly Ring-billed); Common Merganser 11
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/20/01 -- Dresser Hill Farm, Charlton

This AM while eating lunch at a favorite spot atop Dresser Hill (Rte 31, Charlton) I counted 6 HORNED LARK and 1 KILLDEER. (report from Paul Meleski).

3/20/01 -- Midstate Trail, Rutland

Hilights of a walk on and off the Midstate Trail in Rutland include a Black and White warbler and a Common Flicker, seen not heard. Also twenty feet up a white pine in a hole a sleepy looking Barred Owl looking down at us. Two hours later the owl was still in the same position. Nesting maybe? It didn't flush. (report from Brian Mulhearn).

3/19/01 -- Bare Hill Rd., Harvard

This morning I heard and then saw a male Eastern Towhee about 10 feet away in a rhododendron bush, at about 10:30 a.m. (report from Mary Richards)

3/19/01 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

I recorded the following during a brief walk at the Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Worcester) this morning: Red-tailed Hawk (1); COMMON SNIPE (1); Hairy Woodpecker (1); EASTERN BLUEBIRD (5); American Robin (2); American Tree Sparrow (3); Song Sparrow (8); White-throated Sparrow (2); Dark-eyed Junco (9); Red-winged Blackbird (1); Common Grackle (4);
Later I went to Flint Pond (Shrewsbury) and got the male NORTHERN SHOVELER, with what looked like a mate. However, it was getting dark, so I cannot be sure that the female was in fact a Shoveler. Also present was WOOD DUCK (2); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (7);
Also, I checked out the GREAT HORNED OWL'S nest at SUASCO in Westborough, where I found one bird hunkered down in the nest. (report from John Liller).

3/18/01 -- Hodges Village, Oxford

Excited about all the woodcock reports, I decided to take a late afternoon walk to Hodges to see if the birds have returned there. No luck yet, but did manage to spot a Northern Shrike, a pair of Wood Duck, a Ring-Necked Duck and 7 Hooded Mergs. (report from Paul Meleski).

3/18/01 -- Worcester Street, West Boylston

At 6:30 pm I saw and heard a Woodcock doing its flight display, and heard it peenting. This is a small grassy open area near a brook, in the middle of a densly populated residential area. (report from Rick Quimby).

3/18/01 -- Slatersville Reservoir RI

After touring the Museum Of Work and Culture in Woonsocket (well done museum about mill workers along the Blackstone) we briefly birded the Slatersville Reservoir. This area is just a stone's throw south of Millville and Uxbridge (MA) and is part of the Blackstone Corridor. It was 75% still frozen. Canada Goose (12); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (32); LONG-TAILED DUCK (1m); Common Merganser (63); Tukey Vulture (1); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/17/01 -- River Rd., Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston

I was birding the River Rd. area and came upon two bluebirds in addition to the usual chickadees and ruby-crowned kinglets. (report from Bob Ricci).

3/17/01 -- Upper Blackstone Corridor, MA/RI

We actually first started the day with the PAINTED BUNTING in Malden before 7 AM and were back in Worcester County by 8. We first hit SuAsCo, Westboro (Not in Blackstone Corridor) and had great views of the Great Horned Owl very high up in the nest. We then hit several areas in the Worcester County section of the Blackstone Corridor. American Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and Song Sparrows were everywhere in good numbers. Most of the ponds were still 95% OR MORE frozen, but the typical species were starting to appear in even the smallest openings in the ice or along narrow unfrozen edges. Muskrats were in many locations. Here's the blow-by-blow:
FLINT POND, SHREWSBURY: Great Blue Heron (1); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (24); Mallard (29); A. Black Duck (6); N. SHOVELER (1m); C. Goldeneye (11); Hooded Merganser (18); Common Merganser (37);
HAYES POND, GRAFTON: Canada Goose (5); Hooded Merganser (2)
FISHERVILLE POND, GRAFTON: Mute Swan (3); Canada Goose (183); Wood Duck (11); Mallard (101); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (1)
BLACKSTONE RIVER, RIVERDALE CROSSING: NORTHBRIDGE: Canada Goose (22); Mallard (5); Ring-necked Duck (21); Common Merganser (14); Killdeer (1)
LINWOOD POND, NORTHBRIDGE: Common Merganser (6)
WHITIN POND, UXBRIDGE: Wood Duck (4); A. Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (25); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (3)
RICE CITY POND, UXBRIDGE: Canada Goose (51); Mallard (10); A. Wigeon (2); Red-tailed Hawk (2)
HANES POND, MILLVILLE (almost completely frozen) Mute Swan (2 on ice); Canada Goose (4)
Then we took a diversion to NE Cumberland Rhode Island, in the extreme NE section of the state. Here MA is on two sides, and just a stone's throw away. We had never birded here before, and it looks VERY promising. There are a great pair of reservoirs across a causeway from each other and even though they were 95% frozen, there were still some waterfowl. This is still part of the Blackstone Corridor. Canada Goose (40); Wood Duck (2); Mallard (41); A. Black Duck (12); Ring-necked Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (12); Turkey Vulture (1); Red-tailed Hawk (4); Carolina Wren (1); E. Bluebird (6)
Back in Worcester County: NORTHBRIDGE SEWER BEDS: Great Blue Heron (1); Wood Duck (23); Mallard (61); A. Black Duck (14); N. Pintail (1m); Red-tailed Hawk (1); VIRGINIA RAIL (1: probably over wintered); KILLDEER (8); N. Flicker (1); Swamp Sparrow (1); Skunk Cabbage was everywhere in the back swamp.
BLACKSTONE RIVER, SUTTON (BLACKSTONE ST. CROSSING) Mallard (18); A. Black Duck (2); Common Merganser (1); Red-tailed Hawk (pair w/nest)
BLACKSTONE RIVER, MILLBURY (behind Goretti's) Mallard (223: when will the feeding of ducks be outlawed?); Turkey Vulture (1)
BLACKSTONE RIVER, CENTRAL CEMETERY, MILLBURY: Mallard (17); A. Black Duck (5); N. Pintail (2 pair); Turkey Vulture (nice kettle of 16 heading south along the Blackstone around 3 PM); Golden-crowned Kinglet (2)
Yes, spring IS happening. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/17/01 -- Sherborn

A beautiful Saturday morning. Today saw 3 Eastern Bluebirds, Nothern Flicker, Red-Winged Blackbird, two Red-Tailed Hawks, and a single Oldsquaw. This was all at Rocky Narrows in Sherborn. High point of the walk was watching some insect flying over the river (the Charles, only about 50' wide where we are) with my binocs when a bluebird (nesting nearby in boxes) came out and nailed it. I also watched a beaver on the far bank of the river chewing on some twigs. (report from George Moore).

3/16/01 -- Brimfield

This morning shortly before sunrise, four mallards were observed taking their noisy pre-dawn circling flight over Wales Brook near the Wales-Brimfield town line. That's no big deal to those of you living in towns and near ponds, but mallards are only here during and following nesting season and have become a spring notifier. Later in the morning, 17 rusty blackbirds commandeered the trees between the Brook and Rte. 19 in the same area. A goshawk, presumably one of the pair that has nested nearby in Brimfield State Forest for the last 7 or 8 seasons, has been hunting the fields for the past several days. (report from John Worrell)

3/16/01 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

The following birds were seen: 40 grackles, 25 redwinged blackbirds, 1 bluebird, 7 golden crowned kinglets. Blue jay and crow numbers were up dramatically. (report from Richard Spedding).

3/16/01 -- Westboro WMA, Westboro

From 5:30-6:30 p.m., 4 American Woodcocks were peenting in the fields below the Westboro WMA Headquarters. I listened to one bird's aerial song. The ground there is still deeply snow covered. (report from Ann Boover).

3/16/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Noontime birds included a Great Blue Heron, 2 Hooded Mergansers, 13 Common Mergansers, 1 Ruddy Duck, a Belted Kingfisher, and 1 White-throated Sparrow. (report from Rick Quimby).

3/16/01 -- Westborough WMA, Westborough

This morning at my feeders adjacent to the Westborough WMA I had a mixed flock of 25 common grackles, 15 red winged black birds and 4 brown-headed cowbirds. (report from Dan Mushrush).

3/14/01 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre

While hawk watching at Barre Falls today I saw 5 Turkey Vultures, 7 Red-tailed hawks, 2 Cooper's Hawks, 1 Great Blue Heron, 7 Canada Geese, 5 Ravens, 1 TREE SWALLOW and 1 Northern Shrike. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/12/01 -- West Boylston/Brookfields

On Saturday, 3/10 in W. Boylston the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was in the Thomas Basin across from River Rd. Today 3/12 the gulls in W. Boylston were on the East side of the railroad tracks. The L. Black-backed Gull was not there but the immature Iceland Gull arrived after 5:30 p.m. Ducks there included 24 Common Mergansers, 6 Hooded Mergansers, and 6 Common Goldeneye.
On a trip through the Brookfields today, 3/12, I saw 4 Common Mergansers, 1 Hooded Merganser, and 1 Wood Duck in the East Brookfield River just before it enters L. Quaboag. At the Brookfield station bridge over the Quaboag River there were 24 Common Mergansers, 10 Hooded Mergansers, and 1 Ring-necked Duck. In W. Brookfield at the Mile Hill Rd. bridge over the river there were 2 Mute Swans. In the river just below L. Wickaboag there were 5 Ring-necked Ducks, 7 Hooded Mergansers, 2 American Wigeon (m&f pair), and a Kingfisher. Also, in the river along the railroad tracks in Warren there were 12 Wood Ducks, 4 Hooded Merganser, and 1 Rusty Blackbird. (report from Fran McMenemy)

3/12/01 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester

The pond has started to open up. There were 3 Wood Ducks, 5 Hooded Mergansers, 14 Common Mergansers, 2 American Black Ducks, 1 White-throated Sparrow, and numerous Red-winged Blackbirds. (report from Barbara Walker).

3/12/01 -- Institute Park, Worcester

Noontime birds included 2 Wood Ducks (m&f), 1 Hooded Merganser, 20 Common Mergansers, 1 Ruddy Duck, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Red-winged Blackbird, and 3 Common Grackles. (report from Rick Quimby).

3/12/01 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

An early morning xc ski produced 2 red tailed hawks; one bluebird, 2 grackles, 3 golden-crowned kinglets. The snow was still firm in the early morning and I could ski anywhere and only sink in about a 1/4 inch. There's about 2 1/2 to 3 feet of snow on the ground in wooded locations. (report from Richard Spedding).

3/11/01 -- Rt. 110, West Boylston

At long last we've spotted a male Red-bellied Woodpecker again in our yard (W. Boylston, rt. 110 near Sterling). We had just installed a woodpecker feeder with suet and seed cake in it on Sunday! (report from Lauren)

3/11/01 -- Lower Blackstone Corridor, RI

Despite both of us being pretty sick, we still had to get out on this beautiful day and canvas the extreme lower Blackstone River from India Point to the Seekonk River (Providence). Bird numbers were lower than previous counts, probably because they are now heading into interior ponds as these become clear of ice.
Great Cormorant (37: Some of these birds were pretty far up into the Seekonk. When it comes time to migrate, will they first migrate south all the way down Naragansett Bay-quite a distance-- and then around Cape Cod OR will they head out NE over land? BTW: There are occassional records of Great Cormorants inland in Worcester County.); Mute Swan (13); Canada Goose (134); Mallard (52); A. Black Duck (65); A. Wigeon (26); Greater Scaup (51); Lesser Scaup (2); C. Goldeneye (4); Bufflehead (79); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (13); Red-breasted Merganser (36); Turkey Vulture (1); Cooper's Hawk (1 ad being relentlessly bombed in flight by a Herring Gull); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Red-bellied Woopecker (1); Fish Crow (1: this is definitely a species that is using the corridor to enter Worcester County. Single birds are now regulalry being reported in winter in the city of Worcester); Yellow-rumped Warbler (1); Song Sparrows were singing everywhere and lots of robins about.
At nearby JAMES TURNER RESERVOIR/CENTRAL POND on the border of MA and RI (same body of water): As this pond is opening up (still 70% frozen), the number and variety of waterfowl is increasing: Great Blue Heron (1); Mute Swan (34); Canada Goose (140); Wood Duck (pair); Mallard (124); A. Black Duck (4); Canvasback (7); Ring-necked Duck (31); Bufflehead (4); Hooded Merganser (10); Common Mergnaser (61); Ruddy Duck (67); A. Coot (52); Fish Crow (2). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/11/01 -- Sherborn

In the past few days, saw the usual winter fare, plus a brown creeper and a Northern Shrike. Also saw some fisher tracks in Rocky Narrows, a Trustees of Reservations property that's about a 5 min. walk from our home. We got slammed hard by the storm last week with very wet snow, resulting in a lot of damage to small evergreens and oaks. I wonder how this will impact various species. (report from George Moore).

3/9/01 -- Barre Landfill, Barre

Seen along route 122 in Barre were 7 Turkey Vultures circling over the landfill. (report from Chris Buelow)

3/9/01 -- Northboro

This morning I saw 2 female mallards in the stream that cuts across my property. Ducks nest here each year, but this is about a week early. No sign of the males yet. Also this morning were 4 brown headed cowbirds at our ground feeder. Many more mourning doves this year than in past years. I counted 13 at the feeders 3/7, with more in the trees and on the wires on the edge of the yard. (report from Jim Hogan).

3/8/01 -- Hardwick

Highlights today around Hardwick center were 10 American Robin, 1 Common Grackle, 25 singing Red-winged Blackbirds and 1 Song Sparrow. (report from Chris Buelow)

3/8/01 -- Fitchburg

A Carolina Wren was seen and heard singing in a Dogwood several feet from my house and backyard feeders. This is a first sighting of this bird this year. (report from Cheryl Boissy).

3/6/01 -- Wachusett Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Princeton

What better to do on a stormy day off than feeder watch so here, for what it's worth, is a tally of the feeder observations 3/5 & 6 from the cottage. #'s are the max seen at any one time to avoid dups.
Mourning doves-31, red-bellied woodpecker-1, downy woodpecker-4, hairy woodpecker-3, blue jay-15, american crow-5, cedar waxwing-6, american robin-2, starling-4, bc chickadee-18, tufted titmouse-3, house sparrow-7, american goldfinch-36, purple finch-13(2 males), white-throated sparrow-1, d-e junco-50+, american tree sparrow-5, red-winged blackbird-6, cardinal-2(pair). Only the c waxwings did not approach the feeder. They just hung out in the multiflora. Even the robins sampled some seed but didn't stay long. We were mildly suprised not to record any raptors.
Other notes: Saturday (3/3) we visited our abutter to the south and were shown some photos of a hawk he says has been hanging around all winter, usually in the company of crows. (I explained that is not really unusual). What is unusual is that it is very clearly a red-shouldered and pictures are taken in the snow and clearly on his property. It did not show up while we were there.
Still no sign of a nesting great-horned. The heron nests have suffered major damage this winter including 5 or 6 lost entirely. The one the owl used last year is still there however so we keep watching. This evening a northern saw-whet could be heard loud and clear from the beaver wetland, the first we've had in quite some time. (report from Dick Knowlton).

3/6/01 -- Tatnuck Square, Worcester

My wife and I took a walk to the store during the snowstorm and I noticed 4 Mallards in someone's yard under their Bird Feeders. 3 of the Mallards were just laying there but one male was pushing up on one of the feeders with his bill. Since he was standing on about 3 feet of snow he could reach the feeder easily. He would push the feeder and some of the seeds would fall down on the snow. He would scoop up the seeds and gulp them down. Usually there are a number of Mallards that hang out under the bridge along Mower St. a short distance away. People occasionally stop and feed them bread. I guess because of the Nor Easter the ducks didn't have the luxury of waiting for people and had to take advantage of any food source they could find. (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/01 -- Park/Salisbury area, Worcester

Morning:
All during the Tuesday morning portion of the snow storm, an adult Cooper's Hawk perched deep in the small maple that overlooks the feeders in my backyard. This bird hopped from branch to branch for while, trying to find a good perch on the snow covered branches. Of course, all other birds were long gone. This bird looks smaller than the very large Coop that has been visiting the feeder, and may be a different bird and perhaps a male. It is still a very hefty bird. We went outside to toss some seed to attract "prey" and the Coop left. Within a heartbeat of the Coop flying off, all the juncos and white-throats (30+ birds) returned to the bushes by the feeder indicating that wherever they were skulking, even though it was at a distnace, they were keeping a very close watch on the Coop (which looked hidden to me).

Afternoon: The Cooper's Hawk soon returned to the same small ornamental maple tree, though to a different and less obvious perch. Here it stayed for practicaly the entire afternoon. Juncos, cardinals, and white-throats (well over 20 birds at once) would perch in the next tree over (a small cherry) about 25 feet away, eagerly watch the raptor, but would not dare go down to the ground. I was actually surprised that these small landbirds were this bold which was atypical behavior when the Coop was present. My only assumption was that they were starved, food elsewhere was hard to come by with the snow cover and therefore the sparrows were in a pretty desparate situation. At one point a Mourning Dove landed in the maple with the Coop not 5 feet away. The Coop continually eyed the bird with some interest, but (as far as we could tell) did not make a pass at it, but went back to simply "waiting". Perhaps the Coop was waiting for a Rock Dove to put down. This species has been it's sole prey species this year at my feeder, and I have seen no indication that the bird ever took a MoDo. A Blue Jay made some passes at the Coop, but was more interested in feeding. No Rock Doves visited the feeder today. (report from Mark Lynch).

3/6/01 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

On my xc ski route I saw 20 cedar waxwings, 30 goldfinch, 30 juncos and one robin. The 18 inches of new snow had a blue tone, where the light shined through it. (report from Richard Spedding).

3/5/01 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

On my xc ski route at 10:00 AM, very light snow was falling, with 2 inches of new snow; tracking conditions were excellent and I saw tracks of coyote, cottontail rabbit, fox ,snowshoe hare, red and grey squrirrel, mice, vole, and raccoon and skunk tracks, which are a lot more common these past couple weeks As I was going up the sidewalk near my feeder, a sharp-shinned hawk zoomed by within three feet of my head. I'm sure he was after the birds, but I could hear the swoosh of feathers and he did come surprisingly close . (report from Richard Spedding).

3/5/01 -- city of Worcester (north)

In the past couple of days we've had a Pileated Woodpecker in our yard. Looking at the trees it's been working on, it's obvious that it has been visiting for some time. We've actually been hearing this bird in the area since last fall but up until now have only seen it flying at a distance. Great bird for Worcester city limits .... now all we need is a Red-headed ! (report from Simon & Lisa Hennin).

3/4/01 -- Oxford

This AM there was a Red-shouldered hawk perched in a tree alongside Rte 12 in Oxford.......His face looked pretty glum........Must have heard about all that snow coming our way.... (report from Paul Meleski).

3/3/01 -- Gardner

The following were observed in Gardner this morning: Red-wing Blackbird 1; Purple Finch 8; Pine Siskin 8-10; White-winged Crossbill 4; Evening Grosbeak 1 calling overhead heading west; Am. goldfinch 30+; (report from Tom Pirro).

3/3/01 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

On my regularly scheduled Saturday morning bird walk this morning we had 22 species, including a winter plumage Yellow-rumped Warbler (doubtless the same bird I saw in more or less the same spot in January?) and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We had good looks at both birds. Both were in the vicinity of Sprague Lane and Frog Pond Trail. Strange doings... (report from Howard Shainheit).

3/2/01 -- Westborough WMA, Westborough

I have bird feeders outside my office which faces out onto the Westborough WMA. I saw a common grackle and 2 red-winged blackbirds. (report from Dan Mushrush).

3/2/01 -- downtown Worcester

The Peregrine Falcon was on the phone company tower this morning. I saw it around 9:00 a.m. I also looked at it from the main Post Office using my scope at 9:15 . It appeared to be rather large, and seemed to me to be larger than the one Fran and I had been seeing earlier in the winter. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/1/01 -- Sherborn

My backyard is very wooded with mature oaks and small maples. This week, I've had great views of a pair of golden-crown kinglets, though I can never see both at the same time. We've also had a Carolina Wren that has taken seed from the feeder. It stayed all winter last year, but this year I've heard/seen no sign of it until a week ago. (report from George Moore).

For previous sightings, see February 2001 Archives or Archive Index