March 2004 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:

3/31/04 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
Hilites this evening at Bolton Flats: Canada Goose ~100; Mallard 100+; Black Duck ~20; Green-winged Teal ~100; Northern Pintail 2; Wood Duck 20-30; Ring-necked Duck ~25; Hooded Merganser 2; Belted Kingfisher 1. Last night the water level was still very reasonable, but the "tide" is coming in. By the weekend hipboots or a canoe will be needed. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/31/04 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
I found a Mute Swan sitting on a nest, in a location different from where they usually nest. It is in the back of the cemetery in the small lagoon before you get to the farthest back section of the cemetery, a bit past where the old dirt pile used to be. It's mate was up the river, hundreds of yards away. Also the last few days I haven't seen many ducks around in any of the spots where they usually are. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

3/31/04 -- Paxton
This morning I had (1) Pine Warbler under my feeder. Spring must be here.(report from Warren Jewell).

3/30/04 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
Highlights from a brief walk this afternoon : Hooded Merganser (1 male); Eastern Phoebe (2); Eastern Bluebird (2); Song Sparrow (2); Swamp Sparrow (1); Red-winged Blackbird (1500+); Common Grackle (7500+ - these included several thousands of birds that came into the phragmites in a group that was strung out and took 8-10 minutes to pass. The group was made up of primarily grackles, although there were Red-winged Blackbirds and cowbirds mixed in.); Brown-headed Cowbird (20); (report from John Liller);.

3/30/04 -- downtown Worcester
We again saw an adult Peregrine Falcon circling low over Chatham Street/Chase Court at around 7:45AM this morning. A quick check of the nesting box revealed no activity yet. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/28/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
I took walks on saturday (3/27) and sunday (3/28) at Barre Falls Dam. The most interesting bird this weekend was a saw-whet owl calling (never saw it) from Hemlocks along the brook that crosses Blake Road. (I didn't want to disturb the bird, so I just listened and didn't pursue--I was surprised to hear it calling mid-morning, but it was gloomy and overcast, so maybe that makes sense). Also had a coopers hawk on saturday and a sharpie on sunday. Red Crossbills are still around in red pines (last weekend I had redpolls and evening grosbeaks in the larches (the redpolls) and norway spruces (the grosbeaks) on coldbrook road, but not this weekend). All the usual suspects were around (red- and white-breasted nuthatches, chickadees, pileated, downy, and hairy woodpeckers, brown creepers, ruffed grouse, etc, plus hundreds of robins. (report from Rob Lewis).

3/29/04 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
On Saturday (3/27) Muddy Pond was all open water with the exception of the shallow western area. When I returned today the entire pond was open. On Saturday the pond held Ring-necked Ducks (100+ and still there today) together with Hooded Mergs (20+), Green Winged Teal (10+), Common Goldeneye, and the usual number of Mallards and Canada Geese. Killdeers, Pheobes and Tree Swallows have returned as have the Rusty Blackbirds. In the same vicinity were Song Sparrows and a small flock of Tree Sparrows. On Saturday afternoon, a hawk soared over the area and I took a few pictures (photo1| photo2). I believe it is a Cooper's Hawk, but you can judge for yourself. In one of the pictures the hawk appears to have a full crop as if hunting has been good. (report from Bob Ricci).

3/29/04 -- Westboro WMA, Westboro
Highlights of a walk around the Westboro Wildlife Management area Monday afternoon included: Canada Goose-17, Wood Duck-2, Mallard-7, Ring Billed Duck-13, Bufflehead-6, Hooded Merganser-1 (a beautiful male), Common Merganser-24, Red tailed Hawk, Eastern Phoebe-1. The spring peepers were singing and the wood frogs were quacking. And, of course, the red wings were making a racket! The sounds of spring! (report from Laura Lane).

3/29/04 -- Ahern Rd., Marlborough
Today I had a Fox Sparrow feeding on the ground under my feeders off and on all day. This is a new bird for my yard list! (report from Laura Lane).

3/29/04 -- Bolton Flats/Wachusett Reservoir, Bolton/West Boylston
  • Bolton Flats Route 117 area: Only 7 puddle ducks when there should be hundreds. 2 Mallards, 2 Pintail and 3 Green-winged Teal. One Wilson's Snipe was flushed and a Pied-billed Grebe was calling.
  • Wachusett Reservoir which is 90% open from the dam to the gate 22 peninsula: One pair of Red-breasted Mergansers.
  • East Waushacum which is 100% open: One adult Bald Eagle taking a bath at the small beach next to Dr. Blodget's, 60 Common Mergansers, 10 Greater Scaup and 8 Buffleheads. West Waushacum was 70% open and the Quag was only 2% open.
  • Wachusett Reservoir late afternoon, gate 22. South Bay is still frozen (but not for long) all the way out to 200-300 yards beyond the gate 22 peninsula. Among the gulls were 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 1 immature Glaucous Gull. (report from Bart Kamp).

    • 3/29/04 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
    Highlights of a walk this morning along the southern end of the stretch and a bit along the power lines were Bluebirds. I had a male and a female on the powerlines between poles 49 & 50; they were perched about twenty feet up, diving into the grass for insects. They were doing well. I'm fairly sure I had another sitting on one of the old boxes along the stretch, but it was too far away to distinguish the bird from a Tree Swallow for sure. I did see one Tree Swallow working in the air over the phragmites. The Black Ducks John Liller and Kim Kastler found on Saturday continue; I could not find the Green-winged Teal. (report from Howard Shainheit).

    3/29/04 -- Upton
    Yesterday and today we have had 4 Broad-winged Hawks flying, perching and calling all around the yard. They appear to be our resident birds as they are checking out the nests in the back woods. (report from Nickilas and Kenneth Paulson).

    3/28/03 -- Suasco Res., Westboro
    An Osprey was on it's nest on Sunday. I could not find the Great Horned Owl. Two nests were occupied by Great Blue Herons. (report from Bart Kamp).

    3/28/04 -- Princeton
    My husband and I were awakened on Sunday morning by a loud banging sound coming from somewhere on the first floor of our house. As I came down the stairs, I realized that the sound was coming from the outside our front door. When I opened the door, there was a large tom turkey pecking at the glass of our storm door. He apparently saw his reflection and thought it was a rival male. We watched him a for a few moments as he intermittently pecked at the window, strutted and displayed (as in an invitation to mate -- or fight);. Just when we thought we had seen it all! (report from Joan Richards).

    3/28/04 -- New Braintree/Oakham
    We started with a pre-dawn visit to Winimusset Meadows WMA in New Braintree (pp.278 Bird Finding Guide to Western MA), then hit Coldbrook Road in Oakham: both the driveable section and the "for now" gated section into the Ware River Watershed/Barre Falls Dam area (pp.268 same guide) which is across Rt. 122. I think there has been some error and some folks have hiked in the gated section, whereas most folks were seeing the crossbills literally next to the car on the paved road. We hiked past the gate about a mile to the intersection of Blake Road, an easy walk on hard packed sand road.
  • WINIMUSSET MEADOWS WMA: Great Blue Heron (2); Turkey Vulture (2); Snow Goose (7); Green-winged Teal (7); A. Wigeon (2); Mallard (33); A. Black Duck (32); Ring-necked Duck (8); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (20); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (1); Virginia Rail (1); Killdeer (7); A. Woodcock (22); Great Horned Owl (2); E. Phoebe (3); Rusty Blackbird (4);
  • COLDBROOK ROAD, OAKHAM: E. Phoebe (1); Red-breasted Nuthatch (7); Brown Creeper (3); Winter Wren (1); Pine Siskin (4); Red Crossbill (pair);
  • COLDBROOK ROAD, WARE RIVER WATERSHED IBA (gate to Blake Rd);: Wood Duck (4); Canada Goose (12); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); Pileated Woodpecker (2); E. Phoebe (2); Brown Creeper (8); Common Redpoll (3); Pine Siskin (11); Red Crossbill (3+1 singing: these birds were up in the spruce plantings at the corner of Coldbrook and Blake); Evening Grosbeak (5: this species on occasion breeds here); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 3/28/04 -- Brookfields
    After birding Oakham and New Braintree, we headed to the Brookfields and birded a few ponds. The ice covering on ponds was varied some were ice free, others had some ice and a few were still mostly ice-covered. Here are the totals: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (6); Mute Swan (1); Canada Goose (32); Wood Duck (6); Mallard (24); Ring-necked Duck (35); Common Merganser (194); Cooper's Hawk (1); Bald Eagle (pair w/1 on nest at L. Quabog); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); E. Phoebe (2); Tree Swallow (15 on one small pond); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    3/28/04 -- downtown Worcester
    Sheila Carroll just reported a Peregrine zooming past the Printer's Building downtown. The nestbox on the Fallon Community Health Building at the corner of Chestnut and Elm can best be seen from Pearl Street, looking to the right of the roof and under the eave. It's quite sizeable. We spent some time here on Saturday afternoon and saw no falcon activity and saw no wash on the ledge that would indicate the birds have chosen this spot. We then spent some time driving around Worcester Saturday looking for the falcons, with no luck. Birders are encouraged to check the nest box periodicaly and report their findings to this site. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    3/27/04 -- Westboro & Northboro ponds
    My father Nickilas and I both birded the ponds in westboro and northbro separately today march 27. He birded earlier and I did a couple hours later. here are the highlights:
  • Big Chauncy Greater Scaup 10; Pied Billed grebe 1; Horned Grebe 3 (2 in breeding plummage and 1 in winter); 420 C. Mergansers (when I got there only 75 were left); E. Bluebirds 4; Tree Swallow 1;
  • Little Chauncy: Ring-necked Duck 74; Wood Duck 10; Buffleheads 4; Hermit Thrush 1; Killdeer 1;
  • Bartlett Pond: C. Goldeneye 2; A. Wigeon 2;
  • Michael P. Yellick Cons. Area Northboro: 50 Song Sparrows, 1 Hermit Thrush and 1 W. Snipe. (report from Kenneth Paulson).

    • 3/27/04 -- East Quabbin Area
    A drizzly morning bidring some spots in Hardwick, New Braintree and Barre turned up highlights of Snow Goose(35), Green-winged Teal(12), Ring-necked Duck(5), Killdeer(6), Belted Kingfisher(1), Eastern Phoebe(10), Tree Swallow(15) and Song Sparrow(25+). (report from Chris Buelow)

    3/27/04 -- Route 62, Barre/Princeton;Taylor Hill Road, Hardwick
    Dead snags and gradually greening hedgerows are playing host to a steadily increasing level of avian activity. Cavity nesters featured prominently in the morning's travels, with Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, and White-breasted Nuthatches calling vigorously from exposed perches. At the Quabbin Aqueduct off of Taylor Hill Road in Hardwick, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks put on a first-rate courtship display, wheeling high overhead with talons extended toward one another, bobbing crazily on the morning's first thermals like a childhood mobile gone mad. Also at this location, a lone Sharp-shinned Hawk mounted a spirited feeding foray, providing the morning's drama as it cleaved a flock of American Goldfinch nearly in half in its unsuccessful efforts at acquiring a meal. Killdeer are busily investigating area cornfields, gaily sprinting about in characteristically peripatetic fashion. Highlights: American Robin 60; American Wigeon 2; Brown-headed Cowbird 50; Cedar Waxwing 28; Common Grackle 78; Common Merganser 19; Common Raven 2; Eastern Bluebird 2; Eastern Phoebe 5; Great Blue Heron 4; Green-winged Teal 9; Hairy Woodpecker 2; Hooded Merganser 37; Killdeer 8; Northern Flicker 8; Red-bellied Woodpecker 2; Red-tailed Hawk 2; Red-winged Blackbird 96; Rusty Blackbird 9; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1; Song Sparrow 1; Turkey Vulture 7; Wood Duck 13. (report from Chris Ellison).

    3/27/04 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
    Kim Kastler and I took a brief walk at the Sanctuary this afternoon after the Blackstone Valley Natural History Day. We recorded the following highlights: Wood Duck (2); American Black Duck (2); Green-winged Teal (3); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1 male); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Song Sparrow (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); Common Grackle (1); (report from John Liller).

    3/27/04 -- Forbush Bird Club Trip, Brookfields, Spencer & Warren
    The Forbush Bird Club was led by Francis X. McMenemy (who filled in for Rodney Jenkins); on a trip through the Brookfields, Spencer Meadows and Warren. Highlights included Wood Duck 6 (4D, 2F); Green-winged Teal 3; Northern Pintail 1 D; American Wigeon 4 (2 pairs); Ring-necked Duck 20; Greater Scaup 6 (4D, 2F); Common Goldeneye 3; Hodded Merganser 26; Common Merganser 34; Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 3 (2 in Warren, 1 imm., 1 A), (1 on nest at Lake Quaboag); Red-tailed Hawk 1; Killdeer 5; Belted Kingfisher 1; Eastern Phoebe 7; Tree Swallow 27; Carolina Wren 1; Brown-headed Cowbird. Complete trip report here. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

    3/27/04 -- Hodges Village, Oxford
    Highlights today: Pied-billed Grebe 2; Great Blue Heron 4; Wood Duck 14; Ring-necked Duck 22; Common Merganser 4; Killdeer 1; Hairy Woodpecker 6; Northern Flicker 2; Eastern Phoebe 3; Tree Swallow 10; Red-breasted Nuthatch 12; Eastern Bluebird 3; Northern Cardinal 13; Rusty Blackbird 2; (report from Paul Meleski).

    3/27/04 -- Suasco Res., Westboro
    The Osprey pair have commandeered a nest from the GB Herons at Suasco Res. The Great Horned Owl appears to have been scared off of the nest again. There are only four nests left now. Also 1 Phoebe and 1 Bald Eagle there. In Upton I had 4 calling Phoebes. (report from Nickilas Paulson).

    3/27/04 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton
    At the Heron rookery 12 of the 21 nests were occupied. There were Herons flying by, taking off, landing, perched in trees, stalking prey in the water, chasing each other off in the water, and some nests had 2 individuals in each nest. There was a minimum of 30 Great Blue Herons here and there had to be many more we didn't see. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    3/26/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptor highlights today: > Turkey Vulture 2 ; > Bald Eagle 1 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 ; > Cooper's Hawk 2 ; > Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 17 ; > Merlin 1 ; > Observations: A pair of adult Northern Goshawks tried to chase an immature Northern Goshawk from the area. The pair of Ravens dove on a passing immature Bald Eagle until it was far enough beyond the nest site. > The Bluebirds and the Tree Swallows resumed their competition for the nesting boxes. There were several Phoebes in the area. (report from Bart Kamp).

    3/26/04 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
    Water level is low for this season, but boots are always helpfull in spring. Hilites from an hour or so on Bolton Flats this evening: Glossy Ibis 1 circling overhead, I did not see where it may have landed.; C. Goose 150; Green-wing Teal 20; Wood Duck ~20; Wilson's SNipe 1 heard; (report from Tom Pirro).

    3/26/04 -- Hadwen Park, Curtis Pond, Worcester
    Highlightes: 1 Kestrel, 13 Phoebes, 9 Common Mergansers, 1 Swamp Sparrow, 6 Tree Sparrows, 1 GB Heron, 1 American Coot, 1 Winter Wren, 1 Carolina Wren, 6 Juncos, 1 Turkey Vulture, 3 Black Ducks, 1 Mute Swan; there seems to be a newly constructed Swan nest, but only one Swan? 1 large Cooper's Hawk plucking the feathers off a fresh killed Rock Dove, and 2 Woodcock I flushed near the Railroad tracks. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    3/26/04 -- Barrows Rd, Worcester
    Yesterday (3/25) at home (Off Salisbury at Worc./Holden line) I had a morning flock of 1000+ blackbirds and an afternoon flock of about 200. Most were C. Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds, but there were also a number of Cowbirds and Rusty Blackbirds mixed in. I also had a visit from a female Pileated, who has excavated a huge hole in a tree across the street, and a year first for the yard, a male Flicker, as well as some of my regulars, including a pair of Hairys and 24 Redpolls. So far this morning I've only seen one Redpoll, but a pair of Pine Siskins showed along with a female Red-bellied Woodpecker and a year first, a HERMIT THRUSH. What a nice way to eat breakfast! (report from Howard Shainheit).

    3/25/04 -- Old Mill Pond, Shrewsbury
    At the head waters of the pond: Wood ducks (7). Chipping Sparrows (2). (report from Whit Andrews).

    3/25/04 -- Rutland State Park/Rutland Prison Camp, Rutland
    I checked a tree cavity where 2 years ago Barred Owls successfully raised 2 young. There was a Fisher in the cavity, growling/hissing at me, and showing all his pearly whites. No nesting Barred Owl there this year. Other highlights were: 8 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Eastern Phoebes, 3 Tree Swallows, 4 Pine Siskins, 4 Great Blue Herons, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 18 Hooded Mergansers, 4 Wood Ducks, 6 American Wigeon, 2 Common Ravens, 10 Brown Creepers, and a pair of River Otters. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    3/25/04 -- downtown Worcester
    Sheila and I had just pulled up to 6 Chatham Street (actually Chase Court) when Sheila noticed a Peregrine flying in from the east. We got out and were treated to two Peregrines displaying right directly high over our heads. This consisted of lots of calling, an unusual flutter-hover flight in close proximity to each other which then would escalate into direct touching mostly it looked aound the feet/talons/underparts areas, and then a bit of tumbling. This they continued for several minutes essentially hovering close over one spot until a third Peregrine then flew into the mix. This split the orginal two birds up and one of them then drove this third bird off to the south. It was an amazing display to be under. A new nest box has been placed by Fish and Wildlife atop the FALLON COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN building at the corner of Chestnut and Elm Streets, and we can only hope the pair finally adopts that spot as a breeding locale. (report from Mark Lynch).

    3/24/04 -- Sutton/Upton/Mendon
    While working and driving in southern Worcester county today I had an e. phoebe in "downtown" Manchaug at the river, a pileated wp off Duval Road in Sutton, killdeer in Upton, and a mourning cloak butterfly in Mendon. (report from Scott Jordan)>

    3/24/04 -- Coldbrook Road, Oakham
  • Early this morning in the pines on Coldbrook Road in Oakham I found 12 Red Crossbills. Feeding in the same tree with them were Juncos, Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches and 6 Pine Siskins. I left the area and returned an hour later but could not relocate the Crossbills. I did find 10-15 Redpolls.
  • Late this afternoon I went to Winimusset Meadows in New Braintree and found the previously reported light morph Rough-legged Hawk. Also found were 1 Eastern Phoebe and 2 Eastern Meadowlarks. (report from Bart Kamp).

    • 3/24/04 -- I-190, Worcester
    This morning my friend Claudia Bauman saw an adult Bald Eagle (the large size and white head were very obvious) on a tree on the side of I-190 northbound just before it leaves Worcester. (report from Stan Selkow).

    3/23/04 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston
  • While scanning Wachusett Reservoir from the Route 12/140 causeway in West Boylston late this afternoon for ducks and gulls I saw 2 TREE SWALLOWS. Nothing new to report on ducks and gulls. Today the gulls were landing on the far eastern edge of the ice which is actually closer to gate 22 than the Route 12/140 causeway.
  • In Joe Michniewicz's column in today's Telegram he states that "the Peregrine Falcon nesting box atop the Flagship Bank Building in Worcester was removed and replaced on the Fallon Building at 1 Chesnut Place in Worcester. The reason for the move was falcons had been seen checking out the Fallon Building." Bill Davis set up the box. (report from Bart Kamp).

    • 3/23/04 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton
    At the Heron rookery there were 12 GB Herons, 6 nests out of 21 were occupied. I didn't get a great look, I didn't want to disturb them, so there were most likely more, and I'm sure in a few more weeks there will be more also.
  • At All Faiths Cemetery/ Leesville Pond there were 3 American Wigeon, 3 Common Mergansers, 13 Hooded Mergansers, 12 Wood Ducks, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, and lots of Robins.
  • At Notre Dame Cemetery, the Northern Pintail and American Coot are still here, along with a pair of Ring-necked Ducks, and a pair of Hooded Mergansers.(report from Brian Mulhearn)

    • 3/23/04 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
    This morning I flushed two Woodcock along Frog Pond Trail. Sheryl Farnam told me she flushed two there on 3/15. Mayhaps they'll breed. (report from Howard Shainheit).

    3/23/03 -- Winimusset WMA, New Braintree
    Two birds of note from an early morning visit to Winimusset were a light phase Rough-legged Hawk and a male American Kestrel. I actually first saw the Rough-legged overhead while driving past Winimusset on the afternoon of the 21st, but assumed it was just on its way somewhere else. (report from Chris Buelow)

    3/22/04 -- downtown Worcester
    On my way out of Worcester City Hall this afternoon I saw approximately 100 cedar waxwings scattered throughout the ornamental cherry??? trees behind the building. I did not see any Bohemians, however, someone with some more time should take a more thorough look around. (report from Scott Jordan).

    3/22/04 -- West Mountain St., Worcester
    Around 11:15 this morning, a mature Red-tailed Hawk landed directly on the road to pick at some very fresh road kill. Fortunately, there was very little traffic and I was able to avoid hitting the bird with the car. The motion of the car caused the hawk to fly to the top of a telephone pole and look rather forlornly at a meal that wasn't to be, (Report from Steve Olson).

    3/22/04 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    At noon there were 2 Mute Swans, 1 Ring-necked duck (m), 1 Common Goldeneye (f), and 13 Hooded Mergansers on the pond. Also, in West Boylston, a Fox Sparrow continues under my feeder. (report from Rick Quimby).

    3/21/04 -- Hardwick Center and Winimusett WMA, New Braintree
    Seemingly by sheer force of their vocalization, mixed flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles dispelled the heavy, lingering nocturnal fog present upon my arrival. The male Red-winged Blackbirds' vivid territorial displays punctuated the pearly canvas of the receding mist. Viewing conditions improved dramatically at 8:20 A.M. as the sun succeeded in piercing the gloom, allowing glimpses of Great Blue Herons soaring overhead, methodically canvassing past nesting sites. Waterfowl actively exploited what little open water could be found throughout the morning. Positioning myself adjacent to slow-moving Winimusset Brook provided first-rate viewing of 11 Hooded Mergansers splashing down 50 feet from my blind! Taking the calculated risk of reaching for a thermos generated undue noise, propelling them aloft. A juvenile Bald Eagle deftly negotiated the turbulent air currents generated by a late-afternoon gale that swept through Pine Island in Hardwick. Its distant silhouette vanished in the direction of Gate 43.
    Highlights from 7:10 A.M.-11:55 A.M.: American Robin 48; Bald Eagle 1; Brown-headed Cowbird 19; Common Flicker 3; Common Grackle 178; Cooper's Hawk 1; Eastern Bluebird 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet 6; Great Blue Heron 8; Hooded Merganser 37; Northern Harrier 1; Northern Shrike 1; Red-breasted Nuthatch 4; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Red-winged Blackbird 198 (137 males, 61 females); Ruffed Grouse 7; Turkey Vulture 4; White-breasted Nuthatch 7; Wood Duck . 8 (report from Chris Ellison).

    3/21/04 -- Quaboag Lake, Brookfield
    Bald Eagles (2): One was in the nest right across from the boat launch the entire time we were there; 2nd bald eagle was hovering between Quaboag and over toward South Pond. Also noted (6) Common Mergansers and (4) Hooded Mergansers in open water just before the river heads due east from the lake. (report from Larry & Naomi Lacasse).

    3/21/04 -- Salisbury/Moreland Sts.
    An oddity? Driving home about 4:30, I counted 6 Turkey Vultures circling low overhead. I'd guess there were at least 8. As I said, I was driving and couldn't stop, what with traffic behind me. I'm used to seeing 1 or 2 in the area, maybe 3, but never this many. I do wonder what was around to attract them. Perhaps something ala "Rear Window"? (report from Howard Shainheit).

    3/21/04 -- Winchendon
    I was driving my son up to New Hampshire this morning, on way I saw a flock of approx. 50 Bohemian Waxwings just south of the junction of RTE140 and Rte 12. (report from Tom Pirro).

    3/21/04 -- Quabbin Park, Quabbin Reservoir
    On the way home from the northern Berkshires, we stopped by QUABBIN PARK to try for the Varied Thrush. We gave it an hour in the late afternoon with no luck (there were several other cars of birders there too). Quabbin is still 98% ice covered. We did have: Turkey Vulture (4); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Common Raven (pair at nest); Hermit Thrush (1); A. Robin (43). As we passed through BROOKFIELD on the way home, c.800+ Red-winged Blackbirds were going in to roost in the Quabog marshes. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    3/20/04 -- Gardner
    Hilites from this morning in Gardner: (Mostly in winter mode up here) Hooded Merganser 2; Common Redpoll 6; Pine Siskin 3 (including one extreemly pale individual which was very yellow , the streaking was very, very light and almost entirely absent on the breast. I had never seen one like this before. When I got home and reviewed some field guides it looked very similar to the "yellow varient" listed on page 534 in Sibley's "big book"), (report from Tom Pirro).

    3/20/04 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston
    I "caught" the evening Gull roost on Wachusett Res. this evening. The high lights: Ring-necked Duck 12; Common Goldeneye ~30-40; Bufflehead 2; Hooded Merganser 117 .... they were still coming in when I left; Common Merganser 25+; Iceland Gull at least 2 both imm.; Glaucous Gull 1 appeared a 1st year type. Many, many Herring and Ring-billed Gulls perhaps a few thousand of each and approx. a few hundred Great Black-backs. (report from Tom Pirro).

    3/19/04 -- All Faithss Cemetery, Worcester
    Stopped at All Faiths Cemetery on the way home and found 6 Wood Ducks,3 A. Wigeon, 4 Ring-neck Ducks, 1 G.B. Heron, 14 Hooded Merganser,11 Common Merganser and 2 Mute Swans. At Notre Dame 1 m. N. Pintail,6 Wood Ducks and 1 A. Coot. (report from John Shea).

    3/19/04 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    At noon, birds of note included 2 Mute Swans, 11 Hooded Mergs and 11 Common Mergs. (report from Rick Quimby).

    3/19/04 -- Quabbin Park, Quabbin Reservoir
    Dale Monette of the Quabbin Visitor Center reports a couple of birders came in this morning having just seen the Varied Thrush at the usual place at Quabbin Tower. The last reports he had received were a couple of weeks ago. (report from Dave Small, via MASSBIRD, fide Mark Lynch).

    3/19/04 -- Ashland
    I was surprised to see an apparently brooding mourning dove while working in Ashland on Monday morning, just before the snow started. I was approximately 15-20 feet from her before I realized she was there and she never flushed. (report from Scott Jordan).

    3/18/04 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston
    Hooded Mergansers (photo) (10) and Common Goldeneyes (photo 1, photo 2) (4) were in Quinapoxit Basin late in the afternoon. Normally, I have a difficult time getting close enough to them to get a photo. But since they were tired and most of the reservoir is still frozen over, the ducks had little choice but to take their chances in the inlet off of River Rd. (report from Bob Ricci).

    3/18/04 -- Chockalog Pond, Uxbridge
    This morning I saw 19 ring-necked ducks and 4 hooded mergs at Chockalog Pond off Chockalog Road in Uxbridge. A few minutes later I saw a very large, brownish accipiter near the junction of Mumford Road and Duval Road in Manchaug. Based upon the prominent whitish speckling/mottling on the back and zig zag tail banding I am fairly confident in proclaiming the bird an immature northern goshawk. However, as the bird's back was toward me, I could not see if any whitish eyebrow was present. (report from Scott Jordan).

    3/18/04 -- Carbuncle Pond, Oxford
    At about 10:30 this morning I saw 6 common merganser (4m, 2f) on Carbuncle Pond, Oxford MA. It has only partially thawed, but in the last week many mallard ducks have spent time. (report from AnneMarie Buhl).

    3/17/04 -- Sterling
    With the new snow, the Red-breasted Nuthatch has returned today to my feeder in Sterling, along with the Common Redpolls. The male Red-bellied Woodpecker keeps returning, although the suet feeder he wants has gone AWOL yet again, and no female is in sight. He has been in my yard continuously since Oct. 28, 2003. (report from Stanley Selkow).

    3/16/04 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
    My Dad and I (with the help of Deb) have put up three Wood Duck boxes on the Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary grounds. All of the boxes are along the banks of the beaver pond opposite of Troiano Trail. You should be able to see each box from the trail. Starting from the Dunkirk entrance, the first box is mounted on a pole about 1/3 of the way down the trail. The second is mounted on a tree in the area of the beaver lodge. The third is on a tree near the first dam. I would be interested to hear if anyone out there sees ducks using the boxes this spring. (report from Mike Walker).

    3/15/04 -- Shrewsbury
    Today I had my first E. Towhee in Worcester County this year at the xmas tree farm on Soap Hill Road in Grafton. (report from Nickilas Paulson).

    3/15/04 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
    While walking along the Sterling/Clinton dike at Wachusett Reservoir this afternoon I saw a male Northern Harrier. Gulls seen at the Reservoir east of the Route 12/140 causeway in West Boylston between 4 and 5 PM were: 1 2nd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 3rd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 immature Iceland Gulls and 1 immature Glaucous Gull. (report from Bart Kamp).

    3/15/04 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
    Highlights on a walk this afternoon: HOODED MERGANSER (1 male - this is only the 3rd record of this species on the Sanctuary); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Hairy Woodpecker (1); American Robin (22); American Tree Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (2); White-throated Sparrow (2); Red-winged Blackbird (6); Common Grackle (18); Common Redpoll (1); Also: Muskrat (2). (report from John Liller).

    3/15/04 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton
    My companion and I were standing at the edge of the beaver pond/swamp when we saw a Turkey Vulture dive into the woods behind the pine grove across the swamp. Within 30 seconds, 6 more Turkey Vultures came diving down to the same spot, all from different directions. I was surprised at how fast they were going, usually they seem to be in no hurry. There must have been something tasty they were after. We watched another 20 minutes, no more Vultures came, and none flew up and away. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    3/14/04 -- Royalston/Gardner
    Yesterday (3/13) I made a tour through central Mass en route from NYC to Framingam with stops at Royalston, Gardner, High Ridge WMA, Wachusett Reservoir, and Bolton Flats. Highlights were Bohemian Waxwing ca. 250 Gardner, School & Central; Com Redpoll 10 Royalston; Pine Siskin 2 Royalston; Evening Grosbeak 6 Royalston; No unusual Gulls at Wachusett Reservoir from about 3:30-4 PM.
    Today (3/14) in Framingham on the reservoirs there were 20 Ring-necked Ducks and 6 Common Mergansers. (report from Michael Duffy).

    3/14/04 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
    Bev and I drove out to Lake Quaboag to take a picture of the bald eagle. As you stand in the parking lot on Shore Rd, the eagle's nest is across the lake high in an evergreen tree. I estimate that the parking lot is about one mile from the nest. An eagle was on the nest when we arrived at about 12 noon and we were able to obtain a photo. At this distance the eagle and the nest are but a small part of the picture, but still easily recognizable. (report and photo from Bob Ricci).

    3/14/04 -- Gardner/Royalston
  • Gardner In the (am) ...with Soheil Zendeh and Craig Jackson): Green winged Teal 1; Bohemian Waxwing 20 (the crab apples that WERE the ONE tree that appeared to attract these birds to this locale are about gone); Cedar Waxwing 4 in the PM near the hosital; Common Redpoll 4;
  • Royalston (PM)...alone: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 2 (1 Juv. and 1 Basic III); Coopers Hawk 1; Raven 15 (the two eagles soaring overhead, near Divoll sugar house(about 3 miles east of the center), got the ravens a bit stirred up); Pine Siskin 4; Common Redpoll 10. (report from Tom Pirro).

    • 3/14/04 -- Northampton/Quabbin Park
    Note added 3/16/04:
    Just a "heads up" that the swan that has been seen in the East Meadows of Northampton is being considered by some as a TRUMPETER SWAN based on bill characteristics and plumage sequences. When I saw the bird, it was very distant but was alerted by the overall dark plumage of the bird. Typically, by the beginning of March, all Tundras are white while Turmpeters don't become white till April. I sent an e-mail to alert Tom Gagnon, Scott Surner and others. Tom went back for another look and feels that it is likely a Trumpeter. Today, Andrew MacGee and Mark Taylor both got very clsoe looks at the bird and both think it is a Trumpeter. Separating the two species is very tough and the final verdict hasn't come in yet, but folks are encouraged to see this bird and get good photographs if possible. This would be a MA first, though there are recent records for NY. (from Mark Lynch).

    Original report:

  • We went out to the EAST MEADOWS of Northampton (pp. 174 Bird Finding Guide to Western Massachusetts) off the Hockanum Rd entrance in the hopes of turning up the Tundra Swan. We dipped (we weren't quite at the right pool which was straight ahead past the old buildings on the left) but did get an adult Bald Eagle, Horned Larks, many hundreds of blackbirds including (7) Rustys and (unfortunately) 340+ Cowbirds. Later, after we left, Scott Surner and Val Miller had the bird fly over at this same spot and appear to head to the river. On a great tip from Tom Gagnon, we went to an overlook of the Connecticut River off Rt. 5. This was south, almost to Easthampton, and just after the bridge work (almost across from East Street), we pulled over, crossed the railroad tracks south of the railroad bridge, and standing under some electrical lines scoping the other side of the river, found the swan. This is a first winter bird. It may go here when not on the pools at East Meadows (which were frozen this morning). BE FOREWARNED: the dirt roads at this end of the Meadows get VERY muddy at this time of the year and Tom mentioned that three cars got stuck yesteday. Don your boots and hike.
  • On the way home, we quickly visited Quabbin Park (off Rt. 9: pp. 236 Bird Finding Guide to Western Massachusetts). Quabbin from this vantage is still 99.99% ice covered. We looked for the Varied Thrush (dipped, but lots of folks about all over including with dogs) and at the Enfield Lookout had only (2) Red-tailed Hawks and (3) Turkey Vultures.
  • Lots of owls were calling this morning around the towns north of Quabbin and in 1.5 pre-dawn hours we had (3) Great Horneds, (8) Barreds and (11) Saw-whets. At dawn at the Pelham Overlook of Quabbin on Rt. 202 (pp.252 in above mentioned volume) we had three different Pileated Woodpeckers drumming, seemingly in response to each other. Any (almost) spring day spent birding the Valley is a day well spent. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 3/13/04 -- Gardner/Wachusett Reservoir
  • In Gardner, at the corner of Central and School street, Bohemian Waxwing (~200-250).
  • Baldwinville: Bald Eagle 1 adult; Killdeer 1; Ruffed Grouse 2; Fox Sparrow 1;
  • Wachusett Reservoir : Evening roost from the Rte 12 causeway Common Goldeneye 50 ish; Hooded Merganser ~100 birds were still coming after dusk; Common Mergasner 50 ish; Herring Gulls 2000+ a rough est; Iceland Gull 2 imm. 1st year type; Glaucous Gull 1 ist year type; Great Black-backed gull 200 a rough est.; Ring-billed Gull 2000+ a rough est.; (report from Tom Pirro).

    • 3/13/04 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton
    We watched the Ravens soaring in the wind and diving at each other. They both landed on the tower, then flew off, so I don't think they've laid eggs yet. Here is a photo of their completed, newly constructed nest. Compare to the photo taken on 2/28/04. (report from Brian Mulhearn);

    3/13/04 -- Maple St., West Boylston
    I was treated this morning to my first Fox Sparrow of the season, under the backyard feeder. (report from Rick Quimby).

    3/13/04 -- Blackstone Corridor
    We counted waterfowl at a few stops in the Corridor today:
  • MANVILLE CROSSING OF BLACKSTONE RIVER, CUMBERLAND: Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (2); Wood Duck (4); Mallard (4); Hooded Merganser (1m);
  • CARL'S POND, CUMBERLAND: Mute Swan (usual pair); Mallard (2);
  • DIAMOND HILL (90% ICE COVERED);/ARNOLD'S MILL (open); RESERVOIRS: Canada Goose (26); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (35); C. Goldeneye (5); Common Merganser (3); Turkey Vulture (2);
  • SNEETCH POND (open); HORNED GREBE (1: very uncommon in the Corridor away from the Seekonk River-India Point area); Wood Duck (9); Mallard (2); A. Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (52); Turkey Vulture (1);
  • LONSDALE MARSHES (upper overlook);: Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (8); Green-winged Teal (10); A. Wigeon (11); Gadwall (73: this is the single best spot for migrant Gadwall in the entire Corridor); Mallard (8); A. Black Duck (2); N. Shoveler (1m); Ring-necked Duck (2);
  • SEEKONK RIVER (from India/Bold Points-Pawtucket border); RED-THROATED LOON (2); Great Cormorant (6); Mute Swan (32); Canada Goose (2); A. Wigeon (46); Gadwall (2); Mallard (53); A. Black Duck (70); Greater Scaup (5); Bufflehead (96); C. Goldeneye (2); Common Merganser (4: most have now moved further inland); Hooded Merganser (1: ditto); Red-breasted Merganser (19); Turkey Vulture (1); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Fish Crow (3);
  • JAMES TURNER RESERVOIR/CENTRAL POND: Pied-billed Grebe (1); Great Cormorant (10); Mute Swan (9); Canada Goose (62); Mallard (23); Lesser Scaup (26); Bufflehead (3); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (10); Ruddy Duck (11); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); A. Coot (12); E. Phoebe (1); Fish Crow (2); BOWDISH RESERVOIR, GLOCESTER: Canada Goose (36); A. Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (29); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (2); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 3/13/04 -- Lake Quabog, Brookfield
    Lake Quabog is still 95% ice covered, but we had on the small open area and the adjacent section of the river: Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (8); Common Merganser (10); BALD EAGLE (1ad on nest); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    3/11/04 -- River Road, West Boylston
    At 5:30 this afternoon there were 2 white immature Iceland Gulls, 2 beige immature Iceland Gulls, 1 immature Glaucous Gull and 1 adult LESSER Black-backed Gull. At 5:35 there were none. A freight train came by, blew it's whistle three times and all of the gulls took off and headed for the power lines. (report from Bart Kamp).

    3/11/04 -- Notre Dame Cemetery/Leeseville Pond, Worcester
    Bev and I drove over to Notre Dame Cemetery to see the N. Pintail. Afterwards, we went to Leeseville Pond. As has been noted in previous reports, there were 20 + Common Mergansers on the water. The male white body feathers stand out at a distance and the effect can be enhanced for the viewer when you not only receive the sunlight reflected directly from the white feathers but also the sunlight that reaches your eyes from the white feathers after reflecting off the water surface directly in front of the merganser. You can see this effect in my photograph of a pair of common mergansers taken from the small park at the entrance to All Faiths Cemetery on Island Road. I took this picture at about 4:00 PM with the sun at my back. (report from Bob Ricci).

    3/11/04 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    Highlights at noon included 2 Mute Swans, 3 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Common Mergansers, 2 Red-winged Blackbirds, and 10+ Common Grackles. (report from Rick Quimby).

    3/11/04 -- Gardner
    I saw the large flock of Bohemian Waxwings again this morning in Gardner, first at the intersection of Pearl Street (Rte 101) and Cedar St. I counted 245 and they flew off shortly after. About 10 minutes later I caught back up to them at the intersection of Central St (Rte 101) and School St. where they had been joined by even more birds, the total here was 325 (+/-10)an average of two counts. Not bad for neighborhood birding.
    Rte 101 is named Pearl Street to the East of the rotary and Central street to the West. The Cedar St. junction is about a mile west of the RTE 101/Rte 140 junction while the School St. junction is another .5 to .75 miles west of Cedar...a few hundred yards west of the traffic rotary. Rte 101 is a very busy street and these neighborhoods heavily residential please use common sense if looking for these birds. (report from Tom Pirro).

    3/11/04 -- Flint Pond, Shrewsbury
    A quick check of Flint Pond found 5 Wood Ducks, 51 Ring-neck Ducks, 34 C.Goldeneye, 3 Hooded Merganser and 14 Common Merganser. (report from John Shea).

    3/10/04 -- Highland St., Berlin
    I saw a Turkey Vulture on Highland St in Berlin. He was sitting in the road and as I drove closer, he hopped to the side carrying the dead squirrel he had been eating. My son and I watched him for several minutes until a car pulled up behind us and we had to move along. As we drove by the bird, he flew into a close by tree, and the other car then stopped to watch. (report from Paula Tervo).

    3/10/04 -- Sutton
    I (accidentally) flushed a great horned owl today while delineating wetlands off Torrey Road in Sutton. There were also two brown creepers vocalizing their high pitched calls on the site. (report from Scott Jordan).

    3/10/04 -- Gardner
    Before leaving this morning I was thinking of walking in the Overlook gate at High Ridge in the hopes of getting perhaps a last glimpse of some Bohemian Waxwings at High Ridge WMA. Just as I slide some bills in the mailbox outside the apartment the characteristic call of Bohemian Waxwings in the distant was heard and within 10 seconds about 75 Bohemians flew over head ...circled and landed in a small maple tree about 100' away.... Just as I got my the glasses on them they were off...headed west before I could count them!
    I hit a few spots that might still have some fruit in the immediate area, the inventory is getting quite low up here, and lucked out when I found the birds a mile and half away at the corner of Central Street (Rte 101) and School Street near down town Gardner. I counted as best I could through the flock (many more than I'd seen earlier) and came up with a total of 210 (+/-) waxwings, all Bohemians.
    While Blair Nikula had mentioned the "BOWA gods can be a fickle lot" , they've blessed me this winter, as I've had the good fortune of crossing paths with this species in 7 towns this winter [Westminster 12/28 (2), 2/22 (80); Rockport 1/24 (3); Groton 1/30 (1); Hardwick 1/31 (~40), Royalston 2/7 (10) ; Asby 2/27 (4) and Gardner 3/1 (1), 3/2 (~30) , 3/10 (210)].
    My 1st north-central mass Great Blue Heron of the year was headed west bound over rte 2 this morning. (report from Tom Pirro).

    3/10/04 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
    The m. N. Pintail is still present at Notre Dame. (report from John Shea).

    3/9/04 -- Northbridge
    I had 3 killdeer in a fallow field in Northbridge this morning. (report from Scott Jordan).

    3/9/04 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    Muddy pond is still 90% covered with ice and snow. The only open water is around the marshy area along the edge of the eastern shore. Small as it is, it still held Ring-necked Ducks (3), Hooded Mergs (2), Canada Geese (10) and several Mallards. On Monday AM the only bird songs that I heard were from a few Blue Jays and a House Finch. When I returned on Tuesday AM, however, the marsh was full of noisy red-winged blackbirds and grackles.
    The swamp on the south side of Muddy Pond Road is open and home to a few pairs of Mallards. The swamp is fed from an underground culvert connected to Muddy Pond. A ditch then feeds the water into Stillwater River. Last year beavers dammed up the ditch and flooded Muddy Pond Road. A foot-wide metal pipe was laid along the bottom of the ditch to circumvent the dam and stop the flooding. This winter the beavers built an even larger dam than last year but the pipe is still carrying away most of the water from the swamp. There were Hooded Mergs (3) feeding in the river on Monday (3/8). (report from Bob Ricci).

    3/8/04 -- Notre Dame cemetery, Worcester
    I went back to Notre Dame to look for the Pintail but there were no birds at all. At All Faiths there were 9 Ring-neck Ducks, 1 Wood Duck, 3 Green-winged Teal, 1 G. B.Heron, 7 Hooded Merganser, 35 Common Merganser and 1 Mute Swan. At Curtis Pond: 3 Hooded Merganser and 2 Mute Swans. (report from John Shea).

    3/7/04 -- SuAsCo-Bartlett Pond/Sudbury Reservoir, Westboro
  • SuAsCo, WESTBORO (40% ice covered): Pied-billed Grebe (1); Great Blue Heron (4 seen, 1 occ. nest: very few good nesting trees left); Canada Goose (21); Wood Duck (4); A. Wigeon (3); Mallard (10); Ring-necked Duck (77); C. Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (29); Common Merganser (26); Great Horned Owl (1 on nest: Watch for when the Osprey returns and how soon afterwards this bird disappears. DO NOT DISTURB THIS BIRD.); E. Bluebird (3);
  • WESTBORO WMA: From Chauncy (80% ice covered)-Little Chauncy Pond (85% ice covered): Canada Goose (3); Wood Duck (2); Mallard (4); A. Black Duck (4); Ring-necked Duck (5); Hooded Merganser (1); Common Merganser (30); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Great Horned Owl (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); E. Bluebird (1); Tree Sparrow (32); Song Sparrow (39); Red-winged Blackbird (160+); PLUS: 1 freshly killed Star-nosed Mole likely killed by trail bike.
  • BARTLETT POND, NORTHBORO (80% ice covered): Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (46); Mallard (2); Hooded Merganser (3); Pine Siskin (4);
  • SUDBURY RESERVOIR, SOUTHBORO (75% ice covered): Canada Goose (55); Mallard (33); Hooded Merganser (9); Common Merganser (62); Red-tailed Hawk (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll/Val Miller)
    • 3/7/04 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
    Stopped at Notre Dame Cemetery and found 1 m. N. PINTAIL and 1 Ring-neck Duck all the way over on the right side in the back. At All Faiths 1 Wood Duck, 10 Ring-neck Ducks, 7 Hooded Merganser and 29 Common Merganser. (report from John Shea).

    3/7/04 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
    We (Sheila Carroll, Mark Lynch, Val Miller, Paul Meleski) spent two hours (4:30-6:30PM) counting blackbirds and waterfowl as they passed overhead or came to roost at the Rt. 117 entrance to Bolton Flats. It was quite a spectacle. Roads conditions were OK for this time of the year and we only needed regular boots and some care to pick our way around the main roads. Great Blue Heron (2); Canada Goose (2153: almost all coming in low from the south, most of these birds then wheeled around and settled next to us along the Still River); Snow Goose (2: stayed separate from the Canadas); Wood Duck (188); Green-winged Teal (24); Mallard (318); A. Black Duck (16); Ring-necked Duck (9); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Killdeer (2); A. Woodcock (2: very low); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-winged Blackbird (8815); YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (1adM); C. Grackle (3580); NOT BENE: these blackbirds were flying mostly over and (some) into the marsh in huge streamers of birds, sometimes almost stretching across the full field of view. PLUS: E. Coyote baying. No Spring Peepers or other amphibians. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    3/6/04 -- Joys Rd., Grafton
    While at my granddaughter's b-day party on Joys Road in Grafton, a flock of waxwings landed in one of the yard trees. Jokingly, I said we should check for a "Bohemian", and amazingly, when Sheila checked with our optics, there was indeed one that sat perfectly among the 11 Cedars, to the point that we were able to show it even to a non-birding neighbor. Totally unexpected. (report from Mark Lynch).

    3/6/04 -- Sherborn
    While at the Sherborn playground holding my daughter, I flushed an American Woodcock that flew only 20 feet away. Shielded by a shrub, I then watched it from 10 feet away, marveling at how well-camouflaged it was against the leaf litter. Though I've flushed plenty, this was a rare chance to see this little gem up close. Also saw a number of red-winged blackbirds and a turkey vulture at the Broadmoor Audubon reservation in South Natick. (report from George Moore).

    3/6/04 -- Woonsocket Reservoir, Smithfield, RI
    Canada Goose (6); Mallard (2); Lesser Scaup (10); Common Goldeneye (2); Common Merganser (54); BALD EAGLE (1 imm sitting on the ice the entire time we were there); Red-tailed Hawk (4: 2 pair);
    We then went to Sunset Stables next to Lincoln Woods: Wood Duck (pair); Mallard (8); Red-tailed Hawk (pair on territory); Killdeer (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3: incl. 2m); Red-headed Woodpecker (1: this bird was somewhat tough to see as it was working on the back side of the marsh and edge of the woodlot. It was seen often flying down to the ground, presumably getting acorns. DO NOT TAPE THIS BIRD as it could be setting up nesting territory and is a very rare breeder anywhere in the Blackstone National Corridor); N. Flicker (2); Red-winged Blackbird (30+); C. Grackle (50+). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    3/6/04 -- Worcester Airport
    Just after 6PM tonite we checked along the roads between Worcester Airport and Rt. 56: all airport property. Despite winds, we tallyed: Canada Goose (1 flyby); Mallard (5 flyby); American Woodcock (18); Great Horned Owl (1); The full moon was amazing. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    3/5/04 -- Wachusett Reservoir, West Boylston
    At Wachusett Reservoir the warm water being transported from the Quabbin has melted a large amount of ice under the power lines east of the 12/140 causeway and east of the railroad tracks near River Road. Late this afternoon beyond the power lines there were 2-3 thousand gulls including a first year Iceland Gull. There were also a pair of Pintails and 7 Common Goldeneyes. When the fog got too thick too see I went over to River Road. There were still 2-3 hundred gulls on the ice there including an adult Glaucous Gull. (report from Bart Kamp).

    3/4/04 -- Flint Pond, Shrewsbury
    Checked some spots around Flint Pond ,there were Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackels at each stop. At the bridge just past Dunken Donuts on route 20 I found 12 Common Goldeneye, 16 Common Merganser, 11 Hooded Merganser and 3 Wood Ducks. Down South Quinsigamond ave. 2 Wood Ducks, 6 Hooded Merganser and 2 Mute Swans. (report from John Shea).

    3/04/04 -- Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton
    The pair of Ravens were both at the nest, putting on the finishing touches, one had a beakfull of white downey feathers. At the Heron colony, I saw a Great Blue Heron land in one of the nests. There were Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, and a few pairs of Wood Ducks. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    3/4/04 -- Barrows Rd., Worcester
    This morning about 10:00 I COUNTED a minimum of 100 C. Redpolls at and around, but mostly under my thistle feeder. They were so compacted under the feeder that the ground seemed alive. There were others I couldn't count higher in trees, but some might have been displaced Goldfinch. I'd guess there were a minimum of 120 Redpolls--possibly, up to 135, 140 or so. What a year for these critters! (report from Howard Shainheit).

    3/4/04 -- Northboro
    Continuing the spring theme, this morning I had about a dozen red-winged blackbirds mixed in with about the same number of starlings. This is spring to me although I can also remember many an opening day at Fenway with snow!!! (report from Jim Hogan).

    3/3/04 -- Coldbrook Rd., Barre
    Today I saw 5 Red Cross Bills on Coldbrook Rd. in Barre. The birds were located at the crest of the Rd. @ Harding Hill near the Stephan Drawbridge memorial. I also saw 8 Blue Birds in fields along Coldbrook Rd. l (report from Warren Jewell)

    3/3/04 -- Grafton
    I looked for the shrike at the Merriam Road conservation land in Grafton at lunch today but could not locate the bird. I had seen a shrike in the same general vicinity, off Estabrook Road, for just one day last March. I did see a nice pair of bluebirds sitting side by side in a crab apple tree in the southernmost field and 40-50 red wings off Merriam Road. With regard to bluebirds, I will be installing 20 bluebird boxes at the Merriam Road conservation property for the Grafton Conservation Commission at the end of March/beginning of April. If anyone is interested in helping (i.e., digging post holes) they can email me for further info at sjordan@ecotecinc.com. (report from Scott Jordan).

    3/2/04 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester
    I checked Leesville Pond this afternoon. The ice is starting to melt and I saw common mergansers (23), hooded mergansers (2), Canada Geese (5) and mallards (6). With this weather it won't be long until the entire pond is ice-free. (report from Jim Hogan).

    3/2/04 -- Barrows Rd., Worcester
    For much of January and all of February, I've had from 6 to 30 C. Redpolls at our thistle feeder--a flock that decided to settle in with the resident Goldfinch, I assume. About 11:30 today that flock was joined by a group of at least 60 other Redpolls. Unfortunately, they came, they ate, and they left. Also, note, that the Varied Thrush is still at Quabbin. On Sunday it ate, then sat in the open for about twenty minutes. (report from Howard Shainheit).

    3/2/04 -- downtown Worcester
    At 8:00 am this morning I caught sight of an adult peregrine falcon perched on the copper parapet of the 12 story office building located at the corner of Main and Franklin in downtown Worcester. The falcon remained on the perch for at least 15 minutes and would periodically emit a loud wail that I could easily hear over the traffic noise. Though I have seen these falcons many times in the downtown area this was the first time I ever heard one. I have read that peregrines can be noisy during the breeding season. Lets hope the cry was a love song to a mate. (report from Bob Ricci).

    3/2/04 -- Gardner
    On the way to work today I saw the following in a residential neighborhood in Gardner, just west of Rte140: Bohemian Waxwing 1; B-H Cowbird 1; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 6;
    On Saw Mill Pond in Fitchburg: Black Duck 6; Mallard 4; Wood Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 1 drake; Hooded Merganser 4; (report from Tom Pirro).

    3/1/04 -- Shrewsbury
    This evening I walked out to the woodpile in a small treebelt behind our house in Shrewsbury and flushed a woodcock. Very distinctive boost and wing-whistle. I'm familiar with the sound from watching them in marshes out in Nebraska. (report from Whit Andrews).

    3/1/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors today: Turkey Vulture 6; Bald Eagle ; Sharp-shinned Hawk ; Red-shouldered Hawk ; Red-tailed Hawk ; > Observations: The Bald Eagle was an immature White-belly II. Not migrating were 2 Turkey Vultures, 2 Red-shoulders, 4 Red-tails and 1 Northern Goshawk. > > 191 American Crows were migrating. The Ravens were busy carrying small sticks and branches to their nest. (report from Bart Kamp).

    3/1/04 -- Merriam Rd., Grafton
    This afternoon, I had a NORTHERN SHRIKE in the Grafton Conservation Lands, located on Merriam Road. It was perched in a tree in the leftmost field (if you face the fields from Merriam Road). I watched it for several minutes before it took off, and I could not relocate it. (report from John Liller).

    3/1/04--Asnebumskit Hill, Paxton
    Great Blue Herons have recently established a colony of 21 nests here. Here is a photo of some of those nests. There were no Great Horned Owls in any of the nests. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    For previous sightings, see February 2004 Archives or Archive Index