March 2008 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:

special notice -- Need help with Breeding Bird Atlas II
3/12/08 -- Owls of New England with Tom Wansleben
3/15/08 -- Statewide Bird Conference in Waltham
3/20/08 -- Forbush Bird Club meeting: Mark Lynch speaks about the BREEDING BIRD ATLAS project (at 7:30 pm in the Faculty room of the Dinand Library, Holy Cross College)
3/23/08 -- Forbush Bird Club trip originally scheduled 3/23/08 is rescheduled for 3/30/08 (see revised calendar)
3/30/08 -- WICN radio program on birds
4/13/08 -- WICN radio program on natural history

Bird Sightings:

3/30/08 -- Spencer/Petersham/Northfield: We continued to scout some of Breeding Bird Atlas blocks today, starting with NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in Spencer. The weather at dawn was cold, plain and simple, with temps 18 degrees and lower. Still water had skim ice covering most of the surface. But by noon, 45 degrees seemed balmy by comparison:
NORTH BROOKFIELD 12: Wood Duck (4); American Black Duck (2>pair); Mallard (4); Ring-necked Duck (22); Bufflehead (1); Hooded Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (5); Rock Dove (34); Mourning Dove (18); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (3); Eastern Phoebe (4); NORTHERN SHRIKE (1ad); Blue Jay (68: still migrating and in flocks); American Crow (25); Horned Lark (25+); Black-capped Chickadee (36); Tufted Titmouse (23); Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); White-breasted Nuthatch (9); Carolina Wren (1); American Robin (273); E Starling (80); Fox Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (61); Swamp Sparrow (1); Dark-eyed Junco (18); N Cardinal (28); Red-winged Blackbird (93); Common Grackle (167); Brown-headed Cowbird (11); Purple Finch (1); House Finch (5); American Goldfinch (13); House Sparrow (44); PLUS: River Otter (2);
Later, surveying BARRE 1, mostly in Petersham and New Salem (lots of forest; few fields); we were surprised to find much of the area covered with 1 or 2 inches of icy snow, and the ponds mostly still very frozen. Turkey Vulture (3); Mallard (2); Hooded Merganser (3); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); American Kestrel (1 migrating); Wild Turkey (4); Rock Dove (3); Mourning Dove (5); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Eastern Phoebe (1); Blue Jay (15); American Crow (11); Black-capped Chickadee (58); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-breasted Nuthatch (15); American Robin (5); E Starling (4); Song Sparrow (1); Dark-eyed Junco (24); Red-winged Blackbird (6); Common Grackle (60); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); Evening Grosbeak (4);
THEN, we headed to NORTHFIELD and along Rt.63 in the small orchard near mailbox #260, there were (300+); BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (see photo of small part of flock) in trees and feeding on the ground (50+); Cedar Waxwings and (30+); Robins.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/30/08 -- Forbush Bird Club trip: Brookfields
Highlights on a trip led by Fran McMenemy were: This year's first Eastern Phoebes at East Brookfield River, the large numbers of Common and Hooded Mergansers at Lake Lashaway, the Cedar Waxwings feeding on the ground near Ceramic Pond also in East Brookfield, the large variety of duck species at Slab City and the 3 Bald Eagles at Lake Wickaboag in West Brookfield. Here is a complete trip list of the 42 species observed. (report from Joan Zumpfe)

3/30/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Bald Eagle 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 4 ; Raptor Observations: 2 adult bald eagles not migrating. Non-raptor Observations: 2 killdeer (report from Bart Kamp).

3/30/08 -- West Millbury
Late this afternoon, under the feeder, there was a fox sparrow. (report from Alan Marble).

3/29/08 -- Blackstone

We spent from before down through this AM doing some early atlas work in a block in the town of Blackstone in SE Worcester County. This block is mostly suburban, but with a number of small farms and a small Wildlife Management Area. There is very little standing water in this block, just a few tiny farm ponds. Although the mainstem of the Blackstone does not run through this block, several important streams and brooks that feed into the Blackstone River are found here including the breeding habitat for the State-listed AMERICAN BROOK LAMPREY (Lampetra appendix);. Weather was cool to cold, with winds increasing throughout the morning. Canada Goose (9: pair seen nest building); Wood Duck (4, including pair); American Black Duck (pair); Mallard (6); Cooper~Rs Hawk (1); Red-shouldered Hawk (1 calling and doing flight display); Red-tailed Hawk (3, including pair doing flight display); Wild Turkey (5: displaying); Killdeer (8); AMERICAN WOODCOCK (36: all displaying males); Ring-billed Gull (3 overhead); Rock Pigeon (12: including pairs copulating); Mourning Dove (22: copulating; nest-building); Great Horned Owl (6: 3 pairs); N Saw-whet Owl (1 calling vigorously at dawn); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N Flicker (3); Eastern Phoebe (3); Blue Jay (15); A Crow (14); Black-capped Chickadee (28); Tufted Titmouse (37); White-breasted Nuthatch (21); Carolina Wren (9 singing); Winter Wren (1 singing in suitable breeding habitat); Eastern Bluebird (7); American Robin (369); N Mockingbird (4); E Starling (59: nest building observed); Field Sparrow (1 singing); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (51); Dark-eyed Junco (34); N Cardinal (59: lots of displays; chasing; copulating); Red-winged Blackbird (37); Common Grackle (108); Brown-headed Cowbird (7); House Finch (10: nest building observed); A Goldfinch (10); House Sparrow (48: some on nests); PLUS: pack of coyotes howling at dawn; White-tailed Deer (2);
At Rice City Pond, UXBRIDGE: Mallard (20); A Black Duck (6); Green-winged Teal (8); N Pintail (pair); Common Merganser (2); Killdeer (6); E Phoebe (1); Nearby to Rice City Pond, two pairs of swans each with birds on the nest.
At just a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE: Mute Swan (16); Canada Goose (68); Wood Duck (2); Mallard (10); Ring-necked Duck (44); Hooded Merganser (2); Tree Swallow (flock of 62 feeding over Meadow Pond in the wind and cold);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/29/08 -- Maple Street, West Boylston
Under the feeder this morning there was a fox sparrow. (report from Rick Quimby).

3/29/08 -- Coes Pond, Worcester
At Coes Pond this morning I saw: 63 Common Merganser, 6 Hooded Merganser, 5 Turkey Vultures and 2 Red Tail Hawks. From there I went to Notre Dame Cememtery: 26 Wood Ducks, 8 Green wing Teal, 4 N. Pintail 1 A. Widgeon, 2 Great Blue Heron and 2 Mute Swans (1 on Nest). (report from John Shea).

3/27/08 -- Spencer/Leicester/Paxton
Scouting in the Breeding Bird Atlas block Worcester North 3 produced the following highlights: 1 great blue heron, 2 turkey vultures, 4 wood ducks (one female was checking out a natural cavity), 1 bufflehead, 4 hooded mergansers, 8 common mergansers, 1 red-tailed hawk, 5 killdeer, 1 northern flicker, my first tree swallow of the year, 1 brown-headed cowbird and several displaying red-winged blackbirds. Even though crows carrying nesting materials is not allowed to be used in the breeding codes, it was encouraging to see an American crow flying with a bill full of dried grass. (report from Alan Marble).

3/27/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
I went birding today from 10:30 - 1:30PM at Bolton Flats WMA and the fields across 117. Along the path from the 117 parking lot was an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE working the edge. On the left side of the trail in the field was a good number (22) of WILSON'S SNIPE not far from the trail. Those ponds seemed filled dabblers, mostly green-winged teal, mallards and a speckling of Northern pintails, and American black ducks. Killdeer were also present in numbers. Across route 117 there were more dabblers including a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL and some wood ducks. At about noon there were many large (2000+) foraging flocks of common grackles (90%), red-winged blackbirds and European starlings as well as 3 TREE SWALLOWS and 20 horned larks flying overhead. I also flushed an American woodcock along the field's edge. Here are 2 digiscoped photos of the Blue-winged Teal.
Numerical highlights: Canada Goose - (36), Wood Duck - (27), American Black Duck - (12+), Mallard - (65+), Blue-winged Teal - (2, pair), Northern Pintail - (10), Green-winged Teal - (185), Great Blue Heron - (1), Turkey Vulture - (6), Northern Harrier - (2,f), Red-tailed Hawk - (3), Killdeer - (18), Wilson's Snipe - (22), American Woodcock - (1), Northern Shrike - (1), Horned Lark - (21), Tree Swallow - (3), Eastern Bluebird - (1), Field Sparrow - (1), Song Sparrow - (24), Red-winged Blackbird - (250+), Common Grackle - (2000+), Brown-headed Cowbird - (3). (report from Kevin Bourinot).

3/26/08 -- Rice City Pond, Uxbridge
Paul and I saw a great egret at Rice City Pond this morning around 10:30. Viewed from Hartford Ave, it was center back, near grass. Also seen were a pair of green-winged teal, several mallards, and a male common merganser. A killdeer and a yellowlegs worked a mud patch. An eastern phoebe was at the canal bridge at River Bend Farm, and a wild turkey was on the upper field between the Farm and the medical center. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/25/08 -- Thomas St., Worcester
In the midmorning there were approximately 40 cedar waxwings. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

3/25/08 -- Pepperell/Bolton Flats

Birds seen and/or heard from behind the horse track on the west side of the nashua River in Pepperell this noon. The Basic I Bald Eagle made repeated passes at a small group of Common Mergansers. The mergs "sat tight" and dove when the eagle attacked, a few times the eagle hit the water and reached down for a Merg, that dove, and came up empty. A female Harrier passed through and was harrassed briefly by a Great Black-backed Gull, a few Am. Crows and blackbirds even the Kingfisher inspected the harrier. Highlights: Mute Swan 1; Wood Duck 18; American Black Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 8; Hooded Merganser 35; Common Merganser 20; Bald Eagle 1; Northern Harrier 1; Belted Kingfisher 1; Song Sparrow 1;
This evening from Bolton Flats, I walked a bit on both side of Rte 119, lots of Wood Ducks, GW Teal, Mallards but few Geese I was unable to get over to the pond, well hidden by young trees now. A flock of 12 Canada Goose passed over headed north, one of them was a small form and could well have been a Cackling Goose. However I would've liked a closer inspection to tell if was not a smaller form on the Canada side of the family. The Peregrine was an Imm. and put on a nice show carving up the sky, but like the noon time eagle, down river, it also came up empty. Highlights: Wood Duck 220; American Black Duck 18; Northern Pintail 12; Green-winged Teal (American) 95; Great Blue Heron 1; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1; Red-tailed Hawk 2; Peregrine Falcon 1; Killdeer 5; American Woodcock 1; Great Black-backed Gull 1; Belted Kingfisher 1; Hairy Woodpecker 2; Song Sparrow 2; Red-winged Blackbird 100; Common Grackle 800; (report from Tom Pirro).

3/24/08 -- Fitchburg
This evening there were 12 gulls loafing on Snow's Mill Pond in Fitchburg, one of which was a 1st cycle Iceland Gull. The was also a few Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/24/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 44 44 Bald Eagle 5 7 7 Northern Harrier 1 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 1 3 3 Red-tailed Hawk 20 76 76 American Kestrel 1 1 1 Raptor Observations: The first bird of the day was an adult northern harrier that hunted the adjacent field before moving on. A basic/subadult III bald eagle landed in a nearby tree. Non-raptor Observations: The first TREE SWALLOW of the year circled the field and the nest boxes while the bluebirds watched. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/24/08 -- Oakham
Two redpolls were at the birdfeeder this morning. On the way into work, two great blue herons were on their nests at Browning Pond in Spencer. (report from Kathy van Schoick).

3/23/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 23 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk 2 ; (report from Bart Kamp).

3/22/08 -- Smithfield/Cumberland RI
We spent the morning surveying some of the larger ponds in SMITHFIELD RI and later the reservoirs and surrounding areas in northeastern CUMBERLAND RI. Both towns are part of the Blackstone National Corridor. Weather first thing this morning was windy and just plain cold, but by later in the AM, the winds had calmed down and it was brisk, but not brutal.
SMITHFIELD: Great Blue Heron (18 birds; minimally 9 occupied nests); Turkey Vulture (2); Mute Swan (6: 3 pair); Canada Goose (105); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (49); A Black Duck (7); Ring-necked Duck (45); Bufflehead (8); Common Goldeneye (9); Hooded Merganser (26); Common Merganser (54); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Wild Turkey (3); Virginia Rail (1: I cannot believe this bird over-wintered, so it has to be an early migrant); Passerines were pretty typical, but we did find: Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Brown Creeper (1); Carolina Wren (6); COMMON RAVEN (1: flying west over the north end of Slack Reservoir, calling and being mobbed by three crows); Eastern Bluebird (6); Fox Sparrow (1 singing);
Later, around the CUMBERLAND reservoirs: Horned Grebe (1: uncommon inland in the Corridor); Canada Goose (46); Mallard (37); American Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (19); Bufflehead (5); Common Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/22/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 4 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 7 ; Red-tailed Hawk 31 ; Merlin 1 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating: 2 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks, 3 red-tailed hawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/22/08 -- Worcester Airport
There were 8 Pine Grosbeaks at Worcester Airport this morning. (report from John Shea).

3/18/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 13 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 17 . Raptor Observations: Not migrating:2 bald eagles, 3 northern goshawks, 1 red-shouldered hawk, 1 Cooper's hawk. Non-raptor Observations: 2 great blue herons (report from Bart Kamp).

3/18/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge
Around noon today, perhaps 60 Canada Geese were strung out, with a few larger groups, from the SE end (near Whitinsville Christian School) to the middle of Linwood Pond. The Pond runs along Linwood Avenue in Northbridge. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was among the Canada geese. This goose is fairly easy to spot--it's smaller, has a brown head and orange-yellow bill, and lacks a white chin-strap. Also seen on the pond were several hooded mergansers m&f, several mallards m&f, belted kindfisher, golden-crowned kinglet, and eastern bluebird in addition to grackles and red-winged blackbirds. Two pairs of wood ducks were among reeds at the Mill end of the pond. (report from Nancy DeMers, Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- Petersham/Spencer

We spent the day scouting two of our BREEDING BIRD ATLAS blocks for 2008. We started in BARRE 1, which is actually almost entirely PETERSHAM. Our list for today from there includes: Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (1); Mourning Dove (11); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (4); Blue Jay (108: jays were all about in large numbers everywhere we went today); American Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (33); Tufted Titmouse (28); CAROLINA WREN (very uncommon bird in the northern Quabbin area); American Robin (58); Dark-eyed Junco (24); N Cardinal (33); Red-winged Blackbird (52); Common Grackle (51); EVENING GROSBEAK (22: at one feeder; we had another (18); Evening Grosbeaks at a feeder in Barre: SEE PHOTO); House Sparrow (7);
Then, we headed to block NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. Here we had: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (86); Mallard (10); Hooded Merganser (14); Common Merganser (10); Red-tailed Hawk (2, including 1 carrying sticks to nest); Rock Pigeon (13); Mourning Dove (18); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (129); American Crow (15); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (14); White-breasted Nuthatch (9); Eastern Bluebird (2); American Robin (256); E Starling (191); Fox Sparrow (1 signing); Song Sparrow (10); White-throated Sparrow (16); Dark-eyed Junco (92); N Cardinal (20); Red-winged Blackbird (102); Common Grackle (192); Brown-headed Cowbird (12); Purple Finch (2); House Finch (6); American Goldfinch (4); EVENING GROSBEAK (4); House Sparrow (4);
PLUS: At the north end of LAKE WICKABOAG: Canada Goose (16); Green-winged Teal (3); Bufflehead (1m); Hooded Merganser (12); Common Merganser (67);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/16/08 -- Depot Rd., Westminster
We had 15 cedar waxwings in our front yard this morning..they cleaned all the berries off our holly bush and they moved on. (report from Chris Mossman).

3/16/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge

Thanks to a call from Nancy Demers, we returned to Linwood Pond off Linwood Ave across from the golf course around 3:45pm today and saw the Greater White-fronted Goose reported Friday by Mark and Sheila. It was easily picked out from the surrounding 15 or so Canada geese; a number of other geese were off to the right behind vegetation.
The male harrier has not been seen the last two stops at the soccer field on Sutton St [Uxbridge], but there has been a kestrel there both times and one or two red-tailed hawks. Today, a group of ten turkey vultures was soaring to the east. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- JWhitin Pond, N.Uxbridge
This morning 11-11:45 we watch a beautiful drake canvasback swim among 18 ring-necked ducks at the trestle end of JWhitin Pond off Rte 122 and Hartford Ave in N. Uxbridge. There were two dozen or so Canada geese hunkered down on the woody strip of land that juts into the pond--none appeared to be the Greater White-fronted Goose seen in the area by Mark Lynch the other day.
Earlier in the morning, we saw no geese on Linwood Pond in Northbridge but found a small but very nice group of ducks: bufflehead pair, wood duck pair, and male hooded merganser. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/15/08 -- Oakham
This evening we heard the first woodcock courting display in and above our half snow covered fields. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

3/15/08 -- Westminster
(The gulls were at Saw Mill Pond on the Fitchburg/Westminster line) Highlights were: Wood Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 6; Hooded Merganser 2; Turkey Vulture 4; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Ring-billed Gull 5; Herring Gull (American) 800 (2 adult w/ black wing tags K10 and K21); Iceland Gull (Kumlien's) 2 (1 1st Y and 1 3rd Yr); Glaucous Gull 1 (1st Yr); Great Black-backed Gull 150; Brown Creeper 1 singng; Red-winged Blackbird 12; Common Grackle 3. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/15/08 -- Northbridge/Worcester
First we went to check on the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. There were NO geese at Linwood Pond, NORTHBRIDGE. We checked other bodies of water nearby, including Rice City Pond (Uxbridge); and the Whitinsville Golf Course, but it seems most of the geese had moved on. At a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE we had: Turkey Vulture (1); Mute Swan (14); Canada Goose (11: mostly in scattered pairs); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (2); American Kestrel (1f); Wild Turkey (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Red-winged Blackbird (410+); C Grackle (60+);
We then headed north to one of our ATLAS blocks for 2008: WORCESTER NORTH 11. This block contains spots like the very north end of Lake Quinsigamond; the prisons in Boylston, Quinsigamond Junior College and Higgins Armory. We scouted around for a bit and here is our total list: Turkey Vulture (3); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (6); NORTHERN SHOVELER (1f: same bird in the same place, the NW corner of Newton Pond -- photo); Ring-necked Duck (7); Bufflehead (1m); Common Goldeneye (1m); Common Merganser (5); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (2); Ring-billed Gull (39); Herring Gull (3); Rock Pigeon (28); Mourning Dove (13); Downy Woodpecker (8); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (20); A Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (17); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Eastern Bluebird (9); American Robin (96); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (150+); Cedar Waxwing (37); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (17); Red-winged Blackbird (78); Common Grackle (62); House Sparrow (130+); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/15/08 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
This afternoon I saw : 13 Wood Ducks, 4 Black Ducks, 3 Green winged Teal and 2 Mute Swans, 1 on the nest. At All Faiths: 1 N. Pintail, 2 Black Ducks, 14 Green winged Teal, 10 Hooded Merganser, 17 Common Merganser, 1 Great Blue Heron. For some reason they are draining the water out of Leesville Pond so at both stops the water is way down. Anyone know why? I went up to Mulbury St. behind the airport for Woodcock and saw at least 8, the [Woodcock] show started at 7:07. (report from John Shea).

3/15/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
Woodcocks are calling and flying at River Bend Farm on Oak Street in Uxbridge. We stopped there briefly on the way home from the Mass Audubon Birders' Meeting (which was terrific). At least six woodcocks were heard in the vicinity of the mowed field, and several were seen flying. The field is quite wet but walkable. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/14/08 -- Blackstone/Mendon
We spent a few hours Friday scouting out our Breeding Bird Atlas Block "UXBRIDGE 11" which includes the towns of BLACKSTONE and adjacent areas of MENDON. This is mostly suburban habitat, with very little water, but still with a few small farms and a nice Wildlife Management Area adjacent to some conservation land. This block is in the Blackstone National Corridor. Bird life was pretty typical this morning, but bird song is definitely on the rise and it's beginning to "sound" like spring. Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (41); Mallard (14); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (pair + another 2 birds); Killdeer (6); Mourning Dove (22: some seen mating. BTW: one of our target birds for the day, was Rock Pigeon, and we dipped); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (7); Carolina Wren (4: singing); Blue Jay (29); A Crow (10); Common Raven (1 bird flying around the nest); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (23); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1: tough to say whether this was an "over-winterer" or a really early migrant); Eastern Bluebird (pair); American Robin (119); N Mockingbird (7); E Starling (33); Song Sparrow (26: all singing); Dark-eyed Junco (6: singing); N Cardinal (25: many in song); Red-winged Blackbird (300+); Common Grackle (12); House Finch (4); English Sparrow (46); PLUS: my first WOODCHUCK of the season. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/14/08 -- Northbridge
While out doing some Atlas II scouting, we found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Greenland race) in LINWOOD POND, Northbridge among a flock of about 70 Canadas. Linwood Pond is on Linwood Avenue between Rt. 122 and "downtown" Northbridge. This is part of the Blackstone National Corridor. It is screened by a thin line of trees, but you can pull off alongside the road, park, cut through the trees and walk along a nice path there. Sheila took some photos . (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/13/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; Red-tailed Hawk 5 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating:6 turkey vultures, 4 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 northern goshawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/13/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster
I stopped at a very flooded Bolton Flats this morning. You need a vehicle with high clearance to make it into the parking lot on Rt 117. Knee-high boots are needed to go anywhere in the area. A great blue heron greeted me at the edge of the parking lot as I drove in. . Grackles and red-winged blackbirds were flying around in small flocks near the parking lot. On the flooded cornfield, there were about 100 ring-billed gulls, 4 herring gulls and 8 green-winged teal. A few mallards and black ducks flew over. A song sparrow was singing. I could hear killdeer. On the south side of Rt 117 there were well over 100 Canada geese and 8 killdeer. (report from Alan Marble).

3/12/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At 5 PM Wednesday afternoon I decided to look for the gull roost at Wachusett Reservoir. I stopped first at River Road (West Boylston) and then at the power lines along the Route 12/140 causeway. The combination of open water and ice was just right, but there were NO gulls. I then headed for gate 36 and the Sterling Dike. The DCR gull flusher was in position on the dike and there was a large number of gulls on the ice about 200 yards out near the open water. I decided to go to the shore line along gate 35 and watch from there. The light is better and you are protected from the wind and heavy snow squalls. The gulls came pouring in. I noticed a pickup truck backed up to the water with a boat on a trailer at Greenhalge Point.
At about 15 minutes after sunset (7 PM), when the gulls were half in the open water and half on the ice the gull flushers launched the boat and spent the next half hour chasing the gulls and firing noisemakers. The gulls merely flew to the nearby ice and rested. They didn't leave the area. When the gull flushers returned to shore to leave all of the gulls on the ice returned to the open water. The gull flusher positioned on the dike never fired a shot. There were probably more 4 thousand gulls on the ice. I was able to pick out 1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. There were also 62 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads and 28 Common Mergansers. Perched high in an oak tree along the shore line was a Great Horned Owl watching all of the gull and human activity. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/11/08 -- Grafton
In addition to grackles, red winged blackbirds, flickers and bluebirds, I saw a northern shrike along Estabrook Road in Grafton today. The bird was located approximately 600 feet west of the barn, in almost the exact same spot (and almost the same date) that I have observed shrikes in two previous years. The bird was perched in a sapling at the edge of a marsh and it's large head was bobbing while watching some potential prey on the ground, similar to the way a more typical raptor does. (report from Scott Jordan).

3/11/08 -- Leicester/Worcester
There were 8 Hooded Mergansers (5 M, 3 F) on Kettle Brook Res. 2 where Manville St. meets Rt. 56. Also, at 7:00pm there were Woodcock in the field on Mulberry St. at the Airport, displaying in the fields on the other side of the small brook where the signal light towers are. Chasing and courtship flights, at least two pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/11/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
The Bald Eagle [see previous report on 3/9] was perched in a large pine tree, being mobbed by two crows at about 7:00am this morning. It didn't seem overly concerned about the crows squawking at it. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/10/08 -- Uxbridge
A male northern harrier was seen late in the afternoon Mar 6, 7, and 10 gliding above the fields on the east side of Sutton Street at the area called Hundred Acre Lot. Sutton St. runs between W. Hartford Ave. and Lackey Dam Rd. east of Rte 146. Vantage point was the soccer field behind a stone wall that runs parallel to the road. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/9/08 -- north Worcester County
I finally got some birding in today, hilites only:
Westminster: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-shouldered hawk 1 just off rte 2a near round meadow pond; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 3;
Orange: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 1; Raven 6; Am. Crow 150; all the above were enjoying a dead cow.
Branch bridge Rd. New Salem: Mute Swan 2 (I didn't think they were allowed there!); no other waterfowl
Barton's Cove (Gill, Ma.): Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult on nest, one 3rd yr in flight); Green-winged Teal 1 female; Canvasback 3 (2 ad. drakes, 1 1st yr drake); Hooded Merganser 6; Common Merganaser 22; Gulls in decending abundance..Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed .... I saw no other species of gull.
Turner's Falls: Pine Grosbeak 9; Anadromous Fish Park (Power Canal); Bald Eagle 1 juv.; Red-tailed hawk 2; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Goldeneye 14; Hooded Merganser 4; Common Merganser a few; Eastern bluebird 2 (M + F);
Turner's Falls Fish and game club: Mute Swan 23 and lots of Ringed-billed Gulls.
Finnally, over the past week I have found 2 dead Barred Owls along Rte, one in Westminster and one in gardner. I will work with Mass F+W to find them a home, and reclam some freezer space. I saw another (DOR) today near Jackson gate (near Devens, off rte2), but it look very "flattened" and too dangerous to stop. Apparently this species continues to "suffer". Also was what appeared to be a dead Fisher in the meadian strip just west of jackson "gate".
(report from Tom Pirro).

3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI
This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/8/08 -- Spencer
This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield

Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/30/08 -- Forbush Bird Club trip: Brookfields: Highlights on a trip led by Fran McMenemy were: This year's first Eastern Phoebes at East Brookfield River, the large numbers of Common and Hooded Mergansers at Lake Lashaway, the Cedar Waxwings feeding on the ground near Ceramic Pond also in East Brookfield, the large variety of duck species at Slab City and the 3 Bald Eagles at Lake Wickaboag in West Brookfield. Here is a complete trip list of the 42 species observed. (report from Joan Zumpfe)
3/30/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Raptors migrating today: Bald Eagle 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 4 ; Raptor Observations: 2 adult bald eagles not migrating. Non-raptor Observations: 2 killdeer (report from Bart Kamp).
3/30/08 -- West Millbury: Late this afternoon, under the feeder, there was a fox sparrow. (report from Alan Marble).
3/29/08 -- Blackstone: We spent from before down through this AM doing some early atlas work in a block in the town of Blackstone in SE Worcester County. This block is mostly suburban, but with a number of small farms and a small Wildlife Management Area. There is very little standing water in this block, just a few tiny farm ponds. Although the mainstem of the Blackstone does not run through this block, several important streams and brooks that feed into the Blackstone River are found here including the breeding habitat for the State-listed AMERICAN BROOK LAMPREY (Lampetra appendix);. Weather was cool to cold, with winds increasing throughout the morning. Canada Goose (9: pair seen nest building); Wood Duck (4, including pair); American Black Duck (pair); Mallard (6); Cooper~Rs Hawk (1); Red-shouldered Hawk (1 calling and doing flight display); Red-tailed Hawk (3, including pair doing flight display); Wild Turkey (5: displaying); Killdeer (8); AMERICAN WOODCOCK (36: all displaying males); Ring-billed Gull (3 overhead); Rock Pigeon (12: including pairs copulating); Mourning Dove (22: copulating; nest-building); Great Horned Owl (6: 3 pairs); N Saw-whet Owl (1 calling vigorously at dawn); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N Flicker (3); Eastern Phoebe (3); Blue Jay (15); A Crow (14); Black-capped Chickadee (28); Tufted Titmouse (37); White-breasted Nuthatch (21); Carolina Wren (9 singing); Winter Wren (1 singing in suitable breeding habitat); Eastern Bluebird (7); American Robin (369); N Mockingbird (4); E Starling (59: nest building observed); Field Sparrow (1 singing); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (51); Dark-eyed Junco (34); N Cardinal (59: lots of displays; chasing; copulating); Red-winged Blackbird (37); Common Grackle (108); Brown-headed Cowbird (7); House Finch (10: nest building observed); A Goldfinch (10); House Sparrow (48: some on nests); PLUS: pack of coyotes howling at dawn; White-tailed Deer (2);
At Rice City Pond, UXBRIDGE: Mallard (20); A Black Duck (6); Green-winged Teal (8); N Pintail (pair); Common Merganser (2); Killdeer (6); E Phoebe (1); Nearby to Rice City Pond, two pairs of swans each with birds on the nest.
At just a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE: Mute Swan (16); Canada Goose (68); Wood Duck (2); Mallard (10); Ring-necked Duck (44); Hooded Merganser (2); Tree Swallow (flock of 62 feeding over Meadow Pond in the wind and cold);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/29/08 -- Maple Street, West Boylston
Under the feeder this morning there was a fox sparrow. (report from Rick Quimby).

3/29/08 -- Coes Pond, Worcester
At Coes Pond this morning I saw: 63 Common Merganser, 6 Hooded Merganser, 5 Turkey Vultures and 2 Red Tail Hawks. From there I went to Notre Dame Cememtery: 26 Wood Ducks, 8 Green wing Teal, 4 N. Pintail 1 A. Widgeon, 2 Great Blue Heron and 2 Mute Swans (1 on Nest). (report from John Shea).

3/27/08 -- Spencer/Leicester/Paxton
Scouting in the Breeding Bird Atlas block Worcester North 3 produced the following highlights: 1 great blue heron, 2 turkey vultures, 4 wood ducks (one female was checking out a natural cavity), 1 bufflehead, 4 hooded mergansers, 8 common mergansers, 1 red-tailed hawk, 5 killdeer, 1 northern flicker, my first tree swallow of the year, 1 brown-headed cowbird and several displaying red-winged blackbirds. Even though crows carrying nesting materials is not allowed to be used in the breeding codes, it was encouraging to see an American crow flying with a bill full of dried grass. (report from Alan Marble).

3/27/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
I went birding today from 10:30 - 1:30PM at Bolton Flats WMA and the fields across 117. Along the path from the 117 parking lot was an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE working the edge. On the left side of the trail in the field was a good number (22) of WILSON'S SNIPE not far from the trail. Those ponds seemed filled dabblers, mostly green-winged teal, mallards and a speckling of Northern pintails, and American black ducks. Killdeer were also present in numbers. Across route 117 there were more dabblers including a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL and some wood ducks. At about noon there were many large (2000+) foraging flocks of common grackles (90%), red-winged blackbirds and European starlings as well as 3 TREE SWALLOWS and 20 horned larks flying overhead. I also flushed an American woodcock along the field's edge. Here are 2 digiscoped photos of the Blue-winged Teal.
Numerical highlights: Canada Goose - (36), Wood Duck - (27), American Black Duck - (12+), Mallard - (65+), Blue-winged Teal - (2, pair), Northern Pintail - (10), Green-winged Teal - (185), Great Blue Heron - (1), Turkey Vulture - (6), Northern Harrier - (2,f), Red-tailed Hawk - (3), Killdeer - (18), Wilson's Snipe - (22), American Woodcock - (1), Northern Shrike - (1), Horned Lark - (21), Tree Swallow - (3), Eastern Bluebird - (1), Field Sparrow - (1), Song Sparrow - (24), Red-winged Blackbird - (250+), Common Grackle - (2000+), Brown-headed Cowbird - (3). (report from Kevin Bourinot).

3/26/08 -- Rice City Pond, Uxbridge
Paul and I saw a great egret at Rice City Pond this morning around 10:30. Viewed from Hartford Ave, it was center back, near grass. Also seen were a pair of green-winged teal, several mallards, and a male common merganser. A killdeer and a yellowlegs worked a mud patch. An eastern phoebe was at the canal bridge at River Bend Farm, and a wild turkey was on the upper field between the Farm and the medical center. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/25/08 -- Thomas St., Worcester
In the midmorning there were approximately 40 cedar waxwings. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

3/25/08 -- Pepperell/Bolton Flats

Birds seen and/or heard from behind the horse track on the west side of the nashua River in Pepperell this noon. The Basic I Bald Eagle made repeated passes at a small group of Common Mergansers. The mergs "sat tight" and dove when the eagle attacked, a few times the eagle hit the water and reached down for a Merg, that dove, and came up empty. A female Harrier passed through and was harrassed briefly by a Great Black-backed Gull, a few Am. Crows and blackbirds even the Kingfisher inspected the harrier. Highlights: Mute Swan 1; Wood Duck 18; American Black Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 8; Hooded Merganser 35; Common Merganser 20; Bald Eagle 1; Northern Harrier 1; Belted Kingfisher 1; Song Sparrow 1;
This evening from Bolton Flats, I walked a bit on both side of Rte 119, lots of Wood Ducks, GW Teal, Mallards but few Geese I was unable to get over to the pond, well hidden by young trees now. A flock of 12 Canada Goose passed over headed north, one of them was a small form and could well have been a Cackling Goose. However I would've liked a closer inspection to tell if was not a smaller form on the Canada side of the family. The Peregrine was an Imm. and put on a nice show carving up the sky, but like the noon time eagle, down river, it also came up empty. Highlights: Wood Duck 220; American Black Duck 18; Northern Pintail 12; Green-winged Teal (American) 95; Great Blue Heron 1; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1; Red-tailed Hawk 2; Peregrine Falcon 1; Killdeer 5; American Woodcock 1; Great Black-backed Gull 1; Belted Kingfisher 1; Hairy Woodpecker 2; Song Sparrow 2; Red-winged Blackbird 100; Common Grackle 800; (report from Tom Pirro).

3/24/08 -- Fitchburg
This evening there were 12 gulls loafing on Snow's Mill Pond in Fitchburg, one of which was a 1st cycle Iceland Gull. The was also a few Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/24/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 44 44 Bald Eagle 5 7 7 Northern Harrier 1 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 1 3 3 Red-tailed Hawk 20 76 76 American Kestrel 1 1 1 Raptor Observations: The first bird of the day was an adult northern harrier that hunted the adjacent field before moving on. A basic/subadult III bald eagle landed in a nearby tree. Non-raptor Observations: The first TREE SWALLOW of the year circled the field and the nest boxes while the bluebirds watched. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/24/08 -- Oakham
Two redpolls were at the birdfeeder this morning. On the way into work, two great blue herons were on their nests at Browning Pond in Spencer. (report from Kathy van Schoick).

3/23/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 23 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk 2 ; (report from Bart Kamp).

3/22/08 -- Smithfield/Cumberland RI
We spent the morning surveying some of the larger ponds in SMITHFIELD RI and later the reservoirs and surrounding areas in northeastern CUMBERLAND RI. Both towns are part of the Blackstone National Corridor. Weather first thing this morning was windy and just plain cold, but by later in the AM, the winds had calmed down and it was brisk, but not brutal.
SMITHFIELD: Great Blue Heron (18 birds; minimally 9 occupied nests); Turkey Vulture (2); Mute Swan (6: 3 pair); Canada Goose (105); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (49); A Black Duck (7); Ring-necked Duck (45); Bufflehead (8); Common Goldeneye (9); Hooded Merganser (26); Common Merganser (54); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Wild Turkey (3); Virginia Rail (1: I cannot believe this bird over-wintered, so it has to be an early migrant); Passerines were pretty typical, but we did find: Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Brown Creeper (1); Carolina Wren (6); COMMON RAVEN (1: flying west over the north end of Slack Reservoir, calling and being mobbed by three crows); Eastern Bluebird (6); Fox Sparrow (1 singing);
Later, around the CUMBERLAND reservoirs: Horned Grebe (1: uncommon inland in the Corridor); Canada Goose (46); Mallard (37); American Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (19); Bufflehead (5); Common Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/22/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 4 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 7 ; Red-tailed Hawk 31 ; Merlin 1 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating: 2 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks, 3 red-tailed hawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/22/08 -- Worcester Airport
There were 8 Pine Grosbeaks at Worcester Airport this morning. (report from John Shea).

3/18/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 13 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 17 . Raptor Observations: Not migrating:2 bald eagles, 3 northern goshawks, 1 red-shouldered hawk, 1 Cooper's hawk. Non-raptor Observations: 2 great blue herons (report from Bart Kamp).

3/18/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge
Around noon today, perhaps 60 Canada Geese were strung out, with a few larger groups, from the SE end (near Whitinsville Christian School) to the middle of Linwood Pond. The Pond runs along Linwood Avenue in Northbridge. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was among the Canada geese. This goose is fairly easy to spot--it's smaller, has a brown head and orange-yellow bill, and lacks a white chin-strap. Also seen on the pond were several hooded mergansers m&f, several mallards m&f, belted kindfisher, golden-crowned kinglet, and eastern bluebird in addition to grackles and red-winged blackbirds. Two pairs of wood ducks were among reeds at the Mill end of the pond. (report from Nancy DeMers, Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- Petersham/Spencer

We spent the day scouting two of our BREEDING BIRD ATLAS blocks for 2008. We started in BARRE 1, which is actually almost entirely PETERSHAM. Our list for today from there includes: Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (1); Mourning Dove (11); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (4); Blue Jay (108: jays were all about in large numbers everywhere we went today); American Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (33); Tufted Titmouse (28); CAROLINA WREN (very uncommon bird in the northern Quabbin area); American Robin (58); Dark-eyed Junco (24); N Cardinal (33); Red-winged Blackbird (52); Common Grackle (51); EVENING GROSBEAK (22: at one feeder; we had another (18); Evening Grosbeaks at a feeder in Barre: SEE PHOTO); House Sparrow (7);
Then, we headed to block NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. Here we had: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (86); Mallard (10); Hooded Merganser (14); Common Merganser (10); Red-tailed Hawk (2, including 1 carrying sticks to nest); Rock Pigeon (13); Mourning Dove (18); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (129); American Crow (15); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (14); White-breasted Nuthatch (9); Eastern Bluebird (2); American Robin (256); E Starling (191); Fox Sparrow (1 signing); Song Sparrow (10); White-throated Sparrow (16); Dark-eyed Junco (92); N Cardinal (20); Red-winged Blackbird (102); Common Grackle (192); Brown-headed Cowbird (12); Purple Finch (2); House Finch (6); American Goldfinch (4); EVENING GROSBEAK (4); House Sparrow (4);
PLUS: At the north end of LAKE WICKABOAG: Canada Goose (16); Green-winged Teal (3); Bufflehead (1m); Hooded Merganser (12); Common Merganser (67);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/16/08 -- Depot Rd., Westminster
We had 15 cedar waxwings in our front yard this morning..they cleaned all the berries off our holly bush and they moved on. (report from Chris Mossman).

3/16/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge

Thanks to a call from Nancy Demers, we returned to Linwood Pond off Linwood Ave across from the golf course around 3:45pm today and saw the Greater White-fronted Goose reported Friday by Mark and Sheila. It was easily picked out from the surrounding 15 or so Canada geese; a number of other geese were off to the right behind vegetation.
The male harrier has not been seen the last two stops at the soccer field on Sutton St [Uxbridge], but there has been a kestrel there both times and one or two red-tailed hawks. Today, a group of ten turkey vultures was soaring to the east. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- JWhitin Pond, N.Uxbridge
This morning 11-11:45 we watch a beautiful drake canvasback swim among 18 ring-necked ducks at the trestle end of JWhitin Pond off Rte 122 and Hartford Ave in N. Uxbridge. There were two dozen or so Canada geese hunkered down on the woody strip of land that juts into the pond--none appeared to be the Greater White-fronted Goose seen in the area by Mark Lynch the other day.
Earlier in the morning, we saw no geese on Linwood Pond in Northbridge but found a small but very nice group of ducks: bufflehead pair, wood duck pair, and male hooded merganser. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/15/08 -- Oakham
This evening we heard the first woodcock courting display in and above our half snow covered fields. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

3/15/08 -- Westminster
(The gulls were at Saw Mill Pond on the Fitchburg/Westminster line) Highlights were: Wood Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 6; Hooded Merganser 2; Turkey Vulture 4; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Ring-billed Gull 5; Herring Gull (American) 800 (2 adult w/ black wing tags K10 and K21); Iceland Gull (Kumlien's) 2 (1 1st Y and 1 3rd Yr); Glaucous Gull 1 (1st Yr); Great Black-backed Gull 150; Brown Creeper 1 singng; Red-winged Blackbird 12; Common Grackle 3. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/15/08 -- Northbridge/Worcester
First we went to check on the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. There were NO geese at Linwood Pond, NORTHBRIDGE. We checked other bodies of water nearby, including Rice City Pond (Uxbridge); and the Whitinsville Golf Course, but it seems most of the geese had moved on. At a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE we had: Turkey Vulture (1); Mute Swan (14); Canada Goose (11: mostly in scattered pairs); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (2); American Kestrel (1f); Wild Turkey (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Red-winged Blackbird (410+); C Grackle (60+);
We then headed north to one of our ATLAS blocks for 2008: WORCESTER NORTH 11. This block contains spots like the very north end of Lake Quinsigamond; the prisons in Boylston, Quinsigamond Junior College and Higgins Armory. We scouted around for a bit and here is our total list: Turkey Vulture (3); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (6); NORTHERN SHOVELER (1f: same bird in the same place, the NW corner of Newton Pond -- photo); Ring-necked Duck (7); Bufflehead (1m); Common Goldeneye (1m); Common Merganser (5); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (2); Ring-billed Gull (39); Herring Gull (3); Rock Pigeon (28); Mourning Dove (13); Downy Woodpecker (8); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (20); A Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (17); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Eastern Bluebird (9); American Robin (96); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (150+); Cedar Waxwing (37); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (17); Red-winged Blackbird (78); Common Grackle (62); House Sparrow (130+); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/15/08 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
This afternoon I saw : 13 Wood Ducks, 4 Black Ducks, 3 Green winged Teal and 2 Mute Swans, 1 on the nest. At All Faiths: 1 N. Pintail, 2 Black Ducks, 14 Green winged Teal, 10 Hooded Merganser, 17 Common Merganser, 1 Great Blue Heron. For some reason they are draining the water out of Leesville Pond so at both stops the water is way down. Anyone know why? I went up to Mulbury St. behind the airport for Woodcock and saw at least 8, the [Woodcock] show started at 7:07. (report from John Shea).

3/15/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
Woodcocks are calling and flying at River Bend Farm on Oak Street in Uxbridge. We stopped there briefly on the way home from the Mass Audubon Birders' Meeting (which was terrific). At least six woodcocks were heard in the vicinity of the mowed field, and several were seen flying. The field is quite wet but walkable. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/14/08 -- Blackstone/Mendon
We spent a few hours Friday scouting out our Breeding Bird Atlas Block "UXBRIDGE 11" which includes the towns of BLACKSTONE and adjacent areas of MENDON. This is mostly suburban habitat, with very little water, but still with a few small farms and a nice Wildlife Management Area adjacent to some conservation land. This block is in the Blackstone National Corridor. Bird life was pretty typical this morning, but bird song is definitely on the rise and it's beginning to "sound" like spring. Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (41); Mallard (14); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (pair + another 2 birds); Killdeer (6); Mourning Dove (22: some seen mating. BTW: one of our target birds for the day, was Rock Pigeon, and we dipped); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (7); Carolina Wren (4: singing); Blue Jay (29); A Crow (10); Common Raven (1 bird flying around the nest); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (23); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1: tough to say whether this was an "over-winterer" or a really early migrant); Eastern Bluebird (pair); American Robin (119); N Mockingbird (7); E Starling (33); Song Sparrow (26: all singing); Dark-eyed Junco (6: singing); N Cardinal (25: many in song); Red-winged Blackbird (300+); Common Grackle (12); House Finch (4); English Sparrow (46); PLUS: my first WOODCHUCK of the season. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/14/08 -- Northbridge
While out doing some Atlas II scouting, we found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Greenland race) in LINWOOD POND, Northbridge among a flock of about 70 Canadas. Linwood Pond is on Linwood Avenue between Rt. 122 and "downtown" Northbridge. This is part of the Blackstone National Corridor. It is screened by a thin line of trees, but you can pull off alongside the road, park, cut through the trees and walk along a nice path there. Sheila took some photos . (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/13/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; Red-tailed Hawk 5 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating:6 turkey vultures, 4 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 northern goshawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/13/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster
I stopped at a very flooded Bolton Flats this morning. You need a vehicle with high clearance to make it into the parking lot on Rt 117. Knee-high boots are needed to go anywhere in the area. A great blue heron greeted me at the edge of the parking lot as I drove in. . Grackles and red-winged blackbirds were flying around in small flocks near the parking lot. On the flooded cornfield, there were about 100 ring-billed gulls, 4 herring gulls and 8 green-winged teal. A few mallards and black ducks flew over. A song sparrow was singing. I could hear killdeer. On the south side of Rt 117 there were well over 100 Canada geese and 8 killdeer. (report from Alan Marble).

3/12/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At 5 PM Wednesday afternoon I decided to look for the gull roost at Wachusett Reservoir. I stopped first at River Road (West Boylston) and then at the power lines along the Route 12/140 causeway. The combination of open water and ice was just right, but there were NO gulls. I then headed for gate 36 and the Sterling Dike. The DCR gull flusher was in position on the dike and there was a large number of gulls on the ice about 200 yards out near the open water. I decided to go to the shore line along gate 35 and watch from there. The light is better and you are protected from the wind and heavy snow squalls. The gulls came pouring in. I noticed a pickup truck backed up to the water with a boat on a trailer at Greenhalge Point.
At about 15 minutes after sunset (7 PM), when the gulls were half in the open water and half on the ice the gull flushers launched the boat and spent the next half hour chasing the gulls and firing noisemakers. The gulls merely flew to the nearby ice and rested. They didn't leave the area. When the gull flushers returned to shore to leave all of the gulls on the ice returned to the open water. The gull flusher positioned on the dike never fired a shot. There were probably more 4 thousand gulls on the ice. I was able to pick out 1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. There were also 62 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads and 28 Common Mergansers. Perched high in an oak tree along the shore line was a Great Horned Owl watching all of the gull and human activity. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/11/08 -- Grafton
In addition to grackles, red winged blackbirds, flickers and bluebirds, I saw a northern shrike along Estabrook Road in Grafton today. The bird was located approximately 600 feet west of the barn, in almost the exact same spot (and almost the same date) that I have observed shrikes in two previous years. The bird was perched in a sapling at the edge of a marsh and it's large head was bobbing while watching some potential prey on the ground, similar to the way a more typical raptor does. (report from Scott Jordan).

3/11/08 -- Leicester/Worcester
There were 8 Hooded Mergansers (5 M, 3 F) on Kettle Brook Res. 2 where Manville St. meets Rt. 56. Also, at 7:00pm there were Woodcock in the field on Mulberry St. at the Airport, displaying in the fields on the other side of the small brook where the signal light towers are. Chasing and courtship flights, at least two pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/11/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
The Bald Eagle [see previous report on 3/9] was perched in a large pine tree, being mobbed by two crows at about 7:00am this morning. It didn't seem overly concerned about the crows squawking at it. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/10/08 -- Uxbridge
A male northern harrier was seen late in the afternoon Mar 6, 7, and 10 gliding above the fields on the east side of Sutton Street at the area called Hundred Acre Lot. Sutton St. runs between W. Hartford Ave. and Lackey Dam Rd. east of Rte 146. Vantage point was the soccer field behind a stone wall that runs parallel to the road. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/9/08 -- north Worcester County
I finally got some birding in today, hilites only:
Westminster: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-shouldered hawk 1 just off rte 2a near round meadow pond; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 3;
Orange: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 1; Raven 6; Am. Crow 150; all the above were enjoying a dead cow.
Branch bridge Rd. New Salem: Mute Swan 2 (I didn't think they were allowed there!); no other waterfowl
Barton's Cove (Gill, Ma.): Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult on nest, one 3rd yr in flight); Green-winged Teal 1 female; Canvasback 3 (2 ad. drakes, 1 1st yr drake); Hooded Merganser 6; Common Merganaser 22; Gulls in decending abundance..Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed .... I saw no other species of gull.
Turner's Falls: Pine Grosbeak 9; Anadromous Fish Park (Power Canal); Bald Eagle 1 juv.; Red-tailed hawk 2; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Goldeneye 14; Hooded Merganser 4; Common Merganser a few; Eastern bluebird 2 (M + F);
Turner's Falls Fish and game club: Mute Swan 23 and lots of Ringed-billed Gulls.
Finnally, over the past week I have found 2 dead Barred Owls along Rte, one in Westminster and one in gardner. I will work with Mass F+W to find them a home, and reclam some freezer space. I saw another (DOR) today near Jackson gate (near Devens, off rte2), but it look very "flattened" and too dangerous to stop. Apparently this species continues to "suffer". Also was what appeared to be a dead Fisher in the meadian strip just west of jackson "gate".
(report from Tom Pirro).

3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI
This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/8/08 -- Spencer
This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield

Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/29/08 -- Maple Street, West Boylston: Under the feeder this morning there was a fox sparrow. (report from Rick Quimby).
3/29/08 -- Coes Pond, Worcester: At Coes Pond this morning I saw: 63 Common Merganser, 6 Hooded Merganser, 5 Turkey Vultures and 2 Red Tail Hawks. From there I went to Notre Dame Cememtery: 26 Wood Ducks, 8 Green wing Teal, 4 N. Pintail 1 A. Widgeon, 2 Great Blue Heron and 2 Mute Swans (1 on Nest). (report from John Shea).
3/27/08 -- Spencer/Leicester/Paxton: Scouting in the Breeding Bird Atlas block Worcester North 3 produced the following highlights: 1 great blue heron, 2 turkey vultures, 4 wood ducks (one female was checking out a natural cavity), 1 bufflehead, 4 hooded mergansers, 8 common mergansers, 1 red-tailed hawk, 5 killdeer, 1 northern flicker, my first tree swallow of the year, 1 brown-headed cowbird and several displaying red-winged blackbirds. Even though crows carrying nesting materials is not allowed to be used in the breeding codes, it was encouraging to see an American crow flying with a bill full of dried grass. (report from Alan Marble).
3/27/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton: I went birding today from 10:30 - 1:30PM at Bolton Flats WMA and the fields across 117. Along the path from the 117 parking lot was an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE working the edge. On the left side of the trail in the field was a good number (22) of WILSON'S SNIPE not far from the trail. Those ponds seemed filled dabblers, mostly green-winged teal, mallards and a speckling of Northern pintails, and American black ducks. Killdeer were also present in numbers. Across route 117 there were more dabblers including a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL and some wood ducks. At about noon there were many large (2000+) foraging flocks of common grackles (90%), red-winged blackbirds and European starlings as well as 3 TREE SWALLOWS and 20 horned larks flying overhead. I also flushed an American woodcock along the field's edge. Here are 2 digiscoped photos of the Blue-winged Teal.
Numerical highlights: Canada Goose - (36), Wood Duck - (27), American Black Duck - (12+), Mallard - (65+), Blue-winged Teal - (2, pair), Northern Pintail - (10), Green-winged Teal - (185), Great Blue Heron - (1), Turkey Vulture - (6), Northern Harrier - (2,f), Red-tailed Hawk - (3), Killdeer - (18), Wilson's Snipe - (22), American Woodcock - (1), Northern Shrike - (1), Horned Lark - (21), Tree Swallow - (3), Eastern Bluebird - (1), Field Sparrow - (1), Song Sparrow - (24), Red-winged Blackbird - (250+), Common Grackle - (2000+), Brown-headed Cowbird - (3). (report from Kevin Bourinot).
3/26/08 -- Rice City Pond, Uxbridge: Paul and I saw a great egret at Rice City Pond this morning around 10:30. Viewed from Hartford Ave, it was center back, near grass. Also seen were a pair of green-winged teal, several mallards, and a male common merganser. A killdeer and a yellowlegs worked a mud patch. An eastern phoebe was at the canal bridge at River Bend Farm, and a wild turkey was on the upper field between the Farm and the medical center. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)
3/25/08 -- Thomas St., Worcester: In the midmorning there were approximately 40 cedar waxwings. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).
3/25/08 -- Pepperell/Bolton Flats: Birds seen and/or heard from behind the horse track on the west side of the nashua River in Pepperell this noon. The Basic I Bald Eagle made repeated passes at a small group of Common Mergansers. The mergs "sat tight" and dove when the eagle attacked, a few times the eagle hit the water and reached down for a Merg, that dove, and came up empty. A female Harrier passed through and was harrassed briefly by a Great Black-backed Gull, a few Am. Crows and blackbirds even the Kingfisher inspected the harrier. Highlights: Mute Swan 1; Wood Duck 18; American Black Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 8; Hooded Merganser 35; Common Merganser 20; Bald Eagle 1; Northern Harrier 1; Belted Kingfisher 1; Song Sparrow 1;
This evening from Bolton Flats, I walked a bit on both side of Rte 119, lots of Wood Ducks, GW Teal, Mallards but few Geese I was unable to get over to the pond, well hidden by young trees now. A flock of 12 Canada Goose passed over headed north, one of them was a small form and could well have been a Cackling Goose. However I would've liked a closer inspection to tell if was not a smaller form on the Canada side of the family. The Peregrine was an Imm. and put on a nice show carving up the sky, but like the noon time eagle, down river, it also came up empty. Highlights: Wood Duck 220; American Black Duck 18; Northern Pintail 12; Green-winged Teal (American) 95; Great Blue Heron 1; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1; Red-tailed Hawk 2; Peregrine Falcon 1; Killdeer 5; American Woodcock 1; Great Black-backed Gull 1; Belted Kingfisher 1; Hairy Woodpecker 2; Song Sparrow 2; Red-winged Blackbird 100; Common Grackle 800; (report from Tom Pirro).

3/24/08 -- Fitchburg
This evening there were 12 gulls loafing on Snow's Mill Pond in Fitchburg, one of which was a 1st cycle Iceland Gull. The was also a few Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/24/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 44 44 Bald Eagle 5 7 7 Northern Harrier 1 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 1 3 3 Red-tailed Hawk 20 76 76 American Kestrel 1 1 1 Raptor Observations: The first bird of the day was an adult northern harrier that hunted the adjacent field before moving on. A basic/subadult III bald eagle landed in a nearby tree. Non-raptor Observations: The first TREE SWALLOW of the year circled the field and the nest boxes while the bluebirds watched. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/24/08 -- Oakham
Two redpolls were at the birdfeeder this morning. On the way into work, two great blue herons were on their nests at Browning Pond in Spencer. (report from Kathy van Schoick).

3/23/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 23 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk 2 ; (report from Bart Kamp).

3/22/08 -- Smithfield/Cumberland RI
We spent the morning surveying some of the larger ponds in SMITHFIELD RI and later the reservoirs and surrounding areas in northeastern CUMBERLAND RI. Both towns are part of the Blackstone National Corridor. Weather first thing this morning was windy and just plain cold, but by later in the AM, the winds had calmed down and it was brisk, but not brutal.
SMITHFIELD: Great Blue Heron (18 birds; minimally 9 occupied nests); Turkey Vulture (2); Mute Swan (6: 3 pair); Canada Goose (105); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (49); A Black Duck (7); Ring-necked Duck (45); Bufflehead (8); Common Goldeneye (9); Hooded Merganser (26); Common Merganser (54); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Wild Turkey (3); Virginia Rail (1: I cannot believe this bird over-wintered, so it has to be an early migrant); Passerines were pretty typical, but we did find: Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Brown Creeper (1); Carolina Wren (6); COMMON RAVEN (1: flying west over the north end of Slack Reservoir, calling and being mobbed by three crows); Eastern Bluebird (6); Fox Sparrow (1 singing);
Later, around the CUMBERLAND reservoirs: Horned Grebe (1: uncommon inland in the Corridor); Canada Goose (46); Mallard (37); American Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (19); Bufflehead (5); Common Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/22/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 4 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 7 ; Red-tailed Hawk 31 ; Merlin 1 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating: 2 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks, 3 red-tailed hawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/22/08 -- Worcester Airport
There were 8 Pine Grosbeaks at Worcester Airport this morning. (report from John Shea).

3/18/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 13 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 17 . Raptor Observations: Not migrating:2 bald eagles, 3 northern goshawks, 1 red-shouldered hawk, 1 Cooper's hawk. Non-raptor Observations: 2 great blue herons (report from Bart Kamp).

3/18/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge
Around noon today, perhaps 60 Canada Geese were strung out, with a few larger groups, from the SE end (near Whitinsville Christian School) to the middle of Linwood Pond. The Pond runs along Linwood Avenue in Northbridge. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was among the Canada geese. This goose is fairly easy to spot--it's smaller, has a brown head and orange-yellow bill, and lacks a white chin-strap. Also seen on the pond were several hooded mergansers m&f, several mallards m&f, belted kindfisher, golden-crowned kinglet, and eastern bluebird in addition to grackles and red-winged blackbirds. Two pairs of wood ducks were among reeds at the Mill end of the pond. (report from Nancy DeMers, Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- Petersham/Spencer

We spent the day scouting two of our BREEDING BIRD ATLAS blocks for 2008. We started in BARRE 1, which is actually almost entirely PETERSHAM. Our list for today from there includes: Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (1); Mourning Dove (11); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (4); Blue Jay (108: jays were all about in large numbers everywhere we went today); American Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (33); Tufted Titmouse (28); CAROLINA WREN (very uncommon bird in the northern Quabbin area); American Robin (58); Dark-eyed Junco (24); N Cardinal (33); Red-winged Blackbird (52); Common Grackle (51); EVENING GROSBEAK (22: at one feeder; we had another (18); Evening Grosbeaks at a feeder in Barre: SEE PHOTO); House Sparrow (7);
Then, we headed to block NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. Here we had: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (86); Mallard (10); Hooded Merganser (14); Common Merganser (10); Red-tailed Hawk (2, including 1 carrying sticks to nest); Rock Pigeon (13); Mourning Dove (18); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (129); American Crow (15); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (14); White-breasted Nuthatch (9); Eastern Bluebird (2); American Robin (256); E Starling (191); Fox Sparrow (1 signing); Song Sparrow (10); White-throated Sparrow (16); Dark-eyed Junco (92); N Cardinal (20); Red-winged Blackbird (102); Common Grackle (192); Brown-headed Cowbird (12); Purple Finch (2); House Finch (6); American Goldfinch (4); EVENING GROSBEAK (4); House Sparrow (4);
PLUS: At the north end of LAKE WICKABOAG: Canada Goose (16); Green-winged Teal (3); Bufflehead (1m); Hooded Merganser (12); Common Merganser (67);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/16/08 -- Depot Rd., Westminster
We had 15 cedar waxwings in our front yard this morning..they cleaned all the berries off our holly bush and they moved on. (report from Chris Mossman).

3/16/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge

Thanks to a call from Nancy Demers, we returned to Linwood Pond off Linwood Ave across from the golf course around 3:45pm today and saw the Greater White-fronted Goose reported Friday by Mark and Sheila. It was easily picked out from the surrounding 15 or so Canada geese; a number of other geese were off to the right behind vegetation.
The male harrier has not been seen the last two stops at the soccer field on Sutton St [Uxbridge], but there has been a kestrel there both times and one or two red-tailed hawks. Today, a group of ten turkey vultures was soaring to the east. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- JWhitin Pond, N.Uxbridge
This morning 11-11:45 we watch a beautiful drake canvasback swim among 18 ring-necked ducks at the trestle end of JWhitin Pond off Rte 122 and Hartford Ave in N. Uxbridge. There were two dozen or so Canada geese hunkered down on the woody strip of land that juts into the pond--none appeared to be the Greater White-fronted Goose seen in the area by Mark Lynch the other day.
Earlier in the morning, we saw no geese on Linwood Pond in Northbridge but found a small but very nice group of ducks: bufflehead pair, wood duck pair, and male hooded merganser. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/15/08 -- Oakham
This evening we heard the first woodcock courting display in and above our half snow covered fields. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

3/15/08 -- Westminster
(The gulls were at Saw Mill Pond on the Fitchburg/Westminster line) Highlights were: Wood Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 6; Hooded Merganser 2; Turkey Vulture 4; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Ring-billed Gull 5; Herring Gull (American) 800 (2 adult w/ black wing tags K10 and K21); Iceland Gull (Kumlien's) 2 (1 1st Y and 1 3rd Yr); Glaucous Gull 1 (1st Yr); Great Black-backed Gull 150; Brown Creeper 1 singng; Red-winged Blackbird 12; Common Grackle 3. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/15/08 -- Northbridge/Worcester
First we went to check on the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. There were NO geese at Linwood Pond, NORTHBRIDGE. We checked other bodies of water nearby, including Rice City Pond (Uxbridge); and the Whitinsville Golf Course, but it seems most of the geese had moved on. At a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE we had: Turkey Vulture (1); Mute Swan (14); Canada Goose (11: mostly in scattered pairs); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (2); American Kestrel (1f); Wild Turkey (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Red-winged Blackbird (410+); C Grackle (60+);
We then headed north to one of our ATLAS blocks for 2008: WORCESTER NORTH 11. This block contains spots like the very north end of Lake Quinsigamond; the prisons in Boylston, Quinsigamond Junior College and Higgins Armory. We scouted around for a bit and here is our total list: Turkey Vulture (3); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (6); NORTHERN SHOVELER (1f: same bird in the same place, the NW corner of Newton Pond -- photo); Ring-necked Duck (7); Bufflehead (1m); Common Goldeneye (1m); Common Merganser (5); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (2); Ring-billed Gull (39); Herring Gull (3); Rock Pigeon (28); Mourning Dove (13); Downy Woodpecker (8); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (20); A Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (17); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Eastern Bluebird (9); American Robin (96); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (150+); Cedar Waxwing (37); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (17); Red-winged Blackbird (78); Common Grackle (62); House Sparrow (130+); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/15/08 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
This afternoon I saw : 13 Wood Ducks, 4 Black Ducks, 3 Green winged Teal and 2 Mute Swans, 1 on the nest. At All Faiths: 1 N. Pintail, 2 Black Ducks, 14 Green winged Teal, 10 Hooded Merganser, 17 Common Merganser, 1 Great Blue Heron. For some reason they are draining the water out of Leesville Pond so at both stops the water is way down. Anyone know why? I went up to Mulbury St. behind the airport for Woodcock and saw at least 8, the [Woodcock] show started at 7:07. (report from John Shea).

3/15/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
Woodcocks are calling and flying at River Bend Farm on Oak Street in Uxbridge. We stopped there briefly on the way home from the Mass Audubon Birders' Meeting (which was terrific). At least six woodcocks were heard in the vicinity of the mowed field, and several were seen flying. The field is quite wet but walkable. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/14/08 -- Blackstone/Mendon
We spent a few hours Friday scouting out our Breeding Bird Atlas Block "UXBRIDGE 11" which includes the towns of BLACKSTONE and adjacent areas of MENDON. This is mostly suburban habitat, with very little water, but still with a few small farms and a nice Wildlife Management Area adjacent to some conservation land. This block is in the Blackstone National Corridor. Bird life was pretty typical this morning, but bird song is definitely on the rise and it's beginning to "sound" like spring. Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (41); Mallard (14); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (pair + another 2 birds); Killdeer (6); Mourning Dove (22: some seen mating. BTW: one of our target birds for the day, was Rock Pigeon, and we dipped); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (7); Carolina Wren (4: singing); Blue Jay (29); A Crow (10); Common Raven (1 bird flying around the nest); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (23); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1: tough to say whether this was an "over-winterer" or a really early migrant); Eastern Bluebird (pair); American Robin (119); N Mockingbird (7); E Starling (33); Song Sparrow (26: all singing); Dark-eyed Junco (6: singing); N Cardinal (25: many in song); Red-winged Blackbird (300+); Common Grackle (12); House Finch (4); English Sparrow (46); PLUS: my first WOODCHUCK of the season. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/14/08 -- Northbridge
While out doing some Atlas II scouting, we found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Greenland race) in LINWOOD POND, Northbridge among a flock of about 70 Canadas. Linwood Pond is on Linwood Avenue between Rt. 122 and "downtown" Northbridge. This is part of the Blackstone National Corridor. It is screened by a thin line of trees, but you can pull off alongside the road, park, cut through the trees and walk along a nice path there. Sheila took some photos . (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/13/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; Red-tailed Hawk 5 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating:6 turkey vultures, 4 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 northern goshawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/13/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster
I stopped at a very flooded Bolton Flats this morning. You need a vehicle with high clearance to make it into the parking lot on Rt 117. Knee-high boots are needed to go anywhere in the area. A great blue heron greeted me at the edge of the parking lot as I drove in. . Grackles and red-winged blackbirds were flying around in small flocks near the parking lot. On the flooded cornfield, there were about 100 ring-billed gulls, 4 herring gulls and 8 green-winged teal. A few mallards and black ducks flew over. A song sparrow was singing. I could hear killdeer. On the south side of Rt 117 there were well over 100 Canada geese and 8 killdeer. (report from Alan Marble).

3/12/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At 5 PM Wednesday afternoon I decided to look for the gull roost at Wachusett Reservoir. I stopped first at River Road (West Boylston) and then at the power lines along the Route 12/140 causeway. The combination of open water and ice was just right, but there were NO gulls. I then headed for gate 36 and the Sterling Dike. The DCR gull flusher was in position on the dike and there was a large number of gulls on the ice about 200 yards out near the open water. I decided to go to the shore line along gate 35 and watch from there. The light is better and you are protected from the wind and heavy snow squalls. The gulls came pouring in. I noticed a pickup truck backed up to the water with a boat on a trailer at Greenhalge Point.
At about 15 minutes after sunset (7 PM), when the gulls were half in the open water and half on the ice the gull flushers launched the boat and spent the next half hour chasing the gulls and firing noisemakers. The gulls merely flew to the nearby ice and rested. They didn't leave the area. When the gull flushers returned to shore to leave all of the gulls on the ice returned to the open water. The gull flusher positioned on the dike never fired a shot. There were probably more 4 thousand gulls on the ice. I was able to pick out 1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. There were also 62 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads and 28 Common Mergansers. Perched high in an oak tree along the shore line was a Great Horned Owl watching all of the gull and human activity. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/11/08 -- Grafton
In addition to grackles, red winged blackbirds, flickers and bluebirds, I saw a northern shrike along Estabrook Road in Grafton today. The bird was located approximately 600 feet west of the barn, in almost the exact same spot (and almost the same date) that I have observed shrikes in two previous years. The bird was perched in a sapling at the edge of a marsh and it's large head was bobbing while watching some potential prey on the ground, similar to the way a more typical raptor does. (report from Scott Jordan).

3/11/08 -- Leicester/Worcester
There were 8 Hooded Mergansers (5 M, 3 F) on Kettle Brook Res. 2 where Manville St. meets Rt. 56. Also, at 7:00pm there were Woodcock in the field on Mulberry St. at the Airport, displaying in the fields on the other side of the small brook where the signal light towers are. Chasing and courtship flights, at least two pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/11/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
The Bald Eagle [see previous report on 3/9] was perched in a large pine tree, being mobbed by two crows at about 7:00am this morning. It didn't seem overly concerned about the crows squawking at it. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/10/08 -- Uxbridge
A male northern harrier was seen late in the afternoon Mar 6, 7, and 10 gliding above the fields on the east side of Sutton Street at the area called Hundred Acre Lot. Sutton St. runs between W. Hartford Ave. and Lackey Dam Rd. east of Rte 146. Vantage point was the soccer field behind a stone wall that runs parallel to the road. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/9/08 -- north Worcester County
I finally got some birding in today, hilites only:
Westminster: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-shouldered hawk 1 just off rte 2a near round meadow pond; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 3;
Orange: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 1; Raven 6; Am. Crow 150; all the above were enjoying a dead cow.
Branch bridge Rd. New Salem: Mute Swan 2 (I didn't think they were allowed there!); no other waterfowl
Barton's Cove (Gill, Ma.): Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult on nest, one 3rd yr in flight); Green-winged Teal 1 female; Canvasback 3 (2 ad. drakes, 1 1st yr drake); Hooded Merganser 6; Common Merganaser 22; Gulls in decending abundance..Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed .... I saw no other species of gull.
Turner's Falls: Pine Grosbeak 9; Anadromous Fish Park (Power Canal); Bald Eagle 1 juv.; Red-tailed hawk 2; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Goldeneye 14; Hooded Merganser 4; Common Merganser a few; Eastern bluebird 2 (M + F);
Turner's Falls Fish and game club: Mute Swan 23 and lots of Ringed-billed Gulls.
Finnally, over the past week I have found 2 dead Barred Owls along Rte, one in Westminster and one in gardner. I will work with Mass F+W to find them a home, and reclam some freezer space. I saw another (DOR) today near Jackson gate (near Devens, off rte2), but it look very "flattened" and too dangerous to stop. Apparently this species continues to "suffer". Also was what appeared to be a dead Fisher in the meadian strip just west of jackson "gate".
(report from Tom Pirro).

3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI
This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/8/08 -- Spencer
This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield

Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/24/08 -- Fitchburg: This evening there were 12 gulls loafing on Snow's Mill Pond in Fitchburg, one of which was a 1st cycle Iceland Gull. The was also a few Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes. (report from Tom Pirro).
3/24/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 44 44 Bald Eagle 5 7 7 Northern Harrier 1 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 1 3 3 Red-tailed Hawk 20 76 76 American Kestrel 1 1 1 Raptor Observations: The first bird of the day was an adult northern harrier that hunted the adjacent field before moving on. A basic/subadult III bald eagle landed in a nearby tree. Non-raptor Observations: The first TREE SWALLOW of the year circled the field and the nest boxes while the bluebirds watched. (report from Bart Kamp).
3/24/08 -- Oakham: Two redpolls were at the birdfeeder this morning. On the way into work, two great blue herons were on their nests at Browning Pond in Spencer. (report from Kathy van Schoick).
3/23/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 23 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk 2 ; (report from Bart Kamp).
3/22/08 -- Smithfield/Cumberland RI: We spent the morning surveying some of the larger ponds in SMITHFIELD RI and later the reservoirs and surrounding areas in northeastern CUMBERLAND RI. Both towns are part of the Blackstone National Corridor. Weather first thing this morning was windy and just plain cold, but by later in the AM, the winds had calmed down and it was brisk, but not brutal.
SMITHFIELD: Great Blue Heron (18 birds; minimally 9 occupied nests); Turkey Vulture (2); Mute Swan (6: 3 pair); Canada Goose (105); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (49); A Black Duck (7); Ring-necked Duck (45); Bufflehead (8); Common Goldeneye (9); Hooded Merganser (26); Common Merganser (54); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Wild Turkey (3); Virginia Rail (1: I cannot believe this bird over-wintered, so it has to be an early migrant); Passerines were pretty typical, but we did find: Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Brown Creeper (1); Carolina Wren (6); COMMON RAVEN (1: flying west over the north end of Slack Reservoir, calling and being mobbed by three crows); Eastern Bluebird (6); Fox Sparrow (1 singing);
Later, around the CUMBERLAND reservoirs: Horned Grebe (1: uncommon inland in the Corridor); Canada Goose (46); Mallard (37); American Black Duck (2); Ring-necked Duck (19); Bufflehead (5); Common Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/22/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 4 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 7 ; Red-tailed Hawk 31 ; Merlin 1 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating: 2 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks, 3 red-tailed hawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/22/08 -- Worcester Airport
There were 8 Pine Grosbeaks at Worcester Airport this morning. (report from John Shea).

3/18/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 13 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 17 . Raptor Observations: Not migrating:2 bald eagles, 3 northern goshawks, 1 red-shouldered hawk, 1 Cooper's hawk. Non-raptor Observations: 2 great blue herons (report from Bart Kamp).

3/18/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge
Around noon today, perhaps 60 Canada Geese were strung out, with a few larger groups, from the SE end (near Whitinsville Christian School) to the middle of Linwood Pond. The Pond runs along Linwood Avenue in Northbridge. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was among the Canada geese. This goose is fairly easy to spot--it's smaller, has a brown head and orange-yellow bill, and lacks a white chin-strap. Also seen on the pond were several hooded mergansers m&f, several mallards m&f, belted kindfisher, golden-crowned kinglet, and eastern bluebird in addition to grackles and red-winged blackbirds. Two pairs of wood ducks were among reeds at the Mill end of the pond. (report from Nancy DeMers, Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- Petersham/Spencer

We spent the day scouting two of our BREEDING BIRD ATLAS blocks for 2008. We started in BARRE 1, which is actually almost entirely PETERSHAM. Our list for today from there includes: Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (1); Mourning Dove (11); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (4); Blue Jay (108: jays were all about in large numbers everywhere we went today); American Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (33); Tufted Titmouse (28); CAROLINA WREN (very uncommon bird in the northern Quabbin area); American Robin (58); Dark-eyed Junco (24); N Cardinal (33); Red-winged Blackbird (52); Common Grackle (51); EVENING GROSBEAK (22: at one feeder; we had another (18); Evening Grosbeaks at a feeder in Barre: SEE PHOTO); House Sparrow (7);
Then, we headed to block NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. Here we had: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (86); Mallard (10); Hooded Merganser (14); Common Merganser (10); Red-tailed Hawk (2, including 1 carrying sticks to nest); Rock Pigeon (13); Mourning Dove (18); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (129); American Crow (15); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (14); White-breasted Nuthatch (9); Eastern Bluebird (2); American Robin (256); E Starling (191); Fox Sparrow (1 signing); Song Sparrow (10); White-throated Sparrow (16); Dark-eyed Junco (92); N Cardinal (20); Red-winged Blackbird (102); Common Grackle (192); Brown-headed Cowbird (12); Purple Finch (2); House Finch (6); American Goldfinch (4); EVENING GROSBEAK (4); House Sparrow (4);
PLUS: At the north end of LAKE WICKABOAG: Canada Goose (16); Green-winged Teal (3); Bufflehead (1m); Hooded Merganser (12); Common Merganser (67);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/16/08 -- Depot Rd., Westminster
We had 15 cedar waxwings in our front yard this morning..they cleaned all the berries off our holly bush and they moved on. (report from Chris Mossman).

3/16/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge

Thanks to a call from Nancy Demers, we returned to Linwood Pond off Linwood Ave across from the golf course around 3:45pm today and saw the Greater White-fronted Goose reported Friday by Mark and Sheila. It was easily picked out from the surrounding 15 or so Canada geese; a number of other geese were off to the right behind vegetation.
The male harrier has not been seen the last two stops at the soccer field on Sutton St [Uxbridge], but there has been a kestrel there both times and one or two red-tailed hawks. Today, a group of ten turkey vultures was soaring to the east. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- JWhitin Pond, N.Uxbridge
This morning 11-11:45 we watch a beautiful drake canvasback swim among 18 ring-necked ducks at the trestle end of JWhitin Pond off Rte 122 and Hartford Ave in N. Uxbridge. There were two dozen or so Canada geese hunkered down on the woody strip of land that juts into the pond--none appeared to be the Greater White-fronted Goose seen in the area by Mark Lynch the other day.
Earlier in the morning, we saw no geese on Linwood Pond in Northbridge but found a small but very nice group of ducks: bufflehead pair, wood duck pair, and male hooded merganser. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/15/08 -- Oakham
This evening we heard the first woodcock courting display in and above our half snow covered fields. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

3/15/08 -- Westminster
(The gulls were at Saw Mill Pond on the Fitchburg/Westminster line) Highlights were: Wood Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 6; Hooded Merganser 2; Turkey Vulture 4; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Ring-billed Gull 5; Herring Gull (American) 800 (2 adult w/ black wing tags K10 and K21); Iceland Gull (Kumlien's) 2 (1 1st Y and 1 3rd Yr); Glaucous Gull 1 (1st Yr); Great Black-backed Gull 150; Brown Creeper 1 singng; Red-winged Blackbird 12; Common Grackle 3. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/15/08 -- Northbridge/Worcester
First we went to check on the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. There were NO geese at Linwood Pond, NORTHBRIDGE. We checked other bodies of water nearby, including Rice City Pond (Uxbridge); and the Whitinsville Golf Course, but it seems most of the geese had moved on. At a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE we had: Turkey Vulture (1); Mute Swan (14); Canada Goose (11: mostly in scattered pairs); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (2); American Kestrel (1f); Wild Turkey (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Red-winged Blackbird (410+); C Grackle (60+);
We then headed north to one of our ATLAS blocks for 2008: WORCESTER NORTH 11. This block contains spots like the very north end of Lake Quinsigamond; the prisons in Boylston, Quinsigamond Junior College and Higgins Armory. We scouted around for a bit and here is our total list: Turkey Vulture (3); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (6); NORTHERN SHOVELER (1f: same bird in the same place, the NW corner of Newton Pond -- photo); Ring-necked Duck (7); Bufflehead (1m); Common Goldeneye (1m); Common Merganser (5); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (2); Ring-billed Gull (39); Herring Gull (3); Rock Pigeon (28); Mourning Dove (13); Downy Woodpecker (8); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (20); A Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (17); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Eastern Bluebird (9); American Robin (96); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (150+); Cedar Waxwing (37); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (17); Red-winged Blackbird (78); Common Grackle (62); House Sparrow (130+); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/15/08 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
This afternoon I saw : 13 Wood Ducks, 4 Black Ducks, 3 Green winged Teal and 2 Mute Swans, 1 on the nest. At All Faiths: 1 N. Pintail, 2 Black Ducks, 14 Green winged Teal, 10 Hooded Merganser, 17 Common Merganser, 1 Great Blue Heron. For some reason they are draining the water out of Leesville Pond so at both stops the water is way down. Anyone know why? I went up to Mulbury St. behind the airport for Woodcock and saw at least 8, the [Woodcock] show started at 7:07. (report from John Shea).

3/15/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
Woodcocks are calling and flying at River Bend Farm on Oak Street in Uxbridge. We stopped there briefly on the way home from the Mass Audubon Birders' Meeting (which was terrific). At least six woodcocks were heard in the vicinity of the mowed field, and several were seen flying. The field is quite wet but walkable. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/14/08 -- Blackstone/Mendon
We spent a few hours Friday scouting out our Breeding Bird Atlas Block "UXBRIDGE 11" which includes the towns of BLACKSTONE and adjacent areas of MENDON. This is mostly suburban habitat, with very little water, but still with a few small farms and a nice Wildlife Management Area adjacent to some conservation land. This block is in the Blackstone National Corridor. Bird life was pretty typical this morning, but bird song is definitely on the rise and it's beginning to "sound" like spring. Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (41); Mallard (14); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (pair + another 2 birds); Killdeer (6); Mourning Dove (22: some seen mating. BTW: one of our target birds for the day, was Rock Pigeon, and we dipped); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (7); Carolina Wren (4: singing); Blue Jay (29); A Crow (10); Common Raven (1 bird flying around the nest); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (23); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1: tough to say whether this was an "over-winterer" or a really early migrant); Eastern Bluebird (pair); American Robin (119); N Mockingbird (7); E Starling (33); Song Sparrow (26: all singing); Dark-eyed Junco (6: singing); N Cardinal (25: many in song); Red-winged Blackbird (300+); Common Grackle (12); House Finch (4); English Sparrow (46); PLUS: my first WOODCHUCK of the season. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/14/08 -- Northbridge
While out doing some Atlas II scouting, we found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Greenland race) in LINWOOD POND, Northbridge among a flock of about 70 Canadas. Linwood Pond is on Linwood Avenue between Rt. 122 and "downtown" Northbridge. This is part of the Blackstone National Corridor. It is screened by a thin line of trees, but you can pull off alongside the road, park, cut through the trees and walk along a nice path there. Sheila took some photos . (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/13/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; Red-tailed Hawk 5 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating:6 turkey vultures, 4 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 northern goshawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/13/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster
I stopped at a very flooded Bolton Flats this morning. You need a vehicle with high clearance to make it into the parking lot on Rt 117. Knee-high boots are needed to go anywhere in the area. A great blue heron greeted me at the edge of the parking lot as I drove in. . Grackles and red-winged blackbirds were flying around in small flocks near the parking lot. On the flooded cornfield, there were about 100 ring-billed gulls, 4 herring gulls and 8 green-winged teal. A few mallards and black ducks flew over. A song sparrow was singing. I could hear killdeer. On the south side of Rt 117 there were well over 100 Canada geese and 8 killdeer. (report from Alan Marble).

3/12/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At 5 PM Wednesday afternoon I decided to look for the gull roost at Wachusett Reservoir. I stopped first at River Road (West Boylston) and then at the power lines along the Route 12/140 causeway. The combination of open water and ice was just right, but there were NO gulls. I then headed for gate 36 and the Sterling Dike. The DCR gull flusher was in position on the dike and there was a large number of gulls on the ice about 200 yards out near the open water. I decided to go to the shore line along gate 35 and watch from there. The light is better and you are protected from the wind and heavy snow squalls. The gulls came pouring in. I noticed a pickup truck backed up to the water with a boat on a trailer at Greenhalge Point.
At about 15 minutes after sunset (7 PM), when the gulls were half in the open water and half on the ice the gull flushers launched the boat and spent the next half hour chasing the gulls and firing noisemakers. The gulls merely flew to the nearby ice and rested. They didn't leave the area. When the gull flushers returned to shore to leave all of the gulls on the ice returned to the open water. The gull flusher positioned on the dike never fired a shot. There were probably more 4 thousand gulls on the ice. I was able to pick out 1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. There were also 62 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads and 28 Common Mergansers. Perched high in an oak tree along the shore line was a Great Horned Owl watching all of the gull and human activity. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/11/08 -- Grafton
In addition to grackles, red winged blackbirds, flickers and bluebirds, I saw a northern shrike along Estabrook Road in Grafton today. The bird was located approximately 600 feet west of the barn, in almost the exact same spot (and almost the same date) that I have observed shrikes in two previous years. The bird was perched in a sapling at the edge of a marsh and it's large head was bobbing while watching some potential prey on the ground, similar to the way a more typical raptor does. (report from Scott Jordan).

3/11/08 -- Leicester/Worcester
There were 8 Hooded Mergansers (5 M, 3 F) on Kettle Brook Res. 2 where Manville St. meets Rt. 56. Also, at 7:00pm there were Woodcock in the field on Mulberry St. at the Airport, displaying in the fields on the other side of the small brook where the signal light towers are. Chasing and courtship flights, at least two pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/11/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
The Bald Eagle [see previous report on 3/9] was perched in a large pine tree, being mobbed by two crows at about 7:00am this morning. It didn't seem overly concerned about the crows squawking at it. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/10/08 -- Uxbridge
A male northern harrier was seen late in the afternoon Mar 6, 7, and 10 gliding above the fields on the east side of Sutton Street at the area called Hundred Acre Lot. Sutton St. runs between W. Hartford Ave. and Lackey Dam Rd. east of Rte 146. Vantage point was the soccer field behind a stone wall that runs parallel to the road. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/9/08 -- north Worcester County
I finally got some birding in today, hilites only:
Westminster: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-shouldered hawk 1 just off rte 2a near round meadow pond; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 3;
Orange: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 1; Raven 6; Am. Crow 150; all the above were enjoying a dead cow.
Branch bridge Rd. New Salem: Mute Swan 2 (I didn't think they were allowed there!); no other waterfowl
Barton's Cove (Gill, Ma.): Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult on nest, one 3rd yr in flight); Green-winged Teal 1 female; Canvasback 3 (2 ad. drakes, 1 1st yr drake); Hooded Merganser 6; Common Merganaser 22; Gulls in decending abundance..Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed .... I saw no other species of gull.
Turner's Falls: Pine Grosbeak 9; Anadromous Fish Park (Power Canal); Bald Eagle 1 juv.; Red-tailed hawk 2; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Goldeneye 14; Hooded Merganser 4; Common Merganser a few; Eastern bluebird 2 (M + F);
Turner's Falls Fish and game club: Mute Swan 23 and lots of Ringed-billed Gulls.
Finnally, over the past week I have found 2 dead Barred Owls along Rte, one in Westminster and one in gardner. I will work with Mass F+W to find them a home, and reclam some freezer space. I saw another (DOR) today near Jackson gate (near Devens, off rte2), but it look very "flattened" and too dangerous to stop. Apparently this species continues to "suffer". Also was what appeared to be a dead Fisher in the meadian strip just west of jackson "gate".
(report from Tom Pirro).

3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI
This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/8/08 -- Spencer
This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield

Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/22/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 4 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 7 ; Red-tailed Hawk 31 ; Merlin 1 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating: 2 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks, 3 red-tailed hawks. (report from Bart Kamp).
3/22/08 -- Worcester Airport: There were 8 Pine Grosbeaks at Worcester Airport this morning. (report from John Shea).
3/18/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 13 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 17 . Raptor Observations: Not migrating:2 bald eagles, 3 northern goshawks, 1 red-shouldered hawk, 1 Cooper's hawk. Non-raptor Observations: 2 great blue herons (report from Bart Kamp).
3/18/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge: Around noon today, perhaps 60 Canada Geese were strung out, with a few larger groups, from the SE end (near Whitinsville Christian School) to the middle of Linwood Pond. The Pond runs along Linwood Avenue in Northbridge. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was among the Canada geese. This goose is fairly easy to spot--it's smaller, has a brown head and orange-yellow bill, and lacks a white chin-strap. Also seen on the pond were several hooded mergansers m&f, several mallards m&f, belted kindfisher, golden-crowned kinglet, and eastern bluebird in addition to grackles and red-winged blackbirds. Two pairs of wood ducks were among reeds at the Mill end of the pond. (report from Nancy DeMers, Paul and Beth Milke)
3/16/08 -- Petersham/Spencer: We spent the day scouting two of our BREEDING BIRD ATLAS blocks for 2008. We started in BARRE 1, which is actually almost entirely PETERSHAM. Our list for today from there includes: Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (1); Mourning Dove (11); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (4); Blue Jay (108: jays were all about in large numbers everywhere we went today); American Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (33); Tufted Titmouse (28); CAROLINA WREN (very uncommon bird in the northern Quabbin area); American Robin (58); Dark-eyed Junco (24); N Cardinal (33); Red-winged Blackbird (52); Common Grackle (51); EVENING GROSBEAK (22: at one feeder; we had another (18); Evening Grosbeaks at a feeder in Barre: SEE PHOTO); House Sparrow (7);
Then, we headed to block NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. Here we had: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (86); Mallard (10); Hooded Merganser (14); Common Merganser (10); Red-tailed Hawk (2, including 1 carrying sticks to nest); Rock Pigeon (13); Mourning Dove (18); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (129); American Crow (15); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (14); White-breasted Nuthatch (9); Eastern Bluebird (2); American Robin (256); E Starling (191); Fox Sparrow (1 signing); Song Sparrow (10); White-throated Sparrow (16); Dark-eyed Junco (92); N Cardinal (20); Red-winged Blackbird (102); Common Grackle (192); Brown-headed Cowbird (12); Purple Finch (2); House Finch (6); American Goldfinch (4); EVENING GROSBEAK (4); House Sparrow (4);
PLUS: At the north end of LAKE WICKABOAG: Canada Goose (16); Green-winged Teal (3); Bufflehead (1m); Hooded Merganser (12); Common Merganser (67);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/16/08 -- Depot Rd., Westminster
We had 15 cedar waxwings in our front yard this morning..they cleaned all the berries off our holly bush and they moved on. (report from Chris Mossman).

3/16/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge

Thanks to a call from Nancy Demers, we returned to Linwood Pond off Linwood Ave across from the golf course around 3:45pm today and saw the Greater White-fronted Goose reported Friday by Mark and Sheila. It was easily picked out from the surrounding 15 or so Canada geese; a number of other geese were off to the right behind vegetation.
The male harrier has not been seen the last two stops at the soccer field on Sutton St [Uxbridge], but there has been a kestrel there both times and one or two red-tailed hawks. Today, a group of ten turkey vultures was soaring to the east. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- JWhitin Pond, N.Uxbridge
This morning 11-11:45 we watch a beautiful drake canvasback swim among 18 ring-necked ducks at the trestle end of JWhitin Pond off Rte 122 and Hartford Ave in N. Uxbridge. There were two dozen or so Canada geese hunkered down on the woody strip of land that juts into the pond--none appeared to be the Greater White-fronted Goose seen in the area by Mark Lynch the other day.
Earlier in the morning, we saw no geese on Linwood Pond in Northbridge but found a small but very nice group of ducks: bufflehead pair, wood duck pair, and male hooded merganser. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/15/08 -- Oakham
This evening we heard the first woodcock courting display in and above our half snow covered fields. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

3/15/08 -- Westminster
(The gulls were at Saw Mill Pond on the Fitchburg/Westminster line) Highlights were: Wood Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 6; Hooded Merganser 2; Turkey Vulture 4; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Ring-billed Gull 5; Herring Gull (American) 800 (2 adult w/ black wing tags K10 and K21); Iceland Gull (Kumlien's) 2 (1 1st Y and 1 3rd Yr); Glaucous Gull 1 (1st Yr); Great Black-backed Gull 150; Brown Creeper 1 singng; Red-winged Blackbird 12; Common Grackle 3. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/15/08 -- Northbridge/Worcester
First we went to check on the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. There were NO geese at Linwood Pond, NORTHBRIDGE. We checked other bodies of water nearby, including Rice City Pond (Uxbridge); and the Whitinsville Golf Course, but it seems most of the geese had moved on. At a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE we had: Turkey Vulture (1); Mute Swan (14); Canada Goose (11: mostly in scattered pairs); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (2); American Kestrel (1f); Wild Turkey (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Red-winged Blackbird (410+); C Grackle (60+);
We then headed north to one of our ATLAS blocks for 2008: WORCESTER NORTH 11. This block contains spots like the very north end of Lake Quinsigamond; the prisons in Boylston, Quinsigamond Junior College and Higgins Armory. We scouted around for a bit and here is our total list: Turkey Vulture (3); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (6); NORTHERN SHOVELER (1f: same bird in the same place, the NW corner of Newton Pond -- photo); Ring-necked Duck (7); Bufflehead (1m); Common Goldeneye (1m); Common Merganser (5); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (2); Ring-billed Gull (39); Herring Gull (3); Rock Pigeon (28); Mourning Dove (13); Downy Woodpecker (8); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (20); A Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (17); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Eastern Bluebird (9); American Robin (96); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (150+); Cedar Waxwing (37); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (17); Red-winged Blackbird (78); Common Grackle (62); House Sparrow (130+); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/15/08 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
This afternoon I saw : 13 Wood Ducks, 4 Black Ducks, 3 Green winged Teal and 2 Mute Swans, 1 on the nest. At All Faiths: 1 N. Pintail, 2 Black Ducks, 14 Green winged Teal, 10 Hooded Merganser, 17 Common Merganser, 1 Great Blue Heron. For some reason they are draining the water out of Leesville Pond so at both stops the water is way down. Anyone know why? I went up to Mulbury St. behind the airport for Woodcock and saw at least 8, the [Woodcock] show started at 7:07. (report from John Shea).

3/15/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
Woodcocks are calling and flying at River Bend Farm on Oak Street in Uxbridge. We stopped there briefly on the way home from the Mass Audubon Birders' Meeting (which was terrific). At least six woodcocks were heard in the vicinity of the mowed field, and several were seen flying. The field is quite wet but walkable. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/14/08 -- Blackstone/Mendon
We spent a few hours Friday scouting out our Breeding Bird Atlas Block "UXBRIDGE 11" which includes the towns of BLACKSTONE and adjacent areas of MENDON. This is mostly suburban habitat, with very little water, but still with a few small farms and a nice Wildlife Management Area adjacent to some conservation land. This block is in the Blackstone National Corridor. Bird life was pretty typical this morning, but bird song is definitely on the rise and it's beginning to "sound" like spring. Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (41); Mallard (14); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (pair + another 2 birds); Killdeer (6); Mourning Dove (22: some seen mating. BTW: one of our target birds for the day, was Rock Pigeon, and we dipped); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (7); Carolina Wren (4: singing); Blue Jay (29); A Crow (10); Common Raven (1 bird flying around the nest); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (23); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1: tough to say whether this was an "over-winterer" or a really early migrant); Eastern Bluebird (pair); American Robin (119); N Mockingbird (7); E Starling (33); Song Sparrow (26: all singing); Dark-eyed Junco (6: singing); N Cardinal (25: many in song); Red-winged Blackbird (300+); Common Grackle (12); House Finch (4); English Sparrow (46); PLUS: my first WOODCHUCK of the season. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/14/08 -- Northbridge
While out doing some Atlas II scouting, we found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Greenland race) in LINWOOD POND, Northbridge among a flock of about 70 Canadas. Linwood Pond is on Linwood Avenue between Rt. 122 and "downtown" Northbridge. This is part of the Blackstone National Corridor. It is screened by a thin line of trees, but you can pull off alongside the road, park, cut through the trees and walk along a nice path there. Sheila took some photos . (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/13/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; Red-tailed Hawk 5 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating:6 turkey vultures, 4 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 northern goshawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/13/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster
I stopped at a very flooded Bolton Flats this morning. You need a vehicle with high clearance to make it into the parking lot on Rt 117. Knee-high boots are needed to go anywhere in the area. A great blue heron greeted me at the edge of the parking lot as I drove in. . Grackles and red-winged blackbirds were flying around in small flocks near the parking lot. On the flooded cornfield, there were about 100 ring-billed gulls, 4 herring gulls and 8 green-winged teal. A few mallards and black ducks flew over. A song sparrow was singing. I could hear killdeer. On the south side of Rt 117 there were well over 100 Canada geese and 8 killdeer. (report from Alan Marble).

3/12/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At 5 PM Wednesday afternoon I decided to look for the gull roost at Wachusett Reservoir. I stopped first at River Road (West Boylston) and then at the power lines along the Route 12/140 causeway. The combination of open water and ice was just right, but there were NO gulls. I then headed for gate 36 and the Sterling Dike. The DCR gull flusher was in position on the dike and there was a large number of gulls on the ice about 200 yards out near the open water. I decided to go to the shore line along gate 35 and watch from there. The light is better and you are protected from the wind and heavy snow squalls. The gulls came pouring in. I noticed a pickup truck backed up to the water with a boat on a trailer at Greenhalge Point.
At about 15 minutes after sunset (7 PM), when the gulls were half in the open water and half on the ice the gull flushers launched the boat and spent the next half hour chasing the gulls and firing noisemakers. The gulls merely flew to the nearby ice and rested. They didn't leave the area. When the gull flushers returned to shore to leave all of the gulls on the ice returned to the open water. The gull flusher positioned on the dike never fired a shot. There were probably more 4 thousand gulls on the ice. I was able to pick out 1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. There were also 62 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads and 28 Common Mergansers. Perched high in an oak tree along the shore line was a Great Horned Owl watching all of the gull and human activity. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/11/08 -- Grafton
In addition to grackles, red winged blackbirds, flickers and bluebirds, I saw a northern shrike along Estabrook Road in Grafton today. The bird was located approximately 600 feet west of the barn, in almost the exact same spot (and almost the same date) that I have observed shrikes in two previous years. The bird was perched in a sapling at the edge of a marsh and it's large head was bobbing while watching some potential prey on the ground, similar to the way a more typical raptor does. (report from Scott Jordan).

3/11/08 -- Leicester/Worcester
There were 8 Hooded Mergansers (5 M, 3 F) on Kettle Brook Res. 2 where Manville St. meets Rt. 56. Also, at 7:00pm there were Woodcock in the field on Mulberry St. at the Airport, displaying in the fields on the other side of the small brook where the signal light towers are. Chasing and courtship flights, at least two pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/11/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
The Bald Eagle [see previous report on 3/9] was perched in a large pine tree, being mobbed by two crows at about 7:00am this morning. It didn't seem overly concerned about the crows squawking at it. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/10/08 -- Uxbridge
A male northern harrier was seen late in the afternoon Mar 6, 7, and 10 gliding above the fields on the east side of Sutton Street at the area called Hundred Acre Lot. Sutton St. runs between W. Hartford Ave. and Lackey Dam Rd. east of Rte 146. Vantage point was the soccer field behind a stone wall that runs parallel to the road. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/9/08 -- north Worcester County
I finally got some birding in today, hilites only:
Westminster: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-shouldered hawk 1 just off rte 2a near round meadow pond; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 3;
Orange: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 1; Raven 6; Am. Crow 150; all the above were enjoying a dead cow.
Branch bridge Rd. New Salem: Mute Swan 2 (I didn't think they were allowed there!); no other waterfowl
Barton's Cove (Gill, Ma.): Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult on nest, one 3rd yr in flight); Green-winged Teal 1 female; Canvasback 3 (2 ad. drakes, 1 1st yr drake); Hooded Merganser 6; Common Merganaser 22; Gulls in decending abundance..Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed .... I saw no other species of gull.
Turner's Falls: Pine Grosbeak 9; Anadromous Fish Park (Power Canal); Bald Eagle 1 juv.; Red-tailed hawk 2; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Goldeneye 14; Hooded Merganser 4; Common Merganser a few; Eastern bluebird 2 (M + F);
Turner's Falls Fish and game club: Mute Swan 23 and lots of Ringed-billed Gulls.
Finnally, over the past week I have found 2 dead Barred Owls along Rte, one in Westminster and one in gardner. I will work with Mass F+W to find them a home, and reclam some freezer space. I saw another (DOR) today near Jackson gate (near Devens, off rte2), but it look very "flattened" and too dangerous to stop. Apparently this species continues to "suffer". Also was what appeared to be a dead Fisher in the meadian strip just west of jackson "gate".
(report from Tom Pirro).

3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI
This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/8/08 -- Spencer
This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield

Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/16/08 -- Depot Rd., Westminster: We had 15 cedar waxwings in our front yard this morning..they cleaned all the berries off our holly bush and they moved on. (report from Chris Mossman).
3/16/08 -- Linwood Pond, Northbridge: Thanks to a call from Nancy Demers, we returned to Linwood Pond off Linwood Ave across from the golf course around 3:45pm today and saw the Greater White-fronted Goose reported Friday by Mark and Sheila. It was easily picked out from the surrounding 15 or so Canada geese; a number of other geese were off to the right behind vegetation.
The male harrier has not been seen the last two stops at the soccer field on Sutton St [Uxbridge], but there has been a kestrel there both times and one or two red-tailed hawks. Today, a group of ten turkey vultures was soaring to the east. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/16/08 -- JWhitin Pond, N.Uxbridge
This morning 11-11:45 we watch a beautiful drake canvasback swim among 18 ring-necked ducks at the trestle end of JWhitin Pond off Rte 122 and Hartford Ave in N. Uxbridge. There were two dozen or so Canada geese hunkered down on the woody strip of land that juts into the pond--none appeared to be the Greater White-fronted Goose seen in the area by Mark Lynch the other day.
Earlier in the morning, we saw no geese on Linwood Pond in Northbridge but found a small but very nice group of ducks: bufflehead pair, wood duck pair, and male hooded merganser. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/15/08 -- Oakham
This evening we heard the first woodcock courting display in and above our half snow covered fields. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

3/15/08 -- Westminster
(The gulls were at Saw Mill Pond on the Fitchburg/Westminster line) Highlights were: Wood Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 6; Hooded Merganser 2; Turkey Vulture 4; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Ring-billed Gull 5; Herring Gull (American) 800 (2 adult w/ black wing tags K10 and K21); Iceland Gull (Kumlien's) 2 (1 1st Y and 1 3rd Yr); Glaucous Gull 1 (1st Yr); Great Black-backed Gull 150; Brown Creeper 1 singng; Red-winged Blackbird 12; Common Grackle 3. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/15/08 -- Northbridge/Worcester
First we went to check on the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. There were NO geese at Linwood Pond, NORTHBRIDGE. We checked other bodies of water nearby, including Rice City Pond (Uxbridge); and the Whitinsville Golf Course, but it seems most of the geese had moved on. At a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE we had: Turkey Vulture (1); Mute Swan (14); Canada Goose (11: mostly in scattered pairs); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (2); American Kestrel (1f); Wild Turkey (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Red-winged Blackbird (410+); C Grackle (60+);
We then headed north to one of our ATLAS blocks for 2008: WORCESTER NORTH 11. This block contains spots like the very north end of Lake Quinsigamond; the prisons in Boylston, Quinsigamond Junior College and Higgins Armory. We scouted around for a bit and here is our total list: Turkey Vulture (3); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (6); NORTHERN SHOVELER (1f: same bird in the same place, the NW corner of Newton Pond -- photo); Ring-necked Duck (7); Bufflehead (1m); Common Goldeneye (1m); Common Merganser (5); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (2); Ring-billed Gull (39); Herring Gull (3); Rock Pigeon (28); Mourning Dove (13); Downy Woodpecker (8); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (20); A Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (17); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Eastern Bluebird (9); American Robin (96); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (150+); Cedar Waxwing (37); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (17); Red-winged Blackbird (78); Common Grackle (62); House Sparrow (130+); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/15/08 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
This afternoon I saw : 13 Wood Ducks, 4 Black Ducks, 3 Green winged Teal and 2 Mute Swans, 1 on the nest. At All Faiths: 1 N. Pintail, 2 Black Ducks, 14 Green winged Teal, 10 Hooded Merganser, 17 Common Merganser, 1 Great Blue Heron. For some reason they are draining the water out of Leesville Pond so at both stops the water is way down. Anyone know why? I went up to Mulbury St. behind the airport for Woodcock and saw at least 8, the [Woodcock] show started at 7:07. (report from John Shea).

3/15/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
Woodcocks are calling and flying at River Bend Farm on Oak Street in Uxbridge. We stopped there briefly on the way home from the Mass Audubon Birders' Meeting (which was terrific). At least six woodcocks were heard in the vicinity of the mowed field, and several were seen flying. The field is quite wet but walkable. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/14/08 -- Blackstone/Mendon
We spent a few hours Friday scouting out our Breeding Bird Atlas Block "UXBRIDGE 11" which includes the towns of BLACKSTONE and adjacent areas of MENDON. This is mostly suburban habitat, with very little water, but still with a few small farms and a nice Wildlife Management Area adjacent to some conservation land. This block is in the Blackstone National Corridor. Bird life was pretty typical this morning, but bird song is definitely on the rise and it's beginning to "sound" like spring. Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (41); Mallard (14); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (pair + another 2 birds); Killdeer (6); Mourning Dove (22: some seen mating. BTW: one of our target birds for the day, was Rock Pigeon, and we dipped); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (7); Carolina Wren (4: singing); Blue Jay (29); A Crow (10); Common Raven (1 bird flying around the nest); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (23); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1: tough to say whether this was an "over-winterer" or a really early migrant); Eastern Bluebird (pair); American Robin (119); N Mockingbird (7); E Starling (33); Song Sparrow (26: all singing); Dark-eyed Junco (6: singing); N Cardinal (25: many in song); Red-winged Blackbird (300+); Common Grackle (12); House Finch (4); English Sparrow (46); PLUS: my first WOODCHUCK of the season. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/14/08 -- Northbridge
While out doing some Atlas II scouting, we found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Greenland race) in LINWOOD POND, Northbridge among a flock of about 70 Canadas. Linwood Pond is on Linwood Avenue between Rt. 122 and "downtown" Northbridge. This is part of the Blackstone National Corridor. It is screened by a thin line of trees, but you can pull off alongside the road, park, cut through the trees and walk along a nice path there. Sheila took some photos . (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/13/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; Red-tailed Hawk 5 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating:6 turkey vultures, 4 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 northern goshawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/13/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster
I stopped at a very flooded Bolton Flats this morning. You need a vehicle with high clearance to make it into the parking lot on Rt 117. Knee-high boots are needed to go anywhere in the area. A great blue heron greeted me at the edge of the parking lot as I drove in. . Grackles and red-winged blackbirds were flying around in small flocks near the parking lot. On the flooded cornfield, there were about 100 ring-billed gulls, 4 herring gulls and 8 green-winged teal. A few mallards and black ducks flew over. A song sparrow was singing. I could hear killdeer. On the south side of Rt 117 there were well over 100 Canada geese and 8 killdeer. (report from Alan Marble).

3/12/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At 5 PM Wednesday afternoon I decided to look for the gull roost at Wachusett Reservoir. I stopped first at River Road (West Boylston) and then at the power lines along the Route 12/140 causeway. The combination of open water and ice was just right, but there were NO gulls. I then headed for gate 36 and the Sterling Dike. The DCR gull flusher was in position on the dike and there was a large number of gulls on the ice about 200 yards out near the open water. I decided to go to the shore line along gate 35 and watch from there. The light is better and you are protected from the wind and heavy snow squalls. The gulls came pouring in. I noticed a pickup truck backed up to the water with a boat on a trailer at Greenhalge Point.
At about 15 minutes after sunset (7 PM), when the gulls were half in the open water and half on the ice the gull flushers launched the boat and spent the next half hour chasing the gulls and firing noisemakers. The gulls merely flew to the nearby ice and rested. They didn't leave the area. When the gull flushers returned to shore to leave all of the gulls on the ice returned to the open water. The gull flusher positioned on the dike never fired a shot. There were probably more 4 thousand gulls on the ice. I was able to pick out 1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. There were also 62 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads and 28 Common Mergansers. Perched high in an oak tree along the shore line was a Great Horned Owl watching all of the gull and human activity. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/11/08 -- Grafton
In addition to grackles, red winged blackbirds, flickers and bluebirds, I saw a northern shrike along Estabrook Road in Grafton today. The bird was located approximately 600 feet west of the barn, in almost the exact same spot (and almost the same date) that I have observed shrikes in two previous years. The bird was perched in a sapling at the edge of a marsh and it's large head was bobbing while watching some potential prey on the ground, similar to the way a more typical raptor does. (report from Scott Jordan).

3/11/08 -- Leicester/Worcester
There were 8 Hooded Mergansers (5 M, 3 F) on Kettle Brook Res. 2 where Manville St. meets Rt. 56. Also, at 7:00pm there were Woodcock in the field on Mulberry St. at the Airport, displaying in the fields on the other side of the small brook where the signal light towers are. Chasing and courtship flights, at least two pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/11/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
The Bald Eagle [see previous report on 3/9] was perched in a large pine tree, being mobbed by two crows at about 7:00am this morning. It didn't seem overly concerned about the crows squawking at it. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/10/08 -- Uxbridge
A male northern harrier was seen late in the afternoon Mar 6, 7, and 10 gliding above the fields on the east side of Sutton Street at the area called Hundred Acre Lot. Sutton St. runs between W. Hartford Ave. and Lackey Dam Rd. east of Rte 146. Vantage point was the soccer field behind a stone wall that runs parallel to the road. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/9/08 -- north Worcester County
I finally got some birding in today, hilites only:
Westminster: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-shouldered hawk 1 just off rte 2a near round meadow pond; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 3;
Orange: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 1; Raven 6; Am. Crow 150; all the above were enjoying a dead cow.
Branch bridge Rd. New Salem: Mute Swan 2 (I didn't think they were allowed there!); no other waterfowl
Barton's Cove (Gill, Ma.): Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult on nest, one 3rd yr in flight); Green-winged Teal 1 female; Canvasback 3 (2 ad. drakes, 1 1st yr drake); Hooded Merganser 6; Common Merganaser 22; Gulls in decending abundance..Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed .... I saw no other species of gull.
Turner's Falls: Pine Grosbeak 9; Anadromous Fish Park (Power Canal); Bald Eagle 1 juv.; Red-tailed hawk 2; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Goldeneye 14; Hooded Merganser 4; Common Merganser a few; Eastern bluebird 2 (M + F);
Turner's Falls Fish and game club: Mute Swan 23 and lots of Ringed-billed Gulls.
Finnally, over the past week I have found 2 dead Barred Owls along Rte, one in Westminster and one in gardner. I will work with Mass F+W to find them a home, and reclam some freezer space. I saw another (DOR) today near Jackson gate (near Devens, off rte2), but it look very "flattened" and too dangerous to stop. Apparently this species continues to "suffer". Also was what appeared to be a dead Fisher in the meadian strip just west of jackson "gate".
(report from Tom Pirro).

3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI
This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/8/08 -- Spencer
This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield

Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/16/08 -- JWhitin Pond, N.Uxbridge: This morning 11-11:45 we watch a beautiful drake canvasback swim among 18 ring-necked ducks at the trestle end of JWhitin Pond off Rte 122 and Hartford Ave in N. Uxbridge. There were two dozen or so Canada geese hunkered down on the woody strip of land that juts into the pond--none appeared to be the Greater White-fronted Goose seen in the area by Mark Lynch the other day.
Earlier in the morning, we saw no geese on Linwood Pond in Northbridge but found a small but very nice group of ducks: bufflehead pair, wood duck pair, and male hooded merganser. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/15/08 -- Oakham
This evening we heard the first woodcock courting display in and above our half snow covered fields. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

3/15/08 -- Westminster
(The gulls were at Saw Mill Pond on the Fitchburg/Westminster line) Highlights were: Wood Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 6; Hooded Merganser 2; Turkey Vulture 4; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Ring-billed Gull 5; Herring Gull (American) 800 (2 adult w/ black wing tags K10 and K21); Iceland Gull (Kumlien's) 2 (1 1st Y and 1 3rd Yr); Glaucous Gull 1 (1st Yr); Great Black-backed Gull 150; Brown Creeper 1 singng; Red-winged Blackbird 12; Common Grackle 3. (report from Tom Pirro).

3/15/08 -- Northbridge/Worcester
First we went to check on the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. There were NO geese at Linwood Pond, NORTHBRIDGE. We checked other bodies of water nearby, including Rice City Pond (Uxbridge); and the Whitinsville Golf Course, but it seems most of the geese had moved on. At a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE we had: Turkey Vulture (1); Mute Swan (14); Canada Goose (11: mostly in scattered pairs); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (2); American Kestrel (1f); Wild Turkey (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Red-winged Blackbird (410+); C Grackle (60+);
We then headed north to one of our ATLAS blocks for 2008: WORCESTER NORTH 11. This block contains spots like the very north end of Lake Quinsigamond; the prisons in Boylston, Quinsigamond Junior College and Higgins Armory. We scouted around for a bit and here is our total list: Turkey Vulture (3); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (6); NORTHERN SHOVELER (1f: same bird in the same place, the NW corner of Newton Pond -- photo); Ring-necked Duck (7); Bufflehead (1m); Common Goldeneye (1m); Common Merganser (5); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (2); Ring-billed Gull (39); Herring Gull (3); Rock Pigeon (28); Mourning Dove (13); Downy Woodpecker (8); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (20); A Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (17); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Eastern Bluebird (9); American Robin (96); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (150+); Cedar Waxwing (37); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (17); Red-winged Blackbird (78); Common Grackle (62); House Sparrow (130+); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/15/08 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
This afternoon I saw : 13 Wood Ducks, 4 Black Ducks, 3 Green winged Teal and 2 Mute Swans, 1 on the nest. At All Faiths: 1 N. Pintail, 2 Black Ducks, 14 Green winged Teal, 10 Hooded Merganser, 17 Common Merganser, 1 Great Blue Heron. For some reason they are draining the water out of Leesville Pond so at both stops the water is way down. Anyone know why? I went up to Mulbury St. behind the airport for Woodcock and saw at least 8, the [Woodcock] show started at 7:07. (report from John Shea).

3/15/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
Woodcocks are calling and flying at River Bend Farm on Oak Street in Uxbridge. We stopped there briefly on the way home from the Mass Audubon Birders' Meeting (which was terrific). At least six woodcocks were heard in the vicinity of the mowed field, and several were seen flying. The field is quite wet but walkable. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/14/08 -- Blackstone/Mendon
We spent a few hours Friday scouting out our Breeding Bird Atlas Block "UXBRIDGE 11" which includes the towns of BLACKSTONE and adjacent areas of MENDON. This is mostly suburban habitat, with very little water, but still with a few small farms and a nice Wildlife Management Area adjacent to some conservation land. This block is in the Blackstone National Corridor. Bird life was pretty typical this morning, but bird song is definitely on the rise and it's beginning to "sound" like spring. Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (41); Mallard (14); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (pair + another 2 birds); Killdeer (6); Mourning Dove (22: some seen mating. BTW: one of our target birds for the day, was Rock Pigeon, and we dipped); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (7); Carolina Wren (4: singing); Blue Jay (29); A Crow (10); Common Raven (1 bird flying around the nest); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (23); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1: tough to say whether this was an "over-winterer" or a really early migrant); Eastern Bluebird (pair); American Robin (119); N Mockingbird (7); E Starling (33); Song Sparrow (26: all singing); Dark-eyed Junco (6: singing); N Cardinal (25: many in song); Red-winged Blackbird (300+); Common Grackle (12); House Finch (4); English Sparrow (46); PLUS: my first WOODCHUCK of the season. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/14/08 -- Northbridge
While out doing some Atlas II scouting, we found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Greenland race) in LINWOOD POND, Northbridge among a flock of about 70 Canadas. Linwood Pond is on Linwood Avenue between Rt. 122 and "downtown" Northbridge. This is part of the Blackstone National Corridor. It is screened by a thin line of trees, but you can pull off alongside the road, park, cut through the trees and walk along a nice path there. Sheila took some photos . (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/13/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; Red-tailed Hawk 5 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating:6 turkey vultures, 4 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 northern goshawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/13/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster
I stopped at a very flooded Bolton Flats this morning. You need a vehicle with high clearance to make it into the parking lot on Rt 117. Knee-high boots are needed to go anywhere in the area. A great blue heron greeted me at the edge of the parking lot as I drove in. . Grackles and red-winged blackbirds were flying around in small flocks near the parking lot. On the flooded cornfield, there were about 100 ring-billed gulls, 4 herring gulls and 8 green-winged teal. A few mallards and black ducks flew over. A song sparrow was singing. I could hear killdeer. On the south side of Rt 117 there were well over 100 Canada geese and 8 killdeer. (report from Alan Marble).

3/12/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At 5 PM Wednesday afternoon I decided to look for the gull roost at Wachusett Reservoir. I stopped first at River Road (West Boylston) and then at the power lines along the Route 12/140 causeway. The combination of open water and ice was just right, but there were NO gulls. I then headed for gate 36 and the Sterling Dike. The DCR gull flusher was in position on the dike and there was a large number of gulls on the ice about 200 yards out near the open water. I decided to go to the shore line along gate 35 and watch from there. The light is better and you are protected from the wind and heavy snow squalls. The gulls came pouring in. I noticed a pickup truck backed up to the water with a boat on a trailer at Greenhalge Point.
At about 15 minutes after sunset (7 PM), when the gulls were half in the open water and half on the ice the gull flushers launched the boat and spent the next half hour chasing the gulls and firing noisemakers. The gulls merely flew to the nearby ice and rested. They didn't leave the area. When the gull flushers returned to shore to leave all of the gulls on the ice returned to the open water. The gull flusher positioned on the dike never fired a shot. There were probably more 4 thousand gulls on the ice. I was able to pick out 1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. There were also 62 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads and 28 Common Mergansers. Perched high in an oak tree along the shore line was a Great Horned Owl watching all of the gull and human activity. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/11/08 -- Grafton
In addition to grackles, red winged blackbirds, flickers and bluebirds, I saw a northern shrike along Estabrook Road in Grafton today. The bird was located approximately 600 feet west of the barn, in almost the exact same spot (and almost the same date) that I have observed shrikes in two previous years. The bird was perched in a sapling at the edge of a marsh and it's large head was bobbing while watching some potential prey on the ground, similar to the way a more typical raptor does. (report from Scott Jordan).

3/11/08 -- Leicester/Worcester
There were 8 Hooded Mergansers (5 M, 3 F) on Kettle Brook Res. 2 where Manville St. meets Rt. 56. Also, at 7:00pm there were Woodcock in the field on Mulberry St. at the Airport, displaying in the fields on the other side of the small brook where the signal light towers are. Chasing and courtship flights, at least two pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/11/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
The Bald Eagle [see previous report on 3/9] was perched in a large pine tree, being mobbed by two crows at about 7:00am this morning. It didn't seem overly concerned about the crows squawking at it. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/10/08 -- Uxbridge
A male northern harrier was seen late in the afternoon Mar 6, 7, and 10 gliding above the fields on the east side of Sutton Street at the area called Hundred Acre Lot. Sutton St. runs between W. Hartford Ave. and Lackey Dam Rd. east of Rte 146. Vantage point was the soccer field behind a stone wall that runs parallel to the road. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/9/08 -- north Worcester County
I finally got some birding in today, hilites only:
Westminster: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-shouldered hawk 1 just off rte 2a near round meadow pond; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 3;
Orange: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 1; Raven 6; Am. Crow 150; all the above were enjoying a dead cow.
Branch bridge Rd. New Salem: Mute Swan 2 (I didn't think they were allowed there!); no other waterfowl
Barton's Cove (Gill, Ma.): Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult on nest, one 3rd yr in flight); Green-winged Teal 1 female; Canvasback 3 (2 ad. drakes, 1 1st yr drake); Hooded Merganser 6; Common Merganaser 22; Gulls in decending abundance..Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed .... I saw no other species of gull.
Turner's Falls: Pine Grosbeak 9; Anadromous Fish Park (Power Canal); Bald Eagle 1 juv.; Red-tailed hawk 2; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Goldeneye 14; Hooded Merganser 4; Common Merganser a few; Eastern bluebird 2 (M + F);
Turner's Falls Fish and game club: Mute Swan 23 and lots of Ringed-billed Gulls.
Finnally, over the past week I have found 2 dead Barred Owls along Rte, one in Westminster and one in gardner. I will work with Mass F+W to find them a home, and reclam some freezer space. I saw another (DOR) today near Jackson gate (near Devens, off rte2), but it look very "flattened" and too dangerous to stop. Apparently this species continues to "suffer". Also was what appeared to be a dead Fisher in the meadian strip just west of jackson "gate".
(report from Tom Pirro).

3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI
This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/8/08 -- Spencer
This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield

Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/15/08 -- Oakham: This evening we heard the first woodcock courting display in and above our half snow covered fields. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).
3/15/08 -- Westminster: (The gulls were at Saw Mill Pond on the Fitchburg/Westminster line) Highlights were: Wood Duck 2; Common Goldeneye 6; Hooded Merganser 2; Turkey Vulture 4; Red-tailed Hawk 1; Ring-billed Gull 5; Herring Gull (American) 800 (2 adult w/ black wing tags K10 and K21); Iceland Gull (Kumlien's) 2 (1 1st Y and 1 3rd Yr); Glaucous Gull 1 (1st Yr); Great Black-backed Gull 150; Brown Creeper 1 singng; Red-winged Blackbird 12; Common Grackle 3. (report from Tom Pirro).
3/15/08 -- Northbridge/Worcester: First we went to check on the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. There were NO geese at Linwood Pond, NORTHBRIDGE. We checked other bodies of water nearby, including Rice City Pond (Uxbridge); and the Whitinsville Golf Course, but it seems most of the geese had moved on. At a few stops in NORTHBRIDGE we had: Turkey Vulture (1); Mute Swan (14); Canada Goose (11: mostly in scattered pairs); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (17); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (2); American Kestrel (1f); Wild Turkey (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Red-winged Blackbird (410+); C Grackle (60+);
We then headed north to one of our ATLAS blocks for 2008: WORCESTER NORTH 11. This block contains spots like the very north end of Lake Quinsigamond; the prisons in Boylston, Quinsigamond Junior College and Higgins Armory. We scouted around for a bit and here is our total list: Turkey Vulture (3); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (6); NORTHERN SHOVELER (1f: same bird in the same place, the NW corner of Newton Pond -- photo); Ring-necked Duck (7); Bufflehead (1m); Common Goldeneye (1m); Common Merganser (5); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (2); Ring-billed Gull (39); Herring Gull (3); Rock Pigeon (28); Mourning Dove (13); Downy Woodpecker (8); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Blue Jay (20); A Crow (17); Black-capped Chickadee (17); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Eastern Bluebird (9); American Robin (96); N Mockingbird (2); E Starling (150+); Cedar Waxwing (37); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (17); Red-winged Blackbird (78); Common Grackle (62); House Sparrow (130+); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/15/08 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
This afternoon I saw : 13 Wood Ducks, 4 Black Ducks, 3 Green winged Teal and 2 Mute Swans, 1 on the nest. At All Faiths: 1 N. Pintail, 2 Black Ducks, 14 Green winged Teal, 10 Hooded Merganser, 17 Common Merganser, 1 Great Blue Heron. For some reason they are draining the water out of Leesville Pond so at both stops the water is way down. Anyone know why? I went up to Mulbury St. behind the airport for Woodcock and saw at least 8, the [Woodcock] show started at 7:07. (report from John Shea).

3/15/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
Woodcocks are calling and flying at River Bend Farm on Oak Street in Uxbridge. We stopped there briefly on the way home from the Mass Audubon Birders' Meeting (which was terrific). At least six woodcocks were heard in the vicinity of the mowed field, and several were seen flying. The field is quite wet but walkable. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)

3/14/08 -- Blackstone/Mendon
We spent a few hours Friday scouting out our Breeding Bird Atlas Block "UXBRIDGE 11" which includes the towns of BLACKSTONE and adjacent areas of MENDON. This is mostly suburban habitat, with very little water, but still with a few small farms and a nice Wildlife Management Area adjacent to some conservation land. This block is in the Blackstone National Corridor. Bird life was pretty typical this morning, but bird song is definitely on the rise and it's beginning to "sound" like spring. Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (41); Mallard (14); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (pair + another 2 birds); Killdeer (6); Mourning Dove (22: some seen mating. BTW: one of our target birds for the day, was Rock Pigeon, and we dipped); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (7); Carolina Wren (4: singing); Blue Jay (29); A Crow (10); Common Raven (1 bird flying around the nest); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (23); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1: tough to say whether this was an "over-winterer" or a really early migrant); Eastern Bluebird (pair); American Robin (119); N Mockingbird (7); E Starling (33); Song Sparrow (26: all singing); Dark-eyed Junco (6: singing); N Cardinal (25: many in song); Red-winged Blackbird (300+); Common Grackle (12); House Finch (4); English Sparrow (46); PLUS: my first WOODCHUCK of the season. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/14/08 -- Northbridge
While out doing some Atlas II scouting, we found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Greenland race) in LINWOOD POND, Northbridge among a flock of about 70 Canadas. Linwood Pond is on Linwood Avenue between Rt. 122 and "downtown" Northbridge. This is part of the Blackstone National Corridor. It is screened by a thin line of trees, but you can pull off alongside the road, park, cut through the trees and walk along a nice path there. Sheila took some photos . (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/13/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; Red-tailed Hawk 5 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating:6 turkey vultures, 4 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 northern goshawks. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/13/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster
I stopped at a very flooded Bolton Flats this morning. You need a vehicle with high clearance to make it into the parking lot on Rt 117. Knee-high boots are needed to go anywhere in the area. A great blue heron greeted me at the edge of the parking lot as I drove in. . Grackles and red-winged blackbirds were flying around in small flocks near the parking lot. On the flooded cornfield, there were about 100 ring-billed gulls, 4 herring gulls and 8 green-winged teal. A few mallards and black ducks flew over. A song sparrow was singing. I could hear killdeer. On the south side of Rt 117 there were well over 100 Canada geese and 8 killdeer. (report from Alan Marble).

3/12/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
At 5 PM Wednesday afternoon I decided to look for the gull roost at Wachusett Reservoir. I stopped first at River Road (West Boylston) and then at the power lines along the Route 12/140 causeway. The combination of open water and ice was just right, but there were NO gulls. I then headed for gate 36 and the Sterling Dike. The DCR gull flusher was in position on the dike and there was a large number of gulls on the ice about 200 yards out near the open water. I decided to go to the shore line along gate 35 and watch from there. The light is better and you are protected from the wind and heavy snow squalls. The gulls came pouring in. I noticed a pickup truck backed up to the water with a boat on a trailer at Greenhalge Point.
At about 15 minutes after sunset (7 PM), when the gulls were half in the open water and half on the ice the gull flushers launched the boat and spent the next half hour chasing the gulls and firing noisemakers. The gulls merely flew to the nearby ice and rested. They didn't leave the area. When the gull flushers returned to shore to leave all of the gulls on the ice returned to the open water. The gull flusher positioned on the dike never fired a shot. There were probably more 4 thousand gulls on the ice. I was able to pick out 1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. There were also 62 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads and 28 Common Mergansers. Perched high in an oak tree along the shore line was a Great Horned Owl watching all of the gull and human activity. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/11/08 -- Grafton
In addition to grackles, red winged blackbirds, flickers and bluebirds, I saw a northern shrike along Estabrook Road in Grafton today. The bird was located approximately 600 feet west of the barn, in almost the exact same spot (and almost the same date) that I have observed shrikes in two previous years. The bird was perched in a sapling at the edge of a marsh and it's large head was bobbing while watching some potential prey on the ground, similar to the way a more typical raptor does. (report from Scott Jordan).

3/11/08 -- Leicester/Worcester
There were 8 Hooded Mergansers (5 M, 3 F) on Kettle Brook Res. 2 where Manville St. meets Rt. 56. Also, at 7:00pm there were Woodcock in the field on Mulberry St. at the Airport, displaying in the fields on the other side of the small brook where the signal light towers are. Chasing and courtship flights, at least two pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/11/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
The Bald Eagle [see previous report on 3/9] was perched in a large pine tree, being mobbed by two crows at about 7:00am this morning. It didn't seem overly concerned about the crows squawking at it. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/10/08 -- Uxbridge
A male northern harrier was seen late in the afternoon Mar 6, 7, and 10 gliding above the fields on the east side of Sutton Street at the area called Hundred Acre Lot. Sutton St. runs between W. Hartford Ave. and Lackey Dam Rd. east of Rte 146. Vantage point was the soccer field behind a stone wall that runs parallel to the road. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)

3/9/08 -- north Worcester County
I finally got some birding in today, hilites only:
Westminster: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-shouldered hawk 1 just off rte 2a near round meadow pond; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 3;
Orange: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 1; Raven 6; Am. Crow 150; all the above were enjoying a dead cow.
Branch bridge Rd. New Salem: Mute Swan 2 (I didn't think they were allowed there!); no other waterfowl
Barton's Cove (Gill, Ma.): Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult on nest, one 3rd yr in flight); Green-winged Teal 1 female; Canvasback 3 (2 ad. drakes, 1 1st yr drake); Hooded Merganser 6; Common Merganaser 22; Gulls in decending abundance..Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed .... I saw no other species of gull.
Turner's Falls: Pine Grosbeak 9; Anadromous Fish Park (Power Canal); Bald Eagle 1 juv.; Red-tailed hawk 2; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Goldeneye 14; Hooded Merganser 4; Common Merganser a few; Eastern bluebird 2 (M + F);
Turner's Falls Fish and game club: Mute Swan 23 and lots of Ringed-billed Gulls.
Finnally, over the past week I have found 2 dead Barred Owls along Rte, one in Westminster and one in gardner. I will work with Mass F+W to find them a home, and reclam some freezer space. I saw another (DOR) today near Jackson gate (near Devens, off rte2), but it look very "flattened" and too dangerous to stop. Apparently this species continues to "suffer". Also was what appeared to be a dead Fisher in the meadian strip just west of jackson "gate".
(report from Tom Pirro).

3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI
This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/8/08 -- Spencer
This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield

Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/15/08 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester: This afternoon I saw : 13 Wood Ducks, 4 Black Ducks, 3 Green winged Teal and 2 Mute Swans, 1 on the nest. At All Faiths: 1 N. Pintail, 2 Black Ducks, 14 Green winged Teal, 10 Hooded Merganser, 17 Common Merganser, 1 Great Blue Heron. For some reason they are draining the water out of Leesville Pond so at both stops the water is way down. Anyone know why? I went up to Mulbury St. behind the airport for Woodcock and saw at least 8, the [Woodcock] show started at 7:07. (report from John Shea).
3/15/08 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge: Woodcocks are calling and flying at River Bend Farm on Oak Street in Uxbridge. We stopped there briefly on the way home from the Mass Audubon Birders' Meeting (which was terrific). At least six woodcocks were heard in the vicinity of the mowed field, and several were seen flying. The field is quite wet but walkable. (report from Beth and Paul Milke)
3/14/08 -- Blackstone/Mendon: We spent a few hours Friday scouting out our Breeding Bird Atlas Block "UXBRIDGE 11" which includes the towns of BLACKSTONE and adjacent areas of MENDON. This is mostly suburban habitat, with very little water, but still with a few small farms and a nice Wildlife Management Area adjacent to some conservation land. This block is in the Blackstone National Corridor. Bird life was pretty typical this morning, but bird song is definitely on the rise and it's beginning to "sound" like spring. Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (41); Mallard (14); American Black Duck (3); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (pair + another 2 birds); Killdeer (6); Mourning Dove (22: some seen mating. BTW: one of our target birds for the day, was Rock Pigeon, and we dipped); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Downy Woodpecker (7); Carolina Wren (4: singing); Blue Jay (29); A Crow (10); Common Raven (1 bird flying around the nest); Black-capped Chickadee (23); Tufted Titmouse (23); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1: tough to say whether this was an "over-winterer" or a really early migrant); Eastern Bluebird (pair); American Robin (119); N Mockingbird (7); E Starling (33); Song Sparrow (26: all singing); Dark-eyed Junco (6: singing); N Cardinal (25: many in song); Red-winged Blackbird (300+); Common Grackle (12); House Finch (4); English Sparrow (46); PLUS: my first WOODCHUCK of the season. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
3/14/08 -- Northbridge: While out doing some Atlas II scouting, we found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Greenland race) in LINWOOD POND, Northbridge among a flock of about 70 Canadas. Linwood Pond is on Linwood Avenue between Rt. 122 and "downtown" Northbridge. This is part of the Blackstone National Corridor. It is screened by a thin line of trees, but you can pull off alongside the road, park, cut through the trees and walk along a nice path there. Sheila took some photos . (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
3/13/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ; Red-tailed Hawk 5 ; Raptor Observations: Not migrating:6 turkey vultures, 4 bald eagles, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 northern goshawks. (report from Bart Kamp).
3/13/08 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster: I stopped at a very flooded Bolton Flats this morning. You need a vehicle with high clearance to make it into the parking lot on Rt 117. Knee-high boots are needed to go anywhere in the area. A great blue heron greeted me at the edge of the parking lot as I drove in. . Grackles and red-winged blackbirds were flying around in small flocks near the parking lot. On the flooded cornfield, there were about 100 ring-billed gulls, 4 herring gulls and 8 green-winged teal. A few mallards and black ducks flew over. A song sparrow was singing. I could hear killdeer. On the south side of Rt 117 there were well over 100 Canada geese and 8 killdeer. (report from Alan Marble).
3/12/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton: At 5 PM Wednesday afternoon I decided to look for the gull roost at Wachusett Reservoir. I stopped first at River Road (West Boylston) and then at the power lines along the Route 12/140 causeway. The combination of open water and ice was just right, but there were NO gulls. I then headed for gate 36 and the Sterling Dike. The DCR gull flusher was in position on the dike and there was a large number of gulls on the ice about 200 yards out near the open water. I decided to go to the shore line along gate 35 and watch from there. The light is better and you are protected from the wind and heavy snow squalls. The gulls came pouring in. I noticed a pickup truck backed up to the water with a boat on a trailer at Greenhalge Point.
At about 15 minutes after sunset (7 PM), when the gulls were half in the open water and half on the ice the gull flushers launched the boat and spent the next half hour chasing the gulls and firing noisemakers. The gulls merely flew to the nearby ice and rested. They didn't leave the area. When the gull flushers returned to shore to leave all of the gulls on the ice returned to the open water. The gull flusher positioned on the dike never fired a shot. There were probably more 4 thousand gulls on the ice. I was able to pick out 1 adult Iceland Gull and 1 first winter Iceland Gull. There were also 62 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Buffleheads and 28 Common Mergansers. Perched high in an oak tree along the shore line was a Great Horned Owl watching all of the gull and human activity. (report from Bart Kamp).
3/11/08 -- Grafton: In addition to grackles, red winged blackbirds, flickers and bluebirds, I saw a northern shrike along Estabrook Road in Grafton today. The bird was located approximately 600 feet west of the barn, in almost the exact same spot (and almost the same date) that I have observed shrikes in two previous years. The bird was perched in a sapling at the edge of a marsh and it's large head was bobbing while watching some potential prey on the ground, similar to the way a more typical raptor does. (report from Scott Jordan).
3/11/08 -- Leicester/Worcester: There were 8 Hooded Mergansers (5 M, 3 F) on Kettle Brook Res. 2 where Manville St. meets Rt. 56. Also, at 7:00pm there were Woodcock in the field on Mulberry St. at the Airport, displaying in the fields on the other side of the small brook where the signal light towers are. Chasing and courtship flights, at least two pair. (report from Alex Dunn).
3/11/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas: The Bald Eagle [see previous report on 3/9] was perched in a large pine tree, being mobbed by two crows at about 7:00am this morning. It didn't seem overly concerned about the crows squawking at it. (report from Ann Cockcroft).
3/10/08 -- Uxbridge: A male northern harrier was seen late in the afternoon Mar 6, 7, and 10 gliding above the fields on the east side of Sutton Street at the area called Hundred Acre Lot. Sutton St. runs between W. Hartford Ave. and Lackey Dam Rd. east of Rte 146. Vantage point was the soccer field behind a stone wall that runs parallel to the road. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)
3/9/08 -- north Worcester County: I finally got some birding in today, hilites only:
Westminster: Turkey Vulture 1; Red-shouldered hawk 1 just off rte 2a near round meadow pond; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 3;
Orange: Turkey Vulture 3; Bald Eagle 1; Raven 6; Am. Crow 150; all the above were enjoying a dead cow.
Branch bridge Rd. New Salem: Mute Swan 2 (I didn't think they were allowed there!); no other waterfowl
Barton's Cove (Gill, Ma.): Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult on nest, one 3rd yr in flight); Green-winged Teal 1 female; Canvasback 3 (2 ad. drakes, 1 1st yr drake); Hooded Merganser 6; Common Merganaser 22; Gulls in decending abundance..Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed .... I saw no other species of gull.
Turner's Falls: Pine Grosbeak 9; Anadromous Fish Park (Power Canal); Bald Eagle 1 juv.; Red-tailed hawk 2; Ring-necked Duck 3; Common Goldeneye 14; Hooded Merganser 4; Common Merganser a few; Eastern bluebird 2 (M + F);
Turner's Falls Fish and game club: Mute Swan 23 and lots of Ringed-billed Gulls.
Finnally, over the past week I have found 2 dead Barred Owls along Rte, one in Westminster and one in gardner. I will work with Mass F+W to find them a home, and reclam some freezer space. I saw another (DOR) today near Jackson gate (near Devens, off rte2), but it look very "flattened" and too dangerous to stop. Apparently this species continues to "suffer". Also was what appeared to be a dead Fisher in the meadian strip just west of jackson "gate".
(report from Tom Pirro).

3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI
This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas
This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).

3/8/08 -- Spencer
This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton
This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield

Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/9/08 -- Burrillville/Glocester, RI: This morning we visited a few of the ponds and lakes in the towns of BURRILLVILLE and GLOCESTER (part of the Blackstone National Corridor); to check on the beginning of spring waterfowl migration. At this early stage, most of what you are going to find as the water just begins to open up are Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, and Hooded and Common Mergansers. And that is exactly what we found, but only in modest numbers so far. Our combined list for the morning is as follows: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (50: several pairs seen); MUTE SWAN (1ad: traditionally, 99% of the Mute Swans in the Rhode Island section of the Corridor have been east of Rt. 146. I hope this proves to be an exception); American Black Duck (4: see Jeffrey Well~Rs new, important and extremely interesting book BIRDER~RS CONSERVATION HANDBOOK for the complete details on the alarmingly rapid crash of this formerly common breeder); Mallard (44); Ring-necked Duck (63); Common Goldeneye (1m); Hooded Merganser (60); Common Merganser (63); BALD EAGLE (1ad sitting on the ice eating something at Wilson Reservoir in Burrillville); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (105); Herring Gull (29); Great Black-backed Gull (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); NB: passerines were unremarkable in variety and numbers, but among the species we noted were: Common Raven (2); Carolina Wren (8); Cedar Waxwing (7); Fox Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (3 singing); Common Grackle (31); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
3/9/08 -- Bad Luck Pond, Douglas: This morning at about 11am an immature Bald Eagle was at my pond, fishing. It looked to be about 4 years old, it was just starting to get it's white head. Then at about 3pm a mature Bald Eagle was out there, then another one arrived at around 5:30pm. Three Sundays ago I also saw a mature Bald Eagle in Whitinsville, near Lackey Dam. It was about 9am, and it was flying north. (report from Ann Cockcroft).
3/8/08 -- Spencer: This morning before the rain, we did some scouting in our ~R08 Atlas block: NORTH BROOKFIELD 12, which is mostly in SPENCER. This interesting blocks still has a good amount of farmland, several gravel pits and a few areas of marsh. Bird life was pretty quiet in the pre-deluge gloom, still there were undeniable signs of spring: Canada Goose (4: 2pair); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (16); Wild Turkey (10: 1 tom in full display); Rock Pigeon (18); Mourning Dove (30); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Carolina Wren (1); Blue Jay (34); A Crow (19); Eastern Bluebird (1); American Robin (87); Black-capped Chickadee (41); Tufted Titmouse (12); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); N Mockingbird (4); E. Starling (72); Fox Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (16); N Cardinal (23); House Finch (6); A Goldfinch (4); Red-winged Blackbird (423: some males on territory); C Grackle (72); Brown-headed Cowbird (1); House Sparrow (85); Plus: mammals were also interesting: White-tailed Deer (2);; Gray Squirrel (many);; Red Squirrel (10+);; Eastern Chipmunk (2);; Star-nosed Mole (1);; Muskrat (1); and the best for last: 1 MINK that bounded across the road right in front of our car. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
3/7/08 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton: This AM while viewing "Little Coachlace" (Pond that never freezes) and part of " Big Coachlace" there were a few ducks: Common Goldeneye M&F; Greater Scaup 4M, 2F; Ring-neck 3M; Wood Duck 2M; Hooded Merganser M&F; Common Merganser M; (report from Peter Morlock).
3/6/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield: Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 14 ( 13 D, 1 F); Hooded Merganser 11 (7 D, 4 F); Ring-billed Gull 8; Red-tailed Hawk 2 (circling near each other, one had its legs dangling) Common Grackle 15 (near the East Brookfield River); Red-winged Blackbird (near the East Brookfield River); Ameican Robin 20 (on many nearby lawns);
Quinebaug River, Southbridge in the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 7 (6 D, 1 F)
Also, Larry Hatstat was at Lake Quaboag in the afternoon. He told me on that morning (3/6) he found the pair of adult Bald Eagles working on last year's nest. The nest cannot be seen from the boat ramp.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury
We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

3/6/08 -- Sterling
During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).

3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/6/08 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Raptors migrating today: Turkey Vulture 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Northern Goshawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . Raptor Observations: NOT migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 5 bald eagles, 2 sharp-shinned hawks, 2 northern goshawks, 2 red-shouldered hawks and 4 red-tailed hawks. Non-raptor Observations: 2 bluebirds on their box, 15-20 robins in the field and the resident pair of ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).
3/6/08 -- Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury: We did a short late afternoon/early evening scoot through Atlas Black WORCESTER NORTH 11, which includes the very northern tip of Lake Quinsigamond and the prison area. Daylight was in short supply, but we managed: Mute Swan (2>pair); Canada Goose (44); Mallard (21); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-tailed Hawk (3: two different nesting territories where we had pairs last year); American Woodcock (1 peenting); Great Horned Owl (pair duetting); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (369); Red-winged Blackbird (66). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
3/6/08 -- Sterling: During a "timberdoodling" expedition into the apple orchards on Redstone Hill Road in Sterling, we heard our first American Woodcock of the year "peenting" and performing arial displays. It was short lived but another sure sign of spring. (report from Marion Larson & Scott Handler).
3/5/08 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield: Lake Quaboag: Common Merganser 9 (6 D, 3 F); Hooded Merganser 5 (3 D, 2 F); Ring-necked Duck 15; Bald Eagle 1 (Ad sitting in the old nest site tree); Ring-billed Gull 10;
Quinebaug River in Southbridge at the old American Optical Factory gated Compound: Common Merganser 5 D
Charlton: American Robin 30
(report from Joan Zumpfe).

3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester
I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).

3/4/08 -- Oakham
I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).

3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester
A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).

3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester
I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).

3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge
This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index
3/5/08 -- downtown Worcester: I observed the Peregrine Falcons chasing each other this morning on Highland ave. at Harvard St., landing briefly atop the Auditorium and flying together out over Webster Sq. down Main St. Judging by a slight size difference I assumed it was the breeding pair. (report from Alex Dunn).
3/4/08 -- Oakham: I had about 20 Red-winged Blackbirds all calling in my yard today. Spring must be here! (report from Josh Gahagan).
3/4/08 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton; Worcester: A bald eagle was standing on the nest at Wachusett Reservoir today, seen from gates 39 and 6. There were 2 ring-necked ducks at the "pond that never freezes" in Clinton and a peregrine falcon was on the antenna of the YMCA building seen from the Worcester Public Library parking lot. (report from Alan Marble).
3/2/08 -- downtown Worcester: I went down to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around, since I haven't seen them in four or five trips to look for them. Today there were 2 on the Flag Ship Bank. On the way by the D.M.V. there were 35 Cedar Waxwings and 29 Robins in the fruit trees along the front of the Building. On Cambridge St. I also saw 2 Turkey Vultures. (report from John Shea).
3/2/08 -- Blackstone/Millville/Uxbridge/Northbridge: This morning, we birded a few towns in the southern part of the Massachusetts section of the Blackstone National Corridor: Blackstone/Millville; Uxbridge and Northbridge. Our goals were simple: to review some of the areas found in one of our Atlas blocks for this year; and check to see if any waterfowl were about. Ponds and lakes are still mostly ice-covered.
In the small border towns of BLACKSTONE/MILLVILLE we had the following: Turkey Vulture (2alive+1 just over the border in Woonsocket, hanging high from a tree, with it's neck caught in a top branch, waving in the wind like a flag); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (4); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (16); Hooded Merganser (2); Common Merganser (2); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (20); Herring Gull (1); Great Black-backed Gull (6); Black-capped Chickadee (29); Tufted Titmouse (16); Blue Jay (18); A Crow (7); A Robin (60+); N Mockingbird (3); Song Sparrow (7: singing); White-throated Sparrow (6); N Cardinal (10);
UXBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (6); Canada Goose (377); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (36); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (4); Common Merganser (16); Carolina Wren (1); A Crow (8); Fish Crow (1); C Raven (1);
NORTHBRIDGE: (waterfowl numbers: low); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (39); A Black Duck (1); Ring-necked Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (7); EASTERN PHOEBE (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6); C Grackle (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

For previous sightings, see February 2008 Archives or Archive Index