March 2009 Central Mass Bird Sightings
Sightings are listed in reverse chronological order. The email
address of birders submitting reports, as well as other
Central Massachusetts birding info can be found via the
Central Mass Bird Update homepage.
Bird News:
Bird Sightings:
- 3/31/09 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
-
Highlights follow from the north side of Rte 117
of Bolton Flats. There were no sign of the Amercian X Eurasian Green-winged Teal
that I saw last Thursday afternoon, though there are plenty of
places for teal hide!
(I'll get a 1/2 decent photo of that bird on my
blog in a day or so).
Canada Goose 120;
Wood Duck 25;
American Black Duck 20;
Mallard 40;
Green-winged Teal (American) 175;
Wild Turkey 1;
Great Blue Heron 12;
Northern Harrier 1;
Killdeer 12;
Greater Yellowlegs 1;
Wilson's Snipe 52;
American Woodcock 3;
Tree Swallow 1;
American Robin 50;
American Tree Sparrow5 ;
Song Sparrow 5;
Red-winged Blackbird 100;
Common Grackle 50;
The Great Blue Herons appeared to be migrants, passing well overhead
in small groups, one appeared to be in the middle of wing molt and
missing some flight feathers.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 3/31/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 6 34 34
Osprey 1 1 1
Bald Eagle 0 10 10
Northern Harrier 2 3 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 5 5
Cooper's Hawk 0 4 4
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 8 8
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 7 52 52
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 1 3 3
Merlin 0 0 0
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 3 3
Total: 21 123 123
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Raptor Observations:
The first osprey of the season hunted briefly over the river.
Non-raptor Observations:
First phoebe. Tree swallows mobbed the pair of bluebirds while they sat on
"their" birdhouse.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 3/31/09 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- It appears as
if the female Mute Swan is on her nest near the fire station. She sat there
intently the whole time I was there as the male followed me around. He
didn't appeared annoyed by my being there and I honestly think he thought I
was going to feed him. ;o). No such luck on his part though. Besides that
there were the usual Mallards and Canada Geese.
(report from Kimberly Allen).
- 3/29/09 -- Brookfields/Charlton
- I did a little birding yesterday morning before it poured around 8
am.
- At lake Quaboag in Brookfield there were 2 adult Bald Eagles across the
lake; one was perched while the other dove by the water and then perched.
Also, there were at least 7 TREE SWALLOWS. I stopped counting because it
started to rain too hard.
- At Ceramic Pond in East Brookfield, there were 10
Ring-necked Ducks, 10 Hooded Mergansers and 3 Common Mergansers.
- At
Orlando's farm pond in Charlton, there were 55 Mallards, 3 American Black
Ducks, 11 Canada Geese and 270 Ring-billed Gulls.There were 2 Ring-necked
Ducks (a pair) in the upper pond.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).
- 3/28/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 1 ;
Bald Eagle 2 ;
Northern Harrier 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 8 ;
American Kestrel 1 ;
Raptor Observations:
Bald Eagles:1 adult and 1 subadult.
Not migrating: 5 turkey vultures, 1 redtail and 1 goshawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
5 tree swallows and 1 mourning cloak.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 3/28/09 -- Inman Hill Conservation Area, Mendon
- This afternoon a Northern Shrike was at the edge of a field
at the entrance to Inman Hill Conservation Area in Mendon. Its mask and
black wings stood out sharply against its light chest. The shrike flew from
the top of a shrub to a small tree, then dropped to the ground several
times, returning to the tree branch each time.
A vivid bluebird and a few northern mockingbirds also were in the area.
(report from Beth and Paul Milke)
- 3/28/09 -- Quabog IBA, Brookfields
-
Our MAS "MARCH MIGRATION" class spent a really pleasant day birding around
the QUABOG IBA in the Brookfields. Below is the total species list:
Great Blue Heron (1);
Turkey Vulture (3);
Canada Goose (488);
Wood Duck (9);
A Black Duck (12);
Mallard (23);
Green-winged Teal (2);
Ring-necked Duck (13);
Greater Scaup (1);
Bufflehead (12);
Common Goldeneye (4);
Hooded Merganser (11);
Common Merganser (141);
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (1m+ ": at the north end of Lake Wickabog, there was
a large flock of Common Mergansers. Kevin Bourinot quickly picked out a
drake Red-breasted Merg, an uncommon migrant in central MA at all times,
more expected in the fall on the larger reservoirs. This duck was with
another duck of unusual appearance: about the size of a female RB Merg (ie:
smaller than Common Merg);, but even lighter in gis. The entire face and
upper throat were BLACK. The mid throat to the breast was white. The rear
parts at the water line were also contrasting white, with a dark line
running from the water to under the wings. It was quite a unique looking
duck (female);, but certainly not anything like any female Red-breasted
Merganser I had ever seen. Dan Berard and Sheila took some shots at a
distance, before the entire flock was disturbed by a kayaker and they left.
Neither of Dan nor Sheila were digiscoping, so the shots are poor, but
discernable. Later Sheila will post Dan"s best shot on her blog or maybe Dan
will post his shot somewhere. The impression was of a RED BREASTED MERGANSER
hybrid, possibly w/ a Common Goldeneye (there are previous records of such a
pairing);. But until better shots are taken, it has to be chalked up as an
unknown.);
Bald Eagle (3ad+2imm);
Red-tailed Hawk (8);
Ruffed Grouse (1 drumming);
Wild Turkey (1);
Killdeer (10);
Ring-billed Gull (60);
Herring Gull (12);
Rock Dove (71);
Mourning Dove (12);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
Downy Woodpecker (11);
Hairy Woodpecker (1);
N Flicker (4);
Pileated Woodpecker (2);
Eastern Phoebe (16);
Blue Jay (18);
American Crow (41);
Common Raven (1);
Tree Swallow (8);
Black-capped Chickadee (27);
Tufted Titmouse (24);
White-breasted Nuthatch (16);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (2);
Eastern Bluebird (3);
A Robin (71);
E Starling (26);
Fox Sparrow (3);
Song Sparrow (82);
Dark-eyed Junco (43);
N Cardinal (48);
Red-winged Blackbird (130+);
C Grackle (97);
Brown-headed Cowbird (31);
House Finch (16);
PINE SISKIN (44: we had this species at literally EVERY stop: small flocks;
single birds; pairs, but no definitive sign of breeding YET);
A Goldfinch (19);
House Sparrow (37);
PLUS: Spring Peepers (many);; Eastern Painted Turtle (20+);; Muskrat (sev);;
Beaver (sev);;
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 3/27/09 -- Westboro WMA, Westboro
-
Highlights while walking the Westborough WMA, to
both Chauncey and Little Chaucey Ponds, between 3:30 and
6:30PM:
:
Wood Duck 17;
Ring-necked Duck 31;
Bufflehead 7;
Common Goldeneye 1;
Hooded Merganser 3;
Common Merganser 30;
Red-tailed Hawk 2;
Killdeer 1;
Northern Flicker 1;
Fish Crow 2 *** One bird called while flying overhead, both birds were
equal size and flew a long distance, perhaps a 1/2 mile until out of
sight....Headed east.;
Eastern Bluebird 1;
Hermit Thrush 1 ***Early?/Late?;
American Tree Sparrow 10;
Fox Sparrow 3;
Song Sparrow 56;
White-throated Sparrow 6;
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 17;
Red-winged Blackbird 200;
Common Grackle 1750;
Brown-headed Cowbird 1;
Pine Siskin 6;
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 3/27/09 -- Worcester and Grafton
-
- The male Peregrine Falcon was perched on the 24th floor of the Sovereign
Building in downtown Worcester this afternoon for at least 20 minutes. The
female continues to remain close to the nest box, but leaves the area on
occasion.
- I also saw two Great Blue Herons at St. Phillips Cemetery in Grafton. They
actually flew onto the tree where the still remaining Herons nest from last
year was. I am not sure if they will be nesting there this year but they
remained on that tree for the entire time I was there.
I have pictures of both of these sightings on my
blog.
(report from Kimberly Allen).
- 3/26/09 -- Sterling
- After work, I birded Sterling Peat and E. Waushacum Pond in Sterling.
Significant changes included good numbers of ring-necked ducks at Sterling
Peat (Muddy Pond) and common mergansers at East Waushacum Pond.
Highlights were:
- Sterling Peat:
RING-NECKED DUCK (171); Bufflehead (2);
Common Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (11); Great Blue Heron (4)- Many
occupied nests at the surrounding rookeries in Sterling; American Robin (80);
American Tree
Sparrow (2)
- East Waushacum Pond:
Ring-necked Duck (4); Bufflehead (2); Common Goldeneye (4);
Hooded Merganser (5); COMMON MERGANSER (47);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Pine Siskin (3) - Feeders
(report from Kevin Bourinot).
- 3/26/09 -- Newton Hill, Worcester
- Highlights at noon on Newton Hill (Elm Park) included 2 Canada Geese
chasing a Great Blue Heron off the pond in Elm Park, 1 Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker (m), 1 Hairy Woodpecker, and 1 Eastern Phoebe. (report from
Rick Quimby).
- 3/25/09 -- downtown Worcester
- There was a Red Tailed Hawk flying around the Catholic Church located on
the corner of Chatham Street in downtown Worcester. It was flying
around and about to land on the church steeple when suddenly one of the
Peregrine Falcon's came flying by giving its alarm call and went after
the hawk. The hawk took one look at the outraged Peregrine and headed
toward the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
(report from Kimberly Allen).
- 3/23/09 -- Lake Chauncey, Westboro
-
I took a quick walk around Lake Chauncey in Westboro yesterday. There is a
large flock of Common Mergansers on the lake. Also seen were a Bufflehead,
a pair of Hooded Mergansers and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
(report from Laura Lane).
- 3/22/09 -- Millbury
-
I saw two Red Tailed Hawks building a nest today in Millbury at 7:30am. I
went back there later today and they were hunting behind the nest where all of the
power lines are. The nest is on Grafton Street directly across from the
Electric Company. It is up high on one of the metal electric stands. If
you are going in this direction by way of Millbury and go past Cross Street,
you have gone too far.
Pictures and more detail can be found on my
blog. (report from Kimberly Allen).
- 3/22/09 -- Cedar Hill, Northboro/Marlborough
-
I took a walk around the Cedar Hill area on the Northboro- Marlborough
border learning to use our new GPS. I spotted my first E. Phoebe of the
year! Other highlights included N. Flicker, and Hairy
Woodpecker. (report from Laura Lane).
- 3/21/09 -- Brookfields
-
We spent from before dawn till noon atlasing in three adjacent (like a
backwards "L") Atlas blocks in the Brookfields. Though still early in the
season, we were still able to watch some really interesting breeding
behavior including the excavation and defense of nest cavities by chickadees
and titmice and mating Killdeer et. Here are the totals:
Great Blue Heron (2: seemed to be from a rookery to the south of our area);
Canada Goose (36: pairs now defending small ponds and breeding locations
against interlopers);
Wood Duck (35);
American Black Duck (44);
Mallard (55);
Green-winged Teal (2);
Ring-necked Duck (44);
Lesser Scaup (pair);
Bufflehead (4);
Common Goldeneye (13);
Hooded Merganser (49);
Common Merganser (112);
Bald Eagle (4imm+ pair perched next to each other at Quabog. We watched this
pair for a while and could not discern if they had begun nesting yet. They
have nested here for several years now);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (5: 2 pairs);
Ruffed Grouse (1 drumming);
Wild Turkey (18);
Killdeer (6: including a pair mating that Sheila took some snaps of);
AMERICAN WOODCOCK (30: again, we "ran out of dark" or we could have likely
brought the total much higher);
Ring-billed Gull (88);
Herring Gull (10);
Rock Dove (11);
Mourning Dove (7);
Eastern Screech Owl (1);
Great Horned Owl (10);
(Barred Owl: pair heard duetting just out of atlas block);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (8);
Downy Woodpecker (13);
Hairy Woodpecker (1);
N Flicker (1);
Pileated Woodpecker (5);
Eastern Phoebe (2);
Blue Jay (17);
A Crow (65);
Black-capped Chickadee (47);
Tufted Titmouse (37: we watched a pair getting a nest hole ready; excavating
and picking up some fine plant material. When one of the pair was away, the
other plugged the hole, head protruding and just sat there);
White-breasted Nuthatch (12);
Brown Creeper (1);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (4);
Eastern Bluebird (2);
A Robin (278);
E Starling (32);
FOX SPARROW (12: higher than typical count);
Song Sparrow (64);
White-throated Sparrow (22);
Dark-eyed Junco (53);
N cardinal (41);
Red-winged Blackbird (105);
Common Grackle (175+);
Brown-headed Cowbird (3);
House Finch (32);
Pine Siskin (28);
A Goldfinch (10);
House Sparrow (76);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 3/21/09 -- Grafton & Millbury
-
- I was able to see the Bald Eagle at Riverdale Pond in Grafton. It was
resting in a tree across the pond from Riverdale Apartments. This was my
first sighting of a Bald Eagle; so appreciate the tips from all of you! I
also saw my first Belted Kingfisher of the year there as well as two Mute
Swans, approx 10 Common Mergensers, 12 American Tree Sparrows, 4 White
Throated Sparrows and two birds I believe to be Brown Headed Cowbirds.
- While at Dorothy Pond near the Millbury Transfer Station I saw one lone
Bufflehead, approx. 30 Common Mergeners and heard a Belted Kingfisher.
Rough photos can be found at my
blog.
(report from Kimberly Allen).
- 3/20/09 -- Bolton Flats, Lancaster
-
I returned to Bolton Flats in Lancaster this afternoon at 4:45PM. When I
started walking the path from the parking lot off 117 to the cornfields I
began to hear many killdeer sounding the alarm. I rushed to get a view of
the fields and just in time found an adult Peregrine Falcon about to try its
luck on a group of wood ducks and green-winged teal. It actually hit and
grabbed a teal in mid-air, but the duck got loose and flew off. After that
fiasco I scanned the water and mud for anything new that might have arrived
since Wednesday. There was a pair of Northern Pintails and a lot more song
sparrows along the path. The number of killdeer has almost tripled since
Wednesday (40+), but the Green-winged teal numbers are still at about 150.
Finally, through the scope I stumbled upon a Wilson's Snipe poking around
the mud with the killdeer, then another, and another... I ended up counting
34 Wilson's Snipe not including two groups of about 5-8 that flew in, but
landed out of view. I stayed for about 40 minutes and the entire time the
Peregrine Falcon sat in its tree bordering the fields contemplating its next
attack. Then it happened. It flew again at the group of ducks but this time
it was eyeing a male wood duck, which immediately took to flight giving off
its terrified wood duck screams... the duck got away.
(report from Kevin Bourinot).
- 3/20/09 -- Coes Reservoir, Worcester
- At 10:00 there were:
Mute Swan (1), seen flying and swimming around the reservoir; common
mergansers (5); hooded mergansers (3) diving at the north end of the
reservoir; ring billed gulls (50) sitting on the only ice left on the
reservoir; song sparrow (1) singing near the beach! Many cardinals and
goldfinches heard singing in the trees along the shore.
(report from Kate Doiron).
- 3/19/09 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner
-
Hilites from a walk into the Smith Street entrance of High Ridge this
evening, from 6:30 to 7:45PM. The "upper marsh" is 90% open water:
Canada Goose 2;
Wood Duck 1 drake;
Mallard 6;
Black Duck 6;
Green-winged Teal 2;
Ring-necked Duck 2;
Hooded Merganser 14;
Great Bluse Heron 1;
American Woodcock 7 (including one right in the parking area calling and
displaying near the car);
Pileated Woodpecker 1;
Song Sparrow 3. (report from Tom Pirro).
- 3/18/09 -- Bolton Flats WMA, Lancaster
-
I spent a few hours at Bolton Flats WMA in Lancaster (route 117 entrance) to
see if the duck numbers have gone up any since I was there four days ago. I
didn't see any green-winged teal last Saturday, but today they were over a
hundred. One of the highlights was seeing a light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
fly in and land in a tree at the far end of the field. It flew off shortly
after being harassed by a red-tailed hawk.
Highlights: Canada Goose (75); Wood Duck (14); American Black Duck (6);
Mallard (93); Green-winged Teal (142); Hooded Merganser (2); Turkey Vulture
(1); Red-tailed Hawk (4); Rough-legged Hawk (1); Killdeer (12); Ring-billed
Gull (5) ? (140 four days ago); Mourning Dove (6); Northern Flicker (2);
American Robin (65); Song Sparrow (16); Red-winged Blackbird (150+); Common
Grackle (200+); Brown-headed Cowbird (8).
(report from Kevin Bourinot).
- 3/16/09 -- Swedish Cemetery, Worcester
- Had nice looks at Green winged Teal,
Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, and Northern Pintails
at various points around Swedish Cemetery. (report from Alexander Dunn).
- 3/15/09 -- Grafton/Northbridge
-
My wife and I conducted a pond survey in Grafton and Northbridge this
morning and recorded the following:
Canada Goose (358: Grafton: 174, Northbridge: 184);
Mute Swan (N: 3);
Wood Duck (G: 10);
American Black Duck (25: G:24, N:1);
Mallard (41: G:35, N:6);
Green-winged Teal (4: G: 2, N: 2);
Ring-necked Duck (90: G: 34, N: 56);
Hooded Merganser (29: G: 15, N: 14);
Common Merganser (N: 11);
BALD EAGLE (N: 3 adults, one at Whitins Pond and a definite pair at
Riverdale Pond; they were communicating, one on the river edge, and the
other in a tree directly above. The river was VERY low there.);
Ring-billed Gull (39: G: 26, N: 13);
Herring Gull (N: 5);
(report from John Liller).
- 3/15/09 -- The Brookfields
-
After censusing SOUTHBRIDGE, we headed up the Brookfields.
- At Lake Quabog,
which was still mostly ice covered:
HORNED GREBE (1);
Canada Goose (7);
Mallard (1);
American Black Duck (5);
Hooded Merganser (12);
Common Merganser (106);
Bald Eagle (1ad perched in pine. We watched this bird for some time, but
could not make out if the nest was being used);
Ring-billed Gull (421);
Herring Gull (5);
- Elsewhere in the Brookfields we had:
Turkey Vulture (2);
Canada Goose (106);
Wood Duck (3);
Mallard (14);
A Black Duck (4);
Ring-necked Duck (8);
Hooded Merganser (18);
Common Merganser (14);
Cooper?s Hawk (1);
Bald Eagle (1 ad perched along the Quabog River);
Red-tailed Hawk (4);
Pileated Woodpecker (1);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 3/15/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 11 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 5 ;
Non-raptor Observations:
pine siskins, purple finches, 1 northern shrike, 1 pileated woodpecker.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 3/15/09 -- Southbridge
-
A before dawn check of one of my 2009 BBA blocks and its adjacent sliver in
Southbridge had the following:
American Woodcock (11: we could have turned up more, but we ran out of
"dark");
Great Horned Owl (4);
Barred Owl (1);
N Saw-whet Owl (1: possible breeder: it certainly was suitable habitat);
Other highlights from the block included:
Red-tailed Hawk (3: including pair mating and a nest);
Killdeer (2);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3);
Pileated Woodpecker (3, including a pair very much on territory right in
downtown Southbridge);
Winter Wren (1 singing);
Carolina Wren (11);
Pine Siskin (71);
Despite it being only mid-March, we were able to "confirm" several species
(the permanent resident species) and witnessed quite a bit of "probable"
behaviors. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 3/15/09 -- Grafton & Millbury
-
- The male Pileated Woodpecker continues to be a daily presence at St.
Phillips Cemetery in Grafton. This weekend was the 1st time I saw him in
other areas besides the wet lands. I have not seen his mate although she is
still in the area because I heard her. On Saturday the two Mute Swans who
lived there last year were circling the area but have not returned due to
most of the wetlands still being frozen. Common Grackles are now at the
cemetery as well as more Eastern Bluebirds who are now singing their spring
song!
- I saw three Ring Necked Ducks (2 male, 1 female) and a Common Merganser
(male) at Dorothy Pond in Millbury today. I spotted them while walking on
the trail near the Millbury Transfer Station. I also heard Eastern
Bluebirds at this transfer station on Friday (3/13) morning which is the 1st time I
have ever heard them in Millbury so will be looking out for them.
(report from Kimberly Allen).
- 3/14/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 4 ;
Bald Eagle 4 ;
Cooper's Hawk 2 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 3 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 10 ;
Raptor Observations:
Not migrating:4 turkey vultures, 3 redtails, 1 northern goshawk, 1 adult
bald eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
14 Canada geese, 2 killdeer.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 3/14/09 -- Uxbridge
-
Today, as we were leaving West Hill Dam on Hartford Avenue in Uxbridge, the
species we were looking for called out--a season first Eastern phoebe.
Later, we saw the pair of pileated woodpeckers at St. Philip's Cemetery in
Grafton. (report from Beth Milke and Nancy Demers)
- 3/13/09 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights at noon included 2 Mute Swans, 1 Green-winged Teal (m),
1 Ring-necked Duck (m), 2 Hooded Mergansers, and 18 Common Mergansers.
(report from Rick Quimby).
- 3/11/09 -- Cedar Swamp Pond, Milford
-
We saw two drake green-winged teals along with one female yesterday at Cedar
Swamp Pond, off the bike path in Milford. (report from Beth
and Paul Milke)
- 3/10/09 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights at noon included 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron (ad),
2 Mute Swans, 1 Am. Black Duck, 1 Ring-necked Duck, 3 Hooded
Mergansers, 12 Common Mergansers, and 1 Muskrat. (report from
Rick Quimby).
- 3/9/09 -- West Millbury
-
I was a little startled when I looked under my feeders today and saw 19
Wild
Turkeys. In addition to the usual, expected feeder birds, I had a
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, a
Carolina Wren, the
biggest surprise of the day, a FOX SPARROW, a Song Sparrow, 3 Red-winged
Blackbirds, 2 Brown-headed Cowbirds, 3 House Finches, 12 Pine Siskins and
22
American Goldfinches. Twenty-one different species, a pretty good day for
my
yard.
(report from Alan Marble).
- 3/8/09 -- Westminster/Fitchburg
-
Hilights from birding on foot and bicycle today:
- Westminster:
Canada goose ~20 headed north;
Red-tailed hawk 4;
Killdeer 5 On the Westminster side of Monty Tech on
the baseball field (hunkered down between 2nd and 3rd, waiting to take some
ground balls? );
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3;
Hairy Woodpecker 4;
Pine Siskin 15;
Red-winged Blackbird 25+;
Common Grackle ~20
- Fitchburg:
Common merganser 12;
Hooded Merganser 6;
Herring Gull 180 (Saw Mill Pond);
Great Black-backed Gull 30 (Saw Mill Pond);
an apparent "nelson's Gull (Herring X Glaucous hybrid) 1 Saw Mill Pond;
Turkey vulture 5;
Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult/1 2nd yr more or less together headed north over
Oak Hill);
Red-tailed hawk 6;
Amercian Crow 50+ migrating NE;
Common Raven 5 milling about...seen from the Fred Smith Road area.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 3/8/09 -- River Bend Farm, Uxbridge
-
We heard several American woodcocks calling and flying as we walked past
open areas at River Bend Farm Sunday evening. The display began around 7pm
and lasted only about 15 minutes--practice session? (report from Beth and
Paul Milke)
- 3/8/09 -- Hubbardston
- Today I came upon an early AMERICAN BITTERN at Natty Pond in Hubbardston,
a wetland which has hosted the species as a breeder for a number of years.
The bird was in a shallow semi-stagnant pool about 10 feet from where I was
walking along the adjacent road, and had assumed the frozen in the
"you-can't see-me-because-I-look-like-a -stump" bill-upright pose. The
bittern maintained that posture even as I moved away and watched from a
greater distance for another 6-8 minutes, and it remained completely
motionless as I left.
At the same location, a half-dozen RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were perched and
calling territorily from various locations.
Meanwhile, PINE SISKINS continue here in a 30-50 bird flock.
(report from Wendy Howes).
- 3/8/09 -- All Faith's Cemetery, Worcester
- As I was getting out of my car at All Faiths Cemetery a large bird flew over
that I thought was a Bald Eagle; another birder I ran into confirmed it.
Also seen: 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 N. Pintail, 2 A. Wigeon, 8 Hooded
Merganser, 22 Common Merganser, 11 Black Duck, 2 Ring-neck Duck, 4 Green
winged Teal, 1 Turkey Vulture, 6 Robins and 89 Grackles. I went to Hope
Cemetery at dusk to see the Crows come in to roost, very cool!
(report from John Shea).
- 3/8/09 -- Quabbin Park
-
Our MAS "March Birding" class had a fun and productive trip to QUABBIN
PARK/SOUTH QUABBIN today. Birds as follows:
Turkey Vulture (2);
Canada Goose (47);
Common Merganser (1m: fly-by. NB: the main body of Quabbin is still
ice-covered);
BALD EAGLE (10ad+4imm: amazing eagle show today);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Cooper?s Hawk (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Wild Turkey (4);
Killdeer (2: state trout hatchery);
Herring Gull (1);
Mourning Dove (2);
Downy Woodpecker (1);
Hairy Woodpecker (2);
Blue Jay (2);
A Crow (123);
C Raven (pair at nest+1);
Black-capped Chickadee (6);
White-breasted Nuthatch (5);
Tufted Titmouse (3);
Brown Creeper (2 singing);
E Bluebird (pair at nestbox);
American Robin (80+);
Cedar Waxwing (34);
A Tree Sparrow (3);
Dark-eyed Junco (4);
Snow Bunting (2);
Red-winged Blackbird (6);
Rusty Blackbird (1: co-operative bird that few on a lawn with robins. Sheila
took some photos);
Common Grackle (2);
Brown-headed Cowbird (7);
House Finch (3);
Pine Siskin (8);
House Sparrow (1: rare in all other parts IN Quabbin);
ALSO: Skunk Cabbage (Dan Berard gamely did the finger test); and 5 Eastern
Coyotes.
- We made an extended stop at the PELHAM OVERLOOK and had: Turkey Vulture (3);;
Red-tailed Hawk (3); GOLDEN EAGLE (1ad);.
- Then: to NEW SALEM. We dipped on the the Bohemian Waxwings, but did get
EVENING GROSBEAKS at least (4);, (10); more siskins and another raven.
- Our last stop, WINIMUSSET MEADOWS WMA, New Braintree. : Here we had a pair
of Turkey Vultures doing a flight display plus another; a Red-tiled Hawk
carrying nesting material and (2); more siskins.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 3/8/09 -- West Hill Park, Northbridge
-
We are somewhat happy to report that we flushed two drake wood ducks at West
Hill Park as we walked the trail along the marsh heading toward Harrington
Pond from the paved entrance road.
The E. Wallingford Connecticut wild Greylag Goose (possibly the first record
in the U.S.) has been relatively stable and easy to find. You may email me
at veery@charter.net for update and details. (report from Paul and Beth Milke)
- 3/7/09 -- St Phillips Cemetery, Grafton
-
I spent much of my day at Saint Phillips Cemetery in Grafton on Millbury
Street. During that time I saw two Pileated Woodpeckers chasing after each
other and flying on various trees in the wetlands directly behind the
cemetery. They spent the majority of their day there and were very loud!
I also saw 4 Bluebirds (first time since last November) and two Red Tailed
Hawks. The Red Winged Blackbirds are back as well.
There are
pictures of the male Pileated on my blog.
(report from Kimberly Allen).
- 3/7/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 1 ;
Bald Eagle 4 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 7 .
Raptor Observations:
Bald Eagles:3 adult, 1 subadult. Not migrating: 4 Turkey Vultures, 3 pairs
of Redtails, 2 or 3 Northern Goshawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
8 Ravens, 5 Bluebirds, Pine Siskins and 100's of migrating crows.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 3/6/09 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- The Black-crowned Night-heron was still present at noon today. (report
from Rick Quimby).
- 3/5/09 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
-
The Bald Eagles'
nest rebuilding progress continues at the nest near Gate 6, off
Rt. 70 in Boylston. One adult
was re-arranging very large branches. (report and photo from Richard Johnson).
- 3/5/09 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights at noon included 1 Great Blue Heron,
1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (ad),
2 Mute Swans (chasing C. Geese), 7 Common Mergansers, 1 Turkey Vulture,
2 Red-winged Blackbirds, and 2 Common Grackles. (report from
Rick Quimby).
- 3/1/09 -- South Quabbin/Quabog River
-
- We got in a quick trip out to Quabbin park before it started to snow in
earnest. Amazingly the huge carcass that was visible from the Administration
building yesterday was GONE. Met Tom Gagnon out there too, braving the cold
temps and bitter wind. We still found (2) adult and (1) immature Bald Eagles
from this vantage point. At the state trout hatchery we had great views of 2
adult Bald Eagles mating.
- From just 2 overlooks of the Quabog River in Brookfield on the way home in
snow:
Wood Duck (1m);
A Black Duck (6: 3 pairs);
Hooded Merganser (32: lots of displaying drakes);
Common Merganser (8);
Bald Eagle (1ad hunting low over the river);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
For previous sightings, see
February 2009 Archives or
Archive Index
