3/25/12 -- Quaboag and Vicinity
Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip to Lake Quaboag and vicinity were 3 pair of
Long-tailed Ducks on Lake Quaboag, 15 Ruddy Ducks at Orlandos lower pond,
Pine Warbler, Chipping Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow. Here are details of the
43 species observed.
(report from Alan Marble, fide Jean Holm).
3/25/12 -- Zenith Dr, Worcester
I had a Pine Warbler at my sunflower feeder today eating small pieces of
sunflower seed.
(report from Bart Kamp).
3/24/12 -- Rutland/Petersham
Nancy Demers and I hiked a section of the Central MA Rail Trail in Rutland
State Park today. Land birds were hard to come by, but we did spend
several minutes watching and listening to 2 Brown Creepers. Coltsfoot was
in bloom along the trail. I saw two snakes, one larger than the
other--ribbon snakes, I think.
At Harvard Forest (Gate 11 Quabbin Reservoir)
a Hooded Merganser pair, Wood Duck pair, and a
Mallard were on the pond. We walked Quabbin Gates 29/30, stopping to admire
the beautiful Keystone Bridge and the foundation of Herrick's Tavern at
Bullard's Corner. Again, few birds appeared outside several BC Chickadees
and Tufted Titmouses. 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets came in close enough to get
a good look at the crowns.
Anyone interested in spring wildflowers should start looking--in addition to
Coltsfoot, some Bloodroot blossoms are open. Round-leaved Hepatica and
Trailing Arbutus (Mayflower) are showing full buds and should open soon.
(report from Beth Milke)
3/24/12 -- Sterling Peat and Oxbow NWR, Sterling/Harvard
This morning there was a Pied-billed Grebe at Sterling Peat (ed. note: also
reported by Dave Grant by phone). At the Oxbow at
the bottom of Still River Depot Rd. just after the railroad tracks, there
was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker up in a tree to the left. I saw the same bird
on Thursday approximately the same area.
(report from Peter Morlock).
3/22 -- St Philips Cemetery, Grafton
I watched Great Blue Herons, Canada Geese and Mute Swans all preparing
nests. GOSH, it's a little early isn't it?
I also saw a female Eastern Bluebird cleaning out a cavity....Spring may
be over before my bird walk on April 28th!
Tree swallows are back. No other new migrants today.
(report from Susan LaBree).
3/20/12 -- Purgatory Chasm, Sutton
This afternoon, I heard and saw a pine warbler while hiking
Charley's Loop at Purgatory Chasm. It was a nice sign of spring!
(report from Mary Sughrue-Yacino).
3/19/12 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 3;
Osprey 1;
Bald Eagle 1;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3;
Red-shouldered Hawk 2;
Red-tailed Hawk 3.
Also, there was a single Red-shouldered Hawk perched on the side
of the road on rt. 62 as I was leaving.
(phone report from Dave Grant).
3/19/12 -- High Ridge WMA (Overlook gate), Westminster
This morning I tried to relocate the Northern Shrike found by Kevin B., but
was unable to find it. I did have a nice assotment of other species during a
3.5 mile walk.
Highlights were:
American Black Duck 2;
Hooded Merganser 2;
Common Merganser 11;
Turkey Vulture 1;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1;
Barred Owl 2;
Belted Kingfisher 1;
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1;
Hairy Woodpecker 1;
Northern Flicker 1;
Pileated Woodpecker 2;
Eastern Phoebe 7;
Common Raven 1;
Brown Creeper 3;
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3;
Eastern Bluebird 4;
Song Sparrow 8;
Dark-eyed Junco 15;
Red-winged Blackbird 25;
Common Grackle 15;
Purple Finch 3;
(report from Tom Pirro).
3/18/12 -- Petersham/Ware River IBA
We hit just two stops in PETERSHAM Sunday morning in fog and cool (high
30s/low 40s); temperatures and had the following (partial list):
Pied-billed Grebe (1);
Canada Goose (2);
A Black Duck (2);
Mallard (15);
Ring-necked Duck (18);
Bufflehead (1m);
C Goldeneye (1m+3f);
Hooded Merganser (7);
Common Merganser (2);
Wild Turkey (10);
Pileated Woodpecker (1);
Tree Swallow (2);
Brown Creeper (3);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (2);
Purple Finch (2);
PLUS: White-tailed Deer (2); and while watching along a stream in dense
conifer forest, I got to closely observe what appeared to be a North
American Deermouse (P. maniculatus), the long-tailed morph.
Heading back east, we hoped to ditch the fog and sample some of the promised
warmer temps. We birded just a few stops in the WARE RIVER IBA. NB: The Army
Corps of Engineers roads that criss-cross this wooded area are all still
gated for the mud season. We birded some spots around the periphery. This
included Barre Falls Dam, where the stalwart and dedicated hawkwatchers were
out in force despite fog and later the overcast skies. Because of that
promise of a warm spring-like day, there were also fishermen/women;
bicyclists; horseback riders and disc golfers. Partial bird list:
N Goshawk (1ad);
Red-tailed Hawk (3);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2);
N Flicker (1);
E Phoebe (11);
C Raven (the pair that nests below the bridge plus an additional bird);
Brown Creeper (11: all singing);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (8);
E Bluebird (4);
E Towhee (1);
Purple Finch (7)
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
3/18/12 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
Highlights were:
38 Ring-necked ducks, 8 Hooded Merganser, 22 Canada Geese, 4 Mallard
duck, 3 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 King Fisher, 2 Fox Sparrow, 3 White-throated
Sparrow,
1 Tree Sparrow, 6 Song Sparrow, 2 Phoebe, 7 Tree Swallows, 1 Brown
Creeper, 1 E. Blue Bird, 2 Killdeer, 1
Raven, 12 Red-winged Blackbirds , 1 Flicker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker and
Numerous Robins.
(report from Susan Labree).
3/18/12 -- High Ridge WMA, Westminster
I had a great time this afternoon watching an adult Northern Shrike at
High Ridge Wildlife Management area in Westminster (Overlook Road
entrance, first left to the line of crabapple trees). The bird was
singing the whole time I was there.
Photos are on my
blog. (report from Kevin Bourinot).
3/17/12 -- Quabbog IBA, Brookfields
We spent part of the morning birding just a few spots in the QUABOG IBA,
which is situated in parts of the Brookfields. Weather was overcast and
cool. Variety and numbers of species were modest. Partial list below.
Birds:
Great Blue Heron (1 w/an injured leg);
Canada Goose (34);
Mute Swan (1 sub-ad);
Wood Duck (10);
Mallard (17);
Green-winged Teal (12);
Ring-necked Duck (42);
Bufflehead (1m);
Common Merganser (38);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Ring-billed Gull (98);
Great Black-backed Gull (1) [NB: with the closing of the landfills and
dumps; loss of farms and active gull control programs at Quabbin and
Wachusett, Herring and Great Black- backed Gulls are not any where near as
common in Worcester County as they were a decade or more ago];
Red-bellied Woodpecker (8);
Downy Woodpecker (1);
Hairy Woodpecker (1);
Eastern Phoebe (22);
Blue Jay (60);
Tree Swallow (32);
E Bluebird (3);
A Robin (800++);
E Towhee (1);
Fox Sparrow (4);
Song Sparrow (68);
Swamp Sparrow (1 singing);
Dark-eyed Junco (41);
Red-winged Blackbird (180+);
C Grackle (270+);
Purple Finch (1);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
3/16/12 -- Upton/Westboro
Westboro: Today I birded a few areas in Westboro before work, the
highlights were:
- Big Chauncy: 2 C. Mergansers, 5 Bufflehead.
- Westboro WMA Rte-135 beaver pond: a Phoebe, and 11 Wood Ducks with some of
the males calling and displaying to the females.
- Mill Pond(A1/Suasco): Ring-necked Duck-20 (there have been up to 97 here this
week), 40 Common Merganser, 2 Hooded Merganser, 2 Phoebes, 2 Killdeer, 31
Mute Swan(some displaying), 6 Wood Ducks, 1 Great Blue Heron, Belted
Kingfisher, and 80+ Tree Swallows in a large swarm to the right of the
osprey nest(these birds were no longer there at 5:30pm).
Upton: Yesterday (3/15) on the way home from Fran's funeral --
Along the tension wires in Upton I had a Pileated Woodpecker drumming in a
new area (If he finds a mate it will make the third breeding pair in my
local area). Another pair was in their normal breeding spot where they have
a nest in one of the poles. Also there were 4 Bluebirds, 5 Song Sparrows,
many Juncos, R-w Blackbirds and Grackles. Also along the tension wires I had
a calling Red-shouldered Hawk (three have been hanging out here this winter,
when combined with the pair in my yard makes 5 here this winter). The pair in
my yard are already building their nest behind our neighbors house.
I also walked in the Upton State Forest and found 1 Cooper's Hawk, 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Phoebe and 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet.
(report from Nickilas Paulson).
3/12/12 -- Brookfield and Charlton
This afternoon at Lake Quaboag in Brookfield there were 8 Common
Mergansers, 8 Mallards and 28 Common Grackles. In Charlton at Orlando Pond
there were 4 Ruddy Ducks, 4 Bufflehead, 8 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 American
Black Ducks, 46 Mallards about 250 Ring-billed Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls, 225
Canada Geese and 100 European Starlings. There was a Killdeer on Dresser
Hill across from the ice cream stand.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).
3/12/12 -- North Brookfield
I heard the call and then confirmed the sighting of the first catbirds of
the year on 2 different occasions in my yard today. (report from
Jeff Smith).
3/12/12 -- North Brookfield
I had a Phoebe here at work this morning. Yesterday (3/11) at Orlandos in Charlton,
I saw 4 bufflehead, 2 ring-necked Ducks and 2 RUDDY DUCKS. (report from
Rodney Jenkins)
3/12/12 -- Millbury
We have a Phoebe calling here at
Millbury....(report from Susan Labree).
3/12/12 -- Westminster/Gardner
Hilights from a few stops Gardner/Westminster area this morning:
Round Meadow Pond (Westminster):
Pied-billed Grebe 1;
Ring-necked Duck 20;
Common Goldeneye 1;
Glaucous Gull 1 first winter type
High Ridge Wildlife Management area:
Cooper's Hawk 2 (one bird displaying nicely, deep slow exaduated wing beats,
white flanks puffed out and it was calling as well);
Red Shouldered Hawk 1 imm.;
Red-tailed Hawk 2;
Turkey Vulture 2 or 3;
Eastern Bluebird 4;
Pine Siskin 5;
Purple Finch 1 calling overhead the pip pip call
Gardner (Wompanoag MAS):
Eastern Bluebird 2;
Song Sparrow 4;
Fox Sparrow 2;
Pine Siskin 2
Despite the nice birds it's still a sad day for Worcester County Birders
[ed note: see news item above].
(report from Tom Pirro).
3/12/12 -- Northbridge
We heard our first-of-season Phoebe calling across the street from Ellis
Pond, Quaker Street, Northbridge. The pond still was rather inactive, with
a few Hooded Mergansers and a pair of Mallards. Lots of turtles were
basking, though. (report from Paul & Beth Milke)
3/10/12 -- Oakham
The woodcocks are back, peenting and flying over our house in
Oakham. (report from Kathy Van Schock).
3/10/12 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
Highlights of a late afternoon trip to Bolton Flats north of
Route 117 were: 2 Pintail, a few Green-wing Teal, 4 Northern Shovelers,
lots of Wood Ducks, 10 American Coot, 1 Common Snipe, and 2 Perigrine
Falcons. The shovelers were not conspicuous, only observed when they were
flushed. (phone report from Dave Grant).
3/10/12 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
Highlights of a late morning early afternoon trip to Bolton Flats north of
Route 117 with Donna Schilling were:
Canada Geese 100's, Mallard, Black Duck, 5 Pintail, Green-winged Teal, 1
American Wigeon, 10 Wood Ducks, 12 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 American Coot, 6
Killdeer, 4 Common Snipe and mixed flocks of 100's of Cowbirds, Common
Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds that included one SNOW WHITE (albino?)
common grackle. The water was high because of the rapid melt of the recent
snow.
(report from Bart Kamp).
3/10/12 -- Uxbridge
There was an adult Bald Eagle at Rice City Pond today, from
about 8 to 8:30 a.m. seen from Hartford Avenue. The eagle appeared to be
eating something on the mud but flew up to the trees to the right shortly
after we arrived. Then it flew over the floodplain heading east and
disappeared behind Wolf Hill. (report from Beth Milke & Nancy Demers)
3/9/12 -- Institute Park, Worcester
At noon there were 2 Mute Swan, 3 GW Teal, 7 Common Merganser,
and 5 C Grackle. Yesterday (3/8) there was also 1 Gadwall (m), but it
was not seen today. (report from Rick Quimby).
3/9/12 -- The Quag, Sterling
There were 13 American Widgeon along with 4 Hooded Mergansers and 3 Common
Goldeneyes here this morning.
(report from Peter Morlock).
3/8/12 -- Millbury
At 5.35PM in Millbury center I observed a number(25+ -) of Turkey Vultures
flying very low looking like they were to about to set down.It was tough to
get a count and did not have time to stay but at least one of them was a
BlackVulture and possibly one other .At 6.15 AM at AtlasBox 2 miles south of
Tony's Pizza 146 I had a pair of PurpleFinches and a pair of Bluebirds also
have had good numbers of CederWaxwings in the area.
(report from Michael Joubert).
3/7/12 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
There were 2 adult Bald Eagles here today, along with Common Mergansers 70+,
Scaup 20+, and a pair of American Widgeons.
(report from Peter Morlock).
3/7/12 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 1 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 8 ;
Raptor Observations:
Not migrating: 6-8 Red-tailed Hawks, 7 Turkey Vultures and 1 basic/subadult
I Bald Eagle (eastern Wheeler plate 124)
Non-raptor Observations:
Pair of Ravens
(report from Bart Kamp).
3/6/12 -- Sutton
When I arrived home this morning I had American Robins in the trees and many
others flying around my house there were around 100 of them.
(report from Michael Joubert).
3/5/12 -- Douglas
On my way home from work today, I saw a pair of wood ducks paddling around
where I see them every year: in the wide area of the Mumford River across
from the former Hayward-Schuster mill on Gilboa Street.
(report from Mary Sughrue-Yacino).
3/5/12 -- Worcester
There was a
large flock of cedar waxwings sunning themselves and feasting on the
crabapple tree on Kendall street near Oak Ave in Worcester.
(report from Paul Dufault).
3/5/12 -- Riverbend Farm, Uxbridge
There was a Northern Shrike teed up in the tallest tree in the field at
Riverbend Farm at 5:45 p.m. Several American Woodcock heard peenting and
flying.
(report from Alan Marble)
3/5/12 -- Worcester Academy Campus, Worcester
I was standing in the parking lot near my building when I heard a sqawking
overhead. I looked up and saw one gull chasing another gull. The chasee
was a ring-billed Gull carrying something in its mouth. The chaser was an
Iceland Gull, new for me on the campus.
(report from John Liller).
3/5/12 -- Institute Park, Worcester
Highlights at noon were 2 Mute Swan, 2 Wood Ducks (m/f), 10 Ring-necked
Ducks, 7 Hooded Mergansers, and 5 Common Mergansers. (report from
Rick Quimby).
3/5/12 -- Westville Recreation Area, Sturbridge
At
9:30 a.m., I recorded:
7 Cedar Wax Wings,
2 Blue Birds, and
1 Red wing Blackbird. (report from Bob Barnes)
3/4/12 -- Lake Chauncey, Westboro
Today on Lake Chauncey, in Westborough, I counted the following:
over 200 Canada Geese, 12+ Common Merganser, 4 Hooded Merganser and a dozen
Mallards.
The lake is still free of ice.
(report from Henry Squillante).
3/4/12 -- Downtown Worcester
Today at noon there was a Peregrine Falcon sitting on the letter K of the
Peoples United Bank sign, viewed from the parking lot of the Worcester
Public Library.
(report from Alan Marble).
3/4/12 -- Sterling/West Boylston/Clinton
In the afternoon I made a tour around Wachusett Reservoir, with the following:
Sterling Peat: Ring-necked Ducks ~90, Hooded Mergansers 7, Hairy Woodpecker 1,
Bald Eagle (1 2nd yr). The Eagle landed on some clear ice, where it spent some time pecking
and pawing at a small opening in the ice. I think perhaps it was seeing its
reflection. I got a good look at it in the scope, and could see bands on both legs,
a silver band on the right leg, and a bronze band on the left leg.
Later it flew up and started soaring with a Red-tailed Hawk)
Causeway, West Boylston: Ring-necked Duck 3, Scaup ~60, and Common Loon 2
Gate 36: 3 Common Goldeneye, 1 Common Loon
Gate 39: 4 Common Goldeneye, 1 Common Loon
Coachlace Pond: 3 Common Grackles
South Bay: 1 Common Loon
(report from Rick Quimby).
3/3/12 -- West Boylston
At around 5 pm we spotted 2 Barrows Goldeneye (m/f) in the vicinity of the causeway
in West Boylston. (phone report from Bob Abbott).
3/1/12 -- Marshall St., Leicester
A week ago we had a pair of hooded mergansers in our pond. Today there
are two pair. (report from Jessica Robert).
For previous sightings, see
February 2012 Archives or
Archive Index