March 2015 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:

3/30/15 -- Gardner/West Boylston/Princeton
  • A Fox sparrow was at our feeder in Gardner this a.m. along with 1 song sparrow, A tree sparrow; 6 C grackles; numerous Pine siskins and other usual feeder birds.
  • At the Oakdale section of Wachusett Reservoir: 6 C goldeneye ; 1 mute swan; 19 C. geese; 13 Hooded mergansers; 1 GB heron; 1 Belted kingfisher; 2 RB gulls; 3 Tree swallows; 4 R-N ducks; 9 Mallards.
  • At Wachusett Meadow Sanctuary in Princeton: 2 Hooded mergs; 1 RB woodpecker; 2 Downy woodpeckers; 2 TVs; various Common grackles and Red-wings and usual feeder birds.
    (report from Dick Knowlton).

    • 3/30/15 --Paxton
    At Little Asnebumskit Hill there were 13 well constructed Great Blue Heron nests at one of the beaver pond/swamps. They were all empty nests, and there were 5 perched GB Herons. The pond is covered with ice and snow, but there was a small open area where the water was flowing through which I had a pair of Mallards. I was chopping a fallen log with a machete, which attracted a calling, flyby Pileated Woodpecker. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    3/29/15 -- Gardner
    Annie and I went up to Gardner for a first close look at the bohemian waxwings. Didn't count them but there must have been more than 150 at times. They like to sit up in the maple behind 259 Green St. and occasionally swoop into the crab apples for a quick bite. They remain somewhat skittish with the traffic along the road. A few photos maybe seen here. (report from Garry Kessler).

    3/29/15 -- Rutland
    Was just out looking at Venus and a few other stars, and sure enough heard the first woodcock at our place in Rutland. Haven,'t seen a snow free patch much bigger than 3 ft. x 3 ft, but he is ready to go. (report from Ted Purcell)

    3/29/15 -- The Fair Plaza, Worcester
    This morning at 11:00 a.m. there was an Iceland Gull with a small group of Ring-billed Gulls in the Fair Plaza Parking lot right, in front of the Burlington Coat factory. (report from Alan Marble).

    3/29/15 -- Gardner
    I finally had a chance to slide up to Gardner and was rewarded with excellent views of the Bohemian Waxwings at 10:00 AM today. Intersection of Green and Mathews. At one point they flew and a pair of House Finches replaced them. Also, as I drove out of Rutland, a herd of five deer crossed rte 56 in front of me. (report from Ted Purcell).

    3/28/15 -- Millbury
    There was an adult Bald Eagle on Dorothy Pond in Millbury feeding on something at the edge of the ice/open water near Massasoit Rd. A resident there in a green house decided to walk close to the edge of his yard/shore line and spooked it a few hundred feet, then walked towards it again until the bird had to abandon its find/meal and lift off. (report from Scott Ricker).

    3/28/15 -- Grafton
    Between 3-5 Great Blue Herons flew into the rookery at 8:15a located behind Koopman Lumber in North Grafton. I watched three fly in, and there were at least two others alredy jockying around for a nest. Two are currently (at 9:30 am) standing atop two nests. (report from Scott Ricker).
    3/27/15 -- Brookfields
    This afternoon we birded a few stops in the QUABOG IBA in the Brookfields. The ponds are still 90+% ice covered, but the river is open for the most part. Many of the fields are still very much snow covered, but patches of grass are now showing.
  • Totals: Turkey Vulture (4); Canada Goose (4); Mute Swan (1); A Black Duck (5); Mallard (52); Ring-necked Duck (27); Hooded Merganser (12: all paired up); Common Merganser (7); Bald Eagle (1ad in tree near nest); Cooper's Hawk (1ad); Red-shouldered Hawk (par mating and making a racket); Red-tailed Hawk (2); A Kestrel (1m); Ring-billed Gull (19). Passerines were typical for the most part, but we did have: EASTERN PHOEBE (3); TREE SWALLOW (21: 17 flying low over ice covered Lake Quabog); Tree Sparrow (2); Red-winged Blackbird (224: flocks+territorial males); C Grackle (27); Brown-headed Cowbird (6). Plus: several Muskrats and 1 River Otter.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 3/27/15 -- River Road, West Boylston
    From about 1:30 PM to about 2:30 PM I observed 16 species in, along, or above the river and the basin.  Highlights: 8 Common Goldeneye, 2 Tree Swallows, 1 Rusty Blackbird. The rusty was foraging along the river bank around the bend upstream from the bridge. (report from Ed Kittredge). 

    3/26/15 -- Berlin/Sutton
  • Berlin: when leaving the grand opening of Cabela's at Highland Commons in Berlin, there was a Fish Crow calling on top of a light pole in the parking lot.
  • Sutton: Viewing the Blackstone River from Tricentennial Park in Sutton in the afternoon, I saw 12 Wood Ducks, 8 Mallards, 8 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Northern Mockingbird and 41 Cedar Waxwings. Two Green-winged Teal had been seen there in the morning by Justin Lawson, but I didn't get them.
    (report from Alan Marble).

    • 3/25/15 -- Millbury
    This morning at Central Cemetery in Millbury there was a flock of about 20 Common Redpolls. They were moving around into various birch trees including the trees at the bridge that crosses the Blackstone as you enter. (report from Alan Marble).

    3/25/15 -- Wachusett Reservoir
    We did a quick check of Wachusett Reservoir this morning. The reservoir is still 95% ice covered, BUT open water is stating to show in a few places, notably Thomas Basin/River Road and around the causeway on Rt. 110. Both locatios are where water is strongly flowing.
  • Totals as follows: Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (5); Mallard (15); A Black Duck (4); Ring-necked Duck (5); Common Goldeneye (7); Hooded Merganser (7); Common Merganser (8); Bald Eagle (1 immature at the deer carcass right off the Rt. 110 causeway and 1 sub-adult at Thomas Basin); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Ring-billed Gull (5).
  • Passerines were in low numbers but did include a handful of grackles and Red-wings. Plus: 3 White-tailed Deer.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 4/24/15 -- Gardner
    This evening shortly before sunset there was a mixed flock of ~75 red-wings, ~20 common grackles and at least 4 cowbirds at our feeders. They appeared to be all males. (report from Dick Knowlton).

    3/24/15 -- Clinton
  • Circling over the open water at Bart's Pond in Clinton this afternoon were 3 Tree Swallows. The only ducks on the pond were Mallards.
  • At Holden Reservoir 2 there was a coyote feeding on a dead deer that was on the ice. On the south side of the reservoir's dam there was a herd of 6 or 7 deer grazing.
    (report from Bart Kamp).

    • 3/24/15 -- Gardner
    The well documented Gardner flock of Bohemian Waxwings continued to show well this morning from 7:45 to 8:00AM. They were present on the corner of Green and Matthew's Streets. Some were perched high in the Maple, other fed on a sunlit "crab" on the Green Street sidewalk and others fed on fallen berries and snow on the ground.
    The total was about 175+, or about the same I counted Saturday morning (194), using a photo of the flock and placing a dot over each bird counted in the Paint program. (thanks to Steve Mirick for this great idea -- he used this to tally a large flock in NH).
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    3/23/16 -- Downtown Worcester
    I saw a photo by Edward Kittredge on my flickr page of a Peregrine Falcon at The Bancroft Commons building last night. I went there at 7:30 this morning. Immediately I saw a Peregrine Falcon land on the ledge with green lining, top floor just below the roof at the corner of Franklin and Portland St. It hopped down out of sight, then reappeared and flew away. While it was away, another Falcon constantly called. The Falcon which flew came back five minutes later, then flew away again while the other one called. This happened a third time, then the calling Falcon hopped up and perched. Both Falcons were still perched there for twenty minutes until I left (report from Brian Mulhearn).

    3/21/15 -- Shrewsbury
    Today as I was driving down South St in Shrewsbury after leaving Westboro A-1 I noticed some birds fly off the birch trees across from house number 614. I pulled over. When it was all said and done I had counted 103 Common Redpolls. Photos on my Worcester Photographic Big Year blog. Also there are 2 Iceland Gulls behind White City on Lake Quinsigamond.  (report from Justin Lawson).

    3/20/15 -- Rutland
    Today I passed a Barred Owl that had been hit by a car on rte 56 in Rutland, and was dead in the road. (report from Ted Purcell).

    3/20/15 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    Highlights at noon were 2 GB Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 3 Ring-necked Duck, 4 Hooded Merganser, and 4 Common Merganser. (report from Rick Quimby).

    3/20/15 -- Millbury
    There was a mixed flock of 152 blackbirds feeding this morning, consisting of 3 Rusty's, 37 Red-winged and 112 Common Grackles. (report from Susan LaBree).

    3/19/15 -- Gardner
    Bohemian Waxwings were present at 7:30AM this morning near Heywood Hospital at the intersect of Green and Matthew's Streets. There were many more than I saw two days ago -- 180 perched high in a maple and another 40-50 feeding low in a nearby crab-apple along Green street. After about 15 minutes groups began to fly off the east, there was still about 75 present when I left at 7:45.
  • Totals: Bohemian Waxwing approx 225; Cedar Waxwing 0; Red-winged Blackbird 2; Common Grackle 1. There is still a lot of fruit on the "crabs apples" along Green Street. (report from Tom Pirro).

    • 3/17/15 -- Gardner
    This afternoon some of the Bohemian waxwings were still present at Lake St and Park in Gardner. (Thanks to Tom Pirro for that info). Also a Great blue heron flying over South Gardner. (report from Dick Knowlton).

    3/17/15 -- Gardner
    A cohesive flock of about 140 Bohemian Waxwings was perched in a large maple tree on the corner of Park and Lake Street this morning at 7:45AM. After a few minutes they flew a 1/4 mile or so to an area between the Gardner Veteran's Ice Rink (parking lot) and Crystal Lake. The South East side of Crystal lake.
    There is still a good deal of crab apple "stock" along Lake St. and some bitter sweet near the skating rink parking area. Please be careful not to disrupt traffic, the parking situation is not too bad right now, but there is a good deal of traffic on the streets.
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    3/17/15 -- Millbury
    This morning there are 34 Red-winged Blackbirds and 2 Common Grackles at the feeders Spring IS coming! (report from Susan LaBree).

    3/17/15 -- Gardner/Princeton
    There were 6 Common grackles at our feeders this morning in Gardner. Also yesterday (3/16), there were 12 Red-winged blackbirds at Wachusett Meadow in Princeton. (report from Dick Knowlton).

    3/16/15 -- Holden bird sightings
    Chaffin pond, this morning around 9:00am. A lone red-winged blackbird came in to our feeders, 6 eastern bluebirds, American robin, white-throated sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, American goldfinch-(several showing some plumage change). (report from Scott Corazzini).

    3/15/15 -- ponds in Westboro, Southboro and Worcester
    Today we birded a few ponds close to or in the city to see if there was any open water. The short answer is: VERY little. Most ponds were open a little where a stream flowed in, but that was it. Ice fishermen were still out on several bodies. Here's the short list:
  • WESTBORO: SuAsCo: Mallard (3); Hooded Merganser (pair); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Red-winged Blackbird (2);
  • SOUTHBORO: SUDBURY RESERVOIR: Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (3); Mallard (2); Hooded Merganser (pair); Cooper?s Hawk (1);
  • NB: Both Bartlett Pond in Northboro and Chauncy Lake in Westboro were ice covered with no birds.
  • WORCESTER: NOTRE DAME CEMETERY: Canada Goose (4); Red-winged Blackbird (3);
  • WORCESTER/AUBURN: LEESVILLE POND: A Black Duck (1); Hooded merganser (pair); Common Merganser (1m); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Red-winged Blackbird (2);
  • AUBURN: DAM BEHIND BRADY BUILT: Mallard (2); A Black Duck (4);
  • WORCESTER: ST JOHN?S CEMETERY: Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (2);
  • WORCESTER: Salisbury Pond: Mute Swan (2); Mallard (5); Ring-necked Duck (3); Common Merganser (1m); Bald Eagle (1ad overhead)
  • NB: The Hermit Thrush continues at my feeder.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 3/15/15 -- Queen Lake, Phillipston
    My family had the great opportunity today to have a mature Bald Eagle fly down to the ice and pick off our small Pickerel that we had caught ice fishing. He didn't complain about the boney fish. (report from Matt Pearson).

    3/13/15 -- All Faiths Cemetery, Worcester
    A Killdeer was in an area at the back of the cemetery which was cleared of snow for a new grave. Also, I was standing next to the almost completely ice covered pond when a Coopers Hawk flew up the embankment from the other side of a tree trunk where I was standing. He did not see me until the last second, same for me. We scared each other. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    3/12/15 -- Sutton
    I had a House Finch today at my feeders, and watched him fly to the ground -- he never left. Appears to have conjunctivitis. (report from Michael Joubert).

    3/9/15 -- Chapin road, Hudson
    During my morning run along Chapin Road in Hudson I had four wood duck, five common merganser and five hooded merganser gathered in a small opening on the Assabet River just east of the bridge.  Also there's been a turkey vulture over our neighborhood the past two days. (report from Randy Langer).

    3/9/15 -- Town Farm Road, Sutton
    There are Horned Larks at Town Farm Road in Sutton. Sometimes they are on the manure pile in the fields and sometimes picking and scratching on the roadside. (report from Alan Marble).

    3/8/15 -- Brookfields/Charlton/Sturbridge
  • Today we birded around the Brookfields. Most of the river is still ice covered as are the ponds. Ice fishermen were out on all ponds. One the few small open stretches of the river we had Canada Goose (1); Mallard (4); Hooded Merganser (10); and Common Merganser (3). The pair of Bald Eagles were back at Lake Quabog and we had (18) Wild Turkeys which were having a very hard time trying to walk on the deep snow. Passerines were the typical permanent resident species only.
  • At Orlando's in Charlton in a very tiny blob of open water there were an estimated (300+) Mallards, (15+) Back Ducks and (5) Canada Geese, but no gulls.
  • In Sturbridge we had a Great Horned Owl on the nest.
  • The HERMIT THRUSH is still coming to our feeders [Worcester].
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 3/1/15 -- Charlton Rd, Sturbridge
    At the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (215 Charlton Rd) there were Bohemian Waxwings in some crab apple trees along with robins. (report from Susan LaBree).

    3/1/15 -- South Quabbin/New Salem
    We started the day birdng around the South Quabbin area including the outflow of the Swift River and the state trout farm. There were VERY few birds inside Quabbin Park.
  • Highlights: Mallard (34); A Black Duck (5); Hooded Merganser (8); Common Merganser (1); Bald Eagle (2ad: 1 at the trout farm; 1 at the nest out from the Administration Building); Common Raven (1); A Robin (3); Cedar Waxwing (22).
  • In NEW SALEM, highlights: Pileated Woodpecker (1); Pine Siskin (20+).
  • There is some open water at the outflow of Lake Wickabog in West Brookfield and we found a pair of Hooded Mergs.
  • Returning home (Worcester), the HERMIT THRUSH continues at our feeders. It has been there since January 30, and has gone through all that horrible weather.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • For previous sightings, see February 2015 Archives or Archive Index