May 2010 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:

5/31/10 -- Sturbridge
Today we BLOCK WRANGLED an atlas block in STURBRIDGE. ["Block Wrangling" is taking on an Atlas block that has the complete field hours, but may be missing or short on species variety]. The block we did this AM included downtown Sturbridge and Sturbridge Village as well as Bill and Nancy's store. Very productive was walking some of the Trek trails south and west of The Village as well as the marshes Hobbs Brook/Westville River. Despite the throngs of humanity, we had the following, all a very short distance from the main drag of Sturbridge: Great Blue Heron (12 nests w/ at least 34 young at various ages); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (15ad+9 goslings); Wood Duck (1ad+1 duckling); Mallard (pair); Osprey (pair at nest on microwave relay tower); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1imm); Red-shouldered Hawk (pair); Broad-winged Hawk (2); Ruffed Grouse (2 drumming); Wild Turkey (2); Virginia Rail (3); Killdeer (2 nesting atop building); Rock Pigeon (30); Mourning Dove (13); Barred Owl (1); Chimney Swift (4); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N Flicker (3); E Wood Peewee (6); Willow Flycatcher (2); Least Flycatcher (4); E Phoebe (16); Great Crested Flycatcher (8); E Kingbird (16); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Blue-headed Vireo (1); Warbling Vireo (27); Red-eyed Vireo (29); Blue Jay (12); A Crow (6); Tree Swallow (18); N Rough-winged Swallow (2); Barn Swallow (14); Black-capped Chickadee (13); Tufted Titmouse (33); Carolina Wren (2); House Wren (2); Veery (10); Wood Thrush (9); A Robin (53); Gray Catbird (26); N Mockingbird (4); E Starling (58); Cedar Waxwing (38); E Towhee (6); Chipping Sparrow (26); Song Sparrow (34); Swamp Sparrow (4); N Cardinal (16); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2); Indigo Bunting (3); Bobolink (4); Red-winged Blackbird (73); C Grackle (49); Brown-headed Cowbird (12); Baltimore Oriole (22); House Finch (7); A Goldfinch (6); House Sparrow (71); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

5/30/10 -- Douglas/Grafton
  • I spent some time [Breeding Bird Survey] "block wrangling" in Douglas, parts of UXBRIDGE 02 and UXBRIDGE 03, this morning. Highlights included Ruby-throated Hummingbird; Red-bellied Woodpecker; Eastern Wood-Pewee; Eastern Phoebe; Great Crested Flycatcher; Eastern Kingbird; Warbling Vireo; Red-eyed Vireo; Carolina Wren; House Wren; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; Veery; Hermit Thrush; Brown Thrasher; Cedar Waxwing; Black-throated Green Warbler; Pine Warbler; Prairie Warbler; Black-and-white Warbler; Ovenbird; Louisiana Waterthrush (I had a bird singing above a brook along the Southern New England Trunkline); Common Yellowthroat; Scarlet Tanager; Eastern Towhee; Indigo Bunting (including a female collecting material and bringing in to a small bush in a field behind the South Douglas Cemetery); Baltimore Oriole.
  • On my way home, I stopped at St. Philips Cemetery in Grafton and checked out the heron nests. This was my first trip to the cemetery since the Great Horned Owls abandoned their nest. In their place is a pair of Great Blue Herons, who have retaken the nest. In addition, another pair has built a nest above it in the same tree. A bird was hunkered down in each nest this morning.
    (report from John Liller).

    5/29/10 -- Millbury/Sutton
    Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip included: BLACK VULTURE, Osprey, American Kestrel, Brown Thrasher, Northern Parula, and four GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. Here is the complete list of the 69 species seen or heard. (report from Alan Marble fide Joan Gallagher).

    5/28/10 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
    While visiting Bolton Flats this afternoon I had the good fortune of hearing a Common Moorhen calling from near the dirt road near the mud flats on the north side of rte 117.    Other noteable birds present: American Bittern  1; Greater Yellowlegs  1; Spotted Sandpiper   4; Least Sandpiper     2. (report from Tom Pirro).

    5/27/10 -- Upper Charles Trail, Milford
    I walked part of the Upper Charles Trail in Milford this morning, as I did some [Breeding Bird Atlas] "block wrangling" in MILFORD 12. Highlights were: Canada Goose (including a pair with four young); Wood Duck; Mallard (including a female with three young); Chimney Swift (everywhere overhead); Hairy Woodpecker; Eastern Wood-Pewee; Eastern Kingbird; Yellow-throated Vireo (new to the block); Warbling Vireo (everywhere); Red-eyed Vireo; Carolina Wren; Cedar Waxwing; Yellow Warbler; Pine Warbler (upgraded to probable, as several were singing in the same locations as before); American Redstart; Common Yellowthroat (including a female collecting material); Scarlet Tanager; Rose-breasted Grosbeak; ORCHARD ORIOLE (I heard and saw a male singing along the path adjacent to Louisa Lake. Shortly afterwards, the female flew in nearby and proceeded to collect material before flying off towards what I assume was the area of the nest.); Baltimore Oriole. (report from John Liller).

    5/26/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
    This morning @ 7:00 AM at Gate 40 there were 2 White-winged Scoters as well as 7 Common Loons. (report from Peter Morlock).

    5/25/10 -- Ware River, Barre
    While boat atlasing the Ware River south of the Barre Plains bridge this morning I found four female Hooded Mergansers with young and one female Common Merganser with young. (report from Bart Kamp).

    5/25/10 -- downtown Worcester
  • I am happy to report that there are THREE Peregrine Falcon chicks in the nest box on top of the Unum Building in downtown Worcester. I could see the female feeding them this morning from my office so went up to the garage for a better view and was finally able to confirm a third which is what I suspected originally.
  • Another interesting tidbit was the female doing her usual circling around her territory as Chimney Swifts loomed overhead. They would never attempt to dive bomb the falcon but the number of swifts would increase from 2 to 5 and they would circle her for a brief period until she returned closer to the nest box.
  • Also, I was able to confirm the banding at the Unum building on June 1st is open to the public.
  • I have my first nice shots of the female in flight and will post them this evening on my blog.
    (report from Kimberly Allen).

    5/24/-- downtown Worcester
    I saw one of the Peregrine Falcon chicks this morning as well as one adult who was perched on top of the nest box while the chick remained somewhat inside. I would then go up to the 24th Floor of the 446 Main Street building to see if I could get a better view of the nest box for additional chicks, but wouldn't see any. One of the adults flew to the ledge of our building shortly after that and remained there for a few minutes before retiring back to its parental responsibilities.
      The Department of Fish & Wildlife will be banding the Peregrine Falcon chicks next Tuesday, June 1st in the Unum Building Lobby at approximately 1:00PM. I am assuming this is open to the public (getting final word from Emily but it normally is), so if you would like to attend then I would suggest you arrive at the lobby for 1:15 or so as they have to collect the chicks from the nest box while being dive bombed by the adults no less! Please feel free to contact me at kallen305@gmail.com should you need additional information.
    (report from Kimberly Allen).

    5/23/10 -- Hardwick/Barre/New Braintree
    Acting on a challenge from one of my sisters, I spent a whirlwind morning detecting birds at my favorite local haunts, building a bird species list based solely upon auditory cues. (report from Chris Ellison).

    5/23/10 -- New Braintree
    We spent an enjoyable morning atlasing in a single block in NEW BRAINTREE. Situated well south of Winnimusset Meadows WMA, this block features lots of farm fields, and some substantial mixed woodlots. There are only a few small ponds, almost no marsh, but a small of section of the WARE RIVER runs near the western edge of the block, and parallel to it, a nice stretch of a "rail trail". Except for a single Blackpoll, everything seen today were breeding species or potentially breeding species. Mallard (2 pair); Hooded Merganser (1f); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (1); Mourning Dove (6: no Rock Pigeons found); Chimney Swift (13); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (3, including 1 on a nest); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (9ad and 5 nests with young in them); Hairy Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (2); Pileated Woodpecker (3); Alder Flycatcher (6); Willow Flycatcher (7); Least Flycatcher (11); E Phoebe (19); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); Eastern Kingbird (17); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Blue-headed Vireo (2); Warbling Vireo (11); Red-eyed Vireo (39: nice views of a pair gathering nesting material); Blue Jay (8: we watched 1 very silent, stealthy bird thoroughly search a large area of honeysuckle until it found a Yellow Warbler nest, and then ate all the contents); A Crow (10); Tree Swallow (4); N Rough-winged Swallow (3); Bank Swallow (36: nesting colony in sandpit); Barn Swallow (65); Black-capped Chickadee (21: we watched 1 fully fledged bird, perched on a twig JUST outside a nest hole, intensely begging for food from an adult that was still feeding young in the nest); Tufted Titmouse (10); Red-breasted Nuthatch (1); White-breasted Nuthatch (6); House Wren (6); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1); Eastern Bluebird (1); Veery (12); Wood Thrush (3); A Robin (74); Gray Catbird (32); Brown Thrasher (3: nest building observed); E Starling (47); Cedar Waxwing (4);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (19); Yellow (44); Chestnut-sided (21); Yellow-rumped (4); Black-throated Green (7); Pine (13); Blackpoll (1); Black and White (8); A Redstart (19); Ovenbird (39); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (54);
    Scarlet Tanager (6); E Towhee (4); Chipping Sparrow (24); Savannah Sparrow (4); Song Sparrow (22); Swamp Sparrow (2); N cardinal (19); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (23: nestbuilding observed several times); Indigo Bunting (13); Bobolink (84); Red-winged Blackbird (91); Eastern Meadowlark (2 singing birds); C Grackle (27); Brown-headed Cowbird (2); Baltimore Oriole (20); A Goldfinch (5); House Sparrow (31).
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    5/23/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
    I found a Black Tern perched on a buoy at Wachusett Reservoir this morning. This picture was taken from the Mile Hill Road lookout. The tern took off shortly after I took the picture. I could not locate it again. (report from Bart Kamp).

    5/22/10 -- Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, Harvard
    Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip were: Ruffed Grouse, Solitary Sandpiper, Alder Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Here is a list of the 61 species seen or heard. (report from Alan Marble fide Joan Gallagher)

    5/20/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
    This evening there were 3 White-winged Scoters seen from gate 40 in Clinton. Also, in West Boyslton from 7:45P to 8:30P we observed 9 Common Nighthawks, all lone individuals migrating Northeast. (report from Rebecca and Kevin Bourinot).

    5/20/10 -- Bolton Flats and Lancaster WMA's
    Highlights on the Forbush Bird Club trip to Bolton Flats and Lancaster WMA's: 1 calling pied-billed grebe, 1 pumping American bittern, 15 semi-palmated plovers, 1 short-billed dowitcher, 4 American woodcock, 5 common nighthawks, 7 whip-poor-wills, 1 vesper sparrow, 1 grasshopper sparrow and 1 orchard oriole. Here is the complete list of the 45 species that were seen or heard at both places. Also at the Wachusett Reservoir there were 3 white-winged scoters. (report from Bart Kamp).

    5/18/10 -- North Brookfield
    There was 1 singing Mourning Warbler at the North Brookfield Sewer Plant early this morning. (report from Rodney Jenkins)

    5/17/10 -- downtown Worcester
    At 3:50PM today, I could barely make out the head of what appeared to be a white bird in the nest box on top of the Unum Building in downtown Worcester. I went up to the 24th floor of the Sovereign Building where the male falcon was perched keeping guard. I was then able to see two Peregrine Falcon chicks peeking their heads out of both sides of the nest box. I am not sure if there is another one, but I can confirm at least two at this point. Look for pictures of the male on my blog when I get home this evening.

    I spoke with Emily and she told me Fish & Wildlife will be doing the banding of these chicks the last week of May, but doesn't have a definitive date yet. Once I get that, I will post it here.
    (report from Kimberly Allen).

    5/16/10 -- Buck Hill, Spencer
    The Forbush Bird Club trip recorded 42 species. Here is the complete trip list. (report from Susan LaBree fide Joan Gallagher)

    5/16/10 -- Upton
    I did some [Breeding Bird Atlas] "block wrangling" in the Upton section of MILFORD 11 this morning. Highlights: Great Crested Flycatcher; Eastern Kingbird; Red-eyed Vireo; CAROLINA WREN (new species for the block); House Wren; HERMIT THRUSH (new species for the block); Wood Thrush; BROWN THRASHER (new species for the block); Blue-winged Warbler; Yellow Warbler; Black-throated Green Warbler; PINE WARBLER (new species for the block); Prairie Warbler; Black-and-white Warbler; American Redstart; Ovenbird; Northern Waterthrush; Common Yellowthroat; SCARLET TANAGER (including a female carrying nesting material. She landed in the path in front of me, picked up a stick, and flew to a nearby branch. The male joined her on the branch and then did his thing with her and flew to a branch nearby. Shortly afterwards, she headed upwards into the trees to what I assume was the nest, which I could not get any look at.); Eastern Towhee; FIELD SPARROW (new species for the block); (report from John Liller).

    5/15/10 -- Wachusett Mountain, Princeton
    Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club on a trip at and around Wachusett Mountain included a spectacular and rare non-avian sighting of a LUNA MOTH which was a first for several trip participants. It flitted around looking like a large leaf on the cool and breezy morning not far from the ski lodge. Other highlights were: several Red Admiral Butterflies as well as Tiger Swallowtail, Blue Azure and Cabbage White; Indigo Bunting, Winter Wren, Common Loon and 12 Warbler species. Here is a complete list of the 58 species recorded. (report from Joan Zumpfe, fide Joan Gallagher)

    5/14/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir/Bolton Flats
    I struck out on the red-headed woodpecker at the Oxbow. On the way home near the Route 110 entrance to Bolton Flat there was 1 common nighthawk. Highlights at Wachusett Reservoir were 1 red-necked grebe, 17 Boniparte's gulls and 3 common terns. (report from Bart Kamp).

    5/14/10 -- Oxbow NWR, Harvard
    At The Oxbow late this morning, I kept hearing a loud woodpecker-type call that I was unfamiliar with. I got as close to the wooded swamp as I could and waited. Suddenly I was very surprised to see an adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER fly up and land on the side of a dead tree. I got very good looks at it. If you go out on the tank road from the main parking lot approximately a quarter of a mile, you will see a galvanized half-pipe sticking up in the water on the right. The bird was on the other side of the road in a wooded swamp. I also had a Ruby-throated Hummingbird there. (report from Alan Marble).

    5/12/10 -- Northbridge
    There was a Yellow-Throated Vireo singing all morning in my yard today, near the corner of Church and Quaker. I heard it while I was indoors and went outside and visually confirmed. My cooper's hawk [see previous posts] seems to still be incubating. Also, on 5/8 I heard a Prairie Warbler singing at the Walmart in Whitinsville. (report from Jenifer Glagowski).

    5/10/10 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
    Highlights of a trip to Bolton Flats this afternoon were: a yellow-throated vireo was singing in the parking lot, a Virginia rail, sora rail and American bittern were heard, 3 semi-palmated plovers and a flock of 50-60 least sandpipers were seen. On Sunday (5/9) there were 3 cliff swallows at Sterling Peat and a pair of barred owls were dueting in the woods across from gates 36 and 37 at Wachusett Reservoir. (report from Bart Kamp).

    5/8/10 -- Gate 40 Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
    I took a swing by here this evening to see if any migrants put down during the storm. There were 2 COMMON TERNs flying around looking for a spot to rest. They would try to put down on the few ball buoys in the area, but would slip off, circle around and try again. A BONAPARTE'S GULL also appeared and roosted on the small island with the ring-billed gulls. A tight flock of 64 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were around the island until they took off to the north. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    5/8/10 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
    Kim Allen and I had the following highlights from Bolton Flats this morning: 1 Virginia Rail, 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 3 Spotted Sandpipers, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, and 3 Least Sandpipers. (report from Alan Marble).

    5/7/10 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    Recent sightings at noontime: Mute Swan (on 5/5 one swan still on nest; on 5/6 this swan was gone, with dead swan still in water); Lesser Yellowlegs (2 on may 6), Spotted Sandpiper (1 on may 6), E. Kingbird (1 on may 5 [also observed by Kim Allen]); Gray Catbird (1 on may 7); Warbling Vireo (5 on may 6); Yellow Warbler (1 on may 6); Am Redstart (1 on may 6); Baltimore Oriole (3 [both m&f] on may 5 and may 6). (report from Rick Quimby).

    5/6/10 -- downtown Worcester
    The male Peregrine Falcon continues to be on the ledge of the nest box at the Unum building in downtown Worcester keeping guard and watching over the box. A lone, and obviously very stupid Rock Pigeon flew close and past the nest box which caused the female to fly out of the box to in defense and go back in a few seconds later. Based on the behavior I have witnessed this past week, I think its safe to say nesting appears to have been successful. (report from Kimberly Allen).

    5/6/10 -- Worcester
    We did a very brief "before work" birding tour of the three cemeteries in sw city of Worcester this morning: Hope, Notre Dame and All Faiths (Leesville Pond). The weather was overcast and it was a bit breezy and song was mostly from breeders. Not a great migration day. Totals for all three adjacent areas: Great Blue Heron (2: there has to be a rookery nearby); Green Heron (1); Mute Swan (1 on nest); Canada Goose (5ad+ ad pair w/7 goslings); Wood Duck (2); Mallard (5ad+5 ducklings left alone); Mourning Dove (5); N Flicker (5); Willow Flycatcher (1); Eastern Kingbird (8); Tree Swallow (1); N Rough-winged Swallow (2); House Wren (2); Gray Catbird (24); N Mockingbird (3); American Robin (114: many nestbuilding); Tufted Titmouse (13); White-breasted Nuthatch (2); Warbling Vireo (12); Yellow Warbler (16); Yellow-rumped Warbler (28); Pine Warbler (2); Blackpoll Warbler (1); Black and White Warbler (4); American Redstart (6); Common Yellowthroat (3); Eastern Towhee (1); Chipping Sparrow (40); Song Sparrow (23); White-throated Sparrow (2); N Cardinal (6); Red-winged Blackbird (26); Common Grackle (50); Brown-headed Cowbird (4); Baltimore Oriole (11); Orchard Oriole (1 adM); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    5/5/10 -- downtown Worcester
    Around 3 pm this afternoon I saw one of the Peregrine Falcons deliver a Rock Pigeon to the nest box on top of the Unum building in downtown Worcester. It would pluck some of the feathers from its prey for less than a minute and then proceed to bring it inside of the box. I stood watch for a few minutes and the falcon didn't come back out, but you could see feathers from the pigeon blowing from the box and into the air. I am taking this as a potential good sign! Will add posts as I get additional information. (report from Kimberly Allen).

    5/4/10 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    Birds at noon included 1 Mute swan on nest (and a second dead in water), 2 Killdeer, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Least Flycatcher, 1 Tree Swallow, 2 Warbling Vireo, 2 Yellow Warbler, and 2 Baltimore Oriole. (report from Rick Quimby).

    5/3/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir/Bolton Flats, Clinton/Bolton
  • Hilights from Wachusett Res, late this morning:   Common Loon  16 including a single raft of 10; Long-tailed Duck    5 (from gate 36) out toward the center; Common Merganser 5 from gate 40; Spotted Sandpiper  1; Solitary Sandpiper 1; Ring-billed Gull 105 loafing on exposed "bars" off gates 36 and 40, carefully checked for smaller gull species and/or terns;   Bald Eagles 2 adults on the nest and 1 imm. in flight.  
  • From Bolton Flats just after noon:   Green-winged Teal  ~20; Blue-winged Teal 1rake;   Killdeer    8; Solitary Sandpiper  1; Spotted Sandpiper  3; Lesser Yellowlegs   9; Greater Yellowlegs  6; Least Sandpiper   1; Dunlin             1; Wilson's Snipe   2 or 3;   Orchard Oriole   1 male;
    (report from Tom Pirro).

    5/2/10 -- Quabbin Reservoir Gates 45 to 35
    On the Forbush Bird Club's annual Quabbin Trip from Gate 45 to gate 35, the unseasonably warm temperatures (mid 80's with a light SW breeze) brought a major influx of new arrivals and the species total was 77, quite respectable for May the 2nd. Highlights included 16 species of wood warblers, and trip participants enjoyed watching a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers working on a nearly complete nest. Here is the complete trip list (report from Tom Pirro, fide Goan Gallagher).

    5/2/10 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton
    There were 3 Dunlins on the bushy island in Clinton and a Whip-poor-will was singing accross the street from gate 37. (report from Kevin Bourinot).

    5/2/10 -- Auburn Birdbanding Station
    We had two early arrivals this weekend. We captured and banded a Lincoln's Sparrow yesterday (5/1) and a Worm-eating Warbler today (5/2). (report from Colleen Morin).

    5/2/10 -- Milford
    I recorded the following highlights while doing some "Block Wrangling" in [Breeding Bird Atlas block] MILFORD 12 this morning. ("Block Wrangling" should not be confused with "Block Busting", which refers to a one-shot survey of a given block for the Breeding Bird Atlas. "Block Wrangling" is an expression coined by Mark Lynch and refers to a special effort to finish up a block after the primary survey hours are finished.)
    Turkey Vulture; ROCK PIGEON - (Confirmed in two blocks. One bird was sitting on a nest in the underpass of the southbound lane of I-495 over Rt. 85, which is in MILFORD 12. Another bird was tending to a young bird in a nest in the underpass of the northbound lane of I-495 over Rt. 85; the location of the nest puts it in MILFORD 11); MOURNING DOVE - Bird sitting on a nest; Red-bellied Woodpecker; Carolina Wren; Gray Catbird; Blue-winged Warbler; Northern Parula; Black-throated Green Warbler; Pine Warbler; American Redstart; Ovenbird; Eastern Towhee; White-throated Sparrow; ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (male doing a courtship flight, singing loudly and fluttering its wings); Baltimore Oriole. (report from John Liller).

    5/2/10 -- southeast Quabbin Reservoir
    We spent this morning and part of the afternoon doing breeding bird atlasing in the southeast section of Quabbin Reservoir. The area took us from Gate 49 to Gate 43 (one way); and included sections of two Atlas blocks. The pace of atlasing is different from typical birding: it's much slower, you end up spending a lot of time observing specific individuals, typically waiting for some behavior to occur that would indicate nesting. The habitat along this stretch is pretty uniform: hilly deciduous forest; with some areas of conifers and includes several small beaver marshes and of course the edge of the reservoir. Weather was warm and buggy in the extreme. Not for the anemic. Totals for the day as follows: Common Loon (1ad); Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (6); Canada Goose (pr w/9 goslings; 2 other birds on nests plus and additional 3ad); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (5f); Hooded Merganser (4f+2m: documented breeder in these blocks); Common Merganser (3m+5f: suspected breeder in these blocks); Bald Eagle (1ad on nest with at least 1 yg); N Harrier (1m); N Goshawk (1ad: breeding suspected); Ruffed Grouse (2 drumming); Wild Turkey (3: tom in full display); Ring-billed Gull (14); Mourning Dove (9); Black-billed Cuckoo (1); Barred Owl (2); Belted Kingfisher (3); Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (17); Downy Woodpecker (7); Hairy Woodpecker (2+nest w/yg); Pileated Woodpecker (4); Least Flycatcher (23); Eastern Phoebe (3); Eastern Kingbird (3); Yellow-throated Vireo (3); Blue-headed Vireo (3); Red-eyed Vireo (10: just starting to migrate in); Blue Jay (7); American Crow (1); Common Raven (pr at nest); Tree Swallow (4); N Rough-winged Swallow (3); Barn Swallow (2); Black-capped Chickadee (38); Tufted Titmouse (19: nest building observed); Red-breasted Nuthatch (8); White-breasted Nuthatch (3); Brown Creeper (1); House Wren (1); Winter Wren (2); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (6); Veery (1); Hermit Thrush (4); Wood Thrush (5); A Robin (26); Gray Catbird (12);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); N Parula (7); Yellow (3); Chestnut-sided (29); Black-throated Blue (18); Yellow-rumped (67: mating observed); Black-throated Green (12); Blackburnian (2); Pine (45: nestbuilding observed); Palm (1); Black and White (23); A Redstart (23: mating observed); Worm-eating (1); Ovenbird (48); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (14);
    Scarlet Tanager (20: mating observed); Eastern Towhee (70); Chipping Sparrow (21); Song Sparrow (18); White-throated Sparrow (32); N Cardinal (2); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (25: nest building observed); Red-winged Blackbird (120+); C Grackle (65+); Brown-headed Cowbird (12); Baltimore Oriole (14); Purple Finch (3); A Goldfinch (5); PLUS: many American Toads calling; N Banded Watersnake and many butterflies of a very few species: Cabbage White; Tiger Swallowtail; Spring Azure; Eastern Pine Elfin; Juvenal's Dusky-wing.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    5/2/10 -- West Boylston
    In the Maple St area highlights included 1 Cooper's hawk, 1 House Wren (singing)(also heard 5/1), 1 Wood Thrush (singing), 1 B&W Warbler singing (also heard 5/1), and 1 Balimore Oriole. Also in Worcester at the Ecoterium, there was 1 Yellow Warbler. (report from Rick Quimby).

    5/1/10 -- Sylvester Street/Worcester Airport
    Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip included large flocks of White-throated Sparrows. At times they looked like "leaves tumbling across the path". Here is the complete trip list, and here's a link to photos taken by Bruce deGraaf on the trip. (report from Susan LaBree fide Joan Gallagher)

    5/1/10 -- Douglas
    New arrivals in our yard in Douglas this morning: House Wren (2);, Northern Parula (1);, Ovenbird (2);, Scarlet Tanager (1);, Baltimore Oriole (1);. (report from Mark Landon).

    5/1/10 -- North Grafton
    We had our first Ruby-throated Hummingbird visit one of our hummingbird feeders at noon today, a young male. (report from Maureen Montague).

    5/1/10 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    At 12:15 this afternoon David Grant and I noticed an oddly shaped black and white bird flying south to north across the field. It was being harrassed by about 10-15 tree swallows. It circled a couple of times and then landed on top of the tall pine at the north end of the field. Because we were hawk watching, we initially thought: Swallow-tailed Kite. It had a white head, was all white underneath and it had a long tail. However Dave noted that it's long tail was black and white. While it was perched on top of the pine tree we noted that it's back was light gray and it's black bill was straight and not hooked. It was a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER. It didn't stay long. It took off and headed north. (report from Bart Kamp).

    5/1/10 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Hawks migrating today: Osprey 5 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Northern Harrier 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 ; Broad-winged Hawk 39 ; American Kestrel 2 . Non-raptor Observations: 1 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. (report from Bart Kamp).

    5/1/10 -- Ware River IBA, Rutland/Barre
    Our MAS (Broad Meadow Brook); "April Migration" class had their final field trip to the WARE RIVER WATERSHED IBA today. We birded a loop that included Rutland State Park and Barre Falls Dam, spending just a little time with the dedicated hawkwatchers there (we should have stayed a lot longer: see report of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher). Birdsong was at every stop and we had some good counts of early migrant-breeders. Great Blue Heron (3); GLOSSY IBIS (flock of 4 flying overhead heading directly WEST); Turkey Vulture (2); Canada Goose (6); Wood Duck (6); Mallard (1f w/ a brood of 17 ducklings! Plus an additional 9ad); Hooded Merganser (3f); Osprey (1); N Harrier (1); Sharp-shinned Hawk (3); Broad-winged Hawk (18); Red-tailed Hawk (1); A Kestrel (1); Ruffed Grouse (2 drumming); Wild Turkey (1); Mourning Dove (15); N Saw-whet Owl (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (6); Hairy Woodpecker (9); N Flicker (8); Least Flycatcher (3); E Phoebe (10); E Kingbird (2); Blue-headed Vireo (46); Blue Jay (79: noticeable migration of small flocks, north); American Crow (1); Common Raven (great looks at adult pair gathering food to feed nesting young); Tree Swallow (89); Barn Swallow (6); Black-capped Chickadee (51); Red-breasted Nuthatch (16); White-breasted Nuthatch (7); Brown Creeper (5); Winter Wren (2); Golden-crowned Kinglet (5); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (5); Hermit Thrush (20); A Robin (33); Gray Catbird (1); WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); Nashville (2); Yellow (17); Chestnut-sided (2); Yellow-rumped (107); Black-throated Green (13); Pine (28); Prairie (1); Black and White (8); Ovenbird (38); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); Eastern Towhee (19); Chipping Sparrow (54); Field Sparrow (2); Savannah Sparrow (1); Song Sparrow (21); Swamp Sparrow (27); White-throated Sparrow (11); Red-winged Blackbird (54); Common Grackle (41); Brown-headed Cowbird (17); Purple Finch (9); House Finch (2); A Goldfinch (19); Evening Grosbeak (2);

    PLUS: Bridled Shiner (state-listed); Butterflies included: Cabbage White; Clouded Sulphur; Spring Azure (many);; Northern Cloudy Wing; Juvenal's Duskywing. Herps included: Eatsern painted Turtle; Eastern Garter Snake; Wood Frog; Green Frog; Spring Peeper; Gray Tree Frog, Red-spotted Newt (adult and Red Eft stage);. Wildflowers included: Pinxster; Wood Anemone; Sessile Bell Wort; Starflower; Canada Mayflower; Canadian Dwarf-Cinquefoil. Great morning with a great group of birders!
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    For previous sightings, see April 2010 Archives or Archive Index