May 2013 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:

5/30/13 -- Downtown Worcester
I went to check on the Peregrine Falcon's nesting at the People's United Building in downtown Worcester today and could see the female adult on the ledge of the building (facing Union Station) and the male adult on the largest cross of the church. I was able to see one chick walking about the platform so sent an email to Bill Davis and he replied back letting me know they banded 2 chicks (one male, one female) on 5.22. He also let me know that the female adult somehow got un-banded and Tom French was able to grab her to re band (brave soul he is!). Bill was kind enough to share a picture of the female chick that was banded and I'll post that picture as well as a full write up on my blog later this evening. (report from Kim Allen).

5/29/13 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
Today I birded Bolton Flats in hopes of shorebirds, as on 5/25 Nick P, Joe B, and myself found 8 short-billed Dowitchers (3 were Prairie subspecies). No shorebirds of note, but I did have a FRANKLIN'S GULL fly in and stay for a few hours, and was joined by Jess Johnson who ID'd the bird correctly as a FRANKLIN'S GULL and not a Laughing Gull which I had thought at first. I got the word out to many local birders whose numbers I had. Photos are on my flickr. site! (report from Justin Lawson).

5/27/13 -- Petersham
We spent Memorial Day birding just in PETERSHAM. Though never entering a Gate of Quabbin, we did hike and bird in state parks, Trustees of Reservation properties, wildlife management areas and the Harvard Forest. It wasn't a great migration day. Other then 2 birds, all the rest could be migrant breeders on territory.
  • Totals: Great Blue Heron (4); Turkey Vulture (2); Canada Goose (12+ pr w/3yg+ pr w/2yg); Wood Duck (11); Mallard (1); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (1); Wild Turkey (2); Virginia Rail (1); Mourning Dove (3); Black-billed Cuckoo (3); Yellow-billed Cuckoo (2); Barred Owl (2); Chimney Swift (3); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (3); N Flicker (2); Pileated Woodpecker (1); Olive-sided Flycatcher (1: photo'd by Sheila); E Wood Peewee (10); Alder Flycatcher (5); Least Flycatcher (8); E Phoebe (23); Great Crested Flycatcher (3); E Kingbird (11); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Blue-headed Vireo (6); Warbling Vireo (2); Red-eyed Vireo (124); Blue Jay (3); A Crow (8); C Raven (5); Tree Swallow (49); Barn Swallow (6); Black-capped Chickadee (19); Tufted Titmouse (11); Red-breasted Nuthatch (14); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); Brown Creeper (3); House Wren (2); Winter Wren (5); E Bluebird (1); Veery (20); Hermit Thrush (13); Wood Thrush (4); A Robin (14); Gray Catbird (15); Brown Thrasher (1);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); Nashville (1); Yellow (8); Chestnut-sided (34); Magnolia (3); Black-throated Blue (15); Yellow-rumped (24); Black-throated Green (36); Blackburnian (6); Pine (23); Prairie (1); Blackpoll (1); Cerulean (1 singing male: possibly on territory); Black and White (2: very low); A Redstart (23); Ovenbird (84); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (41);
    Scarlet Tanager (18); E Towhee (4); Chipping Sparrow (27); Song Sparrow (10); Swamp Sparrow (18); N Cardinal (3); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (14); Indigo Bunting (1: seems low); Bobolink (11); Red-winged Blackbird (48); C Grackle (8); Brown-headed Cowbird (5); Baltimore Oriole (8); Purple Finch (7); A Goldfinch (4);
  • PLUS: River Otter (4); and Short-tailed Weasel (1);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/24/13 -- Clark St., Worcester
    I spotted a killdeer running around acting crazy at the Clark st yardwaste drop off site. Come to find out it, had about 5 little babies it was with. (report from Vin Dacri).

    5/24/13 -- Greendale section of Worcester
    Received a message from Joe Bourgnet about a song he was hearing in his yard. After hearing the song I suggested Hooded Warbler. Joe confirmed that he had seen it after playing the call. Alan Marble and I were able to locate and photograph the bird after an hour and a half of it singing but hiding. Photos are on my flickr. (report from Justin Lawson).

    5/24/13 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
    At about 2 PM I arrived at Bolton Flats. The water was too deep to drive into the parking lot and hip or knee boots are required to walk in.. Highlights were 1 CATTLE EGRET (photo taken), 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Green-winged Teal and 1 male Wood Duck. (report from Bart Kamp).

    5/24/13 -- Ware River Watershed
    We spent the morning and early afternoon birding the WARE RIVER WATERSHED IBA, but only parts of the southern half of the IBA. The weather was often wet, but there was extended times when it was merely overcast. We covered Rutland State Park to Barre Falls Dam and even hiked parts of the Central Massachusetts Rail Trail that runs through the IBA. Lots of song and birds. By mid-afternoon, some of the roads were being closed by DCR because of flooding issues.
  • Birds recorded: American Bittern (1 pumping); Great Blue Heron (5); Canada Goose (2+pair w/5yg); Wood Duck (3); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (1 drumming); Sora (1); Killdeer (2); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Mourning Dove (4); Black-billed Cuckoo (1); Barred Owl (2); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1); Downy Woodpecker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (pr attending nest hole with yg; single bird attending another nest hole with yg and 3 other birds); N Flicker (5); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (16); Alder Flycatcher (5); Willow Flycatcher (2); Least Flycatcher (9); E Phoebe (16); Great Crested Flycatcher (5); E Kingbird (11); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Blue-headed Vireo (4); Warbling Vireo (6); Red-eyed Vireo (52); Blue Jay (15); C Raven (4: 1 bird seen and photographed stealing 2 blue eggs); Tree Swallow (29); N Rough-winged Swallow (2); Black-capped Chickadee (16); Tufted Titmouse (13); Red-breasted Nuthatch (15); White-breasted Nuthatch (8); Brown Creeper (10); Carolina Wren (1 singing away along a stream deep in the forest interior); House Wren (1); Winter Wren (2); Golden-crowned Kinglet (2); Veery (42); Hermit Thrush (19); Wood Thrush (10); A Robin (26); Gray Catbird (51); Cedar Waxwing (flock of 13+a single in another part of the area);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (5); Nashville (1); Yellow (19); Chestnut-sided (34); Magnolia (2); Black-throated Blue (3); Yellow-rumped (13); Black-throated Green (23); Blackburnian (4); Pine (24); Prairie (3); Blackpoll (6); Black and White (14); A Redstart (17); Ovenbird (89); Mourning (1); C Yellowthroat (52); Canada (6);
    Scarlet Tanager (26: we watched 1f searching on the ground for nesting material); E Towhee (33); Chipping Sparrow (24); Field Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (17); Swamp Sparrow (18); N Cardinal (4); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (16); Indigo Bunting (5); Bobolink (17); Red-winged Blackbird (67); C Grackle (14); Brown-headed Cowbird (6); Baltimore Oriole (10); Purple Finch (2); A Goldfinch (8);
  • PLUS: Mammals included a sleeping PORCUPINE; It was no surprise that with the very wet weather there were lots of amphibians about including American Toad, Pickerel Frog; Green Frog; Gray Tree Frog; Red Efts. There were also many odonates out along the dirt roads including Dot-tailed Whiteface and Spangled Skimmer, Common Whitetail. Amazingly, when it stopped pouring a few butterflies were even noted flying including many Spring Azures, Tiger Swallowtails, Pearl Crescents and Juvenal?s Duskywing. But the invertebrate prize of the day has to go to a stunning LUNA MOTH.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/23/13 -- Hope Cemetery, Worcester
    Today I checked on the Red-tailed Hawk nest to see if the chicks were visible yet. The nest appeared empty, but the mother hawk popped up and perched on the edge of the nest. I took a few photos and left right away so as to minimize the disturbance I was causing. As I was checking out the photos I took, it struck me that the hawk had a sort of blemish on it's belly that reminded me of the hawk photos I took on February 13th which were posted on this website. There was a disturbance on the hawk's belly at the time that the hawk kept scratching at. The hawk on the nest here seems to have a blemish on her belly in the same area as the hawk from February. The photos of now and then are only a few hundred yards apart. Maybe this is the same hawk? And it appears well on the road to recovery! (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    5/22/13 -- Gates Pond, Berlin
    Spotted today between 1600-1700hrs:  Ovenbird (3), Wood Thrush (2), American Redstart (1M), Scarlet Tanager (1M), Red-eyed Vireo (1), Wild Turkey (2), Osprey (1). (report from Randy Langer)

    5/22/13 -- Sterling
    Another trip up 190N this morning I saw two large Corvids on the high tension line pole at the bridge over the Quinipoxit River off 190N. They were very large and I believe they were Ravens. There may be nesting Ravens..... (report from Scott Ricker).

    5/21/13 -- Hope and Notre Dame Cemeteries, Worcester
    Highlights from a quick morning's trip to HOPE AND NOTRE DAME CEMETERIES:
  • HOPE CEMETERY: Killdeer (pair. No sign of the 2 yg seen last week. We did see this pair mate twice and form a scarpe); E Wood Peewee (1); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); E Kingbird (5); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Warbling Vireo (5); Red-eyed Vireo (4); House Wren (4); E Bluebird (pair); Swainson's Thrush (2 singing); American Robin (56: plus 1 just out of the nest, but not ready to fly, partially feathered yg); Gray Catbird (14); Northern Mockingbird (5); N Parula (1); Yellow Warbler (6); Blackpoll (7); American Redstart (3); C Yellowthroat (1); Baltimore Oriole (7);
  • NOTRE DAME CEMETERY: Great Blue Heron (1); Mute Swan (pr w/5yg); Canada Goose (pr w/2yg); Killdeer (1ad w/3yg); E Kingbird (1); Warbling Vireo (5); Red-eyed Vireo (2); Gray Catbird (5); Yellow Warbler (4); C Yellowthroat (1); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Baltimore Oriole (5);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/21/13 -- Leesville Pond/New Swedish Cemetery, Worcester/Auburn
    Walked the perimeter road inside the cemetery from 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM. Highlights: Brown Thrasher, silent and skulking, in low branches at water's edge on Worcester side of cemetery, and outstanding views of a male and female Orchard Oriole on Auburn side of cemetery not far from entrance. Got the Orchard Orioles thanks to three birders I met from The Bird Store and More of Sturbridge. (report from Ed Kittredge)

    5/20/13 -- Downtown Worcester
  • I went to check on the Peregrine Falcons late this morning, which wasn't easy considering that much of the sidewalk is under construction or closed. But I did spot the male flying around the area, and at one point it flew into the building platform that I believe they are nesting in. I saw no sign of the female, which is a good sign at this point, and I tried to listen for chick calls but it was close to impossible with all the noise coming from local traffic and heavy construction machinery.
  • I was making my way back to the office and on the Front Street side of the People's United building when I came across a dead Black-billed Cuckoo. Police were nearby and already giving me the "hairy eyeball" as I was lurking around with binoculars, so I only took one photo. It appears as if it fell victim to a building strike. So sad, it knocked the wind out of me and made me feel as if I got punched in the gut. Will post more detail on my blog later this evening.
    (report from Kim Allen).

    • 5/19/13 -- Buck Hill, Spencer
    A total of 63 Species were recorded on the Forbush Bird Club trip to Buck Hill. Photos of an Indigo Bunting and Barred Owl were taken by particpant Tom Manders. Here is the complete trip list. (report from Susan LaBree).

    5/19/13 -- Blackstone National Corridor
    We birded several stops in the BLACKSTONE NATIONAL CORRIDOR today, visiting the towns of Sutton, Northbridge, Uxbridge and spending most of our time in Millville and Blackstone.
  • Highlights (combined totals): Great Blue Heron (1 only); Green Heron (2); Turkey Vulture (4); Canada Goose (12+pr w/5yg+2 yg apparently abandoned. We found them in the middle of the large pool in the Sutton Industrial Park. They looked quite frightened and there was no way we could reach them with a small boat); Mallard (only 1!); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (pair); Wild Turkey (6); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Black-billed Cuckoo (1); Barred Owl (1); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Wood Peewee (5); E Phoebe (12); Great Crested Flycatcher (8); E Kingbird (20); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Warbling Vireo (17); Red-eyed Vireo (36); Common Raven (nest in microwave tower in Blackstone: pair + 4 ready to fledge yg); N Rough-winged Swallow (9); Red-breasted Nuthatch (2); Carolina Wren (9); House Wren (18); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2); E Bluebird (5); Veery (2); Wood Thrush (5); Gray Catbird (87); N Mockingbird (10); Brown Thrasher (2); Cedar Waxwing (pair);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (5); N Parula (1); Yellow (57); Chestnut-sided (4); Magnolia (1); Black-throated Green (2); Pine (16); Prairie (12); Blackpoll (1); Black and White (4); A Redstart (10); Ovenbird (17); Northern Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (49);
    Scarlet Tanager (6); E Towhee (12); Field Sparrow (7); Savannah Sparrow (2); Grasshopper Sparrow (1); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (10); Indigo Bunting (2); Baltimore Oriole (53)
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/19/13 -- Hope Cemetery, Worcester
    I found a pair of Northern (Baltimore) Orioles constructing a nest. Here is the female with nest material in her beak. The nest is partially obscured by the Cottonwood tree that the nest is in. The nest is in a large Cottonwood tree at the end of the cemetery dump, close to the Hope Ave. exit of Rt. 290. (report from Brian Mulhearn)

    5/18/13 -- Millbury /Sutton Area
    Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip were: Solitary Sandpipers, Canada warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow and Orchard oriole. Here is the complete list of the 72 species recorded. (report from Alan Marble).

    5/17/13 -- Quabog IBA, Brookfields
  • Highlights from an early evening trip to the QUABOG IBA in the Brookfields included: American Bittern (1); Great Blue heron (2 occ. Nests+2); Green Heron (1); Canada Goose (pr+2yg); Wood Duck 92); Mallard (12); Osprey (1); Wild Turkey (2); Virginia Rail (8); Killdeer (2); Spotted Sandpiper (1); American Woodcock (11); Great Horned Owl (2); Barred Owl (2); Whip-Poor-Will (6); Pileated Woodpecker (1); Least Flycatcher (1); E Phoebe (9); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); E Kingbird (10); Warbling Vireo (11); Red-eyed Vireo (5); Tree Swallow (110+); N Rough-winged Swallow (2); Bank Swallow (8); Brown Creeper (1); Marsh Wren (6); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2); E Bluebird (3); Veery (27); Wood Thrush (7); Gray Catbird (61);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (2); N Parula (1); Yellow (42); Chestnut-sided (8); Yellow-rumped (2); Black and White (1); A Redstart (1); Ovenbird (6); Northern Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (33);
    Scarlet Tanager (5); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (6); Bobolink (16); Orchard Oriole (1m); Baltimore Oriole (13)
  • PLUS: BOBCAT in Spencer.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/16/13 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton/Lancaster
    Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club evening trip to Bolton and Lancaster were:
  • Bolton Flats: 1 pumping American Bittern, 2 Virginia Rails, 2 American Kestrels, 3 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS;
  • Pine Hill Road: 3 American Woodcock, 1 Common Nighthawk, 4 Whip-poor-wills and 1 Vesper Sparrow. Here is the complete list
    (report from Bart Kamp).

    • 5/16/13 -- Paxton
    At dusk this evening there were four nighthawks feeding near Moore State Park. (report from Kathy Van Schoick).

    5/16/13 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    Highlights at noon included 1 Green Heron (ad), 1 Gray Catbird, and 1 Am Redstart. (report from Rick Quimby
    5/16/13 -- Cemeteries, Worcester
  • Hope Cemetery: Wood Duck (1f w/12 yg being attacked over and over by a Cooper's Hawk trying to get one of the ducklings); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1ad: took a robin which was almost as big as the Sharpie); Cooper's Hawk (1imm); Killdeer (finally got to see all the young: pr w/4yg plus another Killdeer not affiliated with them); Spotted Sandpiper (1); E Kingbird (3: doing great noisy display flights over cemetery); Warbling Vireo (6); Red-eyed Vireo (4); House Wren (2); E Bluebird (1f); Gray Catbird (8);
      WARBLERS: Tennessee (1); Nashville (2); N Parula (3); Yellow (4); Chestnut-sided (1); Black-throated Blue (2); Yellow-rumped (9); A Redstart (9);
    Orchard Oriole (1adM+1f); Baltimore Oriole (10);
  • LEESVILLE POND/ALL FAITHS CEMETERY: Canada Goose (1+pr+pr w/4yg+pr w/9yg); Mute Swan (pr w/6yg); Wood Duck (3m+1f w/9yg); Mallard (4); E Phoebe (1); E Kingbird (2); Warbling Vireo (4); House Wren (1); Gray Catbird (4);
      WARBLERS: Yellow (6); Yellow-rumped (1); Pine (2); A Redstart (2); C Yellowthroat (1)
    Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Baltimore Oriole (5);
  • BANCROFT TOWER HILL: Least Flycatcher (1); Red-eyed Vireo (6); Gray Catbird (2);
      WARBLERS: Tennessee (1); Nashville (1); N Parula (6); Yellow-rumped (6); Blackburnian (1); Blackpoll (3);

    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/15/13 -- Grafton
    Walking a network of trails between Old Upton Road to (and including a section of Great Meadow Conservation area: House Wren(1); American Crow(1); Baltimore Oriole(5); American Robin(6); Red-Winged Blackbird((5); Northern Flicker(1);Northern Cardinal(2);Warbling Vireo(2); Grey Catbird(2); Wild Turkey(1f);Red-eyed Vireo(3); Tufted Titmouse(2); Mourning Dove (2); American Goldfinch (3); Downy Woodpecker(2); Scarlet Tanager(3); Eastern Wood Pee-wee(1); Great Crested Flycatcher(2);Rose-breasted Grosbeak(4); Swamp Sparrow(2); Tree Swallows(heard); Blue Jay(2); Eastern Kingbird(1); Wood Duck(1);White-throated Sparrow(2); Eastern Phoebe(2);Black-capped Chickadee(2); Wood Thrush(1);Pileated Woodpecker(1); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher(1);. (report from Lisa Hennin).

    5/15/13 -- Hope Cemetery, Worcester
    On Wednesday 5/15 we birded HOPE CEMETERY in Worcester. Highlights included: Great Blue Heron (1 fly-over); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (pr w/at least 2 yg: see below); E Phoebe (2); E Kingbird (3); Warbling Vireo (7); Red-eyed Vireo (3); House Wren (4); Gray Catbird (14); Scarlet Tanager (1); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Baltimore Oriole (8: 1 seen finishing its nest)
    (report from Mark Lynch).

    5/15/13 -- Leesville Pond/All Faiths'Cemetery, Auburn/Worcester
    This morning , sightings included a pair of mute swans with their 6 cygnets and a black-crowned night heron. (report from Joan Crowell).

    5/14/13 -- West Boylston
    Watched a Common Raven flying down the median going across the Quinipoxet River/Rt 190 bridge just south of exit 5 in West Boylston. Also had a dead Turkey on the median of 190N in the same area as the Raven/West Boylston. (report from Scott Ricker)

    5/14/13 -- Gardner
    The cold snap has brought the return of the Pine siskins to our feeders. 3 males and 5 females as best we can tell. (report from Dick Knowlton).

    5/12/13 -- MAS Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
    On Mother's Day as part of a silent auction fundraiser at our kids school, "Birds and Breakfast" I led a small group of 9 parents and kids down the Troiano trail from the Dunkirk Ave entrance. In between downpours we found 30 species, with highlights including: Mallard: 3, Least Sandpiper 6; Spotted Sandpiper 2 ; Black-billed Cuckoo 1; House Wren 1; Wood Thrush 1; Gray Catbird 2; Warbling Vireo 1; Northern Parula 2 ; Yellow Warbler 4+; Common Yellowthroat 4; Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1m; Baltimore Oriole 3m . The Black-billed Cuckoo was very cooperative, busily scarfing caterpillars for several minutes. (report from Lisa Hennin).

    5/12/13 -- Ware River Watershed IBA
    We spent this morning birding the WARE RIVER WATERSHED, predominantly the western roads. We started in showers but eventually it cleared and we even got butterflies. The mosquitoes were fierce.
  • Totals: Great Blue Heron (6 active nests in a small beaver marsh deep in the woods); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (4); Mallard (2); Osprey (1: caught a fish and flew out); Broad-winged Hawk (3); Red-tailed Hawk 91); Wild Turkey (1); Virginia Rail (1); Spotted Sandpiper (4); Mourning Dove (5); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (3); Downy Woodpecker (5); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (3); Pileated Woodpecker (1); Least Flycatcher (6); E Phoebe (5); E Kingbird (3); Blue-headed Vireo (9); Warbling Vireo (4); Red-eyed Vireo (14: very low count); Blue Jay (24); A Crow (3); Tree Swallow (29); Barn Swallow (12); Black-capped Chickadee (36); Tufted Titmouse (6); Red-breasted Nuthatch (24); White-breasted Nuthatch (11); Brown Creeper (3); House Wren (3); Winter Wren (8 singing); E Bluebird (pair feeding yng in natural cavity); Veery (3); Hermit Thrush (22); Wood Thrush (7); A Robin (23); Gray Catbird (13);
      WARBLERS: Nashville (3); N Parula (2); Yellow (12); Chestnut-sided (13); CAPE MAY (1: in an area of conifers); Black-throated Blue (5m); Yellow-rumped (27); Black-throated Green (30); Blackburnian (4: low); Pine (18); Prairie (2); Bay-breasted (2); Black and White (13); A Redstart (1); Ovenbird (85: heard/seen at every stop, sometimes 2-3 responded to spishing); Northern Waterthrush (2); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (21); Canada (3);
    Scarlet Tanager (21); E Towhee (19); Chipping Sparrow (25); Song Sparrow (11); Swamp Sparrow (14); N cardinal (4); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (7: we watched 1 female gathering nesting material); Bobolink (4); Red-winged Blackbird (49); Brown-headed Cowbird (3); Baltimore Oriole (6); Purple Finch (5:
      including a pair we watched for some time, perched on a dirt road, the male in display overdrive. He would move jerkily, one way then at an angle to that; lowered his wings and quivered them almost constantly, tail erect, chest down but head up and crest erected. As he did this extraordinary dance, the red rump was very prominently displayed, but the female remained quiet, mostly still and often looked the other way. At one point the male became so frantic, he began to pick up small sticks and grasses and dance with them in his bill. But, suddenly, the female took off with the male in quick pursuit)
    A Goldfinch (11);
  • Butterflies seen included Black Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Spring Azure (many);, Mourning Cloak (several);, Pine Elfin, and Juvenal's Duskywing (several);.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/11/13 -- Mt. Wachusett, Westminster
    Here is the complete list of the 68 species recorded on the Forbush Bird Club trip to Wachusett Mountain and vicinity. (report from Susan LaBree).

    5/11/13 -- Little Chauncy, Westboro
    Today there was an Orchard Oriole and a Black-billed Cuckoo at this location. (report from Peter Morlock).

    5/11/13 -- Brookfields
    We spent the entire morning birding and hiking in the QUABOG IBA in the Brookfields visiting a few locations. The weather was overcast, gloomy, wet and if all that wasn't enough, windy later in the morning. We saw and heard a lot of migrants, but the majority of those were migrant breeding species found in those areas. But some of the numbers seemed a bit higher than counted during June.
  • The List: American Bittern (1 pumping); Great Blue Heron (5+1 active nest that we could see at a distance. There may be more); Canada Goose (25+ a pair with 5 goslings and another pair with 6 goslings); Wood Duck (3: low); Mallard (8); Ring-necked Pheasant (1m: release bird); Wild Turkey (1: and I'm amazed we saw that one, as there were a number of hunters out in full regalia); Virginia Rail (7); Killdeer (1); Spotted Sandpiper (1: later at Orlando's farm in Charlton, we watched 1 Spotted chase another relentlessly and actually drive it down into the water in the middle of the pond. But it managed to fly up and away); Ring-billed Gull (7); Chimney Swift (21); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3: we watched 1 get chased off fiercely by a pair of grackles when the woodpecker flew onto a stub in the middle of a marsh); Downy Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N Flicker (1); Least Flycatcher (2); E Phoebe (10: we watched a phoebe fly to a phoebe nest on one side of a shed, grab a huge hunk of that nest and bring it to its nest on the other side of a shed); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); E Kingbird (12); Yellow-throated Vireo (2); Blue-headed Vireo (1); Warbling Vireo (14); Red-eyed Vireo (12); Blue Jay (13); A Crow (14); Tree Swallow (27); Barn Swallow (4); Black-capped Chickadee (24); Tufted Titmouse (27); White-breasted Nuthatch (8); Brown Creeper (1); Carolina Wren (10); House Wren (9); Marsh Wren (6); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (9); E Bluebird (2); Veery (9); Wood Thrush (19); A Robin (53); Gray Catbird (74); N Mockingbird (2);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (7); N Parula (1); Yellow (49); Chestnut-sided (9: we watched 1 pair mate); Black-throated Blue (1); Yellow-rumped (3); Black-throated Green (1); Pine (10); Prairie (1); Black and White (11); A Redstart (12); Ovenbird (35); Northern Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (45);
    Scarlet Tanager (11); E Towhee (1); Chipping Sparrow (57); Savannah Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (33); Swamp Sparrow (41); White-throated Sparrow (3); N Cardinal (16); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (21); Bobolink (39); Red-winged Blackbird (120+); C Grackle (68); Brown-headed Cowbird (6); Baltimore Oriole (28); Purple Finch (2); House Finch (7); A Goldfinch (19);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/10/13 -- Grafton
    What a great morning fallout in and around our yard in Grafton this morning! Highlights were: Ruby-throated Hummingbird; Red-bellied Woodpecker; Pileated Woodpecker; Eastern Phoebe; Great Crested Flycatcher Yellow-throated Vireo (new for year); Red-eyed Vireo; Carolina Wren; House Wren ; Veery; Wood Thrush (new for year); American Robin Nashville Warbler (new for year); Northern Parula; Black-throated Blue Warbler (new for year); Black-throated Green Warbler (new for year); BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (NEW YARD BIRD); Ovenbird; Northern Waterthrush; Scarlet Tanager ; Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Brown-headed Cowbird; Baltimore Oriole.
    (report from John Liller);.

    5/10/13 -- Worcester cemeteries
  • This morning we bird HOPE and NOTRE DAME CEMETERIES in the city of Worcester for about an hour before heading down to the radio station: We had the following highlights (totals): Great Blue Heron (3); Canada Goose (1 on a nest); Mute Swan pair with 6 just hatched cygnets); Wood Duck (1m); Mallard (2); Killdeer (1); Belted Kingfisher (1 carrying food to nest); N Flicker (4); E Kingbird (4); Warbling Vireo (8); Red-eyed Vireo (2); N Rough-winged Swallow (2); Carolina Wren (1); House Wren (6); Veery (1); Wood Thrush (1); Gray Catbird (10);
      WARBLERS: N Parula (9); Yellow (13); Chestnut-sided (2); Black-throated Blue (1m); Yellow-rumped (26); Black-throated Green (4); Blackburnian (1); Black and White (5); A Redstart (6); Ovenbird (2); Northern Waterthrush (1)
    Scarlet Tanager (2); VESPER SPARROW (1: feeding on the ground with a Savannah Sparrow); Savannah Sparrow (1); Swamp Sparrow (2: breeders); Baltimore Oriole (5)
  • Also, last evening (5/9) we birded WACHUSETT RESERVOIR, dodging showers and thunderstorms. We had: Common Loon (15 ad br+2 1st yr); Green Heron (1); Canada Goose (9); Wood Duck (pair); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Greater Yellowlegs (1); Spotted Sandpiper (5); Eastern Kingbird (2); Bank Swallow (1); Savannah Sparrow (2).
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/10/13 -- Worcester
    Today in my backyard there were 2 Pine Siskins at my Thistle Feeder and a White-crowned Sparrow feeding on the ground. (report from Peter Morlock).

    5/8/13 -- Gate 36 Wachusett Res, Sterling
    While birding Wachusett , I observed 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (M+F) and 2 Common Loons. One of the Loons appeared to have a green band on its leg. (report from Peter Morlock).

    5/8/13 -- Crowley Road, Sterling
    Saw these 2 Pileated Woodpeckers on Crowley Road in Sterling. (report from Peter Morlock).

    5/8/13 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    At noon today there was only one cygnet remaining, following close behind its one parent swan. (report from Rick Quimby).

    5/7/13 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    At 1:30 today, highlights were Mute Swans (1 adult, 4 cygnets, one dead adult -- one cygnet also seems to have perished between yesterday and today), 2 Killdeer, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 3 Warbling Vireo, and 1 Yellow Warbler. (report from Rick Quimby).

    5/6/13 -- Gardner
    A flock of 6 pine siskins at our feeders off and on all day today. (report from Dick Knowlton).

    5/6/13 -- Institute Park, Worcester
    At noon today, there were few migrants, just a lone Yellow-rumped Warbler (m). Also 5 cute cygnets following their parent Mute Swan around (good photo op!), 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 E Kingbird, and 3 Warbling Vireos (calling, scolding, chasing -- making themselves right at home). (report from Rick Quimby).

    5/6/13 -- Sutton
    At 6.17 this morning I have a Male RubyThroated Humming bird at my feeders in Sutton. (report from Michael Joubert).

    5/5/13 -- Quabbin Reservoir Auto Trip, Gates 45-35
    17 Forbush Bird Club members enjoyed great weather for the Club's annual East Quabbin drive through tour. Here is the complete list of the species observed. (report from Tom Pirro).

    5/5/13 -- Ware River Watershed IBA
    We spent the morning birding a few of the roads of the WARE RIVER WATERSHED IBA. The starting temperature was 31F, but eventually it got up to 66F. There were good numbers of some of the species that breed here, but a complete absence of other species that we had recorded only yesterday. For instance, we found Eastern Kingbird, Gray Catbird and Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Saturday in the town of Southbridge, south Worcester County. All three species breed in the Ware River Watershed, and we know where to look for them, but apparently they have yet to move in. Numbers of other common species were quite low, like Common Yellowthroat. BTW: the forest is quite dry and the dirt roads were very dusty in places. The fire hazard is high. We need a serious rain to fall soon.
  • Birds: American Bittern (1 pumping); Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (1); Canada Goose (11); Wood Duck (8); Mallard (3); Broad-winged Hawk (2+ a pair that we watched starting a nest).
      We first came across the pair, perched in close proximity in the forest canopy along a quiet dirt road. 1 bird flew off slowly into the forest and out of sight. The other bird began to try to break a small branch off the tree using only its beak. This was a clumsy maneuver, and the hawk often lost its balance, fluttered a bit and regained its hold of the branch on which it was perched. It tried several branches and finally nipped one off, about 10 inches long. Then the hawk flew from tree to tree on both sides of the road, placing the branch down on tree limbs. But (apparently) none of the locations were just right. Finally the Broad-wing placed the plucked branch down on a place where several branches sprouted out on a white pine, about 50 feet up, close to the trunk. This was the right pace and the bird then began to prune off other branches from other nearby trees and bring them back to the pine and the nest was started. We must have watched this bird for over 30 minutes marveling at how difficult it is to do things like break off a branch without hands.
    Red-tailed Hawk (2); Ruffed Grouse (3 drumming); Mourning Dove (12: we watched one bird fly down to the forest floor and nip off a long grass and carry it to a nest); Belted Kingfisher (1); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2+1 ad returning to a nest hole with food); Downy Woodpecker (4); Hairy Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (7); Pileated Woodpecker (3); Least Flycatcher (6); Eastern Phoebe (13); Blue-headed Vireo (13); Warbling Vireo (4); Blue Jay (25); A Crow (1); C Raven (1 vocal adult perched near the nest which is hidden from view); Tree Swallow (45+); Black-capped Chickadee (33+1 excavating a nest hole in a stub); Tufted Titmouse (19); Red-breasted Nuthatch (26); White-breasted Nuthatch (7); Brown Creeper (11); House Wren (1); Winter Wren (1); Golden-crowned Kinglet (6); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1); E Bluebird (5); Hermit Thrush (9); Wood Thrush (1); A Robin (22);
      WARBLERS: Nashville (2: this species does nest in this IBA, but only 1 or 2 pairs); Yellow (16); Yellow-rumped (49: common breeder, but some of these may be migrants); Black-throated Green (27); Blackburnian (1: very low); Pine (25: we saw 1 female gathering nesting material, long soft pine needles, on the ground); Prairie (1); Palm (1); Black and White (11); American Redstart (1); Ovenbird (33); Louisiana Waterthrush (1); C Yellowthroat (2);
    Scarlet Tanager (1: many more to come); Chipping Sparrow (28); Field Sparrow (2); Savannah Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (10); Swamp Sparrow (24); N Cardinal (5); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (4); Red-winged Blackbird (54); C Grackle (6); Brown-headed Cowbird (3); Baltimore Oriole (1); Purple Finch (11); A Goldfinch (15);
  • PLUS: Common blooms included Marsh Marigold, Wood Anemone (abundant);; Sessile Bellwort. Butterflies included Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Spring Azure, Pine Elfin, American Lady and Juvenal's Duskywing.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • 5/4/13 -- Douglas
    I just had my first male ruby-throated hummingbird of the year at my feeder in Douglas. (report from Mary Sughrue-Yacino).

    5/4/13 -- Southbridge
    Today we birded the Worcester County town of SOUTHBRIDGE, hitting areas like the small airport, Westville Dam recreation area, the American Optical campus, and several small conservation parcels. We had atlased this area for the Breeding Bird Atlas II and that really helped us figure out where to go and what to look for. Migrant breeders continue to just eek in. For instance: We had a few catbirds, but nothing like the number that will eventually breed here.
  • Birds: Great Blue Heron (1); Turkey Vulture (3); Canada Goose (28); Wood Duck (pair flying from tree to tree prospecting for a nest hole); Mallard (5); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Cooper's Hawk (2); Red-shouldered Hawk (3); Broad-winged Hawk (3); Red-tailed Hawk (4); Ruffed Grouse (1); Wild Turkey (1: a number of turkey hunters about); Virginia Rail (1); Killdeer (7); Greater Yellowlegs (3 along the Quinnebaug); Spotted Sandpiper (2); Mourning Dove (6); Chimney Swift (7); Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); Downy Woodpecker (3); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N Flicker (10); Pileated Woodpecker (2); Least Flycatcher (3); E Phoebe (18); Eastern Kingbird (3); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Blue-headed Vireo (1); Warbling Vireo (8); Blue Jay (12); A Crow (14); Tree Swallow (65+); N Rough-winged Swallow (11); Bank Swallow (5); Barn Swallow (29); Black-capped Chickadee (42); Tufted Totmouse (37); White-breasted Nuthatch (13); Carolina Wren (3:low); House Wren (9); Winter Wren (1); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (11); E Bluebird (3); Wood Thrush (2 singing); A Robin (61); Gray Catbird (6); N Mockingbird (7);
      WARBLERS: Blue-winged (1); Yellow (27); Yellow-rumped (24); Black-throated Green (1); Pine (29); Prairie (6: some taking advantage of the still quite visible pathway of the tornado); Palm (1 ); Black and White (1); Ovenbird (8); Northern Waterthrush (5 singing birds); Louisiana Waterthrush (3 singing birds); C Yellowthroat (6);
    E Towhee (16); Chipping Sparrow (77); Field Sparrow (1); Savannah Sparrow (3); Song Sparrow (38); Swamp Sparrow (10); White-throated Sparrow (4); N Cardinal (19); Bobolink (1m); Red-winged Blackbird (111); C Grackle (60+); Brown-headed Cowbird (6); Purple Finch (1); House Finch (16); A Goldfinch (27);
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll)

    • 5/3/13 -- Millbury
    We observed a Black Vulture feeding on a dead Possum on a front lawn. The resident's dogs were barking at the BV, though it continued to feed; I had been back and forth down the road 6 times yesterday and saw the dead possum in the middle of the road in the early am. Around 2:40, before we saw the BV, the Possum had changed lanes toward the front lawn and then when we saw the BV feeding at 3:15, it was on the lawn, I don't know if the BV had a role in escorting the carrion. (report from Lisa Hennin)

    5/2/13 -- Bolton Flats WMA, Bolton
    Today I treated myself to a morning of birding at Bolton Flats. I visited only once before a couple of years ago and was not prepared for the terrain. This time I wore layers, knee-high Muck boots and my blaze orange bib. I parked at the Northern lot off of Rt. 110 by the red barn. I did a meandering loop of about 3 miles from the barn, West to the river and South to within sight of Rt. 117. Start time: 5:40 AM. 3.75 hours. 38 Species total. Highlights only as follows: Wood Duck, NORTHERN BOBWHITE*, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, SANDHILL CRANE*, Killdeer, LEAST SANDPIPER, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Brown Thrasher, Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. [*Only heard these -- my 1st time hearing a N. Bobwhite...and it was unmistakable; not my first time hearing a Sandhill Crane]. (report from Jenifer Glagowski)

    5/2/13 -- Grafton/Sterling
  • Parmenter Road, Grafton: 1 Great Egret, 4 nesting Great Blue Heron, 1 pair nesting Osprey, 1 pair nesting Mute Swans, 2 pair nesting Canada Geese.
  • Bartletts Pond Way, Sterling: Bank swallows, counted 28 nesting holes and many birds feeding. Nesting Osprey.
  • Campground Road, Sterling: Praire warbler, Eastern Towhee
    (report from Susan LaBree & Dave Grant).

    • 5/1/13 -- Worcester cemeteries
    On a brief "before work" tour of three of the cemeteries in the southwest corner of the city (All Faiths (Leesville Pond); Hope and Notre Dame) we had the following highlights: Green Heron (3 chasing each other and doing great displays); Canada Goose (8, 1 on a nest); Mute Swan (4: 2 pair, each with a nest with a bird on it); Wood Duck (5); Mallard (9); Red-tailed Hawk (pair); Killdeer (1); Chimney Swift (3 in display flight); Red-bellied Woodpecker (2); N Flicker (10: great displays on view); Warbling Vireo (7); Tree Swallow (2); N Rough-winged Swallow (2 landing on a dirt mound); Carolina Wren (3); House Wren (3); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1); Brown Thrasher (1); Northern Parula (1); Yellow Warbler (2); Yellow-rumped Warbler (31: many females); Pine Warbler (2); Black and White Warbler (1); Swamp Sparrow (2 singing birds); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1)
  • ALSO: Beavers, which are looking like they will be doing to Leesville what they did to the river behind Notre Dame.
    (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    • For previous sightings, see April 2013 Archives or Archive Index