November 2000 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.
- 11/28/00 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Noontime birds included 3 Great Blue Herons, 13 Hooded
Mergansers (6m, 7f), 1 Cooper's Hawk
(flying low with full crop), 1 Belted Kingfisher (f), and 1
American Robin. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 11/24/00 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling
- Conditions in the early morning
while cold at 7* were helped by a lack of any wind; sounds carried very
well. I recorded 1 sharp-shinned hawk, 2 flickers, 22 golden-crowned
kinglets; 30 cedar waxwings; 2 brown creepers; 20 robins; 50 red-winged
blackbirds, and 3 ruffed grouse. Junco numbers seem to be at peak: 200
were seen. (report from Richard Spedding).
- 11/22/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
-
Highlights during my 6th annual Thangsgiving Count at the
Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Worcester) this morning:
COMMON SNIPE (1 - new species for count);
Northern Flicker (2);
American Tree Sparrow (15);
Song Sparrow (1);
White-throated Sparrow (1);
Dark-eyed Junco (41);
Red-winged Blackbird (81 - new species for count);
Common Grackle (1).
The total of 22 species represents the lowest number in the six years,
and several
species had their lowest totals. The blustery conditions certainly had a
lot to do with the low numbers. (report from John Liller).
- 11/21/00 -- Watatic Mt, Ashby/Ashburnham
-
I was asked to pass along the following YTD season totals from Mt.
Watatic. Principle reporters were Tom McCullough and Petti Staub.
There were
37 dates and 332hrs. of coverage.
Season
Turkey Vulture......................112
Osprey..............................249
Bald Eagle...........................38 peak 5 on 9/17
Northern Harrier.....................44
Sharp-shinned hawk .................967 peak 153 on 10/7
Coopers Hawk ........................54
N.Goshawk ...........................11
Red-shouldered hawk..................52
Broad-Wing hawk...................14318 a total of 6 1000+ days
w/a peak of 3162 on 9/13
Red-tailed hawk.....................379 peak 111 on 11/1
Rought legged hawk....................0
Golden Eagle..........................7
Am. Kestrel.........................126
Merlin.............................. 40
Peregrine Falcon.................... 19
Unidentified Raptor................. 46
TOTAL............................ 16462
(submitted by Tom Pirro).
- 11/20/00 -- Wachusett Meadows Sanctuary, Princeton
-
A follow-up to Tom Pirro's comments about mixed grackle/blackbird flocks and
the numbers: [ed. note: see 11/18 "Gardner Hawks"]
The same is happening here at the Meadow almost daily, early am
and near sunset. Streams sometimes stretch from horizon to horizon. We
estimate many tens of thousands at a time all heading southerly. Quite a
show.
(report from Dick Knowlton).
- 11/19/00 -- Winimusett WMA, New Braintree
-
A morning spent at Winimusett turned up Belted
Kingfisher(1), Northern Flicker(6), Horned Lark(2),
Northern Shrike(1 im), Eastern Bluebird(25) and Snow
Bunting(15). (report from Chris Buelow)
- 11/19/00 -- East Waushacum Pond, Sterling
-
The Tufted Duck was found today at EAST WAUSHACUM POND in Sterling. Several
people have asked recently about the where-abouts of this bird. Here's the
scoop. It is usually in the presence of a small group of scaup on either West
or East Waushacum Ponds in Sterling. (but note: there are flocks of scaup at
BOTH the Waushacums). When boats drive the birds off these small ponds (East
and West Waushacum) they head over to Wachusett Reservoir, usually in the
vicinity of Gate 22 (the Tufted has already been seen here twice in the last
week or so). To get to Gate 22, head east out of West Boylston center along
Rt. 140. Watch for the sign for the Fish and Wildlife Headquarters on the
left opposite a capped landfill. The gate is labeled. ( note: coming along
Rt. 140 from Rt. 290, you will cross Rt. 70 and then pass South Bay of
Wachusett Reservoir first). Walk straight down the path, ignoring trails that
go off to the left and right. You will walk between two small cement
foundation stones and in short order will be at the water. It's about a 10
minute walk from your car, gently sloping downhill. At this point though,
there is a steep but short embankment down to the water's edge here.
Carefull, the leaves are slippery. From the shore, scan out into the water,
then work your way right (west) and walk out onto the narrow wooded
penninsula where there is a fair trail. This gives you a commanding view of
this southern part of the reservoir and if the duck is present, you should
see it. If you don't feel like climbing back up the embankment, continue west
along the shore a short distance and watch for an obvious trail off to the
left before you get to an old metal fence. When the Waushacum's freeze up,
the Tufted often hangs out in this spot before heading for parts unknown and
this is a good place to look on January 1st if Wachuset is still open. The
only other place to search is Coachlace Pond in Clinton, off Rt. 110 in
Clinton off Coachlace Road. The Tufted was here with the scaup for a bit last
year.
Seen today at Wachusett Reservoir (checking only a few locations on the
southern and eastern shore):
Common Loon (16);
Horned Grebe (19);
Canada Goose (67);
A. Black Duck (9);
Ring-Necked Duck (2);
Common Goldeneye (44);
Hooded Merganser (36);
Common Merganser (92);
Red-Tailed Hawk (3);
EAST WAUSHACUM POND:
Canada Goose (1 dead);
Mallard (16);
TUFTED DUCK (1m);
Greater Scaup (20);
Lesser Scaup (4);
Long-tailed Duck (1f);
Bufflehead (3);
Hooded Merganser (17);
Common Merganser (1);
Ruddy Duck (23);
Pine Siskin (1 overhead).
Best views by noon, were had from the small beach on Newell Hill Rd, just
after the railroad tracks. There is another beach/boat launch area on the
opposite shore off Swett Hill Rd, near the conservation land.
WEST WAUSHACUM:
Canada Goose (26);
Mallard (24);
A. Black Duck (2);
Greater Scaup (22);
Hooded Merganser (6). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/19/00 -- W. Royalston
-
We headed up to Royalston to check on the progress (if any) of winter finches
inspired by Tom Pirro's post. We hit several vantage points ( Town Commons,
Tully Dam, Jacob's Hill among others) and for several hours hiked or often
simply watched and waited for finches to fly overhead. Though we did find
some finches in the hours we were in Royalston, the numbers were not
impressive and it doesn't look like much of a flight year....not yet at least.
Interestingly numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches were also low and we noted
no Golden-crowned Kinglets though we have found better numbers elsewhere in
the state. Juncos on the other hand were everywhere. Most of the evergreen
species of trees had outstanding crops of cones.
Highlights:
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Ring-necked Phaesant (1m: this bird is getting scarce in Worcester County and
this is probably a recently stocked one);
Ring-billed Gull (flock of 24 heading west);
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2: seemed very low. We had more in the summer by far);
Cedar Waxwing (12);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (1: getting pretty scarce in Worcester County by now.
Paused in a birch before heading south);
Tree Sparrow (12);
Dark-eyed Junco (155);
Purple Finch (14);
Pine Siskin (9: we managed to "spish down" a small flock that was passing
overhead);
White-winged Crossbill (5);
A. Goldfinch (38);
Evening Grosbeak (6: we saw more of this species in Royalston in the summer
than today).
It will be interesting to see if numbers of winter finches improve in the
weeks to come.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/19/00 -- Indian Lake, Worcester
-
There continues to be a good merganser show at Indian despite the fact that
there are ATVs plying the shore as the water is lowered. Seen today:
Great Blue Heron (2 at Little Indian);
Mallard (34);
American Wigeon (10: all at Little Indian);
Hooded Merganser (113);
Common Merganser (157);
Ring-billed Gull (143);
Herring Gull (63);
Great Black-backed Gull (4);
Note: it is worth going over these gulls at this time of the year to look for
something uncommon. No luck today.
Osprey (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (1).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/19/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
-
HIghlights on a brief walk along The Stretch at the Broad
Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary (Worcester) this morning:
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Northern Flicker (1);
Carolina Wren (4);
American Robin (2);
American Tree Sparrow (3);
Song Sparrow (8);
White-throated Sparrow (12);
Dark-eyed Junco (9);
Common Grackle (2);
American Goldfinch (10). (report from John Liller).
- 11/18/00 -- Gardner Hawks
-
This morning I hawkwatched from 8:30Am to 11Am , a nice movemet of Red-tails.
A fairly stiff WSW wind kept nearly all the birds "pinned" down low. An
Imm. Golden Eagle passed just between 9 and 9:30. The summary:
Red-tailed Hawk 21 all adult that were seen well enough;
Red-Shouldered 2 adults;
Sharp-Shinned 1;
Golden Eagle 1 imm.;
Other birds seen from the Hawkwatch this morning include 1 Northern (common)
Raven , 1 adult N. Goshawk that I did not appear to be migrating , ~1000+
Common Grackles , 4 E. Bluebirds.
I have NOT seen or heard any winter finches this fall , other than some WW
Crossbills on Watatic a few weeks back.
I got back out this afternoon for a while , some more Red-tails were still
moving but many Blackbirds (mostly C. Grackles). At the Wompanoag MAS ~5000
were working through the woods a close range , and a few Red-tails seemed to
follow with a mild interest.
A bit later I stopped by High Ridge WMA and wide streams of blackbirds were
moving east I estimated these groups totaled between 15000 and 20000.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 11/18/00 -- Quabbin Park, Quabbin Reservoir
-
A morning tour of Quabbin Park ("South Quabbin") off Rt. 9 revealed only a
modest number of birds. Highlights:
Red-throated Loon (1);
Common Loon (8);
Horned Grebe (6);
A. Black Duck (4);
Long-tailed Duck (5);
Hooded Merganser (1);
Common Merganser (4);
(Note: waterfowl numbers were surprisingly low)
Bald Eagle (2ad);
Common Raven (2);
Winter Wren (1);
Eastern Bluebird (14);
Northern Shrike (2imm. 1 behind Winsor Dam, the other at the "blueberry
patch" picnic area);
Pine Siskin (2);
Purple Finch (2).
An earlier check of Hamilton Reservoir in Holland had only a handful of
Mallards and a brace of Canada Geese. We did spot a pair of Ravens in
Brinfield, though.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/18/00 -- Lake Wickaboag, W. Brookfield
-
Seen late morning at Lake Wickaboag:
Great Blue Heron (1);
Canada Goose (112);
Mallard (30);
A. Black Duck (8);
Ring-necked Duck (2);
Hooded Merganser (71);
Common Merganser (72);
Ring-billed Gull (40);
Great Black-backed Gull (2);
At nearby Coys Brook, the female Gadwall continues in the company of Mallards
and Black Ducks.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/17/00 -- GATE 33, QUABBIN Reservoir
-
An evening walk into Gate 33 had highlights of Common
Loon(5), Horned Grebe(3), Common Merganser(30), Bald
Eagle(2 adults) and Winter Wren(1). (report from
Chris Buelow)
- 11/17/00 -- Indian Lake, Worcester
-
A quick "before work" check of the city's small Indian Lake had the follwoing:
HORNED GREBE (pretty uncommon IN the city, though a regular and common
migrant at Wachusett Reservoir);
Great Blue Heron (2);
Canada Goose (47);
Mallard (47);
A. Wigeon (11);
Hooded Merganser (87);
Common Merganser (229);
Ring-billed Gull (220);
Herring Gull (31);
Great Black-backed Gull (1);
A good group of Ring-billed Gulls were in kleptoparasitic overdrive vis a vis
the Common Mergansers.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/15/00 -- Pine Island, Hardwick
-
Highlights of an afternoon at Pine Island include
Common Snipe(1), Song Sparrow(15), American Tree
Sparrow(20) and Red-winged Blackbird(125). (report
from Chris Buelow)
- 11/15/00 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
- I saw a flock of 60 snow buntings today in
Sterling about a half mile west from Sterling Peat. The birds were in
fight, but I was just in the right position to see them really well.
(report from Richard Spedding).
- 11/13/00 -- Pine Island, Hardwick
-
A few sightings today include COMMON YELLOTHROAT(1),
Song Sparrow(15), Swamp Sparrow(20), American Tree
Sparrow(30) and Red-winged Blackbird(20). (report
from Chris Buelow)
- 11/12/00 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling
- There were four bluebirds around
for most of the day. I also heard two great horned owls calling very
strongly, and often, from the area near their old nest of two years ago;
perhaps they'll nest there again. Two barred owls were also heard calling
in the distance. (report from Richard spedding).
- 11/12/00 -- Fort Meadow Rservoir, Marlborough
-
Heading home from the Tropical Kingbird, we counted waterfowl at Fort Meadow
Reservoir in Marlborough. The numbers and variety of species seems very
similar to last weekend's report:
Double-crested Cormorant (1);
Canada Goose (87);
Mallard (141);
A. Black Duck (52);
Greater Scaup (1);
Lesser Scaup (17);
Canvasback (2);
C. Goldeneye (1);
Common Merganser (20);
Hooded Merganser (3);
Ruddy Duck (959);
Greater Yellowlegs (1);
Snow Bunting (1).
To bird this reservoir known for good numbers of fall migrant ducks
(especially Ruddy's), the best areas are right along Rt. 85 north of Rt. 20.
You can either park in the canoe launch area known as The Grove, on the east
side of the road on the NW corner of the reservoir and walk along the shore.
As long as it is not open, you can also park in the lot of the Picadilly Pub
and walk out along the causeway.
At WILLIAM'S LAKE also in Marlborough:
Great Blue Heron (1);
Mute Swan (1);
Canda Goose (248);
Snow Goose (1 ad+ 1imm);
Mallard (14);
Common Merganser (21);
Hooded Merganser (33);
Ruddy Duck (102).
Note: This lake is right on Rt. 20 and there are several areas to
pull off
and check the small lake.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/11/00 -- City Of Worcester
-
We birded a few of the ponds in the SW corner of the city and Indian Lake
this morning before giving the tour at the art museum:
LEESVILLE POND:
Canada Goose (27);
Green-winged Teal (24);
Mallard (49);
A. Black Duck (12);
Gadwall (4);
A. Wigeon (14);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
A few C. Evening Primrise still in bloom.
NOTRE DAME CEMETARY:
Canada Goose (11);
Mallard (33);
A. Black Duck (7);
Gadwall (2);
Red-tailed Hawk (1)
CURTIS POND:
Canada Goose (2);
Domestic Greylag still present after 2 years!
COES POND:
Great Blue Heron (1);
Mallard (3);
Hooded Merganser (1f);
Osprey (1: this bird has been present for some weeks. It usually can be found
perched in a bare tree behind Ramstom's Garage on Mill Street);
Red-tailed Hawk (1)
INDIAN LAKE (the water here is being lowered and ducks are starting to
congregate)
Great Blue Heron (1);
Canada Goose (87);
Mallard (28);
A. Wigeon (20: most in Little Indian);
Hooded Merganser (106);
Common Merganser (130);
Killdeer (1);
Gulls are starting to congregate on the mudflats.;
Ring-billed Gull (142);
Herring Gull (29);
Great Black-backed Gull (2).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/10/00 -- Rowley Hill , Sterling
- A small flock of pine siskins
visited my feeder briefly during this mornings heavy rains. (report from
Richard Spedding).
- 11/9/00 -- Horse Pond, North Brookfield
-
From approx. 9-10:15 a.m. I found a
couple of dozen Mallards, 1 Hooded and 7 Common Mergansers, and, by count,
120 Canada Geese...and NO White-fronted Goose. I had perfect looks at
every goose through my scope as they moved sideways to me: all had
chin-straps. (report from Howard Shainheit).
- 11/8/00 -- Tufted Duck/GWF Goose updates
-
The TUFTED DUCK was seen last weekend (11/4-11/5), but is moving around between East and
West Waushacum Ponds in Sterling and sometimes cannot be found at either.
Nobody knows where it is going and people have checked. Generally, though, it
is often at the Waushacums. This is the same pattern it has shown in the last
several years.
The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in North Brookfield, that I reported on
Sunday 11/5, was still at Horse Pond as of Tuesday (11/7).
(report from Mark Lynch).
- 11/5/00 -- Horse Pond, N. Brookfield
-
While conducting a waterfowl survey of Brookfield ponds we found a
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
on Horse Pond in North Brookfield. It was in a flock of
about 125 Canadas. DIRECTIONS: From Rt. 122 in Rutland, go south on
Brookfield/Oakham Road (Rt. 148). Take a right onto Barnes Road, and bear
left onto Rufus Puntnam Road. In short order the pond will be visible through
the pines on the left. The birds were quite close from this vantage point and
visible from the car.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/5/00 -- Winimusett WMA, New Braintree
-
Late afternoon birding at Winimusett found American
Woodcock(1), Belted Kingfisher(1), Northern
Flicker(6), American Pipit(~100), Fox Sparrow(1) and
American Tree Sparrow(15) among others. (report from
Chris Buelow)
- 11/5/00 -- Brookfields pond survey
-
We surveyed ponds in the "Brookfields" this morning. Waterfowl numbers were
only modest. Despite the chill and windy weather, fishermen were still out
boating on the ponds and this may have been a factor in the modest numbers.
Pied-billed Grebe (4);
Great Blue Heron (6);
Canada Goose (213);
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (1: see previous post for directions);
Mallard (381);
A. Black Duck (41);
Gadwall (1f still at Coys Brook);
Greater Scaup (4);
Lesser Scaup (2);
Ring-Necked Duck (22);
C. Goldeneye (4);
Bufflehead (6);
Common Merganser (44);
Hooded Merganser (18);
Ruddy Duck (27);
Sharp-Shinned Hawk (2);
Cooper's Hawk (1);
Red-Tailed Hawk (5);
A. Coot (2);
E. Bluebird (6);
N. Shrike (1: L. Quaboag);
A. Tree Sparrow (100+);
Red-Winged Blackbird (360+);
Rusty Blackbird (89).
Plus: 1 freshly killed Short-tailed Shrew.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/4/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary
-
Highlights of a brief and quiet early morning walk along the Brookside
Trail at Broad Meadow Brook were 3 Downy and 1 male Red-bellied
Woodpecker, 1 Carolina Wren and 1 Towhee (both by ear), 2 pairs of Hermit
Thrush (2 birds? 4?), 5 Robins, approx. 10 Cedar Waxwings, 3 Tree
Sparrows, 2 Song Sparrows, 2 White-throated Sparrows, 3 Juncos, 1
Cardinal, 7 immature Red-winged Blackbirds (all males?), 26 Goldfinch, and
2 well seen and very yellow Palm Warblers. There were many more sparrows,
but they weren't at all cooperative.
(report from Howard Shainheit).
- 11/4/00 -- Wachusett Res./Sudbury Res., Southboro
-
A morning trip along the Rt. 70 side of Wachusett Reservoir this morning
(including a hike out to the Scar Hill cliffs, probably the most scenic
overlook of the reservoir) had the following:
Common Loon (30);
RED-NECKED GREBE (1);
Horned Grebe (29);
Great Blue Heron (1);
Canada Goose (10);
Mallard (2);
A. Black Duck (5);
Ring-Necked Duck (23);
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (1m at Mile Hill Road overlook, close in to near shore);
Greater Scaup (2);
Common Goldeneye (2);
Bufflehead (1);
Common Merganser (9);
Pileated Wodpecker (1);
Golden-Crowned Kinglet (12);
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (2);
Eastern Bluebird (13);
Hermit Thrush (1);
Northern Shrike (1 ad);
Yellow-Rumped Warbler (1);
Snow Bunting (1);
Purple Finch (3);
PINE SISKIN (1);
Red-Winged Blackbird (15 overhead);
Rusty Blackbird (21 overhead).
The Sudbury Reservoir in Southboro and Marlboro had a good collection of
migrating waterfowl. HOWEVER: there was not one duck south of Rt. 30, north
of Rt. 9. This is very unusual. One thing we noticed in this area of the
reservoir was that the water was covered with a yellowish scum that looked
like pollen, though I thought it was late for that. There was no such scum on
the water north of 30. I have NO idea if there is a connection or not. Most
ducks were in some of the many hidden coves and inlets of the rerservoir and
a lot of hiking was required to see most of the birds.
Canada Goose (290);
SNOW GOOSE (1);
Mallard (18);
American Wigeon (124);
EURASIAN WIGEON (1m);
RING-NECKED DUCK (1180: most in one huge strung out flock);
Lesser Scaup (3);
Bufflehead (17);
Common Goldneye (32);
Hooded Merganser (17);
Common Merganser (5);
Ruddy Duck (79);
Red-tailed Hawk (4);
Red-Bellied Woodpecker (1);
E. Phoebe (1);
Carolina Wren (4);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (33);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (9);
Hermit Thrush (3);
Gray Catbird (1);
Yellow-Rumped Warbler (13);
Purple Finch (4).
Also: a White-tailed Deer buck with a huge rack and we watched a White-footed
Mouse out and about in broad daylight. In Westboro we had (1) Cabbage White.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 11/3/00 -- Pine Island, Hardwick
- A dusk check of Pine Island turned up Common Snipe(1),
Cedar Waxwing(4), American Tree Sparrow(10),
White-throated Sparrow(3) and Red-winged
Blackbird(120) among others. (report from Chris Buelow)
- 11/2/00 -- Mt Watatic, Ashburnham
-
Results (Paul Pinault and myself) from Hawkwatching at Watatic
from 7:30 am to 4 pm.
(Wind NW ~ 10mpm temp. ~52f):
Red-tailed 50;
Sharp-Shinned 13;
Red-shouldered 7;
Bald Eagle 2 imm.;
Un Id 1;
Total = 73.
Also, yesterday 11-1-00 Tom McCullough tallied over 110 Red-tails and 1700
migrating Crows from Watatic.
Other sightings:
White-winged Crossbill 15;
Purple Finch ~10;
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Heard only;
Snow bunting 6;
Horned Lark ~20;
Raven ~10ish.
There were some Crows moving today (~200).
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 11/1/00 -- Brooks Reservation, Petersham
-
A nice group of songbirds this afternoon included
Hermit Thrush(1), American Robin(45), Cedar
Waxwing(20), Fox Sparrow(1), Brown-headed Cowbird(1),
Common Grackle(4), Rusty Blackbird(3) and Red-winged
Blackbird(15). (report from Chris Buelow)
- 11/1/00 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner
-
Yesterday's Red-necked Grebe was replaced by 3 Black Scoter (2 drake and
1 female) on Crystal lake. I also checked Lake Wompanoag a few miles
away and 4 Black Scoter were present there (1 drake and 3 female types)
along with a single Common Merganser.
(report from Tom Pirro).
For previous sightings, see
October 2000 Archives or
Archive Index