November 2011 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:

ONGOING -- Asian Longhorned Beetle Information

Bird Sightings:

11/30/11 -- Northbridge/Uxbridge/Grafton: A survey of ponds in the Northbridge/Uxbridge/Grafton area from 11:00 to 1:00 pm today: 4 out of 8 ponds visited head waterfowl present:
Arcade Pond, Northbridge: PIED-BILLED GREBE (3); Canada Goose
Whitins Pond, Northbridge: Ring-Necked Duck (37); Canada Goose(100)
Linwood Pond:, Northbridge: Hooded Merganser (3), DC Cormorant(1)
Lake Ripple, Grafton: Mute Swan (6), Canada Goose, (8) (report from Lisa Hennin).
11/30/11 -- Lake Dennison, Winchendon: There was only one bird on Lake Dennsion in Winchendon, Ma. late this afternoon, it was a Red-throated Loon. (report from Tom Pirro).
11/30/11 -- Worcester/Sterling: I did a little local birding today:
Indian Lake, Worcester: 250 Common merganser; 14 Hooded merganser; 1 Adult Bald Eagle - fly over; 2 Great Blue Heron
Wachusett Reservoir from the bridge at Route 12: 88 Greater Scaup, 1 King Fisher
West Waushakum Lake, Sterling: 8 Common Merganser; 1 Bufflehead (report from Susan LaBree).
11/30/11 -- Indian Lake, Worcester: Today at 3:50 PM we spotted a bald eagle perched in a tree at Indian Lake approximately 30 feet high. This was along side Grove Street just past Morgan Park (just before the Grove and Holden Street split). The eagle stayed in perch for approx. 20 minutes. The tree was overhanging the water but only 30 feet from the roadway. It flew away across the lake toward Shore Park on Shore Drive..
On 11/26/11 approx. 2PM: My son and I spotted a bald eagle passing by high over Assumption College sports fields (report from Meg Giarusso).
11/29/11 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton: The duck hunters that Jean Holm reported at Coachlace Pd. in Clinton on Nov. 24, apparently caused the large flock of scaup to retreat to the Wachusett Reservoir, as reported on Nov.27. The scaup have returned again to Coachlace Pd. There were 78 Greater and 7 Lesser Scaup on Coachlace Pd. today. (report from Fran McMenemy).
11/29/11 -- Millbury/Sutton/Grafton: Today I spent from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm checking a few locations in the Blackstone River Corridor: 4 out of the 7 lakes & ponds I checked contained the following:
Brierly Pond/Millbury: 6 Mallards, 2 Canada Geese, 1 domestic Goose, 115 Ring-billed Gulls, 60 Herring Gulls, 16 Hooded Mergansers
Lake Singletary Boat Ramp: 1 American Coot
St. Philips Cemetery, Grafton: 4 Green Winged Teal, 3 American Black Duck, 4 Mallards, other birds of note: several Eastern Bluebirds
Fisherville Pond: 2 Mute Swans (report from Lisa Hennin).
11/29/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester: At noon, the osprey continues to frequent the pond. It is freshly plumaged and seems to be the same one that has been present for several weeks off and on. Today it was feeding on something high up in the dead tree across the pond from the main shore. Other birds of note were 2 GW Teal (m/f), 4 Hooded Mergansers, and 1 Belted Kingfisher. (report from Rick Quimby).
11/27/11 -- Salisbury Pond/Indian Lake, Worcester: At Institute Park, the hooded merganser drakes are doing their head bobbing for the females. Also seen: the osprey in the dead pine, a green-winged teal (f), ruby-crowned kinglet, mallards and mute swans.
At Indian Lake: I ran into Sue, and we saw hundreds of common mergs and a close flyby by an adult bald eagle.
At West Waushacum: a very distant raft of about 80 scaup which I mis-id'ed with Sue as ring-necks.
On Wachusett Reservoir: a distant raft of 33 golden-eye seen from the dike and a common loon in the inlet just south of the dam on Rte. 70.
(repor from Garry Kessler).
11/26/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester: There was an Osprey at Salisbury Pond today. I first saw it in a tree across the pond then watched it fish for 10 minutes with no success before it flew back to the same large dead pine tree. Also on the pond: 14-Hooded Merganser, 1 Common Merganser and 2 Mute Swans. (report from John Shea).
11/24/11 -- Lake Chauncey, Westboro: During the last week during my walks in Westboro at lake Chauncey I have observed 3 Rusty Blackbirds, a N. Mockingbird, Tree Sparrows, White throated Sparrows, Red Shouldered Hawk and Juncos. I had a flock of Turkeys feeding in my yard, Northboro, a few days ago, I also have seen the Carolina Wren at my feeders this week. (report from Henry Squillante).
11/24/11 -- various locations: We did our traditional Thanksgiving Day birding trip: staying local and trying to see a Wild Turkey. Here's a summary:
CHARLTON: ORLANDO'S PONDS: The usual melee of Mallards (300++);, Canada Geese (158++); and Ring-billed Gulls (500+); but also: Gadwall (pair: hanging with the big flock of Mallards and feeding with them, but amazingly tough to pick out among the chaos); American Black Duck (8); Lesser Scaup (4); Bufflehead (4); Hooded Merganser (2f); Ruddy Duck (2); Iceland Gull (1 1stW);
BROOKFIELD: LAKE QUABOG: Red-throated Loon (1); and nothing else! Duck hunters were out on the lake and as far as we could see, the huge flock of coot (180+); have moved on.
SOUTH QUABBIN/QUABBIN PARK (highlights): Red-throated Loon (1); Common Loon (1); Mallard (2); Long-tailed Duck (1m); Hooded Merganser (5); Bald Eagle (4imm+3 ad>the immatures appeared to be migrating); Northern Harrier (1m); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Brown Creeper (1); E Bluebird (5); A Robin (21: good numbers everywhere we went today); CHIPPING SPARROW (1); late Tree Sparrow (1: the only 1 we had today); Dark-eyed Junco (9: good numbers everywhere we went today);
NEW SALEM (town center);: Bluebirds and the usual suspects, but no sign of the Western Kingbird. We weren't expecting it, just making sure.
NEW SALEM: Lover's Leap overlook Red-tailed Hawk (5: 4 appeared to be migrating);
BARRE: Canada Goose (16 migrating high overhead); Red-tailed Hawk (3: 2 appeared to be migrating); GOLDEN EAGLE (1ad: moving SW);
WORCESTER AIRPORT: Northern Harrier (1); Northern Shrike (1); Snow Bunting (100+);
NB: despite being in great habitat all day where we have found turkeys MANY times, we did not see a single turkey.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/24/11 -- Clinton: Today around 9 am there were only a four scaup on Coachlace Pond, perhaps due to duck hunters in a boat. But there was a flock of 20 snow buntings in the football field parking lot. (report from Jean Holm).
11/20/11 -- Westboro Wildlife Management Area: I took a late afternoon walk around the Westboro WMA. Oddly, there were no ducks to be seen on Lake Chauncey and only a single Mute Swan on Little Chauncey. Other birds seen were a large flock of Robins and a large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds, White-throated Sparrows, A. Tree Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrow, Juncos, Downy Woodpecker, N. Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Mallards, and a N. Mockingbird. (report from Laura Lane).
11/20/11 -- Princeton: Today, on our way to Mt .Wachusett for a hike, Scott spotted a Great Blue Heron in Princeton, on a small pond just north of the intersection of Rte. 62 and Rte. 31 near the town center. No turkey vultures to be seen from the summit. (report from Marion Larson and Scott Handler).
11/20/11 -- Green Hill Park, Worcester: This morning I visited the Vietnam Veteran's memorial at Green Hill Park, a lovely but sad place. In the marshy area to the right there was a palm warbler. Also notable there were 4 hooded mergs in the pond. (report from Jean Holm).
11/20/11 -- Douglas: I had a male ring-necked pheasant hanging out under my feeders --a new yard bird for me! The nearest stocked hunting area is a few miles away; maybe this was an escapee. (report from Mary Sughrue-Yacino).
11/20/11 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton: At Bolton Flats there were 6 Tree Sparrows and 1 Swamp Sparrow. (phone report from Dave Grant).
11/19/11 -- Clinton/Sterling: There was one Common Goldeneye among the 80 Scaup at Coachlace Pond and another 4 on West Waushacum in Sterling. (report from Jean Holm).
11/18/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Migrating raptors today: Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk 8 . Raptor Observations: Not migrating: 1 Northern Goshawk, 4-6 Redtails. Non-raptor Observations: (report from Bart Kamp).
11/13/11 -- Fair Plaza, Worcester /Town Farm Road, Sutton: I went to the Fair Plaza in Worcester this morning while it was still dark at 5:45 a.m. There were already a few crows in the parking lot "under the lights." Flocks of crows began to arrive in a steady stream, mostly from the northeast and continued until about 6:30. Many stopped in the parking lot and some continued over dispersing in southerly directions. I really couldn't count them as it was pretty dark at first, but conservatively, there were over a thousand, maybe a lot more. I did hear one Fish Crow in the mix.
I then birded the massive stubble corn fields owned by Whittiers off Town Farm Road in Sutton. I birded the back edge perimeter and also walked in the fields. Highlights included Common Raven, Hermit Thrush, 2 small flocks of American Pipits and 3 Rusty Blackbirds. I recorded 23 species in all. Note that this is a hunting area.
(report from Alan Marble).
11/13/11 -- Brookfield/Spencer/Leicester: Brookfield: LAKE QUABOG: Mute Swan (2); American Coot (flock of 180++) continue
West Brookfield: LAKE WICKABOG: Mallard (9); Hooded Merganser (28); Common Merganser (149); Red-shouldered Hawk (1)
SPENCER: LAKE WHITTEMORE: Canada Goose (34); Mallard (41); Common Merganser (8); Belted Kingfisher (1); Carolina Wren (1); Winter Wren (1); N Mockingbird (1).
WORCESTER AIRPORT: Northern Harrier (1m); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Horned Lark (5+); Common Raven (2); Eastern Bluebird (5); American Robin (70+); Northern Shrike (1: Mulberry Street: on fence); Cedar Waxwing (8); Dark-eyed Junco (30+); Lapland Longspur (1); Snow Bunting (50+).
LEICESTER: small cattail marsh Virginia Rail (2); Swamp Sparrow (1).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/13/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester: At 3:30, 2 Mute Swans, 2 GW Teal (1m, 1f), and 22 Hooded Merganser, 1 belted kingfisher, 1 osprey w/perch, 1 cardinal, 6 mallard (3m, 3f), 1f gadwall seen on 11/12 but not on 11/13. The GW teal were cooperative for photo on 11/12 but the sun was not. On 11/13 the teal were sleeping. Here are photos ( photo 1| photo 2) of the osprey. (report and photos from Garry Kessler).
11/13/11 -- Sandra Pond, Westborough: Mixed rafts of ring-necked ducks and buffleheads, 100+. (report from Garry Kessler).
11/12/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Migrating raptors today: Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 ; Golden Eagle 1 . Raptor Observations: Juvenile Golden Eagle. Not migrating: 3 Bald Eagles, 2 Northern Goshawks, 2 Redtails and 1 Cooper's Hawk. (report from Bart Kamp).
11/12/11 -- Indian Lake, Worcester: Today on Indian Lake I saw: 12 Ring- neck Ducks, 32 Hooded Merganser, 330 Common Merganser, 7 D.C. Cormorants and 1 Great Blue Heron. The Common Mergs.were hard to count, they were diving all the time and doing very well fishing. There were also about 400 Gulls mostly Ring-billed Gulls with some Herring Gulls.
At Leesville Pond I saw: 1 D.C.Cormorant, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 67 Canada Geese, 3 Mute Swans, 2 Wood Ducks, 2 Black Ducks, 1 N. Pintail, 7 Green-winged Teal and 1 Hooded Merganser.
(report from John Shea).
11/12/11 -- New Salem: A WESTERN KINGBIRD was well seen by a number of birders today. The bird was first discovered by a birder from Peabody (sorry, I forgot the name) very close to 7AM perched atop a tree right along SOUTH MAIN STREET near the church, but as we arrived, it flew down to a field and horse paddock across the street from the Town Hall (ie: closer to Rt. 202). Here it spent a lot of time preening; chasing other birds, once coughed up a pellet. and flying down to ground presumably catching crickets of other insects. Look for a large area of bittersweet at the back parts of the field (at one point we were looking over the horse to see the bird) and check trees all around this area. This seems to be a favored area for the bird. It flew once back in the direction of the church, where it could not be found despite searching from several birders, but then was rediscovered back in this same horse paddock. Great views through a scope. but not really close enough for great photos We left the bird there c. 9:15. other birds in the area inlcuded many robins; bluebirds; and a small flock of pipits flew overhead. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/11/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester: Highlights at noon were 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Gadwall (f), 2 GW Teal, and 8 Hooded Merganser. (report from Rick Quimby).
11/11/11 -- Curtis Pond, Worcester: There was a Great Blue Heron fishing at the same location and time of day that it was four days ago. Also, a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.(report from Brian Mulhearn)
11/8/11 -- North East Quabbin Reservoir, Salem/Petersham: The following are hilights from sections of New Salem and Petersham from gate 35, following the road along then bush-wacking along the shoreline to the North Dana area over Soapstone Hill to gate 36, then back to the shoreline and on to Gate 35...11 miles on foot.
Common Loon 24; Red-necked Grebe 2; Horned Grebe 34 the glass like water conditions aided in counting these small birds, the largest raft was 9 with 2 more of 5 each and an assortment of 2's and 3's. While on a remote point in North Dana I could hear 3 of these grebes calling back and forth; Long-tailed Duck 1; Ruffed Grouse 1; Bald Eagle 5; Sharp-shinned hawk 1 adult; American Woodcock 2 both flushed from stands of young white pine; Pileated Woodpecker 4; Golden-crowned Kinglet 23; Yellow-rumped Warbler 1; Brown creeper 4; Snow Bunting 15-20 on the phrag island in New Salem).
There is still a good deal of tree damage along the road and paths.
Also W-t Deer (along the shore of Mt. L), Fisher, Coyote (howling from Mt. L), River Otter.
(report from Tom Pirro).
11/8/11 -- Gate 36 Wachusett Reservoir, Sterling: This morning I found 70+ Snow Buntings and 6 American Pipits feeding in the field along the dike. (report from Peter Morlock).
11/7/11 -- Curtis Pond, Worcester: There were 3 GB Herons, including this one swallowing a large fish, 14 Mallards, 22 Hooded Mergansers, 3 Mute Swans, 1 American Black Duck, 3 DC Cormorants, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Carolina Wren, and 2 Gold-crowned Kinglets. (report from Brian Mulhearn)
11/6/11 -- Northboro/Westboro Area: Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip included a Long-tailed Duck at Solomon Pond, a late Killdeer at Bartlett Pond, a Bald Eagle at Lake Chauncey and a late Common Yellowthroat at Lake Chauncey. Here are details of the 36 species recorded. (report from Laura Lane).
Turkey Vulture 6 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ; Cooper's Hawk 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 5 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 . (report from Bart Kamp).
11/1/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: Migrating raptors today: Turkey Vulture 4 ; Northern Harrier 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 ; Cooper's Hawk 7 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 4 ; Red-tailed Hawk 19 . (report from Bart Kamp).