November 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:

ONGOING -- Asian Longhorned Beetle Information
11/4/13 -- Help needed for Stubridge CBC December 17
11/15/13 -- The life of Alexander Wilson on WICN

Bird Sightings:

11/30/13 -- Worcester Airport: Finally I no longer have to keep hearing from my non-birding mom that she found a county Snowy Owl. First bird I viewed very horribly from Rt. 56 and Mulberry Streets. The airport haze was so bad through my scope. So I begged my wife to go to the terminal. Good thing we did. From there I couldn't see the first bird as the slope went downhill and couldn't see it. I scanned left of the parking lot looking for Larks or Buntings and I saw a Snowy Owl in full scope view. Record Shots on my Flickr. (report from Justin Lawson).
11/28/13 -- Charlton, Southbridge, Holland, Wales, Brookfield: Today we birded a few places in the Sturbridge CBC circle, looking at ponds and also looking for Snowy Owls in fields. Spoiler: we saw no Snowys. The windy conditions made it tough to find passerines.
Charlton: Orlando's Ponds: Canada Goose (137); Mallard (850); A Black Duck (22); N Pintail (1f); Common Merganser (2f); Ruddy Duck (11); Ring-billed Gull (48);
Charlton: Dresser Hill: Belted Kingfisher (1); A Robin (14); Dark-eyed Junco (6);
Southbridge: Airport vicinity: Ring-billed Gull (52); A Robin (101); A Tree Sparrow (7); Dark-eyed Junco (12); Red-winged Blackbird (5);
Southbridge: Westville Dam: Canada Goose (80); Mallard (24); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Common Raven (1); White-breasted Nuthatch (4); Carolina Wren (1); A Robin (8); Song Sparrow (3); N Cardinal (4); House Finch (9);
Holland: Hamilton Reservoir: Canada Goose (37); Gadwall (pair); Mallard (29); A Black Duck (2); Hooded Merganser (88); Common Merganser (283); Ruddy Duck (17); Ring-billed Gull (47); Herring Gull (1 eating a large pickerel);
Wales -- Lake George: Canada Goose (11); Mallard (8); Ring-billed Gull (3);
Brookfield-Sturbridge -- South Pond: Mallard (33); A Black Duck (2);
Brookfield -- Lake Quabog: Mallard (21); Hooded Merganser (16); Ring-billed Gull (25); Dark-eyed Junco (30+);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/26/13 -- Marlboro/Southboro: We birded three ponds today in Marlboro and Southboro.
Fort Meadow Reservoir, (mostly in) Marlboro: Mute Swan (1); Mallard (214); A Black Duck (6); Ring-necked Duck (42); Bufflehead (4); Hooded Merganser (16); Common Merganser (80); Ruddy Duck (8); NB: The water to the west of Reservoir Street was 70% ice-covered. The largest number of waterfowl was seen from Centennial Beach, where there is now construction.
Hagar Pond, Marlboro. That day it was c.60% + ice covered. Great Blue Heron (2); Mute Swan (21); Canada Goose (38); Mallard (256); A Black Duck (9); A Wigeon (27); N Pintail (17); Hooded Merganser (1); NB: This is still a popular duck feeding area and it therefore attracts numerous Ring-billed Gulls. There is also a group of domestic geese on hand. That morning we counted/estimated c. 160+ Ring-billed Gulls. We spotted several with wing tags, BUT all the wing tags were very frayed and unreadable. I ended up trying to read leg band numbers using a scope and sent those into State Fish and Wildlife.
Sudbury Reservoir, Southboro. We spent most of the day hiking and birding here, walking in along the Bay Circuit Trail among other locations. The water was mostly open, except for small inlets and the Sudbury River, which was mostly ice covered. Great Blue Heron (1); Snow Goose (1ad: flew in with a large flock of Canadas. Sheila got some nice shots); Canada Goose (205); Mute Swan (4+1 dead, frozen in the ice); Mallard (26); Redhead (1m); Ring-necked Duck (495: most in several large flocks tucked into isolated areas well north of Rt.30); Greater Scaup (3); Bufflehead (8); Common Goldeneye (15); Hooded Merganser (110); Common Merganser (11); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Wild Turkey (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (4); Downy Woodpecker (7); Hairy Woodpecker (5); N Flicker (1); Blue Jay (54); Common Raven (1); Brown Creeper (2); Carolina Wren (9); Winter Wren (2); A Robin (197); Gray Catbird (1: now late for Worcester County, but I have had them over winter here); N Mockingbird (2); Cedar Waxwing (47); Yellow-rumped Warbler (2); Song Sparrow (7); White-throated Sparrow (3); Dark-eyed Junco (36); N Cardinal (13)
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/25/13 -- Wachusett Reservoir: Today we birded Wachusett Reservoir in the afternoon making the following stops: South Bay and Gate 17 (walk through); Scar Hill Bluff; Mile Hill Road overlook; the Rt. 110 dike; River Road. We had the following: Common Loon (7); Horned Grebe (4); Canada Goose (40); Mute Swan (2); Gadwall (3: 2f+1m); A Black Duck (2); Mallard (52); Green-winged Teal (1m); Bufflehead (3); C Goldeneye (20); Hooded Merganser (87); Common Merganser (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/24/13 -- Quabog IBA, Brookfields: We spent a few very cold hours looking for waterfowl in just a few of the ponds in the Quabog IBA in the Brookfields. All of the ponds are starting to ice over and smaller bodies of water and slow moving streams are already frozen. Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (2); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (256); Mallard (167); A Black Duck (2); Green-winged Teal (4); N Pintail (4: 3f+1m); Hooded Merganser (13); Common Merganser (338); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Ring-billed Gull (176); Great Black-backed Gull (3adW)
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/23/13 -- Sterling/Barre: At Sterling Peat there were 8 Am. Tree Sparrows and a C. Raven.
At the hawkwatch at Barre Falls Dam there was a Rough-legged Hawk. (phone report from Dave Grant).
11/21/13 -- North Brookfield: In the brier tangles of a cross country sewer line off Elm Street I saw 2, and quite possibly 3 Catbirds. Two were together and a third bird was seen 15 minutes later about 300 yards away coming from a different direction. Also seen were at least 40 White-throated, 3 Fox and 10 Tree Sparrows. (report from Rodney Jenkins)
11/20/13 -- Kendall Reservoir, Holden: My mother found a SNOWY OWL this morning on the reservoir. I was up in Rockport and unable to verify. I called Alan Marble and Joe Bourget to confirm it for me. They were able to confirm that she did in fact find a Snowy. Kudos to mom! photos are on my flickr! (report from Justin Lawson).
11/20/13 -- Millbury: In Dorothy Pond from Wheelock Ave., I viewed a group of ducks by binoculars only. Common Mergansers (est. 15), Hooded Mergansers (est. 6+), and what looked like at least 3 Green-winged Teal and gulls flying about with some Mallards and Canada Geese (report from Scott Ricker).
11/20/13 -- Douglas: I had a fox sparrow kicking up leaves under my feeder in Douglas this morning. (report from Mary Sughrue-Yacino).
11/17/13 -- Off Salisbury St., Worcester: A Pileated Woodpecker visited our backyard; it was joined by a Downy Woodpecker, checking a dead tree trunk. (report from Lisa Hennin).
11/17/13 -- Sudbury Reservoir, Southboro: We spent the morning birding the Sudbury Reservoir in Southboro. Waterfowl numbers and variety here are changing every few days now.
Birds: Red-necked Grebe (1: very uncommon-rare at this location); Double-crested Cormorant (1); Canada Goose (47); Mute Swan (1); Mallard (21); Ring-necked Duck (904: the largest flocks were seen well along the Bay State Circuit Trail along the eastern shore); Greater Scaup (3); Lesser Scaup (1); Bufflehead (4); Common Goldeneye (20); NB: searched for the Barrow's, but it has apparently moved on from this location Hooded Merganser (66); Common Merganser (11); Ruddy Duck (2); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-shouldered Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Wild Turkeys (3 seen walking across water along a log);
Passerines were fairly typical, but we did have Red-bellied Woodpecker (5); N Flicker (6); Carolina Wren (9); Yellow-rumped Warbler (1); Pine Warbler (1); Dark-eyed Junco (104).
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/16/13 -- Local Ponds, Worcester/Sterling/Clinton/West Boylston: Traveled around checking local ponds today. Here's what we saw:
Leesville Pond: Dark-eyed Junco (7); Carolina Wren (1); Song Sparrow (2); Mallard (17); Bufflehead (1); Hooded Merganser (16); Wood Duck (7); American Black Duck (4); Belted Kingfisher (1); American Robin (24); Canada Goose (12); Mute Swan (2); Green-winged Teal (5); American Crow (3); Blue Jay (4);
Notre Dame cemetery Hooded Merganser (10); Canada Goose (13); Belted Kingfisher (1); Mallard (26); Brown Creeper (2); Blue Jay (2); Mute Swan (2);
Wachusett Reservoir, South Bay Blue Jay (5); Common Loon (2); Long-tailed Duck (1 female); American Crow (3); Ring-billed Gull (2);
Wachusett Reservoir, Rt. 70 Side Common Loon (6); Ring-billed Gull (3); Black-capped Chickadee (1); Mute Swan (2); Bald Eagle (2 Adults); Song Sparrow (2); Horned Grebe (1); Osprey (1);
Clinton Pond Ring-necked Duck (101); Canada Goose (14); Ring-billed Gull (1); Hooded Merganser (3);
Wachusett Reservoir, Rt. 110 Side Long-tailed Duck (1 male); Ring-billed Gull (15); Eastern Bluebird (6);
Waushacum Pond, West End Bufflehead (3 female); Mallard (10); Hooded Merganser (6);
Waushacum Pond, East End American Goldfinch (16); Canada Goose (500+); Black-capped Chickadee (6); White-breasted Nuthatch (1); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (1); Bufflehead (4); Hooded Merganser (4);
Sterling Peat Ring-necked Duck (4); Hooded Merganser (22); Mallard (1); Great Blue Heron (1);
(report from Steven Sulzer and Susan LaBree).
11/15/13 -- Gate 43 Quabbin Reservoir, Hardwick: Early this afternoon there were 2 Dunlin in the cove at Quabbin Reservoir gate 43 in Hardwick. (report from Bart Kamp).
11/13/13 -- Off Salisbury St., Worcester: In the late afternoon, 3 Fox Sparrows put in at our feeder. (report from Lisa Hennin).
11/13/13 -- Wachusett Reservoir: This morning there was a tight flock of 18 Long-tailed Ducks at Scarhill Bluff. There were 4 White-winged Scoters as well. (report from Peter Morlock).
11/13/13 -- Lunenburg/Gardner/Winchendon: Today at Crystal lake Gardner: Black Scoter 7 all females
11/12 Gardner Crystal lake: Long-tailed Duck 1 female; Common Goldeneye 8 females; Bufflehead 2 males;
11/12 Winchendon (Lake Dennison): Bufflehead 15 Common Merganser 3
11/10 Lunenburg : a nice collection of waterfowl on Lake Shirley: Canada Goose 750; Am. Black Duck 25+; Mallard 500+; Green-winged teal 8; Northern Shoveler (1 female); Northern Pintail 4 (3 female/1 male 1st year); Lesser Scaup 2 (M + F); Hooded Merganser 25+; Common Merganser 50+; Pied-billed Grebe 1; American Coot 5
11/10 Whalom Lake: Bald Eagle 1 adult
(report from Tom Pirro).
11/12/13 -- Wachusett Reservoir: We had the following during a cold, damp and windy morning at Wachusett Reservoir 11/12: Common Loon (13); Horned Grebe (6); Red-necked Grebe (1); Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (1); Mallard (2); Black Scoter (2m); Bufflehead (tight flock of 39); Common Goldeneye (flock of 19); Bald Eagle (3: 2 ad on Cemetery Island and 1imm perched on a small birch on Cunningham Ledge being mobbed by crows); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Pileated Woodpecker (1); Common Raven (1); Chipping Sparrow (1 still at the cemetery with juncos);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/11/13 -- Holden: In the mid-afternoon, a Barred Owl flew into our backyard pines. This may be a first year bird as it was easily intimated by the Blue Jays and flew off to a neighbor's yard up the street. About ten minutes later, it was being harassed by more Blue Jays and flew over to the next street. At dusk, it was still in the area and flew into a pine at the end of the street. With the bird's intolerance of the Jay's harassment, I suspect it is a young bird and has yet to mature. Other recent sightings are 1st year Red-tailed Hawks in a neighbors' tree and ten turkeys who are now frequented our back feeders. Expect to see them for quite awhile. (report from Steve Olson).
11/11/13 -- Paxton, Brookfields, North Quabbin, Wachusett Reservoir: We spent Monday looking for waterfowl and shorebirds in some Worcester ponds:
Paxton: Kettlebrook Reservoir#4 (lowered water);: Common Merganser (12); Killdeer (1);
East Brookfield: Lake Lashaway (lowered water);: Double-crested Cormorant (2); Great Blue Heron (2); Canada Goose (7); Mallard (34); N Shoveler (3); Bufflehead (2); Common Goldeneye (2); Hooded Merganser (27); Common Merganser (8); Killdeer (1);
West Brookfield: Lake Wickaboag (lowered water);: Canada Goose (19); Mallard (26); A Black Duck (2); N Pintail (1f); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (14); Ruddy Duck (4); Common Merganser (377); Greater Yellowlegs (2); Pectoral Sandpiper (2); WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (1); Bald Eagle (1imm);
Petersham: Gate 41, Quabbin: Canada Goose (6); Ring-necked Duck (37); Hooded Merganser (1); Winter Wren (3: including 1 that sang a number of times); Golden-crowned Kinglet (1); Hermit Thrush (1); Fox Sparrow (2);
Petersham: Harvard Pond: Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (68); A Black Duck (15); Plus: River Otter (2); Mallard (5);
Wachusett Reservoir (late afternoon);: Common Loon (13); Horned Grebe (3); Red-necked Grebe (3); Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Blue Heron (1); Mute Swan (4); Canada Goose (47); Mallard (2); Long-tailed Duck (2m); Black Scoter (1f); Red-breasted Merganser (1f); Wild Turkey (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll);.
11/10/13 -- Southboro, Westboro, Northboro
: Today we birded the Sudbury Reservoir in Southboro and had the following: Common Loon (1); Double-crested Cormorant (2); Canada Goose (46); Mute Swan (3); A Black Duck (2); Mallard (2); Ring-necked Duck (657); Greater Scaup (4); Bufflehead (2); Common Goldeneye (22); Barrow's Goldeneye (1m: this bird was originally found by Dan Berard and the Forbush Club trip last weekend); Hooded Merganser (26); Ruddy Duck (80); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); American Coot (1); Among the "landbirds" found were Red-bellied Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (5); Carolina Wren (10); House Wren (1: getting very late for this species in the County); Winter Wren (1); Hermit Thrush (3); Yellow-rumped Warbler (7);
We then birded a few other ponds in Northboro and Westboro and had the following:
Bartlett Pond, Northboro: Pied-billed Grebe (2); Great Blue Heron (2); Canada Goose (11); Mallard (11); A Black Duck (2); Green-winged Teal (6); American Coot (1); Killdeer (1);
Little Chauncy Pond, Northboro: Ring-necked Duck (7); Winter Wren (2); Swamp Sparrow (8); Red-winged Blackbird (83);
Chauncy Pond, Westboro: Mute Swan (3); Mallard (2); Hooded Merganser (3); E Phoebe (1); Winter Wren (1); Yellow-rumped Warbler (4);
SuAsCo, Westboro: Pied-billed Grebe (3); Mute Swan (62); Canada Goose (118); Mallard (4); Red-tailed Hawk (1);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/10/13 -- Lake Singletary, Millbury: This morning there were 2 adult Bald Eagles sitting in a tree at the Singletary boat ramp. Highlights out on the water were 15 Ruddy Ducks and a Pied-billed Grebe. (report from Alan Marble).
11/10/13 -- Mt. Wachusett, Princeton: On top of Mt Wachusett today, I had a flock of 30-40 Snow Buntings - this was an increase from the 8 I saw last Sunday (11/3). Unfortunately there were too many people/dogs around for them to settle long enough to see if there were any other species in the flock. (report from Simon Hennin).
11/7/13 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston/West Boylston: This morning at Wachusett Reservoir (South Bay): Double-crested Cormorant (1: numbers dwindling); Mallard (5); Common Goldeneye (17); Bald Eagle (1imm); Wild Turkey (3); Snow Bunting (40+); Plus: White-tailed Deer (1);; Mink (1); and 1 BEAVER live but in a trap. So the DCR traps beaver here?
At Thomas Basin (Wachusett Reservoir);: Gadwall (3);
Indian Lake, Worcester: Canada Goose (18); Hooded Merganser (6); Red-breasted Merganser (1f); Common Merganser (273);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/6/13 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Holden, Paxton: Highlights from birding Wachusett Reservoir and other ponds --
Wachusett Reservoir: Common Loon (7); Double-crested Cormorant (3); Canada Goose (2); Brant (1: in exact same place, but we did see it fly in to there from the nearby water.); Mute Swan (2); Mallard (1); Surf Scoter (2f); Black Scoter (2f: with Surfs. Seen from Scar Hill); Bufflehead (3); Common Goldeneye (27); Common Merganser (1); Bald Eagle (1imm); Sharp-shinned Hawk (3); Red-tailed Hawk (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); N Flicker (2); Winter Wren (1); Hermit Thrush (1); Yellow-rumped Warbler (2); Dark-eyed Junco (52); Snow Bunting (30: dike near Cemetery); PLUS: Mink and Short Tailed Shrew (2);.
Clinton: Coachlace Pond Scaup sp: 72: mostly Greaters, but at least 4 Lessers, most asleep Ruddy Duck (2);
East Waushacum: Common Loon (1); Double-crested Cormorant (1); Mallard (6); Bufflehead (6); Hooded Merganser (2); Pileated Woodpecker (1); Hermit Thrush (1); American Robin (100+);
West Waushacum: No waterbirds Yellow-rumped Warbler (1);
The Quag: Canada Goose (10); Hooded Merganser (2);
Holden, Maple Spring Pond: Mallard (16); A Black Duck (12); Ring-necked Duck (67); Common Goldeneye (3); Common Merganser (5); Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Quinapauxet Reservoir: Mallard (7); A Black Duck (3);
Rutland, Pinehill Reservoir: (very low water); Hooded Merganser (4); Winter Wren (1);
Paxton: Kettlebrook#4: (very low water); Hooded Merganser (6); Common Merganser (14); Killdeer (5); Pectoral Sandpiper (1);
Paxton: Kettlebrook#3 (lower water); Bufflehead (2); Common Merganser (96); Worcester: Coes Pond Canada Goose (3); Mallard (2); A Black Duck (1); Ruddy Duck (3);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/5/13 -- North Dike, Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton: The BRANT is still continuing. The bird was non-stop grazing, flew a few times over the water and came back. Photo on my flickr. Also a female Long-tailed Duck is still present.
Also at Bolton Flats: Highlights were 4 American Pipits and 4 Fox Sparrows.
(report from Justin Lawson).
11/4/13 -- Mount Wachusett, Princeton: Raptors migrating today: Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ; Red-tailed Hawk 2 ; Rough-legged Hawk 1 ;
Raptor Observations: Bald Eagle was immature
(report from Paul Roberts)
11/4/13 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: At the hawkwatch, there were 15 Snow Buntings and 3 Lapland Longspurs. (phone report from Dave Grant).
11/3/13 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre: At the hawkwatch, there were 1 Golden Eagle and 7 Red-tailed Hawks migrating. Back at home in Worcester, I had an E Towhee in my yard. (phone report from Dave Grant).
11/3/13 -- Northborough and vicinity: Highlights of the 66 species observed during the Forbush Bird Club trip were Wood Duck; Ring-necked Duck; Greater Scaup; Lesser Scaup; Surf Scoter; Black Scoter; Bufflehead; Common Goldeneye; Barrows Goldeneye (Sudbury Reservoir); Hooded Merganser; Common Merganser; Ruddy Duck; Pied-billed Grebe; Double-crested Cormorant; Osprey (Bartlett Pond); Sharp-shinned Hawk; Coopers Hawk; Red-shouldered Hawk; Red-tailed Hawk; American Coot; Killdeer; Belted Kingfisher; Red-bellied Woodpecker; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
(report from Dan Berard).
11/3/13 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton: At 4:00, around 1/2 hr before sunset, there were waves of Grackle/Blackbird flocks flying over, most numbering in the range 1000-5000 per flock. Several flocks flew over in a 20 minute time period, one directly over me and low enough that I could hear their wingbeats and call notes -- an awesome sight and sound. Conservatively, there were at least 15,000 counted, estimated by counting by 100's in the flocks. (report from Rick Quimby).
11/3/13 -- Mount Wachusett, Princeton: Raptors migrating today: Osprey 1 ; Bald Eagle 1 ; Red-shouldered Hawk 1 .
Raptor Observations: Bald Eagle was an adult; Red-shouldered was immature.
(report from Paul Roberts)
11/3/13 -- Central MA ponds: Today we birded some ponds and reservoirs around Central MA, beginning in Holden, then to Rutland, then to the Brookfields, then to Wachusett Reservoir. There was a nice variety of waterfowl. Here is what we found:
Holden: Eagle Lake: Canada Goose (116); Wood Duck (3); Mallard (8); A Black Duck (11); Hooded Merganser (2); Bald Eagle (1ad);
Holden: Maple Spring Pond: Great Blue Heron (1); Wood Duck (1); Mallard (19); A Black Duck (7); Ring-necked Duck (31); Bufflehead (7); Hooded Merganser (4);
Holden: Quinapauxet Reservoir: Red-necked Grebe (3); Black Scoter (1f);
North Brookfield: small pond Canada Goose (97); Green-winged Teal (38);
West Brookfield: Wickaboag Pond: Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (42); Mallard (59); A Black Duck (3); Green-winged Teal (3); N Pintail (1); Black Scoter (21); Bufflehead (4); Hooded Merganser (16); Common Merganser (15); Ruddy Duck (11); Killdeer (3); Greater Yellowlegs (3); Pectoral Sandpiper (8);
Brookfield: lake Quabog: Horned Grebe (1); Mute Swan (2); Canada Goose (84); Mallard (38); A Black Duck (1); Scaup sp. (too distant to ID: 7); Black Scoter (11); Bufflehead (7); Ruddy Duck (11); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2);
East Brookfield: Lake Lashaway Double-crested Cormorant (2); Great Blue Heron (2); Canada Goose (129); Mallard (18); N Shoveler (4); Hooded Merganser (26); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (3); Greater Yellowlegs (6);
Wachusett Reservoir: Common Loon (17); Horned Grebe (1); Double-crested Cormorant (2); Brant (1); Black Scoter (61); Surf Scoter (3m); Common Merganser (2)
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
11/2/13 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Clinton: I saw a mature bald eagle today at the reservoir in Clinton, and also saw an osprey. (report from Susan Shaye).