October 2009 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:
- 10/31/09 -- Blackstone Corridor
-
- We birded a few ponds in the BLACKSTONE NATIONAL CORRIDOR, mainly to see how
waterfowl migration was doing:
SNEETCH POND, CUMBERLAND RI:
Pied-billed Grebe (3);
Wood Duck (25);
Mallard (3);
American Black Duck (4);
Ring-necked Duck (11);
E Screech Owl (1);
-
DIAMONDHILL/ARNOLD MILL RESERVOIRS, CUMBERLAND RI:
Double-crested Cormorant (4);
Great Blue Heron (6);
Mute Swan (2);
Canada Goose (85);
Mallard (30);
Green-winged Teal (6);
Ring-necked Duck (8);
Hooded Merganser (3);
Common Merganser (21);
Ruddy Duck (102);
Osprey (1);
Cooper?s Hawk (1);
Killdeer (3);
Greater Yellowlegs (1);
American Pipit (6);
-
PAWTUCKET COUNTRY CLUB, PAWTUCKET RI:
Double-crested Cormorant (1);
Mute Swan (1);
Mallard (45);
American Black Duck (3);
Hooded Merganser (2);
- TURNER RESERVOIR, EAST PROVIDENCE RI:
Pied-billed Grebe (1);
Double-crested Cormorant (7);
Mute Swan (28);
Canada Goose (62);
Mallard (91);
A Black Duck (3);
American Wigeon (4);
Gadwall (2);
Lesser Scaup (14);
Ruddy Duck (10);
- SEEKONK RIVER, PROVIDENCE RI:
Double-crested Cormorant (23);
Mute Swan (30);
Mallard (26);
American Black Duck (6);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (3);
- WOONSOCKET RESERVOIR, LINCOLN RI:
Bald Eagle (1ad);
Red-tailed Hawk (2);
Peregrine Falcon (2ad bathing);
- MEADOW POND, NORTHBRIDGE MA:
Mute Swan (10);
Mallard (16);
Ring-necked Duck (179);
Lesser Scaup (1f);
Ruddy Duck (4);
Common Raven (2);
Common Grackle (flock of 600+ working leaf litter in forest);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 10/30/09 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Sterling/Clinton
-
This morning there was a Female Long-tailed Duck at Gate 36 in Sterling and
2 Horned Grebes at Gate 39 in Clinton.
(report from Peter Morlock).
- 10/30/09 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Sterling
- This afternoon there were 3 snow buntings on the Sterling Dike lower
level (gate 36) at Wachusett Reservoir.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/30/09 -- All Faiths Cemetery, Auburn/Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester
-
Highlights from this morning:
- At All Faiths Cemetery in Auburn I had 5 Wood Ducks, a female
Northern Pintail, 6 Green-winged Teal and an American Woodcock.
- At Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester I 8 Wood Ducks, 2 A. Black
Ducks, 6 Green-winged Teal, an immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and a
Merlin.
(report from Alan Marble).
- 10/29/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 17 351 364
Osprey 0 51 146
Bald Eagle 0 37 72
Northern Harrier 3 22 33
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 813 1231
Cooper's Hawk 4 113 149
Northern Goshawk 0 6 6
Red-shouldered Hawk 8 27 30
Broad-winged Hawk 0 21 2680
Red-tailed Hawk 32 205 212
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 1 1
American Kestrel 1 166 225
Merlin 0 7 21
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 3
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 22 42
Total: 77 1845 5215
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Raptor Observations:
The 17 turkey vultures increased the season's total to a record high 364
turkey vultures.
Non-raptor Observations:
100's of migrating crows.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/29/09 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights today were 18 Hooded Mergansers, 1 B. Kingfisher, and
1 Hairy Woodpecker. Also, there were *no* Mute Swans for a
change. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 10/29/09 -- Flint Pond, Shrewsbury/Indian Lake, Worcester
-
Highlights today:
- From the Flint Pond boat ramp in Shrewsbury there was a pair of
Surf Scoters and a Wood Duck.
- At Indian Lake there were 153 Common Mergansers, 2 Ruddy Ducks and
2 Hooded Mergansers.
(report from Alan Marble).
- 10/26/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 4 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 11 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 6 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 18 ;
American Kestrel 2 .
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/25/09 -- Wachusett Reservoir & vicinity
- Here is a
list of the 44 species observed on the Forbush
bird club trip. (report from Kevin Bourinot fide Joan Gallagher).
- 10/25/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 1 ;
Osprey 1 ;
Northern Harrier 1 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 11 ;
Cooper's Hawk 3 ;
Northern Goshawk 1 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 4 ;
American Kestrel 4 .
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/23/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 2 ;
Bald Eagle 3 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ;
Cooper's Hawk 2 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 4 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 4 ;
American Kestrel 1 .
Raptor Observations:
The 3 adult bald eagles increased the season's total to a record high 72
birds.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/23/09 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston/The Quag, Sterling
- This morning from the Mile Hill Rd overlook of the Wachusett
Reservoir there was a Surf
Scoter, 23 White-winged Scoters, 3 Common Loons and a Horned Grebe.
- At The Quag in Sterling there was a Pied-billed Grebe
(report from Alan Marble).
- 10/22/09 -- North Brookfield Sewer Plant
- I had an imm. Wilson's warbler at the North Brookfield Sewer
Plant this morning along with a yellowthroat and an imm. White crowned
sparrow. This is my personal late date ever for Wilson's Warbler in
Worcester County and maybe the latest ever recorded.
(report from Rodney Jenkins).
- 10/21/09 -- Mt. Jefferson Conservation Area, Hubbardston
-
During the late afternoon, about 15 or so Eastern Bluebirds, nearly all of
them adult males, were taking advantage of the convenient utility wire
perches and quiet locale in order to do some foraging along the roadside and
field edge. A couple of Palm Warblers were present. Good numbers of
Yellow-rumped Warblers were actively feeding in the shrubby wooded edges,
and a small flock of American Robins was taking advantage of the Oriental
Bittersweet and other wild fruit in the area. One Red-tailed Hawk was also
hanging around. (report from Wendy Howes).
- 10/21/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 10 ;
Northern Harrier 2 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 ;
Cooper's Hawk 4 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 1 ;
American Kestrel 2 .
Non-raptor Observations:
2 monarch butterflies
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/20/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 4 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 ;
Cooper's Hawk 2 ;
Northern Goshawk 1 ;
American Kestrel 3 .
Non-raptor Observations:
100's of ladybug beetles landing on everything, 2 clouded sulphur
butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/20/09 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner
-
The numbers of gulls coming into roost on Crystal Lake
has increased dramatically in the past 10 days. Totals from this
evening were:
Herring Gull 650;
Great Black-backed Gull 95;
Ring-billed Gull 125.
Impressive numbers of puddle ducks arrive once darkness settles in --
about 300-400 and nearly all Mallards, with a few Black Ducks. Also
present was 1 Common Loon.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 10/19/09 -- Whitins Reservoir, Northbridge
- Today there were about three dozen ring-necked ducks at
the west side of Whitins Reservoir, seen from Main St. And
swans. And more swans.
(report from Beth Milke)
- 10/19/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 1 ;
Northern Harrier 3 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 22 ;
Cooper's Hawk 2 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 3 ;
American Kestrel 1 .
Raptor Observations:
By 11 AM EDT the birds were so high they were nearly invisible against the
blue sky.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/18/09 -- Lake Quaboag and Vicinity
- Here is a
list of the 40 species observed on the Forbush
bird club trip. (report from Rodney Jenkins, fide Joan Gallagher)
- 10/17/09 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
- Nancy Demers and I visited Broad Meadow Brook Audubon Sanctuary in
Worcester. Our route (Holdredge to Lady Slipper to Troiano to Cardinal and
back via Lady Slipper and Holdredge trails, with a couple of side jogs along
the way) covered woods, marsh, ponds and field. We saw two hermit thrushes
from Lady Slipper Trail. There was a wonderful pocket of birds along the
path from Barbara's Meadow to Heron Pond. Here, flitting among all the
birch trees were many ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets, many
yellow-rumps and a number of yellow palm warblers, a blue-headed vireo, and
a few eastern phoebes along with chickadees and tufted titmouses. At Heron
Pond, a few more phoebes sat calmly pumping their tails, while wood ducks
cried in alarm and skittered off.
(report from Beth Milke)
- 10/17/09 -- Notre Dame Cemetery
- I went over to Notre Dame Cemetery looking for ducks this morning
and ran into Rick Walker doing the same thing. We saw: 1 Great Blue Heron,
4 Wood Ducks, 6 A. Black Ducks, 1 N. Pintail, 6 Hooded Merganser, 1 Osprey,
2 Phoebes, 1 Carolina Wren and 12 Yellow- rumped Warblers.
(report from John Shea).
- 10/17/09 -- Wachusett Reservoir
-
- This morning we birded a few spots in the WACHUSETT RESERVOIR IBA. This
includes the reservoir and a number of the nearby ponds. Waterfowl numbers
were modest at best. Included in the below totals are birds seen along the
power lines near the Boylston Police headquarters.
Common Loon (4);
Double-crested Cormorant (25);
Great Blue Heron (3);
Canada Goose (24);
Wood Duck (51);
Gadwall (1);
American Black Duck (2);
Mallard (116);
Green-winged Teal (7);
Ring-necked Duck (10);
Greater Scaup (17);
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (2m);
Ruddy Duck (1);
Bald Eagle (1ad);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (3);
Bonaparte?s Gull (1adW);
Ring-billed Gull (52);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2);
Hairy Woodpecker (2);
Eastern Phoebe (5);
Blue-headed Vireo (1);
Blue Jay (42);
A Crow (24);
C Raven (1);
Black-capped Chickadee (56);
Tufted Titmouse (2);
White-breasted Nuthatch (15);
Brown Creeper (8);
Winter Wren (2);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (11);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (22);
Eastern Bluebird (7);
Hermit Thrush (2);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (73);
Palm Warbler (16);
Chipping Sparrow (60+);
Field Sparrow (3);
Song Sparrow (24);
White-throated Sparrow (175);
White-crowned Sparrow (1ad);
Dark-eyed Junco (26);
N Cardinal (2);
Red-winged Blackbird (40+);
C Grackle (30+);
- After a brief break for lunch, we birded a few ponds in Northboro/Westboro.
At the SuAsCo (Sudbury/Assabet/Concord); impoundment in Westboro we had:
Pied-billed Grebe (6);
Double-crested Cormorant (8);
Mute Swan (24, which included 4 imm);.
At Chauncy Lake there were (2); Mute Swans and (2); more Pied-billed Grebes.
An American Coot was among the Mallards, Blacks and Canadas at Bartlett Pond
(Northboro);.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 10/17/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 46 ;
Osprey 3 ;
Bald Eagle 3 ;
Northern Harrier 4 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 47 ;
Cooper's Hawk 2 ;
Northern Goshawk 1 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 42 ;
Golden Eagle 1 ;
American Kestrel 8 ;
Peregrine Falcon 1 .
Raptor Observations:
Our first golden eagle was an adult, 2 of the northern harriers were adult
males.
Non-raptor Observations:
1000's of migrating crows, 2 clouded sulphur butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/16/09 -- Whalom Lake, Lunenburg
-
- This morning on the lake were:
Greater Scaup 1 hen;
Ring-necked Duck 1 drake;
Surf Scoter 13 (12 drake adults, one hen or imm. drake).
The scoters were circling the lake, in flight, the Ring-necked with
them, but the "ringer" dropped out of that flock and joined a small
group of Mallards and the single G. Scaup on the water, right in
front of me.
- On 10/14 there were ~25 Black Scoters on Lake Wompanoag in Gardner, and
7 on Crystal Lake (also in Gardner). Photos (but not very good ones)
of these are posted on my
blog.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 10/15/09 -- Coachlace Pond, Clinton/Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
- This morning at Coachlace Pond in Clinton there were 15 Greater
Scaup.
- At Wachusett Reservoir, from the Mile Hill Road overlook there were
25 Black Scoters
- At Wachusett Reservoir, from the Scar Hill Bluffs, there were 27
Greater Scaup, 3 Common Mergansers, 5 Common Loons and 2 Double-crested
Cormorants.
(report from Alan Marble)
- 10/15/09 -- Wachusett Reservoir
-
Today, on a trip to Wachusett Reservoir and the ponds of Clinton and
Sterling I recorded the following: 2 Canada geese, 11 wood ducks, 5 American
black ducks, 78 mallard ducks, 37 ring-necked ducks, 14 greater scaup, 8
lesser scaup, 39 black scoters, 4 red-breasted mergansers, 2 ruddy ducks, 36
common loons, 1 red-throated loon, 2 horned grebes, 1 red-necked grebe, 38
double-crested cormorants, 2 Wilson's snipe, 1 spotted sandpiper and 1 least
sandpiper.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/14/09 -- Queen Lake, Phillipston
- There were 200 +/- Black Scoter hanging out all day on Queen Lake in
Phillipston. (report from Matt Pearson).
- 10/14/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 27 ;
Osprey 2 ;
Bald Eagle 2 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 83 ;
Cooper's Hawk 17 ;
Northern Goshawk 2 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 19 ;
American Kestrel 5 ;
Merlin 2 ;
Peregrine Falcon 1 .
Non-raptor Observations:
488 Canada geese
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/14/09 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
-
Scoping Wachusett Reservoir from the Scar Hill Bluffs in Boylston, I had 6
Common Loons, 2 Surf Scoters, 6 Black Scoters and 3 American Black Ducks.
There was also a Spotted Sandpiper on the shoreline.
(report from Alan Marble).
- 10/13/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 12 ;
Osprey 4 ;
Northern Harrier 1 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 44 ;
Cooper's Hawk 4 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 4 ;
American Kestrel 4 .
Raptor Observations:
A few hawks were migrating during the showers.
Non-raptor Observations:
One large flock of 250+ Canada geese.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/12/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 99 ;
Osprey 5 ;
Bald Eagle 1 ;
Northern Harrier 1 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 51 ;
Cooper's Hawk 14 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 28 ;
American Kestrel 5 ;
Merlin 1 .
Raptor Observations:
The cirrus clouds helped us find the high flying raptors; there were
kettles of turkey vultures at the end of the day
Non-raptor Observations:
95 Canada geese
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/11/09 -- New Braintree and Vicinity
- Here is a
list of the 49 species observed on the Forbush
bird club trip. (report from Rodney Jenkins, fide Joan Gallagher)
- 10/11/09 -- Winimussett WMA, Oakham
-
Although we were unable to take part in the morning Forbush Bird Club field
trip to this area, we birded the WMA for several hours mid-day through the
afternoon. In the hayfield and wetland edges along the Hardwick Road
section, we flushed 3 Eastern Meadowlark and encountered a flock of ~20
Eastern Bluebirds. We heard one Belted Kingfisher, but the stream was
otherwise very quiet.
We found the McKay Road section to be more productive, with lots of sparrow
activity.
We got good looks at several
Swamp Sparrows, and many Song Sparrows in different plumages,
including
this one. We also saw a
large sparrow with white outer tail feathers that we suspected was a Vesper
Sparrow, and thought we had captured a photograph, but unfortunately did
not.
About 20 American Pipits were foraging in the stubble close to
the wetland edges. Besides the expected few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and
Yellow-Rumped Warblers, we located one Blue-headed Vireo singing softly.
Cedar Waxwings were enjoying the fruit-and-berry bounty of the sheltered
thickets.
Very interesting were two juvenile Turkey Vultures seen as we were leaving
the area, perched atop the McKay Road barn soaking up the afternoon sun. We
had seen single vultures flying high over the WMA earlier in the afternoon,
but of course couldn't tell if they were these two first-year birds or other
adults.
(report and photos from Wendy Howes & Alan Rawle).
- 10/11/09 -- Quabbin Park, South Quabbin Reservoir
-
We spent the morning birding South Quabbin/Quabbin Park. We got out of there
by 11AM: just in time as the throngs of "leaf peepers" were starting to make
their presence felt. It was a stunning morning to be at Quabbin with clear
skies, a nip in the air and the amazing scenery. Good numbers of late
season passerine migrants were seen moving along the edge of the reservoir,
and this included decent counts of Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush,
Yellow-rumped Warblers, and White-throated Sparrows. On the Winsor Dam we
bumped into Chris Ellison and company attempting a "Big Sit". South Quabbin
is certainly one of the best places in central MA to attempt one of these at
this time of the year, and there are several promising locations you could
choose from. We recorded:
Common Loon (7);
Double-crested Cormorant (1);
Canada Goose (16);
Wood Duck (1);
American Black Duck (1);
Mallard (4);
Common Merganser (7);
Osprey (2);
Bald Eagle (1imm);
Northern Harrier (1);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Wild Turkey (17);
Ring-billed Gull (7);
Belted Kingfisher (1);
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (1imm/sub-ad: this bird was moving/landing though oaks
w/a big group of migrants that appeared to be just moving through. But who
knows?);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3);
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1);
Downy Woodpecker (6);
Hairy Woodpecker (2);
N Flicker (18);
Pileated Woodpecker (2);
Eastern Phoebe (4);
Blue-headed Vireo (4: 1 still singing a half hearted version of its song);
Blue Jay (121);
A Crow (28);
Common Raven (2);
Black-capped Chickadee (22);
Tufted Titmouse (14);
White-breasted Nuthatch (7);
Brown Creeper (11);
House Wren (1);
Winter Wren (1);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (6);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (42);
Eastern Bluebird (1);
Hermit Thrush (26);
A Robin (21);
Gray Catbird (6);
E Starling (13);
American Pipit (1);
Orange-crowned Warbler (1);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (165);
Pine Warbler (1);
Palm Warbler (3);
Blackpoll Warbler (3);
C Yellowthroat (3);
Eastern Towhee (9);
Chipping Sparrow (16);
Field Sparrow (2);
Savannah Sparrow (1);
Song Sparrow (11);
White-throated Sparrow (203);
White-crowned Sparrow (2ad);
Dark-eyed Junco (10);
N Cardinal (6);
Red-winged Blackbird (147);
Purple Finch (3);
House Finch (2);
A Goldfinch (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 10/11/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 42 ;
Osprey 2 ;
Bald Eagle 9 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 28 ;
Cooper's Hawk 9 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 5 ;
American Kestrel 14 ;
Merlin 1 .
Raptor Observations:
Not migrating: 8 turkey vultures, 6 redtails, pair of northern goshawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
84 Canada geese
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/10/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 28 ;
Osprey 21 ;
Bald Eagle 3 ;
Northern Harrier 3 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 180 ;
Cooper's Hawk 12 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 15 ;
American Kestrel 61 .
Raptor Observations:
An endless movement of raptors passing quickly in the gusty wind. 90%-95%
of the raptors counted were SE of the hawk watch site. They were apparently
following the Ware River valley whose elevation is lower than the
surrounding hills. Perhaps the raptors flew through the valley in order to
stay out of the strongest winds.
Non-raptor Observations:
125 Canada geese migratng
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/8/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 12 ;
Osprey 4 ;
Bald Eagle 4 ;
Northern Harrier 1 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 103 ;
Cooper's Hawk 10 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 10 ;
American Kestrel 23 .
Raptor Observations:
Not migrating: a pair of northern goshawks, 3 redtails and 2 bald eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
Migrating: 163 Canada geese and 2 monarch butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/8/09 -- North Brookfield
-
I had an Orange Crowned Warbler this morning in the North Brookfield
brush dump behind the sewer plant.
(report from Rodney Jenkins).
- 10/6/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 26 ;
Osprey 5 ;
Bald Eagle 3 ;
Northern Harrier 3 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 88 ;
Cooper's Hawk 9 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 2 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 16 ;
American Kestrel 12 ;
Merlin 1 ;
Raptor Observations:
Like yesterday the birds were low most of the day. Not migrating: a pair of
northern goshawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
121 Canada geese and 7 monarch butterflies migrating.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/5/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 9 ;
Osprey 1 ;
Bald Eagle 5 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 60 ;
Cooper's Hawk 11 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 4 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 1 ;
American Kestrel 7 ;
Peregrine Falcon 1 .
Raptor Observations:
Most of the hawks were no more than a "glass" above the horizon all day
long.
Non-raptor Observations:
11 Canada geese, 6 monarch butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/4/09 -- Millbury/Grafton
-
There was a Great Egret in the pond near the 146 & Mass pike intersection on
Friday (10/2) and Saturday (10/3), and today a Great Egret was seen on Millbury St in a
tree over a tiny pond in front of the Grafton Elementary School. That's the
most egrets we have seen in the area.
(report from Dan & Deb Berard).
- 10/4/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 1 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 ;
Cooper's Hawk 3 ;Northern Goshawk 1 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 4 ;
American Kestrel 3 ;
Merlin 1 .
Non-raptor Observations:
200+ migrating blue jays.
(report from Donna Schilling).
- 10/4/09 -- The Brookfields
-
We spent the morning birding just a few places in the QUABOG IBA in the
Brookfields. This included Elm Hill Mass Audubon property and some stops in
the Quabog Wildlife Management Area. There were some very nice
concentrations of sparrows this morning, including my first of the fall
MIGRANT juncos. Missing this AM were raptors: we had NONE, which is quite
unusual. There was little waterbird activity on Lake Quabog or Quacumquasit,
likely because both ponds were occupied by a number of fishermen out in
boats.
Pied-billed Grebe (1);
Double-crested Cormorant (1);
Great Blue Heron (3);
Green Heron (1);
Canada Goose (253);
Wood Duck (15);
Mallard (77);
Wild Turkey (10);
Ring-billed Gull (4);
Mourning Dove (17);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (4);
Downy Woodpecker (11);
Hairy Woodpecker (4);
N Flicker (14);
Pileated Woodpecker (2);
Eastern Phoebe (47);
Blue-headed Vireo (8: 3 still singing);
Red-eyed Vireo (1);
Blue Jay (49);
A Crow (42);
Black-capped Chickadee (106);
Tufted Titmouse (10);
White-breasted Nuthatch (13);
Carolina Wren (1);
House Wren (6);
Eastern Bluebird (18);
Hermit Thrush (3);
American Robin (166);
Gray Catbird (38);
Cedar Waxwing (48);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (193);
Pine Warbler (1);
Prairie (1);
Palm Warbler (13);
Blackpoll Warbler (23);
Black and White Warbler (1);
Common Yellowthroat (11);
SPARROWS:
Chipping (129);
CLAY-COLORED (1);
Field (2: in a beaver marsh of all places);
Savannah (13);
Song (76);
Lincoln's (3);
Swamp (37);
White-throated (145);
Dark-eyed Junco (3);
N Cardinal (52);
BLUE GROSBEAK (1);
Indigo Bunting (6);
Red-winged Blackbird (36);
House Finch (2);
A Goldfinch (2);
PLUS: (16); Cabbage Whites as soon as the sun finally peaked through the fog
and several Praying Mantids.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 10/3/09 -- Westminister
-
Birds seen and/or heard during a 5.5 mile walk (from 9 to 1:30)
around the neighborhood and into a nearby gravel pit with lots of
secondary growth, migrants were wide spread, BH Vireos in
particular. Highlights were: Merlin.... 1;Spotted Sandpiper... 1;Red-bellied Woodpecker... 2;Hairy
Woodpecker... 1;Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)... 2;Eastern
Phoebe... 5;Blue-headed Vireo... 29;Common Raven... 1;Brown Creeper... 1;
House Wren...
5;Ruby-crowned Kinglet... 9;American Robin... 10;Gray Catbird....
9;Orange-crowned Warbler... 1;Nashville Warbler... 9;Northern Parula...
12;Magnolia Warbler... 4;Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)...
25;Black-throated Green Warbler... 12;Blackburnian Warbler... 2;Praire
Warbler.... 1;Pine Warbler... 4;Palm Warbler (Yellow)... 18;Blackpoll
Warbler... 22;Black-and-white Warbler... 1;American Redstart... 1;Common
Yellowthroat... 12;Eastern Towhee... 3;Chipping Sparrow... 30;Field
Sparrow... 1;Savannah Sparrow... 13;Song Sparrow... 14;Lincoln's
Sparrow... 1;Swamp Sparrow... 4;White-throated Sparrow... 35;Dark-eyed
Junco (Slate-colored)... 1;Indigo Bunting...
3. (report from TomPirro).
- 10/2/09 -- Mount Wachusett, Princeton
- Raptors migrating today:
Osprey 3 ;
Bald Eagle 2 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 3 .
Raptor Observations:
The two bald eagles were immature.Too distant to determine age.
Non-raptor Observations:
Kettle of Turkey Vultures - 15- 20 in mid-afternoon.
(report from Steve Olson).
- 10/2/09 -- Green Hill Park, Worcester
-
This morning there was a Great Egret at Green Hill Pond.
(report from Peter Morlock).
- 10/2/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 6 ;
Osprey 2 ;
Bald Eagle 3 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 14 ;
Cooper's Hawk 3 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 8 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 3 ;
American Kestrel 4 .
Raptor Observations:
Not migrating: 6 turkey vultures, 2 redtails and 2 northern goshawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
3 monarch butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/1/09 -- Mount Wachusett, Princeton
- Raptors migrating today:
Northern Harrier 1 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 1 ;
American Kestrel 1 .
Raptor Observations:
Oddly, some of the raptors we saw flew directly into the wind with little
if no flapping. The upper winds were proably stronger than the ground wind.
(report from Steve Olson).
- 10/1/09 -- Notre Dame cemetery/All Faiths, Worcester
-
I went over to Notre Dame cemetery last night to look for ducks and saw: 2
D.C. Cormorants, 11 Wood Ducks, 12 Mallards, 15 Yellow rumped Warblers, 2
Cardinals and 1 Song Sparrow. From there I went to All Faiths cmetery, where
there were: 14 Canada
Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 11 Wood Duck, 4 A. Wigeon, 47 Mallard Ducks, 1 N.
Pintail (f), 2 Pied-billed Grebes and 1 Great Blue Heron.
(report from John Shea).
- 10/1/09 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Raptors migrating today:
Turkey Vulture 4 ;
Osprey 1 ;
Bald Eagle 1 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 23 ;
Cooper's Hawk 2 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 1 ;
American Kestrel 6 ;
Merlin 1 .
Raptor Observations:
Hawks were low; did very little soaring.
Non-raptor Observations:
Steady movement of blue jays, robins and other passerines.
(report from Bart Kamp).
For previous sightings, see
September 2009 Archives or
Archive Index
