October 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:
Bird Sightings:
- 10/31/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 233 237
Osprey 0 30 165
Bald Eagle 0 32 77
Northern Harrier 2 26 45
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 792 1164
Cooper's Hawk 5 111 183
Northern Goshawk 1 2 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 5 21 23
Broad-winged Hawk 0 18 5902
Red-tailed Hawk 54 226 244
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 2 2
American Kestrel 0 91 158
Merlin 0 29 47
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 15
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 18 26
Total: 75 1636 8293
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Raptor Observations:
2 Groups of 10 and 15 Redtails.
Non-raptor Observations:
13 Canada Geese
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/31/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Birds of note at noon were 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 GB Heron, 2 Mute
Swan, 4 Hooded Merganser, 1 Osprey, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2 Yellow-rumped
Warbler, and 1 Swamp Sparrow. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 10/30/11 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
- While taking a short walk into gate 17 (South Bay) with my eight-year-old
daughter,
I was treated to a Palm Warbler. My daughter wasn't impressed, however,
being more interested in our footprints in the snow. (report from Rick Quimby)
- 10/30/11 -- Phillipston
- Following a 21-inch snowstorm, a 1st winter Blue Grosbeak made a
brief visit at my feeders this afternoon but did not appear to stay around.
(report from John Williams)
- 10/29/11 -- Clinton
- There was a Brant on the Clinton High School baseball field.
(report from Kevin Bourinot).
- 10/29/11 -- Douglas
- I had a fox sparrow scratching around under my feeder this morning.
It joined the small group of white-throated sparrows that have been hanging
around there for weeks. (report from Mary Sughrue-Yacino).
- 10/28/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 18 233 237
Osprey 2 30 165
Bald Eagle 7 32 77
Northern Harrier 0 24 43
Sharp-shinned Hawk 83 784 1156
Cooper's Hawk 8 106 178
Northern Goshawk 0 1 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 5 16 18
Broad-winged Hawk 0 18 5902
Red-tailed Hawk 76 172 190
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 2 2
American Kestrel 1 91 158
Merlin 4 29 47
Peregrine Falcon 1 5 15
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 1 18 26
Total: 206 1561 8218
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Raptor Observations:
Not migrating: 3 adult Bald Eagles and 2 Northern Goshawks.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/28/11 -- St. Phillip's Cemetery, Grafton
- Green-winged Teal, Gadwall
continue. Belted Kingfisher present as well.
(report from Lisa Hennin).
- 10/28/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights around 4:30 included 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 GB Herons,
2 Mute Swan, 1 Hooded Merganser, 1 Osprey, 1 Hermit Thrush, 4
Song Sparrow, and 1 Swamp Sparrow. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 10/28/11 -- Wachusett Reservoir, Boylston
-
This morning from the Scar Hill Bluffs in Boylston, there were 3 Surf
Scoters, 1 Long-tailed Duck and 2 adult Bald Eagles.
(report from Alan Marble).
- 10/27/11 -- Crystal Lake, Gardner
-
Highlights from Crystal Lake late this afternoon were 1 Common loon and ~60
Black Scoter. (report from Tom Pirro).
- 10/26/11 -- Wachusett Reservoir/Coachlace pond, Clinton
-
- This evening from Coachlace Pond:
Greater Scaup 46;
Lesser Scaup 2 slightly smaller, peaked head, smaller bill;
Ring-necked Duck 9;
Hooded Merganser 2;
Pied-billed Grebe 1;
Belted kingfisher 1
- From Wachusett Reservoir:
Common loon 32;
Black Scoter ~50
- Note: I entered Coachlace Pond from near
Bart's Pond, I found about a dozen ticks
on my pant legs, birders should be mindful to carefully check for ticks.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 10/25/11 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
- Around 3 pm today, Lake Quaboag was still hosting about
225 American Coot and 2 Mute Swan. It was windy and there was bright
sunlight reflecting on most of the lake. My efforts resulted in no other
waterfowl being seen.
- At Orlando Pond in Charlton, there were 6 Ruddy Duck.
No White-fronted Goose was seen among the hundred or so Canada Geese who
were grazing. The total number of gulls was high, about 500, but I didn't
have time to individually count them, Some gulls were on the hill above the
pond, but most were near the upper pond at the top of the hill.
(report from Joan Zumpfe).
- 10/25/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 27 ;
Osprey 2 ;
Bald Eagle 1 ;
Northern Harrier 7 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 81 ;
Cooper's Hawk 8 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 4 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 20 ;
Golden Eagle 1 ;
American Kestrel 6 ;
Merlin 2 .
- Raptor Observations:
We watched a raven chase and dive on a juvenile Golden Eagle as the eagle
passed slowly by. Not migrating: 1 adult Bald Eagle, 3-4 Redtails and 2
Northern Goshawks.
- Non-raptor Observations:
2 Monarch Butterflies
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/24/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 20 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 39 ;
Cooper's Hawk 5 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 5 ;
American Kestrel 5 ;
Merlin 2 .
- Non-raptor Observations:
2 Monarch Butterflies
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/24/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights at noon were 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Black-crowned
Night-Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Green-winged Teal, and 1 Osprey (migrating,
made a pass at the water, then moved on quickly. (report from
Rick Quimby).
- 10/23/11 -- Wachusett Reservoir and vicinity
-
Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club around the Wachusett Reservoir
were Wood Duck (6);
American Wigeon (4); Surf Scoter (12);
White-winged Scoter (1);
Black Scoter (76);
Common Merganser (22);
Ruddy Duck (4);
Common Loon (27);
Horned Grebe (11);
Red-necked Grebe (3);
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle (3);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (3);
Brown Creeper (1);
Carolina Wren (2);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (6);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4);
Hermit Thrush (1);
Cedar Waxwing (21);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (66); Present at every stop.
Song Sparrow (19);
Swamp Sparrow (2);
White-throated Sparrow (6);
Dark-eyed Junco (14);
Red-winged Blackbird (30)
Here is the
complete trip list.
(report from Kevin Bourinot).
- 10/23/11 -- SuAsCo, Westboro
-
WE birded the general area around and in the SuAsCo impoundment in Westboro.
When we left by late morning, there had been no sign of the RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, but maybe it would show up later.
- Double-crested Cormorant (8);
Great Blue Heron (3);
Canada Goose (73);
Mute Swan (62);
Mallard (47);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (2);
AMERICAN COOT (18: in 1 loosely affiliated flock);
Mourning Dove (13);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Downy Woodpecker (7);
Hairy Woodpecker (3);
N Flicker (11);
Blue Jay (27);
Black-capped Chickadee (33);
Tufted Titmouse (11);
White-breasted Nuthatch (7);
Carolina Wren (4);
Winter Wren (1);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (2);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1);
Eastern Bluebird (26);
A Robin (325+);
N Mockingbird (1);
American Pipit (1);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (42);
Palm Warbler (11);
Chipping Sparrow (39);
Field Sparrow (6);
Savannah Sparrow (13);
Song Sparrow (16);
Swamp Sparrow (9);
White-throated Sparrow (34);
Dark-eyed Junco (19);
N Cardinal (16);
Red-winged Blackbird (340+);
C Grackle (420+);
House Finch (16);
A Goldfinch (9);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 10/23/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 6 ;
Osprey 1 ;
Bald Eagle 1 ;
Northern Harrier 2 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 62 ;
Cooper's Hawk 13 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 1 ;
American Kestrel 1 ;
Merlin 1 .
- Non-raptor Observations:
41 Canada Geese, 4 Monarch Butterflies, increase in numbers of migrating
crows.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/22/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 8 ;
Osprey 2 ;
Northern Harrier 3 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 48 ;
Cooper's Hawk 5 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 13 ;
American Kestrel 2 ;
Merlin 5 ;
- Non-raptor Observations:
2 American Pipits and 11 Monarch Butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/21/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 43 ;
Osprey 5 ;
Bald Eagle 3 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 39 ;
Cooper's Hawk 7 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 11 ;
American Kestrel 3 .
- Non-raptor Observations:
3 Monarch Butterflies
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/21/11 -- Westboro/Northboro/Grafton
-
- Today I birded several spots before work. The best bird of note was a
juvenile Red-Headed Woodpecker that flew in front of my car and into the
telephone pole in front of the Quirk building along Smith Parkway in
Westboro. This is the building next to the Westboro Commuter Rail Station.
The bird then moved from no parking sign to no parking sign then crossed
the street again and checked several telephone poles moving west, then the
bird spent a little time in the cluster of tallest leafless trees between
the road and Hocomonco Pond. Since there is no parking here along the road
I watched with Binos from the car. Then I farther down the road and parked
at the big dirt pullout and walked the sidewalk back to where the bird was
but could not relocate it. All told the bird was in view from
12:05-12:15pm.
Anyone checking for the bird should park in the dirt pullout or at the Rail
Station and walk along the sidewalk checking the poles and trees for the
bird. There is also a trail along Hocomonco Pond that the bird could be
along if it is lower in the trees. The trail starts from the side road to
the wastewater treatment facility(there is an old tire on the side of the
road by the start of the trail).
Also seen at the main pond A1site(aka Mill Pond or Suasco Res.) 64 Mute
Swans, 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 40 American Coot, 1 Rusty Blackbird.
- At St.Phillips Cemetary in Grafton I had the 2 drake Gadwall, 28
Green-winged Teal, 2 Black Ducks, 1 American Coot, 4 Bluebirds, 3 Hairy
Woodpeckers, 3 FOY American Tree Sparrows, and 8 Red-winged Blackbirds.
- At Westboro WMA in Northboro/Westboro I had a Raven and a Lincoln's Sparrow
at the model airplane field. Most other spots were quiet save for the
active pheasant hunting.
- At Bartlett Pond in Northboro I had 6 American Coot and a Pied-billed
Grebe.
- Also in the Tufts University cornfields in Westboro there were 10 Killdeer
and 40 Cowbirds yesterday.
(report from Nickilas Paulson).
- 10/21/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights at noon today were 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 GB Heron, 2
Mute Swan, 3 Green-winged Teal (1m, 2f, seem to have been there more
than a week), 1 Gray Catbird, and 1 Blackpoll Warbler.
(report from Rick Quimby).
- 10/20/11 -- Lake Quaboag, Brookfield
-
The coot show continues at Lake Quaboag. The raft was only 300 yards from
the boat ramp this morning. They are very difficult to count. Several
attempts ranged from 198 to 212 birds so I'll call it 205!
With the raft were 2 male white-winged scoters and 1 female black scoter.
Also 2 common loons. (report from Rodney Jenkins)
- 10/20/11 -- St Philips Cemetary, Grafton
-
At noon today at St Philips Cemetery in Grafton, there were 2 American
Coot. The 2 drake Gadwall and other birds reported earlier by Nickilas
Paulsen are still there as well.
(report from Alan Marble).
- 10/19/11 -- Quaboag Pond, Brookfield
-
- I travelled to Quaboag Pond late this afternoon, the large raft of American
Coot were still present. I counted the group several times and feel very
confident with 150 +/- 10, as my counts ranged between 140 and 160. As Bart
mentioned, the birds are grouped tightly and there is a good deal of
jockeying around and skirmishing which made an exact count nearly
improosible...likely more birds joined this group in the last 24 hours. I
can not recall a count of that many coot in Worcester County!
Also within the grounp was a single Ringed-necked Duck. In addition was a
Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, 3 Pied-billed grebes and 4 Greater yellowlegs.
- I "dipped" on the Greater White-fronted Goose at orlando's in Charlton,
there were approx. 50 Canada Geese, ~1300 Mallards, 16 American black Duck,
6 Ruddy Duck and 30 Ring-billed gulls.
Some one was dropping off a large amount of bread near the pond, perhaps 10
5 gallon buckets full, inside a fenced in area with string over it...which
is supposed to keep the Ring-billed Gulls away from the food. It did seem to
work fairly well....the mallards were feasting on the bread like a savage
school of Bluefish hitting baitfish.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 10/18/11 -- Hubbardston
-
Excellent looks at YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO hunting crickets in an unmowed
meadow here. In spite of adult coloration and plumage, this bird exhibited
some awkward moves which made me think it may have been a juvenile.
Among other species also present in the same locale were several HERMIT
THRUSHES and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a couple of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and
one BLUE-HEADED VIREO.
For a couple of weeks through 15 October, a nearby old gravel pit with
terrific successional habitat hosted good numbers of PALM WARBLERS,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, at least one PRAIRIE
WARBLER, a couple of BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, and several FIELD SPARROWS.
(report from Wendy Howes)
- 10/18/11 -- Westboro/Grafton
-
Today my father and I had some notable birds:
- In Westboro at Mill Pond (A1 site, Suasco Res.) the highlights were 22
American Coot, an Osprey, 4 Common Yellowthroats and the Mute Swan numbers
have reached a high of 51 here now.
- In Grafton behind St. Phillips Cemetary the highlights were 2 male Gadwall,
12 Green-winged Teal, 3 Black Ducks, 4 Bluebirds and 50 Chipping Sparrows.
(report from Nickilas Paulson).
- 10/18/11 -- Quaboag Pond, Brookfield
-
At 1:00 PM today at Quaboag Pond in Brookfield there were 1 Horned Grebe, 1
Pied-billed Grebe, 5 Ruddy Ducks and a raft of 92 American Coot. They were
as close together as rafts of Black Scoters usually are and hard to count.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/18/11 -- Wachusett reservoir, Clinton
-
The following are high lights from Wachusett Reservoir and Coachlace Pond
this evening:
- On Wach Res.
Common Loon 32;
Horned Grebe 8 (2 groups of 4);
Red-necked grebe 2;
Ruddy Duck 1 female;
Eastern Bluebird 14
- Coachlace Pond:
Greater Scaup 28
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 10/17/11 -- Charlton
- On the Forbush trip through the Brookfields yesterday (10/16), we found a
Greater White-Fronted Goose at Orlando's farm in Charlton. It was still there
today. On Lake Quaboag yesterday, despite 2 Bald Eagles flying around,
there was a raft of 45 COOT and 38 RUDDY DUCKS. (report from Rodney
Jenkins). [photo submitted by Joan Gallagher]
- 10/17/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 17 ;
Northern Harrier 1 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 39 ;
Cooper's Hawk 5 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 4 ;
American Kestrel 10 ;
Merlin 1 .
Raptor Observations:
The wind kept the migrants low all day long.
Non-raptor Observations:
1 flock of 18 Canada Geese, 7 Monarch butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/16/11 -- Lake Quaboag and vicinity
-
Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip were: White-fronted Goose at Orlandos, Ruddy ducks, Am.
Coot flock, White-crowned Sparrows and Rusty Blackbirds.
Here is the
complete trip list.
(report from Rodney Jenkins fide Jean Holm).
- 10/16/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Osprey 2 ;
Bald Eagle 2 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 ;
Cooper's Hawk 2 ;
American Kestrel 2 ;
Merlin 1 .
Raptor Observations:
Not migrating 2 Red-tailed Hawks.
Non-raptor Observations:
10 Monarch Butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/16/11 -- Wachusett Reservoir
-
- Our MAS "Fall Migration" class had a field trip to WACHUSET RESERVOIR IBA.
High winds made birding the main body of the reservoir difficult. Partial
list below.
- Common Loon (11);
Pied-billed Grebe (1);
Double-crested Cormorant (31);
Great Blue Heron (2);
Turkey Vulture (6);
Canada Goose (121);
Wood Duck (8);
American Wigeon (1m);
Mallard (17);
A Black Duck (2);
Ring-necked Duck (1m);
Greater Scaup (21);
Common Merganser (2);
Osprey (1);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (5);
Cooper's Hawk (2);
Red-tailed Hawk (16);
American Kestrel (1);
Killdeer (3);
Solitary Sandpiper (1);
Ring-billed Gull (28: no other species of gull);
E Phoebe (1);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (4);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2);
Common Raven (2);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (15);
Blackpoll (2);
Purple Finch (2);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 10/12/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Osprey 2 ;
Bald Eagle 2 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 ;
Cooper's Hawk 6 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 23 ;
American Kestrel 5 ;
Merlin 4 .
Non-raptor Observations:
41 Canada Geese, 1 Great Blue Heron and 11 Monarch Butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/12/11 -- Institute Park
- Today at noon highlights were a GB Heron, 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron,
2 Mute Swan, 3 Green-winged Teal (have been there several days), 2 Am
Black Duck, and 1 Blackpoll Warbler.
- Yesterday (10/11) there were also 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 E Phoebe,
and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.
(report from Rick Quimby).
- 10/9/11 -- New Braintree and vicinity
-
Highlights of the Forbush Bird Club trip included: YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 1;
AMERICAN PIPIT 1;
LINCOLN’S SPARROW 3;
WHITE-CROWNED SPAROW 6; and
INDIGO BUNTING 2. Here is the
complete trip list.
(report from Rodney Jenkins).
- 10/8/11 -- Brookfield
- In the fog this morning I saw a remarkable 7
Northern Shovelers (2 males and 5 females). At the wildlife management area
at South Pond there were a minimum of 36 Rusty Blackbirds, the largest flock
I've seen in a long time. (report from Rodney Jenkins)
- 10/8/11 -- All Faith's Cemetery, Worcester/Auburn
-
This morning, in the waste area on the left as you drive into All Faith's
Cemetery, There was a nice collection of sparrows including Chipping
Sparrows, Song Sparrows, 3 Lincoln's Sparrows, Swamp
Sparrows,White-throated
Sparrows and 2 first-winter White-crowned Sparrows. Also 4 or 5
Yellow-rumped
Warblers. On Leesville Pond there were 6 American Wigeons.
(report from Alan Marble).
- 10/8/11 -- Gate 35-39, Quabbin Reservoir
-
We spent a beautiful morning birding from gate 35 to Gate 39 in extreme
northeastern Quabbin. Temps started in the very low 40s, but warmed up by
later in the afternoon to high 50s.
- We had the following:
Common Loon (18);
Horned Grebe (4);
Red-necked Grebe (1);
Canada Goose (2);
Wood Duck (2);
American Black Duck (1);
Common Merganser (4imm);
Bald Eagle (2ad);
N Harrier (2imm; hunting over the Phrag Island);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (3: none migrating; all hunting deep in the forest);
Bonaparte's Gull (3);
Ring-billed Gull (19);
Herring Gull (1);
Belted Kingfisher (2);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3);
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (8);
Downy Woodpecker (2);
Hairy Woodpecker (5);
N Flicker (3);
Pileated Woodpecker (3);
E Phoebe (5);
Blue-headed Vireo (5: 3 still singing);
Blue Jay (61: movement throughout morning);
A Crow (12);
C Raven (1);
Black-capped Chickadee (60);
Tufted Titmouse (35: high);
Red-breasted Nuthatch (8);
White-breasted Nuthatch (18);
Brown Creeper (8);
Winter Wren (3);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (23);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (66);
Hermit Thrush (3: very low for this time of the year and this route);
A Robin (21);
Gray Catbird (2);
WARBLERS:
N Parula (2);
Yellow-rumped (204);
Black-throated Green (4);
Pine (56: a few still singing);
Prairie (2);
Blackpoll (18);
C Yellowthroat (2);
E Towhee (17);
Chipping Sparrow (1: low);
Song Sparrow (17);
Swamp Sparrow (9);
White-throated Sparrow (72);
Dark-eyed Junco (6);
N Cardinal (8);
- PLUS: Nice display of WITCH HAZEL typically the last wild bloom in interior
MA; a RED-BELLIED SNAKE, northern subspecies. a small gem of a snake,
beautiful, fossorial and typically not commonly seen unless you are actively
looking, and even then...
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 10/8/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 8 ;
Osprey 1 ;
Bald Eagle 2 ;
Northern Harrier 1 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 55 ;
Cooper's Hawk 8 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 2 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 2 ;
American Kestrel 4 ;
Merlin 2 ;
Peregrine Falcon 1 .
Non-raptor Observations:
1 flock of 11 Canada Geese and 8 Monarch Butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/8/11 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
-
This evening I watched the Muddy Pond area to see what the robin roost might
look like this year. It was only a small fraction of last year's numbers -- the
tally was between 500 and 1000 and the estimate was very rough. However last
year's big numbers were a bit later in the month...time will tell.
Other high lights:
D-C Cormorant 1;
Canada Goose 24;
Wood Duck 10;
Green-winged Teal 1;
Mallard ~15;
American Woodcock 1;
Cedar Waxwing ~40;
Gray Catbird 2. (report from Tom Pirro).
- 10/7/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 39 ;
Bald Eagle 1 ;
Northern Harrier 4 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 58 ;
Cooper's Hawk 9 ;
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 6 ;
Golden Eagle 1 ;
American Kestrel 7 ;
Merlin 1 ;
Peregrine Falcon 2 .
- Raptor Observations:
Our first Golden Eagle of the season was a junvenile bird.
- Non-raptor Observations:
Migrating: 1 flock of 28 Canada Geese and 6 Monarch Butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/6/11 -- Paxton
- In some weedy fields in the Wildlife Management area on Laurel
and Winter Streets I had mega warblers and some sparrows (but not many).
Yellow-rumped warbler 230, Palm 38, TENNESEE 1, Magnolia 1, Parula 1,
Black-throated Green 2, Blackpoll 4, Pine 1, and Nashville 2. A few sparrows
including 5 White-crowned and 2 Lincolns. (report from Rodney Jenkins)
- 10/6/11 -- Lake Chauncy, Westboro
-
I have seen a Double Crested Cormorant at Lake Chauncy in Westboro the last
few days. (report from Henry Squillante).
- 10/6/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Turkey Vulture 43 ;
Osprey 9 ;
Bald Eagle 7 ;
Northern Harrier 3 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 106 ;
Cooper's Hawk 7 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 1 ;
Red-tailed Hawk 1 ;
American Kestrel 16 ;
Peregrine Falcon 1 ;
- Raptor Observations:
Most of the raptors were low all day long.
- Non-raptor Observations:
Migrating: 2,889 Canada Geese and 13 Monarch Butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/6/11 -- off Lincoln St, Worcester
- In my yard today were 2 Common Yellowthroats, 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers,
1 Am Redstart, 2 CONNECTICUT WARBLERS, and 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch.
(phone report from Dave Grant).
- 10/6/11 -- Hadwen Park, Worcester
- At mid-day, There was an Osprey diving into Curtis Pond 3 times,
with no luck. 3 Great Blue Herons, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Turkey Vulture, 1
Red-tailed Hawk, 6 Wood Ducks, 6 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 5 Pine Warblers, 3
Black-throated Blue Warblers, 2 Black-throated Green Warblers, a female
Orange-crowned Warbler, 8 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 Ruby crowned Kinglets,
and 1 Brown Creeper. (report from Brian Mulhearn)
- 10/6/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights at noon were 2 Mute Swan, 3 GW Teal, 2 Osprey (one calling
near the other, one diving), 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1 E Phoebe,
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Hermit Thrush, and 1 RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Park
Bird for me). (report from Rick Quimby).
- 10/5/11 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
- Migrating raptors today:
Osprey 4 ;
Bald Eagle 3 ;
Sharp-shinned Hawk 118 ;
Cooper's Hawk 14 ;
Broad-winged Hawk 10 ;
American Kestrel 22 ;
Merlin 4 .
Non-raptor Observations:
Migrating: 829 Canada Geese and 50-60 Monarch Butterflies.
(report from Bart Kamp).
- 10/5/11 -- Womanoag MAS, Gardner
- From 9:45 AM - 2:00 PM:
Canada Goose... 141 all but 8 migrants;
Turkey Vulture... 6 likely migrants;
Bald Eagle... 1 migrant adult;
Sharp-shinned Hawk... 37 (36 migrants) plus one adult (apparent male) was
displaying from time to time over the duration I was there. Gaining altitude
and flapping with exadurated wing flaps, much like a Coop or Gos, it also
flaired out its white flank feathers, much like a displaying gos. Often it
would "greet" passing migrants, but seemed to give up the "cause" as the day
progressed. I have seen coops and gos' do this in the fall before but this
was the first I have observed this in fall from a "shin". Perhaps this bird
had bred in the area this year?
Cooper's Hawk... 8 migrants;
Red-shouldered Hawk ..1 migrant;
Broad-winged Hawk... 6 migrants, getting a bit late for this species but a
few on or about this date is not too uncommon. The 4 birds close enough to
be aged were adults.;
Red-tailed Hawk... 1 juv. not migranting;
hawk sp.... 2 migrants;
American Kestrel... 7 migrants;
Merlin... 2 migrants;
Peregrine Falcon ...1 migrants;
Herring Gull.. 7;
Great Black-backed Gull ..1;
Downy Woodpecker.. 1;
Northern Flicker ..1;
Eastern Phoebe.. 2;
Blue-headed Vireo... 1 singing;
Blue Jay... 15;
American Crow ...5;
Common Raven ...1;
American Robin ...10;
Gray Catbird ...1;
Palm Warbler... 1;
Yellow-rumped Warbler... 10;
warbler sp. ...50.
(report from Tom Pirro).
- 10/5/11 -- Dark Brook Reservoir, Auburn
- There are 4 Ospreys here today. Also, yesterday at All Faiths
Cemetery Worcester, there was a Black-crowned Night Heron. (report from
Brian Mulhearn)
- 10/3/11 -- Institute Park, Worcester
- Highlights at noon were 1 Pied-billed Grebe,
1 GB Heron, 1 Green Heron (ad), 2 Mute Swans,
1 Osprey (circling over pond), 1 E Phoebe (singing), and 1 Swamp
Sparrow. (report from Rick Quimby).
- 10/2/11 -- Gate 35-39, Quabbin Reservoir
-
Today we birded in northeast QUABBIN from GATE 35 to GATE 39, mostly in the
town of Petersham. The weather was overcast but not foggy, and rain
threatened, but never materialized.
- A note on warbler flocks in this area of northeast Quabbin. Typically in
fall migration, migrant passerine flocks in heavily forested areas like
Quabbin, appear in either edge habitat (power lines, in the trees along the
shoreline); or deep in the forest interior. These "forest flocks" can be
damned tough to come across as they often work the upperstory of the forest
and you have to luck into a flock crossing a road you are on. If the
lighting is not great, like today, the birds very high in the trees can be
extremely difficult (if not impossible); to ID as the quickly flit along
moving and feeding. Knowing chip notes helps. You just have to expect to
have a good numbers of birds move on deep into the forest unidentified. For
the birder, it often seems like there are long stretches of forest
(sometimes miles); and there will be no birds, then, suddenly, you come
across a flock and it's several minutes of chaotic birding and then they
pass back into the forest. You just hope it's not the tail end of the flock
as it passes over the road. And to make matters even worse, these migrants
are often rather silent except for the occasional chip note. Today we were
fortunate to happen on 4 good sized groups of mixed species, each with a
different character: a different mix of species with different species
predominating. One flock was quite unusual, working through the forest well
below eye-level, and often flitting to the ground and moving rapidly up-hill
south . This flock was composed mostly of Blackpolls and Pine Warblers.
Another flock seen crossing a dirt road was mostly Palms and White-throated
Sparrows. These birds would land on the road briefly then fly up into edge
dense regrowth and then move on south through the forest. MANY more birds
were noted flitting by than I could possibly ID, the views were just too
brief or in poor light.
- We had the following:
Common Loon (32: of which 5 were imm);
Common Merganser (flock of 5imm);
Bald Eagle (1ad);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (4: including a kettling group of 3 birds that
continually strafed each other while migrating up);
American Kestrel (1);
Wild Turkey (a flock of 11ad+1 very young and small poult. This bird had no
full feathers yet and looked about a week old);
Ring-billed Gull (8);
Belted Kingfisher (2);
Downy Woodpecker (3);
Hairy Woodpecker (6);
N Flicker (3);
Pileated Woodpecker (3);
Eastern Phoebe (2);
Blue-headed Vireo (3 singing birds);
Blue Jay (76: movement all morning);
A Crow (1);
Black-capped Chickadee (91);
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2);
White-breasted Nuthatch (12);
Brown Creeper (4);
House Wren (1);
Winter Wren (1);
Golden-crowned Kinglet (7);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (13);
Hermit Thrush (4: low);
American Robin (3);
Gray Catbird (5);
WARBLERS:
N Parula (9);
Cape May (1);
Black-throated Blue (8);
Yellow-rumped (176);
Black-throated Green (3);
Pine (81);
Palm (31: all "Yellow");
Blackpoll (72);
Black and White (24);
A Redstart (3);
Connecticut (2imm);
C Yellowthroat (5);
E Towhee (22);
Chipping Sparrow (34);
Field Sparrow (1);
Song Sparrow (12);
Swamp Sparrow (6);
White-throated Sparrow (27);
Indigo Bunting (1);
Bobolink (2 overhead);
A Goldfinch (2);
- STILL lots of fungi growing on the very wet forest floor; the last
BOTTLE/CLOSED GENTIANS found blooming; and somehow we both managed to spot a
number of SPRING PEEPERS in the leaf litter at the base of trees. Sheila got
some nice shots. Numbers of meadowflys still about and the mosquitoes were
pretty fierce in locations.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 10/1/11 -- Quabbin Park/ Brookfields
-
- We spent a rainy, damp, cloudy, soggy morning at QUABBIN PARK. Migrant
passerines were thin UNTIL we came across a mega flock of mostly warblers
that moved rapidly through the trees towards Goodnough Dike. Highlights:
Common Loon (14);
Pied-billed Grebe (1);
Great Blue Heron (1);
Wood Duck (11);
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
A Kestrel (1);
Wild Turkey (6);
Killdeer (19: loose flock at the State Trout Farm);
Belted Kingfisher (2);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2);
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1);
E Phoebe (9);
Blue-headed Vireo (2);
Brown Creeper (1);
E Bluebird (2);
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6);
Hermit Thrush (3);
Cedar Waxwing (4);
N Parula (3);
Yellow-rumped Warbler (35);
Black-throated Green Warbler (4);
Blackburnian Warbler (1);
Pine Warbler (36);
Black and White Warbler (3);
Blackpoll (44);
Scarlet Tanager (2);
E Towhee (6);
- A few quick stops in the BROOKFIELDS later had the following:
Double-crested Cormorant (1);
Mute Swan (2);
Canada Goose (79);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Wild Turkey (87);
E Phoebe (2);
Gray catbird (2);
N Mockingbird (1);
Cedar Waxwing (22);
Palm Warbler (11: all "Yellow");
Dickcissel (1f among House Sparrows in field near farm);
Red-winged Blackbird (flock of 60+);
Baltimore Oriole (1m);
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
- 10/1/11 -- Clinton/West Boylston
-
Today at Wachusett Reservoir between 4:30 and 5:30 pm there was a raft of
14 white winged scoters, flying and feeding between gates 40 and 36. Also at
gate 40 there were 10 loons and another 4 at gate 36. In my backyard in
West Boylston a great horned owl has been calling from dusk until ~ 7pm and
tonight it was duetting with another.
(report from Jean Holm).
For previous sightings, see
September 2011 Archives or
Archive Index