September 2000 Central Mass Bird Sightings

Sightings are listed in reverse chronological order. The email address of birders submitting reports, as well as other Central Massachusetts birding info can be found via the Central Mass Bird Update homepage.

9/30/00 -- Quinapoxet Reservoir, Holden

Sheila and I conducted a pretty thorough count of birds in the Quinapoxet Reservoir in Holden. NOTE BENE: This area (as are all city of Worcester reservoirs) is OFF LIMITS unless you have the necessary permits. The water level has dropped and there is some decent edge/shorebird habitat.
Double-Crested Cormorant (7); Great Blue Heron (8); Green Heron (2); Green-Winged Teal (17); Mallard (59); A. Black Duck (3); Turkey Vulture (1); Osprey (2); N. Harrier (1 imm. harassed by crows); Sharp-Shinned Hawk (4: 1 bird relentlessly pursued a large (100+) flock of crows, harassing birds in the flock mercilessly. Even when the flock moved, this feisty accipiter would follow, zoom in and around birds, driving the crows nuts); Cooper's Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Merlin (1); Ruffed Grouse (2); Killdeer (31); Greater Yellowlegs (3); Solitary Sandpiper (9); Spotted Sandpiper (3); Least Sandpiper (3); PECTORAL SANDPIPER (29); BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (1 juv. We watched this bird at a close distance for 45 minutes. It was convienantly located at the only overlook available to the public, the chain link fence on Jefferson. There's a lot of vegetation, but you can eventually get good views); DUNLIN (1); Common Snipe (3); Ring-Billed Gull (4); Belted Kingfisher (4); Red-Bellied Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (4); N. Flicker (1); E. Phoebe (5); Blue Jay (31); A. Crow (128); Black-Capped Chickadee (59); Tufted Titmouse (13); Red-Breasted Nuthatch (3); White-Breasted Nuthatch (10); Brown Creeper (9); Golden-Crowned Kinglet (16); Hermit Thrush (1); American Pipit (12); Gray Catbird (2); Yellow-Rumped Warbler (58); Pine Warbler (19); Blackpoll Warbler (11); C. Yellowthroat (1); E. Towhee (12); Chipping Sparrow (25+); Savannah Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (5); White-Throated Sparrow (10+); A. Goldfinch (11); BUTTERFLIES: few because it was at freezing when we started and did not warm up sufficiently till much later: Cabbage White (2); Clouded Sulphur (2); A. Copper (1); Mourning Cloak (2). Odes were abundant also only much later. About 100++ Ruby/Cherry-Faced Meadowhawks kept us company often landing on us to warm up. About 25+ large Aeshna sp. were seen actively hunting, (but never landed so I could look closely). New England Asters were abundant as expected. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/30/00 -- Wachuset Reservoir, Boylston

We joined Fran McMenemy at dawn at the Scar Hill bluffs (off Scar Hill Road, follow trail in back of cemetary to right some distance) to look for the phalarope he had found the previous evening. No luck with the 'rope, but we did have: Common Loon (5); Double-Crested Cormorant (29); Canada Goose (2); N. Pintail (4 f-type pl); Common Merganser (13); Belted Kingfisher (1); Brown Creeper (3); Winter Wren (1); Golden-Crowned Kinglet (10+); Hermit Thrush (1); Nashville Warbler (1); Yellow-Rumped Warbler (60+); Pine Warbler (10+); Chipping Sparrow (25+); White-Throated Sparrow (10+). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/28/00 -- Wompanoag MAS, Gardner

The following raptors (and a good Goose flight too) were tallied between 8:30 and 4:30 today: Sharp-shinned Hawk 64 (34 before 10AM); Coopers Hawk 1; Broad-Wing Hawk 12; Red-Shouldered hawk 1; Red-tailed Hawk 2; Am. Kestrel 17; Peregrine falcon 1; Osprey 28; Bald Eagle 1 adult; N. Harrier 3; Turkey Vultuer 12; Un Id'd Raptor 1. total raptors : 143.
Also passing by: (The Goose flight began after 1PM when the sky cleared off) Common Loon 7; Canada Goose 1419; Snow Goose 65; and common Raven and Lincoln's Sparrow , ~10 Flickers were "hanging out" on the parimeter of the field and later at my son's baseball practice a Merlin was on the prowl downtown. (report from Tom Pirro).

9/28/00 -- Rowley Hill, Sterling

There were two barred owls calling, 1 Coopers Hawk, large flocks of Canada geese flying very high in a southerly direction, two golden crowned kinglets, many birds on the move, with black-throated green warblers being the most numerous of the warblers today. (report from Richard Spedding).

---------------------Field Guide miniseries WICN

Radio station WICN (90.5 FM) will present two programs in which I interview the two authors of the latest bird guides to North America:
-- On SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 (5 PM) I speak with KENN KAUFMAN author of BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA . This true "pocket guide" (very concise and compact) is illustrated with photographs, some digitally enhanced.
-- On SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 (5 PM) I speak with DAVID ALLEN SIBLEY author and illustrator of THE SIBLEY GUIDE TO BIRDS. David talks a lot about his technique of painting. This is being broadcast during our fall fundraising period, so the broadcast of the show may be delayed a minute or two.
Both authors talk about their visions of the perfect field guide, the challenges of cramming an awful lot of info into a very small space, and (therefore) what had to be left out. I also asked both of them, why in god's green earth would anyone attempt the Herculean task of putting out a field guide to begin with, especially when the audience (we birders) is so demanding and hypercritical. BTW: WICN is now "webcast", meaning that as long as you have a PC with an Internet connection, you can now get us anywhere in the world. Go to: www.wicn.org For instructions and to be connected. (submitted by Mark Lynch).

9/24/00 -- Bartlett Pond/Lake Chauncey, Northboro

The Snow Goose with 60 Canada Geese was still present on Bartlett Pond at 7:30 a.m. this morning. I watched the bird for ten minutes and then all the birds flew up and south. (Here are two digital pictures: Image 1, Image 2.
Also, this morning in the fields by Lake Chauncey I observed 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 American Kestrel, 5 Palm and 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers. At 6:00 p.m., 2 American Wigeon landed on Bartlett Pond. The Snow Goose and Canada Geese were not there. (report from Ann Boover).

9/24/00 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton

We birded Bolton Flats from just before dawn till 11 AM. Weather was humid and very overcast. The wind kicked up by 9:30 and birds were very tough to scare up after that. There were many birds of a FEW species, but when it got down to it, actually a very poor variety of species (though there were a few interesting birds). For instance: we saw NO vireos, thrushes (other than robins) or Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Even the variety of species of warblers were poor, though there were many birds. Good movements of robins, waxwings and Red-Wings were counted. Numbers of sparrows are continuing to build to a climax that will occur in the next three weeks. Canada Goose (21); Wood Duck (20); Mallard (7); Turkey Vulture (1); N. Harrier (2 hunting); Sharp-Shinned Hawk (2); Cooper's Hawk (2); Red-Tailed Hawk (3); Merlin (1); A. Kestrel (1); Killdeer (1 overhead); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (1); N. Flicker (7); E. Phoebe (31); Blue Jay (49); A. Crow (4); Black-Capped Chickadee (21); Tufted Titmouse (9); White-Breasted Nuthatch (9); House Wren (3); AMERICAN ROBIN (1260. Just before dawn, huge numbers of robins were seen on the trails, feeding in the trees and in the bushes opposite the cornfield. Within an hour most of these birds left. Throughout the morning, small flocks of robins continued to fly over heading south. A beautiful leucistic bird was seen close on the main road before the cornfields. It was mostly pure white, but did have a black eye, a pale cafe au lait color to only the upper back and a very slight blush of pink on the upper breast.); Cedar Waxwing (141, including 1 flock of 70 birds. These birds seemed to be on the move this AM); Gray Catbird (49); N. Mockingbird (1);
WARBLERS: Magnolia (4); Yellow-Rumped (34); Palm (22); Blackpoll (16); A. Redstart (1); C. Yellowthroat (39); CONNECTICUT (2: actually pretty typical for this spot at this time);
N, Cardinal (6); Indigo Bunting (4); DICKCISSEL (1 calling overhead heading south); Chipping Sparrow (21); Savannah Sparrow (89); NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW (1: this bird was in the tall weeds opposite the pumpkin patch. 1-2 of these birds seems to be showing up here every fall, but it takes a heap o' beating o' the bush to find them); Song Sparrow (92); Swamp Sparrow (90); Lincoln's Sparrow (4); White-Throated Sparrow (2); Bobolink (37); Red-Winged Blackbird (453: all in small flocks heading south); A. Goldfinch (27). BUTTERFLIES were tough to come by because of the overcast weather: Cabbage White (3); Orange Sulphur (4); Clouded Sulphur (5); Pearl Crescent (1); Viceroy (1); Monarch (4). There was a decent flight of Buck Moths. Ruby/Cherry-Faced Meadowhawks were abundant. Everytime I looked around while out on the fields proper, 5-10 were in view. I estimate probably 2000 as the low end count. Several large darners were seen well before dawn hunting in the gloom. Asters are still all over in bloom and a few Turtlehead flowers (past peak) were present. The fields look very "mid-fall" in color. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/24/00 -- Lake Wompanoag, Gardner

I was up before 5Am Saturday AM 9/23 for a family trip but had a few brief minutes to listen for night calls of migrants. There was a very large flight of thrushes taking place , I don't know the night calls well enough to be species specific. The calls were sounding off at the rate of 1 per second. In only about 2 minutes time I counted well over 100 calls of thrushy sounding calls , 3 types but 1 in particular made up more than 90%. I was hard pressed for time and had to keep it brief. Interesting to note I don't think I saw any large # of thrushes reported over the NET from the area.

Today (9/24) near Lake Wompanoag : RC Kinglet 1; GC Kinglet 1; Blue Headed Vireo 4; R-Eyed Vireo 1; B+W Warb 3; Magnolia Warb 5+; Blackpoll 2; Wilson's 1; Blackburian 1; B Thr. blue 1 fem; B Thr Green 4; Bald Eagle 1 imm; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1; (report from Tom Pirro).

9/23/00 -- Bartlett (and other) Ponds, Northboro/Westboro

On an early morning check of the ponds in Northboro and Westboro, birds worth noting were: 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Great Blue Herons, 1 SNOW GOOSE (adult white morph) on Bartlett Pond among 60 Canada Geese, 14 Wood Ducks, 3 Mallard, 2 Killdeer, 2 Belted Kingfisher, 5 Eastern Phoebe and 1 Blue-headed Vireo. Warblers seen were 1 Northern Parula, 1 Chestnut-sided, 15 Yellow-rumped, 9 Palm and 3 Common Yellowthroat. I also saw 1 Savannah and 2 White-throated Sparrows. (report from Ann Boover).

9/23/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

Highlights this morning with my class: AMERICAN BITTERN (1); SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (1); BROAD-WINGED HAWK (17 - including one kettle of 13 after everyone left; all birds were heading SW); AMERICAN KESTREL (3 - heading SW); MERLIN (1); Hairy Woodpecker (2); Northern Flicker (11); Eastern Phoebe (7); BLUE-HEADED VIREO (1); Red-eyed Vireo (3); Blue Jay (30+); American Crow (35+ - mostly in one group); Carolina Wren (1); House Wren (3); RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (1); Eastern Bluebird (3); American Robin (9); Gray Catbird (30); BROWN THRASHER (1); Cedar Waxwing (64 - mostly in one flock); NASHVILLE WARBLER (2); NORTHERN PARULA (2); MAGNOLIA WARBLER (4); YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (5); BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (3); PALM WARBLER (6); BLACKPOLL WARBLER (4); BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (2); AMERICAN REDSTART (1); OVENBIRD (1); Common Yellowthroat (10); WILSON'S WARBLER (1); Eastern Towhee (4); Song Sparrow (10); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1). (report from John Liller).

9/23/00 -- Assabet Conservation Land (SuAsCo), Westboro

Sheila and I co-led a trip for the Westboro Land Trust to this nice parcel of land that abuts the SuAsCo water in Westboro. This land was a typical 11th hour save last year. If not for the activities of the Land Trust, this would be all mega-homes today. As it is, the town of Westboro is still taking back a corner and building a new school on it. The land is mostly upland mixed, with lots of oaks. There is a good sized vernal pool where Spotted Salamanders have been found. This conservation land affords the best looks at the nesting Osprey and Great Blue Herons and several unique overlooks of the water. There is a complete signed trail system. BIRDS: Double-Crested Cormorant (4+ flock of 60 overhead. 1 bird was sitting in a Great Blue Heron nest and continually picked up sticks, held them up, and turned them around as if displaying); Mute Swan (1: in the last several years,swans have begun to appear here. They are probably coming from Fisherville Pond and Lake Ripple in neraby Grafton); Wood Duck (11); Mallard (5); Osprey (5); Solitary Sandpiper (1 overhead); Herring Gull (3); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (6); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N. Flicker (8); E. Phoebe (7); Blue Jay (47: lots of movement today); A. Crow (11); Black-capped Chickadee (51); Tufted Titmouse (11); White-Breasted Nuthatch (12); Hermit Thrush (1); A. Robin (12); American Pipit (1 overhead); Cedar Waxwing (4); Gray Catbird (8); N. Mockingbird (1); Brown Thrasher (1); Blue-Headed Vireo (6); Philadelphia Vireo (1); Red-Eyed Vireo (8); WARBLERS: Nashville (3); N. Parula (4); Magnolia (3); Yellow-Rumped (8); Black-Throated Green (7); Black-Throated Blue (1m); Pine (7); Blackburnian (1); Bay-Breasted (2); Blackpoll (67: excellent movement in this small area); Black and White (5);
Scarlet Tanager (4); N. Cardinal (4); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (5); E. Towhee (3); Chipping Sparrow (5); White-Throated Sparrow (4); A. Goldfinch (1); Bobolink (3 overhead). OTHER STUFF; We started our trip with nice looks at two Red Foxes. Also seen: Pickerel Frog; good number of fungi including lots of the edible Honey Mushroom; one Indian Pipe still. (report from Mark Lynch).

9/23/00 -- Fisherville Pond/Quinapoxet Res., Grafton

After birding the Assabet Conservation land, we headed to Fisherville Pond. There were NO shorebirds, even though the habitat looked great still. We did see: Great Blue Heron (2); Cooper's Hawk (1ad migrating); A. Kestrel (2); RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (1ad. This bird was originally perched on a tree opposite the apartments along the road down to the boat launch. We watched the bird fly off high and far down south over Fisherville Pond and down to the Blackstone area. Appeared to be a migrant).
Later in the north end of Quinapoxet Reservoir: Double-Crested Cormorant (5); Great Blue Heron (5); Mallard (33); A. Black Duck (6); Killdeer (18); Turkey Vulture (1); Greater Yellowlegs (1); Belted Kingfisher (2); Red-Bellied Woodpecker (1); American Pipit (9 feeding on the muddy edge); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/22/00 -- Gardner

Before work this morning:
Crystal Lake Area: Merlin 1; Pied-billed grebe 1;
Kelton Street (Rte 140 over pass): Blackpoll Warbler 5; Nashville Warb 2 or 3; N. Parula 1; Tennessee Warb 1; Yell-rumped Warb 3; Magnolia 1; BT Green 3 or 4; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1; RE Vireo 1; Blue Headed Vireo 1;
Lots and lots of passerine flying over head , most looked to be Blackpoll. (report from Tom Pirro).

9/20/00 -- Southboro Reservoir, Southboro

Today I observed one Pied Billed Grebe, five Ruddy Ducks, two Red-tailed Hawks and a raft of 25 ducks on the far shore. I couldn't positively identify them but they looked to be Scaup and Ring-necked Ducks. (report from Ann Boover).

9/19/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

Highlights of a stroll along the Brookside Trail plus a bit along the Power Lines this morning: the usual 20 Catbirds, 3 Flickers, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Phoebe, 1 House Wren, 1 Imm. Sharpie, 1 Brown Thrasher (the first I've seen here in months), 1 Northern Waterthrush, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 4 Blackpolls, 1 Magnolia, and 2 Black-and-white Warblers. I also had a possible Cooper's and a raccoon sleeping in a tree. (report from Howard Shainheit).

9/18/00 -- Mount Watatic, Ashburnham

Two white-winged crossbills, male and female, were seen by several observers (wonderful scope views) perched for several minutes atop a spruce tree on the northeastern slope of the summit this morning . These crossbills were sighted from the hawkwatch sight on the southern ledge looking north towards the Pack Monadnocks. There was an American kestrel perched atop a spruce tree about 20 yards away from the crossbills. Broad-winged hawks were beginning to lift from the eastern valleys. It was a wonderful day to bird in Massachusetts. There were also 3 species of swallows (tree 1, cliff 2, and rough-winged 2) and several swifts (2) seen today during the hawkwatch. An American pipit visited the hawkwatch ledge 9/16 and 9/17. (report from Petti Staub).

9/17/00 -- Barre Falls Dam/Rutland State Park

We counted birds along our standard monitoring route this morning. The weather was amazingly changeable today. First thing in the AM, it was calm, cold (41) and lots of birds were about. Then by 9 AM, it became increasingly windy and solid overcast and birds were very tough to come by. A half hour hawkwatching yielded "zip" hawks. Then, later, clearing, warmer, much less windy and again: more birds. Finally by 2 PM, windy and clearer still and the birds seemed to have evaporated. Warblers were very much in mixed species groups, including 2 "waves" of 100++ birds, many of which rapidly passed by un-ID'd. All these flocks were accompanied by chickadees. Often, we knew where to spish and look for warblers by listening for chickadees. One of these large flocks we had the pleasure of watching pass close-by in an overgrown field from beginning to end. We were able to ID and count birds as they fltted into a small bash not 10 feet away. Blackpolls were a "trash bird". We did not find one group of 3+ warblers that did not have a least 1 Blackpoll in it. All this said, more often than not, there were very large stretches of forest and nary a bird.
BIRDS: Double Crested Cormorant (3 migrating overhead); Great Blue Heron (2); Canada Goose (19); Wood Duck (4); Turkey Vulture (1); Broad-Winged Hawk (7: one low group streaming by at about 1 PM); Red-Tailed Hawk (3); A. Kestrel (1); Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (2); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (9); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N. Flicker (23); Pileated Woodpecker (2: including 1 bird that landed in front of us on the very top of a cherry tree on the small branches, and hung on awkwardly. This bird then began to systematically glean something off the tree, but we could not see what. Web worms? Insects? Cherries?); E. Wood Peewee (2 still singing); E. Phoebe (53); Blue Jay (68); C. Raven (1); Black-Capped Chickadee (168); Tufted Titmouse (10); Red-Breasted Nuthatch (21); White-Breasted Nuthatch (21); Brown Creeper (3); House Wren (5); Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (2); Hermit Thrush (24); A. Robin (66); Cedar Waxwing (30); Gray Catbird (36); Blue-Headed Vireo (20); Warbling Vireo (2); Philadelphia Vireo (2); Red-Eyed Vireo (24); WARBLERS: Tenessee (1); N. Parula (12); Chestnut-Sided (1); Nashville (4); Black-Throated Blue (5: 1 female); Black-Throated Green (34); Bay-Breasted (2); Blackburnian (1); CAPE MAY (1: rare in Worcester County in fall); Yellow-Rumped Warbler (136); Magnolia (11); Prairie (5); Pine Warbler (97); BLACKPOLL (227: this is probably just the tip of the iceberg); Black and White (9); A. Redstart (4); Ovenbird (1); CONNECTICUT (3); C. Yellowthroat (12: seemed low);
Scarlet Tanager (5); E. Towhee (7); Chipping Sparrow (23); Song Sparrow (4: low); Swamp Sparrow (9); Lincoln's Sparrow (1); White-Throated Sparrow (5); A. Goldfinch (7). It was also interesting what we did NOT see: Rock Dove, Mourning Dove; Starling; Rose-Breasted Grosbeak; House Finch; English Sparrow.
BUTTERFLIES: Very tough today for leps because of the temp and wind, but we did manage: Cabbage White (2); Clouded Sulphur (6); Orange Sulphur (1); C. Wood Nymph (1); Pearl Crescent (1); Mourning Cloak (3); Question Mark (1); Red-Spotted Purple (1 very worn); Monarch (3). Odes in the AM were very few and far between, but when the sun came out, Ruby/Cherry-Faced Meadowhawks were verywhere. There were only 20+ Green Darners. Asters, especially the purple/blue types like Stiff Aster, were mega abundant, as were many species of goldenrod including common species like Lance-Leaved. But a real treat was when we found a nice patch of Bottle Gentian (about 30+ plants) along one part of a road near a beaver pond.We also found one small area of Nodding Ladies Tresses grwing of a wet moss covered rock near the dam. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday! (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/16/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

Highlights on a walk with my class this morning: SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (3 - "frollicking" with flickers and jays; a great show) ;COOPER'S HAWK (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Northern Flicker (8); Eastern Phoebe (1); Red-eyed Vireo (2); Carolina Wren (1); House Wren (3); Eastern Bluebird (4); American Robin (18); Gray Catbird (28); Cedar Waxwing (1); NASHVILLE WARBLER (1); NORTHERN PARULA (6); BLACKPOLL WARBLER (1); AMERICAN REDSTART (1); NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (2); Common Yellowthroat (12); Eastern Towhee (3); Song Sparrow (3); SWAMP SPARROW (1); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Common Grackle (5); Also: Cabbage White (1) (report from John Liller).

9/16/00 -- Fisherville Pond/Barre Falls Dam

We started off in the morning trying for shorebirds at Fisherville Pond in Grafton. Rain had eliminated much of the flats, but there was still some good area. However we only had: Great Blue Heron (2); Killdeer (13); Semipalmated Sandpiper (4); Least Sandpiper (39); Belted Kingfisher (2); Among the landbirds seen were: E. Phoebe (4); Gray Catbird (17); N. Mockingbird (5); Brown Thrasher (1); Warbling Vireo (1); Blackpoll Warbler (1); Prairie Warbler (2); C. Yellowthroat (4). There were also (2) GOOSE HUNTERS complete with decoys, dogs ect. Is this a special interior goose season? I have forgotten what the hunting schedule is this year.

We then decided to head to BARRE FALLS DAM and do some hawkwatching from the Falls upper parking lot. This area is good in the spring and occasionally good in the fall. We were joined by Lisa, Simon and little Seth Hennin. From 10:30-1:30 we had the following: Turkey Vulture (11); Sharp-Shinned Hawk (6); Red-Shouldered Hawk (1); Red-Tailed Hawk (4: most residents); Broad-Winged Hawk (220); A. Kestrel (2). By far, most of the Broad-Wingeds went by between noon and 1. They would come in low and after passing the top of the hill, quickly caught a thermal and gained height. The clear blue skies made hawkwatching from this spot pretty difficult. BUTTERFLIES seen while hawkwatching: Cabbage White (11); Clouded Sulphur (90); Orange Sulphur (23); A. Copper (1); Great Spangled Fritillary (2); Variegated Fritillary (1); Mourning Cloak (3); Monarch (12); Peck's Skipper (1 worn). NOTE; very few odes seen while hawkwatching, only a handful of Green Darners.
We had time to only make 4 quick stops in the forest but numbers of landbirds were about: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (1); E. Phoebe (1); C. Raven (2); Winter Wren (1); House Wren (1); Cedar Waxwing (55); Yellow-Throated Vireo (1); Blue-Headed Vireo (1); WARBLERS: Black-Throated Green (1); Yellow-Rumped (1); Bay-Breasted (1); Blackpoll (24); Black and White (1); Blackburnian (1); Prairie (1); Pine (24); DARK-EYED JUNCO (1). Most of the swamp maples are in full color, some have already lost their leaves. Lots of asters out, and still a few blooms of Cardinal Flower. On the way home in Princeton, (2) Chukars were in the road, obvious escapes from a nearby game preserve. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/14/00 -- Wompanoag MAS, Gardner

The following migrant raptors were observed from the Wompanoag MAS in Gardner , ma.(located about 7 miles SSW of Mt. Watatic.) between 8:15am and 3PM (dst). Wind was light , and steadily increase through out the day, in the am from the SSW. Sharp-Shinned Hawk 7; Coopers HAwk 3; Broad Winged Hawk 172; Osprey 6; Am. Kestrel 4; Un Id'd Accipitor 1. Total = 193. Basically the movement took place between 10am and 11:30 am , with only 1 BW outside this period of time.The hilite was a Moose , not seen , but heard calling not too far away in the woods. It kept giving a .... maaahu .... maahu call. I tried to lure it out into view attempting to mimic its call; perhaps I was fortunate it stayed put. (report from Tom Pirro).

9/13/00 -- North Quabbin Rservoir

A mid-day trip to gates 33, 35 & 37 turned up Common Loon (1 - calling), Bald Eagle (1 adult), Northern Raven (1), Blue-headed Vireo (6), Blue Gray Gnacatcher (2), Northern Parula (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (45), Black-throated Green Warbler (35), Blackpoll Warbler (25), Pine Warbler(6), American Redstart (6), Magnolia Warbler (5), Balck-and-White Warbler (6), Common Yellowthroat (1), Eatern Towhee (4), White-throated Sparrow (3) and Purple Finch (2).
Additionally, Miller's Beach Pond on the Ware River along rt 122 Barre (by the dump), has been drained, leaving behind extensive mudflats. A quick look at dusk had Solitary Sandpiper (3), Least Sandpiper (2), Killdeer (1) and ten Turkey Vultures comming in to roost. (report from Chris Buelow)

9/12/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

Highlights this AM during a walk from the Dunkirk Ave entrance included: Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk [1], Northern Flicker [1],Eastern Phoebe [2], Carolina Wren[1], House Wren[5], Eastern Bluebird[10], American Robin[1], Gray Catbird[17], Brown Thrasher[1], Cedar Waxwing[9], Black-and-white Warbler[1], and Eastern Towhee[2]. (report from Debbie Berard).

9/10/00 -- Wompanoag MAS, Gardner

Today I spend a little over 4.5 hours hawkswatching from Wompanoag MAS in gardner with the follow results: [Wind ENE changing to ESE between 12 an 1PM , zero cloud cover] Turkey Vulture 1; Osprey 5; Sharp-Shinned hawk 18; Broad Wing Hawk 57; Am. Kestrel 5; Merlin 1; Un. Id Raptor 3. Totals = 90. (report from Tom Pirro).

9/9/00 -- Wompanoag MAS, Gardner

Migrant raptors tallied between 12:15 and 2PM: Sharp-Shinned Hawk 13; Am. Kestrel 3; Osprey 3; Broad Wing Hawk 9; Red-tailed Hawk 1 a "ragged" looking indivudual with some missing flight and tail feathers ... perhaps it should've been walking. Total = 29. The first 45 minutes birds were high but when the clouds moved in a pulse of Sharps moved through at low altitude. (report from Tom Pirro).

9/9/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester

I recorded the following highlights on a walk with my class this morning: RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (1); Hairy Woodpecker (1); Northern Flicker (1); Eastern Wood-Pewee (1); Carolina Wren (2); American Robin (16); Gray Catbird (24); Cedar Waxwing (10); American Redstart (1); Common Yellowthroat (4); Scarlet Tanager (1); Eastern Towhee (3); Song Sparrow (7); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1); Common Grackle (3). Also: Spicebush Swallowtail (1), Orange Sulphur (1), Monarch (1), Cabbage White (4) Chipmunk, Raccoon (a family group of 3+) (report from John Liller).

9/9/00 -- Fisherville Pond/Northbridge sewer beds

We spent this AM checking for shorebirds at two of the 3 spots in the county that have low water. Numbers of shorebirds were lower than in weeks previous. Numbers of migrant landbirds were also extremely low, though we also heard several Warbling Vireos singing in between locations.
FISHERVILLE POND, GRAFTON: Green Heron (2); Osprey (1); Merlin (great views of a very dark bird harassing all the Mourning Doves. Lots of pursuit, but no success as far as we could see); Semipalmated Sandpiper (11); Least Sandpiper (43); White-Rumped Sandpiper (1); Chimney Swift (1); E. Phoebe (1); Barn Swallow (2: getting local at this time of the year in the county); Carolina Wren (2); House Wren (3); Gray Catbird (25); C. Yellowthroat (4); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (3); Baltimore Oriole (1m); Red-Winged Blackbird (11: flock); C. Grackle (12); Bobolink (5). This area looks PERFECT for Baird's and Buff-Breasted with a huge area of short grass along the river. This spot is best checked from the trail under the power lines. Few butterflies so early in the AM, but we did see Cabbage White, Orange Sulphur and Monarch. All the wild grapes were ripe and the smell was oh so very tempting.
NORTHBRIDGE SEWER BEDS: Solitary Sandpiper (7); Least Sandpiper (5); Semipalmated Sandpiper (2); E. Phoebe (1); House Wren (5); Warbling Vireo (1 singing); Yellow Warbler (1); Common Yellowthroat (5); Indigo Bunting (3); Bobolink (3). Butterflies: Cabbage White (26); Common Sottywing (1). Odes put on a good show, with lots of activity over the beds with water in them. Green Darner (30+); E. Pondhawk (2); Ruby/Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk (40+); Blue Dasher (2). Twelve-Spotted Skimmers were ALL over this small area, we counted at least (70+); C. White-Tail (20+). One ode seen well through bins certainly appeared to be a Martha's Pennant, though I thought that species was more often found near the coast (though the Blackstone River is a natural passageway to the coast). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/9/00 -- Goddard Memorial Park update, Worcester

Today Sheila and I went to do some hawkwatching at Goddard Memorial Park. Cars have been skirting around the Jersey barriers, and there are bits of wrecked cars about (like a car door just behind the barriers). The entire top of the path has been gone over totally with heavy machinery. This has completely smoothed the hill out and obliterated most of the weedy patch that was in front of the lookout that attracted landbirds. Furthermore, there is LOTS of trash about (like plastic bags), much of it sticking up through the ground. Either this area WAS a landfill, and the recent work has uncovered a lot of that, OR they have recently placed a lot of trash here. There is also an unsavory smell to the whole area. I only hope all of this is in some preparation for this area to be a park. Caveat emptor. Also: there is a lot of construction going on the airport runways, so the chances of any plovers putting down here this year are slim to none. (report from Mark Lynch).

9/9/00 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester

Highlights of walks at Broad Meadow Brook on 9/7 and 9/9:
Thursday, 9/7 along the Brookside loop and the power lines: 2 Turkey Vultures, 1 Chimney Swift, 5 Downy Woodpeckers, 8 Flickers, 5 Phoebes, 2 Carolina Wrens, 4 House Wrens, 1 Hermit Thrush, 3 C. Yellowthroats, 6 Towhees, 3 Field Sparrows, 21 Catbirds, a possible OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER by ear, and a probable PHILADELPHIA VIREO.
Sat., 9/9 with my Saturday morning group, along the Stretch only: 1 Cowbird by ear, 18 Catbirds, 5 Downy and 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 8 Flickers, 2 C. Yellowthroats, 2 fall Blackpoll Warblers, 1 female Am. Redstart, and 1 fall male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. (report from Howard Shainheit).

9/9/00 -- Notre Dame cemetery nighthawk watch, Worcester

Sheila and I went to Notre Dame Cemetery for about 45 minutes tonite. There were only minimal flying ants about, but weather seemed good for migration. We had the following: Double-Crested Cormorant (1); Osprey (1); Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (1); Common Nighthawk (5); Chimney Swift (1); Belted Kingfisher (1). Unless something dramatic happens in the next week, I think the nighthawk season is rapidly drawing to a close. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/5/00 -- Mt. Wachusett, Princeton

Today from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. there were: Sharp-shinned Hawk 2; Cooper's Hawk 1; Am. Kestrel 3; Broadwinged Hawk 9; Osprey 3. (report from Howard Shainheit).

9/4/00 -- Salisbury St., city of Worcester

An Eastern Screech Owl was calling outside our window this morning at 5 AM. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/4/00 -- Bolton Flats, Lancaster

We birded Bolton Flats in Lancaster this AM. Trail maintainance this year has been non-existant, so side trails (like to the oxbow of the Still River) are VERY overgrown. Also: perhaps because of all the rain, but in certain areas, also because of beaver activity, there is a very lush growth of all species of shrubbery and water levels are very high, making for very tough going in sections. A certain area of the farmland has been turned over to planting pumpkins (as opposed to the more typical cow corn). This area, opposite a large fallow weed field already had large numbers of sparrows. Though there were many birds, there were few "absolute" migrants, ie: species that do NOT breed at Bolton Flats and therefore MUST be migrants. On the other hand, the high numbers of species like phoebe and Savannah Sparrow indicate that SOME of these birds have to be migrants. Though species variety this weekend appears better on the coast, numbers of many species are just as good, if not better, inland.
BIRDS: Great Blue Heron (3); Canada Goose (46); Wood Duck (10); Mallard (6); N. Harrier (1); Sharp-Shinned Hawk (1); Broad-Winged Hawk (2 migrants); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); A. Kestrel (1); Virginia Rail (5); Killdeer (1 overhead); Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (4: 1 driven off by a Green Darner); Downy Woodpecker (1); Hairy Woodpecker (1); N. Flicker (3); OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (1); "empid sp." (4); Eastern Phoebe (18); Eastern Kingbird (3: this species has for the most part left the county. We had none yesterday in a full day of birding Worcester County); Tree Swallow (1); Barn Swallow (1: swallows also are now local and in low numbers in the county); Blue Jay (38); Black-Capped Chickadee (30); Tufted Titmouse (6); White-Breasted Nuthatch (9); MARSH WREN (1); Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (1); A. Robin (18); Gray Catbird (72); Cedar Waxwing (27); Yellow-Throated Vireo (2); Warbling Vireo (13: all typical fall very yellow birds); Philadelphia Vireo (1); Red-Eyed Vireo (4); Yellow Warbler (5); C. Yellowthroat (33); YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (1); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (2); N. Cardinal (2); Song Sparrow (74); Savannah Sparrow (55); Swamp Sparrow (13); A. Goldfinch (51); Red-Winged Blackbird (22); Bobolink (170).
The wet fields were loaded with Pickerel Frogs. Other frogs heard included Green and Gray Tree Frog. There were also lots of meadow voles and I saw one Meadow Jumping Mouse. Butterflies included Cabbage White (16); Clouded Sulphur (34); Orange Sulphur (12); E. tailed Blue (1) and what appeared to be a Least Skipper (did not have my lep bins on). Odonates were EVERYWHERE especially Ruby/Cherry-Faced-Meadowhawks (700++) and Green Darners (300+). Many of the darners were mating. We watched one drive off a hummer and one buzzed me rather purposefully like he wanted me out of there. Most likely chasing some of the gogolplex mosquitoes buzzing about. We also had several E. Pondhawks. Most of the fields have taken on the hues of fall and the swamp maples are all turned. Flowers still noted included several good stands of Turtlehead, and asters, asters, asters. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/3/00 -- Worc. County shorebird search

Sheila Carroll, Val Miller and myself spent the day tooling around the few areas of (highwater) Worcester County where we could hope to find shorebirds. Variety was nothing out of the ordinary and numbers were only modest. However, teal are on the move as well as Bobolinks. Highlights:
FISHERVILLE POND, GRAFTON Great Blue Heron (1); Green Heron (1); Wood Duck (2); Mallard (14); Killdeer (3); Least Sandpiper (58); Semipalmated Sandpiper (2); Belted Kingfisher (2); Least Flycatcher (1); Barn Swallow (30); Carolina Wren (2); House Wren (3); Gray Catbird (16); Prairie Warbler (3); C. Yellowthroat (6); Indigo Bunting (1); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (3); C. Grackle (40); Red-Winged Blackbird (20); Bobolink (78, including 1 flock of 70 birds). NOTE: area looks perfect for Baird's and Buff-Breasted, but NO luck today, no how no way.
NORTHBRIDGE SEWER BEDS: Green Heron (1); Green-Winged Teal (8); Mallard (15); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); Killdeer (4); Solitary Sandpiper (19: still the shorebird of choice of inland sewer beds); Lesser Yellowlegs (2); Least Sandpiper (29); Semipalmated Sandpiper (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); E. Phoebe (1); Great Crested Flycatcher (1); House Wren (3); Gray Catbird (16); C. Yellowthroat (3); Indigo Bunting (11); Bobolink (15);
OAKDALE BASE BALL FIELD: Killdeer (9). Note: ONCE there was a Baird's found here, so I keep checking in the dim hope that lightening will strike twice. You know the way it goes.
STERLING PEAT: Green Heron (6); Canada Goose (1 injured); Wood Duck (9); Green-Winged Teal (4); Mallard (83); A. Black Duck (3); Blue-Winged Teal (5); HOODED MERGANSER (5 imm, now completely fledged); Cooper's Hawk (2 imm); Red-Tailed Hawk (1 imm, really not too cautious about human presence); Killdeer (4); Greater Yellowlegs (3); Lesser Yellowlegs (1); Least Sandpiper (3); Belted Kingfisher (1); OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (1); Gray Catbird (20); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (1); Bobolink (50+ : 1 flock). ALSO: (1) Ribbon Snake; (1) Meadow Vole. Butterflies included only Cabbge White and Clouded Sulphur. Odes included: C. Green Darner (common); Ruby Meadowhawk/Cherry Faced (100+); E. Pondhawk (several). Boneset still in bloom all over. NOTE: water levels are still low and this area also looks good for some interesting shorebirds. The gunfire you hear are noise makers to keep birds away from crops.
QUINAPOXET RESERVOIR: We were armed with the necessary permit and hiked only two trails. Water levels are slowly dropping, but are still too high to host any shorebirds of note, but we tried anyway: Double-Crested Cormorant (5); Great Blue Heron (5); Osprey (2); Sharp-Shinned Hawk (1); Red-Tailed Hawk (1); Wild Turkey (5); Ruffed Grouse (2); Killdeer (5); E. Wood Peewee (3); E. Phoebe (1); Barn Swallow (2); Red-Breasted Nuthatch (3); White-Breasted Nuthatch (12); Brown Creeper (1); House Wren (2); Gray Catbird (14); Blue-Headed Vireo (1); Red-Eyed Vireo (2); WARBLERS: Tennessee (1); Chestnut-Sided (1); Yellow-Rumped (3); Black-Throated Green (1); Pine (21); A. Redstart (1); C. yellowthroat (3); Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (1); Common Grackle (500++ These birds were in one long, strung out flock. We were walking through a tall and densely forested section of the reservoir (white pines and tall oaks) when these birds began to filter through the upperstory about 3/4 of the way up. For the most part they were silent, though occassionally a "chack" call note was heard. They moved quickly through in a rather narrow area, a few birds at a time. Some stopped to quickly glean a caterpillar off the leaves of the oaks, but were soon on their way. The sudden appearance of all these birds amid the quiet of the forest was something to see.) ALSO: Butterflies included Cabbage White; Clouded Sulphur; Orange Sulphur; Summer Azure; Great Spangled Fritillary; Viceroy; C. Ringlet; and an excellent look at Leonard's Skipper. Odes species included all species mentioned above for Sterling Peat and Widow Skimmer. Also seen was the bizarre (but beautiful) Ichneuman Wasp.
A final and somewhat desparate check of WORCESTER AIRPORT had only (2) American Kestrels; (2) Ring-Necked Phaesant (getting pretty uncommon in these parts now) and (10) Savannah Sparrows. It was now sunny and the area around the runways was alive with the common butterflies including: Cabbage White (130+); Clouded Sulphur (150+) and Orange Sulphur (70+). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/3/00 -- Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester

Nighthawk watch: Very poor night for migrating Common Nighthawks. Flying ants were in the air, but the weather was off, with contrary winds, mist and low visibility. We arrived late, but Fran McMenemy was already there with a couple from RI. The couple left right away and Fran left a bit after. Killdeer (1); Ring-Billed Gull (flock of 50 aerial feeding on flying ants. Interesting to watch); C. Nighthawk (15. Extremely low count for this time of year); Chimney Swift (56); NOTE: as dusk was fast approaching a group of at least 10 warblers, more likely 20+ appeared in the small copse of trees opposite the chapel. Periodically one would zip up into the air and catch a flying ant. I could confidently ID (2) Yellow and (1) Mourning. The rest were not Yellows, but I got only quick looks, so I have no idea what they were. They did not respond to spishing and seemed to appear as if from nowhere. They were completely silent. Getting ready to migrate out this night? I have no idea. It was weird and I have never seen the likes in this location before.
NOTE: I have heard from Fran about people traveling from some distances to Notre Dame Cem. to hope to see a big nighthawk movement. Please realize, that like hawkwatching and pelagic birding, nighthawk watching varies tremendously from one day to the next. Numbers depend on weather, winds, flying ants and the date. Often only modest numbers are seen and sometimes few or even none are present (like tonite). Local birders can read the signs on a daily basis and know reasonably well, when it looks like it could be a "good night". But, since we are "local, we also do not feel like we have wasted our time if we show up and there are no birds. Lastly, there is still a lot to be learned about nighthawk migration, so it is tough to predict with certainty when a major movement will occur. Still, do not be discouraged. If you arrive at Notre Dame Cemetery and it looks like an off night, you can head over to Leesvile Pond ( 2 minutes away) and at least look for some waterfowl, herons and landbirds so you will not have wasted a trip. Directions to this and other birding areas in the city are on Rick Quimby's CENTRAL MA BIRD UPDATE site. Good luck and be sure to post your results. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/2/00 -- Tatnuck Square, Worcester

At 1:45 p.m. I had a Merlin sitting on the top of a spruce in the Tatnuck Square area. It sat for 5 minutes while I watched it in my scope at 60 power. Then three Blue Jays found the bird without benefit of binoculars or scope and drove it off. This is the same spot where I had my 8/22 sighting. (report from Howard Shainheit).

9/1/00 -- High Ridge WMA, Gardner

A quick walk into High Ridge WMA off Smith street before dinner tonight was hilited by Olive-sided Flycatcher (being chased by another flycatcher ( a PeeWee I think); both were a distance off but the OS Fly's "open vest" was quiet distinctive. The OS Fly was on the back side of the marsh in the snags. Also 3 Ruby-throated hummingbirds were seen and a few Purple finches. (report from Tom Pirro).

For previous sightings, see August 2000 Archives or Archive Index