September 2004 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:

9/30/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Black Vulture                0              0              0
> Turkey Vulture               0             18             18
> Osprey                       1            159            160
> Bald Eagle                   0             26             26
> Northern Harrier             0             20             20
> Sharp-shinned Hawk          30            460            460
> Cooper's Hawk                0             26             26
> Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
> Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              0
> Broad-winged Hawk            2           3555           3557
> Red-tailed Hawk              0             29             29
> Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
> Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
> American Kestrel             7             99            100
> Merlin                       0             10             10
> Peregrine Falcon             0              2              2
> Unknown                      0             13             13
>
> Total:                      40           4417           4421
(report from Bart Kamp).

9/29/04 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
Hilites this evening: Great Blue Heron 3; Green-winged teal ~20; Northern Pintail 1 hen; Wood Duck 100+; Northern Harrier 2 juv. perched together for a few minutes and continued to hunt the area; Wilson's Snipe 4 minimum; Great Horned Owl 2 or 3 (one perched at the parking lot upon my exit); Belted Kingfisher 1; American Robin 5000+ a crude est.; Yellow-rumped Warbler ~5; Red-winged Blackbird 100's; Common Grackle 100's; White-throated Sparrow several; Swamp Sparrow several; Song Sparrow several; Indigo Bunting 5-10. A spectacular sunset with Robins seemingly flying in from the flamming clouds. (report from Tom Pirro).

9/28/04 -- Mount Wachusett Comm. College, Gardner
Hilites from a quick walk on the bike path across from the Mount Wachusett Comm. College in gardner before work today: Double Crested Cormorant 2; Gray Catbird 1; Northern Parula 1; Black-thr. green Warbler 2; Pine Warbler 3; Blackpoll Warbler 1; Black and White Warbler 1; (report from Tom Pirro).

9/27/04 -- All Faith's Cemetery, Worcester
I went for a walk around All Faiths cemetery this evening and saw: 2 Pied billed Grebes, 2 Black crowned Night-Heron, 3 Great Blue Heron, 10 A. Wigeon, 1 N. Pintail (f) and 4 Green winged Teal. (report from John Shea).

9/27/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
Raptors migrating today:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
> ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
> Osprey                       3            158            159
> Bald Eagle                   5             26             26
> Northern Harrier             2             20             20
> Sharp-shinned Hawk          27            430            430
> Cooper's Hawk                1             26             26
> Broad-winged Hawk           10           3553           3555
> Red-tailed Hawk              3             29             29
> Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
> Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
> American Kestrel             8             92             93
> Merlin                       0             10             10
> Peregrine Falcon             0              2              2
> Unknown                      1             13             13
>
> Total:                      60           4377           4381
Yesterday (9/26) there were: > Osprey 4 ; > Northern Harrier 1 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 25 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 2 ; > American Kestrel 2 ; (report from Bart Kamp).

9/26/04 -- Little Monadnock Mtn., Fitzwilliam, NH
Steve and I climbed Little Monadnock Mountain located in Rhododendron State Park off of Rte. 119. As we neared the vista we spotted 5 ravens playing & talking together. When we went to the summit the ravens continued to swoop then we saw there were now 6 of them and they were mobbing a Northern Goshawk. They flew over the summit about 30' up several times, for great views of the Goshawk. A turkey vulture joined in and then a second Goshawk appeared a little later. In the woods we saw 2 black and white warblers, a Tennessee warbler and - a sign of what's to come - 2 juncos. (report from Kathy & Steve Olson).

9/26/04 -- All Faith's Cemetery, Worcester
There was still one adult Black-crowned Night-Heron present. Ducks included: two Wood Ducks, one female Northern Pintail, three female Green-winged Teal, and six American Wigeon. This is two to three weeks later than the wigeon usually return to this location. This might have something to do with the poor conditions on their breeding grounds this year. (report from Fran McMenemy).

9/26/04 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
HIghlights this morning during my class trip to Broad Meadow Brook: Cooper's Hawk (2-3 - We had 2 at the Visitors' Center first thing in the morning, then a bird flying over the Green Heron Pond later on. It could easily have been one of the same birds.); unidentified accipiter (1 - definitely not one of the two Coopers from earlier); Solitary Sandpiper (2 - both along the Brookside Trail); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2); Hairy Woodpecker (2); Northern Flicker (3); Eastern Phoebe (7); Blue-headed Vireo (1); Blue Jay (48 - seemed to be a good week for Blue Jays); Carolina Wren (2); House Wren (1); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1); American Robin (32); Gray Catbird (7); Cedar Waxwing (6); Eastern Towhee (4); Chipping Sparrow (3); Song Sparrow (6); Lincoln's Sparrow (1); White-throated Sparrow (26); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2); (report from John Liller).

9/26/04 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
We birded the impoundments of Bolton Flats WMA north of Rt. 117 from before dawn till 11:30. Though there were good number of Red-wings and fair numbers of sparrows, the number of warblers and other neotropical migrants (viroes, thrushes, tanagers); was in fact pretty "middling", especially for the amount of time and effort we put in. The conditions here are pretty prefect, with a nice mix of planted and fallow (weedy); fields and new pathways have been mown through many of the areas. Still, in years past, the place should have been hopping with Palms and Yellow-rumps, and we only turned up mediocre numbers and very few other warblers, despite a lot of beating the bushes.
Double-crested Comorant (2 overhead); Great Blue Heron (2); Turkey Vulture (6: we flushed four from the ground at the banks of the Still River off Rt.110. Judging by the putrid smell, theer was something large and dead there, but we could not find out what); Canada Goose (90); Wood Duck (17); Mallard (8); Hooded Merganser (1f); Osprey (1 w/bullhead); N Harrier (4); Sharp-shinned Hawk (5, causing havoc among the migrants per usual); Cooper's Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (3); Red-tailed Hawk (6: 3 resident pairs); Merlin (1); Virginia Rail (1); Killdeer (9 overhead); Wilson's Snipe (7); E Screech Owl (2); Belted Kingfisher (2); Downy Woodpecker (8); N Flicker (10); Least Flycatcher (1); E Phoebe (11); Blue Jay (96: a slow but steady stream of birds just over the treetops along the Nashua, heading SW); A Crow (3); Black-capped Chickadee (7: low); Tufted Titmouse (3); White-breasted Nuthatch (10); Carolina Wren (1); House Wren (2); E Bluebird (3); A Robin (42); Gray Catbird (51); N Mockingbird (2); Brown Thrasher (2); A Pipit (6); Cedar Waxwing (6); N Cardinal (2); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2); Indigo Bunting (5); Dickcissel (2 calling continuously overhead and seen); Bobolink (19); Red-winged Blackbird (2047: at dawn we watched a steady stream of young blackbirds leaving the marshes and flying into the corn and beyond); Rusty Blackbird (1); C Grackle (126); Purple Finch (2); House Finch (1); A Goldfinch (46); PLUS: many Pickerel and Green Frogs, A Toad. Thousands upon thousands of meadowflys, with 10+ in view at any one time, usually more. Other odes included a good number of Green Darners, (1); Canada Darner and about 20 E Pondhawks.
Nota Bene: we were very disturbed to learn from some local residents that the property on Rt. 110 directly adjacent to and just north of the "Red Barn" (parking lot for Bolton Flats); had been sold for development, with plans for a huge series of housing lots to be built right down to the river and right next to the WMA. For those of you who have enjoyed this area for years (or decades) this is alarming news. Local residents are planning on fighting the plans but I am not sure if it's a "done deal" yet. Another case of sprawl eating up and surrounding the few already saved areas in Central Massachusetts. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

9/25/04 -- Mount Watatic , Ashburnham
Mount Watatic Hawkwatch report: Osprey 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 ; Broad-winged Hawk 6 ; Observations: the wind was from the wrong direction for any flights. Also, 22 migrating Blue jays. 1 resident Common raven, and in the trees at the summit, 6 Dark eyed junco, 3 B+W warblers, 4 Golden crowned kinglets, 1 RB nut. (report from Tom Pirro).

9/25/04 -- Pulaski SF/Seekonk River, RI
We birded two areas in the RI section of the BLACKSTONE NATIONAL CORRIDOR.
  • We started at dawn (cool and breezy); covering some of the dirt roads in the Pulaski/George Washington Forest tract, Burrillville/Glocester. It was slow going and only a very modest amount of migrants were moving through: Hairy Woodpecker (2); Downy Woodpecker (6); N Flicker (9); E Phoebe (13); Blue Jay (34); Black-capped Chickadee (82); Tufted Titmouse (18); Red-breasted Nuthatch (3); White-breasted Nuthatch (26); Brown Creeper (2); Ruby-crowend Kinglet (6); Golden-crowend Kinglet (14); Hermit Thrush (3); A Robin (9); Blue-headed Vireo (4); Red-eyed Vireo (3);
      WARBLERS: N Parula (4); Ornage-crowned (1); Nashville (1); Magnolia (1); Yellow-rumped (26); Black-throated Green (11); Palm (5); Pine (4); Black and White (10); Blackpoll (17); C Yellowthroat (4);
    Scarlet Tanger (3); N Cardinal (4); E Towhee (8); Chipping Sparrow (11); Field Sparrow (2); White-throated Sparrow (9); Dark-eyed Junco (9); A Goldfinch (4); Baltimore Oriole (1); ALSO: River Otter and many fungi, with Puffballs being very common and lots of Indian Pipe.
  • We then conducted our twice monthy point count of the Seekonk River between Providence abd East Providence from Bold Pt to the Pawtucket line. It was low tide and bait fish were far up the river and there was quite a feeding frenzy going on. Double-crested Cormorant (343); Great Blue Heron (19); Great Egret (1); Black-crowned Night Heron (2imm+1ad); Mute Swan (30); Mallard (248); A Black Duck (29); Hooded Merganser (1f); Turkey Vulture (5); Osprey (1); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Greater Yelowlegs (6); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Semipalmated Sandpiper (16); White-rumped Sandpiper (3); Laughing Gull (64: almost all juvs); Ring-billed Gull (863); Herring Gull (137); Great Black-backed Gull (46); N Rough-winged Swallow (4); Tree Swallow (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

  • 9/24/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: > Osprey 3 ; > Bald Eagle 2 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 36 ; > Cooper's Hawk 3 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 122 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 2 ; > American Kestrel 5 ; > Peregrine Falcon 1 ; > Observations: Most of the Broadwings were seen between 10 and 11 EDT. > > Also, a kettle of 11 Ravens. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/23/04 -- Mount Watatic , Ashburnham
    Mount Watatic Hawkwatch report: Osprey 10 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 ; Broad-winged Hawk 30 ; American Kestrel 2 ; (report from Tom Pirro).

    9/23/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: > Osprey 4 ; > Bald Eagle 1 ; > Northern Harrier 1 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 34 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 36 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 2 ; > American Kestrel 4 ; > Peregrine Falcon 1 ; > Observations: > > > 1 Chimney Swift and 93 Canada Geese. 2 Monarch Butterflies. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/22/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: > Osprey 6 ; > Bald Eagle 1 ; > Northern Harrier 2 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 46 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 146 ; > American Kestrel 10 ; (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/21/04 -- Winimusset WMA, New Braintree
    A very brief mid-day stop at Winimusset turned up highlights of Lesser Yellowlegs (1), Savannah Sparrow (6), Lincoln's Sparrow (1), and a nice flight of 6+ New England Buck Moths. (report from Chris Buelow)

    9/21/04 -- Mount Watatic , Ashburnham
    Mount Watatic Hawkwatch report: Osprey 26 ; Northern Harrier 2 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 14 ; Cooper's Hawk 2 ; Broad-winged Hawk 120 ; American Kestrel 12 ; Official Counter: Tim Morwy Tom Mcullough called Tom Pirro and stated at his hawk watch site in ALNA Maine today from 11am until 2pm they saw 2061 migrating BW hawks and 80 SS hawks, mainly a mid day flight. (report from Dan Furbish).

    9/21/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: > Turkey Vulture 2 ; > Osprey 24 ; > Bald Eagle 7 ; > Northern Harrier 2 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 53 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 1094 ; > American Kestrel 20 ; > Observations: Large and small waves of Broadwings between 1:00 and 4:00 EDT under dark cloudy skies. The 7 Bald Eagles were a daily high for the site. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/20/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: > Osprey 5 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 ; > Cooper's Hawk 1 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 63 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 3 ; > American Kestrel 7 ; > Merlin 1 ; > Observations: > Most of the raptors were seen between 1:00 and 3:00 EDT. > >Also, 6 Canada Geese. An American Pipit landed on the wooden railing that > surrounds the site. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/19/04 -- Bolton Flats Trip
    The Forbush Bird Club held a trip to Bolton Flats, which was led by Eric Salmela with 8 members attending. Highlights among 35 species were a Solitary Sandpiper, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and a Lincoln's Sparrow. Complete trip report here. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

    9/19/04 -- Mount Watatic , Ashburnham
    Mount Watatic Hawkwatch:
    
    Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
    ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
    Black Vulture                0              0              0
    Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
    Osprey                       5            102            102
    Bald Eagle                   1             13             13
    Northern Harrier             1             12             12
    Sharp-shinned Hawk          55            315            315
    Cooper's Hawk                4             26             26
    Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
    Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              0
    Broad-winged Hawk          286           5149           5149
    Red-tailed Hawk              0              2              2
    Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
    Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
    American Kestrel             1             59             59
    Merlin                       0              9              9
    Peregrine Falcon             0              0              0
    Unknown                      4             10             10
    
    Total:                     357           5697           5697
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Observations: a foot note: Tom Pirro mentioned that Tom Mc Cullough called and said that at his watchlocation in ALMA , Maine they had 1300 raptors today with 1263 of them being BW hawks- so they're still coming.... (report from Dan Furbish).

    9/19/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today:
    > Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
    > ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
    > Black Vulture                0              0              0
    > Turkey Vulture               2             16             16
    > Osprey                      12            109            110
    > Bald Eagle                   1             10             10
    > Northern Harrier             3             12             12
    > Sharp-shinned Hawk          46            191            191
    > Cooper's Hawk                3             21             21
    > Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
    > Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              0
    > Broad-winged Hawk          330           2080           2082
    > Red-tailed Hawk              0             19             19
    > Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
    > Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
    > American Kestrel             3             36             37
    > Merlin                       1              9              9
    > Peregrine Falcon             0              0              0
    > Unknown                      2              8              8
    >
    > Total:                     403           2511           2515
    > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    > > Observations: Birds passed very quickly. Very little soaring. > > Also, 25 Canada Geese and 5 Monarch Butterflies were migrating. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/19/04 -- Belchertown/New Braintree/Worcester
    Returning to Central MA from the southern Berkshires, we first stopped by South Quabbin. Other than 4 cormorants and a reservoir whipped up to white caps with the high wind, the only other bird of note was a Great Egret in the small pond on Rt. 9. At Winimusset Meadows WMA in New Braintree: Pied-billed Grebe (3); Hooded Merganser (2 imm); Turkey Vulture (8); Red-tailed Hawk (1); E Phoebe (1); At 3:30PM, while driving through ZTatnuck Square we had a kettle of 38 Broad-winged Hawks relatively low. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    9/18/04 -- Wachuset Reservoir, Clinton
    As soon as the rain ended we headed out to the reservoir to see if anything "dropped in". Short answer: no. We did have: Common Loon (8); Double-crested Cormorant (21); Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (52: Clinton HS); Osprey (1); Killdeer (45: Clinton HS); Belted Kingfisher (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    9/16/04 -- Mount Watatic , Ashburnham
    Raptors migrating today: Osprey 5 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 20 ; Broad-winged Hawk 6 ; American Kestrel 1 ; Observations: a poor flight today. Also, 33 Wild turkeys seen from the summit in the fields below, 1 Chimney swift, 3 American pipits at the summit. Great looks at a resident juv Northern goshawk. (report from Dan Furbish).

    9/15/04 -- Mount Watatic , Asby
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
    ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
    Black Vulture                0              0              0
    Turkey Vulture               0              0              0
    Osprey                      18             92             92
    Bald Eagle                   0             12             12
    Northern Harrier             5             11             11
    Sharp-shinned Hawk          30            240            240
    Cooper's Hawk                4             22             22
    Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
    Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              0
    Broad-winged Hawk            7           4857           4857
    Red-tailed Hawk              0              2              2
    Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
    Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
    American Kestrel            12             57             57
    Merlin                       0              9              9
    Peregrine Falcon             0              0              0
    Unknown                      0              6              6
    
    Total:                      76           5308           5308
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    Also: 1 American pipit, 2 Black poll warblers, 1 migrating common loon, 2 Ruby throated hummingbirds, great looks at a juv Northern Goshawk overhead deemed not migrating.10 to 14 Common raven/residents. (report from Dan Furbish).

    9/15/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today:
    > -------------------------------------------------------------------
    >
    > Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
    > ------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
    > Black Vulture                0              0              0
    > Turkey Vulture               0             14             14
    > Osprey                       7             97             98
    > Bald Eagle                   0              9              9
    > Northern Harrier             1              9              9
    > Sharp-shinned Hawk          15            145            145
    > Cooper's Hawk                1             18             18
    > Northern Goshawk             0              0              0
    > Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              0
    > Broad-winged Hawk            2           1750           1752
    > Red-tailed Hawk              1             19             19
    > Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
    > Golden Eagle                 0              0              0
    > American Kestrel             4             33             34
    > Merlin                       2              8              8
    > Peregrine Falcon             0              0              0
    > Unknown                      0              6              6
    >
    > Total:                      33           2108           2112
    > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Also: 1 RT Hummingbird. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/14/04 -- Mount Watatic , Ashburnham
    Osprey 19 ; Bald Eagle 3 ; Northern Harrier 3 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 51 ; Cooper's Hawk 6 ; Broad-winged Hawk 1816 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 ; American Kestrel 23 ; Merlin 4 . >Observations: 360 hawks from 5:30 AM until 9 AM, 92% of the total raptors flew by before 10 AM. (report from Tom Pirro).

    9/14/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: > Turkey Vulture 1 ; > Osprey 16 ; > Northern Harrier 1 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 25 ; > Cooper's Hawk 2 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 250 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 1 ; > American Kestrel 10 ; > Merlin 3 ; > > Observations: Nearly half the birds passed between 9 and 10 EDT; after that a trickle. > > Canada Geese 25, Monarch butterfly 1. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/14/04 -- Moose Brook Valley, Hardwick
    An evening walk in the pastures of Brook Road turned up Belted kingfisher(1), Eastern Phoebe (11), Ruby-crowned Kinglet(2), Northern Parula(3), Black-throated Green Warbler(1), Blackpoll Warbler(1), Nashville Warbler(1), American Redstart(1), Eastern Towhee(1) and Indigo Bunting(1). (report from Chris Buelow)

    9/14/04 -- Sylvester St., Leicester
    A very quick before work "at dawn" walk down this dirt road had at least one good flock of migrants. Unfortunately, because of the habitat (tall mixed forest, narrow dirt road);, we missed about half the birds. Great Blue Heron (1); Canada Goose (6); Greater Yellowlegs (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1: airport); A Kestrel (1: airport); Merlin (1: airport); Downy Woodpecker (2); Pileated Woodpecker (1); E Phoebe (1); Black-capped Chickadee (19); Tufted Titmouse (3); White-breasted Nuthatch (5); Red-breasted Nuthatch (5); Brown Creeper (2); Gray Catbird (5); Red-eyed Vireo (2); Song Sparrow (8); Plus: 1 recently killed Short-tailed Shrew. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    9/13/04 -- Mount Watatic , Ashburnham
    Rapors migrating today: Osprey 20 ; Bald Eagle 3 ; Northern Harrier 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 101; Cooper's Hawk 6 ; Broad-winged Hawk 1908 ; Red-tailed Hawk 1 ; American Kestrel 12 ; Merlin 3. Observations: A substantial amount of raptors, approx 60% were seen after 3PM, 660 hawks went by the hill after 5PM and hawks were still in the air at 5:45 PM. (report from Dan Furbish).

    9/13/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: > Turkey Vulture 6 ; > Osprey 23 ; > Bald Eagle 3 ; > Northern Harrier 2 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 26 ; > Cooper's Hawk 2 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 1201 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 8 ; > American Kestrel 9 ; > Merlin 3 ; > > Observations: No hawks until 10:00 AM EDT. A steady flow of hawks all day. There were 2 groups of 200 Broadwings and the best formed kettle of the day occurred at 5:45 PM EDT with 97 Broadwings directly overhead!! 2 Northern Goshawks and 3 Red-shouldered Hawks were seen but were not migrating. > > The day started with day hawks and ended with 4 Common Nighthawks. There were 7 Monarch Butterflies (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/12/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: > Osprey 12 ; > Bald Eagle 1 ; > Northern Harrier 1 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 13 ; > Cooper's Hawk 2 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 22 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 1 ; > American Kestrel 1 ; Also, > 4 migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/12/04 -- Ware River Watershed IBA
    We followed the same route as last week, making the same stops (the ones we do during our BBS route);. What a difference a week makes! Migrant species numbers and variety were down, though a few new species were noted. Overall, warbler numbers were low. Unlike last week, the greatest number of warblers were seen feeding early in the morning, especially along the edges of fields in dense thickets of alders and birch. At Broad Meadow Brook we have noticed in years past, that in the fall, many alders develop huge infestations of aphids, and this is what these migrants were feeding on. As is typical of clear, cool fall mornings in dense forested situations in the interior: it's best to head at dawn for some open area bordered by these alders/birches that the sun is first hitting. The show is mostly over by 8 or 9 and we saw 80% of our birds in that time though we continued till the early afternoon. As with all forest biridng in the fall, there are long stretches with no birds. This is more than compensated for by the pleasure of watching mixed species flocks move through the forest. We had time to spend only a few minutes with the dedicated hawkwatchers at Barre Falls Dam, so our hawk numbers are extremely meager. Temps: 46-72 degrees. Great Blue Heron (8); Turkey Vulture (7); Wood Duck (10: all in pairs); Mallard (4); Osprey (1); Bald Eagle (1imm); Sharp-shinned Hawk (2: we watched 1 imm dash madly about in the forest after chickadees and nuthatchs right in front of us, unfazed by our presence. It was totally unsuccessful); Broad-winged Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Ruffed Grouse (3); Solitary Sandpiper (1); Least Sandpiper (2); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Downy Woodpecker (9); Hairy Woodpecker (6); N Flicker (4); Pileated Woodpecker (4); Olive-sided Flycatcher (1 bird we watched for 15 minutes and photographed. Note: no Peewees!); E Phoebe (24); Yellow-throated Vireo (4: typically 0-2 birds are found during the breeding season); Blue-headed Vireo (16: some doing funky versions of their song); Red-eyed Vireo (17); Blue Jay (68); A Crow (7); Barn Swallow (1 overhead); Black-capped Chickadee (195: smaller flocks than last week); Tufted Titmouse (8); Red-breasted Nuthatch (12: no big flight, so far); White-breasted Nuthatch (35); Brown Creeper (31: unusually high numbers); House Wren (3); Golden-crowned Kinglet (2); Swainson's Thrush (1); Hermit Thrush (6); A Robin (59); Gray Catbird (42); E Starling (20 on periphery); Cedar Waxwing (4); Scarlet Tanager (3); E Towhee (6); Chipping Sparrow (8); Song Sparrow (4); Swamp Sparrow (8); White-throated Sparrow (1: for the most part, still no major movements of sparrows in the interior); N Cardinal (1m); Bobolink (10 overhead at dawn); Purple Finch (1); A Goldfinch (12); PLUS: VERTS: Raccoon (1);; River Otter (2);; and the usual gogolplex smacking chipmunks; Gray Tree Frog; Pickerel Frog; Green Frog; Red-spotted Newt; Ribbon Snake; E Painted Turtle; Bridled Shiner (we spent some time trying to get photos of this decreasing state species);; Grass Pickerel; Pumpkinseed. Few butterflies (and those were typical); but loads of odes including thousands of meadowflys and many Darners including Lance-tipped, Canada, Green, and what looked like a Sweet-flag Spreadwing. Closed (Bottle); Gentian still putting on a good show and interesting fungi everywhere. Nice day to be out tromping around field and forest! (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    9/12/04 -- Mount Watatic , Ashburnham
    Rapors migrating today: Osprey 13 ; Bald Eagle 3 ; Northern Harrier 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 ; Cooper's Hawk 2 ; Broad-winged Hawk 90 ; American Kestrel 6 ; Merlin 1 ; Also, 2 Ruby throated Hummingbirds, 1 Monarch butterfly (report from Dan Furbish ).

    9/11/04 -- Blackstone Corridor: RI section
  • At dawn at BUCK HILL WMA/BURRILLVILLE: we only hiked to the pond and then back out (see below);: Least Sandpiper (2: at pond); E Wood Peewee (4: some still calling); "empid sp." (1: appeared to be Least); E Phoebe (7); Great Crested Flycatcher (1 still calling); Barn Swallow (1); House Wren (2); Golden-crowned Kinglet (1); Blue-headed Vireo (1); Yellow-throated Vireo (2: both still singing); Philadelphia Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (10);
      Warblers: Tennessee (1); Magnolia (1); Black-throated Green (3); Pine (2); Blackpoll (16); Ovenbird (1); Connecticut (1imm);
    Scarlet Tanager (1); Bobolink (1 overhead); Nota bene: there were two rapidly moving (S); flocks of passerines at the pond. These were moving through the trees so fast, we missed at least 50% of the birds. On the way out, we bumped into a hunter coming in with a shotgun/rifle, so beware.
  • WOONSOCKET RESERVOIR, SMITHFIELD: Double-crested Cormorant (6); Canada Goose (2); Green-winged Teal (4); A Black Duck (1); Killdeer (21); Least Sandpiper (4); CASPIAN TERN (1 perched on one of the sandbars. It stayed the entire time we were there, preening occ.); Belted Kingfisher (1);
  • SEEKONK RIVER: Providence/East Providence. We conducted one of our point counts at low tide. Large numbers of gulls were far up-river despite numerous skullers and dragon boats in Pawtucket. Double-crested Cormorant (132); Great Egret (7); Great Blue Heron (6); Snowy Egret (2); Black-crowend Night Heron (14 ad/sub ad+7imm); Mute Swan (32); Mallard (289); A Black Duck (6); Hooded Merganser (1imm); Osprey (2); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Semipalmated Plover (5); Greater Yellowlegs (1); Semipalmated Sandpiper (67); Laughing Gull (76); Ring-billed Gull (1196); Herring Gull (182); Great Black-backed Gull (43); Common Tern (3); Forster's Tern (13: all up near Pawtucket end, feeding, calling and often getting kleptoparasitized by Ring-billeds); Belted Kingfisher (1); Tree Swallow (30+); N Rough-winged Swallow (10+); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

  • 9/11/04 -- RT. 56 overlook, Leicester
    This evening we went to the traditional spot. Looking down on the Worcester airport runway we saw the usual crowd of killdeer, some yellowlegs and other shorebirds that looked interesting. Driving down to Mulberry Street, as we walked up the small rise to overlook the runway, we were stopped by some Reservoir Police, who know us, and were told that because it was "9-11" the airport people wanted NO ONE even looking at the runways.... at least that day. The Reservoir Police were very nice and knew exactly what we were doing, but had to follow orders. So we left. What we saw in the brief time we were there: Merlin (1); Wild Turkey (10); Killdeer (14); Greater Yellowlegs (2); Lesser Yellowlegs (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll)>

    9/11/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: > Osprey 9 ; Northern Harrier 1 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 21 ; > Cooper's Hawk 6 ; Broad-winged Hawk 222 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 1 ; American Kestrel 2 ; > Observations: > The 3 largest kettles contained 57, 44 and 25 Broadwings. > More than half of the Broadwings were seen between 11 and 12 EDT. > > Migrating were 1 Double-crested Cormorant, 1 Common Nighthawk and 2 Monarch Butterflies. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/11/04 -- Mount Watatic , Ashburnham
    Raptors migrating today: Osprey 22 ; Bald Eagle 3 ; Northern Harrier 1 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 42 ; Cooper's Hawk 4 ; Broad-winged Hawk 1036 ; American Kestrel 4 ; Merlin 1 ; (report from Tom Pirro).

    9/10/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Raptors migrating today: Osprey 4 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 ; Broad-winged Hawk 22 ; (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/8/04 -- Sterling Peat, Sterling
    About 3:15 pm, a Rough-legged hawk perched in the dead maple or oak tree next to the dead pine tree in the bog. It stayed there for about twenty minutes. Without a scope unable to determine age or sex. It was definely a light morph. Probably an adult but hard to say. Head to chest and belly to legs mostly white. Legs were white. Spend 10 minutes preening talons. Upper body was brown. A stripe of brown was around the eyes. When it finally flew, wingspan was about four feet. On the left wing, the five-finger tethering was visible. The bird circled the Peat and then headed in a southwest direction towards Wachusett Reservior. Afterwards, I spotted a Northern Goshawk flying low over the Thomas Street intersection and Rte. 140. (Report from Steve Olson).

    9/8/04 -- Lake Wompanoag, Gardner
    The following hilites from the Lake Wompanoag area this morning before work: Common Loon 2 (1 adult/ 1 young); Hermit Thush 1; Red-breatsed Nuthatch 3; Red-eyed Vireo 2; Warbling Vireo 1; Blue-headed Vireo 1; Yellow-rumped Warbler 3; Northern Parula 2; Black-throated Green Warbler 2; Black and White Warbler 3; American Redstart 3; Blackburnian Warbler 1; Common Yellowthroat 3; Evening Grosbeak 2 minimum. Last evening 21 Common Night Hawks were seen feeding and slowly meandering North East in the Gardner area. (report from Tom Pirro).

    9/8/04 -- Barrows Rd., Worcester
    I awoke this morning at 5:45 to my first Worcester Co. Whip-poor-will. My wife said it had been calling for about five minutes and seemed to have been travelling at the edge of the woods behind us from ENE in a roughly southerly direction. Needless to say, I did not get to see the bird, but it surely did sound nice just before first light. (report from Howard Shainheit).

    9/7/04 -- Auburn
    Bird banding has started again in Auburn. We will be there Saturday and Sundays while the migration lasts, weather permitting. Not very much in the way of warbler movement yet, a few Redstarts, Common Yellow Throats, a Chestnut Sided, a couple Northern Water thrush, and a lot of Catbirds. We did catch and band a Scarlet Tanager which is unusual for us and a Great Horned Owl almost destroyed one of our nets and scared the volunteers opening nets at 5:30 a.m. Labor Day. The most exciting sighting involved the Master Bander, Mark Blazis. September 4, Mark worked quite a few areas on the coast looking for Rails. In the Bill Forward Wildlife Management Area, Rowley, Massachusetts, Mark, with the help of his bird dog Brie, was able to flush and get a good look at the elusive Yellow Rail. This was a bird Mark has never seen before. Needless to say, he was very excited.(report from Colleen Morin).

    9/7/04 -- Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary, Worcester
    I had one nighthawk flying north over the Visitors' Center tonight while waiting for my class. (report from John Liller).

    9/6/04 -- Leesville Pond, Worcester
    Today there were 1 N. Pintail{f}, 1 A. Widgeon and 1 Pied- billed Grebe at the pond. (report from John Shea).

    9/6/04 -- RT.56 overlook, Leicester
    We watched nighthawks from 5:15 to 7PM tonite, joined by Fran McMenemy. Temps were in the 60s, light wind from the SW. Very few nighthawks tonite: (total:12), eventually moving south in widely separated small groups far out. Is the show over for the year? Other birds seen: Double-crested Cormorant (3); Turkey Vulture (3); N Harrier (2, including that same sub-ad M that has been here for weeks); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Cooper's Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (2 watched coming in to roost in the trees); Red-tailed Hawk (1); A Kestrel (2); Killdeer (20 on runway); Chimney Swift (1); Tree Swallow (3); Barn Swallow (16); E Meadowlark (6). (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    9/6/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Migrant raptors today: > Turkey Vulture 1 ; > Osprey 9 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 19 ; > Cooper's Hawk 4 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 15 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 3 ; > American Kestrel 2 . Also, 8 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/6/04 -- Gate 40, Quabbin Reservoir
    Petersham Road Parking Lot to Graves Landing, 4:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. Surprisingly comfortable weather conditions characterized a day of sporadic activity highlighted by a slightly above average tally of raptors. A Great Horned Owl hooted sleepily as my car coasted to a halt in the parking lot. The weedy tangles bordering Petersham Road leading to Dana Common reluctantly yielded pockets of passerines foraging in the warming rays of the sun. In this particular habitat type, Black-throated Green and Pine Warblers foraged the most actively and in the greatest numbers. Two Sharp-shinned Hawks scrutinized the endless stands of Canada Goldenrod and Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed. They succeeded in stirring up several Song Sparrows, but gained no sustenance from their efforts. The glass-smooth surface of Pottapaug Pond produced one Great Blue Heron, with two immature Bald Eagles lumbering aloft at my insufficiently stealthy approach. A lone marauding Peregrine Falcon neatly cleaved a quartet of Rock Pigeons in half, making one ivory-hued bird disappear in a burst of savaged feathers over Leveau Island. Terrified, its three remaining companions sprinted madly in opposite directions. A Coopers's Hawk sprinted from its perch along the southern shore of Stevens Island, gliding deftly over my head into the forested depths of Rattlesnake Hill, scattering a multitude of Black-throated Green Warblers and Black-capped Chickadees from the surrounding shrubs and Red Pines. Peering downward at the water's edge from the interior of my blind, four Greater Yellowlegs also erupted into flight. The penetrating GONK! of a pair of Northern Ravens and the plaintive mewling of several Gray Catbirds accompanied me on my return to my vehicle.
    Species counts: American Goldfinch 13 ;American Redstart 7 ;American Robin 27 ;Bald Eagle 3 ;Barn Swallow 15 ;Belted Kingfisher 1 ;Black-and-white Warbler 2 ;Blackburnian Warbler 1 ;Black-capped Chickadee 13 ;Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 ;Black-throated Green Warbler 14 ;Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 ;Blue-headed Vireo 1 ;Blue-winged Warbler 1 ;Broad-winged Hawk 2 ;Cedar Waxwing 12 ;Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 ;Chimney Swift 5 ;Chipping Sparrow 17 ;Common Flicker 6 ;Common Grackle 16 ;Common Yellowthroat 5 ;Cooper's Hawk 1 ;Double-crested Cormorant 5 ;Downy Woodpecker 4 ;Eastern Kingbird 4 ;Eastern Wood Pewee 3 ;Gray Catbird 7 ;Great Blue Heron 3 ;Great Horned Owl 1 ;Greater Yellowlegs 4 ;Killdeer 3 ;Least Flycatcher 1 ;Mallard 5 ;Northern Cardinal 2 ;Northern Raven 2 ;Osprey 2 ;Peregrine Falcon 1 ;Pileated Woodpecker 3 ;Pine Warbler 11 ;Red-eyed Vireo 2 ;Red-tailed Hawk 3 ;Ring-billed Gull 3 ;Rock Pigeon 14 ;Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 ;Scarlet Tanager 4 ;Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 ;Spotted Sandpiper 4 ;Tree Swallow 14 ;Tufted Titmouse 7 ;Turkey Vulture 15 ;White-breasted Nuthatch 6 ;Yellow-rumped Warbler 2. (report from Chris Ellison).

    9/5/04 -- Grafton Conservation Lands, Grafton
    Kim Kastler and I recorded the following highlights in the Grafton Conservation Lands off of Merriam Rd. in Grafton this morning: Hairy Woodpecker (1); Northern Flicker (1); Red-eyed Vireo (1); House Wren (1); Wood Thrush (1); American Robin (1); Gray Catbird (8); Chestnut-sided Warbler (1); Black-and-white Warbler (1); American Redstart (7); Northern Waterthrush (1); Common Yellowthroat (1); Eastern Towhee (1); Song Sparrow (1); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3); Also: Fisher (1); (report from John Liller).

    9/5/04 -- Ware River Watershed IBA, Barre/Rutland
    We spent the morning running one of our standard counts of a section of the Ware River Watershed IBA. This is the area described by me in the Western Guide, an area managed by the MDC. Weather was not great: cool (high 50s-low 60s);, breezy, overcast (often dark);. We spent about 15 minutes with the stalwart Barre Falls Dam hawk-watchers, but had to press on to complete our survey route. SURPRSINGLY (because of the weather); there were good numbers of passerine migrants, typically in the presence of large flocks of chickadees, nuthatches et. We found that whenever we stopped when we heard chickadee call notes and then spished and screech-owled for a bit, mixed species flocks would appear. Species were a combination of breeding species (either here or nearby); with a sprinkling of non-breeding migrants. Pine Warblers were very much in "staging for migration" mode. At one point we had a "flock" of 20 Scarlet Tangers with a large flock of Pine Warblers. Sparrow numbers were low and we saw NO blackbirds what so ever.
    Great Blue Heron (5); Turkey Vulture (3); Wood Duck (3); A Black Duck (2); Osprey (2 migrants); Bald Eagle (2 1st yr birds, migrating); Sharp-shinned Hawk (2); Broad-winged Hawk (4 migrants); Red-tailed Hawk (2); Ruffed Grouse (1adF w/6 birds of the year); Spotted Sandpiper (1); Ring-billed Gull (flock of 36 passing hawkwatch spot); Herring Gull (1ad passing hawkwatch spot); Chimney Swift(1); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2); Red-bellied Woodpecker (1); Downy Woodpecker (5); Hairy Woodpecker (6); N Flaicker (5); E Wood Peewee (7: one of the very few birds still singing); Least Flycatcher (1); E Phoebe (43); WHITE-EYED VIREO (1 bird studied for 10 minutes. WE Vireos are rare anytime in Worcester County. Up till today, I had only seen 2 previous birds. Almost all records are for spring); Yellow-throated Vireo (1); Blue-headed Vireo (4); Philadelphia Vireo (1); Red-eyed Vireo (31); Blue Jay (54); Common Raven (1); Black-capped Chickadee (262); Tufted Titmouse (17); Red-breasted Nuthatch (29); White-breasted Nuthatch (33); Brown Creeper (8); House Wren (5); Golden-crowned Kinglet (1); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1); Hermit Thrush (13); Wood Thrush (1); A Robin (21); Gray Catbird (27); Brown Thrasher (1); E Starling (flock of 19); Cedar Waxwing (21); Scarlet Tanager (31); E Towhee (14); Chipping Sparrow (30); Song Sparrow (9); Swamp Sparrow (1); N Cardinal (6); A Goldfinch (6);
    PLUS: VERTS: Green Frog, Short-tailed Shrew, Short-tailed Weasel, the ever-present Beaver, E Chipmunk and Red Squirrel. We found some "spoor du moose". We also got to study the Bridle Shiners in their small pool, which is now in danger of drying up due to beaver activity. We saw NO leps, but odes were everywhere, mostly meadowflys, Green Darners and other darner species. Wildflowers besides the common asters and goldenrods of early fall included an incredible display of Closed or Bottle Gentian, lots of Cardinal Flower and Turtlehead. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    9/5/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Migrant raptors today: > Turkey Vulture 6 ; > Osprey 11 ; > Bald Eagle 2 ; > Northern Harrier 1 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 11 ; > Cooper's Hawk 1 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 8 . Also migrating were 4 RT Hummingbirds, 60 Double-crested Cormorants and 1 Great > Blue Heron. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/4/04 -- Rt. 56 overlook, Leicester
    We counted nighthawks from 5PM till 7:15PM. Weather was mostly cloudy at the start, with a front moving through, winds from the NE. We were joined by Barbara Walker, Mike Walker, Rick Walker and Fran McMenemy. Fran stayed till the bitter end. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS: (103: birds did not even start to appear till c.6:30 when two headed over, then nothing till c. 6:55, and most then came by rapidly from the north, most heading high and to the SW. A last large flock was seen feeding towards the NE. BTW: flying ants WERE around and we had them coming out their anthills right at our feet);. Other birds: Double-crested Cormorant (1); Osprey (1); N Harrier (the same sub-ad M); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (1); A Kestrel (4); Wild Turkey (16); Killdeer (17 minimally on the runway. We would not have even seen these if if it not for the security SUV driving wildly all over the runway CHASING Killdeer and Turkeys back and forth and even firing off ordnance at them. It was quite a stupid display .I can understand keeping Turkeys off the runway, but Killdeers? And he kept pursuing the flocks of Killdeer that would re-settle on the runway. It was quite something to watch from our vantage point); Barn Swallow (1); Plus: Monarch (1); Nota Bene: at 4:45Pm, we had a flock of 30 nighthawks feeding (likely on ants); over Tatnuck Square with aerial feeding starlings and Ring-billed Gulls. The nighthawks eventually drifted north. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    9/3/04 -- Rt. 56 overlook, Leicester
    We watched nighthawks tonite from 5:30 till 7:10PM joined by Pauline Metras and Bart Kamp. Most of the movement was rather late and many were high. Some birds headed south to the east of us, others crossed over and around the north end of the hill and then headed south or southwest. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS (117); Other birds: Double-crested Comorant (2); N. Harrier (that same sub-ad male); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (1); A Kestrel (6); Wild Turkey (26); Killdeer (12); Chimney Swift (3); Tree Swallow (9); Barn Swallow (8); Cedar Waxwing (13); Scarlet Tanager (1 overhead); Red-winged Blackbird (162); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

    9/2/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Migrant raptors today: > Osprey 3 ; > Bald Eagle 3 ; > Northern Harrier 2 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 6 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 2 ; > Observations: > The 3 Bald Eagles passed within 30 minutes of each other. Not migrating > were 4 Red-shouldered hawks (soaring together), 4 Broad-winged Hawks, 3 > Red-tailed Hawks and about a dozen Turkey Vultures. Also: > 1 monarch butterfly. The Olive-sided Flycatcher returned to it's perch of > yesterday and hunted from it for about 90 minutes.(report from Bart Kamp).

    9/2/04 -- High Ridge WMA, Westminster/Gardner
  • Last evening's nighthawk watch (9/1) from High Ridge WMA (RC airfield) was rather slow with only 4 passing between 5:45 and 7:30. Other birds near the site (Hilites): Great Eagret 1 there has been one in the area for a least a few weeks now; Sharp-shinned hawk 1 imm.; Olive-sided Flycather 1 present the whole time feeding from a distant snag and spruces; Eastern Wood PeeWee 2 calling from woods; Eastern Bluebird 2;
  • Hilites from a short walk in the Smith Street Gate this AM 9/2: Great Blue Heron 4; Cooper's Hawk 1 imm. "spished in" only ~10' away; E. Wood PeeWee 1 calling; Eastern Kingbird 1; Eastern Phoebe 3; Least Flycather 1; Gray Catbird 10; Nashville Warbler 1; COmmon Yellowthroat 5+; Black-throated green Warbler 2; Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 female; Swamp Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 15+; Lincoln's Sparrow 1. (report from Tom Pirro).

  • 9/1/04 -- Barre Falls Dam, Barre
    Migrant raptors today: Osprey 3 ; > Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 ; > Broad-winged Hawk 2 ; > Red-tailed Hawk 2 ; > American Kestrel 5 ; Observers: Barton D. Kamp, Donna Schilling, Tom Carrolan > > Also, a Philadelphia Vireo was heard and an Olive-sided Flycatcher caught insects from the top of a dead tree for part of the day. 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and 1 Monarch Butterfly were migrating. (report from Bart Kamp).

    9/1/04 -- Rt.56 overlook of airport, Leicester
    A good group of observers gathered here tonite, though numbers of migrating nighthawks were modest to poor at best. Present were: Mark Lynch; Sheila Carroll; Fran McMenemy, Bart Kamp, the Walkers (Barbara and Rick) , and others. Osprey (1); N Harrier (1 sub-ad M); A Kestrel (5); Wild Turkey (29: in the field in front of us and on the runway); Killdeer (7: on runway); UPLAND SANDPIPER (still present at end of runway); Solitary Sandpiper (1 flyby); COMMON NIGHTHAWK (84: from 5:45-7:15PM: all eventually heading south, though some headed north around the hill, then south. Many birds were high and far out); Barn Swallow (25 migrating); Cedar Waxwing (35); Savannah Sparrow (6); Bobolink (10); Red-winged Blackbird (75: one flock). Bart Kamp is thinking Friday (9/3) might be the next big night. (report from Mark Lynch).

    For previous sightings, see August 2004 Archives or Archive Index