September 2005 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 16 23 23 Osprey 4 133 141 Bald Eagle 1 49 49 Northern Harrier 0 9 9 Sharp-shinned Hawk 31 413 416 Cooper's Hawk 3 13 13 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 10 16701 16704 Red-tailed Hawk 3 5 5 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 7 72 74 Merlin 0 25 25 Peregrine Falcon 1 5 5 Unknown 1 18 18 Total: 77 17468 17484 ----------------------------------------------------------------------Raptor Observations: First day after a cold front. Not as many birds as expected. Non-raptor Observations: 18 monarchs, 10 canada geese. (report from Bart Kamp).
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 24, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Turkey Vulture 1 1 1 Osprey 13 117 117 Bald Eagle 3 29 29 Northern Harrier 3 13 13 Sharp-shinned Hawk 55 177 177 Cooper's Hawk 6 14 14 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1 Broad-winged Hawk 784 6362 6362 Red-tailed Hawk 0 5 5 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 6 53 53 Merlin 1 15 15 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown 2 13 13 Total: 874 6800 6800 ----------------------------------------------------------------------Raptor Observations: Most of our Broad-wings passed in the afternoon...at least 75 BW still up at 4:45 EST. Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose 93 migranting, 1 American Pipit, 3 Ruffed Grouse on the hike. (report from Tom Pirro).
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 23, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Osprey 16 93 101 Bald Eagle 1 26 26 Northern Harrier 0 5 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 32 218 221 Cooper's Hawk 0 5 5 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 9122 15160 15163 Red-tailed Hawk 0 1 1 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 7 50 52 Merlin 0 14 14 Peregrine Falcon 1 2 2 Unknown 0 14 14 Total: 9179 15588 15604 ----------------------------------------------------------------------Raptor Observations: It was an overwhelming afternoon. There was a steady flow of birds until about 3:20 EDT. I then spotted a small flock of Canada geese with two birds beyond them. The 2 birds evolved into a peel of more than 400 BW's, followed by a river of more than 2000 BW's, followed by a hugh multi-tiered kettle of more than 3000 BW's, then a kettle of more than 1200 BW's and another of more than 900 BW's, etc., etc., etc. I thought the highlight of the day was going to be the adult peregrine that flew low over the field in front of me. Non-raptor Observations: 500++ monarch butterflies and 12 Canada geese. (report from Bart Kamp).
A very brief stop at the nearby FRUITLANDS OVERLOOK, Harvard had: Turkey Vulture (12); Osprey (2); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (3);
At STERLING PEAT, another brief stop: Double-crested Cormorant (1); Great Egret (1); Canada Goose (5); Mallard (18); A Black Duck (1); Green-winged Teal (2: this species bred here this year); Killdeer (12); Greater Yellowlegs (5); Lesser Yellowlegs (1); Solitary Sandpiper (1); Spotted Sandpiper (3); Least Sandpiper (9); Semipalmated Sandpiper (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
On the way home, we stopped by the ENFIELD LOOKOUT, Quabbin Park and checked for nighthawks from 6:15-6:45PM. We had NO nighthawks, but we did have (1); Great Blue Heron; (2); Ospreys; (1); American Kestrel and (1); merlin relentlessly chasing a Tree Swallow up and down and all around in front of Ram. We also had many cars stopping and looking at the 15+ semi-wild/semi-tame deer like this was some extremely boring game park. (report from Mark Lynch).
TIME: 5:15-7PM Weather: a few clouds along the horizon; calm, cool. COMMON NIGHTHAWK (1: seen at 6:24. Ended flying directly west. It's interesting to note that we found NO flying insects in any great numbers, especially compared to what we saw in North Smithfield, Rhode Island the night before.);OTHER BIRDS: Double-crested Cormorant (4); Turkey Vulture (1); LITTLE BLUE HERON (1imm: OK, this has to be, to date, the most unexpected bird I have seen at this location. We had a white egret fly in from the north. It flew almost directly over our heads, low and in great light. We could clearly see the bi-colored bill color, legnth and depth, and leg color to the feet. It headed directly SW); Osprey (1); Bald Eagle (1ad); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Red-tailed Hawk (2); American Kestrel (2); Merlin (2: migrating SW); Peregrine Falcon (1imm heading SW); Killdeer (1); Greater Yellowlegs (1: calling overhead, heading into town); Chimney Swift (6); Barn Swallow (30); Cedar Waxwing (38); Bobolink (106); Red-winged Blackbird (20); Common Grackle (22); Baltimore Oriole (3); ALSO: (9); Monarchs and (2); White-tailed Deer. (report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
Time: 6PM-7PM Observers: Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll Weather: Cool, winds from the NW, clear. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS: 0Other birds: Double-crested Cormorant (3); A Kestrel (1); Wild Turkey (1); Killdeer (7); Chimney Swift (1); Barn Swallow (4); Common Grackle (170+); PLUS: White-tailed Deer (3). Nighthawk migration is rapidly winding down though I believe (hope) there might be a few nights left with some double-digit movements. (report from Mark Lynch).
For previous sightings, see August 2005 Archives or Archive Index