Places to Bird in Worcester
Central Mass Bird Update homepage.
1) NORTH END OF L. QUINSIGAMOND: Take Rt. 70 (Lincoln Street) north from Rt.
290. Take a right onto Holden Street, which bends to the right and passes by
a gravel company on the left. Opposite the gravel company is a dirt pull-off.
>From here you can view a nice marshy end of the lake. Wood Ducks and Mallards
breed and often a pair of Mute Swans attempts to. In late summer, Spotted and
Solitary Sandpipers can be seen. Watch for Great Blue Heron and Belted
Kingfisher. Sometimes Bank Swallows attempt to breed in the sand mounds at
the gravel company. Continuing along, Holden Street runs south along the
eastern shore of this end of the lake and then bends to the west intersecting
with Lincoln St (Worcester)/Main Street (Shrewsbury). Here it crosses the
pond again. If you pull in just to the west of the bridge, you can walk back
over the bridge for views of the southern section of the marshy pond.
Following Lincoln Street back into Worcester, take a left onto Lake Avenue
North.
2) NORTH L. QUINSIGAMOND. Heading south on Lake Ave, you will go under Rt.
290 and pass the Fallon Clinic on the right. Watch for a small brick building
on the left with a paved boat launch area and pull in here. In winter, when
most of the lake is frozen, sometimes pumped water keeps a section of water
near the opposite shore open and this attracts gulls and waterfowl.
3)REGATTA POINT STATE PARK: Keep heading south on Lake Ave. Opposite
University of Massachusetts Medical School is the entrance to Regatta State
Park. Lake Quinsigamond is the scene of an important sculling regatta, and
crews from various universities are often on the lake, launching from this
park. Check here in late fall and winter for migrant ducks and especially
gulls. Rarely a "white-winged" gull will put in here.
4)PUMPING STATION: Cross Route 9, and head still south on Lake Avenue.
Immediately south of Rt. 9 you will see several large apartment buildings on
the left. Just past these, look for a row of planted arbor vitae. A
difficult to see driveway just to the left of these takes you down to a very
small parking area for a pumping station building. In winter, this is a great
place to check for lingering waterfowl which can include Ring-Necked Ducks,
American Coot or even a Wood Duck. Sometimes something very unusual like a
Redhead will show up. Views are through a chain link fence. Gulls come in to
bath and roost in winter afternoons.
5)LAKE PARK: This large park off Lake Avenue (opposite Hamilton Street) offers
some unobstructed views of the southern end of the lake. Pull in and head for
the parking area on the right near the building. Walk down to the lake
overlook in front of the building (there is a wall and some sand). With a
scope, scan the water and islands to the south. Lighting is often a problem
here. In late fall and winter before freeze-up, watch for goldeneye, coot and
other migrant water birds.Sometimes, a Bald Eagle spends some time here in
winter.
6)LIGHTHOUSE AREA: Just south of Lake Park, take the first left onto Bridle
Path. The area is dense with houses, but as you drive along from your car try
to get a look in between the houses at the lake. Look for a lighthouse. Often
cormorants and gulls can be found perched. In late fall and winter, watch for
Common Mergansers and coot.
7)FLINT POND/OAK ISLAND. Follow Lake Avenue south till it "T"s with
Sunderland Road. Go left (east) and at a light, you will pick up Rt. 20. Head
east on Rt. 20. At another light, turn into the state fisherman's access to
Flint Pond (Oak Island). This is a large paved lot. In late fall and winter,
scan from the boat launch proper. Walk along the marshy inlet to the right
(there are some rough trails) and check the area of water as it flows under
Rt. 20. Usually there are Wood Ducks about. A nice trail that offers better
views of Flint Pond can be had by hopping over the guard rail on the left
side of the lot (facing the boat launch) of the southern end of the parking
lot and heading east on an obvious and broad trail. This short walk will
bring you through a nice scrubby wooded parcel (landbird migrants are often
about in fall and spring. Watch for Orchard Oriole). You will come to several
good over looks of the pond. Look for migrant waterfowl, swallows and herons
in spring, summer and fall and gulls in winter.
8) ROUTE 20 OVERLOOKS: As you head east on Rt. 20, you will pass several good
overlooks of Flint on both sides of the road. Stop where it is possible to
pull-off or park and check these thoroughly as often interesting ducks,
herons and even shorebirds are around in migration. In particular, there is a
small bridge over the easternmost overlook that can be quite interesting.
Checking the north side of the road in late summer can often reveal
shorebirds like Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, and Greater
Yellowlegs as they work the weedy mudflats. parking all along Rt. 20 is
always a challenge.
9)S. QUINSIGAMOND AVE MARSH: From Rt. 20, head north on Lake Street (light)
and keep heading north on South Quinsigamond Avenue. Watch for a small bit of
marsh right beside the road on the left. It is the only area of marsh like
this along this road. Pull completely off the road here being very careful of
the busy traffic, and cross the street and scan the marsh. Often Mute Swans
breed in the area. Migrant dabbling ducks are sometimes about, and Wood Duck
breed. Watch for species like Green Heron.
10. MARONIS PARK OVERLOOK: Heading north on S. Quinsigamond Ave., watch for
th function hall of Maronis Park on the left. There is a broad paved driveway
that slopes down to the building. NOTE; the area is marked "private" and "no
trespassing" but so far discrete and careful birders have not been bothered,
but "caveat emptor". Park all the way down towrds the left end of the lot.
Walk out and head around the left side of the property to the shore along a
path. You will get to a great overlook of Lake Quinsigamond south of Rt. 9.
In dead winter, when most of the lake is frozen, a ridge of water stays open
on the opposite shore. Among the dense flocks of hundreds of Mallards and
Canada Geese there are often good numbers of coot and sometimes an
interesting lingering species like Wood Duck and Green-Winged Teal. This is
where the Redhead could be seen in January of 2000. This is also a good spot
to check gulls. Morning light is best.
>From here it is a short drive to the intersection with Rt. 9 at White City.
(submitted by Mark Lynch).
(1)Massachusetts Avenue,
across from the WPI a-fields. This road crosses over the lower part of the
hill and continues out to Salisbury Street. A spur road, continues to the
left and to the top of the hill.
(2) Drury Lane, also across from the WPI a-fields. Take Massachusetts Avenue
to the left and up to the top of the field.
From Salisbury Street, take Massachusetts Avenue and continue past Drury Lane.
Parking is either at the top of the hill by the tower, or off Drury Lane
(left side)near the service road at the WPI tennis courts.
Your strategy should be to hit the top of the hill at dawn. If migrants are
singing, be sure to bird the wooded edge BEHIND the tower, then work your way
down the hill birding all the roads including the tennis courts service road.
At the most, this should take 45 minutes. (submitted by Mark Lynch).
1) MORGAN PARK LANDING. West side of lake, Off Holden Street. Pull into the
obvious parking area by the tennis courts and boat launch. In periods of low
water, a sizeable exposed muddy edge to the southern end Sears Island. At
such times, many gulls often roost here in late fall and they should be
checked for uncommon species. Sometimes shorebirds will appear here also.
Flocks of American Wigeon can often be found here where water is shallow
along the southern end of the lake and up into the inlet with Sears Island in
late fall. While at this spot, be sure to walk south and cross Grove Street
and check the pond called Little Indian that is across the street from the
southern end of Indian Lake. Black-Crowned Night Herons are regular from
mid-July till September, and sometimes there are migrant ducks especially in
the fall, like American Wigeon.
2) YMCA PARKING AREA. Off Shore Road, north end of lake, across from Bancroft
School. You want to get to the western most end of the parking area, which is
a cul-de-sac. Park and walk down to the water's edge. This is where the
Roseate Tern was found.
3) CLASON BEACH AREA. At the end of Clason Road, off West Boylston Street.
This spot can be a bit difficult to find, so do some map work first, because
it offers the most commanding view of the north 2/3 of the lake. It can only
be arrived at by coming from under Rt. I-190 and heading south on West
Boylton Street which is one way at this point, and then turning in towards
the Strand Ski Shop and continuing back along the old West Bolston Road to
the right. Clason St. is a left. This elevated beach offers a great view of
the lake especially in the morning. In inclement weather, you can sit in your
car here and scan the lake.
4) CAUSEWAY AREA TO SEAR'S ISLAND: If water levels are low, take Huntington
Ave. west from West Boylston Street and cut to the left. Check the muddy cove
of the island and be sure to poke around the north end of the causeway too.
It is NOT necessary to drive out onto Sear's Island. (submitted by Mark Lynch).
From Webster Square take Rt. 12 south towards Auburn. You will pass Hope
Cemetary on the left and Notre Dame Cemetary on the right. Just after this,
Rt. 12 takes a 90 degree turn left, BUT continue straight on Webster Street.
Immediately watch for the cemetary marker on Island Road on the left. Be sure
to check the muddy shallows that first come up on the right behind the wooden
fence. Opposite this area is an area of weeds and small trees where the
cemetary disposes of wasteplant material. This area can be quite good for
warblers and sparrows in migartion. The best strategy is to park and walk as
much of the perimeter of the cemetary where the pond lies. Visibility can be
quite obscured in some locations, so care and patience is required. A broad
flat grassy area on the east end right adjacent to Rt. 290 often has a pair
of breeding Killdeer. This narrow area of water between the cemetary and Rt.
290 often stays open later in the season than the rest of the pond and may
have lingering species like Green-Winged Teal into January. Watch for the
Night Herons in trees along the edge of the pond or feeding on fallen snags
that overhang the water. (submitted by Mark Lynch).
From Webster Square, take Rt. 12 south. Notre Dame Cemetary will be on the
right, opposite Hope Cemetary. Generally, people have parked near the chapel
on the small hill and watched for nighthawks looking in the direction of the
city. Be sure to look north and west as birds are often flying by in the
direction of Coe Reservoir. One of the best places to check for waterbirds is
the small cul-de-sac in the extreme NW corner of the cemetary. Here you are
opposite Hadwen Park. Visibility is often obscured by vegetation so patience
is needed. Check all along the stream that connects Leesville to Curtis Pond
and forms the western border of the cemetary. A small mound of weeds and cut
debris in one corner can hold migrants in the fall like Fox Sparrow and
White-Crowned Sparrow. This stream stays open in all but the coldest parts of
winter and usually holds large numbers of Mallards in that season and
sometimes ligering species like Wood Duck. (submitted by Mark Lynch).
You have several options. Curtis Pond is off
Webster Square, between Stafford Street and Rt. 12. You can get marginal
views from between the factory buildings off Rt. 12
(Webster St.) from the parking area with the sign: Evercolor/Fine Art.
Better, are the views
from the small parking lot of the opticians (Webster Square Vision Center
next to Bickford's) on Stafford Street right at Webster Square, BUT you can
only use this lot when the opticians is closed. There is also a small
alley/street called Curtis Street which runs from besides Chopstick's
Restaurant and behind Maury's Deli. Here you are looking through a chain link
fence at a section of the pond. You can even bush whack from behind some
factories off Webster Place, crossing the railroad tracks, though some rather
unsavory looking characters have been seen hanging around this area, so
beware. A scope is needed. (submitted by Mark Lynch).