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March 14 & 15
I have scanned the Westinster "industrial Landfill" from a nearby hillside, the past few days, 100-200 gulls have been present and a least Iceland Gull was mixed in. Gulls have also been loafing on the...
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Bohemian Waxwing Invasion Continues 3/19
On 3/17 I came across the flock of approx 140 Bohemian Waxwings on Lake Street in Gardner and today near Heywood Hospital (Green Street) about 225 to 250. Sure this year's spring migration is...
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3/29 Central Mass loop
At home was a nice showing of finches, approx. 70 goldfinch, ~20 siskins and a dozen House Finches....no "purples" at home yet.At the Westminster Landfill, scanned from a distant hillside, were Turkey...
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Bohemians continue in Gardner 3/30
This noon Bohemian flock looked to be at its largest (that I have seen) since 4 first showed on 2/21/2015, down the street, at the corner of Green and Matthew's Street. My initial estimate, on site,...
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Early April sightings
Much of the winter's heavy snow fall has melted in the past week and migration is starting to "catch up" a bit. Blackbirds are wide spread, waterfowl such as Green-wing Teal, Wood Ducks, Ring-necked...
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April 6 -12th North Central Mass.
Sunday 4/12 finally "broke open" as the first real day of spring, after another tough week of weather. I birded around Westminster/Fitchburg a bit, on Sunday, with highlights being 3 immature Bald...
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Mid- April
Early spring migrants continue to arrive such Pine, Palm and Yellow-Rumped Warblers; Louisiana Waterthrush and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. I have yet to see or hear a Black and White Warbler, but the next...
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Late April to May 15th
Most migrants have returned to the area, here are a few photos from the last few weeks. An adult male American Redstart at Crystal Lake CemeteryBlack and White Warbler from High Ridge WMA, in GardenerA...
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Am. Woodcock and WW Scoter migrants
While some of the later migrants have just arrived in the past week including; Alder and Willow Flycatchers and Eastern Wood Peewees, many of the earlier arrivals and residents are settling down to...
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Late migrants and nesting Herons
During the late afternoon on the 24th a flycatcher passed over the back deck, fortunately it stopped on a nearby dead tree at the edge of the yard. Open further inspection it turned out to be an...
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Yard Birds late May
While enjoying a beer or two last Friday evening, I was able to pickup 3 new yard birds for the year from the deck. Cedar Waxwings were present in the yard for the first time this year, a Great-crested...
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Peewee nest
On Sunday (6/7) I spotted an Eastern Wood Peewee nest in the back yard woodlot; approx 40 feet high on a dead horizontal limb (red oak), in an sheltered opening 1/3 way below the forest canopy approx....
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Breeding Survey Route and High Ridge WMA visit
On June 14th I conducted the Ware River Breeding Bird Survey route, the 24.5 mile route canvases areas outside and within the bird rich Ware River Watershed/ Barre Fall Dam areas. Clear and calm...
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Late June White Mtn Trip
In late June Karin and I took a trip to New Hampshire's White Mountains, day one 6/26 was a nice hike up to Mt. Osceola and East Osceola, from Tripoli Road near Waterville Valley. I kept track of birds...
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Misc Photos from July/August
A few shots from a July hike on Cannon Mountain: A Bicknell's Thrush (one of 7 on the hike) at ~3300 feet on the Kinsman Ridge Trail,it likely had young near by judging from the number of insects in...
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High Ridge WMA and Sterling "Peat"
Below are a few photos from an out and back 5 mile walk at High Ridge WMA (Westminster/ Gardner) on 8/22 along East Gardner Road, May Street, Smith Street and Neighborhood Road. There were no real...
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Late August/ Early September
We recently visited the White Mountains and I was fortunate to enjoy long day-hike to Bondcliff Mtn., in the Pemigewasset Wilderness. Not much on the bird front, a few Red-eyed Vireos were singing...
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A few September photos
A Least Flycatcher in Gardner in Mid-September1 of 4 Prairie Warblers in Gardner Mid-SeptemberThis American Pipit showed nicely on Mt. WataticThe Red-tailed Hawk passed close by Mt. Watatic, and was...
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Early to mid-October
Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers are still fairly common, in the hill towns of Worcester County, and there are certainly still likely numbers of Pine Warblers in the appropriate habitats. Many other...
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Watatic "Weather Watch"
A little over 4 hours of hawkwatching on Mt Watatic brought just under 30 migrant raptors past the site. Leading the way was 16 Sharp-shins followed and a scattering of a single Cooper's, 2...
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Wampanoag Hawkwatch 10/24
A brief hawkwatch, at the Wampanoag MAS in Gardner, produced a modest flight of raptors during a 2 hour session late Saturday morning; the totals (for migrants):Turkey Vulture 5Bald Eagle 1...
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Forbush Bird Club Conn. River Valley Trip 11/1/2015
Last Sunday's (11/1/2015) "Forbush" trip to Hadley/ North Hampton area of the Connecticut River Valley began at the Quabbin Headquarters, in Belchertown. The Quabbin waters were fairly quiet, with no...
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Quabbin Gate 40 11/8
We had a perfect Sunday walk at Gate 40 on the 8th, more of a general "poke around" out and back walk to Dana Center then continuing to a large marsh. One high light was gathering some oyster mushrooms...
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High Ridge WMA (East side) 3/12/2016
The east side of High Ridge Wild Life Management Area is a section that I (shamefully) have not explored in over 25 years I have birded and walked this area, other than occasionally checking...
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Feeder Birds 4/1 to 4/3
Sunday's 4/3/2016 snow brought good numbers of birds to our deck feeders and surrounding yard. Here are photos of some of the species present, a few notable missed photo ops were 2016 firsts of...
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