Neighborhood (Westminster, Ma.) Birding 11/9

On a neighborhood walk to an old sandpit/squawsh patch this morning I found a nice array of sparrows, and a new species for the local patch. Dark-eyed Juncos, Song, Swamp, Savannah, White-throated, American tree, Chipping and Fox Sparrows were found. A fly over American Pipit was a new species for my neighborhood and a very late Bobolink was still lingering. here are a few photos.

November 9th is a very late date for a Bobolink in north Worcester County

An obstructed view of an American tree Sparrow

Its getting a bit late for Chipping Sparrows in the area, there were 5 or 10 present in the squawsh patch.

One of several Savannah Sparrows

A Brown Creeper at the forest's edge.

During the week, at Crystal Laker (Gardner) a the Red-breasted Merganser hung around until Friday, a Double-crested Cormorant and Ruddy Duck were also present and the season's first Common Goldeneyes arrived. There has been no "sign" of the Lesser Black-backed Gull I observed a week+ ago.

A female Ruddy Duck

Double-crested Cormorant

The "DC" showing a nice "aqua marine" colored eye.

Quabbin 11/2/2014

I spent a very windy Sunday morning along the NE shoreline of Quabbin Reservoir starting at South Spec Pond in New Salem, then entering the Quabbin from Gate 35 for a walk along the shore.

The wind was out of the north west at a sustained 15-20 MPH with gusts to 30-40 mph. Depite the adverse conditions there was a nice showing of passerines species along the powerlines, with a few dozen robins, 50 + juncos, a few White-throated Sparrows and a single Amercian Tree Sparrow. Along the water's edge, in a sheltered cove, single Yellow-rumped Warbler fed and a Fox Sparrow showed nicely along the nearby road.

Water birds were tough to pick out in the heavy "surf", and the few I did find were "sticking " to the leeward side of the many islands in the area. Several Common Loons, a few Horned Grebes,  a dozen plus Buffleheads, 1 Black Scoter, 3 Ring-billed Gulls and only 1 Bald Eagle were the hilights. Other than the eagle a single Red-tailed and Copper's hawk were seen.

These Buffleheads and Hooded Mergansers were seen on South Spec Pond in New Salem.

A Common Loon riding the "surf"

The muted foliage of oaks and likely some beech along the eastern "slopes" of New Salem.

Female Buffleheads and Black Scoter

On the return home I stopped by Crystal Lake in and Gardner and Meetinghouse Reservoir in Westminster. A Red-breasted Merg and Long-tailed Duck were nice to see at these inland locales.

A female Red-breasted Merganser at Crystal lake in Gardner

At Meetinghouse Pond in Westminster was a hansome drake Long-tailed Duck

Fitchburg Airport 10/4/2014

 During the rainy Saturday afternoon (with east wind), I stopped by a few local lakes and the Fitchburg Airport in the hopes that something "good" had been grounded. No uncommon waterbirds had put down on either Round Meadow Pond, Crystal Lake, Notown Reservoir or Whalom Lake.

 At Fitchburg Airport I scanned the runways for about 15 minutes with "only" 20 Killdeer to show for the effort, then I heard a shrill "voice" or two from low the sky. I couldn't find the birds in flight, but after re-scanning the area I was able to find 2 American Golden Plovers, that had likely flown into view from the south end of the airport. They stayed in view for several minutes as they fed in the short grass in typical "stop and go" plover fashion.

A Merlin at Crystal lake Cemetery

A nice array of fall color

One of two Am. Golden Plover

Two Am. Golden Plover "loafing" at Fitchburg Airport.

Crystal Lake (Gardner, Ma.) 5/16/2014

On Mother's Day Karin and I saw an Eastern Screech Owl peeking out of its roost/nesting hole at the Crystal Lake Cemetery. This species is fairy uncommon in the hill towns of northern Worcester County, so needless to say I/we were thrilled to see this cute little owl, especially in daylight. Before work, 5/16, I stopped by and it was again looking outside, so I was able to snap a photo.

An Eastern Screech Owl nicely camouflaged in a large mature oak. 

This pair of White-wing Scoters was not completely unexpected, especially with a fair stiff SE wind, regardless I was thrilled.

Female and Male White-winged Scoters

East Quabbin 5/4/2014

Last Sunday I lead the Forbush Bird Club's East Quabbin auto tour, we drove from gate 35 in New Salem through North Dana, Dana Center, the shoreline in what was once Greenwich, Ma. onto gate 43 eventually exited at gate 45. The roads were in decent shape, however some skill full driving was needed in a few soft sections of road. A total of 66 species were seen and/or heard, low for this trip but any day long trip inside the Quabbin area is a good day...a moose sighting made it even better! A few photos and list follows.

A modest sized moose not too far from Dana Center.

The group while scanning a wetland at the east branch of Fever Brook.

We saw many Easten Towhee's, and heard even more through out the day.
This "guy" showed nicely!

We had a little rain, but this loon, nor our group, minded it too much.

Some "dam nice" beaver work!

A 2 tier "job" with a "kit pool" in the middle.

Many Canada Geese choose the 2nd floor for domestic chores.

A few Hermit Thrushes fed in the open near gate 43.

...and a few Veerys shared the same patch with the Hermits. 

A Great Crested Flycatcher.

A distant Belted Kingfisher

The sun returned as the day closed out, it would be nice to stay till dark,
but the key must be returned to Quabbin HQ by 5 PM.

Species Count
Canada Goose 11
Wood Duck 8 Mallard 6
Hooded Merganser 4
Common Merganser 5
Ruffed Grouse 1
Wild Turkey 1
Common Loon 6
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 3
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Ring-billed Gull 2
Mourning Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 7
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 4
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Least Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 7
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Blue-headed Vireo 9
Blue Jay 14
American Crow 3
Common Raven 1
Tree Swallow 35
Barn Swallow 8
Black-capped Chickadee 21
Tufted Titmouse 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 2
Winter Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Veery 4
Hermit Thrush 7
Wood Thrush 13
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 16
Ovenbird 10
Northern Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 2
American Redstart 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 7
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 24
Pine Warbler 32
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 21
Eastern Towhee 21
Field Sparrow 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 7
White-throated Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Common Grackle 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Purple Finch 6
American Goldfinch 1