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 warbler species have moved on but in the past few days I did see a Blackpoll Warbler in the yard and a few Common Yellowthroats in my local travels.

Yellow-rumped Warbler  "Myrtle" in Templeton, 1 of about 30 individuals.

Palm Warbler "Yellow" form in Gardner.

Common Yellowthroat in Gardner

A Hermit Thrush  in Winchendon

Many species of waterfowl have returned on their southbound migration and some joining the local Mallards and Canada Geese. It will not be long before Common Mergansers and Goldeneye will be wide spread. The American Wigeon, below, was a nice find on a small "puddle" of a pond in Templeton, it was consorting with Mallards and Wood Ducks.

A hen Am. Wigeon in Templeton

Bent's Pond, in South Gardner, is a good spot for waterfowl, herons and sometimes shorebirds (if the water is low). While I was waiting for a train to pass, the crossing in South Gardner, on the 13th I looked over the birds, but there was nothing of note except for few of Mallards. A few swam through the reflections of swamp and sugar maples (on the far shore) which created some nice images.

hen Mallard on the reflection of autumn colors off Bent's Pond

a drake Mallard stretched its wings with perfect timing on Bent's Pond.

A few September photos

A Least Flycatcher in Gardner in Mid-September

1 of 4 Prairie Warblers in Gardner  Mid-September

This American Pipit showed nicely on Mt. Watatic

The Red-tailed Hawk passed close by Mt. Watatic, and was carrying lunch "on board"

This close up Turkey Vulture was posed nicely, while I clicked away from the car.

A black Gray Squirrel at Gardner's Crystal Lake Cemetery. it appears to have a growth on the left side of its neck.

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 and a few mixed flocks of chickadees (Black-capped and Boreal), over 3000' elevation.

The western view from Bondcliff toward Owl's Head mtn, the Franconia Ridge and Mt. Garfield.

Sept. 5 was a slow day hawkwatching on Mt. Watatic in Ashburnham, Ma., but we did have good looks at some of the migrant and local raptors.

This Osprey passed close over  Mt. Watatic on 9/5

A juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk, non migrant, over Mt. Watatic on 9/5

A morning walk at High Ridge WMA in Westminster, on the 6th, was fairly "birdy" considering the very warm and humid conditions. The complete list is below:

A juvenile Eastern Bluebird, transitioning out of its "spotted" juvenile plumage, at High Ridge WMA on 9/6, 

Female Wood Ducks at High Ridge

There lots of "tough-me-nots" blooming at High Ridge

viburnum ?(see the feed back from Josh Facteau below  Virginia-creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).
Thank You Josh

The chestnut crop was looking good along North Gardner Road

The High Ridge List:

Species Count
Wood Duck 4
Hooded Merganser 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 7
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Eastern Phoebe 27
Eastern Kingbird 2
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 14
American Crow 10
Black-capped Chickadee 36
Tufted Titmouse 12
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
House Wren 4
Eastern Bluebird 16
Gray Catbird 10
European Starling 9
Cedar Waxwing 18
Ovenbird 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 7
American Redstart 7
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 4
Chipping Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Common Grackle 4
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4

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 surprises but none the less a nice selection of passerines.

A hatch year male  Common Yellowthroat

A handsome male Black-throated Blue Warbler

Northern Parula 

There were many Eastern Phoebes along the walk

This Eastern Kingbird showed nicely

a male Red-breasted Nuthatch

Insects of all types were enjoying many fields of Goldenrod

An American Toad

A list from the High Ridge walk:
Species Count
Canada Goose 1
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 1
Hooded Merganser 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Broad-winged Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 13
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 7
Red-eyed Vireo 16
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 27
Tufted Titmouse 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
House Wren 5
Gray Catbird 12
European Starling 1
Cedar Waxwing 14
Northern Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 16
Northern Parula 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 4
Canada Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 4
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Common Grackle 1
American Goldfinch 5

On Sunday morning ,I stopped at the Fitchburg Airport and Sterling Peat. The airport had little to show, but a few American Kestrels that were working the runways, were nice to see.
The water level was fairly low at Sterling Peat's Muddy Pond and while there was nothing "too uncommon" there was a few dozen shorebirds and a nice number of immature Green Herons (7 or 8) along with a single Great Egret.

A comparative shot of Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs

1 of 16 Least Sandpipers

The Sterling Peat List:

Species Count
Mallard 8
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 1
Green Heron 7
Killdeer 9
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 3
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Least Sandpiper 16
Mourning Dove 40
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Barn Swallow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 42
Cedar Waxwing 18
Prairie Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch 5

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 its bill.

 Its always nice to see a White-throated Sparrow in the Balsams.

A Black-poll Warber in the rain.

Some  ruby showing of this kinglet's crown!

A heavy front rolling in from the north west, it quickly shut down the visibility.

A few from Maine in late July

Herring Gull

A nice trio of Laughing Gulls

From central Mass.

Juv. Green Heron in Sterling

Juv. Spotted Sandpiper in Sterling

Scarlet Tanager in Baldwinville