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Moose Brook Valley
Not only is the Moose Brook Valley
one of the most aesthetically dramatic landscapes in Hardwick, it is also one of the most ornithologically significant.
Bounded east and west by high, steep ridges that plunge down through climax-type
forest, regenerating pasture, hemlock hollows, and ultimately into the fast-flowing waters of Moose Brook itself, The Valley
is home to an impressive list of breeding species and is a stronghold for those species otherwise experiencing population
declines. Birding in The Valley can be very rewarding year-round, but is especially active spring through autumn.
And of all seasons, summer may perhaps be most special as the forests ring with the songs of near countless thrushes and
the margins come alive with the furtive action of breeding warblers.
Target Species:
Most all interior nesting species can be expected,
including Black-throated Blue and Canada Warblers, Blue-headed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Scarlet Tanager, and especially
high densities of Wood Thrush and Veery. Louisana Waterthrush and Winter Wren breed along Moose Brook. In supporting
habitat, both Alder and Willow Flycatchers, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided and Prairie Warblers, Field Sparrows and Indigo Bunting
are found. All four owl species can be heard along Brook Road, and both Northern Goshawk and Cerulean Warbler have been
suspected breeders.
Getting to the Moose Brook Valley:
Beginning on route 32 in Petersham
Center, continue south for about 1/2 mile until you meet the intersection with route 122. Turn right onto route 122W
and proceed another 1/2 mile until you come to the flashing yellow light announcing route 32A. Turn left onto route
32A and continue for about 10 miles, until you reach Hardwick Center. Bear left as you approach Hardwick Common, passing
close by the church on the hill and the old Hardwick Town Hall. Shortly after the old Town Hall you will come to a stop
sign. Continue on through, down the hill onto Barre Road. Follow Barre Road for almost 3 miles, and just after
the hairpin turn at the bottom of the hill you will see Prouty Road on the left. If you pass under the railroad bridge
you've gone too far. Turn left onto Prouty Road and follow for about 3/4 of a mile, until you see a large, square farmhouse
on the right and a dirt road on the left. Turn left onto the dirt road. This is Brook Road and offers the best access
for birding The Valley. Keep in mind that is not a through street in the winter, and if there's snow, a 4-wheel drive
vehicle is often needed.
Birding The Valley:
Brook Road offers the best access
to the various habitats of The Valley. Brook Road is almost two miles long, so it's possible to use the following
overviews as either a walking or a driving tour. A driving tour will be most efficient, but a walking tour along Brook
Road can potentially be most rewarding as there is good birding along its entirety.
With the exception of the Moose Brook Preserve and
Quabbin Shaft 10, all land within The Valley is currently private, although none is posted or restricted. Birding is
not a problem as long as common sense and respect is exercised.
- Pumpkin Patch, Alder Marsh
& Roadside Meadow -
After turning onto Brook Road, continue on a
few hundred yards until the grade levels out and the landscape opens up. Park anywhere on the right. The first
open field on the left is known locally as the Pumpkin Patch, and can be an exciting place to bird during migration,
especially in autumn as the passing sparrows tend to congregate. The usual sparrows are all found here in large numbers,
but the real draw is the more locally uncommon species such as Lincoln's and White-crowned. Both of these
species are regularly found in this weedy field during their appropriate windows, and often in relatively high numbers.
Unfortunately, this field is also currently for sale as 'acreage', and although several conservation organizations have
expressed interest, the fate of the Pumpkin Patch is uncertain.
Behind the Pumpkin Patch is a large
marsh with dense aggregations of alder and small pockets of willow. This combination of shrubs gives rise to the
excellent opportunity to observe both Alder and Willow Flycatchers on adjacent territories. Alder Flycatchers are much
more common here, but during recent years passed these two 'sister species' could easily be heard calling together.
This marsh also attracts numbers of locally breeding Swallows that feed here, and all five Swallow species have been recorded
here in a single afternoon.
Back on Brook Road, the small meadow on
the left just beyond the Pumpkin Patch can be interesting year-round. In early spring this meadow is often
flooded and holds the expected waterfowl, along with early Great Blue Herons, Kingfishers and Phoebes. By summer the
water recedes, leaving behind a dense meadow of native wildflowers that support a long list of butterflies. Swamp
Sparrows breed in the wet spots. By winter the areas of beaver activity freeze, offering good access to the Alder Marsh
below where Bluebirds and Winter Wrens often take up residence.
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| The dry knolls of Wheeler's Pastures |
The Bridge, The Seep & Wheeler's Pastures
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Brook Road crosses over Moose Brook a few hundred yards
past the Pumpkin Patch. Park here on the right before the bridge, making sure not to block the wooden
bar-way roadside. Standing on the bridge is a great spot to look upstream and watch breeding Louisiana Waterthrush
in early summer as they sing and flit about the stony steam bed.
Just over the bridge on the right-hand side
of the road is a fairly large, wet seep that also doubles as a vernal pool in spring and early summer. Spotted Salamanders
breed here, but the most obvious spring action is often the large numbers of migrant passerines that seek shelter and
insects in this dense tangle. In one year alone 22 species of warbler had been observed in this seep, making this spot
definitely worth a look spring through autumn.
To bird the complex of dry meadows and
wet thickets of Wheeler's Pastures, cross back to the east side of Moose Brook and enter the stand of White Pines
on the up-stream side. Enter by climbing over or under the wooden bar-way and following the cart road stream-side through
the pines. Just remember that this is a working farm, and if you adjust the planks of the bar-way don't forget to return
them to their original position immediately after passing through. No one wants rogue cows about.
Continue along the
cart road through the pines (currently the only known Valley breeding site for Pine Warbler), until the landscape opens up
into a large area of rolling meadow in various stages of regeneration. These are Wheeler's Pastures, which can
be an exceptionally active habitat year-round. During the breeding season these meadows are alive with the songs
of Brown Trasher, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided and Prairie Warblers, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Indigo Bunting and
Baltimore Oriole. This is also one of the best local areas to view the evening courtship display of the American
Woodcock. By autumn migrant passerines can dominate the thickets and islands of gray birch, For example, a count
over the course of two September afternoons in 2001 turned up 20 species of warbler with such highlights of over 100 Blackpolls
and the more unusual species of Bay-breasted, Cape May and Connecticut Warblers. Winter is the slowest season here,
but there's always a good chance of seeing at least one of the three Accipiter species and occasionally even a Northern Shrike.
Perhaps the best way to bird these
pastures is to simply wander. The eastern edge is bordered by Prouty Road and the west is bordered by Moose Brook and
its various types of small wetlands. A good part of a summer day could be spent exploring these pastures, but again,
just keep in mind that this is a working farm with a small herd of cattle, so give a wide berth to any agricultural activity
encountered.
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| The rich forests of the Moose Brook Preserve |
- Moose Brook Preserve -
Perhaps the jewel of The Valley is the
Moose Brook Preserve, a terrific example of high-canopy, climax-type forest that holds an exeptionally high
density and diversity of avian species associated with this habitat. The Moose Brook Preserve is the parcel
(now up to 125 acres) owned by the East Quabbin Land Trust that acts as a gateway for the better than 1,000 acres of unfragmented,
remnant forest that covers the entire western ridge of The Valley and that ultimately connect to corridors that result
in a contiguous ecosytem reaching the Quabbin Reservation.
To access the Moose Brook Preserve,
continue along Brook Road about 0.7 mile from the bridge, until Brook Road passes through a dense canopy of Hemlock.
Just a few hundred yards beyond this point, on the left, will be a break in the stonewall and an incline leading immediately
to an old skidder landing. If driving, this is a good spot to park - with care. Plans are in the works by the
East Quabbin Land Trust to improve this parking area and to develop a network of low-impact trails, but as of now the area
is relatively primitive.
The best way to explore this forest in
an initial visit is to follow the old skidder trail at the southwest corner of the landing. This trail winds up the
ridge for about a mile in a series of switchbacks and runs that will take you past moist ravines, rocky outcrops, stunted
Hemlock stands, along steep ridgetops, and through the variety of ecotypes that make up the typical, intact north-eastern
forest.
Summer is the season here, and a morning or
evening visit will result in the continuous song of Thrushes across the landscape. Veery and Wood Thrush dominate
with an impressively high density and give hint to the quality and importance of this habitat to the suite of birds associated
with it. High numbers of Eastern Wood Pewee, Blue-headed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Black-and-White, Black-throated
Blue, Black-throated Green and Canada Warblers, Ovenbird and Scarlet Tanager, as well as Pileated Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher,
Winter Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Hermit Thrush can be expected. Barred Owl and Northern Raven are always possible,
and throughout the summer of 2000 a male Cerulean Warbler defined and maintained a territory on the slope just behind the
landing. An impressive and interesting list of woodland wildflowers is also found here, highlighted by the bloom of
spring ephemerals.
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