Ware River
Veteran's Memorial Bridge (Silver Bridge)
The Veteran's Memorial Bridge, at the intersection of route 32 and Hardwick
Road (New Braintree) offers good access to the Ware River and interesting birding year-round. There is parking on both
sides of the river; at the East Quabbin Land Trust canoe launch on the west side, or in the remnant roadway that once led
to the old "Silver Bridge" on the east side. Once parked, walk out onto the bridge (there's a sidewalk on the bridge).
To the south are expansive corn and hay fields that border the river which are often active in spring with waterfowl and blackbirds.
On the east side of these fields you will also notice a large impoundment roadside that supports an active cranberry bog.
Sometimes scores of ducks can be found here in the spring, while the cattail beds near the road suggest the potential for
Virginia Rails in the summer. Behind the bog is a large sandpit that often supports a small colony of Bank Swallows
and a Belted Kingfisher. This is all private land, but can easily be scoped from the road and the bridge. The
river itself is a great place to spot early spring migrants (often the spring's first Phoebes are seen here), and in winter
there is often open water that can hold a Common Merganser or two.
