09-27-2006 – Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick

Interesting migrants continue at Muddy Brook with highlights of Blue-headed Vireo (1), Winter Wren (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet (2), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (12), Hermit Thrush (1), Nashville Warbler (3), Northern Parula (3), Chestnut-sided Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (1), Black-throated Blue Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (7), Black-throated Green Warbler (2), Blackburnian Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (20), Black-and-white Warbler (1), CONNECTICUT WARBLER (1, in different area than yesterday’s) and Common Yellowthroat (2).  (Report from Chris Buelow)

09-26-2006 -- Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick

Time spent at Muddy Brook WMA turned up 13 species of Warblers and a nice influx of Sparrows.  Highlights include Turkey Vulture (32 over the nearby landfill), Northern Flicker (1), Eastern Phoebe (3), Blue-headed Vireo (6), Golden-crowned Kinglet (4), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (8), Gray Catbird (4), Nashville Warbler (2), Northern Parula (2), Chestnut-sided Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (6), Black-throated Green Warbler (3), Pine Warbler (1), Palm Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (10), American Redstart (1), Ovenbird (1), CONNECTICUT WARBLER (1), Common Yellowthroat (1), Song Sparrow (10), LINCOLN’S Sparrow (1), and White-throated Sparrow (12).  (Report from Chris Buelow)

9/25/06 -- Pine Island, Hardwick

A Great Egret was observed flying over Barre Road, Hardwick as it was moving up Danforth Brook near the center of town. (Report from Chris Buelow)

09-24-2006 – Moose Brook Valley, Hardwick

A single mid-morning flock in the Wheeler’s Pastures section of the Valley had Black-capped Chickadee (25), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (3), Nashville Warbler (2), Northern Parula (4), Magnolia Warbler (2), Black-throated Blue Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (6), Black-throated Green Warbler (7) and Blackpoll Warbler (12).   Peripherally observed in the pastures were Osprey (1, migrating low overhead), Northern Flicker (2), Eastern Phoebe (1), House Wren (2), Gray Catbird (7), Eastern Towhee (10) and Indigo Bunting (1).  (Report from Chris Buelow)

09-20-2006 – Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick

A large, diverse flock of migrants was quietly working their way through the Scrub Oak thicket of Muddy Brook in the mid-to-late day.  Highlights include Eastern Phoebe (1), Blue-headed Vireo (4), Red-eyed Vireo (2), Black-capped Chickadee (35), Tufted Titmouse (15), Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), Golden-crowned Kinglet (2), Gray Catbird (4), Northern Parula (8), Magnolia Warbler (3), Yellow-rumped Warbler (4), Black-throated Green Warbler (6), Blackburnian Warbler (1), Pine Warbler (3), Blackpoll Warbler (14), American Redstart (2), Common Yellowthroat (1), Scarlet Tanager (1), Eastern Towhee (3). (report From Chris Buelow)

09-12-2006 – Eagle Hill Boardwalk (EQBC trip)

An interesting evening on the boardwalk had several large flocks of blackbirds, as well as many smaller flocks, streaming overhead on their way to evening roost somewhere due north of the observation site.  In all, about 700 blackbirds passed, with around 90% being Red-winged and the remainder being Grackles.  Then, as dark set in, a secondary event of interest took place as small groups of Wood Ducks began dropping into the far end of the marsh: though still quite close.  About 40 Wood Ducks in all, persistently calling and splashing.  Other birds observed were American Woodcock (2), Mourning Dove (7), Black-capped Chickadee (6), White-breasted Nuthatch (2), Carolina Wren (1), Wood Thrush (2), Gray Catbird (3), Common Yellowthroat (1), Swamp Sparrow (3), and American Goldfinch (3).  (submitted by Chris Buelow)

09-12-2006 – Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick

Observed around Muddy Brook were Turkey Vulture (1), Broad-winged Hawk (1), Mourning Dove (1 feeding a recent fledgling), Eastern Phoebe (3), Red-eyed vireo (2), Black-capped Chickadee (6), House Wren (1), Pine Warbler (1), Palm Warbler (2), Common Yellowthroat (3), Song Sparrow (1), and American Goldfinch (10).  (submitted by Chris Buelow)

09-09-2006 – Brooks Reservation, Petersham (EQBC Trip)

Curved evergreen boughs emerge through the mist.  As erratic rain droplets spatter against my optics, a warm yellow dot drops into view, its crisp outlines slowly blurring and streaking.  The drizzle intensifies, and the perky figure dissolves completely in a gauzy smear.  The only sign of life in the fog-cloaked landscape, it utters a wiry call note and disappears with a flicker of olive-hued wings.  I negotiate the slope at the southern tip of the bridge traversing the streambed that has held my interest, pursuing the tiny silhouette into its new hiding place within the crevices of a Hemlock branch overhanging the foaming waters.  A glimmer of crimson appears, smoldering against the inky blackness filling the underside of the bridge.  The Golden-crowned Kinglet examines the contours of an eddy on the opposite side of the stream, utterly absorbed by the tiny insects darting fifteen feet away from the tip of its bill.  After some moments of intensive study, it dashes into their midst, scattering the small swarm, alighting on the far bank with one of their number clenched between its mandibles, glowing red crest plainly visible. 

Clear whistles play upon the breeze, bright clusters of triplets floating down from the gray gloom.  Four squat bodies undulate over the coniferous canopy, surveying the vast array of available perches in a leisurely fashion.  At last singling out the upper reaches of a declining Sugar Maple, they land in an orderly cluster, preening smart black wing feathers to gleaming perfection in the intermittent bursts of sunshine struggling through the unsettled atmosphere.  Cold water clutches at my extremities, my unconscious movement of legs and feet having shifted me into deeper water.  Shuffling awkwardly towards the crest of the streambed, I clamber through the slick weedy tangle at the edge of the roadway and amble south, waterlogged boots and socks squishing merrily against the unforgiving asphalt.  I return to the car, taking advantage of its secluded location to change into dry trousers and footwear.  Emerging into daylight from the dark parking lot, I hike north once again, probing the interiors of the huge Hemlocks with binoculars.  As brash Blue Jays sprint out of the depths of the forest, a human shape appears on the north side of the road. 

A familiar face comes into view, grinning with anticipation.  Having found no other birders at our predetermined rendezvous point, we resign ourselves to being the only participants in the morning’s scheduled birding trip.  We pause briefly to establish an itinerary and are soon underway.  We work our way through a clearing surrounded by thick White Pine, the insistent calling of Red-breasted Nuthatches meeting our ears as the landscape’s details present themselves in full daylight.  Dew glistening on our boot tops, we dislodge a wriggling tan and black shape from the drenched grass.  A Pickerel Frog bounds away from us as we stoop to gain a better view.  The conversational cadence of the burry notes falling from the deciduous canopy overhead reveals a Blue-headed Vireo.  Ungainly juvenile American Robins peer from the shrubbery, studying us with bottomless black eyes as we make our way towards a massive bridge abutting a vast swamp brimming with Tussock Sedge and ablaze with Orange Jewelweed.  The distinctive call notes of a Common Yellowthroat absorb us, and we are quickly rewarded with superb views of two specimens.  As they disappear into the vegetation, we witness the arrival of Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.  Both species call vigorously for several minutes, and two zebra-striped shapes of vastly differing size swoop into view, alighting upon separate snags some thirty feet apart directly in front of us.  Welcoming the opportunity to compare and contrast the two species, we study each at length until the two birds bolt away into clearing skies.  Glancing downwards as we traipse into darkened woodlands, a luxuriant carpet of Partridge Berry stretches up the hill before us, its scarlet drupes lighting our way.  We clamber determinedly up the steep gradient, and my companion comes to a halt, keen eyes having discerned furtive movement amidst the chaotic tumble of ferns and boulders.  A sprightly ball of feathers dashes to the top of a rocky outcropping.  A short, tentative jumble of notes twinkles gaily, filling the vast slope and echoing around us.  We eagerly seek out its source, eyes locking onto the bright flesh-colored base of the bill of a juvenile Winter Wren.  Delighted to have such fine views of a notoriously elusive species, we follow its haphazard movements until it melts into the tangle surrounding a gargantuan glacial erratic.  Marveling at its size, our eyes wander into the leafy forest canopy surrounding its upper edge.  We glass the contours of a shattered deciduous tree trunk, a white belly and black throat dropping noiselessly into bright sunlight, black bill locked around a struggling moth.  Blessed with a more accommodating view, we study the bird’s coloration at length, determining it to be a juvenile Black-throated Green Warbler.  Continuing our climb, Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice call steadily, enticing us further towards the top of the hill.  Stopping suddenly, my fellow birder jabs a finger downwards towards the trail in front of me.  An orange “S” shaped outline flecked with searing red dots bordered with black glows against the dark soil.  I pause to examine a Red Eft thoroughly before stepping gingerly around it. 

Arriving at a spacious three-way intersection, we are drawn to the steady pulse of nearby rushing water.  A whistled call rises and falls, and we hike along the overgrown borders of a streambed dotted with hummocks of dry gravel.  The thin call repeats, and we add Eastern Wood Pewee to the morning’s total.  I call my companion’s attention to the location where an Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen in late May, and we wade through a riot of Orange Jewelweed to the water’s edge.  Elegant beige shapes drop out of the heavens, peppering the branches of an enormous dead pine.  Eyed through binoculars, they prove to be a compact flock of Cedar Waxwings.  As activity stirs in a pine to the right of the waxwings, the call of a Common Flicker slices through the clouds.  A smudge of yellow and green morphs into a Pine Warbler, and our views of the bird improve as it slowly advances to the end of a bare branch.  A nondescript patch of brown at the tip of a large snag proves to be an unobtrusive Eastern Phoebe calmly studying the landscape.  We return to the trail, stopping to admire a lush stand of Royal Fern.  Clomping our way back to level ground, we arrive at a second bridge situated high above the serpentine dimensions of an oxbow in the river below.  After a picturesque and restorative respite, we embark upon the trip’s return leg.  After an uneventful interval, feathers stir in the recesses of a nearby pine grove.  Sustained observation reveals Cedar Waxwings and Pine Warblers feeding in a substantial mixed flock.  Standing stock still, we study their darting shapes, relishing first-rate views until the group gradually disbands, thinning until the glen is completely silent.

We move on, halting within a dozen paces as a stray snatch of song catches my companion’s ear.  A blotch of brown and white proves to be a Brown Creeper that promptly disappears from view.  Our patience is rewarded after some minutes.  The bird swivels into sight against a tree trunk, feeding determinedly before taking flight, quickly engulfed by the leaves on the opposite side of the trail.  Plush pine needles muffle our footfalls as we plod uphill once more.  I come to a complete stop, suddenly aware of only one pair of boots stirring the forest litter stretching behind us.  I turn to see my friend peering over a steep slope covered with fallen branches.  Tip-toeing to his vantage point, I ask what is holding his attention.  Shadows stir.  Streaming sunbeams illuminate a heap of dead branches directly before him, and he points at a Hermit Thrush hopping through the detritus into the open.  Its tawny shape scurries towards the protective folds of the felled timber.  I savor a momentary glimpse of the bird, one only marginally better than that enjoyed by my companion.  Satisfied that it has moved on, we continue our trek. Serenaded by Red-breasted Nuthatches, we stroll through the open glade we passed through at the beginning of our hike.  Black-capped Chickadees call periodically from the Hemlock stands as we approach the parking lot.  Concluding a conversation focusing upon the enduring quality and diversity of the habitat we have explored, we exchange goodbyes, rummaging through our cluttered car interiors as our minds and bodies are drawn slowly back to a weekend morning’s more quotidian activities. 

(Report from Chris Ellison)

09-07-2006 – Muddy Brook WMA

After a night of watching many nocturnal migrant pass before the near-full moon, an early morning visit to Muddy Brook turned up Ruby-throated Hummingbird (4), Northern Flicker (3), Eastern Phoebe (10), Eastern Kingbird (1), Great-crested Flycatcher (1), Blue-headed Vireo (3), Red-eyed Vireo (8), American Crow (6), Blue Jay (5), Brown Creeper (1), Black-capped Chickadee (25), Tufted Titmouse (4), Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), White-breasted Nuthatch (2), American Robin (4), Hermit Thrush (1), Gray Catbird (3), European Starling (15), Black-throated Green Warbler (4), Black-throated Blue Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (1), Ovenbird (1), Nashville Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (2), Baltimore Oriole (1),Song Sparrow (2), Scarlet Tanager (2), Eastern Towhee (1), and American Goldfinch (7).  (submitted by Chris Buelow)

09-05-2006 – Dougal Range, Gilbertville/Ware

Sightings from a day spent along the Dougal Range in Gilbertville and Ware include Common Nighthawk (4; 3 migrating high overhead, 1 seen foraging very low above route 32), Eastern Wood Pewee (7), Red-eyed Vireo, (5), Black-capped Chickadee (15), Tufted Titmouse (3), White-breasted Nuthatch (2), American Robin (4), Wood Thrush (1), Hermit Thrush (4; including two sets of very recently fledged young), American Redstart (1), Black-and-White Warbler (1), Northern Waterthrush (1), Eastern Towhee (1), and American goldfinch (2).  (submitted by Chris Buelow).

09-01-2006 – Winimusset WMA, New Braintree

Between 6:45 and 9:13 AM on 9/1/06, I had lovely views of four Green Herons flying over the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife barn on Mackay Road in New Braintree.  Also, a Grasshopper Sparrow darted in and out of a flock of fall plumaged Bobolinks paying a visit to the Ruffed Grouse Society property on the east side of the road.  (submitted by Chris Ellison)

08-27-2006 – Moose Brook Valley

Impenetrable fog combined with driving rain pouring from billowing gray clouds proved insurmountable barriers to the observation of Common Nighthawks at the Quabbin Aqueduct Airshaft immediately north of the intersection of Taylor Hill and Brook Roads in Hardwick on August 27, 2006.   Any birds that were present remained invisible to this observer.

These meteorological conditions, however, were no obstacle to the twilight feeding activities of a surprising number of robust, enterprising passerines. A hardy flock of Rough-winged and Barn Swallows, utterly unfazed by the severely inclement weather, fed voraciously with their usual degree of agility and tenacity.   A trio of doughty Mallards bullied their way through the relentless downpour, executing a perfect landing upon the surface of Aqueduct Pond with a whir of eerily glittering purple speculate.  They serenely paddled by an equally detached Great Blue Heron, shrewdly ensconced in the leeward side of a vast expanse of Tussock Sedge.  A cluster of American Robins lined the inner branches of an enormous White Pine directly across from my observation point atop the mine tailings, calmly preening and murmuring amongst themselves.

A temporary cessation of the deluge proved sufficient motivation for a Common Flicker to take to the air, its white uppertail coverts achieving an incandescent glow as its stout body undulated through the gloom. 

An insouciant House Wren sprang to the top of a cluster of Common Juniper six feet from my pack, took the measure of  my activities, and retreated within the conifer's   sheltered base, from which it babbled gaily for some fifteen minutes.   Concluding its serenade, it plunged downslope into a pocket of birch saplings at the base of the tailings. Eyes fixed upon Aqueduct Pond, its surface now frothing from the onslaught of rain drops, I glimpsed a stalwart pair of Belted Kingfishers curving along its western border, chattering noisily as they surveyed the churning shallows beneath them.  One of the birds turned abruptly, gamely hovering over the water, while its mate alighted upon a fallen branch jutting out from the pond's surface.  Meeting with no success, it quickly joined its companion, seeking out a perch immediately above it, partially sheltered from the elements by a luxuriant Willow sapling.   

The downpour intensified.  Driving rain and dense fog enveloped the horizon, and I made one last sweep of the landscape with my binoculars.  Detecting nothing, I abandoned hopes of viewing any Common Nighthawks within the established observation time frame and directed my attention to the steep northern slope of the airshaft tailings directly behind me.  Throughout the course of the evening, occasional call notes and the unmistakable patter of songbirds flitting about within the protective folds of vegetation met my ears, but probing the murky atmosphere for Nighthawks had proved more engaging.  Deciding that it was impossible to become more bedraggled than I presently was, I plunged into the foliage.  To my surprise, the interior of the thick shrubbery provided welcome relief from the constant rain.  I compressed my frame still further by fitting myself with kneepads and peering out into the soupy open air.  

A tiny voice mocked my efforts.

HEY-SWEETIE!

With this refrain sounding a great deal more like YOU'RE-SOGGY, I slowly peaked over my left shoulder, gaze returned by that of an inquisitive band of Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice. Fluttering wings danced upon my ear drums as the group moved in for a closer look at the hulking onlooker.   Having exhausted patience as well as dry clothes, I was quite content to savor the most intimate birding of the evening.  Motionless,  I rediscovered forgotten field marks.  The delicate whiskers at the base of the bills of the titmice and the delicate brown lining the flanks of both species acquired new interest.    As the wind gathered strength and pelted me with fresh run-off from the leaves above, the tiny band moved off, seeking out drier confines within the juniper below.   After wringing out sleeve cuffs and donning a headlamp, I sidestepped down to the gurgling airshaft.  On level ground once more,  I dashed back to my car's creature comforts, stunned by the silence of its interior.

American Robin 15

Mallard 3

Rough-winged Swallow 11

Barn Swallow 8

Cedar Waxwing 5

Belted Kingfisher 2

Hairy Woodpecker 1

Mourning Dove 1

Eastern Kingbird 2

Gray Catbird 1

Downy Woodpecker 1

Black-capped Chickadee 5

Tufted Titmouse 3

Common Flicker 1

Great Blue Heron 1

House Wren 1

(submitted by Chris Ellison)

08-26-2006 – Barre Falls Dam

Dense, varied cloud cover, coupled with cooler temperatures and a modest northeasterly breeze, allowed for exemplary viewing of modest numbers of both Common Nighthawks and resident bird species at

Barre Falls Dam on August 26, 2006.  The richly textured clouds allowed for easy detection of hordes of animated, vocal American Robins entering the mature mixed woodlands immediately north of the parking lot on the east side of the access road stretching due south from Route 62.  They provided much amusement as they engaged in spirited twilight skirmishes, rapidly filling the most favorable roosting areas within the dense mixed woodland.

When not swirling in amoeba-like flocks against the southeastern horizon, the dignified profiles of Cedar Waxwings filled every gaunt sapling abutting the dam, a sharp contrast to the hyperactive nighthawks feeding behind them.  A marauding Sharp-shinned Hawk chased a terrified individual bird directly in front of a group of startled frisbee golfers!   A second Sharp-shinned Hawk later appeared among a flock of a dozen nighthawks, sending the flustered insect feeders spiraling in every direction in order to avoid colliding with the feisty raptor.   A gleaming fleck of emerald adorning the tip of the meteorological array northeast of the parking lot transformed itself into a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

A scolding rattle emanating from the Staghorn Sumac behind the information kiosk betrayed the presence of a juvenile Baltimore Oriole, its prating rattle and inquisitive leaps from branch to branch flushing a perplexed Hairy Woodpecker from its ample interior.   A quartet of American Goldfinches settled on the bare branches of a dead hickory on the west side of the roadway.  Silhouetted against a porcelain blue sky accented by cirrus clouds, they provided an engrossing study of every shade of yellow and green one can encounter in this species, ranging from banana to grapefruit to lemon to spearmint to moss to an eye-popping marigold.  As the sun rapidly descended towards the western horizon, a nearby Eastern Towhee announced its presence.   Erratic bursts of raspy, staccato alarm notes originating from the shrubbery east of my observation point revealed a Gray Catbird, a fitting accompaniment to the acrobatic feints, twists, and turns of the feeding nighthawks.

As the sun vanished, plentiful mosquitoes soon rose from the tall grass to feed upon unsuspecting passersby, the resonant, booming calls of a Great Horned Owl filling the air.

American Goldfinch 4

American Robin 183

Baltimore Oriole 1

Barn Swallow 1

Blue Jay 1

Cedar Waxwing 43

Chimney Swift 1

Common Flicker 4

Common Grackle 2

Common Nighthawk 137

Common Raven 1

Eastern Towhee 1

Gray Catbird 1

Great Horned Owl 1

Hairy Woodpecker 1

Mourning Dove 3

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 2

Tree Swallow 3

Wood Duck 1

(Submitted by Chris Ellison)

08-25-2006 - Hardwick

On Friday 8/25 at about 6:30PM in full light we watched a flock of about 12 nighthawks cavort around a backfield.  They stayed at least 30 minutes.  They were moving just at tree top height sometimes swooping lower almost like swallows or bats.  (submitted by Peter King)

08-13-2006 - Pine Island

Squishing through the wetland surrounding Pine Island this morning (8/13/06--7:12 AM),  I glassed an exceptionally fast-moving flock of birds.  Thinking they were run-of-the-mill Mourning Doves, I returned to my scope.  They were soon racing overhead and I detected an unmistakable and decidedly un-dovelike TEW-TEW! call note.  Following a hunch, I craned my neck backwards, a flock of 14 LESSER YELLOWLEGS quickly filling my binoculars, streaking away on a north-northeast compass heading, probably veering up into the eastern half of Petersham.  (Submitted by Chris Ellison)

08-11-2006 – Pine Island, Hardwick

Highlights of a morning (8/11) birding Pine Island marsh included terrific looks at a Lincoln's Sparrow, being dive-bombed by a pair of pugnacious Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a juvenile Brown Thrasher begging food from an adult, and steadily increasing numbers of staging Tree and Rough-winged Swallows.  The swallows aren't accumulating in the concentrations that they have been at WWMA.  (Submitted)

5-20-06--Moose Brook Valley, Hardwick (EQBC Trip)

A continuous stream of bracing air whistling through a partially open bedroom window fills my nostrils, nudging me out of my shallow slumber and firmly into the waking world.  Sunlight pouring through the glass panes sets the insides of my eyelids aglow with a soft pink.  Eyes snapping open, I awaken completely to a transformed landscape.  All manner of vegetation, battered by the incessant rains of the past four days, shows a striking new vigor.  Simultaneously stunned and revitalized by the sweeping change in conditions, I am extremely eager to get into the field and determine if the activity level of migrating birds matches my own…

Driving along Prouty Road, the vast northern horizon is a broad expanse of rich blue sky brimming with shock-white cumulus clouds.  I turn sharply left onto Brook Road, crunching along its uneven gravel.

Lowered windows reveal singing Veeries, Northern Cardinals, and a rambunctious band of Blue Jays.  Coming to a halt at a gravel turnaround, I exit the car, quickly situating myself at the border of an open field.  The mild murmur of subdued conversation shatters my temporary self-absorption.  Trip participants assemble, and we trade the latest sighting information.

Soon underway, the three of us revel in the breathtakingly clear, cool conditions.  A Common Loon high overhead offers only a fleeting glimpse, enough to arrest our progress.  Our sensory appetites whetted, we seize upon furtive movement in the Honeysuckle abutting the bridge.  Determined probing reveals a sprightly Common Yellowthroat, offering exemplary views of its striking black mask bordered with gray.  Ears attracted by continuous singing, we briefly change direction, investigating the weedy tangle abutting the waterway coursing along the border of a groomed open field.  Soon chalking up Song Sparrow, we return to the roadway, a series of erratic, liquid whistles giving us pause.  Necks craning upward, our eyes fix upon a squat beige shape, its massive pale bill filled with nesting material.  Its outline soon fixed in our optics, we acquire fine views of a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  The initial vocalization that drew our attention repeats.  Our heads swiveling, a plump black and white shape appears, a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak that soon closes ranks with the female.  Racing over our heads to the west side of Brook Road, they disappear into the upper reaches of impenetrable foliage, immersed in domestic chores.  A Blue-winged Warbler sings strongly and adroitly eludes visual detection.  The pulsing see-saw of Black-and-white Warbler song is a steady accompaniment to our measured footfalls.  One stunning specimen, as nattily attired as a dignitary from a long-forgotten Second World War newsreel, flits into view, eagerly clinging to the fissured surface of a prodigious maple.  A pair of Veeries scampers away at our approach, pushing steadily up the steep adjacent gradient, evergreen boughs shuddering and producing a shower of water droplets as they continually shift perches.  The telltale CHIP-BANG of a Scarlet Tanager presses the group against the road’s shoulder.  A crimson speck briefly emerges, scurrying out of view.

 A female provides more prolonged viewing, its smooth yellow and green flanks accentuated by gleaming coal-black wings. 

Persistent chatter overhead draws our gaze to a substantial patch of open blue sky.  Soft green maple leaves flutter gaily against it in a stiffening breeze.  A bright white underbelly outlined with a bold black “V” twitches from branch to branch.  Joined by an equally nimble companion, two Black-throated

Green Warblers engage in territorial squabbling.  Their hostilities concluded, we pause to examine a superlative specimen of Jack-in-the-Pulpit.  A cacophony of Ovenbirds noticeably blunts the sonic impact of the THRUM-THRUM-THRUM-THRUM of a nearby Ruffed Grouse. A Wood Thrush stutters a series of powerful alarm notes.  Frantic binocular scanning finds the bird perched upon a branch so slender it appear suspended in mid-air.  Hopping into better view, it launches into full-blown song, bold polka-dotted breast heaving with effort.  Masterfully camouflaged, its profile dips in and out of wavering sunlight. Cautiously creeping forward, we approach to within twelve feet of the bird before it takes flight, no doubt relinquishing a prime perch within such incomparable habitat with great reluctance.  The tranquil cadence of a vocalization above returns our attention to the canopy.  A pale eyebrow mated to a gray crown weaves maddeningly in and out of the opaque foliage, causing much readjustment of binoculars.  Olive upperparts twitch into view, our efforts handsomely repaid with unobstructed views of a Red-eyed Vireo.

Arriving at a tightly packed stand of Hemlock, the distant strains of a Blackburnian Warbler anchor us to the spot.  As the warbler’s thin song drifts completely beyond the realm of detection, we delight in the luminous white symmetry of a patch of False Solomon’s Seal.  The ringing twinkle of a wild tumble of notes echoes through the surrounding woods, and we are pulled inexorably back to the world of birds.  The extended song repeats, erratically streaming out from an old building foundation to our right.  On tenterhooks, we wait for the Winter Wren to shift position once more and provide us with a satisfying view.  We abort our futile efforts, opting instead to sift through the plates of a wildflower guide, quickly ascertaining that we are indeed staring at a cluster of both Wood and Rue Anemones.  Serenaded by a band of Yellow-rumped Warblers, we discern a small pocket of Wild Grape climbing steadily up the trunk of a Hickory.  At the intersection with Taylor Hill Road, Chipping Sparrows feed and chase one another upon the level gravel as the piercing opening notes of a Louisiana Waterthrush’s song rise above the roaring torrent of Moose Brook.  A female American Redstart darts through the delicate leaves of the saplings surrounding the foaming waters.  Crossing the road, we encounter Fringed Polygala as the patter of Tufted

Titmouse call notes intensifies.  Clambering over a stonewall, we pick our way to the edge of the massive beaver pond immediately east of the beginning of the DCR trail, the furious snapping CHE-BEK of several Least Flycatchers seeming to match the cadence of our feet across the twigs strewn across the flattened leaf litter.  The upper branches of trees on the trail’s west side produce a highly vocal Magnolia Warbler, remaining unseen.  

Boots squishing into the muck at the pond’s edge, we identify the ebullient cackling KEK-KEK-KEK-KEK-KEK-KEK-KEK of a Northern Flicker.  Scrutinizing the abundant snags fails to produce a sighting.  Extended peering through the foliage yields a lively flock of Tree Swallows, climbing, diving, and occasionally alighting upon the branches of distant snags.  A ceaseless tumble of haphazard notes spilling from the center of a gargantuan oak proves to be a Warbling Vireo.  A splendid Painted Turtle emerges upon nearby rocks as a single Rough-winged and several Barn Swallows appear.  A soaring dot transforms itself into a Broad-winged Hawk.  Closing rapidly, it neatly traces the southern tip of the pond before disappearing into the tree line along Taylor Hill Road.  Traipsing to the northern extremity of the road, we scale the prodigious mine tailings.  Reaching the summit, we are rejuvenated by a cooling breeze as we shuck packs and assume makeshift seats, zeroing in on nimble Chimney Swifts.  The neon orange silhouette of a Baltimore Oriole courses over the pond’s expanse, allowing superlative in-flight views.  Eagerly scanning the eastern horizon from our elevated vantage point soon proves productive.  As one pair of resident Red-tailed Hawks floats over the southeast horizon upon intensifying thermals, another spirals up from the nearby canopy.  Plumage variation in the four specimens proves engrossing, varying from the immaculate to the slightly unkempt.  Yellow Warblers enthusiastically explore the abundant shrubbery lining Moose Brook below.  As conditions become increasingly windy and overcast, we descend, accompanied by the exclamations of an Eastern Towhee and the supple WEE-SEE WEE-SEE WEE-SEE WEE-SEE WEE-SEE of a Black-and-white Warbler.

We cross the intersection once more, our travels uneventful until we arrive at a clearing surrounding a decrepit shack on the west side of Brook Road.  A languid, two-syllable buzz betrays the presence of a Black-throated Blue Warbler.  The bird, appearing to respond almost telepathically to our desire for a better view, dances to the edge of a cluster of Hemlock branches.  We pause by a soggy slope brimming with fallen timber, frustratingly devoid of birds.  Returning to our starting point, a pair of extremely vocal Eastern Kingbirds entertains us as we admire prolific stands of Marsh Marigold.  The stilted, irregular tapping of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the explosive call of a Pileated Woodpecker bolster our sagging spirits.  The premature clunking of car doors quickly suppressed, we listen with renewed interest.  As the silence of mid afternoon settles over the landscape, we reluctantly disperse. 

American Goldfinch 6

American Redstart 2

American Robin  17

Baltimore Oriole 4

Barn Swallow     6

Black-and-white Warbler   9

Blackburnian Warbler       1

Black-capped Chickadee    2

Black-throated Blue Warbler          1

Black-throated Green Warbler         6

Blue Jay            9

Blue-headed Vireo  1

Blue-winged Warbler  2

Broad-winged Hawk  1

Brown Creeper    1

Brown-headed Cowbird    5

Canada Goose     2

Chimney Swift   3

Chipping Sparrow  4

Common Grackle    22

Common Loon   1

Common Yellowthroat     6

Downy Woodpecker         3

Eastern Kingbird 2

Eastern Phoebe    4

Eastern Towhee   8

Gray Catbird       2

Great Crested Flycatcher   1

Hairy Woodpecker  2

House Wren  1

Least Flycatcher  7

Louisiana Waterthrush  2

Magnolia Warbler  1

Mourning Dove   2

Northern Cardinal  4

Northern Flicker  2

Ovenbird  8

Pileated Woodpecker  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker   1

Red-eyed Vireo   2

Red-winged Blackbird  5

Rose-breasted Grosbeak  3

Rough-winged Swallow  2

Ruffed Grouse  2

Scarlet Tanager  4

Song Sparrow  2

Tree Swallow  11

Tufted Titmouse  5

Veery  7

Warbling Vireo  1

White-breasted Nuthatch   2

Winter Wren  1

Wood Thrush      3

Yellow Warbler   5

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1

Yellow-rumped Warbler  6

Leader:

Chris Ellison

Participants:

Donna Schilling

Dave Grant

Botanica:

Bluetts, Daisy Fleabane, Fringed Polygala, Hawthorne, Jack-In-The Pulpit, Marsh Marigold, Purple Trillium, Rattlesnake Plantain, Rue Anemone, Solomon Seal, Starflower, Wild Geranium, Wild Grapevine, Wood Anemone

Vertebrates:

Painted Turtle, Spring Peeper, Wood Frog

05-24-2006 – Muddy Brook, Ware

A calling Whip-poor-Will was reported from the upper Ware section of the Muddy Brook Valley.  Reports of Whip-poor-Will are particularly interesting and should be reported.

05-13-06 - Muddy Brook Valley, Ware

3 Yellow Warblers, 2 Black and white Warblers, 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 1 Northern Oriole, 2 Gray Catbirds, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Great Blue Herons, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 2 Turkey Vultures, 1 Brown-headed Cowbird, 1 Northern Cardinal and 2 Canada Geese w/ 8 goslings were reported.

05-14-2006 Muddy Brook Valley-Ware

2 Common Yellowthroats, 1 Yellow Warbles, 2 White-throated Sparrows, 2+ Song Sparrows, 1 Gray Catbird, many Common Grackles, many Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Northern Cardinal and 1 Great Blue Heron were reported.

05-11-2006 – Beaver Lake, Ware

A Common Loon was reported on the lake.

05-07-2006 Afternoon- Muddy Brook Valley, Ware

1 House Wren, 3 Yellow Warblers, 4 Baltimore Oriole, 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 1 Catbird, 1 Pine Warbler, 2 Tufted Titmice, 2 Mallard and 11 Painted Turtles were reported.

05-06 - 2006 – Quabbin Gate 40 EQBC Trip led by Chris Ellison

As the first swell of daylight envelopes the landscape, I quickly extinguish the car’s headlights.  Large numbers of startled birds scatter explosively from the edges of the highway.  I slow my pace, roll down windows, and allow my ears to sift through a rising tide of bird song.  Easing into the secluded parking lot, a delicious jumble of flute-like thrush madrigals, electric warbler buzzes, effervescent sparrow trills, sedate vireo intonations, and brusque woodpecker hammerings fills my ears.  Leaves suffused with the warm, soft green of newly formed vegetation soften the outlines of tree branches swaying against a pastel blue sky checkered with cirrocumulus clouds.  The forest’s upper canopy is quickly dotted with the animated shapes of birds energetically sprinting about, immersed in the first throes of morning feeding.  I bring binoculars to bear upon what appears to be a crisp, diamond-shaped leaf.  A tiny bill sprouts from a corner, splits, rears back, and bursts into song.  Warm brown flanks and black upperparts reveal the morning’s first Chestnut sided Warbler.  Glassing the surrounding trees produces even greater numbers of this species.  They advance steadily out of the underbrush and into overhanging branches, and are soon nimbly thinning the ranks of unsuspecting insects.  The most energetic birds seek out prime nesting territory and alight on prominent perches, the air vibrating with their clamorous singing.  A Common Yellowthroat’s earnest

WITCHITY-WITCHITY-WITCHITY-WITCHITY fills the air.  The center of a dense shrub parts, and its jaunty black mask outlined with white dances to its top.  The bird’s complete outline emerges, only to be swallowed whole by the blur of motion created by rapidly arriving cars.  Accompanied by Tree Swallows chattering overhead and the unrelenting whistled notes of a Northern Cardinal, I finalize the morning’s trip roster and we set out in earnest. 

Proceeding along the battered asphalt of Petersham Road, the group gradually comes to a halt and investigates the persistent singing emanating from the dense stands of Red Pine.  Yellow-rumped Warblers come into view, rich slaty-blue upperparts accented with yellow gaily ornamenting the pine boughs.  A compact flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds briefly fills the austere dead branches of a gaunt pine, allowing us especially fine views of the females’ tobacco-colored wings.  The penetrating, low–frequency stutter of a drumming Ruffed Grouse and the sibilant call of a Brown Creeper receive our attention.  Pausing at a substantial clearing, our ears are riveted by what appears to an enthusiastic Warbling Vireo.  Scoping the treetops, we detect a Purple Finch, crisply outlined against clear blue sky, and determine it is the source of the vocalization that drew our interest.

While investigating the newly cleared perimeter of an old apple orchard on the north side of the road, the wildly erratic calls of Winter Wrens prove engrossing.  Despite our dogged pursuit of an especially vocal individual along the periphery of an impenetrable tangle of Bittersweet, our efforts to flush the bird into view prove unsuccessful.

Our determined hiking brings us into closer proximity to the mixed woodlands stretching north of our departure point from Petersham Road.  The emphatic call of a Great Crested Flycatcher proves worthwhile compensation.  We return to the roadway, and are delighted to discover the nest of an Eastern Phoebe above the doorway of a compact outbuilding.  A bobbing chestnut tale atop a nearby Barberry quickly divulges the architect’s whereabouts.  Underway once more, we investigate an unfamiliar vocalization.  Benefiting from its unremitting repetition, we discern a pattern of rapidly acquired momentum and a sudden ending.  A clean white eye-ring appears on a branch above us, followed by a gray head and back.  Flitting continually upward, a patch of white appears between the bird’s legs.  Immaculate yellow saturating its belly and flanks, an exceptionally obliging Nashville Warbler comes into full view.  Entertained and enlightened, the group resumes hiking, accompanied by the persistent whine of Red-breasted Nuthatches.

Greeted by the stentorian croaking of a Northern Raven upon reaching Dana Common, we swing northwest onto Skinner Hill Road.  The group instinctively splits in two, the eyes of each unit soon fixed upon the luxuriant undergrowth on either side of the road.  A ventriloquil, prolonged two-part buzz proves most absorbing, and we engage in a spirited probing of the low nearby shrubbery.  Our gaze proves misplaced.  A demure gray shape sporting a striking black eye line and gleaming white wing bars appears in the upper reaches of a Bittersweet tangle.  The disembodied outline quickly assumes solid form, a Blue-winged Warbler relishing the growing numbers of Black Flies.  Bolting overhead and landing in the top of an Ash, it pauses briefly, creating a striking profile against a backdrop of rapidly graying clouds. 

Eyes now riveted upon the surrounding vegetation that produced the Blue-winged Warbler, we peer into its depths.  A furtive movement holds our attention.  A seven-syllable song fills the air, its repetitive patter resembling a stone skipping across open water.  An electric yellow sprite flits to the end of a supple branch, rich brown breast stripes achieving a lustrous sheen in the bright sun.  Clinging tenaciously to its precarious perch, a Yellow Warbler peers at us intently.  Shifting position to gain a better view of our group, it finds surer footing three feet above the road, again launching into an extended song.  Departing, it arcs over the highest shrubs in the direction of steadily calling Least Flycatchers.  Poring over the barer branches of trees abutting the road soon yields fine views of this species.  As one particularly accommodating specimen flutters to and fro before us, a dark, fan shaped tail springs from the edge of a branch.  A tiny shape, uniformly black above with arresting orange accents on its wings and tail, utters half a dozen sandpapery syllables, their pitch tilting sharply upwards as its song concludes.  Displaying all the agility of a miniature gymnast, an American Redstart executes successive pirouettes while hungrily gulping insects.  Singing ever more boldly, the group concludes he is aggressively seeking a mate and if successful, will soon stake out nesting territory.

Closing in on Graves Landing, the ringing call of a Pileated Woodpecker shatters the stillness.  We arrive at the reservoir’s edge, finding it mirror smooth.  Low squat shapes materialize towards Leveau Island, and we are treated to extended calling from a pair of Common Loons.  Moments pass, and three additional birds appear.  A flawlessly plumaged adult approaches within thirty yards of the shore.  Seen through a telescope, this individual provided viewing of this species simply unparalleled in this birder’s thirty years of observing, a high-magnification eyepiece yielding better than “in-the-hand” views!  Still reveling in our good fortune, we direct our attention skyward, a distant speck advancing steadily towards us.  Rapidly taking on more substantial dimensions, its flat profile at first presents the appearance of an eagle.  Quickly discerning bold white and chestnut facial markings and comparatively slender wings, the group enjoys splendid views of an Osprey, the bird wheeling inquisitively over our heads before receding from view on a southwesterly course.  While scanning the distant shoreline of Leveau Island, massive wings flap ponderously, and a beefy silhouette takes to the air.  Effortlessly gliding northeast, it vanishes into the branches of a White Pine at the water’s edge.  Patient study reveals the unmistakable outline of a juvenile Bald Eagle. Pleasantly wearied, participants disperse. Having obtained satisfactory views of the huge raptor, the trip’s remaining participants gradually succumb to an onslaught of Black Flies and begin the slow trudge to the highway, skin welcoming the first stray drops of the anticipated afternoon rain. 

I duck under a canopy of hemlock branches and savor the relief provided by a fresh layer of fleece and a lightweight rain jacket.  Comfort restored, I continue my solitary slog through an unbroken drizzle.

Arriving at the top of Dead Man’s Curve, I am delighted to detect bird song at this time of day and under adverse conditions.  As Least Flycatchers call ceaselessly, I carefully scan nearby upper branches and discover a striking specimen.  Training a telescope upon it reveals a perfect eye-ring and smooth gray upperparts tinged with green.  Glancing downward, it studies me briefly before flying away.  I decide to leave the roadway and wait out the mild shower, encouraged by the easily obtained view of the diminutive flycatcher.  I establish an observation point in close proximity to former logging areas on each side of Skinner Hill Road.  Blotches of sun haphazardly illuminate the dank forest canopy.  As I conceal myself further, a bedraggled American Robin announces its presence, fluffing its feathers indignantly before leaping skyward into rapidly parting clouds.  Unimpeded sunlight coalesces into a potent silver beam, reaching the tip of a squat, distant pine.  A riveting, climbing buzz reaches my ears.  Intrigued, I shift position, doing my best to remain out of sight as I plod down the shallow slope.  It repeats, the song’s effervescent trajectory at last fully reaching my ears.  Scoping the terrain produces a yellowish dot at the top of the now sun-drenched pine.  Its face and breast dotted with black, I soon recognize the Prairie Warbler at the tree’s tip.  As lighting improves, the bird gently pumps its tail, perhaps optimistic that the present dreary weather interval is nearing its end.  Sunlight intensifies.  The warbler shrugs spasmodically, its dampened plumage flushing silver as the gleaming orb of the sun passes overhead.  Brightening conditions having supplied sufficient inducement to investigate feeding and nesting opportunities elsewhere, it streaks into the depths of a distant stand of young birches.  Yearning to step out from underneath my makeshift shelter of dripping branches, I hike towards the road.

Soft mists part, the luminous, umbrella shaped upper canopies of massive oaks standing out in stark relief against menacing dark clouds.  I scan their glistening catkin-laden branches, glimpsing a blotch of yellow infused with soft orange sharply bordered with black.  Pale wingbars flash.  I run uphill, hurriedly bracing my back against a nearby tree trunk, steadying my scope in hopes of penetrating the depths of the newly formed foliage.  My initial tremors of excitement dissipating, I canvas gleaming jagged teardrop-shaped leaves as tantalizing movement dances out of view.  A sizzling ZEEEEEEEEEEE-URP pours out of the oak’s recesses.  Wind parts branches, a haphazard eye-ring bouncing into sight.  A pert bill, black above and beige below, widens into full-throated song.  Having announced its presence, a feathered shape drops down, securing better footing on a stout branch below it.  Allowing me to examine its bluish back tinged with green, the Parula Warbler turns to face me.  Tipping its head downwards and fixing me with a quizzical stare, its black lores briefly assume a startling resemblance to bleary human eyes conveying acute fatigue.  Our brief encounter ends in blurred wingbeats, the energetic bird departing for more enticing venues in which to stake out territory and continue to feed. 

Eyes slowly readjusting to the shade of the soggy roadside, I slow my pace, reluctant to frighten any birdlife away from the restorative feeding and bathing to be found amongst the burgeoning dandelions and monstrous, elliptical puddles.  A patch of bleached white stands out from the pockets of bedraggled black and brown leaves.  I blink as it gently zig-zags through a mottled patchwork of light and shade emerging under an afternoon sun now free of the morning’s roiling clouds.  Hesitant to attribute its origin to capricious light filtering through the bountiful canopy, I concentrate upon the edge of the puddle it is gingerly approaching.  Its edge soon quakes with ripples.  Taut toes emerge, supporting lithe legs.  As if having been sired by the leaves themselves, the full outline of a Veery appears.  The thrush is soon splashing vigorously, delighting in its ablutions.  Its primping and arrangement of its feathers imparts smoothness to the bird’s plumage approaching that of the finest sandalwood.  Raising itself upon its legs and craning its neck upwards, it takes in its surroundings.  Uttering an especially emphatic VEEEE-UR call note, it bolts to the end of the roadway stretching ahead of me, attempting to drive off a competing bird.  The two opponents quickly engage, becoming a ball of angry tumult.  The dueling pair’s lightening-fast thrusts, feints, and dodges flash white and brown as they careen through stands of birch saplings, a torrent of abrasive exclamations filling the air.  Emerging at last upon sunlit trail, one of the birds disengages, disappearing into blue sky.  Having repulsed the interloper, the victor quickly regains its composure.  Appearing unfazed by the preceding hostilities, it calmly alights upon an exposed, elevated perch provided by a robust young maple.  The thrush’s elegantly modulated refrains of VEEEEEE-UR VEEEEEE-UR VEEEEEE-UR VEEEEEE-UR VEEEEEE-UR VEEEEEE-UR soon cascade effortlessly downwards, my ears embraced by the resonant, flute-like notes.  I depart, allowing the extraordinary songster to establish further control over his hard-won dominion.

I leave the trail, treading up a challenging slope some distance from the battlefield of the brawling thrushes, pausing in the immense sprawl of shade created by an impressive maple.  Against a backdrop of racing cirrus clouds, its mammoth gnarled branches thrust upward from the steep gradient as if hell bent upon securing a grip upon the heavens.  A rasping, five-part call arouses my interest.  Appearing to emanate from the tree’s upper story, I study the craggy dimensions of several spiraling branches.  Neck soon cramped and with temples throbbing, I shift position to the rear of the maple.  I focus upon a gigantic black gall swelling out from the elbow of the most substantial branch, the unwavering call’s creator continuing to elude me.  Having narrowed the search area, I deploy my scope, carefully alternating from one likely point of origin to another.  A dot of fungus proves of engrossing, bright white against the lower quarter of the gall.  It twitches slightly, startling me.  As I redouble my efforts, a patch of charcoal leaps forward.  Chalk white transitions evenly into metallic blue. 

ZEEEE-ZURRR ZEEEE-ZURRR ZEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

A Black-throated Blue Warbler blossoms from the outermost curve of the gall.  Astonished at my inability to visually distinguish such an impassioned singer at nearly point-blank range, I am grateful that the dapper minstrel has put itself on better display.  Feet throbbing, I position myself on firmer footing, slowly forging a path downhill.  Attempting to garner one last satisfying glimpse of the warbler, I turn to glass the tree once again.  Positioning itself with its more subdued colors facing outwards, it has vanished once more, its strident song the only evidence of its presence.

American Crow 18

American Goldfinch 14

American Redstart 1

American Robin  16

Bald Eagle 1

Baltimore Oriole 5

Black-and-white Warbler 5

Blackburnian Warbler* 1

Black-capped Chickadee 21

Black-throated Blue Warbler* 1

Black-throated Green Warbler 18

Blue Jay            21

Blue-winged Warbler 3

Brown Creeper 4

Brown-headed Cowbird 13

Canada Goose 7

Carolina Wren 1

Chestnut-sided Warbler 16

Chipping Sparrow 27

Common Grackle            8

Common Loon 5

Common Yellowthroat 3

Downy Woodpecker 4

Eastern Kingbird* 1

Eastern Phoebe    5

Eastern Towhee   6

Field Sparrow     3

Gray Catbird       1

Great-crested Flycatcher    4

Hairy Woodpecker           2

Least Flycatcher  15

Mallard  4

Mourning Dove   5

Nashville Warbler 1

Northern Cardinal 3

Northern Flicker*            4

Northern Raven   2

Osprey   1

Ovenbird 9

Parula Warbler 1

Pileated Woodpecker 2

Pine Warbler       9

Prairie Warbler*  1

Purple Finch 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker*  1

Red-breasted Nuthatch 5

Red-winged Blackbird 7

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3

Ruby–crowned Kinglet 1

Ruffed Grouse 4

Scarlet Tanager 1

Song Sparrow* 1

Tree Swallow 16

Tufted Titmouse  6

Veery*   1

Warbling Vireo*  2

White-breasted Nuthatch   3

Wild Turkey 5

Winter Wren 6

Wood Duck 1

Wood Thrush 3

Yellow Warbler 4

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  4

Yellow-rumped Warbler 33

* - Indicates species detected on the trip’s return leg between the intersection of Whitney Hill and Skinner Hill Roads and the Gate 40 parking lot adjacent to Route 32A in Petersham.

(Submitted by trip leader Chris Ellison)

05-05-2006 - Muddy Brook Valley, Ware

1 Black-and-White Warbler, 1 Black-throated Green Warbler, 1 American Goldfinch, 1 Song Sparrow and 1 White-throated Sparrow were reported.

04-30-2006: Swift River Reservation, Petersham

Seen on Jeff Smith’s trip were American Crow 5, American Goldfinch 3, American Robin 14, Belted Kingfisher 3, Black Duck 2 Black-and-white Warbler 3, Black-capped Chickadee 8, Black-throated Green Warbler 9, Blue Jay 5, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2, Blue-headed Vireo 8, Broad-winged Hawk 1, Brown Creeper 5, Brown-headed Cowbird 5, Chipping Sparrow 21, Common Grackle 6, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Downy Woodpecker 2, Eastern Phoebe 3, Eastern Towhee 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Green-winged Teal 1, Hairy Woodpecker 3, Hermit Thrush 1, Hooded Merganser 1, Killdeer 2, Least Flycatcher 3, Louisiana Waterthrush 1, Mallard 5, Mourning Dove 4, Mute Swan 1, Northern Cardinal 3, Northern Flicker 1, Northern Raven 1, Pileated Woodpecker 3, Purple Finch 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 3, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Red-winged Blackbird 8, Ring-necked Duck 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Ruffed Grouse 5, Scarlet Tanager 1, Song Sparrow 1, Swamp Sparrow 2, Tree Swallow 12, Tufted Titmouse 6, White-breasted Nuthatch 2, White-throated Sparrow 4, Winter Wren 2, Wood Duck 4, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 and Yellow-rumped Warbler 9.

04-29-2006 – Moose Brook Valley, Hardwick

Reported from a morning of birding along Brook Road: American Crow 18, American Goldfinch 13, American Robin 28, Belted Kingfisher 2, Black-and-white Warbler 4, Black-capped Chickadee 11, Black-throated Green Warbler 14, Blue Jay 9, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5, Blue-headed Vireo 8, Brown Creeper 2, Brown Thrasher 1, Brown-headed Cowbird 22, Canada Goose 3, Chipping Sparrow 11, Common Grackle 29, Common Yellowthroat 1, Cooper’s Hawk 1, Downy Woodpecker 2, Eastern Bluebird 1, Eastern Phoebe 3, European Starling 49, Field Sparrow 3, Great Blue Heron 1, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Hermit Thrush 2, Louisiana Waterthrush 2, Mallard 11, Mourning Dove 16, Nashville Warbler 1, Northern Cardinal 3, Northern Flicker 2, Palm Warbler 8, Red-breasted Nuthatch 5, Red-eyed Vireo 1, Red-winged Blackbird 54, Rock Pigeon 47, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Ruffed Grouse 4, Song Sparrow 4, Tufted Titmouse 5, Turkey Vulture 3, Veery 1, Warbling Vireo 2, White-breasted Nuthatch 6, White-throated Sparrow 8, Winter Wren 2, Wood Duck 3, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 and Yellow-rumped Warbler *150.

* - A mini-wave of Yellow-rumped Warblers flew over Brook Road and settled into the trees surrounding an abandoned campground, feeding feverishly upon the copious Black Flies...My God, what a chatter! I don't know how they managed to call AND feed with such energy! (submitted)

04-29-2006  - Ware River Watershed Important Bird Area (IBA)

We birded just a few roads of the southern section of this IBA, mostly between Rutland SP and Barre Falls Dam. Starting temperature was a chilly 26 degrees. Weather clear and breezy. By and large, a typical count of mostly likely breeders for this time of the year for the area we covered.  Foliage is at least a week behind Worcester's. Water levels are low. Because of the adverse winds and clear skies, we did no hawkwatching.

Great Blue Heron (21+14 occ. nests), Canada Goose (8), Wood Duck (9), Mallard (2), Green-winged Teal (2), Hooded Merganser (1m patrolling at the base of a Wood Duck box where  they have bred several times before), Ruffed Grouse (1), Killdeer (2), Mourning Dove (5), Downy Woodpecker (6), Hairy Woodpecker (3), Northern  Flicker (7), Pileated Woodpecker (3), LEAST FLYCATCHER (3), Eastern Phoebe (11), Blue-headed Vireo (22), Blue Jay (20), American Crow (3), Common Raven (2), Tree Swallow (30), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1), Black-capped Chickadee (57), Tufted Titmouse (19), Red-breasted Nuthatch (11), White-breasted Nuthatch (4), Brown Creeper (8), Winter Wren (9), Golden-crowned Kinglet (2), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (13: only definite non-breeding species), Eastern Bluebird (8), Hermit Thrush (15), American Robin (44), Nashville Warbler (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (54), Black-throated Green Warbler (13), Pine Warbler (26), Black and White Warbler (12), Ovenbird (1), Northern Waterthrush (3: we heard no Louisiana here today, but we did  get (1) on the way home at Winimusset WMA, New Braintree), Eastern Towhee (11), Chipping Sparrow (41), Field Sparrow (3), Song Sparrow (8), Swamp Sparrow (9), White-throated Sparrow (16), Dark-eyed Junco (7), Red-winged Blackbird (74), Common Grackle (38), Brown-headed Cowbird (10), Purple Finch (12) and American Goldfinch (17).

PLUS: Red-spotted Newt (many, a number seen mating); Spring Peepers (a few calling despite sub-freezing temps); Bridled Shiner (several); Spring Azure (1); Bloodroot (lots, just starting to bloom here); Purple Trillium (in bloom); by mid-morning: Black Flies (googolplex);

Submitted by Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll

04-24-2006 – Muddy Brook Valley, Hardwick

A day in the Muddy Brook Valley turned up highlights of Wood Duck (15), Blue-headed Vireo (8), Northern Raven (1 calling), Winter Wren (2), Red-breasted Nuthatch (5), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (5), Hermit Thrush (1), and Yellow-rumped Warbler (45). Pine Warbler (18), Palm Warbler (45) and Swamp Sparrow (2).  Wood Anemones are now in bloom.

04-22-2006 -- Moose Brook Valley

            During the East Quabbin Land Trust’s clean-up day at Moose Brook four Blue-headed Vireos were heard, along with the first blooms of Purple Trillium, Blood Root, Trout Lily and Bluetts. 

04-16-2006 -- Winimusset WMA

            We birded both areas: the marsh impoundment and the eastern upland area. This is signed from Fish and Wildlife as being cut to maintain habitat for "Chestnut-sided Warbler and Common Yellowthroat".  Seen were Turkey Vulture (4); Canada Goose (15); Wood Duck (5); Mallard (9); Green-winged Teal (2); Hooded Merganser (3 pair); Osprey (2 migrating high overhead); Red-tailed Hawk (3); A Kestrel (1f); Wild Turkey (5); Downy Woodpecker (3); N Flicker (4); E Phoebe (3); Tree Swallow (40+); N Rough-winged Swallow (2+); Barn Swallow (2+); Black-capped Chickadee (23: including a pair excavating a nest hole); Brown Creeper (1); Winter Wren (1); Blue Jay (6); Common Raven (1 attacking migrating Ospreys); American Robin (61); Pine Warbler (4); Palm Warbler (1); Louisiana Waterthrush (1: we watched this bird for about 15 minutes as it sang and then fed along the stream); N Cardinal (14); Chipping Sparrow (7); Savannah Sparrow (2); Song Sparrow (32); Swamp Sparrow (6); Dark-eyed Junco (3); Red-winged Blackbird (70+); Purple Finch (2); A Goldfinch (3). (submitted: Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

04-16-2006 -- Mandel Hill, Hardwick

            A short visit to the East Quabbin Land Trust’s Mandel Hill property had Turkey Vulture (1); Cooper's Hawk (1 resident); Sharp-shinned Hawk (1); Broad-winged Hawk (3); Flicker (2); We will be returning to this beautiful scenic property especially in the fall hawk watch season. (submitted: Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).

04-16-2006 -- Winimusset WMA, New Braintree

            A stop at Winimusset turned up 2 Turkey Vultures on the barn roof, an Eastern Towhee, an American Tree Sparrow, and 6 Song Sparrows.  (Submitted)

04-15-2006 -- Harvard Pond, Petersham

            Seen at Harvard Pond were 1 Great Blue Heron, 4 Wood Ducks, 2 Green-winged Teal, 2 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Common Mergansers, 6 Killdeer, 3 Palm Warblers, 25 Pine Warblers, and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers.  (Submitted)

04-15-2006 -- Swift River Reservation: Slab City Tract, Petersham

            Migrants seen at this Trustees of Reservations property on route 122 included 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher.  (Submitted)

03-30-2006 – Winimusset WMA, New Braintree

A short stop at Winimusset turned up SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 4, Belted Kingfisher 2, Killdeer 4

Red-tailed Hawk 1, Gadwall 1. (Submitted)

03-12-2006 -- Winimusset WMA, New Braintree

A morning stop at the Hardwick Road entrance turned up good numbers of birds, including many spring indicators. Wood Duck (5), American Black Duck (30), Mallard (45), Ring-necked Duck (1m), Hooded Merganser (30), Killdeer (5), Belted Kingfisher (1), Northern Flicker (2), Carolina Wren (1), Eastern Bluebird (pair investigating nest cavities), Song Sparrow (2), Red-winged Blackbird (35), Rusty Blackbird (2), and Common Grackle (25).

03-12-2006 -- Ware River, New Braintree

Seen at the Veteran's Memorial Bridge were Common Merganser (2), Killdeer (4) and Belted Kingfisher (2).

03-11-2006 -- Mandel Hill, Hardwick

Three American Woodcock were observed displaying in the fields

03-10-2006 -- Mandel Hill, Hardwick

One American Woodcock was heard 'peenting' after dark in the fields

02-20-2006 -- New Braintree/Hardwick

Two Eastern Phoebes were seen at Winimusset WMA, New Braintree and a Northern Flicker was seen at the Eagle Hill Marsh in Hardwick. (Submitted).

02-18-2006 – Quabbin Gate 35, New Salem (EQBC Trip)

Abnormally balmy temperatures accompanied by buffeting wind and rain dip sharply, giving way to a dry, relentless cold. As I negotiate the tempestuous weather, evidence of the unruly wind's capriciousness litters the roadway, jagged branches and soggy bark fragments unevenly strewn along its length. I pause only momentarily, despairing of gleaning any bird song from the roaring air mass that envelops me as I exit the car.

Returning to the rendezvous point for the excursion I will lead, the first wan rays of the sun struggle through tumultuous clouds, a frenzied mass of glowing white and baleful gray. A pleasant rush of warm air soothes my face as hands are shaken through a car window. Participants assembled, the strident cawing of a lone American Crow announces our departure.

The initial trudge to the Quabbin's shoreline is briefly enlivened by a snatch of song from a Black-capped Chickadee. Arriving at the water's edge, scanning the far shore reveals a bright white dot atop a burly pine. Binoculars are quickly brought to bear upon it, revealing an immaculate adult Bald Eagle unperturbed by the fierce wind. Confirming that the reservoir's choppy surface is devoid of waterfowl, the eagle receives our full attention. Another eagle snaps into view along the same stretch of distant shoreline. The group busily pivots the scope from one striking specimen to the other. Plumbing the depths of the far shore's tree line reveals a mammoth nest, evidence of the eagles' past breeding efforts. I make out a brawny shape chugging steadily through the distant haze, sweeping abruptly upwards to alight upon a haggard birch nearly out of optical range. Each of us takes the measure of the bird, and we conclude yet another Bald Eagle has appeared. Angular, streamlined silhouettes flapping lazily by transform themselves into Ring-billed Gulls, their sleek contours contrasting with the blocky outlines of the raptors. A disembodied pair of jet-black wings suddenly sprouts a uniformly white body and stout, lengthy bill. The Great Black-backed Gull descends, peers briefly into the water's surface, and vanishes into the clouds. What appears to be a discarded lobster buoy transforms itself into a loafing Herring Gull, completely at ease upon the windswept ice.

Eyes watering in the intense cold, we pause to marvel at the sheets of snowflakes billowing across the vast expanse of water. A prodigious shape gamely knifes its way high overhead through a challenging wind. An eagle with plumage straddling the narrow divide between late adolescence and full adulthood soars over the water, its undersides revealing faint white streaks. Deftly avoiding being manhandled by the icy gusts, it tips sharply downward, revealing a uniformly chocolate upper body. Continued monitoring of the eagles present allows us to view two mature specimens moving steadily toward one another. Both individuals eventually perch upon the same branch, inviting attempts to sex the birds. Unable to discern a clear-cut size difference, we continue south.

Our progress is briefly halted by a taunting snatch of song from a single Black-capped Chickadee. We resume our travels, eyes glued to the dark woods on either side of us. We catch a fleeting glimpse of a Northern Cardinal, its shape vanishing into a cluster of pine boughs. Wiry bird song pierces the air. Five human heads swivel in unison, ears and eyes locked upon the amorphous wall of underbrush to our left. Thick, downy snowflakes surround us in an ethereal quiet, Golden-crowned Kinglets dancing gaily amongst a matted tangle of grapevine. Heartened to have added some colorful passerines to the morning's tally, we reverse our direction, savoring a last glimpse of the eagles before heading our separate ways.

American Crow 1

Bald Eagle (five adults, one juvenile) 6

Black-capped Chickadee 2

Golden-crowned Kinglet 5

Great Black-backed Gull 1

Northern Cardinal 1

Ring-billed Gull 3

(Submitted by trip leader Chris Ellison)

01-20-2006 -- Pine Island, Hardwick

Active were two Northern Mockingbirds defending rosehips against 65 American Robins and 35 Cedar Waxwings. Also present was a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a singing Carolina Wren. This is the first time a pair of Mockingbirds has been seen here in years. Additionally, an Eastern Bluebird was reported here on 01/18.

01-20-2006 -- Mandel Hill, Hardwick

A flock of 61 Wild Turkeys was observed casually feeding on the recently cleared slope. Also seen was a Ruffed Grouse, Northern Flicker and Winter Wren.

01-20-2006 -- Quabbin Gate 43, Hardwick

A short walk turned up 5 Common Mergansers and 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches. The big water is free of ice.

01-15-2006 -- River Run, Gilbertville

Three Common Redpolls were seen at a feeder along River Run. - Submitted

01-15-2006 -- Hardwick

Over 20 Common Redpolls arrived with the cold front and fed throughout the day from an in-town thistle feeder.

01-08-2006 -- Upper Church Street, Hardwick

Two Great Horned Owls were heard calling southeast from the crest of Upper Church Street at 9:30PM. Their actual location was probably near Goddard Road.

01-08-2006 -- Clapp Road, Hardwick

Seen around the wetlands of Clapp Road were Ruffed Grouse (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Eastern Bluebird (7), American Robin (10), and Song Sparrow (1).

01-07-2006 -- Hardwick

Species observed around wet thickets in Hardwick include Red-bellied Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (2), Carolina Wren (1), Brown Creeper (1), American Tree Sparrow (18), Song Sparrow (2), White-throated Sparrow (4), Northern Cardinal (6), and Common Redpoll (15).

01-06-2006 -- River Run, Gilbertville

Two Great Horned Owls were heard calling just before sunrise. (submitted)

12/31/2005 -- Dana Sector of Quabbin Christmas Count

Totals include Gates 40 and 41, and sections of Petersham, Barre and Hardwick: American Black Duck (2), Mallard (1), Common Goldeneye (2m), Hooded Merganser (10), Common Merganser (11), Bald Eagle (2ad: numbers of eagles were on the low side), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1ad), Red-tailed Hawk (3), Ruffed Grouse (11), Wild Turkey (48), Ring-billed Gull (4), Herring Gull (3), Mourning Dove (9), Great Horned Owl (4), Barred Owl (3), Northern Saw-whet Owl (4), Red-bellied Woodpecker (2), Downy Woodpecker (32), Hairy Woodpecker (16), Northern Flicker (2), Pileated Woodpecker (12), EASTERN PHOEBE (1), Northern Shrike (1), Blue Jay (112), American Crow (24), Common Raven (4), Black-capped Chickadee (499), Tufted Titmouse (37), Red-breasted Nuthatch (51), White-breasted Nuthatch (77), Brown Creeper (19), Winter Wren (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet (16), Eastern Bluebird (5), Hermit Thrush (1), American Robin (182), Northern Mockingbird (1: extrenmely few on entire count), European Starling (64), American Tree Sparrow (85), Song Sparrow (1), Dark-eyed Junco (82), NOTA BENE: few White-throats on count, Northern Cardinal (20), House Finch (38), RED CROSSBILL (16: Dana Commons), COMMON REDPOLL (108: all outside of Quabbin), PINE SISKIN (6), American Goldfinch (113), and House Sparrow (152). - Submitted

12-25-2005 -- Mandel Hill, Hardwick

Seen in a wet ticket near Chagnon Road were a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Carolina Wren, a Winter Wren, 10 American Robins, and 12 Common Redpolls.

12-25-2005 -- Eagle Hill Marsh Trail, Hardwick

Seen on from the boardwalk were 3 Northern Flickers, Three Eastern Bluebirds, 60+ American Robins and a Song Sparrow.

12-09-2005 -- Hardwick

Among the 30+ American Goldfinches at a feeder today, a lone PINE SISKIN arrived during the height of the snowfall.

12-05-2005 -- Hardwick

A very late PINE WARBLER has been observed over the past week at a private feeder in Hardwick. The bird, a juvenile male, has been actively feeding on suet, thistle and millet, and seems to be faring well.

11-27-2005 -- Mandel Hill, Hardwick

A late BLUE-HEAEDED VIREO was spotted in a wet thicket at Mandel Hill in Hardwick.

11/06/2005 -- Hardwick

American Tree Sparrows have arrived, with about 15 seen at Pine Island. Elsewhere, there were 10 Ring-necked Ducks in Wheelwright, and a Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher at Winimusset.

10-09-2005 -- Ware River, New Braintree/Hardwick

Observed at Winimusset WMA and the flooded fields around the Silver Bridge were Merlin (1), Wilson’s Snipe (5), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Mourning Dove (100+ flying in a loose flock), Belted Kingfisher (3), Eastern Phoebe (9), Hermit Thrush (2), Gray Catbird (4), American Pipit (~70), Yellow-rumped Warbler (10), Palm Warbler (5 +1 western race), Common Yellowthroat (2), Eastern Towhee (1), Savannah Sparrow (30), Swamp Sparrow (20), Indigo Bunting (4), Bobolink (2), and Purple Finch (3).

08-20-2005 -- Ware River, Gilbertville

This evening at 6:25 there were 18 Common Nighthawks migrating east-northeast over the Gilbertville section of Hardwick. Gilbertville is on the Ware River, which over the years has proven a reliable waterway to see small-to-moderate flocks (10-50) of low-flying nighthawks during spring and autumn migration. And, as is often the case this time of year, birds were heading east, over the ridges separating Hardwick from the Quabbin watershed, and then following the Ware River. Perhaps this section of Hardwick-New Braintree is a cross-over spot for migrants to switch from the Swift River Valley to the Ware River Valley, as it's around this area that the Swift is backed up into the Quabbin Reservoir and the Ware River Valley becomes sharply defined.

07-31-2005 -- Quabbin Gate 35

Autumn seems to be nearing as most songbirds have stopped singing, and today, were noticed moving over the landscape in significant post-breeding flocks. Two such flocks were observed, combined containing Red-eyed Vireo (5), Black-capped Chickadee (35), White-breasted Nuthatch (1), Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (10), Gray Catbird (4), Chestnut-sided Warbler (2, basic plumage), Magnolia Warbler (1), Black-throated Green Warbler (6), Pine Warbler (3), Prairie Warbler (2), Black-and-White Warbler (4), American Redstart (1), Canada Warbler (1), and Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3, basic plumage). Also seen not associated with flocks were Cooper's Hawk (1 adult), Spotted Sandpiper (2), Barred Owl (2 calling), Great-crested Flycatcher (1), Eastern Pewee (3), Hermit Thrush (2), Cedar Waxwing (10), and Eastern Towhee (6)