Horn Pond Recreation Area, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US

Apr 14, 2025 7:59 AM – 9:58 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.6 mile(s)

35 species

Canada Goose  16

Mallard  17

Bufflehead  2

Common Merganser  2

Mourning Dove  3

American Coot  1

Ring-billed Gull  3

Pied-billed Grebe  1

Double-crested Cormorant  3

Black-crowned Night Heron  2

Great Blue Heron  2

Osprey  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  4

Downy Woodpecker  4

Northern Flicker  2

Blue Jay  6

American Crow  1

Black-capped Chickadee  15

Tufted Titmouse  3

Tree Swallow  2

Carolina Wren  1

Northern Mockingbird  3

American Robin  7

House Sparrow  13

House Finch  1

American Goldfinch  7

Chipping Sparrow  1

Dark-eyed Junco  1

White-throated Sparrow  8

Song Sparrow  3

Swamp Sparrow  1

Red-winged Blackbird  9

Common Grackle  7

Pine Warbler  5

Northern Cardinal  7

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S226018875

Rock Meadow Conservation Area, Belmont, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US

Apr 12, 2025 6:30 PM – 8:06 PM

Protocol: Traveling

0.99 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:    BBC

I led a Brookline Bird Club walk today to Rock Meadow, for our annual Woodcock walk there.  Conditions were pretty misty/rainy/cold out, but that’s been a majority of the years really for this trip.  It’s a rainy often bitter time of year; that’s one of the things with Southern New England, you think of April as being “spring” but it’s really this transition period, and every year every single person (myself included) forget that.  We walked around a bit while the sky darkened, along the back edge I’m 80% certain we had a fox sparrow, but it dove into cover before I could really get a good look at the face, and it was shadowed by the fading sky.  After that we checked on Beaver Brook, which was exceedingly high, higher than I ever had. Along the way I shared tidbits about Rock Meadow, still one of my favorite places on Earth.  

After that we hit the high-point of the back field, and almost immediately heard the peenting start, really fantastic timing (completely on accident, I figured we had another 15-20 minutes). There were at least 5 males calling, a couple of which were closer to the front fields. We had a pair starting out doing a dueling flight which was a great crowd-pleaser. After that we had several going up up up up into the mist.  One of the group participants had a better eye than anyone I’ve ever seen.  She was able to pick them out up in the clouds after everyone else had lost them for several seconds, and keep tracking them seemingly in the blank sky.  Sure enough, they would come back down and she stayed on them the whole time. I’ve never seen anything like it really. 

The highlight was towards the end, one of the males that was launching from the foundation of the old farm house went right overhead, maybe 10 feet above us before whizzing around for a while, everyone gasped at the sight.  Things settled down pretty early, likely due to the cloud cover bringing darkness quicker. I was taking a video of the “peenting” and noticed none had gone up in about a minute, and then even the peenting trailed off. 

Great trip, everyone seemed to enjoy it, and the mist and wind were quickly forgotten once the woodcocks got going.  As always, I highly encourage folks to lead a walk, for the BBC or any club really, or just with friends. You don’t have to be an expert; I had never led one before my first Woocock Walk several years ago now; now this trip is one of the highlights of my year.

8 species

Canada Goose  X

Mallard  4

American Woodcock  5    Great show despite the weather

Black-capped Chickadee  2

American Robin  7

Song Sparrow  3

Red-winged Blackbird  8

Northern Cardinal  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S226018850

Brooks Estate, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US

Apr 9, 2025 8:01 AM – 9:58 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.68 mile(s)

26 species

Canada Goose  2

Mallard  1

Ring-billed Gull  2

Sharp-shinned Hawk  1

Bald Eagle  1

Barred Owl  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  3

Downy Woodpecker  5

Eastern Phoebe  5

Blue Jay  3

American Crow  1

Black-capped Chickadee  8

Tufted Titmouse  4

Golden-crowned Kinglet  9

White-breasted Nuthatch  3

Brown Creeper  1

Carolina Wren  3

European Starling  2

Hermit Thrush  2

American Robin  15

American Goldfinch  5

Dark-eyed Junco  2

White-throated Sparrow  3

Song Sparrow  1

Brown-headed Cowbird  3

Northern Cardinal  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S224451185

Fresh Pond, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US

Apr 8, 2025 6:30 AM – 8:30 AM

Protocol: Traveling

2.0 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:    BBC Bird Walk at Fresh Pond

32 species

Canada Goose  11

Mallard  8

Common Merganser  1

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  5

Mourning Dove  2

American Herring Gull  4

Double-crested Cormorant  2

Red-tailed Hawk  1

Belted Kingfisher  2

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2

Red-bellied Woodpecker  4

Downy Woodpecker  2

Hairy Woodpecker  1

Northern Flicker  2

Peregrine Falcon  1

Blue Jay  9

American Crow  4

Black-capped Chickadee  4

Tufted Titmouse  5

Golden-crowned Kinglet  5

White-breasted Nuthatch  3

Carolina Wren  2

European Starling  5

American Robin  25

House Sparrow  11

House Finch  2

American Goldfinch  5

White-throated Sparrow  3

Song Sparrow  8

Red-winged Blackbird  9

Common Grackle  7

Northern Cardinal  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S223992589

Lynnfield Marsh–Partridge Island Trail, Essex, Massachusetts, US

Apr 7, 2025 5:57 PM – 7:24 PM

Protocol: Traveling

0.33 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:    BBC LYNNFIELD MARSH TRIP Leader: Melissa Sovay

A very chilly and raw evening after a day of rain, at the Lynnfield Marsh / Reedy Meadows along the Partridge island trail, Peepers.  Happy to have several folks join in and brave the elements on this yearly walk.

☁️☁️

Overcast clouds

Temperature: 37 – 38°F

Wind: 3 – 6mph

Wind Direction: E – NE

Cloud Cover: 100%

Humidity: 81 – 83%

Pressure: 1007 hPa

Sunrise: 6:15am

Sunset: 7:16pm

Weather generated by <a href=”https://raincrow.app/”>RainCrow</a>

21 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose  8

Wood Duck  6

Mallard  26

Mourning Dove  2

Virginia Rail  1

American Herring Gull  4

Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  1

Northern Harrier  1

Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  1

Blue Jay  2

Black-capped Chickadee  4

Tufted Titmouse  1

European Starling  12

American Robin  9

American Goldfinch  1

White-throated Sparrow  1

Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica)  4

Swamp Sparrow  2

Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  14

Common Grackle (Bronzed)  32

blackbird sp.  60    A few flocks tight flights could very well have been Rusty blackbirds

Northern Cardinal  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S223992583

Bartlett Pond, Northborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, US

Apr 6, 2025 6:55 AM – 7:07 AM

Checklist Comments:    Brookline Bird Club Walk – Westboro WMA – Leader Nickilas Paulson. Stop 1.

12 species

Canada Goose  12

Mute Swan  4

Wood Duck  1

Ring-necked Duck  8

Bufflehead  5

Blue Jay  2

Tufted Titmouse  1

American Robin  10

Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica)  2

Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  12

Common Grackle (Bronzed)  2

Northern Cardinal  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S223469803

Westboro WMA, Worcester, Massachusetts, US

Apr 6, 2025 7:12 AM – 10:05 AM

Brookline Bird Club Walk – Westboro WMA – Leader Nickilas Paulson. Stop 2.

38 species

Canada Goose  20

Mute Swan  4

Wood Duck  9

Mallard  6

Green-winged Teal (American)  8

Ring-necked Duck  12

Lesser Scaup  4

Bufflehead  12

Common Goldeneye  1

Hooded Merganser  1

Common Merganser (North American)  24

Mourning Dove  15

Pied-billed Grebe  1

Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  1

Osprey (American)  1    Hunting the fields for mice/voles.

Red-shouldered Hawk (lineatus Group)  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  3

Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  1

Eastern Phoebe  4

Blue Jay  10

American Crow  8

Fish Crow  2

Black-capped Chickadee  4

Tufted Titmouse  5

Tree Swallow  50

White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)  3

Northern Mockingbird  1

Hermit Thrush (faxoni/crymophilus)  1

American Robin  150

American Goldfinch  4

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  12

White-throated Sparrow  20

Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica)  30

Swamp Sparrow  4

Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  80

Brown-headed Cowbird  20

Common Grackle (Bronzed)  30

Northern Cardinal  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S223469805

Crane Swamp Conservation Area, Worcester, Massachusetts, US

Apr 6, 2025 10:03 AM – 10:23 AM

Brookline Bird Club Walk – Westboro WMA – Leader Nickilas Paulson. Stop 3

27 species

Mallard  1

Mourning Dove  4

Killdeer  2

Red-tailed Hawk (borealis)  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  2

Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  1

Eastern Phoebe  1

Blue Jay  4

Fish Crow  1

Black-capped Chickadee  2

Tufted Titmouse  3

White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)  1

European Starling  3

Northern Mockingbird  1

Eastern Bluebird  4

Hermit Thrush (faxoni/crymophilus)  1

American Robin  20

House Finch  1

American Goldfinch  3

American Tree Sparrow  1

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  4

Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  3    Usual spot where they arrive early. Two normal looking ones, fine streaking, yellow supraloral. One rather pale bird with limited breast streaking, soft yellow supraloral.

Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica)  20

Swamp Sparrow  1

Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  25

Common Grackle (Bronzed)  10

Northern Cardinal  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S223469812

Wayne MacCallum Wildlife Management Area, Worcester, Massachusetts, US

Apr 6, 2025 10:43 AM – 11:23 AM

Brookline Bird Club Walk – Westboro WMA – Leader Nickilas Paulson. Stop 4..

26 species

Wood Duck  1

Mallard  2

Ring-necked Duck  3

Mourning Dove  2

Red-bellied Woodpecker  4

Downy Woodpecker (Eastern)  1

Pileated Woodpecker  3

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  1

American Kestrel  1

Eastern Phoebe  1

Blue Jay  2

American Crow  12

Black-capped Chickadee  2

Tufted Titmouse  4

White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern)  4

European Starling  14

Northern Mockingbird  2

Eastern Bluebird  3

American Robin  15

American Goldfinch  2

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  7

Song Sparrow (melodia/atlantica)  14

Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  18

Common Grackle (Bronzed)  12

Pine Warbler  2

Northern Cardinal  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S223469817

Bald Hill Conservation Area–Crooked Pond, Essex, Massachusetts, US

Apr 6, 2025 7:06 AM – 8:13 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.202 mile(s)

16 species

Canada Goose  1

Wood Duck  3

Mallard  4

American Black Duck  1

Mourning Dove  1

Great Blue Heron  1

Red-bellied Woodpecker  2

Downy Woodpecker  3

Black-capped Chickadee  2

Tufted Titmouse  3

Brown Creeper  1

Winter Wren  3

American Robin  1

American Goldfinch  1

Red-winged Blackbird  1

Pine Warbler  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S223469759

Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, 100-132 Prospect Hill Road, Worcester, Massachusetts, US

Apr 5, 2025 7:00 AM – 9:10 AM

Protocol: Traveling

2.25 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:    Low 40s, overcast, cold/damp but calm.  Started in main parking lot and walked upper trail past Old Meadow and Pergolas Site down to the orange trail past New Meadow and back through the woods taking the lower yellow trail past the Willard Farm Site to the Fruitlands Farmhouse and returning to the main parking area.  Highlights: Kestrel, Bald Eagle and Northern Harrier (a gray ghost).  Overall, somewhat quiet.

36 species

Canada Goose  5

Mourning Dove  1

Double-crested Cormorant  3    F-O

Great Blue Heron  3    F-O

Turkey Vulture  1

Northern Harrier  1    Excellent sighting for all.  A “gray ghost” male seen from upper, open trail.

Bald Eagle  1    A welcoming F-O shortly after our arrival.  Adult.

Red-tailed Hawk  1    Perched on far side of New Meadow beyond red metal barn.  A photo confirmed what a appeared to be a “black” raptor in the overcast light.

Red-bellied Woodpecker  2

Downy Woodpecker  2

Pileated Woodpecker  0    Evidence of activity in woods but no auditory or visual sightings.

Northern Flicker  1

American Kestrel  3    Excellent sightings on both sides of campus.  One seen shortly at start heading east over Prospect Hill Rd.  One perched atop pine, then deciduous below main parking area to the left of Visitor’s Center (being harassed by 2 annoyed blue jays).  One on far side of New Meadow perched on an tall, orange stake.

Eastern Phoebe  6

Blue Jay  6

American Crow  5

Common Raven  2

Black-capped Chickadee  5

Tufted Titmouse  6

Tree Swallow  1

White-breasted Nuthatch  4

Brown Creeper  1

Carolina Wren  0    Surprised not to hear or see any.  Perhaps to cold.

Northern Mockingbird  4

Eastern Bluebird  2    Pair near Gift Shop/Cafe building.

American Robin  51    Probably a conservative count.

House Sparrow  10

House Finch  3

American Goldfinch  3

Dark-eyed Junco  3

White-throated Sparrow  3

Song Sparrow  6

Red-winged Blackbird  11

Brown-headed Cowbird  7

Common Grackle  2

Palm Warbler  1

Pine Warbler  6

Northern Cardinal  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S223247491

Horn Pond Recreation Area, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US

Apr 4, 2025 8:01 AM – 10:39 AM

Protocol: Traveling

2.64 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:    Mbc bbc trip

23 species

Canada Goose  13

Mallard  10

Turkey Vulture  2

Red-bellied Woodpecker  2

Downy Woodpecker  4

Hairy Woodpecker  1

Northern Flicker  1

Eastern Phoebe  2

Blue Jay  7

Common Raven  2

Black-capped Chickadee  6

Tufted Titmouse  2

White-breasted Nuthatch  1

Northern Mockingbird  2

American Robin  7

House Finch  3

American Goldfinch  5

Field Sparrow  1

Dark-eyed Junco  5

Song Sparrow  6

Palm Warbler  1

Pine Warbler  1    Heard

Northern Cardinal  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S223247486

Horn Pond Recreation Area, Middlesex, Massachusetts, US

Apr 1, 2025 7:57 AM – 10:06 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.91 mile(s)

32 species

Canada Goose  12

Mute Swan  3

Mallard  8

Ring-necked Duck  1

Common Merganser  6

Mourning Dove  2

American Coot  7

Killdeer  2

Ring-billed Gull  12

Black-crowned Night Heron  2

Great Blue Heron  4

Red-bellied Woodpecker  3

Downy Woodpecker  1

Eastern Phoebe  3

Blue Jay  6

Fish Crow  2

Black-capped Chickadee  16

Tufted Titmouse  3

Tree Swallow  1

White-breasted Nuthatch  2

Carolina Wren  1

European Starling  6

Eastern Bluebird  1

American Robin  12

House Sparrow  11

American Goldfinch  6

Dark-eyed Junco  2

White-throated Sparrow  7

Song Sparrow  7

Red-winged Blackbird  13

Common Grackle  22

Northern Cardinal  7

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S222547308