Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, 100-132 Prospect Hill Road, Worcester, Massachusetts, US
Oct 23, 2021 7:20 AM – 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:    Sunny, crisp and calm at 45F.  Sandy and Rita led this walk for BBC and Boxborough Birders across Fruitlands campus focused on Old Meadow, New Meadow and the open areas near the parking area, behind the Shaker Gallery and Fruitland’s Farmhouse.
35 species (+3 other taxa)
Canada Goose  2    At least.  Heard calling from fly-over beyond canopy.
Turkey Vulture  2    Fly-overs seen from main campus / parking area.
Northern Harrier  2    Both soaring high seen from main campus/parking area.  Excellent view.
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1    Aggressively harassing a red-tailed hawk.
Red-tailed Hawk  2    Two distinct birds based on plumage.
Buteo sp.  1    Heard and intermittantly saw group of agitated crows in canopy on yellow trail between Willard Site and lower campus.  Brief sighting of buteo/raptor but could not definitely identify.  One participant, Mimi, thought it was smaller than a red-tailed.
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Downy Woodpecker  4
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Pileated Woodpecker  1    Heard very clearly at New Meadow.
woodpecker sp.  1    Seen flying away from new meadow towards woods but could not definitely identify based on flight pattern.  Not everyone saw it.
Blue Jay  15    Perhaps more.  Plentiful.
American Crow  12
Common Raven  1    Seen flying away from main campus from the parking area.
Black-capped Chickadee  9
Tufted Titmouse  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1    Seen in lower meadow behind Shaker Gallery as exiting the woods on board walk.
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1    Heard very clearly in the woods.  Confirmed by Merlin audio app.
White-breasted Nuthatch  4
Carolina Wren  2
European Starling  5
Northern Mockingbird  1
Eastern Bluebird  9
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  12    Probably more.
House Finch  1
American Goldfinch  3
Chipping Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  4    Based on “chipping” at New Meadow and activity, probably many more.
Savannah Sparrow  2    Based on two good viewings.  Probably more.
Song Sparrow  12    Based on sightings.  Probably many more.
Swamp Sparrow  1
Red-winged Blackbird  12
Brown-headed Cowbird  2    Seen on snag at far end beyond New Meadow where larger flock had landed.
Common Grackle  225    Approximate count in two sightings.  One a murmuration of about 150.  Another flock flying over later in walk of about 75.
blackbird sp.  19    Seen flying in group over and beyond New Meadow.  Landed on snags briefly but when setting up scope flew leaving 2 brown headed cowbirds as noted above.  Highly likely based on size all could’ve been brown-headed cowbirds.
Yellow-rumped Warbler  3
Northern Cardinal  3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S96670970