Forbush Bird Club Year 1999-2000 Trip Reports

The following are highlights of selected field trips of the Forbush Bird Club, listed in reverse chronological order:
Sunday 4/30/00 -- Shrewsbury and vicinity
On the FBC trip led by Mike Bellows, a total of 50 species seen by 8 observers. Highlights included: Double-crested Cormorant (2), Great Blue Heron (10) and Osprey (2) at Suasco. Mute Swan (3), 2 at the pond across Worcester Sand & Gravel (1 still on the nest) and another seen while driving by the pond on South Quinsigamond Ave. in Shrewsbury. Elsewhere in Shrewsbury, there were Sharp-shinned (2), Broad-winged (2) and Red-tailed (6) hawks; Chimney Swift (5), Red-bellied Woodpecker (1), Least Flycatcher (1), Eastern Phoebe (4); Tree Swallow (30), Northern Rough-winged (4), Cliff (1) and Barn (12) swallows. Brown Thasher (1), Yellow-rumped (12), Pine (2), Palm (1) and Black-and-white (2) warblers. Chipping (6), Savannah (2), Song (4) and Swamp (4) sparrows. Baltimore Oriole (1).
Home-baked Scones and cake were enjoyed at a mid-morning break at the home of Nancy and Mike Bellows. Also seen were Mourning Cloak Butterflies and a Red Admiral. (report from Joan Zumpfe).

Sunday 4/2/00 -- Bolton Flats, Bolton
Nine birders went on a Forbush Bird Club trip lead by Fran McMenemy to Bolton Flats and the Delaney Tract this morning. We had 37 species, including Great Blue Heron (14), Wood Duck (5), Green-winged Teal (7), American Wigeon (2), Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, Common Snipe (approx. 30), Killdeer, Horned Lark (12), E. Phoebe, Tree Swallow, a female Kestrel, Northern Flicker, E. Bluebird, Swamp Sparrow, Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), and Pine Warbler (2). (report from Howard Shainheit).

Sunday 9/21/99 -- Northboro, Southboro, Westboro (morning)
Leader: Ann Boover. The Forbush Bird Club Trip was held from 7:30-12:00 a.m, with Blue skies, sunny, 45-65 temp/ 11 members/ Solomon Pond, Bartlett Pond and Little Chauncey Pond in Northboro, Lake Chauncey and the fields below the Westboro State Hospital Main Building, and the Sudbury Resevoir area in Southboro.

44 species of birds recorded. Highlight included good looks at a NORTHERN SHRIKE (imm).

The complete list: 

Pied-billed Grebe, 4
Double-crested Cormorant, 1
Great Blue Heron, 2
Canada Goose, 57
American Black Duck, 2
Mallard, 37
Ring-necked Duck,75
Common Goldeneye, 4
Bufflehead, 2
Hooded Merganser, 28
Common Merganser, 43
Ruddy Duck,175
Red-tailed Hawk,2
American Kestrel, 2
American Coot, 34
Ring-billed Gull, 30
Herring Gull, 4
Great Black-backed Gull, 2
Rock Dove, 15
Mourning Dove, 7
Belted Kingfisher, 2
Downy Woodpecker,5
Hairy Woodpecker, 1
Blue Jay, 25
American Crow, 13
Black-capped Chickadee, 19
Tufted Titmouse,3
White-breasted Nuthatch, 9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1
Eastern Bluebird. 1
American Robin, 8
Norhtern Mockingbird, 7
Cedar Waxwing, 18
NORTHERN SHRIKE,1
European Starling, #'s
Northern Cardinal,4
American Tree Sparrow, 36
Song Sparrow, 3
Dark-eyed Junco, 11
Red-winged Blackbird, 3
Common Grackle, 1
House Finch, 4
American Goldfinch, 95+
House Sparrow, 5
Wednesday 8/4/99 -- Institute Park, Worcester
The Forbush Bird Club held its annual Black-crowned Night Heron Walk at Institute Park in Worcester on Wednesday evening, August 4th, 1999. The weather was perfect, slightly breezy, low humidity, comfortable temperatures and no Mosquitoes, starting at 80* F at 7:00 p.m. and falling to about 70* F by dusk. There were 13 observers, among which 3 have just recently joined FBC. At least 20 species of birds were seen or heard. The highlights included only 1 Immature Black-crowned Night Heron, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 Common Nighthawks and multiple Eastern Kingbirds. (trip report from Joan Zumpfe, Forbush Club Sectretary).

Saturday 6/5/99 -- Sturbridge and vicinity (morning)
Leader: Pauline Metras. This was a new trip for the Forbush bird club, focusing on the Westville Dam Recreation Area. It is a pleasant recreational area maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, with a nice mix of large grassy areas, streams and ponds, and wooded areas with convenient access by foot along a dirt road which follows the stream for some distance. This dirt road looks to be especially promising for the early spring migration. Highlights of the trip were a Hooded Merganser at the Westville Dam area, and great views of two Yellow-throated Vireos near the airport. Nesting Bluebirds and Baltimore Orioles gave us a great show, and we enjoyed watching Willow Flycatchers sing their "fitz-bew" call. (report from Rick Quimby).

Sunday 5/23/99 -- Princeton area (morning only)
Leader: Francis McMenemy. The trip started at the Mt. Wachusett ski area parking lot, off Mountain Rd, in Princeton, and continued with some trails from Redemtion Rock before moving to High Ridge WMA in Gardner. Highlights included excellent close looks at a Pied-billed Grebe and 2 American Bitterns at High Ridge, with the grebe making its lovely call. Also heard were both Sora and Virginia Rail. Alder flycatchers were calling continuously around the marsh at High Ridge. Blackburnian and Canada Warblers were both heard on the Redemption Rock trail, but were not seen. Also seen at High Ridge were 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2 Purple Finches, many bobolinks, and 1 drake Ring-necked Duck. (reported by Rick Quimby)

Saturday 5/22/99 -- Gate 43, Quabbin Reservoir, Hardwick
On May 22nd, 7 Forbush Bird Club members walked to Shaft 12 from Gate 43 in Hardwick. It was a pleasant sunny day with a light breeze and temperatures ranging from 55 to 72* F. The highlights were 3 Bald Eagles, one of which was seen flying over the parking lot at the end of the walk. Also seen were 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and 4 Blackpoll Warblers. In all, 63 species of birds were enjoyed, among which were a Common Loon, a Wood Duck, a Pileated Woodpecker, an Olive-sided Flycatcher found by Marge Glazer, 8 Eastern Wood-Pewee, 16 Least and 7 Great-crested Flycatchers, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Winter Wrens, 6 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 1 Eastern Bluebird, 8 Veery, 2 Hermit Thrush, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, 3 Yellow-throated Vireo and 35 Red-eyed Vireo which caused much humor due to their abundance. These warblers were also observed: 1 Northern Parula, 1 Yellow, 2 Chestnut-sided, numerous Yellow-rumped, 4 Black-throated Green, 6 Blackburnian, 7 Pine, 4 Black-and-white, 15 American Redstart, 20 Ovenbird, 1 Louisiana Waterthrush, and 12 Common Yellowthroat. We also enjoyed excellent views of 10 Scarlet Tanagers, 6 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and 6 Baltimore Orioles. This trip was led by Rodney Jenkins who was accompanied by his dear wife Mary. (trip report from Joan Zumpfe, Forbush Club Sectretary).