FROM THE FIELD

A Warm & Dry Winter 2019-2020

3/20/2020

The scientific data are not at our fingertips, but we can all recall an early December snowfall of 24 inches followed by very little snow for the rest of the winter. Overcast and gloomy gray days with warmer temperatures didn't always result in as much precipitation as we might have liked. Streams, ponds, and waterfalls seemed to be at highest levels in February, and mud season so far hasn't been as dramatic as in some years when oozing ground made hiking low areas impossible. Despite the often "open" season with passable trails and "balmy" temperatures in the thirties, most of this period's FROM THE FIELD contributors enjoyed nature in their backyards and at birdfeeders.

Female Northern Cardinal on a snowy February day in Brimfield. Photo by Bill Platenick.

A Female Northern Cardinal manuevers for access to fruit. Photo by Bill Platenick.

Golden-crowned Kinglet 8 February 2020 by Alan Rawle.

White-breasted Nuthatch and Dark-eyed Junco bickering over feeder offerings in Rutland. Photo by Anne Greene.

The occasional Common Grackle will overwinter in central Massachusetts, but usually they begin arriving from regions further south in February. Photo by Anne Greene.

Two European Starlings vie for the best position at Anne Green's birdfeeder in Rutland.

A curious American Mink (Neovison vison) at Swift River Preserve in Petersham on 11 January 2020.

A shiny meltwater droplet resembles a jeweled earring against a blue velvet jacket. Captured at just the right moment by Anne Greene.

Trail camera photo capture of Eastern Coyote in Rutland, by Doug Wipf, 2 January 2020.

Winter Wren, Quaboag Wildlife Managment Area, Brookfield, 20 November 2020. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Edson Pond in Rutland hosted Ring-necked Ducks and Buffleheads in mid-March. Photo by Ted Purcell, 13 March 2020.

The February full moon is called the Snow Moon, named after the snow on the ground. Some Native American tribes named this the Hunger Moon due to the scarce food sources and hard hunting conditions during mid-winter. Photo by Alan Rawle, 8 February 2020.

This Barred Owl found Doug Wipf's Rutland yard to its liking for several days in mid-February.

Another visitor caught on Doug Wipf's trail camera was this robust-looking Red Fox.

These Eastern Bluebirds are waiting for dried mealworms in Rutland. Photo by Anne Greene.

Black-capped Chickadee, 15 March 2020, by Alan Rawle.

Blue Jays, February 2020, by Ted Purcell.

Tufted Titmouse in Paxton, February 2020, by Ted Purcell.

Mourning Dove by Bill Platenick.

Cedar Waxwing in Brimfield by Bill Platenick.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker and Blue Jay make eye contact. Photo by Anne Greene.

Brown Creeper in Brookfield, 22 February 2020, by Alan Rawle.

A vigilant Dark-eyed Junco looks skyward. Photo by Anne Greene.

A House Finch in Brimfield after a snowfall. Photo by Bill Platenick.

It can be difficult to spot more than one of these quick and nimble Carolina Wrens at the same time. Photographed in Rutland by Ted Purcell, February 2020.

This Eastern Phoebe over-wintered on a Hardwick beaver pond--seen here on 15 February 2020-- and made it through the season by feeding at swampy edges that never froze. Photo by Alan Rawle.

American Robins that stayed through the winter found Staghorn Sumac to be a reliable food source. Photo by Alan Rawle, 17 February 2020.

A male Red-bellied Woodpecker's vibrant red cap stands out against the snow and gray sky. Photo by Anne Greene.

American Tree Sparrow in Rutland 19 January 2020. Photo by Ted Purcell.

A female Pileated Woodpecker in Brimfield, photographed by Bill Platenick.

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A Look Back at Fall, 2019

2/29/2020

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Savannah Sparrow at Wachusett Reservoir, Gate 36, 11 November 2019, by Doug Wipf. Some of these usual migrants are lingering longer here than in past years, some staying through winter.

It seems appropriate to use Leap Day of the 2020 Leap Year to note some interesting nature sightings that preceded the early December 24-inch snowfall that took place before winter had actually arrived--an atypical calendar date to reflect the atypical course of our weather patterns. Heading into late autumn with a very wet October and some fine colors in the landscape, weather patterns overall continued to indicate that central Massachusetts is experiencing the same climate disruption as every other place on earth. In our neck of the woods that translated to overall warmer temperatures extending further into the autumn months. The impact on wildlife will become known over time. Meanwhile, here are sightings to add to the body of information.

Doug Wipf's trail camera took a great picture of a Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) that exhibits two good identification features--the black streak along the top and to the end of the tail, and the stocky body shape.

Sharp-shinned Hawk in October, Brimfield, by Bill Platenick.

Horned Lark in New Braintree, 16 November 2019. Photo by Alan Rawle.

A White-throated Sparrow in Princeton on 15 October 2019. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Bonaparte's Gull at Quabbin Gate 43, Hardwick, on 2 November 2019. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Yellow-rumped Warbler with poison ivy and Oriental bittersweet berries, 26 October 2019, Hardwick. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Emerging Monarchs were still present at the end of October. This female joined other pollinating insects on a late-blooming variety of hardy chrysanthemums in Hardwick on 26 October 2019.

A young buck White-tailed Deer visited Doug Wipf's Rutland yard in mid-November.

A Lapland Longspur was found amongst a small flock of Horned Larks on 16 November 2019 at Winimusset WMA in New Braintree.

Not encountered as often as in the eastern portion of the state, this Mute Swan was on the Quaboag River in West Brookfield on 20 November 2019. Photo by Alan Rawle,

Wachusett Reservoir's Gate 40 hosted this hungry Eastern Bluebird on 4 November 2019. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Northern Mockingbird in West Brookfield on 20 October 2019. Photo by Alan Rawle.

A Cedar Waxwing enjoys a Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) berry on 9 November 2019 near Quabbin Reservoir.

One of several tricky-to-identify LBJs (little brown jobs) was this Swamp Sparrow found on 13 October 2019. Photo by Alan Rawle.

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Owls in the Hand: A Night at a Saw-whet Owl Banding Station

11/10/2019

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RESULTS from Princeton banding station
late October-November 10, 2019

Total owls: 41 (40 not previously banded and
one foreign recovery from an unknown location)
Hatch-year: 6
Second-year: 26
After-second-year: 9

Our smallest owl, the Northern Saw-whet Owl, is a striking bird with its brown and white plumage and yellow irises. This species nests in low densities in western Massachusetts but migrate through Massachusetts in relatively high numbers during late fall. Despite being one of the most common species of owls in our northern forests, they are seldom seen.
Federally -licensed bird bander and state ornithologist Andrew Vitz (MassWildlife) hosted Club members at a banding station in Princeton on November 2nd, and he managed to capture and band several owls that were passing through the area. Once captured, the birds were banded, and data was collected on their age, sex, and condition before they were released. The data gathered will be submitted to the U.S. geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory, an integrated scientific program supporting research and conservation of North American birds. Information gathered during banding helps researchers to learn about the owls’ movements and survival rates.
Drew writes: "Although it was the best year that I have had [banding owls in central MA], it was a poor year for most owl banders in the northeast. I am not really sure why we had such good luck, but, similar to other stations, we had very few hatch year (HY) owls [young of this year]. This pattern is indicative of poor nesting success for the owls this year. I expect with a good acorn crop this year that the small mammals will be abundant in 2020, and the owls will respond accordingly. "

Drew Vitz and friend.

THANK YOU to Ted Purcell and Drew Vitz for the photographs.

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A Medley of Late Season Insects

11/1/2019

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An Oil Beetle (Meloe impressus) in the blister beetle family. Lacking wings, these beetles are flightless. Their name derives from the phenomenon wherein they emit an oily substance, cantharidin, from their leg joints when disturbed. Petersham, 8 September 2019 by Alan Rawle.

A nice find was this Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti) on 19 October in New Braintree. According to butterfliesofmassachusetts.net, although this species has been seen at many locations over the years, there is a lack of known colonies which persist from year to year. This suggests that most Massachusetts sightings are the result of periodic dispersions from further north, which establish temporary breeding populations but probably do not persist for very many years. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Male Northern Walkingstick ( Diapheromera femorata) found in Rutland 24 August by Doug Wipf. Adults are present in August and September in the northern part of the range, but because of their tendency to feed high in the canopy, the insects are seldom seen.

Female Fork-tailed Bush Katydid (Scudderia furcata) 23 September 2019 Princeton, by Doug Wipf

Common Looper (Autographa precationis) observed on 29 September. Larvae feed on a variety of forbs (non-grass herbs) such as aster, cabbage, plantain, and clover.

Usually heard singing from the underside of branches or broad leaves, Snowy Tree Crickets (Oecanthus fultoni) can be found close to the ground--a warmer microenvironment--during cold spells. That was the likely scenario on 30 October in Rutland. Photo by Ted Purcell.

This male Autumn or Yellow-legged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) was in Paxton on 26 October and could well have lingered through November. Distinguished from other late-flying small, red dragonflies by leg color and red face. Photo by Bill Platenik.

A caterpillar that will metamorphose into a moth that resembles a dry, curled leaf--Angus' Datana (Datana angusii). Found feeding on oak, 14 September, Hardwick, by Alan Rawle.

A female Differential Grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis). Females are identified by their larger size--this one was almost 3" long-- and ovipositor extending beyond wings and showing two triangle-shaped cerci. Photographed in Rutland 4 October by Ted Purcell.

A late Pecks' Skipper (Polites peckius) on 18 October in Hardwick.

Photographed by Pam Banach on 2 October 2017 in Worcester, this Greater Angle-wing (Microcentrum rhombifolium) Katydid is an excellent example of a leaf mimic. This appearance serves as a better protective strategy when the katydid is amongst greenery as opposed to being exposed on pavement, but it's still a good disguise.

Autumn or Yellow-legged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) is the last odonate of the season to be seen on the wing. They're often found far from water, foraging over fields, even into November. This female was in Hardwick 22 September. Photo by Alan Rawle.

On 26 October this Green Stick Bug (Chinavia hilaris) was probably looking for something green to eat. The species feeds on many plants, including native and ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, weeds, and some crops. The preferred hosts are generally wild plants, but as these plants mature the bugs may make pests of themselves by switching to cultivated crops. Photo taken in Paxton by Bill Platenik,

Another Northern Walkingstick, this time found 28 September, also in Rutland, by Ted Purcell. The growing insects prefer the leaves of American hazelnut (Corylus americana) and black cherry (Prunus serotina), but where these are scarce, they are likely to be on white oak (Quercus alba).

Two-spotted Tree Cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata) is one of the common late-season songsters in our region. They're seen more than they're heard! Go to: http://songsofinsects.com/crickets/two-spotted-tree-cricket to listen. Rutland, 24 September by Doug Wipf.

Male Differential Grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis). The abdomen of the male is rounded and dips into a subtle curve before tapering at a slightly raised angle. 22 September 2019, Hardwick, by Alan Rawle.

This female Giant Ichneumon (Megarhyssa atrata) was found ovipositing on 14 September in Hardwick. She detected a type of horntail larvae, probably Pigeon Horntail (Tremex columba), deep inside a dying maple tree with her antennae, sensing a fungus associated with the larvae. The eggs were deposited on the larvae and will consume the larvae upon hatching. Insertion of her 5.5 inch ovipositor was accomplished with the help of a chemical that breaks down wood fibers.

The more familiar form of the Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) is the larval stage, the Woolly Bear caterpillar. This one was photographed on 21 September in Hardwick by Wendy Howes. Do they really predict winter weather? For a discussion of this notion, go to: https://www.almanac.com/content/woolly-bear-caterpillars-and-weather-prediction

Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) on 29 September 2019. This butterfly has two broods, and the ‘winter form’ flies from early September to mid-November, then hibernates over the winter as an adult, sometimes emerging during warm spells. It then flies again early March through May.

Pine-tree Spur Throat Grasshopper (Melanoplus punctulatus) is not commonly seen, partly due to its cryptic coloration and pattern. Photo by Doug Wipf, 23 September in Rutland.

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Fungi at Harvard Pond, Petersham, 9/28/19

9/29/2019

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Honey mushroom (Armillaria mellea)

Sculptured Puffball (Clavatia sculpta)

Painted Slippery-Cap (Suillus pictus)

Brittlegill (Russula sp.)

Painted Slippery-Cap (Suillus pictus)

Milkcap (Lactarius sp.)

Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)

Mycena sp.

Earthball (Scleroderma citrinum)

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The Not-So-Lazy Days of Summer

8/30/2019

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Central Massachusetts naturalists are far from lazy when summer arrives! Club members have been busy monitoring grassland birds, tracking down Lepidoptera species, watching and counting birds, setting up backyard wildlife cameras, hiking in our wonderful protected open spaces, photographing flora and fauna. . . in general, putting a lot of time and effort into enjoying and appreciating our local natural history.

On 19 July, Anne Greene captured this Bobolink in full song at Rutland's Glenwood School fields.

Two hikers shared the Quabbin Gate 45 trail with this black bear for a minute on 22 June before it looked around and saw them. Within seconds the bear vanished into the woods. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Canada Lily (Lilium canadense) was one of many species of wildflowers that were abundant as a result of the wet spring. New Braintree, 6 July. Photo by Alan Rawle.

A Great Egret at Eagle Lake in Holden posed for Ted Purcell on 26 July.

The spider species Argiope aurantia is commonly known as the yellow garden spider, black and yellow garden spider, golden garden spider, writing spider, zigzag spider, corn spider, or McKinley spider. This attractive, well-fed female was at Moore State Park in Paxton on 27 August and photographed by Bill Platenik.

A Wild Turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo) made its way to a favorite roost 40 feet up in a white pine in Hardwick in July. Photo by Alan Rawle.

A bright Cottonwood Dagger Moth (Acronicta lepusculina) caterpillar was hard to miss on 21 July in Hubbardston.

Identifying a Large Maple Spanworm moth (Prochoerodes lineola) photographed by Doug Wipf in Rutland was tricky because the colors and markings of the species can be quite variable.

The underwing view of the Eastern Comma butterfly (Polygonia comma) explains its common name. Photographed on 10 August by Alan Rawle.

The distinctive leaves of Large Whorled Pogonia (Isotria verticillata) peek out from other shaded woodland plants on protected land in Hardwick. This member of the orchid family occurs on the Massachusetts NHESP "watch" list as it is uncommon in many locations. Its status in other New England states ranges from rare to uncommon to potentially extirpated.

After the Glenwood School fields in Rutland were mowed, these two immature or female Bobolinks were taking shelter in a sumac stand at the field's edge. Photo taken on 26 July by Ted Purcell.

Both Yellow-billed (Coccyzus americanus)--above by Alan Rawle--and Black-billed (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) Cuckoos--on left by Anne Greene--were seen on most birding trips around the region for the third year in a row, a result of the gypsy moth infestation.

A bull moose on 27 August on a trail out of Quabbin Gate 45 has already grown an impressive set of antlers as autumn approaches.

Anne Greene spotted this immature male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) in August. Over the winter in Central or South America, he'll molt his juvenile feathers and take on the striking black, white, and red plumage we see in the spring.

Bill Platenik of Brimfield sent us the two images below that were captured by the wildlife camera in his yard on 29 August at 4:42 p.m.
The fate of the gray squirrel is unknown.

More typical of the kind of wildlife photographs taken by trail cameras is this Eastern Coyote marking his territory in Doug Wipf's Rutland yard on 30 August. The coyote was likely inspired by the scent of the dog that lives there.

A Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) that was tending a nest of mewing young in Deerfield on 4 July has "weaseled" its way into the wildlife sightings of central Massachusetts.

A mosaic of bladderwort (Utricularia sp) and reflected pond water communicates serenity in this photograph by Anne Greene.

MORE WINGS!

Celebrating the 4th of July holiday were these Red-eyed Vireos (Vireo olivaceus) caught in mid-flight by Alan Rawle.

Snowberry Clearwing moth (Hemaris diffinis) on Verbena bonariensis, a non-native tropical plant of South America which is annual in our region. The flower is a strong butterfly attractant and wonderful to have in the home garden, but it may re-seed vigorously, so try to keep this non-native under control if you decide to grow it. This was a "good" year for our hummingbird moth species. Photo by Anne Greene in Rutland.

A fresh American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) was found by Bill Platenik at Moore State Park in Paxton on 27 August.

Brilliant red Royal Catchfly (Silene regia), a rare and declining midwestern wildflower grown here in cultivation, attracts an immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Photographed in Hardwick on 30 August by Alan Rawle.

The striking pattern on this Clymene Moth (Clymene haploa) caught the attention of Doug Wipf in Rutland on 28 July.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) on 27 August in Paxton. Photo by Bill Platenik.

Two Eastern Wood Pewees (Contopus virens), part of a family group, in Hardwick on 4 August. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Take a second look! This is a Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) observed at Moore State Park by Bill Platenik on 25 July. Viceroys sometimes get overlooked, especially in years with numerous Monarchs about, such as summer 2019.

Northern Pearly-Eye (Enodia anthedon) found on a partly-shaded woodland path in Hardwick on 4 August. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Rather disconcerting is this excellent photograph by Anne Greene portraying the result of brood parasitism by a Brown-headed Cowbird ( Molothrus ater). As Cornell's allaboutbirds,org website explains, "Female cowbirds forgo building nests and instead put all their energy into producing eggs, sometimes more than three dozen a summer. These they lay in the nests of other birds, abandoning their young to foster parents, usually at the expense of at least some of the host’s own chicks." Despite our distaste for this survival strategy, we have noticed that, in our region, cowbirds select the nests of some of our most abundant species in which to lay their eggs. The population of American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)--the adult male is seen here--is fairly stable world-wide, so this incident of parasitism can be put in perspective. Warbler losses due to man-made hazards and causes are much more of threat.

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Ephemeral spring wildflowers and wildlife sightings

5/12/2019

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In the world of natural history, the term "ephemeral" is generally used in reference to spring wildflowers that bloom briefly. Although wild birds and animals have longer lifespans than the short-lived blossoms on many of our early-season plants, actual sightings of wildlife are often equally fleeting and transitory. The critters shown here appeared for an ephemeral moment to some quick and alert photographers.

One of our favorite early spring ephemerals: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) in New Braintree 8 May 2019. Wesuspect it's a favorite because it blooms around the time we start to wonder if spring will ever come.

Yellow-throated Vireos (Vireo flavifrons) started arriving from their wintering grounds in Central & South America and some Caribbean Islands the second week in May. Vireos are not as ephemeral as some of the fast-moving warblers. Photo by Alan Rawle, Hardwick, 11 May 2019.

On 5 April, Doug Wipf had to get his camera focused quickly in order to capture a picture of this American Mink (Neovison vison). This semiaquatic mustelid is described as restless, curious, and bold.

This Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) pair, oblivious to the Red-bellied Woodpecker lurking in the background, engaged in courtship feeding of dried mealworms in Rutland on 3 May 2019. Photo by Ted Purcell.

The Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon) will lay its eggs on buds of White Pine and other species of pine, one of the few butterflies to use conifers as host plants. Not a particularly rapid flier, this butterfly was less ephemeral than some. New Braintree 8 May 2019

A fleeting look at a fast-moving moose in Rutland on 11 May. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Ted Purcell found this Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) perching longer than expected in Rutland on 12 May 2019.

The colorful Jack-in-the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is pollinated by flies. Watch for the bright red berries later in the fall. But for now enjoy the spring appearance! Photo by Joanie Gentian 8 May 2109.

A Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) spent a short time on a glassdoor pane in Hardwick on the night of 7 May. This was an ephemeral sighting, but the evening chorus of peepers will continue for many more weeks.

Even if you just catch a flash of orange and black out of the corner of your eye, you'll know that Baltimore Orioles( Icterus galbula) are back in central Massachusetts. Photo by Alan Rawle, 15 May, Hardwick.

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) was just beginning to bloom on south-facing slopes alongside wooded wet areas in New Braintree 8 May 2019.

The lovely fiddlehead form of emerging ferns is short-lived. Photo by Joanie Gentian, New Braintree, 8 May.

A Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) flies from his perch to catch insects on 11 May in Hardwick. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Sporting bright breeding plumage as he heads into the nesting season, this White-throated Sparrow in Rutland on 3 May was on the verge of departure for more optimal territory. Photo by Ted Purcell.

Despite weighing from five to twelve pounds on average, with some large individuals getting up to as much as fifteen pounds, the Groundhog (Marmota monax) can disappear from view at astonishing speed when it senses danger. This one made an ephemeral appearance lasting only a handful of seconds. Inspired by the photographer's presence, it retreated to the safety of its burrow. Photo 20 May 2019 by Alan Rawle, Hardwick.

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A Closer Look at Those Dead Trees. . .

3/27/2019

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From Atlas of Polish Mushrooms https://www.grzyby.pl.pl/gatunki

. . .that from afar look like they've had their bark pecked away so that the pale cambium layer is exposed. While walking in the woods this winter, we occasionally observed, from a distance, trees that appeared to have been severely ravaged by Pileated Woodpeckers. Usually these were small (<12 inches in diameter) and clearly dead trees, and our recollection is that they were pines. The bark removal, which is what it looked like to us, extended up and down almost the entire length of the trunk. Having rarely come upon trees with such extensive excavation, we walked over to see more clearly. What we saw--and it's embarrassing to admit how many times in subsequent hikes we continued to be lured by the illusion--was a massive fungal layer, pale in color, engulfing the tree. "What IS this stuff?!?" a few of us wondered.
Finally samples were obtained and sent off to two fungi enthusiasts who have provided mushroom/fungi education at Club functions, Joe at Mass Audubon, and David Hibbett at Clark University. Fungi expert Larry Millman also weighed in after he examined a specimen we sent. Larry wrote: "Its hyphal system, basidia, spores, and substrate indicates that it’s Perenniporia subacida." The color is somewhat darker than most specimens I’ve seen of this species, but age can change colors. . . and, as Leif Ryvarden says of P. subacida, “A very variable species.”
We seem to have had a bumper crop of Perreniporia subacida this winter, likely due to the extreme humidity and high rainfall of summer/fall 2018.
Perenniporia is a genus that includes bracket-forming or crust-like polypores. Polypores are a group of fungi that form fruiting bodies with pores or tubes on the underside; most inhabit tree trunks or branches, consuming the wood. We're more accustomed to seeing polypores in the form of "shelf mushrooms" or brackets growing perpendicular to the trunk. The crust formations sure had us fooled until we took a closer look. Glad we did!

Larry Millman. See lawrencemillman.com

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Winter 2018-2019: Keeping Us On Our Toes

3/2/2019

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One thing we can say about winter in central Massachusetts is that there are always surprises--amount of snowfall; freeze-and-thaw cycles; bird visitors from the north; breeding birds that didn't migrate south; resident bird populations seeming to be "up" or "down"; mammal movements. Temperature-wise it was a real roller-coaster ride affecting semi-hibernation patterns of raccoons, opossums, and other animals. Snow fleas, or springtails, (Hypogastrura nivicola) put in an appearance in Petersham on 3 February, between bouts of single-digit night-time temperatures.
There was constant refrain of "No birds are coming to my feeders!" especially during the first half of the season. Was this due to the lack of snow cover and the dispersal of our usual feeder visitors? On the other hand, some uncommon species were noted, and high numbers of Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks and Barred Owls seemed to be popping up everywhere. This was probably partially linked to the heavy mast year (acorns and other seeds) that provided so much food for rodents in fall 2017. Raptors and owls raising young in 2018 should have had abundant food and thus more successful broods. Voila! More owls and hawks in the landscape. According to some biologists, some of these hawks and owls likely were from regions north of Massachusetts.
Small local irruptions of a few other northern breeding birds, including Evening Grosbeaks and Pine Grosbeaks, occurred throughout the area. And, although feeder activity was low in some places, feeder-watchers who persisted and occasionally fed high-quality items such as mealworms eventually attracted a variety of visitors.

One of four Barred Owls seen in Hubbardston 5 January 2019. Photo by Alan Rawle.

A female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker returning to a feeder in Rutland in early January was believed to be the same individual (with more mature plumage) as the immature sapsucker observed at the same location early in the season. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 7 January 2019. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Immature Red-shouldered Hawk 16 February 2019 in Hardwick, near dusk. Was this a bird that over-wintered or an early arrival?

Eastern Bluebirds visit a mealworm buffet in Ruitland. Photo by Anne Greene.

Raccoon in south-facing tree cavity, catching some late-afternoon rays 5 February 2019 in the south Quabbin region.

When it comes to preference by birds, not all crabapple trees are created equal. The fruit of some cultivars remain untouched in even the coldest weather. Obviously the trees at MWCC are the "right" species of crabapple. We would welcome information from botanist(s) about which crabapple species to plant if we want to attract fruit-eating birds to our properties. Photo 26 January 2019 by Doug Wipf.

A coyote appears to be contemplating its next move in Rutland in mid-February. Photo by Anne Greene.

A few Pine Grosbeaks for many days in late January stayed at the Mt. Wachusett Community College campus in Gardner, feeding on the fruit of a favorite crabapple tree. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Porcupine safely perched in a tall hardwood tree in New Braintree 17 February 2019. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Sharp-shinned Hawk 31 December 2018, Rutland. Photo by Ted Purcell.

A Carolina Wren takes advantage of mealworms at a feeding station in Rutland. Photo by Anne Greene.

A male Pileated Woodpecker excavates a characteristically large opening in a pine tree in Rutland. Photo by Anne Greene.

As you might expect of a typically nomadic species, a small flock of Evening Grosbeaks were one-day wonders in Anne Greene's yard in Rutland around mid-January.

White-throated Sparrows were fairly common in the area all winter. Photo by Ted Purcell 31 December 2018, Rutland.

An Evening Grosbeak in Rutland shows off its strong, seed-cracking beak. Photo by Anne Greene.

The early bird: a Red-bellied Woodpecker catches a mealworm at sunrise in Rutland. Photo by Anne Greene.

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The Open Half of Winter 2018-2019

1/23/2019

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Winter remained open throughout December and into January, so we scheduled an exploratory hike on January 19th to Rum Rock and Osgood Swamp, a section of Mass Audubon's Rutland Brook Sanctuary near the Barre/Petersham town line. Temperatures were in the brisk 20s F, and the woods were still and quiet. Nevertheless, signs of ongoing animal and bird activity were everywhere--fresh woodchips and exposed rotted tree cavities produced by woodpeckers, the pungent odor of a porcupine shelter in a small den under a rocky outcropping, coyote and deer scat, and--most dramatic--extensive evidence of high beaver activity. Beavers continued to practice their superior engineering skills as long as they could still move through the water. Remember that very wet fall? Plenty of pretty high water--becoming ice-- everywhere!
Besides the truly impressive glacial erratic known as Rum Rock, scenic interest was provided by granite ledges, caves, ice formations, lichens, and ferns, as well as views of the expansive wetland.
Many thanks to tracker-naturalist Nate Rosebrook for the photos.

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