WCLT on FacebookRecent Nature Sightings
What do you see around town? Let us know!
E-mail your nature sightings & photographs to sightings@westboroughlandtrust.org.
We welcome all nature, whether plants, insects, or animals!
Include your name, what you saw, and where.
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June 12, 2013
Took a walk in the Headwaters Conservation Area from Andrews St. today, through the woods toward Mill Pond School, down to the water and Osprey point. Right at the beginning we noticed this painted turtle in the butterfly garden.
When we went by later it was gone and, contrary to appearances, had not been laying eggs. That's a stone next to it and there was no evidence of a nest.
At the point we heard the ospreys calling and they soared past overhead as they searched the water for fish. One at least was molting its flight feathers, the fourth primary was missing on both wings. There were also the usual swans, cormorants, mallards, a great blue heron, jays, catbirds, grackles and a rose-breasted grosbeak. And no turtle on the return trip.
At the point we heard the ospreys calling and they soared past overhead as they searched the water for fish. One at least was molting its flight feathers, the fourth primary was missing on both wings. There were also the usual swans, cormorants, mallards, a great blue heron, jays, catbirds, grackles and a rose-breasted grosbeak. And no turtle on the return trip.
(Jeff Butler)
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Painted turtle
April 21, 2013
On an afternoon walk today (Sunday 4/21) to Osprey Point from Andrews Street in the Headwaters Conservation Area, I noticed a pair of osprey hanging out in a tree near the nesting platform - so they're back. Also counted about 65 swans and half a dozen cormorants on the pond.
I heard toads trilling - it sounds almost like a distant electrical hum - near the edge of Mill Pond, and the quacking call of a lone wood frog in one of vernal pools near the road to the point with the pumphouse.
But the most unusual sighting was a rare glimpse of garter snake courtship: a large, long female lying halfway across the path, with two smaller snakes (males) about half her size lying alongside and partly on top of her. The snakes didn't budge; I walked around them, trying not to disturb them, but they were gone by the time I came back on my return trip. Spring is mating season for garter snakes, and females give birth to live young in August-Sept.
(Annie Reid)
April 5, 2013
HCA, Andrews St. - several mourning cloaks, 1 comma, and a few small orange underwing moths.
Photo of mouring cloak: http://garrykessler.zenfolio.com/p862720637/h5a8bb802#h5a8bb802
(Garry Kessler)
February 9, 2013
I took this picture on Friday afternoon during the blizzard. It appears to be a Barred owl, though I'm not sure. The picture was taken just off Ruggles Street near Garfield Dr.
(Jeff Garvey)
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Garvey
Barred owl
February 7, 2013
Over the past 2-3 weeks, we have seen eastern bluebirds on and off at our feeders, usually 2 or 3 birds, I think all males.
We are also regularly seeing a red-breasted nuthatch, along with downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers, Carolina wrens, northern cardinals, white-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, chickadees, juncoes, gold finches and house finches. I have also seen a few sparrows, possibly white-throated, but I didn't get a long look at them and they weren't singing, so I'm not sure. They looked larger than a song sparrow or tree sparrow.
I also saw a male turkey doing a mating display for a female one day recently on Milk Street, backing up traffic for several minutes.
(Paula Kirk)
January 28, 2013
Here are a couple bird sightings at my feeders taken through the kitchen window. Sorry for the grainy look; my windows tend to get a wee bit dirty during the winter! (Sharon Williams)
Photo Courtesy of Sharon Williams
Red-bellied woodpecker
Photo Courtesy of Sharon Williams
Kissy redpolls
December 25, 2012
Driving by Mill Pond Fri. morning, 12/21, I saw a lot of swans. I stopped and counted the ones nearby - about 50. There was another group farther off, with at least 20 more. The attached snapshot just shows a few of them. This is far more than there were last winter before the die-off. I couldn't make out what the dark ducks were, but there were a lot of them, too. (Barry Saver)
Photo Courtesy of Barry Saver
October 30, 2012
On October 29 and 30 we had a Veery in our deck hedge on Adams St., for two days.
This is the first Veery we have ever seen here-- and he or she didn't seem in any hurry to move on, having spent the previous few days fighting hurricane Sandy.
Beautiful bird.
(Charles Burlile)
September 29, 2012
Swan on Little Chauncy (Susan Licht)
Photo Courtesy of Susan Licht
September 9, 2012
A few fun pictures from my kayaking adventure on Lake Chauncy last weekend.
... a great blue heron & some very colorful turtles. I swear the turtle looks like it’s smiling :) (Katie Giroux)
Photo Courtesy of Katie Giroux
Photo Courtesy of Katie Giroux
Photo Courtesy of Katie Giroux
August 18, 2012
I was looking out my window today and saw an unusual butterfly dining at my purple butterfly bushes for a couple of hours.
After some research, I found that it was a Giant Swallowtail butterfly, which is unusual in this area, but has been recently found in Western MA.
Garry Kessler photographed some of these and wrote about them in the Westborough Patch recently (see http://westborough.patch.com/blog_posts/in-our-backyard-capturing-a-giant-in-86-seconds?) Maybe one followed him home to Westborough.
I’ve posted a couple of my photos of the one I saw. (Nancy Burke)
Photo Courtesy of Nancy Burke
Photo Courtesy of Nancy Burke
May 31, 2012
In bloom mid-week at Gilmore pond: blue-eyed grass (in the sunny part of the path on the way in, shortly before you enter the woods), some of the mountain laurel (back in the woods a bit, to your left as you approach the pond), and blue flag iris (very picturesque along the dam).(Annie Reid)
May 15, 2012
At Bowman Conservation Area, I recently noticed a large patch of wild oats (the little spring wildflower), just after the second bridge over the stream (when you turn on the trail to your right as you enter the area from the dirt parking lot on Bowman St.). I think the clearing that was done there let in a lot more light in that spot.
The Bowman Conservation Area should be an interesting area to watch this year and the next few, since the work there over the winter has cleared and changed the area considerably. The disturbance and the greater amount of light should lead to new and possibly different things growing there.
Also, in Westborough and elsewhere, it's a good year for red admiral butterflies (medium-sized, with a distinctive red stripe on their wings)! (Annie Reid)
May 7, 2012
At Headwaters Conservation Area I saw: 2 male Rose-breasted grosbeaks, 1 male Northern (Baltimore) oriole but heard others, yellow-rumped warblers, a brown thrasher, and, I think I saw a Pileated woodpecker but I never got a great look at it. How a bird that big could hide from me I don't know :-) I also heard warbling vireos, and saw the usual blue jays, robins, chickadees, tufted titmice and white-breasted nuthatches.
(Paula Kirk)
May 5, 2012
This red tailed hawk had a hearty breakfast in my backyard this morning! (Katie Giroux)
Photo Courtesy of Katie Giroux
Photo Courtesy of Katie Giroux
April 12, 2012
Last week 4/6 at Osprey Point I could see that one osprey, at least, is back (right on schedule) at the nest platform in Mill Pond, busy finding sticks to add to the nest. Also saw cormorants (big black birds), lots of tree swallows on the wing catching insects over the water, 3 common mergansers (1 male and 2 females), a pair of wood ducks, and about 20 swans. (Annie Reid)
March 25, 2012
Garter snakes are out - saw one this past week! (Annie Reid)
March 14, 2012
The spring peepers are peeping... loudly!(Rachel Radin)
January 22, 2012
Went up to Worcester Airport to look for snow buntings and horned larks and was not disappointed. Found at least nine horned larks and 2-3 dozen snow buntings. The snow buntings were very skiddish, alighting only for a few minutes at a time. The larks were more cooperative, posing for this photo (http://garrykessler.zenfolio.com/p935438156/h2b96a4d6#h2b96a4d6).
On the way home stopped at Fish and Wildlife and was treated to a view of a red fox (http://garrykessler.zenfolio.com/p862720637/h2ee66a87#h2ee66a87) hunting in the snow. (Garry Kessler)
January 18, 2012
Found this guy snoozin in the stream this morning, guess his parents didn't teach him to burrow in the mud. (Jeff Butler)
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
January 15, 2012
My little friend is back for the third year in a row, hasn't lost his compass. He returned a few weeks ago but it's taken this long to get a decent photo of him. (Jeff Butler)
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
January 15, 2012
The light and fog were crazy at the Veterans' Park Friday morning, ran around trying to get a few shots but the clouds were moving fast, bright sun then lights out, sun again, gone again. (Jeff Butler)
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
December 3, 2011
Jeff Butler shares some photos from the recent hike at Pheasant Hill and Gilmore Pond.
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
November 27, 2011
I've been walking on the Indian Pond path this past week and thought I would share some photos I have taken along the way. (Christine Hackett)
Photo Courtesy of Christine Hackett
Dead Tree
Photo Courtesy of Christine Hackett
Bittersweet Vine
Photo Courtesy of Christine Hackett
Treetops
November 13, 2011
I took Annie Reid's "Nature Notes" challenge to discover Turkey Fan Tail fungus. These are along Long Drive, near the Hidden Meadow trail. Not sure these are actually turkey fan tails however! (Sharon Williams)
Photo Courtesy of Sharon Williams
Fungus on Long Drive
Photo Courtesy of Sharon Williams
Fungus on Long Drive
Photo Courtesy of Sharon Williams
Fungus on Long Drive
November 2, 2011
Lots of storm damage at Gilmore Pond, but still pretty. (Sharon Williams)
Photo Courtesy of Sharon Williams
Gilmore Pond after the snow storm
October 12, 2011
More of a hearing than a sighting, I was walking in the wooded area surrounded by Wayside, Fay mountain, Overlook Rd., Jackstraw hill where there's a small pond and there was a tremendous racket from hundreds if not thousands of Grackles in the treetops. Periodically silence would descend on an area as that clan flew to another location nearby to resume its racket. Eventually one group landed above me, the leaders in a large white pine and the rest in surrounding hardwoods. And then they flew off and an eerie silence was all that was left, they were the last to go. I'd say the urge to migrate has taken hold in the world of Grackle. (Jeff Butler)
October 10, 2011
Yellow-rumped warblers and palm warblers are passing through. Garry and I saw them at Fish & Wildlife late in the day on this lovely Indian summer Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. Also saw kinglets and bluebirds there.
And earlier in the week there was a woolly bear caterpillar crossing the sidewalk along Milk Street. (Annie Reid)
October 2, 2011
I was working on Josh Saari's eagle project clearing trails behind the Regal cinema complex and turned up this rarely seen blue-spotted salamander. (Dana Perry)
Photo Courtesy of Dana Perry
Blue-spotted Salamander
September 21, 2011
This trio has been in the neighborhood for about two months now. It's fun to watch the heads all bobbing as they strip the seeds from grass stalks, grab low and zip up the length of the stem. (Jeff Butler)
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Female turkey with young
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Female turkey with young
August 21, 2011
Was out looking for butterflies in an area off Cedar Hill Rd. near the water treatment plant. This is the north end of Crane Swamp Trail in the Sudbury Valley Trustees' Cedar Hill Reservation. Saw this kestrel. At times it was flying, at times perched. It seemed to be its territory. Got a distant photo at http://garrykessler.zenfolio.com/p935438156/h34783537#h34783537. (Garry Kessler)
July 17, 2011
Walked the old dirt road off Lyman St., along the base of Cedar Hill, Sunday morning looking for butterflies. Saw northern pearly eye, eyed browns, buckeye, gray hairstreak and a vicereoy laying eggs just to name a few. A few photos at http://garrykessler.zenfolio.com/p935438156/h1ce49dc3#h1ce49dc3. Click on "Next" in the upper right to click through the photos. (Garry Kessler)
June 26, 2011
We have twice seen a fisher cat in the woods behind Lawtons Way. (Kathleen)
June 10, 2011
Just saw a baby beaver in the first vernal pond on John Malloy trail at Mill Pond. Was not the least bit concerned about my presence. (Debbie Okita)
June 7, 2011
I saw a mother wood duck with 7 half-grown ducklings early yesterday morning swimming by my house on Lake Chauncy. (Janet Anderson)
June 5, 2011
The bobolinks are still putting on their show in the fields adjacent to the St. Lukes Cemetery. Other birds include tree swallows, barn swallows, red-winged blackbird, warbling vireo, killdeer and bluebird just to name a few. (Garry and Anne Kessler)
Photo Courtesy of Garry Kessler
Female Bobolink
Photo Courtesy of Garry Kessler
Male Bobolink
June 4, 2011
Saw a yellow-throated vireo on the trail along the Lake Chauncey shoreline behind the State Hospital. (Garry and Anne Kessler)
Photo Courtesy of Garry Kessler
Yellow-Throated Vireo
June 2, 2011
Today, Annie Reid and I walked from behind Stein Mart to the trail into Cedar Swamp next to the railroad tracks and we saw:
- Baltmore orioles
- Redwinged blackbirds
- Catbirds (lots)
- Yellow warblers (heard)
- Warbling vireos (heard)
- Common Grackles
- American Robins (lots)
- Turkey vulture
- lady's slippers (lots)
- Sheep Laurel
- 2 garter snakes
- some other reddish brown snake. It looked something like a garter snake but with less distinct stripes.
- 3 painted turtles (2 of which looked dead and their nest had been raided :-( We also saw a couple of other raided turtle nests
- 1 small snapping turtle
- We also heard an Eastern Wood Peewee, and I think, a Veery.
May 28, 2011
We went to Moore state park today, and although we didn't see any bobolinks, we did see Cedar waxwings, redstarts, orioles, a rose-breasted grosbeak, and a scarlet tanager, as well as a garter snake, a painted turtle, and lots of lady's slippers, azaleas and rhododendrons. (Paula Kirk)
May 26, 2011
Annie Reid and I saw the following birds, plants and insects at Veterans memorial park Thursday May 26th.
Birds (Paula Kirk)
- Bobolinks (at least 6)
- Baltimore Orioles (pair)
- Rose-breasted grosbeak
- Yellow warblers
- warbling vireo (heard)
- red-eyed vireo (heard)
- great blue herons (2)
- double-crested cormorants - pretty sure
- red-winged blackbirds (lots)
- gray catbirds (lots)
Plants seen at Veterans’ Park 5/26 (Annie Reid)
Cherry trees in bloom but fading; honeysuckle shrubs and autumn olive in bloom (among the numerous invasive plants growing along the edges of the woods, which include oriental bittersweet vines and multiflora rose, not yet in bloom); Wild geranium (one of my favorite spring wildflowers); wild lily of the valley (Canada mayflower), cinnamon fern, royal fern, sensitive fern, hay-scented fern, horsetail, orchard grass. In the woods along Malley Trail between Veterans’ Park and Mill Pond boat ramp: lots of skunk cabbage, a little sphagnum moss, wild sarsaparilla, blueberry.
Other: tiger swallowtail butterfly, spring azure butterfly, purple loosestrife beetles (Galerucella) beetles on purple loosestrife plants (coming up near shed and along shore at Mill Pond boat ramp area).
May 23, 2011
On my driveway north of cedarswamp I saw an odd tree this morning. It had scaly leaves and hanging white fuzzy catkins.
It might be an Eastern Red Cottoncedar. (Juniperus populus)
;) *wink* (Willy Dupree)
Photo Courtesy of Willy Dupree
Eastern Red Cottoncedar?
May 17, 2011
A quick trip to St Lukes on Sunday between 4:45-5:45 PM turned up three species of swallow, chimney swift, bluebirds, bob-o-links, red wing blackbird, warbling vireo, green herons flying overhead, gold finches, and canada geese sitting in the newly tilled fields. The swallows were very tame allowing for close views while they were perched on the community garden fences or in the gardens themselves. Gray tree frogs were calling loudly from the edge of the woods. Skeeters were hungry...and less so after I left. (Scott Shumway)
May 12, 2011
At Lake Chauncy on the boat ramp side, Annie Reid and I saw: 2 mute swans, red-bellied woodpecker, ruby-throated hummingbird, red-eyed vireos, warbling vireos, scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak, blue-winged warblers, yellow warblers, common yellowthroat, American redstarts, Baltimore (Northern) orioles. (Paula Kirk)
May 10, 2011
Sightings along Bowman West/Hidden Meadows Trail: Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ovenbird, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Tufted Titmouse, Black-Capped Chickadee, Caroline Wren (Sharon Williams)
May 6, 2011
Along with the usual birds of the Mill Pond area, while walking through the Veteran's Park field, saw Bobolinks, three males and possibly a female. (Jeff Butler)
May 6, 2011
(at Lake Chauncy) Annie Reid and I saw numerous yellow-rumped warblers, yellow warblers, 6 or so American redstarts, 2 black-and-white warblers, blue-winged warbler (heard), 2 male scarlet tanagers, male rose-breasted grosbeak, male Northern oriole, red-bellied and hairy woodpeckers, Northern flicker, 3 great blue herons, warbling vireos, painted turtle, and a small weasel that might have been an ermine or short-tailed weasel. (Paula Kirk)
May 5, 2011
I got a great view of a male Scarlet Tanager today at HCA, as well as some American Redstarts at Gilmore pond. (Paula Kirk)
May 4, 2011
Spotted today at Gilmore Pond, in addition to the usual: Warbling Vireo, Black & White Warbler, and Blue-Winged Warbler. No one there, but me and the birds! (Sharon Williams)
April 27, 2011
While walking at Lake Chauncy this morning friends and I saw Palm warblers with their rusty crowns, Black and White warblers and several others that we couldn't identify. At the opposite end of the scale a Bald Eagle flew from perch to perch until it disappeared behind a wooded hillside. (Jeff Butler)
April 27, 2011
Finally saw the Palm Warbler on my walk home from Gilmore this AM. Also heard the Towhee. Boston is reporting Parula, Yellow, Black & White warblers. Catbird...we should be able to hear or see those also. Kathy had Scarlet Tanager @ Broad Meadow Brook... Kinglets are around, Eastern Kingbirds @ Gilmore. (Sharon Williams)
April 24, 2011
A small flock of yellow-rumped warblers, a pine warbler, a bluebird, a pair of chickadees excavating a nest hole in a Norway maple branch, and a cottontail (the Easter bunny?) outside Fish & Wildlife headquarters this afternoon. A white-throated sparrow in the woods along the old road down the hill. Garry took the attached photo of one of the yellow rumps. (Annie Reid)
Photo Courtesy of Garry Kessler
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
April 6, 2011
In January a friend and I spotted a tree chewed by beaver along the road off Andrews St. that goes down to the pumping station. The tree was right beside Mill Pond and can be seen easily from the road a short distance past the John Malley trail. Annie Reid confirmed in a recent e-mail that she spotted the tree, so it is still standing. (Elaine Moore)
April 5, 2011
Video courtesy of Tim Novak
March of the 'Manders
April 3, 2011
On Sunday afternoon 4/3 we heard wood frogs croaking away on both sides of the Crane Swamp trail in Westborough (east of Lyman St.) - a sure sign of spring at vernal pools. Skunk cabbage is coming up to bloom in the swamp. We also heard spring peepers at Fish & Wildlife, saw a lovely male bluebird on one of the bluebird boxes in back of Fish & Wildlife headquarters, and heard and saw song sparrows there. (Garry Kessler and Annie Reid)
March 31, 2011
On Lake Chauncy this morning I saw:
- A pair of hooded mergansers...I’ve never seen them here before
- Two pairs of buffleheads
- A flock of at least 200 common mergansers
(Janet Anderson)
March 30, 2011
A Blue Jay, American Robin, and a few Red-Tailed Hawks from Andy Koenigsberg!
Photo Courtesy of Andy Koenigsberg
Blue Jay
Photo Courtesy of Andy Koenigsberg
American Robin
Photo Courtesy of Andy Koenigsberg
Red-Tailed Hawk
Photo Courtesy of Andy Koenigsberg
Red-Tailed Hawks
March 29, 2011
Pussy willows are out. Saw them at Fish & Wildlife and have noticed them in a number of other places, in town and other nearby places. Poplars also have catkins that look somewhat similar. (Annie Reid)
March 25, 2011
I was driving down North Street in Upton (an extension of Ruggles Street after you cross over the MA Pike) at 8:00 AM on Thursday when I spotted a beaver walking down the side of the road. I stopped the car and the beaver ambled past the car! (Scott Shumway)
March 18, 2011
Photo Courtesy of Tim Novak
Ribbon Snake
March 18, 2011
Woodcocks displaying at dusk in the fields at Fish and Wildlife. To see them be there at 7PM and listen for the bug zapper sounds. Moon bright evenings near a full moon aid viewing. (Garry and Anne Kessler)
March 17, 2011
I saw three wood frogs at a vernal pool at Wile Forest in Westborough, MA at 3:00 this afternoon. No chorusing. Presumably they are males who arrived early and are now wondering where the rest of the party is. I also saw half-inch long fairy shrimp in this pool. (Scott Shumway)
March 6, 2011
Video courtesy of Tim Novak
Red Fox
March 4, 2011
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Butler
Dark-eyed Junco
March 1, 2011
A herd of about 20 deer have been enjoying the shrubbery around our house and those of our Wayside Road neighbors for the past few weeks, spending the night in the little strip of woods between our house and the row of houses behind us. (Elaine Birkholz)
February 24, 2011
Saw a large flock of wild turkeys (about 15 or so) by the side of Rte. 20, just east of the new traffic lights where they're building the new shopping center at the Rte 20/Rte 9 intersection, as I drove by. One turkey flew across Rte 20 into some trees, and all the others looked as if they might follow. (Annie Reid)
December 3, 2010
I noticed some ducks on Sandra Pond this morning. I don't think they were mergansers...buffleheads maybe? (Scott Shumway)
December 3, 2010
Just spotted the first flock of common mergansers on Lake Chauncy, a modest size flock of mixed gender (about 50-60 birds). (Janet Anderson)
Westborough Community Land Trust, PO Box 838, Westborough , MA 01581
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