Our first stop was for the BARROW'S GOLDENEYES on the Assabet River in Maynard, near the junction of 117 & 62. I had already seen them a week ago, but since the male and female were still around, I wanted to make sure Kirk had the chance to see them as well! And it is always nice when there is a scope involved! The first time I saw the Barrow's, I had decent enough looks with my binocs that enabled me to positively identify those 2 divers were the ducks in question. But thanks to Kirk, we got amazing looks at these 2 lovebirds! We first checked by 62 & 117, but they were not to be found, so we made our way over onto White Pond Rd., taking a left off of 117 onto Hastings, then another left onto White Pond Rd, which seems to end at the northwestern border of the Assabet River NWR. We were initially greeted with at least 20 CANADA GEESE (I know, not exciting), a few RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and a few SONG SPARROWS. But about 100 yards out or so (rough guess) near the reddish dock that protrudes into the Assabet on the right-hand shoreline (north side of the bridge) were the 2 Barrow's diving away. As Kirk noted, its great watching them dive because its like they just slip into the depths with hardly a ripple! Certainly a good start to the day and a lifer for my good buddy!
Once spending about 20 minutes there, we headed south down 495 to exit 6 (Route 44) and headed east on 44 until it met up with 105. We took that north, and then proceeded to circumvent Cumberland Farm Fields in Middleborough/Halifax area. Along 105 north, near the NW border of Cumbies, we spied ourselves the light-morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK hovering over the fields to the treeline near Bartlett Brook. It then swooped down to the ground, trying to grasp some unfortunate animal, or so we thought. It rose back up into the air unsuccessful and perched onto a tall deciduous tree along that treeline directly across from our vantage point (we were parked over north of the junction of Plain Street & 105/Thompson Rd). After a few minutes, the Rough-legged glided down along the treeline directly next to us near 105 heading south along that treeline. When heading around along Wood Street, we observed a NORTHERN FLICKER and dozens of AMERICAN ROBINS. Further down along close to where Wood meets up with Fuller Street, we observed a NORTHERN HARRIER gliding about 10-15 feet above ground-level, heading further into Cumbies. This particular Harrier was very white on the underside compared to most Harriers that Kirk and I have seen in the past. Oh, I almost forgot, while driving around Cumbies, we heard a fair number of EASTERN PHOEBES and SONG SPARROWS singing their hearts out, as well as numerous RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES interspersed throughout the area.
Our last stop was over at the James V. Turner Reservoir in Seekonk to try and find the TUFTED DUCK, but alas, to no avail. However, we observed at least 20 LESSER SCAUP, at least a dozen RUDDY DUCKS and a few RING-NECKED DUCKS. We were also graced by the presence of a FISH CROW, discerned by its vocalizations (and yes, I am sure, I double-checked on Cornell's All About Birds). All in all, a very good day of birding! Good luck and happy birding to all!!
