Wachusett Meadow (12/21)

Right before Christmas I spent around 3 hours hiking around Wachusett Meadow. I got there fairly early and checked the sightings list. Both Moose and Bobcat were listed so I got my hopes up about getting a good look or at least finding some fresh tracks.

I started up the hill and out towards Otter Pond. Well into the woods I started a raptor of some sort and it flew off to a new perch. I watched it land but couldn't find it in the dense tangle of bare tree limbs. As I crept forward a dead branch snapped under my foot and the raptor was off again. This continued for about 15 minutes before I gave up on ever finding the bird.

My first impression was that it was a Red-tailed Hawk (playing the odds). But it didn't behave like a Red Tail. In my experience, Red Tails tend to immediately gain altitude when spooked. They often circle the area where they are flushed but they don't tend to just make quick flights to a nearby perch. The one raptor that I have noted that behaves this way is a Barred Owl. But, that's only a guess based on the quick glimpse that I got of the bird.

Other than that, my hike was really quiet. I didn't find the Moose or the Bobcat and the only birds that were prevalent were Chickadees and Goldfinches.

Birds: Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker

Mammals: Red Squirrel