Burrage Pond

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In 2002, MassWildlife bought 1,638 acres of land located in Hanson and Halifax from the Northland Cranberry company.  Historically refered to as the 'Great Cedar Swamp', this area is comprised of bogs, wetlands, swamps, and forests and over the years has been used for various industries including cedar shingle production, bog iron, cranberries, and a manufacturing complex owned by industrialist Albert C. Burrage.

Now, totaling close to 2000 acres, the Burrage Pond Wildlife Management (WMA) provides visitors with a variety of environments to explore including managed grasslands, emerging secondary succession white cedar forests, 'pit and mound' wetlands, mature White Cedar forests, and more.  

Sandhill Crane at Burrage Pond
Spotted the Sandhill Cranes again on July 16 at 6:20 AM. Northwest corner in the swampy area.
Sandhill Crane at Burrage Pond
Pair of Sandhill Cranes taken July 5, 2015 at Burrage Pond
Burrage Sandhill

Sandhill Crane at Burrage Pond, Hanson, MA.

Sandhill Crane at Burrage Pond
Pair of Sandhill Cranes taken July 5, 2015 at Burrage Pond
Sandhill Crane at Burrage Pond
Sandhill Cranes at Burrage Pond WMA 2015.
Beaver - April 2021
Beaver at Burrage Pond. This was in the group of ponds on the west side of the WMA.
Northern Harrier at Burrage Pond WMA.
Northern Harrier, Burrage Pond WMA Oct 10, 2015
Beaver - April 2021
Burrage Pond WMA - Beaver activity
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Burrage Pond.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher near the Stump Brook dam at Burrage Pond.
Beaver Activity - Burrage Pond WMA

Beaver activity on the Burrage Pond WMA upper reservoir.

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Sandhill Cranes continued presence at Burrage Pond. Aug 2020.
Northern Harrier at Burrage Pond WMA.

Northern Harrier, Burrage Pond WMA

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Northern Mockingbird Aug 2020
Juvenile Red Shoulder Hawk ?
Red Shouldered Hawk? Aug 2020
Sandhill Crane at Burrage Pond WMA, Hanson MA.
Sandhill Crane in flight at Burrage Pond WMA. Hanson, Ma
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Cedar Waxwing at Burrage Aug 2020
White tail buck at Burrage Pond WMA.

Young Whitetail deer buck at Burrage Pond.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo
While at Burrage today (July 5, 2020) had a chance to see something unusual. Both a yellow-billed cuckoo as well as a black-billed cuckoo (next photo) in the same bush at the same time.
Black-billed Cuckoo
These two cuckoos were located in a willow bush quite close to the old water tank foundation near the upper reservoir.
Mink At Burrage Pond

Mink in the Stump River at Burrage Pond. There were at least three present when these photos were taken.

Mink in the Stump Brook at Burrage Pond WMA
Mink in the Stump River at Burrage Pond. There were at least three present when these photos were taken.
American Kestrel
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Swallow at Burrage Pond
Swallows return to burrage pond
Swallows return to Burrage Pond for 2019
American Coot Burrage Pond WMA.
American Coot at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson MA.
Glossy Ibis at Burrage Pond
Glossy Ibis over Burrage Pond
Wood Duck duckling
Wood Duck ducklings. There are at least three separate broods in this one area of Burrage Pond WMA. Taken Aug 12, 2017.
Future Monarch Butterfly.
Future monarch butterfly feeding on milkweed at Burrage Pond. Aug 6, 2017
2017 Northern Red-bellied Cooter Release, Burrage Pond WMA, Hanson.
Jon Regosin - Mass NHESP
2017 Northern Red-bellied Cooter Release, Burrage Pond WMA, Hanson.
2017 Northern Red-bellied Cooter Release, Burrage Pond WMA, Hanson.
2017 Northern Red-bellied Cooter Release, Burrage Pond WMA, Hanson.
2017 Northern Red-bellied Cooter Release, Burrage Pond WMA, Hanson.
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northern red-bellied cooters release at Burrage Pond WMA
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Northern red-bellied cooters release at Burrage Pond WMA Hanson. May 27, 2016.
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These northern red-bellied cooters are approx 9 months old and were aquarium reared under a program developed by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program of the state's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
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northern red-bellied cooters release at Burrage Pond WMA
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Yellow Warbler nest at Burrage Pond WMA.
Birds and Birding at Burrage Pond WMA.
Yellow Warbler, Burrage Pond.
Bluebirds at Burrage taken Feb 20, 2017
Bluebird at Burrage Pond WMA taken Feb 21, 2017
Bluebirds at Burrage Pond taken Feb 20, 2017
Bluebirds at Burrage Pond WMA taken Feb 21, 2017
Swamp Sparrow
Swamp sparrow at Burrage Pond WMA. October 2016
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Birding. Great Horned Owl at Burrage Pond WMA.
Great Horned Owl taken at Burrage Pond WMA 9/2/16
Great Horned Owl at Burrage Pond WMA
Great Horned Owl taken at Burrage Pond WMA 9/2/16
House Wren Burrage Pond WMA
I believe this to be a House Wren. At Burrage Pond WMA 9/2/2016
Sandhill Cranes Burrage Pond
Sandhill Cranes, Burrage Pond WMA - Aug 14, 2016.
Sandhill Cranes Burrage Pond
Sandhill Cranes, Aug 14, 2016 Burrage Pond
Stumpbrook Dam
Dam located on the Stump Brook at Burrage WMA. Stump Brook Audubon Sanctuary is on the right side of the dam.
Burrage Pond Hanson
Stump Brook
Burrage Pond - Monarch Migration
Monarch Butterflies at Burrage Pond WMA
Yellow Billed Cuckoo YBCU July 2016.
Osprey near Stump Brook, Burrage Pond WMA.
Probably a Sharp-shinned but could also be a Coopers Hawk Aug 14, 2016.
Green Heron at Burrage Pond. Aug 14, 2016.
Sandhill Cranes Sunday July 24, 2016
Sandhill Cranes at Burrage Pond WMA 2015.
Feeding time for a young tree swallow.

Sandhill Cranes at Burrage Pond WMA 2015.

Orchard Oriole May 11.
Osprey at Burrage Pond
Osprey with what I believe to be a large mouth bass. Take 4/30/16.
Osprey taken 4-30-16.
Spring is close. Sunset at Burrage Pond WMA, Feb 17, 2016. Clearly quite a bit more bird activity than I've seen in a long time.
Taken Jan 3, 2016. Group of chickadees were feeding on these waxy berries. They looked and smelled much like a the Northern Bayberry but the bush was quite tall and I suspect it's some other type of berry. At Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson MA.
Marsh Wrens still present at Burrage as of Oct 10, 2015.
Pied-Billed Grebes at Burrage Pond WMA (Fall 2015)
Northern Harrier Burrage Pond WMA
Northern Harrier, Burrage Pond WMA
Northern Harrier - quite foggy on 9/25/15 so this was a bit fuzzy. There were three Harriers working in a group.
I've had three different opinions on this birds identification. First, an immature Redtail, then an immature Red-shoulder, then someone at Mass Audubon indcated this is ann immature Broad-winged hawk. I'm going with Audubon. Immature Broad-winged Hawk. (taken 9/25/15)
Northern Harrier at Burrage Pond WMA
Northern Harrier & Crow battle over the central bogs at Burrage Pond.
Yellow-rumped warbler at Burrage Pond WMA - Sept 24.
Eastern Towhee at Burrage Pond WMA.
Coopers Hawk down by Stump Brook.
I finally got a peek at one of these elusive Marsh Wrens. I often hear them chattering below the grass but today this one (looks like a young bird) popped out for just a minute.
Eastern Towhee at Burrage Pond 7/21/15
Female Yellow Warbler with Praying Mantis. This time the birds win! Praying Mantis are known to capture and consume hummingbirds.

Female Yellow Warbler with Praying Mantis.

Brown Thrasher at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson.
Not a great photo but good enough to see what this Belted Kingfisher looks like here at Burrage Pond WMA.
Common Yellow Throat Warbler at Burrage Pond WMA. June 18, 2015.
Another abundant resident here at Burrage Pond, the Yellow Warbler (YWAR). June 2015.
Burrage Pond Hanson - Grey Catbird just doing what catbirds do! June 2015.
Burrage Pond WMA, Eastern Kingbird. June 2015.
Eastern King - EAKI
I believe this to be an Orchard Oriole - OROR - Immature. At Burrage Pond Hanson. There are also quite a few mature Orchard Orioles.
Burrage Pond WMA - Spangled Skimmer - Female
Sunrise at Burrage Pond WMA, Jan 23
Green Heron spotted on Aug 30 at Burrage Pond WMA.
Green Heron (GRHE) on the wing
Late August 2014 - deepening color of the grasses fortell the approaching of autumn.
Joe-Pye Weed in full bloom at Burrage.

I believe this is a Viceroy based on the somewhat visible horizontal bar across the hindwing. Taken at Burrage Pond, Massachusetts Wildlife Managaement Area (WMA), Hanson MA.

Slaty Skimmer-Male. I originally thought this was a Spangled Skimmer Dragonfly but the absense of the white dots on the wings eliminates this as a possibility.
Eastern Kingbird at Burrage Pond WMA
Eastern Kingbird on nest at Burrage Pond
Yellow Warbler nestlings at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson.
Burrge Pond Hanson Halifax
Northern Water snake fishing at Burrage Pond WMA.
Orchard Oriole May 11 - Burrage Pond WMA
Yellow Warbler nesting - May 11 at Burrage Pond WMA Hanson MA
Black and White Warbler (BAWW) on the prowl. Two spotted along the east road at Burrage.
I believe this is a Northern Water Snake -
Nerodia sipedon (24-42", up to 55"). Easily 39 inches and had no intention of backing off.
Northern Watersnake up close. Lots of these guys are present around Burrage Pond.
Not a great photo but here's a shot of a juvenile Bald eagle here at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, MA. This was taken on Sunday April 20 approx 8:00 AM.
Watched this guy (Northern Watersnake) hunting fish in one of the bogs.
Burrage Pond WMA Hanson entrance off Pleasant Street.
Not a great photo but here's a shot of a juvenile Bald eagle here at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, MA. This was taken on Sunday April 20 approx 8:00 AM. Hard to see it in this shot but this bird does have a band on it's leg.
Cedar Waxwing also on the east side of Burrage Pond WMA.
Burrage Pond December 2012
American Goldfinch
Twelve-Spotted Skimmer. This is a male based on the additional white spots on the wings and whitish tinge on the abdomen.
Cedar Waxwing at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson & Halifax MA
Swallows on the southern side of Burrage WMA in Halifax, MA
Swallow migration passinging through Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, MA
Swallows gather at Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, MA.
The Swallow gathering prior to migration. Burrage Pond WMA in Hanson, MA