Thursday, October 27, 2011

MA - Brant, Coots, Ruddies and a Snow Bunting!

Rain, drizzle, and later snow flurries all day long. Tough conditions to be out but definitely producing some interesting birds in Gill. Two Brants in the 'goose field' at Upinngil Farm were a pleasing find amongst 140 Canada Geese in the morning, and a quick of Barton Cove produced five American Coots, 5 Ring-necked Ducks and 2 Ruddy Ducks all off the public boat ramp. A late morning check back at Upinngil Farm found the Brants still present along with an increase to 400 Canada Geese, that's until a Bald Eagle flushed the lot with less than half the flock returning to the field. But, whilst waiting for more geese to arrive, a Snow Bunting flew over the field giving its delightful ringing calls - another nice arrival and my first of the fall. At home a bedraggled Northern Harrier flew low over the tree tops heading towards Gill center, and up to three Yellow-rumped Warblers remained in the yard.

Also of note, a flock of about 100 Dark-eyed Juncos on Barney Hale Road - my first large flock of the fall.

Here's a few images from the day;

 American Coot - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. October 27th, 2011.


 Ruddy Duck - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. October 27th, 2011.


 Ring-necked Ducks - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. October 27th, 2011.


 Brant (B.b. hrota) -  Gill, Franklin Co., MA. October 27th, 2011.

As for the Pink-footed Goose, well it sounds like it eluded most of the birders that tried for it today, but I did hear of positive reports from the power canal in the very early morning and again late in the evening. 

JPS.

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