MA - Pink-footed Goose not seen on Friday evening - 10/28

 

 First snow of the fall/winter. Gill, Franklin Co., MA. October 28th, 2011. This light dusting did little to prepare us for an unprecedented snow event over the weekend.

A small gathering of birders assembled at the Turner's Falls power canal this afternoon, waiting right up until dusk. Up to 350 Canada Geese were present at times, but the Pink-footed Goose never arrived resulting in some understandably disappointed faces. About a dozen Common Mergansers and 2 Hooded Mergansers did fly in towards dusk, but there was no obvious sign of a waterfowl roost.

 Greater Scaup - female, Barton Cove, Franklin Co., MA. October 28th, 2011. First of the fall here.

 Mid-afternoon at Barton Cove was actually a little more productive with a Greater Scaup (my first of the fall), an adult Brant (different bird to the two at Gill yesterday), 5 remaining American Coots, 250 Canada Geese, 15 Ring-billed Gulls, and 5 high flying Red-tailed Hawks which may have been migrants. 

Brant - pale-bellied adult with (presumed) Atlantic Canada Geese (B. c. canadensis), Unity Park, Turner's Falls, MA. October 28th, 2011.

JPS