MA - recent waterfowl - 10/28

Finally the weather has turned more seasonal with cool, blustery days and temps dipping below freezing at night. A smattering of interesting ducks continue to show up at Barton Cove, with birds widely scattered across the cove. This morning, a cracking male Gadwall flew nervously around the cove before settling close to a large group of Canada Geese off Unity Park. The long staying Northern Shoveler also joined the same group, seemingly becoming increasingly tame and hanging with the local Mallards just off the bank at Unity Park. Elsewhere around Barton Cove were a female type Greater Scaup, five Hooded Mergansers, and five continuing Ring-necked Ducks.

At the Turner's Falls power canal, a nice rafting mass of 600 or so Canada Geese but, surprisingly, nothing out of the ordinary amongst them. The highlight here was a fly-over Lapland Longspur, my first of the fall season. On the same theme, my first-of-season Buffleheads turned up off Riverview Drive, Gill on Friday October 25th but evidently not present this morning.

 Gadwall - adult male, Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA.

October 28th, 2013. Digiscoped with Canon Powershot G10.

 Buffleheads - three, all female-types with Ring-necked Ducks (rear),
Riverview Drive, Gill, Franklin Co., MA.
October 25th, 2013. Digiscoped with Canon Powershot G10.

 

Northern Shoveler - female/first-winter, first noted at Barton Cove on October 21st

and becoming increasingly tame hanging out with local Mallards off Unity Park, Turner's Falls.

October 28th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.