MA - Purple Rain 03/12

This morning I took a casual, pre-storm drive around Gill hoping for a few more signs of spring. I wasn't disappointed. Twenty Canada Geese were foraging in the large field north-east of the Main Road/Munn's Ferry intersection. Normally, I wouldn't be excited about this but there haven't been any signs of goose migration in our area thus far, which is pretty remarkable for mid-March. However, the local 'park Canadas' have remained throughout the winter at Unity Park, along with their feral companions and a hybrid. 

Canada Geese - part of 20 foraging birds, Munns Ferry Road, Gill, Franklin Co., MA

March 12th, 2014. FOS migrant Canadas, hopefully with many more to follow.

Next stop was Ben Hale Road where I was greeted by the rambling song of a male Purple Finch. A few minutes later, he was joined by two females and a less brightly marked male. A Common Grackle flew overhead, heralding my first local grackle of the year. 

Common Grackle - Ben Hale Road, Gill, Franklin Co., MA.

March 12th, 2014. FOY, or at least my first locally. 

Purple Finch - male, Ben Hale Road, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 12th, 2014. 

One of four at this location with another three males in our yard today. 

Down at Barton Cove there was plenty to see and it was all about diving ducks; 30+ Ring-necked Ducks, 10+ Bufflehead, 10+ Greater Scaup, 3 Lesser Scaup, 30+ Hooded Merganser, 8 Common Merganser and the cream on the cake, two Long-tailed Ducks including an exceptionally smart drake. 

 Ring-necked Ducks and Greater Scaup - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 12th, 2014. 

Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup (three, upper right) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 12th, 2014. 

 Long-tailed Ducks - pair, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 12th, 2014. 

Distant digiscope of a shy pair way out in Barton Cove. All the other diving ducks were reasonably

 close to Riverview Drive and but these two looked nervous and remained distant.

Buffleheads (rear) with Ring-necked Ducks and Greater Scaup - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 12th, 2014. 

 Purple Finch - male with American Tree Sparrow, Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. March 12th, 2014. 

One of three males in our yard that appeared all too briefly around mid-morning. 

On returning home, I was more than thrilled to see three male Purple Finches on the ground below the feeders in what seemed like a local incursion of this species today. Blue Jays were also strikingly obvious with groups of 20-30 in at least four different spots around Gill. That's in addition to the 15 or so Blue Jays that regularly visit our yard. 

White-throated and American Tree Sparrows - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. March 12th, 2014. 

In the afternoon the ground below our feeders filled up with sparrows, the Fox Sparrow-like song of

the Tree Sparrows ringing throughout the yard. Perhaps they were fattening up for the next cold snap?