MA - back on the patch...and it's good! - 05/01

Had my first proper local outing in over a month having been tied up with trips to Colorado and Texas throughout April. Thirty six hours of inclement weather, includng a real deluge last night, resulted in a nice fall-out at Barton Cove and surroundings. As the weather lifted this morning it was possible to get out and take a few images of some of these, though yesterday's Buffleheads (11) had already moved on.

During the morning, along with contributions from Dave Hof and Josh Rose (great to see those guys out this morning), I noted; 2 Common Loons (Rod and Gun Club), 11 Red-necked Grebes (Barton Cove), 7 Horned Grebes (Rod and Gun Club), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (fem. Barton Cove), 10 Ring-necked Ducks (Barton Cove), and hundreds of swallows of three species including proportionately high numbers of Northern Rough-winged (50+ Barton Cove and 15+ Turner's Falls power canal). Of great interest was a Common Tern first noted by Josh Rose at the public boat ramp at Barton Cove but then flying up river to be greeted by me at the Rod and Gun Club! Bizarrely, this bird left the river and headed south overland towards the Monatgue Sand Plains. Had it not been for Josh's timely phone call I would have certainly missed that one.

Common Loon - adult summer, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. May 1st, 2014.

Red-necked Grebes - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 1st, 2014.

Red-breasted Merganser - female, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 1st, 2014.

Common Tern - adult summer, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. May 1st, 2014.

Rather neatly shows the diagnostic dark smudgy 'wedge' from mid to outer primaries.

Pileated Woodpecker - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. May 1st, 2014. 

Lots of PIWO activity this morning with vocal pairs all over Gill and Turner's Falls. 

Northern Rough-winged Swallows - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 1st, 2014.

Large numbers at Barton Cove and Turner's Falls today.