MA - Cassiar Junco, Barrow's Goldeneye

Today's freezing rain curtailed any thoughts of late afternoon birding at Turner's Falls. Before the rain really started in earnest, I went out in mid-morning hoping to find a few Horned Larks in Northfield. I found no larks in the spot that I was hoping for but instead found three Dark-eyed Juncos, one of which had a distinct (convex) hooded appearance with a relatively clean demarcation between the 'bib' and flanks. The flanks of this bird were also much paler than the other two male Slate-coloreds that it was feeding with. It looked much as I'd expect a Cassiar Junco ((Junco hyemalis cismontanus) to look like and the first time I've seen a male in Massachusetts. Cassiar Junco is a much discussed intergrade form (between Slate-colored and Oregon Juncos) originating from the northern Rockies.

 Cassiar Junco (right) - male with typical Slate-colored Junco, Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. January 18th, 2014. 
Distinctly hooded appearance but otherwise paler especially on the flanks. 

 Cassiar Junco (rear) - male with typical Slate-colored Juncos, Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. January 18th, 2014. 
Distinctly hooded appearance but again much paler especially on the flanks. 

 Cassiar Junco (rear) - male with typical Slate-colored Juncos, Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. January 18th, 2014. 

Saturday evening saw a few of us gather at the Turner's Falls power canal in frigid condition. Cold it may have been but it was well worth it as a spectacular roost of Common Goldeneyes eventually built up to over 380 birds! That's the most I've ever seen in one gathering anywhere in the Pioneer Valley and what's more, birds were still coming in when we left well after sunset. The spectacle almost overshadowed the continued appearance of the fine male Barrow's Goldeneye. The gull show was cut short by Bald Eagle activity once more, but the Lesser Black-backed Gull showed well and seems to be pretty reliable at the moment.

 Lesser Black-backed Gull - adult, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co. MA. January 17th, 2014.

Barrow's Goldeneye (center) - adult male, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co. MA. January 17th, 2014.