Sunday, January 10, 2016

MA - Barrow's in the fog

This drake Barrow's Goldeneye has been giving me the run around since I first noted it on January 1st. It often arrives at the power canal very late in the evening, so late in fact, that it's eluded the camera until this afternoon when it arrived at about 16:35 hours, Unfortunately for me, the power canal was shrouded in fog and rain so I felt pretty lucky to come away with these gloomy but identifiable shots.



Barrow's Goldeneye - male in fog with Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 10th, 2016.


A few new birds arrived to Turner's Falls during the week including two new Kumlien's Iceland Gulls (one first-cycle, one third-cycle) and a female Lesser Scaup. The latter was first noted by Tom Gagnon at Unity Park on Jan 7th and still present on Jan 10th. It appears to have a damaged or broken right wing. Oddly enough, the female Greater Scaup  was last seen at the power canal on Jan 5th. 

 Lesser Scaup - female, Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 9th, 2016.
First noted by Tom Gagnon on Jan 7th, apparently with damaged right wing. 


 Kumlien's Iceland Gull (center) - third-cycle, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 7th, 2016.


 Kumlien's Iceland Gull (center) - first-cycle, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 7th, 2016.

Otherwise, the picture at Turner's Falls has been one of continuing waterfowl with Wood Duck (3), American Wigeon (2 females) and a Green-winged Teal (male) all remaining through to Jan 10th along with an impressive showing of Common Goldeneye, Common Mergansers and Hooded Mergansers. At least one Lesser Black-backed Gull and two Belted Kingfishers remain in the area as well. 

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I wonder where the bird spends the day...must be along the river somewhere that is not easily accessible.

Sandra said...

I'd love to see a Barrow's. Any photo is better than none! Nice photos.

James P. Smith said...

Larry....yes will certainly be along the CT River during the day, most of which can't be accessed, or simply never gets checked. It amazes me how little of the river we actually get to see!

James P. Smith said...

Thanks for your comments Sandra. I'm always happy to post a record shot so long as it's identifiable and agree with your sentiment. The CT River has a few male Barrow's at the moment. In addition to this bird at Turner's Falls, there's another being seen at Agawam and I just saw another male this morning in Vernon, VT - that one can be seen downriver from the pump station on Stebbins Road but a scope is needed for sure.