MA - Lapland Longspur incursion, plus Iceland and Bonaparte's Gulls and more

Lapland Longspurs (3) - with a single Horned Lark, Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 18th, 2018. 

The first winter storm of the season came early and deposited a good six inches of wet snow around much of northern Franklin County. The weather event happened overnight and continued into Friday (11/16), canceling local schools and leaving me with limited time to explore as we rolled into the weekend. Unsure of what to expect, I poked around Northfield, Gill and Turner's Falls making the most of the incidental birding opportunities that came my way. Almost every stop was productive. 

Cackling Goose (top left) - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. November 16th, 2018. Group arriving at dusk.

Cackling Goose (center) - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. November 17th, 2018.

Friday (11/16) afternoon saw a newly arrived Cackling Goose and 20 Snow Buntings at the Turner's Falls power canal, while the Iceland Gull first seen on the previous evening was roosting at Unity Park. Saturday (11/17) was full of interest with three Lapland Longspurs in a flock of less than a dozen Horned Larks at Turner's Falls Airfield, a juvenile Common Loon at Turner's Falls Rod and Gun club, and a very handsome Bonaparte's Gull at Unity Park. Later in the day, a chance visit to Caldwell Road fields produced a Vesper Sparrow along with further two Lapland Longspurs with some 55 Horned Larks. In addition, the Cackling Goose from the previous day was still to be seen at the Turner's Falls power canal.

Iceland Gull (second-cycle) - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. November 16th, 2018.

This bird has been present daily around Turner's Falls through to the 18th. 

Bonaparte's Gull  - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. November 17th, 2018.

Lapland Longpsurs (3) -  landing at Turner's Falls Airfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 17th, 2018.

Lapland Longpsurs (3) -  Turner's Falls Airfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 17th, 2018.
Same three as shown above with two upper left of shot and one at extreme right.

Horned Larks - Turner's Falls Airfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 17th, 2018.

Common Loon (juvenile) - Turner's Falls Rod and Gun club, Franklin Co., MA. November 17th, 2018.

Five Lapland Longspurs in Franklin County in a single day was quite unlike anything I'd seen before. Typically, I'm lucky to get one or two flyovers in late fall and early winter and that's usually it for the whole year. Moreover, these birds were on the ground foraging and I couldn't help but wonder if the unusually early snow cover had pushed them out of the fields where they'd normally be overlooked? Curiosity got the better of me and I returned to Caldwell Road fields for another look finding fewer Horned Larks but a whopping six Lapland Longspurs! The same flock attracted three Snow Buntings, an American Pipit and at least nine Savannah Sparrows.

Lapland Longspurs (3) - with a single Horned Lark, Caldwell Road field, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 18th, 2018. 

Surf Scoter (female) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. November 18th, 2018.

Long staying individual present since Nov 6th. 

Other passerines of note over the weekend included flyover Evening Grosbeaks at Turner's Falls Airfield, North Cross Road and Caldwell Road fields, Ruby-crowned Kinglets at Unity Park on the 17th and North Cross Road on the 18th, and reasonable numbers of Fox Sparrows still in Northfield Meadows and Caldwell Road fields.