MA - Christmas Day Barrow's Goldeneye and other goodies during Christmas week

 

Barrow's Goldeneye ( first-winter male) - extreme right with Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

Christmas Day brought freakish weather conditions to much of Western Massachusetts with balmy sixty degree temperatures at dawn combined with squally, heavy rain showers that persisted throughout the day. The packed snow that had looked so permanent on Christmas Eve disappeared overnight and, combined with the heavy rainfall, resulted in very high water levels on the Connecticut River. 

Barrow's Goldeneye ( first-winter male) -  with male Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

Barrow's Goldeneye ( first-winter male) - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

Barrow's Goldeneye ( first-winter male) - extreme right with female Common Goldeneye, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

Greater Scaup  (female) upper left with female Common Goldeneye. 

Greater Scaup ( female) -  at left with Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

As I approached the Turner's Falls power canal I noticed a flock of foraging Common Goldeneyes with another flock flying in just as I parked up. Things looked promising and it wasn't too long before I focused on the small bill, steep forehead and bulky 'mane' of a Barrow's Goldeneye. It was stunning first-winter male and my first of that particular age-class after many winters of seeing only females and a handful of adult males in the greater area of Turner's Falls. The whole flock put on a fine show close to the guard rail, much appreciated as the heavy rain would have made it difficult to bird away from the vehicle. The Barrow's Goldeneye was certainly a new arrival and a species that I've been watching for since late fall. Additionally, another new arrival was a female Greater Scaup neatly mixed in with the 55 or so Common Goldeneyes present, plus a couple of continuing female Buffleheads. 

Sage Thrasher - Hinsdale Setbacks, Cheshire Co., NH. December 24th, 2020.

Continuing from Dec 19th when it was first found by Cory Ross. 

Around noon, we had a family Christmas Day walk in the rain along the snowmobile trail at the Hinsdale Setbacks and found the continuing Sage Thrasher hopping across the trail in front of us. I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that a Sage Thrasher is attempting to spend the winter just 15 minutes up the road from our home in Northfield!

Pine Grosbeaks - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 18th, 2020. 

Up to three continuing in the park from Dec 15th. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Montague Plains, Franklin Co., MA. December 18th, 2020. 

Aside from the Barrow's Goldeneye and Sage Thrashers (another continues in Hatfield, MA) the general excellence of local birding continues seemingly unabated. Pine Grosbeaks have been moving into urban and suburban areas and almost any fruiting tree seems to be fair game for them with sizeable flocks showing up in Greenfield, Turner's Falls and Montague and smaller numbers in Gill. Common Redpolls have been widespread with the biggest flocks (close to 100 birds) at the Turner's Falls power canal and the Hinsdale Setbacks. Red Crossbills continue to feature at the Montague Sand Plains with 1 - 35 birds on all of my recent visits and smaller flocks in Gill and Huckle Hill in Bernardston. Evening Grosbeaks (1) and White-winged Crossbills (2) were last seen over Gill Elementary School on Dec 19th and unfortunately I still haven't managed to connect with either species for photos!