tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77436889304802624042024-02-18T22:44:16.651-05:00Pioneer BirdingNotes about birds, birding and travel from the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts.James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.comBlogger1066125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-79623782778871086832022-12-31T18:38:00.007-05:002022-12-31T18:45:22.332-05:00December - not too shabby at all!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IsSEDdcseQGyqsImTierE688SdwRU-1ixVw6y1xMY3cgboEqizweJT2NeCRoF8ajjgFMUjFmSFYvmuD2klFeOj0vFZy3UaavZuy9A8itybohaUcXfCH26BuOkd8XwXkuU3dpQ2GllzDnep1fbmc9cRslkcn9fsfMHmNxEAI8Qw74ZHwPUWO1nBvf/s1405/SMLO_crop_121422.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1405" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IsSEDdcseQGyqsImTierE688SdwRU-1ixVw6y1xMY3cgboEqizweJT2NeCRoF8ajjgFMUjFmSFYvmuD2klFeOj0vFZy3UaavZuy9A8itybohaUcXfCH26BuOkd8XwXkuU3dpQ2GllzDnep1fbmc9cRslkcn9fsfMHmNxEAI8Qw74ZHwPUWO1nBvf/w640-h476/SMLO_crop_121422.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Smith's Longspur</b> - Hadley Honey Pot, Hampshire Co., MA. December 14th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A fabulous find for hard working local birder Scott Surner. Fifth state record and the first documented in the Pioneer Valley.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Discovered on Dec 12th delighting hundreds throughout its stay and still present on the last day of the year!</span></i></div><p>December, traditionally a month of minimal daylight, falling temperatures and usually lots of snow. Compared to October and November, my expectations for birding in December are generally pretty low, yet over the years the month has produced exciting birding in the Connecticut River Valley. Look no further that the near simultaneous appearance of two <b>Sage Thrashers </b>in 2020, one in Hampshire Co., MA and one in Cheshire Co., NH!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ37GgW6F8M3Xwk5gYVGxECUAjHYR2GSa2OYnzCH85gRIn2pKpnD6QueVPbX6IY7djLWzReLIVyVJXiVtgw9d-LdUPQ5I9_03xLpUULWHZEZR69uaQnqjEO0kxT1qAnRoC8GGfi-9bS3cRHrh0heHtKCOgGL7MbnFSZFY3VGtEbksmvpLb8WwYfOY/s1070/RUHU_crop_Dec%20162022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1070" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQ37GgW6F8M3Xwk5gYVGxECUAjHYR2GSa2OYnzCH85gRIn2pKpnD6QueVPbX6IY7djLWzReLIVyVJXiVtgw9d-LdUPQ5I9_03xLpUULWHZEZR69uaQnqjEO0kxT1qAnRoC8GGfi-9bS3cRHrh0heHtKCOgGL7MbnFSZFY3VGtEbksmvpLb8WwYfOY/w400-h265/RUHU_crop_Dec%20162022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Rufous Hummingbird</b> (fem/juv)- Millers Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 16th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">As hardy as they come - Rufous Hummingbird in a blizzard!! First noted on Oct 7th by home homeowner</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bruce Kanash. Banded and identified on Nov 14th by Anthony Hill. Present and thriving at Bruce's home through to about Dec 21st. </span></i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>In addition to the long staying <b>Rufous Hummingbird</b> in Millers Falls, the month brought another major rarity in the form of a <b>Smith's Longspur</b> to the Hadley floodplain. Kudos must go to Scott Surner who found this bird lingering at the side of a busy thoroughfare in the Hadley Honey Pot on December 12th. To the joy of many, myself included, the longspur was courteous enough to stick around for weeks allowing hundreds of birders to share in Scott's discovery and to find itself added to the local Christmas Bird Count! At the time of writing (Dec 31st) it was still present favoring the same general area along Cemetery Road in the Honey Pot. Scott's find furnishes the fifth state record for Massachusetts and the first ever in the Pioneer Valley though there is an historical report by Harvey Allen from the nearby East Meadows April 1st, 1993. Though this record wasn't accepted by the MARC, it's always intrigued me largely because of the compelling elements of the description with comments such as "tame", "observed as close as ten feet" and "un-streaked buffy underparts indicating a female". But, birding in the modern era demands a high standard of documentation and in this respect the Hadley bird was a gift being absurdly tame, calling frequently and usually returning to the same feeding spot day after day, even when it was flushed. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibS5dKzquwWbS64mWUg3zusjlpuBZ28SsGY3r5BRKOQ8JqKj_wHJCkHu1gvtY6SwR_3oizGywKkk-dNta7S_Fk3euX8OS14Y_8dGMT7ROx3fU7-4LAD8U9J1VJ0SSqppErMhdUogoF4XxrErgBFgt41USadVy1VWhCPd_Q20ugWpOialJ3T26m00XY/s1295/SMLO2_crop_121422.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1295" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibS5dKzquwWbS64mWUg3zusjlpuBZ28SsGY3r5BRKOQ8JqKj_wHJCkHu1gvtY6SwR_3oizGywKkk-dNta7S_Fk3euX8OS14Y_8dGMT7ROx3fU7-4LAD8U9J1VJ0SSqppErMhdUogoF4XxrErgBFgt41USadVy1VWhCPd_Q20ugWpOialJ3T26m00XY/w400-h269/SMLO2_crop_121422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Smith's Longspur</b> - Hadley Honey Pot, Hampshire Co., MA. December 14th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>An amazing find by Scott Surner and extra-ordinarily approachable. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><p>I've had quite a lot of luck with <b>Smith's Longspurs</b> over the years having seen them in the breeding areas on the Denali Highway, Alaska multiple times. But, the Hadley bird was only my third away from Alaska after chasing singles at Jones State Beach, Long Island, NYS in Feb 2007 (2nd state record) and Tuthill Road, Maricopa Co., AZ in Jan 2012 (2nd state record). To have one so close to home and showing so well was an absolute dream. Thank you Scott!</p><p>Other passerines of note this month but closer to home included a lingering <b>Hermit Thrush </b>and a late <b>Eastern</b> <b>Towhee</b> on North Cross Road, Gill on Dec 23rd and a small handful of <b>Red Crossbills</b> (Type 12) over Gill and along Green River Road, Colrain towards the end of the month. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hvH4AL9q_udNj2THHqOmIzv_ttb8zsbSJszhjUNX_TyjA10CMoTsBgKDv3-9BC9e6ZBVBwr5z4NCFOtXudJt-10WxpDIXc4L-rW2_QJ1dxt9loiz3amh81rM_F6O25jl5D3HrlgOKcGwL96FxTiUfgL2GLpE9nr6_1GdbFA7uh59P8COTaokkJra/s1389/Redhead_crop_122522.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1389" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hvH4AL9q_udNj2THHqOmIzv_ttb8zsbSJszhjUNX_TyjA10CMoTsBgKDv3-9BC9e6ZBVBwr5z4NCFOtXudJt-10WxpDIXc4L-rW2_QJ1dxt9loiz3amh81rM_F6O25jl5D3HrlgOKcGwL96FxTiUfgL2GLpE9nr6_1GdbFA7uh59P8COTaokkJra/w400-h229/Redhead_crop_122522.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Redheads</b> - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Loafing with the Mallards at Unity Park on Christmas morning, a lovely surprise though they didn't stick around for long.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwa3gOXM0oruzZHjQOo2Z9Xzb_w4y7t_d5qrb--5XW3n2e17SF4U13Ngi38Set2m4x_xPOFIwRrW4aBxDrRAZVoVSmPAW0YmjiuXcH01m-D1jKU0z1DmhOliVF4QQ1tlYpSuv6eMnJEmqZzga8UrhLI8xfUVkw0OMBTupvtmS2-4UfU-kYSBvWMQy/s4005/TF%20on%20XMAS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2648" data-original-width="4005" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwa3gOXM0oruzZHjQOo2Z9Xzb_w4y7t_d5qrb--5XW3n2e17SF4U13Ngi38Set2m4x_xPOFIwRrW4aBxDrRAZVoVSmPAW0YmjiuXcH01m-D1jKU0z1DmhOliVF4QQ1tlYpSuv6eMnJEmqZzga8UrhLI8xfUVkw0OMBTupvtmS2-4UfU-kYSBvWMQy/w400-h265/TF%20on%20XMAS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View of Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2022.</div><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><p>Frigid temperatures and major ice flows over the Christmas period brought some unexpected waterfowl to Turner's Falls with a female <b>Northern Pintail</b> at the power canal on Christmas Eve and three <b>Redheads</b> including a fine drake at Unity Park on Christmas morning. The <b>Redheads</b> didn't linger but the pintail stayed until Dec 31st and was briefly joined by a second fem/juv on the 28th. A lone juvenile <b>Snow Goose </b>at Barton Cove on Dec 26th was the most unusual goose of the period but also fairly typical in its random appearance. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WcnJNjFPygboUq5fXEgwW6Q5dRVUj9xB_NIp-iPOSpEK0QNROFStsLajGE9vMUjlbRviMUxXhqTTj1kb-9QaFxDouijQFdi5ApmZffjAHPwOjpgamvhAGI0aVf7i80vytbH9lvBWhcEPWhdQzme3eXwerqxm-nBuwtPzyZye_lokPBCo132rBBRU/s1275/NOPI_crop_122422.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1275" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WcnJNjFPygboUq5fXEgwW6Q5dRVUj9xB_NIp-iPOSpEK0QNROFStsLajGE9vMUjlbRviMUxXhqTTj1kb-9QaFxDouijQFdi5ApmZffjAHPwOjpgamvhAGI0aVf7i80vytbH9lvBWhcEPWhdQzme3eXwerqxm-nBuwtPzyZye_lokPBCo132rBBRU/w400-h240/NOPI_crop_122422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Northern Pintail </b>(fem/juv) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 24th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Another unusual duck showing up with Mallards, this time at the power canal. This bird lingered to the </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">year's end and was joined by a second fem/juv on Dec 28th. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSeo8LZY0LTp77O9DrGXA8PbwHVk3J2OsSjn70cZlKLo5kij7-wKQMN9u8s0r21e8-__sIabKtMTPfuiKaEm4tQMoRL_eRSv_pTzOc5cpnMyR6dK8HJgaU_RNakj3TI5gY3EpwzxVoMMwvJ9JqX3lojMkrDGNy9MSGINgD0YU-JzLzYKCY5vIiC3U/s1057/SNGO_crop_122622.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1057" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSeo8LZY0LTp77O9DrGXA8PbwHVk3J2OsSjn70cZlKLo5kij7-wKQMN9u8s0r21e8-__sIabKtMTPfuiKaEm4tQMoRL_eRSv_pTzOc5cpnMyR6dK8HJgaU_RNakj3TI5gY3EpwzxVoMMwvJ9JqX3lojMkrDGNy9MSGINgD0YU-JzLzYKCY5vIiC3U/w400-h290/SNGO_crop_122622.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Snow Goose</b> (imm) - Barton Cove/Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 26th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUwqOMal_9Mm8RSFXooPPMOJNk3Y7jMdXwzNuWBmK82xR7FjqcgMIqVtLAbMjx0-SNjY1tcLNnBk2J1L9o1PzNA7mXCZCvZg5mQyq13Qa1iahOqfBnh529SWUKbXJCqLCeg2c5KoDM5fMOI8ddvhM2vmv-dyyYm2XKSgdPGUeAEkTjxEm5t55fiC4/s1054/BarredOwl_crop_Dec%202022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1054" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUwqOMal_9Mm8RSFXooPPMOJNk3Y7jMdXwzNuWBmK82xR7FjqcgMIqVtLAbMjx0-SNjY1tcLNnBk2J1L9o1PzNA7mXCZCvZg5mQyq13Qa1iahOqfBnh529SWUKbXJCqLCeg2c5KoDM5fMOI8ddvhM2vmv-dyyYm2XKSgdPGUeAEkTjxEm5t55fiC4/w400-h270/BarredOwl_crop_Dec%202022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Barred Owl</b> - Northfield, MA. December 22nd, 2022. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Plenty of Barred Owls around often out 'sunning' on the coldest days. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT25kEqVL8_a-FY2-Z5vFKJDwD9e5PUvd-LnTT0Mgt04hRWjEdTf_CaRbE_pdm1P2BxnPuJeI-0_gZw2uAFRXn_9R5Ch_PeSiXJ_I4WyGznWzf-W9disiUTmpz8Q3mrm9TC9iwNMChfmWcKgedc-Jjj0UcO3HhUEu8H-elHys7yJf2E7DM_iu_FuYn/s872/KUM1st2_crop_122922.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="872" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT25kEqVL8_a-FY2-Z5vFKJDwD9e5PUvd-LnTT0Mgt04hRWjEdTf_CaRbE_pdm1P2BxnPuJeI-0_gZw2uAFRXn_9R5Ch_PeSiXJ_I4WyGznWzf-W9disiUTmpz8Q3mrm9TC9iwNMChfmWcKgedc-Jjj0UcO3HhUEu8H-elHys7yJf2E7DM_iu_FuYn/w400-h258/KUM1st2_crop_122922.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Iceland (Kumlieni) Gulls</b> (first-cycles) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 29th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Two; one darkish, one night in center of image. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></div><p>After a steady start, the numbers of large gulls began to build quite nicely towards the end of the month. With them came <b>Iceland (Kumlien's) Gulls</b>, initially two but then building up to five together at Barton Cove on Dec 28th with a new individual seen on the 29th so perhaps as many as six in the area by month's end. One or two <b>Lesser Black-backed Gulls </b>were present among the <b>Herring Gulls </b>too,<b> </b>though being immatures they were easily lost among the masses but I think at least two individuals were involved between Dec 22nd and 29th. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUNXELsaXpu5wAS2Z35hPV3w5-ETw6TY2kIdimvULx7rp2OmI72mEXEEWsTLeQ7w4RwY-YQklE99tjNNMA0IJ7JV3Nqea6Btkxob0tWudZJJ6hOBVaG1i9JzipOVo1on8dHfWoZ4-J2VAiWkBT8Kbot4DQXwLG5ZFAQYzqKBhxTupBTn-4Tbo_Lse/s911/KUM2nd_crop_better_122922.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="911" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUNXELsaXpu5wAS2Z35hPV3w5-ETw6TY2kIdimvULx7rp2OmI72mEXEEWsTLeQ7w4RwY-YQklE99tjNNMA0IJ7JV3Nqea6Btkxob0tWudZJJ6hOBVaG1i9JzipOVo1on8dHfWoZ4-J2VAiWkBT8Kbot4DQXwLG5ZFAQYzqKBhxTupBTn-4Tbo_Lse/w400-h217/KUM2nd_crop_better_122922.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Iceland (Kumlieni) Gulls</b> (second-cycle) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 29th, 2022. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>I</i><i>n the center of the image. </i></span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY6smuQnqvukJ19qMS_zcZSXuy7a7EsvaiUHzFGob73TVudH0kkqHUsL6u-qcynLSHszyPt2SRGRrGgbAa7aHS4fOa20MK46adPpupBTY9DeqWXyB3AE4x3orqImPu2QVuITPVPsR5Tk_U-tJJwxwUNAX35KNsKDIBqdv1mV7B0O5XAbjd-WinYb8/s810/KUM4_crop_122922.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="810" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY6smuQnqvukJ19qMS_zcZSXuy7a7EsvaiUHzFGob73TVudH0kkqHUsL6u-qcynLSHszyPt2SRGRrGgbAa7aHS4fOa20MK46adPpupBTY9DeqWXyB3AE4x3orqImPu2QVuITPVPsR5Tk_U-tJJwxwUNAX35KNsKDIBqdv1mV7B0O5XAbjd-WinYb8/w400-h229/KUM4_crop_122922.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Iceland (Kumlieni) Gulls</b> - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 29th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Four; two darkish first-cycle, one light first-cycle, one light second-cycle. </i></span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcG3b_evjrGkOuejF4Ipzk6gwaOE0uDw5miP1x05jmcTUXLiuFOvRhsLcJUtUhsqLDqT4dAERmvV0l55faYas5gMKvGJ_rAgT5UYXpw_NYjumUUpZz9JvQd1WJDpdKsE9GBclhdFKtvEZ2LRfXwkabKyfm8nbGcBd9Esw2dG2XYIj2HPxAxOMU-JPv/s654/LBBG1_crop_122212.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="654" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcG3b_evjrGkOuejF4Ipzk6gwaOE0uDw5miP1x05jmcTUXLiuFOvRhsLcJUtUhsqLDqT4dAERmvV0l55faYas5gMKvGJ_rAgT5UYXpw_NYjumUUpZz9JvQd1WJDpdKsE9GBclhdFKtvEZ2LRfXwkabKyfm8nbGcBd9Esw2dG2XYIj2HPxAxOMU-JPv/w400-h311/LBBG1_crop_122212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> (first/second cycle) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 22nd, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PYKI88fovcPyWL9pkuU5Qq38LsbF8otagI2TgVNCJEc_cQ_ILq1en15sjOTra3yns4c0jhv2LlZQpCXhKtynoRYprHO7Gtd-wtt4LuPF3G__8lk7h2RIwOql7ebxsprh3kWqlNP0OobvIm73SiAzjfFhV1KqveJOWOTpD74Zt5tL7GB3fyY7ruBq/s807/LBBG1_crop_122912.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="807" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PYKI88fovcPyWL9pkuU5Qq38LsbF8otagI2TgVNCJEc_cQ_ILq1en15sjOTra3yns4c0jhv2LlZQpCXhKtynoRYprHO7Gtd-wtt4LuPF3G__8lk7h2RIwOql7ebxsprh3kWqlNP0OobvIm73SiAzjfFhV1KqveJOWOTpD74Zt5tL7GB3fyY7ruBq/w400-h246/LBBG1_crop_122912.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> (first-cycle) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 29th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Upper left bird in this image, and probably different to the LBBG I noted on Dec 22nd. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Happy New Year and a bird-rich 2023 to all!</i></div></div></div></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-11566110501417832652022-11-17T20:33:00.009-05:002022-11-23T17:56:39.653-05:00MA - a Rufous Hummingbird in Millers Falls <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO9-5Pnkhigm-T2ep3z-cC5rBAmn6lFgfq5NU4R7qSazWQ9EHVuGkGnVx_59afftJcMb2Q1j2aer8htCCAfJyqeJFFUQhBz5N1mhUinKm42ENfibR2qI5GeSF9mNX1jt6EysEaxUPoufpXfqU2oevaU4kNt8-bAM_T1G404UTYPNK4cpZbh5BcKkh/s1005/RUHU2_crop_notched%20R2_111122.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1005" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO9-5Pnkhigm-T2ep3z-cC5rBAmn6lFgfq5NU4R7qSazWQ9EHVuGkGnVx_59afftJcMb2Q1j2aer8htCCAfJyqeJFFUQhBz5N1mhUinKm42ENfibR2qI5GeSF9mNX1jt6EysEaxUPoufpXfqU2oevaU4kNt8-bAM_T1G404UTYPNK4cpZbh5BcKkh/w640-h506/RUHU2_crop_notched%20R2_111122.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><b>Rufous Hummingbird</b> - Millers Falls, Franklin Co. MA. November 11th, 2022. </span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Found by Bruce Kanash at his home, ID ultimately verified by Master bander Anthony Hill. </span></i></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;"><br /></i></p><p>November 10th was warm and breezy with winds in the southern quarter. Since I hadn't been out to the Quabbin for a few weeks I thought I'd give it a try feeling open minded but not overly optimistic. On arrival at Gate 35 a chance encounter with Jeff Johnstone ultimately led to an encounter with a <b>Rufous Hummingbird</b> in Millers Falls later the same morning! A <i><b>Selaphorus</b> </i>hummingbird had been coming to a feeder at a residence close to Millers Falls center. As it turned out, Jeff and the home owner, Bruce Kanash, had been friends for years. Bruce had first noted the hummingbird at his feeders on October 8th and kudos to Jeff, together with Ernie LeBlanc and Bruce, who identified it as a Rufous/Allen's on November 8th. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldGfhRd3g0tn8umvYbHCekuliPyzfhgjETNLnbKjcEKYxENp_C_VSsAPMisf_NIfOMtNGmXKbCIU4lUGBr5BruS071A8TnvN5whJHpuUsS3wJKikvMPolVUtzf3UFzZaUoo9vnfS686ddsZenrqVf8aHY5qrdL_ZF8XiaIV-YlfevHB7SMlSFg9Lr/s1217/RUHU1_notched%20R2_crop_111122.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="1217" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldGfhRd3g0tn8umvYbHCekuliPyzfhgjETNLnbKjcEKYxENp_C_VSsAPMisf_NIfOMtNGmXKbCIU4lUGBr5BruS071A8TnvN5whJHpuUsS3wJKikvMPolVUtzf3UFzZaUoo9vnfS686ddsZenrqVf8aHY5qrdL_ZF8XiaIV-YlfevHB7SMlSFg9Lr/w640-h512/RUHU1_notched%20R2_crop_111122.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_Y7_pCJ7GI44Ln67CUFLZh2jA9Ouz-lcoTiqtlWNlfAqdWiwQalHDTEwDDXKg6WK4JNw8kmJevVVbLul-Y7tXTTe5oUa65125mY9-P7I3xpLNT1OViScyl6cwS6ZKG35THiOYMj31qVXBiC6uTbm_Pgae-7BVhSSMTmhausDGG1hZ8nxXZ8EVn8H/s797/RUHU1_crop_perched_111112.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="797" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_Y7_pCJ7GI44Ln67CUFLZh2jA9Ouz-lcoTiqtlWNlfAqdWiwQalHDTEwDDXKg6WK4JNw8kmJevVVbLul-Y7tXTTe5oUa65125mY9-P7I3xpLNT1OViScyl6cwS6ZKG35THiOYMj31qVXBiC6uTbm_Pgae-7BVhSSMTmhausDGG1hZ8nxXZ8EVn8H/w640-h492/RUHU1_crop_perched_111112.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Rufous Hummingbird</b> - Millers Falls, Franklin Co. MA. November 11th, 2022. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Found by Bruce Kanash at his home, ID ultimately verified by Master bander Anthony Hill. </i></span></p></div><p>Quite naturally I was interested in taking a look at such a rarity, especially since I pass through Millers Falls almost every day and Bruce's house happened to be on one of my regular biking riding routes! Bruce was extremely generous with his time which was fortunate because the bird itself proved to be rather skittish. In the event, I visited on Nov 10th and 11th but never saw the hummingbird whilst standing outside. At the time, it could only be viewed from inside Bruce's home but thanks to Bruce I managed nice views on both days and secured some shots of the spread tail on Nov 11th. Certainly the images of the spread tail showed a moderate notch in R2 pointing towards a <b>Rufous Hummingbird </b>and I messaged Bruce with my suspicions. A few days later, on the 14th, Bruce was courteous enough to call and let me know that Anthony Hill had just successfully caught and banded the bird and identified it as hatching-year <b>Rufous</b>. Moreover, the bird was in good condition weighing in at 4 grams and returned to the feeders straight after banding! As the weather worsens and night time temperatures drop to well below freezing, it should certainly be interesting to see how long the hummer sticks around at Bruce's home. On a personal level, I'm extremely grateful to Bruce for sharing his hummingbird, and his hospitality. </p><p>Around 45 confirmed records of <b>Rufous Hummingbird </b>currently exist for Massachusetts with others pending.<b> </b>However, reports from Franklin County appear to be exceedingly rare with only one other verified record to date, a single bird that came to a feeder in Ashfield in Nov/Dec 2004. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtvf2Uupq0kiLxFXpIsE3i5frz-TUgMmPfTF4As8E5fuu4YH-KhKuK8LmwafnsP1P2mZG4mMfaLCK45sqYV4ADk1ZwBVGFRyWGz8B0VTq9Lxf3lkJj0xuNa8ICyhWcGsWUYP_UTqXAXVKTXgO-MvaHgsTav_qIN8CwSipL5O3fvQJXbdc1eHdTMuo/s751/RTLoons2_crop_111622.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="751" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtvf2Uupq0kiLxFXpIsE3i5frz-TUgMmPfTF4As8E5fuu4YH-KhKuK8LmwafnsP1P2mZG4mMfaLCK45sqYV4ADk1ZwBVGFRyWGz8B0VTq9Lxf3lkJj0xuNa8ICyhWcGsWUYP_UTqXAXVKTXgO-MvaHgsTav_qIN8CwSipL5O3fvQJXbdc1eHdTMuo/w640-h462/RTLoons2_crop_111622.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Red-throated Loons</b> (3) - Turner's Falls Rod and Gun club, Franklin Co., MA. November 16th, 2022.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyTe2Mxfx6qEknU8W19TI03iAPJWOZW_VAkGR231mDXFuWkiUToQnbnX-YR4ymvDbCFfYTIrzq9bbE_WPTWHqPKKP0CHG3Znv1brOEjlGkxHOx4oMoOXTCXV-JWwh99Y9VuIcPsGaZV8oZqhLDEwue29KwyZbAg8VquMrMHNCYMsvJeZzL9ZdtLgF/s878/RNGrebe_Crop_111622.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="878" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyTe2Mxfx6qEknU8W19TI03iAPJWOZW_VAkGR231mDXFuWkiUToQnbnX-YR4ymvDbCFfYTIrzq9bbE_WPTWHqPKKP0CHG3Znv1brOEjlGkxHOx4oMoOXTCXV-JWwh99Y9VuIcPsGaZV8oZqhLDEwue29KwyZbAg8VquMrMHNCYMsvJeZzL9ZdtLgF/w640-h462/RNGrebe_Crop_111622.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Red-necked Grebe </b><span>(juvenile) - Lake Mattawa, Franklin Co., MA. November 16th, 2022.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">November in the Pioneer Valley often has a treat or two in store aside from rarities. After a fairly low key migration of waterfowl through our area it was good to finally see some </span><b style="text-align: left;">Red-throated Loons</b><span style="text-align: left;"> in Turner's Falls on the 16th, part of a mini fall-out and a result of inclement weather, with a wider spread arrival of <b>Red-throated Loons</b> in southern Vermont and the Berkshires. Many of these, much like the Turner's loons, moved on quickly as the weather conditions eased somewhat during mid-morning. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The same day also saw 13 </span><b style="text-align: left;">Buffleheads</b><span style="text-align: left;"> and a </span><b style="text-align: left;">Surf Scoter</b><span style="text-align: left;"> (immature male) at Turner's Falls and a </span><b style="text-align: left;">Red-necked Grebe</b><span style="text-align: left;"> at Lake Mattawa. </span></p><p>In terms of passerines, well this does seem to have been a very good month locally for <b>Winter Wrens</b> with multiple sightings at Northfield (Caldwell Road), Gill (North Cross Road), Barton Cove, Turner's Falls and Montague at the very least. It's not a rare species but numbers of fall migrants do appear to fluctuate from year to year, and this seems to be a good late fall period for them.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IcYZAvrHCikSB3Cdh8UFdFSbd1ydAD8krQ0CTcIGD-PKENT7lLmZPdfdyBonWJoW8rP0ksCe-Iqz_baFHfXUROUsHmGftRwi58Wus1wG0fCtUCw9AamTysqfDE_0TQ4HEFm0y0YHZIVoBr5MRMKgTDtuEFCfQIKiKjqGmhMKoTHehpUe5JNxYpzc/s1256/WIWR_crop_111722.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1256" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IcYZAvrHCikSB3Cdh8UFdFSbd1ydAD8krQ0CTcIGD-PKENT7lLmZPdfdyBonWJoW8rP0ksCe-Iqz_baFHfXUROUsHmGftRwi58Wus1wG0fCtUCw9AamTysqfDE_0TQ4HEFm0y0YHZIVoBr5MRMKgTDtuEFCfQIKiKjqGmhMKoTHehpUe5JNxYpzc/w640-h470/WIWR_crop_111722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Winter Wren</b> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. November 17th. 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkDeu6x9RYYz7oH5c1WlDQRdG6XvSOxhZjVmqV-9MQFCFSAuZYHMbthxKquGiC0TEVp6C4nFw1xTvwAe5OngAADepuQI3DPGhvw6Ko-5gvD1jTuLwN_WiF3M-2U-3IgK9rG1YVWrTAu8OzBJKO9BvzUR8wb6DN0Ys1eSGlPM2nffX5Bz1aUpV7Gaz/s1389/SNBU1_crop_111622.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1389" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkDeu6x9RYYz7oH5c1WlDQRdG6XvSOxhZjVmqV-9MQFCFSAuZYHMbthxKquGiC0TEVp6C4nFw1xTvwAe5OngAADepuQI3DPGhvw6Ko-5gvD1jTuLwN_WiF3M-2U-3IgK9rG1YVWrTAu8OzBJKO9BvzUR8wb6DN0Ys1eSGlPM2nffX5Bz1aUpV7Gaz/w640-h466/SNBU1_crop_111622.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Snow Buntings</b> - Turner's Falls Rod and Gun club, Franklin Co., MA. November 16th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Six in total and nice to see a few on the ground instead of the usual flyovers!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HsYgRUByBKTmQYNwt3zWS8boSzGzKqjXIDMH5TmCoyJv6ei6Sn2rX5XCt3EsYhWSQasJ7YSVfK3XcUHRuRLUuHkO62CECF-0Uu1d2YMzkQrB9mCNvwcMkId4rzP1QfhqqOQW7epXQuP2fpXDnHigqZ9er3OUWaqoPmsBVc5CZQyK0YCBy4PQdCJm/s865/BarredOwl_crop_111122.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="865" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HsYgRUByBKTmQYNwt3zWS8boSzGzKqjXIDMH5TmCoyJv6ei6Sn2rX5XCt3EsYhWSQasJ7YSVfK3XcUHRuRLUuHkO62CECF-0Uu1d2YMzkQrB9mCNvwcMkId4rzP1QfhqqOQW7epXQuP2fpXDnHigqZ9er3OUWaqoPmsBVc5CZQyK0YCBy4PQdCJm/w400-h316/BarredOwl_crop_111122.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Barred Owl</b> - with prey, possibly Eastern Chipmunk. Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 13th, 2022. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Good numbers of Barred Owls in Gill/Northfield/Bernardston this fall including, sadly, several road killed on I-91 </span><span>and Rt 10.</span><span> </span></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></span></div><i><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-54125035183912082842022-11-01T21:27:00.005-04:002022-11-02T11:53:53.246-04:00MA - a Purple Gallinule in Longmeadow<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-k2P9KssFRuos6WrrS22osL9BwvP7RJjrKjHqPyOGvM4KrbvaGS0Rbx_cFoo89cH1zIyoKCsCimYpw0mpl_mATVBXEpQvmxquUh8le9RQU_OBSKnSeGbp1p2eR7yDWre5N74OuWwZEU6nNSO2OReLXt0ajv0q6HxCN4fQz3foI5XJI37T1mp9q8d/s1672/PUGA5_crop_102522.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1672" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-k2P9KssFRuos6WrrS22osL9BwvP7RJjrKjHqPyOGvM4KrbvaGS0Rbx_cFoo89cH1zIyoKCsCimYpw0mpl_mATVBXEpQvmxquUh8le9RQU_OBSKnSeGbp1p2eR7yDWre5N74OuWwZEU6nNSO2OReLXt0ajv0q6HxCN4fQz3foI5XJI37T1mp9q8d/w640-h406/PUGA5_crop_102522.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Purple Gallinule</b> (juvenile) - Longmeadow Flats. Hampden Co., MA. October 25th, 2022.</span></div><p></p><p>Late October often brings a really good, memorable bird to the Pioneer Valley and this year was no exception gifting a <b>Purple Gallinule</b> to the Fannie Stebbins Refuge at Longmeadow Flats. This fascinating record first came to light when Jean Langevin drew attention to it via Facebook on the Western Mass Photographers page. Though aloof at times it lingered for the best part of a week at one of the most heavily used public spots on the refuge allowing dozens of birders to catch up with this genuinely rare bird for the Pioneer Valley. It was juvenile much like a previous record from the same location and on remarkably similar dates, October 24th and 25th, 1978! I don't do a lot of bird chasing to the lower Pioneer Valley but the gallinule had some appeal and I managed to squeeze in ten minutes with the bird at the public gazebo on Pondside Road on October 25th. Having seen quite a few Purple Gallinules over the years, most recently on visits to Central America, I don't recall any of those birds being quite so fearless and showy as this smart, personable juvenile - I'm glad I made the trip!</p><p>Over the years we've had late October vagrants from all the points of the compass, some being state level rarities while others occur annually in coastal Massachusetts but are notably rare in the interior part of the state, for example the <b>Purple Sandpiper</b> found by Ted Gilliland at Holyoke Dam on Oct 30th, 2020. From the far west, the <b>Pacific-slope Flycatcher </b>in Hadley stood out as being exceptional. First<b> </b>found by Joe Olivero on Oct 23rd, 2019, this bright empid was courteous enough to stick around for over a month allowing hundreds of birders to catch up with an exciting state first. Another obliging flycatcher, a <b>Scissor-tailed Flycatcher</b>, was found by Jeff Johnstone on Oct 22nd, 2009 at Orange Airport and stayed for several days to the delight of many, including me! And October 26th, 2011 brought a <b>Pink-footed Goose</b> to Turner's Falls. At the time it was only the fourth state record but of course that species has become much more frequent in Massachusetts since. </p><p><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJibX30UUXOZDYlbRg5wQIIyYskzMRRZqbb00QJpS-5K2EF3IHntjmks9CnxPaVQwIDQ6fl448Hrp573YUYkAjg9pTGlY-9VBVF--iMaF7TuAQnDph8caZC6fCOSV3X1BX4RvWLcgg21RvP2M70jjqh5WQFbZYcq9zRhiFSgvLeQovdlO-jTX4afLZ/s640/PSFL1_111519_0O7A0517BLOG.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="640" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJibX30UUXOZDYlbRg5wQIIyYskzMRRZqbb00QJpS-5K2EF3IHntjmks9CnxPaVQwIDQ6fl448Hrp573YUYkAjg9pTGlY-9VBVF--iMaF7TuAQnDph8caZC6fCOSV3X1BX4RvWLcgg21RvP2M70jjqh5WQFbZYcq9zRhiFSgvLeQovdlO-jTX4afLZ/w400-h310/PSFL1_111519_0O7A0517BLOG.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Pacific-slope Flycatcher</b> - Huntington Road, Hadley, Hampshire Co., MA. Nov 2019. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span>New to Massachusetts </span><span>found by Joe Olivero on Oct 23rd, 2019. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32yitEFOvSaJDqL_Faf9STHsh7ECY5qmcONwMYXXFEV7WGZciCYqEvsrx-m3xlRBoaXEut05irtTSjk-TzksVLi5nMJv5e5qbFMZ84C-lGTaa7v18kYta8zswZJ5PPGDwac8IxzCj9fKJj9CMGDSe9zslLaOWQzUmp6qzPpNzVIIDR4eymLJHDvq2/s354/MA_Scissortail_crop__102209_blog.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="354" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32yitEFOvSaJDqL_Faf9STHsh7ECY5qmcONwMYXXFEV7WGZciCYqEvsrx-m3xlRBoaXEut05irtTSjk-TzksVLi5nMJv5e5qbFMZ84C-lGTaa7v18kYta8zswZJ5PPGDwac8IxzCj9fKJj9CMGDSe9zslLaOWQzUmp6qzPpNzVIIDR4eymLJHDvq2/w400-h281/MA_Scissortail_crop__102209_blog.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Scissor-tailed Flycatcher</b> - Orange Airport, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2009. </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32yitEFOvSaJDqL_Faf9STHsh7ECY5qmcONwMYXXFEV7WGZciCYqEvsrx-m3xlRBoaXEut05irtTSjk-TzksVLi5nMJv5e5qbFMZ84C-lGTaa7v18kYta8zswZJ5PPGDwac8IxzCj9fKJj9CMGDSe9zslLaOWQzUmp6qzPpNzVIIDR4eymLJHDvq2/s354/MA_Scissortail_crop__102209_blog.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqm256EBFMUeQ9slnO2rZujIIX5p5yNnYS-sYWT-m4nfmYAgfqeL3RDtnEqWRYCjRdWJ6D1lXYUzm5K5LqPrV9ZXvmMlmxnmIeTyhh28bcFtJzoE1lyjcy05JM4SOhUIEZLatv6wNkKXLegQ8ipOaWFyxtV8OSJGAVIk_dsaNb0Mgv0hppdOKR_q9/s640/PFGoosebest1_102611_MG_0062_blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="640" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqm256EBFMUeQ9slnO2rZujIIX5p5yNnYS-sYWT-m4nfmYAgfqeL3RDtnEqWRYCjRdWJ6D1lXYUzm5K5LqPrV9ZXvmMlmxnmIeTyhh28bcFtJzoE1lyjcy05JM4SOhUIEZLatv6wNkKXLegQ8ipOaWFyxtV8OSJGAVIk_dsaNb0Mgv0hppdOKR_q9/w400-h234/PFGoosebest1_102611_MG_0062_blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Pink-footed Goose</b> - Turner's Falls Power Canal, Franklin Co., MA. October 26th, 2011. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span>The fourth record </span><span>for Massachusetts. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrjIBJ159_S623gB2S3U0QNIlNZOC67lgmG5HDFRmj8yvn63rqgPQhXGs035NwA_TxSjpflxyIA4AAbItjsQ1SDq4aP3YG6fN_ZwzOkZrL2-8kRT6sydyEKALEJ_yF69gfxzcuJRPRo3XeMhwcrBKNCT8aqmC52pqrA2nTUtw3AjJOO0y95hjxIzF/s1617/PUGA3_crop__102522.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1617" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrjIBJ159_S623gB2S3U0QNIlNZOC67lgmG5HDFRmj8yvn63rqgPQhXGs035NwA_TxSjpflxyIA4AAbItjsQ1SDq4aP3YG6fN_ZwzOkZrL2-8kRT6sydyEKALEJ_yF69gfxzcuJRPRo3XeMhwcrBKNCT8aqmC52pqrA2nTUtw3AjJOO0y95hjxIzF/w640-h394/PUGA3_crop__102522.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcBJd1lcwdlleTw4ZWee2PmXK5EJzEQkTriaWYi26waPCRT70abiSKGTDqIBtDxcY6QyP3EiVlEE5w8jN8cip0-_YBfCKDMpzRprgbl3Y8jNbzR2bQI_l5v2KenxQmtiSArPP9Yg3aYYPK8zMDg6haNBFX-CayeL4RWe1c3vywzS_OhpzFjnpO6Sl/s1601/PUGA6_crop_102522.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1601" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcBJd1lcwdlleTw4ZWee2PmXK5EJzEQkTriaWYi26waPCRT70abiSKGTDqIBtDxcY6QyP3EiVlEE5w8jN8cip0-_YBfCKDMpzRprgbl3Y8jNbzR2bQI_l5v2KenxQmtiSArPP9Yg3aYYPK8zMDg6haNBFX-CayeL4RWe1c3vywzS_OhpzFjnpO6Sl/w640-h414/PUGA6_crop_102522.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Purple Gallinule</b><span> (juvenile) - Longmeadow Flats. Hampden Co., MA. October 25th, 2022.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span>First noted by Jean Langevin on October 21st, 2022. </span></span></div><br /> <p></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-43231542873063347532022-10-18T12:22:00.002-04:002022-10-18T12:24:48.316-04:00MA - Nelson's Sparrow in Hadley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGFiUlVJsdsQCtJeTGod1l1ri79ogYO1LS8G52LcEMZo2Vi5L--xT8Dy8H7kylSvTa4fHmvi59jpqMsAwbUqtJ9utFbwBUsAFGDsWge1G5nqoKV-8yIIoRgCE6ZovQDVrR8OGccFZtWCh42DNIgiAiSBWukKUJxhZR_TLyzd8EE3QiJca9475tZnF/s1148/NESP6_crop_101722.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1148" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGFiUlVJsdsQCtJeTGod1l1ri79ogYO1LS8G52LcEMZo2Vi5L--xT8Dy8H7kylSvTa4fHmvi59jpqMsAwbUqtJ9utFbwBUsAFGDsWge1G5nqoKV-8yIIoRgCE6ZovQDVrR8OGccFZtWCh42DNIgiAiSBWukKUJxhZR_TLyzd8EE3QiJca9475tZnF/w640-h598/NESP6_crop_101722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Nelson's Sparrow</b> - Hadley Pump House, Hampshire Co., MA. October 17th, 2022.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A long stayer and super find for Janice Jorgensen on October 11th, 2022. </span></div><p>Long time, no blog feature...indeed it's been a while. A busy period of tour leading in late 2022 through May 2023 followed by a few life changes at home left me with little time for the blog lately. But even so, today I was very appreciative to see a relatively local <b>Nelson's Sparrow</b>, admittedly not my find but a Nelson's Sparrow in the Pioneer Valley is well worth the 40 minute drive from home and looking back at my records, it's a cool thirteen years since I last saw one! Indeed, the last Nelson's I saw in the valley was pretty interesting in the sense that it was quite late (October 20th, 2009) but also showed characteristics of the coastal form<i> <b>A. n. subvirgata. </b></i></p><p>Today's <b>Nelson's Sparrow</b> looked like a nice example of one of the interior forms <b style="font-style: italic;">A. n. interior/alterus </b>as noted by the many observers visiting the site since October 11th. Janice Jorgensen originally found the bird and Scott Surner neatly followed up her observation with good, to-the-point, directions and advice. Personally I was amazed that the bird would still be present after a 'cool' seven days of staging in the same area but I was super happy that it stuck around. The venue was the Hadley Pumping Station, a site I always enjoyed visiting when we lived in Amherst from 2005 to 2010. Good numbers of Song, Swamp and White-throated Sparrows were present too and the Nelson's would pop into view periodically, often showing very well, and sometimes too close to focus my 400 mm lens.....overall, a delightful experience.</p><p><i><b><br /></b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lft-ubo5o92vH4vtHyM0v2jUz3WWyXdoRm9BmA0tJNkHKE9WbQedaTwDKXVGbiJaIIe2tObEuk-6OOvrc7TJ5Ntqw6inxRkKvBSm3gEnah76dulLunvQN40woCxGSNer3mD58mCbBh73JK9tbp0hoSIf-hHtT7orhPJoGeZW5jMJOhqyZm2WXF3C/s1086/NESP4_crop_101722.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1086" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lft-ubo5o92vH4vtHyM0v2jUz3WWyXdoRm9BmA0tJNkHKE9WbQedaTwDKXVGbiJaIIe2tObEuk-6OOvrc7TJ5Ntqw6inxRkKvBSm3gEnah76dulLunvQN40woCxGSNer3mD58mCbBh73JK9tbp0hoSIf-hHtT7orhPJoGeZW5jMJOhqyZm2WXF3C/w640-h502/NESP4_crop_101722.JPG" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEe-bG1QP2SJnzp2o69teb0KaZvHx54UwRtOSuUzvHMLQ3c4dAR0uczZfcKoJi95su6qxS2icpL3U6vFi2XwVx5R_j6ALjhI7bELeYCvxUjKIivABr5IBFvHQeoKtJOj6r56GsAHjlRzHNsMQq94qjKlmYtfdCTuwJ0xV6hYoLAM0Z6BFm1z5E__J/s1047/NESP3_croP_101722.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1047" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEe-bG1QP2SJnzp2o69teb0KaZvHx54UwRtOSuUzvHMLQ3c4dAR0uczZfcKoJi95su6qxS2icpL3U6vFi2XwVx5R_j6ALjhI7bELeYCvxUjKIivABr5IBFvHQeoKtJOj6r56GsAHjlRzHNsMQq94qjKlmYtfdCTuwJ0xV6hYoLAM0Z6BFm1z5E__J/w640-h504/NESP3_croP_101722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aJUfjOHw2gpp65DtV1RN1NUmAc83kUlCvg1fTJPRo-2qmsC1MW31NS6Z04WVf7RQp1T6pPH_XmaqQcnsFgkizvVtPhnIvYW3pZx5GXOh9vqmkK2z0UzBrCAM7wwyD0kq5h4zRMxsYDmtg7JL_054BDqFy70S4PInDOSUGJhfIF7ZWkHgD5m_X0E5/s1067/NESP2_crop_101722.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1067" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aJUfjOHw2gpp65DtV1RN1NUmAc83kUlCvg1fTJPRo-2qmsC1MW31NS6Z04WVf7RQp1T6pPH_XmaqQcnsFgkizvVtPhnIvYW3pZx5GXOh9vqmkK2z0UzBrCAM7wwyD0kq5h4zRMxsYDmtg7JL_054BDqFy70S4PInDOSUGJhfIF7ZWkHgD5m_X0E5/w640-h522/NESP2_crop_101722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8FWWPK2Y1bxVyYvRbEcpSo4t2hsD6NtdogkpE5zR_JabeBQfaayl-W-erk2Yt7zRL9ISSZGooi98st4Z7m9zrajfOaxeQGyB5lzRio5dJ48M4z23VvCq-3frXK8qavO9_-lEXB1OWbaLFYNjeM0smTNI1sQ0Q7ACdxmGg-LcEFgcDCgOssHyL100/s1285/NESP1_crop_101722.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1285" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8FWWPK2Y1bxVyYvRbEcpSo4t2hsD6NtdogkpE5zR_JabeBQfaayl-W-erk2Yt7zRL9ISSZGooi98st4Z7m9zrajfOaxeQGyB5lzRio5dJ48M4z23VvCq-3frXK8qavO9_-lEXB1OWbaLFYNjeM0smTNI1sQ0Q7ACdxmGg-LcEFgcDCgOssHyL100/w640-h486/NESP1_crop_101722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-style: normal;">Nelson's Sparrow</b><span style="font-style: normal;"> - Hadley Pump House, Hampshire Co., MA. October 17th, 2022.</span></span></div></i><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGitCkIouO6_sPVjx86X4Zur29w_Pq_JBnwh0pHz0mjyBvAsg3XX3sP4y_xgAusr-J1266LwJNniLRGOigbI2JQ1N9hWHjt9xaR0anfsfdPBiS47ckME8d2FKqf0dIRMqToLibC_G7IvlqCXFtFjyQfoeQyUc-6Be24Z_p3NLW2nVKlRlK3YP7alB/s1000/MA_Nels4_subvirgata_102009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1000" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGitCkIouO6_sPVjx86X4Zur29w_Pq_JBnwh0pHz0mjyBvAsg3XX3sP4y_xgAusr-J1266LwJNniLRGOigbI2JQ1N9hWHjt9xaR0anfsfdPBiS47ckME8d2FKqf0dIRMqToLibC_G7IvlqCXFtFjyQfoeQyUc-6Be24Z_p3NLW2nVKlRlK3YP7alB/w400-h309/MA_Nels4_subvirgata_102009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Nelson's Sparrow</b> - Hadley Honey Pot, Hampshire Co., MA. October 20th, 2009.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just reflecting on the last Nelson's Sparrow I saw in the Pioneer Valley, a nice example of the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span> <span style="text-align: left;">coastal form</span><span style="text-align: left;"><i> </i><i style="font-weight: bold;">A. n. subvirgata. </i></span></span><span style="text-align: left;">This bird was in a fallow, weedy field next the Hadley Transfer Station. </span></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVo3oWRuuEGyHf1m2e-GKL6NoON03mxW788krSLKrC4dmB9Hb4rZBsTjHZm7xZmA87AIr_lUJKCkYmR0Y7YiNFLJ-GBPsN86v16_En0UZwDRGAYkN9FLqf10UqiEZbQh3QYXeKAcMXGJ7HxBR0pXS8k1-2qgHQvEr5UTfivdt8qRw9hYbwgEcRZS9/s4026/Pump%20House%20Pond_crop_101722.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="4026" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVo3oWRuuEGyHf1m2e-GKL6NoON03mxW788krSLKrC4dmB9Hb4rZBsTjHZm7xZmA87AIr_lUJKCkYmR0Y7YiNFLJ-GBPsN86v16_En0UZwDRGAYkN9FLqf10UqiEZbQh3QYXeKAcMXGJ7HxBR0pXS8k1-2qgHQvEr5UTfivdt8qRw9hYbwgEcRZS9/w640-h434/Pump%20House%20Pond_crop_101722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The favored habitat of the current <b>Nelson's Sparrow</b> at the Hadley Pump House off Mount Warner Road. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vOh6wQ48Ei7N7ulKLFbZY0nGUHvIW5bzX-jpxksC4-jLMBGiAXu20EWqJxauJIuBJ-sf5bCqMKj0QmgEJPGOe1HlWNQh_uBhwkw10NCvbHCgomrFTcmLod-1mfYNw4b6wNLUEOOrpR4svGAh2GLAzlYscFyt2f8-DhxDhV1oj6U80oU4Jg42neRJ/s4032/Mount%20Warner_crop_101722.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2287" data-original-width="4032" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vOh6wQ48Ei7N7ulKLFbZY0nGUHvIW5bzX-jpxksC4-jLMBGiAXu20EWqJxauJIuBJ-sf5bCqMKj0QmgEJPGOe1HlWNQh_uBhwkw10NCvbHCgomrFTcmLod-1mfYNw4b6wNLUEOOrpR4svGAh2GLAzlYscFyt2f8-DhxDhV1oj6U80oU4Jg42neRJ/w640-h364/Mount%20Warner_crop_101722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-37512367735374225952021-09-28T21:09:00.002-04:002021-09-28T21:09:53.957-04:00MA - another Mourning Warbler!<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3gy7xV1-T9o87miRQRZr9gMZHl5iPAywNKOWJEbAU8q8VtDI5VImAvackzoWfovqmjsA7nPC0q5UfyIqxj3zi_YqqxbaAuKVU2RGamTevCsG1NIvpOEg-xGy3lRV97xj3SqQB-8qjYo/s2048/MOWA1_crop_092821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3gy7xV1-T9o87miRQRZr9gMZHl5iPAywNKOWJEbAU8q8VtDI5VImAvackzoWfovqmjsA7nPC0q5UfyIqxj3zi_YqqxbaAuKVU2RGamTevCsG1NIvpOEg-xGy3lRV97xj3SqQB-8qjYo/w640-h488/MOWA1_crop_092821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Mourning Warbler</b> - Deerfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. September 28th, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p>The Caldwell Road fields were admittedly quiet this morning although <b>Common Yellowthroats</b> were still present in good numbers along with <b>Lincoln's Sparrows</b> and <b>Red-eyed Vireos</b>. In the evening I found myself with enough time to try some birding around Deerfield. I don't normally search for passerine migrants in late afternoon/early evening but the calm, muggy and 'buggy' conditions looked promising and I soon found warblers insect gleaning around the overgrown dirt mounds in Deerfield's meadows. More <b>Common Yellowthroats</b>, five or so <b>Tennessee Warblers</b> and then a sharp, hard <b style="font-style: italic;">'pik', </b>clearly an interesting warbler, but which one? With my mind still wrapped around <b>Connecticut Warblers</b> I wondered about an alternate call for that species but it didn't seem right. After some patient waiting, the bird started calling again and eventually gave reasonable views in the evening light. It was a <b>Mourning Warbler</b> and an interesting looking bird to boot with a bold eye-ring, gray-brown hood and long, yellow undertail coverts, all similar features to those outlined for <b>Connecticut Warbler</b>. Either way, with the ID established I can admit to being thrilled with my second local <b>Mourning Warbler</b> of the fall. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhee3H_W9wBtlueC0kiGIe206uvQq2VVkQTqno7Prc9KLbaPKMQR8h5oWZfdnIzpPuvfT08wGq4mD_EZermhg3ba3ELwRCYhwJlKye1RtgssRhAEQK36F0arKMwdk3gA_Esa7ilxOrhnJU/s2048/MOWA2_crop_092821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="2048" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhee3H_W9wBtlueC0kiGIe206uvQq2VVkQTqno7Prc9KLbaPKMQR8h5oWZfdnIzpPuvfT08wGq4mD_EZermhg3ba3ELwRCYhwJlKye1RtgssRhAEQK36F0arKMwdk3gA_Esa7ilxOrhnJU/w640-h466/MOWA2_crop_092821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQoC0yx3n6g2T8OBllrIv21RbBE6rWdMTtf6a3jX1SnfGtBxKHmAGasNgxBURz1LkJGu-HDKXsmjWSXhpi2Ap-Hs-Il3BoUTnLx16P-f333Iec6BTsuZXltqnb_ZHh_MsEISVDAKp_AU/s2048/MOWA3_crop_092821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQoC0yx3n6g2T8OBllrIv21RbBE6rWdMTtf6a3jX1SnfGtBxKHmAGasNgxBURz1LkJGu-HDKXsmjWSXhpi2Ap-Hs-Il3BoUTnLx16P-f333Iec6BTsuZXltqnb_ZHh_MsEISVDAKp_AU/w640-h480/MOWA3_crop_092821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-10842124667884860612021-09-27T21:11:00.001-04:002021-09-28T20:40:16.002-04:00MA - a little more from Northfield<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oV1QYPOsR4AiNrmu6tQSU1PE8NOKCRQRGAf4W8uT6VLdvUwOEnT5Aoc4oayenPDDbQfhjGVpu_IEvzNGEMoCiAJGb__RelDvRhDbpopYcY1v4ZWEHUoSGw69L3j-Ltg45u6CYtAG4ZU/s2048/REVI_crop_091921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oV1QYPOsR4AiNrmu6tQSU1PE8NOKCRQRGAf4W8uT6VLdvUwOEnT5Aoc4oayenPDDbQfhjGVpu_IEvzNGEMoCiAJGb__RelDvRhDbpopYcY1v4ZWEHUoSGw69L3j-Ltg45u6CYtAG4ZU/w640-h476/REVI_crop_091921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red-eyed Vireo</b> - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 19th, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p>It's late September and the last few days have seen glorious autumnal days and cool, refreshingly comfortable nights. But the mostly stable air has allowed many migrants to pass through our area uninterrupted and this morning in particular there was a small but notable visible migration of southbound warblers along the Connecticut River in Northfield. Most were <b>Blackpoll</b> and <b>Yellow-rumped Warblers</b> but I was also able to pick out a couple of <b>Tennessee Warblers </b>and a single <b>Nashville Warbler</b>. Even better, I tallied my 7th <b>Connecticut Warbler</b> of the month when a single flew over giving buzzy <b><i>'zeet'</i></b> flight calls before landing at the edge of a belt of deciduous trees and giving a loud, emphatic <i style="font-weight: bold;">'pwik' </i>call, difficult to describe but distinctive once learned. Unfortunately, this particular <b>Connecticut Warbler</b> got away without being documented but I was very comfortable with what I heard, comfortable enough in fact to add it to the six I've already seen and heard in the Caldwell Road fields in September; photos and audio of two, plus audio of at least two more unseen, and three others heard well enough to be certain but simply too fast to be recorded. However, I do get the impression that we're well past the peak for <b>Connecticut Warblers</b> and this morning's bird was my first since the well photographed bird on Sep 16th. The middle part of the month did host a very good showing of fairly late <b>Yellow Warblers</b> with five still present on the 19th. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-tw1n4_9S_omBQEwlrRY4QOv8cEjC6lltJyX9rHLSfifJaMu-wjERewXjfM4xLIhwz7CoZ8O87MyiZnlax0iOtZcabc2tpZJ2UgmgKd1rdbzMYk5GDXqyPmw0zrzHH6d52AS9OBI6oM/s2048/YEWA2_crop_091921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-tw1n4_9S_omBQEwlrRY4QOv8cEjC6lltJyX9rHLSfifJaMu-wjERewXjfM4xLIhwz7CoZ8O87MyiZnlax0iOtZcabc2tpZJ2UgmgKd1rdbzMYk5GDXqyPmw0zrzHH6d52AS9OBI6oM/w640-h488/YEWA2_crop_091921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Yellow Warbler</b> - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 19th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHEN7Kijo3NWLy2Vwo8HyWYMZOYQNR_Y_zovuVMNKItyAYmSfIFQmzod6_qJEorm2_aIxBsWRV_sbBM4H9_u-uPgQ-1ArArLkUq-2JDExyzgZnjGk9yQKaUnapdtC1ljmfEu0_zY8fBM/s2048/YEWA1_crop_091921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="2048" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHEN7Kijo3NWLy2Vwo8HyWYMZOYQNR_Y_zovuVMNKItyAYmSfIFQmzod6_qJEorm2_aIxBsWRV_sbBM4H9_u-uPgQ-1ArArLkUq-2JDExyzgZnjGk9yQKaUnapdtC1ljmfEu0_zY8fBM/w640-h468/YEWA1_crop_091921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Yellow Warbler</b> - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 19th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZ8-p_zP2Lc6TzT1mSzZfktQRKqUA1b1s_3y7GiRFoT_cObK9ILq3hjgsBreNzB2DQLG6F5B5KcHwafXDos45QZkz_oUJv2r_F_cHLga7EyKwWOQTRNrcdFLnW2AD_33ouFpJmVF5n0c/s2048/BHVI_crop_092021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2048" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZ8-p_zP2Lc6TzT1mSzZfktQRKqUA1b1s_3y7GiRFoT_cObK9ILq3hjgsBreNzB2DQLG6F5B5KcHwafXDos45QZkz_oUJv2r_F_cHLga7EyKwWOQTRNrcdFLnW2AD_33ouFpJmVF5n0c/w640-h470/BHVI_crop_092021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Blue-headed Vireo</b> - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 21st, 2021.</span></div><p><b>Red-eyed Vireos</b> have certainly been present and passing through in numbers, often in tight flocks of 3 - 4 birds but I've yet to have any luck with a <b>Philadelphia Vireo </b>this fall. </p><p>While the warbler numbers may have been dwindling we are in the midst of several major waves of <b>White-throated Sparrows</b>, the first of which occurred on Sep 19th with 80-100 in the fields around Caldwell Road. With them have come modest numbers of <b>Savannah</b>, <b>Swamp</b> and <b>Lincoln's Sparrows</b> though today (Sep 27th) saw a major incursion of migrant <b>Song Sparrows</b> as well. Meanwhile, I did hear and sound record a lonely <b>Dickcissel</b> on North Cross Road, Gill on Sep 17th but decided against entering the cornfield where is was feeding to try for photos. <b>Dickcissel</b> is a pretty scarce migrant in Franklin County but September is probable the single most productive month to find them. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-69940078349763015762021-09-21T21:24:00.001-04:002021-09-23T20:33:45.801-04:00MA - more Connecticut Warblers<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL52EWgzGB1PThZKGBaa8CTr07GvKkbNzD7CwtU4xOMp_LE1JyP-AIhAW843WCGtHhwrgviQQ67pmaoIQgOswiM_Xpgi9rIngrn7UAe7zOlul90cgq2Db00APFYwSLx6E2e__ii9KY3oA/s2048/CTWA8_crop_091621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL52EWgzGB1PThZKGBaa8CTr07GvKkbNzD7CwtU4xOMp_LE1JyP-AIhAW843WCGtHhwrgviQQ67pmaoIQgOswiM_Xpgi9rIngrn7UAe7zOlul90cgq2Db00APFYwSLx6E2e__ii9KY3oA/w640-h426/CTWA8_crop_091621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Connecticut Warbler</b> - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2021.</span></div><p>A high pressure system currently settled over much of the region brought cooler temperatures with chilly, foggy dawns and delightful fall-like days. September is surely one of the most beautiful months of the year to be out birding! Such conditions generally don't see the larger scale fall-outs associated with more active weather systems but often see a steady turnover of newly arrived migrants along with the departure of the few remaining summer migrants. This particular month I've been engrossed in the day to day changes playing out in the fields near the Northfield transfer station no more than five minutes from my home. The highlight has unquestionably been the discovery of several more <b>Connecticut Warblers</b>. After the personal excitement surrounding the bird that showed so well on Sep 10th, I would never have imagined being gifted even better views of a different bird on Sep 16th. The latter bird showed off and posed around me for a solid five minutes having flown in totally unsolicited following a <b>'Trail's'</b> <b>Flycatcher</b> and a <b>Tennessee Warbler. </b>And, much like the <b>Connecticut Warbler</b> that I saw in the same fields on the 10th, it seemed to be naturally inquisitive about my presence in the hedgerow as the images appear to show. While I was watching this bird I'm pretty sure another <b>Connecticut Warbler </b>called from farther down the hedgerow and thirty minutes earlier I succeeded in getting marginal but conclusive audio of a calling bird in a completely different spot in the fields, so certainly a minimum of two <b>Connecticut Warblers</b> present on the 16th. I also heard, but did not see, a further individual bird on the 15th and may have a sound recording of that one too. So, I'm reasonably happy with at least five individual <b>Connecticut Warblers</b> passing through the Caldwell Road fields between Sep 10th - 16th, pretty remarkable considering how difficult the species has been in previous years. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bXV4rK4U6s8ZREG3SorzXhgDxCBuEo-bVXxy-o7EIkIa9BafHfSYXVXn4VS5ay1rDlwq3Y2mWFu_jM-sT-sSCgsPYhroQLDfGiMPu3RAKqey7VOy81jpNJBGQCqbwCWXlZjAc4eBjAc/s2048/CTWA5_crop_091621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2048" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bXV4rK4U6s8ZREG3SorzXhgDxCBuEo-bVXxy-o7EIkIa9BafHfSYXVXn4VS5ay1rDlwq3Y2mWFu_jM-sT-sSCgsPYhroQLDfGiMPu3RAKqey7VOy81jpNJBGQCqbwCWXlZjAc4eBjAc/w640-h516/CTWA5_crop_091621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN6LbUcaBvEfF0FT3xJyS4IkF1TNrs-LoNnGHwuVMjk5NpRBXL1EZslFIZs81vOxvxyenAQpzAZ_SbziJ4F5UqPfUn9LD0r5NTbRn3n_63iiSp4EvKjonsBrvdB27RP9nAdwaggFA16g/s2048/CTWA3_crop_091621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN6LbUcaBvEfF0FT3xJyS4IkF1TNrs-LoNnGHwuVMjk5NpRBXL1EZslFIZs81vOxvxyenAQpzAZ_SbziJ4F5UqPfUn9LD0r5NTbRn3n_63iiSp4EvKjonsBrvdB27RP9nAdwaggFA16g/w640-h482/CTWA3_crop_091621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P3QEdLnEXrPUlwqaNtvhn16kTQMkFvbKD-7tcwMgu5mMMQNAZssSfzYnFOF2n2ioU-4CWbXbV4CDHX62cDg3boJXht8xZK6MRVgzNMDQRN-qjYML7YT_BxRgcAOBHFqyOSLjAwFku-g/s2048/CTWA10a_091621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1383" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P3QEdLnEXrPUlwqaNtvhn16kTQMkFvbKD-7tcwMgu5mMMQNAZssSfzYnFOF2n2ioU-4CWbXbV4CDHX62cDg3boJXht8xZK6MRVgzNMDQRN-qjYML7YT_BxRgcAOBHFqyOSLjAwFku-g/w640-h432/CTWA10a_091621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrj93A0Kd4WwpPsU33fSl_E4DXO__WN5IQsa6f2qbVlPKGSx2F4j6M3DE4mQqinjVEPRxYY36oYv34Ut-Ilq1Prc_FcEWwLChfZiMuH0My18v6ekAkNq8XXdML1fsDvZaBWBT7EF2APE/s2048/CTWA11a_091621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrj93A0Kd4WwpPsU33fSl_E4DXO__WN5IQsa6f2qbVlPKGSx2F4j6M3DE4mQqinjVEPRxYY36oYv34Ut-Ilq1Prc_FcEWwLChfZiMuH0My18v6ekAkNq8XXdML1fsDvZaBWBT7EF2APE/w640-h476/CTWA11a_091621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPb9kqRSe7S7plfZUoTDh2AMZN13muq1xzHLb-jZWSpPNAhamt90aScUjr1pOy0GXSOsTwmS_-PZB27gENggJpM0wA2PYDn8o7ZhOC56_HGbzbtmmOsrLzQO13g40vfp-TOO7iZZGxDDg/s2048/CTWA2_crop_091621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1596" data-original-width="2048" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPb9kqRSe7S7plfZUoTDh2AMZN13muq1xzHLb-jZWSpPNAhamt90aScUjr1pOy0GXSOsTwmS_-PZB27gENggJpM0wA2PYDn8o7ZhOC56_HGbzbtmmOsrLzQO13g40vfp-TOO7iZZGxDDg/w640-h498/CTWA2_crop_091621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBWfyqzICEha9uZb2urmmPoUSWd67npBY5DA7W9qQavalqE3BitPG-SJyV-7V7N8jyrMVLzK9gv1abUMZUQngaiGKi53uLrfnyntWvuN8kAQfPcDHxdxHDHXsq7owUl0edNUxD5gPc-I/s2048/CTWA_Habitat_091021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="2048" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBWfyqzICEha9uZb2urmmPoUSWd67npBY5DA7W9qQavalqE3BitPG-SJyV-7V7N8jyrMVLzK9gv1abUMZUQngaiGKi53uLrfnyntWvuN8kAQfPcDHxdxHDHXsq7owUl0edNUxD5gPc-I/w640-h420/CTWA_Habitat_091021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Habitat favored by migrant<b> Connecticut Warblers</b>, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnnXOfDXcUfyb9KVU4R7EJIddGbjZmnXhq6jKq0m368Rj6RPmPG4xgKsGEiTFqWdlVigJ7VcUmDaUzhpJR63VSGFp3KHWXoCvIpsmfdMC_T2qrn01jv6Dd2PYSSvNpSdcdsYluJy09_U/s2048/CTWA1_crop_091621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="2048" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnnXOfDXcUfyb9KVU4R7EJIddGbjZmnXhq6jKq0m368Rj6RPmPG4xgKsGEiTFqWdlVigJ7VcUmDaUzhpJR63VSGFp3KHWXoCvIpsmfdMC_T2qrn01jv6Dd2PYSSvNpSdcdsYluJy09_U/w640-h470/CTWA1_crop_091621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-78520306752956527232021-09-14T21:08:00.003-04:002021-09-14T21:11:30.017-04:00MA - Mourning Warbler.....Northfield<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67cOs6Mjqo0meS1jioJ6usS21W1lMkzgR5n4_ILce4fkAJvS9hlvBlS5vE1S8vEtXfg-fSu7WP87k-7sT2FATAtOz6Djx5TiN4tlP_drAycleZVeaj8xqkFW14-ExJRa0JxABd4-jBlU/s2048/MOWA2_crop_091421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67cOs6Mjqo0meS1jioJ6usS21W1lMkzgR5n4_ILce4fkAJvS9hlvBlS5vE1S8vEtXfg-fSu7WP87k-7sT2FATAtOz6Djx5TiN4tlP_drAycleZVeaj8xqkFW14-ExJRa0JxABd4-jBlU/w640-h472/MOWA2_crop_091421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Mourning Warbler</b> - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 14th, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p>The last two days have seen a distinct swing towards slightly later season migrants in Northfield with <b>Swainson's</b> <b>Thrush</b>, <b>Northern Waterthrush</b>, <b>Yellow-rumped Warbler </b>and <b>White-throated Sparrow (8)</b> all making their first appearances at Caldwell Road fields. In addition, up to 25 <b>Common Yellowthroats</b> and 5 <b>Lincoln's Sparrows</b> both showed obvious increases over the 13th and 14th. A couple of late migrants also turned up with two <b>Yellow Warblers</b> (together) and a <b>Willow Flycatcher</b> on the 13th. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYHhxJ1K5z0QVNUdEc57pFGa_WvhpgpFXkd_W7mRw_8TAs9oCx-BAYJv85QRE7YFThxGBJCRpHXvqUsK6YQmcTuPrYVxrmBEN9j7n7MJnvXhMv26WMyc0OFWtltQIL2NAaiCA3GnqCks/s2048/LINCS_crop_091421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYHhxJ1K5z0QVNUdEc57pFGa_WvhpgpFXkd_W7mRw_8TAs9oCx-BAYJv85QRE7YFThxGBJCRpHXvqUsK6YQmcTuPrYVxrmBEN9j7n7MJnvXhMv26WMyc0OFWtltQIL2NAaiCA3GnqCks/w640-h488/LINCS_crop_091421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Lincoln's Sparrow </b>- Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 13th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIGqWEOOfKgA-MnTSeiLwh9MqTSn1M-WnzFBCr4d0PC05DJ1gLkaUuty2qsQCJ_kvO4ZtgcPUUBg-AUpEGtbOx5cvtKNJPxGsNbscO2s2OFFg6owVxwbKOxVpag0kTodqrcN2WBsAKT4/s2048/MOWA1_crop_091421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="2048" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIGqWEOOfKgA-MnTSeiLwh9MqTSn1M-WnzFBCr4d0PC05DJ1gLkaUuty2qsQCJ_kvO4ZtgcPUUBg-AUpEGtbOx5cvtKNJPxGsNbscO2s2OFFg6owVxwbKOxVpag0kTodqrcN2WBsAKT4/w640-h496/MOWA1_crop_091421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Mourning Warbler</b> - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 14th, 2021.</span></div></div><p>But in general, warbler numbers and diversity remain quite low for this time of year. All the more rewarding then to have good views of a calling <b>Mourning Warbler</b> on the 14th, in my view something of a county rarity on fall migration. In fact, I've actually had more luck with <b>Connecticut Warbler</b> over the years though the tiny handful of <b>Mourning Warblers</b> I've encountered tended to be bolder and more cooperative. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmh-dox3ZTUyHaaNxsxEbtPM2PWVWKUEGkGBx_f6Jd2FOy1HvDXUKbxtjLHyFF0l2E5cTNcAA6bEd609sRN-Xtk85YO_Nlt6zI_xXZCR5lsmVGg2Q0YqJIkllfJnHZN4baVkrz53A40KM/s2048/MOWAcrop__091820.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1669" data-original-width="2048" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmh-dox3ZTUyHaaNxsxEbtPM2PWVWKUEGkGBx_f6Jd2FOy1HvDXUKbxtjLHyFF0l2E5cTNcAA6bEd609sRN-Xtk85YO_Nlt6zI_xXZCR5lsmVGg2Q0YqJIkllfJnHZN4baVkrz53A40KM/w640-h522/MOWAcrop__091820.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Mourning Warbler</b> - Northfield Meadows, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 18th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Historical image, also from Northfield in mid-September. </i></span></div><p>The 14th also produced a 'heard-only' <b>Connecticut Warbler</b> that called just once from a dense patch of Jewelweed, totally catching me off guard as I walked a mere five paces from my car at the start of the day. Despite much effort and patience, it couldn't be coaxed into view. While I'm pretty hesitant to call <b>Connecticut Warbler</b> by sound only the loud, distinct <b><i>'pwik'</i></b> call was close enough to be sure and I'm not at all surprised that the bird didn't show given the mercurial nature of the species. </p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-39013714472239059582021-09-10T12:38:00.005-04:002021-09-21T20:29:21.899-04:00MA - Connecticut Warbler.....in Northfield!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxZwd4CSjtiEs6rNU56XZ2GG_AAtpcPIqT0ICrRGlBdhWLgBt3Mmywbg7pj80vHUqQAoFkGVv7Sb4ZKLmN0fThcxtNWfW5BY0uJHaF6X_GMT7VWUdKvPQqHAzdvDYW1yNh_WakaZ5q9M/s1929/CTWA8a_crop_091021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="1929" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxZwd4CSjtiEs6rNU56XZ2GG_AAtpcPIqT0ICrRGlBdhWLgBt3Mmywbg7pj80vHUqQAoFkGVv7Sb4ZKLmN0fThcxtNWfW5BY0uJHaF6X_GMT7VWUdKvPQqHAzdvDYW1yNh_WakaZ5q9M/w640-h456/CTWA8a_crop_091021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Connecticut Warbler</b> - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 10th, 2021. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Probably first-winter. </i></span></div><p>September brings many avian riches to Massachusetts and has to be one of the most keenly anticipated months of the year for local birders. Whether it be the mass migration of <b>Broad-winged Hawks</b> at established hawk watch sites, or the ever present chance of finding <b>Buff-breasted Sandpipers</b> and other cool shorebirds among local flocks of <b>Killdeer</b>, every day of the month has something to offer and even just an hour outside can be time well spent. But for me, September in Western Massachusetts can only mean one thing - migration of <b>Connecticut Warblers</b>! The species is not an especially rare transient but can certainly be regarded as a scarce passage migrant. It's overall status coupled with skulking and unpredictable behavior make it one of the most sought-after warblers at this time of year. Within the Pioneer Valley, the flood plains of Hadley and Hatfield in Hampshire County receive the lion's share, almost all of them in reported in September. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2wDHqM_pt7wMtZTHDqILyR80LBfnSZDsmvP5CHZOwkE3Yb-7Krl1pcyvjDqTPN-VcPbqgnmSid1VgsBlcnjK4Kc8eaKwPzPBY-QeZqEt_5FoCl95mxR1yxWR62hB86IJsvLfWTNQXEQ/s2040/CTWA1_crop_091021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1383" data-original-width="2040" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2wDHqM_pt7wMtZTHDqILyR80LBfnSZDsmvP5CHZOwkE3Yb-7Krl1pcyvjDqTPN-VcPbqgnmSid1VgsBlcnjK4Kc8eaKwPzPBY-QeZqEt_5FoCl95mxR1yxWR62hB86IJsvLfWTNQXEQ/w640-h434/CTWA1_crop_091021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWMueNcLgT5nXGMaoqHwdgdJ5Ij7BrE_psEwSkAoCvGWweVW3muMQvqoyHDBazCIlDVBXTQlsscXA6-jFI4W1BQw3eCBAIyUVGi_kaWeaqloO1H2IADmfbgoYlJRFznwMKjibncaLhNY/s1882/CTWA2_crop_091021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1355" data-original-width="1882" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWMueNcLgT5nXGMaoqHwdgdJ5Ij7BrE_psEwSkAoCvGWweVW3muMQvqoyHDBazCIlDVBXTQlsscXA6-jFI4W1BQw3eCBAIyUVGi_kaWeaqloO1H2IADmfbgoYlJRFznwMKjibncaLhNY/w640-h460/CTWA2_crop_091021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92dW8ei_s7f_bgr65GjC5k5ojtcxsPPZ3cejrMGo9IZrFX3Z1YfirtdxZgYeCd1GYy9NlRYC2WaRte7WR8YVWql7UniCoCKAotHw6nmdiqQa6l5weOZQA_qaRzIGXfCNTjhQQZs9XQt4/s1901/CTWA9_crop_091021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1901" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92dW8ei_s7f_bgr65GjC5k5ojtcxsPPZ3cejrMGo9IZrFX3Z1YfirtdxZgYeCd1GYy9NlRYC2WaRte7WR8YVWql7UniCoCKAotHw6nmdiqQa6l5weOZQA_qaRzIGXfCNTjhQQZs9XQt4/w640-h474/CTWA9_crop_091021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDy_ByQmIftJrIPZ_jCwY_BRuwDAyvTqh7Ce5UzhLKy1ZDRa7I1VaeZmXyy8I5mEsg1vA6FDcBqYBg9DMU4xICsFR_jtJ3WNVuMkK6OA-7xDW7BHHTZ9NBUGoMJ6mQJtGrfTJT1-PK3YM/s1743/CTWA7_crop_091021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1743" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDy_ByQmIftJrIPZ_jCwY_BRuwDAyvTqh7Ce5UzhLKy1ZDRa7I1VaeZmXyy8I5mEsg1vA6FDcBqYBg9DMU4xICsFR_jtJ3WNVuMkK6OA-7xDW7BHHTZ9NBUGoMJ6mQJtGrfTJT1-PK3YM/w640-h490/CTWA7_crop_091021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rD5BwAo3NyGq9cAnSK_f666W5cqIRkdT1ctHhkQAEju2GTygiZ84pFwR5a8wtza9J3FoljhQvUEwoefEH9uglxgOt_jWWiFW0OnrjhGx1U5KaRHmm9V4op0hfl5P-7F9eTdQyF4rnX4/s2048/CTWA5_crop_091021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="2048" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rD5BwAo3NyGq9cAnSK_f666W5cqIRkdT1ctHhkQAEju2GTygiZ84pFwR5a8wtza9J3FoljhQvUEwoefEH9uglxgOt_jWWiFW0OnrjhGx1U5KaRHmm9V4op0hfl5P-7F9eTdQyF4rnX4/w640-h454/CTWA5_crop_091021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The situation in Franklin County is a little different with far fewer reports and only one (that I know of) actually photographed (by Josh Layfield on Sep 29, 2019). This morning I finally laid a personal ghost to rest when I shared three fantastic minutes with a <b>Connecticut Warbler</b> in Northfield. It flushed up simultaneously with a <b>Common Yellowthroat</b> providing a perfect comparison in flight. Thankfully my eyes tracked the larger, more hulking, shorter tailed bird until it perched in the shade and simply looked at me as if it were offended that I'd accidentally flushed it! Moreover, after three or so minutes of perching silently it suddenly began calling allowing me to grab a few audio clips of the distinctive, yelping <i>'pwik'</i> calls. Shortly afterwards it dropped down never to be seen again.....but I still lingered hoping for more views.</p><p>Ironically, it wasn't a busy morning for landbird migrants with <b>Common Yellowthroat</b> and <b>Connecticut Warbler</b> being the only migrant warblers that I could find during a solid hour of effort. I have seen <b>Connecticut Warbler</b> in Franklin County before but never well enough to attempt record shots making this morning a different experience altogether. </p><p>In the evening a quick check of the flats at Hell's Kitchen found 7 <b>Least Sandpipers</b> and single <b>Pectoral</b> and <b>Solitary Sandpipers</b> amid half a dozen <b>Killdeer</b>, plus 15 or so <b>Wood Ducks</b>. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-82315434165837785522021-09-09T21:05:00.005-04:002021-09-09T21:08:51.342-04:00MA - early September<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4BQK3gAV-E0Hv_1hMoMDqLVvSd8F9zneZ4oHJ1wfUVbn6Wp4YnUUtz3uFOXDNfAkmjKIAZe04mD4_2uP28DeFF2ySmPxoNlYYwwujxCjJ4hsEY0PdsXf6i15trCpkcdW9lYmGCw9FcM/s2048/Nash1_crop_090921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4BQK3gAV-E0Hv_1hMoMDqLVvSd8F9zneZ4oHJ1wfUVbn6Wp4YnUUtz3uFOXDNfAkmjKIAZe04mD4_2uP28DeFF2ySmPxoNlYYwwujxCjJ4hsEY0PdsXf6i15trCpkcdW9lYmGCw9FcM/w640-h472/Nash1_crop_090921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Nashville Warbler</b>. Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 9th, 2021.</span></div><p>The first ten days of September saw a welcome drop in the heat and humidity of August but, certainly from a Franklin County perspective, it's been pretty quiet for migration. Even the passage of Hurricane Ida on the 2nd did little to stir things up though did bring a small number of shorebirds to Northfield and an increase in shorebird diversity. The <b>Baird's Sandpiper</b> that had showed so well at Caldwell Road in late August lingered until September 3rd though became increasingly difficult to see spending most of its time with <b>Killdeers</b> on the plowed section of the fields rather than feeding out in the open grass. Two <b>Semipalmated Plovers</b>, two <b>Least Sandpipers</b> and my first <b>Wilson's Snipe</b> of the fall were also at Caldwell Road on the 2nd. On the 9th, heavy overnight rain brought a further 21 <b>Least Sandpipers </b>and 4 <b>Lesser Yellowlegs</b> to the Caldwell Road sod fields though the yellowlegs stayed only briefly and flew off purposefully to the south after just a few minutes never to return. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVqeyACccJ17DFyhGDs2R2oWNYhnmOianthjOo4ZYwY-lb6W4YFor-fc81Tn6axG6gz0gcGhpsoyzNyb_dCxFXVQigcLxxpnXuzv23k_Wn1AC7RWrOXlc7_SAjsce7rbrRvkNoqxU6d4/s2048/Killdeer_crop_090921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVqeyACccJ17DFyhGDs2R2oWNYhnmOianthjOo4ZYwY-lb6W4YFor-fc81Tn6axG6gz0gcGhpsoyzNyb_dCxFXVQigcLxxpnXuzv23k_Wn1AC7RWrOXlc7_SAjsce7rbrRvkNoqxU6d4/w640-h474/Killdeer_crop_090921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Killdeer</b>. Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 9th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iYOizZF6cHWdlIExMGAxS3XGUEnDWpub2cynZpB_EKKJQeGw51bexkeKiLwozBZgeeEMiiLhA74mKnwl7DOJ9-q2eNJiIHupM3-2QI77w3CSgzKJGEkmNbSRwABcoGU6pORFnW0C8F0/s2048/Least+Sandpipers+_crop_sep+9+2021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="2048" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iYOizZF6cHWdlIExMGAxS3XGUEnDWpub2cynZpB_EKKJQeGw51bexkeKiLwozBZgeeEMiiLhA74mKnwl7DOJ9-q2eNJiIHupM3-2QI77w3CSgzKJGEkmNbSRwABcoGU6pORFnW0C8F0/w640-h330/Least+Sandpipers+_crop_sep+9+2021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Least Sandpipers</b><span>. Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 9th, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Part of a single flock of 21 birds.</i></span></div></div><p>Aside from an excellent showing of <b>Common Yellowthroats</b> along the Connecticut River, warbler migration and diversity has been slow so far, or at least in the places that I've been able to check. A few <b>Cape May Warblers</b>, a couple of <b>Northern Parulas</b> and a <b>Nashville Warbler</b> (on the 9th) is all I have to show for my efforts so far! On the plus side, checking for warblers has revealed an excellent passage of <b>Ruby-throated Hummingbirds</b> feeding in wild habitat while taking advantage of the flowering Jewelweed along the banks of the Connecticut River, and there was an early <b>Lincoln's Sparrow</b> in the same habitat on the 3rd, I'm pretty sure my earliest fall record for Franklin County.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PWsklgCbwXQJ859L0h6K7Uuktp9wBV7HfYuUQ74KCtxGDoxiR0uWO1LD4pCj_mnFCX-PD5IFsc7BlCD1kpvh91JBMn_FYJa2sGDwDZKwA0Tp2yQFJOwvIwifT6RMHntXZ_BL8zBpEsY/s2048/RUHU_090321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="2048" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PWsklgCbwXQJ859L0h6K7Uuktp9wBV7HfYuUQ74KCtxGDoxiR0uWO1LD4pCj_mnFCX-PD5IFsc7BlCD1kpvh91JBMn_FYJa2sGDwDZKwA0Tp2yQFJOwvIwifT6RMHntXZ_BL8zBpEsY/w640-h498/RUHU_090321.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Ruby-throated Hummingbird</b><span>. Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 9th, 2021. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE69-wdz1tyW30daTPTB1GPaw0hQT7rquVwQb7bTa4X-ZZwQTprA4lp0no1AVlbI-Jp4hAS3HbzeXUxsvM7px3K9ySnnJxyhYWCB-GxzrWgNWuqQlpzlVSRDbvEOwe4VTYTwUbFZP3NQw/s2048/LincsSp_crop_0090321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="2048" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE69-wdz1tyW30daTPTB1GPaw0hQT7rquVwQb7bTa4X-ZZwQTprA4lp0no1AVlbI-Jp4hAS3HbzeXUxsvM7px3K9ySnnJxyhYWCB-GxzrWgNWuqQlpzlVSRDbvEOwe4VTYTwUbFZP3NQw/w640-h494/LincsSp_crop_0090321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Lincoln's Sparrow</b>. Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 3rd, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAJC4ZhimuOCfAhrTCfpua-gdhM_X38GwLEIWZE2rO8dPqmXmfIjCiBEIVutEoQThy0YzBMq2Cg4QfqPIZk0z4dwu1q0R5zIivCInwvIHX3FrlgJuGNVGVCnDoqyYN3ZJz1sV6_3XL3A/s2048/COYE1_crop%252B090921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAJC4ZhimuOCfAhrTCfpua-gdhM_X38GwLEIWZE2rO8dPqmXmfIjCiBEIVutEoQThy0YzBMq2Cg4QfqPIZk0z4dwu1q0R5zIivCInwvIHX3FrlgJuGNVGVCnDoqyYN3ZJz1sV6_3XL3A/w640-h474/COYE1_crop%252B090921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Common Yellowthroat</b>. Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 9th, 2021.</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Abundant along the field edges flanking the Connecticut River.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-4192660438535023542021-09-02T22:03:00.004-04:002021-09-03T14:07:11.325-04:00VT - Brown Booby in Bennington County!<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iiLt6GS3_y7JtCnMQ5orHrv7bZu2Pi9YXrxAPK4sJFPxGEDeA0YCmlOanxdiQxoJOLfgo9GUHwlou9qqKYehJaBgdyVP8882ILUJzEZgh3Btp-C5Nnk53bFM4nVOmQYrfH5kN5Pofio/s2048/BRBO2a_090221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iiLt6GS3_y7JtCnMQ5orHrv7bZu2Pi9YXrxAPK4sJFPxGEDeA0YCmlOanxdiQxoJOLfgo9GUHwlou9qqKYehJaBgdyVP8882ILUJzEZgh3Btp-C5Nnk53bFM4nVOmQYrfH5kN5Pofio/w640-h416/BRBO2a_090221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span><b>Brown Booby</b> - Emerald Lake State Park, East Dorset, </span><span>Bennington Co., </span><span>VT. September 2nd, 2021.</span></span></div><p></p><p>A couple of days ago I learned of a <b>Brown Booby</b> being seen at Lake Paran near Bennington in Vermont. Being deep in the interior and a mere 80 minutes from our house in Northfield I was quite intrigued but, judging by reports, the bird seemed quite mobile and soon disappeared only to be relocated about 25 miles north at Emerald Lake State Park a day or so later. After quickly checking the Caldwell Road fields in Northfield for shorebirds (2 <b>Semipalmated Plovers</b>, 2 <b>Least Sandpipers</b> and a <b>Wilson's Snipe</b> were new arrivals) I buckled up for the 90 minute drive to East Dorset hot on the heels of Hurricane Ida which had just passed south of us overnight. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGdR6arjy-Ooxj-CPMlnuQ5bfy8wLvWwTkkz4xpeY8CbxdGsMNdrqe2Yvn3_khnzF8N4PwoqQwstQa2xc0knQnavMUDrKX8p03FuOejjU6STkSq58dsJ_CoTTPZ0ku8qMrd6PZpQubNc/s2048/BRBO7a_090221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGdR6arjy-Ooxj-CPMlnuQ5bfy8wLvWwTkkz4xpeY8CbxdGsMNdrqe2Yvn3_khnzF8N4PwoqQwstQa2xc0knQnavMUDrKX8p03FuOejjU6STkSq58dsJ_CoTTPZ0ku8qMrd6PZpQubNc/w640-h436/BRBO7a_090221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU32A2o8SxZvGGmzYOZgx0tnD-q7b5AsZnA5k5mub4_h74h_QwslUYkSL6_epWKBLqOe2PMZQvvx1iNlyx1933IVaSsm8KFqcpp3K8xmiLwHFs9Znl0mfDWoCjgNWrtLUtKeC2TUYuI10/s2048/BRBO8a_090221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="2048" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU32A2o8SxZvGGmzYOZgx0tnD-q7b5AsZnA5k5mub4_h74h_QwslUYkSL6_epWKBLqOe2PMZQvvx1iNlyx1933IVaSsm8KFqcpp3K8xmiLwHFs9Znl0mfDWoCjgNWrtLUtKeC2TUYuI10/w640-h496/BRBO8a_090221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUH6J_eyItEC3FhSuG6k8ewFVPp2YKOAp-8kokK-InQS-6yRqhwTvqSFcEcOtzDZxCtHHnbIP8_bANh7zm5txzqK4tfGgs5l1xCV3affd-2ZGaobJ84St8F12rbpg8iHmXKfyBdlJ_oU/s2048/Emerald+Lake+SP_crop_+090221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="2048" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUH6J_eyItEC3FhSuG6k8ewFVPp2YKOAp-8kokK-InQS-6yRqhwTvqSFcEcOtzDZxCtHHnbIP8_bANh7zm5txzqK4tfGgs5l1xCV3affd-2ZGaobJ84St8F12rbpg8iHmXKfyBdlJ_oU/w640-h434/Emerald+Lake+SP_crop_+090221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Just me, the booby and a mountain lake....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceUSxpEHna5PFnB4dbOAuD-k5l4MQyXd4R6O3fkPNNciJR46yj-2ZxTmmPVOURVwAtF-ZEdNBe0m4GZDwTWsXIWxoWk6ms2IxUQYSGkWRXkKQyTlTiL8poAhmJUE8ZhxIr6MqsObSf-0/s2048/BRBO1a_perched_090221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="2048" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceUSxpEHna5PFnB4dbOAuD-k5l4MQyXd4R6O3fkPNNciJR46yj-2ZxTmmPVOURVwAtF-ZEdNBe0m4GZDwTWsXIWxoWk6ms2IxUQYSGkWRXkKQyTlTiL8poAhmJUE8ZhxIr6MqsObSf-0/w640-h466/BRBO1a_perched_090221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>On arrival I found Emerald Lake to be relatively small surrounded by mature woodland, neatly positioned between the Green Mountains to the east and the Taconic Mountains to the west. Moreover, the lake appeared to be relatively shallow and not quite what I was expecting. The booby soon appeared and put on the most fabulous display working circuits around the lake and plunge diving frequently. To some degree the experience recalled the <b>Brown Booby</b> at Onota Lake in the Berkshires back in August 2018, but this bird was brighter, more mature in terms of plumage and an awful lot closer!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXySqdhAKctJQ0kXGQ76Y9YtJh9awu64pLTeGF9vuomCfuZIRgxfoRLUWZROTM_xouiNA2UJXPkK3IUH4AVn4UGyeM5iAWDyE76rOah3xri-ZoQTs6JLj4-alOJP8bJkG_uluw1WOj5s/s2048/BRBO4a_090221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="2048" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXySqdhAKctJQ0kXGQ76Y9YtJh9awu64pLTeGF9vuomCfuZIRgxfoRLUWZROTM_xouiNA2UJXPkK3IUH4AVn4UGyeM5iAWDyE76rOah3xri-ZoQTs6JLj4-alOJP8bJkG_uluw1WOj5s/w640-h456/BRBO4a_090221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience on a beautiful autumnal day and within comfortable driving distance of home. Surprisingly, I only encountered a couple of other birders during my time there and had the lake to myself most of the time. I also noted my first migrating <b>Broad-winged Hawk</b> of the season heading south. </p><p><b>Brown Booby</b> has been documented in Vermont before with multiple records of at least two individuals from the Lake Champlain area. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-67018422477217626892021-08-31T22:05:00.005-04:002021-09-01T10:21:55.443-04:00MA - quiet summer.....or was it? <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SG08-iwwaV2qRMb4b57iQUmTlEISSkXD3H_k-VSTMzuYWersuoQ7Xr9b-ooCryKgIPM8PTx0aSf8r1uknCixhxn1wOmjZt7VFHYxI4BMZIjX4L4CSFUHdlY_8jLGoYwEepf26GJwajA/s1456/Biards4a_083021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="1456" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SG08-iwwaV2qRMb4b57iQUmTlEISSkXD3H_k-VSTMzuYWersuoQ7Xr9b-ooCryKgIPM8PTx0aSf8r1uknCixhxn1wOmjZt7VFHYxI4BMZIjX4L4CSFUHdlY_8jLGoYwEepf26GJwajA/w640-h448/Biards4a_083021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Baird's Sandpiper</b> (juvenile) - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. August 30th, 2021. </span></div><p></p><p>On the eve of September, I was just reflecting on the months of July and August in Franklin County, the northern most county in the Pioneer Valley. For the most part it's been hot, humid and wet, difficult conditions for me personally, and as a result I ended up doing very little field birding. But as always, a few avian events stood out including a smattering of interesting shorebirds at the Caldwell Road sod fields in Northfield where single juvenile <b>Baird's Sandpipers</b> showed up on August 19th and 30th/31st, both birds lingering with local <b>Killdeers</b>. <b>Baird's Sandpipers</b> are scarce fall migrants in Franklin County, and late August/early September is <b><i>the</i></b> perfect time to find them. Earlier in the season, on July 18th, the Caldwell Road sod fields also held 25 <b>Least Sandpipers</b> and 5 <b>Semipalmated Plovers</b> but they only lingered for the one morning. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEElaIKtjN5p0mEBj62NeECdy_LVcb_LRtZBRexCaJ6BDSGwhTWxszBo179LpX2XOQBxSFBv9wXkLCPlnyDldVuyF1SzDlweeHS5AItAbcm2nu92Pfhg2X1c3s9D7zorEliw1MMB3Oy2E/s1261/Bairds+and+Least+Sand3a_081921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1261" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEElaIKtjN5p0mEBj62NeECdy_LVcb_LRtZBRexCaJ6BDSGwhTWxszBo179LpX2XOQBxSFBv9wXkLCPlnyDldVuyF1SzDlweeHS5AItAbcm2nu92Pfhg2X1c3s9D7zorEliw1MMB3Oy2E/w640-h438/Bairds+and+Least+Sand3a_081921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Baird's Sandpiper</b><span> (juvenile) - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. August 19th, 2021. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoYSJ_NeBsNXy1qNdcTm89M4PKineQA_cbOQtmISCJ0ewtfeABymGSykPNWQ9m4n4uRD6yfnA2UzG0LiWLRr4Jfau20ntEAoEWBmBcAZ0UW8IisCrtSW_WqiGPkqNtd4BnYhUfubamQU/s2048/SEPL_2_crop_071821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1451" data-original-width="2048" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoYSJ_NeBsNXy1qNdcTm89M4PKineQA_cbOQtmISCJ0ewtfeABymGSykPNWQ9m4n4uRD6yfnA2UzG0LiWLRr4Jfau20ntEAoEWBmBcAZ0UW8IisCrtSW_WqiGPkqNtd4BnYhUfubamQU/w640-h454/SEPL_2_crop_071821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Semipalmated Plovers</b> - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. July 18th, 2021. </span></div></div><p>Late summer also produced a widespread influx of <b>Great Egrets</b> plus a couple of juvenile <b>Little Blue Herons</b> that initially showed up on private farmland in Sunderland and then went onto roam around the Connecticut River Valley near Hatfield, or at least one of them appeared to do so. I had the good fortune to run into a juvenile <b>Little Blue Heron</b> flying past the Golanka Farmstand in Whately and subsequently located it on a small marsh at the Black Birch Vineyard in Hatfield. August is probably the single best month of the year to find <b>Little Blue Heron</b> in the Pioneer Valley and this bird fell neatly into the sequence of August records, apparently having been present in the Hatfield area since the beginning of the month. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwd2WfZpY9sOFgwXhqnzg8-a5G1OgnwNYrIJmp4DRFgo2sScGQ3OvT-SUJOhTNBzf9ynkpE520fgKpoocT4K0ZrO7EV7rlC0sNRXhYnBiRfJMKpVV3L4ZHoKSps0IzpOAINvl9YbJ6RM/s2048/LBHE1a_081421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwd2WfZpY9sOFgwXhqnzg8-a5G1OgnwNYrIJmp4DRFgo2sScGQ3OvT-SUJOhTNBzf9ynkpE520fgKpoocT4K0ZrO7EV7rlC0sNRXhYnBiRfJMKpVV3L4ZHoKSps0IzpOAINvl9YbJ6RM/w640-h490/LBHE1a_081421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfbU2636uBzcnN5Eqv3BRx4i5BLjeiraowWlfCtgrRxkUG6fCc5TAK1WqEx-_Icyoh-6-oND_yIlBD5K2HtGFB7aiVL_LBWvjwcaj4HDwYiqxMg0irIlC5ZXGjB_BZ_SzvrChmPD5ybU/s2048/LBHE2a_081421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1508" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfbU2636uBzcnN5Eqv3BRx4i5BLjeiraowWlfCtgrRxkUG6fCc5TAK1WqEx-_Icyoh-6-oND_yIlBD5K2HtGFB7aiVL_LBWvjwcaj4HDwYiqxMg0irIlC5ZXGjB_BZ_SzvrChmPD5ybU/w640-h472/LBHE2a_081421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Little Blue Heron </b>(juvenile) - Black Birch Vineyard, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. August 14th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWfwqbOlkf9XMaU8GAke9WxDpnk4pDoN0razs0YtERDLN3TbmNA1z9W_qgiS9LaAfXr1-C50dgQb3cn4P-yvxjoY7EX6smNMSi01khtKHft2ekwOLYrFtWfbCfcxqYHIcqEtBwWXdB3U/s2048/Gadwall1a_081021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWfwqbOlkf9XMaU8GAke9WxDpnk4pDoN0razs0YtERDLN3TbmNA1z9W_qgiS9LaAfXr1-C50dgQb3cn4P-yvxjoY7EX6smNMSi01khtKHft2ekwOLYrFtWfbCfcxqYHIcqEtBwWXdB3U/w640-h418/Gadwall1a_081021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Gadwall </b>(eclipse male at rear) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. August 10th, 2021.</span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><p>Other species that caught my attention included the returning drake <b>Gadwall</b> at Barton Cove/Unity Park, a bird that seems to enjoy loafing, virtually unnoticed, with the local Mallards and back for its seventh straight summer! And...the first 'real' feeding flock of the autumn that passed through our yard on August 7th included a <b>Prairie Warbler, </b>an unexpected yard 'first' watched and videoed through the kitchen window!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJbq6_WameNaQZv0Kp2uY9q-fJ6AxmKG-rzEFTbYn-vZFlEZ5KE5WdrvNKTUAE5S-YLq3x6g4Nj1_f82biyejdqoF2wssAcnUShBdQdM31C1_Edx5kHsLFTqpQ2abjYVypeBwYuu9hz0/s663/PrairieWa_080721.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="583" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJbq6_WameNaQZv0Kp2uY9q-fJ6AxmKG-rzEFTbYn-vZFlEZ5KE5WdrvNKTUAE5S-YLq3x6g4Nj1_f82biyejdqoF2wssAcnUShBdQdM31C1_Edx5kHsLFTqpQ2abjYVypeBwYuu9hz0/w351-h400/PrairieWa_080721.JPG" width="351" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Prairie Warbler</b> - Northfield yard, Franklin Co., MA. August 7th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>iphone shot taken through kitchen window.</i></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-2701441369621339542021-07-02T20:23:00.004-04:002021-07-02T20:24:43.643-04:00MA - mid-summer Bonaparte's<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE2vYOGJFQ-iVHFVgDRBHZYn0pR3lCYV3TxxS5-eHOI6S4Z5g2D2IBx52xWz1TTLPPb5J3t69fASbcmYpZLfbbvbW8PY5IhI4YIIBD3FDianlglf81aIDJrym5QQgO84P0uxtt7-fs10/s2048/Bona+Gull1_crop_070221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE2vYOGJFQ-iVHFVgDRBHZYn0pR3lCYV3TxxS5-eHOI6S4Z5g2D2IBx52xWz1TTLPPb5J3t69fASbcmYpZLfbbvbW8PY5IhI4YIIBD3FDianlglf81aIDJrym5QQgO84P0uxtt7-fs10/w640-h480/Bona+Gull1_crop_070221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Bonaparte's Gull </b>(first-summer) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. July 2nd, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p>July is off to a pretty good start. A very welcome break from late June's heatwave brought heavy, sustained rains all day on the 2nd resulting in a really good soaking and significantly cooler temperatures (62 F versus 95 F!). Although I wasn't expecting many birds to be on the move this early in July, a quick spin around Turner's Falls in torrential rain yielded at 4 <b>Ring-billed Gulls</b>, 2 <b>Double-crested Cormorants</b> and a <b>Bonaparte's Gull</b>. The latter was a first-summer sporting a nice 'patchy' hood and provided my first July record in Franklin County. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I don't have any previous records of <b>Bonaparte's Gull</b> between late May and early September. While it might be a stretch to call it an early fall migrant, there's little doubt that the day's horrendous weather conditions had an influence on it's appearance at the cove. The four <b>Least Sandpipers</b> that appeared at Turner's Falls Airfield later in the day were much more obvious southbound migrants and my earliest fall record by almost three weeks! Like the <b>Bonaparte's Gull</b>, the sandpipers were doubtless grounded by the heavy rain-soaked conditions and provided a clear signal that fall migration is under way. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRmd2MLU-OK1Vys7a4GvF718njQ4XbgvvgJhDgAuRbNB-fUetJcxhjGInIAD_3DKjOw40mCKh6hlSaFzArQRcDEi9YNKYU_xsRpWPg_E039krX1QdQU3fPL8aEKkeEALlAUU-AyLlLJU/s2048/RBGulls_crop_070221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRmd2MLU-OK1Vys7a4GvF718njQ4XbgvvgJhDgAuRbNB-fUetJcxhjGInIAD_3DKjOw40mCKh6hlSaFzArQRcDEi9YNKYU_xsRpWPg_E039krX1QdQU3fPL8aEKkeEALlAUU-AyLlLJU/w640-h436/RBGulls_crop_070221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-small;"> </b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Ring-billed Gulls</b><span> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. July 2nd, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJPTl1sIqTwroKaJUy7DT5b_yF_ybu39qgPtf7pWMQFRR6V-vlK3O0IbkEzdEuIFZT_PD378_vMv7t2SSa9PsHkvkTwC8BPdz9VOyszMBOOpe_NmlAIivEsdDQxoXxYmkgqVGYam7Ne8/s2048/Least+Sands2_crop_070221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="2048" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJPTl1sIqTwroKaJUy7DT5b_yF_ybu39qgPtf7pWMQFRR6V-vlK3O0IbkEzdEuIFZT_PD378_vMv7t2SSa9PsHkvkTwC8BPdz9VOyszMBOOpe_NmlAIivEsdDQxoXxYmkgqVGYam7Ne8/w640-h416/Least+Sands2_crop_070221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Least Sandpipers </b>- Turner's Falls Airfield, Franklin Co., MA. July 2nd, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWl2e0kL3KD3BJ60NdbK9D2Ou3hI71eYG8xGG4IwTLC5F9sWPx7WoLTtrFPUBXcY2u3W6yxzFLlhWULZ_X1rNP0erR_yU7k0OUpRv-K7szliDNKv1tJazRV6NHG062T7XgnIuzA9e2MY/s2048/Least+Sands1_crop_070221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1713" data-original-width="2048" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWl2e0kL3KD3BJ60NdbK9D2Ou3hI71eYG8xGG4IwTLC5F9sWPx7WoLTtrFPUBXcY2u3W6yxzFLlhWULZ_X1rNP0erR_yU7k0OUpRv-K7szliDNKv1tJazRV6NHG062T7XgnIuzA9e2MY/w640-h536/Least+Sands1_crop_070221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Least Sandpipers </b>- Turner's Falls Airfield, Franklin Co., MA. July 2nd, 2021.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-39756692874936647442021-06-30T16:19:00.003-04:002021-07-06T15:38:57.644-04:00MA - catching up on a fine spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTnkA9f8AfQq9Mwt5FmNA51m0xXH3NNR1XLBfV23_GHf-m-NP1pILQceKNQ5xHO704H2q3XaQNs11Kg69MnuOyRIf3PZHqnvRgfFpdp687CDHdNAHinqZCvU5ANb8xTeS50ixGFSHDg4/s1488/GWWA2_cropz2_060121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1488" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTnkA9f8AfQq9Mwt5FmNA51m0xXH3NNR1XLBfV23_GHf-m-NP1pILQceKNQ5xHO704H2q3XaQNs11Kg69MnuOyRIf3PZHqnvRgfFpdp687CDHdNAHinqZCvU5ANb8xTeS50ixGFSHDg4/w640-h444/GWWA2_cropz2_060121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Golden-winged Warbler</b> - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 1st, 2021.</span></div><p>For one reason or another my blog features have been a little on the light side during the spring but that's not to say that it's especially been quiet, or that I haven't been active in the field. With so much uncertainty regarding travel and Covid-19 I made the decision to keep most of my birding relatively close to home and rarely ventured more than 20 minutes drive time from our house in Northfield. By the time the summer solstice had come around I couldn't help but notice that most of my spring birding had taken place almost exclusively within Franklin County. While that might sound limiting in some respects it did open up windows of discovery in others. In the event I carved out many hours of field time that I doubt can be repeated anytime in the future. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3BCBzgwN5ETzvWbyiB1RntOtVm2Brzw68n-bewhoHJopqTTq8PtiAKrH3hAslh0Ui3e1kDajLmoMCVVcsomy4c8Ik7ksLIDqg4_W9F_49M0GoSFpwZE2-4xGAttPjYiZw-hN-8Mz5cc/s2048/RECR_crop_Mont_043021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3BCBzgwN5ETzvWbyiB1RntOtVm2Brzw68n-bewhoHJopqTTq8PtiAKrH3hAslh0Ui3e1kDajLmoMCVVcsomy4c8Ik7ksLIDqg4_W9F_49M0GoSFpwZE2-4xGAttPjYiZw-hN-8Mz5cc/w640-h482/RECR_crop_Mont_043021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red Crossbill</b> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. April 30th, 2021.</span></div><p>In many respects the major avian event of the spring continued to be the remarkable concentrations of hundreds of <b>Red Crossbills</b> in the Montague Plains WMA, an influx that raged on well into late May. <b>White-winged Crossbills</b> lingered through to mid-April and a few could be heard singing towards the end of their stay. <b>Crossbills</b> ended up being a big attraction and I spent many hours recording them and attempting to learn, thanks to expert guidance from Tim Spahr, as many different call types as possible. More on those in a separate post sometime in the future. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMGDDDPOtS5iihYU9gUv4y87OgArhhqsy50cj7ExK1JsMLafGuh9csdURjYYRTdszK1wObu_B__iI51tY5lgVGDSaOXtx6DmOfrEbqfLhzfNTdEa4jYhD021RaV6_qOmZAQz2IHG9UVU/s1836/UplandSand1_crop_041921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1836" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMGDDDPOtS5iihYU9gUv4y87OgArhhqsy50cj7ExK1JsMLafGuh9csdURjYYRTdszK1wObu_B__iI51tY5lgVGDSaOXtx6DmOfrEbqfLhzfNTdEa4jYhD021RaV6_qOmZAQz2IHG9UVU/w640-h450/UplandSand1_crop_041921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Upland Sandpiper</b> - Orange Municipal Airport, Franklin Co., MA. April 19th, 2021.</span></div><p><b>Crossbills</b> aside, a number of other species caught my attention during the spring, primarily because I'm often away tour during the key periods and regularly miss out on the occurrence of locally rare species. The first of the these was an <b>Upland Sandpiper</b> found by Scott Lachance by the public viewing area at Orange Municipal Airport on April 19th. This particular spot has become somewhat 'hallowed' turf having produced late fall records of <b>Scissor-tailed Flycatcher</b> and <b>Northern Wheatear</b> in years past. Matan was on April break that week but in recognizing that the <b>Upland Sandpiper</b> was probably going to be a one day event I dragged him along and bribed him with the promise of a mountain bike ride afterwards! We both had superb views and, although he'd never admit it, I think he secretly enjoyed the experience....and he still rode his bike that morning! <b>Upland Sandpiper</b> is a rare breeding bird in the Pioneer Valley with a small population inside the perimeters of Westover Air Base near Ludlow in Hampden County. However, it appears to be extremely rare in Franklin County and I couldn't find any local ebird reports more recent than September 2004! Certainly, I'd never heard of an <b>Upland Sandpiper</b> occurring in Franklin County since we moved here in 2010, least of all one that could be chased. So thank you Scott Lachance for the wonderful find! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUcwNfcIRoRE9icBE7dddk9w65OKTCpEIXgpS_p7IBQHPsXVu5D7tx15N3LxXcuMtiuPz9JZCkVVWa6koqc1fxdQpi4KX8qENOhyDVn8V9GefXUE3KuHvl9Zp1foHdforQXgp_rGBCgY/s2048/WilsonsPhal_2_crop_052021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="2048" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUcwNfcIRoRE9icBE7dddk9w65OKTCpEIXgpS_p7IBQHPsXVu5D7tx15N3LxXcuMtiuPz9JZCkVVWa6koqc1fxdQpi4KX8qENOhyDVn8V9GefXUE3KuHvl9Zp1foHdforQXgp_rGBCgY/w640-h436/WilsonsPhal_2_crop_052021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Wilson's Phalarope</b> - two of three present, East Meadows, Northampton, Hampshire Co., MA. May 20th, 2021. </span></div><p>Prolonged spells of warm dry weather coupled with clear blue skies in the last two weeks of May were not at all conducive to fall-outs at a time of year that traditionally produces quality shorebirds, often in full breeding plumage. With that in mind, and combined with the near-drought conditions, Theresa Gessing's discovery of three <b>Wilson's Phalaropes</b> Northampton's East Meadows on May 19th was a real shocker! The phalarope party delighted many, myself included, in a very dusty East Meadows, the birds seemingly finding the only damp patch in the meadows for miles around. <b>Wilson's Phalarope</b> has yet to be found in Franklin County (or at least logged in ebird) and is rare in the Pioneer Valley, and I had little trouble justifying the 30 minute drive south into Hampshire County to see these wonderful birds....and they put on quite the show!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXu5-LxT1OElNwkzhicLC-IVEdYN1LYr3nb7klKX2i5rEVGwbm1kfw9iu96kb0XRytNjYZfDiKnonr8Zg2PISLf-eDE5zWgj9TTLt-XCz978RktjGFwZTlzr-EO3HB1llLehzNwBfD7E/s2048/AMWO_crop_052121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="2048" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXu5-LxT1OElNwkzhicLC-IVEdYN1LYr3nb7klKX2i5rEVGwbm1kfw9iu96kb0XRytNjYZfDiKnonr8Zg2PISLf-eDE5zWgj9TTLt-XCz978RktjGFwZTlzr-EO3HB1llLehzNwBfD7E/w640-h464/AMWO_crop_052121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>American Woodcock</b> - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. May 21st, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSgSsg5MpCk61tNmLoQPBxui5TvEDRUSe3mrpVoAG63dk-ejowGB-KMBKULLteNuW8IWchlYeb5JguTPzcs-bPuMm6zl7SnEuYBztfNizyTMR2dBYuynZExd0iTmLGjyzCuKE5ZLNGns/s1984/GWWA_crop_male_with+food3_062021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1984" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSgSsg5MpCk61tNmLoQPBxui5TvEDRUSe3mrpVoAG63dk-ejowGB-KMBKULLteNuW8IWchlYeb5JguTPzcs-bPuMm6zl7SnEuYBztfNizyTMR2dBYuynZExd0iTmLGjyzCuKE5ZLNGns/w640-h468/GWWA_crop_male_with+food3_062021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-size: xx-small;"><b style="color: black;">Golden-winged Warbler</b><span style="color: black;"> - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 19th, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black;"><i>Male carrying food to nestlings.</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIllCu1wGFG8vmChzn20pBLYsgZQwi2xhjECRF5PokK0ZYKeXBlVsF6FjlSM902bNT82AWRzc9bDew-FoyiPMLQteeZFw316XmoIsAn3URsdzyDabOpKcQrpwpw2NwlhglsNK5-pXU2_8/s2048/GWWA3_crop_062021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIllCu1wGFG8vmChzn20pBLYsgZQwi2xhjECRF5PokK0ZYKeXBlVsF6FjlSM902bNT82AWRzc9bDew-FoyiPMLQteeZFw316XmoIsAn3URsdzyDabOpKcQrpwpw2NwlhglsNK5-pXU2_8/w640-h486/GWWA3_crop_062021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Golden-winged Warbler</b><span> - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 19th, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span><i>Male approaching the nest which was on the ground about 10 inches below this perching spot. </i></span></span></div><p>May also brought a fantastic male <b>Golden-winged Warbler</b> to the bird-rich environs of Montague and was first found by <span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amasa and Genlyne Fiske-White during <b>Global Big Day</b> on May 8th. Surprisingly, this bold male lingered in the same area throughout May and entertained many throughout its stay. It could be decidedly tricky to detect at times and was most frequently heard (and recorded) singing a <b>Blue-winged Warbler</b> song. By early June the male <b>Golden-winged Warbler</b> had paired with a female <b>Blue-winged Warbler </b>and the pair nested successfully raising about five young to the fledgling stage. While not at all easy to track, the female <b>Blue-winged Warbler</b> was still feeding at least four hybrid fledglings on June 26th. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdJT3SJiL_aqxFPRJxl-ts6TxoezyzwyKFqCaAxGyetW50L7RAVH0yiJGa263rji-glBtm2XsXmulsR8MZpfZEK4JJxXX5GNkH_lTnam_PHsEHf_fIYpE9vkchGWD4NhvuDKzsYVCn2E/s1771/GWWA_crop_male_with+food_062021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1771" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdJT3SJiL_aqxFPRJxl-ts6TxoezyzwyKFqCaAxGyetW50L7RAVH0yiJGa263rji-glBtm2XsXmulsR8MZpfZEK4JJxXX5GNkH_lTnam_PHsEHf_fIYpE9vkchGWD4NhvuDKzsYVCn2E/w640-h472/GWWA_crop_male_with+food_062021.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-size: xx-small;"><b style="color: black;">Golden-winged Warbler</b><span style="color: black;"> - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 19th, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black;"><i>Male carrying food item to nest. </i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWi3OtP12u7EBfxVmL5ZIGlipNrpZsfSqn8FBl-hJKBXTlGZ8wr9FRGXU_no9thhTyBPtjDGEUA1wlBlNiV03wFGsETdNPbexs59QPsMCTCb7-M5nmF35sSxw-jIep_rBanqh62aFd_lA/s2040/BWWA_crop_female_with+food_062021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="2040" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWi3OtP12u7EBfxVmL5ZIGlipNrpZsfSqn8FBl-hJKBXTlGZ8wr9FRGXU_no9thhTyBPtjDGEUA1wlBlNiV03wFGsETdNPbexs59QPsMCTCb7-M5nmF35sSxw-jIep_rBanqh62aFd_lA/w640-h458/BWWA_crop_female_with+food_062021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">B</b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b style="color: black;">lue-winged Warbler</b><span style="color: black;"> - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 19th, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black;"><i>Female (</i></span><i style="color: black;">paired with male Golden-winged Warbler) carrying</i><i style="color: black;"> food item to feed nestlings.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6DlnW0Pwb8Thi5NdLqU0YzNnQy2f5lsCZebIkFwQJqRiyqDR5o9ZPTXnj7pj1fM3JFiDfy9b9YV5pfy8M4CrFg7jYAL4W5Z448uiCYhKQn646k0KBV4pKRIBWBQQxi3Qks-0Ox4RHSY/s1613/BWWAxGWWA_crop_fledge_62521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1613" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6DlnW0Pwb8Thi5NdLqU0YzNnQy2f5lsCZebIkFwQJqRiyqDR5o9ZPTXnj7pj1fM3JFiDfy9b9YV5pfy8M4CrFg7jYAL4W5Z448uiCYhKQn646k0KBV4pKRIBWBQQxi3Qks-0Ox4RHSY/w640-h472/BWWAxGWWA_crop_fledge_62521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b style="color: black;">Recently fledged Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler</b><span style="color: black;"> - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 25th, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: xx-small;"><i>One of about five nestlings successfully fledged from the nest below. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1olB3EE9ESPG_jsz57-GrUNp0Ud8OiuhveLBhbvR_bElGlx9BPCUstWUnOUFey1EvoI-AQ0EQNsY82BxgPVME_-vQcQb0oDUwk28yE-T1vMbD2SzJrZhouVBdZ_6ca1-n9HFAhxZIVlQ/s2048/BWWAxGWWA+crop_nest_june+20+2021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1923" data-original-width="2048" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1olB3EE9ESPG_jsz57-GrUNp0Ud8OiuhveLBhbvR_bElGlx9BPCUstWUnOUFey1EvoI-AQ0EQNsY82BxgPVME_-vQcQb0oDUwk28yE-T1vMbD2SzJrZhouVBdZ_6ca1-n9HFAhxZIVlQ/w640-h600/BWWAxGWWA+crop_nest_june+20+2021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler</b> nest - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 20th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ground nest containing about five nestlings being attended by male <b>Golden-winged</b> and female <b>Blue-winged Warbler</b>. </span></i></div></span></div></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;">While early June will see most species settling down for the breeding season, it can also produce (and often does!) one last '<i>toot</i>' from the horn of spring and this year was no exception. Montague turned up a fine singing male </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;">Hooded Warbler</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;"> on the 3rd only a few meters away from the <b>Golden-winged Warbler's</b> territory. The <b>Hooded Warbler</b> sang vigorously for about twenty minutes and then promptly disappeared just as suddenly as it first appeared. While pretty rare in Franklin County, <b>Hooded Warbler</b> records are increasing in the neighboring counties and I'm sure we can expect more of them in future springs. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv8Re9rPf7CsDVy-ULT-LmTz6bQHKhrcVyhKIUE9oqtZnBhgDWUiLC8oJUruf_Cbs-FwPppRbQDvFypjBdQVB_08MnUvF2KG4JZ6CBHJVsrNsn5NgNfen0C3yXKGRStl6jdxzGf5qeSE/s1394/HOWA1_crop_060321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1394" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv8Re9rPf7CsDVy-ULT-LmTz6bQHKhrcVyhKIUE9oqtZnBhgDWUiLC8oJUruf_Cbs-FwPppRbQDvFypjBdQVB_08MnUvF2KG4JZ6CBHJVsrNsn5NgNfen0C3yXKGRStl6jdxzGf5qeSE/w640-h480/HOWA1_crop_060321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Hooded Warbler</b> - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 3rd, 2021. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;">June also turned up what must surely be one of the most overlooked and discrete migrant breeders in Franklin County?! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;">I was fortunate enough to be standing in the exactly right place at one of the Deerfield Marshes when a female <b>Least Bittern</b> flew across the cattails, 'crash landed' and promptly disappeared. Long story short, I traded an attempt at photos for prolonged flight views and never relocated it. However, the experience provided a good excuse to get out the colored pencils and make a sketch from raw field impressions. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc_Ecyi8Ivwq76lIAdoEgSsCIta8acEZne4MV4bMjqtRRRugZ_-UyJxjRy0H8H7B-iJLaz9BxxgGS1aZuk0FrmfKmzbeeG7Vt9yMdmP0iSEaczfLXbhSLnTPuxUsjbb4NSmbyQ7uINzo/s2048/Least+Bittern+crop_female+sketch+June+15th+2021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc_Ecyi8Ivwq76lIAdoEgSsCIta8acEZne4MV4bMjqtRRRugZ_-UyJxjRy0H8H7B-iJLaz9BxxgGS1aZuk0FrmfKmzbeeG7Vt9yMdmP0iSEaczfLXbhSLnTPuxUsjbb4NSmbyQ7uINzo/w400-h266/Least+Bittern+crop_female+sketch+June+15th+2021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Least Bittern </b>(female) - Deerfield, Franklin Co., MA. June 15th, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgO2thyphenhyphenmHOUktX3Nca1a-swBavd2lNs4qPrvewdeS8x3HvBfQoHAOIIjwvAPbRUMJLmEX7gr4rPBaFhyphenhyphenMIijS8TGUnZm52YvxmUVk_N4cejW9ZyhQYaoZjfvoV6vOyvKCQmI5n6EemQw/s2048/Marsh+Wren_crop_061521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="2048" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgO2thyphenhyphenmHOUktX3Nca1a-swBavd2lNs4qPrvewdeS8x3HvBfQoHAOIIjwvAPbRUMJLmEX7gr4rPBaFhyphenhyphenMIijS8TGUnZm52YvxmUVk_N4cejW9ZyhQYaoZjfvoV6vOyvKCQmI5n6EemQw/w640-h494/Marsh+Wren_crop_061521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Marsh Wren</b> - Deerfield, Franklin Co., MA. June 15th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIfxOC6dfItBFGZY9pGZACtTPpfZZeUe8VsLMHgAN3ysSOqL8W5fWNI3vEzOMfXpoJSkF0SDEPtKSSxqiQrCZbohlONsWrn0DRp50tOWBY8K7K6eqzQnmRuNITVNsEqu_K-b95LgK-8I/s2048/VirginiaRail_crop_062821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="2048" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIfxOC6dfItBFGZY9pGZACtTPpfZZeUe8VsLMHgAN3ysSOqL8W5fWNI3vEzOMfXpoJSkF0SDEPtKSSxqiQrCZbohlONsWrn0DRp50tOWBY8K7K6eqzQnmRuNITVNsEqu_K-b95LgK-8I/w640-h456/VirginiaRail_crop_062821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Virginia Rail</b> - Deerfield, Franklin Co., MA. June 28th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSuDeig-G0JrHrTgOj_GEL7Is5ek8WspYdEkMQ-9KXOr7a3l8Sc_TrRYsPmnVvdDJh42B45AwU7k4OVXscBol15_RTmVMGumUFgJpYFa0XHbgusNwqWCa5K24ATtNmHbjgRk8en0RnEI/s2048/Deerfield+crop_062921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="2048" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSuDeig-G0JrHrTgOj_GEL7Is5ek8WspYdEkMQ-9KXOr7a3l8Sc_TrRYsPmnVvdDJh42B45AwU7k4OVXscBol15_RTmVMGumUFgJpYFa0XHbgusNwqWCa5K24ATtNmHbjgRk8en0RnEI/w640-h444/Deerfield+crop_062921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Deerfield</b>, Franklin Co., MA. June 29th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Franklin County is full of small, majestic wetlands like this begging the question;</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>just how many pairs of Least Bitterns are out there?!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDBlGJdHXs6uhYy4m2M2h8CZ3QKms2Ta_sFVX77CkDbxZ3K8zAsEnVS0Fge7sVuGm2jG2bKo7JZqH3sxeQHmHdXoI95_9J7i2JQlf-p4dsIXf_s0sya-A05AihyE2X_Q_FqQ8-YP4F78/s2048/Least+Bittern+male+062921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDBlGJdHXs6uhYy4m2M2h8CZ3QKms2Ta_sFVX77CkDbxZ3K8zAsEnVS0Fge7sVuGm2jG2bKo7JZqH3sxeQHmHdXoI95_9J7i2JQlf-p4dsIXf_s0sya-A05AihyE2X_Q_FqQ8-YP4F78/w400-h266/Least+Bittern+male+062921.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Least Bittern </b>(male) - Deerfield, Franklin Co., MA. June 29th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7oJZ5i_83LpsqqPsSJ12IeoxR2qvx87XwWeCP0vrranv1CAX4p9F0awALRmkHf8d50TISgIiODwE173xzXWsy69KWffgIrIQV9YKZT52eVtsEUlPSuRqjBzifz-CNqr4KZ0fTcY_H74/s2048/Least+Bittern2+crop_male+062921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2048" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7oJZ5i_83LpsqqPsSJ12IeoxR2qvx87XwWeCP0vrranv1CAX4p9F0awALRmkHf8d50TISgIiODwE173xzXWsy69KWffgIrIQV9YKZT52eVtsEUlPSuRqjBzifz-CNqr4KZ0fTcY_H74/w400-h297/Least+Bittern2+crop_male+062921.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Least Bittern </b>(male) - Deerfield, Franklin Co., MA. June 29th, 2021.</span></div></div></div></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkabJe564VWy72ab4D54XY_S368qpxjnvxXoETicjbRh-CGgZhJUIv1GnVwx6204PkNcvHD2I96jTwvj_8X2kVkwUZhesS2PaLAncTyOGG10jSSqKLkGk943Sl9PLnhibGqvtptCYgDac/s2048/Green+Heron_crop_062821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="2048" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkabJe564VWy72ab4D54XY_S368qpxjnvxXoETicjbRh-CGgZhJUIv1GnVwx6204PkNcvHD2I96jTwvj_8X2kVkwUZhesS2PaLAncTyOGG10jSSqKLkGk943Sl9PLnhibGqvtptCYgDac/w640-h466/Green+Heron_crop_062821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Green Heron</b> - Deerfield, Franklin Co., MA. June 28th, 2021. </span></div></div></div></div><p><b style="color: #424242; font-family: inherit;">Least Bitterns</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;"> appear to have been rarely reported in Franklin County over the years and I could only find half-a-dozen records in ebird, the most recent coming from May 2013....and none of those appear to have been photographed or sound recorded. All that changed towards the end of June as at least two or three pairs of <b>Least Bitterns</b> settled down in the Deerfield marshes for the breeding season and several birders made sound recordings of the resonant, rhythmic 'cooing' of <b>Least Bitterns </b>alongside the<b> Marsh Wrens, Green Herons </b>and <b>Virginia Rails </b>present in the same area. </span></p><p>There were, of course, many other highlights from the spring but these observations stand out as being some of the more memorable and satisfying. In terms of other fauna, well I had a fantastically close encounter with a <b>Black Bear</b> in May, a month that also produced my first ever <b>Eastern</b> <b>Box Turtle</b> in the Montague Plains. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkGf_HTLESyMVM3Oh18DC53UOludxdSPdqlKBusLvk8sYUbSJA6vLWLsoY8PUhQzAAar7E-X269W8rXMWBHahdkN4Mh5DkEEzsePoDb2zVWk3Bf_xlxuXUbC4VJLSEe26eeCDnRYJskg/s2048/Black+Bear+crop_GCC+May+7th+2021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkGf_HTLESyMVM3Oh18DC53UOludxdSPdqlKBusLvk8sYUbSJA6vLWLsoY8PUhQzAAar7E-X269W8rXMWBHahdkN4Mh5DkEEzsePoDb2zVWk3Bf_xlxuXUbC4VJLSEe26eeCDnRYJskg/w640-h426/Black+Bear+crop_GCC+May+7th+2021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Black Bear</b> - Greenfield, Franklin Co., MA. May 7th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpcm-Wx7-kPUjqAtwoO_07KJyfY0D6Gb48AxTm9E4Awrc9Y3SfOOsNiJlxLXqy6mDENc1UeEv_9E51EiFNMXqyjaKa6naPATFbsDzoXWO8BWO0FILckpXnyC1V5yefO4D_M3KHLh1Bo4/s2048/Box+Turtle_crop_May+14+2021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="2048" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpcm-Wx7-kPUjqAtwoO_07KJyfY0D6Gb48AxTm9E4Awrc9Y3SfOOsNiJlxLXqy6mDENc1UeEv_9E51EiFNMXqyjaKa6naPATFbsDzoXWO8BWO0FILckpXnyC1V5yefO4D_M3KHLh1Bo4/w640-h446/Box+Turtle_crop_May+14+2021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Eastern Box Turtle</b> (male) - Montague. Franklin Co., MA. May 14th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: left;">July is almost upon us and it's just about time to look forward to some autumn migration! </span></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-64620711860724667902021-04-01T21:04:00.002-04:002021-04-01T21:04:26.788-04:00MA - White-winged Crossbills and an early Barn Swallow<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVBdFKCveyxT8ZObh8bWD45MVSPud-BELvlwsZGmI31UD4oR1YDxF-ad41y76ysqWpprTbsGeU3FxnylCbUpf1HVdfAklGiAHD4aE8qkqN2nyhhs6E_yGOz98pnLniK_dzEExQRNVgIY/s2048/WWCR_crop_fem_040121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVBdFKCveyxT8ZObh8bWD45MVSPud-BELvlwsZGmI31UD4oR1YDxF-ad41y76ysqWpprTbsGeU3FxnylCbUpf1HVdfAklGiAHD4aE8qkqN2nyhhs6E_yGOz98pnLniK_dzEExQRNVgIY/w640-h486/WWCR_crop_fem_040121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-winged Crossbill</b> - female, Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. April 1st, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p>The gradual warming trend experienced in the last few days of March came to an abrupt end this morning with sleet showers and a biting, blustery NW wind that remained in place all day. Indications of stalled migrants cropped up in many places with around 500 <b>American Robins</b> in the fields around Gill and a wide scatter of <b>Eastern Phoebes</b> searching for insects in the most sheltered nooks. Despite apparently favorable conditions, there was no obvious sign of a waterfowl arrival with 3 <b>Lesser Scaup</b> being the pick at Barton Cove. From there I headed (once more) for the Montague Plains and eventually found some <b>Red Crossbills</b> though they were quieter and fewer in number than in recent days. One flock was graced with an especially approachable female <b>White-winged Crossbill</b> and I must say it's fantastic to have these birds lingering into April. Other notables from the plains included nice daytime views of an <b>American Woodcock</b> and my first <b>Palm Warbler</b> of season, the nice bright yellow eastern form.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNylAjDqI61yp3hE0sXJ13KlDrWcJJQa4DD4HLvFEU7U0cAJdWh2O_Y-SEvUyLx_7cpp0B6Ti3hYvjXvqXcNTrzz6N9VgsZzjXgls4dMA5t2m7nfEL7OdlLPfLf5BVW3Vyo0IZeRsRXlI/s2048/RECR1_crop_040121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="2048" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNylAjDqI61yp3hE0sXJ13KlDrWcJJQa4DD4HLvFEU7U0cAJdWh2O_Y-SEvUyLx_7cpp0B6Ti3hYvjXvqXcNTrzz6N9VgsZzjXgls4dMA5t2m7nfEL7OdlLPfLf5BVW3Vyo0IZeRsRXlI/w640-h496/RECR1_crop_040121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red Crossbill</b> - female, Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. April 1st, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWqG9ifVIBwiVfLN5i0J9g5kXeIPLdkoDb0Ng-lIYYt3iTvnLwq2wMnexIdewS6_GnIDf7hspUXLniib4vRZ20ZbQabngi3PqSQXY2Oo8vZBntQimswT3SHbvWJ5cthQ8YpXeXNVsL9M/s1641/BARNS_crop_040121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1641" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWqG9ifVIBwiVfLN5i0J9g5kXeIPLdkoDb0Ng-lIYYt3iTvnLwq2wMnexIdewS6_GnIDf7hspUXLniib4vRZ20ZbQabngi3PqSQXY2Oo8vZBntQimswT3SHbvWJ5cthQ8YpXeXNVsL9M/w640-h466/BARNS_crop_040121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Barn Swallow - </b>Barton Cove, Gill , Franklin Co., MA. April 1st, 2021.</span> </div></div><p></p><p>The raw, windy conditions persisted into early evening and a further check of Barton Cove produced a nice early <b>Barn Swallow</b> hawking around with seven or so <b>Tree Swallows</b>. With temperatures forecast to drop well below freezing tonight, I'm sure that bird will be shivering wherever it decides to roost! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-35455254314399189642021-04-01T16:14:00.002-04:002021-04-01T16:14:45.984-04:00MA - March migration and yet more crossbills!<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBEOFZvYArzKtdaq3bXk85NDaoThevoe4nLuPZgD66IX-_pKIQuMCBlx8WJB4mr_c1oNFVM1MtLRXV3A1qHpYOgBP1DuJ9gNXSkRgYScX3OBZmAQbFBpNQ5f-31zRdxmoXrAnpLSw9Ww/s2048/BONA_crop_032621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="2048" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBEOFZvYArzKtdaq3bXk85NDaoThevoe4nLuPZgD66IX-_pKIQuMCBlx8WJB4mr_c1oNFVM1MtLRXV3A1qHpYOgBP1DuJ9gNXSkRgYScX3OBZmAQbFBpNQ5f-31zRdxmoXrAnpLSw9Ww/w640-h414/BONA_crop_032621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Bonaparte's Gulls</b> - three of eight present, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 26th, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p><b>March 26th</b> was one of those bigger migration days when warm conditions coupled with an occluded front brought rain, thunderstorms and a lot of avian action! Widespread arrivals of <b>Eastern Phoebes</b> and, to lesser degree, <b>Tree Swallows</b> occurred that day as well as 30 newly arrived <b>Green-winged Teals</b> at Barton Cove. Just upriver, Ted Gilliland was busy sorting through a smaller flock of 13 <b>Green-winged Teal</b> and ultimately found a nice example of the <b>Eurasian sub-species,</b> certainly the first that I've seen or even heard about in Franklin County! Later that day, eight <b>Bonaparte's Gull</b> graced Barton Cove, along with five (early) <b>Double-crested Cormorants</b> and a <b>Common Loon</b> in full breeding plumage. And....I would have loved to have seen the flock of five migrant <b>Sandhill Cranes</b> reported by Eric Huston migrating high over the cove a little earlier in the afternoon. Overall, that was a pretty decent haul of migrants for the 26th!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS7Q0ukoVXAdUekBLL7uvQZzlad0Bq_tkRw7IaCFPookOCOb837SNw7Tk78Ue90mBPVEcR4wAVgdwirvkQbJLQ28mpu-tkEPNGezDRKlEGcXIKsgG4eQM0OgHLj1Ijmw0Eyk70sw8VDA/s2048/BONA2_crop_032621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisS7Q0ukoVXAdUekBLL7uvQZzlad0Bq_tkRw7IaCFPookOCOb837SNw7Tk78Ue90mBPVEcR4wAVgdwirvkQbJLQ28mpu-tkEPNGezDRKlEGcXIKsgG4eQM0OgHLj1Ijmw0Eyk70sw8VDA/w640-h382/BONA2_crop_032621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-small;">Bonaparte's Gulls</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - five of eight present, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 26th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRy0Mun3bkqUW2a8KTy3ms3ev4YiwPi_bZrOpgg08vpEIQFj3GmrWEgSGMQczct5qhE0LSbE6H8cziwq4elcy1Li28r2sL5r-VM4bQPqjXm4xdJxIOu5hNVbm9qapM7yLfxgzuNVlIXY/s1150/Euro_teal3crop_032621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1150" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRy0Mun3bkqUW2a8KTy3ms3ev4YiwPi_bZrOpgg08vpEIQFj3GmrWEgSGMQczct5qhE0LSbE6H8cziwq4elcy1Li28r2sL5r-VM4bQPqjXm4xdJxIOu5hNVbm9qapM7yLfxgzuNVlIXY/w640-h428/Euro_teal3crop_032621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Eurasian (Green-winged) Teal</b> (left) - distant crop, taken from Barton Cove campground, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 26th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Nice find by Ted Gilliland. First Franklin County record.</i></span></div></div><p>Barton Cove continued to host a fairly large flock of <b>Ring-necked Ducks </b>with over 100 present, often loafing around Barton Island and subsequently difficult to see at times. Up to two <b>Lesser</b> and seven <b>Greater Scaup</b> (on the 28th) were often present with or near the <b>Ring-necked Ducks</b>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-pyx0dsLYVhgViPzqkzNQ6Nc6QY7BsGC2g9bltP2yaCrfB3Ew8gakslun_eQdFtq69rqMMD0MntoSBNQ3qLQpPE646SICQ_7PhnP5jMtc5_X7yAILtTMFzTsk7fGNqq7P2NrfDR-Oa8/s1604/WWCR1_crop_male_033021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1604" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-pyx0dsLYVhgViPzqkzNQ6Nc6QY7BsGC2g9bltP2yaCrfB3Ew8gakslun_eQdFtq69rqMMD0MntoSBNQ3qLQpPE646SICQ_7PhnP5jMtc5_X7yAILtTMFzTsk7fGNqq7P2NrfDR-Oa8/w640-h434/WWCR1_crop_male_033021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGsPns6lqFaMcOS9zCbIGISpXdP5bdyuwRBHbR1pNoJ3pXpSJkbxT-j5rv5goLhAbXQQ9yPRTJWU_Qob4uTHg16Kiu1uU0Ac3pSqkCsWtUELNj8jv20qye0LZqkBbsSzJ3SH4raxcO3k/s2048/WWCR_crop_fem_032921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1431" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGsPns6lqFaMcOS9zCbIGISpXdP5bdyuwRBHbR1pNoJ3pXpSJkbxT-j5rv5goLhAbXQQ9yPRTJWU_Qob4uTHg16Kiu1uU0Ac3pSqkCsWtUELNj8jv20qye0LZqkBbsSzJ3SH4raxcO3k/w640-h448/WWCR_crop_fem_032921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-winged Crossbills</b> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 29th & 30th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha43fWkrvJjrFxgjk4dF7sgxgicFLQdZZQrDor49bzI4Q7xXCADh5g-8cZp4ujJdlEEn8l80gLtQde28uT3suUFo9p36w4aqYcWSFwxihyphenhyphenoVEVdKlw4zRvsZ-2_iyL42yOWoSjCC-vqOs/s2048/RECR_crop_fem_033021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha43fWkrvJjrFxgjk4dF7sgxgicFLQdZZQrDor49bzI4Q7xXCADh5g-8cZp4ujJdlEEn8l80gLtQde28uT3suUFo9p36w4aqYcWSFwxihyphenhyphenoVEVdKlw4zRvsZ-2_iyL42yOWoSjCC-vqOs/w640-h472/RECR_crop_fem_033021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpNjVFAJMHwMedzpw9xgkLIFXRcTUP-gR-WjKoXTG3hx5frdhsfv0EC1pybhGTRGqJWBX7c5ivcZ55AWTvfZA0b7v1rm2Le6r6AQcxp5TI0WqoTZxG8DTmeWM2D3dvZXCbu8jEPfbiBI/s2048/RECR1_crop_032921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1888" data-original-width="2048" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpNjVFAJMHwMedzpw9xgkLIFXRcTUP-gR-WjKoXTG3hx5frdhsfv0EC1pybhGTRGqJWBX7c5ivcZ55AWTvfZA0b7v1rm2Le6r6AQcxp5TI0WqoTZxG8DTmeWM2D3dvZXCbu8jEPfbiBI/w640-h590/RECR1_crop_032921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red Crossbills</b> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 29th & 30th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNdvRf1fbWF2l26XRaU09VRGjGoiFSGvWKthyJsxDJrw6EgrHPSkXnRyz082dL9Y-KmT3zBOFh5DpIvY9WWLVdjyqQkWjCVNlr9UKpt3KpGWPT15YrzCZ917IZGGR6IiYbAOHwsN21vg/s2048/FOSP_crop_031921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNdvRf1fbWF2l26XRaU09VRGjGoiFSGvWKthyJsxDJrw6EgrHPSkXnRyz082dL9Y-KmT3zBOFh5DpIvY9WWLVdjyqQkWjCVNlr9UKpt3KpGWPT15YrzCZ917IZGGR6IiYbAOHwsN21vg/w640-h426/FOSP_crop_031921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Fox Sparrows</b> - three of five in the Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 19th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Y-VGBOCXgwUdGmrF95jMZlVjAzosmtpjc1TgtxMNG422Qrclg6XmgsdnjPWreaUU-VUupOqRDGCKeQBwCb5daGqRZZdF_h1RDBgA_v5CphMAq1AobkyidF1j4SNwcBTqi12sqxjvvUc/s2048/FISP_crop_032921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Y-VGBOCXgwUdGmrF95jMZlVjAzosmtpjc1TgtxMNG422Qrclg6XmgsdnjPWreaUU-VUupOqRDGCKeQBwCb5daGqRZZdF_h1RDBgA_v5CphMAq1AobkyidF1j4SNwcBTqi12sqxjvvUc/w640-h488/FISP_crop_032921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Field Sparrow</b> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 29th, 2021.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>Waterbirds aside, the incursion of winter finch species continued to be a major attraction for me and over the last month or so I've been very drawn to the Montague Plains which continues to host large numbers of <b>Red Crossbills</b>, the numbers of which appear to fluctuate on a day-to-day basis as the birds roam, presumably in search of the most productive feeding spots. <b>Red Crossbills</b> peaked at a whopping 360 birds on March 25th, a day which also saw 55 <b>Pine Siskins</b> and over 200 <b>Dark-eyed Juncos</b> and the first local <b>Pine</b> <b>Grosbeak </b>that I've seen for weeks. The day before saw 22 <b>White-winged Crossbills </b>in the plains with smaller numbers continuing through to the end of the month including 17 on the 31st. The Montague Plains have also proven to be a good spot for migrant <b>Fox Sparrows</b> with up to five present on the 19th, and the first territorial <b>Field Sparrows</b> started to appear for another breeding season from March 28th. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDysnYOqtVUYqV84ryoUmbGQtkf3MaNz_G0RaGDLoY_dZgaAB-tCt3_8AAISC5CqCak7nM_rryLxUgR93RGJaD3ufcKcD3MOeWBBiwvZbXqIuXbAnyEpg7nrOI0omx04VJHDJalWwSGQw/s2048/RSHA_crop_imm_033021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDysnYOqtVUYqV84ryoUmbGQtkf3MaNz_G0RaGDLoY_dZgaAB-tCt3_8AAISC5CqCak7nM_rryLxUgR93RGJaD3ufcKcD3MOeWBBiwvZbXqIuXbAnyEpg7nrOI0omx04VJHDJalWwSGQw/w640-h474/RSHA_crop_imm_033021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red-shouldered Hawk</b> - one of two first-summer birds over the Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 30th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">These birds flew off to the NW together and behaved like migrants.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0Uie8vZaIQ9Yja2PgXgNpTvTQ9a7lVSoWpH2B2b2_orUtqY54TgYOnR7cXR1ltofSOXe0en_V2Y-CEM9uIe4SNG2Zu-tQ3H9DSRMlciFBnCPVlWTMR9TtDq-Y6rNQ7Bw_YgLNGa7k28/s2048/RNDU_crop_033121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0Uie8vZaIQ9Yja2PgXgNpTvTQ9a7lVSoWpH2B2b2_orUtqY54TgYOnR7cXR1ltofSOXe0en_V2Y-CEM9uIe4SNG2Zu-tQ3H9DSRMlciFBnCPVlWTMR9TtDq-Y6rNQ7Bw_YgLNGa7k28/w640-h342/RNDU_crop_033121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Ring-necked Ducks</b> and<b> Double-crested Cormorants</b> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 31st, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A fairly typical early spring spring scene. </span></i></div></div></div><p>The last two days of the month saw increasingly warm temperatures with first <b>Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers</b> and <b>Pine Warblers</b> in the Montague Plains as well as some odd migrants such as two immature <b>Red-shouldered Hawks</b> and 5 <b>Rusty Blackbirds </b>on the 30th, and a <b>Belted Kingfisher</b> heading north on the 31st. The latter date also saw a late afternoon arrival of 17 <b>Double-crested Cormorants </b>at Barton Cove. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-64196504777253588912021-03-18T21:09:00.006-04:002021-03-18T21:11:04.674-04:00MA - fringillid morning<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcOOdkQQVxLaebiOPDmmc9684cK2JLtggdYP-B9NQUJYobbrYVFoXEyiowTigOp4qgdKx53YmnirtwthgM4a69whgt6AeGbsj7RqdbGlouz4XgGNS0nLr7Cb3Ku8hzA1wBuC8QgcrESk/s2048/RECR3_crop_group_031621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcOOdkQQVxLaebiOPDmmc9684cK2JLtggdYP-B9NQUJYobbrYVFoXEyiowTigOp4qgdKx53YmnirtwthgM4a69whgt6AeGbsj7RqdbGlouz4XgGNS0nLr7Cb3Ku8hzA1wBuC8QgcrESk/w640-h430/RECR3_crop_group_031621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red Crossbills</b> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 16th, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p>Last Tuesday (March 16th) I ran into an embarrassment of avian riches in the Montague Plains WMA. It was was bitterly cold at the start of the day, well below freezing in fact but by mid-morning the warmth of the spring sunshine began to make a real difference and the Montague Pitch Pines became a frenzy of finch activity once again. What made this morning particularly special wasn't so much the simple presence of lots of <i>fringillids </i>but more to do with having them gather together in one especially sweet spot. The place was full of them with <b>Red Crossbills</b> (85) <b>White-winged Crossbills</b> (7), <b>Pine Siskins</b> (12), <b>Common Redpolls</b> (7) and other commoner species such as <b>American Goldfinch</b>, <b>Dark-eyed Junco</b>, <b>American Tree Sparrow,</b> <b>Song Sparrow</b> and a handful of <b>White-throated Sparrows</b>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAUltvPFXTryzF3TqqJHTTmtuMzsTJNpOPbG2M8duavOOYzqwjzrUE1clX2DR5WT4WBjMdMpZsW5RwtRiduOBw_-srxhTYQt2-CG6pwmiB56JsKClunfBTHnwNYiwU34lLzxWdOyvUEY/s2048/WWCR_crop-fem_0316121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAUltvPFXTryzF3TqqJHTTmtuMzsTJNpOPbG2M8duavOOYzqwjzrUE1clX2DR5WT4WBjMdMpZsW5RwtRiduOBw_-srxhTYQt2-CG6pwmiB56JsKClunfBTHnwNYiwU34lLzxWdOyvUEY/w640-h448/WWCR_crop-fem_0316121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-winged Crossbill</b><span> (female)</span><span> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 16th, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Finally a chance to catch up with proper views female <b>White-winged Crossbills</b>!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkV1GXDCXnUQrPKQpZ_-cZ_BJn_jyThr9gC2TSDU5uiwmvRtyLuM0GUjUtIIKuY8XXfT386wVZQm9UyfPMA5Onu3wNlun5IyrVj97a96KhwL16kiw765Xa1FpOne2KTx3Nat1Eqbu43w/s2048/RECR_crop_and+WWCR_031621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="2048" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkV1GXDCXnUQrPKQpZ_-cZ_BJn_jyThr9gC2TSDU5uiwmvRtyLuM0GUjUtIIKuY8XXfT386wVZQm9UyfPMA5Onu3wNlun5IyrVj97a96KhwL16kiw765Xa1FpOne2KTx3Nat1Eqbu43w/w640-h484/RECR_crop_and+WWCR_031621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red</b> and<b> White-winged Crossbills</b> (males) - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 16th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEFIPYSI11t4rf8ldHSZXUqg3rGUh13xgVSkqlrEmdILf9Cyj6q1PHfSFlQYnbclMSMusnNWDrAhtH3_1PGF76UXYrJ7gz-BRRWnfIR1zNBBXavuvCXnbbmTVG8qdqANF6a-sdmhfQps/s2048/WWCR_crop_pair_031621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEFIPYSI11t4rf8ldHSZXUqg3rGUh13xgVSkqlrEmdILf9Cyj6q1PHfSFlQYnbclMSMusnNWDrAhtH3_1PGF76UXYrJ7gz-BRRWnfIR1zNBBXavuvCXnbbmTVG8qdqANF6a-sdmhfQps/w640-h462/WWCR_crop_pair_031621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-winged Crossbill</b> (pair) - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 16th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Two birds from a party of five feeding in the same Pitch Pine.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeE1edx5Mp2pbKj0FzDSjnTL_6rlM7NA2g4p0tTHFES8eEJFmKyJv51J74vKZz1qPf9v40mCipp0iT9HpNpNNDeNLNE_7kLJTFQMpc53l0LBMtWOSFVIm1CpniSXFtiRlzxm46qoWxyY/s2048/RECR_crop_and_CORE_031621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeE1edx5Mp2pbKj0FzDSjnTL_6rlM7NA2g4p0tTHFES8eEJFmKyJv51J74vKZz1qPf9v40mCipp0iT9HpNpNNDeNLNE_7kLJTFQMpc53l0LBMtWOSFVIm1CpniSXFtiRlzxm46qoWxyY/w640-h410/RECR_crop_and_CORE_031621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Common Redpoll </b>with<b> Red Crossbills</b> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 16th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzkpLyAdp8MXmI6GWeo3gBHLuddjteKbgP32BJABPA876M0_d-fr0SWf3T_GxMEljAZ0UmoOednwcDBI9-RDfwfAvGr4sK2Z_gPKYODsTtAMELvyVM4L3dMYkCpjlyDOpi1hu6yv-hQc/s2048/RECR_crop_male_031621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzkpLyAdp8MXmI6GWeo3gBHLuddjteKbgP32BJABPA876M0_d-fr0SWf3T_GxMEljAZ0UmoOednwcDBI9-RDfwfAvGr4sK2Z_gPKYODsTtAMELvyVM4L3dMYkCpjlyDOpi1hu6yv-hQc/w640-h490/RECR_crop_male_031621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red Crossbill</b><span> </span><span>- Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 16th, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaQFcMokQmUVqSYfiRyQg5z2gYSZx2ZV_lDvKeFRaJkQeBVLM0VmOkS_cevpCqZaGH_dU_Em9nsMkCLto_wt0vewtH9lryy1pfjinxfhvqS8eKC4Kq1gKKA76LCRbap6WV17V9MgVYdA/s2048/RBNU1_crp_031621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaQFcMokQmUVqSYfiRyQg5z2gYSZx2ZV_lDvKeFRaJkQeBVLM0VmOkS_cevpCqZaGH_dU_Em9nsMkCLto_wt0vewtH9lryy1pfjinxfhvqS8eKC4Kq1gKKA76LCRbap6WV17V9MgVYdA/w640-h462/RBNU1_crp_031621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red-breasted Nuthatch</b> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 16th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Still good numbers around though far fewer than in the autumn and early winter. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A few will breed in the plains even in non-incursion years. </span></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><i style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><i style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-19371924459730318462021-03-16T21:13:00.003-04:002021-03-16T21:15:58.716-04:00MA - Snow Goose and a good selection of other waterfowl <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG7J14CgAnem20XTsW9bFB_U2Ld5Y-urs1JLGgLBxb21tnaobX6Xc8ZMZ3U6xJVZhSp9923ROHU_3DFaI5cTzOyzN__vnYApFft8JXrRrPuTk-TRRY4wGma5SbW8UmWx_MOLcTI2fOHw/s2048/Snow+Goose_crop_+imm+031621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="2048" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG7J14CgAnem20XTsW9bFB_U2Ld5Y-urs1JLGgLBxb21tnaobX6Xc8ZMZ3U6xJVZhSp9923ROHU_3DFaI5cTzOyzN__vnYApFft8JXrRrPuTk-TRRY4wGma5SbW8UmWx_MOLcTI2fOHw/w640-h450/Snow+Goose_crop_+imm+031621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Snow Goose</b> - (first-spring), Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. March 16th, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p>Migration appears stalled for a few days, perhaps held up by four straight days of very cold, blustery North-westerlies, certainly a shock to the system after last week's warm southerlies. Aside from a steady build up of <b>Ring-necked Ducks</b> (c.140 between Barton Cove and the Turner's Falls Rod and Gun club) and <b>Buffleheads </b>(9 Barton Cove and at least 5 at the Turner's Falls power canal), the last few days have seen several species simply 'staging' in the area presumably waiting for more favorable weather conditions to continue migrating. A combined total of at least 1400 <b>Canada Geese</b> has been present at Barton Cove and the Turner's Falls power canal, seemingly ripe for the discovery of a good rarity? Alas, the most unusual geese so far have been single <b>Snow</b> and <b>Cackling Geese</b>, both of which have been present at the power canal from the 14th - 16th. The power canal also produced a welcome surprise with the appearance of the long staying (but often aloof) first-winter male <b>Barrow's Goldeneye</b> on the 13th. Barton Cove hosted a female <b>Lesser Scaup</b> (11th - 13th) and a female <b>Greater Scaup</b> (14th - 16th) as well as up to 30 each of <b>Common</b> and <b>Hooded Mergansers</b>. Gull migration has definitely been light over the last few days but an adult <b>Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> was new at Barton Cove on the 13th. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg266jMJkRmuVwPE4EDjr2PPDQ6laPUoBGKzlcqnFXcg4ouOe1XYymrMYDMjSzPDalJwUj9QUw8Cwom2scuiMEv-tE8sijqHzcosmuZhqAXgznWz6wCy__Oz9zfIM-HBoosHv8KW5WJajk/s2048/Cackler1_031521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg266jMJkRmuVwPE4EDjr2PPDQ6laPUoBGKzlcqnFXcg4ouOe1XYymrMYDMjSzPDalJwUj9QUw8Cwom2scuiMEv-tE8sijqHzcosmuZhqAXgznWz6wCy__Oz9zfIM-HBoosHv8KW5WJajk/w640-h448/Cackler1_031521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Cackling Goose</b> - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. March 15th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeMyO6feY-N3E5ObUwuwCujkr-X8wkTEDouhfgO5MfR_DjmSPPof4t5Gz5JrEs0Hz8tQrEt6pJ-gqh4tVZVccK4YiAkD92B3AmWkXejTNQrycQ_1lKIli5n19CVonrkMfq1UqCN_REZE/s2048/Barrows1_031321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="2048" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeMyO6feY-N3E5ObUwuwCujkr-X8wkTEDouhfgO5MfR_DjmSPPof4t5Gz5JrEs0Hz8tQrEt6pJ-gqh4tVZVccK4YiAkD92B3AmWkXejTNQrycQ_1lKIli5n19CVonrkMfq1UqCN_REZE/w640-h358/Barrows1_031321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Barrow's Goldeneye</b> - (first-spring male), Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. March 13th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Mercurial, with sporadic appearances at the power canal throughout the winter since December 25th, 2020.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGceDVUnsvbP6fCakzm57jLeO6y5BcI3zWwHzzC97B3MLa29Wl3Dyu0hj3Imv58RR0x0mhvZY6iy93huSOJviGOJZ4yV-9kISnxF5bzfB5hfBQ5KG2zBDmOYZboI21678Eiid59-G4N3w/s2521/RNDU1_crop_031521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2521" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGceDVUnsvbP6fCakzm57jLeO6y5BcI3zWwHzzC97B3MLa29Wl3Dyu0hj3Imv58RR0x0mhvZY6iy93huSOJviGOJZ4yV-9kISnxF5bzfB5hfBQ5KG2zBDmOYZboI21678Eiid59-G4N3w/w640-h316/RNDU1_crop_031521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Ring-necked Ducks</b> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 15th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9YmWDR1AW64km70hWsAKj0zCfCnBHJa9RfSc7lpitJ6hV2GTZVXLIxldRpIAH1jfE4nyn_SNAp_-lnvT6qS2reIgAXOq5A0T6gBC-Ypx2gxAKlXhSr0A1gvmCuMWGitBBUNXS5Td1PI/s1929/LScaup1_crop_031221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1929" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9YmWDR1AW64km70hWsAKj0zCfCnBHJa9RfSc7lpitJ6hV2GTZVXLIxldRpIAH1jfE4nyn_SNAp_-lnvT6qS2reIgAXOq5A0T6gBC-Ypx2gxAKlXhSr0A1gvmCuMWGitBBUNXS5Td1PI/w640-h404/LScaup1_crop_031221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Lesser Scaup </b>(female) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 13th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-St2xhQneRNbTnpdBU1WZCqn23YIRWElIuiYXQ-DPUq5LlrQGUOuIvTBpsfKBj1P6Gh4-4gRk60Ufyu749peFMMwCb5PyaQ9JKItszqMZB0LMJUADUxduaeuu0VCAal-mwEdyXe4BiQ/s2048/Gt+Scuapcrop__1_031521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="2048" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-St2xhQneRNbTnpdBU1WZCqn23YIRWElIuiYXQ-DPUq5LlrQGUOuIvTBpsfKBj1P6Gh4-4gRk60Ufyu749peFMMwCb5PyaQ9JKItszqMZB0LMJUADUxduaeuu0VCAal-mwEdyXe4BiQ/w640-h370/Gt+Scuapcrop__1_031521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Greater Scaup </b>(center) - female, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 15th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8iMmuSBHwf6v6bkoi34QoT48Taow8tDrwzEJKLxlwxpDVqpT-HL6NBpNDIhjRVduLqjxzWr6itB6x3hQ4ejlunfVLeFB0Mjod23uwrps2_tYcfBvu0R4YT0UnjjWS8RCX7ZzU4BQx_0/s2048/BV_031321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="2048" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8iMmuSBHwf6v6bkoi34QoT48Taow8tDrwzEJKLxlwxpDVqpT-HL6NBpNDIhjRVduLqjxzWr6itB6x3hQ4ejlunfVLeFB0Mjod23uwrps2_tYcfBvu0R4YT0UnjjWS8RCX7ZzU4BQx_0/w640-h380/BV_031321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Black Vultures</b> - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. March 13th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Continued arrivals in Montague with four over the power canal on the 13th. </i></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-62935716102135247592021-03-11T21:00:00.005-05:002021-03-11T21:03:53.568-05:00MA - Harlequin plus White-fronted and Cackling Geese<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCNq4MhHy0LPnhFjUXc0ukwJ_X_KTfhxPv-V5cUB5Sr4JYODBsUR8H7SiqBN2BwsEgdSnLi_d-Q73H-foN9ZZ8H58MyLUs-fx6J1JSe-uEqK3r6m36Bau3kFtsQXWX_YCYgIU5T_1Rkk/s2048/Harle_crop_with+RNDU_031121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCNq4MhHy0LPnhFjUXc0ukwJ_X_KTfhxPv-V5cUB5Sr4JYODBsUR8H7SiqBN2BwsEgdSnLi_d-Q73H-foN9ZZ8H58MyLUs-fx6J1JSe-uEqK3r6m36Bau3kFtsQXWX_YCYgIU5T_1Rkk/w640-h424/Harle_crop_with+RNDU_031121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Harlequin Duck</b> (first-winter male) and <b>Ring-necked Duck</b> (adult male) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 11th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>This <b>Harlequin</b> was first discovered by Anne Jemas on the Millers River, January 1st, 2021.</i></span></div><p></p><p>Yesterday's <b>Greater White-fronted Geese</b> offered a clear indication that waterfowl diversity is picking up locally. With that in mind I checked Barton Cove fairly early this morning hoping for the<b> white-fronts</b> and anything else that might have dropped in with the <b>Canada Geese</b>. On arrival at cove I was greeted with an obvious increase in waterfowl numbers, especially diving ducks with 27 <b>Ring-necked Ducks</b>, 8 <b>Hooded </b>and<b> 5 Common Mergansers</b>, a dozen <b>Common Goldeneye</b> and a male <b>Harlequin Duck</b>....What?!! After rubbing my eyes a couple of times, sure enough, there indeed was a <b>Harlequin, </b>undoubtedly the same immature male that had been wintering a few miles upstream on the Millers River. Despite multiple birders checking, myself included, the <b>Harlequin</b> hadn't been seen on the Millers River since February 5th with that particular sighting coming from Jeremiah Trimble. A cool five weeks later, and there it was off Riverview Drive, Gill consorting with a couple of <b>Common Goldeneyes.</b> It was flighty this morning and rarely settled for long, and I last saw it around noon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2j-JhQiBeCC4ni08rFuUZjHV3znKKjK1lqIc4_r9eRL6GrofdqeSgJgMXHVRP_3Oiuwsec0HHa3s8sY7YuuIpjJDUcRuaJYsIazgjcCjZIf5msKkvZsV14hYJtMnaytsOmSiKhdtfn0/s2048/Harle_crop_031121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2j-JhQiBeCC4ni08rFuUZjHV3znKKjK1lqIc4_r9eRL6GrofdqeSgJgMXHVRP_3Oiuwsec0HHa3s8sY7YuuIpjJDUcRuaJYsIazgjcCjZIf5msKkvZsV14hYJtMnaytsOmSiKhdtfn0/w640-h426/Harle_crop_031121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-small;">Harlequin Duck</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (first-winter male)</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 11th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmthvss6Wx7fjlv5GV5JlZovg6SpVVChKpYOtq-AWQO0LTJ89hCJw0wyZyHFSFOKLX4HLN21pea_z0oZUBGS_8Jz98YOnXgpv86hM1rpe0fFqSpcyArukep0TjpcXNtdUYwILEf2FJ5X4/s2048/Harle_flight_crop_with+RNDU_031121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmthvss6Wx7fjlv5GV5JlZovg6SpVVChKpYOtq-AWQO0LTJ89hCJw0wyZyHFSFOKLX4HLN21pea_z0oZUBGS_8Jz98YOnXgpv86hM1rpe0fFqSpcyArukep0TjpcXNtdUYwILEf2FJ5X4/w640-h394/Harle_flight_crop_with+RNDU_031121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-size: x-small;">Harlequin Duck</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (first-winter male)</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 11th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgX-LI-T9FZJabo2x3E0qlodOQEjPFGGnZ-3CPZv7RAHcvr5ZOJDuJzyQ8vOgm5AsICcGBKdH7gQQc_-ndFMbVWbwSqLr8M8hK83jFB-jdmA-xQ40S7XZDsAx11JtT3-5q85aJk-08bc/s2048/Harle_flightcrop_with+RNDU_031121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgX-LI-T9FZJabo2x3E0qlodOQEjPFGGnZ-3CPZv7RAHcvr5ZOJDuJzyQ8vOgm5AsICcGBKdH7gQQc_-ndFMbVWbwSqLr8M8hK83jFB-jdmA-xQ40S7XZDsAx11JtT3-5q85aJk-08bc/w640-h394/Harle_flightcrop_with+RNDU_031121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="font-size: x-small;">Harlequin Duck</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (first-winter male, left)</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - with <b>Common Goldeneyes</b>, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 11th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqVeWQb_gFAgzmUbRzPzUpeyFdARV1NeKIXtUL6YAZOesxYYtv0HdVfTfx-EmkLZEdGbC9dpIRmF6z1jEjgDuaISj2g1Nf3vKZDt9XWfsfcX-0sOJTL3TR5WMa3c-agzJneoXnS0P7Dk/s2048/GWFG1_crop_031121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="2048" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqVeWQb_gFAgzmUbRzPzUpeyFdARV1NeKIXtUL6YAZOesxYYtv0HdVfTfx-EmkLZEdGbC9dpIRmF6z1jEjgDuaISj2g1Nf3vKZDt9XWfsfcX-0sOJTL3TR5WMa3c-agzJneoXnS0P7Dk/w640-h406/GWFG1_crop_031121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Greater White-fronted Goose</b> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 11th, 2021. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5AS1KS4KS6DVo80nIxSvtDr97qT_8bZ9TjppsxGoDNSyH_4MiA3FfOpfdBix09W02p4FJ7HvcE3L5GOFH8gBsUn82mp_XsSXHKGh8j0zulaKkF50KPFErdpBACJ6nb2M-p7ehe9bACo/s2048/GWFG1a_crop_031121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5AS1KS4KS6DVo80nIxSvtDr97qT_8bZ9TjppsxGoDNSyH_4MiA3FfOpfdBix09W02p4FJ7HvcE3L5GOFH8gBsUn82mp_XsSXHKGh8j0zulaKkF50KPFErdpBACJ6nb2M-p7ehe9bACo/w640-h428/GWFG1a_crop_031121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Greater White-fronted Goose</b> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 11th, 2021. </span></div><div><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Just right of center, taken from Unity Park, Turner's Falls.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpOB8DJ2_5K-VfxR_I-7FpVqESD2Rj8BcLKj3XXaDOvWEE15nCucu9bhQj9rRzsCjzVAcGiZnHDrSIwAkNNvkwk9dFPp7HcTCzyzH7yiMnczCDnOnZ0Vx5ySg4aBtXHvgRKQKyT_W7HA/s1400/CcaklinG1_crop_031121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1400" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpOB8DJ2_5K-VfxR_I-7FpVqESD2Rj8BcLKj3XXaDOvWEE15nCucu9bhQj9rRzsCjzVAcGiZnHDrSIwAkNNvkwk9dFPp7HcTCzyzH7yiMnczCDnOnZ0Vx5ySg4aBtXHvgRKQKyT_W7HA/w640-h412/CcaklinG1_crop_031121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Cackling Goose</b> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 11th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Bathing just in front of the <b>American Black Duck</b>. Taken from Unity Park.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-bKt-mIJlWCw5sXigKxYWYGrY9PoCG-_MirC152Ra1sWSpbNfR6IlyZ3kbvNzRzUwE0VNqGNjCrjuxN8xiI12dR0thVkEPcJU8bCLlh2KObHtxfZpSSEbMiGEs6SI6vCpC6-k4nCuyk/s2048/CAGO_031121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-bKt-mIJlWCw5sXigKxYWYGrY9PoCG-_MirC152Ra1sWSpbNfR6IlyZ3kbvNzRzUwE0VNqGNjCrjuxN8xiI12dR0thVkEPcJU8bCLlh2KObHtxfZpSSEbMiGEs6SI6vCpC6-k4nCuyk/w640-h426/CAGO_031121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Canada Geese</b> - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 11th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Numbers increased again today with over 1000 feeding in Bernardston in the evening. </span></i></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>Aside from the <b>Harlequin</b>, two <b>Greater-fronted Geese</b> did eventually show up at the cove in mid-morning. Oddly though, they were not associating with each other and things even got a little testy between them when they got too close. A quick check from Unity Park in mid-afternoon found only one <b>Greater White-fronted Goose</b> but with a wide scatter of reports from around the region in the last few days, I'm slightly hesitant to regard these and yesterday's birds as definitely relating to the same individuals. The two <b>white-fronts</b> yesterday did appear to be moving around together, quite different from the behavior of the two observed today. The afternoon search also turned up a <b>Cackling Goose</b> off Riverview Drive, my first of the season. </p><p>Back at the Montague Plains, a thirty minute stop along Old Northfield Road rustled up a further 70 <b>Red Crossbills</b> and my first <b>Fox Sparrow</b> of the year giving bursts of song among the stands of young Pitch Pines. </p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-2084640854212471912021-03-10T21:08:00.001-05:002021-03-11T17:53:11.130-05:00MA - white-fronts, waterfowl and more crossbills<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s7-nxIl7HhSc6PoMqPEwpj9i1i0gK88uIilewGN4N7tOwXwKCuoadyltTea_zm3vLuH5j_fa6-EE00uj4_ESXHatyhasa_gwxkC5dv_JpGX-NnFVF2fMPPcwF5Ggi8dHQWjna8tKr0w/s2048/GWFGoose2_crop_031021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s7-nxIl7HhSc6PoMqPEwpj9i1i0gK88uIilewGN4N7tOwXwKCuoadyltTea_zm3vLuH5j_fa6-EE00uj4_ESXHatyhasa_gwxkC5dv_JpGX-NnFVF2fMPPcwF5Ggi8dHQWjna8tKr0w/w640-h386/GWFGoose2_crop_031021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Greater White-fronted Geese</b> (2) - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 10th, 2021.</span></div><p></p><p>Over the last couple of days immaculate weather, warm air and southern winds have produced a distinct uptick in waterfowl migrants passing through Franklin County. Small flocks of <b>Canada Geese</b> passed over the Montague Plains all morning on the 9th and by the evening some 800-900 had gathered in a well hidden cornfield in Bernardston. While visible migration was less evident on the 10th, a <b>Greater White-fronted Goose</b> was discovered at Barton Cove/Unity Park by David Sibley and by the time that I got to Unity Park at noon there were two, both of them adults! Having carefully scrutinized the geese at Unity Park the evening before I feel confident that these were brand new arrivals. <b>Ring-necked Ducks </b>too<b> </b>have increased over the last two days with 4 at Unity Park and 17 at the Turner's Falls power canal. The latter site also produced a whopping 26 <b>Hooded Mergansers</b> on the evening of the 10th!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tbBQsNuLW1JyyzxsKr-FDFG7dQMEoJk8WbVZ-nL7VrFhlwt9zosv3m7JVMob9l97om3IlyUNak2iVH9YN-eQYcsjdgiI4u68WfZwroT_7HKuQEgLBXLjsl-FWOQE9xxxmzMnfktY80Y/s1956/GWFGoose2a_crop_031021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1956" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tbBQsNuLW1JyyzxsKr-FDFG7dQMEoJk8WbVZ-nL7VrFhlwt9zosv3m7JVMob9l97om3IlyUNak2iVH9YN-eQYcsjdgiI4u68WfZwroT_7HKuQEgLBXLjsl-FWOQE9xxxmzMnfktY80Y/w640-h406/GWFGoose2a_crop_031021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-small;">Greater White-fronted Geese</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (2) - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 10th, 2021.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMyi4ag8oPV36JGFfnD2W8bcqBbZraBxNd2hdxdT4i76JZzUxbWq1xdaYiqJUSrhhEE-zBUAj4YHwpWNvNeqppalnWM0_4mFSGcUxJNiQMrSCt3VsvdEd_qxQNUiIMjcJUzTHZ9SR6i4/s2048/GWFGoose_crop_031021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMyi4ag8oPV36JGFfnD2W8bcqBbZraBxNd2hdxdT4i76JZzUxbWq1xdaYiqJUSrhhEE-zBUAj4YHwpWNvNeqppalnWM0_4mFSGcUxJNiQMrSCt3VsvdEd_qxQNUiIMjcJUzTHZ9SR6i4/w640-h424/GWFGoose_crop_031021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-small;">Greater White-fronted Goose</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 10th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywLsM559Yv5YF-fH1FNwYD2_QeIYzlASDLA_nVe0_uuKjMPZ7ObdXIvQayQf2mYnGnSVY7iU20bHXeZUUItq575MNgADZrasc6CMrjzq9HshocmvbBjxyfP8NUkodCckNdnktCZKpQvI/s2048/RNDU_crop_030921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="2048" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywLsM559Yv5YF-fH1FNwYD2_QeIYzlASDLA_nVe0_uuKjMPZ7ObdXIvQayQf2mYnGnSVY7iU20bHXeZUUItq575MNgADZrasc6CMrjzq9HshocmvbBjxyfP8NUkodCckNdnktCZKpQvI/w640-h468/RNDU_crop_030921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ring-necked Ducks</b> - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 9th, 2021.</span></div></div><p>Gull migration can be a more discrete event but the evening of the 10th saw an impressive surge in <b>Ring-billed Gull</b> numbers to almost 200 birds. A <b>Lesser Black-backed</b> (adult) and two <b>Iceland Gulls</b> (first-winters) continue amid the <b>Herring</b> and <b>Great Black-backed Gulls </b>roosting at Unity Park. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIxGFKdI8McFS4bc5qvZ9NYd4-sFf7UgAeJVn0CoyD2EkCgTRNBd5iAEHE-w8lz23qvjJvoWkwEEFxlDCwasBKVAQN5M1S-4sKw6IeYrzFLEXgH32GxCxEifFvlZkooliqNOspF_SERc/s2048/BUVU_crop_031021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIxGFKdI8McFS4bc5qvZ9NYd4-sFf7UgAeJVn0CoyD2EkCgTRNBd5iAEHE-w8lz23qvjJvoWkwEEFxlDCwasBKVAQN5M1S-4sKw6IeYrzFLEXgH32GxCxEifFvlZkooliqNOspF_SERc/w640-h476/BUVU_crop_031021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Black Vultures </b>- Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 10th, 2021.</span></div><p><b>Turkey Vultures</b> were already widespread by the 8th but on the 10th, a northward movement of some 12 <b>Black Vultures </b>over the Montague Plains was rather more impressive. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNwUVMqPPaOQJK3iO2pJ5ED9gO4WJ8FR4yuqvlNvyrmjn9AHm_2yydYNXwyjEfEJg3K7fVrpm1d-2r6mnEtEAQ8xV9wRfN2OP1CUY5krkZywt8quUPQAcXJcaFb6aHrUY1lzraFoeF3U/s2048/WWCR1_crop_030921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="2048" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNwUVMqPPaOQJK3iO2pJ5ED9gO4WJ8FR4yuqvlNvyrmjn9AHm_2yydYNXwyjEfEJg3K7fVrpm1d-2r6mnEtEAQ8xV9wRfN2OP1CUY5krkZywt8quUPQAcXJcaFb6aHrUY1lzraFoeF3U/w640-h478/WWCR1_crop_030921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-small;">White-winged Crossbill </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(male)</span><b style="font-size: x-small;"> </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 9th, 2021.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium6YeI4aCrk22weWZc7xV_gudPjkb5nf9jWpgtbX87d-S21r-KPHyecevrE4Ow5GNcKWM6ypANhJEazw-lYUYm0fSzA2alxTuKQLTarZeE5kgmyG_DriAyq5q-xvhx6VnzJhhyphenhyphenYYlHt8/s1975/WWCR1_crop_031021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1975" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium6YeI4aCrk22weWZc7xV_gudPjkb5nf9jWpgtbX87d-S21r-KPHyecevrE4Ow5GNcKWM6ypANhJEazw-lYUYm0fSzA2alxTuKQLTarZeE5kgmyG_DriAyq5q-xvhx6VnzJhhyphenhyphenYYlHt8/w640-h466/WWCR1_crop_031021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-small;">White-winged Crossbill </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(male)</span><b style="font-size: x-small;"> </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 10th, 2021.</span></div><p>Finally, the Montague Plains have been 'heaving' under the weight of some 75 - 100 <b>Red Crossbills</b> with these birds being well north of the more heavily watched site of Old Northfield Road. Small scattered groups of singing/calling birds have been found throughout the plains over the last two days with an especially impressive concentration of about 60 in one spot. As expected, most identified to Type have been Type 10 but, thanks to Tim Spahr's help and guidance, I've also managed to identify and record Type 2 and Type 3. Of course, the prize for scanning through all those crossbills has been the continued presence of <b>White-winged Crossbills</b>, all of them have been males and around 7 or 8 individuals in all, maybe more. They're not especially vocal either and finding them usually involves careful checking of each individual crossbill that just happens to show itself. </p><p>With several more days of warmth in the forecast I think it would be reasonable to expect a few more migrants of interest before the forecast colder snap in the early part of next week. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-35073543859680425392021-03-08T20:35:00.004-05:002021-03-08T20:38:00.246-05:00MA - another Hoary Redpoll<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4xN0PxHkvddQ6equUzrSjC86C-63glqLzFXILUADGGjGe8a8tbrLriw4mcW1HHXPILTSZEP_CmjuL9V5rJEJRJVqblF1OBIorPI49f7tzBuvK5lCmrQ1GKtK1Lo1b_Uam-KjaggaDUs/s2048/HORE1_crop_030821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="2048" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4xN0PxHkvddQ6equUzrSjC86C-63glqLzFXILUADGGjGe8a8tbrLriw4mcW1HHXPILTSZEP_CmjuL9V5rJEJRJVqblF1OBIorPI49f7tzBuvK5lCmrQ1GKtK1Lo1b_Uam-KjaggaDUs/w640-h470/HORE1_crop_030821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Hoary Redpoll</b> - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 8th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>A contrasty image yes, but it appeared every bit as striking in the field.</i></span></div><p>Flocks of redpolls are still with us for the time being though I imagine with increasingly spring-like conditions we'll see them departing quite soon. Today I came across two flocks, 65 in Whately and about 28 at the Turner's Falls power canal. The Whately birds again surprised me by perching unobtrusively in the sumac thickets while the Turner's Falls flock gave no indication of their presence until I saw them disappearing in flight. On the plus side, the Whately flock contained an absolute spanking <b>Hoary Redpoll</b> and, despite the <b>Common Redpolls</b> within the flock appearing increasingly pale and worn, the <b>Hoary</b> jumped out like the proverbial sore thumb! After admittedly grumbling about how few <b>Hoaries</b> appeared to be involved in the current incursion, I do feel that discovery of this bird in <b><a href="http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2021/02/ma-hoary-redpollat-last.html">Buckland</a></b> on January 31st marked a personal turning point in the winter with some really classic individuals showing up after that bird. Overall I've been pretty satisfied with appearance of birds like the one featured here and I'm quite happy to leave the more ambiguous individuals for another day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GNPY98yJjEA-JjHkld-XiNeHz0HMNbAWY8tHYAbGD22BtQS70ajcEyIFpIayz9RjFGmSDeRYzMkstDB9oExSRTehFmVe71z_trm2RUfvqUYofev7He1S9qhx9Y0iVr__y4WmJmms9E8/s2048/HORE1a_crop_030821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GNPY98yJjEA-JjHkld-XiNeHz0HMNbAWY8tHYAbGD22BtQS70ajcEyIFpIayz9RjFGmSDeRYzMkstDB9oExSRTehFmVe71z_trm2RUfvqUYofev7He1S9qhx9Y0iVr__y4WmJmms9E8/w640-h490/HORE1a_crop_030821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqWI0fzE8NopvDjf0lwJ6i1EuPQd3WlcRvCA59gwaHGpf5mFbIm8jiV_xiNwMt6tDvOPcWTsoADCJbO-Pj8cNzTRXQcjMvBCKBZKioQfpzDqbF6Qwuu00MyETTxc-mH-HBbYB5qEEHek/s2048/HORE1b_crop_030821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1531" data-original-width="2048" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqWI0fzE8NopvDjf0lwJ6i1EuPQd3WlcRvCA59gwaHGpf5mFbIm8jiV_xiNwMt6tDvOPcWTsoADCJbO-Pj8cNzTRXQcjMvBCKBZKioQfpzDqbF6Qwuu00MyETTxc-mH-HBbYB5qEEHek/w640-h478/HORE1b_crop_030821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMRQOgIvESNq66Whbdu7vjtXSG90RvXdeGJSTU8J9FPIAZABnCwfuZP3wrvjfpHE7adNHCpaf_YYSg1srUnHEvGcwngApb7lo6L4hL8VbkrNYkKV3LpzWDUYnAMZsl8Azl_mKQEjtSOg/s2048/HORE1c_crop_030821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMRQOgIvESNq66Whbdu7vjtXSG90RvXdeGJSTU8J9FPIAZABnCwfuZP3wrvjfpHE7adNHCpaf_YYSg1srUnHEvGcwngApb7lo6L4hL8VbkrNYkKV3LpzWDUYnAMZsl8Azl_mKQEjtSOg/w640-h410/HORE1c_crop_030821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Hoary Redpoll</b><span> - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 8th, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Three images of the same individual at various perching spots within the thickets. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5nx7vOFXu5D-ojucywJN6EkTwZy1Fo0fM8VrS_G8BsZp_kqBKoFXf_5v-O967xw6bL22ynT9FAHyanD1-rzKQcrWCnVZl_ifM9DDrefvRcAJHKDiO5kjELbFjglgBo_iR5SMKgTl9BA/s2048/CORE_crop_male_030821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1487" data-original-width="2048" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5nx7vOFXu5D-ojucywJN6EkTwZy1Fo0fM8VrS_G8BsZp_kqBKoFXf_5v-O967xw6bL22ynT9FAHyanD1-rzKQcrWCnVZl_ifM9DDrefvRcAJHKDiO5kjELbFjglgBo_iR5SMKgTl9BA/w640-h464/CORE_crop_male_030821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Common Redpoll</b> (male) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 8th, 2021.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-JqLlL4mV212p29MCCLFvgPMLpewKAZMTfhFvX-oJFAP5kLHmjE5yP4DMM1tvGyz4LiWauu4Rhyphenhyphensr_54Y7xV7TOQ1W8rbbRhkOjaYu2FcH7JtsGuoB7HEUhcm3PiABMdD_yTEUAsQys/s2048/CORE1_crop_male_030821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="2048" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-JqLlL4mV212p29MCCLFvgPMLpewKAZMTfhFvX-oJFAP5kLHmjE5yP4DMM1tvGyz4LiWauu4Rhyphenhyphensr_54Y7xV7TOQ1W8rbbRhkOjaYu2FcH7JtsGuoB7HEUhcm3PiABMdD_yTEUAsQys/w640-h500/CORE1_crop_male_030821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Common Redpolls</b> - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 8th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><i style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></i></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-68091351336492294802021-03-06T18:47:00.006-05:002021-03-06T18:51:43.396-05:00MA - White-winged Crossbills and other 'winter finches' this week <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8j6y15sSv8urd_BwRguj2iVTU5EuuMnuCzqi_maKEm3kRwMrDZ37-i1pRVZDR6sqlK5oZqiOZy0pOaKLdFhNRBJFPOkO-f0K1SpHptQ4uPWfJ-8cjTPS-DKV4YKtLIMdWOCDCEYhBvI/s2048/WWCR1_crop_male_030421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1484" data-original-width="2048" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8j6y15sSv8urd_BwRguj2iVTU5EuuMnuCzqi_maKEm3kRwMrDZ37-i1pRVZDR6sqlK5oZqiOZy0pOaKLdFhNRBJFPOkO-f0K1SpHptQ4uPWfJ-8cjTPS-DKV4YKtLIMdWOCDCEYhBvI/w640-h464/WWCR1_crop_male_030421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-winged Crossbill</b> (male) - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 4th, 2021.</span></div><p>The <b>White-winged Crossbills</b> first noted on Feb 25th continued into the first week of March at the <b>Montague Plains WMA</b> . While it's possible there may have been some turnover, after spending a couple of hours each morning following <b>crossbill</b> flocks, I came away with the distinct impression that the numbers of both crossbill species were about the same as they were last week, roughly 70 <b>Red Crossbills</b> and 3 - 5 <b>White-winged</b> <b>Crossbills</b>. The latter included two males consorting together, a duo that I first noted back on Feb 25th, plus several single males with random flocks of <b>Red Crossbills</b> occasionally dropping down to the road for 'gritting'. Almost all the activity has been concentrated along Old Northfield Road in the southern portion of the WMA with <b>crossbills</b> occurring on both sides of Old Northfield Road and sometimes actually on the road itself. New (for me) in the plains this week were a single <b>Common Redpoll</b> and 3 <b>Pine Siskins</b>, the latter in song and particularly noteworthy since they haven't occurred on the same sort of scale locally as other wither finch species. </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUqL-5eSE7q8zNqb33YbeqGbnNklscVhVTBilZfX11U08vlEJCVysakxJeexIIHji4Ie0xfcB2AUjSBYqR1dL5W5je5Spsex4Scspliuwu7zGMJRwfpGi0XC87HM2vjODxow-cCnia8g/s2048/WWCR_crop_males_two__030321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="2048" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUqL-5eSE7q8zNqb33YbeqGbnNklscVhVTBilZfX11U08vlEJCVysakxJeexIIHji4Ie0xfcB2AUjSBYqR1dL5W5je5Spsex4Scspliuwu7zGMJRwfpGi0XC87HM2vjODxow-cCnia8g/w640-h450/WWCR_crop_males_two__030321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrIN3L3ZbwJNdnPVbeI6Paw6CBjudhdKY5FURU9Olxq4zXBDY8F8hDuMpmBK4fSNu4Si8dcVT4nT-WYwMaXci3yaf7nif9MhEdHDR2aXrcvoni6kvJTe6jBKFr-T9bb6hEHNeR-3g4vA/s2048/WWCR_crop_male_030321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrIN3L3ZbwJNdnPVbeI6Paw6CBjudhdKY5FURU9Olxq4zXBDY8F8hDuMpmBK4fSNu4Si8dcVT4nT-WYwMaXci3yaf7nif9MhEdHDR2aXrcvoni6kvJTe6jBKFr-T9bb6hEHNeR-3g4vA/w640-h474/WWCR_crop_male_030321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Cmy-3u8KUc64D-b1O3ia7_D85th2pISXhwZ2JW8bAb6-bk-cyU60Kf4WsqrWPepNR5YuGxosOwsJVDO-hpBccP1gO0Qn8qv1Muu7QGbSKqBXpoHjLqiypoQe-WED11YNRIy0-JWEeys/s2048/WWCR3_crop_030321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="2048" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Cmy-3u8KUc64D-b1O3ia7_D85th2pISXhwZ2JW8bAb6-bk-cyU60Kf4WsqrWPepNR5YuGxosOwsJVDO-hpBccP1gO0Qn8qv1Muu7QGbSKqBXpoHjLqiypoQe-WED11YNRIy0-JWEeys/w640-h506/WWCR3_crop_030321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GWNseE1xSVkUp6PJQDel6R-00-aY7xHASBELJZmMcp4BpJtRvMY0u3-r2GH2Kxj_wwM2YoE4jNQP7pg0_11h_xfcxGjf5QmTSJuFBZLHKQGXxM3TTII7YNdFtElLu2PGIkS_MsRzTpw/s2048/WWCR1_crop_male_030321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1633" data-original-width="2048" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GWNseE1xSVkUp6PJQDel6R-00-aY7xHASBELJZmMcp4BpJtRvMY0u3-r2GH2Kxj_wwM2YoE4jNQP7pg0_11h_xfcxGjf5QmTSJuFBZLHKQGXxM3TTII7YNdFtElLu2PGIkS_MsRzTpw/w640-h510/WWCR1_crop_male_030321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBZQgkHfzyc3NLpRo_a-2vF-eCrwJ7G3BWVqZZ8wulmsWPxazpw6jf_TXUQoiepMG-XN7TXSVxi5hA5qSrOXk2eKoE3tZ_Q2_ioR70IWnP_I4Z5lQ78uWt2y8p8fZ2fGN-LGl3MzAM_k/s2048/WWCR1_crop_males_two__030321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBZQgkHfzyc3NLpRo_a-2vF-eCrwJ7G3BWVqZZ8wulmsWPxazpw6jf_TXUQoiepMG-XN7TXSVxi5hA5qSrOXk2eKoE3tZ_Q2_ioR70IWnP_I4Z5lQ78uWt2y8p8fZ2fGN-LGl3MzAM_k/w640-h480/WWCR1_crop_males_two__030321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-winged Crossbill</b><span> (males) - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 3rd - 4th, 2021.</span></span> </div><p></p><p>Looking at <b>White-winged Crossbills</b>, I don't mind admitting that I'm still smitten and wanted to make the most of them while they're here. In a couple of weeks they'll almost certainly be heading back to the boreal forests and long gone from the Montague Plains. I'm hoping/expecting that at least some pairs of <b>Red Crossbills</b> will remain in the plains to breed but after hours of carefully watching them this week I've yet to see any actual breeding activity such as nest building.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Yd27nQnF1rau_QV3LDurD2Ws684VtGOH6nPn01SQxjmfEeoMCzG9z7ve0YOJZEVEMhdhlC1K9WZYoc496JTWn6IdOuVAWAVJvT9HyfGu9Y7pio60CVPF6B7bT6WW7Nc4pmoSQPa6dmI/s2048/RECR1_crop_flock_gritting_030521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="2048" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Yd27nQnF1rau_QV3LDurD2Ws684VtGOH6nPn01SQxjmfEeoMCzG9z7ve0YOJZEVEMhdhlC1K9WZYoc496JTWn6IdOuVAWAVJvT9HyfGu9Y7pio60CVPF6B7bT6WW7Nc4pmoSQPa6dmI/w640-h390/RECR1_crop_flock_gritting_030521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZ1UOn5ggYTbHXq8VZEFGCApoxgPZ39uZ3nNyePa3s-rjC1_4fEozGGdvnNqAkxvwGgoq5b6P3e9zutz6vzQvKA62tK9z2Bbrn1-cKoYUabwoGvxNMNUPuNNNmKVvAut9r6rIviICBuo/s2048/RECR1+gritting+030421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZ1UOn5ggYTbHXq8VZEFGCApoxgPZ39uZ3nNyePa3s-rjC1_4fEozGGdvnNqAkxvwGgoq5b6P3e9zutz6vzQvKA62tK9z2Bbrn1-cKoYUabwoGvxNMNUPuNNNmKVvAut9r6rIviICBuo/w640-h462/RECR1+gritting+030421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj8w_OBne3YQhyphenhyphencatXnumRjFEaQktfKNunFqZmYivT__bl4jMDg6efEsUppjmNoNulg6-KTRwcZrhToxQDH_5WnuRb6VEtqMVCJtn2a4TYIb5KfLqjBYjo8wsBMm4ky91zQvDwkVWn-I/s2048/RECR_crop_male_close_030421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj8w_OBne3YQhyphenhyphencatXnumRjFEaQktfKNunFqZmYivT__bl4jMDg6efEsUppjmNoNulg6-KTRwcZrhToxQDH_5WnuRb6VEtqMVCJtn2a4TYIb5KfLqjBYjo8wsBMm4ky91zQvDwkVWn-I/w640-h488/RECR_crop_male_close_030421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQotRKunx3bUEP8hYaEV2zfqYGb23pmlFQftBSH7bIIITejrf7iyRGkj-_HZSD5ITtOwDVv6aVW5yN-wj0eRJ9AnJuSlgllynv96gunlIufmlVMt01XigIsQjBvjtMniQvYqJMF3w-ms/s2048/RECR2_crop_male_close_030321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQotRKunx3bUEP8hYaEV2zfqYGb23pmlFQftBSH7bIIITejrf7iyRGkj-_HZSD5ITtOwDVv6aVW5yN-wj0eRJ9AnJuSlgllynv96gunlIufmlVMt01XigIsQjBvjtMniQvYqJMF3w-ms/w640-h480/RECR2_crop_male_close_030321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nJI-DqhNtDMR8PBWHJZYadnksLs4aed_s7UNJ5S3uxeFwCG_mMYMqojB1HD7yLd8OsyV7vxh26AE6kZHtHXy2BVnVeAMOU2VZw1_uATWvCWhYG19KZCHBHgKCZCBqlhM7UXfNkZJ0TM/s2048/RECR_crop_fem_030421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nJI-DqhNtDMR8PBWHJZYadnksLs4aed_s7UNJ5S3uxeFwCG_mMYMqojB1HD7yLd8OsyV7vxh26AE6kZHtHXy2BVnVeAMOU2VZw1_uATWvCWhYG19KZCHBHgKCZCBqlhM7UXfNkZJ0TM/w640-h490/RECR_crop_fem_030421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSrihw975zc4nzzs7HLQMgGIDxZvcXDbYa6fagkgb8x5zFyaWEA6nAxamU44ZHHNB72vj28nvBAjDKQbmEs72Y9X8s6rZi2HzC2alAYh7Jy9Lc7YCaLI5_43jTcwmmM6H0DRV1J4XXro/s2048/RECR_crop_fem_flight_030321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="2048" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSrihw975zc4nzzs7HLQMgGIDxZvcXDbYa6fagkgb8x5zFyaWEA6nAxamU44ZHHNB72vj28nvBAjDKQbmEs72Y9X8s6rZi2HzC2alAYh7Jy9Lc7YCaLI5_43jTcwmmM6H0DRV1J4XXro/w640-h438/RECR_crop_fem_flight_030321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Red Crossbills</span></b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 3rd - 4th, 2021. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Another fantastic week for this species with up to 70 exceptionally vocal birds present mid-week.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgN7Bf8JJhTNKa4mYRmiVN4J6Xu5EbUIDtN0BXUnREXR2ChB2IGEkDzv33qqVARH8uh_IxCxObYjFxCuXUx1IBPlTjX6Z8jTWna_R8Mf42BIJoF3gpvrbqLyhWFZvwAvOcjb550qBusM/s2048/CORE_crop_030321.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="2048" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgN7Bf8JJhTNKa4mYRmiVN4J6Xu5EbUIDtN0BXUnREXR2ChB2IGEkDzv33qqVARH8uh_IxCxObYjFxCuXUx1IBPlTjX6Z8jTWna_R8Mf42BIJoF3gpvrbqLyhWFZvwAvOcjb550qBusM/w640-h496/CORE_crop_030321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Common Redpoll</span></b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 3rd, 2021.<span> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqcOFoT4mhgmUQNiLfNeZBB8PStiIG6UX_I5GqokHCmCQKMYfLpTWV0HmtpB-l4fDqNoj89MXx5RDXhimXZopXRRyC_KbjciTSha18Z1_j9UmN8e5GT0PRG68FdcEMeSMPgHGw54MxnI/s2048/PISI_crop_030421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqcOFoT4mhgmUQNiLfNeZBB8PStiIG6UX_I5GqokHCmCQKMYfLpTWV0HmtpB-l4fDqNoj89MXx5RDXhimXZopXRRyC_KbjciTSha18Z1_j9UmN8e5GT0PRG68FdcEMeSMPgHGw54MxnI/w640-h490/PISI_crop_030421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Pine Siskin</b> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 4th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5do5a0pH1TMjFLlBbTEa7ZB8epOvVdOamqorqYExbkHv6ZL2McyjdorCAUxXRpzU6xakFcj-i3TbUIouPChoNEu9Hb2bfMoNbWNQ5tuBtyrpSVtsr82bfbiEM5ZR5-qkIHApzZINR_w/s2048/CORE_crop_male_30521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="2048" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5do5a0pH1TMjFLlBbTEa7ZB8epOvVdOamqorqYExbkHv6ZL2McyjdorCAUxXRpzU6xakFcj-i3TbUIouPChoNEu9Hb2bfMoNbWNQ5tuBtyrpSVtsr82bfbiEM5ZR5-qkIHApzZINR_w/w640-h484/CORE_crop_male_30521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> Common Redpoll </b><span>(male)</span><span> - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 5th, 2021.</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>The 'Whately Redpolls' surprised me this week both in terms of numbers (85) and the volume of song/calls coming from the thickets alongside the fields.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr22WqyoLu4mMqj55L7STbAwa9dQ7oDAzH2imCK49TaN0XJ733TIvG675cNDd7RpDliGZYbAxTTv2PIdr9UvazY2ZNjb80wF25VEWr7RP_t1RDmCKY4-5dwgIGR66slAxCYee12gmF97Y/s2048/HORE_crop_030521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr22WqyoLu4mMqj55L7STbAwa9dQ7oDAzH2imCK49TaN0XJ733TIvG675cNDd7RpDliGZYbAxTTv2PIdr9UvazY2ZNjb80wF25VEWr7RP_t1RDmCKY4-5dwgIGR66slAxCYee12gmF97Y/w640-h488/HORE_crop_030521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Hoary Redpoll</b> - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 5th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dDYDokeYgGXH_A-jgMVnSr_f04oB_aztKZdSpkhIBjwR3KJJD6lc-CHMwHykdZeJom_OdW7YW5ZarimENDxqHqWvgBiZ1XOtszdmvE2P7xwFHH-lA9SYfLD7A69ndMbzp2z_EdBnrY8/s2048/RBNU_crop_030421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="2048" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dDYDokeYgGXH_A-jgMVnSr_f04oB_aztKZdSpkhIBjwR3KJJD6lc-CHMwHykdZeJom_OdW7YW5ZarimENDxqHqWvgBiZ1XOtszdmvE2P7xwFHH-lA9SYfLD7A69ndMbzp2z_EdBnrY8/w640-h452/RBNU_crop_030421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red-breasted Nuthatch</b> - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 4th, 2021. </span></div></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><p><b>Migration Notes</b>; small numbers of <b>American Crows</b> heading north through much of the day on the 3rd occurring in flocks of 5 - 8 birds over Montague Plains, Turner's Falls and Greenfield. Also the first 'hints' of <b>Canada Geese</b> moving north with 6 over Turner's Falls on the 3rd and 5 over Montague Plains on the 4th, both flocks of highflyers heading purposefully north. Two first-winter <b>Iceland Gulls</b> joined the small gull roost at Unity Park on March 3rd-6th with an adult <b>Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> (new) present on the 6th. Over 100 <b>American Robins</b> together along Meadow Road, Montague on March 5th, and <b>Turkey Vultures</b> over Sunderland on the 5th (Brian Kane) and Main Road, Gill and Turner's Falls (4) on the 6th. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwnzyyr1VBr97uIwzT-zm7mrug9ra6Ty4eYFU6E7V-IZsgk9_7rKRsBbr9c61aapii9TkPLvXOaSzKb3VG4xTMx0eakFCOnQCE2YH0Th9MkhFxipm50UmeLgDObTXTFP32YDbKvMAPLA/s2048/LBBG1_crop_ad_030621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="2048" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwnzyyr1VBr97uIwzT-zm7mrug9ra6Ty4eYFU6E7V-IZsgk9_7rKRsBbr9c61aapii9TkPLvXOaSzKb3VG4xTMx0eakFCOnQCE2YH0Th9MkhFxipm50UmeLgDObTXTFP32YDbKvMAPLA/w640-h392/LBBG1_crop_ad_030621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> (center) - adult with Herring, Great Black-backed and Iceland Gulls, Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MvyJrr1MScKyC_hAdU3r_e9cM0L6tdeCSx0yDWRyNtdtqvBqPlfAjpO_hI8UF630NXhxuAmqrKYwjYoeevFbf1cX2Zm91ohR2OqitAgXeJhn1Zf0jpZI80BXiknSfO5M91VgdVdsE6M/s2048/LBBG1_crop_ad_flight_030621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="2048" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MvyJrr1MScKyC_hAdU3r_e9cM0L6tdeCSx0yDWRyNtdtqvBqPlfAjpO_hI8UF630NXhxuAmqrKYwjYoeevFbf1cX2Zm91ohR2OqitAgXeJhn1Zf0jpZI80BXiknSfO5M91VgdVdsE6M/w640-h420/LBBG1_crop_ad_flight_030621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Lesser Black-backed Gull</b> - adult, Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-36030962001850943482021-03-01T20:53:00.011-05:002021-03-02T09:56:22.092-05:00MA - Sage Thrasher and more on the first day of March<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNLwVQokOUlraPuNSm5VcgD9EevwxWR3ya9mxueGQ_3y2I7afpSyCd1bnXF6-IcGZXdu8FAwPvbBBBZpzUcpFa474qnF7ODLyz4LPXcmvtbAFSeAr8E1ZUYr6JLCVs7-xHQR8kSiW_Yk/s2048/SATH1a_crop_03012021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2048" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNLwVQokOUlraPuNSm5VcgD9EevwxWR3ya9mxueGQ_3y2I7afpSyCd1bnXF6-IcGZXdu8FAwPvbBBBZpzUcpFa474qnF7ODLyz4LPXcmvtbAFSeAr8E1ZUYr6JLCVs7-xHQR8kSiW_Yk/w640-h478/SATH1a_crop_03012021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Sage Thrasher</b> - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Still with us after 11 weeks, and first found by Theresa Gessing on December 13th, 2020.</i></span></div><p></p><p>March. The first day of three months of spring migration dawned appropriately mild, calm and showery. By late afternoon, and in a way equally appropriate for March, it was cold and blustery! The first morning of the month was certainly very spring-like with lots of song coming from the local residents and nicely mixed with a number of species that will certainly not stay for the breeding season, namely <b>American Tree Sparrow</b> (multiples singing in Gill, Whately and Hatfield), <b>Common Redpoll</b> (75 in Whatley, many in song) and <b>Rusty Blackbird</b> (18 in Hatfield at Cow Bridge Road and singing/calling throughout my time there). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gGZDBZphFqtWZXDtnd1o0E-xANaHVvzpsS2lfSSykLT9tYnfRkmsAWCD7Ld2xBNUvVUgFPUlS2dehKCckXtYBPaXSvbTMDUMbsmLXs5Nn3OZP3UMbogpGv6Swf0cVpZl-wszViYK2yM/s2048/SATH2a_crop_03012021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="2048" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gGZDBZphFqtWZXDtnd1o0E-xANaHVvzpsS2lfSSykLT9tYnfRkmsAWCD7Ld2xBNUvVUgFPUlS2dehKCckXtYBPaXSvbTMDUMbsmLXs5Nn3OZP3UMbogpGv6Swf0cVpZl-wszViYK2yM/w640-h456/SATH2a_crop_03012021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Sage Thrasher</b><span> - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QqjqOvi56eZdhlIE_Ijp75_p8YVj2ATPXA6qnX15EmXT0kvnl21mkm73ix9pW5Zk7koFEPAWxXO7oXWiElAgcIJvopZO5bly8M1Opzy1_4pI1YAcnU0aEajNOC6druLcFE4DtGTytto/s2048/SATH3a_crop_03012021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QqjqOvi56eZdhlIE_Ijp75_p8YVj2ATPXA6qnX15EmXT0kvnl21mkm73ix9pW5Zk7koFEPAWxXO7oXWiElAgcIJvopZO5bly8M1Opzy1_4pI1YAcnU0aEajNOC6druLcFE4DtGTytto/w640-h482/SATH3a_crop_03012021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Sage Thrasher</b><span> - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.</span></span></div></div><p>Spurred on by the mild conditions, a visit with the Hatfield <b>Sage Thrasher </b>had the most appeal for the morning. After about 20 minutes of waiting (alone) the bird duly appeared and put on a fantastic show. It was bold and totally unfazed by my presence and I especially enjoyed watching it forage on the ground, marveling at its ability to simply disappear only to see it reappear in a completely different spot some 15-20 minutes later. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvz2fo2E29Ul-B3WpVzXkXKuBO00Tw2ZndXYaRkx5Zcvb4IU9PO0O6S4bI6VhbBh1MxW4GSGZW8lzmqqGB2VNImYOK7XSHk4zDagBbdi4-rlPVDGfF3YaOJAMfBBTZjaZyi-D2m-sUsMA/s2048/Cow+Bridge+2crp_030121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="2048" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvz2fo2E29Ul-B3WpVzXkXKuBO00Tw2ZndXYaRkx5Zcvb4IU9PO0O6S4bI6VhbBh1MxW4GSGZW8lzmqqGB2VNImYOK7XSHk4zDagBbdi4-rlPVDGfF3YaOJAMfBBTZjaZyi-D2m-sUsMA/w640-h406/Cow+Bridge+2crp_030121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwGaQmn0AG9e_h1DbW__H8KzdHwi6Uudvopo_MJaK6IcxDmlMwxpaoA0GWWzB8y8YVSj-w1vQMkBWPleaDy5aKIlyk3r_Fh5Jsdz9s_4LwPtFQxjgcA1myGETYLssqcwhfuOXO7IVhsY/s2048/Cow+Bridge+1crp__030121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwGaQmn0AG9e_h1DbW__H8KzdHwi6Uudvopo_MJaK6IcxDmlMwxpaoA0GWWzB8y8YVSj-w1vQMkBWPleaDy5aKIlyk3r_Fh5Jsdz9s_4LwPtFQxjgcA1myGETYLssqcwhfuOXO7IVhsY/w640-h426/Cow+Bridge+1crp__030121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The rugged farmland along Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield. A seemingly unlikely setting for a wintering<b> Sage Thrasher</b>. March 1st, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpmxSOR0DjPTWtVn_nP7_W3q79w_5NekVwBTfK3XluxnMXA7Il5X5Ivp6FKGcIWqIAQ5DpsARJM2ZEtYcJAAKCVYK_uzahxQYyroBoNfNJqeuDw0rLAxRShyphenhyphenYJf6DPF-2oIWxl-G-HZw/s2048/WCSP_crp_030121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="2048" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpmxSOR0DjPTWtVn_nP7_W3q79w_5NekVwBTfK3XluxnMXA7Il5X5Ivp6FKGcIWqIAQ5DpsARJM2ZEtYcJAAKCVYK_uzahxQYyroBoNfNJqeuDw0rLAxRShyphenhyphenYJf6DPF-2oIWxl-G-HZw/w640-h450/WCSP_crp_030121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-crowned Sparrow</b> (first-winter) - one from a nice concentration of five immatures in Whately this morning. Franklin Co., MA. March 1st, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtknGZQMk2Bnq7mRgA3IwKUlVPeoBwIBlB54tk7vib3Mn0UA0ZOxR4QyPepirxwmEMKWSSj-OpFO_oEi78cEFnvq-NfCWUDU4vgxLiGlcEid6zFsqVFs7xLunDMHN7O-gnaBYhEOPii1Y/s2048/CORE1_crp-030121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2048" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtknGZQMk2Bnq7mRgA3IwKUlVPeoBwIBlB54tk7vib3Mn0UA0ZOxR4QyPepirxwmEMKWSSj-OpFO_oEi78cEFnvq-NfCWUDU4vgxLiGlcEid6zFsqVFs7xLunDMHN7O-gnaBYhEOPii1Y/w640-h374/CORE1_crp-030121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Common Redpolls</b> - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Not the best day for studying redpolls. They simply sat up in the trees and sang!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1tOCcUtrb-D815JWGbPvJ0ZRWVeTt5eHkMQR2c5vDssBEeuqNtkFyY5iAZWZJkSZiAhuqCzcJvgRGOU0Wtri-dwCG4C4nnkxD53TPbnKjLZ3HEeddstqHc5mWBL_9V1rv7HvvsTzlKA/s2012/Barrows1a_crop_030121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="2012" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1tOCcUtrb-D815JWGbPvJ0ZRWVeTt5eHkMQR2c5vDssBEeuqNtkFyY5iAZWZJkSZiAhuqCzcJvgRGOU0Wtri-dwCG4C4nnkxD53TPbnKjLZ3HEeddstqHc5mWBL_9V1rv7HvvsTzlKA/w640-h424/Barrows1a_crop_030121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Barrow's Goldeneye</b> (center) - first-winter male with<b> Common Goldeneyes</b>, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Sometimes tricky to find but generally present in the area since December 25th, 2020.</i></span></div></div></div></div><p>Late afternoon saw a return to more wintery conditions. For the most part it was raw and windy but I was delighted to find the <b>Barrow's Goldeneye</b> back at the power canal, and it was courteous enough to drop into the roost nice and early with just a tiny handful of <b>Common Goldeneyes</b>. The local gull roost continues to be a little on the 'light' side but did produce a nice<b> Iceland Gull</b> this evening. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uaVjXfbH528EEUZuP8aZidjD7MKGYClQVVHL-j9ddSh-qB0VtG1q9rqLQk3ntSsLbuN2yB0x1pfpwqmvUg1BnI-WMoPMkgW5Pix77sLEooogbsTGH2LThFjm2uxW7v759sH1zrAn73I/s2048/Kum1_crp_030121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="2048" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uaVjXfbH528EEUZuP8aZidjD7MKGYClQVVHL-j9ddSh-qB0VtG1q9rqLQk3ntSsLbuN2yB0x1pfpwqmvUg1BnI-WMoPMkgW5Pix77sLEooogbsTGH2LThFjm2uxW7v759sH1zrAn73I/w640-h458/Kum1_crp_030121.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Iceland Gull</b><i> (kumlieni)</i> - first-winter, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.</span></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-65708344179690190802021-02-28T20:38:00.018-05:002021-03-02T15:46:22.888-05:00Costa Rica - Part V : the hummingbirds<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKGKFDeZk2hIHhE274nVuBv_vOTbO1JVfLzE15Z7UJ2VKzbZwHHqPvbqF4NWs4teiqdhjDTIMwulxCR5CTWHwCJ9XqR4hxrhB-CO3SwLEZ56zc0bkB5oNnEPdKxGJw0UJTPhy4dfdevg/s2048/Coppery-headed+Emereld_crop_Chichina+Valley+011220.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2048" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKGKFDeZk2hIHhE274nVuBv_vOTbO1JVfLzE15Z7UJ2VKzbZwHHqPvbqF4NWs4teiqdhjDTIMwulxCR5CTWHwCJ9XqR4hxrhB-CO3SwLEZ56zc0bkB5oNnEPdKxGJw0UJTPhy4dfdevg/w640-h602/Coppery-headed+Emereld_crop_Chichina+Valley+011220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Coppery-headed Emerald</b> - Cinchona Colibri Cafe. January, 2020.</span></div><p>The final word on our fantastic <b><a href="https://www.naturalistjourneys.com/destinations/central-america/costa-rica">Costa Rica Birding & Nature Tour</a></b> would have to go to the hummingbirds. We found no less than 27 species, 11 being regional endemics and one a National endemic. We found hummingbirds daily in a wide range of habitats from the lush, manicured gardens of the <b>Hotel Bougainvillia</b> and the <b>Savgere Hotel </b>&<b> Spa</b> to the wilder upland sites at <b>Paraiso Quetzal</b> and <b>Rancho Naturalista</b>. While a handful of species were seen rather fleetingly we generally had excellent views of all of them right down to the last morning of the tour where the Cinchona Colibri Cafe served up point blank views of the endemic <b>Coppery-headed Emerald</b> on the way to the Juan Santamaria<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"> </span>International Airport!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPQw0QP9wuYB6DP572jAA_7KSWVPQOqp8-sJ4Znn7m2TGum6qkI6Qwbouwff73vQfzDxK5hSgRQcG9kPWIeo9NbcDl2iq91RAugR88NZFU7V0r7UgJJK8IaZaMoORRq8BQsvsNchovhQ/s2048/Snowcap_crop_male_010920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="2048" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPQw0QP9wuYB6DP572jAA_7KSWVPQOqp8-sJ4Znn7m2TGum6qkI6Qwbouwff73vQfzDxK5hSgRQcG9kPWIeo9NbcDl2iq91RAugR88NZFU7V0r7UgJJK8IaZaMoORRq8BQsvsNchovhQ/w640-h510/Snowcap_crop_male_010920.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Snowcap</b> (male) - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba. January 9th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O7ZWWyJNxnJwrrm4XR2X3RJT_vlnW_2T-zws-6dzwc9uB6J1ABAQvdFrAnEwhqRBEKSqWOjBbfnacG1Mimt7IBDc8qiDYlu7baikzINmLG2lip4RbgILqLAtAQShsxA5MpgDkLDiJyM/s2048/White-necked+Jacobin+Rancho+Naturalista+010920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1809" data-original-width="2048" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O7ZWWyJNxnJwrrm4XR2X3RJT_vlnW_2T-zws-6dzwc9uB6J1ABAQvdFrAnEwhqRBEKSqWOjBbfnacG1Mimt7IBDc8qiDYlu7baikzINmLG2lip4RbgILqLAtAQShsxA5MpgDkLDiJyM/w640-h566/White-necked+Jacobin+Rancho+Naturalista+010920.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-necked Jacobin</b> (male) - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba. January 9th, 2020.</span></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Mkn2IaqXB6zlm8JGCbKqIdxATSAO0xwCi_ujPRtq0gHUMX5OXdk6ZS_EYlXRFGm_J1wgN36WSAdBFJZhDOKQ043uiJWcWwEikzLEm5ZjBTc55d1mvGla82wGJFyWYCiWilCFcgb4DDI/s2048/White_bellied+Mountain+Gem_crop_010420.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="2048" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Mkn2IaqXB6zlm8JGCbKqIdxATSAO0xwCi_ujPRtq0gHUMX5OXdk6ZS_EYlXRFGm_J1wgN36WSAdBFJZhDOKQ043uiJWcWwEikzLEm5ZjBTc55d1mvGla82wGJFyWYCiWilCFcgb4DDI/w640-h498/White_bellied+Mountain+Gem_crop_010420.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-bellied Mountain-gem</b>. Cinchona Colibri Cafe. January, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENTqRzRkVGI8K1iXJN3B6klJy1Hs_FD5OEgXPKBDfeshOKIB7hqXQ0Vtbu3z2T8XfVF3LvyBtDig2qBI-zaWqeRvzbJ2RT5-qhxBqyOwRBvLjiQpB0Gou9bMDsfiniAeIcd8vqkevIjc/s2048/White-throated+Mountain-gem2_crop_010720.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="2048" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENTqRzRkVGI8K1iXJN3B6klJy1Hs_FD5OEgXPKBDfeshOKIB7hqXQ0Vtbu3z2T8XfVF3LvyBtDig2qBI-zaWqeRvzbJ2RT5-qhxBqyOwRBvLjiQpB0Gou9bMDsfiniAeIcd8vqkevIjc/w640-h450/White-throated+Mountain-gem2_crop_010720.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-throated Mountain-gem</b>. Savegre Valley. January 7th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomQq6GqY35EPogF5tzGj-E_NIS2Phbmb988mksw0OxFwWOpwcWbNgA9o1bN4oCFFqQ7iPv3Smz7jV612y8iltGI3cEW4-RpQuTgD5SEk-K2eIPDai8ueuxy024K09e-BB-Ot6N0upFRE/s2048/Stripe_tailed+hummingbird_crop_010720.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="2048" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomQq6GqY35EPogF5tzGj-E_NIS2Phbmb988mksw0OxFwWOpwcWbNgA9o1bN4oCFFqQ7iPv3Smz7jV612y8iltGI3cEW4-RpQuTgD5SEk-K2eIPDai8ueuxy024K09e-BB-Ot6N0upFRE/w640-h508/Stripe_tailed+hummingbird_crop_010720.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span><b>Stripe-tailed Hummingbird</b></span><span>. Savegre Valley. January 7th, 2020.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E6iQ3rT6-G1pLoSWsocGJQD6bfz6kAI2rFF30mhin1FZ3Lq92gOBDy3_i0ehScZkf0RWVObK1QqdYV_Cd32c8iE6SuFG_rSjz7D2pUJEj9Za8AMnxr5_Ca_bQeIZB34lCUQJgKjfDcc/s2048/Green+Thorntail3_crop_Rancho+Naturalista+010920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="2048" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E6iQ3rT6-G1pLoSWsocGJQD6bfz6kAI2rFF30mhin1FZ3Lq92gOBDy3_i0ehScZkf0RWVObK1QqdYV_Cd32c8iE6SuFG_rSjz7D2pUJEj9Za8AMnxr5_Ca_bQeIZB34lCUQJgKjfDcc/w640-h470/Green+Thorntail3_crop_Rancho+Naturalista+010920.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Green Thorntail</b> (male) - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba. January 9th, 2020.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirugyWYSUyhI33UFd2-Xh2Lr0B2jyGh4PHm9PgHpAu-f_zlgDHh16P63tbrDyIRhNm3uUc7U8xIBc26YdhheLhqmXFcsYRJTgJs_5lrEemMBDMYdStVA4Y-0nioVGpPcFkmT-pjrsJUMw/s2048/Green+Thorntail2_crop_+Rancho+Naturalista+010920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1663" data-original-width="2048" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirugyWYSUyhI33UFd2-Xh2Lr0B2jyGh4PHm9PgHpAu-f_zlgDHh16P63tbrDyIRhNm3uUc7U8xIBc26YdhheLhqmXFcsYRJTgJs_5lrEemMBDMYdStVA4Y-0nioVGpPcFkmT-pjrsJUMw/w640-h520/Green+Thorntail2_crop_+Rancho+Naturalista+010920.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Green Thorntail</b> (male) - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba. January 9th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZfj4CVymDK92scvYUjzAs0N4d5sFgtI5SbuaYUilxb5rRdfYM6-FryhyPUOE3UNUYz2XrcY6cV6eUvW9OEs-z0Gwa1Y9VB2EM-wvrw_KhpvcQuEJXkm4OStC3M8-8Q8gLBS7Sb79p2w/s1092/Rancj+balcony+birdig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1092" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZfj4CVymDK92scvYUjzAs0N4d5sFgtI5SbuaYUilxb5rRdfYM6-FryhyPUOE3UNUYz2XrcY6cV6eUvW9OEs-z0Gwa1Y9VB2EM-wvrw_KhpvcQuEJXkm4OStC3M8-8Q8gLBS7Sb79p2w/w640-h416/Rancj+balcony+birdig.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Easy birding from the balcony at <b>Rancho Naturalista</b>. January 9th, 2020.</span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJCCTxM7o-ecN3Vp8flf56Qou4_ANtVYaivDmzH_8gPvguCboYKMJjFHvEQFEIv4nAsE9lxQMl1wPgBNxXEYK4V3AS2htOe-lFtGdm-Y4K0BxbFOaQI0AdRKQWSqhr93BhQHP6vq6Sq0/s2048/Crwoned+Woodnymph_crop_+Rancho+Naturalista+010920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="2048" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJCCTxM7o-ecN3Vp8flf56Qou4_ANtVYaivDmzH_8gPvguCboYKMJjFHvEQFEIv4nAsE9lxQMl1wPgBNxXEYK4V3AS2htOe-lFtGdm-Y4K0BxbFOaQI0AdRKQWSqhr93BhQHP6vq6Sq0/w640-h612/Crwoned+Woodnymph_crop_+Rancho+Naturalista+010920.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Crowned Woodnymph</b> (male) - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba. January 9th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWlSaXVw-xKoHWJU7tcWzCC8amTAD0A3pXFq7Xr_TLc4hddnvViTHdaqXAewVVFkXgHLII2dDM-23lxeJpZ67Dx7LYah9ARoLuxkngDSHcti22UR6pIoIKPIRmr6VYNG9J_llTDuQ3Ww/s1138/Lesser+Violetear_010620.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1138" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWlSaXVw-xKoHWJU7tcWzCC8amTAD0A3pXFq7Xr_TLc4hddnvViTHdaqXAewVVFkXgHLII2dDM-23lxeJpZ67Dx7LYah9ARoLuxkngDSHcti22UR6pIoIKPIRmr6VYNG9J_llTDuQ3Ww/w640-h488/Lesser+Violetear_010620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Lesser Violetears</b> - Paraiso Quetzal. January 6th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96STkdtSM5znRnHHvrw7fTe-RyC_8JVvqqGNmktOTbTAZnYoV1g68pTTH7QPhAtLRtRemtyXdquGj2Owq9X3c6qJ8Nl-qfX49POF85LRlMmIzxPCynXbPSItRfySqYOvQ2C3YK84KOew/s1257/Paraison+Quetzal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1257" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96STkdtSM5znRnHHvrw7fTe-RyC_8JVvqqGNmktOTbTAZnYoV1g68pTTH7QPhAtLRtRemtyXdquGj2Owq9X3c6qJ8Nl-qfX49POF85LRlMmIzxPCynXbPSItRfySqYOvQ2C3YK84KOew/w640-h480/Paraison+Quetzal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Paraiso Quetzal. January 6th, 2020.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRsoX9iA5AdTNoD9j3x3rYy9qrKPZnFv1QsPt02D_Tmx-xKkrJk-cfki2Mqa9fWPJv6n81F-kLXcirpYeZqXJLtyLWDm1BbDwuOz20EB_iu_FgOjjT-nOC3Raj_nZUJcumytevQraRhc/s2048/green-crowned+Brilliant_crop_Chichina+Valley+01120.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1761" data-original-width="2048" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRsoX9iA5AdTNoD9j3x3rYy9qrKPZnFv1QsPt02D_Tmx-xKkrJk-cfki2Mqa9fWPJv6n81F-kLXcirpYeZqXJLtyLWDm1BbDwuOz20EB_iu_FgOjjT-nOC3Raj_nZUJcumytevQraRhc/w640-h550/green-crowned+Brilliant_crop_Chichina+Valley+01120.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Green-crowned Brilliant</b> - Cinchona Colibri Cafe. January 12th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoWBhAjbtWTrMTx1eNEk-1xaKeqBfYGlPFg_4Vqqn6Aamsef_88hUqfDikpE37TD3a5WHY1nR5ajI6m-1pAUKaqX-RDnx8UDo5dJndGiK09KY5A969oV6WVgG9fP8ZxgyJTBDnWZhNKU/s2048/Purple-throated+Mountain-gem+female_crop_+Cinchona+Valley+011220.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1870" data-original-width="2048" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoWBhAjbtWTrMTx1eNEk-1xaKeqBfYGlPFg_4Vqqn6Aamsef_88hUqfDikpE37TD3a5WHY1nR5ajI6m-1pAUKaqX-RDnx8UDo5dJndGiK09KY5A969oV6WVgG9fP8ZxgyJTBDnWZhNKU/w640-h584/Purple-throated+Mountain-gem+female_crop_+Cinchona+Valley+011220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Purple-throated Mountain-gem</b> - Cinchona Colibri Cafe. January 12th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFl6isMYUpwmOxkMQccKha5WlF3YFJzFznPRMjET1cbKEPitIQmpZgJheimPeEr9rpqIsOUBX6DByGffH8MhC_39vDZ43eBB_rpo9mQsIP8ydXS_mV6SuMnBmTVwalbtAffClmHmtHP4/s2048/Scaly-breasted+Hummingbird2+Sarapiqui+011120.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1877" data-original-width="2048" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFl6isMYUpwmOxkMQccKha5WlF3YFJzFznPRMjET1cbKEPitIQmpZgJheimPeEr9rpqIsOUBX6DByGffH8MhC_39vDZ43eBB_rpo9mQsIP8ydXS_mV6SuMnBmTVwalbtAffClmHmtHP4/w640-h586/Scaly-breasted+Hummingbird2+Sarapiqui+011120.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Scaly-breasted Hummingbird</b> - Sarapiqui. January 11th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1BDJROGm9cASfl15p9Km4N9lWxoZwwdG5nbyxxAIMUVfyoDFayXFrP3fjHs1XiBvtFohimef__5VjjX4O0K4C9r2daMq_n-SNceKpr3cbIt8dVfdE_9-p9vHTcvmAmijN5wYkRGKfd0/s891/Ruby_throated+Hummingbird_crop_010520.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="891" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1BDJROGm9cASfl15p9Km4N9lWxoZwwdG5nbyxxAIMUVfyoDFayXFrP3fjHs1XiBvtFohimef__5VjjX4O0K4C9r2daMq_n-SNceKpr3cbIt8dVfdE_9-p9vHTcvmAmijN5wYkRGKfd0/w640-h540/Ruby_throated+Hummingbird_crop_010520.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Ruby-throated Hummingbird</b> - Santa Domingo. January 5th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i5bdKjW4QBedwBSTE-7K4OnaIRdik1J7Ip2aSBkxZVV_UNydDvbXC8QmAX1nDAFeLtWPm6AELl5nT8TfmVK1rDn8zJBWo8zeLrJNJLSzwOwLK-CYN17uW56s0oyTyUzY3YeJJmzFz8g/s2048/Fiery_throated+and+talamanca+hummingbird_crop__01062020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="2048" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i5bdKjW4QBedwBSTE-7K4OnaIRdik1J7Ip2aSBkxZVV_UNydDvbXC8QmAX1nDAFeLtWPm6AELl5nT8TfmVK1rDn8zJBWo8zeLrJNJLSzwOwLK-CYN17uW56s0oyTyUzY3YeJJmzFz8g/w640-h376/Fiery_throated+and+talamanca+hummingbird_crop__01062020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Fiery-throated </b>(left) and <b>Talamanca Hummingbirds</b> - Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Talamanca Mountains. January 6th, 2020.</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><b>Our hummingbird list, January 5th - 12th, 2020: (RE) = Regional endemic, (E) = National endemic; </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>White-necked Jacobin</b>
<i>Florisuga mellivora</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Green Hermit</b> <i>Phaethornis guy<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Long-billed Hermit</b>
<i>Phaethornis longirostris</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Stripe-throated
Hermit</b> <i>Phaethornis striigularis</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Green-fronted
Lancebill</b> <i>Doryfera ludovicae</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Lesser Violetear</b> <i>Colibri cyanotus<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Green-fronted
Lancebill</b> <i>Doryfera ludovicae</i> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Lesser Violetear</b> <i>Colibri cyanotus<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Green-breasted Mango</b>
Anthracothorax prevostii<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Green-crowned
Brilliant</b> <i>Heliodoxa jacula<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Green Thorntail</b> <i>Discosura conversii</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Talamanca Hummingbird</b>
<i>Eugenes spectabilis</i> (RE)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Fiery-throated
Hummingbird</b> <i>Panterpe insignis</i> (RE)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>White-bellied
Mountain-gem</b> <i>Lampornis hemileucus</i>
(RE)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Purple-throated Mountain-gem</b>
<i>Lampornis calolaemus</i> (RE)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>White-throated
Mountain-gem</b> <i>Lampornis
castaneoventris</i> (RE)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Ruby-throated
Hummingbird</b> <i>Archilochus colubris</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Volcano Hummingbird</b>
<i>Selasphorus flammula</i> (RE) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Scintillant
Hummingbird</b> <i>Selasphorus scintilla</i>
(RE) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Garden Emerald</b> <i>Chlorosilbon assimilis</i> (RE) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Scaly-breasted
Hummingbird</b> <i>Phaeochroa cuvierii</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Violet Sabrewing</b> <i>Campylopterus hemileucurus <o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Bronze-tailed
Plumeleteer </b><i>Chalybura urochrysia<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Crowned Woodnymph</b>
<i>Thalurania colombica <o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Stripe-tailed
Hummingbird</b> <i>Eupherusa eximia</i> (RE)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Coppery-headed
Emerald</b> <i>Elvira cupreiceps</i> (E) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Snowcap</b> <i>Microchera albocoronata</i> (RE) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Blue-vented
Hummingbird</b> <i>Amazilia hoffmanni</i> (sometimes
considered conspecific with Steely-vented Hummingbird <i>Amazilia saucerottei</i>) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><b>Rufous-tailed
Hummingbird</b> <i>Amazilia tzacatl<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpEZt11cP9bxnkCMrl3O2RSCrHKM_U6Le71fIl01b8Z0PqOeXsI7J8zbh6lHoYM-UBx3RSUD94WPKhCZjBpqPEXJWxJqS8T_Zg2bf5e-H1xJWzuPnEo1K7fLOwMlGLq00iws0E6xNmkI/s2048/Violet+Saberwing_010420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="2048" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpEZt11cP9bxnkCMrl3O2RSCrHKM_U6Le71fIl01b8Z0PqOeXsI7J8zbh6lHoYM-UBx3RSUD94WPKhCZjBpqPEXJWxJqS8T_Zg2bf5e-H1xJWzuPnEo1K7fLOwMlGLq00iws0E6xNmkI/w640-h528/Violet+Saberwing_010420.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Violet Saberwing</b> - Cinchona Colibri Cafe. January, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCxBunM3QPu_CwgkGHsxjceK1yD2NIwnY5ApyE4QG-JE2-WYvH4pgqQqiM53u-MId331uWkqcWZM83br2okkmk107F80sySXRtrOnL_dx7oL9SRhjVSVy_3Qf45niycylF1UHGuHvHlA/s2048/Voicano+Hummingbird2_crop_010620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCxBunM3QPu_CwgkGHsxjceK1yD2NIwnY5ApyE4QG-JE2-WYvH4pgqQqiM53u-MId331uWkqcWZM83br2okkmk107F80sySXRtrOnL_dx7oL9SRhjVSVy_3Qf45niycylF1UHGuHvHlA/w640-h474/Voicano+Hummingbird2_crop_010620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Volcano Hummingbird</b>. Talamanca Mountains. January 6th, 2020.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W18zsRkPry27VlYZsr9r92ZriQm210FYPZjEuFEA-lawzPwoVKIh7-8G-4THK-nujMd60H0Z0ogJrv9gf85cCHmlHyaj7RmY9yyBkTxtMV9PZU7q1XkHWYKWj5cwC-fC3X0TvL-Fnx4/s2048/Montane+Forest+Talamanca+010620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W18zsRkPry27VlYZsr9r92ZriQm210FYPZjEuFEA-lawzPwoVKIh7-8G-4THK-nujMd60H0Z0ogJrv9gf85cCHmlHyaj7RmY9yyBkTxtMV9PZU7q1XkHWYKWj5cwC-fC3X0TvL-Fnx4/w640-h480/Montane+Forest+Talamanca+010620.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Montane Forest, <b>Talamanca Mountains</b>. January 6th, 2020.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Home to regional endemics such as <b>Volcano</b> and <b>Talamanca Hummingbirds</b>. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><i style="font-size: small;"><br /></i><p></p></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7743688930480262404.post-73020900534327494972021-02-26T16:10:00.004-05:002021-02-26T16:14:59.738-05:00MA - White-winged Crossbills<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdlJIHUvDBOgqHvaYCHeq7KQri9Ww1ncZ__07OSJc7OJS_FDiSYiEOyxO1qvdcGsBQJtoTnhJqbAqrZWTNCcIPZt_OfyPvKUA_LOlg3s37PC1GGOzOU9TdF25UKNIx52oGtQcZal5kAk/s2048/WWCR1aa_crop_022521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdlJIHUvDBOgqHvaYCHeq7KQri9Ww1ncZ__07OSJc7OJS_FDiSYiEOyxO1qvdcGsBQJtoTnhJqbAqrZWTNCcIPZt_OfyPvKUA_LOlg3s37PC1GGOzOU9TdF25UKNIx52oGtQcZal5kAk/w640-h474/WWCR1aa_crop_022521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span><b>White-winged Crossbill </b>(male) - Montague Plains, Franklin Co., MA. February 25th, 2021. </span><span><i>One of at least three males present. </i></span></span></div><p></p><p>Of all the winter finches during the current 2020/21 irruption, I'd have to say that the <b>White-winged Crossbill</b> has given me the most grief. Aside from a few pesky flyover flocks in November and December I've actually done incredibly badly when it comes finding the species grounded and feeding. I don't have a clear explanation as to why my luck has been so poor but I am aware that many birders have met with success elsewhere with daily sightings coming from within a 50 - 60 miles radius of our home in Northfield. Reports from southern Vermont and southern New Hampshire have been especially prolific and, while certainly being tempted, I've managed to avoid chasing those flocks in favor of doggedly working the pine stands in Franklin County with the hope of finding a few my own. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHKDB22ugVouvkkClNR8ix9TipTCwyDIG-Jsuscv_1Z3wYftlUwmoQ-JGU-fb6CMWyrKnlOML6iC3r2meVBPszV30Wg6UR6B_UZcOKAdHI-FS7ISFLL6jbHc_1O5-wIazZ107qI-CQ74/s2048/WWCR1bb_crop_022521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHKDB22ugVouvkkClNR8ix9TipTCwyDIG-Jsuscv_1Z3wYftlUwmoQ-JGU-fb6CMWyrKnlOML6iC3r2meVBPszV30Wg6UR6B_UZcOKAdHI-FS7ISFLL6jbHc_1O5-wIazZ107qI-CQ74/w640-h472/WWCR1bb_crop_022521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0if28ynV_IPuUDftJxs9gYuetL81WBJzwPtFJkVJgv8TnkMFhRzmWvXPbZyvr0nilcvAv3MiYJVOf_FkGCLzpyWlvTGmjgpx2YyS4529hnAq1ITs8NTGadF2dY81Wb1gVTQcXcuTWBI/s2048/WWCR1gg_022521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="2048" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0if28ynV_IPuUDftJxs9gYuetL81WBJzwPtFJkVJgv8TnkMFhRzmWvXPbZyvr0nilcvAv3MiYJVOf_FkGCLzpyWlvTGmjgpx2YyS4529hnAq1ITs8NTGadF2dY81Wb1gVTQcXcuTWBI/w640-h464/WWCR1gg_022521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnSrxE5Y12i_uKgVIVT3GRCesMLL0tYIX5VtnvBTVKBMgBURsDAAcJT2f0Dz4MLguAe5derINZjl6y7m7V8ybcNEpetyhkNdsfQleZU5mkdiwMoviG_USjckXCxq9vAsmdZXSjSLdaYw/s2048/WWCR1_crop_022521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="2048" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnSrxE5Y12i_uKgVIVT3GRCesMLL0tYIX5VtnvBTVKBMgBURsDAAcJT2f0Dz4MLguAe5derINZjl6y7m7V8ybcNEpetyhkNdsfQleZU5mkdiwMoviG_USjckXCxq9vAsmdZXSjSLdaYw/w640-h468/WWCR1_crop_022521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>My luck finally changed on Feb 25th when a routine check on the <b>Red Crossbill</b> flocks in the Montague Plains produced at least three <b>White-winged Crossbills</b>, and I must say it was a real treat! I can't remember the last time I had such good, prolonged views of <b>White-winged Crossbills</b> anywhere in the US. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5aJbrNUX0_7ozY-EYONfEnSTaGEZ_GfiS8MQXmk5KIYSnwvw__YQvUcZPRPHgrw3wPuKugz8qbR6lXw_AKnUPgaBAZTH2lnSsRLnaJudRWSitgYw3t3bKh6BXOs355fBCu-3OqPmJqA/s2048/WWCR6aa_022521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="2048" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5aJbrNUX0_7ozY-EYONfEnSTaGEZ_GfiS8MQXmk5KIYSnwvw__YQvUcZPRPHgrw3wPuKugz8qbR6lXw_AKnUPgaBAZTH2lnSsRLnaJudRWSitgYw3t3bKh6BXOs355fBCu-3OqPmJqA/w640-h478/WWCR6aa_022521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XV1uWh-IKG5gA1NoAdKrZXYWrBJml8U87gX4pT6eKCuQIKn-OysMbfs5QURwWQomhtRHlPbdn74bJEHe1837BpMAsBvD-TAmfQO-vv9lU-0veETHyQ7102NrLTSphqgbbKbtebNk9vM/s2048/WWCR_crop_male_flight2b_022521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="2048" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XV1uWh-IKG5gA1NoAdKrZXYWrBJml8U87gX4pT6eKCuQIKn-OysMbfs5QURwWQomhtRHlPbdn74bJEHe1837BpMAsBvD-TAmfQO-vv9lU-0veETHyQ7102NrLTSphqgbbKbtebNk9vM/w640-h484/WWCR_crop_male_flight2b_022521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoWrbhQUUJCDy88bZjdJEbbJ-XlZpwvRl6PaVfNTFlWCu0SOrqX4ysYD-q08GUYrQ-cTaZNbPGhKqxwhMr5x2SgqAIC8_0mpXPfMgxBUwT4THrK_Er0NpBh0-xI3Fq-FH06VnAOLXfGE/s2048/WWCR6a_preening_crop_022521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="2048" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoWrbhQUUJCDy88bZjdJEbbJ-XlZpwvRl6PaVfNTFlWCu0SOrqX4ysYD-q08GUYrQ-cTaZNbPGhKqxwhMr5x2SgqAIC8_0mpXPfMgxBUwT4THrK_Er0NpBh0-xI3Fq-FH06VnAOLXfGE/w640-h464/WWCR6a_preening_crop_022521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-winged Crossbills </b>(males) - Montague Plains, Franklin Co., MA. February 25th, 2021. </span></div><p>The overall experience was quite mesmerizing. Two mild, spring-like mornings in succession with over 65 calling/singing <b>Red Crossbills</b> scattered about the plains, easily the most abundant species present. I traded sound recordings for views and eventually focused on at least three male <b>White-winged Crossbills</b> that seemed to be working together as a loose flock in the Northern Red Oaks and Pitch Pines. As a general observation I hadn't quite appreciated just how easily overlooked <b>White-winged Crossbills</b> could be when seen from below with the wing bars hidden from view. On the other hand, the heavy black markings on the undertail coverts, the grayish vent, the heavily streaked rear flanks and slender bill all stood out even when the wing bars couldn't be seen. Most of the birds I saw were males, possibly one full adult and two first-spring males plus I'm looking at (bad) photos of a possible streaked juvenile and another that may have been a female, so perhaps as many as five <b>White-winged Crossbills</b> in all. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqK6EHLUbxqAUj2NwKRcyUp4SQymqnBLix4i_82GFx4rMH3rpl1YkupLarNAy2PsgEzTTMVpN33UhnVplnGebDDVJByGGY4f-YEGW9I-G9MiNWWsBvMID3vTLfLnquUaCC2QyZUWa1lQ/s2048/RECR_male_crop_022521.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqK6EHLUbxqAUj2NwKRcyUp4SQymqnBLix4i_82GFx4rMH3rpl1YkupLarNAy2PsgEzTTMVpN33UhnVplnGebDDVJByGGY4f-YEGW9I-G9MiNWWsBvMID3vTLfLnquUaCC2QyZUWa1lQ/w640-h482/RECR_male_crop_022521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jbcNB_Zk4RWAWt78I_9SU5ef65qww-xSpiHdzRTk84QuX-Ox5jfIHAMfRwVFEdLSVdQquPLMCuAtGi1Vq_log7GLupc9EDLQ70icjY4aBSJGeG5akaPRAnU7m_nivzdCO0mbV7tbGhg/s2048/Mon+Sand+Plains+022521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jbcNB_Zk4RWAWt78I_9SU5ef65qww-xSpiHdzRTk84QuX-Ox5jfIHAMfRwVFEdLSVdQquPLMCuAtGi1Vq_log7GLupc9EDLQ70icjY4aBSJGeG5akaPRAnU7m_nivzdCO0mbV7tbGhg/w640-h480/Mon+Sand+Plains+022521.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Montague Plains, Franklin County. February 25th, 2021.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Currently home to tens of <b>Red Crossbills</b> and a handful of <b>White-winged Crossbills</b>.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2NXIEY4dLEQZAN_ewjtfeAwLUDBeo6M9PFs1qpVmcu9nrLNr-h2gQ7Lh6oqsViatX3eyRsnZr0TRFR6uYhKHmDPPVkFxS5F_l526-7km0wWPaHnz59vxZCAEEm-Xz4i3yvBqCNIzdhE/s2048/WWCR1_crop_022621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="2048" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2NXIEY4dLEQZAN_ewjtfeAwLUDBeo6M9PFs1qpVmcu9nrLNr-h2gQ7Lh6oqsViatX3eyRsnZr0TRFR6uYhKHmDPPVkFxS5F_l526-7km0wWPaHnz59vxZCAEEm-Xz4i3yvBqCNIzdhE/w640-h496/WWCR1_crop_022621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAcuSr0qVu4PmRo5L95e-W1w79awFrRFlmy8OoKAYYHLuXI6HlWVI37xnPBKvAQOd44lIKp04YgwPEHLlKS8GHe3SUh6TnE9OCR7zwTq0drd-ibkuZN0XgwH-fsk2ipL-kptWdYqLNEk/s2048/WWCR2_crop_022621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2048" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAcuSr0qVu4PmRo5L95e-W1w79awFrRFlmy8OoKAYYHLuXI6HlWVI37xnPBKvAQOd44lIKp04YgwPEHLlKS8GHe3SUh6TnE9OCR7zwTq0drd-ibkuZN0XgwH-fsk2ipL-kptWdYqLNEk/w640-h470/WWCR2_crop_022621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QU0PAxdeV9675apiCWr1KUlAHt0QVvXVNL3Krg5kbAg5UK5kLcBJBHumM4nY3uAnaM2FL73NcLSAr5ma1_Ig35aVbqMc5p1cqyxopesXRt3dWVdTzNTDzcrIeSTUkB1I7hHT49BnQj0/s2048/WWCR3_crop_022621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="2048" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QU0PAxdeV9675apiCWr1KUlAHt0QVvXVNL3Krg5kbAg5UK5kLcBJBHumM4nY3uAnaM2FL73NcLSAr5ma1_Ig35aVbqMc5p1cqyxopesXRt3dWVdTzNTDzcrIeSTUkB1I7hHT49BnQj0/w640-h482/WWCR3_crop_022621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTxUO4KookmO75OqTzx7HhtQhW05JtsIWfXd5Z9Fo6ke07hLfTpo5y4UIEsf2hFxa67joJ1DoHtivV-92BxyE3g6Rt47_yjadI-4hAgIksScYEOiJoRzhKvctB7uoBy4E7nJ3Wnp9A3Y/s2048/WWCR4_crop_022621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTxUO4KookmO75OqTzx7HhtQhW05JtsIWfXd5Z9Fo6ke07hLfTpo5y4UIEsf2hFxa67joJ1DoHtivV-92BxyE3g6Rt47_yjadI-4hAgIksScYEOiJoRzhKvctB7uoBy4E7nJ3Wnp9A3Y/w640-h476/WWCR4_crop_022621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>White-winged Crossbills </b>(males) - Montague Plains, Franklin Co., MA. February 26th, 2021. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxQCHEVCgOqfEYZFiUMiU22Qkk0-qG1a2o9W4YINPYB_60YFWuvTOZ2tFw2WYH16k5MahxL_Hj2MklsH_xg-24rYxwjozCzdG2IgE1JPu6eiZ6r0jTbyQwETNOMdNkNE62vekUPm6yKk/s2048/RECR1_crop_fem_022621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxQCHEVCgOqfEYZFiUMiU22Qkk0-qG1a2o9W4YINPYB_60YFWuvTOZ2tFw2WYH16k5MahxL_Hj2MklsH_xg-24rYxwjozCzdG2IgE1JPu6eiZ6r0jTbyQwETNOMdNkNE62vekUPm6yKk/w640-h474/RECR1_crop_fem_022621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKjsvOgBcD4MSZIFxGbWgYNBycjiTDj5rYCw0f6lhvUa_x_Y5goAr_PW6hFIcaReTeS2xaf0DIAfFecPSR-eQRciqqQVrbHC1tLM8fAO6LLuy1yPiI3kvs2yg1XrAn9LqYk4v-VlmvrM/s2048/RECR1_crop_022621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="2048" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKjsvOgBcD4MSZIFxGbWgYNBycjiTDj5rYCw0f6lhvUa_x_Y5goAr_PW6hFIcaReTeS2xaf0DIAfFecPSR-eQRciqqQVrbHC1tLM8fAO6LLuy1yPiI3kvs2yg1XrAn9LqYk4v-VlmvrM/w640-h470/RECR1_crop_022621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Red Crossbills</b><span> - Montague Plains, Franklin Co., MA. February 26th, 2021. </span></span></div></div></span></div><p>After two mornings of excellent <b>crossbill</b> viewing, I was again reminded of just how fortunate we are to have such fantastic birding areas so close to home in Franklin County. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>James P. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651871438764429809noreply@blogger.com0