MA - Sage Thrasher, Harlequin and more good birds in 'the valley'

 

Sage Thrasher - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. January 20th, 2021.

This bird was first found on Dec 13th, 2020 by Theresa Gessing.

January 20th, 2021. Today was a good day. Another mild, calm and not especially wintery morning was temptation enough for me to try for the Hatfield Sage Thrasher, the same long staying individual that I last saw on December 14th and now well into its sixth week of winter residence. Originally found by Theresa Gessing on December 13th, 2020 this bird, much like the individual upriver at Hinsdale, New Hampshire seems to becoming increasingly bold perhaps accustomed to the daily birder attention? Either way, the thrasher gave remarkable views today sitting up and feeding on bittersweet berries in the relatively warm January sunshine. 'Chapeau' to the generous fellow who beckoned me over and walked me to the spot where he'd left the thrasher feeding just a few minutes earlier. Considering the degree of difficulty in viewing the bird during my last visit on December 14th, today's views were simply out of this world. I was the only birder at the scene and left it feeding, unmolested, in its favored hedgerow.

Sage Thrasher - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. January 20th, 2021.

Approximate location for the Sage Thrasher along Cow Bridge Road, near great Pond, Hatfield. 

Later in the day I was fortunate (again) to connect with the Barrow's Goldeneye at the Turner's Falls power canal which continues to join the pre-roost flocks of Common Goldeneye flying in from the Connecticut River at dusk. Further up the Connecticut, the first-winter male Harlequin Duck continues to forage in the white water rapids along the Millers River above Cabot Camp. Even so, it can be aloof and seems to be spending more time roosting than in past visits making it difficult to find at times. 

Barrow's Goldeneye (left) - first-winter male with Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 20th, 2021.

This bird was first noted on Dec 25th, 2020. 

Harlequin Duck  (first-winter male) - Millers River, Erving, Franklin Co., MA. January 20th, 2021.

First found on Jan 1st, 2021 by Anne Jemas. 

Of the passerines, well Red Crossbills continue to roam and show up in a wide scatter locations but have generally been incredibly consistent at several spots in northern Franklin County with 25 - 35 regularly in the Montague Plains, 5 - 11 in Gill and up to 13 in Erving. While the large numbers of Pine Grosbeaks that we saw around Christmas and New year appear to have moved out, smaller numbers (1 - 5 birds) continue to be found in Gill, Northfield, Millers Falls and Greenfield. The relatively mild days have also favored Winter Wrens which continue to crop up regularly at spots like the Millers River at Cabot Camp, Turner's Falls power canal and North Cross Road, Gill. 

The Williamstown Boreal Chickadee also continues at the suburban location just off North Housac Road though I would have to admit that my recent visits have not been anywhere near as successful as the first on January 14th. In fact, I've only been able to note the bird as a 'heard-only' and managed to get just the one additional audio clip since January 14th. That's a tough bird to see!

MA - excellent local birding continues through mid-January

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - Millers River, Erving, Franklin Co., MA. January 12th, 2021.

Remaining faithful to the Millers River and first found by Anne Jemas on January 1st, 2021.

The general excellence of birding has continued unabated along the Connecticut River Valley. While it might be true to say that new arrivals have been relatively few, the ongoing presence of species such as Harlequin Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye, Sage Thrasher, Red Crossbill and Pine Grosbeak have been enough to keep spirits high and the motivation strong. In addition, the weather has been calm, relatively mild and almost spring-like inducing an increase in bird song, and especially woodpecker activity. Here's a relatively small selection of pictorial highlights from recent days. 

Winter Wren - Pauchaug Brook WMA, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. January 13th, 2021.

One of two birds present in what seems to be a good winter for them with others at the Turner's Falls power canal, and North Cross Road, Gill. 

Sage Thrasher - Hinsdale Setbacks, Cheshire Co., NH. January 13th, 2021.

Seemingly getting bolder by the day. First found by Cory Ross on Dec 19th, 2020.

Black Vultures - three of the four in flight over Montague Sandplains, Franklin Co., MA. January 9th, 2021.

Actually my first January record of the species in Franklin County.

Red Crossbills - Montague Sandplains, Franklin Co., MA. January 9th, 2021.

Still very much in evidence in northern Franklin County with singles and small numbers in Gill,

and up to 25 together in the Montague Sandplains. 

Barrow's Goldeneye (center) - first-winter male, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 13th, 2021.

A regular late evening visitor to the power canal and present in the area since Christmas Day 2020. 

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - Millers River, Erving, Franklin Co., MA. January 12th, 2021.

On the Millers River, first found by Anne Jemas on January 1st, 2021.

Barred Owl - Gill, Franklin Co., MA. January 13th, 2021.

This species has been a little more visible of late. 

I took this shot directly through the car windscreen as it perched right above North Cross Road, in Gill. 

Boreal Chickadee - North Hoosac Road, Wlliamstown, Berkshire Co., MA. January 14th, 2020.

Working the spruces in a residential neighborhood. Found and first reported by Lori Van Handel on Jan 11th, 2020.

(Kumlien's) Iceland Gull (center) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. January 14th, 2021.

Nice dark winged bird, and the first adult of the winter season. 

 

MA - local Rough-legged Hawk plus Harelquin and more

 

Rough-legged Hawk (light morph juvenile) - Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway, Charlemont, Franklin Co., MA. January 8th, 2020. 

Found by Brendan Murtha on January 7th, 2020. 

For some inexplicable reason, Rough-legged Hawks appear to be pretty rare in Franklin County. Over 15 years of regularly birding the county at the right time of year I've managed to see just two; one at Turner's Falls Airfield on Nov 4th, 2013 and another at the Quabbin Reservoir, first found by Bill Lafley, on Jan 16th, 2016. I really don't have a clear explanation as to why my favorite North American buteo has been so aloof over the years but needless to say, when Brendan Murtha reported a light morph near Shelburne Falls on Jan 7th my interest was more than a little piqued! The location was a familiar one, a rather picturesque roadside picnic area by the Deerfield River along the Mohawk Trail. This is well known territory for our family with dozens of trips to Thunder Mountain Bike Park and Berkshire East Mountain Resort logged in years past. 

Rough-legged Hawk (light morph juvenile) - Mohawk Trail Scenic Byway, Charlemont, Franklin Co., MA. January 8th, 2020. 

This morning's venture could hardly have gone any better. No sooner had I pulled in to the rest stop and had started to layer up with warm gear than the Rough-leg appeared. It was low, close and stunning! No need for binoculars, it was an easy naked-eye identification. It drifted around the fringe of the White Pines and out of view only to return via almost exactly the same route some 30 minutes later. It was a classic, crisp New England winter's day and the views of the Rough-leg were as pure as anything I could have hoped for.  It drifted low over the Deerfield River and began quartering the lower lying fields in Buckland. 

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - Millers River, Franklin Co., MA. January 8th, 2020. 

Northern Pintail (fem/imm) - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 8th, 2020.

Later in the day I caught up with the Harlequin Duck back on the Millers River, the Lesser Back-backed Gull again at Barton Cove, and the young male Barrow's Goldeneye back at the Turner's Falls power canal where a female Northern Pintail looked like the only new arrival of the day. 

Lesser Black-backed Gull (sub-adult) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. January 8th, 2020.

MA - a little more HARLEQUIN!!

 

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - Millers River, near Millers Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 5th, 2021.

A stunning find for Anne Jemas on Jan 1st and still present through to Jan 6th. 

Okay. I can admit it. I'm completely smitten with this little Harlequin. I was more than delighted to see this denizen of the rapids return to the fast flowing, white waters of the Millers River after spending January 4th downriver at Barton Cove. We've had our fair share of rarities along the valley this fall and winter but I think, for pure aesthetics, watching this bird charge and dive through the swift currents, eddies and white water of the Millers River has been the most gratifying. It's exactly the sort of birding I like. A truly rare bird discovered in an extremely local, yet unexpectedly beautiful spot. Of course, only time will tell how long the Harlequin will stick around but for now at least, it appears to be pretty content. Other nice birds along the Millers River this morning included the continued wintering Eastern Phoebe, 6 Red Crossbills and a Pine Grosbeak. Numbers of Pine Grosbeaks do seem to have dwindled somewhat from the large flocks than we saw around Christmas and New year with just single birds showing up in Gill, Turner's Falls and Montague over the last few days.  

Millers River (with Harlequin Duck) looking towards the Montague side of the river. January 5th, 2021. 

MA - HARLEQUIN in Franklin County!!

 

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - Millers River, near Millers Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 2nd, 2021.

An exceptional find for Anne Jemes and probably the first for Franklin County.

A brand new year and it seems that there's no slowing up in the general excellence of birding along the Connecticut River Valley. Late last night I read an intriguing report of a Harlequin Duck on the Millers River, a mere ten minutes from our home in Northfield and a spot that I knew well from my local bike rides. First and foremost, kudos and full credit goes to Anne Jemas who gave such a compelling description of the bird and (importantly) its behavior that I had little choice but to go and have a look for myself! It was a fabulous first-winter male, just as Anne described, and the only duck present on the river. Nor was it especially shy leaving me to simply enjoy it and the beautiful location it had chosen. Inland records of Harlequins are exceptional in Massachusetts and I'm not aware of any other reports for the Pioneer Valley. Congratulations to Anne for a truly spectacular find and for following it up with such an excellent description. 

Moreover, on the short walk upriver I came across an unseasonable Eastern Phoebe, with the walk back producing two flyover White-winged Crossbills - not too shabby!

Postscript: in the afternoon I went back to the Millers River with Susannah who quickly found the Harlequin significantly further downstream than I'd seen it in the morning. In fact, it was visible from bike path bridge looking upstream. We later rounded off a fabulous day for diving ducks with a visit to the Turner's Falls power canal where the Common Goldeneye roost built up to about 60 birds and the  young male Barrow's Goldeneye flew in with one of the last groups to arrive. About eight Hooded Mergansers and a female Bufflehead were also present. 

Showing very well in late afternoon, and in better light.

Susannah finding and enjoying the Harlequin in late afternoon.

Looking upriver from the bridge over the Millers River. The Harlequin was visible from this spot in late afternoon. 

Barrow's Goldeneye (center) - first-winter male, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 2nd, 2021. 

Barrow's Goldeneye (second from right) - first-winter male, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 2nd, 2021. 

The same individual that showed up on Christmas Day but flew in late today, too late in fact for photos. 

Even so, very cool to relocate this bird after a long pause of eight days.