MA - pictorial highlights during Thanksgiving week

Barnacle Goose (adult) - Greenfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 28th, 2020. No doubt the same bird that's been using the Turner's Fall power canal for roosting and bathing since November 23rd. 

As if the prospect of one or more lingering Barnacle Geese wasn't enough to grace Thanksgiving week, winter finches continued to show in numbers almost unabated. In particular, Pine Grosbeaks settled into a couple of reliable feeding spots at Wendall and Northfield after several weeks of frustrating flyovers. Red Crossbills remained in their reliable haunts at Montague Sand Plains (85+) and North Cross Road, Gill (5+) and flocks of Common Redpolls, mercurial if nothing else, showed up in flocks of 25 - 30 in several birch stands before disappearing just as suddenly as they'd appeared. Of the irruptive finches, White-winged Crossbills have been the most difficult to catch up with and continue to elude my camera though I got pretty close this morning (Nov 28th) with two passing low over North Cross Road, Gill. The latter site is also currently hosting a fairly late Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a couple of Winter Wrens. However, numbers of Evening Grosbeaks do appear to be tapering and in fact I only saw a single over North Cross Road during the whole of Thanksgiving week where formerly I was seeing them almost daily. A Yellow-rumped Warbler on Pine Meadow Road, Northfield on Nov 26th could well be my last warbler species of the year though I wouldn't rule out finding another in December. 

Barnacle Goose (adult) - Greenfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 28th, 2020.

Pine Grosbeaks -  on a soggy Thanksgiving morning, Wendall State Forest, Franklin Co., MA. November 26th, 2020. First noted by Bruce Kanash on November 25th. 

Aside from rare geese, the Turner's Falls area managed to pull in a Red-throated Loon on Nov 25th, 5 Greater Scaup on Nov 26th and the first Iceland Gull of the fall on Nov 27th/28th. 

Red-throated Loon (adult) and Red Fox - Turner's Falls,  Franklin Co., November 25th, 2020. 

Red-throated Loon (adult) - Turner's Falls,  Franklin Co., November 25th, 2020. 

Greater Scaup (5) -  Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., November 26th, 2020. 

Iceland Gull (kumlieni)  -  first-winter, Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., November 28th, 2020. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler - Pine Meadow Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 26th, 2020. 

Horrible shot I know. Taken through the car windscreen during a downpour and included purely for the records. 

Common Redpoll  -  Montague, Franklin Co., November 18th, 2020. 

Red Crossbill (fem/imm) -  Montague, Franklin Co., November 25th, 2020. 

Pileated Woodpecker  -  Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., November 26th, 2020. 

MA - MacGillivray's Warbler in Hadley

MacGillivray's Warbler - Hadley Honeypot, Hampshire Co., MA. November 13th, 2017

This month's sensational local birding continues unabated. November is certainly living up to its reputation for rarities and this morning I did a little chasing, heading south for the Hadley Honeypot a mere thirty minutes from Gill.  News of a MacGillivray's Warbler at the Honeypot appeared on the Massbird listserve yesterday afternoon. The finder, Ted Gilliland, provided excellent documentation in his ebird report leaving no doubt about the ID. This species has been on my radar as a potential vagrant waiting to be discovered in the Gill/Turner's Falls area for a couple of weeks and I was naturally intrigued to find out a bit more about the bird, its habitat choices and how it would sound in the field in a Western Mass context versus California where I saw and heard several on a group tour as recently as September. So, I dropped Matan at school at 08:30 and then headed down to the Honeypot reaching That's a-Plenty Farm at 09:05. After that, it was hard work, very hard work in fact and it took me and a small group of half-a-dozen birders some 90 minutes to get decent views. The bird was often vocal but usually stayed buried deep inside a patch of dead and dying nettles. Still, overall it was a great experience watching an extreme skulker at close range and obtaining a few record shots and sound recordings. MacGillivray's Warbler is a state review species and I'm only aware of two other reports in the Pioneer Valley; one from Southwick, Hampden County, on September 22nd, 1995 (S.Kellogg) and a male in Northampton, Hampshire County on October 11th, 1998 (T.Gagnon). Fingers crossed, the next one will be in Franklin County! Gracious thanks to Ted Gilliland for a fantastic find and to Scott Surner and Larry Therrien for bringing me up to speed on the bird's behavior this morning.

MacGillivray's Warbler - Hadley Honey Pot, Hampshire Co., MA. November 13th, 2017.

The ultimate skulker only offering brief, often obscured views. 

Elsewhere, waterfowl migration seems to have tapered a little at Turner's Falls but the annual late autumn build up of Hooded Mergansers has been nice with up to 55 birds in Barton Cove on Nov 12th though fewer today. Also of interest today, a Common Loon for its third straight day at Barton Cove, and a lingering Red-breasted Merganser at Unity Park, also 2 Gadwall, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Lesser Scaup and 4 Common Goldeneye at Barton Cove on Nov 12th-13th, and a Long-tailed Duck at the Rod and Gun club on Nov 11th.

Hooded Mergansers - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. November 12th, 2017. 

Hooded Merganser - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. November 11th, 2017. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -  juv/first-winter, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 12th, 2017. 

Red-breasted Merganser - female, Unity Park. Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. November 13th, 2017.

This bird has been lingering here for about a week but is usually tucked under the bank on either side of the river.

MA - Glaucous Gulls at Turner's Falls

Glaucous Gull (center-left) - adult, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA , December 19th, 2016. 
This behemoth was first noted by Eric Huston on Dec 16th. 

 Glaucous Gull (center) - 1st-cycle, with two Kumlien's Iceland Gulls (3rd-cycle and 1st-cycle) to the left of center. Birds seen towards dusk, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA , December 21st, 2016. 

 The appearance of pale-winged gulls at Turner's Falls is one of the more anticipated events of the winter and, after a smattering of single Kumlien's Iceland Gulls through early December, there was a distinct upswing in gull activity through the weekend and into the current week. A beautiful adult Glaucous Gull, found by Eric Huston on Dec 16th, was the precursor to the appearance of multiple new gulls peaking at three Kumlien's Iceland Gulls (one 3rd-cycle and two 1st-cycles) and two Glaucous Gulls (one adult and one 1st-cycle) on Dec 19th, as well as the continuing adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. So, Turner's Falls has hosted six species of gull on most evenings this week. 

Glaucous Gull (just left of center) - 1st-cycle, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA , December 21st, 2016. 

With most of Barton Cove being frozen, the Turner's Falls power canal has played host to most of the waterfowl in the area including up to 165 Common Mergansers, 90+ Common Goldeneye, a Greater Scaup (from Dec 19th) and a Ring-necked Duck (Dec 22nd). Also of interest, an apparent wintering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at the power canal on Dec 22nd.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - juv/first-winter, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA , December 22nd, 2016. 

MA - sapsucker, towhee 11/04

The push of waterfowl from the north seems to have slowed a bit over the last two days and Barton Cove and the Turner's Falls power canal have had little to offer in terms of fresh arrivals. Despite the presence of 500+ Canada Geese, I haven't seen a Cackling Goose since Sunday the 2nd, so I can't help but wonder of the two recent migrants have moved on. In short, the water biding has been exceedingly quiet for the last two days. But this morning I found a nice 'pocket' of birds on Pine Meadow Road, Northfield just south of the intersection with Cross Road. Lots of juncos, White-throated Sparrows and Pine Siskins present as well as a 'getting late' Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Eastern Towhee, and a single Yellow-rumped Warbler.

 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Pine Meadow Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 4th, 2014.

The bulk have migrants have already moved through, but in truth a few of these will stay into December

and turn up on the Christmas Bird Counts. 

 Hooded Mergansers - part of a lose group of about 15. Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. November 3rd, 2014.

Becoming increasingly visible at Barton Cove this month.

 Black Scoter - female, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. November 2nd, 2014.

Probably lingering from the previous day.

MA - first sapsucker - 02/28

Back to Arctic conditions for us this week, so it was particularly nice (and surprising) to find this roadside Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Gill this morning. I haven't seen any sapsuckers locally since late October, not even on the Christmas Bird Counts so I can't help but wonder if this might be an early migrant? Even so, a lone winterer would be easy to overlook and we're still about a month away from the main arrival of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in Gill. Either way, it was great to see.

 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - poor quality shots of fast moving bird, North Cross Road, Gill,
Franklin Co., MA. February 28th, 2014. My first local sapsucker of the year. 

Habitat for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, North Cross Road, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. February 28th, 2014. 

You can't really blame it for wanting to be in such a nice place!

Elsewhere, a quick check of the CT River at West Northfield produced no diving ducks at all, quite the contrast from my last visit three days ago which turned up 9 Greater Scaup and lots of Common Goldeneye.

MA - a few year firsts 04/05/13

As if to perfectly anticipate warmer temperatures and a forecasted spell of southern winds, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Tree Swallow all appeared in or around our yard in Gill this morning. All were new for the year. Barton Cove still held some Ring-necked Ducks but much reduced in number, though the pair of American Wigeons was still present. The most significant change was in the swallow department, with 25-30 Tree Swallows hawking low over the water.

 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. April 5th, 2013.

 

Ring-billed Gull - first-cycle, Barton Cove, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. April 5th, 2013.



MA - Yard Sapsucker - 11/18

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - First-winter male, North Whitney Street, Amherst, Hampshire Co., MA. November 10th, 2009. Unusual in November, though earlier this year we had one at our feeders in January. This bird was digi-binned from the back window on Nov 10th, but another or the same appeared briefly in front of our apartment on November 18th.


The day began well with an early morning Snow Bunting passing West over North Whitney Street, Amherst at about 7am. Not quite countable as a yard bird, but not that far away either. It was certainly nice to hear the clear ringing calls as it passed overhead. Then came a Common Raven, again calling, but this time visible (naked eye) from the yard. Common Ravens have been fairly frequent over North Whitney Street since August which seems like a slight shift in occurrence as we only used to see hear them here in the winter months. Around noon, our second Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of the month appeared in front of the apartment but was too quick for the camera. It may have been the same bird as that photographed above, taken on November 10th.

In the afternoon I had a drive out to the Quabbin and visited Gate 5, only the second time I've tried this particular gate. As I arrived, two immaculate juvenile Bald Eagles passed so close that I could hear the air whistling through the feathers - nice! They were probably heading for roost. Just offshore, a lovely adult male Long-tailed Duck was diving and preening. It was the only bird on the water that I could see! With dusk fast approaching I managed just a couple of blurred shots.

Long-tailed Duck - Adult male, Quabbin Reservoir, Hampshire Co., MA. November 18th, 2009.

MA - Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 10/08

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - North Whitney Street, Amherst, MA. October 10th, 2009.

More Blackpoll Warblers filtered through the trees along North Whitney Street, Amherst this morning. A flock of about 150 Common Grackles suddenly appeared on the local lawns at about 0845 am and just as suddenly disappeared! Golden-crowned Kinglets could be heard from several yards and from Wildwood Cemetery, the first time I've heard them since returning from Cape May. The best bird though was a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker which I managed to digiscope from the apartement window.

Common Grackles - part of a fast moving flock of c.150 birds, High Street, Amherst, MA. October 10th, 2009.

Amherst notes - Jan 5th.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - first-winter male, Amherst, Hampshire County, January 4th, 2009. Images taken through glass door using Minox 8 x 32 binoculars and Canon Powershot A540.

American Tree Sparrow - Amherst, Hampshire County, January 4th, 2009.

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker visited our feeders daily from the 2nd - 4th, but didn't show up today, or perhaps we missed him. Pine Siskins continue to feature on our feeders and we had a small flock of nine 'ground feeding' on the deck yesterday. Excellent numbers (c.100) continue in the general North Whitney/High Street area of Amherst. This afternoon, Matan and I surprised a Ruffed Grouse at Orchard Hill on the Umass campus and watched her speed away across the snow.

Yard Sapsucker, Amherst - 01/02/09

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - first-winter male, N. Whitney Street, Amherst, Hampshire County, Jan 2nd.

We had a really nice surprise this morning when a young male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker flew into the feeders on our rear deck. It spent most of its time feeding on peanuts and visited frequently for the remainder of the day. A great bird to have in mid-winter and the first sapsucker that I've since in Amherst since early October. Also today, increasing visits and increasing numbers of Pine Siskins actually working our feeders with up to five present at any one time.

Pine Siskins - N. Whitney Street, Amherst, Hampshire County, Jan 2nd.