MA - Redheads and other wildfowl - 10/14-15

Redhead - drake with female Mallard, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 15th, 2010.

Redheads - with female-type Lesser Scaup (center), Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 15th, 2010.

Redheads - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 15th, 2010.

Northern Shoveler with drake Mallard - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 14th, 2010.

Late afternoon visits to Barton Cove and Turner's Falls found most birds on the power canal once again, though curiously some of the Canada Goose flock (c.400) have been hanging out off Riverview Drive in Gill. The six Redheads were again present on the power canal and have been joined by a female-type Lesser Scaup (my first of the fall here). Indeed, the power canal was packed with ducks with a distinct improvement in diversity including; Wood Duck (6), Northern Pintail (3 plus 2 more at Barton Cove), Green-winged Teal (2 plus 1 at Barton Cove), Northern Shoveler (1 and my first of the fall here), American Wigeon (6), Redhead (6), Lesser Scaup (1) and plenty of Mallard and American Black Duck.

The overnight North-easterly storm with rain on the 15th seemed to produce little (if any) change with the exception being the departure of the Northern Pintail and the Green-winged Teal. Surprisingly, no obvious storm driven birds could be found.

Also of note on the 15th, a beautiful adult White-crowned Sparrow in the yard with the White-throats and juncos.

JPS.