MA - another Cackler - 10/26

Yesterday afternoon I had a quick drive down to the Turner's Falls power canal just on the off-chance that we may have a repeat of last year's Pink-footed Goose;

http://pioneerbirding.blogspot.com/2011/10/ma-pink-footed-goose-1026.html

Alas, no Pink-foot but some 800 Canada present, split into three major groups making sorting through them quite tricky. A Pink-foot or a White-front could have easily been tucked into one of the more distant groups. After sometime I located a Cackling Goose which looked like a new arrival and was subtly different to the bird I first located here on October 10th. That individual, by the way, is still being seen and was still present on October 25th/26th. Currently, it seems to favor the bike path side of the power canal best accessed from Depot Street in Turner's Falls.

Elsewhere on the 26th; 75 Pine Siskins in our yard in Gill, and an Evening Grosbeak flying over Barton Cove continuing the 'irruptive finches' theme. Winter Wrens at Turner's Falls power canal and close to our yard on Main Road, Gill.  And finally, four Pied-billed Grebes and three Hooded Mergansers at Barton Cove but no signs of any scoters - observers at many inland lakes currently reporting quite large flocks of Black Scoters.

Cackling Goose (B.h. hutchinsii) - appears in the center of each of the above images. At least four individuals have now appeared at the power canal since October 10th. Seemingly incredible consistent this fall - almost every visit since that date producing a Cackling Goose. Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. October 26th, 2012. Images taken using a Panasonic Lumix FZ7 hand-held against a Swarovski HD scope.