MA - first Tree Sparrow as well! - 10/30

As if the first Fox Sparrow of the fall wasn't enough for one day, this afternoon I was astonished to see our 'first-of-season' American Tree Sparrow at the feeders. I doubt if I missed this one during my frequent checks through the day, so it's late afternoon appearance was a genuine surprise. The Fox Sparrow re-appeared too, and with Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated and Song Sparrows thrown into the mix it was pretty compelling viewing.

White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Juncos - Gill yard, Franklin Co, MA.

October 30th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

 

American Tree Sparrow (front) - Gill yard, Franklin Co, MA.

October 30th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

American Tree Sparrow - from the living room window, Gill yard, Franklin Co, MA.

October 30th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

Song Sparrow (front) - Gill yard, Franklin Co, MA. We've had plenty

of these in the yard for most of October but only a few coming into the feeders.

October 30th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

House Finch (male) - Gill yard, Franklin Co, MA.

October 30th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

Fox Sparrow - Gill yard, Franklin Co, MA. Appeared again

in late afternoon. October 30th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

Eastern Chipmunk - Gill yard, Franklin Co, MA. Getting fat and happy

on recently purchased wild bird food. October 30th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.



MA - yard Fox Sparrow - 10/30

How nice that our first Fox Sparrow of the fall would be right outside the living room window! Last week's White-throated Sparrows (or at least the large concentrations) have moved on and have now been replaced by Dark-eyed Juncos. We must have 60 of the latter in our yard at the moment. A Fox Sparrow joined them this morning, catching me by surprise but lingering long enough for a few images to be taken.

 (Red) Fox Sparrow - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. October 30th, 2013.

Canon Powershot G10.

 

 

 (Red) Fox Sparrow - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. October 30th, 2013.

A real 'beast' of a sparrow, dwarfing the Dark-eyed Juncos in the foreground.

 Canon Powershot G10.





MA - recent waterfowl - 10/28

Finally the weather has turned more seasonal with cool, blustery days and temps dipping below freezing at night. A smattering of interesting ducks continue to show up at Barton Cove, with birds widely scattered across the cove. This morning, a cracking male Gadwall flew nervously around the cove before settling close to a large group of Canada Geese off Unity Park. The long staying Northern Shoveler also joined the same group, seemingly becoming increasingly tame and hanging with the local Mallards just off the bank at Unity Park. Elsewhere around Barton Cove were a female type Greater Scaup, five Hooded Mergansers, and five continuing Ring-necked Ducks.

At the Turner's Falls power canal, a nice rafting mass of 600 or so Canada Geese but, surprisingly, nothing out of the ordinary amongst them. The highlight here was a fly-over Lapland Longspur, my first of the fall season. On the same theme, my first-of-season Buffleheads turned up off Riverview Drive, Gill on Friday October 25th but evidently not present this morning.

 Gadwall - adult male, Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA.

October 28th, 2013. Digiscoped with Canon Powershot G10.

 Buffleheads - three, all female-types with Ring-necked Ducks (rear),
Riverview Drive, Gill, Franklin Co., MA.
October 25th, 2013. Digiscoped with Canon Powershot G10.

 

Northern Shoveler - female/first-winter, first noted at Barton Cove on October 21st

and becoming increasingly tame hanging out with local Mallards off Unity Park, Turner's Falls.

October 28th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10. 



MA - Cackling Goose - 10/24

My first Cackling Goose of the fall season. At 09:30hrs less than one hundred Canada Geese were present on the power canal so I decided to call it morning and began driving home on Montague City Road. As I drove north, I noticed a small flock of Canadas flying in from the east and pulled over for one last check. The flock had more or less passed me dropping down towards the power canal, but through the windscreen I felt sure that there was a smaller, more compact bird within the flock the jizz of which reminded me more of a Barnacle Goose than a Canada. I headed back to the bike path for another try and quickly found a beautiful, pristine Cackling Goose in with the Canadas. By the time I left (at about 11:05hrs) the Canada Goose flock had built up to about 450 birds with small groups birds continually arriving, most likely from feeding spots in Gill, Greenfield and Deerfield.

 Cackling Goose - (right), leading this small group of Canada Geese, Turner's Falls power canal,

Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Digiscoped using Canon Powershot G10.

Cackling Goose - (right), with Canada Geese, Turner's Falls power canal,

Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Digiscoped using Canon Powershot G10.

Cackling Goose - right, between two Canada Geese offering a nice size comparison

as well as comparison of relative bill size and shape. Turner's Falls power canal,

Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Digiscoped using Canon Powershot G10.

Canada Geese - small flocks dropping in throughout the morning, Turner's Falls

power canal, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

 

Hermit Thrush - rather gray looking bird with contrasting rufous tail and rufous fringes to the flight feathers. Very skulking and difficult to see well. Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MA - Shoveler and other Gill notes - 10/22

A Northern Harrier flew south low over our house on Main Road, Gill, just before a major band of rain set in for the afternoon on Oct 22nd. About our sixth record overall, fitting nicely within a pattern of other mid-October occurrences. The yard continues to 'heave' with Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-throated Sparrows but overall diversity amongst other species seems to be dwindling. Even so, the weekend yielded Blue-headed Vireos on the 19th and 20th and a singing Purple Finch also the 20th. A major incursion of Dark-eyed Juncos and, to a lesser extent Chipping Sparrows, also took place over the weekend, not so much in our yard but very apparent along the roadsides in Gill.

Yesterday (10/21), waterfowl were again of interest at Barton Cove this time highlighted by a Northern Shoveler, seemingly quite a scarce/rare migrant through the Pioneer Valley in fall. Also present, a nice drake Wood Duck, 3 Green-winged Teal, 6 Ring-necked Duck and a very high count of exactly 50 Mute Swans.

Northern Shoveler - female/first-winter, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA.

October 21st, 2013. Digiscoped using Canon Powershot G10.

The Swamp Sparrows in our yard seem to be dispersing from the solid numbers present (up to 15) in the second and third weeks of October. They've been easy enough to see but the 'devil' to photograph. Finally, one teed up on Saturday long enough for me to take an image.

Swamp Sparrow - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA.

October 19th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.



And a belated note for the 17th - I was really surprised to see a Savannah Sparrow at the edge of the yard which, though distant, perched up long enough for an image to be taken. We've had Savannah's Sparrows close by before, but this may have been our first actually within the yard itself.

Savannah Sparrow - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA.

October 21st, 2013. Digiscoped using Canon Powershot G10.



VT - raptors - 10/18

This morning I headed north into Vermont hoping that the weak rain-bearing front that passed through overnight would stir up some movement amongst passerines, geese and raptors. I was at Putney Mountain early enough to see the tail end of the rain disappear to the NE, and then settled down for a breezy migration watch. Small numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers filtered through south along with about 12 Purple Finches and a single Eastern Bluebird. Geese were virtually non-existent.

The first raptors appeared at 07:57 hrs with a close passage of a single Osprey and Sharp-shinned Hawk together. From then onwards, small numbers (mostly Sharp-shined Hawks) passed south and south-west until I left just after noon by which time I'd logged about 80 raptors. Four dedicated hawk watchers remained on site leaving me with the uneasy feeling that I may well miss something special during the afternoon flight!

All in all, another hugely enjoyable morning highlighted by often close, fast moving raptors heading south on a gusty westerly breeze. My personal highlight was yet another sighting of Northern Goshawk.

Sunrise from Putney Mountain, Windham, Co., VT.
October 18th, 2013.

 



Osprey - migrant heading SW at 07:57hrs, Putney Mountain, Windham, Co., VT.

October 18th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 



Northern Goshawk - adult soaring high over Putney Mountain, Windham, Co., VT.

Stocky whitish body with broad wings tapering to almost 'falcon-like' pointed wing tips.  

October 18th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

 

Bald Eagle - juvenile, Putney Mountain, Windham, Co., VT.

October 18th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

Common Raven - local bird with food item, Putney Mountain, Windham, Co., VT.

October 18th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

Northern Harrier - adult male, migrant heading SW, Putney Mountain, Windham, Co., VT.

Dorsal image of same bird below. October 18th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 



Red-tailed Hawk - migrant heading SW, Putney Mountain, Windham, Co., VT.

October 18th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 



Turkey Vulture - Putney Mountain, Windham, Co., VT.

Single from a 'stream' of 14 birds heading south overhead.

October 18th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

View from Putney Mountain at 07:00hrs, Windham, Co., VT.

October 18th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 



MA - Greater Scaup - 10/17

The immaculate fall days continue but the weather is almost too nice and too stable to produce any significant changes amongst migrants. Pleasant though these days may be, we do seem to be stuck in a rut and the next major cold front is more than welcome to pass through the Pioneer Valley! On the other hand, there are so many birds around at this time of year, even the shortest field trip will yield something of interest. This morning it was the smart little collection of migrant waterfowl just off Riverview Drive. The Greater Scaup from two days ago was still present and closely associating with a small flock of seven Ring-necked Ducks. Tuesday's Red-necked Grebe, however, seems to be long gone.

Earlier, I passed by the powerline on Mountain Road and found it reasonably 'birdy' once again with a Winter Wren, Blue-headed Vireo, six Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a couple of Field Sparrows being the pick.

 Ring-necked Ducks - four of seven, Barton Cove, Franklin Co., Gill, MA.

Digiscoped image using Canon Powershot G10.

 American Wigeon (rear) and Ring-necked Ducks - Barton Cove, Franklin Co., Gill, MA.

Digiscoped image using Canon Powershot G10.

 Barton Cove, Franklin Co., Gill, MA.

Even on an overcast morning, the autumnal colors come in their own.

Canon Powershot G10.

 Ring-necked Duck (rear) Greater Scaup (middle left) and Ruddy Ducks - Barton Cove, Franklin Co., Gill, MA. Four Ruddy Ducks were present this morning.

Digiscoped image using Canon Powershot G10.

Greater Scaup - female or first-winter with American Wigeon and Ruddy Duck,  

Barton Cove, Franklin Co., Gill, MA.

Digiscoped image using Canon Powershot G10.

Greater Scaup - female or first-winter with American Wigeon and Ruddy Duck,  

Barton Cove, Franklin Co., Gill, MA.

Digiscoped image using Canon Powershot G10.







MA - Red-necked Grebe - 10/15

Dropped down to Barton Cove after a long weekend with very little birding. A Red-necked Grebe and a Greater Scaup were off the public boat ramp, albeit somewhat distantly. Both appeared to be fresh arrivals looking very wary and closely associating with each other, and both appeared to be hatch-year birds. Conditions were still-calm so it looked like their arrival was purely a migration stop-over rather than being weather induced. Other than that, pretty quiet with 4 Ruddy Ducks off Riverview Drive being the only other waterfowl of note. Turner's Falls power canal was nearly devoid of birds, save for one Great Blue Heron.

Red-necked Grebe - first-winter, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA.

October 15th, 2013.

 

Greater Scaup - first-winter, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA.

October 15th, 2013.

 

Red-necked Grebe and Greater Scaup - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA.

October 15th, 2013. Distant digiscope shots from the public boat ramp.

 

 



Ruddy Ducks - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. October 15th, 2013.

Yesterday (Columbus Day) our yard and immediate area was 'heaving' with passerines - nothing rare but 85 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 55 White-throated Sparrows, 15 Swamp Sparrows and 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglets were impressive (estimated) totals for such a small area.

 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - one of six present, Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA.

October 14th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.



VT - Vesper Sparrow - 10/11

Rather than head south toward Barton Cove and Turner's Falls, this morning I elected to go north hopeful of catching up with the large concentrations of sparrows reported by Don Clark and JoAnne Russo at Vernon on Oct 7th. Four days later, it looked like most of the sparrows had moved on and my personal tally probably totaled less than 35 birds. Certainly the 'hoped-for' Clay-colored Sparrows photographed by Don and JoAnne were not present, but towards the end of my session I did find a Vesper Sparrow perched above the chain link fence close to my car. Other birds of interest included 45+ American Pipits in the organic fields, 3 Palm Warblers (2 eastern, 1 duller bird may have been intermediate), and one party of 7 first-winter White-crowned Sparrows. The site, Millar Organic Farm in Vernon, is just 12 miles north of our home in Gill, MA.

Vesper Sparrow - Miller Organic Farm, Windham Co., Vernon, VT.

October 11th, 2013. Digiscope with Canon Powershot G10.

 

American Pipit - Miller Organic Farm, Windham Co., Vernon, VT.

October 11th, 2013. Digiscope with Canon Powershot G10.

 

Savannah Sparrow - Miller Organic Farm, Windham Co., Vernon, VT.

October 11th, 2013. Digiscope with Canon Powershot G10.

 

Palm Warbler (eastern) - Miller Organic Farm, Windham Co., Vernon, VT.

October 11th, 2013. Canon Powershot G10.

 

Palm Warbler - perhaps dull eastern or intermediate, Miller Organic Farm,

Windham Co., Vernon, VT. October 11th, 2013. Digiscope with Canon Powershot G10.