MA - Palm Warblers and Purple Finches

Oct 9th: Amazing morning in Northfield Meadows. Birds popping up everywhere along the weed-fringed tracks and fields. It's fair to say that I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer numbers this morning, and failed to come up with anything unusual. Most abundant were Song, Savannah and White-throated Sparrows with good numbers of Chipping Sparrows and a couple of Lincoln's Sparrows. Indigo Buntings still very much present, along with a decent showing of Common Yellowthroats (10+) and Gray Catbirds (5+). As expected at this time of year, lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers plus a nice show of Palm Warblers with at least four (3 Eastern, 1 Western). Also about a dozen each of Eastern Bluebird and American Pipit (all overhead filtering southwards).

 Palm Warbler (Western) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 9th, 2014. 

 Palm Warbler (Eastern) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 9th, 2014. 

Lincoln's Sparrow - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 9th, 2014. 

It was a fine morning for Purple Finch with birds first noted over our house in Gill at dawn with several parties moving SW. At Northfield Meadows lots more of them, about 35 in all, with a number of flyovers and nice looks at foraging birds in the shrubbery. Also, quite a few Pine Siskins moving over Gill and Northfield this morning probably totaling close to 20 birds.

 Purple Finch - female/first-winter, Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 9th, 2014. 

 Purple Finch - male, Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 9th, 2014. 

 Purple Finch - male, Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 9th, 2014. 

 Purple Finch - female/first-winter, Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 9th, 2014. 

Raptors included Merlin, American Kestrel and a single Osprey. 

Oct 8th: Had a quick look at the eastern edge of Turner's Falls airfield this morning. Lots of sparrows again, plus quite a few Gray Catbirds and a couple of skulkers - one House Wren (singing!) and one first-winter White-crowned Sparrow. A Merlin sparring with American Crows over the main runway put on quite a show.

 House Wren - Turner's Falls airfield, Franklin Co., MA. October 9th, 2014. 

White-crowned Sparrow - first-winter, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 9th, 2014.