MA - Winter Wrens and Hermit Thrushes brighten up quiet days

Calm sunny days prevail though often starting with a chilly, frosty start. Considering how good late October can be we seem to be having a lull in migration and the last few days seem to have been very quiet indeed. Small flocks of Pine Siskins continue to migrate through having started last week, along with a handful of Purple Finches in Gill and Turner's Falls. Hermit Thrushes are passing through in small numbers with concentrations of 3-4 birds at North Cross Road in Gill, Turners Falls airfield and Turner's Falls power canal, and I continue to find Winter Wrens, mostly roadside birds in Gill but also in odd locations such as behind my local bike store off Route 2A in Greenfield.

Hermit Thrush - first-winter, Turner's Falls airfield, Franklin Co., MA. October 27th, 2015.

One of at least three at this location.

Winter Wren - off Route 2A, Greenfield, Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2015.

Waterbirds seem to have been extremely thin but the long staying Greater White-fronted Goose was still present at the power canal on Oct 25th, a single a American Coot at Barton Cove to the 25th, and then my first scaup of the season on the 26th, and the first Common Goldeneyes of the fall on the 27th, both at the Turner's Falls power canal. Slightly more surprising was a lone Greater Yellowlegs at Barton Cove on the 27th, a bird which I may have heard briefly last week in a fall that's been rather poor for shorebirds in the Turner's Falls area. And in a sudden arrival this evening (October 27th), Ring-billed Gulls are back in numbers (43) after no more than seven birds together all autumn.

Greater White-fronted Goose - adult, Turner's Falls power canal Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2015.

Lesser Scaup - non-breeding male, Turner's Falls power canal Franklin Co., MA. October 26th-27th, 2015.

 Common Goldeneye - males, Turner's Falls power canal Franklin Co., MA. October  27th, 2015.

First of the season here.

Greater Yellowlegs - Barton Cove from Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 27th, 2015.

Possibly in the area since October 22nd when I heard one 'burst'; of Greater Yellowlegs call at Unity Park.

 Ring-billed Gulls - from Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 27th, 2015.

Back in numbers after a sudden mass arrival this evening. 

 Savannah Sparrow - Turner's Falls power canal Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2015.

Very common migrant at this time of year. Almost anywhere with grassy or weedy fringes can support them. 

This was one of about a dozen along the roadside at the power canal.