MA - White-fronts still in Turner's

A beautiful fall afternoon saw Unity Park crowded with folks understandably enjoying some warm autumn sunshine at the end of a glorious day. Bird-wise it seemed very quiet to start with and my expectations were relatively low as I embarked on a sustained watch overlooking the Connecticut River above the Turner's Falls dam. But by the end of a 90 minute vigil I'd recorded a few species of interest, including two Greater White-fronted Geese, presumably the same birds first detected at the power canal by Eric Huston on the 10th. About 350 Canada Geese had been loafing around in Barton Cove during the entire time that I watched from Unity Park, yet despite thorough scope scanning, I failed to pick out anything of interest so I was more than a tad surprised when one departing group of Canada Geese contained two Greater White-fronted which proceeded to fly right over my head, vocalizing as they headed west at sunset.

Greater White-fronted Goose - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 15th, 2016. 

One of two birds passing directly overhead. 

Otherwise the species profile was very much composed of long staying, continuing birds including five Double-crested Cormorants, four Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe and American Coot, as well as three Belted Kingfishers. An adult Peregrine put in an appearance and the local male Merlin suddenly became very vocal when a second Merlin appeared over the cove with the two birds sparring together for a few seconds.

Merlins - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 15th, 2016. 

Not surprisingly for such a warm sunny afternoon, passerines were few but a small arrival of 25 Song Sparrows was certainly of interest, and with them a couple each of Swamp and Savannah Sparrows, both fairly unusual for Unity Park.

Song Sparrow - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 15th, 2016. 

Small arrival of about 25 along the river bank.

Swamp Sparrow - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 15th, 2016. 

Savannah Sparrow - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 15th, 2016.