MA - White-winged Crossbills and other 'winter finches' this week

White-winged Crossbill (male) - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 4th, 2021.

The White-winged Crossbills first noted on Feb 25th continued into the first week of March at the Montague Plains WMA . While it's possible there may have been some turnover, after spending a couple of hours each morning following crossbill flocks, I came away with the distinct impression that the numbers of both crossbill species were about the same as they were last week, roughly 70 Red Crossbills and 3 - 5 White-winged Crossbills. The latter included two males consorting together, a duo that I first noted back on Feb 25th, plus several single males with random flocks of Red Crossbills occasionally dropping down to the road for 'gritting'. Almost all the activity has been concentrated along Old Northfield Road in the southern portion of the WMA with crossbills occurring on both sides of Old Northfield Road and sometimes actually on the road itself. New (for me) in the plains this week were a single Common Redpoll and 3 Pine Siskins, the latter in song and particularly noteworthy since they haven't occurred on the same sort of scale locally as other wither finch species. 

White-winged Crossbill (males) - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 3rd - 4th, 2021. 

Looking at White-winged Crossbills, I don't mind admitting that I'm still smitten and wanted to make the most of them while they're here. In a couple of weeks they'll almost certainly be heading back to the boreal forests and long gone from the Montague Plains.  I'm hoping/expecting that at least some pairs of Red Crossbills will remain in the plains to breed but after hours of carefully watching them this week I've yet to see any actual breeding activity such as nest building.

 Red Crossbills - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 3rd - 4th, 2021. 

Another fantastic week for this species with up to 70 exceptionally vocal birds present mid-week.

 Common Redpoll - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 3rd, 2021. 

Pine Siskin - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 4th, 2021. 

 Common Redpoll (male) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 5th, 2021. 

The 'Whately Redpolls' surprised me this week both in terms of numbers (85) and the volume of song/calls coming from the thickets alongside the fields.

Hoary Redpoll - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 5th, 2021. 

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Montague Plains WMA, Franklin Co., MA. March 4th, 2021. 

Migration Notes; small numbers of American Crows heading north through much of the day on the 3rd occurring in flocks of 5 - 8 birds over Montague Plains, Turner's Falls and Greenfield. Also the first 'hints' of Canada Geese moving north with 6 over Turner's Falls on the 3rd and 5 over Montague Plains on the 4th, both flocks of highflyers heading purposefully north. Two first-winter Iceland Gulls joined the small gull roost at Unity Park on March 3rd-6th with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (new) present on the 6th. Over 100 American Robins together along Meadow Road, Montague on March 5th, and Turkey Vultures over Sunderland on the 5th (Brian Kane) and Main Road, Gill and Turner's Falls (4) on the 6th. 

Lesser Black-backed Gull (center) - adult with Herring, Great Black-backed and Iceland Gulls, Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2021.

Lesser Black-backed Gull  - adult, Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 6th, 2021.

 

MA - February notes on Redpolls 7 : more exilipes

 

1a. Hoary Redpoll - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021.

Perhaps it's a little bold calling a Hoary Redpoll in flight but I followed this one and it proved to be good. 

Unfortunately the perched shots are not worth sharing but a few more flight images of this bird can be seen below. 

A few more shots of Hoary Redpolls from Whately last week. As usual, at least some of them should be regarded as tentative identifications. It was extremely difficult getting close to these birds and often very tricky trying to follow a promising looking individual before it flushed. 

1b. Hoary Redpoll - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021.

1c. Hoary Redpoll - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021.

Nice lightweight flank streaks, very white undertail coverts, white rump and overall gray plumage on whitish ground color. 

1d. Hoary Redpoll - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021.

Images 1a through 1d are all of the same individual. 

2a. Hoary Redpoll (upper left) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

With a tight group of Common Redpolls. Overall very white below with light flank streaking, one distinct streak on the undertail coverts, ochre-buff face 

color with only lightly streaked auricolor, and white fluffy 'baggy trousers'. 

3a. Hoary Redpoll - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 10th, 2021.

3b. Hoary Redpoll (top left) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 10th, 2021.

At rest with a group of Common Redpolls.

3c. Hoary Redpoll - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 10th, 2021.

Pretty much a classic individual with small 'pushed-in' bill, lightly streaked auricolor and flank, very white appearance including rump and lightly streaked undertail coverts. However, the shot below does show exaggerated streaking on the undertail coverts during preening. Initially I was a little concerned by this but I do

think the overall suit of features shown by this individual point overwhelmingly to a Hoary Redpoll and not a pale Common Redpoll. 

3d. Hoary Redpoll - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 10tth, 2021.

All four images 3a through 3d show the same individual.

MA - February notes on Redpolls 6 : exilipes

 

Hoary Redpoll (male?) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021.

'Perfect' in many respects; minimal streaking on auricular and flank, and just a single 'pencil' streak on the longest undertail covert. 

Most of my luck with Hoary Redpolls last week actually came from the first morning with the Whately flock when I noted a 'promising' bird in the field but hadn't quite appreciated just how striking it was until I reviewed my photos at home. The bird featured here looks, to me at least, like a classic Hoary Redpoll, possibly a male A. e. exilipes.

Hoary Redpoll (male?) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021.

Hoary Redpoll (male?) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021.

I love the 'baggy trousers' effect and overall whiteness of the bird in this shot. 

Hoary Redpoll (center) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021.

Taken at a different time in the morning but presumably the same male as in the three previous shots. 

The top right bird might also be a Hoary Redpoll (a female exilipes). 

MA - February notes on Redpolls 5 : 'Hoary-like' individuals

 

1a. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

Superficially very like Hoary Redpoll but I found the streaking on the auricular, flank and undertail coverts enough to question it.

In addition, the head and bill 'jizz' gave more of a flammea impression. Three more shots of the same bird appear below (1b, 1c and 1d). 

A self imposed quest to find Hoary Redpolls in Whately often led me to birds that appeared very Hoary-like in the field but after review of the photos at home I decided, at least for the time being, not to include them in the overall tally. Birds such as the three individuals featured here were present in numbers on each visit last week and I'm really not sure what to make of them. They left me with more questions than solid identifications and in this respect I'd have to admit to being happy only with the 'cleanest' examples of Hoary Redpoll. 

Again I'm open to comment and guidance on any of these birds, but they do appear to fall a little short of my understanding of birds showing a solid set of Hoary Redpoll characteristics. 

1b. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

Superficially very like Hoary Redpoll. Admittedly very white rumped but questionable streaking on the auricular, flank and undertail coverts.

1c. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

Head and bill 'jizz'  give more of a flammea impression with a fairly long pointed bill, and lacking the often reported 'bull-necked' impression of Hoary.

1d. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

Head and bill 'jizz'  in profile giving more a flammea like impression. Fairly heavily streaked flanks. 

2a. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 12th, 2021.

A tricky individual again superficially suggestive of Hoary Redpoll with fairly clean undertail coverts and a broad band of white across the rump. 

the flank streaking, while certainly obvious, isn't think especially broad or heavy. 

2b. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 12th, 2021.

2c. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 12th, 2021.

2d. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 12th, 2021.

This is the same individual as in 2a, 2b and 2c. Much more flammea like in this shot with a distinct brown cast to the upperparts

and a flammea like bill shape. 

3a. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

One of the more striking examples and a bird that looked very good for Hoary in the field.

3b. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

One of several birds from the big influx on the 9th that I found very compelling. 

Very Hoary-like on first impressions but appears to show very narrow wing bars and rather heavily streaked undertail coverts for that species? 

3c. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

Overall cold gray and white with very narrow flank streaking but are the undertail coverts too heavily streaked for a solid Hoary Redpoll?

3d. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

3e. 'Hoary-like' Redpoll (Acanthis exilipes/flammea) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021.

Overall 'jizz' looks very good for Hoary Redpoll but do the rather heavily streaked undertail coverts and weak wing bar rule it out?

Again, all the images (3 a - e) are of the same bird taken within a few seconds of each other. 

MA - February notes on Redpolls 4 : flammea (more variation).

 

Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea (male) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 11th, 2021. 

No problems with well marked birds such as this. Bright crimson-red throat, fore-cheeks, breast and upper breast sides along with a fairly long pointed bill,

and heavily streaked flanks, that's as well as an overall brownish-gray cast to the upperparts - surely pointing to an adult male flammea? 

Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea (male) - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 11th, 2021. 

Somewhat similar to the male featured above. 

Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea  - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 9th, 2021. 

Quite cold gray-brown tones on this bird which has a small blackish bib and rather heavily streaked flanks. 

Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 10th, 2021. 

This bird looked Hoary-like in the field and was as gray and white as it appears in these two images (above and below). The rump was mostly white but with obvious streaking 'bleeding' from the lower back and the uppertail coverts. The images also show reasonably well marked flank streaking and multiple streaks on the undertail coverts. The bill length and shape also look more in keeping with flammea. This was a tricky bird in the field but I came away with features that better matched a pale, gray flammea rather than exilipes.

Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 10th, 2021. 

Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. February 8th, 2021. 

Probably the coldest, whitest-gray flammea that I noted during the whole week. It seemed to lack any brown, ochre or crimson tones. The rump was very white 

as were the undertail coverts (showing a small amount of black streaking) However, the fairly heavily streaked flanks, long pointed bill plus head shape appear to favor Common Redpoll A. fl. flammea. 

The larger, 'bull-necked' redpoll buried deeper into the tangle looks better for a Hoary Redpoll A. e. exlipes.