MA - a Rufous Hummingbird in Millers Falls

 

Rufous Hummingbird - Millers Falls, Franklin Co. MA. November 11th, 2022. 

Found by Bruce Kanash at his home, ID ultimately verified by Master bander Anthony Hill. 

November 10th was warm and breezy with winds in the southern quarter. Since I hadn't been out to the Quabbin for a few weeks I thought I'd give it a try feeling open minded but not overly optimistic. On arrival at Gate 35 a chance encounter with Jeff Johnstone ultimately led to an encounter with a Rufous Hummingbird in Millers Falls later the same morning! A Selaphorus hummingbird had been coming to a feeder at a residence close to Millers Falls center. As it turned out, Jeff and the home owner, Bruce Kanash, had been friends for years. Bruce had first noted the hummingbird at his feeders on October 8th and kudos to Jeff, together with Ernie LeBlanc and Bruce, who identified it as a Rufous/Allen's on November 8th. 

Rufous Hummingbird - Millers Falls, Franklin Co. MA. November 11th, 2022. 

Found by Bruce Kanash at his home, ID ultimately verified by Master bander Anthony Hill. 

Quite naturally I was interested in taking a look at such a rarity, especially since I pass through Millers Falls almost every day and Bruce's house happened to be on one of my regular biking riding routes! Bruce was extremely generous with his time which was fortunate because the bird itself proved to be rather skittish. In the event, I visited on Nov 10th and 11th but never saw the hummingbird whilst standing outside. At the time, it could only be viewed from inside Bruce's home but thanks to Bruce I managed nice views on both days and secured some shots of the spread tail on Nov 11th. Certainly the images of the spread tail showed a moderate notch in R2 pointing towards a Rufous Hummingbird and I messaged Bruce with my suspicions. A few days later, on the 14th, Bruce was courteous enough to call and let me know that Anthony Hill had just successfully caught and banded the bird and identified it as hatching-year Rufous. Moreover, the bird was in good condition weighing in at 4 grams and returned to the feeders straight after banding! As the weather worsens and night time temperatures drop to well below freezing, it should certainly be interesting to see how long the hummer sticks around at Bruce's home. On a personal level, I'm extremely grateful to Bruce for sharing his hummingbird, and his hospitality.  

Around 45 confirmed records of Rufous Hummingbird currently exist for Massachusetts with others pending. However, reports from Franklin County appear to be exceedingly rare with only one other verified record to date, a single bird that came to a feeder in Ashfield in Nov/Dec 2004. 

Red-throated Loons (3) - Turner's Falls Rod and Gun club, Franklin Co., MA. November 16th, 2022.

Red-necked Grebe (juvenile) - Lake Mattawa, Franklin Co., MA. November 16th, 2022.

November in the Pioneer Valley often has a treat or two in store aside from rarities. After a fairly low key migration of waterfowl through our area it was good to finally see some Red-throated Loons in Turner's Falls on the 16th, part of a mini fall-out and a result of inclement weather, with a wider spread arrival of Red-throated Loons in southern Vermont and the Berkshires. Many of these, much like the Turner's loons, moved on quickly as the weather conditions eased somewhat during mid-morning. The same day also saw 13 Buffleheads and a Surf Scoter (immature male) at Turner's Falls and a Red-necked Grebe at Lake Mattawa. 

In terms of passerines, well this does seem to have been a very good month locally for Winter Wrens with multiple sightings at Northfield (Caldwell Road), Gill (North Cross Road), Barton Cove, Turner's Falls and Montague at the very least. It's not a rare species but numbers of fall migrants do appear to fluctuate from year to year, and this seems to be a good late fall period for them.

Winter Wren - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. November 17th. 2022.

Snow Buntings - Turner's Falls Rod and Gun club, Franklin Co., MA. November 16th, 2022.

Six in total and nice to see a few on the ground instead of the usual flyovers!

Barred Owl - with prey, possibly Eastern Chipmunk. Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. November 13th, 2022. 

Good numbers of Barred Owls in Gill/Northfield/Bernardston this fall including, sadly, several road killed on I-91 and Rt 10. 

MA - Harle on the move plus Barrow's Goldeneye and a wintering phoebe

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - with Ring-necked Duck, off Riverview Drive, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. January 4th, 2021. 

A mid-morning walk around Cabot Camp along the Millers River failed to produce the Harlequin Duck that apparently showed well to the many visiting birders the previous day (Jan 3rd). As it happens I did hear a second hand report that a Cooper's Hawk had been seen pursuing the Harlequin and forced it out of the Millers River and into the larger, wider Connecticut River! Either way, the Harlequin proved to be a no show but the walk along the Millers River was extremely pleasant not only revealing an Evening Grosbeak but also an Eastern Phoebe, presumably the same bird that I first heard calling there on Jan 2nd but neglected to follow up. The phoebe showed well this morning and, although I've late phoebes in November and December in past years, I'm pretty sure this particular bird furnishes my first January record for Franklin County. 

Eastern Phoebe - Cabot Camp, Millers Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 4th, 2021. 

Common Redpoll - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 4th, 2021. 

One from a flock of about 85 birds. 

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - off Riverview Drive, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. January 4th, 2021. 

After keeping an eye on Barton Cove on and off for over 15 years I could never have visualized watching a Harlequin in flight over the open water! 

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - at dusk from Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. January 4th, 2021. 

Looking at little lost and out of place.

In late morning I spent time with a close, cooperative flock of Common Redpolls in Turner's Falls and then made a point to swing by Barton Cove on my way home where I was greeted by the sight of multiple birders avidly scoping the open water from Riverview Drive in Gill. They'd relocated the Harlequin which had evidently moved downstream to share the relatively calm waters with Common Goldeneyes, Hooded Mergansers and the continuing female Ring-necked Duck. As if that wasn't enough, at least ten Red Crossbills fed and called from a tall White Pine right along Riverview Drive!

Red Crossbills - Riverview Drive, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. January 4th, 2021. 

Late afternoon found the Harlequin still present though distant and actually best viewed from Unity Park plus a nice aggregation of gulls viewed from the same spot that included my first local Iceland Gull (a first-winter) in about three weeks. The last two evenings have also seen up to 85 Common Goldeneyes dropping in to roost at the Turner's Falls power canal and with them the continuing first-winter male Barrow's Goldeneye, and the female Bufflehead. 

Barrow's Goldeneye (center) - first-winter male with Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 4th, 2021. 

Hooded Merganser (male) - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 4th, 2021. 

 

MA - good stuff in northern Franklin County

Rusty Blackbird (first-winter) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2018. 

Since returning from Cape May on October 19th I've been struck with a barrage of scarce and noteworthy bird species virtually every day, and all within about 15 minutes drive of home in Northfield. In particular, Northfield Meadows has been outstanding, each day producing something new including concentrations of White-crowned Sparrows the likes of which I've never seen in the eastern US, least of all in Franklin County!

Some of my personal highlights from October 20th - 25th are as follows:

Cackling Geese (2) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018. Distant digi-scoped shots. 

Cackling Geese (2) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2018.

Cackling Geese - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2018. 

Present at the same time as the above pair but choosing not to associate with them. 

Cackling Goose; 1 - 3 daily at Turner's Falls including 3 close together in a relatively small flock of Canada Geese on the 25th. Also, 1 - 2 regularly at Tri-town beach during the same period. This is already shaping up into one of the best late fall periods that we've had for this species locally.


Bufflehead - regularly in the Barton Cove/Turner's Falls power canal area including 4 males on the 21st, and 6 (3 male, 3 female) together on the 25th.

Common Goldeneye (male) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2018. Distant digi-scope. 

Common Goldeneye - male at Barton Cove/Turner's Falls on 23rd-25th. Typical arrival date.


Northern Saw-whet Owl - one heard calling pre-dawn on North Cross Road, Gill on the 22nd.


Golden-crowned Kinglet - 10+ along North Cross Road, Gill on the 21st.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2018.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - widespread arrival at many locations over 21st/22nd with 2 -3 together at most of these spots. Fewer by the 25th.


American Robin - noteworthy arrival in Northfield Meadows on the 25th with at least 250 present.


Nashville/Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 seen briefly in Northfield Meadows on the 24th, all too brief to determine the species.


Yellow-rumped Warbler - 100+ along North Cross Road, Gill on the 21st and 45+ in Northfield Meadows on the 23rd. Major overnight departure on the 24th with only one present in Northfield Meadows on the 25th.

Palm Warbler (eastern) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2018.

Palm Warbler - 1 - 3 at many scattered locations but still 20+ in Northfield Meadows on the 23rd.

Black-throated Green Warbler - Erving, Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2018.

Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 at Zelinski Field, Erving on the 20th.



Field Sparrow - 1 in Northfield Meadows on the 22nd.



Vesper Sparrow - 1 in Northfield Meadows on the 22nd.

White-throated Sparrow - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018.

White-throated Sparrow - good numbers daily at many locations but 200+  in Northfield Meadows on the 24th was impressive.

White-crowned Sparrows - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018.

White-crowned Sparrows - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - unprecedented influx of migrants concentrated at Northfield Meadows with 45+ on the 22nd, 90+ on the 23rd, 55+ on the 24th but a near complete exodus overnight with only 1 (an adult) on the 25th. Tallies of 3 - 6 would be much more in keeping with October dates but these numbers are off the charts in my experience. Never seen anything quite it in Franklin County.

(Red) Fox Sparrow - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2018.

Fox Sparrow - 2 briefly on North Cross Road, Gill on the 21st, then 1 in Northfield Meadows on the 24th and 2 there on the 25th.

Swamp Sparrow - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2018.

Swamp Sparrow - 6 - 10 regularly in Northfield Meadows.


Lapland Longspur -  1 south over Northfield Meadows on the 23rd.


Brown-headed Cowbird - 75+ by Upinngil Farm on the 23rd.

Rusty Blackbird - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018.

Rusty Blackbird - 1 at Northfield Meadows on the 23rd, 1 showing very well at Unity Park, Turner's Falls on the 24th.


Evening Grosbeak - 1 on South Main Street, Sunderland on the 23rd (Brian Kane).


Purple Finch - continued high numbers with 12 - 20 regularly in Northfield Meadows.


Pine Siskin - daily flyovers at many locations in Northfield, Gill and Turner's Falls.

MA - bittern, rough-winged swallow and Bald Eagles aplenty!

American Robin - partially leucistic individual, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. April 6th, 2018.

Cold air persisted during 6th - 10th April with frequent snow showers and dawn temperatures often at freezing or below. Franklin County seemingly saw few new arrivals and indeed, the scene at Barton Cove was one of gradually reduced numbers of geese and gulls, though diving ducks continued to show in good numbers and included a fine male Red-breasted Merganser on the 10th.

Buffleheads - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. April 8th, 2018. 

 Common Mergansers - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. April 9th, 2018. 

Red-breasted Merganser - male with female Common Merganser, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. April 10th, 2018. 

But there have been a few highlights, the most significant of which was an American Bittern which totally caught me off-guard as I ran along North Cross Road, Gill early on the morning of the 6th. The bittern was already in flight when I saw it and had likely flushed from a small cattail marsh near the roadside before departing north below the tree line never to be seen again. Interestingly enough, that particular spot on North Cross Road has no history of herons of any kind which only added to my surprise in seeing a mid-size brown heron in flight over the cattails! Eric Huston and Marshall Iliff were kind enough to send me some ebird information on the status of the species in Franklin County as I felt sure that I hadn't seen an American Bittern any closer to home the than Keene, New Hamsphire. It turns out that American Bittern reports numbered only 1 - 6 per year between 2012-2017, and some of those involved the same bird reported by several different observers with most of the records concentrated around the north Quabbin region. I hadn't quite appreciated it was quite that rare (and difficult to see) in Franklin County.


Two Black Vultures showed among 20 or so Turkey Vultures in Shelbourne on the 9th, and the Bald Eagles at Barton Cove/Turner's Falls have been nothing short of spectacular with up to three adults and seven immatures in the air together at times, the immatures sparring a lot over the cove sometimes pursuing the flocks of waterfowl.

Bald Eagles - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. April 9th, 2018. 

The cold air understandably subdued passerine activity but Pine Warblers began to arrive in Gill in small numbers around the 8th and 9th, along with a few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and a couple of Winter Wrens began to sing from traditional territories along North Cross Road, Gill. An American Pipit migrated north-west over Gill School on the 9th. Brown-headed Cowbirds arrived numbers around the 9th/10th with several large foraging flocks including 175 at Four Star Farms in Northfield with tens of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings ground feeding on fallen crab apples at the same location. 

American Robins and Cedar Waxwings, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. April 10th, 2018. 

Red Crossbill - male, Montague Plains, Franklin Co., MA. April 6th, 2018. 

Up to five continuing to show well, though sometimes aloof.

MA - Buffleheads and a latish Black-throated Green Warbler

Mild south-westerlies had produced a bit of lull in migration until today's cold front stirred things up a bit. Nothing over dramatic but the first 'mini-arrival' of Buffleheads including a female with 3 Hooded Mergansers at Barton Cove and a pair with a further 7 Hooded Mergansers at Turner's Falls power canal. A Hermit Thrush was also a nice find at the power canal. The long staying American Coots (3) remained at Barton Cove along with a Pied-billed Grebe. For me though, the highlight was a Black-throated Green Warbler that brought a nice splash of color to feeding a flock of titmice and chickadees on Riverview Drive overlooking Barton Cove.

 Bufflehead (center) - female with Hooded Mergansers, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2015. 

Buffleheads -  male and female Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2015. 

 Black-throated Green Warbler - Riverview Drive, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2015. 

Hermit Thrush - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2015. 

Later in the morning I headed down to Montague to follow-up on a Vesper Sparrow that I pushed up from the roadside whilst riding my bike on South Ferry road. Eventually I re-found it but it wasn't easy in the blustery north-westerly winds and a number of Savannah Sparrows complicated things a little more, so no pics of that one unfortunately. The raptor watching however, was impressive and after an hour I'd notched up Northern Harrier (juvenile), North Goshawk (adult/sub-adult), Bald Eagle (adult), and a Peregrine (juvenile). The latter succeeded in pushing up a flock of over 100 American Pipits, birds which I would have never seen without the Peregrines help! 

South Ferry Road also proved to be a fine spot for tallying the spiraling Ravens over the Deerfield Ridge to the west - at times as many as 50 Common Ravens were playfully sparring above the ridge, a phenomenon which I see every year in late fall. 

 Northern Goshawk - South Ferry Road, Montague, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2015.

Distant bird, compounded by chronic auto-focus issues with the camera resulting in this fuzzy shot.

Behaved like a migrant, gaining height and drifting off south a speed. 

 Northern Harrier -  juvenile, South Ferry Road, Montague, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2015.

First noted by Josh Rose a few minutes before this sighting.

Peregrine - juvenile, South Ferry Road, Montague, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2015.

Rather thick-set, uniformly colored bird with weak moustacial and eye-stripe. 

White-crowned Sparrows - adult (right), first-winter (left), Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 20th, 2015. Regular but not especially common migrant sparrow in late fall. 

MA - Buffleheads and Surf Scoters - 11/04

Buffleheads - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. November 4th, 2011.

Made a quick run down to Barton Cove this morning hoping for scoters, and I wasn't disappointed. Four Surf Scoters, including three handsome males were loafing around in the middle of the cove. Just as impressive were 10 newly arrived Buffleheads, with other diving ducks including a Lesser Scaup, 3 Common and 2 Hooded Mergansers and an unidentified aythya which may have been a Ring-necked Duck. By late afternoon, the Buffleheads had moved to the power canal in Turner's Falls affording excellent views. Otherwise, nothing unusual amongst the 500 or so Canada Geese this afternoon. I couldn't stay late enough for the blackbird roost so have nothing more to add on the Rusty/Brewer's Blackbird from Nov 2nd.

Surf Scoters - three males, the female being hidden in the center of the group. Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. November 4th, 2011. Fantastic birds, and always exciting to have 'sea ducks' on inland waters.

Despite a breezy evening, the local Great Horned Owls were dueting at 19:00 hrs, clearly audible from our yard. These birds have been very vocal of late and audible on most mornings and evenings, and sometimes throughout the night.

JPS