MA - more fun with Pine Grosbeaks and rare geese

Pine Grosbeak (female/first-winter) -Wendell State Forest, Franklin Co., MA. December 3rd, 2020.

One of six birds present today. 

Today (Dec 3rd) got off to a great start with 9 Red Crossbills, 3 Evening Grosbeaks and several Common Redpolls all passing over North Cross Road, Gill, and all before 08:30 hours. Irruptive finches set the theme for the day (again) and were neatly enhanced by three Pine Grosbeaks feeding in Oriental Bittersweet by the Connecticut River at Bennet Meadow, Northfield. With active muck-spreading taking place in the meadows I elected not to 'get in the way' and didn't try for photos of that particular group in favor of spending more time with the Wendell flock later in the morning. That decision proved thoroughly worthwhile with close-up views of foraging Pine Grosbeaks in beautiful winter sunlight. 

Later in the day I carved out a narrow window of time to check the Turner's Falls power canal and arrived just in time to see the Barnacle Goose and Cackling Goose departing for evening feeding. Two first-winter Iceland Gulls were also present along with a possible Lesser Black-backed x Herring Gull hybrid. 

Barnacle Goose (2nd from left) and Cackling Goose (third from right) - Turner's Falls , Franklin Co., MA. December 3rd, 2020.

Departing for evening feeding from the power canal. 

The previous day I came across a Hermit Thrush on North Cross Road, Gill and at least 17 roaming Red Crossbills (Sitka Spruce/Type 10) in the Montague Plains. The real treat though, was watching Barnacle and Cackling Geese feeding, especially the Cackling Goose. Once out of the water, it's possible to get a genuine appreciation of just how small a Cackling Goose really is! 

While new arrivals have been few in Franklin County since the beginning of the month, I really don't mind repeatedly celebrating the quality birds that we have with us right now. After all, in a few weeks time they will have almost certainly moved on. 

Cackling Goose - Greenfield, Franklin Co., MA. December 2nd, 2020.

Barnacle Goose - Greenfield, Franklin Co., MA. December 2nd, 2020.

MA - Hermit Thrushes - 10/24

Hermit Thrush - first-winter, presumably of the Eastern race C. g. faxoni. Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2011.

This morning's damp, cold, foggy dawn was enlivened by the calls of Hermit Thrushes along Main Road in Gill. Several birds were heard in flight and may have been disoriented by the fog. The birds were clearly audible giving soft but piping 'peew' calls. I must have heard 6 - 8 individual birds. After dropping Matan at nursery school, I came home to find a Hermit Thrush calling ( a weezy 'rheeee' and plus 'chup' calls) right outside the kitchen window! It was a feisty first-year bird allowing for a close approach and some nice pics in the morning fog.

No other Catharus thrushes heard this morning after last week's Swainson's Thrush influx.

Also in the yard today, a singing and calling Carolina Wren, the first that we've had in months.

JPS