MA/VT - late September migrants

It feels good to be back in the Pioneer Valley after returning from California on Sep 26th. Absurdly warm temperatures and muggy conditions greeted my arrival and continued to dominate until a cold front swept through on the 28th producing more autumnal like conditions.

 Peregrine (juv) and Turkey Vulture (juv) - Putney Mountain Hawkwatch, Windham Co., VT. September 28th, 2017. 

and same Peregrine below. 

A personal highlight was seeing a Bobcat on my early morning run on North Cross Road, Gill on the 27th but the birding really started in earnest when I headed up to Putney Mountain, Vermont for the passage of the cold front on the 28th. Numbers of raptors were not huge but pretty constant with Peregrines, Ospreys, American Kestrels and Sharp-shinned Hawks filtering through in singles. The real event of the morning, at least from my perspective, was witnessing the first large scale southbound migration of Canada Geese of the fall. Between 09:30 and 11:30 we logged almost 2000 geese heading south and I understand that the tally for day was close to 5500 birds! Most were distant and often in poor light, but I did manage to scope a Cackling Goose in one of the smaller flocks that passed relatively close to the top of the mountain.

Osprey (in migration) - Putney Mountain Hawkwatch, Windham Co., VT. September 28th, 2017. 

Common Loon - (in migration) - Putney Mountain Hawkwatch, Windham Co., VT. September 28th, 2017. 

The following day I had a quick spin around Northfield, west of the Connecticut River finding a nice selection of typical later season migrants: Blue-headed Vireos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-rumped Warblers and a single Indigo Bunting and Lincoln's Sparrow.

 Blue-headed Vireo - Satan's Kingdom, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 29th, 2017. 

Indigo Bunting (juv) - Caldwell Road fields, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 29th, 2017. 

 Lincoln's Sparrow - Caldwell Road fields, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 29th, 2017. 

The last day of the month brought light North-easterlies and some locally heavy rain, enough to bring a nice adult Bonaparte's Gull to Turner's Falls along with a light smattering of waterfowl with singles of Gadwall, Northern Pintail and American Wigeon.

Bonaparte's Gull - adult in non-breeding plumage foraging in heavy rain, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. September 30th, 2017. 

MA - Canvasback continues plus hordes of geese

Canvasback - male, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 14th, 2016. 

Impressive concentrations of waterfowl continue at Turner's Falls. This morning (12/14) I noted c.2,500 Canada Geese in the area the bulk of which were resting at the power canal. It was no easy task to pick out a Cackling Goose but eventually I found the usual long stayer amid the throng. After Monday's snowstorm (and perhaps a little hunting pressure), the drake Canvasback moved from the Rod and Gun club and to the power canal on the 13th and 14th. Two Gadwall were also present at the power canal on the 13th. Hooded Mergansers appear to be concentrated at the Rod and Gun club this month with 45 there on the 14th. 

Common Goldeneye - male, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 13th, 2016. 

Iceland Gulls were also present at the power canal on the 13th & 14th, both of them first-cycle birds.

Kumlien's Iceland Gull - first-cycle, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 14th, 2016. 

Other local observations included a close encounter with a Peregrine in Montague City on the 13th and yet another stellar evening for North Saw-whet Owls with 4-5 birds heard and seen in just one location on the 13th keeping me and my field companions more than happy with the results!

Peregrine - age/sex uncertain, Montague City, Franklin Co., MA. December 13th, 2016.