MA - Sage Thrasher and more on the first day of March

 

Sage Thrasher - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.

Still with us after 11 weeks, and first found by Theresa Gessing on December 13th, 2020.

March. The first day of three months of spring migration dawned appropriately mild, calm and showery. By late afternoon, and in a way equally appropriate for March, it was cold and blustery! The first morning of the month was certainly very spring-like with lots of song coming from the local residents and nicely mixed with a number of species that will certainly not stay for the breeding season, namely American Tree Sparrow (multiples singing in Gill, Whately and Hatfield), Common Redpoll (75 in Whatley, many in song) and Rusty Blackbird (18 in Hatfield at Cow Bridge Road and singing/calling throughout my time there). 

Sage Thrasher - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.

Sage Thrasher - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.

Spurred on by the mild conditions, a visit with the Hatfield Sage Thrasher had the most appeal for the morning. After about 20 minutes of waiting (alone) the bird duly appeared and put on a fantastic show. It was bold and totally unfazed by my presence and I especially enjoyed watching it forage on the ground, marveling at its ability to simply disappear only to see it reappear in a completely different spot some 15-20 minutes later. 

The rugged farmland along Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield. A seemingly unlikely setting for a wintering Sage Thrasher. March 1st, 2021. 

White-crowned Sparrow (first-winter) - one from a nice concentration of five immatures in Whately this morning. Franklin Co., MA. March 1st, 2020.

Common Redpolls - Whately, Franklin Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.

Not the best day for studying redpolls. They simply sat up in the trees and sang!

Barrow's Goldeneye (center) - first-winter male with Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.

Sometimes tricky to find but generally present in the area since December 25th, 2020.

Late afternoon saw a return to more wintery conditions. For the most part it was raw and windy but I was delighted to find the Barrow's Goldeneye back at the power canal, and it was courteous enough to drop into the roost nice and early with just a tiny handful of Common Goldeneyes. The local gull roost continues to be a little on the 'light' side but did produce a nice Iceland Gull this evening. 

Iceland Gull (kumlieni) - first-winter, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 1st, 2021.

MA - Sage Thrasher, Harlequin and more good birds in 'the valley'

 

Sage Thrasher - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. January 20th, 2021.

This bird was first found on Dec 13th, 2020 by Theresa Gessing.

January 20th, 2021. Today was a good day. Another mild, calm and not especially wintery morning was temptation enough for me to try for the Hatfield Sage Thrasher, the same long staying individual that I last saw on December 14th and now well into its sixth week of winter residence. Originally found by Theresa Gessing on December 13th, 2020 this bird, much like the individual upriver at Hinsdale, New Hampshire seems to becoming increasingly bold perhaps accustomed to the daily birder attention? Either way, the thrasher gave remarkable views today sitting up and feeding on bittersweet berries in the relatively warm January sunshine. 'Chapeau' to the generous fellow who beckoned me over and walked me to the spot where he'd left the thrasher feeding just a few minutes earlier. Considering the degree of difficulty in viewing the bird during my last visit on December 14th, today's views were simply out of this world. I was the only birder at the scene and left it feeding, unmolested, in its favored hedgerow.

Sage Thrasher - Cow Bridge Road, Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. January 20th, 2021.

Approximate location for the Sage Thrasher along Cow Bridge Road, near great Pond, Hatfield. 

Later in the day I was fortunate (again) to connect with the Barrow's Goldeneye at the Turner's Falls power canal which continues to join the pre-roost flocks of Common Goldeneye flying in from the Connecticut River at dusk. Further up the Connecticut, the first-winter male Harlequin Duck continues to forage in the white water rapids along the Millers River above Cabot Camp. Even so, it can be aloof and seems to be spending more time roosting than in past visits making it difficult to find at times. 

Barrow's Goldeneye (left) - first-winter male with Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 20th, 2021.

This bird was first noted on Dec 25th, 2020. 

Harlequin Duck  (first-winter male) - Millers River, Erving, Franklin Co., MA. January 20th, 2021.

First found on Jan 1st, 2021 by Anne Jemas. 

Of the passerines, well Red Crossbills continue to roam and show up in a wide scatter locations but have generally been incredibly consistent at several spots in northern Franklin County with 25 - 35 regularly in the Montague Plains, 5 - 11 in Gill and up to 13 in Erving. While the large numbers of Pine Grosbeaks that we saw around Christmas and New year appear to have moved out, smaller numbers (1 - 5 birds) continue to be found in Gill, Northfield, Millers Falls and Greenfield. The relatively mild days have also favored Winter Wrens which continue to crop up regularly at spots like the Millers River at Cabot Camp, Turner's Falls power canal and North Cross Road, Gill. 

The Williamstown Boreal Chickadee also continues at the suburban location just off North Housac Road though I would have to admit that my recent visits have not been anywhere near as successful as the first on January 14th. In fact, I've only been able to note the bird as a 'heard-only' and managed to get just the one additional audio clip since January 14th. That's a tough bird to see!

MA - excellent local birding continues through mid-January

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - Millers River, Erving, Franklin Co., MA. January 12th, 2021.

Remaining faithful to the Millers River and first found by Anne Jemas on January 1st, 2021.

The general excellence of birding has continued unabated along the Connecticut River Valley. While it might be true to say that new arrivals have been relatively few, the ongoing presence of species such as Harlequin Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye, Sage Thrasher, Red Crossbill and Pine Grosbeak have been enough to keep spirits high and the motivation strong. In addition, the weather has been calm, relatively mild and almost spring-like inducing an increase in bird song, and especially woodpecker activity. Here's a relatively small selection of pictorial highlights from recent days. 

Winter Wren - Pauchaug Brook WMA, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. January 13th, 2021.

One of two birds present in what seems to be a good winter for them with others at the Turner's Falls power canal, and North Cross Road, Gill. 

Sage Thrasher - Hinsdale Setbacks, Cheshire Co., NH. January 13th, 2021.

Seemingly getting bolder by the day. First found by Cory Ross on Dec 19th, 2020.

Black Vultures - three of the four in flight over Montague Sandplains, Franklin Co., MA. January 9th, 2021.

Actually my first January record of the species in Franklin County.

Red Crossbills - Montague Sandplains, Franklin Co., MA. January 9th, 2021.

Still very much in evidence in northern Franklin County with singles and small numbers in Gill,

and up to 25 together in the Montague Sandplains. 

Barrow's Goldeneye (center) - first-winter male, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. January 13th, 2021.

A regular late evening visitor to the power canal and present in the area since Christmas Day 2020. 

Harlequin Duck (first-winter male) - Millers River, Erving, Franklin Co., MA. January 12th, 2021.

On the Millers River, first found by Anne Jemas on January 1st, 2021.

Barred Owl - Gill, Franklin Co., MA. January 13th, 2021.

This species has been a little more visible of late. 

I took this shot directly through the car windscreen as it perched right above North Cross Road, in Gill. 

Boreal Chickadee - North Hoosac Road, Wlliamstown, Berkshire Co., MA. January 14th, 2020.

Working the spruces in a residential neighborhood. Found and first reported by Lori Van Handel on Jan 11th, 2020.

(Kumlien's) Iceland Gull (center) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. January 14th, 2021.

Nice dark winged bird, and the first adult of the winter season. 

 

MA - Christmas Day Barrow's Goldeneye and other goodies during Christmas week

 

Barrow's Goldeneye ( first-winter male) - extreme right with Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

Christmas Day brought freakish weather conditions to much of Western Massachusetts with balmy sixty degree temperatures at dawn combined with squally, heavy rain showers that persisted throughout the day. The packed snow that had looked so permanent on Christmas Eve disappeared overnight and, combined with the heavy rainfall, resulted in very high water levels on the Connecticut River. 

Barrow's Goldeneye ( first-winter male) -  with male Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

Barrow's Goldeneye ( first-winter male) - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

Barrow's Goldeneye ( first-winter male) - extreme right with female Common Goldeneye, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

Greater Scaup  (female) upper left with female Common Goldeneye. 

Greater Scaup ( female) -  at left with Common Goldeneyes, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 25th, 2020.

As I approached the Turner's Falls power canal I noticed a flock of foraging Common Goldeneyes with another flock flying in just as I parked up. Things looked promising and it wasn't too long before I focused on the small bill, steep forehead and bulky 'mane' of a Barrow's Goldeneye. It was stunning first-winter male and my first of that particular age-class after many winters of seeing only females and a handful of adult males in the greater area of Turner's Falls. The whole flock put on a fine show close to the guard rail, much appreciated as the heavy rain would have made it difficult to bird away from the vehicle. The Barrow's Goldeneye was certainly a new arrival and a species that I've been watching for since late fall. Additionally, another new arrival was a female Greater Scaup neatly mixed in with the 55 or so Common Goldeneyes present, plus a couple of continuing female Buffleheads. 

Sage Thrasher - Hinsdale Setbacks, Cheshire Co., NH. December 24th, 2020.

Continuing from Dec 19th when it was first found by Cory Ross. 

Around noon, we had a family Christmas Day walk in the rain along the snowmobile trail at the Hinsdale Setbacks and found the continuing Sage Thrasher hopping across the trail in front of us. I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that a Sage Thrasher is attempting to spend the winter just 15 minutes up the road from our home in Northfield!

Pine Grosbeaks - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. December 18th, 2020. 

Up to three continuing in the park from Dec 15th. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Montague Plains, Franklin Co., MA. December 18th, 2020. 

Aside from the Barrow's Goldeneye and Sage Thrashers (another continues in Hatfield, MA) the general excellence of local birding continues seemingly unabated. Pine Grosbeaks have been moving into urban and suburban areas and almost any fruiting tree seems to be fair game for them with sizeable flocks showing up in Greenfield, Turner's Falls and Montague and smaller numbers in Gill. Common Redpolls have been widespread with the biggest flocks (close to 100 birds) at the Turner's Falls power canal and the Hinsdale Setbacks. Red Crossbills continue to feature at the Montague Sand Plains with 1 - 35 birds on all of my recent visits and smaller flocks in Gill and Huckle Hill in Bernardston. Evening Grosbeaks (1) and White-winged Crossbills (2) were last seen over Gill Elementary School on Dec 19th and unfortunately I still haven't managed to connect with either species for photos!

NH - SAGE THRASHER!!!

 

Sage Thrasher - Hinsdale, Cheshire Co., NH. December 21st, 2020. 

First state record found by Cory Ross on December 19th. 

Absolutely incredible! Another Monday in December and another Sage Thrasher! Found, and photographed by Cory Ross on Saturday (12/19) at Hinsdale Setbacks, with news circulated more widely by Steve Mirick on the NH Birds listserve on Sunday evening. Not only the second in the Connecticut River Valley inside a week but also a stunning state first for New Hampshire. 

Sage Thrasher - Hinsdale, Cheshire Co., NH. December 21st, 2020. 

First state record found by Cory Ross on December 19th. 

No surprise then to find me at the Hinsdale Setbacks on a calm, misty and quite pleasant Monday morning. What did come as a surprise was the lack of birders present with Jason Lambert being the only birder on site when I arrived at about 8:35 am. Three hours later I was on verge of leaving with nothing to show other than a couple of possible glimpses of the bird flying across the snowmobile trail some 200 yards north of the parking lot. No sooner had I committed to my final check of the morning than Jason beckoned me over.....he'd relocated the thrasher! Moreover, it was only 50 yards from the parking lot and totally unconcerned by the local fisherman drilling holes in the ice only yards from where it fed on Winterberry and Multiflora Rose. It put on the most fabulous show for the half dozen birders that had since gathered, and I last saw it disappearing north parallel to the snowmobile trail at around 12 noon. 

Rusty Blackbird - Hinsdale, Cheshire Co., NH. December 21st, 2020. One of five present. 

Aside from the thrasher, the setbacks were pretty birdy today with five Rusty Blackbirds, four Eastern Bluebirds, a Swamp Sparrow and at least 90 Common Redpolls being some of the highlights. Jason also reported seeing a late Gray Catbird. Nice birds indeed but I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that there are now two Sage Thrashers just thirty miles apart in Connecticut River Valley. With birds present in Cheshire County, NH and Hampshire County, MA, surely there must be a chance of finding one lurking in Franklin County?!

First and foremost, gracious thanks go to Cory Ross for the incredible find and initial photos, to Steve Mirick for getting the word out to a wider audience and to Jason Lambert for keeping in touch during this morning's search and neatly locating the bird just before I was about to leave!

'Twitching' New Hampshire style. The snowmobile track looked like this through much of the morning.

I don't know why but I somehow expected a lot more birders to be present and looking for the thrasher, a state first no less. 

After three hours of hard searching Jason Lambert (lower right) finally locates the thrasher and inspires a modest gathering !

*Sage Thrasher is a true denizen of the vast sage brush flats and high desert of the American West. A relatively short distance migrant, I've most easily found them in numbers on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in Mono County, California in September. They're evidently pretty hardy birds with singing males already on territory when we visit Greater Sage-grouse leks in late April around Walden Colorado, that's at a time of year when temperatures at dawn are often well below freezing. To find one in south-west New Hampshire way east of its normal range is absolutely extraordinary. 

MA - leucistic Canada Goose, Snow Goose and more at Turner's Falls

leucistic Canada Goose - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 16th, 2020.

Yesterday evening (Dec 15th) saw a leucistic Canada Goose at the Turner's Falls power canal. It looked and behaved like a new arrival and an indication that at least a few new parties of Canada Geese are still passing through. It was still present today and especially distinctive, looking creamy white and light brown overall with a reddish-pink bill. I checked carefully for signs of hybridization (with Graylag or Greater White-fronted Goose for example) but came away feeling pretty confident that the bird was a pure Canada Goose but with aberrant pigmentation. In fact, most of the features appeared to simply 'ghost' the natural plumage features of a typical Canada Goose. A nice looking bird for sure and one that I enjoyed watching. On the last two evenings it's departed NE with the first groups of Canada Geese to leave the canal for evening feeding. 

leucistic Canada Goose - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 15th, 2020.

Snow Goose - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 16th, 2020.

The long staying Barnacle Goose and Cackling Goose continue to show incredibly consistently, but this evening the brief appearance of Snow Goose was more of a surprise. It didn't appear to like the look of the power canal and, unusually for any scarce goose at Turner's Falls, departed SE entirely alone. The 60 or so gulls present included a single (first-winter) Iceland Gull. 

Barnacle Goose - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 15th, 2020.

Cackling Goose (center) - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. December 15th, 2020.

Earlier in the day, I spent some time searching for the reported Sage Thrasher in Hatfield, Hampshire County and came up empty though did enjoy some close Common Redpolls and three flyover Red Crossbills. The previous day also saw Red Crossbills at the traditional spot in the Montague Plains where I recorded 25 (Type 10) and a single Type 2 or Ponderosa Pine Red Crossbill. 

Common Redpolls - Hatfield, Hampshire Co., MA. December 16th, 2020.

Red Crossbills - Montague Sand Plains, Franklin Co., MA. December 15th, 2020.