MA - Cackling Goose, sparrow surge and continuing Cape May Warblers

Cackling Goose (right) - Turner's Falls power canal. Franklin Co., MA. October 2nd, 2018.

Early October was characterized by hordes of migrant sparrows showing up along most of the field and woodland edges in northern Franklin County. Most abundant have been White-throated, Swamp Sparrow and Song Sparrows in that order with the numbers of Swamp Sparrows being especially impressive. For example, I estimated about 200 of the latter in the Caldwell Road fields in Northfield on the 2nd, although I shaved that down to a more conservative 160 for my ebird entry. I haven't come across any of the scarcer sparrows yet, but Lincoln's Sparrows have been consistently present throughout with 3 - 6 at many of the locations that I've visited. Plus, it was especially sweet to catch up with about 5 Field Sparrows in Turner's Falls on the 2nd, a species that I don't stumble across all that frequently in the fall. Also of note, a seasonally high concentration of 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks on Pine Meadow Road, Northfield on the 1st.

Field Sparrow - Turner's Falls power canal. Franklin Co., MA. October 2nd, 2018.

Swamp Sparrow - Caldwell Road fields, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. October 2nd, 2018.

 Swamp Sparrow - Pine Meadow Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. October 3rd, 2018.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male) - Pine Meadow Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. October 1st, 2018.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (fem/imm) - Pine Meadow Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. October 1st, 2018.

Warblers and vireos have noticeably tapered in the first few days of October which is only to be expected but I continue to be blown away by the Cape May Warbler show, many of which I've found around unharvested cornfields. For example, there were still 9 on Pine Meadow Road, Northfield on the 3rd loosely associating with 12 Blackpoll and around 25 Yellow-rumped Warblers along with singles of Tennessee, Nashville and Black-and-white Warblers and a notable increase in Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

Nashville Warbler - Pine Meadow Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. October 3rd, 2018.

Cape May Warbler - Pine Meadow Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. October 3rd, 2018.

In terms of non-passerines, well October 2nd produced a fly-over Black-bellied Plover and a Red-shouldered Hawk at Caldwell Road fields, and a Cackling Goose at the Turner's Falls power canal. The latter was my personal earliest for a returning fall migrant and was present at the power canal the following day. Shorebirds included 2 Least Sandpipers (with 17 Killdeer) at Deerfield Meadows on the 1st and 2 Solitary Sandpipers at Hell's Kitchen on the 2nd where an eclipse Blue-winged Teal continued from late September.

Cackling Goose (left) - Turner's Falls power canal. Franklin Co., MA. October 2nd, 2018.

MA - yard Swamp Sparrows - 10/13

Swamp Sparrow - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. October 13th, 2011.

Another day of interest after heavy overnight rain. It brightened up a little in the afternoon, and I ventured out finding three Swamp Sparrows lurking around our compost pile, the first that we've had in the yard this fall. Interestingly, numbers of Swamp Sparrows at the edge of the pumpkin field on River Road in Gill had swollen from five to over thirty birds since my last visit there on October 7th. There was also White-crowned Sparrow there and at least 50 White-throated Sparrows.

Late afternoon proved to be the most productive time of the day, with a mass of 1300 Canada Geese moving SW over the yard just before 3pm along with a juvenile Bald Eagle.

Canada Geese - part of a movement of 1300 birds over Gill, Franklin Co., MA. October 13th, 2011.

There was also a fast moving feeding flock of about 15 Yellow-rumped Warblers with 1 (Eastern) Palm Warbler, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a couple of Blue-headed Vireos.

White-throated Sparrow - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. October 13th, 2011.

White-crowned Sparrow - immature in song, River Road, Gill, October 13th, 2011.

Earlier, in mid-morning, a brief visit to Barton Cove again produced a nice feeding flock along Riverview Drive. No warblers this time, other than Yellow-rumped, but half a dozen each of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and about 20 Chipping Sparrows.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Barton Cove, Gill, MA. October 13th, 2011.

JPS

MA - odds n' ends - 10/15

Swamp Sparrow - Barton Cove, October 15th, 2009.

A raw day, dawning with a heavy frost around Amherst/Hadley, then becoming overcast ensuring that the day never really warmed up. This coupled with a bitter north breeze gave a real wintry feel to the day. Some of the higher regions around the 'valley' even got snow flurries!

Late this afternoon, I made a very quick run up to Turner's Falls finding that the power canal had some 300 resting Canada Geese, though nothing unusual amongst them. Also present about 150 Mallard (more arriving as I left), 3 female-type Green-winged Teal, and an American Wigeon which flew south having the circled the canal once. A late Tree Swallow also went through, headed NW. Most intriguing was the sight of 17 Common Ravens together, sparring and playing on the wind as I looked south towards Mount Toby. Could be the largest single gathering of Ravens that I've seen in Massachusetts.

Green-winged Teal. Turner's Falls power canal, October 15th, 2009.

At Barton Cove, Song, Swamp, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows all foraging near Unity Park.

Closer to home, the nicest birds of the day were two Ruby-crowned Kinglets in front of the apartment in mid-morning.

(An American Woodcock flew low over North-East Street, Amherst before first light on the 14th.)