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| Greater Scaup, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 31, 2012 |
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| Greater Scaup, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 31, 2012 |
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| Greater Scaup, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 31, 2012 |
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| Greater Scaup, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 31, 2012 |
With the predictions of a bit of snow I decided I would stay close to home today. Despite the predictions there was no snow until just after dawn. Although a far cry from the near summer weather of a week ago it still was not too bad and the only real hassles from the snow were the occasional reduction in visibility and the snow getting on the optics. I started and ended at Winsor Dam with a quick trip through Quabbin park itself. First thing in the morning there were 16 Black Ducks, a Common Loon plus a single male Bufflehead and a pair each of Common and Hooded Mergansers as far as waterfowl goes at the dam plus the first of what would turn out to be at least ten calling Pine Warblers for the day. The route 9 marsh was productive once again with ten Wood Ducks, a couple Hooded Mergansers and mallards and Canada Geese. In addition the beavers were quite active and continue to add to one of the larger beaver lodges I have ever come across. Quabbin Park itself produced my first of year Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, several Eastern Phoebes and a immature Bald Eagle feeding on a large fish while two crows looked on. My return to Winsor Dam found a new selection of waterfowl present and an uptick in the amount of snow and sleet. I found a Common Goldeneye female and then a scaup species that was initially on the water and then took off and flew past me a few times. It turned out to be a Greater Scaup or so it would appear. The overall structure and the coloration points to that ID but the best looks I got of it were in flight so I'm open to other suggestions. The other birds of note here were a couple of Horned Grebes. The birds were in an odd transitional plumage that I do not typically get to see here. One of the birds was a bit odd and had me thinking it may be something besides a Horned Grebe but in the end they both appear to be Horned Grebes. Again I'm open to others thoughts on the grebes. The snow, light and distance made it tough to get good looks as well as good photos. The grebe photos are below.
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| Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 31, 2012 |
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| Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 31, 2012 |
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| Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 31, 2012 |
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| Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 31, 2012 |
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