Grasshopper Sparrow and other stuff

Grasshopper Sparrow, Palmer landfill, Palmer, MA, June 9, 2012

Grasshopper Sparrow, Palmer landfill, Palmer, MA, June 9, 2012

Grasshopper Sparrow, Palmer landfill, Palmer, MA, June 9, 2012

Grasshopper Sparrow, Palmer landfill, Palmer, MA, June 9, 2012

Grasshopper Sparrow singing, Palmer landfill, Palmer, MA, June 9, 2012

Winsor Dam at dawn with fog coming up over dam, June 9, 2012

Today I stayed around the local area with a handful of stops at various locations.  I started at dawn at Winsor Dam and had a few expected species such as Common Loon and Bald Eagle as well as others.  The scene there changed with each passing minute as the sun came up and the fog rolled up and over the dam.  I next headed toward Palmer with a brief stop at the route 9 marsh.  I stopped at a few spots near the old Palmer airport and the capped landfill nearby plus a few fields to the south.  The Grasshopper Sparrow showed quite well and at times came right up to and into the fence along the road.  The bird (or birds) would call from a distance and then come up close to the fence and run through the grass, calling quite often.  I thought there may have been two again today but never had them both in view at once.  Other birds of note in this area were a family of Brown Thrashers, Bobolinks, a Black-billed Cuckoo, Alder and Willow Flycatchers, Field Sparrows, and various warblers. I then headed back to Belchertown with stops again at Winsor Dam and the route 9 marsh.  I then headed to the large marsh near the old state school.  I had not spent any time here before and it holds some promise for good birds.  Even in late morning there were families of Hooded Mergansers and Wood Ducks and a Green Heron as well as many Tree Swallows.  It seems like a great spot to explore by kayak.  The rest of the day was spent around the house catching up on yard work.