First couple days of December

Common Mergansers, Quabbin Park, Dec 2, 2013

Hanks Meadow looking north, Quabbin Park, Dec 2, 2013

Hanks Meadow looking toward Gate 52, Quabbin Park, Dec 2, 2013

Common Goldeneye, Quabbin Park, Dec 2, 2013

Black Ducks and Mallards, Quabbin Park, Dec 2, 2013

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Dec 2, 2013

A somewhat gloomy and occasionally rainy day kept the activity down a bit but I still managed to pull out some waterfowl from the nearly calm waters of south Quabbin.  Species and totals included five Canada Geese, 13 Black Ducks, 20 Mallards, a couple hybrid Black Ducks x Mallards, a Common Goldeneye, a Hooded Merganser, 18 Common Mergansers, four Common Loons and at least ten Horned Grebes.  Other non waterfowl highlights included a somewhat late American Woodcock I flushed while walking down to the water near Goodnough Dike, a few hundred gulls and flyby Snow Buntings.  I made a brief stop at Beaver Lake in the hopes it had thawed a bit but the lake remained frozen.  Another stop at Quabbin Park late morning didn't produce anything new but I did manage to get wet.

Cedar Waxwings, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Common Goldeneye, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Common Goldeneye with pair of Hooded Mergansers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Common Goldeneye with pair of Hooded Mergansers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Black Ducks and a Mallard, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Winsor Dam before dawn, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

 

Red necked Grebe, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Red necked Grebe, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Hanks Meadow, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Belted Kingfisher, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Horned Grebe, Quabbin Park, Dec 1, 2013

Bald Eagle

Despite the early morning light snow showers/freezing drizzle and some icy roads yesterday morning I made it over to Quabbin Park to see what I could find. Nothing too unusual but some waterfowl around including a Common Goldeneye flying around with a pair of Hooded Mergansers, 7 Hooded Mergansers, three Common Mergansers, 47 Black Ducks, 45 Mallards, 7 Common Loons, a Red necked Grebe and 7 Horned Grebe. Other notable birds included at least 38 Cedar Waxwings at Winsor Dam, at least half a dozen Bald Eagles, hundreds of gulls and a couple kingfishers.  I spent the vast majority of my time stationary at Winsor Dam but did make a few stops within Quabbin Park itself.  Also got a report from Bob Z. that he had more waterfowl at Hanks Meadow late in the morning including a female Northern Shoveler. Perhaps the same bird I had at Winsor Dam a few days ago?  No sign of it today.