Back from Costa Rica

Broad billed Motmot, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, Dec 20, 2014

Just back from another successful and relaxing trip to Costa Rica.  Lots more details and photos to follow once I get around to it.  I wish I had the energy to go out looking for some last minute birds around here today but between getting in early this morning and feeling a little under the weather, I stayed in most of the day.  I will do a year end wrap up sometime soon too, but for now just a quick photo from the latest trip.

Another unproductive search for the Black headed Gull

Canada Goose with extensive white neck, Russelville Rd, Hadley/Amherst line, MA, Dec 17, 2014

Canada Goose with extensive white neck, Russelville Rd, Hadley/Amherst line, MA, Dec 17, 2014

Great Blue Heron, Hadley/Amherst line, MA, Dec 17, 2014

Mourning Doves, Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA, Dec 17, 2014

I took a few hours off today and managed to get a little bit of birding in.  I searched once again for the Black headed Gull seen over the weekend but no luck.  I covered the areas from Mill Valley Road north through Hadley and Amherst.  The bird is likely long gone but you never know if it might show up again so worth keeping an eye out for it.  The most active area was once again the fields on the Hadley/Amherst line on Russelville Road (the same area where another Black headed Gull was found in spring a few years ago).  Notables there included nearly 1100 Canada Geese (the individual with the extensive white neck was still in the flock), a Great Blue Heron, 195 Ring billed Gulls, 280 American Crows and 165 Horned Larks.  The best sighting on Mill valley Road was at least 210 Mourning Doves hanging out on the new solar array. 

Brief, fruitless search for Black headed Gull

Canada Goose with white neck, Russelville Road, Amherst/Hadley line, MA, Dec 15, 2014

Canada Goose with white neck, Russelville Road, Amherst/Hadley line, MA, Dec 15, 2014

I conducted a fruitless search today for the Black headed Gull seen yesterday in Hadley.  I checked briefly very early in the morning and again for a short time in the early afternoon when I was on an errand to the Hadley area.  I checked along Mill Valley Road, along South Maple Street, around UMASS and then various fields in north Hadley.  Most areas were quiet with a small group of Ring billed Gulls on South Maple Street being the only gulls around in that area.  The fields near Knightly Road on the Hadley/Amherst line held the most promise with loads of geese, gulls and crows around.  Despite much effort to turn up the gull in among the other birds I had no luck.  The highlights there included 1348 Canada Geese (including an individual with a neck that was extensively white), 136 Ring billed Gulls and 142 American Crows.  No one else I heard from had any luck finding the gull either so who knows if it is still around or not.

The other highlight included a light phase Rough legged Hawk near the intersection of Route 116 and Route 9.  Unfortunately I could not stop to get a photo of that bird but hopefully it will stick around for the winter.

Northampton CBC and a report of a Black headed Gull in Hadley

I headed out before dawn to cover my area around Hampshire College for the Northampton Christmas Bird Count.  The main focus before dawn is owls and I had decent luck with them this morning finding four Great Horned Owls (plus the two found by Jacob and Alex) bringing our area total to six.  Despite our best efforts to find other species of owls we struck out although we did find some recent owl pellets and some whitewash in a pine grove but no owls.  Once it got light enough we spent the rest of the morning exploring various spots within our territory and by late morning (when I left) we had a total of 35 species.  Highlights included an immature Great Blue Heron, a Sharp shinned Hawk, 12 Red bellied Woodpeckers, two Northern Flickers, 269 American Crows (most heading north), 24 White breasted Nuthatches, two Hermit Thrushes and a flyover Pine Siskin.

Red necked Grebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 14, 2014

Red necked Grebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 14, 2014

Red necked Grebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 14, 2014

As no day is complete without a stop at Quabbin I made a brief stop at Winsor Dam on my way home and had a Red necked Grebe out among the waves.

Gulls heading to roost (Is the Black headed Gull among them?  Maybe), Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 14, 2014

Late in the afternoon I got a call from Jacob saying he just heard about a Black headed Gull being seen along Mill Valley Road in Hadley but it had flown off heading toward the malls.  The initial observer of the bird managed a few digiscoped shots before it flew.  Not great shots but certainly identifiable.  It was too late in the day to try to make a run over there to find it as the gulls would soon be heading to roost.  Perhaps it was in among the hundreds of gulls that came over the house at dusk heading to roost at Quabbin?  This would be a new bird for the year for me so hopefully it shows back up somewhere nearby and stays put.  The CBC always seems to produce some nice rarity.

A morning out looking for waterfowl (and other stuff)



Eastern Towhee, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 13, 2014

Eastern Towhee, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 13, 2014

Northern Pintails, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Dec 13, 2014

Northern Pintails, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Dec 13, 2014

Green winged Teal, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Dec 13, 2014

Long tailed Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 13, 2014

American Tree Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Dec 13, 2014

Finally a nice and sunny day to get out and about and explore for some near the end of the year birds. My main focus was waterfowl (with fingers crossed to find a new species for the year). I started below the Holyoke Dam where I hoped for an odd gull among the waterfowl but the river was still running high so just had the gulls milling around and not settling down. The waterfowl included 9 Common Goldeneye, 18 Common Mergansers, 37 Canada Geese and a pair of Mallards.  Hundreds of crows moving north at daybreak failed to produce any positive Fish Crows but there were probably some passing by silently.  I also found another great viewing spot at the new library in South Hadley that gives great views of just below the dam (a spot I hope to find a Harlequin Duck at someday). I then headed up river a bit to above the dam and had seven Mute Swans, 199 Canada Geese, 7 Black Duck, 62 Mallards, 6 Hooded Mergasners and two Common Mergansers. I worked my way up river checking the Dinosaur Footprints area (nothing) and then took a ride through the East Meadows and views of the river from there that produced very little beyond some Horned Larks, a few Snow Buntings and a few geese. I then headed across the river to the Honey Pot where I looked in vain for roosting Long eared Owls or Short eared Owls. Decent numbers of sparrows around but nothing unusual. The nearby Aqua Vitae Road was also quiet. The Connecticut River on the Hadley side was more productive for waterfowl with seven Northern Pintail and a Green winged Teal plus 127 Canada Geese, two Black Ducks and 56 Mallards. I decided to spend the time I had left by heading back east to Winsor Dam where I had some good stuff including a couple of Long tailed Ducks and a continued male Eastern Towhee. Getting late for both of these species so it was neat to find them.  Overall a fairly productive morning.

Tomorrow is the Northampton Christmas Bird Count and I will be covering the area around Hampshire College. I have not been around the last couple years to help out but this year the dates just worked out.

Waterfowl around south Quabbin

Common Goldeneye, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 12, 2014

Common Goldeneye, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 12, 2014

Common Goldeneye, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 12, 2014

Pine Siskins, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 12, 2014

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 12, 2014

The sun finally came out today (at least briefly) for the first time since last Sunday as the slow moving storm system finally moved away.  I headed over to the area of south Quabbin in search of mainly waterfowl and found some.  Winsor Dam featured a pair of Common Goldeneyes, a few flyby Mallards and a Common Loon.  Quabbin Park itself was quiet with just a couple Common Goldeneyes, a Common Loon and a Horned Grebe.  The mainly frozen over Beaver Lake in Ware held a Ring necked Duck, four Mallards, a Hooded Merganser and seven Common Mergansers.  Overall quite slow for waterfowl but at least I got some good looks at a few individuals.  Other highlights included some flyby Pine Siskins in Quabbin Park plus a flock of 24 siskins at Winsor Dam.

Red necked Grebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 12, 2014

Red necked Grebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 12, 2014

A brief stop at Winsor Dam in the early afternoon produced a Red necked Grebe out on the reservoir and an Eastern Towhee hanging out around the HQ building.  It is getting a bit late for the towhee but him seems to have found a good home there (no photos of the towhee today...didn't have the good camera with me)

Wilson playing ball in the snow, Dec 12, 2014

Spent some time in the snow covered yard with Wilson and between games of ball I managed to find a Winter Wren skulking in the brush.

Another nor'easter brings more rain, snow and ice

Northern Pintail, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Dec 11, 2014

Northern Pintails (pair), Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Dec 11, 2014

The last three days has featured the ongoing effects of a nor’easter that has slowly moved through the region.  Thankfully the heavy snow stayed off to our north and west but we still started and ended the storm with ice and snow.  The heavy rain (2”+) plus cool temperatures in the 30’s has made it miserable to be outside.  With these conditions I would not be surprised if some unusual birds (mainly waterfowl) lurk out there waiting to be discovered (James Smith did have a Barrow’s Goldeneye in among a large goldeneye flock in Turners Falls on Tuesday).  I wish I had the time to get out and check various spots but I have had to be content with checking the river in Hadley briefly on my way in.  Waterfowl numbers were good but variety was low with the notable species being half a dozen Northern Pintail (four males and two females).

Back from a quick trip to Florida plus a local Clay colored Sparrow back here in the ice box

Pied billed Grebe, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Northern Harrier, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Little Blue Heron, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Purple Swamphen, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Great Egret, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Wood Stork, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Blue winged Teal, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

American Coot, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

American Bittern, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Anhinga, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Black bellied Whistling Duck, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Common Gallinule, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

I just got back from a very brief trip (Friday-Sunday) down to Florida for a family event.  I still managed to get in a few hours of birding on Saturday morning and enjoyed some warm, sunny weather.  The original plan was to fly in to Florida early on Friday and have the afternoon to go out and about but an emergency diversion to JFK on our flight down squashed that idea as we sat in New York for 4 ½ hours waiting for a new plane to continue the journey.  With just a small window of time left to bird on the trip I headed to Loxahatchee NWR for dawn on Saturday morning to watch the morning flight of waders leaving their roosts and heading out to feed for the day…always impressive to see.  I then headed just a little east to nearby Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach where you can get really great looks (and photos) of a variety of species.  I then spent the next few hours on the boardwalk there before heading back to meet up with the family around noon.  Lots of good stuff (as always) at Green Cay and I have included the full eBird list below: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20806873

Lots more photos from the short trip down there at my Flickr site:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/sets/72157649662376445/

 

Clay colored Sparrow, Belchertown, MA, Dec 8, 2014

Clay colored Sparrow, Belchertown, MA, Dec 8, 2014

I managed to finally make it over to Devin, Rae and Aidan’s house to see the Clay colored Sparrow that has been present at their feeders for several days now.  The bird was quite cooperative as it fed under the feeders and various spots around the yard.  All the photos are from inside shooting through a sliding glass door.  A very infrequent visitor from the western US and a really great bird to have in your yard. 

More morning stops produce more waterfowl

Northern Pintail, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Dec 4, 2014

American Coot, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Dec 4, 2014

I once again had a little time before work and made a few stops today which produced some decent stuff but nothing extreme. I made a brief stop at a very quiet Winsor Dam before moving on to the Connecticut River in Hadley where I ran across a nice gathering of waterfowl that included 868 Canada Geese (my biggest gathering yet this fall), 9 Black Ducks, 268 Mallards and three male Northern Pintails. Despite a lot of looking for something else unusual in among the large flock I had no luck. I then made a ride through the Honey Pot but it was also quiet but I really didn't spend much time there. A final stop today at the UMASS campus one found the American Coot that has been there on and off (mainly on) for weeks now plus 94 Canada Geese and 29 Mallards.  Oddly coots can be really tough to find some years but this year I have had great luck finding them.

Northern Pintail. UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Dec 3, 2014

Wood Duck (rear) with Hooded Mergansers, Lake Warner, Hadley, MA, Dec 3, 2014

Stops yesterday morning before work included a stop at the UMASS campus pond which held  a Northern Pintail, 73 Canada Geese and 108 Mallards but no sign of the coot that had been around.  A Peregrine Falcon was also up and about and being quite vocal.  A brief stop at Lake Warner in Hadley produced a couple Mute Swans, a female Wood Duck and a pair of Hooded Mergansers.

Quick stops the last couple mornings

Northern Pintails (two of three present), Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Dec 2, 2014

Northern Pintails (two of three present), Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Dec 2, 2014

I stopped briefly this morning along the Connecticut River in Hadley and found some waterfowl including 233 Canada Geese, a dozen Black Ducks, 292 Mallards, 3 Northern Pintails (all males) and a few Mallard x Black Duck hybrids.  Didn't have much time to check other areas so I had to be content with just this one stop.  Always hopeful for some unusual waterfowl as finding some seem to be my best shot on finding more species for the year.

Connecticut River at Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Dec 1, 2014

Honey Pot near dawn, Hadley, MA, Dec 1, 2014

Yesterday morning I made it over to the Honey Pot very early trying to find some owls but no luck with them.  Besides the Snowy Owl I had there yesterday a Short eared Owl has been reported as well as a group of three Long eared Owl flushed from along the river so the area seems to be attracting lots of interesting owls.  Although I didn't find any owls I still had some good stuff including a juvenile White crowned Sparrow.

I also stopped briefly near the Coolidge Bridge to view the river to check for waterfowl but had just Mallards and a Black Duck.  The highlight here was a Peregrine Falcon that made a brief appearance.