Odds and ends...update on banded bird, more Flickr sets and a few sightings despite the damn cold weather

With the cold weather I have had a little extra time on my hands so I have gone through my Flickr page and created some new sets for everyone’s enjoyment (or at least my enjoyment!)  I created a set of waterfowl pictures from around the area and further afield.  Many of the photos are distant but give a good representation of birds in flight and on the water in various weather conditions.  An interesting collection to give you a good idea of what you might see when looking through a spotting scope, especially at Quabbin.  The set can be found at the following link:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/sets/72157640540258003/

The next set is the various landscape views at Winsor Dam throughout the year…not really educational but interesting nonetheless.  That set can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/sets/72157640610576034/

The final new set contains hummingbird shots from both the local area and various trips to different parts of the country and beyond.  The link for that set can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/sets/72157640610821444/

Dunlin with leg band, Merritt Island NWR, FL, Jan 19, 2014

Dunlin with leg band, Merritt Island NWR, FL, Jan 19, 2014

I recently got back the information on the banded Dunlin I found dead at Merritt Island NWR in Florida in January.  The bird was banded May 14, 2012 in Fortesque, NJ by Dr. David Mizrahi of the Cape May Bird Observatory.  The bird was born in 2011 or earlier so it put on quite a few miles in migration before meeting its end from unknown causes on a dirt track at Merritt Island.  The banded bird was one of three Dunlin all freshly killed within 20 feet of each other.  They may have run in to a series of power lines or been killed by hunters.  None of the birds had any obvious trauma.  Sad end to a beauty of a bird.

Ring necked Duck, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Feb 12, 2014

Wilson exploring the fields at Covey WMA, Feb 12, 2014

Winsor Dam at Quabbin (sadly no Golden Eagle today), Feb 12, 2014

As far as bird sightings the very cold weather has made it tough to get out much.  Monday morning was around zero in the morning and Tuesday morning was even colder at -5 with some extremely thick freezing fog along the river.  I stopped briefly to scope out the waterfowl below the Coolidge Bridge and had several hundred Canada Geese and Mallards as well as about a dozen Black Ducks and a single male Northern Pintail.  Today was the coldest morning yet with a low temperatures between -10 and -15...brutal cold.  I stopped briefly to check for waterfowl below the Coolidge Bridge and found a Northern Pintail, a Wood Duck, a Ring necked Duck, a couple Hooded Mergansers, five Common Mergansers, 16 Black Ducks, 447 Mallards and 420 Canada Geese.  After a doctors appointment I took Wilson for a walk at Covey WMA where the highlight was a male Purple Finch which became species #88 for the county this year which ties me with last year at this time (at least for a couple more days).  I also stopped by Winsor Dam in search of the adult Golden Eagle seen at Quabbin Park yesterday by Tom.  No luck on this visit.  Tomorrow the forecast is for another big snow storm with snow totals of a foot plus...winter just doesn't want to give up even if I do.  I can't get back to the tropics quick enough!