A rainy early morning and late sun with stops at Winsor Dam looking for waterfowl

White winged Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 2, 2014

White winged Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 2, 2014

The rain and low clouds continued overnight sinto this morning so I decided to once again try for waterfowl downed by the weather.  I tried Beaver Lake in Ware but only had a couple each of Canada Geese and Mallards.  I then headed over to Winsor Dam where I found a total of 33 White winged Scoters (in groups of 18, 10 and 5), a Wood Duck flying past, 21 Mallards, a Canada Goose and a Common Loon.  With no other time to check other locations I was unable to find anything else (which I’m sure was out there!).  Other reports from the area (including all of western mass and into Worcester county)  included White winged Scoters in a number of locations, some grebes (both Red necked and Pied billed), a Long tailed Duck, Ring necked Ducks, Black Scoter, Common Loons and Double crested Cormorants.  The star of the show in both numbers and different locations being seen appeared to be White winged Scoters.  Beyond the waterfowl the best sighting I heard about was a group of about ten Common Terns at Wachusetts Reservoir in Worcester County. 

Winsor Dam, Oct 2, 2014

A quick stop at Winsor Dam on my way home found clear skies and calm waters and a single group of ten White winged Scoters plus a single Common Loon but nothing else.  Not really surprising as the weather conditions had improved and the birds usually continue on once the weather gets better.