Gull show along the Connecticut River

Glaucous Gull (R), Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 9, 2015

Glaucous Gull (R), Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 9, 2015

Iceland Gull, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 9, 2015

It does indeed appear that the weather may have finally turned the corner from winter to spring (even if only slightly).  The temperatures have warmed to the 40’s during the day with a corresponding increase in the avian activity in the area (mainly gulls and waterfowl).  The gulls have been the biggest show in the last couple days with some of the largest numbers and variety I have seen along the river in Hampshire County in quite some time.  Yesterday I stopped to view the slowly growing open stretch of water below the Coolidge Bridge both on my way to and from work.  In the morning I had just a pair of Wood Ducks and around a dozen Mallards.  The afternoon proved to be much more active with a large roost of gulls numbering just over 300 which included a Glaucous Gull, three Iceland Gulls, a dozen Ring billed Gulls, 290 Herring Gulls, ten Great Black backed Gulls and an interesting looking individual which may have been something even more unusual but not sure of it.  The only waterfowl around in the afternoon included the continued pair of Wood Ducks plus a single Common Merganser.

Glaucous Gull (center), Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 10, 2015

 

Iceland Gull, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 10, 2015

Canada Goose with ice encrusted bill, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 10, 2015

Iceland Gull, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 10, 2015

Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 10, 2015

Today I stopped at the bridge on my way in and had a huge roost of gulls numbering around 475 individuals of five species including the continued Glaucous Gull and three Iceland Gulls plus 24 Ring billed Gulls, 430+ Herring Gulls, 22 Great Black backed Gulls and a few unidentified gulls that were hidden among the mass of others.  I have no doubt more unusual stuff will turn up if one keeps checking back.  Waterfowl there this morning included singles of Ring necked Duck, Common Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser plus 113 Canada Geese and seven Mallards.  No luck finding any of the reported Bohemian Waxwings seen yesterday near downtown Northampton but did have at least two Fish Crows on King Street in Northampton early in the afternoon