Morning stops on my way to work this week....Common Gallinules, Black Vultures and Great Egret

 

 

Common Gallinule, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 22, 2015

Common Gallinule, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 22, 2015

Black Vulture with Turkey Vultures, Moody Bridge Road, Hadley, MA, June 22, 2015

Black Vulture, Moody Bridge Road, Hadley, MA, June 22, 2015

I managed to get out a little before work all week and turned up some good stuff despite being limited on time. On Monday I started my morning at Lake Wallace and had some really good views of the continuing Common Gallinule as well as other stuff. I then stopped by the vulture roost on Moody Bridge Road and a couple Black Vultures as well as 35 Turkey Vultures.
Lake Wallace list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24004845
Moody Bridge Road list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24004978

Great Egret, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, June 23, 2015

Double crested Cormorant, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, June 23, 2015

On Tuesday I made a trip over to Lower Mill Pond in Easthampton to follow up on a report of a Great Egret seen there a few days before. I tried a few vantage points but didn't turn the egret up until checking the narrowest part of the pond and the bird was standing there preening. An unusual time of year for this species to be around here. Also had a single Double crested Cormorant hanging out in a dead tree.
Lower Mill Pond list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24017613
 

Canada Goose with white above eye, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 24, 2015

Hooded Merganser ducklings, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 24, 2015

Mallard with ducklings, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 24, 2015

Turkey Vultures, Moody Bridge Road, Hadley, MA, June 24, 2015

Wednesday I once again stopped at Lake Wallace and at the vulture roost. I was only able to hear the gallinule call once while I was there on that morning. A number of waterfowl around with lots of ducklings. The vulture roost oddly contained no Black Vultures but did have a high count of Turkey Vultures with at least 48 present.
Lake Wallace list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24034926
Moody Bridge Rd list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24034923

Common Gallinules, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 25, 2015

Common Gallinules, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 25, 2015

Common Gallinules, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 25, 2015

Savannah Sparrow, Moody Bridge Rd, Hadley, MA, June 25, 2015

Today I hit a couple of the same spots once again beginning at Lake Wallace where I was able to find two Common Gallinules close together. This was the first time I have seen two at the same time since I first discovered them there three weeks ago. They stayed close together the entire time I watched them but unfortunately I didn't see any young birds with them. I'm still hopeful they will breed here but no confirmation as of now. My other stop this morning was over to the vulture roost where I found a total of 32 Turkey Vultures.

Lake Wallace list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24044978
Moody Bridge Rd list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24044968