PACIFIC LOON at Winsor Dam!

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

The forecast for today called for some strong northerly winds with a bit of rain this morning and with that in mind I headed over to Winsor Dam to see if the winds would blow in any waterfowl.  I arrived about 6:15 and the winds were quite busy out of the north with occasional rain. I set up the scope and started scanning and almost immediately came across a small, dark loon fighting through the waves.  After just a few seconds of looking I knew it was something good and as it turned and gave me a profile look I noted several field marks (small rounded head, short bill, dark back, well defined white/black demarcation line on neck and darkish face) that immediately pointed to Pacific Loon!  An absolutely crazy bird to have at Quabbin and one I hoped to find one day (see an earlier post concerning the subject here:  http://quabbinbirdingandbeyond.blogspot.com/2013/10/waterfowl-and-others-to-be-on-lookout.html.  I studied the bird for several minutes and got a few looks at the hint of a chin strap.  I  attempted some digiscoped shots but the light was just too faint to allow my phone to get an definitive photos.  As I was watching the bird it flushed off the water (thanks to a Bald Eagle) and started gaining altitude as it circled around and headed off to the southeast.  I figured the bird was gone for sure.  I then spent more time scanning and had a number of Common Loons moving by as well as a single group of half a dozen Long tailed Ducks.  A bit after seven I once again found what appeared to be the bird further out when where I had it earlier but the better light allowed for some distant shots through the scope.  Although the view was more distant the field marks were still there.  I again watched the bird for several minutes before taking my eyes off it for a little while during which it either left the area or moved beyond the ability to see it among the waves and rain.  My phone started giving me trouble (which it continued to do for the rest of the day).  I made several return trips to the dam during the rest of the morning into the afternoon with no luck relocating the bird until later in the afternoon when I once again found it even further out than before.  Once again I got a few more shots through the phone before it stopped working again.  The photos once again showed the field marks of the bird.  The loon becomes species #236 for the year which now ties my previous record from last year (a very good year so far as I was not even trying to break my old record).  More photos can be found at the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/albums/72157661111463675

The only other western Massachusetts records I could find for Pacific Loon (from Seth and James article in Bird Observer) include one found in spring in Holyoke (1937) and four records at the lakes in Pittsfield spanning the dates of Oct 30-Dec 2 with most records from the early part of November (1938, 1943, 1964 and 1985).  I could find no records for Hampshire County so it appears to be a first county record if accepted.  Oddly two year ago to the day I found another first county record at Winsor Dam when a female King Eider passed through.  I guess November 11th is a good day to look for unusual waterfowl at Winsor Dam.

Long tailed Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Common Raven, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Oddly there was little other movement of waterfowl at Winsor Dam beyond the loons with just a half dozen Long tailed Ducks, singles of Surf and Black Scoter and a Black Duck (not a complaint just odd given the weather conditions and the time of year)  A few raptors were also up and about and moving around.  I made brief stops at other nearby spots too looking for waterfowl but didn't have much luck

Yesterday I woke up early so I headed over to Arcadia before work to try my luck at catching up with a Short eared Owl that Dave M. saw a couple days ago.  Luckily the clouds kept it dark long enough to make it over there before it got too light and the owls went to roost for the day.  I arrived a bit before six and after a few minutes of looking spotted a Short eared Owl coursing over the freshly cut fields out near the old trolley line. The owl became species #235 for Hampshire County for the year.  I heard this evening that two owls were present hunting over the fields so may try to catch up with them again if I get a chance.