Weekend around Quabbin

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Greater Scaup and Long tailed Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Lesser Scaup?, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Black Ducks, Mallard and Greater Scaup (R), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

This morning found some waterfowl arriving but still not in the numbers I would expect given the conditions and the date. Perhaps the lack of freeze out to the north has kept the waterfowl from coming down south? I spent the morning, along with Jacob and Justin, at Winsor Dam and then into Quabbin Park. Our first couple hours were spent at Winsor Dam where we had some waterfowl coming in to rest on the water and others moving by to the south. The highlights included a couple Long tailed Ducks, some Bufflehead and a few groups of scaup plus some Black Ducks and Common Loons. There was also a decent movement of American Robins and American Crows as well as a smattering of Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and American Pipits. Here is the full list from our time there:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25754274

Brant, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Long tailed Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Red necked Grebes, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

We then headed into Quabbin Park where we made stops at Hank's Meadow and Goodnough Dike. Hank's Meadow held a Common Loon and seven Horned Grebes but little else. Goodnough Dike was more productive with a Brant seen distantly sitting on the water (an unusual species in the county) plus another loon plus a big raft of gulls. We then parted company as they went back toward the river to check a few other spots and I stopped at the route 9 marsh (Black Ducks, Mallards and Green winged Teal) and then headed back to Quabbin. A few of the species of waterfowl were still out on the water and a group of three Red necked Grebes had joined them. Another hour at the dam didn't produce too much in the way of new stuff but still fun looking.  Lists from Quabbin Park  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25754291 and from Winsor Dam http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25754289

Snow Buntings, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2015

Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2015

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2015

Yesterday morning I hit some of the same areas but turned up less waterfowl than today.  The highlights included half a dozen each of Bufflehead, Common Merganser and Hooded Merganser plus 14 Common Loons and a Horned Grebe.  I also had a flock of 39 Snow Buntings zip by as they moved past the dam and appeared to settle into the west cove out of sight plus had some flyover finches and siskins.