The last week

Great Blue Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 25, 2016

Tree Swallows, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 25, 2016

Hooded Mergansers, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 25, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 25, 2016

Common Merganser, Beaver Lake, Ware, MA, Mar 25, 2016

Common Merganser, Beaver Lake, Ware, MA, Mar 25, 201

The forecast today called for early drizzle and some heavier rain that would lead to warming temperatures as a warm front pushed through. The cold air was a bit more stubborn than predicted and most of the day stayed cool and gloomy. I did head out early before the heavier rain arrived and stayed around the local area making stops at Quabbin Park, Beaver Lake and Lake Wallace. A few highlights this morning including 7 Great Blue Herons, 71 Tree Swallows, half a dozen Eastern Phoebes and a couple Rusty Blackbirds at Lake Wallace and 42 Ring necked Ducks, 7 Bufflehead and 18 Tree Swallows feeding low over the water at Beaver Lake.  I checked a few of the same spots throughout the day and added a few new species bringing the total number of waterfowl species to nine.  A walk with Wilson along the land trust trail turned up more phoebes, two singing Field Sparrows seemingly on territory and a Winter Wren.

While at work on Wednesday I had a Chipping Sparrow (#109) near the middle of Florence.  I have not had much time to get out much the entire week but thankfully the weather has not been very conducive to major migration.