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Glossy Ibis, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016 |
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Glossy Ibis, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016 |
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Glossy Ibis, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016 |
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Raccoon, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016 |
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Spotted Sandpiper, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016 |
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Great Blue Heron, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016 |
With the fairly strong southerly winds during the last couple days my plan for
today was to go searching for post breeding dispersal of some more
southerly birds such as various waders (egrets, herons, ibis, etc) and/or marsh
birds. My plan was to start over at Arcadia and work my way back east. When I
got up I saw a post from Dave M. from yesterday evening about a juvenile Glossy
Ibis at Arcadia so I headed over there right away to try to catch up with it. I
arrived to find no evidence of the bird in the marsh but did have a few Killdeer
and Spotted Sandpipers around as well as a few Great Blue Herons. With the
water levels low and the vegetation quite thick I hoped the bird was still
present but just hidden from view. I tried multiple vantage points but still
came up empty. I then decided I would check some other nearby areas such as the
Oxbow and Ned's Ditch for the bird but just before I left the ibis flew in from
somewhere upriver and then settled in among the vegetation. I moved around to
get a better view of the bird by moving up the river trail and almost
immediately ran into a family of Raccoons who scattered from the trail. After
getting a quick look at the Raccoons I managed to get the ibis in the scope and
got some photos and video. The Glossy Ibis became species #
209 for the county
this year.
Link to video:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/27349376603/in/dateposted-public/
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Pied billed Grebe, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, June 28, 2016 |
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Pied billed Grebe, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, June 28, 2016 |
After Arcadia I stopped over to Lower Mill Pond in
Easthampton looking for more egrets and herons and found three Great Blue Herons
and a Green Heron (no sign of the Great Egret I had there several days ago). I
tried a few different viewpoints and as I was scanning I came across a Pied billed
Grebe...very unusual here in late June! Given the date the potential is there
for it to be trying to breed here but I didn't see any evidence of breeding.
It seems like a poor location to try to breed but you never know...worth keeping
an eye out in the area. I also checked Nashawanuck Pond but it was very quiet.
I then headed back across the river and checked the Honey Pot and along the
river in Hadley. The only real highlight for these stops were at least four
Vesper Sparrows at the Honey Pot.
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Great Blue Herons, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 28, 2016 |
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Great Blue Herons, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 28, 2016 |
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Great Blue Heron nestlings, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 28, 2016 |
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Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 28, 2016 |
No unusual herons at Lake
Wallace but all the Great Blue Heron nests have young in them with at least one
juvenile bird out of the nest already. Loads of both adult and young geese,
ducks and mergansers around too. The last stop of the morning found the
continued Lesser Scaup at Winsor Dam. Overall a nice morning despite the
overcast and misty conditions with several noteworthy sightings.
I just started hiking Quabbin a few weeks ago and just found your blog this week. You posts are giving me great tips for where to go, and your wildlife photos are great. Thanks for taking the time to blog your excursions.
ReplyDeleteI just started birding as well, and still have trouble with IDing some species. Have you ever thought about a feature on the blog where people can post photos and get help with identification from you and/or other readers?
Jeff
Thanks Jeff. Interesting idea on a section to help with ID...not sure how to incorporate it at this point but will look into it. In the meantime I have no problem helping with ID...just give me an e-mail and I can send you mine and you can send questions to me that way.
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