Glossy Ibis at Arcadia and a Pied billed Grebe in Easthampton

Glossy Ibis, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016

Glossy Ibis, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016

Glossy Ibis, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016

Raccoon, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016

Spotted Sandpiper, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, June 28, 2016

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/

Pied billed Grebe, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, June 28, 2016

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.

Great Blue Herons, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 28, 2016

Great Blue Herons, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 28, 2016

Great Blue Heron nestlings, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 28, 2016

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.