Pectoral Sandpiper at Quabbin Park and Red headed Woodpecker continues

Pectoral Sandpiper, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Pectoral Sandpiper, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Rusty Blackbirds, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Looking north toward baffle dams and shaft 12, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2016

It looks like Indian Summer has arrived with the temperatures today reaching into the 70's (with an early morning temp of 55). The next two days should be even warmer with record setting highs in the 80's courtesy of some strong southerly winds. It will be interesting to see if the winds bring any unusual birds along with the unusually warm temperatures. I decided to stick around the local area today with stops at Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park and Lake Wallace. Winsor Dam featured just a couple loons and not much else. I hit just a few spots at Quabbin Park including Hank's Meadow, the area between Gate 52 and Goodnough Dike and the Route 9 marsh. Hank's Meadow held nine Horned Grebes as well as a trilling Eastern Screech Owl. The area near Goodnough Dike held a Ruffed Grouse, a few more loons and some mixed species flocks. The level of the reservoir continues to drop with our ongoing drought and I have never seen the water level so low (the reservoir was at 82.5% as of October 1st). Although I almost just drove past the marsh I decided to make a quick stop and I was certainly glad I did as I quickly found a Pectoral Sandpiper working the muddy edge. The Pectoral Sandpiper became species #232 for the county this year. As I watched the sandpiper I noticed a few Rusty Blackbirds along the same muddy edge and I eventually counted at least 38....one of the larger flocks I have ever had of this rapidly declining species.  Full list from Quabbin Park:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32081171

Red headed Woodpecker, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Red headed Woodpecker, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Red headed Woodpecker, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Red headed Woodpecker, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Marsh where Red headed Woodpecker has been caching acorns, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Solitary Sandpiper, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2016

Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2016

I then made my way over to Lake Wallace where I once again caught up with the continued Red headed Woodpecker. I spent a bit of time trying to get some in flight photos as it went back and forth between the oaks and and he dead trees it is stashing acorns in. A few other were around enjoying the bird and it did not disappoint. I also had a Solitary Sandpiper and a few more Rusty Blackbirds among the other expected species. Between all my stops this morning I ended up with a total of seven woodpecker species for the morning...something I don't think I have ever done in the county before.  Full list with more photos at following link:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32082215

Black capped Chickadee, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 16, 2016

Field Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 16, 2016

Bobolink, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 16, 2016

Yesterday I birded a bit with Keenan and Isabel at Arcadia and although we didn't turn up anything too unusual it was a pleasant morning with a decent number of birds around. List from the morning there:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32061543