The last few days including our last warm days for awhile

Red tailed Hawk, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 23, 2016

Bald Eagles, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 23, 2016

Greater Scaup and Surf Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 23, 2016

Greater Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 23, 2016

Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 23, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 23, 2016

Once I got out of work today I headed right to Winsor Dam to try to catch up with some birds being blown in by the strong west winds.  I stayed for about an hour and a half before heading home and I managed to find a number of notable birds including 3 Greater Scaup, 10 Surf Scoter, a Black Scoter, 3 Bufflehead, 2 Red breasted Mergansers and a Northern Goshawk (as well as seven other species of raptors).  The Northern Goshawk was the biggest surprise of the morning as I had it interacting with a Red tailed Hawk over the hills of Quabbin Park.  Always a tough bird to get around here and one that always impresses even if seen at a distance through the scope.  The size and bulk of the goshawk is quite impressive as it easily was a match for the nearby Red tailed Hawk.  I wish the bird had come in closer but I guess I'm happy to have seen this unusual species at all around here.  The Northern Goshawk becomes species #232 for Hampshire County this year. I was joined for part of my time at the dam by Devin, Aidan and Scott.

I managed to check just one spot for geese before work on Saturday and found a group of 420+ Canada Geese plus 37 Wood Ducks but nothing else of note....still hoping for an unusual goose to show itself this fall.

Ring necked Ducks, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 21, 2016

Ruddy Duck, Beaver Lake, Ware, MA, Oct 21, 2016

Ruddy Duck, Beaver Lake, Ware, MA, Oct 21, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 21, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 21, 2016

The weather for Friday featured another warm day for October when a new batch of southerly winds pushed the temps into the upper 70's despite no sun. Although the forecast called for rain on and off through the day the vast majority of the day was rain free. I headed straight for Winsor Dam after work and didn't find much there initially but the low clouds and drizzle made viewing difficult. I then headed into Quabbin Park and checked Hank's Meadow and Goodnough Dike before heading to the Route 9 marsh. Not much for waterfowl on the reservoir but did find a few Black Ducks, four Horned Grebes and eight Common Loons. The biggest surprise at Hank's Meadow was a couple of Evening Grosbeaks that flew over heading southwest. A stop a little later at Winsor Dam turned up another Evening Grosbeak plus another five Common Loons. I had to run a few errands over in Ware so I made a quick stop at Beaver Lake and turned up a distant Ruddy Duck and a flyby Greater Yellowlegs.

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 20, 2016

I stopped briefly at Winsor Dam on Thursday morning before work but didn't find anything unusual with just Black Ducks and Mallard leaving their roost and the largest group of gulls I have had there in awhile (50+) which means the anti gull boat patrols can't be too far off.

Opossum, home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 20, 2016

Although the number and variety of birds coming into the water feature continues to dwindle (just Blue Jays and White throated Sparrows) a new mammal showed up on Thursday night when a Opossum showed up.