Mountain Bluebird in Turners Falls!

Mountain Bluebird, Turners Falls Airport, Turners Falls, MA, Nov 15, 2016

Mountain Bluebird, Turners Falls Airport, Turners Falls, MA, Nov 15, 2016

Mountain Bluebird, Turners Falls Airport, Turners Falls, MA, Nov 15, 2016

Canada Goose with additional white on face, Barton's Cove, Turners Falls, MA, Nov 15, 2016

I had to take a class in Franklin County this morning so I left a bit early to head up to Turners Falls to try my luck in catching up with a Mountain Bluebird found by James Smith a couple days ago at the Turners Falls Airport.  It had shown well the last couple sunny days but I didn't have a chance to try for it until this morning due to work and other commitments.  I was not sure if the bird would show itself due to the cloudy weather with occasional drizzle.  The previous day it showed around 6:45 in the morning and I arrived there just before seven this morning and a quick scan didn't turn up the bird but by the time I made my second scan just after seven the bird was sitting on one of the airport signs fairly close to the viewing area.  I watched it for a bit as it occasionally would drop down to feed or fly to a new perch.  The bird was not only a county and state record for me but was actually a life bird, becoming species #1208.  I really wish the bird had decided to turn up in Hampshire County but perhaps the next one will continue a bit further south for me.  Mountain Bluebird has only been recorded eight times before in the state with the records split evenly between spring and late fall/early winter with the bird in Turners Falls being a first county record.  As the bluebird showed so quickly for me I still had a little extra time so I cruised by Barton's Cove which held just Mute Swans (a dozen) and three Canada Geese including one individual with some extra white on the face.  The power canal was also very quiet with just a couple pairs of Mallards, five Common Goldeneyes and six Common Mergansers.