February ends and March begins with more warm weather bringing in more early migrants including an unusual Canada Goose

Canada Goose x ? hybrid or leucistic Canada Goose, Hadley, MA, Feb 28, 2017

Canada Goose x ? hybrid or leucistic Canada Goose, Hadley, MA, Feb 28, 2017

Fox Sparrow, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Feb 28, 2017

Although today did not quite reach the mid 60's as forecast the temperature around 59 was still close to setting a record and well above normal.  Winter will make a short lived comeback starting tomorrow with wind and highs on Friday and Saturday around freezing and lows in the single numbers before the warmer air returns by early next week.  I spent the last couple mornings out trying to catch up with waterfowl and I had some decent luck with 11 species yesterday and 13 species today. Highlights for waterfowl yesterday including an American Wigeon, three Northern Pintails and an odd Canada Goose (either a hybrid or a leucistic individual) along Aqua Vitae Rd and a couple Common Loons at Winsor Dam.  Other non waterfowl highlights yesterday included my first Fox Sparrow at Covey WMA and continued large numbers of Red winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles. 

Canada Goose x ? hybrid or leucistic Canada Goose, Hadley, MA, Mar 1, 2017

Canada Goose x ? hybrid or leucistic Canada Goose, Hadley, MA, Mar 1, 2017

Lesser Scaup, Lake Warner, Hadley, MA, Mar 1, 2017

Black Vultures, Hadley, MA, Mar 1, 2017

This morning I once again had the odd Canada Goose among 1000+ geese along the river in Hadley plus a Lesser Scaup at Lake Warner.  Other notables during my trip around the area east of the river included two Black Vultures among 17 Turkey Vultures at the roost on Moody Bridge Rd and a very early Virginia Rail calling from the marsh at home (early by a few weeks!)