First week of February comes to an end

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Feb 3, 2018

Hooded Mergansers, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Feb 3, 2018

Northern Pintail, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Feb 3, 2018

Red headed Woodpecker, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Feb 4, 2018

Field Sparrows, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Feb 4, 2018

Northern Harrier, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Feb 3, 2018

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 2, 2018

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 7, 2018

The first week of February was largely seasonable with a few bouts of snow (and some rain) and temperatures quite cold on a few days but a little above normal on others.  I took advantage of some extra time off to try to catch up with the few species that continue to grace the county with their presence.  Highlights have included a Northern Pintail in Easthampton (where a Redhead has been seen on and off the last few weeks but I have some how managed to never find despite several tries), 13 Hooded Mergansers (also in Easthampton), two Yellow bellied Sapsuckers in Hadley, the Red headed Woodpecker continuing at Arcadia in Northampton and two Field Sparrows (also at Arcadia).  As mentioned above I have struck out on locating the Redhead in Easthampton and have also missed Yellow rumped Warbler(s) that have been seen near Arcadia.

In the first week I have managed to find a total of 60 species, which is above average so far in a month that is the slowest bird wise around here (which makes me want to get away to somewhere warmer once again...which is exactly what I will be doing).

Canada Goose with odd markings, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Feb 4, 2018

Canada Goose with odd markings, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Feb 4, 2018

Canada Goose with odd markings, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Feb 4, 2018

While looking in vain for the Redhead I had some time to wade through the hundreds of Canada Geese on Lower Mill Pond and found a few with some odd markings (extra white on the neck and/or face)...always interesting to find these unique individuals among the typical Canada Geese.