Evening Grosbeaks and waterfowl following nor'easter

Evening Grosbeak, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 28, 2018

Evening Grosbeak, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 28, 2018

Evening Grosbeak, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 28, 2018

White throated Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 28, 2018

Surf Scoter, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 28, 2018

Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 28, 2018

Canada Goose with extensive white on neck, Hadley, MA, Oct 28, 2018

Ring necked Ducks and Red breasted Merganser, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 28, 2018

The after effects of the nor'easter continued into this morning with drizzle, fog and overcast conditions but thankfully less wind than yesterday.  Yesterday was pretty much a washout but I did manage to make it over to Winsor Dam at dawn at the onset of the storm and got a few species of waterfowl before the heavy rain and wind cut down visibility too much.  Highlights included a Red breasted Merganser and a Pied billed Grebe (full list here).  Today I started out at first light at Beaver Lake (which was fairly empty) and then headed over to a foggy Winsor Dam which held just a few Hooded Mergansers and a Common Loon.  As it looked like the low clouds, fog and drizzle would not be lifting right away I headed over to Hadley and Amherst to see if I could find any storm related birds and better viewing conditions.  I started at the campus pond at UMASS and then over to various fields off Meadow Street.  The pond was quiet but the fields produced several hundred geese enjoying a hunter free morning (with one individual with extensive white on its neck) plus a number of Mallards, a Black Duck, a Northern Pintail and two Green winged Teal.  My next stop was down to Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River where I picked up three Evening Grosbeaks not long after arriving right at the entrance to the main trails.  They stayed around for a few minutes for photos before heading off to part unknown.  The Evening Grosbeaks have started arriving in the area in the last several days but these were the first ones I have had and will hopefully be just the beginning of what appears to be a big influx of the species.  The predictions of an irruptive year for a number of northern species appears to be correct with Purple Finch numbers continuing to be way above normal as well as a notable influx of Pine Siskins at various locations the last several days.  I had also hoped to find some late warblers but the best I could do was a calling flyover warbler that was not a Yellow rumped Warbler.  Once I was finished over in Hadley I headed back to Quabbin Park where the fog lifted slightly allowing me to find a few more species of waterfowl including a Ruddy Duck (county species #236 for the year), a Surf Scoter, five Horned Grebes and a Red necked Grebe and a few others.  I also added a couple more flyover Evening Grosbeaks while in the park.  Overall a productive morning with a number of notable birds around.

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands and Red bellied Woodpecker, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 27, 2018

Hairy Woodpecker and Black capped Chickadee, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 26, 2018

Northern Cardinal and White breasted Nuthatch, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 27, 2018

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands and Red bellied Woodpecker, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 25, 2018

Hermit Thrush, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 25, 2018

I have nearly completed the new feeder set up at home complete with motion cameras to capture the activity.  I have just a few suet cakes up so far while I hold off on adding the remaining seed feeders until I'm fairly certain the bears will not be a problem.  I have captured a number of species on the cameras so far including one of my banded Black capped Chickadees.  The water feature also continues to attract a few species including a Hermit Thrush that has stayed around for a few days so far.