The end of November

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 30, 2019

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 30, 2019

Canada Geese, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 30, 2019

Common Mergansers (plus some Ring billed Gulls), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 30, 2019

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 30, 2019

November has now come to an end and I have had a few decent sightings over the last week or so, with most of those detailed below.  Overall for the month in Hampshire County I found 112 species which is just shy of my best ever November around here when I had 113 species last year.  Although the month has averaged well below average as far as temperatures were concerned with a number of record setting cold days we have so far escaped with just a dusting of snow but if the forecast holds true for the end of the weekend into early next week that snow free streak looks to be coming to an end in a big way.  I got out a bit after work this morning and headed to Arcadia where I had at least three Yellow rumped Warblers still hanging around as well as some decent numbers of waterfowl but nothing unusual.  I also made a brief stop at Winsor Dam but the water was totally devoid of birds.

Cackling Goose, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 28, 2019

Cackling Goose and Mallard, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 28, 2019

Snow Geese with Cackling Goose (lower right) and Canada Geese, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 28, 2019

Wild Turkey, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 28, 2019

I visited a few spots on my way home from work on Thanksgiving morning with my first stop over to the campus pond at UMASS.  Among the several hundred Canada Geese was a single Cackling Goose that spent almost all of its time with its head tucked in plus a couple of juvenile Snow Geese that flew in not long after I arrived.  No sign of the Great White fronted Goose that has also been around so had to settle for three goose species (the GWFG showed up later in the morning).  I also made a brief stop at Winsor Dam to see if the strong northwest winds brought in any waterfowl but the only bird on the water was a single Common Loon.  The five Wild Turkeys that have been around the dam for months made an appearance for Thanksgiving.

Pacific slope Flycatcher, Huntington Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 26, 2019

Downy Woodpecker, Huntington Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 26, 2019

Common Goldeneye, Huntington Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 26, 2019

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 26, 2019

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Boardman St power line cut, Belchertown, MA, Nov 25, 2019

White tailed Deer, Bay Road power line cut, Belchertown, MA, Nov 25, 2019

Dawn, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, Nov 25, 2019

Both Monday and Tuesday featured mainly sunny conditions with temperatures that were actually slightly above normal (a very uncommon occurrence during our record setting cold November).  On Monday I stayed relatively local starting my morning predawn with a trip to Gate 5 at Quabbin with the intention of catching up with a Northern Saw Whet owl but I didn't find one.  Lots of logging activity in the general area may have moved the birds from what is usually a fairly reliable spot for them.  I also hit a couple power line cuts in Belchertown with the best sighting being a late Ruby crowned Kinglet.  On Tuesday I headed over to Arcadia where I started out by checking the marsh which held loads of Canada Geese and a smattering of other waterfowl but nothing too unusual.  I then heard and found a small group of lingering Yellow rumped Warblers in the same general area.  I found two more individuals at another location in Arcadia bringing my total for the species to a half dozen.  The only other unusual species was a Ruby crowned Kinglet.  I had an appointment late in the morning in Hadley so I had more time to check a few spots before having to end my birding.  I made a brief stop at the nearly frozen Great Pond in Hatfield and it was fairly quiet.  The bright sun was starting to warm things up so I thought I would try again to see if the Pacific slope Flycatcher was still around and I found it showing well once again (full list).  After my appointment I stopped along Moody Bridge Road and had a large flock of Horned Larks (180+) that got flushed by a Cooper's Hawk.  In among the larks were several Snow Buntings and at least one Lapland Longspur.

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 4, 2019

Black Bear,  Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 14, 2019

Eastern Coyote, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 3, 2019

Raccoon, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 22, 2019

Beaver, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 27, 2019

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 27, 2019

I checked the game camera I have set up near the house and had a number of captures over the last few weeks including Bobcat, Black Bear, Beaver, Raccoon and Eastern Coyote.