Black legged Kittiwakes (and other stuff) during a strong Nor'easter

Black legged Kittiwake, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Black legged Kittiwake, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Black legged Kittiwake, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Black legged Kittiwake, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Double crested Cormorants, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Ring billed Gull, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Black Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

White winged Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

A powerful nor'easter hit the area starting very late on Monday into Tuesday and lasting through today.  We were lucky to escape of the worst of the rain and wind but we still had plenty of both (the coast and the cape got hit hard with hurricane force winds resulting in widespread power outages).  I had to work yesterday so was not able to check Winsor Dam when I'm sure some stuff showed up but I did immediately head in that direction this morning.  Strong nor'easters during this time of year can produce some good birds as the rain force some migrants down and displace birds from the coast inland.  A similar type of storm back in mid October of 2005 produced a record number of Black legged Kittiwakes (up to nine) in the valley and that species was high on my list of potential rarities with this storm (more of kittiwake records in the county below).  As I was just about to Winsor Dam I got both a text and email about two Black legged Kittiwakes being found by Ted and Scott.  I arrived a few minutes later and immediately got to see and distantly photograph the birds.  This was only the third time I had ever seen the species in Hampshire County with my previous records being up to five back in October 2005 and a single seen Winsor Dam in November of 2012 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.  The kittiwakes today would fly around for a bit and then settle on the water only to fly up again.  Most of the time they were fairly distant and tough to keep track of due to the wind and rain.  They were joined for a time by at least two Bonaparte's Gulls.  Eventually the kittiwakes flew up along with a few other gulls and gained altitude before being propelled south by the strong north winds and they did not return (a review of photos later showed that there were at least three unique kittiwakes present and possibly even four).  Thankfully they stuck around long enough for a number of other birders to arrive and see them.  During the nearly three hours I stayed at the dam there was a noticeable movement of both Canada Geese and Double crested Cormorants.  The low clouds and low visibility hid the birds occasionally and many likely went by undetected.  As expected other waterfowl was also moving or grounded by the weather with seven other species beyond the Canada Geese but nothing unexpected given the date.  Overall a great morning at the dam and one I was glad to be a part of.

Double crested Cormorants, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

After taking Wilson for a walk I returned to Winsor Dam where the wind, low clouds and drizzle continued but was slightly reduced from the morning.  The overall activity was lower but there was still some stuff to be seen including a group of 16 White winged Scoters and another large group of Double crested Cormorants moving rapidly off to the southwest (a great count of cormorants overall for the day at the dam with at least 150 individuals).  A very unexpected Blue headed Vireo showed briefly in one of the large pine trees and then quickly moved off...one of the few passerines at the dam all day.  It will be interesting to see what others turned up both nearby and at the coast due to the storm.  There is still the chance of stuff being seen in the wake of the storm over the next day or two so certainly worth getting out to look if you have the chance.

Surf Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Winsor Dam (view when I arrived), Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Winsor Dam (view when I left), Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

Rainbows at Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 27, 2021

I made a final trip over the dam late in the afternoon in the hopes of finding some additional birds at the end of the storm (a report of 15 Common Eiders at Wachusett Reservoir inspired me to try again...I unfortunately did not find any eiders).  I arrived to the winds still cranking and the the visibility poor due to ongoing rain.  I started scanning and quickly found all three species of scoters (including my first Surf Scoters of the day).  There were a few flocks of Canada Geese both flying over and on the water.  Other notables included three Red breasted Mergansers that joined up with some of the scoters.  As the light of the day was coming to an end the wind suddenly slackened a lot and the rain came to an end for the most part.  The calmer conditions allowed me to find more groups of birds out on the water but most were too far out to identify.  The best bird of the stop came in around 5:30 and settled way out on the water...a Ruddy Duck.  My stop was capped off by a beautiful double rainbow.  I wish I could be at the dam again at first light to see what else settled in over night but I will have to leave that effort up to others.  With the sightings of the Black legged Kittiwakes and the Ruddy Duck today I added two new species to my Hampshire County list for the year (species #246 and #247) which now brings me to just one shy of my previous best year (which was last year) with two months left in the year.

Just a taste of what the coast got with this epic storm...a list from First Encounter Beach on the cape on the 28th as the storm was pulling away:  First Encounter Beach on October 28th

Red breasted Merganser with Common Mergansers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 25, 2021

Red breasted Merganser, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 25, 2021

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 25, 2021

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 25, 2021

Wilson resting after his appointment, Home, Oct 25, 2021

On Monday before the arrival of the big nor'easter but following overnight rain I made it to Winsor Dam before dawn.  The rain was still coming down but eventually it let up a bit and then changed to just occasional drizzle for most of the rest of the day.  I was joined by Ted and eventually Joe before I had to leave to pick up Wilson for an appointment at Tufts.  The overnight rain had downed a few birds with four White winged Scoters and at least 8 Common Loons.  Other waterfowl was moving but nothing unexpected although a close look at a Red breasted Merganser that flew in with a few Common Mergansers was nice.  I made a couple more stops back to the dam later in the day but didn't find anything noteworthy.  I then headed home to pick up Wilson to head down to an appointment at Tufts late in the morning.

A warm up to end the third week of October

Marsh Wren, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

Marsh Wren, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

Swamp Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

Nashville Warbler, North Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

Tennessee Warbler, North Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

White breasted Nuthatch, North Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

Savannah Sparrow with White throated Sparrow and Song Sparrow, North Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

Cooper's Hawk, North Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

The last few days have featured above normal temperatures with highs reaching into the 70's on Wednesday and Thursday and the upper 60's today.  This looks to be the last warm spell for awhile as we enter further into fall and our weather gets progressively cooler.  I took advantage of the nice weather to get out when I could.  I had to work on Wednesday but did get out after work on Thursday morning (more on that below).  Today I decided to concentrate on a variety of spots on the east side of the river in Hadley.  I started my morning at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River where I had at least four American Woodcocks still hanging around with some still doing flight displays and other flushed from the trails.  The thickets there produced at least three Gray Catbirds as well as seven Hermit Thrushes including one singing softly as well as a slightly late Eastern Towhee.  I also had some flyby finches including at least one Pine Siskin with American Goldfinches plus three finches that may have been White winged Crossbills.  As I was getting ready to leave I had a Nashville Warbler moving through the weedy fields near the parking lot...a good start to the morning for sure.  My next stop was up to North Hadley to check a few overgrown fields mainly looking for sparrows and some late warblers.  I arrived there just as the sun was hitting a tree line along the river and I turned up some good stuff including a Tennessee Warbler and two Nashville Warblers.  No unusual sparrows there but some good numbers.  I then stopped at a couple other spots along the river including the Honey Pot but didn't find anything too unusual.  A stop along the Fort River was a bit more productive with at least three Gray Catbirds and a Common Yellowthroat (plus loads of deer ticks!).  With my time for the morning rapidly running out I decided to make another stop back at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, covering a few areas I did not hit earlier in the morning.  The short stop proved productive with a Marsh Wren and a Common Yellowthroat.  Overall it was a fantastic late October morning with 60 species for the morning including multiple late species and some rarities.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

House Wren, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

White tailed Deer, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

After work yesterday I headed right over to Arcadia where I had some good stuff including a Red eyed Vireo, at least two House Wrens, a dozen Purple Finches (mainly calling flyovers), half a dozen species of sparrows, two Common Yellowthroats and an Indigo Bunting.  A total of 51 species in just over an hour and a half.  I then made a brief stop in the East Meadows but didn't find anything too unusual.  

Hermit Thrush, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 20, 2021

The camera on the water feature continues to capture birds including a Hermit Thrush that showed up for a couple days.

More waterfowl arrive including large numbers of Black Scoters and a Brant

Black Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 19, 2021

Black Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 19, 2021

Black Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 19, 2021

Black Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 19, 2021

The continued northwest winds the last few days resulted in the arrival of even more waterfowl this morning.  Once I got out of work I headed right for Winsor Dam where I started scanning the water and quickly came across a large flock of Black Scoters (plus a few White winged Scoters and a Long tailed Duck) moving back and forth and occasionally settling down on the water.  The highest count I was able to get was 137 Black Scoters after review of the photos I was able to get through the scope (a good count but far from my highest counts for the species at the dam...previous highs being 610 on November 5, 2012 and 487 on November 3, 2013).  I had a total of ten species of waterfowl during my first stop at the dam.  I then stopped at a couple other spots looking for waterfowl, ran a few errands and then returned to the dam.  The scoter flock appeared to have moved on but the second stop produced a single flyby Brant.  I picked it up flying southwest fairly low and had good looks through the scope.  I tried to get some photos but with the bird flying against the forested hills my phone just could not pick the single bird out as it moved by.  I suspect more Brant will show up with the current push of birds or after the next cold front next weekend.  With the Black Scoters and the Brant I added two more species to my year list in the Hampshire County bringing me to an amazing 245 species.  This is the second highest species count I have ever had for the county with a few months of the year still left.  Last year was my highest ever total in the county with 247.  At this point of the year I'm ahead of the previous best year to date total by eleven species!  (I was at 234 by this date in 2020, 2018 and 2015).  All this with missing a few species that I could easily gotten to see if I was not working on the days they were seen.  It will be interesting to see what (if anything) else shows for the year.

The beginning of the arrival of waterfowl

Surf Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2021

Surf Scoters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2021

Pied billed Grebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2021

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2021

Bonaparte's Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2021

Bonaparte's Gull, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2021

Bonaparte's Gulls (front) and Ring billed Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2021

Belted Kingfisher, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2021

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 17, 2021

Following the passage of a cold front yesterday evening and with the forecast for strong west/northwest winds for the day I started my morning at Winsor Dam in the hopes of catching a big influx of waterfowl.  I arrived before dawn and found the conditions nearly calm with multiple Barred Owls and a Great Horned Owl calling and even some fog drifting across the water.  So much for the forecast of strong winds.  Nonetheless I decided to stick at the dam and see what might be moving.  Ted joined me for almost the entire time I was there.  The morning started with a number of Common Loons scattered across the water and a Pied billed Grebe that gave an interesting profile as it kept its neck extended the entire time giving the impression of a much bigger bird.  As the morning continued we had small groups and singles of multiple species showing up with the highlights including a unidentified flyby scaup species as well as first two and then three Surf Scoters.  The morning was just active enough to keep one from moving to another location but not active enough to not question if another area was more active.  The forecasted winds never materialized during the three plus hours I was at the dam but it did appear the winds higher up where blowing a bit as evidence by the quick movement of low clouds.  Although lacking in big numbers the diversity was okay with a total of 13 species of waterfowl (plus a few unidentified birds moving by).  I suspect tomorrow will be an even more productive day but I will not have much time to bird so others will have to find the good stuff.