A record setting November comes to an end

Redhead, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 21, 2022

Palm Warbler 'western', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2022

Greater White fronted Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2022

Cackling Goose, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 19, 2022

Black legged Kittiwake,Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 10, 2022

Common Eider (with Black Scoters), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 9, 2022

Sandhill Cranes, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 9, 2022

Orange crowned Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 7, 2022

Golden Eagle, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 7, 2022

Ruddy Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 2, 2022

Eastern Phoebe, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 1, 2022

November has now almost come to an end and it was a very active month here with a total of 124 species in Hampshire County for me.  This beats my previous best November in 2020 when I had 122 species.  The average over the last ten years is about 95 species for the month but I have exceeded 100 for the last five years.  The high count is thanks to a number of rarities, a few lingering species and some irruptive species.  The rarities included Red Phalarope, Yellow headed Blackbird, Golden Eagle, Sandhill Cranes, Common Eider (county species #304 for me), Black legged Kittiwake and a Redhead.  Waterfowl figured prominently in the total for the month with 32 species (geese, ducks, loons, grebes, etc) but I did miss some species I would typically find in November (like Red necked Grebe).  Irruptive species that have shown up so far included Evening Grosbeaks, Red Crossbills and Pine Siskins.  If the finch forecast pans out as predicted this winter will be very good for a large variety of irruptives...time will tell.  I found a total of five species of warblers for the month, a decent count for the month but not my best November ever.

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 8, 2022

Dark eyed Junco, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 13, 2022 (last capture of the year at the water feature)

Bobcats, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 1, 2022

White tailed Deer, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 17, 2022

Gray Foxes, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 25, 2022

I continue to capture some good stuff on the camera I have at the house positioned along Jabish Brook with several mammals including paired up individuals.  I also buttoned up the water feature for the year and had lots of good stuff over the course of the season.