The second week of February was overall warmer than normal with no snow (just like most of the rest of this winter season so far) and with the warm weather some early arriving waterfowl have started showing up as well as increased numbers of both Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures in multiple locations. I added three new species of waterfowl for the year in the county this morning with American Wigeon, Wood Duck and Gadwall. I started my morning before dawn at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River where I had at least one (possibly two) American Woodcocks (also new for the year for me). I then went across the river to Hatfield where I had a eight species of waterfowl including the above mentioned American Wigeon and Wood Ducks plus two female Northern Pintails and five Green winged Teal as well as other more expected species. A flyover Rusty Blackbird added to the unusual species in Hatfield. The wigeon flushed early and I was unable to relocate it. I hoped to check a few nearby areas but some of the farm roads were a bit too muddy so I instead headed back across the river. I stopped at UMASS and had 400+ Canada Geese but no unusual geese among the flock. I then stopped along Moody Bridge Road and had some raptors around. A final stop in the Amherst area didn't turn up anything too noteworthy. I continued east and made a brief stop at a nearly ice free Lake Wallace (quite unusual in mid February!) and had the expected species there. I then noticed a report of a Gadwall at Quabbin Park so I headed over and after making the short trek down to the water, had a male Gadwall among the geese and Mallards and American Black Ducks. A productive morning for sure and my total for the county for the year got bumped up to 106 species (107 if you count Ring necked Pheasant)...not my highest total year to date but a close second (last year when I was at 111 by this date).
Yesterday after work I made a stop over to Arcadia and despite the windy conditions I still had some nice looks at a number of species. Nothing too unusual but did have a high count of American Tree Sparrows. I had other obligations for the rest of the morning so not much else to report for birds.
I had to work on the 10th and had to be in early so not much of a chance for any birding. After work Saturday morning I headed to Arcadia but the winds were fairly strong so I had no luck tracking down an unusual passerines. The waterfowl made up for it a bit with the highlight being the continued pale Canada Goose among the flock. Once I got home I noticed a Black Bear made an overnight visit and took down all the feeders, including the ones that were part of a UMASS PhD student project. I never thought I would have an issue with the feeders in early February but I think it speaks volumes on just how warm it has been for the majority of the winter.
On Thursday I headed over to the East Meadows for sunrise and then spent about an hour and a half checking multiple spots and turned up some good stuff despite failing yet again to find a Yellow rumped Warbler at the location. Highlights included a large group of American Robins feeding on bittersweet and sumac (including an individual with a very elongated bill) plus the first Red winged Blackbirds I have had singing in awhile. I then went back across the river and searched in vain yet again for a Common Yellowthroat in Amherst (after multiple checks in both locations I think the bitter cold snap did them in). I ended my morning outing at Winsor Dam where I had a pair of Lesser Scaup in quite close.
To start off the second week I stayed around the south Quabbin area with a few stops but I didn't find anything unexpected.
I checked the camera along Jabish Brook at the house and caught a number of mammals including Bobcat, Raccoon, Gray Fox and Black Bear (very unusual in February but it has been extremely warm for sure).
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