After a big eruption from the sun that caused a severe geomagnetic storm a large portion of the country was treated to an incredible northern lights show last night. Although I was at work and far from a really dark location the show was still impressive with pinks and greens with pillars that stretched over most of the sky. It was the best show of northern lights I have seen since I lived in the Berkshires. As we are in the midst of solar maximum the chances of future storms are still fairly high.
I did get out birding for a bit on a chilly morning after work and spent about an hour and a half at Great Pond before heading home. Great Pond featured a few notable species as well as a great shows of sparrow numbers. The most unusual species was an adult male Yellow headed Blackbird that flew off to the north as the hordes of blackbirds, grackles, starlings and cowbirds were leaving their overnight roost. I also had a slightly late Brown Thrasher among a total of 48 species. I also made a brief stop at Winsor Dam where I saw an early Common Goldeneye female...there is a chance this is the same individual that stayed in the area of the dam through spring and into summer with the last sighting in mid August. Very interesting for sure.
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