November ends with cold weather and a dusting of snow

Northern Harrier, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2024

White throated Sparrow, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2024

Common Grackles, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2024

Black Vulture, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 26, 2024

Field Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 26, 2024

The month of November has now come to an end and the weather continues to get progressively colder and I get progressively more inclined to leave to warmer locations.  We actually got a dusting of snow in the valley overnight (thankfully we avoided the several inches of snow the hilltowns got on Thanksgiving).  I ended the month here in Hampshire County with 112 species, which is around average over the last several years.  I have caught up with a few lingering species to close out the month but nothing really unusual.  Vultures of both species continue to show in good numbers and mixed flocks of blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles and starlings can be found near some of the farm fields along the river and sparrows populate various weedy fields and edges.

A turn toward colder weather and some lingering species

Eastern Phoebe, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 25, 2024

Rusty Blackbird, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 25, 2024

Swamp Sparrow, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 24, 2024

Snow on mountains to northeast, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 24, 2024

As we near the end of November the weather has taken on a more late fall feel with cool temps and some much needed rain and the prospect of some snow on the horizon (the mountains have already gotten some of the white death).  We really needed the recent couple inches of rain as we have not had much rain since August (the last time we had an inch plus of rain in a day).  In fact since the day in mid August we had only gotten about 1.7" of total rain since that point until our rain storm last week.  I have been trying to acclimate after a recent getaway to Florida but I'm afraid it is a lost cause.  I belong in the tropics and that is where I'm heading soon.  For now I have tried to catch up with some late species here as well as the arrival of later season migrants.  Waterfowl continues to show and I have had some of the expected species.  I had a very interesting buteo at Winsor Dam on the 23rd that I'm fairly certain was a Swainson's Hawk...views were distant but nothing else really fits.  Both species of vultures continue to show in great numbers.  I have been on the lookout for some other rarities as now is prime time for something from the west to show up.

Dark eyed Junco, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 25, 2024

I finally closed up the water feature for the season today and the last species caught on the camera was a Dark eyed Junco.  I usually close it up weeks before now but with the drought I figured I would leave it open as long as I could.  I wish I could have left it open even longer but with the upcoming cold weather and my temporary departure to warmer climes now was a good time to close it up.  It was a good year with loads of species over the course of the year (I'll add it all up at some point).

Short trip to Florida produces several rarities for me

Dark eyed Junco, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 16, 2024

Sabine's Gull, Sebastian Inlet SP, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

Just back from a short trip down to Florida to celebrate the 100th birthday of a relative. We started off in south Florida for the party and then headed north to spend three days near Melbourne Beach before flying out of Orlando back to home. The weather was very cooperative with mainly sunny conditions and temps in the 70’s…a nice, brief respite from colder weather at home. I got very little birding in the day I arrived as my flight did not get in until mid afternoon and after a drive up to Wellington and dinner it was mostly dark. 

White Ibis, Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area, Royal Palm Beach, FL, Nov 15, 2024

Common Gallinule, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Nov 15, 2024

Mottled Duck x Mallard hybrid, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Nov 15, 2024

Blue gray Gnatcatcher, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Nov 15, 2024

Limpkin, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Nov 15, 2024

Little Blue Heron, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Nov 15, 2024

Northern Waterthrush, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Nov 15, 2024

Yellow throated Warbler, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Nov 15, 2024

The first full day in Florida was spent in the Wellington area. I headed a little north before dawn to Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area where I spent a bit over an hour and a half exploring just a small area as many trails were fairly overgrown and I didn’t want to get my feet totally soaked. I still had a fairly productive stop. I headed back to our lodging a little before nine and then we headed to Peaceful Waters Sanctuary  where we spent around two and a half hours exploring this small gem of an area. Nothing extremely unusual but a nice selection of birds with 56 species overall including some waterfowl, a variety of waders and nine species of warblers. The party was midday and after a few hours there we started the drive up to Melbourne Beach. We didn’t arrive until almost dinner time and I didn’t do much birding to end the day. 

Sanderlings, Sebastian Inlet SP, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 16, 2024

White eyed Vireo, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 16, 2024

Nashville Warbler, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 16, 2024

Osprey, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 16, 2024

Dark eyed Junco, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 16, 2024

Ruddy Turnstone, Sebastian Inlet SP, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 16, 2024

Reddish Egret, Sebastian Inlet SP, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 16, 2024

On the first full day in Melbourne Beach I was out before dawn to head down to Sebastian Inlet State Park in the hopes of finding a Sabine’s Gull there. I started off a bit south of the inlet on the beach without having any luck with the gull. There were tons of Sanderlings around as well as big waves thanks to continued fairly windy conditions. I then walked up the bridge at the inlet and spent almost an hour looking for the gull, again with no luck. All was not lost as I had a small group of Black Scoters fly past, a new species for me in Florida. I then headed down to Pelican Island NWR with my main focus being on warblers. I had a Nashville Warbler near the centennial trail among more expected species and this added a second new species for me in the state just for the morning. I then decided to take a walk along the Bird's Impoundment Trail where I had the bird of the trip with a Dark eyed Junco. I was only perhaps a quarter mile in on the trail and noticed a Prairie Warbler and then another bird with it. The other bird was partially obstructed in the mangroves but I could see it was a Dark eyed Junco…I knew it had to be rare this far south so I concentrated on getting some photos and I had some success. I was certainly not expecting to see a Dark eyed Junco in a mangrove as I searched for warblers! Looking at records in eBird this appears to be a first county record for Indian River County. Obviously this was yet another new species for me in Florida…my third of the day (numbers 241,242 and 243). I got the word out as soon as I could as I’m sure some others would love to track that bird down. Always fun to find a good rarity no matter where you bird. I decided to try again for the Sabine’s Gull on my way back through and sadly I missed on finding it once again. I hit a few other areas before calling it a day and hanging out at our lodging. 

Purple Sandpiper, Sebastian Inlet SP, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

Cooper's Hawk, Jungle Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

Cape May Warbler, Jungle Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

Broad winged Hawk, Jungle Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Jungle Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

Nashville Warbler, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

Sabine's Gull, Sebastian Inlet SP, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

Sabine's Gull, Sebastian Inlet SP, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

Hooded Warbler, Sebastian Inlet SP, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 17, 2024

On Sunday I once again headed south to start my day around Sebastian Inlet SP, trying again for the Sabine’s Gull. It was a bit windier to start the day which I knew would make finding passerines later in the morning tough. I walked up to the inlet and started scanning through the various species of gulls, terns, pelicans and shorebirds. Although I had no luck with ‘the gull’ I did find a Purple Sandpiper mixed in with the Ruddy Turnstones as well as a Parasitic Jaeger chasing gulls and terns offshore. These were the first two (of several) rarities for the day and added two new species for my Florida list. I didn’t want to wait too long to go searching for warblers so I headed out a bit after seven with my next destination being an area of the Jungle Trail (an old dirt road) which has been productive in the past for warblers. There were a number of recently reported warblers in the area and I figured I would try to track them down. I spent about an hour and a half covering a fairly small area. Initially I didn’t have much probably due to a combination of noise from a maintenance area and a Cooper’s Hawk sitting within the dense growth. I had a few species including my first Ovenbird of the trip and I almost gave up on finding a mixed flock but I then had a group that had a few species including my first Black and White Warbler of the trip. The more I looked, the more I found and I eventually had three Cape May Warblers and a Bay breasted Warbler (a new Florida species for me) plus several other species. I got photos of most but missed the Bay breasted Warbler as not long after I found it a Broad winged Hawk flew in and scattered the flock (the hawk was yet another rarity for the day). With the area a bit less active with another raptor around I headed north along the Jungle Trail and stopped near the Centennial Trail in Pelican Island NWR and easily turned up the Nashville Warbler again. I then tried the Bird’s Impoundment Trail again in an attempt to relocate the Dark eyed Junco I had there yesterday but came up empty. With still some time left in the morning I made my way back to Sebastian Inlet and this time I finally had success in seeing the Sabine’s Gull as it flew back and forth and occasionally settled on the water. Another big rarity in the bag! I then worked some of the nearby edges for warblers. I heard a Northern Waterthrush calling and another bird photographer was nearby trying to get a photo of it. He failed apparently and gave up after using playback and getting no results. I tried a different approach and found a good viewpoint and waited and got looks at it. I then noticed a yellow bird fly in nearby and a quick look turned up yet another rarity with a Hooded Warbler! I added a few more Cape May Warblers for good measure. I headed back for lunch and then we were going to go kayaking but the place was closed so we settled for ice cream, a walk on the beach and then relaxing at our lodging on the beach. I found yet another rarity as I seawatched and drank wine. A Cory’s Shearwater cruised by to the south at a fair distance and although I had decent looks at it I failed to get a photo. Oddly enough I have never had the species before so not only did I add another new Florida species I added a lifer for the trip (bringing me to 2015 species). The day added a total of five new species to my Florida list, bringing that total to 248.

Broad winged Hawk, Jungle Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 18, 2024

Cape May Warbler, Jungle Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 18, 2024

Painted Bunting, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 18, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 18, 2024

Blackpoll Warbler, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 18, 2024

Nashville Warblers, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 18, 2024

Palm Warbler 'western', Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Nov 18, 2024

Loggerhead Shrike, Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, Viera, FL, Nov 18, 2024

The last day of our short trip started for me at Pelican Island NWR before dawn in the hopes of some nocturnal species and the only one of note was a Clapper Rail calling. I then went to the location on the Jungle Trail that produced warblers in previous days and once again it produced with seven species including a Hooded Warbler and Cape May Warblers. The apparently wintering Broad winged Hawk also made another appearance. Around eight I headed back into Pelican Island NWR to spend my last available hour and half looking for warblers. The Nashville Warbler I had on the previous two mornings was joined by a second individual and I also found a late Blackpoll Warbler (my third new warbler species for my Florida list on this trip). I then went back to our lodging, packed up and headed out around ten to work our way toward the Orlando Airport for our flight home. The original plan was to spend a few hours in the afternoon at Orlando Wetlands Park but when checking directions we found it was closed on Mondays (damn)…so we then thought of the wildlife drive at Merritt Island NWR but that is also closed on Mondays (double damn). After a little searching for spots we headed up to Viera to the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands and walked the various impoundment trails. The place was very slow with little activity compared to previous visits several years ago. Not sure why as the area looked much the same as I remember it. After about an hour and a half there we had a quick lunch and then picked an area close to the airport in Orlando…Moss Park. By this point it was mid afternoon with activity fairly low but thankfully mainly overcast so not too uncomfortable out in the open. I added a few more species for the trip before we headed to the airport. I was feeling a little off and thought it might have been something I ate. After a flight home I was not feeling any better and took it easy the next day before heading back to work. 

Despite the trip being quite short I had some decent luck with birds with a total of 123 species including a lifer (Cory’s Shearwater) and a total of ten new species for my Florida list (Black Scoter, Nashville Warbler, Dark eyed Junco, Purple Sandpiper, Parasitic Jaeger, Bay breasted Warbler, Sabine’s Gull, the previously mentioned Cory’s Shearwater, Clapper Rail and Blackpoll Warbler). The Dark eyed Junco might be a first county record for Indian River County. My Florida list now stands at 250.  Warblers figured prominently for the trip and I have a more in depth post of them at the following link: Florida warblers.

A pale plumaged Dark eyed Junco and a record setting number of Black Vultures today (plus a decent selection of waterfowl and a unidentified swallow)

Dark eyed Junco with pale plumage, Hadley, MA, Nov 9, 2024

Dark eyed Junco with pale plumage, Hadley, MA, Nov 9, 2024

Black Vultures, Hadley, MA, Nov 9, 2024

Black Vultures, Hadley, MA, Nov 9, 2024

White throated Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Nov 9, 2024

Field Sparrow, Amherst, MA, Nov 9, 2024

Great Blue Heron, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 9, 2024

Canada Goose with extensive white on neck, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 9, 2024

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 9, 2024

After more days of warm weather a cold front came through yesterday and resulted in strong northwest winds overnight into this morning.  Given the conditions I headed to Winsor Dam where I arrived before dawn.  Ted arrived not long after and we started scanning and within a short time started seeing some small groups of waterfowl flying around.  The vast majority of the birds stayed fairly far away (as is typical at Quabbin) and very few flew past us to the south despite the strong winds.  The small flocks would start heading south and then turn back north and fly back and forth.  I'm sure a few settled on the water but with the rough conditions we could not see them.  We managed eleven species of waterfowl plus a few groups that went as unidentified.  The bird of the morning there by far was a swallow species that showed briefly and we were unable to pin down an ID on.  I was scanning and saw the bird flying over the water, above the surrounding hills and had it in view for just a few seconds in the clear blue skies...long enough for me to shout "swallow!" before it disappeared.  Despite our best efforts we were unable to relocate it.  Given the recent weather (strong south winds for days followed by strong north to northwest winds) the most likely species would be Cave Swallow.  The species has been pushed north with these conditions with multiple reports around the Great Lakes, the northeast coast and even well up the St. Lawrence Seaway in Canada.  This was a tough one to not be able to definitely identify.  The winds slackened off a bit and the waterfowl seemed to slow considerably so I decided to head elsewhere.  I first went to UMASS and did not find too much in the couple spots I stopped...no luck turning up a Cackling Goose among the hordes of Canada Geese.  I then went to Hadley to try to find some late warblers and found a single Yellow rumped Warbler.  In the same area there was a very uniquely plumaged Dark eyed Junco and I got a few photos of it...a very cool looking individual.  I then headed toward Amherst and as I drove on Moody Bridge Road I noticed a large group of vultures kettling up and I quickly pulled over.  I started sorting through the large group and quickly realized almost all were Black Vultures!  I ended up with an amazing 58 individuals...a crazy high number for the species here and even more amazing given the date.  The species has increased more and more every year but this total blows away my highest counts for the species here in Hampshire County.