To end the first week of the new year I got out after work and headed down to the East Meadows to try to track down a Lapland Longspur for the year. It was only in the teens with a breeze that picked up even more when the sun came up producing wind chills down near zero. I had some luck with raptors including two each of Northern Harrier and Rough legged Hawk (possibly even three). I found a few large flocks of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks and after picking through found at least three Lapland Longspur including one with a lot of retained cinnamon on back of head. The ever increasing wind eventually drove me out of the area. I was also able to add Pine Siskin for the year with a flyover at the house with a group of goldfinches. I have now had a total of 90 species in Hampshire County this year...my best first week of January ever. My previous high at this point was 87 back in 2021 and that month ended up being my best January ever with 105 species! Doubt I will beat that total without lots of irruptives around but I will try.
I had to work on Monday so only able to get a short, cold walk in with the biggest highlight being at least one and possibly two Virginia Rails at a marsh in Northampton...amazing to hear them calling despite the cold predawn conditions.
On my last two days off I was out early on both mornings despite the continued strong winds with the goal being a number of owl species I have not yet had for the year. I started at Quabbin on Saturday and got a Northern Saw Whet Owl before dawn and then added a Barred Owl in Hadley. Other notables for the day including a smattering of waterfowl at Winsor Dam over the course of the day including Long tailed Ducks, Bufflehead and a Red breasted Merganser and a rather interesting look Dark eyed Junco in Amherst that may be a White winged Junco subspecies...still waiting for others to review. Sunday I started off along the river and added Short eared Owl and then a few Eastern Screech Owls a bit further north. I then spent over an hour around Great Pond and had 36 species with notables including almost 75 American Black Ducks, two Green winged Teal, a Northern Pintail, two Great Blue Herons and large numbers and variety of sparrows (eight species) with the most common species being American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow and White throated Sparrows and the rarest being at least three White crowned Sparrows (with examples of both Gambel's and dark lored) and some Swamp Sparrows. I continued my morning a little further south along the river and added my first Yellow rumped Warbler of the year that flew over (I was never able to relocate it on the ground) and a few Hermit Thrushes.
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