November ends after a long series of rarities and a total of 113 species in the county

MacGillivray's Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 14, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Red throated Loon, Arcadia, Northampton, Nov 21

Cackling Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 29, 2017

Red headed Woodpecker, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

White eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 13, 2017

Red eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, Nov 20, 2017

Yellow rumped Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 27, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

Clay colored Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 15, 2017

Baltimore Oriole, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 15, 2017

I spent the last day of the month once again exploring Arcadia and I found a very respectable 51 species total with several continued rarities and high counts of other species for the end of November.  Highlights included at least 66 Wood Ducks, the Red headed Woodpecker, a Common Yellowthroat, two Yellow rumped Warblers, several hundred Red winged Blackbirds and four Rusty Blackbirds.  Full list from the morning here: Arcadia 11/30

Now that November has come to an end I will take a look at all the rarities and late staying species I had this month.  It was a really great month for birding around here with a way above average total for the month for me, coming in at a very impressive 113 species (impressive for me anyway).  Looking at my eBird data for the last five years (easily viewed with the eBird app) this month beat my previous best November back in 2014 by 13 species.  I typically total in the mid 90's for species for the month.  Although I had slightly lower diversity of waterfowl than typical I didn't spend as much time looking and the warm weather has kept areas to the north ice free so some species have yet to be forced south.  Other families were around in greater variety with three species of shorebirds, six species of owls, seven species of woodpeckers, two species of vireos, four species of warblers and ten species of sparrows.

The list of unusual and/or late lingering species included the biggest highlight being a MacGillivray's Warbler (Nov 13-15), plus multiple Cackling Geese, at least four individual Red throated Loons at three different locations, American Woodcock (through Nov 22), Snowy Owl (Nov 18-20), Short eared Owl (Nov 23), Red headed Woodpecker (Nov 27-end of month), White eyed Vireo (Nov 13), Red eyed Vireo (Nov 20), Gray Catbird (through mid month), Yellow rumped Warbler (through end of month), Common Yellowthroat (through end of month), Clay colored Sparrow (Nov 15) , White crowned Sparrow (through Nov 21), Baltimore Oriole (Nov 15) and Pine Siskin (Nov 19).

A more in depth look at my late dates (and early dates) for warblers in Hampshire County can be found at the following link (if one is so inclined to look at more bird nerd data)...Late and early dates for warblers.

The last couple mornings at Arcadia produce multiple Common Yellowthroats, a Cackling Goose, a Red headed Woodpecker and Yellow rumped Warblers

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

Red headed Woodpecker, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

Red headed Woodpecker, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

Northern Mockingbird, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

Northern Mockingbird, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

After getting a call from Keenan yesterday mid morning about a Common Yellowthroat at Arcadia I decided to make a late morning trip over to see if I could find it.  I arrived around ten and found the bird in the area Keenan had it.  It would call occasionally and stayed hidden most of the time.  As I was getting photos of it another yellowthroat popped into view (this one was an adult male)...two Common Yellowthroats in the same area in late November made my morning.  My previous late date for the species in the county was Nov 2nd back in 2013.  The juvenile Red headed Woodpecker continued at the same location.  Full list here: Arcadia

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 29, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 29, 2017

Cackling Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 29, 2017

Canada Goose with dark face, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 29, 2017

I had just a little time this morning before other obligations would keep me busy for the remainder of the morning but it was another great visit to Arcadia with highlights including a Cackling Goose, nearly 30 Wood Ducks, two Yellow rumped Warblers and at least two Common Yellowthroats among 37 species in just about an hour.  I would have loved to have stayed longer as I checked just a couple spots and there was lots of activity.  Full list here: Arcadia

Red headed Woodpecker at Arcadia

Red headed Woodpecker, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 27, 2017

Red headed Woodpecker, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 27, 2017

Red headed Woodpecker, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 27, 2017

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 27, 2017

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 27, 2017

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 27, 2017

Yet another rarity has shown up for November when Eric Labato found a juvenile Red headed Woodpecker at Arcadia in the same area a different juvenile bird spent last winter.  It was vocal at times and was very busy caching food so it looks like it will be sticking around.  It does make you wonder if they are breeding nearby at a yet undiscovered location.  In the same general of the woodpecker I found a flock of seven Rusty Blackbirds moving through the swampy woodland.  The  beaver have been quite busy in the area with lots of freshly flooded areas.  The area looks perfect to attract a Prothonotary Warbler next spring (if one decides to move further north than usual)...it will certainly be worth checking the area.  Arcadia also held at least two and perhaps three Yellow rumped Warblers.  Typically I see the last of this species in the county in very late October to perhaps mid November.  The only other late date I have for the species was back in 2005 at Quabbin Park when I had two.  Perhaps the birds will stick around a few more days and linger into December.  I also briefly stopped at Winsor Dam on my way home and turned up a lone female Greater Scaup.

More waterfowl the last few days

Red throated Loon, Beaver Lake, Ware, MA, Nov 23, 2017

Red throated Loon, Beaver Lake, Ware, MA, Nov 23, 2017

Hooded Merganser, Beaver Lake, Ware, MA, Nov 23, 2017

Common Merganser, Beaver Lake, Ware, MA, Nov 23, 2017

Red breasted Merganser, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 23, 2017

Canada Goose with extensive white on neck, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 23, 2017

Waterfowl continues to arrive as November marches steadily toward December although in lesser numbers and variety than expected which is likely due to lots of open water to the north of us. Over the last few days I have managed to find 14 species of waterfowl including all three species of mergansers, two Red throated Loons (one at Arcadia and another at Beaver Lake) and a Cackling Goose in among Canada Geese this morning in Hadley.  Other notable species in the last few days include a Short eared Owl at Arcadia and an American Woodcock still flight displaying in Hadley.

Snowy Owl and other unusual species including Red eyed Vireo, Red throated Loon and Pine Siskin

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

On my way to work on Saturday I headed over to Hadley checking a few spots briefly before heading over to Honey Pot to check to see if the MacGillivray's Warbler was still around despite the cold (temps in the teens).  As I was driving toward the dike I noticed a odd white lump at the top of a telephone pole right next to to the dike and immediately knew it was a Snowy Owl.  I quickly pulled over and got out the scope and got some fantastic close up views (and photos).  It was as close as I have ever been to this magnificent beast of the arctic and those piercing yellow eyes really felt like they were boring right through you.  I would normally post this sighting right away to various sites but given some recent poor behavior from a number of people regarding another Snowy Owl I decided to keep the sighting somewhat secret notifying just a few people.  It was tough to not let more people know about it right away as even those slightly interested in birds love owls but I could not be the one who instigated undue pressure on the bird.  I knew such an obvious species in such a well traveled location on a weekend would not stay secret for too long but I had to do my part to try to limit disturbance.  I have only had three Snowy Owls ever in the county with all three coming from Hadley with the one this year within just a few hundred feet of the one I had back in 2014 (Snowy Owl 2014).  With little time left in the morning before work I had just a brief few minutes to try to relocate the MacGillivray's Warbler and I was unsuccessful in my quest.  More information on what could be a very good year for Snowy Owls around here (as well as many other locations)...Project SNOWstorm.

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 19, 2017

On my way home on Sunday morning in the on and off rain and strong winds I checked to see if the Snowy Owl was still present and it was right back on the same pole I saw it on the day before.  I stopped briefly and got a few photos and then quickly left the area.  A brief stop at Quabbin Park produced a flyover Pine Siskin (perhaps a harbinger of things to come as far as irruptive species are concerned?)

Red eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2017

Red throated Loon, Oxbow at Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2017

My original plan on Monday was to stay local as the winds were forecast to be strong and I figured finding small passerines would be hard to do and the winds might bring in some waterfowl to Quabbin.  I stopped at Winsor Dam at first light and the winds were light and the water devoid of waterfowl so I scrapped my original plan and instead headed over toward the river.  My first stop there was the Honey Pot where I once again had the Snowy Owl.  I checked for the MacGillivray's Warbler again without any luck (it may have moved on but the winds were kicking up a bit so perhaps it was just hunkered down).  I then headed across the river to Arcadia in search of a very late Red eyed Vireo photographed there the day before.  I ran into Keenan there and after a bit I picked out the vireo feeding in the fruiting trees along with many waxwings.  A really late date for the species and just another in a long string of rarities in the same small area.  Nothing else too unusual around the old orchard area but I did once again see the continuing Red throated Loon in the Oxbow.  I left Arcadia and made a brief drive through the East Meadows were I had at least one Lapland Longspur mixed into a large flock of Horned Larks.  My final stop of the morning was a return back to Winsor Dam where I found a Long tailed Duck, a Red breasted Merganser and a Horned Grebe.

Red throated Loon, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Canada Goose with extensive white on neck, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Cedar Waxwings, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Tufted Titmouse, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

White throated Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Song Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Today I once again headed over to the fields and meadows along the Connecticut River starting off at the Honey Pot where the Snowy Owl was not in the areas I checked.  No luck relocating the MacGillivray's Warbler once again so I think the bird has either moved out of the area completely or it has taken up residence somewhere else in the local area...lots of good habitat around.  Best species during my times there was a singing White crowned Sparrow.  Most of my time out this morning was spent at Arcadia where I once again had the continued Red throated Loon, a Yellow rumped Warbler,  285+ Cedar Waxwings and an odd Canada Goose among the few hundred geese present.  No luck in  relocating the Red eyed Vireo from the day before.  Still lots of activity in the old orchard area which still looks prime to attract additional rarities.

More rarities the last couple days including Clay colored Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Red throated Loon and the continued MacGillivray's Warbler

Clay colored Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 15, 2017

Baltimore Oriole, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 15, 2017

Rusty Blackbird, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 15, 2017

Black Ducks, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 15, 2017

Canada Goose with extensive white on face, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 15, 2017

MacGillivray's Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 15, 2017

Red throated Loon, Beaver Lake, Ware, MA, Nov 14, 2017

I once again found a number of rarities in the last couple days, as well as seeing some continued ones.  Despite some rain and snow showers yesterday I made it out to a few spots in the local area with the best rarity being a Red throated Loon on Beaver Lake in Ware (eBird list Beaver Lake).  Today I headed back over to areas along the river starting off at the Honey Pot where I had the continued MacGillivray's Warbler as well as a singing White crowned Sparrow.  The warbler was quite vocal at times but then would stay quiet for extended periods.  All the views this morning were fleeting and I only managed a few marginal photos...a real skulking bird (full list: Honey Pot).  Once I finished up at the Honey Pot I headed over to Arcadia where one of the first birds I saw was a Baltimore Oriole working its way down a hedgerow in the meadows.  It was a dull first year bird that had me hoping for a Bullock's Oriole but no luck...still a great bird for mid November!  No luck finding the White eyed Vireo in the area of the old orchard but I did have a Clay colored Sparrow and a Gray Catbird.  Elsewhere at Arcadia I had a flock of 28 Rusty Blackbirds moving past together, nearly three hundred Mallard and 33 Black Ducks.  Full list here: Arcadia.