Sightings the last several days before and after our storms

Sharp shinned Hawk, Belchertown, MA, Mar 9, 2018

Sharp shinned Hawk, Belchertown, MA, Mar 9, 2018

Fox Sparrow, Belchertown, MA, Mar 9, 2018

Dark eyed Junco with white cheeks, Belchertown, MA, Mar 9, 2018

Wilson enjoying the snow, Belchertown, MA, Mar 8, 2018

Wilson enjoying the snow, Belchertown, MA, Mar 8, 2018

Common Merganser, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 8, 2018

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 8, 2018

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 6, 2018

Pied billed Grebe, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 6, 2018

Over the last several days we have endured a couple of large nor'easter storms that have thankfully spared us the worst of conditions that nearby areas received.  The first storm brought us heavy rain but brought snow not too far away as well as strong winds on the coast with lots of beach erosion and loss of power to many areas.  The second storm brought us around 8-10" of heavy, wet snow but brought nearly three feet of snow not too far away in the Berkshires (glad I don't live there anymore!).  There is the potential for another storm by early next week but hopefully it does not materialize.  Birding during the first week or so of March has been quite good (even with the slow down in birding during the storms).  I have managed to find 79 species in just the first nine days of the month (which is actually more species for the month then I had all of last year).  There have been a number of notable species the last several days including the continued Red headed Woodpecker, at least two Yellow rumped Warblers and some Rusty Blackbirds at Arcadia, a Pied billed Grebe and singing Winter Wren at Lake Wallace, a Lapland Longspur in with a flock of larks and buntings in the Honey Pot and a Fox Sparrow and an unusual Dark eyed Junco with white cheeks at the Griffith's.  I tried for a very early Pine Warbler that showed up at the Griffith's on Tuesday just as the storm was starting and resurfaced a few more times the following day.  I was unfortunately unable to find it despite much effort.  Oh well...you can't see them all.

I also checked my duck boxes this afternoon and found a few eggs in two of the boxes...second year in a row I have had two of the boxes used.  This is one of the earliest dates I have had eggs already in a nest box here at home.  If history is any indication the eggs will end up being Hooded Mergansers (the only species I have had use the boxes despite having Wood Ducks in the area of the boxes every year).