A few more rarities today including Red headed Woodpecker

Northern Flickers, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 9, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 9, 2020

Black Ducks, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 9, 2020

Ruby crowned Kinglet, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 9, 2020

I spent the morning after work today catching up with a few more rarities as well as other lingering species.  My first stop on a very cold morning was down to the East Meadows to follow up on a sighting from Aaron of a flock of 18 Yellow rumped Warblers (an amazingly high number for this time of year).  I walked around for a bit and eventually found at least four of them plus a Ruby crowned Kinglet, five Northern Flickers and some flyover Red winged Blackbirds and a Common Grackle.  More on the warblers for the last few days can be found at the following link.  I  then headed across the river to check the Honey Pot for the reported Eastern Meadowlark and I finally had it briefly (after missing it on many previous attempts).  

Belted Kingfisher, Bachelor Brook/Stony Brook Resource Area, South Hadley, MA, Jan 9, 2020

My final stop for the morning was down to Bachelor Brook/Stony Brook Resource Area in South Hadley to try to relocate at least two (possibly three) Red headed Woodpeckers that Aaron found on Tuesday.  I was going to try to stop at the location on Wednesday morning before work but just didn't have enough time (I instead stopped briefly at Silvio Conte NWR where I found a couple owls including my first Eastern Screech Owl of the year).  Once I made it to the overlook along Bachelor Brook I heard at least one and possibly two Red headed Woodpeckers as well as having frustratingly brief, distant looks as the bird(s) stayed on the opposite side of the wetland.  The only other notable birds around beyond the various woodpeckers were a couple of Belted Kingfishers working the brook.  With a few new species added today I have now found 82 species for the year in Hampshire County...now to go find some birds in warmer locations.

The weather around here looks to really warm up the next few days with highs reaching well into the 50's both Saturday and Sunday with the chance of reaching the low 60's...record setting for the middle of January.