Friday, October 30, 2020

PURPLE SANDPIPER becomes my 300th species in Hampshire County plus other good stuff as October comes to a rainy, snowy, cold end

Purple Sandpiper, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Oct 30, 2020
Purple Sandpiper (with American Pipit), Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Oct 30, 2020
Purple Sandpiper, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Oct 30, 2020

What a fantastic day (really last few days) capped off with my 300th Hampshire County species this afternoon with a Purple Sandpiper initially found by Ted and seen by many over the course of the afternoon as the snow finally came to an end (after getting 3" or so here in Belchertown).  This is the first Hampshire County record for the species as well as the first one in the valley and only the third in western Massachusetts (with two old records from the 1950's and 1960's in the Berkshires)...in fact there is only one other non coastal sighting of the species and that was in Randolph (not very far inland at all).  What a great species to get me to the rarified air of 300 species in the county.  The sandpiper also becomes my 241st species in the county for the year, tying my previous best year set in 2018 and with two months of the year still left to go!  In addition this bird was a life bird for me (I never get to the coast when the species shows up for the winter) bringing me to a total of 1579 species.  I almost didn't get to try for the sandpiper as I was getting estimates for work at the house when I got the text from Ted and as soon as I could break free I headed down to the dam.  When I arrived a number of birders were already there and the bird was playing hide and seek in among the rocks and it would disappear from view occasionally.  Beyond the Purple Sandpiper there were a number of other notable species present including two Dunlin (what a fantastic last couple weeks for that species), the continued Brant and two Gadwall as well as multiple American Pipits and at least one Snow Bunting.  A big thank you to Ted for finding the species and staying around to get others on it.  Nothing like finding a first county record and sharing it with others.  More on the last few rainy and snowy days below.
Red breasted Mergansers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 28, 2020
Hooded Merganser, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 28, 2020
Long tailed Ducks Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 28, 2020
Long tailed Duck, Mitch's Marina, Hadley, MA, Oct 29, 2020
Gadwall, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Oct 29, 2020
Brant with American Black Ducks, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Oct 29, 2020
Brant, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Oct 29, 2020

Lesser Black backed Gull (L) with Ring billed Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 30, 2020
Lesser Black backed Gull (L) with Ring billed Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 30, 2020
Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 30, 2020

The end of October finished rainy and then snowy but nonetheless was very productive for birds for me with a number of rarities showing up and a new high count for me for the month in Hampshire County (more on all that at the bottom of the post).  The last few days have featured rainy days (including the remnants of Hurricane Zeta coming through Thursday) which grounded a number of species (mainly waterfowl and shorebirds).  On Wednesday I stayed mainly around the south Quabbin area (primarily Winsor Dam with multiple visits) and over the course of the day found eleven species of waterfowl including all three scoter species, a group of 11 Long tailed Ducks, lots of Bufflehead and two Red breasted Mergansers.  With a brief lull in the rain early on Thursday I headed over to Arcadia, the East Meadows, the Holyoke Dam and then back to Winsor Dam.  The rain started back up by 9am and continued for the rest of the day.  I was lucky to catch up with a Short eared Owl before dawn at the Honey Pot on my way to the locations mentioned above.  Other notable species for the morning on Thursday included at least three American Woodcocks I flushed at Arcadia, an American Coot at Arcadia, a lone Long tailed Duck in the river at Mitch's Marina, the continued Brant and two Gadwall as well as a 100+ Common Mergansers at the Holyoke Dam.  Winsor Dam featured a number of loons including a small individual that was something other than a Common Loon but it was just too far out and the fog too thick to definitively identify.  On Friday I woke up to rain that quickly turned to snow and got heavy for a time resulting in us getting a couple inches of wet snow.  As soon as it was light I was over at Winsor Dam trying to find something interesting before the rain changed to snow and knocked down visibility too much.  Unfortunately the change over to snow occurred just as it was getting light so there was a very small window of any visibility at a very windy Winsor Dam.  Nonetheless I still managed to find a good bird when I had a Lesser Black backed Gull in with a single Herring Gull and multiple Ring billed Gulls.  I got a few marginal shots through the scope showing the darker mantle and size but little else.  Would have loved to get some better shots but I was lucky to get any at all.  I also had two very intriguing shorebirds whip by before I could ID them.  As the snow became heavier and heavier and the wind continued to roar out of the northeast I left the dam and tried the Route 9 marsh before heading for home as the roads started to get slushy.  I made it back to the dam midday but the snow and wind were still keeping visibility way down but I did have some birds including a Greater Scaup that made a brief stop and small groups of Mallards, Black Ducks and Double crested Cormorants.  I planned on a return to Winsor Dam as soon as the snow let up but the text from Ted regarding the Purple Sandpiper changed all that!  I eventually made it back to the dam with the most interesting sighting for that stop being a high count of 66 Long tailed Ducks.  I suspect tomorrow will turn up more waterfowl as winds continue out of the north and the temperatures drop to record low levels.

Cackling Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 20, 2020
Franklin's Gull, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 26, 2020
Cattle Egret, Meadow St, Amherst, MA, Oct 16, 2020
Lark Sparrow, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 20, 2020

I finished the month with 163 species which blew away my previous high for the month of 152 set in 2018.  As mentioned above there were a number of rarities around for the month and I managed to catch up with a few but not all of them.  Notable species in addition to those mentioned above included Barnacle Goose (species #299 in Hampshire County for me), Cackling Goose, Franklin's Gull, Cattle Egret and Lark Sparrow as well as irruptives including Evening Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll, Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin.

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands (banded in 2017), Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 30, 2020
Black capped Chickadee with leg bands (banded in 2019), Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 30, 2020
Black capped Chickadee with leg bands (banded in 2019), Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 30, 2020
Jabish Brook in the snow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 30, 2020
Wilson at the beginning of the storm, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 30, 2020

With the snow and cold temperatures I decided to put out a feeder and some suet to help the birds survive the early arrival of winter like conditions.  As I watched the birds come and go I noticed first one, then two and finally three different banded Black capped Chickadees with the biggest surprise being one banded in 2017 that I have not seen around in years...wonder where he has been hiding!



Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Oddly plumaged Song Sparrows

 

Song Sparrow with unusual plumage, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020
Song Sparrow with unusual plumage, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020
Song Sparrow with unusual plumage, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020
Song Sparrow with unusual plumage, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020
Song Sparrow with unusual plumage, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020
Song Sparrow with unusual plumage, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020

Over the course of the morning I ran across not one but too oddly plumaged Song Sparrows.  The first was at Arcadia and had a very dark face and upper breast and the second was in the East Meadows and that individual had white patches on both sides of its face below its eyes.  Song Sparrows are somewhat variable in plumage but these two individuals are some of the oddest ones I have ever come across.  Although not rarities it is always fun to capture odd individuals among the hordes of its more common brethren.  

Fox Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020
House Wren, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020
Bonaparte's Gull, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020
Dunlin, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020
Dunlin, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 27, 2020

Besides the oddly plumaged Song Sparrows I ran across this morning there were a number of other notable species both at Arcadia and the East Meadows.  Arcadia featured an American Coot in almost the exact spot I found one several days ago in the marsh, at least three American Woodcocks still displaying before dawn, a Bonaparte's Gull (no sign of the Franklin's Gull from yesterday), a late House Wren, at least eight Evening Grosbeaks, my first American Tree Sparrow of the fall (a true sign of the coming winter), at least four Fox Sparrows and several Palm Warblers.  With a little time left before I headed home I made a brief stop in the East Meadows with the most unusual sighting being a Dunlin that dropped into a small puddle within just feet of me as I was leaving.  So much more satisfying to see this species close up in decent weather than on a distant sandbar during a rainy day.  It only stayed in the area for a few minutes before some gun shots scared it off to parts unknown.  

The day also delivered another unusual species when I had at least one Common Redpoll fly over the house late in the afternoon.  This species looks to be the next irruptive species to arrive in what has been a fantastic irruptive fall with large influxes of Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, Red Crossbills and Red breasted Nuthatches as well as increasing numbers of Evening Grosbeaks.  Looking forward to seeing what the rest of fall into the winter brings us.



Monday, October 26, 2020

FRANKLIN'S GULL in Northampton today


Franklin's Gull, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 26, 2020
Franklin's Gull and Dunlin, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 26, 2020
Franklin's Gull, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 26, 2020
Franklin's Gull, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 26, 2020
Franklin's Gull, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 26, 2020
Franklin's Gull, Oxbow, Northampton, MA, Oct 26, 2020

With rain moving in overnight and continuing into the morning I left work and headed over to Winsor Dam looking for birds downed by the rain (more on my time at the dam below).  I checked my phone while at the dam and noticed a message from Aaron that he had a Franklin's Gull on the small (but productive) sandbar in the Oxbow in Northampton.  I immediately headed back across the river and right to the marina where I set up the scope in the moderate rain and quickly picked out the Franklin's Gull in among the Ring billed Gulls and a single Herring Gull.  I thought the viewing conditions might be better from the area of Arcadia so I left the marina and made my way over.  There were a number of other birders present and all were getting great looks at the gull.  Indeed the viewing conditions were better from the area of the water ski club and everyone was staying behind the no trespassing signs at the club.  The gulls were occasionally flushed by some of the local eagles but would quickly settle back down at least until they flushed around 9:30 and the Franklin's Gull didn't return to the sandbar.  It could have landed in one of the large grassy fields near the marina (which the gulls often do after getting flushed by eagles or boats) or it could have headed to the main part of the Connecticut River.  Given the raining, misty conditions with low clouds and fog the bird probably didn't go too far.  Franklin's Gull is very rare in Hampshire County (or anywhere in the state really as it is a review species for the state...link to the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee).  I have only had Franklin's Gull once before and that was during a large incursion of the species into the area back in November 2015.  I initially found two on the morning of November 13th and then found singles on the mornings of the 14th and 15th.  Prior to the incursion of 2015 there is just one prior Hampshire County record from September 1986 in Amherst.  Other western mass records prior to 2015 include one in Longmeadow in  September 1986, one in Pittsfield in June 1997 and multiple reports from Turners Falls in November 2005 following the passage of Hurricane Wilma.  If anyone tries to relocate the bird from today your best course of action would be to scan the various viewpoints of the Oxbow from the Arcadia side and perhaps look along the river in the area of the Northampton/Easthampton line.

Dunlin, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 26, 2020

Besides the Franklin's Gull there were a few other notable species hanging around the sandbar including a dozen Dunlin (down from a flock of 20+ that Aaron had earlier), a Pectoral Sandpiper and four Greater Yellowlegs.  The Dunlin are certainly the most unusual of the shorebirds present and a species that can be tough to find in the valley and the count of a dozen is probably 

As mentioned above I started my morning at Winsor Dam where I had a smattering of waterfowl including my first Bufflehead of the fall (a female that almost got picked off by an eagle almost as soon as it landed on the water), three Common Goldeneyes and all three scoters (one White winged Scoter, one Surf Scoter and two Black Scoters) as well as other more expected waterfowl.  With the addition of some of the waterfowl, the Franklin's Gull and the Dunlin I now stand at 154 species in Hampshire County for the month (beating my previous record of 152 species set in 2018) and 238 in the county for the year (just shy of my record of 241 species also set in 2018).  

The tropics also continue to be active with Tropical Storm Zeta near the Yucatan Peninsula and expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico and then impact the Louisiana coast mid week as a hurricane.  The remnants look to move into the local area toward the end of the week.  With the formation of Zeta the 2020 season ties 2005 for the most storms in a season with 28.


Saturday, October 24, 2020

Lark Sparrow and a failed search for a Great Cormorant

Lark Sparrow, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 24, 2020
Lark Sparrow, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 24, 2020
Lark Sparrow, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 24, 2020

Lark Sparrow and Dark eyed Junco, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 24, 2020

Not one but two rare birds showed up yesterday but due to work obligations I was unable to try to find them until today. The first rare bird was a Lark Sparrow that Mike found near the airport in Northampton and was seen by many off and on over the course of the day yesterday and the other rarity was a Great Cormorant found by Ted at the Holyoke Dam in South Hadley. After I got out of work I headed over to the area of the airport to try my luck with the sparrow.  I arrived to find a few birders there already and after a bit of looking it turned up right next to a house along the road and showed fairly well.  The lighting was less than ideal for photos but I got some documentation shots as it fed with Chipping Sparrows and Dark eyed Juncos.  This is only the second Lark Sparrow I have had in the county with the last one showing up at the end of November back in 2014 at the nearby Honey Pot.  
Great Egrets, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Oct 24, 2020
Gadwall, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Oct 24, 2020
Gadwall and Common Mergansers, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Oct 24, 2020

I then headed south to the dam to look for the cormorant but came up empty on that rarity.  Even without the cormorant present there were other notable species around including two late Great Egrets, a female Gadwall and 132 Common Mergansers.  I was happy to find at least one of the rarities from the previous day still around.  The day was warm with our continued stretch of above normal temperatures with highs today in the 60's even with the overcast conditions and breeze. Unfortunately today was the last day of warm weather as a cold front comes through bringing more October like temperatures with highs in the 50's and some nights near freezing through the next week.  October continues to be a record setting month for me so far (even after missing a few recent rarities).  As of today I have seen 150 species for the month (my previous best October totaled 152 species).  In addition the year overall has been very productive and I currently sit at 236 species for the county as of today and although I'm not trying for a big year I'm getting closer and closer to a record setting year (my best year was 2018 when I had 241 species).
 Black capped Chickadee, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 23, 2020

I closed up the water feature for the season today and the list of species that have been captured is already at 16 with a Black capped Chickadee being the last one to show for this year.  Looking forward to next spring.
 Pineapple Sage, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 24, 2020
Wilson enjoying the sun, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 22, 2020

As mentioned above the last week of weather has been much warmer than normal and it has been a nice late season reprieve from the cold weather that is coming any day now.