January ends on a very cold note but produces my highest ever total for species for the month in Hampshire County

Common Redpoll, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 26, 2021

January has come to a very cold and slightly snowy end after being mainly dry and warmer than average for most of the month.  The last couple days have featured the coldest days of the winter so far with highs in the teens and lows at night at or below zero with a fairly strong northerly wind.  This has resulted in many of the previously open bodies of water freezing over.  With the cold weather and work commitments I have not been out too much to end the month but have nonetheless gotten a little birding in.  I focused mainly on checking on continued rarities and as well as trying to turn up new species for the year.  

Northern Harrier, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 26, 2021

Bald Eagle, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 26, 2021

Common Redpolls, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 26, 2021

On the 26th I spent some time in the Honey Pot in Hadley looking through the large Common Redpoll flocks in search of a Hoary Redpoll but found none.  Raptors in the area kept all the birds very alert and resulted in the flocks being flushed multiple times.

Eastern Phoebe, Hadley, MA, Jan 28, 2021

Wilson enjoying the snow, Belchertown, MA, Jan 28, 2021

After work on the 28th I stopped by to see if the Eastern Phoebe was still around in Hadley and I found the bird fairly quickly (it looks to be doing well and possibly making it two winters in a row that the species has overwintered in the area of the waste water treatment plant).

Rusty Blackbirds, Amherst, MA, Jan 30, 2021

Red breasted Merganser, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 30, 2021

Common Merganser, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 30, 2021

 Hooded Mergansers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 30, 2021

 Double crested Cormorant, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 30, 2021

On Saturday I got out of work on a very cold (-6 degrees) morning and headed over to a spot in Amherst that has had a few Rusty Blackbirds and almost immediately I turned up three and got a few photos with the phone through binoculars.  I next headed to Winsor Dam to check for waterfowl and turned up all three species of mergansers plus a Northern Pintail.  A trip into Quabbin Park didn't turn up anything unexpected and large areas of the reservoir were iced over.  A bit later in the day Joe found a Double crested Cormorant so I made a quick trip back in the early afternoon and saw that bird.

For the last day of the month I started yet another very cold morning off at Winsor Dam with temps at -1 and a slight breeze and the reservoir was nearly devoid of birds.  I then spent a couple hours in the Hadley and Amherst area in search of other new species for the year but found nothing new. 

I managed to shatter my record for species for a January in Hampshire County seeing a total of 105, with my previous best year being 93 (an average January producing in the high 70's to mid 80's for species).  The large total is a certainly a combination of factors including some continued rarities, warmer than normal conditions, several species of irruptives around and me being stuck here due to the pandemic.  

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jan 24, 2021

I also checked the trail cam at home along the Jabish Brook and turned up a number of mammals with the highlight being a continued Bobcat that showed up several times.

Journey to the eastern part of the state for warblers (and others)

Townsend's Warbler, Sagamore Beach, MA, Jan 25, 2021

Common Eider, Sagamore Beach, MA, Jan 25, 2021

Common Eiders, Sagamore Beach, MA, Jan 25, 2021

White winged Scoter, Sagamore Beach, MA, Jan 25, 2021

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Sagamore Beach, MA, Jan 25, 2021

After a couple of planned attempts over the last week or two that I had to be cancelled for a variety of reasons I finally made a trip down to the eastern part of the state to catch up with some rare warblers.  My main target was a long staying Townsend's Warbler that has been coming to feeders in a neighborhood in the southeast part of the state (seeing it would add a new warbler species to ones I have seen in the state).  I also wanted to catch up with some other unusual species of warblers I have previously seen on earlier trips with including Yellow throated Warbler and Tennessee Warbler.  I left the house this morning well before dawn to make the roughly two hour drive and arrive near dawn.  I did indeed make it down before dawn and I immediately started looking for the warbler (as well as other unusual species that have been around).  Initially it was too dark, cold and breezy to expect to see the warbler so I checked out some nearby waterfowl including loads of Common Eiders.  Once the sun started coming out in earnest I stayed in the area where the warbler had been previously reported in the backyards of a few houses.  I only had a limited view of a promising looking backyard but after a bit of a wait I got a look (and some distant photos of the bird)...state warbler species #37.  Not long before I saw the warbler I had brief looks at an Ash throated Flycatcher which has also been hanging around the same area.  After looks at the warbler I tried briefly to relocate the flycatcher to get photos but no luck.  I really wanted to get moving to try to catch up with some other warblers so I left that area and headed back west with my next stop being an unproductive stop for a Pine Warbler that has been coming to a feeder in a private yard in Worcester County.  After almost an hour of waiting the bird never showed so I moved on to my next stop looking for the Yellow throated Warbler.

Yellow throated Warbler, Lancaster, MA, Jan 25, 2021

I arrived at the private residence a little before eleven.  I kept scanning the feeders in both the front and back yards from a vantage point that allowed one to see both sets of feeders and was rewarded with decent looks of the bird after about fifteen minutes of waiting.  

Tennessee Warbler, Athol, MA, Jan 25, 2021

Tennessee Warbler, Athol, MA, Jan 25, 2021

My final stop on my morning warbler search was to Athol to see the continued Tennessee Warbler.  Once again this bird was seen right away and provided great looks as it fed constantly at some well stocked feeders.  It is truly amazing to see this species trying to overwinter (so far successfully) this far north.  This bird should be in Central American at this time (as should I!) and it is not a species that is typically found anywhere in the United States in the winter.  Overall for the morning I saw a total of four species of warblers plus some other good stuff.  A thanks to all those who provided information on the Townsend's Warbler and to those who allowed visitors to their yards to check out these unusual warblers.

A much more detailed report from the day in regards to warblers can be found at the following link.

Morning birding with a former valley birder produces the continued Sage Thrasher and Red Crossbills

Sage Thrasher, Hatfield, MA, Jan 22, 2021

Sage Thrasher, Hatfield, MA, Jan 22, 2021

Sage Thrasher, Hatfield, MA, Jan 22, 2021

Sage Thrasher, Hatfield, MA, Jan 22, 2021

Snow Buntings, Hatfield, MA, Jan 22, 2021

After work this morning I had plans to meet up with former valley birder Devin to try to find the long staying mega rarity Sage Thrasher in Hatfield.  As he would not be able to make it up to the location until around nine I had a little extra time and made a few other stops including Arcadia where I checked briefly for a few recently reported rarities but I came up empty.  I didn't have lots of time to really poke around plus the weather was a bit cold so not too surprised I came up empty.  I then headed up to Hatfield to scout out the location and hopefully turn up the bird before Devin arrived so I would know right where to bring him.  I arrived and started looking for the bird but initially I had no luck.  I checked a few other spots nearby before returning to its favored location.  I had better luck this time and found the bird fairly easily and got a few photos.  Devin and Greg both arrived just a bit after this sighting and I led them back to the spot and Greg was able to rediscover it fairly quickly.  It is amazing how much more cooperative the bird has become as it enters its sixth week in the same location after its initial discovery back in mid December.  There was also a birder from the eastern end of the state that arrived around the same time for his third try with seeing the bird.  He failed to locate it on his two previous stops but thankfully got it this time.  Everyone got good looks and many more photos were taken.  It was a new Hampshire County bird for Devin and his main reason for making a visit.  We also had a large flock of Snow Buntings that we initially estimated at around 75 but photo review showed at least 92 birds present.  

Red Crossbill, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 22, 2021

I left Hatfield to head home to take Wilson for a walk while Devin and Greg stayed with the thrasher for a bit longer.  I caught up with Devin again right around noon in Quabbin Park to try to find him another county bird for the day with our target being Red Crossbill.  We started off at Hank's Meadow where we had some waterfowl but not too much else.  The clouds continued to build and the wind started to increase as an incoming cold front pressed in from the northwest which will bring us very cold and windy weather through the weekend.  We then tried our luck along the road near Goodnough Dike but still no luck so I had one more idea to turn them up and headed to another spot in the park that has produced them in the past.  Not long after we arrived we heard a crossbill distantly.  We then walked a bit toward the calls and not long after had a flock of at least 15 individuals fly past calling.  I got a few recordings to determine the type(s) and we eventually got some distant looks of a couple that perched in some distant pines.  It was great to see Devin and get him his two target species even when we both agreed we should be in the tropics at this time of year!

Fantastic morning in Quabbin area with Bonaparte's Gull, Iceland Gull, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red breasted Merganser, Pied billed Grebe and others

Iceland Gull (middle) with Ring billed Gulls and Herring Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 20, 2021

Iceland Gull (middle) with Ring billed Gulls and Herring Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 20, 2021

I headed out this morning without too much expectation but one never knows and this morning was a nice surprise.  I decided to stick close to home this morning as the forecast called for early snow showers and windy conditions and I began right at first light at Winsor Dam and immediately noticed a large raft of gulls relatively close in (at least for Quabbin!).  I started scanning the flock and came up with over four hundred Ring billed Gulls and a smattering of Herring Gulls and then the first surprise...a Bonaparte's Gull (quite rare in winter around here).  It was tough to keep track of the little guy among the tightly packed group of gulls and as I was watching the group waiting for it to get a lighter I noticed another unusual gull with the arrival of an Iceland Gull.  After getting some photos of the Iceland Gull I tried to relocate the Bonaparte's Gull without success...I assumed it left with some of the Ring billed Gulls heading off to the southwest.  Greg arrived and he was able to get looks at the Iceland Gull (a first for the county for him).  

Barrow's Goldeneye, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 20, 2021

Barrow's Goldeneye, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 20, 2021

Red breasted Merganser, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 20, 2021

Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 20, 2021

Ring necked Ducks, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 20, 2021

Common Loon, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 20, 2021

After many of the gulls took off I decided to try my luck in Quabbin Park with my first stop being to Hank's Meadow where I had several species of waterfowl including my first Ring necked Ducks of the year, 14 Common Goldeneyes (including a continued individual with a nearly all yellow bill), half a dozen Horned Grebes and two Common Loons plus a few other species.  I also had at least a couple Red Crossbills fly over but they were gone before I could get a recording to determine the exact type.  I then headed a bit further east and stopped briefly at Goodnough Dike when I noticed a few ducks out on the water.  I quickly scanned them and found two Common Goldeneyes and a female Barrow's Goldeneye with them!  I got a few digiscoped photos through the trees before the Barrow's Goldeneye and one of the Common Goldeneyes flushed and headed back west toward Gate 52.  I scanned around a bit more and found a male Red breasted Merganser fairly close into the dike.  I sent out a message about all these birds and a few were able to follow up and see at least some of them.  I then headed out to run some errands and then pick up Wilson for a walk.

Pied billed Grebe, Swift River, Ware, MA, Jan 20, 2021

Hooded Mergansers, Swift River, Ware, MA, Jan 20, 2021

A walk with the Wilson along the Swift River in Ware turned up even more unusual waterfowl with a Pied billed Grebe and 30+ Hooded Mergansers plus my first Fox Sparrow of the year.  The grebe and sparrow became my 100th and 101st species for the year in Hampshire County.  This is by far the largest number of species I have had in the month of January in the county and the quickest I have ever made it to 100 species for the year.  It is a small consolation prize for being stuck here in the north during the ongoing pandemic when I normally would be in the tropics.  I typically don't reach the 100 species mark until March so this January is exceptional...a combination of warmer than average weather, lots of irruptives around and being around more for the month I guess.

As many of you know I'm a reviewer for eBird covering the three counties of the valley (Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden) and I just got the year end stats from eBird regarding how many records needed to be reviewed.  The total for 2020 came to a staggering 11,161 records and December alone had 1,118 records (that's 36+ a day!).  So just keep these numbers in mind if you eBird and don't see your records appear right away in the eBird database.

Several unusual species continue through mid January

Eastern Phoebe, Hadley, MA, Jan 15, 2021

Eastern Phoebe, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jan 15, 2021

Leucistic Canada Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 14, 2021

Leucistic Canada Goose (with normal Canada Goose), UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 14, 2021

Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 14, 2021

Looking northwest from Gate 52, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 14, 2021

Lincoln's Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Jan 8, 2021

Savannah Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Jan 8, 2021

Swamp Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Jan 8, 2021

January has been super productive for me so far with several continued rarities, some lingering species and irruptives adding to a record setting number of species.  In fact I have already had 94 species in Hampshire County for the month which has already surpassed my previous best January, which occurred last year when I had a total of 93 species for the entire month (most years I end up with a monthly total in the mid to upper 80's but I also typically spend a week or two in the tropics for the month but Covid has stopped those plans).  It will be interesting to see how many more species will show themselves before the end of the month.  Weather wise the month has been milder than normal with little in the way of snow and doesn't feel like a typical January at all.  The longer range forecast points toward cooling temperatures and more storminess for the end of the month.   I was not able to get out too much for the second week of the month due to work and other obligations but I nonetheless managed to get some birding in and found a number of good birds including multiple unusual sparrows, a Gray Catbird, two Eastern Phoebes today (one is rare in winter so having two on the same day in January around here is unprecedented), Lapland Longspurs, a few new raptors for the year as well as other stuff.  Among the 'other stuff' was a leucistic Canada Goose that has been present at the UMASS campus pond for the last couple days.  I had this same bird at Arcadia on January 6th...I assume the colder temperatures pushed the bird to its new ice free location.  In addition the bird looks somewhat similar to another Canada Goose I had in the area back in late February and early March of 2017.

First week of January

Eastern Bluebird, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 1, 2021

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hatfield, MA, Jan 1, 2021

 Eastern Phoebe, Hatfield, MA, Jan 1, 2021

 Sage Thrasher, Hatfield, MA, Jan 1, 2021

 Red headed Woodpecker, Northampton, MA, Jan 1, 2021

The first week of January in Hampshire County has been quite active and has started off 2021 with an amazing 87 species so far which is around the total number of species I typically get in the county for an entire January.  My best previous January was last year when I had a total of 93 species for the month with 76 in the first week of the month.  I thankfully had the first couple days off to begin the year and the weather was perfect to try to catch up with a number of continuing rarities including Sage Thrasher, Red headed Woodpecker, Yellow rumped Warbler and Eastern Phoebe (all of which I found).  A previous post sums up the first day of year at the following link.  

On the second of the year I started off my morning at Winsor Dam and found an Iceland Gull (presumed to be the same individual I found there a few days before).  The second was the day of the Quabbin CBC and I didn't have a lot of time to assist this year due to other commitments but I helped a bit in the morning and adding the gull was nice.  I wanted to head into Quabbin Park itself but the small amount of snow kept the gates closed for the day.   I did add a number of Red Crossbills for the day and the ones I was able to get recordings of turned out to be all Type 10's.  I had to work on the third and managed just a little birding on my way to work adding just a few owls to my year list.

White crowned Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Jan 4, 2021

Swamp Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Jan 4, 2021

Lapland Longspur, Hadley, MA, Jan 4, 2021

Northern Harrier, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 4, 2021

Common Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 4, 2021

Common Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 4, 2021

After work on the fourth I headed out after another dusting of snow to a number of spots with my first stop over to Hadley to catch up with some unusual sparrows that have been hanging around in some weedy farm fields.  I caught up with several unusual sparrows including Field Sparrow, White crowned Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow and had a fleeting glimpse of another sparrow that might have been the Lincoln's Sparrow I found here at the end of last year.  The area also featured a large flock of Horned Larks that also contained a Lapland Longspur and a few Snow Buntings.  I also hit the Honey Pot and turned up a couple Northern Harriers as well as a Merlin.  I then followed up on a couple reports of Northern Shrike and although I missed on finding one in Hadley I did get one off the rail trail in Amherst.  After getting home to take Wilson for a walk I had a little extra time in the afternoon and took the opportunity to head over to Quabbin Park to try my luck with finding waterfowl and had a single Red breasted Merganser in among a huge flock of Common Mergansers (320+) plus a couple Horned Grebes.  

Leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 6, 2021

Tennessee Warbler, Athol, MA, Jan 6, 2021

Harlequin Duck, Cabot's Camp, Montague, MA, Jan 6, 2021

I had to work again on the fifth but after getting out of work on the sixth I headed down to Arcadia and had a decent selection of waterfowl in the mostly ice free marsh including a leucistic Canada Goose.  I also stopped at a number of spots in Hadley, South Hadley and the Quabbin area mainly looking for waterfowl but not finding anything too noteworthy.  After getting some errands done I decided to take advantage of a little extra time late in the morning to head north of Hampshire County to try to catch up with a few unusual species being seen up that way.  My first stop was just over the Worcester County line in Athol to see a Tennessee Warbler that is coming to feeders at a private residence.  To say a Tennessee Warbler is unusual in the area in January in an understatement for sure.  The bird should be down in Central America at this point (as should I!) but it is quite content feeding on crickets, sunflower hearts and bananas at a feeder in the north part of Massachusetts.  I got the bird almost as soon as I arrived and I then had a nice talk with one of the homeowners as the warbler continued to come into the feeders nearly constantly.  More details on this sighting at the following: Tennessee Warbler in Athol.  The second unusual species I was after was a Harlequin Duck in the Miller's River in Franklin County.  I arrived at the location a bit after noon and after a bit of looking found the bird on a rock in the river and got some distant photos of it.  Harlequin Duck is exceedingly unusual inland in Massachusetts with this bird being the first western Massachusetts record ever.  More on the duck can be found at the following post.

Song Sparrow, North Hadley, MA, Jan 7, 2021

Song Sparrow, North Hadley, MA, Jan 7, 2021

Canada Goose with white mark on head, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 7, 2021

The end of the first week of the month found me visiting a number of spots in Hadley and Amherst.  I started my morning in Hadley looking for unusual sparrows and among a few others I finally got a decent look at the continued Lincoln's Sparrow.  Multiple checks along the river didn't turn up any unusual waterfowl.  I did run across a large group of sparrows and juncos in North Hadley but I was unable to find any unusual species in among them.  A check of the fields looking for geese also failed to find anything unusual but there was an oddly marked Canada Goose among the flock at the campus pond at UMASS.