The last week plus of January

Barred Owl, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jan 22, 2023

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 24, 2023

Common Loon, Hadley Falls Canal Park, South Hadley, MA, Jan 24, 2023

Snowy landscape, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jan 24, 2023

Wilson in the snow, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jan 24, 2023

After getting home from Florida during the afternoon of the 22nd I spent most of the next few days at home as we had a few bouts of snow and I didn't want to deal with it much after being in the warmth but I did get out a bit as Wilson insisted.  The best bird by far was a Common Yellowthroat that showed very briefly for me on the 24th and became my latest date ever for the species in the county.

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 26, 2023

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 26, 2023

Horned Grebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 26, 2023

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jan 26, 2023

Thankfully the predicted snow for the 25th into the 26th never really materialized so we didn't get another 2-4 inches as predicted but instead got just a dusting.  After getting out of work on Thursday morning I made a few stops including Arcadia and a few spots in Amherst.  Arcadia featured my first Great Black backed Gull of the year plus the pale Canada Goose that has been in the area the last few winters.  Winsor Dam had a very close Horned Grebe which I was able to get some digiscoped shots of between its bouts of diving.  I had loads of chickadees at the feeders though out the day including multiple banded birds...always fun to see banded birds. 

Northern Harrier, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 28, 2023

American Tree Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 28, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, Slobody Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 28, 2023

Rusty Blackbird, Slobody Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 28, 2023

I had to work on Friday but I did get out a bit after work on Saturday morning.  I started at Arcadia where I tried to find an Eastern Towhee that Mary had on Friday but I had no luck.  It was a bit breezy so the bird was probably around but just hunkered down.  I did have a large number of American Tree Sparrows in the area plus a flyover flock of Common Grackles.  After Arcadia I headed across the river and decided to make a stop in Amherst to try to turn up a Common Yellowthroat I last had in the area on January 7th.  I arrived in the area but had no luck initially in the spot I had it earlier.  However as I was walking out I heard a yellowthroat calling distantly and got some recordings.  The bird would call occasionally but stayed out of view almost the entire time and I managed just a few brief looks and some blurry photos.  This sets yet another new record late for me for the species in the county and is different from another individual in the area that I have had along the rail trail on and off since late December.  As I waited for the yellowthroat I had another unusual species with a single male Rusty Blackbird that flew in and allowed for a few photos.

Ross's Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Ross's Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Canada Goose with white spots on head and neck, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Ross's Goose, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Swamp Sparrow, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 29, 2023

The highlight of Sunday came with texts from a number of people letting me know about a Ross's Goose at the UMASS campus pond.  I was already out walking with Wilson so had to finish up that walk before I headed over to try to see the goose.  I arrived at the pond around 11:30 and immediately got the goose in among the 1000+ Canada Geese.  There were lots of other birders there seeing it too.  I scanned through the entire flock a couple times to try to find a Cackling Goose but had no luck finding one but I did have some uniquely plumaged Canada Geese with extensive white on their necks and heads.  A bit before noon just as I was leaving I saw the Ross's Goose take off with a group of Canada Geese and head south.  I was able to track the flock as it continued to move south and eventually I caught back up with them as they landed in a small field behind some houses in Hadley.  Luckily some people who missed it at the pond were able to catch up with it in Hadley.  

Earlier in the morning I was out before the sun was up and my first stop was over to Quabbin Park where I had a Northern Saw Whet Owl plus some Great Horned Owls.  I then stopped at Winsor Dam and had hundreds of Ring billed Gulls plus at least five Common Loons.  I then headed west and hit a few spots at UMASS including some time at the stadium marsh which produced a couple Swamp Sparrows.  

Common Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 30, 2023

Looking east from Hank's Meadow, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 30, 2023

Hooded Merganser and Bufflehead, Ware, MA, Jan 30, 2023

Bufflehead, Ware, MA, Jan 30, 2023

Horned Grebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 30, 2023

On Monday I stayed around the area of south Quabbin and Ware mainly trying to find waterfowl and perhaps a vulture roost.  I started off before dawn at Winsor Dam and found a single Iceland Gull in among the large numbers of Ring billed Gulls and a smattering of Herring Gulls.  I last saw the bird heading off to the southwest in a group of other gulls.  With the continued warmer than average weather I checked a few bodies of water and turned up a total of seven species of waterfowl over the course of a couple hours.  I didn't have any luck finding a vulture roost but I know there must be one somewhere in the area as there are large numbers of vultures being reported in Ware.  Another notable sighting was a group of three Red Crossbills I had fly out of some pines near Beaver Lake.  

Pale Canada Goose (rear) and leucistic Canada Goose (front), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 31, 2023

Leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 31, 2023

Leucistic Canada Goose (on right), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 31, 2023

Leucistic Canada Goose (on right), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 31, 2023

Common Mergansers and a Hooded Merganser, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 31, 2023

To end out the month I decided to make a trip over to Arcadia with the main goal being perhaps some waterfowl taking advantage of all the open water (at least until the big cool down for the end of the week into the weekend).  I arrived and started scanning the oxbow and came away with an impressive total of at least 256 Common Mergansers (plus a few Hooded Mergansers).  There were also some geese around and as I scanned through I found the pale individual that has popped up in various spots in the valley for the last few years.  As I scanned through the rest of the geese I noticed some more geese flying in and among them was a unique looking leucistic bird that had lots of white patches throughout.  It settled in and at times was fairly close to the pale bird and I got them both in the same view for a bit.  After getting my fill of the waterfowl I decided to walk a few thicket areas in the hopes of finding something unusual and my eventual reward was an Eastern Towhee that called a few times but did not show well at all (Mary found the individual a few days ago in roughly the same area but she was able to get a photo and I had to be happy with a recording).  I'm actually surprised this is the only towhee around in the area this winter given the mild temps so far this season.  The towhee became species #99 for me in the county so far this year (#100 if one were to count a Ring necked Pheasant I saw earlier this month).  I then checked the East Meadows in the hopes of finding the Yellow rumped Warbler I have had there occasionally this winter but no luck today but it was a bit cool and breezy. I then checked a few fields in Amherst and Hadley for geese but didn't find anything beyond a few groups of Canada Geese.

Gray Foxes chasing each other, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 22, 2022

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 27, 2022

Gray Fox, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 30, 2022

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 31, 2022

Gray Foxes, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jan 11, 2023

Gray Fox, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jan 17, 2023

Eastern Coyote, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jan 21, 2023

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jan 23, 2023

I finally got around to checking the game camera along the Jabish Brook at the house and turned up quite a few captures with most being Gray Fox and Bobcat.  It looks like there is a pair of Gray Foxes so really looking forward to the potential for Gray Fox pups being around this spring.

Ross's Goose in Amherst and Hadley

Ross's Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Ross's Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Ross's Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Ross's Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Canada Goose with white spots on head and neck, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 29, 2023

Ross's Goose, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Jan 29, 2023

After spending a couple hours in the morning checking various areas in the area for birds I was out for a walk with Wilson when I got a text from Mary with a photo of a Ross's Goose asking me a question about the bird.  I assumed it was the Ross's Goose seen the day before in Longmeadow but she texted back that the bird was at the ever productive campus pond at UMASS so I figured I would make my way over after I finished the walk.  As I was finishing the walk I got more messages about the bird and as soon as I could I headed over to the campus pond arriving around 11:30 and immediately saw the bird in among 1000+ Canada Geese (The Ross's Goose becomes the 7th goose species I have had at the campus pond and my 187th species on the UMASS campus).  There were quite a few other birders there enjoying the bird too.  I got some digiscoped shots and then started scanning through the large flock to see if any Cackling Geese were hiding among the Canada Geese but I found none.  I did have a number of Canada Geese with extensive white on their necks and heads and got some photos of them.  A bit before noon the Ross's Goose took off with a group of Canada Geese and I was already in my car so I headed south along with the geese.  I could see the flock from time to time as I drove and eventually I caught up with the group circling over the area of East Hadley Road and got some photos of the birds in flight.  They eventually settled onto some private property and were mostly hidden from view.  Ross's Goose is a rare species in the county with my last sighting being February 2018 when I had one along East Hadley Road on the 23rd.  That individual stuck around for a few days and survived a serious neck injury through at least the 26th.  Prior to the 2018 record I a single in April 2015 and a group of between 5-8 that bounced around the area for almost a week in mid March of 2009.  Other recent sightings have included an individual seen in Easthampton in mid March of 2019 (I missed this bird as I was down in the Caribbean at the time.  Certainly a rarity and a species that is still on the state review list.

Florida vacation to Orlando area and the Atlantic coast -January 14-21

Tricolored Heron, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Little Blue Heron, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Painted Buntings, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Dawn, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Raccoon, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Palm Warbler 'western', Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Vermilion Flycatcher, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Little Blue Heron, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Gray headed Swamphen, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Purple Gallinules, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

Great Blue Heron, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023

I finally got away to warmer climes with a trip down to Florida with time spent in the Orlando area before heading to the Atlantic coast and south down to Fort Pierce before flying out of West Palm Beach on Sunday the 22nd.  I decided to concentrate on perhaps finding a few new species for my Florida state list and of course looking for warblers.  I arrived into Orlando on Saturday the 14th after driving through some light snow and freezing drizzle on the way to the airport in Hartford. Orlando was warmer than home but far from warm with a northerly breeze and temps that topped out just over 50. I made a couple brief stops on my way to my Airbnb in northern Orlando and started adding species for the trip. 

On my first full day I headed up to Lake Apopka for the entire morning and a couple hours of the afternoon. The morning was frosty but thankfully the breeze was light. Not what one hopes for when in Florida in winter but it happens sometimes. I started off predawn at the North Shore Trail and had a few owls including a Barn (a new species for me in the state) and several Barred as well as some rails calling. Once the sun was starting to rise I walked along some of the roads in the area and turned up some good stuff with a flyby flock of Black bellied Whistling Ducks, some waders, thousands of crows leaving roost (both Fish Crows and American Crows), a couple White crowned Sparrows (which I didn’t realize at the time were new for me in the state otherwise I would have taken a few photos), half a dozen species of warbler and three Painted Buntings. I also walked a small portion of a loop trail that goes through some more mature woods and added more species including a calling Eastern Screech Owl, a mixed flock that held nine species of warblers among several other species. By this point it was around 9:15 and I decided to head further east and hit the Clay Island Trailhead in the hopes of finding one of the continued Vermillion Flycatchers that have overwintered recently. I managed to find two immature females together not too far along the trail and get some distant photos thus documenting my third new Florida species for the day (#230). I then headed back to the northern portion of the lake and parked at the end of the one way wildlife drive and walked in a bit over a mile and had great looks at a number of species during the hour and a half I was there. After a quick snack I decided (against my better judgement) to try the wildlife drive at midday. It was a mistake as it was just too busy for me but nonetheless I made the best of it and added a number of new species for the trip with loads of Ring necked Ducks, American Coots and Common Gallinule as well as decent numbers of Fulvous Whistling Ducks. By the time I got finished with the wildlife drive I was getting tired so I headed back to my lodging mid afternoon and then hung around the neighborhood the rest of the day. It was sunny all day long and the high eventually reached the upper 50’s. 

Dawn, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

Anhingas, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

Ring necked Ducks, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

Great Blue Heron, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

American Coots, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

Swamp Sparrow, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

Blue-winged x Cinnamon Teal hybrid, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

Blue-winged x Cinnamon Teal hybrid, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

American Redstart, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

Palm Warbler 'western', Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Trimble Park, Mount Dora, FL, Jan 16, 2023

Bufflehead, Old Highway 441 S pond -Mount Dora, FL, Jan 16, 2023

On Martin Luther King day I took advantage of the wildlife drive being open once again at Lake Apopka and this time I started my morning there before the hordes arrived (the drive is only open to cars Friday-Sunday and on federal holidays). I arrived at the beginning of the drive before sunrise and although there was some patchy frost it was not quite as cold as the morning before. I turned up a new species for the me for the state with a flyby pair of Canada Geese (I got a text from a local birder later that the species is quite unusual on the drive and I kick myself for not getting photos). The first part of the drive had the typical variety of waterfowl as I drove down to the pump house where I then walked along the berm at the edge of the lake with the main hope of finding a Yellow Warbler but I stuck out on that quest. The lake had huge numbers of birds (and lots of hunters blasting away) with the vast majority being American Coots and large numbers of Ring necked Ducks. There were lots of Common Yellowthroats, Palm Warblers and Yellow rumped Warblers among other passerines. I then continued on the drive up to Interceptor Road to try to see a hybrid Blue winged x Cinnamon Teal that has been hanging around the area. It took a bit to find it but once I did I got some distant photos of the bird…a really unique individual and not a hybrid I have seen before. It mainly kept tucked in but would occasionally lift its head up. It seemed to be staying with a female Blue winged Teal. The same area had lots of both species of whistling ducks plus a number of Gadwall among the other more expected species. After leaving the wildlife drive I headed over to the North Shore Trailhead once again and this time I concentrated on the loop trail along County Route 448A where I only spent a little time the day before but turned up a nice mixed flock in my limited time there. I walked in and within just a few minutes had a few species including an American Redstart (unusual for the location and date). The big flock I had at the spot the day before was not to be found but I was certainly happy to get the redstart. After finding one unusual warbler I decided to head north a bit more to nearby Trimble Park to try to find a reported Wilson’s Warbler (how can you not try for a Wilson’s anything really!?!?). After a bit of looking and sorting through lots of Yellow rumped Warblers and other passerines I finally found the Wilson’s Warbler and got another nearby birder on it too. We both got some photos as the bird worked along the shoreline on a narrow peninsula. The bird was a bit unique in that it is missing part of its lower mandible but seems to be eating just fine. As I was looking for the warbler I heard and briefly saw a Baltimore Oriole which added another new species for the state for me. I also added a third new Florida species for the morning when I had a couple Bufflehead on a small pond nearby. I made one more stop at the north end of Lake Apopka before I headed back to my lodging where I finally arrived in mid afternoon. 

Snail Kite, LeRoy Wright Rec Area, Cocoa, FL, Jan 17, 2023

Dawn, LeRoy Wright Rec Area, Cocoa, FL, Jan 17, 2023

Yellow breasted Chat, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023

Short tailed Hawk, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023

White eyed Vireo, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023

Red shouldered Hawk, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023

Turkey Vulture with no tail, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023

Glossy Ibis, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023

American Alligator babies, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023

Orange crowned Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023

On Tuesday I had the morning free before picking up Sherri at the airport in Orlando so I headed east with the main stop being the Orlando Wetlands Park in Christmas. It is a location I have been to several times before and it always holds lots of birds. The various water impoundments and nearby woods feature a variety of habitats that would probably take all day to cover well. Before I made it there I decided to head a little further south to LeRoy Wright Park in another fruitless search for a Yellow Warbler. However I did have a nice morning flight of waders leaving roost and had thousands of birds. I ended up spending over an hour at the small park before I headed up to the Orlando Wetlands Park. I stayed there just over three hours and covered a few miles with nearly seventy species total including a number of rarities including a Yellow breasted Chat (another new Florida species for me), a Short tailed Hawk (a light morph bird) and finally a very uncooperative Magnolia Warbler that was my main target there. I had just brief looks and despite spending over an hour in just a small area trying to relocate I failed to find it again before I had to leave for the airport. The remainder of the day was spent driving down to our lodging on the coast outside Fort Pierce. 

Painted Bunting, Pelican Island NWR, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 18, 2023

Osprey, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 18, 2023

Bonaparte's Gull, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 18, 2023

Brown Pelican, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 18, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 18, 2023

Prairie Warbler, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 18, 2023

We stayed on the coast for the next four nights and I visited a bunch of nearby areas. On Wednesday I headed north all the way up to Pelican Island NWR and then made multiple stops heading back south including parts of the Jungle Trail, Captain Forester Hammock Preserve and Round Island Conservation Area. Nothing too unusual but had some nice looks at a variety of species. By midday and it was getting near 80 so after a short walk nearby I spent the rest of the day relaxing in the shade. 

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Jack Island State Preserve, Fort Pierce, FL, Jan 19, 2023

Dolphin species, Jack Island State Preserve, Fort Pierce, FL, Jan 19, 2023

American Redstart, Wildcat Cove Preserve, Fort Pierce, FL, Jan 19, 2023

Thursday was another sunny and warm day with highs around 80 and it was the first morning I had to contend with mosquitoes early on. I decided to stay fairly close by with a variety of walks at areas just a few minutes away. I started at Jack Island State Preserve and then onto Wildcat Cove Preserve. Both were fairly quiet bird wise but I did get some close looks at a couple of dolphins in the mangroves. I then hit a few areas along the causeway to the island in the hopes of some shorebirds but found none. We then took a long walk at another portion of Wildcat Cove Preserve and it was even quieter than earlier in the morning. Although a pleasant day to be outside the bird activity was fairly low overall. 

Black Skimmers at dawn, Fort Pierce Inlet SP, Fort Pierce, FL, Jan 20, 2023

Roseate Spoonbill, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 20, 2023

Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron and White Ibis, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 20, 2023

Mudflat with shorebirds, Fort Pierce Inlet SP, Fort Pierce, FL, Jan 20, 2023

Yellow throated Warbler, Fort Pierce Inlet SP, Fort Pierce, FL, Jan 20, 2023

I got a little birding in first thing in the morning Friday before we headed over to nearby Fort Pierce Inlet SP where we rented kayaks for a couple of hours and explored around the mangrove islands. I started off before dawn walking the beach all the way to the breakwater at the state park and had a number of new species including multiple shorebirds (American Oystercatcher was another new one for my Florida list). I also walked a few miles at Round Island Conservation Area before heading back to the lodging around nine. We spent a couple of hours kayaking around the mangroves at Fort Pierce Inlet SP and had some close looks at waders and a few dolphins as well as some shorebirds on a sandbar that were taking advantage of the outgoing tide. After a quick break for lunch I then walked around the state park for awhile before heading back for the rest of the day. 

Northern Parula, Pepper Beach Park, Fort Pierce, FL, Jan 21, 2023

American Redstart, Pepper Beach Park, Fort Pierce, FL, Jan 21, 2023

Pinelands, Jonathan Dickinson SP, Hobe Sound, FL, Jan 21, 2023

Green winged Teal and Blue winged Teal, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Jan 21, 2023

River Otter, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Jan 21, 2023

Wilson's Snipe, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Jan 21, 2023

Mottled Ducks, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Jan 21, 2023

Black and White Warbler, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Jan 21, 2023

Green Heron, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, Wellington, FL, Jan 21, 2023

On our last day in the warmth we worked our way down the coast to eventually get to our hotel near the airport in West Palm Beach, where we had an early flight on Sunday morning. Before leaving I headed out to a few local spots on a warm and humid morning. I started at Round Island Conservation Area and the Round Island Oceanfront Park. These areas were a bit quiet so I headed down to a Wildcat Cove Preserve but the mosquitoes were too bad to walk too far in the mangroves. I almost decided to head back to pack up stuff but instead decided to try the nearby small Pepper Beach Park and this turned out to be a good choice as I came across a mixed warbler flock that contained seven species. I also had another species calling from deep in the mangroves that I could never get a look at it.  We then drove down to Jonathan Dickinson SP where we walked for about an hour and had typical pine woodland species. Thankfully it was fairly cloudy so the 80 degree temps were tolerable.   After a quick lunch we were looking for another spot to walk for the afternoon and I found Peaceful Waters Sanctuary as a good candidate going by the number of eBird lists. It was a little off the beaten path but worth the effort to get there. It is a small area but was quite active, even in the heat of the afternoon. Had lots of good look at various species of both birds and mammals (River Otters were showing especially well). 

Overall for the trip I managed to find 147 species with eight of them new for me in Florida which brought my Florida list up to 235.  A much detailed look at warblers for the trip at the following link.

Full Flickr album with all the photos from the trip at the following link:  Florida -January 2023.