Several rarities continue in area through Christmas Eve

Cape May Warbler, South Hadley, MA, Dec 24, 2024

Wood Duck, Connecticut River, South Hadley, MA, Dec 24, 2024

Eastern Phoebe, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Dec 24, 2024

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Hadley, MA, Dec 24, 2024

After getting out of work on a snowy Christmas Eve morning I decided to make a slow journey toward South Hadley where I would be dropping off a heated birdbath to a house where a Cape May Warbler is overwintering.  Given that it was a bit slick I took my time with multiple stops along the way to look for some rarities.  I first stopped along Aqua Vitae Road and finally saw the Dickcissel there.  It was snowing too hard to take the camera out so no photos of that one today.  I then stopped along the river and was going to go for a walk but instead just stayed near the car and still had a good count of American Black Ducks and a couple Yellow bellied Sapsuckers.  Sadly a stop by McCray's Farm failed to turn up the Black bellied Whistling Duck.  I saw a report from the day before that someone was there watching it and noticed some workers clearing off the now frozen pond and there was a dog there too which seems to have flushed the duck.  It flew around and then disappeared to locations unknown.  It is sad to think it may have left but it is nice to know it can still fly and move around and has just been hanging around until now due to feeling comfortable and having a steady source of food.  I arrived at the Cape May Warbler spot and got to talk to the homeowners once again, drop off the birdbath and see the warbler in the snow (an odd sight to see for sure).  I also made a brief stop along the river in South Hadley and picked up a male Wood Duck on the river ice.  The snow was just about finished as I got back to Belchertown so I made a stop off at Lake Wallace and relocated the Eastern Phoebe that has been seen on and off for weeks there.  It was hovering around a small area of open water just outside the discharge from the main pond.  A later walk with Wilson on the land trust trail produced another Eastern Phoebe.  Hopefully these lingering phoebes can successfully make it through the winter.  As the year nears an end I'm keeping close tabs on these rarities and lingering species to try to start off 2025 with a good assortment of birds.

Black bellied Whistling Duck, McCray's Farm, South Hadley, MA, Dec 22, 2024

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, South Hadley, MA, Dec 22, 2024

Hermit Thrush, Hadley, MA, Dec 22, 2024

Hermit Thrush, Hadley, MA, Dec 22, 2024

Red winged Blackbirds, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Dec 22, 2024

After my first day of work I got out on Sunday morning and decided to hit a few areas trying to track down some continuing rarities/lingering species and perhaps find some more.  I did not have a lot of confidence in having much luck as it was really cold.  Nonetheless I did indeed find some good stuff.  I started off along Aqua Vitae Road and once again struck out on the Dickcissel but I did find a Fox Sparrow and dozens of Red winged Blackbirds (it is another good year for blackbirds, grackles and cowbirds continuing).  I then made a stop along the river and had lots of woodpeckers including at least three Yellow bellied Sapsuckers (it has been a good fall for this species) plus a few Hermit Thrushes.  I then stopped at McCray's Farm and saw a very cold looking Black bellied Whistling Duck hunkered down at the edge of the ice covered pond.