January ends on a cold note but still gets me my second highest total ever for the month in Hampshire County

Merlin, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 23, 2025

Horned Lark, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 23, 2025

Bald Eagles eating goose carcass, Dawson Conservation Area, Hadley, MA, Jan 23, 2025

Black Vultures, Amherst, MA, Jan 23, 2025

Common Loons, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 23, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 23, 2025

Merlin, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 25, 2025

Savannah Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 25, 2025

Northern Harrier, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 25, 2025

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Hadley, MA, Jan 26, 2025

Downy Woodpecker, Hadley, MA, Jan 26, 2025

Pileated Woodpecker, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jan 27, 2025

Barred Owl, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jan 27, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jan 27, 2025

Mallards (with one dead), Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Jan 27, 2025

Our very cold weather continues with a brief respite for a few days with highs that finally broke freezing (barely).  The brutal cold certainly killed off some half hardy species trying to overwinter.  Most open water has now frozen over with even Quabbin nearly frozen solid (something that has not happened in several years).  The lack of open water has concentrated the remaining waterfowl still hanging in the area and has resulted in some unusual species and impressive counts of others.  Unfortunately bird flu has started to impact the area and the most obvious victims so far has been waterfowl and the concentrating of the ducks and geese around will only spread it faster.  I continue to have a great start to the year with an impressive 103 species in Hampshire County, my second highest total for the month ever with only 2021 beating it with a 105 species total.  Although there are a few days left in the month this total will be where January ends for me here as I head to the tropics of Costa Rica...much more on that when I get back. 

Snow followed by brutal cold

American Kestrel, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 20, 2025

Savannah Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 20, 2025

Horned Larks, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 20, 2025

Dickcissel, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Jan 20, 2025

Northern Harrier, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Jan 20, 2025

Red winged Blackbird with orange face, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Jan 20, 2025

Wilson tasting the snow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jan 20, 2025

After getting our biggest storm to date with 6" of snow I headed out in a failed attempt to relocate a record setting late Palm Warbler that turned back up in some farm fields in Hadley after not being seen since New Years Eve.  I managed to make it over to the area in mid morning and had sunny and cold conditions with a lighter than expected wind.  Although I missed out on the warbler I did find several notable species including species #100 for me in Hampshire County with a Vesper Sparrow.  I have only reached 100 species in the county in January once before and that was in 2021 and that year ended with my highest total in January with 105 species.  I also got my first prolonged look (and photos) of the overwintering Dickcissel in Hadley as well as an oddly plumaged Red winged Blackbird that had an orange face.

Common Mergansers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 21, 2025

Greater Scaup with Common Goldeneyes, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 21, 2025

Greater Scaup with Common Goldeneyes, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 21, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 21, 2025

Last night was brutally cold with a low of -9 and not surprisingly most open water froze up with just a few spots along some rivers open and the main water at Winsor Dam being open.  Conditions like this can produce some decent birds as the waterfowl that remain gets forced to come into the little open water available.  I tried to check the dam early but the cold temps kept the view obscured with low fog over the water.  I returned again to Winsor Dam a bit before ten and the views were much better and I immediately turned up some good species with a Greater Scaup hanging with a group of Common Goldeneyes and a Long tailed Duck actively fishing.  As I was getting some video of the distant Long tailed Duck a female Red breasted Merganser flashed past and I was able to follow it in the scope as it disappeared off to the north.  I continued scanning and as I was watching a small group of Hooded Mergansers a female Ruddy Duck flew in and dropped in among the mergansers for perhaps 10 seconds before it lifted back off and flew off to the southwest.  Ruddy Duck is tough to find any time in the county (for some odd reason) so this was the bird of the day for sure.  Certainly worth keeping an eye on the area of the dam as our weather is going to remain bitter cold for multiple days.

Birds before the storm

Common Mergansers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 19, 2025

Bald Eagle, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 19, 2025

Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Mallards and American Black Ducks, Swift River, Ware, MA, Jan 19, 2025

Ring necked Ducks, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 18, 2025

Hanks Meadow at dawn, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 18, 2025

Pine Warbler, Turners Falls Power Canal, Turners Falls, MA, Jan 17, 2025

American Tree Sparrow, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 17, 2025

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 17, 2025

Eastern Phoebe, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jan 17, 2025

Our biggest snowstorm of the season so far looks to arrive overnight with up to 8" of snow predicted followed by multiple days of cold, windy weather with highs perhaps in the teens and lows near zero.  I have been able to get out and bird a bit the last couple days enjoying mainly sunny conditions with temps above freezing.  I continue to chip away at species for the year and now stand at 99 species for Hampshire County, which continues to be my highest total year to date ever.  I also made a rare foray out of Hampshire County up to Franklin County to see a Pine Warbler along the canal in Turners Falls.  I will just add a collection of photos from the last few days.  On a sad note multiple geese in the area have tested positive for avian flu and I have seen a few dead waterfowl around.  It seems to be hitting waterfowl and raptors hard and it is highly contagious and spreads like wildfire through bird populations.

Trumpeter Swan at Holyoke Dam

Trumpeter Swan, Holyoke Dam, Holyoke, MA, Jan 13, 2025

Trumpeter Swan, Holyoke Dam, Holyoke, MA, Jan 13, 2025

Trumpeter Swan, Holyoke Dam, Holyoke, MA, Jan 13, 2025

Trumpeter Swan, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jan 13, 2025

I got a text from Ted late yesterday letting me know he had either a Tundra or Trumpeter Swan at the Holyoke Dam and he was trying to determine which one it was.  I had other commitments and was not feeling up to trying to make it down to the dam before the light of the day would be gone.  Ted eventually got some great views and photos in the rapidly decreasing light and confirmed the bird as Trumpeter Swan.  I figured I would try today as I would be able to bird close to the car (and even from the car).  The swan was last seen very close to the shore on the South Hadley side at the end of the day yesterday.  I made it down there fairly early and after viewing a bit from the South Hadley side with no luck I went across the river to the Holyoke side and quickly got the Trumpeter Swan among a group of four Mute Swans.  A return to the Hampshire County side to get the species for the county found me checking a few spots to finally get a view of the bird and eventually I found a spot and got some marginal photos through the trees.  As I tried to get better views I came across a few other new species for me for the year including an Iceland Gull and a Great Black backed Gull.  Trumpeter Swan is very rare in the state with just a few recent records, with most of those in the last 20 years, likely a result of some of the reintroduction programs for the species.  This is my second Hampshire County record for the species with the last one being one around the valley in a few spots in late March into early April in 2004.

I have added several more species to end out what is nearly the end of the second week of the new year and I now stand at an impressive 97 species for the year so far in Hampshire County...my highest total for this point in the year ever.

Recording setting first week of January

Rough legged Hawk, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 7, 2025

Lapland Longspur, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 7, 2025

Snow Buntings and Horned Larks, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 7, 2025

Black Vultures, Moody Bridge Rd, Hadley, MA, Jan 7, 2025

Wilson, Belchertown, MA, Jan 7, 2025

To end the first week of the new year I got out after work and headed down to the East Meadows to try to track down a Lapland Longspur for the year.  It was only in the teens with a breeze that picked up even more when the sun came up producing wind chills down near zero. I had some luck with raptors including two each of Northern Harrier and Rough legged Hawk (possibly even three).  I found a few large flocks of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks and after picking through found at least three Lapland Longspur including one with a lot of retained cinnamon on back of head.  The ever increasing wind eventually drove me out of the area.  I was also able to add Pine Siskin for the year with a flyover at the house with a group of goldfinches.  I have now had a total of 90 species in Hampshire County this year...my best first week of January ever.  My previous high at this point was 87 back in 2021 and that month ended up being my best January ever with 105 species!  Doubt I will beat that total without lots of irruptives around but I will try.

I had to work on Monday so only able to get a short, cold walk in with the biggest highlight being at least one and possibly two Virginia Rails at a marsh in Northampton...amazing to hear them calling despite the cold predawn conditions.

 Tufted Titmouse, Hadley, MA, Jan 5, 2025

Dark eyed Junco, Hadley, MA, Jan 5, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Jan 5, 2025

Hermit Thrush, Hadley, MA, Jan 5, 2025

White crowned Sparrow (Gambel's), Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Jan 5, 2025

Great Blue Herons, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Jan 5, 2025

Green winged Teal, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Jan 5, 2025

Dark eyed Junco with white wing bars, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 4, 2025

Dark eyed Junco with white wing bars, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 4, 2025

Eastern Bluebird, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 4, 2025

Northern Harrier, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 4, 2025

Barred Owl, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 4, 2025

On my last two days off I was out early on both mornings despite the continued strong winds with the goal being a number of owl species I have not yet had for the year.  I started at Quabbin on Saturday and got a Northern Saw Whet Owl before dawn and then added a Barred Owl in Hadley.  Other notables for the day including a smattering of waterfowl at Winsor Dam over the course of the day including Long tailed Ducks, Bufflehead and a Red breasted Merganser and a rather interesting look Dark eyed Junco in  Amherst that may be a White winged Junco subspecies...still waiting for others to review.  Sunday I started off along the river and added Short eared Owl and then a few Eastern Screech Owls a bit further north.  I then spent over an hour around Great Pond and had 36 species with notables including almost 75 American Black Ducks, two Green winged Teal, a Northern Pintail, two Great Blue Herons and large numbers and variety of sparrows (eight species) with the most common species being American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow and White throated Sparrows and the rarest being at least three White crowned Sparrows (with examples of both Gambel's and dark lored) and some Swamp Sparrows.  I continued my morning a little further south along the river and added my first Yellow rumped Warbler of the year that flew over (I was never able to relocate it on the ground) and a few Hermit Thrushes.