Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's' subspecies today to end a fairly productive November

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2025

Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead and Mallard, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 30, 2025

Common Loon, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 29, 2025

Hooded Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 29, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 29, 2025

Red breasted Nuthatch, Quabbin gate 8, Pelham, MA, Nov 28, 2025

Eastern Phoebe, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 27, 2025

Bald Eagle, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 26, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 25, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 24, 2025

White crowned Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 24, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Nov 23, 2025

A long and rather cold November has come to an end.  A slightly above average total for the month in Hampshire County with a total of 117  species (my third highest ever total for November here).  The very end of the month certainly felt more like winter than fall with cold temps and some flurries.  The highlight by far for me was catching up with an 'Audubon's' subspecies Yellow rumped Warbler that Ted found this morning in Hadley (much more on that bird can be found at the following link: Audubon's Warbler)

This subspecies should be elevated back to full species status at some point.  It is very rare in the area with just one other documented record in western Massachusetts (Greenfield in 1988) and no other records in the county.

With my commitments at home I have stayed fairly close to home most of the time to end the month, concentrating on the south Quabbin area which has gotten me a fair assortment of waterfowl.  There are a number of other lingering species around the area plus increasing numbers of multiple irruptive species.  The forecast looks to feature more winter like conditions as we enter December with a snow storm forecast for Tuesday into Wednesday.

Barrow's Goldeneye today

Barrow's Goldeneye, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2025

Barrow's Goldeneye, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2025

Barrow's Goldeneye, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2025

As I was getting back home after a walk with Wilson and getting him settled in for a bit I got a text from Ted letting me know he was able to relocate the probable Barrow's Goldeneye he had yesterday at the Holyoke Dam.  He only had limited time yesterday to get any photos of the bird and some looked great for Barrow's while others were less definitive.  Thankfully he went back today and confirmed it.  As I said in my post from yesterday November 11th has a great history of rare birds and it happened again.  Once I was sure Wilson was okay for a little while I made the drive down to the dam and had the bird almost immediately.  It kept its head tucked in a lot of time but would then move around a bit from time to time and show its blocky head and small bill.  It is a unique looking individual as it looks a little ratty and still has the dark eye of a juvenile.  Very happy to add this species for the year as they are quite rare in Hampshire County.  This is only my fifth Barrow's Goldeneye I have ever had in the county with my previous records being Nov 29, 2006 at Quabbin Park, January 29, 2016 along the Connecticut River in North Hadley, January 20, 2021 at Quabbin Park and late January into early February at the Holyoke Dam.  This becomes species #242 for the county this year...this is just one behind 2022 for my third highest total ever with only 2020 (with 245) and 2021 (with my best ever total of 249) having higher year end totals.  I could have chased a few other species earlier in the year if I had known I would have the potential of threatening my best year ever.  It will be tough to add new species at this point but we are in rarity season so one never knows.

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 12, 2025

Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead and Canada Geese, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 12, 2025

Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 12, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 12, 2025

 

North from Hank's Meadow, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 12, 2025

Before getting the Barrow's Goldeneye I spent a couple hours around the south Quabbin area with a couple of stops at Winsor Dam and a short ride through Quabbin Park before getting home to make sure Wilson was okay and to take him for a walk.  

Great Cormorant at Winsor Dam this morning

Great Cormorant, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2025

Great Cormorant, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2025

Great Cormorant, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2025

Great Cormorant, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2025

Great Cormorant, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2025

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2025

Gray Catbird, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2025

Eastern Phoebe, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 8, 2025

Merlin, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 8, 2025

After some overnight rain that was just coming to an end at dawn I headed over to Winsor Dam once again.  Ted was already on location and had a smattering of waterfowl on the water and moving around a bit.  Given the more southerly winds I was not expecting an epic day but figured there would be at least some stuff around to see and there certainly was.  It seemed to be a merganser morning with all three species present with a few showing fairly well.  As we continued to scan for waterfowl we had a cormorant fly in from the east/south and circle around before it settled on the water fairly close in.  Ted got on it and immediately called my attention to it as it looked like it was a Great Cormorant!  A great species inland for sure (see a note on all my previous sightings in the area below).  It was a juvenile showing its large dark bill and white chin.  It also had a fairly white neck with a dark chin strap like plumage giving it a rather unique look.  It was very actively hunting near the dam and didn't stay on the surface very long.  Eventually it perched on the dam for a short period and then continued fishing.  It then caught a massive fish and with a bit of effort managed to swallow it.  It then swam around for a bit before hauling back out on the rocks of the dam where it stayed for an extended period digesting its meal.  We got the word out to other birders and they were continuing to arrive when I left.  Great Cormorant is a rare species inland and I have only seen a Great Cormorant in Hampshire County on two other occasions with one at Arcadia in late October 2004 and another at Quabbin Gate 5 in mid October 2008.  I also saw one in Turners Falls in February 2004 and another at Quabbin in Worcester County near the baffle dams in late November 2009.  I know there are a few Great Cormorant records in the county the last decade or so but they all occurred when I was out of the country.  Although I have the species at Quabbin before this was the first one I have had at Winsor Dam and with the recent addition of a Black headed Gull at the dam on November 1st I have now expanded my species list at the dam to 225 species!  As we watched the cormorant we also had two Gray Catbirds in the thickets in front of the visitors center...hopefully they will try to overwinter.  After leaving the dam I headed over Lake Wallace to try to find a Common Yellowthroat for November.  Although I failed to find that species I did have a late Eastern Phoebe.  Not a bad morning and nice diversion from some recent stress.  

At this point in the year I now stand at 242 species, which puts me ahead of an average year and even if I add no more species this will end up being my fourth best year ever in Hampshire County.

Another birding program completed, closing of the water feature, a dangerous storm in the Caribbean and some late species

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 24, 2025

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 23, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 23, 2025

Swamp Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 23, 2025

Savannah Sparrow, Aqua Vitae Road, Hadley, MA, Oct 23, 2025

Common Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 22, 2025

Common Loons, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 22, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2025

Nothing too noteworthy for species the last few days as we continue into the fourth week of October and the weather continues to cool down (although I have had a few late species).  I did complete my second presentation to a birding group in the last two weeks with a program for the bird club at Smith College last night on "Birding in the late fall and winter in the valley".  This follows my program at the Hampshire Bird Club (Endemic Warblers of the Caribbean) on the 14th.  I have actually really enjoyed putting together programs and presenting them.  They have been well received and well attended and I look forward to doing more in the future. 

The forecast shows northerly winds for the next few days with cooling temps before the arrival of some rain to end out the month of October and I suspect this will push in some late fall waterfowl. Elsewhere in the world a tropical system (currently a TS named Melissa) sits in the Caribbean south of Jamaica and is likely to strengthen into a major hurricane but move very little for days and will be devastating to Jamacia, Haiti and likely Cuba with high winds, extremely heavy rain and storm surge.  Not a good scenario for wildlife or people in the above mentioned areas. 

I also closed up the water feature at the house today as winter closes in.  The last capture on the camera was a White throated Sparrow which seems an appropriate species to end with.

The third week of October

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 21, 2025

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 21, 2025

Swamp Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 21, 2025

Song Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 21, 2025

Common Loons, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 20, 2025

Winsor Dam, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 20, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 19, 2025

 

Blue Jay, Belchertown, MA, Oct 19, 2025

 

House Wren, Amherst, MA, Oct 19, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 19, 2025

White crowned Sparrow, Amherst, MA, Oct 19, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2025

Orange crowned Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 17, 2025

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 16, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 15, 2025

The last week has seen more great migration conditions early on and then a bit of a warm up and some rain to end the time period.  Warbler migration is largely over beyond the late season migrants although I did have a very good day yesterday with a total of eight species of warblers (quite good for this late in the month this year given all the great migration conditions).  Sparrows continue to arrive in numbers with a great selection of species around.  Waterfowl numbers and diversity have been on the low side so far although I expect that will change with the arrival of cooler weather into the four week of November.  Purple Finches and Pine Siskins continue to increase in number and will hopefully be just the vanguard of irruptive species to arrive this year...time will tell.  I'm a bit behind for the month as waterfowl has not really shown up in numbers and I have concentrated on finding late warblers...I currently stand at 125 species, which is my lowest count at this point in October since 2017.  I also presented a program at the Hampshire Bird Club on the evening of the 14th and it was apparently well received and had the biggest crowd for a program at the club since Covid.  The topic was "Endemic Warblers of the Caribbean".  I have made a couple presentations recently and have found that I really enjoy doing them.