Eared Grebe in Brookfield and other stuff around the valley



Eared Grebe and Horned Grebe, Lake Quaboag, Brookfield, MA, Nov 16, 2014

Eared Grebe,, Lake Quaboag, Brookfield, MA, Nov 16, 2014

Eared Grebe and Horned Grebe, Lake Quaboag, Brookfield, MA, Nov 16, 2014

Eared Grebe and Horned Grebe, Lake Quaboag, Brookfield, MA, Nov 16, 2014

Another cold morning (around 20 degrees) found me headed over to south Quabbin once again.  I arrived at Winsor Dam a little after six but found very little there (the anti gull patrols appear to have gone to seven days a week now so waterfowl here is scarce).  I then headed over to Hank's Meadow where I found some waterfowl including a dozen Canada Geese, a few Black Ducks, 138 Mallards (most flew in from the north before settling on the water), half a dozen Ring necked Ducks, half a dozen Hooded Mergansers, a couple Common Loons and a couple of Horned Grebes.  Other species of note there included an Eastern Screech Owl calling and a Ruffed Grouse that exploded out of the edge of the woods as I walked past.  I added a few of the usual species at the marsh on route 9.  

Mallards and a Black Duck, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Nov 16, 2014

I then stopped back at Winsor Dam which produced just one Common Loon on the water plus some flyby waterfowl including 47 Canada Geese, 42 Mallards and a Black Duck.  I gave some thought to going east to try for the Eared Grebe seen yesterday in Brookfield but without any reports of it so far today I decided instead to head west and try to catch up with some unusual geese on this non hunting day.  

American Coot, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 16, 2014

I stopped by the UMASS campus pond which held a few geese plus the usual Mallards and a continued American Coot (a fairly unusual species in the county).  The nearby athletic fields produced 171 Canada Geese but not much else.  The various fields off Meadow St and west produced a few more small groups of Canada Geese plus some Horned Larks.  Lake Warner was totally empty of waterfowl.  I then saw a report that the Eared Grebe was once again being seen in Brookfield at Lake Quaboag so I made the decision to head that way and try my luck in finding it.  Although a bit more driving then I wanted to do, it was a scenic ride.  

Eared Grebe and Horned Grebe, Lake Quaboag, Brookfield, MA, Nov 16, 2014

Eared Grebe and Horned Grebe, Lake Quaboag, Brookfield, MA, Nov 16, 2014

Eared Grebe, Lake Quaboag, Brookfield, MA, Nov 16, 2014

Long tailed Duck, Lake Quaboag, Brookfield, MA, Nov 16, 2014

Hooded Mergansers, Lake Quaboag, Brookfield, MA, Nov 16, 2014

I arrived at Lake Quaboag around 9:30 and found several birders already there including Scott and Bob Z.  The Eared Grebe was a bit distant but not nearly as distant as a lot of waterfowl I get a Quabbin.  The Eared Grebe spent almost all its time with a Horned Grebe and gave great comparisons of these two similar species.  I also got to meet Ed K. who introduced himself right after I arrived (thanks for the kind words about the blog...glad to hear from people who enjoy it and can share in my obsession).  Other waterfowl around included a couple Pied billed Grebes, a Long tailed Duck, four Common Goldeneyes, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, some Black Ducks and Mallards and Canada Geese.  Overall I added three Worcester County species this morning (Long tailed Duck, Mute Swan and Eared Grebe).  Although I rarely venture away from Hampshire County or the Quabbin when in Massachusetts, it was well worth the trip over (plus I gave a few people another rare sighting...me out of my usual areas!)  I was really hoping to convince the grebe to follow me back to Quabbin but it seemed quite content with its current location.