Waterfowl begins to arrive

Common Goldeneyes, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Feb 25, 2020

Mute Swan, Lake Warner, Hadley, MA, Feb 25, 2020

American Wigeon, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Feb 25, 2020

Northern Pintail, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Feb 25, 2020

White crowned Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Feb 25, 2020

I made a number of stops along the Connecticut River on yet another fairly warm morning before running errands in Hadley and there was a noticeable increase in both waterfowl numbers and diversity throughout the morning.  I had a total of ten species including my first American Wigeon and Green winged Teal of the spring as well as double digit count of Wood Ducks.  There also seemed to be more Canada Geese around but I was not able to find any unusual geese in among them.  Besides the waterfowl the only other notable species for the morning was an adult White crowned Sparrow at the Honey Pot.  The river is now almost totally ice free and even small ponds have some sections of open water.  The forecast calls for rain off and on the next couple days and then a cool down into the weekend...a perfect time to get away to the tropics again!

First week of January

Northern Shoveler with Mallard, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 2016

Northern Shoveler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 2016

Hooded Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 2016

Ring necked Ducks, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 2016

Connecticut River at dawn, Northampton, MA, Jan 7, 2016

Although most mornings have started off quite cold (single digits) it has steadily warmed up during the day light hours as the week has gone on breaking the freezing mark on Wednesday and Thursday. The more January like temperatures have frozen up most of the small ponds and even started putting some ice on the Connecticut River. This has resulted in the waterfowl being concentrated quite a bit more. I have had some luck in finding some good stuff over the course of the week with several stops at multiple locations. Quabbin Park produced the most notable species (and three new species for the year) with a female Northern Shoveler (#66), three male Ring necked Ducks (#67), 18 Black Ducks, 172 Mallards, five Common Goldeneye, 68 Hooded Mergansers and 14 Common Mergansers plus a couple Red breasted Nuthatches (#68). The Connecticut River below the Coolidge Bridge has produced up to 900 Canada Geese as well as some Mallards and Black Ducks but not too much else during early morning visits.  The first week of January in the county has produced a total of 68 species, which is a great start to the year.

Morning out looking for shorebirds and waders produces some of each

Killdeer, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 7, 2015

Lesser Yellowlegs, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Aug 7, 2015

Spotted Sandpipers, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Aug 7, 2015

Solitary Sandpiper, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 7, 2015

Great Egret, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 7, 2015

Great Blue Heron, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 7, 2015

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 7, 2015

Wood Duck, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Aug 7, 2015

I enjoyed a beautiful August morning exploring a variety of area on either side of the Connecticut River with the main focus being a search for shorebirds and waders.  I had my best morning for shorebirds so far this season with a total of five species (Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs) with photos of four of them.  Also found three species of waders (Great Egret, Great Blue Heron and Green Heron) and managed photos of all of them.  Overall for the morning I found a total of 71 species.  Full lists with additional photos below.

East Meadows: 
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24522904

Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton: 
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24521918

Arcadia: 
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24521999

Honey Pot:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24522175

CT river in Hadley:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24522352

Moody Bridge Rd-Hadley:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24522518

Lake Wallace:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24522768

Belchertown Land trust trail:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24523451

Four heron/egret species today including a continued Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, July 29, 2015

Snowy Egret, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, July 29, 2015

Great Blue Heron, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, July 29, 2015

Great Egret, Paradise Pond at Smith College, Northampton, MA, July, 29, 2015

Solitary Sandpiper, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, July 29, 2015

Painted Turtle on back of Snapping Turtle, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, July 29, 2015

I managed to catch up once again this morning with a Snowy Egret along the river in the same place I found one a couple days ago. Although the early morning fog once again made it tough to see more distant areas I still managed to get some other good birds. In addition to the egret I had a Solitary Sandpiper, seven Spotted Sandpipers and a Great Blue Heron. A bit later in the morning while at work I passed by Paradise Pond at Smith College and noticed a Great Egret fishing along the large area of exposed mud flats as well as a Double crested Cormorant plus at least one each of Solitary and Spotted Sandpiper. I wish I had binoculars and a scope to scour through the large areas of mud as I'm sure some other birds were there.  Late in the day I stopped back by the river and the Snowy Egret was still there along with a couple Solitary Sandpipers and a single Spotted Sandpiper.  Also had a Painted Turtle climbing on the back of a Snapping Turtle...odd stuff.  I also made a late day stop over to Lake Wallace and found a Green Heron as well as other typical stuff.  Ended the very hot (95 degrees) day with four heron/egret species, which is not easy to do in western mass.

Snowy Egret along the river

 

Snowy Egret, Hadley, MA, July 27, 2015

Snowy Egret, Hadley, MA, July 27, 2015

Snowy Egret, Hadley, MA, July 27, 2015

Snowy Egret, Hadley, MA, July 27, 2015

Snowy Egret, Hadley, MA, July 27, 2015

Although I made several stops over the weekend in search of an unusual heron or egret it took me just a few minutes along the Connecticut River this morning to finally have some luck. I originally thought the river would be running too high after some showers yesterday but when I checked on my way to work I noticed it was down enough to expose some mud. I made a quick stop and noticed a half dozen Spotted Sandpipers and then glanced around some trees and noticed a small white bird moving through the shallows...a Snowy Egret. The bird successfully grabbed a large number of small fish before it abruptly took off to the north. It returned about ten minutes later and then continued to feed. Despite the prevalence of this species along the coast it is quite unusual in Hampshire County with only a handful of records. This is only the second one I have ever seen in Hampshire County (the other was in the marsh behind the house back in 2007).

 

Full list:   http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24396837

Southerly winds bring in lots of early migrants

Common Goldeneyes, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 3, 2015

With the southerly winds overnight into today I expected to see a nice influx of early migrants (waterfowl and others) and I was not disappointed.  I started off predawn at Sweet Alice Conservation Area in Amherst and quickly had 3 American Woodcocks peenting away.  I then headed over to the Connecticut River south of the Coolidge Bridge and had a total of  2 Cackling Geese, 904 Canada Geese (a reduction by over 2/3 from yesterday morning), 49 Wood Ducks, 21 Black Ducks, 231 Mallards, 10 Green winged Teal, 32 Ring necked Ducks plus a few each of Hooded and Common Mergansers.  I noticed the crew boats heading out so I decided to try to check a few other spots before they scared everything away.

Ring necked Ducks, North Lane, Hadley, MA, Apr 3, 2014

Black Ducks, North Lane, Hadley, MA, Apr 3, 2014

Lesser Scaup, North Lane, Hadley, MA, Apr 3, 2014

Lesser Scaup (with crew boats bearing down on them), North Lane, Hadley, MA, Apr 3, 2014

American Wigeon and a Green winged Teal, North Lane, Hadley, MA, Apr 3, 2014

Tree Swallows, North Lane, Hadley, MA, Apr 3, 2014

I then went over to North Lane with the intention of making a quick stop before the crew boats arrived but once I got there the action was too much to walk away from so I stayed there for over an hour and a half.  I was loads of fun watching tons of birds moving past...some real migration in action!  Highlights included 3920 Canada Geese, 28 Wood Ducks, 7 American Wigeon, 48 Black Ducks, 124 Mallards, 5 Northern Pintails, 18 Green winged Teal, 94 Ring necked Ducks, 6 Lesser Scaup, 8 Bufflehead, 12 Common Goldeneyes, 23 Hooded Mergansers, 24 Common Mergansers, a Northern Rough winged Swallow, a couple Eastern Phoebes, 132 Tree Swallows and 720+ American Robins.

Common Mergansers and Ring necked Ducks, Lake Warner, Hadley, MA, Apr 3, 2014

I then continued north checking fields and other spots along the way and managed to find the following highlights: 

Lake Warner - 2 Mute Swans, 4 Wood Ducks, half a dozen Ring necked Ducks and 14 Common Mergansers plus a few Tree Swallows and another phoebe.

Connecticut River (off Huntington rd in Hadley)- 390 Canada Geese, 17 Wood Ducks, 41 Ring necked Ducks, a Bufflehead, 7 Common Goldeneye

Meadow St Fields, Hadley/Amherst- 450+ Canada Geese, 8 Killdeer, 4 Wilson's Snipe

Many other stops produced small groups of geese and mixed blackbird flocks. A total of 61 species for the day...spring is certainly here now.  A total of 15 species of waterfowl today (best day so far this season) and 17 waterfowl species this month so far.  I also added my first warbler of the season at home when I had a Pine Warbler show up.

Ross's Goose and lots of other waterfowl

Canada Goose with neck tag, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 1, 2015

Great Blue Heron, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 1, 2015

Connecticut River at dawn, North Lane, Hadley, MA, Apr 1, 2015

April has begun with a continued push of waterfowl and I have managed to get out before and after work the last couple days and have found some good stuff.  Yesterday morning I made a couple stops with my first being to the Connecticut River in Hadley where I found the neck tagged goose that was present there the day before still around among the 344 Canada Geese plus 8 Wood Ducks, 9 Black Ducks, 56 Mallards and two each of Green winged Teal and Common Merganser. The only other notable species there was a Great Blue Heron. My other stop yesterday morning was over to North Lane in Hadley where I had half a dozen Wood Ducks, 39 Black Ducks, 36 Mallards and 4 Common Mergansers. During the day I got a call from Jacob telling me he had a Ross’s Goose at the UMASS campus pond (a very nice showing of unusual geese there this year). I unfortunately was not be able to go to try to see it until later in the day and by the time I did the bird had apparently moved out north with a group of geese. I checked a variety of areas but had no luck finding the goose. The best spots I could find for geese included Mitch’s Way that held 220 Canada Geese plus a Common Goldeneye and a handful of Black Ducks and Mallards. The campus pond held 650+ geese but nothing unusual among them. Mill Valley Road started to have one group after another of geese coming in to feed in the fields with the numbering growing to 530 before a Bald Eagle flew by and flushed them all. Other notables there included 18 Turkey Vultures and 110+ American Crows. 

Ross's Goose, Connecticut River, Northampton, MA, Apr 2, 2015

Ross's Goose, Connecticut River, Northampton, MA, Apr 2, 2015

Canada Geese with yellow neck tags, Connecticut River, Northampton, MA, Apr 2, 2015

Connecticut River at dawn, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Apr 2, 2015

Cackling Geese, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 2, 2015

Cackling Goose, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 2, 2015

Cackling Goose, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 2, 2015

I was out early again today and decided the most likely spot to find the Ross’s Goose (or anything else unusual) would be at roost in the river (before the crew boats made it out for the morning). I stopped to view the Connecticut River from both the Hadley and Northampton side and found a large group of waterfowl. The group included a Snow Goose, a Ross’s Goose (likely the same one discovered by Jacob yesterday), two (possibly three) Cackling Geese, 3255+ Canada Geese (including two birds with yellow neck tags that were just too far away to read the numbers on), 21 Wood Ducks, a pair of American Wigeon, 36 Black Ducks, 112 Mallards, 5 Green winged Teal, 38 Ring necked Ducks, 4 Bufflehead, 8 Hooded Mergansers and 7 Common Mergansers. Many of the geese were distant but it was interesting to have a Snow Goose and Ross’s Goose in the same general area to compare sizes and appearance. I managed some distant photos of many of the geese. Most of the geese (and others) were flushed up by the crew teams training on the river and most headed either east or north. A total of thirteen species of waterfowl this morning was quite respectable. The other species of note along the river was my first Eastern Phoebe of the season.

 

Although the warmer temperatures today (into the low 60's) and the southerly winds will probably keep the birds moving north, you never know. Tomorrow I will have some time to check other areas in more detail and perhaps turn up something else noteworthy. There have been five species of geese in the valley in the last few days (I have only missed the Greater White fronted Geese). There is a chance to find a sixth or seventh species (Barnacle or Pink footed, but both are very rare).

Waterfowl before and after work including a neck tagged Canada Goose and a group of six Red breasted Mergansers

Canada Goose with neck tag, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 31, 2015

Canada Goose with neck tag, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Mar 31, 2015

East Meadows at dawn, Northampton, MA, Mar 31, 2015

I was up early so took the extra time this morning to try to catch up with some unusual waterfowl in the Connecticut River. I hoped the Greater White fronted Geese and the Cackling Goose seen yesterday around UMASS would turn up roosting on the river. I checked the river from a few locations and turned up a total of 1600+ Canada Geese (including one necked tagged individual), 11 Wood Ducks, 9 Black Ducks, 116 Mallards, 4 Ring necked Ducks, 3 Hooded Mergansers and half a dozen Common Mergansers plus a few others just too far away to ID. The odd geese may have been in the strung out bunch in the river but the morning lighting and distance made it impossible to see everything well. Other highlights included a Fish Crow and flyby Killdeers.
****update on tagged goose**** The necked tagged individual "Y1X9" ws tagged on 6/29/2010 in Varennes, Quebec as a young bird in the nest.

Red breasted Mergansers, North Lane, Hadley, MA, Mar 31, 2015

Red breasted Mergansers, North Lane, Hadley, MA, Mar 31, 2015

Red breasted Mergansers, North Lane, Hadley, MA, Mar 31, 2015

Canada Geese flock, Mill Valley Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 31, 2015

On my way home I also made a few stops for waterfowl.  The Connecticut River in Hadley was fairly quiet with just a few Canada Geese and Mallards, 8 Green winged Teal and a couple Common Mergansers.  I then headed over to Mill Valley Road in Hadley where I found a large group of geese scattered through the cornfields and around the solar farm.  I worked through the flock but didn't come up with anything unusual but many birds were hidden from view.  They only became visible when the entire group lifted off together heading out in various directions.  A rough count at that point turned up a minimum 1950 Canada Geese...likely more.  A handful of mallards rounded out the waterfowl.  A few minutes before the geese lifted off Jacob and Keenan stopped and mentioned they had a group of half a dozen Red breasted Mergansers in the Connecticut River off of North Lane in Hadley.  Although I hate to drive back through Hadley at this time of day I figured I would work my way over, checking a few fields on the way for geese (only found a few hundred Canada Geese off Farm Lane).  Once I arrived at North Lane the six Red breasted Mergansers were easy to find as they fished right along the river bank.  An unusual species inland here, especially in such a large number.  This group beat my previous high count of this species for the county by a couple individuals (previous high of four at Quabbin in October several years ago).  Other waterfowl here included 8 Mallards, 5 Ring necked Ducks, two Common Mergansers and at least 92 distant ducks that were just too far away to identify.