Big snow storm

Feeders waiting for action in the snow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 3, 2019

Jabish Brook, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 3, 2019

Wilson with his favorite outside 'ball', Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 3, 2019

Dark eyed Junco with breast stripes, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 3, 2019 (date is off by 12 hours for some reason)

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 3, 2019

Carolina Wren, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 2, 2019 (date is off by 12 hours for some reason)

Wilson enjoying the snow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 2, 2019

Wilson as the snow moves back in on Monday evening, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 2, 2019

Wilson as the snow starts, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 1, 2019

We continue to dig out from one of the largest storms we have had in awhile and probably one of the biggest December storms ever.  It started snowing Sunday afternoon and continued overnight into Monday and we ended up with about 8" of snow and sleet from that part of the storm.  Light snow was with us almost constantly Monday but didn't amount to much until the evening when the storm off the coast really cranked up.  The forecast for Monday night into Tuesday was for perhaps 3-5", maybe less.  It was quite a surprise to wake up on Tuesday morning to at least another 18" of fresh snow!  The snow finally quit late in the morning on Tuesday and it took hours to dig out the yard and feeders from our 2+ feet of snow.  It looks more like the middle of winter after multiple storms....at least Wilson was happy!  I didn't venture too far from the house the last couple days beyond a quick stop at Winsor Dam today (lots of Bald Eagles but not much else).  The feeders were active throughout my time at home and although there was nothing too unusual I did see one of my banded Black capped Chickadee and the partially leucistic Tufted Titmouse (neither of which fed on the suet so no captures on the camera).  The camera did capture a unique looking Dark eyed Junco that had striping on the breast.  Hopefully I will be able to get out a little tomorrow although access to most locations will be limited or nonexistent due to all the snow.  Surprisingly the Pacific slope Flycatcher was seen and photographed in the snow on Monday in between our bouts of heavy snow (eBird list here).

Loads of sparrows and late warblers at Arcadia this morning

Eastern Phoebe with grasshopper, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Lincoln's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Black and White Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Red tailed Hawk, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

White throated Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Purple Finch, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Dark eyed Junco with white cap, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

What a difference a week makes!  Last week we were in the 70's and 80's and now we have transitioned to late fall like weather with lows in 20's and frost on multiple mornings.  At least it warmed to near 60 today but it was damn cold in the morning.  I spent a good part of the morning at Arcadia and had lots of good stuff including loads of sparrows and a few late warblers (more details on the warblers) among some 61 species.  Highlights included nine species of sparrows/juncos with the most prevalent species being White throated and Song Sparrows plus an interesting Dark eyed Junco with a white cap (several hundred total sparrows present), several species of raptors keeping all the other birds on alert, continued numbers of Purple Finches, a nice influx of Ruby crowned Kinglets as well as the warblers.  Could only find a lone Gray Catbird as the hordes seemed to have moved on to warmer locations. 

Sightings the last several days before and after our storms

Sharp shinned Hawk, Belchertown, MA, Mar 9, 2018

Sharp shinned Hawk, Belchertown, MA, Mar 9, 2018

Fox Sparrow, Belchertown, MA, Mar 9, 2018

Dark eyed Junco with white cheeks, Belchertown, MA, Mar 9, 2018

Wilson enjoying the snow, Belchertown, MA, Mar 8, 2018

Wilson enjoying the snow, Belchertown, MA, Mar 8, 2018

Common Merganser, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 8, 2018

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 8, 2018

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 6, 2018

Pied billed Grebe, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 6, 2018

Over the last several days we have endured a couple of large nor'easter storms that have thankfully spared us the worst of conditions that nearby areas received.  The first storm brought us heavy rain but brought snow not too far away as well as strong winds on the coast with lots of beach erosion and loss of power to many areas.  The second storm brought us around 8-10" of heavy, wet snow but brought nearly three feet of snow not too far away in the Berkshires (glad I don't live there anymore!).  There is the potential for another storm by early next week but hopefully it does not materialize.  Birding during the first week or so of March has been quite good (even with the slow down in birding during the storms).  I have managed to find 79 species in just the first nine days of the month (which is actually more species for the month then I had all of last year).  There have been a number of notable species the last several days including the continued Red headed Woodpecker, at least two Yellow rumped Warblers and some Rusty Blackbirds at Arcadia, a Pied billed Grebe and singing Winter Wren at Lake Wallace, a Lapland Longspur in with a flock of larks and buntings in the Honey Pot and a Fox Sparrow and an unusual Dark eyed Junco with white cheeks at the Griffith's.  I tried for a very early Pine Warbler that showed up at the Griffith's on Tuesday just as the storm was starting and resurfaced a few more times the following day.  I was unfortunately unable to find it despite much effort.  Oh well...you can't see them all.

I also checked my duck boxes this afternoon and found a few eggs in two of the boxes...second year in a row I have had two of the boxes used.  This is one of the earliest dates I have had eggs already in a nest box here at home.  If history is any indication the eggs will end up being Hooded Mergansers (the only species I have had use the boxes despite having Wood Ducks in the area of the boxes every year).