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.  

More Virginia Rails plus a trip down to Westover and a stop at the Holyoke Dam

 

Virginia Rail, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 21, 2022

Virginia Rail, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 21, 2022

I began another morning with an early stop at Lake Wallace to see what I could find and had another morning with good looks at Virginia Rails with at least two adults plus a young bird.  Still no Black bellied Whistling Duck around but I will continue to look.  Lots of breeding activity ongoing with adults carrying food and fledglings of multiple species.  The single Great Blue Heron still has at least two young birds in it but I have seen no evidence of any adults in a week.  I hope they are just out feeding elsewhere.

Horned Lark, Westover ARB grasslands, Ludlow, MA, Jun 21, 2022

Grasshopper Sparrow, Westover ARB grasslands, Ludlow, MA, Jun 21, 2022

Grasshopper Sparrow, Westover ARB grasslands, Ludlow, MA, Jun 21, 2022

I made a brief foray out of Hampshire County Westover ARB to catch up with some grassland birds that are tough to find elsewhere plus the slim chance of turning up a reported Scissor tailed Flycatcher that showed up at a nearby golf course yesterday.  I spent nearly an hour scanning across the broad swaths of grasslands at the base.  Notable species including an Upland Sandpiper, a Northern Harrier, at least five Grasshopper Sparrows, a couple Vesper Sparrows, loads of Savannah Sparrows and at least eight Eastern Meadowlarks.  Sadly no unusual flycatchers were around to be seen.

Peregrine Falcon, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2022

Peregrine Falcon, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2022

Turkey Vultures, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2022

On my way back home I stopped off at the Holyoke Dam and had some close looks at a vocal juvenile Peregrine Falcon.  The gull count was low once again but with at least four Peregrine Falcons the life of a gull can not be easy in the area.  I watched one of the juveniles come close to getting one of the two Ring billed Gulls present.  The count of Turkey Vultures was fairly high with 41 present but still not as high as last year when I had over a hundred plus a few Black Vultures.  

Late August sightings including a lingering Snowy Egret

Black and White Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 27, 2021

Black and White Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 27, 2021

Snowy Egret, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2021

Great Blue Heron, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2021

Wilson on Dog Appreciation Day, Belchertown Rec Trail, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2021

Northern Harrier, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2021

I have managed to get out a bit between days at work and although I failed to find any lingering storm blown birds from Henri I have nonetheless still found a few notable birds including a juvenile Snowy Egret that has continued at the Holyoke Dam since the 24th.  I also had a slightly late Virginia Rail as well as a Least Bittern at Lake Wallace this morning.  I also ran across a few mixed species flock at various locations and they gave a taste of what is to come as September arrives and with it the peak of fall migration for passerines.  Fingers crossed for some rarities to show up in the area.  Our fourth heat wave of the year ended today and the next few days will feature some cooler temps and hopefully some more early fall migrants.

The tropics continue to feature some activity with the most impactful storm being Hurricane Ida that is currently approaching Cuba as a Cat 1 hurricane but is forecast to reach Cat 3 status as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in central Louisiana as a major hurricane late on Sunday.  We may end up with the remnants of the storm moving through midweek next week but the chances of storm related birds from that storm in the local area is quite small.  There are a few other potential storms out in the Atlantic but none poise a threat to the area.  Tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of the arrival of Irene into the area...by far the best day of storm birding around here in many years.

Continued rarities and an early Northern Parula to start August

 

Purple Martins, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 1, 2021

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 1, 2021

I started off August with an early morning visit to Lake Wallace mainly looking for waders and I had a number of Green Herons as well as a Great Blue Heron but nothing unusual (still looking for a state first Roseate Spoonbill to show up).  I then headed to check on a few continued rarities before going to work and I was lucky to find both Purple Martins and Blue Grosbeak continuing at their respective locations in Hadley.

Northern Watersnakes and Garter Snake, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Aug 2, 2021

Wilson pointing out Northern Watersnakes and Garter Snake, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Aug 2, 2021

After work on Monday I headed out in search of new species for the month.  Notables for the morning included several Great Egrets, a slightly late Alder Flycatcher still singing in Amherst and a slightly late Louisiana Waterthrush.  In addition to the birds I got to see a few snakes (pointed out to me by the ever attentive Wilson).

Northern Parula, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 3, 2021

Looking north, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 3, 2021

Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Aug 3, 2021

Wood Ducks, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 3, 2021

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 3, 2021

I got out before dawn this morning and started my morning at Winsor Dam where I had at least two Eastern Whip Poor Wills still singing.  I then headed over to Lake Wallace and had the expected species there with nothing too unusual.  My next stop was down to the Holyoke Dam where the Connecticut River continued to flow very heavy after weeks of above normal rain.  I then decided I was feeling up to a more intense walk so I headed to Skinner SP to walk to the top.  Among the many highlights during my nearly two hours there was a very early Northern Parula as well as a couple Cerulean Warblers.  The rest of the morning turned up more species and by the end of the day I topped out the first three days of the month with 112 species (slightly behind my best of 115 for the first three days of the month in Hampshire County in 2018 but still ahead of an average year).

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 2, 2021

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 2, 2021

The camera at the water feature continues to capture multiple birds with bands (despite the camera having some issues).  It will be interesting to see how many of the birds recently banded will stick around the yard.

Cool, wet weather produces some early migrant shorebirds

Least Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 3, 2021

Spotted Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 3, 2021

Double crested Cormorant, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 3, 2021

Killdeer, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 4, 2021

Chimney Swifts, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jul 4, 2021

Spotted Sandpipers, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jul 4, 2021

The weather for the last couple days has been very cool with high yesterday that barely made it to 60 degrees with frequent bouts of rain (thanks to an upper level low that brought in lots of moisture and northerly winds).  Today was a slight improvement with slightly warmer weather and even some breaks of sun later in the day.  I was out in the rain yesterday morning trying in vain to find something of note brought down by the weather at Winsor Dam (the only notable sighting was a Double crested Cormorant that somehow managed to find a perch point on the water sampling raft).  It was not until later in the morning I saw a report from Ted that he located a Short billed Dowitcher and a Greater Yellowlegs in the East Meadows (in the same small muddy area where multiple phalaropes showed up this spring).  I initially was not going to go over for it as the mud conditions in the East Meadows can make driving impossible but after seeing that a few reports from others that the mud was manageable I decided to head over.  I had to walk a fair distant but the mud was not as bad as I feared.  I arrived and saw the bird from a distance when I scanned with binoculars.  I decided to walk a little further down the road but at that point the bird flushed up and headed south and I lost track of it.  It had flushed out a few times earlier (according to other observers) but would return again.  The bird seemed to flush just as the rain let up and visibility improved so it may have been looking for an opportunity to continue its migration south.  I searched and waited in vain for another 45 minutes along with a few other people but the bird was not relocated.  The puddle also held at least five Least Sandpipers and a couple Spotted Sandpipers.  There were also a family of Killdeer that were nearby but never came into the puddle.  I would have stayed longer but I needed to get home to get ready to go into work for the night.  The cool, damp weather continued overnight and I had slight hope the bird would return but somewhat more hope the puddle would attract some other shorebirds.  After work I walked in again and could only turn up a couple each of Least Sandpiper and Spotted Sandpiper.  No one else had seen anything unusual in the area either.  I then decided to try my luck down at the Holyoke Dam before heading home.  The big show there once again was the large number of Chimney Swifts feeding around the dam.  I counted at nearly six hundred swifts and there were probably more.  The water levels were up a bit and there was water coming over the entire length of the dam.  There were also at least three Spotted Sandpipers and even more Ring billed Gulls then the my previous recent visits including some younger birds.  There were a few other notable birds around associated with the bad weather including a Bonaparte's Gull in Turners Falls and another Greater Yellowlegs (this one in the Arcadia Meadows).  I would not be surprised if more shorebirds show up in the puddle in the East Meadows over the next week or two as the puddle typically stays for awhile and there is little in the way of other shorebird habitat available for any southbound migrants.

More Purple Martins in Hadley

Purple Martins (three in view at once), Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 27, 2021

Purple Martins (three in view at once), Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 27, 2021

Purple Martins, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 27, 2021

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 27, 2021

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 27, 2021

Barn Swallow and Bank Swallow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 27, 2021

Black Vultures, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 27, 2021

Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 27, 2021

Brown Thrasher on nest, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jun 27, 2021

I headed out this morning before the extreme heat arrived with the beginning of our second heat wave of the year.  We have had fairly strong southerly winds for a couple days and the temperatures have started to respond with highs today in the low 90's with increasingly high humidity.  The highs for the next few days loom to reach the mid 90's with high indexes in the 105 degree range.  My morning started off around dawn at Lake Wallace (which was fairly quiet...I think mainly due to the drawdown on the water levels this season).  I'm forever hopeful that someday Black bellied Whistling Ducks will make an appearance at Lake Wallace but today was not the day.  I then made my way down to the Holyoke Dam which held a few dozen vultures including at least four Black Vultures.  The Chimney Swift count was down a bit from just a couple days ago when it peaked at over 400.  As I had some errands to run in Hadley I headed north next with stops at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River and the Honey Pot.  I was stopping at Silvio Conte NWR mainly to check on the ongoing pair of Purple Martins that first showed up in mid June.  I arrived to find one sitting outside the gourd the pair has been favoring the last couple weeks.  As I was watching the single bird I heard some martins calling and noticed the bird sitting on the gourd was looking skyward.  Within a few moments two more Purple Martins arrived!  At this point the individual sitting outside the gourd quickly entered the gourd and I didn't see it leave.  I thought I heard another martin calling but could not be sure.  There are now at least three (and possibly four) Purple Martins present.  One of the remaining martins started investigating one of the other gourds.  Really amazing to have even one Purple Martin around but to have more than that is crazy given how rare the species is in the western part of the state.  My stop at the Honey Pot was mainly to try to find the ongoing (but sporadically seen) Blue Grosbeaks.  There were a few other birders present and despite our best efforts we struck out on the grosbeaks.  Nonetheless we still had some good birds with nesting Brown Thrasher and Northern Mockingbird as well as a flyover Northern Harrier (unusual in the county in June).

Large vulture roost at the Holyoke Dam

Black Vultures, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 15, 2021

Turkey Vultures and a Black Vulture, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 15, 2021

Turkey Vultures, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 15, 2021

Turkey Vultures, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2021

Turkey Vultures, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2021

Black Vulture, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2021

I first noticed a large gathering of vultures at the Holyoke Dam on June 15th when I made a stop after work, arriving at the dam around 8:30am.  At that point I had 78 Turkey Vultures and three Black Vultures.  Another stop on June 21st (a bit earlier in the morning...around 7:30am) produced an even larger gathering with 102 Turkey Vultures and 4 Black Vultures (my largest gathering of vultures I have ever had in Hampshire County).  With the larger numbers present early and birds already in the air when I arrived on both of these previous mornings I really wanted to get there at first light and I did that today.  Unfortunately (and quite surprisingly) I could only turn up a single Turkey Vulture!  I made a few stops at the dam over the course of the early morning but the vultures never arrived.  Not really sure on the reason why there were so few today.  I will stop down that way again over the next few weeks to see if the large numbers return.

The Holyoke Dam has become a great location to get high counts of Turkey Vultures in the county with my highest counts prior to this year all coming from that location over the last few years with the previous high count of 72 back on July 4, 2018.

Osprey, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 15, 2021

Double crested Cormorants, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 15, 2021

Common Mergansers, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2021

Bald Eagle with leg bands, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 24, 2021

Bald Eagle with leg bands, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 24, 2021

Double crested Cormorant, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 24, 2021

In addition to the vultures, the area around the dam has featured some notable species or high counts of common species including at least 285 Chimney Swifts, a least a dozen Double crested Cormorants, an Osprey and a banded Bald Eagle over the course of my multiple visits.