First snow and then rain with a few rarities around

Jabish Brook after the snow, Belchertown, MA, Jan 8, 2024

Jabish Brook after the snow, Belchertown, MA, Jan 8, 2024

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 8, 2024

Wilson exploring in the snow, Belchertown, MA, Jan 8, 2024

Wilson in the snow, Home, Jan 7, 2024

We got our first big snow storm in awhile from late Saturday and well into the day on Sunday with close to a foot of snow.  Although I detest the snow Wilson just loves it so I guess it was not all bad.  After driving through the storm to get home after work I stayed home all of Sunday.  On Monday I had plans to check various fields in Hadley and Amherst to see what the snow concentrated for birds but my plans were quickly derailed when I got a flat tire and then spent most of the morning trying to see if I could get it repaired only to find out it would need to be replaced so with only a spare to drive around on I decided to head for home and limit my driving.

Northern Shrike, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 9, 2024

Horned Larks and Snow Buntings, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 9, 2024

Lapland Longspur, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 9, 2024

Horned Lark, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jan 9, 2024

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 9, 2024

Tuesday I had to head to Northampton to get my tire replaced and then spend a few hours at a class at work.  I managed to get a little birding in on the way and despite my limited time the birding was quite productive with four new species for the year including a couple of flyby Northern Pintails at first light at Winsor Dam and then a trio of rarities at the Honey Pot including Northern Shrike, Lapland Longspur and Vesper Sparrow.  The number of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings was quite impressive as they wheeled around constantly only to settle for a brief period before taking off again.

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 10, 2024

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 10, 2024

White throated Sparrow, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 10, 2024

Pine Siskin, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 10, 2024

Rainbow, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 10, 2024

Our next storm arrived Tuesday evening and into Wednesday and this storm brought warmer temps, strong winds and heavy rain.  The rain beat the hell out of the snow pack with lots of areas of bare ground that just the day before had nearly a foot of snow.  I had a class to take again in the morning so could only get out a little early and then again later.  The morning didn't produce much but the late morning was much better when I stopped briefly at Winsor Dam before taking Wilson for a walk.  As I was scanning the water for birds I heard a call that sounded like a Say's Phoebe and I turned around to see it perched on one of the chimneys on the admin building.  Truly amazing it made it through the recent storms and cold temps...a hardy bird for sure.  As I was leaving I had brief looks at an Eastern Phoebe before it flew down Blue Meadow Road into a restricted access area.  Two phoebes on January 10th in Hampshire County is mind-blowing!  I returned to the dam a bit later in the afternoon and failed to relocate either phoebe.  The mystery of where these phoebes spend most of their time continues.

American Kestrel, North Hadley, MA, Jan 11, 2024

Merlin, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Jan 11, 2024

Brown headed Cowbirds, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Jan 11, 2024

Red winged Blackbirds, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 11, 2024

Eastern Bluebirds, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 11, 2024

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 11, 2024

I headed out on a somewhat breezy morning to try to add a few more species for the year with the focus being on raptors and vultures (American Kestrel, Rough legged Hawk and both species of vultures) and perhaps some waterfowl.  I did manage to find an American Kestrel but missed the others.  I started at UMASS and then hit multiple fields in Hadley and Amherst before headed back toward home with a stop at Quabbin.  Highlights in the Hadley/Amherst area included an Eastern Meadowlark and continued flocks of Brown headed Cowbirds and Red winged Blackbirds.  After my time checking fields I made a stop at Winsor Dam and walked around for a bit to try to relocate either phoebe species or a Pine Warbler.  Although I missed on finding the phoebes I did have at least one Pine Warbler that was once again travelling with a mixed flock containing some Eastern Bluebirds.  I now stand at 92 species for the year in Hampshire County, which puts me one ahead of my best ever start to the year by this date.  As I'm off to warmer locations soon I'm not sure I will break my best January record of 105 species in 2021 but I hope to get close.

Close up with a Fisher plus a Northern Shrike today and other odd and ends the last few days

Fisher, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Nov 29, 2020

Fisher, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Nov 29, 2020

Fisher, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Nov 29, 2020

The sighting of the day was not a bird but a mammal when I had a close encounter with a Fisher at Gate 8 at Quabbin.  I decided to take a long walk at Gate 8 mainly looking for irruptives with the hopes of additional crossbills and perhaps a Boreal Chickadee.  I was about a mile in getting some recordings of Red Crossbills when I heard some rustling in the woods and figured it was some deer moving through.  I finished up the recording and then heard more rustling that sounded like it was getting closer and closer.  I then caught sight of a dark mammal moving rapidly toward my vicinity and it briefly disappeared behind a tree and then popped up on top of a stonewall about 20 feet away.  It stayed there for just a few seconds before turning around and quickly heading back into the woods.  Easily the best looks I have ever had of an adult Fisher.  As far as birds go I had a few flyover White winged Crossbills as well as several Red Crossbills including my first Type 2's plus the expected Type 10's.  No luck finding a Boreal Chickadee but I hope some will show up at some point this winter.

Northern Shrike, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Nov 29, 2020

Northern Shrike, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Nov 29, 2020

Northern Shrike, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Nov 29, 2020

Great Horned Owl, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Nov 29, 2020

Before heading to Gate 8 I decided to try my luck in relocating a juvenile Northern Shrike that Ted found in a series of fields near the rail trail in Amherst.  I arrived before dawn and spent some time listening for owls and I had a few Great Horned Owls as well as another unidentified call that may have been a Long eared Owl but I heard it just once and it could have been an odd call from a juvenile Great Horned Owl.  Once it started to get light enough to see the Northern Shrike started to show along one of the hedgerows and I snapped off a few photos from a distance before leaving the shrike to let it do some early morning hunting.  The shrike became species #246 for the year for me in Hampshire County...a recording setting year that just keeps adding species.

Red Crossbill (Type 10), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 28, 2020

Red Crossbill (Type 10), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 28, 2020

Evening Grosbeak, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 28, 2020

American Robin with white on wings, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 28, 2020

On Saturday I spent some time around Quabbin Park and Winsor Dam mainly looking for irruptives and finding several including Evening Grosbeak, Red Crossbill (all Type 10), Pine Siskins and Red breasted Nuthatches.  I also came across an oddly plumaged American Robin with white on its wings.

Gray Catbird, Easthampton Rail Trail, Easthampton, MA, Nov 27, 2020

A short walk after work on Friday along the rail trail in Easthampton turned up a late Gray Catbird.  I searched a few areas in the vicinity for lingering warblers but came up empty.

White winged Crossbills today and other sightings at the beginning of December

Northern Shrike, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Dec 3, 2018

Chipping Sparrow, Belchertown, MA, Dec 3, 2018

Swan species, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 1, 2018

Barred Owl, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Dec 1, 2018

December continues our below average temperatures (with a slightly warmer day Monday) but thankfully we appear to have a dry week on tap.  As I was getting out of work this morning the temperature was a chilly 15 degrees and I was not sure I wanted to be out in the cold weather but thought I would give it a try for awhile and I was glad I did.  I decided to head to Arcadia to try to catch up with any late warblers that might still be hanging around (no luck with that quest).  I stayed mainly near the metal bridge and old orchard hoping to catch some birds taking advantage of the warmth of the sun as it came up.  As I was walking along the field edge near the solar array I heard a different call overhead that quickly produced three White winged Crossbills flying over heading off to the southwest...a new species for the year in Hampshire County, bringing my total up to 240!  No chance to get a photo and I was unable to relocate the birds despite a bit of looking.  Not too much else out of the ordinary around Arcadia so I headed across the bridge with a quick stop along Aqua Vitae Road before stopping for just under a half hour at Silvo Conte NWR where I had a couple Common Redpolls and half a dozen flyover Pine Siskins.  I also managed to submit my 26,000th complete eBird checklist while I was home in the afternoon.

Elsewhere for the beginning of December I had distant views of three swans at Winsor Dam on December 1st but they were too far out to determine species and it was too late in the day to try to get down to the end of Gate 5 road where I could have gotten better looks.  I could not check to see if they were there the next day but others that looked did not turn up any swans.  I suspect they may have been Tundra Swans but could not be sure.  I also caught up with a very late Eastern Phoebe and the continued Northern Shrike at a foggy Arcadia on the 3rd and a late Chipping Sparrow at the Griffith's on the first. 

November review and birding this morning

Rough legged Hawk, Hadley, MA, Nov 25, 2018

Northern Shrike, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 14, 2018

Cattle Egret, Rt 116, Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2018

Cattle Egrets, Barstow's Farm, Hadley, MA, Nov 3, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 28, 2018

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 14, 2018

Rusty Blackbirds, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 7, 2018

Now that November has come to an end I'll take a quick look at what birds the month produced.  I had a total of 110 species for the month in the Hampshire County, which fell just short of my best November ever (record is last year with 113 species).  Among the species were three new species for my Hampshire County year list (Common Redpoll, Northern Shrike and Rough legged Hawk).  The Rough legged Hawk broke my previous best year in the county becoming species #239 for the year.  The month started off with the biggest arrival of Cattle Egrets I have ever had with at least half a dozen noted starting on the 3rd and some continuing until at least the 12th.  There were a number of lingering species including Brown Thrasher, Ruby crowned Kinglet and multiple warblers (more on warblers for the month at the following link). The month was overall colder than normal with multiple record breaking cold days plus multiple bouts of snow and lots of rain (a record setting month for precipitation).

Common Redpoll, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2018

Common Redpolls, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2018

Northern Shrike, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 30, 2018

To end the month I went out birding with Devin primarily in search of any species that would put Devin up over the 200 mark for the year in Hampshire County.  We had several possibilities to reach that goal with the first being a continuing Northern Shrike at Arcadia.  We arrived there just before dawn and after a bit of walking along the hedgerows we found the shrike perched on some telephone lines overlooking a bunch of sparrows.  We didn't want to bother the shrike too much as looked intent on hunting so we did not approach it too closely and instead took some shots from a distance.  The next two plus hours spent at Arcadia also proved quite productive with 38 species total seen or heard.  I'm sure if the forecast for a sunny day ever came to fruition we could have added a few more but we were both happy to see the stuff we did see.  We then headed back across the river to Hadley in search of the Rough legged Hawk seen hunting the fields south of the mall a few days ago.  No luck with that hawk but there were a number of other raptors around.  As we still had some time left we stopped over to Silvio Conte NWR where we got great looks at a flock of ten Common Redpolls feeding happily, adding another species to Devin's list for the year.  Overall a productive end to the month.

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 16, 2018

The camera set up continues to capture a number of species including multiple leg banded Black capped Chickadees.

A morning at Arcadia as mid winter like conditions settle in plus some banded birds at home

Northern Shrike, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 14, 2018

Northern Shrike, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 14, 2018

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 14, 2018

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 14, 2018

Fox Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 14, 2018

Dusting of snow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 14, 2018

It appears that conditions more like mid winter have arrived and it is forecast to just get worse.  Although it was suppose to be sunny all day I awoke to find some light snow showers coming down that increased in intensity as I arrived at Arcadia with enough snow coming down to leave a dusting.  The temperatures today never climbed out of the low to mid 30's and the strong northwest winds had wind chills in the teens all day.  The core of the cold will arrive tonight with lows in the teens to single digits possible in some areas with highs tomorrow barely breaking the freezing mark..record setting cold for sure.  On top of it all we will get a bout of snow that will likely accumulate several inches from Thursday night into Friday morning.  Despite the less than ideal conditions the couple of hours I had available in the morning proved quite productive at Arcadia.  After much searching I finally got better looks at the Northern Shrike that has been present for several days down there.  I had seen it briefly and distantly a few days ago so it was nice to see it for a longer period and much closer.  I also tried to locate another Northern Shrike along the rail trail a couple days ago but failed to turn that one back up.  Besides the shrike there were other notables around today including three late Ruby crowned Kinglets, half a dozen Yellow rumped Warblers as well as some waterfowl and raptors moving.  All and all a good morning despite the cold temperatures with 48 species tallied during my time at Arcadia.

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands and Tufted Titmouse, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 14, 2018

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands and Tufted Titmouse, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 14, 2018

With the arrival of the cold I decided to try putting some feeders out (hopefully the bears won't be back).  In just a day I managed to capture two of my banded birds (both chickadees) on the cameras I have trained on the feeders.  Both the the birds were banded this season as part of the Neighborhood Nestwatch program.