Record setting pace for first week of March with 87 species

Cackling Goose, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 7, 2025

Cackling Goose, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 7, 2025

Canada Goose with pale body, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 7, 2025

Canada Goose with neck band, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Mar 7, 2025

Greater White fronted Geese, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Mar 7, 2025

Fox Sparrow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Mar 7, 2025

I typically do not do so many posts here within a few days anymore but I want to make just one more quick post as the first week of March has now come to an end.  Despite very windy conditions today I added several new species for the month plus two more for the year in the Hampshire County (new year species being American Woodcock and Gadwall).  This was best start to March ever here with 87 species so far (breaking my previous first week of March back in 2022 when I had 77 species).  I also stand at 118 species for the year so far in the county which is my highest YTD total for the end of the first week of March.  A lot of the good numbers are thanks to a great showing of waterfowl this month with a number of rarities around plus a few early arriving species.  For today I started near home and then visited a number of spots along both sides of the river with continued large numbers of geese including a few unusual species (Greater White fronted Geese and Cackling Goose) as well as the Greenland banded Canada Goose.  The concentrations of geese continue to be impressive with several thousand Canada Geese in the area with other waterfowl showing also with a total of 20 species so far for the month.  The ice on the river is rapidly disappearing and open water is slowly starting to show in other areas.

More goose goodness with Greater White fronted Geese and the return of the pale Canada Goose for a fifth winter (plus other continued rare, unusual and banded geese)

Greater White fronted Geese, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 6, 2025

Canada Goose with neck band, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 6, 2025

Snow Geese, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Mar 6, 2025

Pale Canada Goose, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Mar 6, 2025

Pink footed Goose, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Mar 6, 2025

Canada Goose with pale body, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Mar 6, 2025

Canada Geese, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Mar 6, 2025

Rough legged Hawk, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Mar 6, 2025

After another way too busy shift at work I got out this morning and headed out mainly in search of geese and other waterfowl (and whatever else I could find for newly arriving birds).  It was still relatively warm for the time of year with light winds but the heavy rain overnight and snow melt made a muddy mess of any dirt road.  There was a bit of thick fog in places to start the morning which made viewing tough at times.  I hit a few fields and other areas in Hadley and South Hadley as I worked my way toward the Holyoke Dam.  Most areas were fairly quiet although I did have at least two very early Tree Swallows below the Holyoke Dam popping in and out of the fog.  I also tried for Yellow rumped Warblers in a few locations along the river and came up empty.  As I came back north on the west side of the river the fog lifted so I decided to try the very muddy East Meadows for geese and was rewarded with several thousand birds scattered throughout the fields.  I immediately noticed a decent sized group of Snow Geese among the hordes of Canada Geese.  I then spent the next half hour slowly scanning through the geese in search of unusual species and odd individuals and had success on both endeavors.  I found the continued Pink Goose sitting contently at the south end of the meadows as well as the continued pale bodied Canada Goose plus the very uniquely plumaged overall pale Canada Goose that has now shown for a fifth straight winter (I would love to know where this bird stays during the warmer months).  I made a post about this really neat looking individual in the fall of 2023.  Beyond the geese there were other notables around including 16 Killdeer, two Rough legged Hawks, 280+ Horned Larks, at least two American Pipits and a Lapland Longspur.  Around 10:30 the Snow Geese suddenly lifted off followed quickly by all the other geese with large groups heading in various directions.  I figured I would stop by the Coolidge Bridge as it looked like some of the geese headed in that direction.  I arrived to find hundreds of geese present with more and more arriving over time including my first of the year Greater White fronted Geese as well the individual banded in Greenland.

Canada Goose with neck band, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 5, 2025

Canada Goose with pale body, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 5, 2025

On my way to work yesterday I stopped off for a bit at the Coolidge Bridge and found 1200+ Canada Geese including the banded bird from Greenland plus the pale bodied bird.  I also had a few other birds that had some characteristics of a Cackling Goose but not enough to make me think a pure Cackling Goose.

For those with an interest in the great show of geese check out the post from a a couple days ago that has more unusual geese photos and additional info on the neck banded bird.  March is off to a great start for me in Hampshire County with 81 species so far with waterfowl figuring prominently (a big change from last year which featured a horrible waterfowl migration overall).  In fact I'm at my highest point for the first week of March ever in the county with one day left (although with high winds tomorrow out of the north I doubt I will find too much new stuff but one never knows!).

Record warmth and then some snow for the second week of February with multiple continued rarities

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Feb 8, 2024

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Feb 8, 2024

Red Crossbill (with Pine Siskins), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 8, 2024

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 8, 2024

Eastern Bluebird, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 8, 2024

The second week of February was a bit of a roller-coaster weather wise with sunny conditions for most of the period with progressively warmer temps that eventually set a record with a high in the upper 50's on Saturday and then a much hyped "major" snow storm on Tuesday that dropped less than two inches of snow at the house and nothing just a little further west.  No complaints from me as the forecast just hours before the arrival of the storm called for a foot of snow.  Areas to the south certainly got hit with snow and once the storm moved out strong northerly winds made it really feel like mid February.

I started off the second week after getting out of work the 8th and trying some new spots for overwintering Yellow rumped Warblers and found one fairly quickly at Arcadia.  I had heard the species early in the month as a flyover without any photo so was glad to find one that was more cooperative for photos.  I also had the continued pale Canada Goose that has now spent time in the area for four winters.  After finding a Yellow rumped Warbler so quick for the morning I decided to head to Winsor Dam to see if I could track down any of the Pine Warblers there to make it a two warbler species day and I had success with that endeavor.  I also added a flyover Evening Grosbeak and a few Red Crossbills.

White throated Sparrow, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Feb 9, 2024

Eastern Towhees, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 9, 2024

Common Loon, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 9, 2024

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 9, 2024

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 9, 2024

On Friday the 9th I started my morning along the rail trail in Ware where I had several Red Crossbills (I believe multiple Type's but waiting to hear back from Tim) as well as a high number of White throated Sparrows.  I then made a few stops within Quabbin Park and found several notable species including eight Common Loons, more Red Crossbills, a Fox Sparrow and three Eastern Towhees.  Then it was on again to Winsor Dam to check on the Say's Phoebe and Pine Warblers and I was happy to get both with at least five Pine Warblers present as well as even more Red Crossbills.

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 10, 2024

Pine Warblers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 10, 2024

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

Common Mergansers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 10, 2024

Saturday started off foggy and stayed that way for the first few hours of the morning.  I stayed somewhat local making a number of stops with the most productive and longest being back again to Winsor Dam where I had the Say's Phoebe and multiple Pine Warblers as well as a Hermit Thrush that actually sang a partial song a few times and loads of Pine Siskins and some Red Crossbills (the dam had just been so incredible this winter that I find it hard to pull myself away).  

Black Vultures, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Feb 11, 2024

Turkey Vulture, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Feb 11, 2024

Beaver, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Feb 11, 2024

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

Pine Warbler (with Eastern Bluebirds), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 11, 2024

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 11, 2024

For Sunday I ventured over to the Amherst/Hadley area where I tried in vain to find an overwintering Common Yellowthroat (a tough species to find in winter for sure).  With no luck finding a yellowthroat I then spent some time checking farm fields for geese, mixed blackbird/grackle flocks and raptors.  My best luck turned out to be with vultures when I had at least eight Black Vultures and ten Turkey Vultures lifting off from a roost in Hadley...a great number for either species in the early part of February.  I also had to make a stop at Winsor Dam on my way home to check on the phoebe and Pine Warblers and found all of them quite easily.  

Gray Catbird, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Feb 12, 2024

Field Sparrow, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Feb 12, 2024

Purple Finches, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Feb 12, 2024

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 12, 2024

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 12, 2024

Pine Siskin, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 12, 2024

On Monday the 12th I started off predawn at Winsor Dam where I had nearly three hundred gulls with most being Ring billed Gulls.  There was one intriguing gull I had in view for just a few seconds before the entire group was flushed and the gull in question headed off with the hordes to the southeast and was not seen again.  I then headed to the rail trail in Ware to look for a Gray Catbird that has been reported in the area.  I not only found the catbird (adding another species for the year in the county) but also a Field Sparrow.  I then (of course) headed back to Winsor Dam where I once again had the Say's Phoebe right away (literally the first species I saw).  Red Crossbills were also flying around the area and calling.  The Pine Warblers were present (with at least three around) but very tough to find as they mainly hid in the grass.  It took lots of looking to find them and photo ops were tough to come by.

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 14, 2024

Eastern Bluebird, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 14, 2024

Pine Siskin, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 14, 2024

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 14, 2024

Wilson on a cold, windy walk, Belchertown, MA, Feb 14, 2024

Yesterday I had to work so no real birding for that day.  After getting out of work on a very windy and cold morning today I had just a short time before I had to get home to take a class.  I decided to head over to Winsor Dam and despite the windy conditions I found a couple of Pine Warblers continuing, feeding in pines today.  Once I finished up my class I took Wilson for a walk and we made a brief stop at the dam again and yet again found a couple Pine Warblers (no sign of the Say's Phoebe during either of my visits).

So far February has been quite productive with 81 species for me in the county, which is my second highest total for February ever.  Not quite up to my record setting February back in 2022 when I had 92 species by this point but very respectable.  

The first week or so in February produces at least seven Pine Warblers, the continued Say's Phoebe and reaching a hundred species in Hampshire County for the year

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 1, 2024

Red Crossbill, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 1, 2024

Horned Grebe, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 1, 2024

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Hadley, MA, Feb 1, 2024

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, Hadley, MA, Feb 1, 2024

Swamp Sparrow, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Feb 2, 2024

Fox Sparrow, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 3, 2024

Eastern Towhee, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 3, 2024

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 3, 2024

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 4, 2024

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 6, 2024

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 6, 2024

I have had a good start to the month of February with a number of unusual species around including two species of warblers, the continued Say's Phoebe and many others that eventually got me to one hundred species for the year so far in Hampshire County.  Being slightly obsessed with warblers the big story for me would certainly be the overwintering Pine Warblers at Winsor Dam that total at least seven individuals as of this morning.  A number of birders came out to see the Say's Phoebe once again and from what I could tell many of them succeeded.   Beyond the Pine Warblers and Say's Phoebe I have found a few decent species to begin February with the continued pale Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Iceland Gull, Ruby crowned Kinglet, Red Crossbill, Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow and Eastern Towhee.  Reaching the first hundred species for the year in the county is always a milestone and although a bit ahead of the average this year I'm behind my record setting pace that I set in 2021 when I reached the hundred mark in late January.  This does place this year in the top three for reaching the century mark with number two being 2023 when I reach the mark on February 5th.  As linked above there is a lot more details on the Pine Warblers (with more photos) at the following link: Pine Warblers in February.