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!).

Influx of geese including Pink footed Goose, Cackling Goose, Snow Geese and a uniquely plumaged Canada Goose plus a neck tagged goose from Greenland

Pink footed Goose, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 3, 2025

Pink footed Goose, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 3, 2025

With the arrival of March comes the first real pulse of migrant waterfowl and the first few days have been great with geese of various species figuring prominently (plus the continued Trumpeter Swan).  I heard of a Pink footed Goose at the Coolidge Bridge on Sunday afternoon but I didn't try for it until Monday on my way to work.  Thankfully it was still there and actually showing quite well despite the bitter cold temps.  It was one of only a handful of active geese with the rest tucked in most of the time.  I also had a Cackling Goose in among the Canada Geese that popped its head up briefly thanks to a pair of very vocal Peregrine Falcons in the area.  I then continued on to work and had another extremely busy day (I really cannot wait for retirement!).  Very cool how Pink footed Goose has become more common since I found the first county record back in March 2014.

Canada Goose with pale body, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 4, 2025

Canada Goose with pale body, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 4, 2025

Cackling Goose, Coolidge Bridge, Hadley, MA, Mar 4, 2025

Pink footed Goose, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 4, 2025

Pink footed Goose, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 4, 2025

Cackling Goose, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 4, 2025

Canada Goose with neck band, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 4, 2025

Canada Goose with neck band, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 4, 2025

Canada Goose with pale body, East Hadley Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 4, 2025

After work on Tuesday I headed out to try to find some more unusual geese with my main target being a pair of Greater White fronted Geese seen at Mount Holyoke College the day before.  I got a text from Mary that she tried for them at the location earlier and they were not present so I decided to stop at the open water below the Coolidge Bridge once again.  There were several hundred Canada Geese in the water and much more active then the previous morning.  A scan through the flock turned up a single Cackling Goose as well as a uniquely plumaged Canada Geese that had a pale body with a typical looking head and neck...cool looking bird.  I then decided to head south with the intention of trying to find the Greater White fronted Geese (spoiler alert...I never found them).  I stopped off at Mitch's Way with the intention of possibly walking the road (depending on the ice conditions on the road).  As I pulled in I saw hundreds of geese in flight so immediately started scanning the birds moving upriver and had a group of nine Snow Geese (with one blue morph) plus a couple other Snow Geese in among the Canada Geese with one looking smaller (possibly a Ross's Goose).  I lost track of the small goose but was able to watch the group of nine with views through the scope and binoculars.  They never settled down and continued off to the north.  I then decided to head back north to check the hordes of geese.  I decided to check East Hadley Road and found hundreds of geese with more arriving over the course of the hour I remained on site.  Lots of scanning turned up a (the) Pink footed Goose, the pale bodied Canada Goose and a Cackling Goose among 1200+ Canada Geese.  I also had one neck banded Canada Goose with a yellow band with black writing with the code "G6Y".  I was fairly certain it was a bird from Greenland and a quick email to a researcher up there proved I was right.  The bird was banded in Isunngua, West Greenland in July 2023 and was last reported in late November in Nova Scotia (more info on the bird listed at end of post).  There were loads of Red winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, Brown headed Cowbirds and European Starlings as well as a very early Wilson's Snipe that was scared up by some arriving Canada Geese.  Although I missed on finding any Greater White fronted Geese I was happy to have a four goose species morning.  Spring is certainly starting to show itself, finally.

G6Y (banded Isunngua, West Greenland, July 2023)

27.09.2023 1696 Chemin Saint-Ignace, Saint-Ignace, New Brunswick, Canada 45°29’49”N 62°38’18”W 

01.11.2023 Forbes Lake, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada 45°29’49”N 62°38’18”W 

11.11.2023 Forbes Lake, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada 45°29’49”N 62°38’18”W  

12.12.2023 Avalon Nature Preserve Lake, Stony Brook, New York, USA 40°54’49”N 73°08’46W

28.11.2024 Shaw Pond, Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, Canada 45°04’56”N 63°24’34”W 

04.03.2025 Hadley, Massachusetts, USA 

The first week of October

Pink Footed Geese, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Oct 3, 2023

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 5, 2023

It was an eventful first week of October with the big highlight being three Pink footed Geese that showed up at the ever productive UMASS campus pond. and continued on and off through the period during which they were seen by many.  I focused mainly on warblers for the first week as I tried to catch up with as many species as I could before the vast majority smartly move south to warmer locations and found 15 species in the first seven days.  

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2023

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2023

Lincoln's Sparrows, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2023

Swamp Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2023

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2023

To begin October I headed right over to Arcadia to start adding species for the new month with my main focus being on warblers.  I had some good luck with warblers with ten species present including multiple Tennessee Warblers, Cape May Warblers and Northern Parula as well as a noticeable influx of 'yellow' Palm Warblers.  The biggest highlight beyond the warblers was a very late Great crested Flycatcher.  I made a few other stops as I headed toward home without finding anything too unusual.  Nonetheless it was a good start to the month with 70 species for the day.

Savannah Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2023

Eastern Phoebe, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2023

Lincoln's Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2023

Gray Catbird with band on leg, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2023

American Redstart, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2023

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2023

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2023

House Wren, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2023

I had to work again on Monday so not much birding that day beyond a quick stop at Silvio Conte where the highlight was a distantly calling Sandhill Crane.  Once I was out of work on Tuesday morning I once again tried Arcadia but had to fight thick fog and an overall lack of activity.  The biggest change from a couple days before was a big increase in the number of Savannah Sparrows.  After waiting a bit for the fog to burn off I finally gave up and went across the river to Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River which was also foggy, although not quite as thick.  Highlights there included a slightly late Barn Swallow and a Gray cheeked Thrush in the same area as a few Swainson's Thrushes.  I made a few more stops to end the eventually sunny morning mainly looking for warblers again and having some success.  

White throated Sparrow, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Swamp Sparrows, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Black capped Chickadee, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Foliage and fog, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Red breasted Nuthatch, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Hermit Thrush, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Wilson on a walk before his surgery the following day, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Wilson enjoying the sun, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2023

Wednesday started out as usual with fog that burned off to another gorgeous sunny day with temps that made it into the low 80's.  I started my morning along the rail trail in Ware where I had a late Ruby throated Hummingbird, a flyover Type 12 Red Crossbill, loads of White throated Sparrows and a late Rose breasted Grosbeak.  I also stopped at Quabbin Park briefly and then a couple spots in Belchertown to end the morning. 

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2023

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2023

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2023

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2023

Wilson coming home after surgery, Oct 5, 2023

Thursday the 5th was Wilson's surgery appointment down in Sturbridge.  With a drop off at 7:30 there was no time for any birding in the morning.  Once my boy was dropped off we headed home and found the fog had settled in quite thickly.  I made a few brief stops at Lake Wallace and Quabbin Park but found the areas just too socked in with fog, although I did still have some good stuff including a late Green Heron at the lake.  I finally found a fog free spot in Belchertown and had some great stuff there with a dozen species of warblers with highlights including a late Ovenbird, three late Cape May Warblers and three Northern Parula plus loads of Ruby crowed Kinglets among a total of nearly 40 species.  This would be the last of our sunny and warm days for quite awhile.

Bobcat, Hadley, MA, Oct 6, 2023

Savannah Sparrows, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 6, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, Belchertown, MA, Oct 6, 2023

Friday was a transition day from the beautiful sunny weather the previous few days to overcast conditions with temps starting their slow downward trend.  Although fog was predicted it never materialized so that was nice.  I had a few hours free in the morning before I had to bring Wilson back down to Sturbridge to have the surgeon take a look at his foot a day after surgery.  I tried a few spots in Hadley and Amherst with the focus on sparrows and warblers and then a quick stop to see if the Pink footed Geese were still present (they were not when I stopped but did show up again late in the morning).  A non birding highlight was a Bobcat that strolled down a farm road in Hadley.  I also took a short walk after getting back home with Wilson without finding too much.

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 7, 2023

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 7, 2023

Bonaparte's Gull, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 7, 2023

The first week of October ended on a wet note with occasional drizzle in the morning that continued throughout the day.  I dodged the drizzle as best I could and spent some time along the rail trail before heading to Winsor Dam and then over to Lake Wallace.  The rail trail was quiet overall for the hour I was there.  The dam produced a Bonaparte's Gull that was flying around when I arrived and eventually it settled on the water.  A late Green Heron was the highlight at Lake Wallace.  A front will move through tonight and tomorrow will be much cooler and windier.  I ended the first week with 110 species in the county, which is quite low but there were certainly quality birds among the total.