Winter continues into spring with some new arrivals

Green winged Teal, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 25, 2026

Wood Ducks, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 25, 2026

Sunrise, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, Mar 25, 2026

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 24, 2026

Wilson enjoying a fresh coating of snow, Covey MWA, Belchertown, MA, Mar 24, 2026

Hooded Mergansers, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 21, 2026

Canada Goose with neck tag with solar panel on it, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Mar 15, 2026

Ring necked Ducks, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Mar 15, 2026

Wilson on his 15th birthday, Home, Belchertown, MA, Mar 15, 2026

Redhead (with American Black Duck, Northern Pintail and Mallard), Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Mar 15, 2026

The never ending winter continues to drag on with mainly average to below average temps with even a few short bouts of snow moving through.  Thankfully the vast majority of the snow is gone and the water bodies are rapidly losing their ice (even the long frozen Quabbin).  Although the huge flocks of geese have moved further north additional species of waterfowl continue to arrive and the last week and a half has produced multiple new species for me for the year in the county including Northern Shoveler, Pied billed Grebe, Red necked Grebe and Ruddy Duck.  Other notables have included a group of three Sandhill Cranes flying north mid month, the continued female Redhead, first Virginia Rail and Tree Swallows plus some continued irruptives (Evening Grosbeak and Red Crossbills).  The remainder of March will bring more of the same weather with the exception of tomorrow when it will get into the 60's thanks to strong southerly winds.  Mid month also marked Wilson's 15th birthday.

First egg in the duck boxes plus continued unusual waterfowl

Redhead, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 20, 2025

Ring necked Ducks, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 20, 2025

Today dawned cool and drizzly (quite a change from yesterday when it was sunny and in the 60's).  I was not feeling great after work but did make a couple stops on my way home with the highlights being the continued Redhead in Hadley as well as an early Greater Yellowlegs.  The yellowlegs pushes me to 107 species for the month, which ties my highest ever total for the month in Hampshire County.  I'm actually ten species ahead of my previous best March here so no doubt I could beat my record if I was not soon to head off to warmer locations.  Beating my record would be good but I prefer going to the tropics!

Egg in duck box #2, Home, Belchertown, MA, Mar 20, 2025

Around the house I have been checking the duck boxes every few days and noticed about a week ago that at least two of the three boxes had been visited by ducks (the wood chips were pushed down a bit...the first step in the nesting process).  I finally found the first egg today in duck box # 2 (my original box I installed years ago when we moved here).  I will have to wait until I catch a female on the eggs to figure out the species but if history is any gauge it will be Hooded Mergansers once again.

Black capped Chickadee, Home, Belchertown, MA, Mar 18, 2025

I also got the water feature up and running.  Initially I froze my hands trying to hook everything up a few days ago only to find the hose to the top of the fountain was still froze so had to wait for another warm day for the remaining ice to melt and yesterday fit the bill with sun and temps in the mid to upper 60's.  I got a few camera captures even before getting the water running and the first species to show was a Black capped Chickadee.  Look forward to another year of good stuff showing up as migration picks up. 

Redhead adds another species of unusual waterfowl for the month

 

Redhead, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 18, 2025

Redhead, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 18, 2025

Redhead, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 18, 2025

Wood Ducks, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Mar 18, 2025

After missing a group of five Redheads that showed up when I was working last week I didn't think I would get another chance to see this rare duck but I was wrong.  I got a text from Joe last evening that a Redhead was in the flooded fields along Aqua Vitae Road in Hadley.  With less than ideal migration conditions overnight I hoped the bird would stick around.  I headed to the location before dawn and waited for it to get light enough to see.  I scanned through the gathering of waterfowl and actually had a brief view of it fairly early on but it quickly disappeared into the grasses and out of view.  I then spent the next 30+ minutes endlessly scanning with the scope in the wind and cold and I finally relocated it and got some photos...well worth the wait!  Redhead is a rare species here and this is just my sixth Hampshire County record of the species.  Beyond the Redhead I had seven other species of waterfowl with above usual numbers of Wood Ducks and Ring necked Ducks.

Northern Shovelers, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Mar 18, 2025

Northern Shovelers, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Mar 18, 2025

Brown Creeper, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Mar 18, 2025

Song Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Mar 18, 2025

Wood Ducks with American Black Ducks, Green winged Teal and Common Merganser, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Mar 18, 2025

American Black Ducks, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Mar 18, 2025

Green winged Teal, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Mar 18, 2025

I decided to try for some additional waterfowl so headed across the river and up to Great Pond where the flooded areas offered lots of duck habitat.  The habitat produced some good variety and numbers with the highlights including three Northern Shovelers, 144 Wood Ducks, 52 American Black Ducks and 162 Green winged Teal (all appeared to be American subspecies).  It has been a fantastic March for me so far with a total of 106 species in the county so far (just one shy of my highest ever total of 107 back in 2021).  Waterfowl has figured in prominently (as expected) with 27 species so far.

Wilson on St. Patrick's Day, Home, Belchertown, MA, Mar 17, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Mar 17, 2025

Yesterday (St. Patrick's Day) was mainly rainy with limited visibility throughout the day.  I tried a few spots during the day without too much luck.

Christmas day rarities including Pine Warbler and Redhead

Pine Warbler, Northampton, MA, Dec 25, 2022

Pine Warbler, Northampton, MA, Dec 25, 2022

Eastern Bluebirds, Northampton, MA, Dec 25, 2022

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Northampton, MA, Dec 25, 2022

I started off a very cold Christmas morning after a long shift at work at a private residence in Northampton that has been hosting a Pine Warbler.  The bird first showed up on the 16th during our first real snow of the season.  I tried for it on the 17th and again on the 21st but had no luck during those previous visits.  I did turn up a very unique looking dark American Goldfinch on the 21st that continued this morning (but was never in view long enough to get a photo).  I was at the location for almost an hour and was on the verge of throwing in the towel for the morning as I was really starting to get cold but thankfully I stayed long enough to finally see the bird.  As I was scanning the various feeders in the yard I had a group of Eastern Bluebirds show up and start feeding from a meal worm feeder and almost immediately I noticed the Pine Warbler had arrived too.  He was on the ground initially and then hopped to a couple other perches as it waited for the bluebirds to move on from the feeder.  I didn't stay long after getting some photos as I didn't want to bother the bird plus I wanted to warm up.  Besides the warbler I had at least four Red Crossbills fly over but they passed by before I could fish out my phone to get a recording plus I had another banded Black capped Chickadee (different from the one I had on my previous two visits).

Redhead, Connecticut River, South Hadley, MA, Dec 25, 2022

Redhead, Connecticut River, South Hadley, MA, Dec 25, 2022

After my time with the Pine Warbler I headed toward home but decided to make a couple quick stops in hopes of finding the Greater White fronted Goose that has been in the area for a few weeks and lately has been seen in a few spots in South Hadley.  I first stopped by a series of farm fields where it has been seen within the last couple days but all I could find were a handful of Canada Geese hunkered down.  I then stopped by a nearby marina and saw the bird as soon as I pulled up to the near flood stage Connecticut River.  I got out of the car to snap a few photos and then noticed a male Redhead even closer.  Redhead is a rare species around here but this year seems to be a great year for them in western Mass.  After getting photos of the Redhead I could not relocate the Greater White fronted Goose so I assume it floated further downriver with some other waterfowl.  Two more rare species for the day was a nice end to birding on a cold Christmas morning and three new species for the month, bringing me to a total of 95 with about a week left...I may yet get to 100.

A record setting November comes to an end

Redhead, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 21, 2022

Palm Warbler 'western', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2022

Greater White fronted Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2022

Cackling Goose, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 19, 2022

Black legged Kittiwake,Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 10, 2022

Common Eider (with Black Scoters), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 9, 2022

Sandhill Cranes, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 9, 2022

Orange crowned Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 7, 2022

Golden Eagle, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 7, 2022

Ruddy Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 2, 2022

Eastern Phoebe, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 1, 2022

November has now almost come to an end and it was a very active month here with a total of 124 species in Hampshire County for me.  This beats my previous best November in 2020 when I had 122 species.  The average over the last ten years is about 95 species for the month but I have exceeded 100 for the last five years.  The high count is thanks to a number of rarities, a few lingering species and some irruptive species.  The rarities included Red Phalarope, Yellow headed Blackbird, Golden Eagle, Sandhill Cranes, Common Eider (county species #304 for me), Black legged Kittiwake and a Redhead.  Waterfowl figured prominently in the total for the month with 32 species (geese, ducks, loons, grebes, etc) but I did miss some species I would typically find in November (like Red necked Grebe).  Irruptive species that have shown up so far included Evening Grosbeaks, Red Crossbills and Pine Siskins.  If the finch forecast pans out as predicted this winter will be very good for a large variety of irruptives...time will tell.  I found a total of five species of warblers for the month, a decent count for the month but not my best November ever.

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 8, 2022

Dark eyed Junco, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 13, 2022 (last capture of the year at the water feature)

Bobcats, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 1, 2022

White tailed Deer, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 17, 2022

Gray Foxes, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 25, 2022

I continue to capture some good stuff on the camera I have at the house positioned along Jabish Brook with several mammals including paired up individuals.  I also buttoned up the water feature for the year and had lots of good stuff over the course of the season.

Redhead caps a cold third week of November

Redhead, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 21, 2022

Redhead, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 21, 2022

Redhead, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 21, 2022

Redhead, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 21, 2022

I ended the third week of November with killer looks at a Redhead male that showed up at the UMASS campus pond.  The bird was discovered by Matt McKenna and I was alerted to it by Cory and Kalpesh (and then others).  Although I had seen one very briefly in February this year, having one in close at the campus pond was too good to pass up.  Once I was sure it was still being seen I headed over and immediately had the bird in super close among the hordes of Mallards and Canada Geese.  I have never had such great looks of the species around here.  In fact this is just my third record in Hampshire County for the species with the first being a male back in March of 2005.  Loads of other birders were present and got to see the bird.  I wish I could have stayed a bit longer but didn't want to push my luck where I was parked and end up with a parking ticket.  I got a quick look at the continued Cackling Goose as I scanned through the geese.  A really great way to end the third week of the month.  The Redhead becomes species #122 for me in Hampshire County for the month and I have now tied my previous best November in the county (set in 2020) with more than a week of the month remaining.  What other rarities will show up before the month closes?  Who knows?

Hooded Mergansers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 21, 2022

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 21, 2022

Common Goldeneyes, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 21, 2022

I started off another cold day (19 degrees and breezy) with a stop at Winsor Dam and almost as soon as I arrived I had two Brant fly past (with at least one vocalizing).  Although I intended to make it a brief stop the waterfowl show was too good to walk away from so I spent well over an hour watching stuff on the water and flying by.  I ended my time at the dam with a dozen species of waterfowl with some in active migration.  

Palm Warbler 'western', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2022

Greater White fronted Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2022

After a busy night overtime shift I got out of work and made a quick stop at Paradise Pond to try again to catch up with the Greater White fronted Goose for the month but the pond was mostly ice covered and featured just a pair of Mallards for waterfowl. I decided I would try nearby Arcadia and once I scoped through the birds on the mostly frozen marsh I found a Greater White fronted Goose. The bird took off shortly thereafter. I also had a single American Wigeon among the more expected waterfowl plus a few dozen Green winged Teal. I decided to then hit some areas that are not too safe to be in during hunting season expect on a Sunday and my next stop was the East Meadows.  Unfortunately my arrival there corresponded with the arrival of a cold front which brought strong winds that continued for the rest of the day.  I had hopes to track down some late warblers there as well as a couple spots in Hadley along the river but the windy conditions were just too much.  With just a limited amount of time left to spend outside before I had other commitments I made one more stop at a small thicket that held a Yellow rumped Warbler the day before and I heard a Yellow rumped as soon as I arrived.  As I walked toward the thicket I noticed a bird down low and a binocular view showed a very late Palm Warbler!  I added two Yellow rumped Warblers plus another warbler species that got away without an ID...not bad for a windy, cold day!  More on the warblers at the following link.

Cackling Goose, UMASS campus pond, Amherst, MA, Nov 19, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 19, 2022

White throated Sparrow, USFWS HQ, Hadley, MA, Nov 19, 2022

Eastern Bluebird, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 19, 2022

I was out early in the morning on Saturday and spent a few hours around UMASS looking for whatever I may find.  I initially failed to locate the Cackling Goose during an early visit to the campus pond but after a few other stops looking for passerines elsewhere on campus I returned to the pond and found the bird in among a growing flock of Canada Geese.  Always a fun species to pick out of a goose flock.  I made a few other stops in Hadley before heading home but nothing too out of the expected was found.

Swamp Sparrow, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 18, 2022

Horned Grebes, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 18, 2022

Friday was yet another cold day and I spent my time in the morning close to home with visits to Quabbin and nearby Lake Wallace.  Nothing out of the expected at Quabbin but seeing some Horned Grebes in close (including one with some retained breeding plumage) was nice.

Black Scoters with Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 17, 2022

Despite another busy shift at work on Wednesday I headed out on another windy, cold day on Thursday morning and first tried to find the Greater White fronted Goose at Smith College but failed.  I then made a stop at Arcadia before heading south along the river down to the Holyoke Dam.  All these areas proved to be quiet.  A couple stops at Winsor Dam turned up some scoters and other waterfowl.  The most notable species for the morning was a late Ruby crowned Kinglet at Piper Farm Conservation Area.

American Tree Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 15, 2022

Horned Lark, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 15, 2022

American Pipit, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 15, 2022

Fox Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 15, 2022

White crowned Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 15, 2022

American Coots, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 15, 2022

I began the third week of the month with an after work trip up to Great Pond and had some waterfowl (with some of the American Coots continuing) plus eight species of sparrows (including three White crowned Sparrows).  The Horned Larks and American Pipits present were quite cooperative.  Thankfully the morning was calm with little wind so the cold temps were tolerable.