New Years Day birds

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Jan 1, 2026

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Jan 1, 2026

 

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Jan 1, 2026

Snowy Owl, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 1, 2026

Horned Larks and Snow Buntings, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 1, 2026

Field Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 1, 2026

Eastern Bluebird, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 1, 2026

New Years Day is always a fun day to get out and bird as an annual count resets on January 1.  Despite cold, snow and wind to start off the new year I headed out to try to track down species to kick off 2026 before we headed south to warmer temps.  My main focus was warblers and more on those can be found at the following link: New Year's Day warblers.  I was out the door before dawn to try to track down owls before the arrival of a cold front with gusty winds and snow squalls.  I hit a variety of areas from Quabbin Park to Hadley before dawn and had the four typically occurring owl species here.  The snow squalls arrived a bit before dawn but the Eastern Screech Owls didn't seem to mind and were calling even during the snow.  Once it was light enough to see I started looking for warblers and found both the continued Audubon's as well as at least five Myrtle's, extending my consecutive streak of at least one warbler species in Hampshire County to 105 months.  During my search for the warblers I found a number of other notables along the river in Hadley over the course of an hour and a half including all the expected species of woodpeckers, a Ruby crowned Kinglet and Hermit Thrush.  As I was leaving the winds were really picking up so I knew it would be tough to track down passerines so decided to head to the East Meadows to see if any of the Snowy Owls were still around.  It was very tundra like there with strong winds and blowing snow and loads of Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and a couple Lapland Longspurs plus at least one Snowy Owl.  I didn't stay too long in the meadows before heading out with a brief stop near the Coolidge Bridge that produced multiple species of waterfowl including two male Ring necked Ducks.  I then headed to Hickory Ridge Conservation Area where I added multiple species of sparrows including at least two Field Sparrows and a Swamp Sparrow.  I then headed home and picked up Wilson for a walk and we added a few more species for the year.  The rest of the day was mainly spent cleaning up the snow and finishing up packing for our long trip south.  By the end of the day I had found 66 species to start the year...not too bad considering the conditions and my lack of time.  Now for a long drive south.

Snowy Owl for Christmas Eve and a Barrow's Goldeneye yesterday push me to my best December ever in Hampshire County with 103 species

Snowy Owl, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Dec 24, 2025

Snowy Owl, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Dec 24, 2025

Snowy Owl, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Dec 24, 2025

After finding a Barrow's Goldeneye yesterday at Winsor Dam that brought me to 102 species for the month and tied my highest ever species total for me in Hampshire County, I broke the record today with an impressive Snowy Owl that showed up in Hadley.  This is the first Snowy Owl I have had in the county since January 2018 so a big rarity for sure.  The Snowy Owl also added a new species for the year for me in the county and I have now tied my second best year ever with a total 245 species (only 2021 had more when I had 249 species).  We had a bit of snow overnight and then a cold wind out of the northwest so I stayed local before coming home to clean up the snow.  Early in the afternoon I got a text from Mary letting me know someone reported a Snowy Owl at the Honey Pot in Hadley.  I immediately headed out the door and made it over to the farm fields and the bird was sitting among the corn stubble and was only perhaps 30 feet off the road.  Loads of other people were present already and I stayed only long enough to get some good looks and photos and then headed out.  Snowy Owls are always impressive and I sincerely hope people do not harass it to try to get photos but that always seems to happen sadly.

Barrow's Goldeneye, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 23, 2025

Barrow's Goldeneye, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 23, 2025

Barrow's Goldeneye, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 23, 2025

Barrow's Goldeneye (L) with Common Goldeneyes, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 23, 2025

The Barrow's Goldeneye was a lucky find yesterday during a bit of snow in the morning.  I stayed close to home and tried my luck at Winsor Dam and the stop paid off with the Barrow's Goldeneye with a couple Common Goldeneye in fairly close (for Quabbin anyway!).  Not the best conditions for photos but at least some came out well enough to see the field marks of a blocky head, steep forehead and small bill.  This is my second Barrow's Goldeneye with the first at Holyoke Dam in mid November.  Subsequent stops at the dam when the snow slowed down did not turn up the bird again so I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

Back from a trip to Costa Rica plus a few birds around here

Three toed Sloth, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 17, 2018

Spotted Wood Quail, Savegre Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2018

Morning view toward ocean, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 17, 2018

Returned from another trip down to Costa Rica yesterday and had a fantastic time.  I'll have a full post about that soon with tons of photos but figured I would include a few for now.

Snowy Owl, Jan 26, 2018

Northern Pintails, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Jan 26, 2018

Meanwhile back in the cold of winter here I turned up a few decent birds on Friday morning including a Snowy Owl and a group of five Northern Pintails.

Black Vultures, Easthampton, MA, Jan 28, 2017

I once again tried (and failed) to find the Redhead that has been seen on and off for a couple weeks at Lower Mill Pond in Easthampton.  My consolation prize was four Black Vultures at the top of a smokestack nearby.

November ends after a long series of rarities and a total of 113 species in the county

MacGillivray's Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 14, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Red throated Loon, Arcadia, Northampton, Nov 21

Cackling Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 29, 2017

Red headed Woodpecker, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

White eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 13, 2017

Red eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, Nov 20, 2017

Yellow rumped Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 27, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

Clay colored Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 15, 2017

Baltimore Oriole, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 15, 2017

I spent the last day of the month once again exploring Arcadia and I found a very respectable 51 species total with several continued rarities and high counts of other species for the end of November.  Highlights included at least 66 Wood Ducks, the Red headed Woodpecker, a Common Yellowthroat, two Yellow rumped Warblers, several hundred Red winged Blackbirds and four Rusty Blackbirds.  Full list from the morning here: Arcadia 11/30

Now that November has come to an end I will take a look at all the rarities and late staying species I had this month.  It was a really great month for birding around here with a way above average total for the month for me, coming in at a very impressive 113 species (impressive for me anyway).  Looking at my eBird data for the last five years (easily viewed with the eBird app) this month beat my previous best November back in 2014 by 13 species.  I typically total in the mid 90's for species for the month.  Although I had slightly lower diversity of waterfowl than typical I didn't spend as much time looking and the warm weather has kept areas to the north ice free so some species have yet to be forced south.  Other families were around in greater variety with three species of shorebirds, six species of owls, seven species of woodpeckers, two species of vireos, four species of warblers and ten species of sparrows.

The list of unusual and/or late lingering species included the biggest highlight being a MacGillivray's Warbler (Nov 13-15), plus multiple Cackling Geese, at least four individual Red throated Loons at three different locations, American Woodcock (through Nov 22), Snowy Owl (Nov 18-20), Short eared Owl (Nov 23), Red headed Woodpecker (Nov 27-end of month), White eyed Vireo (Nov 13), Red eyed Vireo (Nov 20), Gray Catbird (through mid month), Yellow rumped Warbler (through end of month), Common Yellowthroat (through end of month), Clay colored Sparrow (Nov 15) , White crowned Sparrow (through Nov 21), Baltimore Oriole (Nov 15) and Pine Siskin (Nov 19).

A more in depth look at my late dates (and early dates) for warblers in Hampshire County can be found at the following link (if one is so inclined to look at more bird nerd data)...Late and early dates for warblers.

Snowy Owl and other unusual species including Red eyed Vireo, Red throated Loon and Pine Siskin

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 18, 2017

On my way to work on Saturday I headed over to Hadley checking a few spots briefly before heading over to Honey Pot to check to see if the MacGillivray's Warbler was still around despite the cold (temps in the teens).  As I was driving toward the dike I noticed a odd white lump at the top of a telephone pole right next to to the dike and immediately knew it was a Snowy Owl.  I quickly pulled over and got out the scope and got some fantastic close up views (and photos).  It was as close as I have ever been to this magnificent beast of the arctic and those piercing yellow eyes really felt like they were boring right through you.  I would normally post this sighting right away to various sites but given some recent poor behavior from a number of people regarding another Snowy Owl I decided to keep the sighting somewhat secret notifying just a few people.  It was tough to not let more people know about it right away as even those slightly interested in birds love owls but I could not be the one who instigated undue pressure on the bird.  I knew such an obvious species in such a well traveled location on a weekend would not stay secret for too long but I had to do my part to try to limit disturbance.  I have only had three Snowy Owls ever in the county with all three coming from Hadley with the one this year within just a few hundred feet of the one I had back in 2014 (Snowy Owl 2014).  With little time left in the morning before work I had just a brief few minutes to try to relocate the MacGillivray's Warbler and I was unsuccessful in my quest.  More information on what could be a very good year for Snowy Owls around here (as well as many other locations)...Project SNOWstorm.

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 19, 2017

On my way home on Sunday morning in the on and off rain and strong winds I checked to see if the Snowy Owl was still present and it was right back on the same pole I saw it on the day before.  I stopped briefly and got a few photos and then quickly left the area.  A brief stop at Quabbin Park produced a flyover Pine Siskin (perhaps a harbinger of things to come as far as irruptive species are concerned?)

Red eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2017

Red throated Loon, Oxbow at Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2017

Snowy Owl, Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2017

My original plan on Monday was to stay local as the winds were forecast to be strong and I figured finding small passerines would be hard to do and the winds might bring in some waterfowl to Quabbin.  I stopped at Winsor Dam at first light and the winds were light and the water devoid of waterfowl so I scrapped my original plan and instead headed over toward the river.  My first stop there was the Honey Pot where I once again had the Snowy Owl.  I checked for the MacGillivray's Warbler again without any luck (it may have moved on but the winds were kicking up a bit so perhaps it was just hunkered down).  I then headed across the river to Arcadia in search of a very late Red eyed Vireo photographed there the day before.  I ran into Keenan there and after a bit I picked out the vireo feeding in the fruiting trees along with many waxwings.  A really late date for the species and just another in a long string of rarities in the same small area.  Nothing else too unusual around the old orchard area but I did once again see the continuing Red throated Loon in the Oxbow.  I left Arcadia and made a brief drive through the East Meadows were I had at least one Lapland Longspur mixed into a large flock of Horned Larks.  My final stop of the morning was a return back to Winsor Dam where I found a Long tailed Duck, a Red breasted Merganser and a Horned Grebe.

Red throated Loon, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Canada Goose with extensive white on neck, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Cedar Waxwings, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Tufted Titmouse, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

White throated Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Song Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 21, 2017

Today I once again headed over to the fields and meadows along the Connecticut River starting off at the Honey Pot where the Snowy Owl was not in the areas I checked.  No luck relocating the MacGillivray's Warbler once again so I think the bird has either moved out of the area completely or it has taken up residence somewhere else in the local area...lots of good habitat around.  Best species during my times there was a singing White crowned Sparrow.  Most of my time out this morning was spent at Arcadia where I once again had the continued Red throated Loon, a Yellow rumped Warbler,  285+ Cedar Waxwings and an odd Canada Goose among the few hundred geese present.  No luck in  relocating the Red eyed Vireo from the day before.  Still lots of activity in the old orchard area which still looks prime to attract additional rarities.

The 2014 wrap up post

Roadside Hawk, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 24, 2014

Brown Violetear, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 22, 2014

Black bellied Whistling Duck, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Dec 6, 2014

Black cheeked Woodpecker, Chilamate, Costa Rica, Mar 27, 2014

White Pelican, Merritt Island NWR, FL, Jan 19, 2014

Time once again for the end of the year wrap up for 2014.  Another productive year of birding both close to home and far afield.  I ended the year with 602 species overall with 93 of those being life birds bringing my life list total up to 911.  Trips away from my typical spots out here in western Massachusetts included two trips to Costa Rica (one in April and another in December), two trips to Florida (January and December) plus a few short trips to various parts of New England. Costa Rica was spectacular once again and even with these two trips being my fifth and sixth trips down there in the last few years, I still managed to add 91 life birds there this year (always helps to go to a bird rich country!)

Pink footed Goose, Old Pilgram Airport, Hatfield, MA, Mar 23, 2014 (a 1st Hampshire County record)

Snowy Owl, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2014 (the bird that set my all time Hampshire County record)

Little Blue Heron, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Aug 12, 2014

Lark Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, Nov 28, 2014

Red necked Phalarope, Quabbin Park, May 24, 2014 (a typical distant Quabbin bird!)

Nelson's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Although I didn’t have intentions of doing another big county year in Hampshire County this year the species just started adding up early on with lots of unusual stuff so I just had to give it another try to beat my record of 236 set last year.  I managed to break the record ending the year with 237 species seen in Hampshire County with once again a Snowy Owl being the final new species seen for the year in the county.  I suppose with a good irruption year of northern species, a tropical system and a whole lot of luck 240 is possible but not sure when I will try to reach that goal…not next year I promise (unless the good stuff starts rolling in again!).  Lots of highlights this year including five new species for my overall Hampshire County list which now stands at 283 (my goal is to crack 300 for Hampshire County at some point but that will be very difficult!)  The five new species for me in the county include Pink footed Goose (a 1^st Hampshire County record ever) found on the Hatfield/Whately line, a Red necked Phalarope at Goodnough Dike at Quabbin, a Mississippi Kite that flew by in Belchertown, a Blue Grosbeak at Arcadia and a Lark Sparrow at the Honey Pot.  Also got a fair number of species this year I have only had once before in the county (such as Little Blue Heron, Upland Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Snowy Owl, Yellow breasted Chat, Nelson’s Sparrow and Yellow headed Blackbird).  It is always amazing to see all the different species that you can find with a little effort (or perhaps a lot of effort!)

Peregrine Falcon, Honey Pot, Hadley, Mar 7, 2014

 

Hooded Mergansers eggs in nest box, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2014

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, May 7, 2014

Bay breasted Warbler, Belchertown, MA, May 14, 2014 (one of three males in yard at same time!)

I once again participated in several bird surveys over the course of the year including Eastern Whip Poor Will surveys (one from Quabbin Park south to Palmer and the other on the Prescott Peninsula), field bird surveys on Prescott Peninsula, a Breeding Bird Survey route from Belchertown down to the Connecticut line, the Christmas Bird Count, a few other bird surveys and of course, eBird.  Toward the end of the year I was made the eBird reviewer for the three CT river valley counties of Massachusetts (Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden).  I also passed the 15,000 eBird checklist point late in the year, which is just crazy!  It was a really good year for migrants with 30 species of warblers in the county this spring plus three more species in the fall.  The yard was once again quite productive with the big oaks attracting some good stuff.

Next year promises more good stuff with trips already planned back to Costa Rica, Florida and who know where else.