Another Franklin's Gull and some waterfowl on a windy, cold day

Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 14, 2015

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 14, 2015

Long tailed Ducks, Black Scoter and Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 14, 2015

Northern Pintail, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 14, 2015

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 14, 2015

The invasion of Franklin's Gulls continued today as I found yet another one at Winsor Dam at first light. It appeared to be an adult (or near adult) in flight along with a number of Ring billed Gulls. Even with the anti gull boat patrols in place last night there were still a couple hundred gulls around although most were well to the north and could not be easily identified but most were likely Ring billed Gulls. The Franklin's Gull stuck out among the closer group of Ring billed Gulls by its size, flight style, partially visible hood and wing markings. I last had it in view moving to the west along with a large group of gulls. I then spent the next couple hours hoping that the strong westerly winds would bring something else rare past the dam but it was not to be. There was a decent movement of both waterfowl and raptors but nothing really unexpected. The winds were strong and occasionally would come out of the northwest but mainly the winds stayed west. It certainly felt like the middle of November with temperatures around 40 and winds up to 30+ MPH. I have included the full list from the morning below with additional photos embedded here:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25824724 With no gull patrol on the reservoir tonight hopefully a Franklin's Gull or two will make it into the roost there and will be visible a first light tomorrow. I'll be there for just a little while in the morning before heading out but hopefully it will be a productive brief stop.

A link from eBird regarding this major incursion of Franklin's Gulls can be found here: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/frgu2015/

FRANKLIN'S GULLS at Winsor Dam!

Franklin's Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2015

Franklin's Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2015

Franklin's Gull, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2015

Franklin's Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2015

Franklin's Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2015

A strong low pressure system has been moving through the midwest and Great Lakes region and has resulted in some displacement of birds.  I was not really expecting any to make it out to western Massachusetts today but they certainly did!  The forecast called for strong west winds today and then northwest winds tomorrow so I hoped that some good stuff would arrive but I thought tomorrow would be the day.  I started out the morning at Winsor Dam which featured southwest winds and was quiet so I headed through Quabbin Park and then to Beaver Lake.  Overall fairly quiet with just a smattering of expected species.  I then headed back over to Quabbin to see if the winds had shifted a bit but they had not. I quickly scanned the water with binoculars and noticed two gulls on the water but initially passed by them to scan the remainder of the water.  I then set up the scope and went back to the gulls expecting to find Ring billed Gulls but instead found a couple of dark hooded gulls that immediately struck me as larger than Bonaparte's Gulls with larger, stouter bills.  The dark hood was incomplete on both birds with the hood upsweeping on the back of the neck.  The overall look of the bird had me thinking either Franklin's gull or Laughing Gull but the feel of the bird leaned heavily to Franklin's. The build, less extensive bill and head pattern as well as tail pattern pointed to Franklin's. The two birds were very close together with one appearing to be a near adult (or 2nd winter) with white spotting on dark tail, a hint of eye arcs and gray back.  The second individual appeared at times to be a bit smaller and had a bit of brownish coloration on the back...perhaps a juv bird just transitioning to its winter plumage?  After watching the two for maybe ten minutes a nearby gunshot startled the birds and then flew up and circled around for several minutes allowing me to get some video and photos in flights.  The birds both showed a white trailing edge in flight, an almost short necked appearance, relatively clean under wing, dark wing tips with some white at tips (on at least one of the birds).  They would flap several times and occasionally glide (almost accipter like at times).  They slowly gained altitude and eventually were joined by a third gull but by then they were too far away to see much detail on so there may have been a third individual.

Full album on Flickr with additional photos and video: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/albums/72157660389406257

It appears there was (and continues to be) a major influx of Franklin's Gulls into the east in northeast with some locations producing three digit counts!  My gulls this morning are only the second county record and one of only a handful of western mass records.  The conditions that are produced the Franklin's Gulls could also very well produce Cave Swallows so it could be well worth looking for either species over the next few days.

The Franklin's Gulls became a county bird (#288) a state bird (#318) and a life bird (#916) all in one!  This species also broke my previous big county year total (which I tied just a couple days ago with a Pacific Loon at Winsor Dam also!).  My new year high count for Hampshire County now stands at 237.

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2015

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2015

Besides the gulls there were a number of other birds around including a few species of waterfowl moving south in small groups (Canada Geese, Ring necked Ducks and Common Mergansers among others), a decent movement of American Crows migrating plus some raptors around and a few Snow Buntings and at least one Lapland Longspur with them.

Full list from the morning at the dam:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25814463

PACIFIC LOON at Winsor Dam!

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Pacific Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

The forecast for today called for some strong northerly winds with a bit of rain this morning and with that in mind I headed over to Winsor Dam to see if the winds would blow in any waterfowl.  I arrived about 6:15 and the winds were quite busy out of the north with occasional rain. I set up the scope and started scanning and almost immediately came across a small, dark loon fighting through the waves.  After just a few seconds of looking I knew it was something good and as it turned and gave me a profile look I noted several field marks (small rounded head, short bill, dark back, well defined white/black demarcation line on neck and darkish face) that immediately pointed to Pacific Loon!  An absolutely crazy bird to have at Quabbin and one I hoped to find one day (see an earlier post concerning the subject here:  http://quabbinbirdingandbeyond.blogspot.com/2013/10/waterfowl-and-others-to-be-on-lookout.html.  I studied the bird for several minutes and got a few looks at the hint of a chin strap.  I  attempted some digiscoped shots but the light was just too faint to allow my phone to get an definitive photos.  As I was watching the bird it flushed off the water (thanks to a Bald Eagle) and started gaining altitude as it circled around and headed off to the southeast.  I figured the bird was gone for sure.  I then spent more time scanning and had a number of Common Loons moving by as well as a single group of half a dozen Long tailed Ducks.  A bit after seven I once again found what appeared to be the bird further out when where I had it earlier but the better light allowed for some distant shots through the scope.  Although the view was more distant the field marks were still there.  I again watched the bird for several minutes before taking my eyes off it for a little while during which it either left the area or moved beyond the ability to see it among the waves and rain.  My phone started giving me trouble (which it continued to do for the rest of the day).  I made several return trips to the dam during the rest of the morning into the afternoon with no luck relocating the bird until later in the afternoon when I once again found it even further out than before.  Once again I got a few more shots through the phone before it stopped working again.  The photos once again showed the field marks of the bird.  The loon becomes species #236 for the year which now ties my previous record from last year (a very good year so far as I was not even trying to break my old record).  More photos can be found at the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/albums/72157661111463675

The only other western Massachusetts records I could find for Pacific Loon (from Seth and James article in Bird Observer) include one found in spring in Holyoke (1937) and four records at the lakes in Pittsfield spanning the dates of Oct 30-Dec 2 with most records from the early part of November (1938, 1943, 1964 and 1985).  I could find no records for Hampshire County so it appears to be a first county record if accepted.  Oddly two year ago to the day I found another first county record at Winsor Dam when a female King Eider passed through.  I guess November 11th is a good day to look for unusual waterfowl at Winsor Dam.

Long tailed Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Common Raven, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 11, 2015

Oddly there was little other movement of waterfowl at Winsor Dam beyond the loons with just a half dozen Long tailed Ducks, singles of Surf and Black Scoter and a Black Duck (not a complaint just odd given the weather conditions and the time of year)  A few raptors were also up and about and moving around.  I made brief stops at other nearby spots too looking for waterfowl but didn't have much luck

Yesterday I woke up early so I headed over to Arcadia before work to try my luck at catching up with a Short eared Owl that Dave M. saw a couple days ago.  Luckily the clouds kept it dark long enough to make it over there before it got too light and the owls went to roost for the day.  I arrived a bit before six and after a few minutes of looking spotted a Short eared Owl coursing over the freshly cut fields out near the old trolley line. The owl became species #235 for Hampshire County for the year.  I heard this evening that two owls were present hunting over the fields so may try to catch up with them again if I get a chance.

Weekend around Quabbin

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Greater Scaup and Long tailed Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Lesser Scaup?, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Black Ducks, Mallard and Greater Scaup (R), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

This morning found some waterfowl arriving but still not in the numbers I would expect given the conditions and the date. Perhaps the lack of freeze out to the north has kept the waterfowl from coming down south? I spent the morning, along with Jacob and Justin, at Winsor Dam and then into Quabbin Park. Our first couple hours were spent at Winsor Dam where we had some waterfowl coming in to rest on the water and others moving by to the south. The highlights included a couple Long tailed Ducks, some Bufflehead and a few groups of scaup plus some Black Ducks and Common Loons. There was also a decent movement of American Robins and American Crows as well as a smattering of Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and American Pipits. Here is the full list from our time there:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25754274

Brant, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Long tailed Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

Red necked Grebes, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 8, 2015

We then headed into Quabbin Park where we made stops at Hank's Meadow and Goodnough Dike. Hank's Meadow held a Common Loon and seven Horned Grebes but little else. Goodnough Dike was more productive with a Brant seen distantly sitting on the water (an unusual species in the county) plus another loon plus a big raft of gulls. We then parted company as they went back toward the river to check a few other spots and I stopped at the route 9 marsh (Black Ducks, Mallards and Green winged Teal) and then headed back to Quabbin. A few of the species of waterfowl were still out on the water and a group of three Red necked Grebes had joined them. Another hour at the dam didn't produce too much in the way of new stuff but still fun looking.  Lists from Quabbin Park  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25754291 and from Winsor Dam http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25754289

Snow Buntings, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2015

Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2015

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2015

Yesterday morning I hit some of the same areas but turned up less waterfowl than today.  The highlights included half a dozen each of Bufflehead, Common Merganser and Hooded Merganser plus 14 Common Loons and a Horned Grebe.  I also had a flock of 39 Snow Buntings zip by as they moved past the dam and appeared to settle into the west cove out of sight plus had some flyover finches and siskins.

A very warm day in November...Cackling Geese among others

Cackling Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 6, 2015

Cackling Geese (with Mallard), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 6, 2015

Green winged Teal with Mallards and Canada Geese, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 6, 2015

Dawn, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 6, 2015

I enjoyed an incredible warm day exploring a variety of locations.  I started the morning just before sunrise at Arcadia where the temperatures was already around 60.  The early fog made viewing a bit of a challenge but I still managed to eventually scope out most of the marsh.  I had hopes of finding a coot in among the waterfowl there but no luck today.  However I did find the two continued Cackling Geese in among the 330+ Canada Geese plus a variety of other waterfowl including a high count of 11 Wood Ducks, five Black Ducks, 74 Mallards and 15 Green winged Teal.  The nearby meadows produced more birds but sadly no unusual flycatcher that was blown in on the southerly winds.  The sparrow numbers were down but still some good ones were around including my first Fox Sparrows of the fall.  A somewhat late Palm Warbler also continued along the roadside.  My full list from Arcadia is here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25720337

After Arcadia I stopped briefly along the river in Hadley but didn't find anything too noteworthy.  I then headed over to Quabbin Park which was also very quiet with just a few loons on the reservoir and a handful of ducks on the marsh.  Overall a very nice morning to be out and about for the end of the first week of November.  It appears the weather will switch this evening when a cold front moves through and we stay cool throughout the weekend with west to northwest winds.  I would expect to see a nice influx of waterfowl over the next couple days.

A warm week in early November with southerly winds

Canada Goose with white speckling on neck, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 3, 2015

Mallards and Black Ducks, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 3, 2015

Despite the calendar showing it is early November the weather so far this week (and likely through the end of the week) has been anything but November like with sunny skies and temperatures warming into the upper 60's to low 70's every day.  I cannot remember having a run of such warm and sunny weather in November.  The warm weather and southerly winds have kept waterfowl numbers quite low but I assume this will change once a cold front comes through Friday evening which will cool us down and switch the winds around to a more northerly direction.  I have made brief stops on the way to work at various locations including Winsor Dam, Arcadia and the river in Hadley.  Winsor Dam has been quiet but given that the anti gull patrols have started that is not too surprising (although five Common Loons this morning was nice to see).  Arcadia was a bit active on Tuesday morning but nothing too unusual but the numbers of Wood Ducks is high for this time of year.  I also had a Canada Goose in among the ever growing flock of geese there that had quite a bit of white speckling on the neck.  The river has also been quiet too but again that will likely change by the weekend.  Although the warmer than normal weather has kept the waterfowl numbers down it has been enjoyable to have early fall like temperatures in November.  It will be interesting to see if any unusual birds arrive via the southerly winds this week (perhaps a Cave Swallow or an unusual flycatcher of some sort?).

October ends and November begins with some waterfowl

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 1, 2015

Horned Grebe, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 1, 2015

Double crested Cormorant, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 1, 2015

Possible Cackling Goose with Canada Geese, Hadley, MA, Nov 1, 2015

Today I hit a wide selection of areas primarily in search of waterfowl and I ended the morning with eleven species of waterfowl (and possibly a twelfth) and 57 species overall.  I stopped at the following areas over the course of the morning: Beaver Lake, Quabbin Park, Winsor Dam, Lake Metacomet, Forge Pond in Granby, the Holyoke Dam area, Arcadia, the Connecticut River in Hadley/Northampton and then back to Winsor Dam.  Overall it was fairly quiet given the date but the southerly winds (and somewhat warm temps) probably kept big numbers of waterfowl from showing up.  The entire next week is suppose to feature southerly winds which may bring some southern species our way but should keep most waterfowl up to our north.

Bonaparte's Gulls and Ring billed Gull (rear) and Greater Scaup, Long tailed Ducks and Bufflhead (front), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 31, 2015

Long tailed Ducks and Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 31, 2015

Bonaparte's Gulls (L) with Ring billed Gull and Greater Scaup (R), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 31, 2015

Bonaparte's Gulls (L) with Ring billed Gull and Greater Scaup (R), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 31, 2015

I had just over an hour on Saturday morning to poke around Quabbin before I had to head up to Greenfield for the day.  I made a few stops including Gate 52 and the Route 9 marsh in Quabbin Park, Beaver Lake and Winsor Dam.  Quabbin Park produced 21 Black Ducks, 8 Hooded Mergansers, four Common Loons, a Horned Grebe and a single flyby Snow Bunting at Gate 52.  Yet again Beaver Lake was devoid of waterfowl but fog made viewing the entire area difficult.  Winsor Dam featured a Greater Scaup, two Long tailed Ducks, 7 Bufflehead and a flyby Common Loon plus a group of seven Bonaparte's Gulls and a couple flyby Snow Buntings.  I wish I could have stayed longer at Winsor Dam but I had to head out by eight.  I passed one field in Amherst with over four hundred Canada Geese but a quick scan through the flock didn't produce anything unusual.

Greater Scaup and Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 31, 2015

Long tailed Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 31, 2015

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 31, 2015

In the late afternoon I made a stop back by Winsor Dam and found the Greater Scaup, five Bufflehead and a single group of 38 Long tailed Ducks (a high count for an inland location) and four Common Loons.