High count of Northern Shoveler at Winsor Dam (plus other good stuff)

Northern Shovelers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 24, 2023

Northern Shovelers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 24, 2023

Northern Pintails (with two Mallards and an American Black Duck), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 24, 2023

Pine Warblers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 24, 2023

Black capped Chickadee, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 24, 2023

Tufted Titmouse, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 24, 2023

Red winged Blackbirds, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 24, 2023

Although not a blockbuster morning for diversity of waterfowl at Winsor Dam I did manage to get my largest group ever of Northern Shovelers in Hampshire County when a group of eight flew past heading south plus I also had a group of 13 Northern Pintails also flying south (with a couple of Mallards and an American Black Duck joining them).  My previous high count for Northern Shoveler was back in early April 2015, when I had six in Hadley.   I almost missed these birds as my original plan was not to spend too much time at the dam again after spending an hour there yesterday (mainly checking up on the continuing group of Pine Warblers).  I started my morning at the dam but the selection of waterfowl was quite sparse with the highlight being a dozen Common Loons scattered across the reservoir so I headed to another spot in Quabbin Park.  Without too much activity at that stop and wanting to stay local and not drive far I quickly headed back to the dam and figured I would once again concentrate on tracking down the Pine Warblers.  I quickly found at least five feeding in the tops of the cone laden Eastern White Pines, along with a number of other species enjoying the great cone crop.  I then walked around the area of the dam and admin building with a couple brief stops to scan the waters of the reservoir.  I ended up spending two hours there and was quite happy with my choice of staying close to home....although finding a Ancient Murrelet or Dovekie would have really been nice!

Some lingering species on Thanksgiving

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 23, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 23, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 23, 2023

Pine Siskin, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 23, 2023

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 23, 2023

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 23, 2023

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 23, 2023

American Robin, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 23, 2023

Northern Flicker, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 23, 2023

Carolina Wren, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 23, 2023

I had a few hours free to start this Thanksgiving and decided to spend them looking for some lingering warblers (and perhaps some other species).  I started before dawn at Winsor Dam making a quick check for waterfowl and finding almost none (just a handful of loons...waterfowl numbers continue to be low for the fall).  I then had to decide where to go next and I settled on Mount Holyoke College to see if the Wilson's Warbler was still around.  I knew it was unlikely the bird would be active so early as it was still in the 30's but I tried nonetheless.  I checked all of its favored areas multiple times and came up empty as far as warblers go.  I did have a decent selection of other species including at least one (possibly two) Ruby crowned Kinglet.  Hopefully the warbler is still around and was just not active while I was there.  As it was a bit before nine when I finished at the college I still had a bit more time so headed over to Winsor Dam to look for the group of Pine Warblers I have had there as recently as yesterday (despite the cold and rainy weather).  I hoped to track down more than the two I had there yesterday and had some good luck.  I eventually found the mixed flock with the Pine Warblers and had at least five individuals present.  The numbers of Pine Siskins were also impressive with nearly fifty around and showing well.

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose returns for a fourth winter

Pale/Leucistic Canada Goose, Smith College, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2023

Pale/Leucistic Canada Goose, Smith College, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2023

Pale/Leucistic Canada Goose, Smith College, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2023

Pale/Leucistic Canada Goose, Smith College, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2023

I came across a pale Canada Goose this morning at Paradise Pond at Smith College and I presume it to be the same unique individual returning for the fourth winter to the local area.  I first found this bird on January 6th of 2021 at Arcadia and then caught up with it again a week or so later at the UMASS campus pond in a snow storm and it continued in the area through January and then I lost track of it.  The following fall it arrived in late November and it stayed around throughout the winter of 2021-2022.  It arrived back in the area for the winter of 2022-2023 in late December and stayed until the early part of March.  It is now back in the area for the fourth winter season in a row.  It really is a neat looking individual and will hopefully stay around.  Would love to know where the bird spends its summer.

Pale/Leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 6, 2021

Pale/Leucistic Canada Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 14, 2021

Pale/Leucistic Canada Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Jan 15, 2021

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2021

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Dec 20, 2021

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Feb 16, 2022

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Dec 30, 2022

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, Hadley, MA, Jan 5, 2023

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 26, 2023

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 31, 2023

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Feb 11, 2023

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Mar 8, 2023

Here is a sample of some photos I have captured of this individual the last few years at various spots in the valley as it travels around with typical looking Canada Geese.

Cackling Goose, Smith College, Northampton, MA, Nov 20, 2023

Although I did not see the Pink footed Geese among the few hundred Canada Geese at Smith College this morning I did find a Cackling Goose that showed fairly well.

Western Cattle Egret and four species of warblers this morning

Western Cattle Egret, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

With temps that eventually made it to the upper 50's and sunny and calm conditions and a few late warbler species in the area lately I decided to try my luck at tracking as many warbler species as I could this morning...a sorta big warbler day in mid November.  I had my spots I wanted to hit and had good luck at each for both warblers and other stuff.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

I started at the UMASS campus pond before the sun came up in the hopes that at least one of the Common Yellowthroats present there at the beginning of the month continued until today but no luck.  The area near where I had two yellowthroats before featured two students on a see saw raising money by see sawing for 24 hours...the activity and noise made tracking down warblers there impossible.  Next I headed down along the river in Hadley to find at least one Yellow rumped Warbler and found at least three...hopefully these will continue into the rapidly approaching winter season.

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

American Black Duck, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

White throated Sparrow, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

My next stop was down to Mount Holyoke College to try to find the continued Wilson's Warbler.  I got there a little before 7:30 and it was still fairly cold.  I made a quick walk around the area and didn't have any luck initially but I thought I heard but could not confirm it so I kept walking around.  As I was standing in the small garden a yellow blur went by and landed in some weeds and then popped up low in a tree.  The Wilson's Warbler had made an appearance and was seen feeding very actively.  With two warbler species down I left the college and headed north to try to find a Nashville Warbler.

Western Cattle Egret, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Nov 16, 2023

As I was on my way from Mount Holyoke College up to Great Pond I made a brief detour down to the East Meadows see if a reported Western Cattle Egret was still around and I found it right away (thanks Joe) as it chilled on a fence post near a small barn (the new name of Western Cattle Egret is the result of a split giving the world Western Cattle Egret and Eastern Cattle Egret).

Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Song Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

House Finch, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

White crowned Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Field Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Golden crowned Kinglet, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Green winged Teal, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Once I arrived at Great Pond I was able to locate the continued Nashville Warbler fairly quickly and got some much better photos.  I then spent the next hour plus in a fruitless attempt to find a Palm Warbler in the area.  Although I failed on finding a Palm Warbler I did find some good stuff including 60+ Green winged Teal, three Great Blue Herons, a couple Field Sparrows and a White crowned Sparrow.

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Chipping Sparrow, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

House Finch, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Red tailed Hawk, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

White throated Sparrow, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

I then made the drive back east with my destination being Winsor Dam to look for some of the Pine Warblers that have been hanging in the area.  It took over an hour of wandering around before I finally came across the flock the Pine Warblers were in.  I counted at least half a dozen individuals with a variety of plumages from bright yellow to gray.  Probably the largest group I have had of Pine Warblers this late in the season.  During my search for the warblers I had a variety of species including two late Chipping Sparrows among the large flock that contained the Pine Warblers.

By the end of the morning I had found four species of warblers, a new species for me for the year in the county with the Western Cattle Egret and several other lingering species among a total of 60 species.  Much more on the warblers for the morning at the following link.