MA - March in northern Franklin County

Northern Shovelers - (with Mallards) Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 27th, 2018.

After a promising start, March turned out to be a relatively quiet and rather wintery month. Numbers of waterfowl appeared to be fairly stable with continued large numbers of Ring-necked Ducks, Common and Hooded Mergansers loafing at Barton Cove and the female Redhead present through to at least mid-month. The last few days saw better diversity with increased numbers of American Black Ducks, Wood Ducks (19 together on the Connecticut River at Erving), Green-winged Teal ( 9 together at Barton Cove on the 30th) and Northern Shoveler (4, including three males at Barton Cove during 27th - 29th), and Lesser Scaup (3 at Barton Cove and 2 at Erving), and also a smattering of Bufflehead, Northern Pintail and American Wigeon on several days throughout March. And there was a nice early Pied-billed Grebe at Barton Cove on the 30th. 

Pied-billed Grebe (in the mist) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 30th, 2018.

Cackling Goose - with Canada Geese, Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. March 10th, 2018.

Image appears courtesy of Josh Layfield . 

On March 10th, Josh Layfield found a Cackling Goose at the power canal in Turner's Falls. It was a typical Richardson's (B.h.hutchinsii) and remarkable in the sense that it was the only definitive Cackling Goose that I've managed to see in Franklin County all winter. Moreover, it appeared for just one day and was evidently associated with the large numbers of Canada Geese (1500+) moving through that particular weekend. On the 30th, both Brian Kane (in Sunderland) and Josh Layfield (at Barton Cove) had a large flock of Snow Geese migrating north in late afternoon, most likely the same individual flock of around 100 birds.


The first two weeks of March also saw continued numbers of Iceland Gulls (up to 7) and Glaucous Gulls (up to 2 first-cycle birds) at  Barton Cove through to about March 12th. After that, gull numbers and diversity gradually dwindled, though a single Iceland Gull was still present through to March 28th at least.

Iceland Gull (first-cycle) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. March 27th, 2018.

At beginning of the month, Black Vultures began to appear over downtown Greenfield with increased numbers of Turkey Vultures with no less than 11 Blacks in one flock over Federal Street on March 8th, by the far the largest single flock of Black Vultures that I've recorded in Franklin County. Towards the end of the month, and perhaps a little later than average, Fish Crows started to appear along Federal Street in Greenfield, with others in Turner's Falls including seven together in Unity Park on the 29th.

Fish Crows - three of seven feeding on Sumac, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. March 29th, 2018.

Arrivals of summer breeders also appeared to be later than average this year Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1 at Gill Elementary on the 30th), Pine Warbler (1 at Gill at Elementary on the 30th) and Eastern Phoebe showing up before the end of the month but only just, and none of them widespread before April 1st. Indeed, Tree Swallows seemed absent altogether and I was unable to find any in Gill before the month ended. A strong contender for bird-of-the-month was stunning adult Red-shouldered Hawk along Boyle Road, Gill on the 27th and spotted by our son Matan as I drove him to school. Equally memorable has been the impressive concentration of displaying American Woodcocks along North Cross Road in Gill, with seven seemingly undeterred by a foot of fresh snow on the 14th, and at least 10 displaying there on the 29th.

MA - a 'mini' big day in Franklin County 02/28

Red Crossbill - first-year male, Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017.

The end of February has been incredibly mild and exceedingly spring-like. Suffering from a little cabin fever, I felt the need for a full day in the field but rather than drive two hours to the coast I chose to stay local. With no fixed agenda or premeditated plan, I attempted a rather low key 'big day' in Franklin County, something that I've never tried before but I am likely to repeat. The goal was to simply poke around and see what I could dig up within a few miles of the house. The day was split into two sessions (06:30-12:30 and 15:00 - 19:30hrs) and I ended up with a tally of 54 species which I thought was pretty decent considering that it was a solo effort. As so often with big days, the 'big misses' hurt and Cooper's Hawk, Wild Turkey, American Woodcock, Horned Lark and Golden-crowned Kinglet somehow managed to elude me, and all of which are present currently in the local area. Then there's the 'near misses' with species such as Black Vulture and Barrow's Goldeneye seen before the 28th, or the Northern Harrier and Merlin in Gill the day after! Anyhow, it was a great test and a nice reminder of just how diverse the Pioneer Valley can be at times.

Red Crossbill - adult male, Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017.

Red Crossbill - adult male, Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017. Apparently collecting nest material.

Red Crossbill - adult male and female, Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017. Courtship feeding?

Red Crossbill - adult female, Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017. 

Highlights were many with just about all of the following sightings within a mile or two of the Connecticut River between Montague and Northfield;

Ring-necked Duck - 42 (one raft of 31 at Barton Cove).
Greater Scaup - 2 males at Turner's Falls. Nice but down from the five males on the 26th.
Great Horned Owl - 1 (seen at 07:15 in Gill)
Barred Owl - 3 (1 seen, pair heard catawauling)
Northern Saw-whet - 3 (all males 'soft' tooting).
Kumlien's Iceland Gull - 4 (3 first-cycle, 1 second-cycle), Barton Cove, Gill.
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 15
Red Crossbill - 12 plus. Males singing, several pairs seen carrying nest material and courtship feeding observed. However, no actual nests located.
Fish Crow - 1 calling Unity Park, Turner's Falls. Back at one of last year's breeding sites.

Weather: 32 deg F at first light rising to around 62 deg F by late afternoon. Clouds and light showers early giving way to a clear, sunny afternoon with a light but sometimes blustery south-westerly breeze.

Miles: 58 driven; 4 walked.

Fish Crow - Unity Park, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017. 

Eight pairs bred in Turner's Falls in 2016 including three pairs in Unity Park alone. 

Greater Scaups - two males with Ring-necked Ducks, Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017. 

Hooded Mergansers - adult male and female, Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017. 

Breeding pairs moving back into the small ponds and swamps, this pair was in Gill.

Kumlien's Iceland Gull - first-cycle, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. February 28th, 2017.

Kumlien's Iceland Gull - second-cycle, Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. February 28th, 2017.

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017.

Barred Owl - Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017.

Northern Saw-whet Owl - Franklin Co., February 28th, 2017.

A busy evening for these with three males calling from just one location. 

MA - ibis, orioles and Fish Crows aplenty

Apologies for the lack of posts lately. I've been busy with fieldwork in the Pioneer Valley so had little time for blogging. That much said there's been plenty going on in Gill and surroundings and the normally 'quiet' mid-June period has yielded a number of incidental surprises, not least of which was a dark (Plegadis) ibis heading north over West Gill Road on Sunday  morning (06/14). No pics unfortunately, not even any bins as I was riding my bike at the time but it was almost certainly a Glossy Ibis. On the other hand, White-faced Ibis is occurring with increasing frequency in Massachusetts and has even been found breeding in the state and I don't think can be ruled out on a fly-by.

Another surprise this week has been the number of Orchard Orioles on territory in Gill. This is my fourth spring in the area and the month of June normally yields one or two singing males, especially along River Road but over this last weekend I had singing males on North Cross Road, Main Road (3) and at Gill Elementary School and I haven't even checked River Road where this male (below) was singing in late May.

Orchard Oriole - singing male, River Road, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. late May 2015.

On Sunday afternoon we had a family bike ride in Turner's Falls and heard and saw a Fish Crow calling at last year's breeding site just south-east of the 11th Street bridge. This is now the third year in a row that I've had them here in summer and it appears to be a traditional breeding spot. Later the same afternoon, I photographed this family group of calling birds on the powerline cut above Greenfield's Stop n' Shop supermarket. And then, returning to Turner's Falls, had another family group of Fish Crows flyover the 11th Street bridge. I love hearing their nasal calls and they certainly seemed to be established as summer breeders in the Turner's Falls/Greenfield area.

Fish Crows - vocalizing birds, Stop n' Shop, Greenfield, Franklin Co., MA. June 14th, 2015. 

Three of four present around the supermarket parking lot on a hot Sunday afternoon. 

Since I was in Turner's Falls, I spent a bit of time looking at the local Turkey Vultures hoping for a return of last months Black Vultures. No such luck with the Black Vultures but it was nice to see a Peregrine sparring with the vultures for a few seconds before it moved over the town.

Turkey Vulture - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. June 14th, 2015.

One of about 15 roosting around the Turner's Falls bridge. No sign of any Black Vultures today.

MA - Fish Crow at Turner's Falls - 08/30

In general, I don't usually get too excited by crows but this evening, whilst cycling on the Turner's Falls bike path with Matan, I heard in the unmistakable calls of a Fish Crow. It was vocalizing from the utility poles along the bike path and the derelict buildings south of the 11th Street bridge. This might not sound too thrilling for birders further south in Hampshire County and elsewhere in Massachusetts but this was the first Fish Crow that I've personally heard and seen at Turner's Falls despite many regular visits since 2005. Other than that, the only other 'local' observation that I have was a calling bird on Federal Street in Greenfield in early April 2011.

Fish Crow - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. August 30th, 2013.

Giving diagnostic nasal calls, otherwise we would have rode straight underneath it!

 

Moreover, once we got back to the vehicle on Depot Street, a small flight of high flying Common Nighthawks was taking place followed by a calling  fly-over Semi-palmated Plover - not too shabby for an evening bike ride!

Great Blue Heron - Turner's Falls power canal, Franklin Co., MA. August 30th, 2013.