Northampton Bird Watcher's Club
Past Northampton Waterfowl Survey Results

Bird
2002
2003
2004
2005
Pied-Billed Grebe
1
1
1
-
Canada Goose
1670
824
1322
1038
Mute Swan
2
-
4
4
Wood Duck
6
-
3
10
Black Duck
43
44
42
27
Mallard
273
223
211
285
Northern Pintail
-
-
1
-
American Wigeon
2
1
-
-
Green-winged Teal
-
17
-
-
Ring-necked Duck
2
20
-
-
Hooded Merganser
22
5
13
7
Common Merganser
28
24
161
54
Bufflehead
-
1
-
-
American Coot
-
1
-
-
Total
2049
1161
1821
1424

4th Annual Northampton Waterfowl Census
Nov 12-13, 2005

Participants: Chris Ellison, Pete Yeskie, Heather McQueen, & Chris Gentes.

Totals: 7 Species, 1424 Individual Birds

Saturday Nov 12 (6:30am - 3:30pm): Mute Swan-4, Canada Goose-1038, Wood Duck-2, Black Duck-19, Mallard-273, Hooded Merganser-5, Common Merganser-54, DC Cormorant-2, Bald Eagle-1, Red-tailed Hawk-6, Peregrine Falcon-1, Cooper's Hawk-1, Sharp-shinned Hawk-1, Ring-billed Gull-37, Rock Pigeon-25, Mourning Dove-10, Kingfisher-7, Downy Woodpecker-8, Hairy Woodpecker-1, Red-bellied Woodpecker-1, American Crow-25, Black-capped Chickadee-30, White-breasted Nuthatch-4, Red-breasted Nuthatch-5, Tufted Titmouse-6, Brown Creeper-2, Golden-crowned Kinglet-5, Eastern Bluebird-2, American Robin-31, Starling-110, Cardinal-8, Dark-eyed Junco-41, American Tree Sparrow-5, Song Sparrow-1, FOX SPARROW-1 (1st club record), Swamp Sparrow-1, White-throated Sparrow-4, Red-winged Blackbird-10, Common Grackle-4, Goldfinch-28, House Sparrow-10.

Sunday Nov 13 (7am-12:30pm) Mute Swan-2, Canada Goose-16, Wood Duck-8, Black Duck-8, Mallard-50, Hooded Merganser-2, Common Merganser-30, DC Cormorant-1, Great Blue Heron-1, Turkey Vulture-1, Bald Eagle-1, Red-tailed Hawk-3, Ring-billed Gull-20, Herring Gull-1, Rock Pigeon-10, Mourning Dove-5, Kingfisher-1, Northern Flicker-1, Downy Woodpecker-2, Hairy Woodpecker-1, Red-bellied Woodpecker-4, American Crow-120, Blue Jay-4, Black-capped Chickadee-16, White-breasted Nuthatch-5, Red-breasted Nuthatch-3, Tufted Titmouse-3, Brown Creeper-4, Golden-crowned Kinglet-5, Carolina Wren-2, Eastern Bluebird-1, American Robin-10, Starling-15, Yellow-rumped Warbler-2, Cardinal-6, Dark-eyed Junco-10, American Tree Sparrow-6, Song Sparrow-1, White-throated Sparrow-2, Red-winged Blackbird-3, Common Grackle-5, Goldfinch-11, House Sparrow-5.

 

3rd Annual Northampton Waterfowl Census
Nov 13-14, 2004

Participants: Heather McQueen, Chris Gentes, Pete Yeskie, Janice Jorgensen

Totals: 9 species, 1821 individual birds

It snowed overnight Friday, but Saturday morning was clear. Mostly sunny with a bit of a breeze. Cold. Water levels were high throughout the area. Saturday night was very cold and clear. Most of the ponds froze over. Sunday was clear and pleasant with a slight breeze.

Pied-billed Grebe (1) One was seen at Fitzgerald Lake on both days. Sunday it was observed swallowing a sunfish after a bit of a struggle getting it in postition.
Canada Goose (1322) Most seen at Roberts Meadow Reservoir (770) and Look Park (480).
Mute Swan (4) Seen on Saturday in the Oxbow area.
Wood Duck (3) Two males and a female seen Sunday in Arcadia Marsh.
Mallard (223) Most in the two usual spots - Look Park (112), Arcadia Marsh (67).
Black Duck (44) Fifteen seen Sunday in the Arcadia Marsh may have been the same group seen Satruday in the Old Mill River (frozen on Sunday).
Northern Pintail (1) Male in fresh plumage seen Sunday in Arcadia Marsh.
Hooded Merganser (13) Three in the Old Bed both days, 3 at Roberts Meadow Reservoir Saturday and 7 females at Fitz. Lake Saturday.
Common Merganser (161) The old bed had 127 on Saturday and 137 on Sunday. Other locations included 3 on Conn River, 7 Roberts Meadows Reservoir, 27 on Oxbow.

OTHER BIRDS OF NOTE SEEN

Saturday - DC Cormorant-4, GB Heron-3, Killdeer-1, Hermit Thrush-1.
Sunday: DC Cormorant-1, GB Heron-6, Bald Eagle-3, Kingfisher-2.

2nd Annual Northampton Waterfowl Census
Nov 8-9, 2003

Participants: Heather McQueen, Chris Gentes

Totals: 11 species, 1,161 individual birds

11 species of "waterfowl" were observed in over 25 different locations, all within the city limits of Northampton. Noticable misses include Mute Swan and Wood Duck. Some places were checked both days, while others were checked only one day. Only the highest total for either day are listed below. Water levels were very high on the Connecticut River, Oxbow and Arcadia Marsh. Shallow water frozen overnight Sunday.

Pied-billed Grebe (1) A single individual observed in the Oxbow.
Canada Goose (824) Look Park (243), Fitzgerald Lake (203), Roberts Meadow Res. (145), Arcadia Marsh (106), East Meadows fly-by (67), Paradise Pond (20).
Mallard (223) Look Park (112), Arcadia Marsh (67), Wood Duck Pond (23), Oxbow (15), Fitzgerald Lake (5), East Meadow Pond (3). Rookery Pond (1).
Black Duck (44) Wood Duck Pond (17), Look Park (16), Arcadia Marsh( 5), East Meadows fly-by (4), Rookery Pond (2).
American Wigeon (1) One seen in Arcadia Marsh
Green-winged Teal (17) Arcadia Marsh (10), Fitzgerald Lake (5), Wood Duck Pond (2).
Ring-necked Duck (20) Arcadia Marsh (11), Fitzgerald Lake (9)
Hooded Merganser (5) Water St. (2), Upper Res.(1), Robert's Meadow Res. (1), E. Meadow Pond (1).
Common Merganser (24) Robert's Meadow Res. (11), Paradise Pond (10), Leeds Beach (1), Water St. (1), East Meadow Pond (1).
Bufflehead (1) Connecticut River (1)
American Coot (1) Fitzgerald Lake (1)

Daily Results

Saturday, November 8, 2003
Pied-billed Grebe (1), Great Blue Heron (1), DC Cormorant (3), Canada Goose (824), Mallard (223), Black Duck (44), Am. Wigeon (1), Green-winged Teal (17), Ring-necked Duck (20), Common Merganser (11), Hooded Merganser (1), Bufflehead (1), Sharp-shinned Hawk (2), Red-tailed Hawk (4), Ring-necked Pheasant (1), AMERICAN COOT (1), Greater Yellowlegs (2), Ring-billed Gull (60), Mourning Dove (16), Rock Dove (31), Kingfisher (1), Downy Woodpecker (2), Hairy Woodpecker (1), American Crow (243), Blue Jay (11), Brown Creeper (4), Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), White-breasted Nuthatch (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), Golden-crowned Kinglet (4), Starling (20), Red-winged Blackbird (8), Cardinal (6), Junco (20), Song Sparrow (4), Am. Tree Sparrow (18), White-throated Sparrow (4), American Goldfinch (12), House Sparrow (28). The coot was in Fitzgerald Lake toward the Dam along the edges of the cattails. Also seen and photographed was a very young Northern Brown Snake!

Sunday, November 9, 2003
DC Cormorant (2), Canada Goose (45), Mallard (35), Hooded Merganser (4), Common Merganser (24), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Herring Gull (1), Mourning Dove (18), Rock Dove (120), Red-bellied Woodpecker (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Downy Woodpecker (3), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Horned Lark (75), American Pipit (60), Crow (190), Blue Jay (19), Tufted Titmouse (15), Black-capped Chickadee (13), White-breasted Nuthatch (4), Golden-crowned Kinglet (3), Brown Creeper (2), Starling (300), Junco (48), Savannah Sparrow (1), White-crowned Sparrow (1), White0throated Sparrow (13), Tree Sparrow (10), Cardinal (2), Am. Goldfinch (28).Carolina Wren (1).

1st Annual Northampton Waterfowl Census
Nov 9-10, 2002

Participants: Stefan Rayer, Heather McQueen, Chris Gentes

Totals: 10 species, 2,049 individual birds

This census was initially scheduled as a one-day event. The participants scouted out areas on Saturday - some of these number were included in the census if the location was not visited again on Sunday. A bufflehead was observed on November 8 at Willard's Pond.

10 species of waterfowl were observed in 25 different locations, all within the city limits of Northampton.
The Connecticut River was particularly barren of waterfowl - only a few mallards and a pied-billed grebe were seen in it.

Pied-Billed Grebe (1) A lone bird was seen in the Conn. River near the Hatfield border.
Canada Goose (1670)Seen in 5 locations. Robert's Meadow Reservoir-1350, Look Park-221, Flying over King Street-54, Fitzgerald Lake-21, Island Road in field-21, Flying over west meadows-3
Mute Swan (2) Seen in usual place off Route 5 in Oxbow.
Wood Duck (6)
Flying over west meadows on Nov. 9
American Black Duck (43) Seen in 6 locations. Look Park-23, Arcadia Marsh-8, Rookery Pond-8, Oxbow (Pontoon Bridge)-2, Dank's Pond-1, Fitzgerald Lake-1
American Wigeon (2) Pair in Dank's Pond (Nov. 9 only)
Mallard (273) Seen in 13 locations. Look Park-126, Arcadia Marsh-48, Dank's Pond-45, Old Mill River-15, Oxbow(Island Road)-15, Fitzgerald Lake-8, Oxbow (Rod&Gun Club)-7, Barret Street Marsh-2, Oxbow (Pontoon Bridge)-2, Conn. River (Bike Trail)-2, Robert's Meadow Reservoir-1, Oxbow (Marina)-1, Conn. River (Near Hatfield)-1
Ring-necked Duck (2) A pair were seen on Willard's Pond.
Hooded Merganser (22) Seen in 5 locations. Robert's Meadow Reservoir-14, Oxbow (Island Road)-3, East Meadow's Pond-2, Upper Reservoir-2, Oxbow (Pontoon Bridge-1
Common Merganser (28) Seen in 6 locations. Robert's Meadow Reservoir-9, Willard's Pond-6, Oxbow (Island Road)-6, East Meadow's Pond-4, Oxbow (Marina)-2, Oxbow (Pontoon Bridge)-1