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January 2005 Sightings
Hampshire, Hampden & Franklin Counties of Massachusetts
First of the Year in RED

January 1 - Saturday - Clear Cool Breezy

SOUTH AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) West So East St. near bike path from the "trail closed" bridge over fort river, Fox Sparrow, and high up, male Marsh Hawk. On the north edge of the field where sheep grazed last summer an adult Shrike teed up and also at top of multi flora rose bushes.

GRANVILLE (posted to Massbird by John Weeks) After seeing a bobcat in our backyard this morning (a nice yard animal for the new year), my wife Chris and I went up to Blueberry Hill in hopes of seeing a Bald Eagle. We saw two, in fact, both immature, along with a Red-tail, two Ravens, two Crows, three Tree Sparrows and a Chickadee. The bird of the day, however, was the juvenile Northern Shrike -- presumably the same one that we first saw here back on October 28th -- hunting from atop its favorite oak tree near the pulled-down farmhouse. It appeared at 11:30 AM, within minutes of our arrival. The bird was last seen on December 5th.

AGAWAM+ (from Seth Kellogg) Philo Brook Thickets: Cooper's Hawk, 20 Robins, 1 Waxwing, SOUTHWICK Carolina Wren.

NBWC NEW YEARS DAY FIELD TRIP (narrative by Chris Gentes) Total Species - 43

This trip started out at 6:15 a.m. with Janice Jorgensen, Heather McQueen and I looking for owls in Hadley. The first birds of the day were some CANADA GEESE flying in the dark. A GREAT HORNED OWL was heard calling from Mount Warner, but no Screech-owls were located. As dawn approached we added AMERICAN CROW, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, AMERICAN ROBIN, and DARK-EYED JUNCO.

Driving to the UMass Pond we added a COOPER'S HAWK and at the Pond there were MALLARDS, BLACK DUCKS and STARLINGS, but no Peregrine Falcon. Next we drove to the Horse Farm hoping for a Kestrel, but only discovered some CARDINALS, ROCK PIGEONS, and MOURNING DOVES.

With the sun rising it was back over to Mount Warner where we picked up 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS, a TREE SPARROW, BLUE JAYS, a BLUEBIRD, a calling CAROLINA WREN and an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE.

Driving over to the Honeypot we saw a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. At the Honeypot another Sharpie flew over the car and nabbed a starling. Two Red-tailed Hawks that were perched nearby dove down and stole the starling from the Sharpie.

A check of the river from West Street produced COMMON MERGANSER, SONG SPARROW, DOWNY WOODPECKER, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. At one point 5! Carolina Wrens were calling at the same time from both sides of the river.

Next stop was at Pete Yeskie's house were we added TUFTED TITMOUSE, HOUSE SPARROW and GREAT BLACK-BACK GULL. Pete tipped us off to some WOOD DUCKS that had been there earlier - we got them at the Marina.

At 9 a.m. at the Northampton Airport we were glad to see Casey Suprenant, Chris Patterson, Eric Labato (in from Buffalo) and Nancy Eaton (up from Connecticut). Nancy was interested in seeing the Shrike so we gave her directions to where it was and she headed over to Hadley.

Meanwhile the wind had picked up a little and it was chilly. A BALD EAGLE soared overhead. We searched for twenty minutes before locating some HORNED LARKS. The fields had no snow, hunters were out and the roads were muddy so we headed over to King Street hoping to add Fish Crow. No such luck.

We decided to head right up to Turners Falls instead of roaming about Northampton. At Barton Cove we added MUTE SWAN, HERRING GULL, and RING-BILLED GULL.

Over at the Power Canal it had warmed up and the breeze had died down. The gate was locked so we walked in. Along the road we added a HAIRY WOODPECKER. Out with the mallards was a female NORTHERN PINTAIL. We located a group of COMMON GOLDENEYES, but unfortunately the female Barrow's Goldeneye that had been there earlier in the week was gone. A KINGFISHER rattled along, high above us. We heard some GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS in the pines.

The highpoint was finding an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL sunning himself in a tree. We were tipped off by some people who were on a walk. They must have figured out we were bird watchers because of all our gear.

There was nothing new at the Rod and Gun Club. Chris and Casey headed back to Springfield. At the Montague/Sunderland line the rest of us checked out the river. We were hoping for some Hooded Mergansers, but just saw more Mallards, Black Ducks, Common Mergansers and Goldeneyes. Eric located a RED-BELLIED WOOPECKER.

The final bird of the day was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Janice's house.

-Addendum from Nancy Eaton - "Thanks to all for directing me so well to the N.Shrike on New Year's Day. I had the bird almost immediately, but never did catch back up with the group. I had the Fish Crows back of Wendy's in town, had a Sharpy headed for Sue Emerson's feeders in Hadley, and saw a small flock of Robins with a few Waxwings and a Flicker at Arcadia--38 species for the day. Many thanks for a wonderful bird to start the year with!"

QUABBIN CHIRSTMAS BIRD COUNT RESULTS (posted to Massbird by Scott Surner)

The Quabbin C.B.C. took place on Saturday, Jan 1st under extremely delightful conditions. Temperatures range from 30-48 degrees, clear skies, stiff southwest breeze and zero snow cover. In general- running water was open, beaver ponds, coves and smaller bodies of the Quabbin watershed were frozen or mostly frozen, the main body of the reservoir was wide open. Sixty-four species were tallied along with twelve species of mammals.

Co. Loon-6 Horned Grebe-6 Red-necked Grebe-1 (4th rec) Canada Goose-3 Black Duck-48 Mallard-107 Am.Green-winged Teal-1 (3rd rec) Bufflehead-2 Co.Goldeneye-49 Hooded Merganser-27 Co.Merganser-137 Bald Eagle - 10 ad, 9 Imm Sharp-shinned Hawk-2 Cooper's Hawk-1 Northern Goshawk-1 Red-tailed Hawk-27 Golden Eagle-1 (Again-east side of quabbin. North of Mt.Zion (Gate 40 region) Ruffed Grouse-15 Wild Turkey-149 Ring-billed Gull-133 Herring Gull-125 Gr.blk-backed Gull-14 Rock Pigeon-184 Mourning Dove-204 E.Screech-Owl-1 Gr.Horned Owl-6 Barred Owl-6 No.Saw-whet Owl-6 Belted Kingfisher-3 Red-bellied Woodpecker-10 (new high) Downy Woodpecker-78 Hairy Woodpecker-28 No.Flicker-1 Pileated Woodpecker-17 No.Shrike-3 Blue Jay-283 Am.Crow-282 Co.Raven-34 Blk-capped Chickadee-902 Tufted Titmouse-156 Red-br.Nuthatch-28 White-br.Nuthatch-194 Brown Creeper-20 Carolina Wren-2 Winter Wren-2 Golden-cr.Kinglet-116 Eastern Bluebird-30 Hermit Thrush-2. (2nd rec) Am.Robin-384 No.Mockingbird-9 E.Starling-671 Cedar Waxwing-165 Eastern Towhee-1 Am.Tree Sparrow-129 Song Sparrow-11 White-throated Sparrow-19 Dark-eyed Junco-267 No.Cardinal-54 Common Grackle-1 Br.Headed Cowbird-1 Purple Finch-14 House Finch-66 Co.Redpoll-8 Am.Goldfinch-203 House Sparrow-1032 (new high)

Mammals: White-tailed Deer-9, Gray Squirrel-18, Red Squirrel-47, River Otter-5, Porcupine-3,Coyote-2, Chipmunk-5, Bobcat -1 (Seen chasing Wild Turkeys), Mink-1, E.Cottontail-2, White-footed Mouse-2, and 1 flying Squirrel found in bluebird box.

January 2 - Sunday - Overcast and Cool

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) Trails near the Moose Lodge off Cooke Ave and had the following highlights: Pileated Woodpecker (1), Carolina Wren (2), House Finch (3), Canada Geese (150+) flyby, Mallard (38) flyby, Golden Crowned Kinglet (4) plus the usual others. I had American Robins (12) and Eastern Bluebirds (2) at the trails near the state hospital. At WHATELY WMA and had a Ring necked Pheasant plus a Carolina Wren, Junco's and other usuals. On my way I had American Turkey's (8) in a field in WILLIAMSBURG and a Red Breasted Nuthatch at the pull off near the reservoir.

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) A female Pileated Woodpecker frequenting the same dead poplar along the old pond edge show up today. This is our second look at her.

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I took a long hike and found a Long-eared Owl. It must have been there for a few weeks as there was a lot of white wash and about thirty pellets. Also saw a Ruffed Grouse, Brown Creeper, 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet, and a Hermit Thrush.

NORTHAMPTON+ (posted to Massbird by Bob Bieda) A morning survey of the Northampton, MA area today included the following highlights. Wood Duck - drake with Mallards on the CT River. Peregrine - adult perched low in a tree on the west bank of the river. A beautiful sight in the morning light. Glaucous Gull - 1st winter bird roosting on the ice in front of the Oxbow Marina. Iceland Gull - 1st winter bird on the water just north of the Holyoke Dam. lowlights: numbers of land birds, particularly sparrows, very low

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellogg) Kingfisher

January 3 - Monday - Overcast and Mild

BARTON COVE (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) On a late afternoon check of the gull roost on the ice at Barton Cove in Gill, I saw two (1W) Iceland Gulls among a large concentration of Great Black-backed, Herring, and Ring-billed Gulls. Many Canada Geese and 15 Mute Swans.

WESTFIELD+ (from Seth Kellogg) Stanley Park: 3-4 Fish Crow. WEST SPRINGFIELD Bear Hole: 2 Ravens 5 Gc Kinglets

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday, January 3

LONG-EARED OWLS have been noted in Hadley and Amherst and two were reported in the town of Holland.

The TUNDRA SWAN is still present at Smiley¹s Pond in the town of Egremont.

A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was found at the base of Mt Sugarloaf in Deerfield, and at Turners Falls there were COMMON GOLDENEYES, a NORTHERN PINTAIL, a BELTED KINGFISHER, and an EASTERN SCREECH OWL,

In Northampton there was a GLAUCOUS GULL at the Oxbow Marina on the Connecticut River. Also seen in Northampton were a SNOW GOOSE, 2 WOOD DUCKS...

Seen in Amherst were a NORTHERN HARRIER, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, 300 AMERICAN

The NORTHERN SHRIKE has been seen again on Blueberry Hill in Granville, and 2 immature BALD EAGLES and several COMMON RAVENS were also hanging around there.

Two COMMON RAVENS, 3 FISH CROWS, and 5 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were heard in Westfield, 20 AMERICAN ROBINS and a CEDAR WAXWING were in Agawam, and a COMMON LOON and BELTED KINGFISHER were in Southwick.

Highlights of the southern Berkshire County Christmas Count were a GREAT BLUE HERON, EASTERN SCREECH OWL, BARRED OWL, CAROLINA WREN, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Some notable numbers on the count were 35 COMMON MERGANSERS, 3 BELTED KINGFISHERS, 18 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 4 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 8 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 5 BROWN CREEPERS, 22 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 519 AMERICAN ROBINS, 334 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 4 COMMON GRACKLES, and 25 PURPLE FINCHES.

Good sightings on the northern Berkshire Christmas Count were a GREAT BLUE HERON, GADWALL, GOSHAWK, NORTHERN FLICKER, and CAROLINA WREN. Also counted were 5 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, 18 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 19 AMERICAN ROBINS, and 6 PURPLE FINCHES.

January 4 - Tuesday - Mostly Cloudy and Cool

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) I just returned (12:35 p.m.) from viewing a nice drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at the Turners Falls Canal region on Migratory Way. The bird is in with 6 Common Goldeneye in the area opposite the auto parking spots, closer to the fish labs. Continues through 4pm. (D Minear)

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) State Hospital Trails: House Finch (2), Golden Crowned Kinglet (2), Carolina Wren (1), American Tree Sparrow (15), Song Sparrow (1), Junco (7), Northern Mockingbird (3), American Robin (1), Red Tailed Hawk (1) being mobbed by crows, Canada Geese (200+) flyby. ARCADIA: Great Blue Heron (1) flying past oxbow, Northern Flicker (1), Cedar Waxwing (7), House Finch (26), American Tree Sparrow (45+), Song Sparrow (8), White Throated Sparrow (6), Eastern Bluebird (6), Carolina Wren (2), Golden Crowned Kinglet (6), Pileated Woodpecker (2), American Robin (42), Northern Mockingbird (1), Red Tailed Hawk (1), Common Merganser (1), Black Duck (3), Mallard (35), Canada Geese (80+) flyby, Junco (13), and fairly good numbers of the other usual birds. Spent quite a bit of time searching for long eared owls without any luck. The oxbow is still almost all frozen over but the mill river is almost totally open.

AGAWAM (from Seth Kellogg) Bondis Island: 2 Fish Crow, Carolina Wren, 2 Fox Sparrow, 2 Swamp Sparrow, Flicker, 15 Cardinal, 2 Red-winged Blackbird, 35 White-thr Sparrow, 75 Junco, 25 Song Sparrow, 40 Tree Sparrow.

January 5 - Wednesday - Snow early, Cool.

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Around Paradise Pond this afternoon - Black Duck-5, Common Merganser, Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawk-1, Bluebird-2, Titmouse-3, Junco-10.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) A walk this morning at the old state hospital trails in the snow produced American Robins (15) and Golden Crowned Kinglet (2)...not much else.

HOLYOKE (posted to Massbird via Bob Packard) I was at the Fishway in Holyoke, on Rt 116 this afternoon at during the snowfall (1pm) and again at (3:30) where the bridge crosses over the Connecticut river. Two adult Bald Eagles were perched on the island below the bridge, on the right hand side. This is a location, that I have seen Eagle on a number of occasions in the past. I was able to go back at 3:30 with Jeremy, we were able to locate one of the birds. from Scott Ricker

January 6 - Thursday - Snowed all day, sleet later.

SOUTHWICK (posted to Massbird by Scott Ricker) My son and I found a Common Loon on the middle lake at The Congamond Lakes on 12/26 (Cobble Mtn CBC) The bird has been in the same place every time that I have observed it (4 times). The lake was about 80% frozen when we found the bird and it found a piece of open water about 40'x20'. On 1/6 I observed the Loon diving, when it came back to the surface it had to break thru a thin layer of slush and ice. I was hoping it would fly, so it could get back to the open water, but it didn't. It waddled it's way about 20', across the slushy ice to the open water. I talked to Francis Mcmenemy at the Uxbridge CBC and Fran suggested that the bird may be in trouble. After the feeble behavoir of the bird to get back to open water, I believe this may be the case. It is diving without any indication of injury and I have observed it doing a typical stand-up in the water and stretch it's body and wings. If anyone has any information about this type of behavoir or has seen this Loon, feel free to put it out there.

AMHERST (posted to Massbird by David Norton) We had both a robin eating hawthorne berries, and a purple finch at the feeder today-- first I have seen either around here in several weeks... I assume I can thank the rather dreadful weather.

January 7 - Friday - Sunny and Cold

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) At the airport there were 50+ Horned Lrks, 1 Lapland Longspur, and 10 Snow Buntings. A male Harrier flew over as well.

GRANVILLE (posted to Massbird by J Weeks) Broke ice and snow to the top of Blueberry Hill today and scanned for Bald Eagles to report to the Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey. It was a fairly windy day (northwest winds at 10-15 mph, gusting to 25 mph), which the eagles seem to like, and I was in luck. Five Bald Eagles showed up between 12:11 and 12:19 -- three immatures to the northwest, and a fourth immature together with an adult off to the northeast. Other birds noted between 11:15 and 12:45 were: Red-tailed Hawk, adult Common Ravens -- 4, Snow Bunting -- solo, overhead

HOLYOKE (posted to Massbird by Scott Ricker) I was at the Fishway on Rt 116 in Holyoke today about 1:15 or so. I was on the bridge looking down on the river at gulls & ducks(Mallards) and Canada Geese. One goose stuck out and was being hissed at by some of the other geese. It was noticably smaller and had a shorter neck, than the other geese. It also was darker brown on the belly and the sides. I looked in Sibleys and came up with Lesser Canadian Goose! If I can, I will check for the bird in the afternoon on Saturday 1/8 Also, there were three black-back gulls, but one was quite smaller than the other two. had the full black-back but smaller.

January 8 - Saturday - Snow/Sleet Event

AMHERST (from Chris Gentes) A few of us went before the storm to see if the Long-eared Owl was still around, but it wasn't. We did see 2 Red-tailed Hawks, Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing (25), Bluebirds (5), Golden-Crowned Kinglets (2), Mockingbird. Later I made the long arduous hike through the snow to see if the Hadley Long-eared Owl was still present and it is. It made a barking call of four notes - low pitch, not too loud. I was hoping to collect old pellets (pre snow) and current pellets (post snow), to compare food selection, but everything was covered by the falling snow and found none. I did observed a larger sized mole or vole scurrying across the snow, so perhaps their preferred food of voles is still obtainable even with the snow cover. Also observed 100+ Robins, Pileated Woodpecker, Golden Crowned Kinglets (6).

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) I saw the male and female Pileated working the two sugar maples along the driveway. Hope they will nest again this year.

January 9 - Sunday - Sunny and Cold

AMHERST (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I went searching for owls in the Hampshire College Woods. We didn't find any. We did hear a Raven and saw a flock of 100 Robins and 10 Cedar Waxwings in the middle of the woods at a clearing with some rosa bushes.

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) I looked (on ski ) today in the hemlock grove east of the white containers on the "cinder road". No owls. I flushed something big but it might have been the pileated. Sleeping raccoon in tree crotch. Immature coopers hawk near GRC. Also checked top of Cherry Hill (both sides of high tension lines.) No owls. grouse tracks.

HADLEY (posted to Massbird by David Norton) Quite a large flock of horned larks in the Hadley farm fields north of Rt. 9 near the honeypot area today....noted while on my way to a kiddo's basketball game... no time to stop to look for longspurs...no obvious snow buntings.

TURNERS FALLS (from Casey Surprenant) Chris, Nancy Eaton & I Went to Turner Falls Canal to try for the Barrows Goldeneye.We got a good look at a male Common Goldeneye followed by a female Common Goldeneye, and swimming with them was what I believe to be the female Barrows Goldeneye. We could make very good comparisions with them side by side.We also saw a Glaucous Gull on the ice with some Ring-Billed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Greater Black-backed Gulls. The Owl was still perched in the tree. I didn't see the female Pintail, but did see a female Common Merganser. Almost forgot the common Goldeneyes were also exhibiting courting behavior, while the barrows swam away. We then went to Arcadia where we heard 2 Pileated Woodpeckers calling, but saw nothing but the usual titmice, chickidees, and white-breasted nuthatchs.

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Gina Martel and Jaap Van Heerden) Afternoon in the Turners Falls area (p. 118-120 of Bird Finding Guide to Western Massachusetts) included: Migratory Way 3pm: 5 Common Goldeneye (2 males, 3 females) --NO Barrow's goldeneye seen Turners Falls near the fish ladder viewing station. 3:30pm: 11 Mute swans In Gill, on an island in Barton Cove, as seen from Turners Falls parking lot at water's edge on Unity Way at 3:30 pm: 2 Adult Bald Eagles perched in bare trees on the dome shaped island (not the flat land where the Bald Eagle nest is located). On Montague Rd., Turners Falls at 4:15pm: 1 Barred Owl perched in a bare tree close to the road (near open fields as one heads south toward Montague center)

January 10 - Monday - Mostly Overcast

This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday, January 10

The final report of Christmas Count results came from the Quabbin area, where the highlights were a GOLDEN EAGLE and a RED-NECKED GREBE. Also seen were 6 COMMON LOONS, 6 HORNED GREBES, a GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a COOPER'S HAWK, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 6 SAW-WHET OWLS, 3 NORTHERN SHRIKES, 2 CAROLINA WRENS, 2 WINTER WRENS, 2 HERMIT THRUSHES, an EASTERN TOWHEE, a COMMON GRACKLE, and 8 COMMON REDPOLLS.

Some interesting species totals were 49 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 27 HOODED MERGANSERS, 19 BALD EAGLES, 149 WILD TURKEYS, 10 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 17 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, 34 COMMON RAVENS, 28 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 116 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 30 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and 14 PURPLE FINCHES.

At the causeway on Onota Lake there was a female NORTHERN SHOVELER and a GADWALL.

At Turners Falls a male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was noted with six COMMON GOLDENEYES.

A BLACK VULTURE was seen in Sheffield and the TUNDRA SWAN continues at SmileyÂ’s Pond in Egremont.

A NORTHERN HARRIER was seen capturing and devouring a mouse at Baldwin Hill in Egremont.

Five BALD EAGLES were observed from Blueberry Hill during the annual winter count of this species. Also present were 5 COMMON RAVENS and a SNOW BUNTING.

Found in Agawam were 2 FOX SPARROWS, 2 SWAMP SPARROWS, 35 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, 75 TREE SPARROWS, 2 FISH CROWS, 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, a NORTHERN FLICKER, and 22 NORTHERN CARDINALS.

Twelve HORNED LARKS and 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were seen in Southwick.

January 11 - Tuesday - Mostly Overcast, Cold. Snow late.

January 12 - Wednesday - Snow overnight, Sleety Rain.

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) Saw a Kestrel on a phone wire on Stockbridge Road this morning in the snow.

January 13 - Thursday - Rainy and Cold. The predicted warm front from the south never reached us.

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) This afternoon at Paradise Pond which is fairly open again: Red-tailed Hawk, Mockingbird, Crows, Robins, Waxwings, Chickadees, Titmice, WB Nuthatch, Carolina Wren (2), Cardinals (4), Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrows, Juncos.

January 14 - Friday - Rain. Warm in morning - got colder mid-day. Front passed through late afternoon.

HADLEY (from Pete Yeskie) Three Brant and one Horned Grebe on the Connecticut River south of the Coolidge Bridge.

TURNERS FALLS (from Pat Serrentino) Alex and another biologist from the lab saw a male Canvasback in the Turners Falls power canal pool, from the canal road about half way between the Cabot Woods entrance gate (Migratory Way) and the lab. They watched it for about 5 minutes. This morning (Jan 15) we checked the area again and it was still there (at about 9:15 am), diving about 50 ft from shore. It was by itself, not far from a group of gulls. We watched it from our car.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) A morning walk through the area near the state hospital produced American Robin (45+), Cedar Waxwing (6), Black Duck (2), Carolina Wren (1) and other usuals.

January 15 - Saturday - Partly Cloudy and Cold.

TURNERS FALLS (from Chris Gentes) A group of us went up to Turners Falls Canal this morning and saw the courting Common Goldeneyes along with a female Barrow's Goldeneye. We were also alerted to the Canvasback by the Hampshire Bird Club. It was near the very end of the canal. Also there were some diving mallards in the area. Over at Barton's Cove a Bald Eagle was perched on a tree on the island and at one point flew over the cove and put up all the gulls. It got something - maybe a fish, and flew back to the perch.

NORTH AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) A nothern shrike this afternoon. The amazing thing is I HEARD it before I saw it....(not that I knew what it was). When I walked around my pine tree so I could see two yards away it was "singing" away at the top of a poplar. Short ugly two/three note gurgles, cat like mews, .... often the beak was not open when it vocalized. I followed it for an hour. At one point it yawned, and then again...and coughed up a pellet. It flew over to gently harass (or maybe see what was the likely prey) a red tail hawk which was perched mid way up a big hickory. This is the first one I have seen here this winter.

January 16 - Sunday - Overcast and Very Cold.

VARIOUS (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I roamed around today in the bitter cold and had the following birds: HADLEY - 70 Horned Larks on Stockbridge Road. SOUTH HADLEY: Canal Park- Mute Swan (2), C Goose (6), Black Duck (5), Mallard (25), Common Merganser (2), Common Goldeneye (7). Falls- Glaucous Gull (second winter). Playground- C Goose (45), Common Merganser (2), Common Goldeneye (12). HOLYOKE: Sharp-shinned Hawk. Jones Ferry- Common Merganser(1). SPRINGFIELD: Forest Park- Ring-necked Duck (5 male), Wood Duck (1), many mallards and black ducks and ring-billed gulls. NORTHAMPTON: Airport - Horned Lark (20), Snow Bunting (3).

TURNERS FALLS (from Gina Martel and Jaap Van Heerden) 2:15-3:45pm. 14 Cedar Waxwings (NO Bohemians) at 2:15pm in a crabapple tree at the corner of L St. and 2nd St. at the lot with the Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity sign. At the Turners Falls Canal, Migratory Way 1 Eastern Screech Owl still present, 1 Canvasback (male) this previously reported bird was near the end of the canal, but so close to shore it ould not be seen from the car. We found it by getting out of the car all the way at the end of the paved road at the chain-linked fence surrounding the generating plant, stepping over the snow bank, and scanning with binoculars very close to shore. It was close to the caged equipment block across the pavement from the Fish Lab. 17 Common Goldeneye (6 males), 1 FEMALE Barrow's Goldeneye, 3 Common Mergansers (2 male, 1 female).

January 17 - Monday - Partly Sunny and Cold - 20s.

HADLEY (posted to Massbird by Amy Moeckel) This morning rauckus crows jays and mockingbirds alerted me to the presence of a barred owl in our small front yard, not more than 20 feet from the road. He was about 10 feet off the ground on a Norway spruce branch. Since then he has moved to a red maple and is still there at this time (3:50), within 10 feet of the road, although he has moved higher in the tree throughout the day. This is the first owl we have seen in the yard, although there have been many sightings of the neighborhood Coopers as he makes the feeder rounds. So it was truly surprising when I arrived home around two thirty to hear my boyfriend telling me that as he was opening a window to scare off a squirrel who was raiding a seed feeder stuck to that window, a small owl flew in to attack the squirrel! Since the barred owl was still in the tree not more than thirty feet away, and the smaller owl flew to the base of the spruce and stared at the window that had moved and thwarted his efforts, he was able to get a look at the size of the two birds and said confidently that the smaller owl was three times smaller than the barred owl. After looking though Sibley's, he said possibly screech owl. All this on a small builders acre lot with neighboring houses, and route 9 not more than a half a mile away. The crows etc. got tired of mobbing the barred after an hour or so. He sat there unphased throughout.

This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday, January 17

A flock of 15 COMMON REDPOLLS is coming to a feeder in Montgomery.

A CANVASBACK was found Friday on Smiley's Pond in Egremont, but the TUNDRA SWAN there previously was not present.

Another CANVASBACK was in the Canal at Turners Falls along with the female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE.

The female NORTHERN SHOVELER is still being seen of and on at the causeway of Onota Lake.

The feeding pond at Forest Park in Springfield has a few unusual duck species, as usual, including 4 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 5 RING-NECKED DUCKS, and a WOOD DUCK.

On the Connecticut River in South Hadley there were 19 COMMON GOLDENEYE and a GLAUCOUS GULL.

Several PURPLE FINCHES are coming to a feeder in Blandford, eight were noted in Windsor and 20 in Cummington.

The count of PURPLE FINCHES coming to a feeder in the town of Washington reached 43 individuals,. Also at the feeder were 35 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue coming to feeders in Tyringham and Leverett, where a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and CAROLINA WREN were also dining.

Seen in Amherst were a NORTHERN SHRIKE, 14 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 100 AMERICAN ROBINS, and 8 CEDAR WAXWINGS.

In Northampton there were 300 HORNED LARKS, 3 SNOW BUNTINGS, and a SAVANNAH SPARROW.

Seen on the Connecticut River in Hadley were a HORNED GREBE and 2 BRANT, while in fields nearby there were 78 HORNED LARKS and an AMERICAN KESTREL.

Six GREAT HORNED OWLS were heard calling in Hadley.

The early count of BALD EAGLES made by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife the past weekend included 25 at Quabbin Reservoir and the nearby Belchertown Hatchery. Another 13 BALD EAGLES were counted on the Connecticut River.

January 18 - Tuesday - Mostly Sunny and VERY Cold - ten degrees.

TURNERS FALLS (from Dave Mako) This morning I made a quick trip along the Turners Falls Power canal. No sign of the Canvasback that we saw saturday but we got a good view of the screech owl. The first time we drove past its tree the hole seemed empty. But when we came back, it seemed to be sleeping in full view, nestled in the opening.

January 19 - Wednesday - Cloudy and Cold. Snow late afternoon (Alberta Clipper)

MONTAGUE (from Deedee Minear) This morning about 10 am: On South Ferry Road.. a merlin perched near the top of a roadside tree between two cornfields. The tail was fanned out the whole time I watched it. I could see the individual tail feathers. The outer two tailfeathers on both sides were very beat up. It was preening for part of the time. Seemed to fly okay (to the south). There are several feeders in the neighborhood. also on South Ferry Road..a flock of 40 horned larks. On Greenfield Road a flock of 27 turkeys in a cornfield.

TURNERS FALLS (from Larry Therrien) I took a ride up to check the power canal...no Canvasback. Common Goldeneye (5), Northern Pintail (1) male, Common Merganser (2), Black Duck (150+), Mallard (550+), Canada Geese (450+), Kingfisher (1), plus the three usual gulls in small numbers and an Eastern Chipmunk feeding along the roadside. The numbers of waterfowl close to the road were quite impressive.

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Marj Rines) I got a nice email from Carrie Marcy (I'm not sure where she lives) telling me that her friend Heather Streeter from Bernardston saw a Canvasback at Unity Park on the Connecticut River in back of the Turners Falls Police Station near the Turners Falls bridge. She even sent a great photo of the bird, even if it was cadging food along with the Mallards! I note from Bird Observer records (thanks to Seth Kellogg) that one or two were showing up at Turners Falls a few years ago, but not since 2001. Pretty nice January bird.

WESTHAMPTON & NORTHAMPTON (from Bob Bieda) John Lynes called to say he has a single Common Redpoll visiting his feeder and I saw a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at the feeder on the corner of Fort Hill Rd. and Clark St. near Arcadia.

January 20 - Thursday - Sunny and Cold

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) The drake Canvasback Duck that was reported yesterday from the Fish Ladder Area (Unity Park side) in Turners Falls, was still in the small patch of open water with Mallards and Mute Swans. They are probably the only reason this water is still open or because of the bread bird feeders in the area keeping the birds here. Excellent views close hand of this beautiful diver, which by the way was diving frequently.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry THerrien) I took a walk along Boggy Meadow Rd at Fitzgerald Lake and had the usual assortment of Titmice, Chickadees and Nuthatch's plus a couple of Brown Creepers. Very quiet.

January 21 - Friday - Sunny and Very Cold

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) The male Canvasback, which has been hanging around near the south shore of Barton Cove on the Turners Falls side of Barton Cove, was present this morning at 8:15. It was sleeping on the ice trying to stay warm. A thin coat of frost covered the bird making me think at first that it was dead, until it lifted its head and tucked it back in. At 10 below zero, it still amazes me how they survive. Also, a male Northern Pintail was sleeping among the Mallards at the canal area in Turners Falls (Silvio Conte).

HADLEY (from Pete Yeskie) There is a Peregrine Falcon hanging around the bridge.

January 22 - Saturday - Extremely Cold - Blizzard later in day.

NORTHFIELD (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) Who said winter birding is dull. Today we had a great show at our feeders with an adult Northern Goshawk strafing through. The bird chased a Blue Jay, which got away, then returned to perch nicely nearby and make a few more passes before disappearing into the forest. The red eyes and angled eyebrow make this bird look really mean.

January 23 - Sunday - Blizzard 14+ inches of Snow - clearing afternoon. Windy and Very Cold

January 24 - Monday - Overcast, Very Cold

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday, January 24

Birds reported over a cold week and a snowy weekend were very few, and most of them were seen at feeders.

The CANVASBACK continues at Unity Park near the fish ladder in Turner¹s Falls. Also seen on the Connecticut River in this area were 18 MUTE SWANS, 200 MALLARDS, 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 3 COMMON GOLDENEYES, and a BELTED KINGFISHER. Dan Ziomek

Elsewhere in Montague there was a MERLIN and 40 HORNED LARKS.

A NORTHERN GOSHAWK visited a feeder in Northfield.

In Northampton a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER is coming to a feeder on the corner of Fort Hill Road and Clark Street. A PEREGRINE FALCON and 2 WOOD DUCKS were seen near the Coolidge Bridge between Northampton and Hadley.

In the east meadows in Northampton there were 100 HORNED LARKS, 4 SNOW BUNTINGS, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Dan Ziomek

Two PURPLE FINCHES were coming to a feeder in Shutesbury and a COMMON REDPOLL was coming to another feeder in Westhampton.

A flock of AMERICAN ROBINS was observed in a street off Forest Park in Springfield.

A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was noted on Coes Hill Road in Southwick. Seth Kellogg

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) A short walk at the old state hospital and had the usual assortment including a couple Golden Crowned Kinglets.

January 25 - Tuesday - Mostly Sunny, Cold

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) Some open water just south of the Coolidge Bridge. Many Geese and Mallards, a few Black Ducks and a dozen Common Mergansers.

TURNERS FALLS (from Jaap van Heerden ) I walked at the TF Canal this afternoon, around 2:30 pm.In addition to the mob of Mallards, Canada Geese and 18(!) Mute Swans, I had 3 Drake and 2 Female Ring-necked Ducks. Only 3 Common Goldeneye at the time, and no sign of the Canvasback there, or in the open water behind the Police Station.

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellogg) Today at feeder a Carolina with NO tail and a Cooper's Hawk.

January 26 - Wednesday - Light Snow all day ~ 5 inches.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) I skiied through the trails at the old state hospital and saw American Robins (11) eating quite well....an earlier walk at Fitzgerald Lake was very quiet.

GRANBY (posted to Massbird by Lori Rogers) On Wednesday night my husband and I were in the kitchen and we heard something strike the window in the breakfast room. We could see something lying in the snow outside the window and I went outside. It was dark but it was clearly a small owl. I'm pretty sure it was a screech owl but as soon as I approached, it flew off. I've never heard of an owl striking a window at night. Does anyone have any thoughts on why it would strike a window at night? It was about 7:30pm so it was pretty dark out.

January 27 - Thursday - Sunny and very cold.

HADLEY (from Pete Yeskie) Some yard birds: One Cooper Hawk, One sharp-shinned hawk, Two hooded mergansers, One Iceland gull, One Common goldeneye.

GRANVILLE (posted to Massby by John Weeks and Pam Witaszek) There was a Winter Wren living up to its name in Granville State Forest. We found it while snowshoeing on the Ordway Trail near the crossing (now beaver-flooded) at Halfway Brook. It fluttered low across the snow like a flying mouse. There were few other birds around -- half a dozen G.C. Kinglets, Chickadees, a couple of Titmice and a Raven.

January 28 - Friday - Sunny and very cold.

ASHFIELD (from Steve Sauter) This afternoon while snowshoeing west of my house, after a record breaking -21° F low, I saw a Winter Wren fly under a deadfall log in a little snow cave! I walked over to it and it was in a protected hollowed area beneath the log and walled in by snow. The space was about 12 inches cubed, and entry was about 4 inches square. Pretty cool!

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Near the entrance to Boggy Meadow Trail at Fitzgerald Lake I had House Finch (5), Carolina Wren (2) and other usuals. Made a trip on ski's from the red barn down to the river in the east meadows with Horned Larks (18) flyby, Common Merganser (7), American Robin (17), Northern Cardinal (15+)...they were everywhere, Song Sparrow (5), White Throated Sparrow (7), Great Black Backed Gull (28) flying down river, Red Tailed Hawk (2). Almost the entire east meadows is snow covered, with big drifts in areas.

January 29 - Saturday - Sunny and cold.

HATFIELD (from Larry Therrien) I went looking for a Great Gray, but came up empty this time. I went up to the Bashin area of Hatfield today and had the following: Rusty Blackbird (1) female...was surprised to find that, Northern Shrike (1) being quite vocal...again, not something I expected to hear, Bald Eagle (1) adult, Song Sparrow (5), White Throated Sparrow (4), American Tree Sparrow (16), Eastern Bluebird (2), Junco (1), Red Tailed Hawk (3), Coopers Hawk (1), Northern Flicker (1), Starling (180+) flying toward the river, Red Bellied Woodpecker (1) as well as other expected birds.

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) Went looking for the Long-eared Owl I saw at the beginning of January but it wasn't found - no pellets seen. Did see a few Golden-crowned Kinglets and a Pileated Woodpecker.

BARTON COVE (from Taj Schottland) Today while birding Barton's Cove in Turners Falls I found a first winter Iceland gull. At the power canal, near the bridge crossing the canal I saw another gull that I think was a very dark 1st winter Iceland Gull, although I am not sure about this second bird.

January 30 - Sunday - Partly Cloudy - mid 30s.

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes & Heather McQueen) We looked for birds around the honeypot. We say the following highlights: Bald Eagle (1), Red-tailed Hawk (3), Horned Lark (12), Song Sparrow (4), Savannah Sparrow (3).

HADLEY (from Pete Yeskie) Yard bird #40 - The Glaucous Gull finally arrived.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Spent a few hours down in the Arcadia meadows this afternoon and had the following: Eastern Bluebird (4), American Robin (26), American Tree Sparrow (1), Northern Flicker (1), Red Tailed Hawk (2) and the other usuals.

TURNERS FALLS (from Gina Martel and Jaap Van Heerden) Partly sunny and cold. At the Turners Falls Canal, Migratory Way 4:05-5:10pm 1 Great Cormorant, 1 American Wigeon (male), 5 Ring-necked ducks (3m, 2f), 40+ Common Goldeneye (7 males) 30+ flew in at once just before sunset, 5 Common Mergansers (3m, 2f), 1 Bald eagle (adult), 1 Eastern Screech Owl still present, (Also 2 Mute swans (1 adult, 1 immature), many Mallards, Canada geese, Gulls).

NORTHAMPTON+ (posted to Massbird by Scott Surner) Val Miller and I spent the morning (a fairly warm morning) birding around Amherst, Hamp and Turners Falls-highlights Northampton Airport (East Meadows) Horned Larks (125), Lapland Longspur (1), Snow Bunting (2). Deerfield- Co. Raven (1) TURNERS FALLS - Canal Mute Swan (18), Black Duck (62), Mallard (200), Ring-necked Duck (4), Co.Goldeneye (1), Co.Merganser (1), Bald Eagle (1ad), Ring-billed Gull (1), Herring Gull (25), Iceland Gull (2) 1w-Canal/1-2w by the dam,. Gr.black-backed Gull (9), E.Screech-Owl (1). Amherst Cooper's Hawk (ad) Am.Robin (100)

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massburd by Tom Pirro) Turners Falls near the fish ladder: Great Cormorant 1, Mute Swan 18, Common Goldeneye 8, Common Merganser 2, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Bald Eagle 1 adult, Eastern Screech Owl 1 pointed out by one of the walkers....apparently the bird (and the walker) is a regular. It was poking half its body out of a hole near the top of a snag. (gray morph). Iceland Gull 1 winter, Pileated Woodpecker 1 drumming, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1.

TURNERS FALLS+ (Posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) The only thing I can add to the Turners Falls post is one female N. Pintail in w/ all the Mallards. Just south of the canal was an adult Bald Eagle. On Leyden Road in Greenfield two Rusty Blackbirds are coming to a feeder.

MONROE (psoted to Massbird by Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll) Probably the most unexpected birds were the (24) Mallards, (1) A Black Duck, (1m) N. Pintail, (2) Common and (1) Hooded Mergansers in MONROE on the Vermont border, not noted to be a waterfowl mecca at any time of the year, but especially in the dead of winter.

January 31 - Monday - Mostly Sunny and Cold.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday, January 31

New birds continue to be found on the power canal in Turners Falls. This week a GREAT CORMORANT was the most unusual species, but also present were 10 MUTE SWANS, a NORTHERN PINTAIL, an AMERICAN WIGEON, 5 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 40 COMMON GOLDENEYES, an ICELAND GULL, a BALD EAGLE, an EASTERN SCREECH OWL sunning in a tree cavity, and a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.

Seem in Hadley were an ICELAND GULL, a GLAUCOUS GULL, 2 HOODED MERGANSERS, a COOPER'S HAWK, 2 CAROLINA WRENS, and 3 SAVANNAH SPARROWS.

In the East Meadows of Northampton there were 125 HORNED LARKS, 2 SNOW BUNTINGS, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR.

A COOPER'S HAWK and 5 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were noted in Amherst. A roost of AMERICAN ROBINS there numbers between 1,000 and 2,000 individuals.

EASTERN SCREECH OWLS were discovered in South Hadley and in Pittsfield, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was in Hatfield, and two CAROLINA WRENS are coming to a feeder in Westhampton.

Reported from Royalston on the New Hampshire border were 17 EVENING GROSBEAKS and 15 PURPLE FINCHES.

Noted in Gardner were 5 AMERICAN ROBINS, 6 CEDAR WAXWINGS, and a PILEATED WOODPECKER.

A single EVENING GROSBEAK was observed in Adams, and another single in Windsor. In Cheshire there was a flock of 38 WILD TURKEYS, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE.

Seen even farther north in the town of Monroe were a NORTHERN PINTAIL, a HOODED MERGANSER, and a PURPLE FINCH.

In Southwick there were 5 WILD TURKEYS, 25 AMERICAN ROBINS, and a CAROLINA WREN. A WINTER WREN was found in the forests of Granville along with a COMMON RAVEN and 6 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.