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

October 1 - Saturday - Sunny and Pleasant

SOUTH AMHERST+ (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I walked along the Emily Dickinson Trail this morning with the following highlights: Wood Duck-3, Great Blue Heron-1, Osprey-1, Red-tailed Hawk-1, Turkey Vulture-3, Sharp-shinned Hawk-1, Flicker-2, Downy Woodpecker-1, E. Phoebe-4, American Crow-4, Blue Jay-25, Bluebird-9, Catbird-20, Mockingbird-1, Robin-2, Chickadee-6, Titmouse-3, WB Nuthatch-2, Carolina Wren-1, House Wren-4, Cedar Waxwing-15, Pine Warbler-1, Palm Warbler-5, Myrtle-6, Lincoln's Sparrow-6, Field Sparrow-2, Song Sparrow-5, Swamp Sparrow-2, White-throated Sparrow-10, White-crowned Sparrow-2, Goldfinch-20, Purple Finch-23 Butterflies - Monarch-2, Painted Lady-3. Later in NORTH HADLEY we saw Osprey-1, Northern Harrier-2, Merlin-2, Killdeer-38, Least Sandpiper-3, Pectoral Sandpiper-2, Spotted Sandpiper-1, Barn Swallow-3, Raven-1, Pipit-35, Indigo Bunting-3. Two American Rubyspots.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia near the Ibis Pool and a short section of the the trolley line. Magnolia Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (3), Common Yellowthroat (6), Blue Headed Vireo (3), Red Eyed Vireo (2), White Crowned Sparrow (5), all 1st winter, Lincoln's Sparrow (5), Swamp Sparrow (3), White Throated Sparrow (12), Savannah Sparrow (30+), Song Sparrow (45+), Indigo Bunting (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Sharp Shinned Hawk (2, maybe 3)..great looks at a perched juvenile, Gray Catbird (15), Carolina Wren (1), Kingfisher (1).

HADLEY (posted to Massbird by James P. Smith) This morning (11:00hrs) there was a Dickcissel frequenting the cornfields just off the Norwottuck Rail Trail close the the Hadley/Amherst townline. It was calling frequently and could be relocated. The best access would be from South Maple Street near the Hampshire Mall where the Rail Trail crosses the road. Park in that area and walk north for about half a mile, just beyond the 4-mile marker post. ON the right there is a very short section of wooden fencing with a narrow dirt trail leading down the banking from the bike path into the cornfield. This is where I heard then saw the bird. The corn is still high here. Several other cornfields exist along this section of the rail trail, some of which have been harvested. These fields might also be worth checking. In our yard on Baker Street, Amherst this morning, 3 Dark-eyed Juncos and 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets.

NORTHFIELD (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) This morning between 9:30-11:30 we had several nice waves of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Blackpoll Warbler on the M+M Trail off of Gulf Rd, Northfield. This section of the Metacomet-Monadnock trail climbs up and along a ridge-line for a few miles to what we here in town call "The Craig" or Craig Mt. The trail at first parallels a power-line cut, then veers off south/ southeast through mixed forest with occasional rocky outcroppings and views . We checked the power-line first and had a fast moving group of Kinglets and Warblers working the cut edges heading due south. Along the trail, particularly at these rocky outcroppings/openings in the forest, we kept finding clusters of birds; Blackpolls in every one. Ruby-crowned Kinglets seemed to be everywhere. Two Eastern Wood Pewees were seen(not heard) as well; one in the power-line cut and the other at "The Craig" overlook (300 degree view). Birds are moving! Here's a complete list of birds seen: Merlin Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood Pewee (2) Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo (3) Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay (4) Black-capped Chickadee (26) Tufted Titmouse (3) Golden-crowned Kinglet (12) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (36+) Hermit Thrush Cedar Waxwing (6) Nashville Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (26) Blackpoll Warbler (22) Black-throated Green Warbler (18) Dark-eyed Junco (12)

GRANVILLE - BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH - Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Al Richardson, Janice Zepko, John Weeks, Lois Richardson, Seth Kellogg, Tony Zepko Weather: Cloudless skies all day, but hazy. Wind mostly SW 5-15 (20) mph. Temperature 60-69 F. Raptor Observations: An extraordinarily late kettle of 120 Broad-wings at 2:50 PM EDT. Two Peregrines gave us admirable views. Non-migrants: immature Bald Eagle, adult Red-tail. Non-raptor Observations: Canada Geese (11), Chimney Swifts (2), Blue Jays (124), Golden-crowned Kinglets (4), Ruby-crowned Kinglets (44 -- yes, 44), Magnolia Warblers (2), Yellow-rumped Warblers (6), Palm Warblers (6), Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow (1st-winter). Monarchs: 6.

NORTHAMPTON (from ABC Bird News) in the West Meadows at the "Ibis Pool", Sedge Wren and Marsh Wren were there along with a Merlin ~Andrew Magee

October 2 - Sunday - Sunny and Warm

NORTH HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) This morning on some private farmland we saw the following - Bald Eagle-1, Killdeer-6, Phoebe-3, Blue Grosbeak-1 (1st winter), Indigo Bunting-4, Common Yellowthroat-1, Myrtle-6, Swamp Sparrow-3, White-crowned Sparrow-2, White-throated Sparrow-10, Lincoln's Sparrow-1.

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by Seth Kellogg) On a scheduled trip led by Harvey Allen today, members of the Allen Club spent the morning in the East and West Meadows of Northampton. At the east end of the "Swan Pool" close to the corn field we found a Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow that gave several observers two good, clear looks for a half minute each. We also had a juvenile Dickcissel in the same spot and a Clay-colored Sparrow on the road side of the pool. At the "Ibis Pool" in the West Meadows we had another juvenile Dickcissel. Some other species; 2 Harriers 2 Merlins 3 Tree Swallows 150+ Yellow-rumped Warblers 100+ Savannah Sparrows 2 Indigo Buntings 30+ Bobolinks

WESTFIELD (from Larry Therrien) WESTFIELD- Field and swamp near Summit Lock Rd and Root Rd this morning: Magnolia Warbler (2), Palm Warbler (4), Yellow Rumped Warbler (18), Common Yellowthroat (4), Blue Headed Vireo (2), Red Eyed Vireo (2), Lincoln's Sparrow (1), Swamp Sparrow (2), Field Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (12), Song Sparrow (10), Junco (2), Eastern Phoebe (2), Killdeer (2), Gray Catbird (25+)...many near swamp, Sharp Shinned Hawk (1) being harassed by Blue Jays, Cooper's Hawk (1)...juvenile perched in dead snag, Eastern Bluebird (3), Kingfisher (2), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Wood Duck (2), Cedar Waxwing (3), Canada Geese (25), Northern Flicker (3), Blue Jay (25). Mt Tekoa area this afternoon: Black Throated Green Warbler (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (2), Junco (2), ? type Thrush (2)...flew off before I got a good enough look to ID. Turkey Vulture (6) with four perched on a cell phone tower sunning. Also at home in Westfield had the following from the backyard: Blue Headed Vireo (1) seen still calling, Turkey Vulture (6), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Blue Jay (35+) migrating, Northern Mockingbird (1) doing a perfect immitation of a Greater Yellowlegs.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Chris Chinni, Dietrich Schlobohm, Doug James, John Weeks, Pam Witaszek Weather: Sunny with cirrus clouds and considerable haze. Light winds all day, mostly NE to E. Temperature 66-75 F. Raptor Observations: Still more Broad-wings -- a kettle of 40 passed directly overhead at 2:30 PM EDT! This belated evacuation must have been organized by FEMA. Three Peregrines added spice. Not migrating were an adult Bald Eagle, one Sharpie, a Goshawk and a Red-tail. Non-raptor Observations: Common Loons (2), Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jays (191), Ruby-crowned Kinglets (3-4), Eastern Bluebirds (11), Palm Warblers (2), White-throated Sparrows (3). Monarchs: 6.

NEW SALEM (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We hiked Gate 35 Quabbin south to almost the tip of the western shore of the North Dana Penninsula (towns of New Salem/Petersham) . This almost level hike (round trip c.4miles) runs south alongside the shores of Quabbin. SEE DIRECTIONS IN WESTERN GUIDE. Typically in fall, if you hit it right, there CAN be some nice movements of common passerines. Another feature of this end of Quabbin are several islands and sandbars, that sometimes attract gulls and shorebirds. Today when we started hiking it was in 37 degree weather with thick fog over the water. Not too promising at all. By the time we reached the end of the trail (just opposite of the northen tip of Mount L and just south of a trail that connects to Gate 37), the fog began to lift and we had excellent viewing conditions. But even with such viewing conditions and such a dramatic view of the sky and Prescott et, we really did poorly for raptors. Though species VARIETY was only middlin', the NUMBER of a certain very few species was very good. Common Loon (16) Double-crested Cormorant (4) Great Blue Heron (1) A Black Duck (2) Common Merganser (16) Osprey (2) Bald Eagle (1ad: low) Sharp-shinned Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawk (1) Wild Turkey (15 on Rt.32A) BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (5: on those sandbars off the end of the trail) Greater Yellowlegs (9) Spotted Sandpiper (1) Pectoral Sandpiper (2) Ring-billed Gull (15) Herring Gull (47) Great Black-backed Gull (1) Downy Woodpecker (7) Hairy Woodpecker (4) N Flicker (2) Pileated Woodpecker (1 that flew right in front of the car on Rt.122) Eastern Phoebe (5:low) Blue-headed Vireo (3:low) BLUE JAY (562: almost all seen migrating between 9:45 and 10:30AM. By the time we reached the end of the trail and the fog lifted, we began to notice flocks of jays migrating south. The flock size was typically between 15 and 30 birds. They would suddenly be seen flying up high out of the forest on North Dana and for the most part continue south along the shore. A few flocks headed high into the air and then look like were heading over the water towards Mount L and the Prescott, but inevitably they would then head back to North Dana and continue on south. By 10:30, the flocks just stopped.) A Crow (8) Black-capped Chickadee (158) Tufted Titmouse (23) Red-breasted Nuthatch (29) White-breasted Nuthatch (7) Brown Creeper (16) Winter Wren (1) Golden-crowned Kinglet (21) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (11) Hermit Thrush (1: this has been a LOUSY year for this species in many locations inland) A Robin (17) Gray Catbird (2) Cedar Waxwing (3) Yellow-rumped Warbler (127) Black-throated Green Warbler (2) Pine Warbler (29) Palm Warbler (24) Blackpoll (112: after the fog lifted, there was a significant movement of this species along the edge and out over the water heading SW) C. Yellowthroat (1) Eastern Towhee (1: low) Chipping Sparrow (19) Song Sparrow (7) White-throated Sparrow (2: ridiculously low for this time at this location) Dark-eyed Junco (7:low) N Cardinal (4) Purple Finch (6) A Goldfinch (3) PLUS: Monarchs migrating (6). Also: as we hiked south, a section of the trail was covered with Moose tracks and Moose scat (as well as White-tailed Deer tracks and scat). At one point, something truly huge lumbered through the forest as we approached and it may have been one of these beasts. A real surprise was seeing what looked like a military helecopter fly in low over the Prescott (right down a valley, just over the trees) and then fly extremely low over the water south and to the west of Mount L. Quabbin has restrictions on planes flying over the reservoir, so it was very unusual to see this.

QUABBIN (from ABC Bird News) Gray-cheeked Thrush Wood Thrush several Swainson's Thrush 5 Scarlet Tanagers Yellow-throated Vireo ~Andrew Magee

October 3 - Monday - Sunny and Warm

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) - A few Highlights from the East Meadows, Northampton: Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow - This was almost certainly the same bird found by Harvey Allen's scheduled club trip to the meadows yesterday. It was on the eastern edge of the so called ‘Swan Pool’, south of the Red Barn. I got a few images through the morning fog; http://keenbirding.com/Fall05/NelsonsEM031005.html Other birds of note; American Golden Plover - 1 flew SW at 10:45hrs. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER -1 (trees by swan pool) Blue Jay - 65 flew SW. Tree Swallow - 9+. Barn Swallow - 2 Bank Swallow - 1 Cliff Swallow - 1 American Pipit - 36 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 130+. Western Palm Warbler - 8 Eastern Palm Warbler - 6 Blackpoll Warbler - 2 Common Yellowthroat - 8 House Wren - 1 Lincoln’s Sparrow - 16 Swamp Sparrow - 28 White-throated Sparrow - 23 Indigo Bunting - 4 PINE SISKIN - 1 flew SW at 08:40hrs. LAPLAND LONGPSUR - 4 calling birds circling the big field just east of the Swan Pool at 10:24 hrs. Managed to get a poor quality shot of two of these as they flew over me. Bobolink - 45

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massburd by Ian Lynch) A day of irony for me as I went to the Ibis Pool at West Meadows in Northampton in search of the reported Sedge Wren and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. I dipped on both, but James Smith was at the same time photographing a Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow at EAST Meadows. When I got there later I missed him and the sparrow, but had a Sedge Wren in the "Swan Pool" area! I also had a Nashville Warbler near there and "punctuated" the day with a Question Mark and a couple of Eastern Comma butterflies. Highlights from West Meadows included two Sharp-shinned Hawks, probably a dozen each of Palm Warblers and Lincoln Sparrows, more Savannah Sparrows and American Goldfinches than I cared to count and either the same White-crowned Sparrow three times or three of them along the road.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia meadows: Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (17), Common Yellowthroat (8), Red Eyed Vireo (1), Lincoln's Sparrow (8), Swamp Sparrow (9), Field Sparrow (1), Chipping Sparrow (1), White Crowned Sparrow (5) with one adult, White Throated Sparrow (23), Savannah Sparrow (40+), Song Sparrow (76+) probably more, Indigo Bunting (1), Eastern Phoebe (2) with one calling, Sharp Shinned Hawk (1) buzzed Ibis Pool, Cooper's Hawk (1), Gray Catbird (16), Killdeer (2), Great Blue Heron (1), House Wren (1), House Finch (1), Cedar Waxwing (55+) with one group of 45+ birds on trolley line that came in as a group, Northen Mockingbird (1), American Goldfinch (40+), and other usual birds in expected numbers.

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) The time to check the Ibis Pool is apparently not 1-2pm - Harrier-1, Song Sparrow-10. In North Hadley Blue Grosbeak was gone but saw Swamp Sparrow-7, White-crowned Sparrow-1, Wood Duck-3, Tree Swallow-1.

CHICOPEE (from Larry Therrien) - Along the Mass Pike- Turkey Vulture (38).

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

In Northampton single NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were studied both in the East and the West Meadows. One of them, found Sunday, continued today at the southeast section of the weedy area just south of the four corners in the Swan Pool. Also in this area were a DICKCISSEL, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, 4 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, 36 AMERICAN PIPITS, 2 MERLINS, a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, BARN, BANK, CLIFF, and TREE SWALLOWS, 150 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 14 PALM WARBLERS and 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 16 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, 4 INDIGO BUNTINGS, 45 BOBOLINKS, and a PINE SISKIN.

In the West Meadows in and near the Ibis Pool there were 2 MARSH WRENS, a SEDGE WREN, a DICKCISSEL, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, a SWAINSON’S THRUSH, a NASHVILLE WARBLER, and 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL.

In Amherst a GREAT EGRET continues at the UMass campus pond and another DICKCISSEL was found near the rail trail on the Hadley town line.

A possible HENSLOW'S SPARROW was reported from Bennett Meadow in Northfield last Wednesday, but has not been found since. Other birds seen in Northfield were a GREAT EGRET, a MERLIN, a “TRAILL’S” FLYCATCHER (willow or alder), 2 EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES, 10 AMERICAN PIPITS, 36 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, a NASHVILLE WARBLER, 22 BLACKPOLL and 18 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 8 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, 25 PURPLE FINCH, an EVENING GROSBEAK and 7 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

A flock of more than 100 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS was noted in the Chicopee State Park today.

A BLUE GROSBEAK was in Hadley on Sunday, and an AMERICAN BITTERN, 6 HOODED MERGANSERS, and a WHITE-EYED VIREO were reported in Pittsfield.

Highlights of a trip to the central shores of the Quabbin Reservoir were a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, 4 SWAINSON’S THRUSH, 5 SCARLET TANAGERS, and a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.

A day’s walk into Gate 35 of North Quabbin produced 16 COMMON LOONS, 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 9 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a SPOTTED and 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, a WINTER WREN, 21 GOLDEN-CROWNED and 11 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 127 YELLOW-RUMPED, 29 PINE, 24 PALM, and 112 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.

At Blueberry Hill in Granville there were 2 COMMON LOONS, 2 BARRED OWLS, 55 RUBY-CROWNED and 6 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 3 MAGNOLIA, a BLACK THROATED GREEN, a CHESTNUT-SIDED, and 9 PALM WARBLERS, 4 AMERICAN PIPITS, 11 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. The weekly counts of migrating hawks was 34 OSPREYS, a BALD EAGLE, 4 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 150 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 7 COOPER’S HAWKS, 333 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 93 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 4 MERLINS and 5 PEREGRINE FALCONS.

October 4 - Tuesday - Sunny and Warm

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Sunny, unseasonably warm, and with light, variable winds. A terrible subfusc pall of smog lay over the land. Raptor Observations: This was a frustrating day. Low numbers I expected, but I did not expect to see what I am morally certain was a juvenile Golden Eagle (dihedral wings, white in tail, nothing like a Bald Eagle in shape) appear, then -- just before I could pronounce it definitely -- turn around and fly back north, to disappear behind the veil of dirty brown air. Non-raptor Observations: Red-bellied Woodpecker (male), Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jays (152), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warblers (handful), Palm Warbler, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrows (3), White-throated Sparrows (2-3). No White-crowned Sparrow today. Monarchs: 5.

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) This morning one Dickcissel perched up and giving prolonged views at the 'Ibis Pool'. Looked like a hatch-year bird and was probably the same bird found by Harvey Allen's group on Sunday. Also 3 White-crowned Sparrows (beautiful adult and 2 immatures) feeding on the road by the Ibis Pool. In general, 'loaded' with commoner species there. An Bald Eagle was on the Oxbow. In Amherst, a singing Pine Warbler on Norwottuck Rail Trail at Baker Street and a calling Wood Thrush. A Common Raven also flew over our yard on Baker Street.

October 5 Wednesday - Fog early then Sunny and Warm

NORTH HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) Late this afternoon Heather and I saw Killdeer-35, Least Sandpiper-4, Solitary Sandpiper-1.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Sunny, cloudless skies, dense fog (a.m.) and haze (p.m.). Wind light and variable (though southerly). Temperature 69-76 F. Actual start-time: 9:10 EDT. Raptor Observations: More butterflies by far than hawks today. A final (?) kettle of 4 Broad-wings at 11:08 EDT. Non-migrants: 5 Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (adult & 3rd-year immature), 2 Sharp-shins, Goshawk, 2 Red-shouldered, 1 Red-tail. Non-raptor Observations: HOUSE WREN (giving me the raspberry from bushes around the remains of the old homestead on the hill). Other birds: Canada Geese (17), Blue Jays (65), American Pipits (2). Monarchs: 93.

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) There are 3 eagles hanging around Northeast Street. One has fledged from the Quabbin program as it sits on a cage like structure similar to its cage at the Quabbin waiting for food. Lots of owl activity here horned, barred and saw whet.

HADLEY (posted to Massbird by James Smith) Selected notes from the Hadley Honey Pot area this morning: Hadley Transfer Station; Tree Swallow - 2 Field Sparrow - 1 Honey Pot Road Wilson's Snipe - 1 American Pipit - c.225 on model plane airfield. VESPER SPARROW - 1 on approach track to model plane airfield. Magnolia Warbler - 1 with Golden-crowned Kinglets by CT River.

NEW SALEM (posted to Massbird by Bill Lafley) Last night on my night walk I was surprised to hear a Long- eared Owl calling. It was coming from a pine stand on the far side of an apple orchard that is just up the road from our house. It called for about 10 minutes.

October 6 Thursday - Sunny and Warm

SOUTH AMHERST - Harvey Allen discovered a female or molting fall Brewer's Blackbird feeding in short grass between the sidewalk and road at 130 Iduna Circle.

WESTHAMPTON (from Chuck Horn) In the beaver pond field on Rt. 66 I saw large numbers of white-throated, swamp, chipping, and song sparrows, 4 Lincoln's, 1 field sparrow, several indigo buntings, 1 white-crowned sparrow, and a nonbreeding adult male dickcissel (all field marks carefully noted). Nothing unusual at the State Hospital except a late scarlet tanager.

BELCHERTOWN (from Larry Therrien) Blackpoll Warbler (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (8), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), Wood Duck (8), Eastern Phoebe (1), Junco (4), Gray Catbird (2), Sharp Shinned Hawk (1), Brown Creeper (1).

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks, Pam Witaszek Weather: Cloudless skies to start; cloud-cover increased to 40% early in the afternoon, then decreased again to 5%. Wind W/SW and light in the a.m.; shifting to S and strengthening to 10-15 mph in the p.m. Temperature 65-76 F. Raptor Observations: Eight migrant species, including 2 Peregrines and 22 Kestrels. An adult Broad-wing soared beautifully overhead against a mix of cumulus and blue sky. (Nostalgia for the kettle days has already set in....) Non-migrants: Half-dozen Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (adult, immature), Goshawk, Red-shouldered, Red-tail. Non-raptor Observations: SNOW GEESE (50; first of the season), Canada Geese (39), Chimney Swifts (2), Blue Jays (79), American Robins (32). Monarchs: 42. One Mourning Cloak, one Tiger Swallowtail.

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) A few selected notes for this morning at the East Meadows, Northampton. SORA - 1 adult disturbed from Squash field less than 100 yards south of Swan Pool, east of track. Dropped into corn field and not seen again. Tree Swallow - 3 flew SW at 10:20hrs. Field Sparrow - 1. Great views by Swan Pool, and a few images; http://keenbirding.com/Fall05/FieldSp061005.html White-crowned Sparrow - 1 first-winter. Savannah Sparrow - c.340. Everywhere in the early part of the morning but many dispersed by 08:30hrs.

October 7 Friday - Cloudy and Muggy Rain after dark

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) This morning at the Oxbow there were 3 Great Blue Herons, 16 Killdeer, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 4 Wood Ducks, and 1 Bald Eagle.

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) Dave Caldwell and I spent the morning birding the East and West Meadows in Northampton. Weather was muggy then hot when the sun broke through. Not ideal Sparrow hunting weather. We struck out on Dickcissel and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, perhaps due to the often gusty winds and/or marauding acciptiters keeping most LBJ's down. Highlight of the day was 2 Vesper Sparrows; one in the 'Swan Pool' area of the East Meadow and the other on the eastern edge of the 'Ibis pool' region. Here's the list: American Black Duck (2) Northern Harrier (2) Sharp-shinned Hawk (2, Nice show of a Sharpie and Coop taking turns at chasing each other around while everything else stayed out of sight). Cooper's Hawk (2) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel (4) Rock Dove (12) Mourning Dove (22) Downy Woodpecker (2) Northern Flicker (4) Eastern Phoebe (3) Blue Jay (20) American Crow (36) Eastern Bluebird (3) 'Catharus' Thrush species Gray Catbird (6) European Starling (150) Yellow-rumped Warbler (16) Palm Warbler Common Yellowthroat (4) VESPER SPARROW (2) Savannah Sparrows (65) Song Sparrow (12) Lincoln's Sparrow (3) Swamp Sparrow (2) White-throated Sparrow (10) Dark-eyed Junco (2) Indigo Bunting (3) Bobolink (6) Red-winged Blackbird (1200+) House Finch (6) American Goldfinch (45)

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Overcast and foggy, with occasional showers and drizzle. Wind S/SSW, light to start, increasing to 10-15 (gusting to 20) mph. Temperature 68-73 F. Watch began at 9:05 EDT. Raptor Observations: A baker's dozen, all flying low. Non-migrants: Turkey Vulture, immature Bald Eagle. Non-raptor Observations: Double-crested Cormorants (3), Northern Flicker, Blue Jays (193), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warblers (half a dozen). Monarchs: 1.

October 8 Saturday - Steady Rain all day

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) About 200 Canada Geese in the field behind the police station, 3 Wood Ducks and a Great Blue Heron at North Hadley Pond.

EASTHAMPTON (from Chuck Horn) Best bird near Arcadia today, a late yellow billed cuckoo, seen well at close range for a few minutes on Clapp Rd. At Arcadia, two b.t. blues and two solitary vireos.

October 9 - Sunday - Overcast and Cool - MAJOR FLOODING

AMHERST+ (from Deedee Minear) American Coot and 3 Green-winged Teal at 11 30 am off rail trail in so amherst. almost exactly where Sally Hillls found the moorhen last spring. A little further back (out of sight) in the brushy area parallel the red shed when I left.

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I saw this morning in NORTH HADLEY - Bald Eagle, DC Cormorant, Greater Yellowlegs, and Meadowlark. In SUNDERLAND in some fields we saw Black-bellied Plover-2, Am Golden Plover-8, Killdeer-30, Least Sandpiper-1, Greater Yellowlegs-1, Bluebird-30, Pipit-200+. Near the Police Station in Sunderland we saw Killdeer-15, Pectoral-2. In WHATELY by Pilgram Airport we saw Killdeer-20, Pectoral-3, Merlin-1. In DEERFIELD we saw another Meadowlark. Later at the HADLEY horse farm I saw Green-winged Teal-9, Killdeer-4, Kestel-1, Sharp-shinned Hawk-1.

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) I went over to the pines yesterday but did not see or hear any owls. The rain did bring some interesting migrants. I saw a broad wing hawk and a coopers hawk, 3 Towees, lots of white throat sparrows, lot of yellow rumped warblers, some pine warblers, two flickers, ruby crowned kinglets and the usual blue jays, chickadees, titmouse, crows, song sparrows.

SOUTH QUABBIN (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) Today we looked for "Central MA" scoters. Scoters are typically uncommon migrants inland and thier appearance is often unpredictable. It is largely "feast" (very uncommon) or "famine" (most often) with these ducks inland. Mid-October is when they start to appear inland, typically following a bout of inclement weather or after clear, still nights with a full moon. Thier presence is typically a "one day wonder": here for a day and gone by dusk. Some do stay on longer. When on the ponds or lakes, they typically stay in very tight flocks, sometimes nervously flying about. The best places to look are the large reservoirs (Quabbin and Wachuset) and large lakes with minimal boat traffic. We ended up seeing all three species of scoters today, not a common event by any means. Interestingly, they were ALL drakes. We first went to QUABBIN PARK/SOUTH QUABBIN (directions in Western Guide). The weather first thing was cool (we had our winter hats on as well as sweaters, gloves and jackets); misty and overcast. Visibility over the water first thing was very good, but diminished as the morning wore on. Common Loon (1) Pied-billed Grebe (1) Great Blue Heron (1) Turkey Vulture (1) A Black Duck (5) SURF SCOTER (7m) BLACK SCOTER (11m: both scoter flocks visible at dawn from the Administration Building) Osprey (1) Bald Eagle (1ad+1imm) Cooper's Hawk (1ad harassing crows) Red-tailed Hawk (2) Peregrine Falcon (1 stunning adult that came out of the woods low while we were at the Headquarters Building and then circled slowly higher right overhead and gradually moved west) Ring-billed Gull (1) Herring Gull (1) Belted Kingfisher (1) Downy Woodpecker (6) Hairy Woodpecker (2) Pileated Woodepcker (1) Eastern Phoebe (17) Blue-headed Vireo (1 still singing) Blue Jay (21) A Crow (9) Common Raven (1 flying along with some chunky mammal in it's bill) Black-capped Chickadee (96) Tufted Titmouse (18) Red-breasted Nuthatch (2) White-breasted Nuthatch (11) Brown Creeper (1) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6) Eastern Bluebird (1) Hermit Thrush (2) A Robin (1) Gray Catbird (4) N Mockingbird (1) WARBLERS: N Parula (6) Yellow-rumped (48) Black-throated Green (8) Palm (1) Blackpoll (11) Black and White (3) C Yellowthroat (3) Eastern Towhee (11) Chipping Sparrow (6) Field Sparrow (2) Song Sparrow (10) Lincolns Sparrow (1) Swamp Sparrow (6) White-throated (51) White-crowned (1imm) Dark-eyed Junco (21) N Cardinal (4) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1).

NORTHAMPTON/QUABBIN PARK (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) Lots of floodwater in the East Meadows today, the track by the airstrip being impassable in the early morning. We eventually parked at the Red Barn and walked south from there. Quite a few interesting birds around after yesterday’s downpour, but notably fewer sparrows with Savannah Sparrow numbers way down from October 6th. East Meadows highlights (08:30 - 11:30hrs); Green-winged Teal - 37 at Swan Pool (now with lots of water). PEREGRINE - 1 beautiful juvenile female of tundra form ‘tundrius’ chasing a Killdeer near the Red Barn. Quite different from locally bred juveniles being much paler overall, with very noticeable cream crown, thinner moustacials and eyestripe, and pale creamy tips to the upperpart feathers especially the tertials. This bird also had a broad creamy tip to the tail. The bird settled in a field for a while after failing to catch the Killdeer. These images are not the best, but do give an impression of this distinctive form of Peregrine. Well illustrated in ‘big’ Sibley, p.133. http://keenbirding.com/Fall05/TundraPere091005.html Bald Eagle - 1 adult. Merlin - 1 Northern Harrier - 4 juveniles. Killdeer - 32 Wilson’s Snipe - 7 DUNLIN - 1 called about 8 times as it flew south at 09:55hrs. Tree Swallow - 8+ Field Sparrow - 2 White-crowned Sparrow - 1 first-winter. Near the Hampshire Mall, Hadley. 1 Pectoral Sandpiper and about 50 Killdeer. This afternoon at Quabbin Reservoir, from Winsor Dam (14:05 - 16:05hrs): My waterfowl totals were a little different to those of Mark Lynch recorded in the early morning, perhaps reflecting the highly mobile nature of inland scoter flocks at this time of year. Whilst I was there I certainly saw some active migration of Canada Geese (55 south at 14:50hrs) and of American Black Ducks (27 - flocks of 11, and 17 flying high south). Highlights; Common Loon - 1 BLACK SCOTER - 1 male. Showed no interest in joining the flock of Surf Scoters resting about a 1/4 mile away. SURF SCOTER - 7 (5 adult male, 1 immature male, and 1 female). AMERICAN WIGEON - 2 (males, one in good plumage, one rather duller). Osprey - 4 flew south. Broad-winged Hawk - 1 juvenile flew south. Bald Eagle - 1 juvenile. Savannah Sparrow - 8 American Pipit - 1

QUABBIN PARK (posted to Massbird by Scott Surner) A trip out to Quabbin Headquarters yesterday and today had minor results- highlights... Common Loon (3) all adults. Pied-billed Grebe (1) Rte 9 marsh. Double-cr. Cormorant (1) American Wigeon (2) Am. Black Duck (5) Mallard (2) Surf Scoter (7) -6 males. Bald Eagle (2) 1 imm/1 ad. Raven (1)

October 10 - Monday - Overcast and Cool

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Fairbrother) This monday morning at 8:00 there was an immature tern above the dam at Turners Falls. As far as I could tell it is a Common Tern. I first saw it in flight along the edge of the river flow, but when I left it had landed on the weed covered bar along side the main river channel. Also present amoung the usual suspects: Pied-billed Grebe 3 Greenwing Teal 2 Ring-necked Duck 2. The (Common) Tern I first saw this morning was still present at dusk this evening, although it has moved to the other side of Barton peninsula, where it was visible from the Rod + Gun club grounds. The water level has risen during the day, but numerous mudflats are still exposed along the river here. Also there were a doe and two fawns-of-the-year. In almost 30 years (GASP!) of birding this location I can't recall ever seeing a deer at the river's edge before. Now if that darn Moose would only show up...

QUABBIN PARK+ (from Larry Therrien) No Scoters seen there this morning. Common Loon (1) close in by Windsor Dam, Double Crested Cormorant (1), Black Duck (2), Canada Geese (25), Field Sparrrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (4), Eastern Bluebird (1). WARE: Rt 9 marsh: Pied Billed Grebe (1), Hooded Merganser (4), Mallard (13), Kingfisher (1), Golden Crowned Kinglet (1). Also a couple of Otters there.

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) At lunch I walked out to the West Meadows. I didn't make it as far as the Ibis Pool, but there were several large puddles out in the fields. Highlights: Wood Duck-10, Green-winged Teal-34, Am Wigeon-1, Black Duck-4, Mallard-40, Harrier-2, Myrtles-10.

HADLEY/AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) Just before East St a fox jumped out of the bushes about 5 feet in front of me, scared the heck out of both of us! Periodic yellow rumped flocks (numbering between 6-to a dozen or more birds) all along the path Two snipe and a pectoral sandpiper visible form the path near the by the storage spaces behind hadley garden center Behind the mall, in the corn stubble next to the back parking lot, canada geese and a puddle that had killdeer (and maybe something else who knows I was too far away to tell) By the golf course visible form the path, two black polls with a yellow rumped flock No coot,(at the hop brook bridge) which I am not suprised everything is so flooded it could be anywhere but I did see the/a bittern fly over Also saw 10 wood ducks flying around over hop brook

HADLEY (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) This morning I spent a few hours behind the Hampshire Mall just off Route 9 in Hadley, near the Amherst townline. Some Canada Geese have gathered in the wet corn stubble fields just north of the mall with small parties of birds dropping in all the time. Highlights (07:30-10:30hrs); Canada Goose - c.300 SNOW GOOSE - 1 adult dropped in at 09:30hrs with a small party of Canada Geese. Wood Duck - 1 Peregrine - 1 immature (probably 2nd-winter) ‘tundrius’ but a different bird to that in the East Meadows from yesterday. Swept over the field, giving a half hearted swoop at a Killdeer but just kept going south. Passed at about 09:45hrs. American Kestrel - 1 flew south Osprey - 1 flew south. Killdeer - 54+ Pectoral Sandpiper - 3 juveniles. VERY difficult to see in the stubble. American Pipit - 16+. Marsh Wren - 1 in ditch by stubble field. Lincoln’s Sparrow - 1 Bobolink - 1 flew south.

SOUTH AMHERST - Harvey Allen saw a Sora on the KC Trail near Southeast St.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday, October 10

Waterfowl seen over the weekend at south Quabbin Reservoir were 3 COMMON LOONS, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, 2 AMERICAN WIGEON, 7 SURF SCOTERS and 11 BLACK SCOTERS. Land birds noted were a PEREGRINE FALCON, 6 NORTHERN PARULA, 8 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, 11 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, 3 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, a LINCOLN’S SPARROW, a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK.

Two SURF SCOTERS and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER as well as 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS were seen on Lake Quaboag in Brookfield.

In a rain pool in Sunderland there were 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 8 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 200 AMERICAN PIPITS, and 30 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS.

The “swan pool” in the Northampton meadows has filled with water, and 37 GREEN-WINGED TEAL were there along with a SORA, 7 WILSON'S SNIPE and a DUNLIN.

Found in and near an area known as the “ibis pool” in the west meadows was a MERLIN, a DICKCISSEL, 3 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, 2 VESPER SPARROWS, 3 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS. A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO and a SCARLET TANAGER were reported at the nearby Arcadia Sanctuary.

A COMMON TERN was present this past weekend at Turner’s Falls along with 3 PIED-BILLED GREBES, 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and 2 RING-NECKED DUCKS.

A LONG-EARED OWL was heard calling steadily one evening in New Salem.

A BREWER’S BLACKBIRD was reported on a roadside lawn in South Amherst on Thursday, but not since.

Seen elsewhere in Amherst were an AMERICAN COOT, an AMERICAN BITTERN, a WOOD THRUSH, a PINE WARBLER and a BLACKPOLL WARBLER.

A DICKCISSEL and 4 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS were found at a beaver pond along Route 66 in Westhampton.

Observed in Hadley was a SNOW GOOSE, a PEREGRINE FALCON, 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, a MARSH WREN, a LINCOLN’S SPARROW, a VESPER SPARROW, a MAGNOLIA WARBLER and 225 AMERICAN PIPITS.

Before the rains closed down the hawkwatch on Blueberry Hill in Granville 50 SNOW GEESE, 13 OSPREYS, 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 17 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 40 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 2 MERLINS, and 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen migrating.

October 11 - Tuesday - Overcast

NORTHAMPTON+ (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) October 11th, 2005. There appears to have been a small inland arrival of Black-legged Kittiwakes along the CT River Valley. This morning I found 4 adults/near adults on the flooded playing fields at the Oxbow Marina, Northampton. I saw the first bird whilst viewing from the Arcadia Meadows side and drove around to the marina to get better views finding another three birds there! They were exceptionally tame and would often sit tight when all the other gulls were flushed by Bald Eagles and the like. The first-winter Common Tern found by Mark Fairbrother was also still present at Turner’s Falls, visible from the Rod and Gun Club. Another Black-legged Kittiwake was on the CT River here as well, and for a short time both birds sat together on the water. No other gulls were present at that spot. Later in the afternoon, I found another small gull of interest just outside Massachusetts in southern Vermont. A Bonaparte’s Gull was present at the Retreat Meadows, Brattleboro around 3pm. It was the only gull on the water. I must admit, I didn’t quite understand how rare inland Kittiwakes were in Massachusetts until I checked Petersen and Veit (1993). They list only one historical record dating back to November 1909! Even so, I would guess that there have been others inland since the publication of the Birds of Massachusetts? I managed to get images of all five individuals today; http://keenbirding.com/Fall05/Kittiwakes111005.html

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Chris Gentes) Today at lunch the meadows had dried out considerably puddles either gone or quickly drying out. 80 gulls over the oxbow. Highlights: Wood Duck-9, Great Blue Heron-1, DC Cormorant-2, Kestrel-2, Snipe-1, Flicker-7, Myrtle-10, Red-winged Blackbirds-300. Also In Sunderland this morning there was a field with 45 Killdeer.

QUABBIN HQ (from Larry Therrien) Early Morning - Surf Scoter (2), White Winged Scoter (1), Common Loon (2), Herring Gull (6), Common Raven (1). The scoters and the loons all left the area about 15 minutes after I arrived to parts unknown.

UMASS (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) The Great Egret was still at UMass-Amherst yesterday. Along N. Hadley Road in Hadley were four GWTeal, and on Aqua Vitae Road one Pintail. At my feeder in Haydenville a large group of Purple Finch are gobbling up sunflower seed. I had up to 44 last week.

GANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Overcast and foggy, with rapidly diminishing visibility and drizzling rain in last hour. Wind NE 5-12 (gusting to 15-20) mph. Temperature 55-56 F. This northeaster has worn out its welcome. Raptor Observations: Non-raptor Observations: Blue Jays (70).

ASHFIELD (from Steve Sauter) - A single osprey along the river today. Lots of grouse and winter wrens in the woods.

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) The adult Common Tern reported by Mark Fairbrother was still present this afternoon around 4:30 at the Turners Falls Rod and Gun Club. This bird showed the white forehead/crown of a winter Common, but has retained much of its summer features. Base half of bill showing bright reddish orange and, from my view, I could see no evidence of the winter carpal bar. While writing this report I checked incoming mail and am sad to report the Black-legged Kittiwake seen by James Smith was not in evidence at that time. Many Herring Gulls, but no pelagic gull. Other highlights from here and Bartons Cove in Gill: American Wigeon Green-winged Teal (2) Ring-necked Duck (3) Common Merganser (4) Pied-billed Grebe

October 12 - Wednesday - Rain and Chill

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Oxbow at 7:15am: Black Legged Kittiwakes (3), Herring Gull (34), Ring Billed Gull (70+), Kingfisher (1), Mallard (10). The Kittiwakes were in the flooded area on the right as you enter the marina. The birds were still there as of 7:30am when I left. Over the fairgrounds late morning I had a juvenile Bald Eagle.

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by Chris Gentes) I just got a call from Bob Bieda (9:30am Wednesday) and there are at least 5, perhaps 6 or more Kittiwakes at the flooded soccer field next to the Oxbow Marina in Northampton! Close to 6pm there were 8 Kittiwakes at the marina of which 2 were striking juvenile/first winter birds. This morning in the Honeypot area of HADLEY there were 5 Kestrels.

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Fairbrother) A brief visit to the Rod and Gun this morning showed the tern still there, along with a small, undetermined number of pipits and very low water levels.

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) With this stalled weather pattern, I thought a scan of Turners Falls Rod and Gun Club in Turners Falls and Barton Cove in Gill might produce something out of the ordinary (obviously it has already with the Black-legged Kittiwake showing). As Mark Lynch had mentioned recently, this is prime time for inland scoters, so a check of ANY inland bodies of water could produce a surprise or two. This was the case this afternoon at Barton Cove, where I had 1 female White-winged Scoter. I've had tight flocks of Black and Surf Scoters in the past here, but it is still nice to see this species inland. Of a note for the record; the 1st Winter [After some discussion and consultation, I will stand corrected that the Common Tern I saw at the Turners Falls Rod and Gun Club region was indeed a Juv/ 1st Winter bird, not as I stated an adult.] Common Tern was still present around the bend (T.F.R+G) at 4:00 p.m.

QUABBIN (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) South Quabbin in mid-morning. From Winsor Dam (09:30 - 11:30hrs); BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE - 1 adult flew south down the far (western) side of the reservoir, cruised around for a short while and then headed back north into the teeth of a cold northern wind. Seen at 10:25 - 10:30hrs. Behaved much more like a true pelagic gull than those seen yesterday (and apparently today) in Northampton. Classic gliding low over the whitecaps and then towering high into the wind, before a starting another long glide. Amazing. Showed little interest in joinng the small party of Ring-billed Gulls present. LAPLAND LONGSPUR -1, possibly 2, seen and heard along the dam wall with Savannah Sparrows and American Pipits. Usually very tricky to see, but occasionally perched on the wall itself. I’ll be posting images of both of the above later at; http://www.keenbirding.com/page6.html Other birds of interest; Canada Goose - 45 flew south in two flocks. American Black Duck - 16 flew south (plus one Malled with them). Osprey - 4 flew south. Peregrine - 1 south. Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3 south. Northern Flicker - 4 singles flew south. Savannah Sparrow - 100+. American Pipit - 45+. Common Raven - 2 No obvious signs of any scoters whilst I was there. From the ‘Blueberry Patch’; Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Savannah Sparrow - 10+ White-throated Sparrow - 2 Lots of visible White-tailed Deer on the drive loop through the park.

October 13 - Thursday - Overcast - off and on rain

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Seven adult kittiwakes at Marina mid-day. Over at Danks pond - 45 Green-winged Teal, 4 Blue-winged Teal, 7 American Wigeon, and in some nearby flooded fields there were 4 Greater Yellowlegs and 55 Pipits. I went back over to the Marina around 5pm and there were 6 adult Kittiwakes present. Then a gull flew in which a few of us including Andy Magee and the Dupreys thought was a Laughing Gull, While the bird did appear small next to the ring-billed gulls, and the beak appears small as well, the plumage characteristics point to Laughing Gull.

QUABBIN (from Larry Therrien) Nothing too unusual out a Quabbin first thing this morning in a steady rain and stiff breeze. Would have liked to check some other spots there, but with the heavy rain, had to scope from the vehicle only. QUABBIN: Common Loon (4)..three near Winsor Dam and one near Goodnough Dike, Herring Gull (14), Common Raven (1), American Turkey (1). WARE: Rt 9 marsh: Hooded Merganser (3), Black Duck (11), Mallard (2). QUABBIN: Mid afternoon stop during a short lived lull in the rain: White Winged Scoter (7) w/ 6 drakes..seen from the area of winsor dam...still there when I left at 3:30. Double Crested Cormorant (1), Mallard (1) flyby, Savannah Sparrow (20+)..along dam...probably more but got rained out less than a quarter of the way across dam, Red Tailed Hawk (1), Golden Crowned Kinglet (1).

QUABBIN+ (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) Black-legged Kittiwakes still present at at least two inland sites this morning; South Quabbin from Winsor Dam (07:45-09:15hrs); Heavy rain all the time, NE breeze. Common Loon - 3 Bald Eagle -1 adult. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE - 1 adult flying around the southern end of the reservoir for about 10 minutes during (08:00 - 08:10hrs). Wild Turkey - 19 Lapland Longspur - 2. Nice views on the dam wall in the deluge. Small numbers of American Pipits and Savannah Sparrows. Oxbow Marina, NORTHAMPTON. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE - 7 adults, still showing very well (10:00 - 11:00hrs) on the now rapidly draining soccer field. Most other gulls had departed, with only a handful of Ring-bills and smiths. Other birds; Great Blue Heron - 4 Osprey - 1 American Kestrel -2 Pectoral Sandpiper - 2 Spotted Sandpiper - 1 American Pipit - 45+ Savannah Sparrow - 30+. Hampshire Mall, HADLEY - Peregrine - 1 juvenile tundra form (different bird to that on Oct 10th) White-crowned Sparrow - 1 (first-winter) Small numbers of Canada Geese and American Pipits.

SOUTHWICK (from ABC Bird News) Congamond Lake 1 Common Loon 1 Dc Cormorant ~Seth Kellogg

October 14 - Friday - Steady Rain

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Fairbrother) As of this morning the common tern was still present at the Rod and Gun club in Turners Falls. It has been joined by a Bonaparte's Gull.

NORTHAMPTON+ (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) This morning I visited the Oxbow Marina, Northampton but immediately noticed how few gulls were around, with no sign of the Laughing Gull seen and photographed yesterday evening by several observers. However, there were five adult Black-legged Kittiwakes still present, now the fourth straight day at that spot (with numbers fluctuating). At UMASS playing fields, Amherst - BONAPARTE’S GULL - 1 or 2 adults in winter plumage. Seen in two very different sections of the playing fields and could relate to two birds, though I didn't have two birds in view at the same time. Quite approachable, keeping to the edge of the Ring-bill flocks. Here's a few images; http://keenbirding.com/LateFall05/BonapartesMA141005.html

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) This afternoon between 3:30 and 4:00 I had 7 Black-legged Kittiwakes at the Oxbow Marina. When I arrived, I counted 5 birds in the flooded fields nearest the entrance, but they soon flew off. I re-found them in the cove on the opposite end. Weather: heavy rain. Scullers were out in force getting drenched. At one point a scull came in close to the Kittiwakes which would have made a nice photo if not for the downpours. On my way back out, 2 more birds were in the flooded field. I feel lucky to have seen them 4 days after their arrival.

EASTHAMPTON+ (from Chris Gentes) Checked the area around Dank's pond this afternoon in the rain and saw: Wood Duck-10, Green-winged Teal-23, American Wigeon-10, DC Cormorant-2, Greater Yellowlegs-2, Solitary Sandpiper-1, Palm Warbler-5, Myrtle-25. Heather and I checked the UMASS soccer fields at 8am and counted 223 gulls - most of them ring-billed. At 5:30pm we returned to look for the Bonapartes that James found. There were ~500 gulls with 1 Bonaparte's with them. As it got darker half the flock lifted up and flew to parts unknown - the Bonaparte's may have been with that group as we did not locate it again. Also this morning in NORTH HADLEY there was a Green Heron.

DEERFIELD (posted to Massbird by Rob Ranney-Blake) A flock of at least 12 White-throated Sparrows and 1 White-crowned Sparrow are feeding across our lawn this morning (Fri 10/14). Yesterday we had a single Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Sunday 10/9 there was a single female Eastern Towhee under the feeder.

AMHERST+ (posted to Massbird by David Norton) We also had at least half a dozen white-throated sparrows under the feeders in Amherst yesterday, and have had purple finches hanging about...earlier in the week only ~ 6 females, but at least two males yesterday, attractive if sodden. We have also consistently had 2 or 3 red-breasted nuthatches the last couple weeks. I stopped at the Quabbin Administration building this am... 4 Common loons but no kittiwakes that I could see. There were 4 female (or juvenile?) hooded mergansers on the Rt. 9 marsh in Ware-- first ducks I have seen there at all in ages.

SOUTHWICK (from ABC Bird News) Congamond Lake 1 Black Scoter - male 35 Tree Swallows 1 Osprey. Feeder 3 White-crowned Sparrows - imm. ~Seth Kellogg

October 15 - Saturday - Steady Rain, then Heavy Rain, then drizzle, then... late afternoon, after eight cloudy days, THE SUN!!!!!!!

CLUB WALK. NORTHAMPTON+ Total Species seen: 33. This walk was attended by Chris Gentes, Heather McQueen and Larry Duprey. It started with a light rain that progressively became heavier as the morning progressed. We visited the Marina, Dank's Pond area and then finished up at Whiting Reservoir. The highlights were the Kittiwakes at the Marina. We counted a total of 11 adults - 5 in the flooded soccer field, 3 in a secondary field and 3 out on the water. Here's our list from Oxbow/Dank's Pond: Canada Goose-4, Wood Duck-2, Black Duck-10, Mallard-58, Green-winged Teal-11, Pintail-1f, Hooded Merganser-2, DC Cormorant-1, Great Blue Heron-4, Osprey-1, Bald Eagle-1, Ring-billed Gull, Killdeer-41, Mourning Dove-3, Rock Pigeon, Kingfisher-1, Crow, Blue Jay, Starling, Chickadee, Titmouse, Robin-10, Yellow-rumped Warbler-30, Common Yellowthroat-1, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow-2, White-throated Sparrow-30, Red-winged Blackbird-200, House Sparrow. By this time the rain was pretty heavy so Larry headed back to Athol. Chris and Heather decided to check out Whiting Reservoir where they added: 2 Osprey, a Phoebe, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a Junco, and 6 Chipping Sparrows.

SUNDERLAND (from Chris Gentes) I drove around Sunderland looking for shorebirds in the many flooded fields and had the following totals: American Golden Plover (4 juv, 1ad), Semipalmated Plover (1), Killdeer (60), Greater Yellowlegs (4), White-rumped Sandpiper (2), Pectoral Sandpiper (11). Also 4 Kestrels and a Harrier. Later in HADLEY at the horse farm I saw a Kestrel and a Harrier that flew low over the 'oval area' and put up 5 Snipe. Also a flock of 20 House Finches. There is a big inaccessible puddle out in the fields in between Comins Rd. and North Maple and it looked like all the gulls from UMass were en route to it around 5pm. Many hundred already there bathing. Probably loaded with shorebirds as well.

QUABBIN (from Larry Therrien) Winsor Dam area this afternoon in a short lull in the rain: Common Loon (1), Bald Eagle (1) adult, American Kestrel (2) females...one chased by a Sharp Shinned a few times, Sharp Shinned Hawk (1), Red Tailed Hawk (1), Common Raven (1), Greater Yellowlegs (1) in field below dam, Herring Gull (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (1), Savannah Sparrow (3), Chipping Sparrow (1), American Crow (82)...a tight gathering who would sit on the wall at the dam and launch themselves off one after the other into the wind and then settle back to the wall. The weather closed in yet again with more wind driven rain as the afternoon went on.

QUABBIN PARK (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We spent sometime this soggy morning birding (or attempting to) Quabbin Park off Rt.9, spending several hours there till 10:30AM. Actually getting there was a bit of an adventure as we drove through many flooded roads, some with water running fast and deep over them (but we could still see the bottom). We also had roads completely blocked by large fallen trees (had to back up and find routes around), drove over roads covered with sizeable washed down rocks and large areas of soft muck and even got to see rescue teams getting in boats to get to people trapped in brook-side houses. No, it was not one of our brightest ideas. Before we left, I had checked the local radar and it appeared at that point that the rain was pulling away from western Central MA. Boy, were we wrong. We spent the entire time in wind-driven soaking rain which sometimes would lessen to just a "soaking rain". But as birders do, we toughed it out and gave it a go. Unfortunately, we were not rewarded with anything spectacular, BUT we were still out "in the field." SOUTH QUABBIN (highlights): Common Loon (1ad) Pied-billed Grebe (1) Mallard (2) A Black Duck (1) WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (1m: flew in while we were doing one of our watches at the Administration Building and landed a bit off from the dam) Hooded Merganser (6) Ring-billed Gull (2) Herring Gull (1) Common Raven (1) N Flicker (3: these were just sitting high atop exposed snags in the pouring rain calling) Eastern Bluebird (2) Yellow-rumped Warbler (15+: feeding on the ground under pines) Black-throated Green Warbler (1) Palm Warbler (2 "yellow") Plus: small flocks of chickadees and White-throats, crows, Chipping and Song Sparrows. ALSO: At the pond on Rt.9 we got to watch 2 cavorting RIVER OTTERS. Driving back Rt.9, we found a flocks Canada Geese (163) in West Brookfield which also had (2) American Pipits. Then we went to LAKE QUABOG in Brookfield. The Quabog River runs right next to this pond on the other side of the road and getting to the fisherman's lot was a bit dicey with water running deep over the road at the end from which we approached. Pulling in to the lot we then noticed that water was also running over the other end of the road and that warning signs were being erected. We quickly scoped the pond which had lots of jetsam (and even some flotsom too) and a paltry 12 Mallards. Nary a gull. As we drove out, the water over the roads was indeed getting deeper and now the road had the added entertainment of several nice sized logs strewn across it apparently floating in from someone's backyard woodpile. There is indeed a very thin line between "birding" and "driving over flooded roads like an idiot".

NORTHAMPTON+ (posted to Massbird by Scott Surner) Val Miller and I traveled along the river from Northampton to Turners Falls this soggy Saturday. The highlights were the Black-legged Kittiwakes at the Oxbow , Common Tern at the Rod & Gun Club in Turners Falls. and Lesser Blacked Backed Gulls in Hadley...other highlights listed below. Northampton-Oxbow BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES (5) ad-winter Bald Eagle- (2ads) E.Bluebird (1) Yellow-rumped Warbler (3) Turners Falls-Canal Canada Goose (89) Am.Wigeon (6) Black duck (9) Mallard (271) No.Pintail (1) Merlin (1) E.Phoebe (3) Bartons Cove-Gill Double-Cr.cormorant (11) Mute Swan (2) Black Duck (11) Black-bellied Plover (1 juv) This bird was sitting in the debris near the Dam. Belted Kingfisher (1) Turners Falls - Rod & Gun Great Blue Heron (1) Mallards (25) No.Harrier (1) Spotted Sandpiper (1) BONAPARTE'S GULL (1 adult-winter) COMMON TERN- same bird Mark Fairbrother found earlier in week. Swamp Sparrow- (11) White-cr. Sparrow (2 imm) Hadley- No Maple Killdeer (5) Am.Pipits (75) So.Maple St. Ring-billed Gull (4) Herring Gull (12) LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (2) (1ad/1- 1s-2w) Mill Valley Rd Am.Pipits (60) Palm Warbler (1) Baker Street -Amherst 36 Purple Finch-Feeder.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from ABC Bird News) Nine members were on the Allen Club hotline trip 10/15 Led by Al & Lois Richardson that went to Northampton and Turners Falls. Highlights: Northampton 5 Green-winged Teal 2 Wood Duck 1 Merlin 5 Kittiwake 1 Phoebe 40+ Yellow-rumped Warbler 6 Rusty Blackbird Turners 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Bonaparte's Gull 1 Common Tern 1 White-crowned Sparrow

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Taj Schottland) Today I made a couple of birding stops that really paid off! I tryed for the kittiwakes at the Oxbow and was well rewarded with good views of at least five probably six of the Black-legged Kittiwakes. Then at the Power Canal at Turners Falls I had at least 5 Green-winged Teal, 3 American Wigeon, 1 Northerm Pintail, many black ducks and mallards. While driving along the Canal i also had 20+ Yellow-rumped Warblers, 5 Palm Warblers, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, and 1 White-crowned Sparrow.

AMHERST (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) Veery - 1 in our yard on Baker Street. Swainson’s Thrush - 1 just NW of UMass playing fields by Mill River. White-throated Sparrow - 100+. Norwottuck Rail Trail between South Maple Street and Snell Steet, in scattered clusters of 20-30 birds. Most had gone by this morning. White-crowned Sparrow - 5 (all immature) just NW of UMass playing fields by Mill River. Also c. 600 gulls departing from UMass playing fields around 16:30hrs.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks, Pam Witaszek Weather: Overcast skies, fog, rain showers and drizzle. Wind NNW/NW and light until noon (EDT), gradually increasing to 10-15 mph, with gusts to 25 mph. Raptor Observations: After nine consecutive days of rain, the birds were ready to move out (and so were we). A nice flight of accipiters. Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 136 Cooper's Hawk 6 American Kestrel 12 Peregrine Falcon 2 Unknown 5 Total: 164 Non-raptor Observations: Double-crested Cormorant, Blue Jays (17), Eastern Bluebirds (2), Palm Warbler. Monarchs: 3.

NORTHFIELD (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) White-throated Sparrows were the species of the day here in soggy Northfield. Weather: Heavy rain all day until 5:00 p.m. Here's the rundown: Northern Flicker (2) Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay (8) Black-capped Chickadee (6) White-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4) Yellow-rumped Warbler (12) Chipping Sparrow (2) Song Sparrow (6) Swamp Sparrow (4) White-throated Sparrow (95!) White-crowned Sparrow (1st -w) Purple Finch (3) American Goldfinch (6)

October 16 - Sunday - Blustery Day - mostly cloudy

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I started in North Hadley where we saw: Wood Duck-14, Green-winged Teal-3, Greater Yellowlegs-4, DC Cormorant-1, Turkey Vulture-5, Phoebe-1, Palm warbler-1, Myrtle-10. Behind the mall we saw 31 Killdeer and 10 Pipits. In a flooded field off South Maple we saw Wood Duck-13, Green-winged Teal-12, Great Blue Heron-1, Snipe-1, Pipit-20. We then headed up to SUNDERLAND where I had some nice shorebirds on Saturday, but today we only saw Killdeer-30, Greater Yellowlegs-1, Pectoral Sandpiper-8. Next we went to WHATELY where the Pilgram Airport field was nicely flooded and tallied 8 species of shorebirds: American Golden Plover-1, Killdeer-20, Greater Yellowlegs-3, Lesser Yellowlegs-1, unidentified Peep (either semi-pal or western), White-rumped Sandpiper-3, Pectoral Sandpiper-11, Snipe-2, Harrier-1, Kestrel-1.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Brian Faggioni, Doug James, John Weeks, Myles Conway, Rich Miller, Seth Kellogg, Sol Satin Visitors: Rich Miller, an experienced birder from the Tampa area. Weather: Heavy cloud-cover, wind W 20-50 mph (no joke). Temperature 47-54 F. Raptor Observations: Most migrant raptors kept very low. Saw our first significant movement of Turkey Vultures; three Black Vultures were the first of that species counted this fall. Last bird of the day was an adult Merlin that streaked through a few feet from the ground at 12:54 EDT (just before the squall that sent us packing). Non-migrants: 2 or 3 Bald Eagles, looking remarkably like Ospreys when they tacked across the stiff wind. Non-raptor Observations: Common Loon (1 or 2), Snow Geese (96; one flock of 31, studded with a single Canada, flew directly overhead); Canada Geese (500), Blue Jays (5), American Robins (29), American Pipits (2), White-crowned Sparrow (1st-winter). In view of the fierce winds, a surprising number of unidentified passerines went through.

QUABBIN (posted to Massbird by David Norton) A brief stop at the Quabbin around 9 this morning was rewarding... the SUN was probably the most impressive sighting, but also saw one common loon near the Goodnough Dike, and then near the Administration Building a few nice raptors... 2 American Kestrels, a northern Harrier and a wonderful adult Bald Eagle. Then a flock of about 12 black scoters flew in... and then I had to leave... Some nice foliage in the area, but really the trees are still mostly green...!

QUABBIN (Posted to Massbird by James P Smith) A short late afternoon visit to Quabbin Park, South Quabbin (16:30 - 17:30hrs); Common Loon - 3 at Goodnough Dike. SURF SCOTER - 11 (all females) off Winsor Dam. The only birds visible in the near gale force winds. Ruffed Grouse - 2 at the ‘Blueberry Patch’. Dark-eyed Junco - c. 85. Several locations. Winsor Dam, Winsor Memorial Park and Blueberry Patch.

TURNERS FALLS+ (from Joan Duprey) The Athol Bird and Nature Club trip on Sunday had a change in venue due to the fact that Bolton Flats was pretty much under water. Since a record bird (Kittiwake) was being seen in the Connecticut River Valley we went there. Weather was windy and a cool 50 degrees. Disappointingly, the Kittiwakes apparently took advantage of the winds and moved on, however, we made up for it with five different kinds of raptors including 9 kestrels, 2 species of grebes and 12 Surf Scoters. Birders were Joan and Larry Duprey and Lula Fields. Highlights of the day were: Over the MREC center in Athol: Two Sharpshinned Hawks chasing each other Turner's Falls Rod & Gun Club: Cormorants 2 Great Blue Heron 2 Pied Billed Grebes 2 White Throated Sparrow 6 White Crowned Sparrow 2 Song Sparrows Yellow Rumps Purple Finches 3 Juv Bald Eagle A Common Tern and a Bonaparte's Gull seen there on Friday were not present on Sunday. Barton Cove and Turners Falls Canal: Canada Goose 1350 Mallard 400 Great Bl Back Gull 1 Herring Gull 3 Ring-billed Gull 2 Oxbow Marina in Northampton: Osprey 1 Savanah Sparrow 1 Ring Billed Gull 50 The Kittiwakes and Laughing Gull that were present the day before were not seen. Most of the place was under water. Fort Hill Road: (Could not get to West Meadows because the road was flooded) Mallards 50 Black Ducks 10 Gr. Wing Teal 2 Red Tail Hawk 1 East Meadows: RW Blackbirds 1000 10 Cowbirds Honeypot: Kestrels 6 Am Crow 65 Harrier harassing Red Tail Hawk Northern Cardinal Meadows Road, Amherst: Ring-billed Gull 600 Herring Gull 50 Northern Harrier Quabbin/Winsor dam: Horned Grebe 3 Surf Scoter 12 Adult Bald Eagle 1 Common Mergs 12 Ring Billed Gull 5 Kestrel 1

October 17 - Monday - Sunny Cool and Breezy

LONGMEADOW (posted to Massbird by Janis LaPointe) A brief stop at Fannie Stebbins Refuge, Longmeadow, this morning produced a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and about 100 Yellow-rumped Warblers along Pondside. 3 Palm Warblers seen yesterday, and a Sharp-shined Hawk.

TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) Highlights of waterfowl seen this morning at Barton Cove and Silvio Conte Fish Labs section of the canal: Barton Cove: Wood Duck (6) American Wigeon (5) Green-winged Teal (12) Ring-necked Duck (3) Pied-billed Grebe D.C. Cormorant (17) *Water in the cove quite low in contrast to the main channel roaring by with the incredible volumes of water from this past week of rain. Silvio Conte area: Northern Pintail American Wigeon *No sign of the 'flightless' female Goldeneye that resided here for the past several years.

EASTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Danks Pond area was flooded out, but not too much there. highlight - a Palm Warbler. Also a dozen Killdeeer, ring-billed Gulls, some Mallards, a DC Cormorant, some phoebes, Myrtles, white-thoated sparrows etc.

QUABBIN (from Larry Therrien) QUABBIN: Winsor Dam and fields below in early afternoon: Yellow Rumped Warbler (7), Golden Crowned Kinglet (4), Merlin (1) chasing a Kestrel around the fields, American Kestrel (2), Northern Harrier (1) hunting the field below the dam, Bald Eagle (1) adult, Sharp Shinned Hawk (1), Red Tailed Hawk (1), Common Raven (1), Junco (10), White Throated Sparrow (2), Chipping Sparrow (3), Red Breasted Nuthatch (1), Northern Flicker (24)...all in fields below the dam, also a good movement of Blue Jays.

SPRINGFIELD (from ABC Bird News) Found in Van Horn Park on 10/17 32 Hermit Thrush 1 Gray-cheeked Thrush ~Al and Lois Richardson

RUSSELL (from ABC Bird NEws) Shatterack Mt, Russell Hawkwatch 10/17 9:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT Observer: Tom Swochak Turkey Vulture 7 Bald Eagle 1 Northern Harrier 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 121 Cooper's Hawk 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 32 American Kestrel 15 Unknown 6 Total: 193 Other Observations: Canada Geese 34 - 5 groups. Loon - 1 Migrating robins 44 - in 5 groups. Migrating blue jays - 9 in two groups.

WHATELY+ (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) Pilgrim Airfield (08:35 - 10:00hrs); Good numbers of shorebirds in the flooded fields plus a lot of migration overhead, most of which I didn’t attempt to count but certainly involving numbers American Robins, Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped Warblers. There was also a surprisingly strong passage of raptors moving SSW over the open farmland as follows; GOLDEN EAGLE - 1 superb juvenile, intially low and probably taking off from roosting spot, slowly gaining height and giving very good views. Drifted south towards a soaring juvenile Bald Eagle. In view for six minutes (09:10 - 09:16hrs). I managed to grab a few images through my binoculars, though the bird looks uniformly black in these because it was rising to my east and the light was pretty bad. However, the white patches at base of the primaries and at the base of the tail were very obvious in the field. The images convey an impression proportions and flight profile. Bald Eagle - 2 flew SSW (juvenile and full adult). Sharp-shinned Hawk - 35 SSW in 75 minutes. Could have been a lot more had I been focused on raptor counting. Cooper’s Hawk - 2 SSW Northern Harrier - 3 SSW Merlin - 3 SSW Red-tailed Hawk - 2 SSW. In the fields; Killdeer - 60+ Pectoral Sandpiper - 16+ (all juvs) White-rumped Sandpiper - 2 (juvs) Semi-palmated Sandpiper - 1 (juv). Least Sandpiper - 1 Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 (juv). American Golden PLover - 1 (juv). American Pipit - 60+ Horned Lark - 3 Lapland Longspur - 1 Turner’s Falls area; Power Canal Canada Goose - c.150 Northern Pintail - 1 molting male. American Wigeon - 1 female. White-crowned Sparrow - 1 Dark-eyed Junco - 20+ Yellow-rumped Warbler - 30+. Barton Cove Bald Eagle - 3 (2 adults, 1 2nd year) Canada Goose -c.450 Mallard - c.250 Green-winged Teal - 5 American Wigeon - 8 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 1 juvenile on the mud in front of Unity Park. Excellent views. Presumably the same bird found on Saturday morning by Scott Surner and Val Miller. Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 White-crowned Sparrow - 2 (imms).

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Andrew Magee, Joe Wojtanowski, John Weeks Weather: Heavy clouds in the morning, with rapid clearing in the afternoon. Wind NW for first five hours, then WNW to W. Wind speed 20-25 mph much of the day, with frequent gusts as high as 40 mph. Temperature 46-55 F. Raptor Observations: Sharpies all day; Red-tails starting to move through; our first migrating Red-shouldered Hawk. Non-migrants: 2-3 Bald Eagles. Non-raptor Observations: Canada Geese (169), Herring Gulls (9), Blue Jays (52), American Robins (87), American Pipit, White-crowned Sparrow (1st-w). Hundreds of unidentified passerines zipped by.

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) lots of Savannah sparrows, chipping sparrows, white throats, song sparrows, small flock of least flycatchers, palm warblers, pine warblers, juncos, phoebes, canada geese and the usual winter residents.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday, October 17

As many as 8 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were present all week at the Oxbow in Northampton until the weather cleared on Saturday. Other kittiwakes were seen at South Quabbin and at Turners Falls. Other reports from Northampton were a LAUGHING GULL on Wednesday, 11 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a NORTHERN PINTAIL, 2 WOOD DUCKS, 2 PECTORAL and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, a MERLIN, 45 AMERICAN PIPITS, 40 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, 40 SNOW BUNTINGS, and 6 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

At Turners Falls a COMMON TERN was present all week and sometimes a BONAPARTE'S GULL. Also seen were a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, 12 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 7 AMERICAN WIGEON, 2 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES, 17 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.

Quabbin Park had 3 COMMON LOONS, a WHITE-WINGED and 12 SURF SCOTERS, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, 3 HORNED GREBES, a PEREGRINE FALCON, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a MERLIN, 45 AMERICAN PIPITS, 24 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 2 PALM WARBLERS and a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER.

Noted in Hadley through the week were 15 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, a WILSON'S SNIPE, 135 AMERICAN PIPITS, and a PALM WARBLER.

In Amherst there were 1 or 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, a VEERY, a SWAINSON’S THRUSH, and 5 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.

A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and 100 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were in Longmeadow, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH and 32 HERMIT THRUSH in Springfield, and a COMMON LOON, BLACK SCOTER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, and 35 TREE SWALLOWS in Southwick.

Birds found in Pittsfield were GOLDEN and RUBY CROWNED KINGLETS, a NASHVILLE WARBLER, 12 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, 25 PURPLE FINCH, and on Lake Pontoosuc 17 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 7 COMMON LOONS.

Shorebirds discovered in a Sunderland rain pool were 4 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 60 KILLDEER, 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and 11 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Another flooded field in Hatfield had an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 3 GREATER and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 3 WHITE-RUMPED and 11 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and 2 WILSON'S SNIPE.

Hawks resumed flying over the weekend. Counted on Blueberry Hill in Granville were 40 TURKEY VULTURES, 3 BLACK VULTURES, an OSPREY, 6 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 234 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 11 COOPER’S HAWKS, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 9 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 31 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 5 PEREGRINE FALCONS, and a MERLIN. Over Shatterack Mt. in Russell there were 36 TURKEY VULTURES, 3 BALD EAGLES, 3 OSPREYS, 7 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 189 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 8 COOPER’S HAWKS, 2 RED-SHOULDERED and 40 RED-TAILED HAWKS, a GOLDEN EAGLE, 21 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 5 MERLINS and a PEREGRINE FALCON.

October 18 - Tuesday - Sunny Cool and Breezy

QUABBIN+ (from Larry Therrien) Winsor Dam from approx 7:40am, including surrounding fields and edge. Also made a short trip up to the 'blueberry patch' area to see if this area was as productive as the area of the dam. I appear to have stumbled onto a weather concentrated group of birds. There were waves of birds lifting out of the trees and heading over the dam all morning. I'm certain I missed many prior to my arrival, as they were moving in large numbers as soon as I got out of my vehicle. The numbers I have below are conservative (hard to believe!). Many, many birds were going by out of my immediate field of vision that were not identified. When I did have a chance to quick scan the horizon, the birds were moving in similiar numbers everywhere...over the woods and the water. I certainly would have loved to have had several more sets of eyes and ears to try to catch more going by. It was an amazing sight to be seen. I do not normally include all birds seen, but will do so today to show the total numbers. Yellow Rumped Warbler (943)..most moving by low in groups constantly...also ran across some good groups in the brush and in the trees, Palm Warbler (20+), Blue Headed Vireo (2), unidentified passerines (100's...perhaps 1000's)...if they did not call or I could not get a good look, they remained unknown, Ruby Crowned Kinglet (12), Golden Crowned Kinglet (11), Hermit Thrush (16)...probably many more but I did not spend alot of time looking the woods...all of these were along the edge, Tundra Swan (1)...adult flew south mid morning, Eastern Meadowlark (1) flying south with other birds, Junco (170+), Eastern Towhee (2), Common Loon (1), Great Blue Heron (1) flyby, Ruffed Grouse (1), American Turkey (5), Peregrine Falcon (1) adult moving south with all the other birds, American Kestrel (1), Northern Harrier (1), Sharp Shinned Hawk (4), Bald Eagle (5) with 4 adults, Red Tailed Hawk (3), Lincoln's Sparrow (2), Savannah Sparrow (2), White Throated Sparrow (130+), Chipping Sparrow (17), Song Sparrow (11), Gray Catbird (2), House Wren (1), Northern Flicker (30), Cedar Waxwing (89), American Robin (753), Blue Jay (234), Canada Geese (8), Mallard (3), Red Breasted Nuthatch (6), Ring Billed Gull (2), Herring Gull (1), American Crow (40), Black Capped Chickadee (44), Rock Pigeon (3), Hairy Woodpecker (2), Downy Woodpecker (2), White Breasted Nuthatch (7), Common Grackle (8), Mouring Dove (2), House Sparrow (1), Northern Cardinal (2), American Goldfinch (15). Rt 9 marsh: Quick scan turned up Hooded Merganser (2), Black Duck (2), Canada Geese (2). BELCHERTOWN: At the house today...a nice influx of White Throated Sparrow (35+), plus an Eastern Towhee (1) and a Gray Catbird (1).

NORTH HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I saw a Pied-billed Grebe on the pond late today.

LONGMEADOW (posted to Massbird by Janis LaPointe) Highlights of a short walk this morning at Stebbins Wildlife Refuge, Longmeadow: 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets Swamp Sparrow Large flocks of Robins everywhere with a few Cedar Waxwings Many Yellow-rumped Warblers

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: Joe Wojtanowski, John Weeks Observers: Joe Wojtanowski, John Weeks, Pam Witaszek Visitors: Wes Shepard (10:45am-4pm EDT). Five additional visitors, two of whom were Jeanne Hergenrother and Lincoln Vannah from Stratton, ME, who are cycling to Florida and will be backpacking back. Weather: AM weather: Mostly cloudy, wind WSW 10-15 (gusts 20-30) mph. PM weather: Partly cloudy. Wind 15-20 mph W. Temp 50-65F. PM observation: Spectacular double rainbow with brilliant colors in the valley. Awe-inspiring! Raptor Observations: Non-migrants: TV 4. Non-raptor Observations: Canada Geese (70), Gull species (6), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jays (36), Eastern Bluebirds (2), American Robins (343), White-crowned Sparrow (1st-w).

ORANGE+ (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) I spent the good part of this morning birding a few locations in Orange, New Salem, and Petersham. I focused on bodies of water and to be truthful, not much happening except for a few 'new' arrivals. I was hopeful that it might be a good day, but it just wasn't happening. I walked in Quabbin Gate #35, which has a wide view of some of the northern reaches of the reservoir. Here's the list of highlights: Lake Mattawa (Orange): Common Merganser (fm.) Ruddy Duck (5) South Spec. (New Salem): Bufflehead (5) Gate 35 (New Salem): Common Loon (5) Bald Eagle Ruffed Grouse (3) Herring Gull (3) Hermit Thrush Yellow-rumped Warbler (23) Palm Warbler Field Sparrow (2) These sparrows were in the power line cut that intersects the road.) Dark-eyed Junco (60) Juncos were by far the most numerous species in all locations I traveled to today. Harvard Pond (Petersham): Wood Duck (8) Petersham Town Yard: (0)

NORTHAMPTON (James P Smith) 7 Brants moving south low over the Oxbow.

October 19 - Wednesday - Mostly Sunny and Mild

QUABBIN (from Larry Therrien) Windsor dam area from 7:10am-9:45am: Long Tailed Duck (2) females, Horned Grebe (2), Northern Pintail (12) w/ 2 males, Common Merganser (2), Common Loon (1), Double Crested Cormorant (1). All the waterfowl left the area of the dam by 8:30 except the Pintails..which continued to fly around and set down several times while I was there. The numbers of passerines were down a bit, but still good numbers..unidentified birds moving south numbered 250+. Yellow Rumped Warbler (52), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (15), Golden Crowned Kinglet (7), Hermit Thrush (5), American Pipit (7), Sharp Shinned Hawk (6), Red Tailed Hawk (4) including an adult pair who returning to a nest across from the dam, Bald Eagle (3) adults, Common Raven (1), Turkey Vulture (1), Gray Catbird (3), Junco (98), White Throated Sparrow (155), Song Sparrow (15), Kingfisher (1), Canada Geese (35) flybys, Northern Flicker (13), Ring Billed Gull (2), Herring Gull (1), American Crow (23), Red Brested Nuthatch (4), Blue Jay (17), American Robin (8)...plus other usuals in expected numbers Also I had three River Otters barking at me and following me as I walked across the dam....

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Fourteen Common Mergansers in Paradise Pond. Elsewhere 4 Green-winged Teal, 2 Phoebes, Palm Warbler. In HADLEY there were 40 Pipits.

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) Continuous White-throats and Juncos along the bikepath.

WHATELY (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) Pilgrim Airport in Hatfield. Good variety of shorebirds still present. Bob Bieda and I spent some time here, halfway down the muddy road access to the old hangar. Eventually several shorebirds flew in close to where we were set up. Great views of Pectoral Sandpipers and White-rumped Sandpipers. Here's the list: American Golden Plover Killdeer (10) Lesser Yellowlegs (1) White-rumped Sandpiper (2) Bairds (2juv) Pectoral Sandpiper (12) *Probably many more shorebirds here as I saw larger groups come in, only to disappear behind raised rows of soil from this vantage point.

October 20 - Thursday - Partly Cloudy and Cool

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) KC trail, 50+ whitethroats, 5 lincoln's sparrows, a big fat fox sparrow, 8 purple finches, 2 rc kinglets and a sleepy looking black-throated blue warbler. Further down the bike path were about 20 or so myrtles, getting bugs off of the lily pads. On Pomeroy Lane, a turkey vulture perched on someone's house eyeing a road killed rabbit.

NORTHAMPTON (From Chris Gentes) In the pine woods near Smith College a Black-and-white Warbler. Also 10 Black Ducks, 12 Common Mergansers, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and 5 Myrtles.

LUDLOW (from Larry Therrien) Springfield Reservoir: Ruddy Duck (79) with a group of 56 and 23...the smaller group fairly close. Pied Billed Grebe (1), Common Loon (2), Mallard (7), Canada Geese (3), Palm Warbler (4), Yellow Rumped Warbler (19), Blue Headed Vireo (2), Eastern Phoebe (3), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (5), Golden Crowned Kinglet (8), Ruffed Grouse (1) in a bare bush about 10 feet up...great looks before it took off, White Throated Sparrow (60+), Song Sparrow (8), Junco (21). QUABBIN: Brief stop this morning at the dam: Common Loon (3).

QUABBIN (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) 10/20 - A few waterfowl on the move, with some resting on the reservoir despite the clear conditions. White caps, wind and distance made for rather tricky viewing at times and the grebes would often dive for extended periods making them difficult to follow. Here’s a few selected notes from South Quabbin this morning (08:10 - 11:10hrs): From Winsor Dam; Common Loon - 1 Red-necked Grebe - 1 Horned Grebe - 3 (2, 1). Brant - tight flock of c.50 moving fast to the south at 08:19hrs. NB. Merlin - 2 moving south. Bald Eagle - 1 juv flew south, plus one adult roaming the area. From Goodnough Dike; Nice mixed flock of sea ducks - Surf Scoter - 2 males. Black Scoter - 7 (1 male, 6 females). White-winged Scoter - 10 ( males amd females). Greater Scaup - 1 (female), plus one unidentified duck that may also have been this species. Red-breasted Merganser - 2 (female/juv). Also in the area, 5+ Hermit Thrush, Blue-headed Vireo and Palm Warbler. The road sides were littered with Juncos and White-throated Sparrows. On the marsh on Rt 9 - 3 Canada Geese and 4 Hooded Mergansers.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Joe Wojtanowski, John Weeks, Pam Witaszek, Seth Kellogg Weather: Mostly cloudy. Wind NW 10-15 (20) mph. Temperature 45-54 F. Raptor Observations: The NW winds held, and the birds moved all day. Three immature Bald Eagles were counted, at 3:17, 3:52 and 4:07 EDT. One adult Bald was not migrating. This was the first significant flight of Red-shouldered Hawks for us. Non-raptor Observations: Great Blue Heron, Canada Geese (96), American Crows (47 -- migrants), American Robins (8), White-crowned Sparrow (1st-winter). One very hardy Black Swallowtail.

RUSSELL (from ABC Bird News) From Tom Swochak Westfield MA Shatterack Mt, Russell Hawkwatch 10/20 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT Observers: Tom Swochak Turkey Vulture 1 Northern Harrier 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 83 Cooper's Hawk 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 10 Red-tailed Hawk 25 American Kestrel 2 Merlin 1 Unknown 1 Total: 129 Other Observations: 4 ruby-crowned kinglets on the walk up to the lookout. Canada Geese - 206 (8 groups, the largest 75 birds) Migrating robins - 47

ORANGE (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) Today at Lake Mattawa in Orange, Ruddy Ducks were the most numerous species on the water. Numbers have increased from two days ago when I had five. Here's the list of birds seen this afternoon: Hooded Merganser Common Merganser (4) Ruddy Duck (13) Pied-billed Grebe

October 21 - Friday - Sunny Cool

EASTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) There was a single Geater Yellowlegs in a flooded corn field near Danks Pond.

AMHERST (posted to Mssbird by Bob Packard) This afternoon in the campus pond at UMass-Amherst an adult Snow Goose was among the app 100 Canada Geese. One Peregrine Falcon was on the library. A few Yellow-rumps around the pond. The Great Egret was last seen Fri. Oct. 14.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Janice Zepko, Joe Wojtanowski, John Weeks, Seth Kellogg, Sol Satin, Tony Zepko Visitors: Wes Shepard, Larry Konefal, John Van de Graaff and Marylee Bomboy: they all helped by spotting birds. Weather: Mostly cloudy. Wind W/NW 0-5 (10) mph. Temperature 42-53 F. Raptor Observations: Over a third (67) of the day's hawks passed through between 1 and 2 PM EDT, including our season's first Goshawk. An Eagle at 3:40 EDT may have been a Golden, but was logged as "unidentified"; our Golden Eagle drought continues. Non-raptor Observations: BIRDS OF THE DAY: WILSON'S SNIPE, NORTHERN SHRIKE (adult) and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Others: Canada Geese (193), Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay (1 migrant), American Crows (128), Ruby-crowned Kinglets (5), Eastern Bluebird, American Robins (62), Yellow-rumped Warblers (dozen or so), Palm Warbler (yellow). Monarchs: 6. When everyone was present, we released a Yellowtail Merlot from its bottle into the wild.

TURNERS FALLS+ (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) It was a little on the quiet side at Turner's Falls today, but the juvenile Black-bellied Plover was still present off Unity Park, Barton Cove, having first been seen on October 15th. Otherwise, far fewer geese and ducks when compared to last week, and the water levels were much higher. On the Power Canal on Migratory Way there 3 American Wigeon, and by the road, single Blackpoll and Eastern Palm Warblers. At Whately, just one Pectoral Sandpiper was flying around with some Starlings with no obvious signs of other shorebirds at the former Pilgrim airfield. Hunters were present in the area and may have pushed some of the birds off from there. Other than that, about 60 Dark-eyed Juncos foraging in our yard on Baker Street this afternoon.

QUABBIN (from Larry Therrien) Arrived early this morning to check for any waterfowl....but the whole area had a thick blanket of fog over any water surface. It was actually neat to see...did have a Common Loon calling through the fog off Goodnough Dike. Following birds seen: Gray Cheecked Thrush (1), Palm Warbler (3), Yellow Rumped Warbler (70), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), Golden Crowned Kinglet (12), Eastern Phoebe (5), American Pipit (40+) at Windsor Dam, Common Loon (1), Black Duck (6), Canada Geese (11), Bald Eagle (2) adults at Goodnough, Sharp Shinned Hawk (1), Red Tailed Hawk (2) still near nest, Kingfisher (1), Junco (125+), White Throated Sparrow (65), Song Sparrow (1), Turkey Vulture (1), Cedar waxwing (32), Northern Flicker (2), Ring Billed Gull (6), Red Breasted Nuthatch (3), Black Capped Chickadee (47), American Crow (84). WARE: Rt 9 marsh: Hooded Merganser (4).

October 22 - Saturday - Rainy

NORTHAMPTON (from ABC Bird News) From Sol Satin Saturday morning 10/22 in the West Meadows right along the road next to the Ibis Pool there was an adult male Yellow-headed Blackbird. There were also many hundreds of Red-wnged Blackbirds in the area and at least one Rusty Blackbird.

SOUTH QUABBIN (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We did a very quick tour of Quabbin Park (off Rt.9) area this AM starting at dawn (or just before). There were intemittent showers fairly early on. Waterbirds were typical, but there were some decent movements of common passerines. Red-throated Loon (2) Common Loon (4) Pied-billed Grebe (1) Great Blue Heron (1) Canada Goose (10) A Black Duck (5) Ring-necked Duck (2) Hooded Merganser (9) Bald Eagle (1imm) Sharp-shinned Hawk (4) Cooper's Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawk (1) Wild Turkey (3) Ring-billed Gull (3) Herring Gull (1) Belted Kingfisher (1) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1) Downy Woodpecker (6) Hairy Woodpecker (2) Pileated Woodpecker (1) Eastern Phoebe (3) Blue Jay (12) American Crow (61) Common Raven (1) Black-capped Chickadee (52) Red-breasted Nuthatch (2) White-breasted Nuthatch (7) Winter Wren (3) Golden-crowned Kinglet (65) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (33) Eastern Bluebird (14) Hermit Thrush (5) A. Robin (43) Gray Catbird (2) Yellow-rumped Warbler (37) Palm Warbler (5) Eastern Towhee (1) Chipping Sparrow (8) Field Sparrow (2) Song Sparrow (25) Swamp Sparrow (3) White-throated Sparrow (84) Dark-eyed Junco (225) N Cardinal (5) Purple Finch (2) House Finch (8) Pine Siskin (46: in small flocks overhead at dawn heading west, but as soon as the rain started I didn't pick up another one) A Goldfinch (3)

LUDLOW (from ABC Bird News) Seven members of the Allen Bird Club braved the early morning drizzle and eventually walked the five miles around Ludlow Reservoir. Highlights were: 3 White-winged Scoter 75 Ruddy Duck 2 Common Loon 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Phoebe 1 Raven 56 Crow (migrating) 1 Red-br. Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 3 Hermit Thrush 60+ Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Pine Warbler 2 Palm Warbler 1 Black & White Warbler 1 Towhee

October 23 - Sunday - Rain overnight - Damp and Cool - mostly Cloudy

HAYDENVILLE (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) At my feeder in Haydenville this morning were two pair of Evening Grosbeaks. Yesterday 3 Pine Siskins stopped by. And there are still at least 15 Purple Finch that have been here for about two weeks.

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) Today there was a flock of American Pipits, yellow rumped warblers, and about 3 Palm warblers, two bluebirds in the bluebird field, one winter wren, flocks of goldfinch, juncos, chickadees, song sparrows and one white throat in addition to bluejays and crows.

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) Green-winged Teal-30, Pintail-1, Winter Wren-1, Myrtle-1. In HOLYOKE at Ashley Pond there was Wood Duck-1, DC Cormorant-1, Creeper-1, Red-breasted Nuthatch-1, Myrtle-10. Oddest bird was a Snipe out in the middle of the pond feeding on a floating pile of wood debris. NORTHAMPTON at the Oxbow Killdeer-32, Snipe-1, Bald Eagle. Great Pond in HATFIELD 3 Green-winged Teal, Turkey Vulture and nearby Turkey-8.

QUABBIN PARK (posted to Massbird by James Smith) Winsor Dam (two visits); Common Loon - 1 Red-throated Loon - 1 American Pipit - 24 Hermit Thrush - 5 (on road). Goodnough Dike Common Loon - 2 or 3. Blueberry Patch - Bald Eagle - 2 adults. Drive loop and various stops; Dark-eyed Junco - c.160 10/22 (late afternoon); Goodnough Dike; Common Loon - 3 Winsor Dam Common Loon - 2 uid loon - 1 Surf Scoter - 1 (female). Ruddy Duck - 17 (flew in from East at 16:06hrs and then went north). Canada Goose - 9

LUDLOW+ (posted to massbird by Scott Surner) Ludlow Reservoir Pied-billed Grebe (1) Green-winged Teal (13) Ruddy Duck (79) Golden-cr Kinglet (10) Ruby-cr Kinglet (2) Black-capped Chickadee (20) Yellow-rumped Warbler (15) Pine Siskin (1) Quabbin H.Q. Common loon (5) Red-necked Grebe (1) Black Scoter (7-all males) Surf Scoter (2-1m/1f) Hermit Thrush (2) Black-thr.Blue Warbler (2-1m/1f) Yellow-rumped Warbler (10) Am.Redstart (1) Ware - Rte 9 Marsh. Hooded Merganser (7)

RUSSELL (ABC Bird News) From Tom Swochak Westfield MA Shatterack Mt, Russell Hawkwatch 10/23 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT Observers: Cheryl Hollister, Tom Swochak Turkey Vulture 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 24 Cooper's Hawk 2 Northern Goshawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 18 Merlin 1 Total: 56 Other Observations: Migrating robins - 43. Ravens - 2.

October 24 - Monday - Cloudy and Cool

TURNERS FALLS (from Chris Gentes) Bartons Cove: Surf Scoter-1, Pied-billed Grebe-2, DC Cormorant-7, Black-bellied Plover-1juv, Junco-150. T Falls Canal: Bufflehead-1.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Doug James, Gretchen Nareff, John Weeks Visitors: Blueberry Hill welcomes sharp-eyed Gretchen Nareff, who watches hawks full-time at Chimney Rock in New Jersey. Weather: Overcast with low ceiling; visibility limited by fog for first hour and a quarter. Light NE winds. Temperature 38-41 F. Raptor Observations: One immature Bald Eagle was not counted as a migrant. The first Harrier was an adult male at 10:28 EDT. Non-raptor Observations: TODAY'S SPECIAL: EVENING GROSBEAKS (3). Other birds: Canada Geese (70), Gull species (3), American Crows (91), Eastern Bluebird, American Robins (18).

AMHERST (posted to massbird by James P Smith) Bike Path: Pileated Woodpecker - 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. SOUTH QUABBIN - Red-necked Grebe - 1, GREAT CORMORANT - 2, American Black Duck - 1 Black Scoter - 8 (well north of the HQ). Common Merganser - 2 Plileated Woodpecker - 1 Eastern Phoebe - 1 American Pipit - 9 SNOW BUNTING - 1, Goodnough Dike Common Loon - 3 Red-necked Grebe - 1 Winter Wren - 2

A possible PACIFIC LOON was at the south end of Quabbin Reservoir on Saturday, but not found the next day. Other waterfowl recorded there were a RED-THROATED LOON, 8 COMMON LOONS, 3 HORNED GREBES, a RED-NECKED GREBE, 50 BRANT, 12 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 2 SURF, 7 BLACK and 10 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, a GREATER SCAUP, 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and a TUNDRA SWAN flying overhead,. Also at south Quabbin were 2 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 33 RUBY-CROWNED and 65 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 14 HERMIT THRUSH, 2 GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, 2 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, an AMERICAN REDSTART, and 46 PINE SISKINS.

Seen at Ludlow Reservoir were a PIED-BILLED GREBE, 3 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 79 RUDDY DUCKS, 13 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 COMMON LOONS, 2 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 15 GOLDEN-CROWNED and 20 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 60 YELLOW-RUMPED, a PINE, 2 PALM and a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER.

In Turners Falls there were 6 WOOD DUCKS, 6 AMERICAN WIGEON, a NORTHERN PINTAIL, 12 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 3 RING-NECKED DUCK, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.

A FOX SPARROW was observed in Southwick, 2 FOX SPARROWS and 4 EVENING GROSBEAKS in Cheshire, 3 PINE SISKINS and 4 EVENING GROSBEAKS in Williamsburg, and a FOX SPARROW and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER in Amherst.

An adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was noted in the vicinity of the “Ibis Pool” in Northampton meadows on Saturday, but not reported since then.

Eight RUDDY DUCKS, 4 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and 6 GREEN-WINGED TEAL were on Richmond Pond in Richmond, a RED-NECKED GREBE, 4 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and a RED-THROATED LOON on Lake Onota in Pittsfield, 50 RUDDY DUCKS and 400 RING-NECKED DUCKS on Mud Pond in Richmond, 7 PIED-BILLED GREBES, 8 SURF SCOTERS, 6 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and a LONG-TAILED DUCK on Cheshire Reservoir in Cheshire, and 5 COMMON LOONS, 5 BUFFLEHEAD, 2 HORNED GREBES, and 3 GADWALL on Pontoosuc Reservoir in Pittsfield. Also seen in Pittsfield were 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS, 10 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, and 3 PALM WARBLERS.

North of the Quabbin Reservoir 5 RUDDY DUCKS, 5 BUFFLEHEAD, and 5 COMMON LOONS were reported.

Seen at the old Pilgrim Airport field in Hatfield were an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 16 PECTORAL, 2 WHITE-RUMPED, 2 BAIRD'S, a SEMIPALMATED, and a LEAST SANDPIPER, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 60 AMERICAN PIPITS, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR.

Reports from Blueberry Hill in Granville included a NORTHERN SHRIKE, 19 BRANT, a WILSON'S SNIPE, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and a TREE SPARROW. Hawk counts for the week from Granville were 72 TURKEY VULTURES, 5 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 4 OSPREY, 8 BALD EAGLES, 213 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 7 COOPER’S HAWKS, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 25 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 117 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 19 AMERICAN KESTRELS, and 7 MERLINS. Hawk total this week at Shatterack Mt. in Russell were 9 TURKEY VULTURES, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 107 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 6 COOPER’S HAWKS, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 43 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS, and 2 MERLINS.

October 25 - Tuesday - Heavy Rain, Wind.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Chris Gentes) At the Oxbow there were 7 DC Cormorants, 52 Killdeer and 1 Snipe. Near Arcadia there were 45 Mallards, a pair of Pintails and 4 Green-winged Teal.

WARE (from Larry Therrien) Hooded Mergansers (4) at the Rt 9 marsh.

LONGMEADOW - (posted to Massbird by Janis Lapointe) Stebbins Refuge in Longmeadow, highlights of a short walk produced: 2 Blue-headed Vireos Observations: still a few Yellow-rumps. Many Robins and Waxwings, although fewer than last week. Starlings and Red-winged Blackbirds in large numbers.

TURNERS FALLS+ (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) At Turner’s Falls Power Canal on Migratory way; Black Scoter - 1 male Bufflehead - 1 (female type). Green-winged Teal - 1 Common Merganser - 1 Canada Goose - c.600 (coming and going) Barton Cove Black-bellied Plover - 1 juvenile. Common Merganser - 2

October 26 - Wednesday - Mostly Cloudy and Breezy - Flood conditions.

QUABBIN (from Larry Therrien) : Stops at Windsor Dam, Goodnough Dike and the Blueberry patch: Red Throated Loon (1), Common Loon (2), Common Snipe (1), Hermit Thrush (1), Bald Eagle (1), Golden Crowned Kinglet (3), Junco (15). WARE: Rt 9 marsh. Hooded Merganser (6) with 3 males...most males I have had there in a few weeks.

RUSSELL (from ABC Bird NEws) Shatterack Mt, Russell Hawkwatch 10/26 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT Observer: Tom Swochak Turkey Vulture 11 Bald Eagle 1 Northern Harrier 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 19 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 42 Total: 77 Other Observations: Crows - 6 groups totalling 86 birds Canada Geese - 2 groups 14 & 20. Robins - three groups of totalling 32 birds.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Observers: John Weeks, Pam Witaszek Turkey Vulture 5 Northern Harrier 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 20 Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 72 American Kestrel 1 Merlin 1 Unknown 2 Total: 108 All three Harriers were males --one simply shone in the sunlight breaking through the clouds. Other Observations: Red-throated Loon Common Loon Canada Geese (80) American Crows (227) American Robins (113) Snow Buntings (2) possible Lapland Longspurs (3) overhead

QUABBIN+ (posted to Massbird by James P Smith) South Quabbin, HQ area. Common Loon - 1 American Kestrel - 1 Lapland Longspur - 1 (on the dam wall). Ludlow Reservoir Common Loon - 1 Great Cormorant - 1 (both of these cormorants circled around together at around 10:30hrs, and looked as though they were landing but I couldn’t find them later). Double-crested Cormorant - 1 Canada Goose - 95 Ruddy Duck - 69 Ring-necked Duck - 7 Common Meganser - 4

October 27 - Thursday - Partly Cloudy and Cool

QUABBIN (from Larry Therrien) QUABBIN: Stops at Windsor Dam and surrounding area and short stop at Goodnough Dike: Red Throated Loon (1), Common Loon (1, maybe 2), Common Merganser (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (3), Blue Headed Vireo (1), Golden Crowned Kinglet (3), American Pipit (5), Common Raven (1), American Kestrel (1) male, Sharp Shinned Hawk (3), Savannah Sparrow (3), White Throated Sparrow (8), Song Sparrow (1), Junco (3)Ring Billed Gull (1), Red Breasted Nuthatch (2), American Crow (209) moving south, American Robin (65+). Also a River Otter near the dam. WARE: Rt 9 marsh: Hooded Merganser (3).

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) There were 3 Hermit Thrushes near Arcadia.

LEVERETT (from ABC Bird News) From Mary Alice Wilson East Leverett Meadow 10/27 Wood Duck 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE 1 (j, tawny) Eastern Bluebird 10 (at least) Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 (at least) Palm Warbler 12 (at least)

GRANVILLE BLUEBERYY HILL Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Andrew Magee, Joe Wojtanowski, John Weeks, Seth Kellogg Weather: Heavy cloud-cover (85-100%). Wind NW/WNW 2-12 mph. Temperature 37-40 F. Raptor Observations: Curiously, we observed exactly half (56) the number of Red-tails counted by Tom Swochak at Shatterack a few miles to the northeast. We did note that many Red-tails seemed to pass far to the east of us. One Harrier was a male, the other a female. Non-raptor Observations: Canada Geese (46), Goose species (100), Brant (79), White-winged Scoters (10), Duck species (7), American Crows (46), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robins (5), Yellow-rumped Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Snow Buntings (2).

RUSSELL (From ABC Bird NEws) From Tom Swochak Shatterack Mt, Russell Hawkwatch 10/27 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT Observer: Tom Swochak Turkey Vulture 6 Northern Harrier 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 49 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 8 Red-tailed Hawk 112 American Kestrel 1 Unknown 3 Total: 182 Other Observations: Snow Geese - 1 group of 60 Canada Geese - 5 groups totalling 175 birds Great Blue Heron - 2, appeared to be migrating Loons 5 (groups of 2 & 3) One bluebird heard

October 28 - Friday - Mostly Cloudy and Cool

CLARKSBURG: (From Regina Therrien) Evening Grosbeaks (25) at the feeders on and off this afternoon. Majority of them males.

LUDLOW (from Larry Therrien) Springfield Reservoir: Horned Grebe (1), Ruddy Duck (89), Hooded Merganser (2), Mallard (7), Canada Geese (97)..mostly flybys, Yellow Rumped Warbler (3), Blue Headed Vireo (1), Golden Crowned Kinglet (3), Red Breasted Nuthatch (1). BELCHERTOWN: Great looks at a very vocal Pileated Woodpecker in the backyard. Wood Ducks (3) and Kingfisher (1) in the brook.

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Oxbow Marina area is very flooded. I didn't see anything unusual or even interesting - just a few ring-billed gulls and some mallards.

WESTFIELD (posted to Massbird by Bob Bieda) This afternoon there were four adult male Black Scoters, a female Ruddy Duck, and two Pied-billed Grebes on Pequot Pond of Hampton Ponds in Westfield. These birds can be viewed from Hampton Ponds State Park on Rt. 202 in Westfield.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERYY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Herman D'Entremont, Joe Wojtanowski, John Weeks, Oakes Spaulding, Pam Witaszek, Seth Kellogg, Sol Satin Visitors: Anne Peterson and Billie the Poodle (volunteer Golden Eagle lure -- we kept close watch over her!). Weather: Mostly cloudy. Light NE winds (varying occasionally to N and E). Temperature 37-42 F. Raptor Observations: Female Harrier at 11:01 EDT. Our second Goshawk of the season, spotted by Oakes at 11:05 EDT. Non-migrants: one or two Bald Eagles. Non-raptor Observations: Snow Geese (40-50), Canada Geese (74), Scoter species (est. 60), American Crows (800), Eastern Bluebird, American Robins (79), Yellow-rumped Warblers (4), Palm Warbler, Savannah Sparrows (3), Snow Bunting, Rusty Blackbird (female -- tame, walked on ground near lookout).

RUSSELL (from ABC Bird News) From Tom Swochak Shatterack Mt, Russell Hawkwatch 10/28 9:15 A.M. TO 2:15 P.M. EDT Observers: Tom Swochak Turkey Vulture 6 Bald Eagle 1 Northern Harrier 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 14 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 18 Total: 43 Other Observations: Robins - 38. Crows - 132 Ravens - one group of 7

NORTHAMPTON+ (from ABC Bird News) From James P. Smith The Ibis Pool in the West Meadows of Northampton in still cut off by flood water. Arcadia (Fort Hill road area); Green-winged Teal - 12 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3 ‘Eastern’ Palm Warbler - 1 East Meadows (by the airfield); Great Blue Heron - 3 flew south. American Kestrel - 1 American Tree Sparrow - 2 Hermit Thrush on the Norwottuck rail trail in Amherst. 10/27 - Hatfield/Whately townline in late afternoon. 50 Killdeer 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 600 American Crows migrating south high over the fields. 3 Hermit Thrushes were on the Norwottuck rail trail in Amherst.

October 29 - Saturday - Mostly Cloudy and Cool

SOUTH HADLEY (from http://nehummers.com/) (October 29- November 13) Anthony Hill, whose active season of banding Ruby-throats near South Hadley, MA, is discussed under Fall 2005 News and Notes, had a hatch-year female Rufous Hummingbird in his yard. The bird was definitely identified on November 8, but had probably been coming to the yard since October 29, and was feeding on Salvia guaranitica until that was hit by frost on 11/10. The bird was banded and conclusively identified on November 12, but came right back to the feeder twenty minutes later. It was seen at that same feeder twice on the morning of November 13, but not seen after that.

LUDLOW (from Chris Gentes) This morning at Springfield Reservoir Heather and I saw: Canada Goose-2, Mallard-10, Ring-necked Duck-4, Bufflehead-4, Common Merganser-3, Ruddy Duck-64, Pied-billed Grebe-1, Horned Grebe-2, Osprey-1, Brown Creeper-1, Ruby-crowned Kinglet-6, Golden-crowned Kinglet-5, Myrtle-5. Later we stopped at QUABBIN HQ and saw 8 Greater Scaup. Very choppy.

SOUTH QUABBIN+ (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We started the morning at dawn at Quabbin Park. It was pretty windy, particularly at the Administration Building, where the wind was right in your face. This combined with temps in the low 30s made for a "bracing" morning and generally low numbers of passerines (but see below): Horned Grebe (tight flock of 5) A Black Duck (2) Greater Scaup (2f) Black Scoter (35: 1 tight flock w/2 females. At one point the sun came out briefly and the flock was quite close and it we had a wonderful view of one gang of brightly colored "butterbills") Surf Scoter (14) Hooded Merganser (6) Common Merganser (5) Bald Eagle (1ad) Red-tailed Hawk (3: there was also a decent movement of this species today) Wild Turkey (8) Killdeer (7: State Trout Hatchery) Ring-billed Gull (7) Herring Gull (1: nota bene: except for 1 Ringie, all gulls at the state trout hatchery) Downy Woodpecker (3) Hairy Woodpecker (2) Blue Jay (12) AMERICAN CROW (77: constant migratory movement everywhere we went today, all heading SW or WSW) Common Raven (2) Black-capped Chickadee (81) White-breasted Nuthatch (4) Brown Creeper (1) Golden-crowned Kinglet (16) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) Eastern Bluebird (1f) Hermit Thrush (2) A Robin (1) Yellow-rumped Warbler (2) Pine Warbler (1 feeding on ground) Field Sparrow (2) Swamp Sparrow (1) Song Sparrow (2) White-throated Sparrow (16) Dark-eyed Junco (70) Snow Bunting (10) N Cardinal (2) Purple Finch (1) A Goldfinch (8) PELHAM OVERLOOK: Red-tailed Hawk (3) Common Raven (2) American Crow (40 crossing the Prescott and heading SW) SOUTH NEW SALEM: Sharp-shinned Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawk ( kettle of 5: we had another 12 Red-taileds moving all along Rt.202 and 122 to Barre) A Crow (flock of 28 heading SSW. Nota bene: all along Rts 202 and 122 we had several flocks of 15-30 moving generally SW or west)) Winter Wren (3) Dark-eyed Junco (35+) HARVARD POND, PETERSHAM: Canada Goose (52) Wood Duck (10) Mallard (1) A Black Duck (6) Green-winged Teal (5) Blue-winged Teal (1) Hooded Merganser (3) PLUS: en route home we stopped and viewed some FRINGED GENTAINS (State Listed) one of the last blooms (with Witch Hazel) for the year. The deep, dark blue of this wildflower is one of the great natural pleasures of late fall.)

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) Two Hermit Thrushes.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Visitors: Not exactly visitors, but they made their presence known: someone (the National Guard, I hope) was banging away all day with automatic weapons a few miles to the east. It sounded like the Battle of Fallujah. Weather: A blanket of clouds overhead, with blue holes now and then. Prevailing wind NW, generally light but gusting to about 12 mph. Temperature 34-39 F. Raptor Observations: One kettle of 4 Red-tails high over the site at 2:20 EDT. Non-raptor Observations: Brant (8), American Crows (586), Eastern Bluebirds (15), American Robins (83), American Pipits (3), Yellow-rumped Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Snow Buntings (5; three lingered on the ground).

RUSSELL (from ABC Bird NEws) From Tom Swochak Shatterack Mt, Russell Hawkwatch 10/29 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Observer Tom Sowchak Turkey Vulture 2 Northern Harrier 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 11 Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 Red-tailed Hawk 44 Unknown 1 Total: 66 Other Observations: One group of four Evening Grosbeak. Robins - 36. Crows - 337.

NORTHAMPTON (from Chuck Horn) Arcadia West Meadows: Highlights: 3 Hermit thrushes, 1 meadow lark, 1 harrier, 1 coopers hawk, 1 gr. blue heron, 1 d. crested cormorant (reported to me), 2 red tail hawks, 4 white crowned sparrows, numerous white throated and song sparrows, 16+ swamp sparrows. Also, 10,000+ mixed blackbirds (apprx. 90% red wings), one with white (albinistic?) tail. Picked them over thoroughly, but no yellow headed blackbird.

October 30 - Sunday - Sunny, Mild and Breezy

TURNERS FALLS (from Chris Gentes) There was a Bonaparte's Gull in with the Ring-billed Gulls today at Bartons Cove around 2:30pm. It flew off shortly after it was first seen.

LUDLOW (from ABC Bird News) From Al & Lois Richardson Springfield MA Ludlow Reservoir late afternoon October 30 60 Ruddy Ducks 3 Ringnecked Ducks males 3 Common Golden-eye 1m, 2f Bald Eagle 1Pied-bill Grebe 1 Common Merg 1 Common Loon 1 Blue-headed Vireo

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: Dietrich Schlobohm, John Weeks, Pam Witaszek, Seth Kellogg, Sol Satin Visitors: Wes Shepard, Ron Riciotti. Weather: Sunny, hazy and unseasonably warm, but windy. Wind WNW up to 22 mph. Temperature 42-58 F. Actual start-time: 7:40 EST. Raptor Observations: Notable non-migrants: two Black Vultures. Non-raptor Observations: Canada Geese (7), Gulls (Herring and Great Black-backed, 52), American Crows (9), American Robins (5), American Pipits (3), Red-winged Blackbird. Two Mourning Cloak butterflies.

October 31 - Monday - Sunny and Warm

BELCHERTOWN (from Larry Therrien) Wood Duck (9) feeding in the woods between the brook and the house. The group was foraging back and forth through the woods for hours. Not sure exactly what they were eating.

SHUTESBURY (froM Kevin Weir) 15 Cedar Waxwings, 1 Red Bellied, 8 Chickadees, 3 Solitary vireos, 4 titmouse, 1 red tail, 1 house finch, 1 fox sparrow, 6 white throats, 6 bluejays, two chipping, 50+ Juncos, 20+ robins, 2 red breasted nuthatch, 2 white breasted nuthatch, 1 yellow throat, 6 pipits, 1 tree sparrow, 7 goldfinch, 1 downy. +Praying mantis Case.

AMHERST (from Joan Duprey) Today the Monday Morning Birders of the Hampshire Bird Club walked the Rail Trail in Amherst at Station Avenue from 8:00 to 10:00 AM. Weather was sunny, warm, and calm. A gorgeous fall day to be out. Highlights include a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, one of which approached the trail giving a great close up view, Hooded Merganser, several Wood Duck flyovers, and about 6 Eastern Bluebirds. A fair number of the usual suspects, but no hermit thrushes seen. Larry [D.] and I also had a Hooded Merganser and an American Wigeon near the Rod and Gun Club in Turners Falls last night while watching about 800 Canada Geese descend in waves of 15 to 30 birds at a time.

LUDLOW (posted to Massbird by Janis LaPointe) Afternoon at Ludlow Resevoir. 38 Ruddy Ducks 1 Common Loon 2 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Golden crowned Kinglets 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Flock of mixed Herring and Ring-billed Gulls

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Visitors: Wes Shepard. Weather: Cirrus clouds decreasing all day (from 85% to 5%); sunny, hazy and warm. Fitful winds, W shifting gradually to SW, gusting to 13 mph. Temperature 56-66 F. Raptor Observations: Still waiting for Goldot. Non-raptor Observations: American Crows (114), Palm Warblers (2), American Tree Sparrows (2), Rusty Blackbirds (2 males + 2 females; flew right over my head). Two of the male Rusties looked as though they had not yet molted. One Bumblebee (landed in my collar) and one Mourning Cloak. Predictions: Another anemic count.

SOUTH AMHERST - Harvey Allen saw a Coot along the Bike Path.

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

At Ludlow Reservoir there were 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 3 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 60 RUDDY DUCKS, a COMMON LOON, a PIED-BILLED GREBE, a GREAT CORMORANT, and a BLUE-HEADED VIREO.

South Quabbin reports include a RED-THROATED LOON, 5 HORNED GREBES, 2 GREATER SCAUP, 25 BLACK SCOTERS, 14 SURF SCOTERS, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 16 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 2 HERMIT THRUSH, 5 AMERICAN PIPITS, a PINE WARBLER, 10 SNOW BUNTINGS, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR.

Three WINTER WRENS were noted in new Salem, 2 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, a WINTER WREN, a GRAY CATBIRD, and a BLACKPOLL WARBLER in Longmeadow, a PECTORAL and LEAST SANDPIPER in Hatfield, 10 WOOD DUCKS, 5 GREEN-WINGED and a BLUE-WINGED TEAL in Petersham, and 4 BLACK SCOTERS, a RUDDY DUCK and 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES on Hampton Ponds in Westfield.

Seen in Amherst were a WOOD DUCK, a HOODED MERGANSER, 6 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 5 PINE SISKINS, and 8 EVENING GROSBEAKS.

Two NORTHERN SHRIKES were observed in Leverett along with 15 RING-NECKED DUCKS, a HOODED MERGANSER, 10 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and 12 PALM WARBLERS.

A tour of the Berkshire lakes on Saturday produced a PIED-BILLED GREBE and 9 AMERICAN COOT at Richmond Pond, a RED-THROATED and COMMON LOON on Onota Lake, 2 BUFFLEHEAD, 8 RUDDY DUCKS, 8 PIED-BILLED GREBES, and 4 AMERICAN COOT on Cheshire Reservoir.

On Pontoosuc Reservoir there were 3 AMERICAN WIGEON, 2 GADWALL, 18 BLACK SCOTERS, 3 BUFFLEHEAD, 30 HOODED MERGANSERS, an OSPREY, a BONAPARTE'S GULL, and 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.

At Mud Pond in Pittsfield there were 900 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 2 juvenile REDHEAD DUCKS, 3 WOOD DUCKS, and 100 RUDDY DUCKS. Weekly counts of migrating hawks at Blueberry Hill in Granville were 19 TURKEY VULTURES, 2 BALD EAGLES, 10 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 106 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 17 COOPER’S HAWKS, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 15 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 249 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 4 AMERICAN KESTRELS, and 2 MERLINS.

Other species seen in Granville were 88 BRANT, 50 SNOW GEESE, a COMMON and a RED-THROATED LOON, 10 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, over 1,600 AMERICAN CROWS and 320 AMERICAN ROBINS.

Over Shatterack Mt. in Russell there were 32 TURKEY VULTURES, 2 BALD EAGLES, 5 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 95 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 3 COOPER’S HAWKS, 17 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 247 RED-TAILED HAWKS, an AMERICAN KESTREL, 4 EVENING GROSBEAKS, and 60 SNOW GEESE.