Trip Highlights

This annual trip is scheduled to coincide with waterfowl migration from the north and typically gives us a few highlights, or at least some “oohs” and “aahs”.  Not so much this year, and the ducks were almost as scarce as the participants.  There were only four of us and we saw nine species of waterfowl.  Our best bird was probably a female Rusty Blackbird astutely spotted on the mud at Onota causeway.

Also brought to our attention was that Hoffmann Club’s Waterfowl Census (its 81st annual) held the following day also produced low numbers.  That group did see a Gallinule at Richmond, which we missed, so kudos to them.  We assumed the low numbers were due to the mild temperatures this fall which kept migrants up north later than usual.  Of course, this means we should keep an eye on our local lakes into November to see what might show up later.  

Here is the list of 28 species seen and heard:

Great Blue 1

Turkey Vulture 1

Canada Goose X

Wood Duck 2 female at Onota causeway

Black Duck 8

Mallard X

Green-winged Teal 1

Ring-necked Duck 1

Common Goldeneye 4 on Pontoosuc

Hooded Merganser 30

Common Merganser 11

Bald Eagle 1

Ring-billed Gull 15

Rock Dove X

Red-bellied 1 Heard

Downy Woodpecker 1

Blue Jay several Heard

Crow X

Chickadee 4

White-breasted Nut. 3

Bluebird 5 at Farnum

Starling X

Song Sparrow 2

Junco 1

Cardinal 1

Blackbird several Heard

Rusty Blackbird 1 female, scope-view at Onota causeway

Goldfinch several Heard

On this cool but calm morning, five members gathered to explore the Quabbin Park.  We found a total of 25 species and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Quabbin offers in autumn.  Click below to view complete list of species.

7:00 AM Bird Walk - Cold temperatures and bright, blue skies greeted the four hardy participants of the morning 75th Anniversary Bird Walk at Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge.  Starting from the pollinator garden we slowly meandered our way west toward the Connecticut River along the perimeter of a farm field.  The usual species were observed, with Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler being most abundant.  Approximately halfway across the back edge of the field a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was spotted sitting cooperatively in a tree, and a little further on a Black-and-white Warbler was seen scampering up and down branches.  The field yielded five sparrow species, and after checking the ponds we added six species of ducks. See below for the full list of 32 species.

1:00 PM Greeting and Information sharing - The Longmeadow Conservation Commission graciously agreed to our use of the newly renovated Riverfront Conservation Area on Anthony Rd, which gave everyone plenty of space to spread out. Tables were manned by Allen Bird Club, Friends of Fannie Stebbins, USFW, and the nearby Pioneer Valley Yacht Club.

2:00 PM Birds of Prey with Tom Ricardi - Tom regaled the crowd with his birds and his experiences leading into a dramatic release of a young Bald Eagle over the farm field. That bird circled the area and hung out for pictures near the road for the rest of the day. See photos below.

Afternoon Trail Walk - The second walk of the day was focused on the trails, plants, and refuge history. Bird sightings were incidental and not recorded.

The evening was cool and windy, but 18 members gathered in search of owls. We persevered until late in the evening, though success was limited.

Our first stop was New Southwick Cemetery, where our leader gave an impressive imitation of an Eastern Screech Owl call, hoping to prompt a response. None came. Next, we visited a boardwalk crossing a large marsh along the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail. As we approached the parking area, one member heard an owl from his car, but the group had not yet gathered, and the owl did not call again. We walked the trail down to the boardwalk and tried in vain to call in a Barred Owl, where two had been seen flying over the marsh during last year’s owl prowl.

Our final stop was the Southwick WMA, where we hoped to hear a Great Horned Owl. In the parking area, the leader and another member heard an Eastern Screech Owl, but it did not call again for the rest of the group to hear. We walked into the field stopping at the edge of the woods, where our leader imitated the calls of Northern Saw-whet Owl and Great Horned Owl, but by then the wind had picked up considerably, and our efforts were unsuccessful.

Although the owls kept their distance this year, members thoroughly enjoyed the evening’s quest.

Our scheduled morning adventure to bird Ashley Ponds and the surrounding area was preempted by a fund-raising event (Magic for Maddie) being held at the Elks Club.  We were greeted by friendly volunteers placing signs for event parking only at our meeting spot.  Fortunately, our leader knows the area well and brought us to the Bear Hole Watershed nearby.  After birding here and finding a few very good woodland species, he volunteered to lead us around Stebbins Refuge, where there were reports of a variety of fall migrants. We ended the morning with smiles and a total of 37 species.  Click below to view a complete species list.