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Hadley, MA. December 18th, 2005.
| Northampton Christmas Bird Count Highlights.
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Northampton Christmas Count was a huge effort with over
100 observers taking part. Susannah and I joined Scott Surner who’s
area included Hadley and North Hadley along the Connecticut River. We
spent an entire day working a relatively small area with some excellent
results. Val Miller also joined us for some of the day. Highlights
included singles of Snow Goose, Kumlien’s Iceland Gull, Eastern Screech Owl (red phase), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Lapland Longspur and two Gray Catbirds,
amongst our 56 species recorded. We also tried some owling in the early
hours with moderate success, though good spotlight views of a North Saw-whet Owl was well worth the effort. To add a touch of the exotic, we also had a free-flying Red-breasted Goose
which departed quickly down the Connecticut river after being
disturbed. We didn’t see it again all day, but naturally assumed that
it must have been an escape. All in all, it was a tremendous day and
special thanks go to Scott for his leadership.
| | All images taken using Canon Powershot A-95 through Swarovski HD telescope. |
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Red phase Eastern Screech Owl - Hadley.
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Red phase Eastern Screech Owl - Hadley.
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Field Sparrow on the Aqua vitae road - Hadley.
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Hadley.
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Hadley.
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Kumlien's Iceland Gull (1st-winter) taking off, leaving behind Great Black-backed Gull (1st-winter) - Hadley.
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Snow Goose amongst Canada Geese - Hadley.
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