Ashley Reservoir, Holyoke, MA. November 3rd, 2005.
| Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica. (Juvenile/first-winter)
| An amazing find for Al & Lois Richardson. They were treated to incredible views
at point blank range and came away with these stunning photographs. Bob
Bieda was the only birder to get to the site before sunset on the 3rd
and, somewhat surprisingly, the bird wasn't seen the following
morning.
| Purple Gallinules are rare in Western Massachusetts with only five documented records as follows;
May 19, 1929 in Enfield (before Quabbin was formed and submerged the town).
May 10 - June 17, 1935 in Agawam.
October 24 - 25, 1978 in Longmeadow (juvenile).
May 1, 1984 in Springfield (injured bird brought to Laughing Brook -
died later).
October 13 - 22, 1984 in Leverett (juvenile).
*Information kindly supplied by Seth Kellogg.
| | Images taken using Olympus C-765 by Al & Lois Richardson |
|
