October 24th 2006. North Amherst, Hampshire County, MA. Pectoral Sandpipers Calidris melanotos (8), plus Merlin and Wilson's Snipe. An excellent flock of eight Pecs feeding in a flooded field right by Rt 116 in North Amherst. These were initially found by Brian Kane on October 22nd, and still present on October 23rd/24th. It's probably the largest single flock that I've seen within the Connecticut River Valley. Also in the same field, a Merlin, 55 Killdeer, 1 Wilson's Snipe and 25 American Pipits.
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   Couldn't quite get all eight birds in one shot, but here's six of them.  Wilson's Snipe - spent most of the time trying to hide from the Merlin (below).  Marauding (Taiga) Merlin |