Thursday, January 31, 2008

January 2008 update

Having been away for much of January, I've done little watching locally, but (as is to be expected at this time of year) there's been very little to report.

The Reservoirs have been quiet but for the adult Great Black-backed Gull (present since December 2007), an odd Green Sandpiper and a pair of Red Crested Pochards last week. (The latter are regular in autumn, but unpredictable at other times of year).

Clissold Park has held a Brambling, feeding with a small Chaffinch flock, in the deer enclosure for the last week or so. Although a regular occurence in the area, especially in the late autumn and early winter, very few tend to hang around.

Coverage of all local sites will increase, and a more concerted effort from myself and other local observers will hopefully produce a more accurate winter picture.

Mark

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

New England, U.S. - January 2008 (8)

Quabbin Reservoir, Western Mass.

Less than 20km north-west of Warren (the idyllic rural village where we were based for much of the trip) lies the Quabbin Reservoir, a huge, man-made waterbody providing water supplies for much of Mass., including Boston. After an overnight storm left a good 30cm of snow on the ground, we drove to the nearest entrance of the reservoir the following day, by the old police atation at the Quabbin's South-west tip.

The temperature and wind chill dictated a brief visit, but it couldn't have been scripted any better. Within a minute or so of getting out of the car, we were looking at a ridiculously accomadating adult Bald Eagle perched in a tree overlooking the frozen water's edge... The species is something of a local speciality, and although the chances were slim at best, I was hoping to catch up with one. Having an adult at such close quarters was a treat indeed.





Even with serendipity guiding the trip, the next events were far from expected. Being aware that this year was a Grosbeak Year in New England (ie, a rare winter when this beautiful sub-arctic species ventures further south than usual and 'invades' the northern fringes of the U.S.), it was one of the few species I was very much hoping to come across; but the nomadic nature of Grosbeak flocks dictates that luck and timing are everything, and it was with heavy doses of both that I looked up and temporarily away from the Eagle to find a flock dropping into a fruiting tree immediately in front of us.

For the best part of 15 minutes they devoured the fruit, almost oblivious to my presence only a couple of metres away; and after spoiling us with perfect views, they were off, high over the reservoir to the north.







Pine Grosbeaks, Western Mass.

New England, U.S. - January 2008 (7)

Rhode Island - 3

Less than 100 metres from our accomadation in North Kingston (15 miles or so suth of Providence), this large, mainly frozen pond produced another highlight of the trip - a family of wonderfully tame Otters.





New England, U.S. - January 2008 (6)

Rhode Island - 2

We spent a couple of days on the southern coast of Rhode Island, and despite the sub-zero temperatures, we struck lucky with quantity and quality.





male King Eider in breeding plumage, Point Judith. After methodically sifting through the thousands of Common Eiders off the point with no luck, we checked the bay just around the corner, to the south of the lighthouse - and there amongst a few Long-tailed Ducks, RB Mergansers, GN Divers and Common Seals, this bird stole the show.


Belted Kingfisher, Ningret Reserve


Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Chafee Reserve, near Point Judith. Acting like a Lanceolated Warbler, this wholly unexpected and beautiful little bird ran through the grass, hid under ice overhangs in the drainage channels in the saltmarsh, and generally did its best to elude us until we finally got conclusive views. As far as we can tell from field guides, it was several hundred miles out of range..... perhaps the best find of the trip.

New England, U.S. - January 2008 (5)

Rhode Island - 1

We spent a couple of very enjoyable days on the southern coast of Rhode Island, and despite the sub-zero temperatures, we struck lucky with quantity and quality.




Glaucous Gull, Galilee




Hooded Mergansers, Ninigret Reserve



male Bufflehead, Ninigret Reserve


Double-crested Cormorant, Galilee

New England, U.S - January 2008 (4)

Garden Birds - 4

A selection of common species in the garden and surrounding area in rural Western Mass., New England.





American Robins



White-throated Sparrows

New England, U.S. - January 2008 (3)

Garden Birds - 3

A selection of common species in the garden and surrounding area in rural Western Mass., New England.



Tufted Titmice


White-breasted Nuthatch




Common Redpolls

New England, U.S. - January 2008 (2)

Garden Birds - 2

A selection of common species in the garden and surrounding area in rural Western Mass., New England.




Dark-eyed Juncos (of the Slate-colored race)




Blue Jays

New England, U.S. - January 2008 (1)

Garden Birds - 1

A selection of common species in the garden and surrounding area in rural Western Mass., New England.




male House Finches




Black-capped Chickadees



Downy Woodpecker



American Goldfinch



male Cardinal