Breakfast and Upriver to Turners Falls

We changed the meet up location to Esselon Café in Hadley for breakfast.  That option worked out well, allowing us to take a quick drive through the Honeypot before heading upriver.  The weather was mostly cloudy in the mid-40s, with winds increasing to 14 mph and some light rain.  

The Honeypot gave us a Harrier, a Great Blue Heron, 6 TVs, 2 Bald Eagles, a Redtail and some land birds.  

At Barton’s Cove (various locations) we got looks at C. Merganser, DC Cormorant, Fish Crow, 5 Bald Eagles at one time, Tree Swallows, and other common birds.  

The Turners Falls Rod and Gun Club had a dozen C. Mergansers, 2 Mute Swans, a Kingfisher and 2 Phoebes. Nearby, the feeders at the top of the hill added a Pine Siskin, several other songbirds, and a flyby Sharp-shinned Hawk.  The Turners Falls Airport proved to be worth a stop, as we found a pair of Bluebirds, 2 Killdeer, 2 Kestrels, and a Chipping Sparrow.  Unity Park added 2 more Fish Crows and 13 Cedar Waxwings, but no Bohemian. The gate was open at the power canal and we got nice looks at a Pine Warbler, with another calling nearby.  Also there were 2 Ring-necked Ducks, an Eagle, a Raven, and a few other songbirds, but no Screech Owl in the old cavity.  

While at the campground of Barton’s Cove earlier in the day, we bumped into a birder named Zeke.  He gave us directions to a Barred Owl spot, so when we finished at the Power Canal, we headed to Highland Park in Greenfield.  We did not get the Barred Owl but did get large flocks of singing Goldfinch and Pine Siskins, visible Brown Creepers, 2 Palm and 3 Pine Warblers and a half dozen Rough-winged Swallows, so all was not lost.