I spent a very windy Sunday morning along the NE shoreline of Quabbin Reservoir starting at South Spec Pond in New Salem, then entering the Quabbin from Gate 35 for a walk along the shore.
The wind was out of the north west at a sustained 15-20 MPH with gusts to 30-40 mph. Depite the adverse conditions there was a nice showing of passerines species along the powerlines, with a few dozen robins, 50 + juncos, a few White-throated Sparrows and a single Amercian Tree Sparrow. Along the water's edge, in a sheltered cove, single Yellow-rumped Warbler fed and a Fox Sparrow showed nicely along the nearby road.
Water birds were tough to pick out in the heavy "surf", and the few I did find were "sticking " to the leeward side of the many islands in the area. Several Common Loons, a few Horned Grebes, a dozen plus Buffleheads, 1 Black Scoter, 3 Ring-billed Gulls and only 1 Bald Eagle were the hilights. Other than the eagle a single Red-tailed and Copper's hawk were seen.
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| These Buffleheads and Hooded Mergansers were seen on South Spec Pond in New Salem. |
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| A Common Loon riding the "surf" |
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| The muted foliage of oaks and likely some beech along the eastern "slopes" of New Salem. |
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| Female Buffleheads and Black Scoter |
On the return home I stopped by Crystal Lake in and Gardner and Meetinghouse Reservoir in Westminster. A Red-breasted Merg and Long-tailed Duck were nice to see at these inland locales.
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| A female Red-breasted Merganser at Crystal lake in Gardner |
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| At Meetinghouse Pond in Westminster was a hansome drake Long-tailed Duck |
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