Forbush Bird Club-Wachusett Reservior & Other Places

I was part of the Forbush Bird Club field trip yesterday which was led by Fran and Kevin and our goal were for waterfowl around Wachusett Reservoir and other surrounding ponds. The fuzzy digiscoped picture above is of a Pied-billed Grebe with some Ring-necked Ducks in the background. Very excited to finally get the Grebe and it is another lifer for me. Also first of the season sighting for Ring-necked Ducks so the Quag was a productive stop yesterday!
Went to Gate 39 where we saw quite a few Common Loons including the one above who was very busy eating a fish as you can see.
We also had a Red-tailed Hawk here as well as a couple of Bad Eagles. Other sightings of the day included various passerines, Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Greater Scaup a Cooper's Hawk and a Northern Harrier (due to a good spot from Susan) and all of the various regulars like Great-blue Herons, Mallards, etc. It was a wonderful fall day weather wise as well as bird wise!
Of course I had to post just a few more pictures of the Barred Owl.
Yes they probably all look the same as the last post, but I got to edit them on my new computer. I bought a rebuilt one as I just didn't want my computer anymore because it was giving me too many problems. I have owned many computers over the past decade or so and I find that the rebuilt ones are so much better than the ones you get off the shelf, so instead of getting a whole new hard drive, I bought a rebuilt one from PC Design in Millbury dirt cheap. If you are ever looking for computer servicing this is the place to go seriously (and I don't ever make too many endorsements!) The computer I have now is quick and Picassa works great on it so I had to play with the owl pictures more.
I also got my first Hermit Thrush of the season around the same area. Don't know if I will get much birding done this week with work an all. I do plan on taking some time and scrubbing my feeders though to get ready for winter bird feeding. I haven't fed the birds since last spring and miss them. Hoping my very common White-throated Sparrows make a return.

Take care all.