Mourning Warbler and others...Quabbin

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin, MA May 29, 2011

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin,MA, May 29, 2011

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Quabbin, MA, May 29, 2011
Mourning Dove, Quabbin, MA, May 29, 2011

Another productive day yesterday as I spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon exploring the central area of Quabbin for the breeding bird atlas. Many areas have finally dried out enough to explore so I was able to make it to areas that I had not yet visited this season. The highlight of the day was a Mourning Warbler that popped out into view and stayed in view for an extended time period. Some of the best views I have ever had of a Mourning Warbler. Many other good birds around. I have attached a list for the day below. Some of the numbers of birds were amazing and likely undercounts as I had them in earshot most of the day.


Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 1
Hooded Merganser 7 two males
Ruffed Grouse 3 all drumming
Wild Turkey 15
Turkey Vulture 1
Mourning Dove 7
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 20
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 4
Eastern Wood-Pewee 6
Alder Flycatcher 3
Least Flycatcher 35
Eastern Phoebe 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 5
Eastern Kingbird 9 carrying nest material
Yellow-throated Vireo 2
Blue-headed Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 119 minimum count...most heard not seen
Blue Jay 22
Tree Swallow 17
Black-capped Chickadee 19
Brown Creeper 1
Winter Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Veery 59 seemed to be everywhere today
Hermit Thrush 3
Wood Thrush 14
American Robin 38
Gray Catbird 41 building nests
Cedar Waxwing 62
Blue-winged Warbler 4 bird with golden winged like song still present in same area
Yellow Warbler 32 carrying nest material
Chestnut-sided Warbler 51 carryingn nest material
Magnolia Warbler 13
Black-throated Blue Warbler 23
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 12
Black-throated Green Warbler 10
Blackburnian Warbler 20
Pine Warbler 26
Prairie Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 10
American Redstart 68
Ovenbird 78
Northern Waterthrush 1
Mourning Warbler 1 seen, heard and photographed
Common Yellowthroat 92
Canada Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 68
Chipping Sparrow 37 carrying nest material
Song Sparrow 16
White-throated Sparrow 1
Scarlet Tanager 16
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 19 building nests
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 13
Common Grackle 7
Brown-headed Cowbird 18
Baltimore Oriole 23 building nests
Purple Finch 3
American Goldfinch 9


Beaver-1
Little Brown Bats-7

Blue-winged Warbler singing Golden-winged like song

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin, May 21, 2011 (heavily cropped)

During a breeding bird atlas trip this morning to the restricted Prescott Peninsula I came across this Blue-winged Warbler singing a very Golden-winged like song. The bird appeared to be a 'pure' looking Blue-winged but I certainly would not be surprised if there is a lot in the way of genetic material from a Golden winged in the bird. I ran across a similar type bird several years ago in Northampton but it also visually appeared to be a Blue-winged Warbler. I got audio and video but cannot seem to load it up here. I will try again with it later.

Red Phalarope(s) at Quabbin

Red Phalarope, Quabbin Park, May 20, 2011

Red Phalarope, Quabbin Park, May 20, 2011

Red Phalarope, Quabbin Park, May 20, 2011

I spent the morning at Quabbin Park and migration was much in evidence. The highlight by far on the gloomy morning was a Red Phalarope in breeding plumage that flew by me as I was scoping out a Common Loon. The bird came into the cove near Winsor Dam circled around once and then disappeared east over the trees. I then went on to the Administration building near Winsor Dam and took a look at the dead calm water. Way out in the open water were two more phalaropes of an unknown species. I looked around with the scope and when I came back to the area they had been in, they were gone. I looked for another 20 minutes without luck and figured the birds had moved out of the area as the fog started to lift. Much to my surprise I got a call in the middle of the afternoon saying there was a Red Phalarope right on the shore at the Administration building. I returned to the area and the bird was indeed right on the edge of shore. It stayed here for about 20 minutes before flying off to a cove on the west side of the water. I thought the bird I had seen earlier in the day was heading out and away and I never got a look at the distant birds to get a positive ID. There were at least three phalaropes here today and possibly four. Given the improvement in weather the birds will almost certainly be gone from the area by tomorrow as they continue their journey to the high arctic.

Back from Ohio

Prothonotary Warbler, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, OH, May 11, 2011

I just returned from a week long trip to Ohio. Another great trip despite some tough weather at the end. The temperatures dropped to the 50's with wind, low clouds and drizzle. The birds had a tough time during this weather but they seemed to survive in the shelter of the woods along the lake shore and gave arm length looks of themselves. I spent most of my time in northwest Ohio with a day trip up to Michigan to find the Kirtland's Warbler. The trip yielded a total of 157 species with 37 of them new to my Ohio list and one life bird...the Kirtland's Warbler. I will be posting photos from the trip over the next few weeks as I find spare time.

Various photos from the last few days

Baltimore Oriole, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2011
Field Sparrow, Covey WMA, MA, May 9, 2011

Veery, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2011

Baltimore Oriole, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2011

Nashville Warbler, Orchard Hill, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 8, 2011

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2011

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2011

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2011

Some recent images from my travels around the local area. Hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I did taking them.

Sandhill Crane on Hampshire Bird Club trip to Quabbin

Another stellar day at Quabbin as I led a group of Hampshire Bird Club members to Gate 22 and down to parts of the Prescott Peninsula. A great day of warblers (19 species)and other migrants. The highlight of the day for all of us was a Sandhill Crane that flew by mid morning as we stood at the edge of a small marsh. A first for me at Quabbin. Although I have no photos for the day I will let the lists speak for themselves.


Quabbin Gate 22 to water

Wood Duck 2
Ruffed Grouse 2
Common Loon 7
Osprey 1 on platform on island. Some sticks on platform.
Ring-billed Gull 4
Least Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 13
Tree Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 6
swallow sp. 25
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 8
Black-throated Green Warbler 3
Blackburnian Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 2
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 3
Ovenbird 8
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 5
Eastern Towhee 3
Chipping Sparrow 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Baltimore Oriole 1
Purple Finch 2




Prescott Peninsula

Wood Duck 3 pair and one male
Mallard 4
Hooded Merganser 1 female
Ruffed Grouse 7 all drumming
Wild Turkey 5
Common Loon 2 flybys
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 3
Red-tailed Hawk 2
SANDHILL CRANE 1 seen mid morning flying east to west. Seen by all in party.
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Mourning Dove 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 3 one at nest
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 17
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Least Flycatcher 14
Eastern Phoebe 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 6
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 11
American Crow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 together possibly nesting near kingfishers. Seen near cavities with one flying around carrying stick.
Tree Swallow 18
Black-capped Chickadee 13
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Veery 4
Wood Thrush 3
American Robin 22
Gray Catbird 18
Blue-winged Warbler 3
Nashville Warbler 4
Northern Parula 4
Yellow Warbler 7
Chestnut-sided Warbler 29
Magnolia Warbler 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler 37
Black-throated Green Warbler 14
Blackburnian Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 20
Prairie Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 11
American Redstart 13
Ovenbird 19
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 24
Eastern Towhee 23
Chipping Sparrow 15
Field Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 12
Scarlet Tanager 4
Northern Cardinal 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 7
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Baltimore Oriole 3
Purple Finch 6
American Goldfinch 7
Evening Grosbeak 2 heard




Mink-1

Woodchuck-1