Various spots along the Connecticut River in Northampton and Hadley (as well as at home)

Peregrine Falcon, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Solitary Sandpiper, Arcadia, Aug 25, 2013

Oxbow at dawn, Northampton, MA, Aug 25, 2013

I decided to spend the first part of my morning at various spots around the Connecticut River with the main focus being shorebirds. As I drove over to Northampton the fog steadily increased and I second guessed my decision to head over that way (it was totally clear at home). However, once I arrived at Arcadia the fog lifted enough to see the marsh and parts of the oxbow. The shorebirds at Arcadia included four Spotted Sandpipers, five Solitary Sandpipers, six Least Sandpipers, a Lesser Yellowlegs and three Killdeer. In addition I had three Bald Eagles making their rounds, lots of flyby Bobolinks, 14 Wild Turkeys that walked right past me and others totaling 42 species there.

Song Sparrow, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Bobolink, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Bobolinks in flight, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Bobolinks in flight, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Indigo Bunting, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Cooper's Hawk, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Peregrine Falcon, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

I next headed back across the river to the Honeypot area of Hadley. Some of the fields there have been harvested and after checking a few I found a couple Horned Lark in among about a dozen Killdeer. The shoreline of the river held a couple Spotted Sandpipers and a Greater Yellowlegs. While viewing the river I had a flyover Dickcissel that I initially heard and then saw briefly as it moved back toward the dike area. I tried but failed to get a photo and I was never able to find the bird again despite some effort. The Dickcissel makes species #218 for Hampshire County this year. I spent some time at "that's a plenty farm" and had more good birds including nearly 100 Bobolinks, lots of Song Sparrows, a Peregrine Falcon, several hundred (probably over a thousand) swallows with most being Tree and Bank Swallows, at least three Indigo Buntings with one still singing. The area looks primed up for the arrival of sparrows in a few weeks and I'm sure something unusual will show up.

Common Yellowthroat with odd growths on face and bill, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Common Yellowthroat with odd growths on face and bill, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Common Yellowthroat with odd growths on face and bill, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

I also had a Common Yellowthroat there with some odd growths on its face.  I'll have to see if I can figure out what they are.

Belted Kingfisher, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Semipalmated Sandpiper (center) with Least Sandpipers, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Semipalmated Sandpiper (center) with Least Sandpipers with Great Egret, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Least Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and Wood Duck, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Aug 25, 2013

 

 With my time running out for the morning I stopped along the river in Hadley and found more shorebirds including 33 Least Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, two Solitary Sandpipers and three Lesser Yellowlegs. I also had a Great Egret and a couple Great Blue Herons as well as Wood Ducks.  I had a total of seven shorebird species, three wader species and half a dozen raptor species for the day among the 65+ total species for the day.

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Belchertown, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Belchertown, MA, Aug 25, 2013

Meanwhile at home the Ruby throated Hummingbirds seem to have made a resurgence.  It had quieted down a bit the last few days but several were around today.  Perhaps new arrivals from the north?

A late addition to the days list (and the year list) occurred as I was grilling up dinner and noticed a bird moving around the tops of one of the oaks in the backyard.  I grabbed my binoculars and found an early Philadelphia Vireo.  My earliest fall record of this species ever!  I ran back inside to get my camera but when I came back out I could not find the bird again to get a photo.  Oh well!  With this species I brought my total for Hampshire County this year to 219!  It does appear my previous record of 228 is indeed within reach of being broken.  Time will tell.  I also had several Common Nighthawks feeding low over the yard this evening as well.