Another good day for migrants

Red tailed Hawk, Orchard Hill UMASS Amherst, Sep 19, 2013

Tennessee Warbler (w/ black throated green warbler), Orchard Hill UMASS Amherst, Sep 19, 2013

Tennessee Warbler (w/ black throated green warbler), Orchard Hill UMASS Amherst, Sep 19, 2013

Started out another productive day before dawn at Orchard Hill.  The birds came fast and furious for awhile.  I have included the list for the morning below.  A great morning there indeed and not really expected given the less than optimal migration conditions last night.  I spent about 3 1/2 hours there exploring several areas.

Orchard Hill

Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Accipiter sp.  1
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Mourning Dove  2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Downy Woodpecker  2
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  5
Eastern Wood-Pewee  2   still calling
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher)  1     Seen early, attempted photo
Empidonax sp.  1
Eastern Phoebe  5
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Red-eyed Vireo  6
Blue Jay  19
American Crow  3
Common Raven  1
Black-capped Chickadee  14
Tufted Titmouse  3
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  4
House Wren  6
Carolina Wren  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Catharus sp.  1
Wood Thrush  1
American Robin  8
Gray Catbird  26
Brown Thrasher  1
European Starling  2
Cedar Waxwing  12
Black-and-white Warbler  6
Tennessee Warbler  4     Amazing number, minimum
Nashville Warbler  3   including one very dull individual
Common Yellowthroat  11
American Redstart  8     Two adult males
Cape May Warbler  1     Dull individual, may have been two as one was seen by another birder in another area
Northern Parula  16     Some still singing
Magnolia Warbler  9
Blackburnian Warbler  2
Yellow Warbler  2     One brightly colored male with rufous still on chest, other individual dull
Chestnut-sided Warbler  8     Minimum
Blackpoll Warbler  10
Black-throated Blue Warbler  1
Pine Warbler  1
Black-throated Green Warbler  31     Minimum
Canada Warbler  1     Late. Called...not what we expected to hear
Wilson's Warbler  3
warbler sp.  25
Eastern Towhee  4
Chipping Sparrow  3
Field Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  5
Lincoln's Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  6
Scarlet Tanager  3     Minimum
Northern Cardinal  5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  4
House Finch  6
American Goldfinch  6

Indigo Bunting, Honeypot, Hadley, Sep 19, 2013

Indigo Bunting, Honeypot, Hadley, Sep 19, 2013

Bobolink, Honeypot, Hadley, Sep 19, 2013

A brief stop at the curve at the Honeypot produced a Vesper Sparrow, a Lincoln's Sparrow 1, at least 16 Indigo Buntings and a dozen Bobolinks.  The fog was yet again thick by the river and only lifted around ten or so.

I got home, picked up Wilson and we headed to Jabish Canal where we ran across a few migrant groups (including several warbler species and a Yellow throated Vireo among others) as well as a nice show of broad winged Hawks numbering over 225 with 178 of those in one group.  Probably missed many in the clear blue skies.  Hopefully it was another productive day at the hawk watches.  The Broad winged Hawk migration this season in the state has been unequalled and record setting with several watches having five digit counts, some with multiple days with 10,000 plus birds.  One watch is at six consecutive days with 1000+ birds and I bet today will make seven. 

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, Sep 19, 2013

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, Sep 19, 2013

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, Sep 19, 2013

Eastern Wood Pewee, Quabbin Park, Sep 19, 2013

I decided to keep my good day rolling with a visit to a few spots at Quabbin Park including the marsh on route 9 and a nearby trail.  The highlight by far was a late Great crested Flycatcher that I watched glide in from up hill and land in tree, only in view for 5 seconds before leaving so no chance for photos. A bright individual which I was unable to make into something more unusual. A Great Egret and Black Duck continued at the marsh (seen earlier by others)

Merlin with a dragonfly, Covey WMA, Sep 19, 2013

My last stop for the day was a brief one at Covey WMA where I made it down to a few of the marshes and was rewarded with a Merlin that came in briefly and left with a dragonfly.

Another day with at least 20 warblers.  I really didn't think I would break the twenty mark again this season but with a little luck perhaps I will do so again tomorrow?