The last few days around here

White tailed Deer with fawn, rail trail, Amherst, MA, July 20, 2014

White tailed Deer with fawn, rail trail, Amherst, MA, July 20, 2014

White tailed Deer with two fawns, rail trail, Amherst, MA, July 20, 2014

Tree, Barn and Bank Swallows, rail trail, Amherst, MA, July 20, 2014

I headed over to the rail trail in Amherst this morning with the highlight being non avian when I got to see a standoff between two White tailed Deer with fawns.  I was scanning the marsh at Hop Brook when I noticed a deer with a single fawn moving along the edge of the marsh.  After several minutes the adult seemed to fixate on a single location and eventually another deer with two fawns appeared.  The two adults stared each other down for a few minutes and eventually got closer and closer.  Both adults did a lot of foot stomping at each other (link to video here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/14517177697/)  Quite interesting to watch!  As far as birds go it was the typical 'stuff' around with lots of adults carrying food to youngsters and lots of recent fledglings moving about. 

Lake Wallace at dawn, Belchertown, MA, July 19, 2014

On Saturday I got up before dawn to go searching for night herons but I came up empty for them.  Nonetheless it was still a very pleasant morning to be out.  I once again hit a variety of areas starting at Lake Wallace then over to a few spots around south Quabbin and then over to the land trust trail with Wilson.  Lake Wallace was once again quite productive with around fifty species including a Merlin (early migrant or possible breeder from nearby?  Who knows?) lots of waterfowl, Sora, Virginia Rails and lots of other stuff including a very vocal group of four Common Ravens that cruised by.  The other areas were active but nothing too unusual.

Virginia Rail, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 18, 2014

Virginia Rail, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 18, 2014

Belted Kingfisher, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 18, 2014

American Woodcock, Belchertown, MA, July 18, 2014

Winsor dam at dusk, July 18, 2014

On Friday I hit several spots in search of marsh birds and had some luck again with rails at Lake Wallace.  The Sora continued calling on and off but never came into view but one of at least two Virginia Rails showed itself quite well for several seconds before disappearing back into the marsh grass.  The only herons around were Great Blue and Green Herons. 

I headed back out around dusk to Winsor Dam to see if anything unusual was moving around before sunset.  Nothing too unusual but did have four Bald Eagles including three juveniles hanging around at the nest site.  Once the sun set I went to Covey WMA to listen for Eastern Whip Poor Wills and had one calling right away, very close by.  I turned up another one a little later on a return stop at Winsor Dam.