May begins

Gray Catbird, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 1, 2015

Lesser Yellowlegs (L) and Greater Yellowlegs (R), Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, May 1, 2015

Greater Yellowlegs, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, May 1, 2015

Spotted Sandpiper, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, May 1, 2015

May began as it should with an obvious influx of new birds this morning (eleven new species plus two more at dusk).  Although the next few days will likely feature even better migration conditions the birds still came in overnight.  I had a little time before I had to head to Northampton to get new tires so I headed over to Winsor Dam before dawn and had three Greater Yellowlegs and a Spotted Sandpiper right in front of the HQ building.  I then headed west and took a short walk at Silvio Conte NWR and had the following new species there- Warbling Vireo, Blue winged Warbler, Black throated Green Warbler (full list here- http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23155632).  A brief stop along Aqua Vitae Rd didn't produce anything new but the ever shrinking muddy puddle still held a Lesser and a Greater Yellowlegs plus a few Killdeer.  I then spent the next two hours plus getting new tires put on the car as I lamented the birds I was missing.  Once I finally got out of there I headed over to Mitch's Way where I found several new species including Ring necked Pheasant, Yellow throated Vireo, Northern Waterthrush, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler and Black throated Blue Warbler.  (full list here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23158271).  A brief stop at the bottom of Skinner produced a calling Worm eating Warbler.  I suspect a major influx of new species will occur over the next couple nights.

A stop back to Winsor Dam after dark produced at least two calling Eastern Whip Poor Wills and a Veery among others.

Although it is only May 1st the tropics may already be getting active with the chance for a subtropical or possibly tropical system developing during the middle of next week off the US coast.  If this does occur and where the storm tracks is unknown at this point but it is worth keeping an eye on.  Overall the tropical season is forecast to be slightly below average but once again time will tell.  More info on the early chance for a storm can be found at this link: http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2970