Cerulean Warbler building nest, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2015 |
Cerulean Warbler building nest, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2015 |
Cerulean Warbler building nest, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2015 |
After seeing reports that the Cerulean Warblers have made it back
to Skinner SP and appearing to be setting up shop to breed, I decided to head
over that way this morning to try to catch up with them as well as many warbler
species as I could find. I briefly checked the Connecticut River before heading
to Mitch's Way but had no luck along the river finding anything of note. Once I
got to Mitch's Way the mosquitoes were once again out in force but the bug spray
kept them at bay somewhat. I walked to the water and back and turned up 15
species of warbler there plus some other good stuff among the 59 species there
including a Yellow billed Cuckoo, 4 Black billed Cuckoo and a Lincoln's
Sparrow. I then headed to Skinner to make the steep hike up to the summit
before the gates opened to cars. I ran across a total of four Worm eating
Warblers on the way up as well an an unusual Gray cheeked Thrush that I flushed
up off the road (also had singing Hermit, Wood and Swainson's Thrushes plus
robins so lots of luck with thrush species there this morning). Before I got to
the summit I texted Jacob to get more details on the location of the Cerulean
Warbler and got some good info which I misunderstood and after a lot of looking
turned up nothing. I then contacted Devin and Aidan and after a bit of back and
forth on the phone and a consultation with google maps, I found the female
building a nest. I was joined by Michele during a large portion of the time on
the hill looking for the Ceruleans and she finally got to see the bird. We got
some great looks of the female as she worked on constructing the nest. We also
heard a male calling further up the hill just below the summit which may or may
not have been the mate of the female building the nest. My intention of a
quick hike to the top and back in an hour or so turned into a two and a half
hour plus stay but it was worth it.
I originally wanted to try Silvio Conte NWR to try to find the Hooded Warbler again but with so much time spent at Skinner and my intention to hit Quabbin Park to get more warblers, I headed right to Quabbin after Skinner. Quabbin produced several more species of warblers and by the time the morning was over I stood at 24 species of warbler for the day. I spent the rest of the day around the yard and although there were some decent birds around I was unable to add any new warblers for the day so ended the day at 24 species.
I originally wanted to try Silvio Conte NWR to try to find the Hooded Warbler again but with so much time spent at Skinner and my intention to hit Quabbin Park to get more warblers, I headed right to Quabbin after Skinner. Quabbin produced several more species of warblers and by the time the morning was over I stood at 24 species of warbler for the day. I spent the rest of the day around the yard and although there were some decent birds around I was unable to add any new warblers for the day so ended the day at 24 species.
eBird lists from the day:
Mitch's Way
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23485748
Skinner SP
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23487272
Quabbin Park
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23488479
Home
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23498083
Scarlet Tanagers, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2015 |
Scarlet Tanagers, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2015 |
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2015 |
Northern Waterthrush, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2015 |
Black Vulture, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2015 |
Turkey Vultures, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2015 |
Sharp shinned Hawk with prey, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2015 |
Quabbin Park stops
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23468433
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23466648
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23468675
Great stuff, Larry. It’s a good year for Black-billed Cuckoo here in Worcester County, too. No Ceruleans, though! (Posted by Ed Kittredge)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed...hopefully you will get some Ceruleans soon!
ReplyDelete