Prescott Peninsula surveys begin

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Gate 12, Pelham, MA, May 23, 2015

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Gate 12, Pelham, MA, May 23, 2015

Mourning Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, MA, May 23, 2015

Mourning Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, MA, May 23, 2015

Magnolia Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, MA, May 23, 2015

Red eyed Vireo, Prescott Peninsula, MA, May 23, 2015

Common Yellowthroat, Prescott Peninsula, MA, May 23, 2015

Moose, Prescott Peninsula, MA, May 23, 2015

Porcupine, Prescott Peninsula, MA, May 23, 2015

I finally made it up to Prescott Peninsula on this very cool morning today (36 degrees) to begin my field surveys and check the route of my upcoming whip poor will survey there.  I ran across two Moose within just a few minutes of going through the gates including a young male that ran down the road ahead of my car.  Mainly resident birds on territory but still a few migrants around including a very cooperative Mourning Warbler, a Blackpoll Warbler and a Wilson's Warbler among the twenty species of warblers.  I also had a Merlin whip by just over the trees on the lower end of the peninsula...perhaps a breeder?  No luck in finding any Red Crossbills during my time on the peninsula today but hopefully I will run across some later on future trips there.  Full list (with lots of photos) below:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23594007

I also made a brief stop at Gate 12 but ran out of time to explore the area in any detail but did manage to find a very photogenic Chestnut sided Warbler.

Eastern Cottontail bunny, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 23, 2015

The rest of the day I spent at home doing yard work and was joined once again by the very tame Eastern Cottontail bunny that has taken up residence and helped me in cutting the grass.