Two rarities continue in Belchertown...Common Gallinule and White eyed Vireo

 

White eyed Vireo, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

Common Gallinule, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

Great Blue Heron, rail trail, Amherst, MA, June 19, 2015

Turkey Vultures, Moody Bridge Rd, Hadley, MA, June 19, 2015

Savannah Sparrow, Moody Bridge Rd, Hadley, MA, June 19, 2015

The couple of rare species that have been around Belchertown for weeks continued through at least this morning with a White eyed Vireo (present since at least May 27 and first seen by me on May 30) and Common Gallinule (present since at least May 29th).  Before catching up with these two species I headed west and walked a small portion of the rail trail in Amherst to check out Hop Brook and also stopped along Moody Bridge Road and the Connecticut River in Hadley. The rail trail featured the typical species (full list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23969004 ) and the vulture roost along Moody Bridge Road had one Black Vulture as well as 41 Turkey Vultures. The Connecticut River is still a bit high so no luck finding any shorebirds or waders but I did manage to keep a trail open so I can access the area later in the season. 

Common Gallinule, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

Hooded Merganser and Canada Goose, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

Pileated Woodpecker, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

My first stop after coming back to Belchertown was over to Lake Wallace to look for the gallinule(s). It took me a bit to finally find one but when I did it showed quite well through the scope for several minutes. No vocalizations at all today from the gallinule. The hope is that the gallinule will attempt to breed here but no evidence as of yet. Lots of other good stuff around there and I have included the full list below.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23969369

White eyed Vireo, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

White eyed Vireo, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

Yellow Warbler, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

Field Sparrow, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

I then headed over to another area of Belchertown where I eventually caught back up with the continued White eyed Vireo. The male here continues to be hanging around the same general area but he has become much less vocal and I didn't hear anything from him for the first 45 minutes I was there. He then stayed quiet for another twenty minutes before he started again and I was finally able to get a look at him. Again the hope is that he will find a mate and breed here but so far I have only seen the singing male. Full list: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23969942

 

House Wren with bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 19, 2015

I also caught up with some of the banded birds in the yard but I only managed to get a photo of one...the House Wren (which was very busy collecting food to feed some very vocal young in the nest).