The second week in July

Belted Kingfisher, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 13, 2016

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 13, 2016

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 13, 2016

Black Bear, Land trust trail, Belchertown, MA, July 13, 2016

I only had a little time to get out this morning so I once again checked Lake Wallace and Winsor Dam. The count of Wood Ducks at Lake Wallace increased to 71 today (and there were probably more hidden from view) plus decent numbers of other expected waterfowl plus two Virginia Rails calling back and forth. The Lesser Scaup at Winsor Dam was a bit further away this morning but still there.  An early morning walk with Wilson turned up a Black Bear that crossed our path.

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, July 12, 2016

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, July 12, 2016

Spotted Sandpipers, Quabbin Park, MA, July 12, 2016

Wood Ducks, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 12, 2016

Great Blue Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 12, 2016

Belted Kingfishers, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 12, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, July 12, 2016

Yesterday I went out to a few spots in the morning in the local area including Winsor Dam, Lake Wallace and Quabbin Park.  Highlights at Lake Wallace included 69 Wood Ducks, a Virginia Rail plus the continued active Great Blue Heron nests.  Winsor Dam featured the continued Lesser Scaup which was in as close as I have ever seen it and was actively fishing...pushing toward two and a half months at the dam. The bird seems healthy but there is obviously something wrong with it as it is still here.  Highlights at Quabbin Park included at least nine Spotted Sandpipers along the shore in a small area opposite Gate 52.

Black Vultures, Hadley, MA, July 12, 2016

Late in the morning I had to head over to Hadley and along the way I stopped along Moody Bridge Road. No vultures at the roost (not surprising for midday on a sunny, warm day) but I did have two Black Vultures together soaring nearby. One of them was either carrying nest material or had some material stuck to its leg...interesting to see.

Spotted Sandpiper, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, July 7, 2016

Spotted Sandpiper, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, July 7, 2016

Common Loon with fish, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, July 7, 2016

Looking north toward Shaft 12, Quabbin Park, MA, July 7, 2016

White tailed Deer, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, July 7, 2016

Red Fox, Larch Hill Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, July 6, 2016

On Wednesday I spent some time checking once again for the Red headed Woodpecker (without any luck) and Thursday I stayed around the south Quabbin area.  Not too much out of the ordinary but lots of typical stuff.

Black Vultures, Hadley, MA, July 9, 2016

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, July 9, 2016

I also made some stops on my way to and from work this week with the following highlights:  Two Black Vultures along Moody Bridge Rd  and the Lesser Scaup on Saturday (and on Sunday); 3 Killdeer, a Spotted Sandpiper and two Least Sandpipers at the drained Paradise Pond at Smith College on Sunday.

American Robin with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, July 12, 2016

American Robins, Home, Belchertown, MA, July 7, 2016

Blue Jays, Home, Belchertown, MA, July 7, 2016

I continue to catch more birds on the motion camera at home including another banded American Robin which I have not seen any sign of since being banded in early June.


The continued southerly winds will continue to bring warm temperatures and hopefully some birds from more southern locations including herons and egrets as well as the chance of something even more unusual like Black bellied Whistling Duck or Purple Gallinule.