Big influx of migrants for the end of April

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 28, 2017

White throated Sparrow, Home, Belchetown, MA, Apr 28, 2017

Yellow rumped Warbler, Home, Belchetown, MA, Apr 28, 2017

Tree Swallow, Covey WMA, Belchetown, MA, Apr 28, 2017

Osprey with fish, Covey WMA, Belchetown, MA, Apr 28, 2017

Rose breasted Grosbeak with nesting material, UMASS Amherst, MA, Apr 29, 2017

Red eyed Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 29, 2017

Tufted Titmouse with nesting material, rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 29, 2017

The weather had been cloudy, rainy and foggy the last several days which had put a damper on any major migration movement but that finally came to an end on Friday when another front moved through early in the morning leading to sunny skies, southerly winds and warm temperatures (near 80).  The improvement of conditions resulted in a large influx of migrants over the last couple days.  I hit lots of spots both days turning up just over 80 species yesterday with eleven species of warblers and over 90 species today with seventeen species of warblers.  I added 22 new species for the year in just two days, which speaks to the volume of migrants moving through now.  Among the new species Warbling and Red eyed Vireo (early), Great crested and Least Flycatchers, Ruby throated Hummingbird (captured on one of my motion cameras...see below), Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Wood Thrush plus ten new species of warblers.  This has certainly been one of the bigger pushes as far as variety in late April that I have seen around here.

American Robin with leg bands, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 27, 2017

Close up of band on American Robin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 27, 2017

Field Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 27, 2017

Despite the less than ideal conditions on Thursday some migrants did come in including a few more warblers. I found eight species of warblers Thursday morning between Lake Wallace and Quabbin Park including my first Ovenbird.  I hit a variety of spots on Thursday from the Quabbin area over to Hadley.

American Robin with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 26, 2017

Chipping Sparrows, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 24, 2017

American Robin with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 24, 2017

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 23, 2017

Yellow rumped Warblers, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 28, 2017

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 28, 2017

Mink, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 28, 2017

Raccoon, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 21, 2017

More and more birds continue to show up in the yard including more banded birds including two American Robins and two Black capped Chickadees.  The motion cameras have captured a number of species in the yard including a number of mammals.  I did manage to add a new species for the yard yesterday when I had a Fish Crow fly over heading northeast.  The crow became species #163 for the yard.