Neighborhood Nestwatch banding

American Robin with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 5, 2017

Black capped Chickadee with egg, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 5, 2017

Black capped Chickadee in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 5, 2017

Gray Catbird with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 5, 2017

Black capped Chickadee and American Robin, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 5, 2017

Gray Catbird with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 5, 2017

Eastern Phoebe nestlings, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 5, 2017

Tree Swallow nestlings, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 5, 2017

American Robin nestlings, Home, Belchertown, MA, June 5, 2017

Snapping Turtle laying eggs, Home, Belchertown, June 5, 2017

Despite the less than ideal conditions we had a productive day banding in the yard during our third season of the Neighborhood Nestwatch program. A total of eight birds of four species were banded (three Gray Catbirds, three Black capped Chickadees, an American Robin and an Eastern Phoebe) plus a Tufted Titmouse that didn't get banded. Highlights included an American Robin caught early on with an obvious egg which was caught again later in the morning after she returned to the nest and laid the egg plus a Black capped Chickadee also carrying an egg. We also had a Snapping Turtle wandering around the yard which eventually found a place to lay its eggs. Many thanks to Arthur, Jess and the UMASS intern (I'm blanking on her name) that came by to do the banding.  A few of the nests in the yard were also checked and nestlings were in each nest (American Robin, Eastern Phoebe and Tree Swallow).
Full album on my Flickr page (link below).
https://www.flickr.com/…/54277284@…/albums/72157681661367934

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Quabbin Park, MA, June 4, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, June 2, 2017

I also want to update on the Golden winged Warbler I found at Quabbin Park last Wednesday.  The bird was seen for the entire day on Thursday in the same area so I stopped by there after work on Friday morning and the bird was still present along with a number of birders.  It was continuing to call nearly continuously but showing itself very sparingly.  Around 8:30 or so it flew up to the top of trees and then launched itself off to the south and did not return for the remaining hour and half while I was there.  I thought it might have moved to the power line cut off to the south but I didn't have a lot of time to go looking.  Apparently I was right as the bird was reported along the power lines on Saturday but has not been relocated there since.  It could still be in the same general area but the going there can be tough and the ticks are horrible in addition to the weather being cool, rainy and breezy.  A consolation prize on Friday was a Mourning Warbler in the same area which called quite a bit and showed briefly.  It appears this individual is from the Nova Scotia group according to the researcher up in New Hampshire who is studying the different vocal groups of Mourning Warblers.  The hybrid Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler also continues to be seen in the same area it has been for weeks.