Sparrow numbers continue to build

Savannah Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2017

Field Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2017

White crowned Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2017

Black throated Green Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2017

Eastern Coyote, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2017

Sparrows have certainly arrived in numbers over the last several days but so far nothing rare in among the more expected species.  The weather has continued to feature above normal temperatures and mainly sunny conditions.  The weekend will feature some sun, some clouds and a chance of a few showers.  After the weekend the remnants of Tropical Storm Nate will be working through with some substantial rain possible.  Beyond the sparrows I have also continued to have some decent luck in finding Connecticut Warblers and Tennessee Warblers

Today I started off before dawn at Arcadia and enjoyed some great fall weather.  Although the overall sparrow numbers were down from just a couple days before the numbers were still impressive.  Full list with more photos here: Arcadia 10/6.  Besides the nearly sixty species of birds I had a close encounter with a very pale Eastern Coyote...one of the palest ones I have ever seen.  I also followed up on a report of a possible Western Kingbird at the UMASS orchard in Belchertown but no success.  The area has limited access and tons of spots for a kingbird to hide out in so the report could indeed be genuine.

Another neat sighting occurred while out walking with Wilson along the land trust trail in Belchertown.  We came across a color banded Black capped Chickadee that I was able to trace back to an individual banded in the Griffith's yard earlier this summer.  They had not seen the bird since the day it was banded.  Always cool to run across banded birds in random spots, especially when you can find out some of the history of the bird.

White throated Sparrow, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2017

Swamp Sparrow, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2017

Lincoln's Sparrow, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2017

Eastern Phoebe with dragonfly, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2017

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Quabbin Park, , MA, Oct 5, 2017

Yesterday I spent the morning at Quabbin Park and had just under fifty species with highlights including three American Woodcock, lots of Ruby crowned Kinglets and Eastern Towhees, three Tennessee Warblers and a late Rose breasted Grosbeak.  Full list: Quabbin Park 10/5.  After Quabbin Park I headed to nearby Herman Covey WMA where I had quite a few Eastern Phoebes as well as the expected sparrows...full list: Herman Covey WMA 10/5

Swamp Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 4, 2017

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 4, 2017

Song Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 4, 2017

Bobolink, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 4, 2017

Indigo Bunting, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 4, 2017

My Wednesday stop at Arcadia really produced some large sparrow numbers (among a number of other species).  It was the first morning this fall were sparrow numbers were into the hundreds.  Link to full list: Arcadia 10/4

White crowned Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2017

Savannah Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2017

House Wren, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2017

Vesper Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2017

Palm Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2017

Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2017

Eastern Wood Pewee, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2017

Cape May Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2017

Black throated Green Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 3, 2017

I started off bright and early at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River on Tuesday and continued my success with Connecticut Warblers this fall finding (and recording) an adult...unfortunately no luck with a photo.  Besides the CONW I had seven other species of warbler including at least three Tennessee, a late Cape May and three Northern Parula.  Other highlights included three American Woodcock, three Eastern Screech Owls calling, a late Eastern Wood Pewee, two Wood Thrushes predawn and a flyover Dickcissel. Full list Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River

As I still had a little time left in the morning I made a swing through the Honey Pot in Hadley...nothing unexpected but a nice selection of species as illustrated by the full list-Honey Pot