May wrap up

Cattle Egret, Hadley, MA, May 7, 2018

Yellow billed Cuckoo, Quabbin Park, MA, May 29, 2018

Baltimore Oriole, Quabbin Park, MA, May 29, 2018

Hooded Mergansers, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, May 29, 2018

Scarlet Tanager, Quabbin Park, MA, May 23, 2018

Black billed Cuckoos mating, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Olive sided Flycatcher, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2018

Ruby throated Hummingbird building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2018

Bay breasted Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 21 2018

Golden winged x Blue winged Warbler hybrid, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2018

Mourning Warbler (eastern vocal group), Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Cerulean Warbler building nest, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 15, 2018

May has now come to an end and it was once again a great month for migration with a total of 175 species in Hampshire County over the course of the month (a tie with 2014 for my highest May total).  Among the species seen were a number of highlights including a number of unusual waterfowl species at Winsor Dam May 12 during bird-a-thon, a Red throated Loon (among dozens of Common Loons) at Winsor Dam on May 22, a couple Cattle Egrets in Hadley, multiple Soras, a few unusual shorebirds including a Dunlin in Hadley, decent numbers of both species of cuckoo (taking advantage of yet another terrible season for Gypsy Moth caterpillars), a White eyed Vireo in Amherst, a total of 30 species of warblers (highlights including a Brewster's, another hybrid, an Orange crowned Warbler, three Hooded Warblers, at least 9 Mourning Warblers and above normal numbers of Tennessee, Cape May and Bay breasted Warblers) and a Grasshopper Sparrow in Northampton.  A more detailed review of warblers can be found at the following link: Warblers spring 2018.  I also completed my two Eastern Whip Poor Will surveys.  There are still some late season migrants moving through but for the most part the birds around are now breeders.