September comes to an end

Yellow crowned Night Heron, Lake Warner, Hadley, MA, Sep 26, 2018

Baird's Sandpiper, Hatfield, MA, Sep 1, 2018

Yellow breasted Chat, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 2, 2018

Clay colored Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 19, 2018

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 23, 2018

Lincoln's Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 26, 2018

American Kestrels, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 26, 2018

Philadelphia Vireo, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 22, 2018

Dickcissel, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018

Brown Thrasher, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 14, 2018

American Golden Plover, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2018

Wilson's Snipe, Hadley, MA, Sep 18, 2018

Bobolink, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2018

Marsh Wren, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Sep 30, 2018

September has now come to an end and it was an epic month of birding around here despite a number of rainy days.  I blew away any previous September total for species in the county, ending the month with 164 species (average for the last five years was 155 species).  The biggest highlight of the month was a Yellow crowned Night Heron that I eventually caught up with after quite a bit of looking (and kayaking).  The heron added a new species for my county life list, bringing that total up to 295.  There were a number of other notable species for the month including a Baird's Sandpiper, Yellow breasted Chat, Pine Siskin, Clay colored Sparrow, several Dickcissel, Black crowned Night Heron, Whimbrel, White rumped Sandpiper and Marsh Wren.  Shorebirds were around in decent variety with fifteen species total for the month.  Warblers also gave a good showing with 27 species with several notables (more on warblers for the month at the follow link).  Sparrows have just started to show up in force and the numbers and variety should increase as October begins. With all of these species I found myself ahead of any other year in the county at this point so I think I will try a bit to see if I can break my big year record for Hampshire County (my current best is 238 in 2016).  I'm currently at 232 for the year with at least a few more relatively expected species to go and lots of potential for rarities as fall turns to winter.

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2018

Ruby cfrowned Kinglet, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2018

Bay breasted Warbler and banded House Wren, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 19, 2018

The house game cameras captured two new species at the water feature in September (Bay breasted Warbler and Ruby crowned Kinglet...species #43 and #44).  The camera near the brook captured my first ever Bobcat...in the middle of the day no less!