WESTERN TANAGER in Amherst!

Western Tanager, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2020

Western Tanager, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2020

Western Tanager, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2020

Western Tanager, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2020

Western Tanager, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2020

Western Tanager, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2020

After catching up with a Glossy Ibis (plus some Blue winged Teal) late in the morning yesterday in Amherst I figured the unusual species were done for day but I was wrong!  I was just about ready to start cooking dinner in the early evening on Saturday when I got a call from Scott telling me about a Western Tanager coming into some feeders at a private residence in a suburban neighborhood in Amherst.  I quickly got the specifics on the location and I was out the door.  The bird had been seen on and off for the afternoon but was not being seen when I arrived.  The homeowner stated it has been disappearing for awhile but would then return to feed.  After waiting for about twenty minutes I spotted it as it came in high in the trees where it appeared to be gleaning insects in some freshly leafing out branches.  After feeding up high for a few minutes it dropped in briefly to the feeders before disappearing for a few minutes.  It then reappeared up high in the trees once again before it dropped in to visit the feeders.  A really impressive bird to see and not what I expected to see here in mid April.  In looking up any records for the species in Hampshire County I could only find a single record in eBird (from a Bird Observer submission which is always suspect as records there are frequently wrong) plus a single record from a well known birders memory 'back in the 60's'.  This is certainly the first well documented record.  The species does show up in the state from time to time but almost always on the coast and more typically in fall so a spring record inland is a very rare occurrence.  Obviously the species was a new one for me in Hampshire County, bringing my county total up to 297.  Although I did not go back today it was seen by other birders through at least midday (I thought it would have left with the south winds and warmer temperatures but I was happy to be wrong).  More photos at my flickr album.

Northern Flickers, rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 19, 2020

American Robin, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Apr 19, 2020

White tailed Deer, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Apr 19, 2020

Killdeer, Slobody Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Apr 19, 2020

Canada Goose with first goslings of the season, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2020

 Hermit Thrush, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2020

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2020

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2020

Winsor Dam Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 19, 2020

With a sunny day and temperatures forecast to reach near 60 and southerly winds I headed out a first light today to cover a variety of locations looking for early migrants.  I headed over to Quabbin Park  and thankfully found the location back open to the public after being needlessly closed due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic.  I hoped for an early Eastern Whip Poor Will but no luck but I did find my first of the season Red breasted Merganser at Winsor Dam.  I then headed over to the rail trail in Amherst (plus the nearby Slobody Farm Conservation Area).  Nothing too unusual but certainly an influx of migrants such as Swamp Sparrows and Northern Flickers (among others).  I next headed to UMASS briefly before making my way back toward home with a stop at Lake Wallace which held my first fledgling Canada Geese of the season as well as continued numbers of Palm Warblers among the 42 species present.