Rainiest July on record comes to an end

Great Egrets, Hadley, MA, Jul 31, 2021

Great Egrets, Hadley, MA, Jul 31, 2021

A very rainy July has now come to an end on a thankfully sunny note.  We blew away the old record for the wettest July in the area with a total of 12.50+ inches of rain for the month this year!  Despite the rain and less time spent outside looking for birds I still hit my second highest total species for a July in Hampshire County with a total of 139 species (falling short of my best July of 143 species in 2018).  I spent the last morning of the month hitting a few spots after work mainly looking for waders and shorebirds.  Always tough to find shorebirds this time of year as there is little in the way of accessible habitat.  The best I could find were a few Killdeer and a single Solitary Sandpiper.  I had a little better luck with waders with a decent gathering of a dozen Great Egrets in a small farm puddle in Hadley.  The area may have held other smaller waders but the viewing conditions made seeing something smaller impossible.  Also added multiple Great Blue Herons and Green Herons.

There is an ongoing influx of some southern birds with the the most notable species being Roseate Spoonbill.  The last few weeks have seen multiple individuals show up into the mid Atlantic and New York and just in the last day or so individuals have been recorded in Connecticut and New Hampshire.  I predict a sighting somewhere in Massachusetts within the next few days (possibly even somewhere in western Mass).  Other species moving north include Wood Stork and Black bellied Whistling Duck (plus other more expected dispersing waders).

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 30, 2021

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 30, 2021

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands and lots of other chickadees, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 28, 2021

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 28, 2021

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands and Tufted Titmouse, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 30, 2021

The camera on the water feature has been acting up a bit has still managed to capture a number of banded birds from both banding visits this year.

Another successful morning of banding in the yard

Common Yellowthroat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadee open wing, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadee getting leg bands Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

House Wren in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Gray Catbird in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadee getting leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadees and Red eyed Vireo in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Red eyed Vireo in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Red eyed Vireo, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

Black capped Chickadee in net, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2021

This morning marked the second visit from Sebastian as he came by to band three target birds in the yard as part of his PhD project (the three target species being House Wrens, Black capped Chickadees and Northern Cardinals).  The first day of banding occurred back on June 8th and we caught quite a few target birds with three House Wrens and nine Black capped Chickadees caught and banded as well as quite a few non target birds caught and released...we missed on Northern Cardinals but they were very close to the nets but just did not get caught.  Sebastian arrived a little before 7am and we quickly got the nets set up.  The conditions looked good with overcast conditions, light breezes and temperatures in the 60's to start with rain not forecast until later in the day (it stayed dry almost the entire time with nothing more than a few sprinkles.  The last several yards had apparently been quiet for them and I was certainly concerned we would not get a lot but I had faith as I have had multiple examples of the target species around the yard recently.  Given the date of late July most birds are done nesting and are not nearly as territorial as they are in spring and early summer and therefore less likely to be attracted to recorded calls and songs.  The first species we got for the morning was a Common Yellowthroat which was only the third warbler ever caught at the house with both previous individuals being Pine Warblers (one in June this year and the other in 2019).  Not too long after we caught a Tufted Titmouse as well as a single Black capped Chickadee and then a House Wren (unfortunately the House Wren managed to escape before the color bands got attached but the federal aluminum band did make it on him).  It was looking like it might end up being a slow but at least somewhat productive day and then it really picked up with a check of the nets along the Jabish Brook producing another Black capped Chickadee, a Song Sparrow and three Gray Catbirds.  It then got really busy with the net along the brook producing an impressive seven Black capped Chickadees and three Red eyed Vireo (this was the first time a net at the house produced a double digit count of species in a single net run).  As the birds were being extricated out of the net I took a quick look at another net on the other side of the yard and this one had four more Black capped Chickadees in it!  The next hour or so was very active with removing birds from the nets and then banding them (with some of the birds really tangled up badly in the nets).  Our fear of the day being a slow one was thankfully proven wrong.  Although we missed on Northern Cardinal again and the single House Wren escaped before getting color bands we did get to band 13 Black capped Chickadees.  This now makes for four banded House Wrens and 21 Black capped Chickadees banded as part of his project (plus at least a couple more banded chickadees continuing from earlier banding days as part of the Neighborhood Nestwatch program).  We first started banding birds in the yard as part of Neighborhood Nestwatch in 2015 and then continued in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.  Last year got cancelled due to both the pandemic and lack of funding.  Unfortunately the lack of funding for the Neighborhood Nestwatch continued this year and the project was stopped.  Thankfully Sebastian needed a number of yards to conduct his research and banding was on again for this year.  

Herons and egrets in the fog

Great Egret, Comins Rd, Hadley, MA, Jul 26, 2021

Great Egret, Comins Rd, Hadley, MA, Jul 26, 2021

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 26, 2021

Great Blue Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 26, 2021

Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 26, 2021

This morning dawned very fog thanks to some overnight showers.  The fog made viewing difficult to say the least.  I decided to try my luck in tracking down dispersing waders with the hope of finding something unusual (a long shot would be a Roseate Spoonbill but not impossible given a large northern incursion of the species over the last few weeks...I'm fairly certain one will show up in the state this year...which would be a first state record).  I started my morning at Lake Wallace where I had four each of Great Blue Heron and Green Heron.  I then moved on to Hadley and Amherst where the highlight was a Great Egret in a flooded field on Comins Road.  Initially I could barely see the egret through the fog but eventually it lifted enough to get some photos.  The next several weeks will feature more and more waders dispersing and hopefully something unusual will show up.

Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jul 23, 2021

Our record setting July for rain has continued and we have already had 12+ inches of rain with more on the way if the forecast works out to be correct.  The rivers and streams in the area are high with some flooding in areas.  A very unusual July for sure!  I can only imagine the devastation if we get a tropical system moving through in the near future.

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 23, 2021

House Wren with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2021

The camera at the water feature has captured a number of birds in the last couple weeks including a couple banded in the yard in early June as part of a project of a PhD candidate.  

Trip to the Finger Lakes

Common Yellowthroat, Burdett, NY, Jul 18, 2021

Blue winged Warbler, Burdett, NY, Jul 18, 2021

We just returned home from a short trip out to the Finger Lakes region of New York. We drove out there on Sunday morning and returned home on Wednesday afternoon. It was not a birding trip but I did get out a little each morning with the main focus being on finding warblers I have not yet had in New York. I had a total of eight new target species I had a chance of finding and found seven of them (only missed Hooded Warbler but none had been seen lately in any of the areas I visited so not too surprised on that miss). We arrived at our lodging in Burdett along the southern end of Seneca Lake in the middle of the afternoon after a long, rainy trip out. By late in the afternoon the sun was actually starting to poke through and with the exception of a quick shower it stayed relatively dry. I walked around a bit near the house we rented and turned up a few species and my list there turned out to be a milestone list in eBird for me with my 35,000th complete list (it was pointed out to me by a friend that the total ranks me as 15th in the world for submitted lists…who would have thought?).  I was happy to have the list include a few warbler species.

Song Sparrow, Potomac Road, Finger Lakes NF, Hector, NY, Jul 19, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, Potomac Road, Finger Lakes NF, Hector, NY, Jul 19, 2021

Ovenbird, Potomac Road, Finger Lakes NF, Hector, NY, Jul 19, 2021

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Potomac Road, Finger Lakes NF, Hector, NY, Jul 19, 2021

Red eyed Vireo, Potomac Road, Finger Lakes NF, Hector, NY, Jul 19, 2021

On Monday morning I headed out early to the nearby Finger Lakes National Forest with my original plan to walk the Backbone Trail but when I arrived the area was way too muddy with the footwear I had so I ditched that plan and headed a bit further north to try my luck along the Interloken Trail.  Unfortunately this trail also turned out to be too muddy to continue down for very long but I did manage to track down a few Ovenbirds. With the trails all muddy due to all the recent rains I decided to head to the gravel covered Potomac Road which turned out to be much easier to traverse. I walked for almost a mile along the road and added a few more target species for the trip. I was actually surprised at the amount of song from a number of species. Despite not having great trail conditions due to mud I still managed to track down three of my target warbler species for the trip in the morning in the Finger Lakes National Forest including Ovenbird, Pine Warbler and Northern Waterthrush.  I also added two other new species in addition to the warblers to my New York list with Veery and Red breasted Nuthatch.   After my productive stop in the national forest, we headed out for a several hour boat tour on Cayuga Lake visiting a few more wineries but turning up no new birds for the trip.  The day turned out to be the sunniest day of the trip with no rain at all for the entire day.

Northern Waterthrush, Armitage Rd, Galen, NY, Jul 20, 2021

Cerulean Warbler, Armitage Rd, Galen, NY, Jul 20, 2021

Great Blue Heron, Armitage Rd, Galen, NY, Jul 20, 2021

Incoming thunderstorm, Burdett, NY, Jul 20, 2021

The morning of the 20th began with an early departure before dawn to make the drive up to the area of Montezuma NWR with my main target being Prothonotary Warbler and hopefully Cerulean Warbler.  Thanks to some assistance from Tim and Sean regarding the location to try, I arrived at a known spot for the above mentioned species around 5:40 and almost immediately had at least two Cerulean Warblers singing. I then spent the next couple hours walking back and forth between the two bridges along Armitage Road. I heard a partial song from a Prothonotary Warbler a few times but I was unable to chase it down (recent rains had flooded the entire area off the road so I had to be happy with heard only). I eventually turned up at least four Cerulean Warblers along the road.  I originally planned to make a stop within Montezuma NWR in the hopes of seeing a Roseate Spoonbill that showed up about a week before I arrived in the area but I ran out of time....just spent too much time trying to get looks at the Prothonotary Warbler.  I headed back south around eight to get back to our lodging around nine and continue the remainder of the day visiting wineries plus making a few mile walk at Keuka Lake Outlet Trail late morning. The day was very hazy due to smoke from wildfires in the west and the day ended with a few strong storms rolling through. 

White tailed Deer with fawn, Texas Hollow State Forest, Odessa, NY, Jul 21, 2021

Red Efts, Texas Hollow State Forest, Odessa, NY, Jul 21, 2021

The final day of our trip dawn overcast and almost a little cool with occasional drizzle.  Even with less than ideal conditions I headed southeast to the nearby Texas Hollow State Forest and walked mainly along the road as the trails were a bit too overgrown and wet. It was fairly active with multiple new species for the trip including a number of birds still singing. There were small family groups of several species with young being fed by adults as well as lone juveniles in small mixed flocks. I added a few more state birds there including Winter Wren, Blackburnian Warbler and Black throated Blue Warbler.  There were a number of non bird sightings including multiple White tailed Deer and quite a few Red Efts.  After my walk I headed back to pack up for the return home.  Although weather continued to feature off and on light showers we decided to go north for a brief walk along the Seneca Trail at Montezuma NWR nonetheless. We arrived there and the rain had stopped and we walked about a mile before starting the five hour drive home. If I had more time I would have made the drive around the wildlife drive but just could not make it work this time. 

Overall for the trip I had 101 species with a dozen of those new for me in New York bringing my state total there to 156.  As mentioned above my main focus was warblers on the trip and more detailed information on them can be found at the following: warblers in the Finger Lakes

Middle of a rainy July

Scarlet Tanager, Williamsburg, MA, Jul 15, 2021

Scarlet Tanagers, Williamsburg, MA, Jul 15, 2021

Scarlet Tanager, Williamsburg, MA, Jul 15, 2021

American Redstart, Williamsburg, MA, Jul 15, 2021

Louisiana Waterthrush, Williamsburg, MA, Jul 15, 2021

Red Admiral, Williamsburg, MA, Jul 15, 2021

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jul 14, 2021

Mammatus clouds, Northampton, MA, Jul 14, 2021

July is now half over and it has been extremely wet with rain on most days.  We have had almost nine inches of rain so far with more rain in the forecast.  Even if no more rain occurred for the month we would still be at the fourth wettest July on record here.  Despite the less than ideal conditions I have still found a total of 132 species for the month in Hampshire County, which is the highest total I have ever had for the half way point of July.  Today was one of the only sunny days we have had lately and I spent a few hours after work in Williamsburg tracking down local breeders.  Among the highlights were three species of wren, ten species of warblers (more on warblers for July at the following link) and a Scarlet Tanager adult male feeding a freshly fledged juvenile.  On my way to work yesterday I made brief stops to check on a few continued rarities and found at least one Purple Martin still present at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River as well as a pair of Blue Grosbeaks continuing to bring food to a nest at the Honey Pot.

House Wren with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2021

Raccoon, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 12, 2021

The cameras at home are a bit more quiet now but I have still been capturing some activity.

More shorebirds and successfully nesting Blue Grosbeaks

Lesser Yellowlegs, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 10, 2021

Killdeer, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 10, 2021

Horned Lark, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 10, 2021

Least Sandpipers, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 11, 2021

Horned Lark, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 11, 2021

The phalarope puddle in the East Meadows has continued to produce shorebirds the last couple mornings including a Lesser Yellowlegs yesterday and Least Sandpipers on both mornings.  I also had a Greater Yellowlegs flyover the area of the puddle but it never came into land.  So far the month has produced seven species of shorebird in the area of the puddle.  It will be interesting to see what other species show up over the next few months (assuming the puddle persists which seems likely in the short term given our ongoing rainy weather).  After hearing Horned Larks flying over the area of the meadows the last few weeks I finally got to see some in a freshly plowed field including some recently fledged juveniles over the last two days.

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jul 10, 2021

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jul 10, 2021

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jul 10, 2021

Approaching shower, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jul 10, 2021

After many trips to the Honey Pot area of Hadley checking on the Blue Grosbeaks that have been seen and heard there intermittently since May I finally found the nest.  Both adults were actively bringing food into the nest.  The nest was located in a short oak tree off the dike area and was very well camouflaged and tough to seen.  I hope the human activity in the area does not impact the success of the nest.  Other nesting species that I was able to follow up on including a Northern Mockingbird sitting on a nest and Brown Thrashers feeding large nestlings (video of the Brown Thrashers at the following link)

Virginia Rail, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 11, 2021

Virginia Rail, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 11, 2021

After my time in the East Meadows this morning I headed toward home with a brief stop off at Lake Wallace where the highlights included at least two Virginia Rails along the edge of the marsh.