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.