The middle of April

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Apr 15, 2022

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Apr 15, 2022

Blue winged Teal, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Apr 15, 2022

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Apr 15, 2022

Common Grackle with nest material, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 15, 2022

Wilson, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Apr 13, 2022

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 11, 2022

Blue Jay, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 10, 2022

Rusty Blackbird, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 10, 2022

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 9, 2022

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 9, 2022

The middle of April has arrived and with it a notable uptick in early season migrants with several new arrivals the last few days thanks to southerly winds and warmer than average temperatures.  Warblers have increased with ever increasing numbers of the typical early migrants (more on warblers for the middle of the month at the following link).  The weather the last few days have been good for migrants with some southerly winds and above normal temps (highs into the 70').  Among the notable species in the last week or so include a flyover Sandhill Crane in Hadley and my first Broad winged Hawk, Brown Thrasher, Blue gray Gnatcatcher and Blue headed Vireo for the year in the county.  I'm sure a lot more stuff will arrive in the very near future.

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 9, 2022

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 9, 2022

Black capped Chickadees with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 9, 2022

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands and Tufted Titmouse, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 11, 2022

Black capped Chickadees with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 11, 2022

I continue to get multiple banded Black capped Chickadees coming into the feeders with some coming into the recently opened water feature.  So far the water feature has captured a half a dozen species but nothing unexpected yet.

Egg in duck box #1

Hooded Merganser eggs in duck box #2

Eggs in duck box #3, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 15, 2022

I have also been keeping a close watch on the three duck boxes at home and a check today revealed a fresh egg in box #1, a Hooded Merganser sitting on eggs in box #2 and a large number of eggs continuing in box #3.