The end of June

Worm eating Warbler, Mt Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 4, 2022

Farm fields during my breeding bird survey route, Monson, MA, Jun 5, 2022

Canada Warbler, Pelham, MA, Jun 5, 2022

Red headed Woodpecker, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 6, 2022

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jun 11, 2022

Pine Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, Jun 12, 2022

Wild Turkey with young, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 13, 2022

Porcupine, Mt. Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 14, 2022

Virginia Rail young, Fitzgerald Lake, Northampton, MA, Jun 17, 2022

Peregrine Falcon, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2022

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 24, 2022

Great Horned Owl juvenile, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 26, 2022

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 29, 2022

June is now almost over and with it comes the beginning of the slow season for birding here with few migrants around and a noticeable reduction of song.  There are certainly birds still to see as loads of fledglings are out and about and many species get down to their second or third brood for the season.  Thankfully the last month has had little in the way of high heat and humidity and has overall been comfortable with little rain.  Without too much effort I ended up with my second highest species total for June ever in Hampshire County with 140 species (a few off my record setting June of last year when I had 145species).  I spent a lot of the month conducting a variety of bird surveys during my time off.  Rarities for the month included Least Bittern and Marsh Wrens in Hatfield, a continued Red headed Woodpecker in Quabbin Park, a few Red Crossbills and the return of Blue Grosbeaks in Hadley for the fourth consecutive year.