Mid July update

Wild Turkeys poults, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 8, 2022

Marsh Wren, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Jul 10, 2022

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 11, 2022

Belted Kingfisher, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 11, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jul 12, 2022

Double crested Cormorant, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jul 13, 2022

Sora, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2022

Virginia Rail, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2022

Bullfrog eating another bullfrog, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

Green Heron watching a Peregrine Falcon fly past, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

Peregrine Falcon with kill, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

House Wren nestlings, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

July is now almost half over and our pleasant weather has continued with no big heat waves or prolonged humidity.  I have continued to try to maximize my species in Hampshire County for a month that is typically a bit slow for birds.  I have so far found 136 species for the month, which is my highest total at this point in the month (and above all but three previous July's totals with half of the month still left).  I have visited a variety of areas but have really concentrated on checking out the various breeding species at Lake Wallace (much more on that in an upcoming post).  I have added another seven species for the second week of the month including the continued Least Bittern in Hatfield.  Lots of really cool sightings that did not add new species including watching several Marsh Wrens in Hatfield, seeing loads of species that have successfully bred for the season, a Peregrine Falcon make a kill and a Bullfrog eating another Bullfrog.