The fourth week of April update

American Robin, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 28, 2023

Ovenbird, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Apr 28, 2023

Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Apr 28, 2023

We have been stuck in a pattern the last several days of cooler than normal temperatures and occasional rain which has slowed down migration quite a bit.  Today was a rare day when the sun shined a bit (at least after the morning fog burned off) and actually got into the mid 60's after a cool start in the 30's.  I made a few stops on the east side of the river for the morning and found a few new species for the year here including Eastern Kingbird, Yellow throated Vireo, Ovenbird and Northern Parula.  It was the first day of the spring where I broke into double digits for warbler species with a total of ten (more on warblers for the day at the following link).

Eastern Towhee, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 27, 2023

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 27, 2023

Wild Turkey, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 27, 2023

Merlin, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 27, 2023

Yesterday I stayed in the southern Quabbin area with a few visits to Winsor Dam and a longer stay within Quabbin Park.  The dam featured nine species of waterfowl including a pair of White winged Scoters plus a breeding plumage Bonaparte's Gull.  Quabbin Park highlights included a pair of Merlin that copulated and could very well breed in the area and decent numbers of Yellow bellied Sapsuckers, Purple Finches, Chipping Sparrows, Eastern Towhee and Black and White Warblers among 46 species present.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 26, 2023

Eastern Bluebird, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 26, 2023

Wilson watching a train go by, Belchertown, MA, Apr 26, 2023

After work on Wednesday I made a few stops in Hadley before heading to the rail trail.  My stops in Hadley turned up my first Warbling Vireo and Rose breasted Grosbeak and other expected species with some building nests.  The rail trail highlight by far was a Least Bittern I had in flight at one the marshes and then dropping out of view.  I spent quite a bit of time trying to relocate it without any luck.  Other notables that morning included lots of Purple Finches at multiple stops.

Double crested Cormorants, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 24, 2023

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 24, 2023

Chipping Sparrow, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 22, 2023

Blue winged Teal, Amherst, MA, Apr 24, 2023

Following some very heavy rain during Sunday while I was working, I headed over to Hadley to check a few fields to see if the rain grounded any interesting birds.  Most fields were devoid of birds with the most productive spot being a flooding field in Amherst that held three species of shorebirds as well as some waterfowl, including a pair of Blue winged Teal among a larger group of Green winged Teal.  I also made a stop at Winsor Dam where I had a frustratingly distant dark hooded gull that I could just not see well enough to ID...sometimes stuff just gets by without a definitive ID.  The cool weather also produced a good show of swallows at the dam with over a hundred individuals of four species (most being Tree Swallows) 

More new arrivals today including some early warblers

 

Yellow Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2023

Black and White Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2023

American Robin with nest material, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 21, 2023

Black throated Green Warbler, Piper Farm Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Apr 21, 2023

I spent the morning in a fruitless search for a Yellow throated Warbler in Hampshire County after two showed up elsewhere in western mass yesterday.  All was not lost as I had a great morning out with an obvious influx of a number of species after some decent migration conditions overnight.  I had a record early date for Yellow Warbler and tied my early date for Black throated Green Warbler (more on warblers for the day at the following link).  I also added my first Black and White Warbler and Eastern Whip Poor Will for the year in the county and brought my total for the year in the county to 150 (tied for highest year to date total ever) and to 124 for the month (my second highest total to this point in April behind only 2019 when I had 125).  Thanks to eBird for making all this data easily accessible.  I will be out again tomorrow looking and listening for a Yellow throated Warbler.

House Wren with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 21, 2023

House Wren with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 21, 2023

House Wren with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 21, 2023

Once I got home there were new birds around the yard today including my first returning House Wrens of the year with at least one a banded bird (banded in June 2021).  He lost one of his bands during his travels but two of the three bands remain.  Always amazing to see a bird making it back to the same exact spot after another migration cycle.  The bird was checking out a natural cavity in the yard and perhaps will use it to nest in?  I also had my second record ever for Field Sparrow in the yard with a singing bird around during the afternoon.

Hooded Merganser eggs in duck box #1, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 20, 2023

I finally confirmed the species nesting in duck box #1 when I checked it yesterday and found a Hooded Merganser in the box.  All three boxes are now active with a Hooded Merganser sitting on eggs in each box.  I set up the camera on the base of the nest box pole yesterday in the hopes of capturing the young leaving the nest.  We shall see if it works out this year.

YELLOW THROATED WARBLER in Sunderland!

Yellow throated Warbler, Mt Toby State Forest, Sunderland, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Yellow throated Warbler, Mt Toby State Forest, Sunderland, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Yellow throated Warbler, Mt Toby State Forest, Sunderland, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Late yesterday I saw a report of a Yellow throated Warbler that was seen in Sunderland by Mason W. and he was able to get some photos.  I typically would not venture out of Hampshire County for a bird but for a very rare warbler I decided to make an exception.  After a brief stop at Winsor Dam I started the drive up to Mt. Toby State Forest in Sunderland to try my luck in finding the bird.  Relocating rare warblers can be a bit frustrating and many times the bird is not relocated.  I hoped that the less than optimal migration conditions overnight would keep the bird in the area.  I arrived and started walking the road and within a short time I heard an odd song that I was almost certain was the target and after a bit of looking I had some distant looks in bad light.  The bird was very active and singing fairly often (a bit of an odd song compared to other Yellow throated Warblers I have heard but the species is quite variable in its song).  I got some recordings and then spent some time trying to get better looks and some photos.  I eventually had the bird work down lower as I was in an elevated spot and I got some decent photos.  After its brief decent down lower it went back up to the upper parts of the trees and continued to sing even as I was leaving.  Worth the trip out of the county to see the bird for sure.  I have only had one other sighting of the species in the state and that was a bird coming to a feeder in Worcester that I saw on Christmas Eve 2020 during the height of the pandemic when I could not travel out of the country in the winter.  Although a bit more of a common vagrant on the coast inland records of Yellow throated Warblers are very sparse with only a handful of records in western mass ever recorded, totally perhaps a dozen ever.  For more details on the sighting, the background of the species in western mass and even more photos go to the following link: Yellow throated Warbler.  If one does go up to Sunderland to try for the bird please do not use playback as there is always the chance the male there could attract a mate and try to breed in the area.  To see the bird you just need a little patience and eventually you will be rewarded with looks (assuming it stick around).

Common Grackle, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' and Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Black capped Chickadee excavating nest hole, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Chipping Sparrow, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 20, 2023

After seeing the Yellow throated Warbler I hit a few other spots on my way back home including the rail trail in Amherst and Lake Wallace.  While I was out on the rail trail I saw that an experienced birder had another sighting of a Yellow throated Warbler down at Stebbins in southern Hampden County.  I certainly kept an eye and ear out for another one during my above mentioned stops as well as others during the morning but no luck.  Having two Yellow throated Warblers in the valley at the same time is without precedent and I'm certain there are others out there just waiting to be found.  I would encourage everyone to get out over the next couple days (at least) to look and listen for a Yellow throated Warbler...especially in Hampshire County!  I would be forever in ones debt if they find one in the county and I get to see it.

Best spring day for Broad winged Hawks I have ever had

 

Broad winged Hawk, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 18, 2023

Broad winged Hawk, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 18, 2023

Broad winged Hawk, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 18, 2023

Broad winged Hawk, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 18, 2023

Broad winged Hawks, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 18, 2023

Bald Eagle, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 18, 2023

When I headed out to do a little birding after work I didn't expect or intend to do a hawk watch that produced my highest total for Broad winged Hawks in the spring I have ever had in both Hampshire County and the entire state.  I arrived at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River with mainly overcast and cool conditions with a decent westerly breeze blowing.  I was initially just going to scan a few water bodies for any waders (or other stuff) that might be around before going elsewhere to try for some early season warblers.  However almost as soon as I arrived I noticed a couple small kettles of Broad winged Hawks lifting off from nearby roosting locations.  As I continued to see more and more Broad winged Hawks and other raptors starting to move I decided to relocate myself to a spot that gave me a better view of the sky and I started counting.  The birds steadily increased and kettles both small and large started to form with birds moving both low and high working steadily northeast.  Although the main show was Broad winged Hawks for sure, other raptors were also moving with a total of ten species including a large number of Bald Eagles for the date.  Other birds were also moving northeast from Double crested Cormorants to Great Blue Herons to Red winged Blackbirds and American Goldfinches.  I ended up spending over two hours watching the show and by the end I had seen at least 1022 Broad winged Hawks and I missed many as it was tough to keep track of birds moving all around at all different heights.  The biggest movement was within the first hour and a half or so.  As mentioned above this total scattered my previous best totals for the spring in both the county (my previous best spring total being 303 on April 25, 2006) and the state (previous best was 669 on April 23, 2007 on Mount Tom in Holyoke).  It was really a great morning with so many raptors plus some other cool stuff around.  I captured a few videos of the spectacle and they can be found at the following links (video #1 and video #2).  

A warm second week of April

Hooded Merganser, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Beaver, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Great Egret, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Common Grackle, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 14, 2023

We have enjoyed some well above average temperatures for the second week of April overall with two days in the upper 80's to 90 to end the week (breaking a record both yesterday and today).  The warm temps came in thanks to some southwest and west winds on a few of those days.  Although my cold continued to linger throughout the week the warmer temperatures with ample sun certainly helped and I was back to feeling good the last couple days.  Last night seemed like a decent night for early season migrants but I needed to be realistic with expectations as it is only mid April and many longer distant migrants are still not even in the US yet.  I realistically hoped for a very early Black and White Warbler (my earliest date in the county is April 17th...more on early/late dates for warblers for me at the following link) and perhaps early House Wrens and/or Blue headed Vireos...I missed on these (today others did have the first House Wrens and Blue headed Vireos to show up in the valley).  I was up before dawn and decided to try for a record early Eastern Whip Poor Will at Quabbin but no luck with that (my earliest date in the county was also April 17th and usually they don't show until the last week of April).  Winsor Dam had a decent selection of waterfowl with half a dozen species present plus a high count for Fish Crows with at least 11...a species that is becoming more and more common every year.  I then headed over to the rail trail in Amherst, then back to Quabbin Park, Lake Wallace and a couple other spots in Belchertown to look for passerines.  Nothing unusual but a nice showing of multiple sparrow species, Ruby crowned Kinglets as well as Palm Warblers and others.  I suspect more early species will be found over the next few days as more people get out birding this weekend.  I suspect an unusual wader (like a Glossy Ibis or Snowy Egret) will show up as well as hopefully some passerines.  I'm at a record setting pace for April so far in the county with 114 species...the average for me at this point from the last five years would be about 103 species...it will be interesting to see how the second half of the month pans out.  We will have a bit of a cool down and some rain through the weekend into early next week and then another slight warm up.

Tree Swallow, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 13, 2023

American Robin, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 13, 2023

Red tailed Hawk, Slobody Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Apr 13, 2023

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Slobody Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Apr 13, 2023

Wilson says it is already too hot!, Belchertown, MA, Apr 13, 2023

Yesterday broke a temperature record with a high of 86 and solid sun all day.  I had a dentist appointment at 9 so was only able to be out for a few hours but I made the most of it.  I stopped at a few spots in Amherst in the hopes of turning up some more early migrants but didn't find anything too unusual although it was obvious that some new birds came in overnight.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 12, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 12, 2023

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 12, 2023

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 12, 2023

Wednesday was a very windy day with temps that made it to the 70's.  I started out local with trips to Winsor Dam and Lake Wallace before taking another walk along the rail trail.  The numbers of Yellow rumped Warblers were the highest so far for the spring and Palm Warblers were around in double digit counts.  The best bird of the day was an early Blue gray Gnatcatcher when I was out walking with Wilson later in the morning.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2023

Canada Goose on nest, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2023

Louisiana Waterthrush, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 11, 2023

Louisiana Waterthrush, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 11, 2023

On Tuesday it started cool but warmed up nicely by the afternoon. I stopped at a few spots in Hadley and Amherst including Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River (where I got my first Brown Thrasher for the year), some farm fields in Amherst where I had a/the intergrade Green winged Teal (lots more on the various Green winged Teal at the following link), a stop along the river in Hadley and then the rail trail in Amherst.  It was also the first time since last fall when I have had four species of warbler in the county in a morning.

Blue winged Teal, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Apr 10, 2023

Wilson in the sun, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 10, 2023

After work on Monday I stopped by Great Pond and had some good stuff including an American Bittern flyover and at least half a dozen Blue winged Teal as well as at least 112 Green winged Teal (a really great spring for the species around here).  Some flooded fields in Amherst had a decent selection of shorebirds with five species.

American Wigeon, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 8, 2023

On Saturday morning I got out of work and headed straight home as I was still not feeling great but did make a brief detour to Lake Wallace.

An update on the duck boxes and other happenings around the house can be found at the following link.