End of May

Song Sparrow, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 23, 2023

Common Grackle carrying food, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 23, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 23, 2023

Wild Turkey with poults, Quabbin Park, MA, May 24, 2023

Baltimore Orioles, Quabbin Park, MA, May 26, 2023

American Redstart on nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 26, 2023

Great Blue Heron, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 29, 2023

Tree Swallow nest box destroyed by bear, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 30, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 30, 2023

Wilson enjoying some sun therapy, Home, May 30, 2023

Osprey, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

Black throated Blue Warbler with unusual plumage, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

Cedar Waxwings, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

May has now come to an end and with it the peak of spring of migration.  It is a great month to be out and about enjoying new arrivals most days.  I concentrated on warblers for the month and didn't spend much time checking any habitat that would not have warblers and I didn't really chase rarities (which there were few of anyway).  With all this in mind I had my lowest species total in Hampshire County since 2012 with just 166 species (My best May here was back in 2021 when I had an amazing 180 species for the month).  Although I didn't set out to do so when birding the last few weeks I managed to get what is probably my longest stretch of consecutive days in Hampshire County with at least 100 species.  The streak ran from May 11 until May 24 (I'm sure I could have continued the streak through the end of the month if I didn't have to go back to work on the 25th).  My biggest day overall was May 15 with 119 species and I certainly could have added several species with just a little more effort.  It speaks to the diversity of migration here that one can reach 100 species everyday for weeks with some effort. 

As the migration season slows down I enter bird survey season for me.  On Memorial Day I took part in the 18th annual bird survey up at Kevin and Cynthia's land in the corner of Amherst, Shutesbury and Pelham.  I have taken part for most of those 18 years.  They own a total of 325 acres with a mix of habitats.  It is always a treat to explore the beautiful property that they manage with birds first and foremost in their minds.  I arrived there around 7AM after doing a little birding elsewhere.  This year Kevin invited any members of the Hampshire Bird Club to take part in the survey.  Although we had some decent number of expected species diversity was down a bit from previous years with a total of 55 species.  Some areas of the woods were surprisingly quiet for late May.

Smoky sunset, Quabbin Park, MA, May 30, 2023

I conducted my first Eastern Whip Poor Will survey on the 30th and the conditions were perfect with clear skies and calm winds.  A little wildfire smoke that arrived from Nova Scotia right around sunset didn't have much impact beyond making for some neat sunset photos.  I have whip poor wills at 8 out of 10 stops with the vast majority within Quabbin Park (as usual).  I had a total of 20 Eastern Whip Poor Wills over the entire course of the route (passive listening at each stop for six minutes with stops separated by approximately one mile).  I hope to complete my second survey route tonight on the restricted access Prescott Peninsula.

The third week of May comes to an end with lots of birds around

Blackpoll Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2023

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2023

American Redstart building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2023

Yellow Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area. Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Sweet Alice Conservation Area. Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023

Merlin, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

American Redstart building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Common Nighthawk, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 18, 2023

Mourning Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2023

American Redstart, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2023

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2023

American Redstart building nest, Hadley, MA, May 20, 2023

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2023

Turkey Vulture, Moody Bridge Rd, Hadley, MA, May 20, 2023

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Great crested Flycatcher, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Purple Finch, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Yellow throated Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Olive sided Flycatcher, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Song Sparrow, Hadley, MA, May 21, 2023

The height of migration continued through the end of the third week of the month with every day during the last several producing 100+ species for me.  The weather continued to mainly sunny and pleasant although we did get a few inches of rain from midday Saturday into the overnight and we had a record setting cold morning (28 degrees) on Thursday.  Again I have limited time to post any great details but I have included a selection of photos and will mention some of the highlights in no particular order.  Warblers figured prominently in my bird outings and more on warblers can be found at the following link: Warblers to end the third week of May.  Highlights for warblers included a rather uncooperative Hooded Warbler, an Orange crowned Warbler, several Mourning Warblers and multiple hybrids.  Beyond warblers the highlights included the arrival of multiple new species of flycatchers, a close encounter with a Common Nighthawk at the house when I heard it calling, watched it circle the house and then land in a pine tree where it stayed for a few hours.  I got some video of it which can be found at the following link: Common Nighthawk video.  I also likely found a breeding pair of Merlin's at Quabbin.  Migration is still ongoing but the peak has arrived and it will trail off as we enter the end of May.  

Hooded Merganser nest remains after fledging from duck box #3, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 20, 2023

Hooded Merganser nest remains after fledging from duck box #1, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 21, 2023

All three duck boxes have now successfully fledged Hooded Mergansers with the last box empty when I checked it this morning...I think I just missed them as the feathers and egg remains were still warm!  This is my most successful year yet and among all three boxes only two eggs did not hatch.  I managed to get a video of the birds leaving the nest box on the 16th and the video can be found at the following link: Hooded Mergansers leaving duck box #3.  

Wilson relaxing at home, May 20, 2023

Also some bad news for my boy Wilson.  He was having a little trouble going up stairs for a few weeks and then a bit over a week ago he started limping badly.  We thought it might have been arthritis or perhaps he irritated something in the leg when playing or running around.  When it didn't get better it looked like it might be a torn cruciate ligament and that is indeed the case.  We had a consultation with a surgeon a couple days ago and we are moving forward with surgery.  The surgery is currently scheduled for June 8th but we are hopeful the date can be moved up if there is a cancellation.  This is a tough thing for a boy that loves to walk and run around.  Even through he is not a young boy anymore there was never really a question about doing what we can to get him back to normal so he can enjoy life again without limping around.  Fingers crossed the surgery goes well and he heals up within a couple months with no complications (Wilson always seems to have complications!).

Peak of migration has arrived

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2023

Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Ovenbird, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Wood Thrush, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

American Redstart, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Blackburnian Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Wild Turkey, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Hooded Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Swainson's Thrush, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Common Loon, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Spotted Sandpipers, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Lincoln's Sparrow, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Veery, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 15, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 15, 2023

Mourning Warbler, Hadley, MA, May 16, 2023

Hermit Thrush, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 16, 2023

Eastern Towhee, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2023

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2023

American Redstart collecting nest material, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2023

The last several days have brought in overall pleasant weather and some good migration conditions on multiple nights as the peak of migration arrives.  After a good day of birding on Global Big Day I spent a fair amount of time tracking down birds the last three days as my annual attempt to get a warbler big day in the county produced some great stuff. It is all about timing as you try to catch a big wave of migrants, hope for a lingering Palm Warbler, looking for early arriving Mourning Warblers and keep your fingers crossed for a rarity or two to show up. Lots more on the last three days of warbler searching at the following link: warbler big days.  Although my focus was warblers the last three days I also saw and heard a ton of other species, with each day exceeding a hundred species (My best day was yesterday with 117 species).  Many highlights with a very impressive thrush show, lots of warblers and more flycatcher diversity.  Again not a lot of time to spend writing up a detailed synopsis but I will attach a few representative photos from the last three days that should sum up the peak fairly well. There are still many birds that will come through over the next week.  Get out there if you can and enjoy it while it lasts as spring migration comes and goes so fast....turn off the Merlin app (or any other app), even for just awhile and actually listen, learn and enjoy the spectacle of bird migration.  The apps are great but it is worth just disconnecting from them for a bit.