Least Bittern in Amherst (plus other stuff) today

 

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024

Although I have been concentrating on finding warblers at the handful of areas I have been walking a lot the last few weeks, I also have my eyes out for everything else.  There have been a few recent reports of a Least Bittern along the rail trail and although I have walked by the area several times and listened and looked I had no luck until today.  I arrived in the area and started scanning the reeds with no luck for a few minutes and I figured it was probably too late in the morning or the bird was not around.  As I was getting ready to continue my walk I heard the bittern calling (its a low call that is easily lost among the chatter of everything else in a wetland).  I then really intently started scanning and after a few minutes I had the bittern perched up about a foot in the reeds where it stayed for a few minutes before disappearing.  I thought there might have been two individuals calling but it may have been the same bird just moving around a bit.  Least Bittern is a rare species in the county and a tough one to actually see.  These were probably some of the best looks I have ever gotten of the species around here.  They have bred in the same general area for a few years so hopefully they will do so again.

Blue Jay carrying nest material, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024

Blue Jay building nest, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024

American Redstart building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024

Ovenbird looking very irritated by the arrival of another Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024

Red eyed Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024

Although migration conditions have been poor the last few nights as we continue to get northerly winds I still made the most of seeing what species are around and getting down to nesting for the season.  I came across several species collecting nest material and building nests.  It was just nice to have a sunny and calm morning after a few raining ones...good for mental and physical health for sure.

White eyed Vireo today

White eyed Vireo, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2024

White eyed Vireo, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2024

White eyed Vireo, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2024

White eyed Vireo, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2024

After walking up early and tossing and turning as I tried to get comfortable I finally gave up and got out of bed a bit after four and then headed out.  The overnight looked to feature a good influx of migrants and I set out trying mainly to track down warblers.  I had some decent luck with them with my highest species total for the season so far with 25 species (plus a few hybrids).  However the species of the day was not a warbler but a vireo.  As I was walking a road in Hadley I came across a mixed flock of warblers and as I tried to get a Tennessee Warbler I came across a White eyed Vireo that was in the flock.  It initially was silent as I took pictures to document the rarity.  It then started to sing a bit and I got some recordings.  The species is not annual and is always a great one to run across.  I got the word out and a few others were able to catch up with it.  It was a nice day to be out and once the morning low clouds burned off (late morning) it warmed up quickly to around 80.  The fairly strong southwest wind made viewing tough at times but the day was productive with 122 species overall with three new species for the year here bringing that total to 197.  I really wish I felt up to making it into more inaccessible areas as I certainly could have easily added to the total.

Wood Thrush, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2024

Yellow Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2024

Wood Duck with ducklings, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 14, 2024

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 14, 2024

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2024

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2024

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2024

A small selection of the other species for the day featured above.

Global Big Day

 

Chestnut sided Warbler at nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2024

Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2024

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst,  MA, May 11, 2024

Field Sparrow, Rail trail, Amherst,  MA, May 11, 2024

Today was the annual Global Big Day put on by eBird to try to encourage the maximum number of people to get out and bird and see how many species can be seen globally in a single day, with all the sightings being entered into eBird.  What did that mean to me?  Not much of a change from a typical day for me in migration season.  After a fitful night of sleep I was up before dawn and managed to catch just the tail end of a major aurora event...wish I was not so sleepy from muscle relaxers as the activity was apparently much more impressive around midnight.  With less than stellar migration conditions overnight there was not a big influx of new species but there were certainly birds around as it is May.  I ended the day with 117 species and I'm sure if I could have put in my usual effort and visited less accessible locations I would have added to that total.  Warblers were a major focus and I had 22 species plus multiple continued hybrids.

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 10, 2024

Blue winged Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 10, 2024

Mourning Dove nest with young, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 10, 2024

Bay breasted Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 9, 2024

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2024

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 9, 2024

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 8, 2024

Gray Catbird with nest material, Quabbin Park, MA, May 8, 2024

Wilson enjoying the sun, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 7, 2024

The last few days before the Global Big Day I spent mainly trying to chase down warblers within the limitations I have (ie. no climbing up and down mountains on uneven trails) and have had some fairly productive days with everyday producing 100+ species with lots of warblers among them.

End of the first week of May

Orange crowned Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2024

Black and White Warbler collecting nest material, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2024

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2024

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 6, 2024

Ruffed Grouse, Quabbin Park, MA, May 6, 2024

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 7, 2024

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 7, 2024

Dull Nashville Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 7, 2024

Porcupine, Quabbin Park, MA, May 7, 2024

The first week of May has now come to an end and it has been quite productive with a total of 153 species so far for me in the county (my highest total ever for the first week of May).  I know I could have pushed this total even higher if I was feeling better as my ongoing back issues have kept me from walking in areas that have been productive in the past.  Thankfully walking (at least on somewhat even terrain) is one of the only things that helps me loosen up my back.  As expected with the first week of May there were tons of highlights as migration increases both in volume and variety and some of those highlights have been covered in earlier posts.  The main highlights the last few days have included warblers with two Orange crowned Warblers around, with one found on the 5th at UMASS and another seen at a different spot on campus on the 6th (originally found on the 5th but I didn't see it until the following day).  I also found a singing Cerulean Warbler at Quabbin Park on the 6th and it continued into today.  Today also produced Brewster's Warbler in Amherst.    

I have managed to exceed 100 species everyday for the first week of the month with the following totals by day:

1st- 118 species

2nd- 100 species

3rd- 102 species

4th- 102 species

5th- 106 species

6th- 107 species

7th- 106 species

Sedge Wren today

Wood Duck with ducklings, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 5, 2024

Gray Catbird with leg band, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 5, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2024

Least Flycatcher, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2024

Wilson's Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2024

After hearing about a Sedge Wren that Scott and a birding group found yesterday in Hadley I decided to head there early to see if I could relocate it.  I didn't feel up to a drive over to make an attempt yesterday as my back was hurting.  I headed over early before the rain was predicted to arrive and despite some sprinkles and spits of rain the morning was mainly dry and quite cool with a bit of a breeze at times.  I walked the area where it was heard previously and after my second trip down the short path I could hear it singing.  It continued to sing the entire time I was there and I got some recordings.  As is typical with the species, it hardly ever showed itself and when it did it was only a fleeting glimpse.  Nonetheless I was happy to see it still around in what looks like suitable breeding habitat.  Hopefully people will not pressure the bird with using playback or tramping through the field to try to get a photo.  I also spent a little time walking other trails in the area in a vain attempt to find a Least Bittern reported in the area a few days before.  I let others know about the Sedge Wren still hanging around before I moved on to a few other spots in the Amherst area where I had to run some errands.  I then took another walk to loosen up my back and UMASS and I had some more good luck there with a very uncooperative Orange crowned Warbler in a mixed flock.  Try as I might I had no luck getting a photo and had to be content with brief looks at what is a hard to get warbler species here, especially in the spring (more on the warbler at the following link).  I then headed home before the rain arrived and then spent the rest of the day with a heating pad on my back and muscle relaxers taking the edge off.