Strong southerly winds overnight brought in the best influx of birds so far for the spring migration season with several early arrivals found for the day. I figured this would be the case given the conditions and I was happy to be right. I only had a couple hours available and stayed within about 15 minutes of home. I tried for Eastern Whip Poor Wills at Quabbin early and didn't have any luck (the breeze probably cut down on the ability to hear any distant individuals). I then hit the rail trail on the Amherst/Belchertown line and had an early Green Heron. I then returned to the south Quabbin area with a brief stop at Winsor Dam and then a small portion of Quabbin Park. I initially had nothing of note at the dam beyond an Eastern Towhee with some odd white markings on its face. Quabbin Park produced a slightly early Black and White Warbler among a group of other migrants. I saw a report from Brian that he had a rare for spring Surf Scoter flying around at Winsor Dam so after my time in Quabbin Park I made another stop at the dam and was lucky to find the Surf Scoter on the water way out and got some marginal photos and some slightly better video. After checking back at the house and then heading out with Wilson we had another Black and White Warbler during our walk. The strong south winds drove the temps up to near 80 and kept raptors moving most of the day. Year to date I'm at a record setting pace for the year and also at my highest total ever for the month as of the date (currently at 123 species for the month)
Today also marks the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord that kicked off the American Revolution...we now find ourselves as a country at a crossroads that may indeed tear the country apart and lead us down a path that the founding fathers tried to avoid with the checks and balances enshrined in the constitution. Time will tell if we emerge on the other side of this current turmoil.
I have also found a few other early arrivals the last few days including my earliest ever date for Black throated Green Warbler and increasing numbers of other migrants including Ruby crowned Kinglets and Yellow bellied Sapsuckers plus several waterfowl species
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