The second week of August

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 14, 2025

Great Egret, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 14, 2025

Cerulean Warbler with leg bands, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 14, 2025

Cedar Waxwing on nest, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 13, 2025

Prairie Warbler, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 13, 2025

Wild Turkey poults, Quabbin Park MA, Aug 13, 2025

Belted Kingfisher, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Aug 12, 2025

Wilson out on the trail, Belchertown, MA, Aug 12, 2025

Monarch caterpillar, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 11, 2025

Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 11, 2025

Yellow throated Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 11, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 10, 2025

Red eyed Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 10, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 10, 2025

The second week of August continued to be hot and sunny overall with another heat wave and I continued to enjoy having my days off to try to track down birds.  I have continued to slowly add new species for the month and I currently stand at 149 species in the county...a couple species ahead of my best ever August.  I have checked Lake Wallace most every morning in the hopes of catching up with a rare wader joining the hordes of Green Herons.  Although breeding continuing for some species the vast majority are now in the post breeding dispersal mode and the hint of mixed species flocks starting to form is taking place in a few areas.  Some species have already departed for the tropics and many will soon follow as fall migration starts picking up.