A slightly nicer day today with warmer weather on the horizon

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Red bellied Woodpecker excavating a nest hole, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Black capped Chickadee, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Eastern Phoebe, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 11, 2018

April continues to be cooler than normal with a little more snow yesterday but thankfully today we had a brief respite with morning sun and temperatures eventually getting to near normal (after a record low this morning of 22 degrees).  The next few days are forecast to bring warmer temperatures on southerly winds with the chance for temperatures into the 70's on Saturday.  Migration has so far been fairly slow but I suspect it will pick up a bit if the forecast plays out as advertised.  Despite fighting yet another cold I made it out a bit before a doctors appointment and found some early migrants around including three species of warblers, quite a few Eastern Phoebes and Hermit Thrushes at multiple locations. 

Eastern Phoebe with leg bands (only the white band on the right can be seen here), Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Eastern Phoebe, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 11, 2018

American Robins with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 11, 2018

American Robin with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 11, 2018

American Robin with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Duck box with eggs, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 11, 2018

I spent most of my time around the house today and was rewarded with multiple banded birds in the yard including the return of my banded Eastern Phoebe.  The two previously seen banded robins are still around and appear to be paired up as they stayed close to each other most of the time I saw them.  I also checked the two duck boxes with eggs in them and one had a Hooded Merganser sitting on eggs when I checked (no photo of that box) and the other box had a full clutch of eggs covered with down.  Not sure what species is in the second box but I have never had anything but Hooded Mergansers however there is always the chance the nest is from Wood Ducks as I have had them in the stream on many occasions (including today).