Third week of May ends with lots of migrants

Black billed Cuckoos mating, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Baltimore Oriole, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Bay breasted Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 21, 2018

Looking northeast from Enfield Lookout, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Olive sided Flycatcher, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Wilson's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

American Redstart building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Ruby throated Hummingbird building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Now that the third full week of May has come to an end migration is starting to slow (but it is not over yet).  The last week has featured some really great days of birding with obvious groups of migrants moving through.  The numbers of Cape May, Bay breasted and Tennessee Warblers continue to be impressive with way above average numbers compared to a typical spring around here (I will do a more in depth look at this once the migration season comes to an end).  Unfortunately it looks to be another huge impact from Gypsy Moths with the voracious bastards seemingly everywhere.  The cuckoo numbers seem to be quite high once again but their ability to make a dent in the incredible numbers of caterpillars is negligible.  Fingers crossed for an early onset of the fungi that kills them off before the damage is too severe but that seems like a remote hope at this point.

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2018

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Mourning Warblers have started to arrive and I have found several so far and all have turned out to be from the eastern regiolect.  It appears to be another good migration season for them here with about half a dozen so far.

I will just list out below the last several days with selected eBird lists with additional photos and audio.

5/17
Quabbin Park (broke 100 species in a single visit)

5/19
Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River
UMASS

5/20
Quabbin Park
Home (entire afternoon with the Griffiths)

5/21
UMASS
Quabbin Park

5/22
Quabbin Park

Red Fox adult with prey, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 21, 2018

Red Fox kit licking his lips as dinner walks away, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 21, 2018

Red Fox kit, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 19, 2018

Veery, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 22, 2018

American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 22, 2018

Gray Catbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 19, 2018

The cameras at the house continue to capture both birds and mammals including the family of Red Foxes.  I also finally found some banded Gary Catbirds back in the yard (just two so far but more catbirds seem to be arriving the last couple days).