The third week of September

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 16, 2019

Lincoln's Sparrow, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 16, 2019

The last several days have featured cool nights (in the low to mid 30's the last couple mornings) and days in the upper 60's to 70's with sunny conditions and low humidity...perfect conditions to be outside and great migration conditions.  I have had a number of decent sightings as the third week of September comes to an end.  The next few days are forecast to be warmer with highs into the 80's before another cold front comes through Monday.  Each morning I picked a new spot to explore and none disappointed although at times the early morning fog made viewing a bit tough.  I started the week at Quabbin Park on Monday where I had two Eastern Whip Poor Wills still singing, a Northern Saw Whet Owl, a late Eastern Kingbird, a couple Philadelphia Vireos, a late Veery and decent numbers of a number of other migrants.

Small heron species with Great Blue Herons, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 17, 2019

Small heron species with Great Blue Herons, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 17, 2019

Indigo Bunting, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 17, 2019

Least Flycatcher, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 17, 2019

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 17, 2019

On Tuesday on went to Arcadia where I had a flyby small heron species moving in from their roost location.  The light was terrible and the fog made following up on where the heron came down impossible for quite awhile.  Among the 72 species for the morning I had a Least Flycatcher, another late Veery and a flyover Dickcissel.

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 18, 2019

American Dagger Moth caterpillar, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 18, 2019

In the middle of the week I went Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River where I had a frustratingly brief view of a first year Connecticut Warbler as well as a few groups of migrants but it was overall fairly quiet but it was foggy until quite late.  As the fog was lifted and I was leaving I noticed several kettles of Broad winged Hawks starting to form up as thermals got active.

Savannah Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2019

Black throated Green Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2019

Wood Ducks, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2019

Green winged Teal, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2019

Indigo Bunting, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2019

Small heron species with Great Blue Herons, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2019

Small heron species with Great Blue Herons, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2019

On Thursday I made a return to Arcadia in an attempt to relocate the small heron species and I once again had the bird flying in with a group of Great Blue Herons.  The light was slightly better but still sub par but it appeared the bird was lighter than the Great Blue Herons pointing to either a Snowy Egret or immature Little Blue Heron.  The entire group settled into the area of Ned's Ditch but my attempts to find them in there proved fruitless...the area is just too impenetrable.  Perhaps it is the Snowy Egret that had been hanging around at Paradise Pond a few weeks ago?    Other notables included a selection of waterfowl (including my first Green winged Teal of the fall), a continuing Least Flycatcher as well as a Willow/Alder Flycatcher, more sparrows than on my previous visit with at least eight Lincoln's Sparrows around, at least three Scarlet Tanagers and other species feeding on some large fruiting trees near the old orchard (looks prime to attract rarities and lingerers) and at least 20 Indigo Buntings.

Black and White Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 20, 2019

Palm Warbler 'western', Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 20, 2019

Turkey Vulture, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 20, 2019

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 20, 2019

Lincoln's Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 20, 2019

Barn Swallow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 20, 2019

This morning I headed back over to Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River in the hopes of finding another Connecticut Warbler but no luck on that front (I have not had a stellar year for them so far with just two for certain).  The fog that looked like it might lift not long after I arrived instead settled in and just got thicker.  After a couple of hours and not a ton of activity I left and headed over to the Honey Pot where I checked a few fields for shorebirds...nothing unusual but a decent number of Killdeer and lots of freshly plowed and harvested fields that look great to attract shorebirds.  With That's a Plenty Farm still closed due to an on going bee study I had to be content with roadside birding which still produced some good stuff including my first American Pipit of the fall, at least three Barn Swallows still hanging around and both subspecies of Palm Warblers and a few small groups of sparrows.

Today also marked an international climate strike led primarily by young people.  One does hope it will eventually lead to a more robust response to the climate change crisis that may already be too late to change but at least major changes could help mitigate the problem.  There just needs to be the political will but with most politicians bought and paid for by those who stand to make money by ignoring the problem I don't have a lot of hope.  A study just released yesterday shows that one in four birds have been lost in North America since 1970 (that's three billion birds) and the decline will certainly not be helped by a changing climate with all the issues that go along with it.  You can read more on the study at the follow link.