American Robin with nest material, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 23, 2021
Yellow rumped Warblers 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 22, 2021
Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 22, 2021
As predicted the last couple days have been cold and windy with lows both mornings at or below freezing. Highs yesterday only made it to the 40's and today was only slightly better with highs in the 50's. Wind chills were down in the 20's and the conditions reminded me more of March then the third week of April. The early arriving insectivores were certainly having difficulty finding food in these conditions. Yesterday I had a nice selection of swallows trying to stay out of the wind below the Holyoke Dam with hundred of individuals of five species with most being Tree Swallows. Also yesterday I had up to eight Yellow rumped Warblers coming into feed on suet at the feeders at home (they continued coming in today). While watching the comings and goings at the feeders I spotted two of my banded Black capped Chickadees and got photos of one. I got out a bit this morning before the wind really picked up and came across some nesting activity along the rail trail in Amherst but nothing too unusual as the migration overall has been quite slow given the date.. The long range forecast is showing the temperatures really warming up starting next Tuesday and continuing through the end of the week with highs in the low 80's. This should push loads of birds in for the end of the month into the beginning of May.
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