First week of April ends with warmth and early arrivals

 Tree Swallow, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Apr 6, 2021

Louisiana Waterthrush, Hadley, MA, Apr 7, 2021

     Ruby crowned Kinglet, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 7, 2021     

Canada Goose on nest, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 7, 2021

Eastern Towhee, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 7, 2021

 Wood Duck, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 6, 2021

Greater Yellowlegs, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 6, 2021

Green winged Teal, Hadley, MA, Apr 5, 2021

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 2, 2021

The first week of April is now in the books and overall it has been above normal for temps with highs most days in the 60's the last few days with mainly sunny conditions almost the entire week.  The winds have oddly mainly been out of the north until today and I suspect with more southerly winds additional early migrants will arrive over the next few days.  So far for the month I have found 97 species in Hampshire County which is the best start to April I have ever had (thanks to some continued irruptives and a few early arrivals).  Notables over the last week have included an early Greater Yellowlegs in Hadley, an American Bittern and Marsh Wrens in Northampton, three species of swallows, an early Blue Gray Gnatcatcher in Belchertown, Eastern Towhees in multiple locations and four species of warblers including early Louisiana Waterthrushes.  The weather looks to turn more seasonable by the end of the weekend and return us to more typical temperatures for early April.