The weather pattern has finally broken as the first week of May comes to an end. Yesterday was the first genuinely nice day we have had in a couple weeks with sun all day (once the morning fog burned off) and today was a repeat with a cool start and a warm finish. Although the overall diversity and numbers are still down from a typical first week of May that looks to slowly be changing. I had my first hundred plus species day today (113 species) and my first day with 20 warbler species in the county this spring.
Highlights the last few days have included quite a few new species for the year for me in the county. New species since the 2nd have included the following numbers by date: May 3 (2 species), May 4 (7 species), May 5 (5 species), May 6 (none) and May 7 (6 species). Nothing too unusual for me since the Dunlin on the second of May beyond a 'western' Palm Warbler and a Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid. There have been some rarities around including a Swallow tailed Kite that was seen and photographed in Southampton yesterday. I didn't figure it would be found again but I was wrong. While out birding this morning I got a text from Mary letting me know she relocated the Swallow tailed Kite. This morning it was in Northampton and last seen heading north along the area of the Connecticut River. I looked for a bit from Hadley but had no luck as did a number of others. Worth keeping an eye to the sky anywhere in the valley as it could stick around for a few more days.
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