July comes to an end

Great Blue Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 24, 2023

House Wren, Ware, MA, Jul 24, 2023

Blue winged Warbler, Ware, MA, Jul 24, 2023

Great Egrets, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 27. 2023

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Jul 27. 2023

Sanderling, Easthampton, MA, Jul 29, 2023

Least Sandpipers, Easthampton, MA, Jul 30, 2023

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 31, 2023

A quite wet July has now come to an end and with it one of my better July's overall in the county for overall numbers despite the weather and being away for several days when we took a trip a bit south plus working a fair amount of overtime.  I ended the month with 143 species in Hampshire County, which is my second best July ever in the county, only beat out by last year when I had 144 species.  The flooding we experienced during the month has led to some good shorebird habitat and the birds have continued to take advantage of it with a variety of shorebirds showing up.  Waders are also starting their late summer dispersals and I'm sure an unusual one or two will come into the area over the next few weeks.  Warblers are also starting to form up into mixed species flocks as breeding largely comes to an end for another year.