Record setting July in Hampshire County comes to an end with 147 species

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 26, 2024

Prairie Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jul 26, 2024

Common Goldeneye, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 27, 2024

Great Egrets, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 27, 2024

Bobolink, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 27, 2024

Sedge Wren, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 27, 2024

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jul 28, 2024

Wilson amongst the raspberries plants, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 28, 2024

Spotted Sandpiper, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 29, 2024

Eastern Kingbirds, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 29, 2024

Semipalmated Plover, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 30, 2024

Snowy Egret, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jul 31, 2024

Snowy Egret and Great Egret, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jul 31, 2024

The very hot month of July has now come an end and with it a total of 147 species in Hampshire County, which beats my previous highest total ever (which was 144 that I reached in 2022).  I managed to do this despite not being around at the beginning of the month and working multiple overtime shifts.  Having several continued rarities in the area helped reach the impressive total and I caught up with most of them during the end of the month.  The rarities this month included Northern Pintail, the long staying Common Goldeneye, Sanderling, Bonaparte's Gull, Least Bittern, Snowy Egret, Purple Martins, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, a very early Swainson's Thrush, Red Crossbills and Blue Grosbeaks.  July also featured lots of breeding activity and there are more and more fledglings around each day.