A near record setting August comes to an end

Philadelphia Vireo, UMASS demonstration forest, Belchertown, MA, Aug 30, 2024

Black billed Cuckoo, Reed Conservation Area,  Belchertown, MA, Aug 30, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 30, 2024

Ovenbird, Reed Conservation Area,  Belchertown, MA, Aug 30, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2024

Northern Parula, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2024

Wood Thrush, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2024

Indigo Bunting, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 29, 2024

August has now about come to an end and I managed to get my second highest species count ever for the month in Hampshire County with 159 species.  My only better August ever was last year with an amazing 166 species!  Although I didn't set an August record for species overall I did have my highest count of warblers ever for the month with 26 species.  The last couple days have felt more like fall with cool temps in the morning that warmed up thanks to ample sunshine.  Today marked the last of three mornings that I guided for Bindhu, a birder visiting the area from India.  With just a few hours on three different mornings we managed to find 94 species and got her quite a few lifers...not too bad at all.  Now comes September and the peak of fall migration and always the chance of a tropical system bringing something rare into the area (this year marks the 13th anniversary of Hurricane Irene hitting the area and I have attached the eBird list from that epic day).

The fourth week of August comes to an end

Pine Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 28, 2024

House Wren, Ware, MA, Aug 28, 2024

Prairie Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 28, 2024

The end of the fourth week of August brought with it some warm conditions with temps in the upper 80's with humid conditions.  The weather looks to cool down to end out the month.  Despite the heat and humidity I was out looking for migrants at the crack of dawn and spent my time mainly in Ware and had a decent selection of birds.  Nothing too unusual but certainly more migrants moving through.

Today also marks a big anniversary in birding around here for me.  It was 13 years ago today that Hurricane Irene moved through the area and dropped an incredible selection of birds at Winsor Dam.  I managed two life birds, four state birds and seven Hampshire County birds (one of which, White tailed Tropicbird, was a first county record).  Post covering the day at the following link: hurricane birds and the full eBird list for the day at the following link.  There are some indications the hurricane season will heat up by the early part of September but for now all is quiet.

Wood Ducks in the fog, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

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

Tennessee Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Magnolia Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Philadelphia Vireo, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2024

White breasted Nuthatch, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Red breasted Nuthatch, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Tennessee Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

On Tuesday I spent another morning guiding a visiting birder from India (Bindhu) and we spent about an hour and a half along the rail trail in Amherst before going to nearby Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River in an attempt to find a fog free area.  Although the fog was fairly thick along the rail trail we were still able to see well enough to get nearly 40 species.  Silvio Conte NWR was still foggy but not as bad as the rail trail and we had a nice mixed flock that produced seven species of warblers plus a Philadelphia Vireo as well as other species.  Once I dropped Bindhu I took a walk in the area of Harris Mountain and had a large mixed flock that contained 13 species of warblers.  The fog never totally burned off until later morning and once it did it warmed into the low 80's.

Black Bear, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 26, 2024

Blue winged Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 26, 2024

Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 26, 2024

American Redstart, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 26, 2024

Hail, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2024

Hail, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2024

I had some decent luck with birds on my way home from work on Monday morning with more early arriving warblers including Tennessee Warblers and Northern Parula at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River (plus loads of mosquitoes!).  I also had a close encounter with a beautiful Black Bear.  The afternoon on Monday brought the worst hailstorm I have ever had at the house with hail up to quarter size.  It mounted up enough on the ground to look like snow...crazy.

On my way to work on Sunday the 25th I stopped at Silvio Conte NWR briefly and had my first Philadelphia Vireo of the year plus an early Blackpoll Warbler and yet another Tennessee Warbler.

Tennessee Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 24, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 24, 2024

After getting out of work on Saturday morning I went to Silvio Conte NWR in Hadley where I ran into Jack and we birded together for about an hour and a half.  During our time checking the area we had an adult Black crowned Night Heron flush from a thicket, a couple Tennessee Warblers and a Northern Parula among 46 species total.

Dawn, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 23, 2024

On my way to work on Friday morning I stopped briefly at the Honey Pot mainly looking for shorebirds and had just three species.

Mourning Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Cedar Waxwing, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Ware, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Wilson resting, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 22, 2024

To start the fourth week of August I stayed in the Ware/southern Quabbin area and had a decent selection of species with highlights including two Mourning Warblers, Cape May Warbler and another Tennessee Warbler.

The third week of August comes to an end

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

Wilson's Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

Tennessee Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

Bay breasted Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

Gray Catbird, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

I ended the third week of August by guiding a birder (Bindhu) from India for the morning.  With the passage of a cold front and northerly winds I had high hopes migration would be good for some early fall migrants.  The morning started off quite cool with lows in the upper 40's (giving it a very fall like feel).  We started the morning checking for some shorebirds in Hadley and got a lifer for her there with some Semipalmated Plovers.  We didn't have any luck with the Blue Grosbeaks there but we didn't spend much time looking as I wanted to get Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River as the sun started warming things up.  Although it started off a bit slow there the warming temps started increasing activity as the morning wore on and we had some nice mixed flocks which included eleven species of warblers including multiple early arriving species including yet another Tennessee Warbler, a couple Bay breasted Warblers travelling together and a Wilson's Warbler.  We also had several raptor species, a variety of flycatchers, at least one of the continued Sedge Wrens, tons of Gray Catbirds and many Ruby throated Hummingbirds and Rose breasted Grosbeaks among a total of 64 species.  I added another Tennessee Warbler when I was for a walk with Wilson once I got home.

Gray Catbird, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 20, 2024

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 20, 2024

Ovenbird, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 20, 2024

Canada Warbler, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 20, 2024

Yesterday I had a morning free from work and other commitments and spent it mainly in Ware and then Belchertown before heading home.  It was a fairly productive morning although once the wind picked up mid morning it became increasingly difficult to track down birds.  

Common Nighthawks, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 19, 2024

Common Nighthawks, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 19, 2024

Common Nighthawks, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 19, 2024

After getting home from an overtime shift on Monday I had a nice movement on Common Nighthawks lazily moving past as the cold front and associated thunderstorms arrived.  I had at least 165 in about ten minutes and there were likely many more that I missed before I headed outside to see if any nighthawks were moving.  Link to eBird list:  eBird list

Eastern Coyote, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 17, 2024

Black Bear, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 14, 2024

Raccoons, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 13, 2024

I also checked the camera along the Jabish Brook at the house and captured a number of mammals including a family of Raccoons on multiple occasions plus a Black Bear and an Eastern Coyote.  I got video of all of them and have attached them below.

Raccoons video: Raccoons

Black Bear video: Bear

Eastern Coyote video: Coyote