The end of a rather lackluster September for migrants

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Sep 30, 2024

Carolina Wren, Belchertown, MA, Sep 30, 2024

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Sep 30, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Sep 29, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', UMASS, Amherst, MA, Sep 29, 2024

Northern Parula, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Sep 29, 2024

Scarlet Tanager, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Sep 29, 2024

Cedar Waxwings, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Sep 29, 2024

September has now come to an end.  Overall it was one of the most lackluster fall migration seasons I can ever remember here.  So many species were below average in numbers that they are too numerous to list.  My theory is that with all the fantastic migration conditions from the later part of August through most of September many species moved through earlier than usual and many species too advantage of the great migration conditions and never stopped in the area.  Nonetheless there were still migrants around (it is September) and I had a few decent mornings.  The end of the month brought in a large influx of late season migrants including both species of kinglets, Winter Wrens, White throated Sparrows, Yellow rumped Warblers and Palm Warblers.   I ended the month with 161 species with the big highlight being a Black bellied Whistling Duck that showed up on a small farm pond in South Hadley, becoming the first new species for me in Hampshire County this year (a total that now stands at 307 species for me).

BLACK BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK becomes species #307 for me in Hampshire County

Black bellied Whistling Duck, McCray's Farm, South Hadley, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Black bellied Whistling Duck, McCray's Farm, South Hadley, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Black bellied Whistling Duck, McCray's Farm, South Hadley, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Black bellied Whistling Duck, McCray's Farm, South Hadley, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Black bellied Whistling Duck, McCray's Farm, South Hadley, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Black bellied Whistling Duck, McCray's Farm, South Hadley, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Black bellied Whistling Duck, McCray's Farm, South Hadley, MA, Sep 28, 2024

After a morning of birding and then walking Wilson (more on that below) I was at home around noon and got a text from my friend Pat with a photo of a Black bellied Whistling Duck.  Pat is a waterfowl hunter so knows his ducks and knows a species that is unusual here.  I immediately texted him back on the location and it was at McCray's Farm in South Hadley on a small farm pond.  I grabbed my camera and headed out the door and made a few calls to some other birders on my way there.  This would be a second occurrence ever in Hampshire County (or any of the three counties in the Connecticut River valley).  The first was earlier this year in late June when seven showed up for a day in Amherst along the rail trail.  I missed those as I was on my way out to the Canadian Rockies and then over to Vancouver Island.  It was a tough one to miss and most every other birder in the area got to see them (except Scott who also was not around when they showed up...he was my first call today to let him know the species showed back up).  I arrived at the farm to find the place an absolute zoo with a fall festival of some sort going on with loads of people and little parking.  I eventually found a spot to scan the small pond and found the Black bellied Whistling Duck happily feeding among the other waterfowl.  It would occasionally be up on the land but as soon as people came along it would move down to the water or into the water itself.  I got a bunch of photos before leaving the area.  The species become #307 for me in Hampshire County (at least for now until the latest taxonomic update comes in October...more on that in an upcoming post).  This is my first new species for me in the county this year and the first one since the Say's Phoebe that showed up in December last year.  Full album of photos of the Black bellied Whistling Duck located at the following link.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Ware, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Ware, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Ware, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Wood Ducks, Lake Wallace, Belchertown MA, Sep 28, 2024

River Otters, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 28, 2024

Red throated Loon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 28, 2024

During the morning I birded several spots in Ware and Belchertown and there was certainly a decent amount of migration overnight with a noticeable increase in a few species like both species of kinglets, White throated Sparrows and Yellow rumped Warblers.  I also had a single Red throated Loon at Winsor Dam.  Overall for the morning I had just under 70 species so a good morning for sure for late September.

Common Tern this morning at Winsor Dam (and other migrants around the area)

Common Tern, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 23, 2024

Common Tern, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 23, 2024

Common Tern, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 23, 2024

Common Tern (with Ring billed Gull), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 23, 2024

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 23, 2024

After getting in late last night from seeing some live music I did not get out as early as I normally would and with a slightly later start than usual I decided to stay close to home.  I made Winsor Dam my first stop of the morning.  I arrived to find a fairly steady breeze blowing in and I honestly didn't expect to find much.  Nonetheless I did a quick scan and immediately noticed a small white bird trying to balance on the large orange buoy and by the size I knew it was something unusual.  I quickly set up the scope and was able to see it was a tern.  I studied it for a bit and it appeared to be either a Common Tern or a Forester's Tern and I was leaning toward COTE.  I sent out a few messages regarding the bird and then studied it for a bit.  It was having a tough time staying on the buoy and eventually flew around a few times before coming back into land on the buoy again and it looked more and more like a Common Tern.  A nearby Ring billed Gull tried to take the buoy over but the tern would eventually reclaim it.  The distance and early light made it tough to pick out a lot of detail but eventually I became confident enough in the views to ID it as a Common Tern...a decent bird in the county at any time.  The photos and videos I got of the bird were very poor but showed some of the field marks.

Black and White Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 23, 2024

Hermit Thrush, Belchertown, MA, Sep 23, 2024

Blue headed Vireo, Belchertown, MA, Sep 23, 2024

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 23, 2024

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 23, 2024

I then spent the rest of the morning exploring a few other nearby areas and I had a fairly good morning with migrants with a good number of Northern Parula and Blackpoll Warblers as well as others.  Hardly a blockbuster morning but one of the better ones in what is looking to be a fairly poor fall for migrants (mainly due to lots of great migrations conditions that have kept birds moving past without stopping...good for birds, bad for birders).

More migrants the last several days for the mid part of September

 

Merlin, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Sep 16, 2024

Swamp Sparrow, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Sep 16, 2024

Sandhill Cranes, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 15, 2024

Yellow throated Vireo, Belchertown, MA, Sep 15, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 15, 2024

American Golden Plover and Killdeer, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 15, 2024

House Finch, Amherst, MA, Sep 14, 2024

Eastern Towhee, Belchertown, MA, Sep 13, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 13, 2024

Palm Warbler 'western', Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Sep 12, 2024

Indigo Bunting, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Sep 12, 2024

Yellow Warblers, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 12, 2024

The last several days have featured very pleasant weather with cool mornings and warm afternoons with abundant sunshine.  The winds have also been mainly calm and a decent amount of birds have moved most nights, although many seem to be flying right past.  Nonetheless there are birds around every day and I have added a few species for the month with my total standing at 147 species, which is a bit behind a typical September for me.  My back has still been giving me problems on and off, which has kept me from driving as much but has kept me walking more.  The forecast for the next week seems to feature more of the same weather with just a slight chance of some showers during the period.  Still waiting for another big influx of birds...time will tell when (and if) this will happen.

Great migration conditions overnight brings in birds

Northern House Wren, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Cape May Warbler, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Gray Catbird, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Cedar Waxwing, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Blackpoll Warbler, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Hermit Thrush, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Wood Thrush, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Ovenbird, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Common Merganser, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Black throated Blue Warbler, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Last might featured the biggest night of migration yet for the fall season with an estimated 1.7 million plus birds flying over Hampshire County (info from Birdcast).  It was a very cool morning to start (mid 40's) and the first day I needed a winter hat.  It eventually warmed up to the 80's by the end of the day.  I walked in a variety of areas and had a total of nearly 80 species with some decent mixed flocks and good numbers of a few species.  My back finally started feeling better today (thanks to time and meds) so I was out a bit longer enjoying the weather.