September ends on a warm note

Swamp Sparrow, Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Sep 30, 2025

Green Heron, Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Sep 30, 2025

Black throated Blue Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 30, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Ware, MA, Sep 30, 2025

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Golden crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Blue headed Vireo, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Black Bear, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Spotted Apatelodes Caterpillar, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

The month of September has now come to an end and it ended on a sunny and warm note (high of 80) The last few mornings of the month have found me out looking for migrants and finding many plus a fair number of mammals (including several Black Bears).  I continued to concentrate on warblers and found a few late ones as well as some around in atypical numbers for the date.  I have also found a number of non warbler species including a few late ones (including a flyover Barn Swallow at the house yesterday and a couple Tree Swallows elsewhere today).  The numbers of later season migrant passerines such as both species of kinglets as well as multiple species of sparrows (especially White throated Sparrows) have also increased the last couple mornings.  Sadly September brings to a close the peak of warbler migration but the incoming month of October does bring an increase in sparrow numbers as well as increasing variety of waterfowl.  The chance of vagrant species also continues to rise as fall migration continues to press on.  I ended the month with 161 species in Hampshire County which is about an average number of species for me for the month.

Big influx of Blackpoll Warblers the last couple mornings (plus others)

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Morning Glory with honeybee, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Wilson sleeping, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Eastern Wood Pewee, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Wood Duck, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Great Egret, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 26, 2025

After a couple of days with some rain the last two mornings have returned us to sunny and somewhat warm conditions.  Although the winds were not perfect for migration the birds certainly pushed in with the most impressive arrivals being large numbers of Blackpoll Warblers.  I had one spot that held over 30 in less than a mile of walking this morning and multiple spots over the last two mornings have held double digit counts of the species.  Other warblers have also put on a good showing with Northern Parula and Cape May Warblers topping the list.  Other migrants have been around too with increasing numbers of both species of kinglets, continued numbers of Red breasted Nuthatches as well as others.  I have concentrated on warblers mainly so have not checked any of the flooded fields along the river where others have turned up a few shorebirds (nothing I have not yet had for the year so happy I didn't make the drive over and take away from my warbler time!).  I did make some quick checks at Winsor Dam as well as Lake Wallace and didn't find anything unusual.   I expect the next big push to come Sunday night after the passage of a cold front.  Until that happens we have a few days of above normal temps with highs in the upper 70's to 80's until the end of the month.  

Finally got a Clay colored Sparrow after a couple attempts plus some other stuff the last few days

Clay colored Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 24, 2025

Clay colored Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 24, 2025

Lincoln's Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 24, 2025

Lincoln's Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 24, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 24, 2025

 

Spotted Lanternfly, Belchertown, MA, Sep 24, 2025

Cooper's Hawk, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 23, 2025

Lincoln's Sparrows, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 23, 2025

Eastern Phoebe, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Sep 23, 2025

Eastern Wood Pewee, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Sep 23, 2025

Magnolia Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 23, 2025

Yellow Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 22, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 22, 2025

Red breasted Nuthatch, Belchertown, MA, Sep 22, 2025

Yellow bellied Flycatcher, Belchertown, MA, Sep 22, 2025

Wood Duck, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Sep 22, 2025

I finally managed to get at look at one of the Clay colored Sparrows at Honey Pot this morning in overcast conditions and occasional light rain.  I initially was not going to try again but when I woke up and saw it was not raining as much as expected and after hearing Joe had one again the previous evening I made the trip back.  I also figured there was a chance of shorebirds being forced down by the weather (this turned out to not be the case).  I managed to get a couple second view of the sparrow not long after arriving and then it did not show again for me for an hour and a half.  I then decided to check other areas around the Honey Pot before giving it one more try.  This time the sparrow was much more cooperative and I was able to get some great looks and some photos plus got Scott and Julie on the bird before I left.  Another new species for the year in the books.  Despite the drizzle at times I headed to a few areas to look for warblers and found a few pockets of them.

Yesterday I made my first attempt to find the Clay colored Sparrow(s) at the Honey Pot found by Joe and Aaron the day before without any luck despite spending well over an hour in the area.  A bunch of other sparrows were in the area including my highest count yet for the fall of Lincoln's Sparrows.  I made a few other stops on my way and turned up more migrants but nothing unexpected.

To start off the third week of September I stayed in the Belchertown/Pelham area and had a number of notable species including Virginia Rail, Warbling Vireo, yet another Yellow bellied Flycatcher, loads of Red breasted Nuthatches, 14 species of warblers including another Connecticut Warbler and a very early Orange crowned Warbler.  It was another sunny and beautiful day and a great start to another week.  

I also got some sad news yesterday evening when I got a phone call letting me know my uncle Ed had died at home out in Washington.  He had an eventful and varied life including a full career in the navy and we shared many of the same outlooks on life and I always saw a lot of myself in him.  We always had a great connection and I will sorely miss our messages back and forth regarding so many topics.  He had an exceptionally sharp mind and certainly lamented the mess this country has become at the hands of those who want to take away our freedoms. We were scheduled to meet up with him this coming summer when we would be going out that way on vacation but that plan has changed.  

Third week of September ends

Yellow bellied Flycatcher, Belchertown, MA, Sep 21, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Belchertown, MA, Sep 21, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 21, 2025

Cedar Waxwings, Ware, MA, Sep 21, 2025

Gray Catbirds, Ware, MA, Sep 21, 2025

Red tailed Hawk, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Sep 20, 2025

Swamp Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Sep 20, 2025

Sandhill Cranes, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2025

Red Squirrel, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2025

Sliver of a moon, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2025

Wilson taking a break, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Sep 20, 2025

Connecticut Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 19, 2025

The third week of September ended with even more great migration conditions but most birds seemed to have moved right on by without stopping with the last couple mornings being much more quiet than anticipated given the number of migrants in the air overnight.  Nonetheless I still found some birds with some unusual ones for the last week including a continued pair of Sandhill Cranes at Arcadia, a couple Connecticut Warblers and a Mourning Warbler.  Overall migrants were around in lesser numbers than expected and this may be due to weeks of mainly good migration conditions and drought conditions to the north which both combined to make some birds move earlier than typical.  To end out the week I spent my morning yesterday at Arcadia before moving on to Hickory Ridge.  All of the typically sparrow filled fields have been mowed down at Arcadia...not exactly good management for birds.  Today I started off in Ware and then worked my way back to Belchertown.  Certainly a few pockets of birds including a rather cooperative Yellow bellied Flycatcher (I have had a great fall for this species around here).