A hundred species so far for December in Hampshire County

Field Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Dec 18, 2025

Cedar Waxwing, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Dec 18, 2025

Swamp Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Dec 18, 2025

Hermit Thrush, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 18, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 18, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 18, 2025

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 18, 2025

Gray Catbird, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 18, 2025

On a beautiful, sunny day I reached 100 species for the month of December today in Hampshire County with a Clay colored Sparrow and Red necked Grebe.  This now ties me for the second highest total I have ever had for December in the county and just two species behind my best ever.  With a week and a half left in the month I certainly have a chance to add new species although it is tougher and tougher as I have seen most of the expected species.  Sadly no photos of either the sparrow or the grebe for the day. However I did get photos of a number of notable species for the day including Ruby crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, Field Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow and both subspecies of Yellow rumped Warbler.  We look to have a bit of a warm up overnight into tomorrow with strong southerly winds and rain which hopefully will get rid of a lot of snow and ice.