Rainy weather brings down some unusual birds including Ruddy Turnstone and Western Cattle Egret

Western Cattle Egret, East Hadley Road, Hadley, MA, May 25, 2026

Western Cattle Egret, East Hadley Road, Hadley, MA, May 25, 2026

Western Cattle Egret, East Hadley Road, Hadley, MA, May 25, 2026

American Woodcock, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 25, 2026

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, May 25, 2026

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, May 24, 2026

The last two days has largely featured rainy weather with short bouts of drier weather and near record cold high yesterday (after having 95 degree weather a few days before).  I was able to get a short walk in yesterday before the rain started up.  I then tried my luck in finding any unusual species downed by the weather and came up empty.  I didn't hear of any other unusual species found by anyone else yesterday.  Today would be a different story.  After a brief stop at Winsor Dam I once again was able to get a short walk in, this time along the rail trail in Amherst before getting forced back to the car due to more rain...highlight of that stop would be a couple cooperative American Woodcocks that actually first appeared in the middle of the paved path.  I checked a number of fields in Hadley and found nothing of note.  At that point I decided to run a few errands in the area and then got a text from Joe letting me know that a Western Cattle Egret was present in a farm field in Hadley (not one of the ones I checked earlier of course).  I was nearby so took a quick drive over to see the very dapper looking breeding plumage Western Cattle Egret....always a nice species to get in the area.  I then headed over to Winsor Dam to see if my luck would continue in finding something unusual.  I arrived and started scanning the water and then the shoreline and dam.  I then got a text from Ted letting me know he had a number of unusual species of shorebirds at the Holyoke Dam (including Dunlin and multiple Ruddy Turnstones).  Without too much to see on the water and the visibility changing as some light rain moved in and out I started scanning the rocks on the dam closer at least found a Killdeer.  After watching the water for a bit I heard Killdeer start carrying on after they got flushed by a Red tailed Hawk.  As I followed the Killdeer flying I noticed a different species with them even with binoculars I was thinking it looked good for Ruddy Turnstone.  I got the scope on it quickly and indeed it was a Ruddy Turnstone.  I watched as the birds all headed off to the north.  Eventually at least one Kildeer returned but I never saw the turnstone again.  I assume he was on the rocks of dam and was never out in the open when I was scanning the rocks.  This was actually the second time I have had the species at Winsor Dam with the first time being during Hurricane Irene in 2011 (List from that epic day here: Hurricane Irene at Winsor Dam).  This is only the second time I have seen a Ruddy Turnstone in spring (first time was June of last year in the meadows) with all my other records occurring between late July and late August (a total of four other records for me).  I also just saw some reports from the Berkshires where they had some really impressive numbers and variety of shorebirds.