The last week back home

Black and White Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2026

Pine Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2026

Purple Finches, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2026

Beaver gathering grasses, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2026

Wilson checking out some deer, Belchertown, MA, Apr 21, 2026

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 20, 2026

Merlin, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 20, 2026

Osprey carrying nest material, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 18, 2026

Osprey carrying nest material, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 18, 2026

Ring necked Ducks, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 18, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 18, 2026

Tree Swallow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Apr 18, 2026

American Robin building nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 17, 2026

Red Eft, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 17, 2026

Now that I have been back from my trip to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona for almost a week I will try to catch up on some sighting here.  When I first arrived home last Wednesday we were in the midst of a big warm up with highs in the 70's and 80's and I got to enjoy the beautiful weather for a few days before it got much cooler and eventually cold.  There were some early arrivals during the warm spell but now things have slowed a bit as expected with colder weather and poor migration conditions.  Nonetheless birds still trickle in as it is getting toward the end of April and birds will move even in less than ideal conditions.  I have added a dozen new species for the year here since getting back with the most unusual one being an American Bittern plus a few early arrivals including Solitary Sandpiper, Northern House Wren and Black and White Warbler.  Birds are starting to nest in numbers including a variety of raptor species that only breed in small numbers in the county including Osprey at Lake Wallace plus Merlins and Sharp shinned Hawks at Quabbin.

More new species as winter continues

Hooded Mergansers, Swift River, Belchertown, MA, Feb 17, 2026

Mallards, Swift River, Belchertown, MA, Feb 17, 2026

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 16, 2026

Hermit Thrush, Hadley, MA, Feb 15, 2026

American Robin, Hadley, MA, Feb 15, 2026

Common Goldeneye, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Feb 15, 2026

Barred Owl, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 14, 2026

Tufted Titmouse, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 14, 2026

During the week I was back here in this Arctic hell I did manage to track down a number of new species in the county for the year including a few unusual ones with a Pine Warbler probably being the most unusual.  The extreme cold let up a bit with more average temps overall.  The snow pack is still well over a foot and half on average and most bodies of water remain frozen solid (including Quabbin).  The few patches of open water have featured some unusual waterfowl (discussed more in depth here).  I managed to track down twenty two new species for the year in the county while I was back and my total now stands at 88.  I'm now off to Texas and then Arizona to soak in some more warmth and find more birds.  Hopefully some of the snow and ice will be gone by the time I get back home.

Bonaparte's Gulls put down by weather and other migrants arriving

Bonaparte's Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 22, 2025

Bonaparte's Gulls, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 22, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Apr 22, 2025

Blue Jay with nest material, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Apr 22, 2025

American Robin with nest material, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Apr 22, 2025

Ring necked Pheasant, Ware, MA, Apr 22, 2025

Field Sparrow, Ware, MA, Apr 22, 2025

I had some time free in the morning and after some showers that moved through overnight I had some hopes that something good would be brought down by the weather so I headed to Winsor Dam at first light and found the fog too thick to see too much beyond a few species of waterfowl.  The beginning of the morning was still productive with the first Eastern Whip Poor Wills of the year.  I decided to try a few spots in Ware before making a return to the dam.  My second visit to the dam was even less productive with the visibility reduced even more.  I then headed home to check on things and to pick up Wilson for his walk.  That walk proved fairly productive with a decent influx of warblers (seven species including my first Yellow Warbler of the spring here).  After the walk with Wilson I did a few things around the house before making another stop at the dam and this one was more productive with a flock of 43 Bonaparte's Gulls...my second highest total I have ever had in the county.  It has been a great spring for Bonaparte's Gulls in the area although I was working on the day when triple digit counts showed up at Quabbin.  I also made a return trip to an area I visited with Wilson earlier to sort through the warblers present and had nearly seventy Yellow rumped Warblers in just over half a mile of the trail.  There was also several species carrying nest material and building nests as breeding season heats up.  Wish I had more time to explore other areas but not in the cards in the immediate future.

First week of June

Black and White Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 1, 2024

Common Goldeneyes, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 1, 2024

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 1, 2024

Green Heron, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 1, 2024

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 1, 2024

The first week of June has now come to an end and so far for the month I have located 126 species despite being back to work and therefore not birding everyday.  I started out the month trying to relocate some continued rarities and found a few including the Prothonotary Warbler in South Hadley, the long staying Common Goldeneye at Winsor Dam, a slightly late Common Nighthawk at home and both Pine Siskins and Red Crossbills.  I ended the first day of the new month with 108 species.

Dawn at the UMASS orchard, BBS stop #3, Belchertown, MA, Jun 2, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, BBS stop #34, Monson, MA, Jun 2, 2024

On the 2nd I conducted my Breeding Bird Survey for my 15th year and reached my highest species count along the route with 84 species.

Brown Thrasher, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Field Sparrow, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Prairie Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Killdeer giving distraction display, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Wild Turkey poult, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Great Blue Heron at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

On the last day before I had to return to work I conducted a bird survey at a WMA that has had work done in the last couple years to create some pine barren habitat and I was very happy with the species diversity that has taken advantage of the change in habitat with several Eastern Whip Poor Wills before dawn and several species of scrub type species as the morning wore on including Brown Thrasher, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Blue winged Warbler, Chestnut sided Warbler and Prairie Warbler.  It will be interesting to see how the next few years shakes out with species at the location.  I also spent some time at both Quabbin Park and Lake Wallace with both locations being quite active.

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 5, 2024

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 5, 2024

Wild Turkey with poults, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 5, 2024

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 5, 2024

I had to work on the 4th so only able to bird a bit before work and during that time I didn't have anything too unusual.  Once I was out of work on Wednesday morning I made a few stops on my way home including the East Meadows, Silvio Conte NWR (striking out on any Purple Martins), the rail trail in Amherst and then Quabbin Park.  Quabbin Park was fairly productive with the continued pair of Common Goldeneyes (likely that one of the pair in injured in some way and the mate is staying with them as the pair bond is quite strong...this species should be way into Canada breeding at this point).  I also had at least two Cerulean Warblers continuing but no sign of a female yet.

Worm eating Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 7, 2024

American Robin with white on right wing, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 6, 2024

I had to work on the 6th also and it was an overall rainy day so not much to report from that day.  I did get out to a few spots after work today to end the first week of June.  I failed to relocate the Prothonotary Warbler in South Hadley and I think it has moved on.  I took my first hike with some elevation since I got hurt a few weeks ago and I picked the Mount Holyoke Range SP in Granby to try to get some photos of Worm eating Warbler and I had some success.  There were a number of other species around too with nothing unexpected.  By the end of the first week of June I had found 126 species in Hampshire County.

More on warblers to start July can be found at the follow link: Warblers for the first week of June

The first three days of May

Glossy Ibis, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, May 1, 2024

Least Sandpipers, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, May 1, 2024

American Robin with leg band, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 1, 2024

Mourning Dove on nest, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 1, 2024

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 1, 2024

Red eyed Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, May 1, 2024

Nashville Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 1, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 1, 2024

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Quabbin Park, MA, May 1, 2024

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 1, 2024

Carolina Wren nest, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 1, 2024

The first three days of May has seen a decent influx of species and I have tried to get out as much as I can.  My back injury has certainly curtailed my typical activity this time of year as it hurts too much to go off the beaten path.  I can certainly say that I'm thankfully I have a light camera set up now as there is no way I could lug around my old 7D with the way I have been feeling.  I had to drop some work paperwork off in Northampton and headed there before dawn after walking up at 3AM and then finally getting out of bed around 4:15 and needed to enjoy the seat warmer in the car for a bit and then take some walks to loosen the back up for the day.  The first day of the month produced an amazing 118 species.  I'm sure I could have added several more species with more effort off the trail but not to be at this point. 

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Ware, MA, May 2, 2024

Baltimore Oriole, Quabbin Park, MA, May 2, 2024

Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 2, 2024

Red Crossbill, Quabbin Park, MA, May 2, 2024

Canada Goose goslings, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 2, 2024

Great crested Flycatcher, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 2, 2024

The second started off quite cool and cloudy with occasional drizzle but once the sun broke out late in the morning it warmed up rapidly with temps near 80.  The radar overnight showed lots of birds moving and I had thoughts of walking at Skinner SP but my back just said no so I stayed in level areas.  I found a few new species over the course of the day and eked out another 100 species day with the last bird of the day being a Lincoln's Sparrow at home. 

Cape May Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 3, 2024

Baltimore Oriole, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 3, 2024

Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 3, 2024

Blue headed Vireo, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 3, 2024

Bald Eagles, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 3, 2024

Today I made a few early walks in Hadley after another good night of migration.  It was yet another cloudy start but not as cold as the day before.  The most noticeable species for the morning seemed to be Nashville Warblers with quite a few at multiple locations.  I really wanted to walk the ridge on the Holyoke range but I figured my back would not be able to take the uneven surfaces.  I stuck to even paths to avoid any issues.  I didn't stay out as long as previous days and despite that I was able to reach 102 species for the day.  The house was quite productive with quite a few warblers around (a dozen species at least).