More arrivals the last few days

Gray Squirrel juvenile, Belchertown, MA, Sep 10, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Tennessee Warblers, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Yellow throated Vireo, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Scarlet Tanager, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Red breasted Nuthatch, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Ware, MA, Sep 8, 2025

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 8, 2025

Bay breasted Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 8, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 8, 2025

The last few days have featured mainly good conditions for migration and I have found more and more migrants including my first American Pipits, White Throated Sparrow and Ruby crowned Kinglet of the fall (all today in various spots).  I have concentrated mainly on warblers and although I have not found any new species for the month in the last few days I have run across multiple mixed flocks which featured a variety of species (including continued good numbers of Cape May Warblers, Bay breasted Warbler and Tennessee Warblers).  The number of Red breasted Nuthatches continue to climb and we are certainly seeing an incursion of them.  Beyond birds I ran across a fresh out of the nest juvenile Gray Squirrel today.  It was totally unfazed by me and I do hope it is able to survive...they become a menace at times when adults but as young they are damn cute.  

More new arrivals the last few days

Cape May Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 27, 2025

Indigo Bunting, Ware, MA, Aug 27, 2025

Black throated Green Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 27, 2025

Northern House Wren, Ware, MA, Aug 27, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rail trail. Ware, MA, Aug 27, 2025

Cedar Waxwing on nest, Rail trail. Ware, MA, Aug 27, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 27, 2025

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

Bay breasted Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2025

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2025

Magnolia Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2025

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2025

Northern House Wren, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 26, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 25, 2025

Belted Kingfisher, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 25, 2025

Black Bear and Common Loon, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 25, 2025

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 25, 2025

Wilson, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

The last few days have produced more early season migrants as we enter into weather that feels more September like with warmer days and cool overnights.  I have been concentrating on warblers mainly and having great luck with more new arrivals every day including my first Cape May Warbler today and several Bay breasted Warblers in the last few days.  Species beyond warblers are also on my move as migration continues to pick up.  I have also had a number of mammals sightings including Black Bear and Bobcat.  A very productive few days as we enter the last week of August.

A few early warblers and my highest count of Green Herons for the year

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Bay breasted Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Pelham, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Pelham, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Red shouldered Hawk, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Despite southerly winds the last few nights I had some good luck with early arriving warbler this morning in the Belchertown/Pelham area.  The birds have likely been around for at least a few days as the migration conditions were not great for them to arrive in the last couple days.  I found three early arrivals including a Northern Parula, a molting Bay breasted Warbler and a Tennessee Warbler.  All of the warblers were with mixed species flocks and it is always fun to sort through the largely silent flocks as they move through the woods.  

Before looking for warblers I stopped by Lake Wallace to see what might be around and I was quite surprised to get my highest count of Green Herons for the year with at least 33 individuals present.  The numbers had been declining lately after peaking out at 31 on August 8th.  The total this morning came up four short of my highest total of 37 on August 16th in 2018 (which is also the highest total ever for the species in Hampshire County).  The species should be heading out soon to points south (as everyone should!).  Besides the Green Heron I had at least one Virginia Rail (likely two), a continued Great Egret as well as a juvenile Red shouldered Hawk that showed well and pestered most of the other occupants of the marsh.

We have one somewhat warm day tomorrow before another cold front comes in and drops the temps a bit and likely pushes more early migrants in.  I currently sit at 156 species for August in the county, which is my second highest total ever by this date and my total for the year in the county is at 228, which ties me for my highest total ever YTD...guess I should have chased more rarities earlier in the year to give me a shot of topping my highest total ever...oh well!  Should still end up being a decent year by the end of December.

The third week of August comes to an end

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

Wilson's Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

Tennessee Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

Bay breasted Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

Gray Catbird, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 21, 2024

I ended the third week of August by guiding a birder (Bindhu) from India for the morning.  With the passage of a cold front and northerly winds I had high hopes migration would be good for some early fall migrants.  The morning started off quite cool with lows in the upper 40's (giving it a very fall like feel).  We started the morning checking for some shorebirds in Hadley and got a lifer for her there with some Semipalmated Plovers.  We didn't have any luck with the Blue Grosbeaks there but we didn't spend much time looking as I wanted to get Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River as the sun started warming things up.  Although it started off a bit slow there the warming temps started increasing activity as the morning wore on and we had some nice mixed flocks which included eleven species of warblers including multiple early arriving species including yet another Tennessee Warbler, a couple Bay breasted Warblers travelling together and a Wilson's Warbler.  We also had several raptor species, a variety of flycatchers, at least one of the continued Sedge Wrens, tons of Gray Catbirds and many Ruby throated Hummingbirds and Rose breasted Grosbeaks among a total of 64 species.  I added another Tennessee Warbler when I was for a walk with Wilson once I got home.

Gray Catbird, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 20, 2024

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 20, 2024

Ovenbird, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 20, 2024

Canada Warbler, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 20, 2024

Yesterday I had a morning free from work and other commitments and spent it mainly in Ware and then Belchertown before heading home.  It was a fairly productive morning although once the wind picked up mid morning it became increasingly difficult to track down birds.  

Common Nighthawks, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 19, 2024

Common Nighthawks, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 19, 2024

Common Nighthawks, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 19, 2024

After getting home from an overtime shift on Monday I had a nice movement on Common Nighthawks lazily moving past as the cold front and associated thunderstorms arrived.  I had at least 165 in about ten minutes and there were likely many more that I missed before I headed outside to see if any nighthawks were moving.  Link to eBird list:  eBird list

Eastern Coyote, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 17, 2024

Black Bear, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 14, 2024

Raccoons, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 13, 2024

I also checked the camera along the Jabish Brook at the house and captured a number of mammals including a family of Raccoons on multiple occasions plus a Black Bear and an Eastern Coyote.  I got video of all of them and have attached them below.

Raccoons video: Raccoons

Black Bear video: Bear

Eastern Coyote video: Coyote