A near record setting August comes to an end

Philadelphia Vireo, UMASS demonstration forest, Belchertown, MA, Aug 30, 2024

Black billed Cuckoo, Reed Conservation Area,  Belchertown, MA, Aug 30, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 30, 2024

Ovenbird, Reed Conservation Area,  Belchertown, MA, Aug 30, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2024

Northern Parula, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2024

Wood Thrush, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2024

Indigo Bunting, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 29, 2024

August has now about come to an end and I managed to get my second highest species count ever for the month in Hampshire County with 159 species.  My only better August ever was last year with an amazing 166 species!  Although I didn't set an August record for species overall I did have my highest count of warblers ever for the month with 26 species.  The last couple days have felt more like fall with cool temps in the morning that warmed up thanks to ample sunshine.  Today marked the last of three mornings that I guided for Bindhu, a birder visiting the area from India.  With just a few hours on three different mornings we managed to find 94 species and got her quite a few lifers...not too bad at all.  Now comes September and the peak of fall migration and always the chance of a tropical system bringing something rare into the area (this year marks the 13th anniversary of Hurricane Irene hitting the area and I have attached the eBird list from that epic day).

May wrap up

Cattle Egret, Hadley, MA, May 7, 2018

Yellow billed Cuckoo, Quabbin Park, MA, May 29, 2018

Baltimore Oriole, Quabbin Park, MA, May 29, 2018

Hooded Mergansers, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, May 29, 2018

Scarlet Tanager, Quabbin Park, MA, May 23, 2018

Black billed Cuckoos mating, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Olive sided Flycatcher, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2018

Ruby throated Hummingbird building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2018

Bay breasted Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 21 2018

Golden winged x Blue winged Warbler hybrid, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2018

Mourning Warbler (eastern vocal group), Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Cerulean Warbler building nest, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 15, 2018

May has now come to an end and it was once again a great month for migration with a total of 175 species in Hampshire County over the course of the month (a tie with 2014 for my highest May total).  Among the species seen were a number of highlights including a number of unusual waterfowl species at Winsor Dam May 12 during bird-a-thon, a Red throated Loon (among dozens of Common Loons) at Winsor Dam on May 22, a couple Cattle Egrets in Hadley, multiple Soras, a few unusual shorebirds including a Dunlin in Hadley, decent numbers of both species of cuckoo (taking advantage of yet another terrible season for Gypsy Moth caterpillars), a White eyed Vireo in Amherst, a total of 30 species of warblers (highlights including a Brewster's, another hybrid, an Orange crowned Warbler, three Hooded Warblers, at least 9 Mourning Warblers and above normal numbers of Tennessee, Cape May and Bay breasted Warblers) and a Grasshopper Sparrow in Northampton.  A more detailed review of warblers can be found at the following link: Warblers spring 2018.  I also completed my two Eastern Whip Poor Will surveys.  There are still some late season migrants moving through but for the most part the birds around are now breeders.

Third week of May ends with lots of migrants

Black billed Cuckoos mating, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Baltimore Oriole, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Bay breasted Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 21, 2018

Looking northeast from Enfield Lookout, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Olive sided Flycatcher, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2018

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Wilson's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

American Redstart building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Ruby throated Hummingbird building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Now that the third full week of May has come to an end migration is starting to slow (but it is not over yet).  The last week has featured some really great days of birding with obvious groups of migrants moving through.  The numbers of Cape May, Bay breasted and Tennessee Warblers continue to be impressive with way above average numbers compared to a typical spring around here (I will do a more in depth look at this once the migration season comes to an end).  Unfortunately it looks to be another huge impact from Gypsy Moths with the voracious bastards seemingly everywhere.  The cuckoo numbers seem to be quite high once again but their ability to make a dent in the incredible numbers of caterpillars is negligible.  Fingers crossed for an early onset of the fungi that kills them off before the damage is too severe but that seems like a remote hope at this point.

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2018

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2018

Mourning Warblers have started to arrive and I have found several so far and all have turned out to be from the eastern regiolect.  It appears to be another good migration season for them here with about half a dozen so far.

I will just list out below the last several days with selected eBird lists with additional photos and audio.

5/17
Quabbin Park (broke 100 species in a single visit)

5/19
Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River
UMASS

5/20
Quabbin Park
Home (entire afternoon with the Griffiths)

5/21
UMASS
Quabbin Park

5/22
Quabbin Park

Red Fox adult with prey, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 21, 2018

Red Fox kit licking his lips as dinner walks away, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 21, 2018

Red Fox kit, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 19, 2018

Veery, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 22, 2018

American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 22, 2018

Gray Catbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 19, 2018

The cameras at the house continue to capture both birds and mammals including the family of Red Foxes.  I also finally found some banded Gary Catbirds back in the yard (just two so far but more catbirds seem to be arriving the last couple days).

Mourning Warblers breeding at Quabbin Park

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Prairie Warblers, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Black billed Cuckoo, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Winsor Dam,  Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Another cool morning for July (low 50's) started off a little foggy but eventually turned sunny and warm.  My main focus was to make it over to Quabbin Park to check on the Mourning Warblers.  After quite a bit of looking I eventually found the female working low through some ferns carrying some food.  She disappeared and was not seen again.  Around twenty minutes later I found the male about 150' away.  He was largely silent except for a few chip notes and didn't show too well.  It does indeed look as if the warblers have indeed bred here which is unprecedented for this low an elevation and this far east and south in the state.

Besides the Mourning Warblers I had a decent selection of species with quite a few young birds around and a noticeable lack of bird song.  Link to eBird list with more photos:  Quabbin Park list

Red Crossbill(s) and the return of the Lesser Scaup today and Prescott field surveys yesterday

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 27, 2016

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 27, 2016

Red tailed Hawks, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 27, 2016

Wood Ducks, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, June 27, 2016

I headed out a bit after dawn over to Lake Wallace and had a great bird not long after I arrived when a Red Crossbill (or maybe several) flew by calling heading west to east....species #208 for the county this year.  I immediately recognized the kip, kip, kip call and tried to get some audio so I could send it off to Matt Young at Cornell to find out the specific type Red Crossbill I had. Unfortunately I think the bird(s) were too far away by the time I started recording but I sent along the clip anyway to see if Matt can somehow tease out the crossbills from all the background noise. I will update if I get any info back on the crossbills. It appears there may be a bit of an invasion of Red Crossbills into New York and mid New England starting to occur...hopefully there will be more to come.  Lots of other good stuff at Lake Wallace including many young ducks and mergansers, at least 17 Great Blue Herons (lots of young birds in nests), a Virginia Rail and a family of Red tailed Hawks plus a half dozen Common Ravens flying past.  Video of the Great Blue Herons being fed can be found below:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/27328554724/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/27328692184/in/dateposted-public/
UPDATE on crossbills:  I got an e-mail back from Matt saying the bird(s) were either Type 1 or Type 2 Red Crossbills but the recording was not good enough to figure out which one of the two.  I have had both of these types in the area before in previous years.

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 27, 2016

Chimney Swift, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 27, 2016

Chimney Swift, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 27, 2016

Chimney Swifts, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 27, 2016

Raccoon, Quabbin Park, MA, June 27, 2016

I then decided to head to Quabbin Park in the hopes of catching up with more crossbills in areas I have had them there in the past (no luck with them despite much effort). Before hitting the park itself I stopped at Winsor Dam where I rediscovered the male Lesser Scaup back again after a nearly two week absence. I had last seen the bird at the dam on June 14 but it had not been present during several visits over the last several days. I figured it had moved on or been eaten but neither outcome seems to be the case. If will be interesting to see how long it stays...it is pushing toward two months now. The Chimney Swifts at the admin building have grown in number to a dozen and put on quite a show as they flew around catching insects and occasionally dropping into he chimney. My trip to a few spots within the park didn't turn up anything unexpected. I also ran across a Raccoon that looked really ratty and seemed a bit unsteady....perhaps a rabid individual or sick with some other disease.

Barred Owl, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, June 26, 2016

Ruffed Grouse, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, June 26, 2016

Black billed Cuckoo, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, June 26, 2016

Yellow Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, June 26, 2016

Black Bear, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, June 26, 2016

Purple Finch, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, June 26, 2016

Red eyed Vireo, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, June 26, 2016

Yellow throated Vireo, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, June 26, 2016

Yesterday I made the trip up to Prescott Peninsula to complete another series of field surveys and had a banner day of birding. I was also on the lookout for other unusual species up that way that I have seen in the past there including Red Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak and Cerulean Warbler (missed on all three of those once again). Highlights included a couple of vocal Barred Owls at one of my stops, at least seven Ruffed Grouse (a single adult plus another adult with young), a flyby Common Raven, Species of warblers and a couple of House Finches (quite unusual on the peninsula). Ended the morning with a total of 68 species of birds. Notable among the mammals I saw was a Black Bear that was walking through the woods. Full list from the morning attached below:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30400605

American Crows, home, Belchertown, MA, June 25, 2016

American Crows, home, Belchertown, MA, June 25, 2016

Another species showed up at the water feature on the 25th...American Crows...lots of photos of them as they checked out the water and moved some stones around.