Drive through New Mexico yields a few self found rarities and other species -April 11th

Lucy's Warbler, Mesilla Valley Bosque SP, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 11, 2026

Northern Parula, Mesilla Valley Bosque SP, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 11, 2026

Gambel's Quail, Mesilla Valley Bosque SP, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 11, 2026

Say's Phoebe, Mesilla Valley Bosque SP, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 11, 2026

Say's Phoebe on nest, Mesilla Valley Bosque SP, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 11, 2026

Mexican Duck, Mesilla Valley Bosque SP, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 11, 2026

Crissal Thrasher, Mesilla Valley Bosque SP, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 11, 2026

Mountains, Mesilla Valley Bosque SP, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 11, 2026

 

Cinnamon Teal (with American Wigeon and Black necked Stilt), West Mesa WTP, Las Cruces, NM, Apr 11, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Mountain View Cemetery, Deming, NM, Apr 11, 2026

Cassin's Vireo, Mountain View Cemetery, Deming, NM, Apr 11, 2026

After getting to bed early after a long day of hiking I was up early on Saturday to start the long drive toward Arizona with a stop in New Mexico on the way. The first few hours of driving was in the dark on some truly desolate roads…I had less than ten vehicles come by me in the opposite direction in those first couple hours. My plan for the day was to make it to Los Cruces to go to Mesilla Valley Bosque SP to try my luck in tracking down a Lucy’s Warbler for the year. The trip was fairly smooth with only one traffic tie up that didn’t last too long and I made it to the park a little after 8AM (the area is another hour behind from home compared to the hour behind in most of Texas). My legs were still hurting so I had to move slow as I searched for the warbler. As I had never visited New Mexico before even common species were new for me in the state. After about an hour of looking I heard a Lucy’s Warbler singing in an area of mesquite trees and I got some looks at it and some distant photos. There may have been as many as three but there were certainly at least two individuals. I also had a brief look at an Orange crowned Warbler that just wanted to stay hidden. I then spent time waiting to get better photos of the Lucy’s Warblers and right after getting a few photos I heard a very familiar song. I heard what sounded like a very quiet song of a Northern Parula, an eastern species that should not be at the location. I got a crappy recording and then eventually got looks at it to confirm I was not hallucinating. It was indeed a stunning male Northern Parula and it was fairly cooperative for photos (at least as far as warblers go). It appears to be one of the few records in the state for the entire year so certainly a rarity. By the time I left the park to continue my journey I had seen 29 species at the park. I took an early break for lunch nearby and then visited a small waste water treatment plant nearby to add some waterfowl and shorebirds for my New Mexico list. I then started the hour drive to my Airbnb in Deming around 11:30AM. I still had a few hours free before I could check in to my Airbnb so I decided to bird at Mountain View Cemetery in Deming. It looked like it had potential as it contained quite a few well watered mature trees in an otherwise desert landscape and my thoughts were confirmed when I found another rarity for the day. This time it was a female Black throated Green Warbler, another eastern warbler species that is quite unusual in New Mexico. I also added another Orange crowned Warbler as well as at least two Yellow rumped Warblers (both Myrtle subspecies). A total of five warbler species for the day with two rarities plus another new warbler species for the year made for a great day (more in depth look at warblers at the following link.  My New Mexico list grew from zero to 55.  Full trip list here: New Mexico trip list.

Sunday would be the last day of making long drives and I was up well before dawn again (an advantage to keeping my body on east coast time). My final destination would be an Airbnb in Green Valley, Arizona where I would be spending three nights. I had a few ideas on what to do with my day before arriving at my lodging and I settled on driving directly to Mount Lemmon with the goal of potentially tracking down the last three warbler targets for the trip (Grace’s Warbler, Virginia’s Warbler and Red faced Warbler).

Another birding program completed, closing of the water feature, a dangerous storm in the Caribbean and some late species

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 24, 2025

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 23, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 23, 2025

Swamp Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 23, 2025

Savannah Sparrow, Aqua Vitae Road, Hadley, MA, Oct 23, 2025

Common Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 22, 2025

Common Loons, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 22, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2025

Nothing too noteworthy for species the last few days as we continue into the fourth week of October and the weather continues to cool down (although I have had a few late species).  I did complete my second presentation to a birding group in the last two weeks with a program for the bird club at Smith College last night on "Birding in the late fall and winter in the valley".  This follows my program at the Hampshire Bird Club (Endemic Warblers of the Caribbean) on the 14th.  I have actually really enjoyed putting together programs and presenting them.  They have been well received and well attended and I look forward to doing more in the future. 

The forecast shows northerly winds for the next few days with cooling temps before the arrival of some rain to end out the month of October and I suspect this will push in some late fall waterfowl. Elsewhere in the world a tropical system (currently a TS named Melissa) sits in the Caribbean south of Jamaica and is likely to strengthen into a major hurricane but move very little for days and will be devastating to Jamacia, Haiti and likely Cuba with high winds, extremely heavy rain and storm surge.  Not a good scenario for wildlife or people in the above mentioned areas. 

I also closed up the water feature at the house today as winter closes in.  The last capture on the camera was a White throated Sparrow which seems an appropriate species to end with.

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.

Snowy Egret this morning plus several other waders

Snowy Egret, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Snowy Egret, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Snowy Egret and Great Blue Heron, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron and Great Egret, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Great Egret and Great Blue Heron, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Green Heron, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Belted Kingfisher, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 9, 2025

White tailed Deer fawn, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Golden crowned Kinglet, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Great Egret, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Green Herons, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Wood Ducks, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2025

It has been a good few days for various wader species in the area with the highlight by far being a Snowy Egret that Theresa found yesterday and I was able to relocate early this morning.  I was up early and out the door to make a trip over to Lower Mill Pond in Easthampton.  I was there before sunrise and was rewarded with a flyby Black crowned Night Heron, which I was never able to relocate on the ground (almost certainly the same individual Theresa also found yesterday).  As I waited for the sun to rise a Great Egret flew in to join the Great Blue Herons and Green Herons already present.  The Great Egret was immediately followed by the Snowy Egret (five waders in perhaps 15 minutes...not bad at all in the valley!).  I got a number of digiscoped shots in the morning light.  I also checked Arcadia and the Holyoke Dam before heading back toward home with a stop off at Lake Wallace.  Yesterday I had my first Great Egret since spring time and also had my highest count so far this year of Green Herons at Lake Wallace with an impressive 31 individuals.   

I also spent some time yesterday exploring at Gate 8 at Quabbin in the quest to track down Red Crossbills and Golden crowned Kinglets for the month and I happily was quite successful with both species present as well as other species. 

In the last few weeks I have a total of eight species of waders with the most unusual among them being White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Least Bittern and the Snowy Egret.  I also had American Bittern in the spring and missed on a Little Blue Heron that showed up when I was unable to chase it...so a very good year for waders so far.

Hermit Thrush, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 7, 2025

Red winged Blackbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 7, 2025

Baltimore Oriole and American Robin, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 7, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Black capped Chickadee, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 6, 2025

 

Northern Flicker, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 6, 2025

The camera at the water feature has captured quite a few species in the last.....days with a few new ones of the year. I have attached just a small sample of the many photos captured.