October Big Day yesterday

Dawn, Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Northern Flicker, Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

White throated Sparrow, Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail,, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Black Bear, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Northern Water Snake, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Woodchuck, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Yesterday was the annual October Big Day (as well as the one month mark from losing Wilson) and with fantastic weather (despite a cold start in the 40's) I spent all morning out tracking down birds (focusing on warblers but checking out everything).  I covered areas from Amherst back to Belchertown and found a total of 63 species with the notable species being a couple late warbler species (Magnolia Warbler and Cape May Warbler).  It was a stunningly beautiful morning with a fantastic sunrise and loads of sunshine with little wind until later in the morning.  Beyond the birds I had some mammal and reptile sightings along the way.

Two great nights of migration brings in loads of birds

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Red eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Turkey Vultures, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Sandhill Cranes, Arcadia, Easthampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Lincoln's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Savannah Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Swamp Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Lincoln's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Blue headed Vireo, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Gray Catbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

After a record setting warm up for the first two days of the month the last two nights have featured big nights of migration with millions of birds on the move.  Yesterday was fantastic with three hours at Arcadia producing almost 75 species and I added several more before the morning was over.  A bit of a breeze picked up around 9 and the activity trailed off quickly but not before having 87 species.  I have a feeling I could have made it to 100 species if the conditions had remained calm and I hit a couple more spots.  There were a few rarities as well as lingering species. Today was not quite as productive with overcast conditions and morning fog hampering birding a bit.  Nonetheless it was still a good morning with a few new species and more lingering species.  I continued to mainly concentrate on warblers and more on those over the last couple days can be found at the following link.

A brief warm up for the first couple days of October

Lincoln's Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 2, 2026

Brown Thrasher, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 2, 2026

Green Heron, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 2, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 2, 2026

Barred Owl, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Mallards, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Hermit Thrush, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 1, 2026

After many days of rain and below normal temps we finally got some warmer temps the last couple days with the low 70's yesterday and a record setting mid 80's today to kick off October.  With the arrival of a new month I was out early to add species and I hit a number of areas in Amherst and Belchertown yesterday.  I had a few slightly late species yesterday including Green Heron, Common Nighthawk, Northern Yellow Warbler and Cape May Warbler as well as a few flyover Red Crossbills.  By the end of the day I had a total of 79 species...a decent start to the month.  Today I started off my day at Silvio Conte NWR in Hadley and then onto some spots in Amherst and Belchertown.  The wind today made it tough tracking down some birds.  Nonetheless I added 13 more species for the month.  Tonight the winds should switch around to the north after a cold front moves through and hopefully gets more species migrating into the area.  

A big warm up and multiple nights of good migration conditions

Purple Martin and Tree Swallows, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Northern Cardinal with nest material, Bachelor Brook Conservation Area, South Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Mourning Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Gray cheeked Thrush, Belchertown, MA, May 19, 2026

Raccoon swimming, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2026

Lawrence's Warbler, Hardwick, MA, May 18, 2026

Gray Catbird, Ware, MA, May 18, 2026

Butterfly species, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2026

Blue gray Gnatcatcher constructing nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2026

Rainbow Scarab, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2026

Solitary Sandpiper, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Tree Swallow with nest material, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Hooded Merganser eggs in duck box #2, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 17, 2026

We have had multiple nights of great migration conditions thanks to southerly winds that also ushered in record setting temps in the 90's.  As expected I have been out as much as I can each morning before returning to take the Wilson for his required walk.  Even with some species still moving through to points to the north breeding activity around here is in full swing with the first waterfowl young out and about and many species collecting nesting material and building nests.  I have added several new species for the year in the county as well as some rarities.  The highlights included Purple Martin, Gray cheeked Thrush, Yellow breasted Chat, two new species of warbler for the year as part of my warbler big year in the US and a Lawrence's Warbler.  Migration has now peaked at this point and now we begin the downhill slide of another spring migration.