September comes to an end

Yellow crowned Night Heron, Lake Warner, Hadley, MA, Sep 26, 2018

Baird's Sandpiper, Hatfield, MA, Sep 1, 2018

Yellow breasted Chat, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 2, 2018

Clay colored Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 19, 2018

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 23, 2018

Lincoln's Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 26, 2018

American Kestrels, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 26, 2018

Philadelphia Vireo, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 22, 2018

Dickcissel, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018

Brown Thrasher, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 14, 2018

American Golden Plover, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2018

Wilson's Snipe, Hadley, MA, Sep 18, 2018

Bobolink, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2018

Marsh Wren, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Sep 30, 2018

September has now come to an end and it was an epic month of birding around here despite a number of rainy days.  I blew away any previous September total for species in the county, ending the month with 164 species (average for the last five years was 155 species).  The biggest highlight of the month was a Yellow crowned Night Heron that I eventually caught up with after quite a bit of looking (and kayaking).  The heron added a new species for my county life list, bringing that total up to 295.  There were a number of other notable species for the month including a Baird's Sandpiper, Yellow breasted Chat, Pine Siskin, Clay colored Sparrow, several Dickcissel, Black crowned Night Heron, Whimbrel, White rumped Sandpiper and Marsh Wren.  Shorebirds were around in decent variety with fifteen species total for the month.  Warblers also gave a good showing with 27 species with several notables (more on warblers for the month at the follow link).  Sparrows have just started to show up in force and the numbers and variety should increase as October begins. With all of these species I found myself ahead of any other year in the county at this point so I think I will try a bit to see if I can break my big year record for Hampshire County (my current best is 238 in 2016).  I'm currently at 232 for the year with at least a few more relatively expected species to go and lots of potential for rarities as fall turns to winter.

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2018

Ruby cfrowned Kinglet, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2018

Bay breasted Warbler and banded House Wren, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 19, 2018

The house game cameras captured two new species at the water feature in September (Bay breasted Warbler and Ruby crowned Kinglet...species #43 and #44).  The camera near the brook captured my first ever Bobcat...in the middle of the day no less!

Another morning visit to Arcadia and the Honey Pot and the latest on Hurricane Matthew

Savannah Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Field Sparrow, Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 7, 2016

White crowned Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Northern Harrier, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Song Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Swamp Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Bobolink, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2016

I birded a bit after getting out of work this morning and although it once again started out a bit cool (40's) and foggy it eventually turned sunny and warmed up into the mid 70's...very nice for early October to be sure.  I started off at Arcadia and the best bird by far was a Connecticut Warbler along the trolley line and in the same spot I also had a couple Northern Parula.  Still decent sparrow numbers and diversity but the total numbers were down from a few days ago.  My next stop over at the Honey Pot also produced good numbers and diversity of sparrow but nothing too unusual.  A total of ten species of sparrows and five species of warbler for the morning.  Full lists with lots more photos attached below.

Arcadia:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31930640

Honey Pot:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31930642

Hurricane Matthew projected path, Oct 7, 2016 (NHC)

Hurricane Matthew continues its trek up along the Florida coast after striking the Bahamas as a category 4 storm and likely causing some major damage.  I hope everyone (bird, animal and human) in the path makes it through without any major difficulty.  As far as hurricane related birds so far the best report I have heard so far was a Mangrove Swallow spotted in Florida (Curry Hammock SP in the keys) by a couple very experienced birdes.  I'm certain additional unusual birds will be reported from the southeast over the coming days as the storm works up to South Carolina and then goes out to sea and continues to weaken.

Little Blue Heron again, lots of other herons/egrets and the fifth anniversary of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene

Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 27, 2016

Great Egret and Raccoon, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 27, 2016

Dawn, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2016

Bobolink, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 27, 2016

On Saturday morning I made a quick check of the river and turned up a three Great Egrets viewed from North Lane. A brief run through the fields of the Honey Pot didn't turn up any shorebirds but I didn't look in too many spots. I had about 45 minutes to try for some other stuff before going to work so I headed to Arcadia. I scanned the Oxbow and didn't turn up too much and the fog was thick in spots. I was thinking of heading over to Lower Mill Pond once again to check for shorebirds but I decided instead to stay at Arcadia and spend a little more time checking a few areas in greater detail. I walked out though one of the fields to check Ned's Ditch for any waders and I was glad I did. In a relatively small area of low water and mud I had a large gathering of waders that reminded me more of Florida then around here. I only had a few minutes to scan through but in that time I totaled up the following: 19 Great Blue Herons, 21 Great Egrets and 4 Green Herons. There were also a number of Wood Ducks and Raccoons enjoying the feast.

Little Blue Heron and Great Egret, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Aug 28, 2016

Little Blue Heron and Great Egret, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Aug 28, 2016

Little Blue Heron, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Aug 28, 2016

Great Egrets, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 28, 2016

Great Blue Heron, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 28, 2016

Great Egrets, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 28, 2016

Green Heron, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 28, 2016

After work on Sunday morning I immediately headed back to Arcadia to spend a little more time checking out the gathering of waders I had yesterday and I turned up even more birds this morning with 24 Great Blue Herons, 23 Great Egrets and 7 Green Herons. I tried to find something even more unusual among them (like a Snowy Egret or nigh heron) but no luck. Given the large numbers of waders there I almost expect something unusual to show up.  I was very tired from work but wanted to make a brief check at the Holyoke Dam and I was glad I did as I turned up an immature Little Blue Heron once again (likely the same bird I had there a week ago). I got much better looks at it this time as it flew up river and landed a couple hundred feet north of me along the rivers edge. I also had eight Great Egrets and 11 Great Blue Herons. The numbers of Great Egrets continue to impress with at least 31 present at my two stops. With dozens being seen further south along the river it makes me wonder once again how many there are in the entire valley now....a hundred, maybe more?


Although I have posted about it extensively in the past I will once again mention Tropcial Storm Irene as it hit here five years ago today. It was a truly epic day of birding and one I will never forget (full list from day here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S8750565 ). The hurricane season is approaching the most active period historically so I will keep my eyes on anything that might have an impact here. As of today there are a number of tropical systems at varying levels of development but none will have any impact

Cerulean Warbler at nest plus the continued Lesser Scaup and other sightings this past week

Cerulean Warbler feeding nestlings, Skinner SP,  Hadley, MA, June 10, 2016

Cerulean Warbler feeding nestlings, Skinner SP,  Hadley, MA, June 10, 2016

Cerulean Warbler feeding nestlings, Skinner SP,  Hadley, MA, June 10, 2016

Cerulean Warbler at nest, Skinner SP,  Hadley, MA, June 10, 2016

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP,  Hadley, MA, June 10, 2016

Bobolink, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, June 10, 2016

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 10, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 10, 2016

Today on my day off I ranged widely between Quabbin and the Connecticut River and caught up with a decent selection of birds.  I started and ended at Quabbin with additional stops in Hadley including the river, honey pot, Skinner SP plus a few other spots.  One of the best birds of the morning was a late Northern Parula near the summit at Skinner SP.  I managed a total of twenty species of warblers (about as high a count as you can get in June around here) over the course of the morning with all the expected species including a Cerulean Warbler feeding recently hatched nestlings at Skinner.  It was neat to watch the activity at the nest through the scope.  There were also at least two males singing nearby so at least seven Cerulean Warblers were in the area.  Beyond the birds another notable sighting included a large numbers of caterpillars that have nearly denuded some trees at Quabbin right along the water near Goodnough Dike.  It was odd to see almost no leaves left on some large trees and a near constant rain of leaf pieces and caterpillars.

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 6, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 6, 2016

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 6, 2016

Black Vulture, Hadley, MA, June 6, 2016

Black Vultures, Hadley, MA, June 6, 2016

Vesper Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, June 6, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 7, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 8, 2016

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 8, 2016

Black Vulture, Hadley, MA, June 8, 2016

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 9, 2016

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, June 9, 2016

Earlier this week I made a variety of stops on my to and from work this week and caught up with the continued male Lesser Sacup at Winsor Dam as well as two Black Vultures at their roost in Hadley and up to five Vesper Sparrows at the Honey Pot.

Gray Catbird on nest, home, Belchertown, MA, June 7, 2016

House Wren with bands, home, Belchertown, MA, June 7, 2016

American Robin with bands, home, Belchertown, MA, June 7, 2016

At home I continue to see a few of the birds that got banded recently plus the Gray Catbird still sitting on its nest (this individual may be fitted with a geo tracker but still waiting to here back about this).