First week of August sets me on a record pace for the month in Hampshire County

Solitary Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton, Aug 7, 2025

Orchard Oriole, Great Pond, Hatfield, Aug 7, 2025

Wood Ducks, Great Pond, Hatfield, Aug 7, 2025

Mink, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 7, 2025

Greater Yellowlegs, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Aug 6, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 5, 2025

Gray Catbird, Ware, MA, Aug 4, 2025

Yellow Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 4, 2025

Cedar Waxwing with nest material, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 4, 2025

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley/South Hadley, MA, Aug 3, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley/South Hadley, MA, Aug 3, 2025

Dark eyed Junco, Skinner SP, Hadley/South Hadley, MA, Aug 3, 2025

Canada Warbler, Pelham, MA, Aug 2, 2025

Grasshopper Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 2, 2025

The first week of August has now come to an end and it has been a productive week with a total of 138 species in Hampshire County (my highest total ever for the first week of August...previous best was 137 in 2023 and I had my best August that year with 166 species!) and I managed to do this as I nurse some ongoing back pain.  Getting out walking helps and I have taken advantage of my time outside.  I have found a number of unusual species as well as lingering species that usually have headed off to the south already.  Highlights have included a dozen species of shorebirds (including a White rumped Sandpiper), Bonaparte's Gull, Marsh Wren, Grasshopper Sparrow, a few late Orchard Orioles, 18 species of warblers including a couple late Cerulean Warblers and a Blue Grosbeak.  The Connecticut River north of the Holyoke Dam has featured mudflats for a few days due to the water lever being lowered to have some work done on the dam.  Shorebirds have shown up along the river and although nothing too unusual it is great to see shorebirds away from the few flooded small ponds in the fields along the river.  This is now prime season for an unusual wader to show up during post breeding dispersal plus the peak of Green Herons in the area.  

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

May comes to an end

Glossy Ibis, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, May 1, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 1, 2024

Canada Goose goslings, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 2, 2024

Ruffed Grouse, Quabbin Park, MA, May 6, 2024

Orange crowned Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2024

Mourning Dove nest with young, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 10, 2024

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 10, 2024

Baltimore Oriole, Quabbin Park, MA, May 13, 2024

White eyed Vireo, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2024

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024

Blue Jay carrying nest material, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024

Prothonotary Warbler, Bachelor Brook Conservation Area, South Hadley, MA, May 18, 2024

Canada Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2024

Red Crossbill, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024

Tennessee Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024

Peregrine Falcon, Yard species #174, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 20, 2024

Carolina Wren fledgling, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 21, 2024

Wild Turkey, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2024

Eastern Bluebird nest with eggs, Home, MA, May 25, 2024

American Woodcock, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 25, 2024

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 27, 2024

Dusted Skipper, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 28, 2024

Wilson enjoying the sun, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 28, 2024

Tree Swallow with leg bands, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 31, 2024

The big migration month of May has now come to an end and it was a decent migration with the best results from those early arriving and those arriving during the peak through mid month.  Later season migrants (Olive sided Flycatcher, Swainson's Thrush, Mourning Warbler, etc) were very low in number and my thoughts as to why include that many just flew right on past thanks to great migration conditions and/or the species mainly avoided the general area.  Despite not being able to make it up to a few of the higher elevations and more rugged trails due to my back injury I still did as well as I could given my limitations and ended the month with 174 species in the county (which is about average for me the last several years).  I know I could have added a few more species if I visited more areas but it was just not to be this year.  Highlights for the month in the county included a pair of Common Goldeneyes that stayed through the end of the month at Quabbin, Least Bittern, Glossy Ibis, White eyed Vireo, Sedge Wren, a record setting 31 species of warblers including Prothonotary Warbler, two Orange crowned Warblers and Hooded Warbler as well as the Blue Grosbeaks returning to breed for another year.  I also added a new yard species (#174) when a Peregrine Falcon flew overhead.  Thankfully I was feeling better as the month wore on but still not up to making steep hikes but I was able to complete my first Eastern Whip Poor Will survey and the annual bird survey at Poverty Mountain.  So far for the year I stand at 206 for Hampshire County which is my lowest total year to date since 2017 and this is largely due to lack of being able to chase a few rarities and a very slow season for shorebirds.  It will not be a record setting year for me.  I also managed to find at least 100 species every day for the entire month in the county, something I have never been able to do before and I managed this without being able to get to spots I would normally have gone to.  A silver lining to walking a lot everyday to make my back loosen up a bit.