November ends with cold weather and a dusting of snow

Northern Harrier, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2024

White throated Sparrow, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2024

Common Grackles, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2024

Black Vulture, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 26, 2024

Field Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 26, 2024

The month of November has now come to an end and the weather continues to get progressively colder and I get progressively more inclined to leave to warmer locations.  We actually got a dusting of snow in the valley overnight (thankfully we avoided the several inches of snow the hilltowns got on Thanksgiving).  I ended the month here in Hampshire County with 112 species, which is around average over the last several years.  I have caught up with a few lingering species to close out the month but nothing really unusual.  Vultures of both species continue to show in good numbers and mixed flocks of blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles and starlings can be found near some of the farm fields along the river and sparrows populate various weedy fields and edges.

End of May

Song Sparrow, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 23, 2023

Common Grackle carrying food, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 23, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 23, 2023

Wild Turkey with poults, Quabbin Park, MA, May 24, 2023

Baltimore Orioles, Quabbin Park, MA, May 26, 2023

American Redstart on nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 26, 2023

Great Blue Heron, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 29, 2023

Tree Swallow nest box destroyed by bear, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 30, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 30, 2023

Wilson enjoying some sun therapy, Home, May 30, 2023

Osprey, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

Black throated Blue Warbler with unusual plumage, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

Cedar Waxwings, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

May has now come to an end and with it the peak of spring of migration.  It is a great month to be out and about enjoying new arrivals most days.  I concentrated on warblers for the month and didn't spend much time checking any habitat that would not have warblers and I didn't really chase rarities (which there were few of anyway).  With all this in mind I had my lowest species total in Hampshire County since 2012 with just 166 species (My best May here was back in 2021 when I had an amazing 180 species for the month).  Although I didn't set out to do so when birding the last few weeks I managed to get what is probably my longest stretch of consecutive days in Hampshire County with at least 100 species.  The streak ran from May 11 until May 24 (I'm sure I could have continued the streak through the end of the month if I didn't have to go back to work on the 25th).  My biggest day overall was May 15 with 119 species and I certainly could have added several species with just a little more effort.  It speaks to the diversity of migration here that one can reach 100 species everyday for weeks with some effort. 

As the migration season slows down I enter bird survey season for me.  On Memorial Day I took part in the 18th annual bird survey up at Kevin and Cynthia's land in the corner of Amherst, Shutesbury and Pelham.  I have taken part for most of those 18 years.  They own a total of 325 acres with a mix of habitats.  It is always a treat to explore the beautiful property that they manage with birds first and foremost in their minds.  I arrived there around 7AM after doing a little birding elsewhere.  This year Kevin invited any members of the Hampshire Bird Club to take part in the survey.  Although we had some decent number of expected species diversity was down a bit from previous years with a total of 55 species.  Some areas of the woods were surprisingly quiet for late May.

Smoky sunset, Quabbin Park, MA, May 30, 2023

I conducted my first Eastern Whip Poor Will survey on the 30th and the conditions were perfect with clear skies and calm winds.  A little wildfire smoke that arrived from Nova Scotia right around sunset didn't have much impact beyond making for some neat sunset photos.  I have whip poor wills at 8 out of 10 stops with the vast majority within Quabbin Park (as usual).  I had a total of 20 Eastern Whip Poor Wills over the entire course of the route (passive listening at each stop for six minutes with stops separated by approximately one mile).  I hope to complete my second survey route tonight on the restricted access Prescott Peninsula.

YELLOW THROATED WARBLER in Sunderland!

Yellow throated Warbler, Mt Toby State Forest, Sunderland, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Yellow throated Warbler, Mt Toby State Forest, Sunderland, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Yellow throated Warbler, Mt Toby State Forest, Sunderland, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Late yesterday I saw a report of a Yellow throated Warbler that was seen in Sunderland by Mason W. and he was able to get some photos.  I typically would not venture out of Hampshire County for a bird but for a very rare warbler I decided to make an exception.  After a brief stop at Winsor Dam I started the drive up to Mt. Toby State Forest in Sunderland to try my luck in finding the bird.  Relocating rare warblers can be a bit frustrating and many times the bird is not relocated.  I hoped that the less than optimal migration conditions overnight would keep the bird in the area.  I arrived and started walking the road and within a short time I heard an odd song that I was almost certain was the target and after a bit of looking I had some distant looks in bad light.  The bird was very active and singing fairly often (a bit of an odd song compared to other Yellow throated Warblers I have heard but the species is quite variable in its song).  I got some recordings and then spent some time trying to get better looks and some photos.  I eventually had the bird work down lower as I was in an elevated spot and I got some decent photos.  After its brief decent down lower it went back up to the upper parts of the trees and continued to sing even as I was leaving.  Worth the trip out of the county to see the bird for sure.  I have only had one other sighting of the species in the state and that was a bird coming to a feeder in Worcester that I saw on Christmas Eve 2020 during the height of the pandemic when I could not travel out of the country in the winter.  Although a bit more of a common vagrant on the coast inland records of Yellow throated Warblers are very sparse with only a handful of records in western mass ever recorded, totally perhaps a dozen ever.  For more details on the sighting, the background of the species in western mass and even more photos go to the following link: Yellow throated Warbler.  If one does go up to Sunderland to try for the bird please do not use playback as there is always the chance the male there could attract a mate and try to breed in the area.  To see the bird you just need a little patience and eventually you will be rewarded with looks (assuming it stick around).

Common Grackle, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' and Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Black capped Chickadee excavating nest hole, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 20, 2023

Chipping Sparrow, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 20, 2023

After seeing the Yellow throated Warbler I hit a few other spots on my way back home including the rail trail in Amherst and Lake Wallace.  While I was out on the rail trail I saw that an experienced birder had another sighting of a Yellow throated Warbler down at Stebbins in southern Hampden County.  I certainly kept an eye and ear out for another one during my above mentioned stops as well as others during the morning but no luck.  Having two Yellow throated Warblers in the valley at the same time is without precedent and I'm certain there are others out there just waiting to be found.  I would encourage everyone to get out over the next couple days (at least) to look and listen for a Yellow throated Warbler...especially in Hampshire County!  I would be forever in ones debt if they find one in the county and I get to see it.

A warm second week of April

Hooded Merganser, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Beaver, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Great Egret, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Common Grackle, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 14, 2023

We have enjoyed some well above average temperatures for the second week of April overall with two days in the upper 80's to 90 to end the week (breaking a record both yesterday and today).  The warm temps came in thanks to some southwest and west winds on a few of those days.  Although my cold continued to linger throughout the week the warmer temperatures with ample sun certainly helped and I was back to feeling good the last couple days.  Last night seemed like a decent night for early season migrants but I needed to be realistic with expectations as it is only mid April and many longer distant migrants are still not even in the US yet.  I realistically hoped for a very early Black and White Warbler (my earliest date in the county is April 17th...more on early/late dates for warblers for me at the following link) and perhaps early House Wrens and/or Blue headed Vireos...I missed on these (today others did have the first House Wrens and Blue headed Vireos to show up in the valley).  I was up before dawn and decided to try for a record early Eastern Whip Poor Will at Quabbin but no luck with that (my earliest date in the county was also April 17th and usually they don't show until the last week of April).  Winsor Dam had a decent selection of waterfowl with half a dozen species present plus a high count for Fish Crows with at least 11...a species that is becoming more and more common every year.  I then headed over to the rail trail in Amherst, then back to Quabbin Park, Lake Wallace and a couple other spots in Belchertown to look for passerines.  Nothing unusual but a nice showing of multiple sparrow species, Ruby crowned Kinglets as well as Palm Warblers and others.  I suspect more early species will be found over the next few days as more people get out birding this weekend.  I suspect an unusual wader (like a Glossy Ibis or Snowy Egret) will show up as well as hopefully some passerines.  I'm at a record setting pace for April so far in the county with 114 species...the average for me at this point from the last five years would be about 103 species...it will be interesting to see how the second half of the month pans out.  We will have a bit of a cool down and some rain through the weekend into early next week and then another slight warm up.

Tree Swallow, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 13, 2023

American Robin, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 13, 2023

Red tailed Hawk, Slobody Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Apr 13, 2023

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Slobody Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Apr 13, 2023

Wilson says it is already too hot!, Belchertown, MA, Apr 13, 2023

Yesterday broke a temperature record with a high of 86 and solid sun all day.  I had a dentist appointment at 9 so was only able to be out for a few hours but I made the most of it.  I stopped at a few spots in Amherst in the hopes of turning up some more early migrants but didn't find anything too unusual although it was obvious that some new birds came in overnight.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 12, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 12, 2023

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 12, 2023

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 12, 2023

Wednesday was a very windy day with temps that made it to the 70's.  I started out local with trips to Winsor Dam and Lake Wallace before taking another walk along the rail trail.  The numbers of Yellow rumped Warblers were the highest so far for the spring and Palm Warblers were around in double digit counts.  The best bird of the day was an early Blue gray Gnatcatcher when I was out walking with Wilson later in the morning.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2023

Canada Goose on nest, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2023

Louisiana Waterthrush, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 11, 2023

Louisiana Waterthrush, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 11, 2023

On Tuesday it started cool but warmed up nicely by the afternoon. I stopped at a few spots in Hadley and Amherst including Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River (where I got my first Brown Thrasher for the year), some farm fields in Amherst where I had a/the intergrade Green winged Teal (lots more on the various Green winged Teal at the following link), a stop along the river in Hadley and then the rail trail in Amherst.  It was also the first time since last fall when I have had four species of warbler in the county in a morning.

Blue winged Teal, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Apr 10, 2023

Wilson in the sun, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 10, 2023

After work on Monday I stopped by Great Pond and had some good stuff including an American Bittern flyover and at least half a dozen Blue winged Teal as well as at least 112 Green winged Teal (a really great spring for the species around here).  Some flooded fields in Amherst had a decent selection of shorebirds with five species.

American Wigeon, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 8, 2023

On Saturday morning I got out of work and headed straight home as I was still not feeling great but did make a brief detour to Lake Wallace.

An update on the duck boxes and other happenings around the house can be found at the following link.