Common Mergansers, Gate 16, September 26, 2010
Common Merganser, Gate 16, September 26, 2010

Common Loons, Gate 16, September 26,2010

Nashville Warbler, Gate 16, September 26, 2010

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Gate 10, September 26, 2010

I made another trip up to the western gates of Quabbin this morning starting at dawn at Gate 22. Despite the cool temps in the high 40's birds were active. I had Wood, Swainsons and Hermit Thrush here plus the best bird of the day, a Cape May Warbler. In addition I had several other warbler species, calling Common Loons and Barred Owl plus a nice influx of White throated Sparrows and Junco's. I next went to Gate 16 and walked to the water. I had some close looks at both Common Mergansers and Common Loons at the end of the road. In addition a Nashville Warbler plus others made themselves visible even if only for a brief time. It appears alot of warblers and vireos moved out last night to be replaced by sparrows and thrushes. My next stop at Gate 10 produced many of the same species as seen earlier in the morning but again I got some great looks at various migrants. My final stop at Reed Conservation area produced a few more migrants plus a handful of raptors overhead including a Bald Eagle being pursued by a pair of Red tailed hawks plus an Osprey. At home the raptors continued during the afternoon with a single eight bird Broad winged Hawk kettle noted plus an American Kestrel, Cooper's and Sharp shinned Hawks, Turkey Vulture and an intriguing falcon that went out of view shortly after being seen.

Hermit Thrush, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, September 26, 2010

Quabbin Gates 22, 16 and 11 and Quabbin Park and a sad milestone

Northern Parula, Gate 22

I started another trip to Quabbin at Gate 22 this morning and ran into some migrants just down the hill from the gate. The birds here included my first of season Lincoln Sparrow, Nashville Warbler, half a dozen Northern Parula's, and eight other species of warblers. A bit further down the road I had a Cooper's Hawk being harassed by Blue Jays, a few very vocal Red breasted Nuthatch's and a Ruffed Grouse that rocketed out of the underbrush deeper into the forest. I wanted to try my luck at Gate 16 before the predicted rain arrived. Despite alot of looking I only managed to turn up a handful of warblers here and none in any groups. I then tried my luck at Gate 11 and after a half mile with little activity I decided I would make the run down to Quabbin Park to check to see if activity there was any better. Although the sky looked threatening it never did more than drizzle a few times. After a few stops turned up little beyond a still singing Prairie Warbler I ran into a nice active group of species near the blueberry patch road. This group included a couple Scarlet Tanagers, a Baltimore Oriole, eight species of warbler including Nashville, Blackpoll and Ovenbird, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, five Eastern Wood Pewee's, a half dozen Eastern Phoebe's, a few House Wrens and other usual. I also managed to turn up Wood Thrush, Swainson's Thrush and Hermit Thrush in various locations. Overall a fairly productive morning considering the low clouds, cool temps and slight breeze.

Today is also a sad day. It has now been six months since I lost my good dog, best buddy and frequent birding companion Kody. He is missed.

Gates 22, 16 and 11

Philadelphia Vireo, Gate 11, September 5, 2010

I made yet another early morning trip up the west side of Quabbin. I began this morning at dawn at Gate 22. My first sighting of the morning was a large bull Moose that crossed my path a couple times before heading off into the woods. The light was not good enough for photos. I walked down the road to the water and was greeted there by a few shorebirds foraging along the shoreline. A pair of Semipalmated Plovers fed quite close to me as they worked the shoreline going south. In addition I had a flyby Greater Yellowlegs and a couple Spotted Sandpipers. I managed a total of five Common Loons with one calling a few times. Just before I started my walk back up the hill from the water I spotted a mother deer with fawn swimming across the reservoir. The woods along the way held a few mixed species flocks with the highlights being a Yellow throated Vireo, my first Northern Parula of the season and two Tennessee Warblers together. I also had a fairly high total of five Veery's on this stop. A pair of juvenile Yellow bellied Sapsuckers rounded out the highlights

Semipalmated Plover, Gate 22, September 5, 2010

Semipalmated Plovers, Gate 22, September 5, 2010

My next stop was at Gate 16 which held a few nice birds including a total of nine warbler species including another Northern Parula, plus another Yellow throated Vireo. The breeze continued to pick up so I decided to move down to Gate 11 to try and get there before the wind got any worse. However by the time I started down Gate 11 road the breeze had turned into a wind with gusts over 30 mph. I almost gave up on finding anything in these conditions but thought I would give it a try anyway. I'm glad I tried as I came across a nice mixed species flock feeding both high and low and moving down the road. I found a bright Philadelphia Vireo, four Northern Parula's including one still calling plus good numbers of other warblers. I finished the day with a fly over Common Raven fighting the continued windy weather.

Black and White Warbler, Gate 11, September 5,2010

Northern Parula, Gate 11, September 5, 2010