Mid August

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 18, 2026

Black Bear, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 18, 2026

Wilson sleeping, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 18, 2026

Wood Ducks, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Aug 16, 2026

Northern House Wren, Belchertown, MA, Aug 16, 2026

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 16, 2026

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 15, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 14, 2026

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 13, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 12, 2026

Great Blue Heron, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 12, 2026

Yet another warm month is rapidly flying by as we head toward fall.  I have tried to get out as much as I can despite the horrific mosquitoes most everywhere and projects at home keeping me there.  Migration is certainly increasing and mixed flocks are starting to increase in frequency.   Common Nighthawks have started to arrive with the peak of that migration in the next couple weeks.  Red Crossbills continue to show up in more and more places and I have had a few that are not the Type 12 variety expected here with my first confirmed Type 4 today at Quabbin Park.  Shorebirds and waders are also moving through the area although Hampshire County has so far missed out on anything unusual although the show of Green Herons at Lake Wallace continue to impress.  Wilson continues to plug along with some days better than others but all things considered he is doing well for a nearly 15 1/2 year old dog.  

Marsh birds the last few days

Marsh Wren, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 11, 2026

Marsh Wren, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 11, 2026

Marsh Wren, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 11, 2026

Green Heron, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Aug 11, 2026

Great Blue Heron, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Aug 11, 2026

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 11, 2026

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 9, 2026

Great Egret, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 9, 2026

Great Blue Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 9, 2026

Wilson relaxing, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 11, 2026

This time of year is when the potential for some unusual waders to show up as they disperse after breeding and I have been out looking everyday.  No rarities (yet) but I have had great numbers of Green Herons (highest count so far for the season is 24 at Lake Wallace on August 9th.  Green Herons were around in good numbers at a variety of other locations as well.  I have also had multiple Great Blue Herons and a single Great Egret.  I also added at least two (possibly three) Marsh Wrens this morning at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River...my 222nd species in Hampshire County for the year...not too bad with being gone most of the winter plus a few weeks in summer.

Red headed Woodpecker to finish off the third week of June

Red headed Woodpecker, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 21, 2026

Red headed Woodpecker, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 21, 2026

Red headed Woodpecker, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 21, 2026

Red headed Woodpecker, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 21, 2026

Red headed Woodpecker, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 21, 2026

Red headed Woodpecker, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 21, 2026

Pileated Woodpecker, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 21, 2026

Yellow bellied Sapsucker in nest, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 21, 2026

The third week of June ended with the sighting of a rare for area Red headed Woodpecker at Quabbin Park this morning.  I first heard about the bird through a sighting report from Lauren Jiang yesterday afternoon and through some brief correspondence got to see some video obtained of the bird and details on the location near Goodnough Dike.  The area it was reported in was managed in the last few years with the removal of a number of species of trees with the intention of making it more natural and although the short term 'destruction' can look bad, the change in habitat continues to attract new species.  As the gates to the park don't open until around seven or so I decided to arrive early and make the hike in to see if the woodpecker was still around.  It was a much better weather than yesterday with no wind at all until well after sunrise (compared to the windy conditions we have had the last few days).  Once I made it to the area I had a selection of species and as I was watching a nest of Yellow bellied Sapsuckers I heard the Red headed Woodpecker calling and saw it very briefly.  During the next 15 minutes I failed to hear or see it again but then I heard it calling once again a bit further to the north.  I made my way into the logged out area and thankfully it remained fairly vocal and I was finally able to get better views.  I got some photos, video and recordings as it moved around the area.  I got word out to others that the bird was still present and sent out some exact coordinates so even those with less than stellar abilities to read maps could easily find this rarity.  The entire area held a great selection of woodpeckers with a total of seven species present in a fairly small area...not something one gets to accomplish around here too often.  Red headed Woodpecker is a less than annual visitor to the area and this becomes just the seventh one I have had in Hampshire County with previous sightings including my first in July 2016 in Amherst at Larch Hill, a long staying individual at Lake Wallace that arrived in late October 2016 and stayed through May 2017, another long staying individual at Arcadia that arrived in late November of 2017 and stayed through April 2018, one in South Hadley from January 2020-April 2020, an overwinter bird in Florence from December 2020-February 2021 and one at Quabbin Park from May 2022-July 2022.  Breeding was never confirmed with any of these sightings.

Tree Swallow with fecal sack at nest, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 19, 2026

Great Blue Heron, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 19, 2026

Black and White Warbler collecting spiders, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 19, 2026

Black Bear, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 19, 2026

Wilson relaxing, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 17, 2026

I'm on a record setting pace for the month of June in the county with the Red headed Woodpecker becoming species #143 for the month.  This already puts me at my second total ever for the month of June here and just two species behind my best ever June which occurred in 2021.

Breeding Bird Survey completed this morning

Great Blue Heron, Breeding bird survey stop #9, Ware, MA, Jun 6, 2026

White tailed Deer, Breeding bird survey stop #21, Palmer, MA, Jun 6, 2026

Prairie Warbler, Breeding bird survey stop #34, Monson, MA, Jun 6, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Breeding bird survey stop #40, Monson, MA, Jun 6, 2026

Sawmill Brook, Breeding bird survey stop #42, Monson, MA, Jun 6, 2026

Farm fields, Breeding bird survey stop #31, Monson, MA, Jun 6, 2026

UMASS orchard, Breeding bird survey stop #3, Belchertown, MA, Jun 6, 2026

Although I usually try to run by annual breeding bird survey route on a Sunday the forecast looked better for Saturday so I ran it today.  With our weekends always seeming to produce less than stellar weather I did not want to take a chance and wait for a later Sunday in June.  Breeding bird surveys are long term studies to look at breeding species along a 25 mile route with three minute stops every 1/2 mile.  The survey starts early (4:42AM) so being a morning person certainly helps!  This was my 17th consecutive year conducting this route that starts in Belchertown and continues south to the Connecticut state line.  Although not a record breaking year for species I still had a good showing with a total of 75 species.  The top five species as far as being recorded at the most stops included  American Robin (40 stops), Gray Catbird (31 stops), Ovenbird (30 stops), American Crow (29 stops) and Red eyed Vireo (28 stops).  No new species for the route this year so my total whole conducting the route still stands at 114 species.  Full trip report at the following link: BBS 2026 trip report.

Below is table of each year I have conducted the survey with # of species seen and date of survey

year            # of species            date of survey 

2010             71                         June 20 

2011             64                         June 26 

2012             56                         June 3 

2013             67                         June 23 

2014             70                         June 15 

2015             75                         June 14 

2016             78                         June 19 

2017             73                         June 22 

2018             71                         June 22 

2019             83                         June 9 

2020             76                         June 14 

2021             71                         June 19 

2022             78                         June 5 

2023             77                         June 25 

2024             84                         June 2

2025             77                         June 8

2026             75                         June 6

The fifth (and last) week in Florida

Wood Stork, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 2, 2026

Sunrise, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 2, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 2, 2026

Blue gray Gnatcatcher, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 2, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 2, 2026

White eyed Vireo, Thornby Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 2, 2026

Yellow throated Warbler, Campbell Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 2, 2026

I started off the last week in Florida hitting a few local parks not too far from the house including Gemini Springs Park, Thornby Park, Campbell Park and Audubon Park.  It was yet another cold morning with temps in the 20's with a slight breeze (at least it was not quite as cold and windy as the day before).  It was weird to see some thin ice on some of shallow part of marshes.  Given the conditions I tried to find some edges that got sun early in the morning and this proved somewhat successful with a number of species taking advantage of the sun warming things up.  Overall a more productive day then the day before.

Dawn, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Feb 3, 2026

Bald Eagle with prey, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Feb 3, 2026

Sandhill Cranes, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Feb 3, 2026

Great Blue Heron, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Feb 3, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Feb 3, 2026

Great Egret with fish, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Feb 3, 2026

Purple Gallinule, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Feb 3, 2026

Common Gallinule, Lake Woodruff NWR, De Leon Springs, FL, Feb 3, 2026

Tuesday featured another cold start with frost.  Thankfully it was sunny with little wind so it didn't feel as bad as previous days.  I headed out well before dawn to make the trip up to Lake Woodruff NWR and arrived just after six.  With the near full moon you could walk with a headlamp on and I focused on rails and had some fantastic luck with the best by far being a Black Rail (a life bird for me...species #2186) that sounded off a few times.  I had five species of rails...something I have never done before (plus a variety of gallinules and coots).   

Lincoln's Sparrow, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 4, 2026

White winged Scoter and Pied billed Grebe, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 4, 2026

White winged Scoter, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 4, 2026

Common Ground Dove, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 4, 2026

Pied billed Grebe and American Coots at sunrise, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 4, 2026

Northern Parula, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 4, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 4, 2026

Palm Warblers 'yellow', Gemini Springs Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 4, 2026

A morning without frost arrived for Wednesday morning (although it was still cold early with a low of 35).  Eventually the day warmed up nicely into the low 70's with abundant sunshine.  I started off before dawn at Gemini Springs Park and added a number of unusual species for the day including a White winged Scoter, Lincoln's Sparrow, White crowned Sparrow and American Redstart.

Limpkin, Campbell Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 5, 2026

Ring necked Ducks, Blue Heron Nature Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 5, 2026

Sandhill Crane with leg injury, Blue Heron Nature Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 5, 2026

Blue gray Gnatcatcher, Blue Heron Nature Park, Deltona, FL, Feb 5, 2026

After one really nice day we returned to cooler weather and some rain for Thursday.  I awoke to heavy rain so stayed at the house until it finally stopped around seven (at least for a bit).  I visited just a couple spots within a few minutes of the house including Blue Heron Nature Park.  Eventually a few showers showed up later in the morning but at least I got out for a couple hours.  

Blue headed Vireo eating a lizard, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

Blue headed Vireo eating a lizard, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

Pileated Woodpeckers, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

Pileated Woodpeckers, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

Yellow throated Warbler, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

Orange crowned Warbler, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

White eyed Vireo, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

Lincoln's Sparrow, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

Painted Bunting, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

White winged Scoter, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 6, 2026

Friday morning yet again featured frost...not what I wanted to see when I got up to head out.  At least it the sky was clear and once the sun came up things started warming up.  Of course then the wind picked up but by then I was headed home.  I spent nearly three hours at Gemini Springs Park and had a number of good sightings.  Rarities included the continued White winged Scoter and Lincoln's Sparrow.  I also got to witness some interaction among a couple male Pileated Woodpeckers (check out the video in the above attached eBird list) plus got to watch a Blue headed Vireo feeding on a lizard of some type.  I have never seen that behavior before with the species and I got video of that too.  I also added a new warbler species for the year with a Black throated Green Warbler that showed briefly in a mixed flock.  Overall a great morning despite the continued cool temps.

Bobcat, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 7, 2026

Bobcat, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 7, 2026

Pied billed Grebes, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 7, 2026

Lincoln's Sparrow, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 7, 2026

Common Ground Dove, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 7, 2026

Pine Warbler, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 7, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 7, 2026

Blue gray Gnatcatcher, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 7, 2026

Red shouldered Hawk, Gemini Springs Park, Deltona/Debary, FL, Feb 7, 2026

On Saturday the weather was very similar to the day before although thankfully no frost.  I initially was going to head up to Lake Woodruff but with the breezy conditions I figured it was not worth the longer drive.  I instead returned to Gemini Springs Park for a few hours.  The wind was an issue at times and made tracking down some stuff difficult.  Nonetheless it was still a productive morning with a few continuing rarities, nine species of warblers and some good looks at a Bobcat. 

Anhinga with fish, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

Western Cattle Egret with staining on rear, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

Northern House Wren, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

American Bittern, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

 

Ring necked Duck, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

Common Gallinule, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

Gray headed Swamphen, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

Purple Gallinule, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

Boat tailed Grackle, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL, Feb 8, 2026

For the last full day in Florida I headed to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive before dawn and did a little birding at Apopka Birding Park before the gates opened.  Once the gates opened I spent a little over three hours exploring the drive and I had 90 species on the drive alone...it really is a great birding spot.  Loads and loads of waterfowl and waders and other marsh birds.  The list sums it all up quite well and it was a great way to end my time in Florida.  I then headed home a little before midday and finished packing for the trip back to the arctic wasteland of home.  I ended the day with a nice round 100 species total.  For the entire week I had 128 species with two new species for Florida.  Full report from week five at the following link.

The week in warblers can be found at the following link: Final week warblers.

Overall for my time in Florida (from January 4-February 9) I found a total of 212 species with one lifer in Florida (Black Rail) bringing my life list to 2185.  I added 15 species to my Florida list, which now stands at 265.