Some Least Bitterns yesterday during a walk with Devin and a new Hampshire County species for me today with a Stilt Sandpiper

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Least Bitterns, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Green Heron, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Great Blue Heron, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Eastern Coyote, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Yesterday morning I caught up with former valley resident Devin who was in the area for some music work.  We decided on meeting at the rail trail in Amherst where we would try to turn up a Least Bittern (which would be a county bird for Devin).  I arrived a little early and walked by the marsh where a Least Bittern has been heard or seen very sporadically for a few months and had no luck.  The species has gone largely silent by this point in the year so didn't have much faith in finding one.  Once Devin arrived we started a walk along the trail and after watching a number of Green Herons flying around we approached the area where the Least Bittern has been and had one fly out of the reeds and then land in a reeds out of view.  We looked for a bit and I saw just the head of the bird showing and got Devin on the bird.  It then flew out to a more exposed perch and allowed for some great views and photos.  As we watched the bittern a second one flew out to join the initial bird.  The two of them flew around a bit for several minutes, occasionally landing in open.  The best looks I have had of the species this year by far.  Having two around certain points toward the potential for nesting once again.  We had great looks at a number of other species of birds plus had a brown colored Eastern Coyote in a freshly cut field.  It was nearly the exact same color as a White tailed Deer...a cool looking coyote.

Spotted Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

Semipalmated Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

Least Sandpipers, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

Killdeer, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

 

Spotted Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

On my way to work this morning I decided to see if I could track down any shorebirds or waders.  A bit of north winds brought in some cool temps (low 50's) overnight and I thought some shorebirds would respond to the good early season migration conditions.  I briefly checked for waders and shorebirds in Hadley before heading to the East Meadows.  I came up to a small muddy area that had some great shorebird habitat and immediately started scanning the multiple birds present.  The first scan through produced a number of species with the most unusual among them being a rare for the area Stilt Sandpiper.  It was in the same general area as a few Solitary Sandpipers and was standing upright and seemed very nervous.  I was able to get good views for about 30 seconds and then decided to try to get the scope out to get better views and some photos.  As I was getting ready to get out of the car the bird took off and headed off to the south.  I got the scope out and started scanning through the remaining birds and hoped the Stilt Sandpiper would return, which it never did.  I was short of time and after around twenty minutes I had to head to work.  Besides the Stilt Sandpiper I had five other species of shorebirds and got some photos of those.  Stilt Sandpiper is a very rare species here and this was actually the first one I have ever had in the county!  This addition brings my Hampshire County list to 308.

Gray Fox, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 20, 2025

Opossum, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 19, 2025

Raccoon, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 19, 2025

I checked the camera at the water feature yesterday and besides a number of bird species captured I had a few mammals including Gray Fox.

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.

Mid May through the end of the fourth week of the month

Wood Duck with ducklings, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 15, 2024

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

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024

Mourning Dove fledglings, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 18, 2024

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

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2024

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

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 20, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2024

Lawrence's Warbler, Montague, MA, May 23, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, May 24, 2024

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

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

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 25, 2024

Looking down toward lower fields, Poverty Mt, Shutesbury, MA, May 26, 2024

Wilson enjoying the sun, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 26, 2024

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

Black and White Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 28, 2024

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

Hummingbird moth, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 28, 2024

As expected the last couple weeks of May has been busy and I have certainly not posted as much as I wanted to.  I have posted some unusual sightings (including White eyed Vireo, Least Bittern, Prothonotary Warbler) and some other notable stuff including species #174 in the yard (Peregrine Falcon) and the bird survey at Poverty Mountain.  I have also completed my first of two Eastern Whip Poor Will surveys and had loads of other sightings along the way.  My back issues have slowly gotten better but I still can't make the hikes I love to take up some of the steep areas in the county.  I'll include a variety of photos to sum up the last couple weeks and let the photos speak for themselves.