Marsh Wrens this morning

Marsh Wren, Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, Dec 4, 2023

Marsh Wren, Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, Dec 4, 2023

Marsh Wren, Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, Dec 4, 2023

Swamp Sparrow, Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, Dec 4, 2023

While I was once again out looking in various marshes the last couple morning for any lingering Common Yellowthroats I have uncovered a good assortment of birds with the highlight by far being at least two Marsh Wrens at Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area this morning...quite unusual in December here for sure.  I have also found multiple groups of both Winter Wrens and Swamp Sparrows plus another wren of some type that I was never able to pin down to species.  Sadly no luck in finding a Common Yellowthroat but I have not given up on finding one before the month ends.

The first week of December

Common Yellowthroat, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Dec 6, 2022

Marsh Wren, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Dec 6, 2022

Carolina Wren, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 6, 2022

White tailed Deer, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Dec 6, 2022

Winter Wren, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Dec 5, 2022

American Robin, Manhan Rail Trail, Easthampton, MA, Dec 5, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 4, 2022

Gray Catbird, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 4, 2022

Black Vultures, South Maple St, Hadley, MA, Dec 4, 2022

Northern Mockingbird, Hadley malls thicket, Hadley, MA, Dec 4, 2022

American Pipits, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Dec 1, 2022

The first week of December has come to a close and I have managed to find a handful of lingering species.  The weather continues to slowly grow colder as winter settles in but so far no big snow storms or bitter cold air.  I have primarily spent my available days off from work looking for late warblers and found two species to start off the last month of the year including a Yellow rumped Warbler on the 4th and a very late Common Yellowthroat on the 6th.  I'm a bit ahead of a typical December in Hampshire County with a total of 76 species so far.  Beyond the warblers I have a had a few other notable species for the month including a Killdeer, multiple Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures, a Marsh Wren (in the same area as the Common Yellowthroat and a fearless White tailed Deer), a Gray Catbird, a White crowned Sparrow, Red Crossbills and a Pine Siskin.  

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Female banded Jun 2021, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 7, 2022

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Female banded Jul 2021, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 7, 2022

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Undetermined sex banded Jul 2021, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 7, 2022

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Female banded Jul 2021, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 7, 2022

Black capped Chickadee with leg band, Unknown...missing some bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 7, 2022

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Female banded Jun 2021, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 7, 2022

I have now put up some of my feeders for the winter as well as some from a PhD student who is conducting research in the yard for a second winter.  As part of his initial study he came by and banded a few target species back in 2021 (more on that the following posts: banding June 2021 and banding July 2021).  I continue to see banded Black capped Chickadees everyday and I spent a little time at the feeders this afternoon and found at least half a dozen banded individuals.  All but one I was able to determine the background on with all of those banded during the two banding events in 2021.  A final individual I could not figure out.  It had a single light blue looking band on the left leg and unknown bands on the right...it was certainly missing some bands as nothing matched my database of banded birds.  The band may be a faded purple band but not certain.  I will be keeping my eyes out for the bird returning and hopefully I will get a look at the band(s) on the right leg.  

The first few days of a hot and humid August

 

House Wren, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, Aug 1, 2022

Eastern Kingbirds, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 1, 2022

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 2, 2022

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 2, 2022

Marsh Wren, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Aug 3, 2022

House Wren with leg bands feeding young at nest, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 3, 2022

House Wren with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 3, 2022

Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022

Dark eyed Junco, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022

Chipping Sparrow, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022

Blue gray Gnatcatchers, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022

Looking northeast from summit, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022

I began the month with yet another visit to Lake Wallace before I headed up the west side of Quabbin before finally making it onto the Prescott Peninsula to do some late season bird surveys.  I ran across multiple Red Crossbills in the my travels as well as lots of evidence of breeding species with loads of juveniles around and adults carrying food.  The weather continued to be hot and humid throughout the period with some near record highs in the 90's.  I was not able to get out much due to work on the 2nd and 4th beyond brief stops on my way to work.  

On my in between day of work on Wednesday I made a stop at Great Pond where I had at least two Marsh Wrens continuing to sing but no sign of the Least Bittern.  There were a few shorebirds around at various spots during the morning but nothing unusual among them.  

After getting out of work this morning I decided to make the hike up to the summit at Skinner SP to track down some forest birds for the month plus to see if any Cerulean Warblers were still around.  It was a hot, sweaty hike to the top but worth the effort with at least one Cerulean Warbler still present and possibly two.  Other highlights included several Blue gray Gnatcatchers, Dark eyed Juncos (including a juvenile) and numerous juvenile birds and adults carrying food.  

I also discovered that a pair of House Wrens somehow managed to building a nest in the exhaust area of a bathroom vent on the house.  I was outside several days ago and could hear some chirping and eventually I saw a House Wren fly up to the vent with food.  An odd spot to have a nest for sure.  It was neat to see that one of the adults was a bird banded in the yard last year.  I think the young fledged today.

A record breaking July for me in Hampshire County

Least Sandpipers, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jul 30, 2022

Red Crossbill Type 10, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Jul 24, 2022

Common Mergansers, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jul 22, 2022

Ovenbird, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jul 22, 2022

Marsh Wren, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Jul 18, 2022

Virginia Rail, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2022

 Sora, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2022

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jul 5, 2022

Red breasted Nuthatch, Cadwall Memorial Forest, Pelham, MA, Jul 4, 2022

Red headed Woodpecker, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 2, 2022

As July can be a little slow and a bit boring for birds in Hampshire County I decided to challenge myself in trying to maximize the number of species I could find in the county for the month.  My previous best July was in 2018 when I had 143 species.  This year I did indeed manage to break my old record and ended the month with 144 species.  Notable species included Sora, eight species of shorebirds, both American Bittern and Least Bittern, Black crowned Night Heron, Red headed Woodpecker, loads of Red breasted Nuthatches, Marsh Wrens, Red Crossbills (more on those in an upcoming post), 19 species of warblers and Blue Grosbeaks.  I could have easily added another species (Sandhill Crane) if I took a trip up to the hill towns but didn't want to make the long drive for just one species.  I also missed on finding a Great Egret which normally can be found in small numbers late in the month.  Overall a very respectful total with working full time and doing a bit of overtime.  

Mid July update

Wild Turkeys poults, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 8, 2022

Marsh Wren, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Jul 10, 2022

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 11, 2022

Belted Kingfisher, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 11, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jul 12, 2022

Double crested Cormorant, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jul 13, 2022

Sora, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2022

Virginia Rail, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2022

Bullfrog eating another bullfrog, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

Green Heron watching a Peregrine Falcon fly past, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

Peregrine Falcon with kill, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

House Wren nestlings, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 14, 2022

July is now almost half over and our pleasant weather has continued with no big heat waves or prolonged humidity.  I have continued to try to maximize my species in Hampshire County for a month that is typically a bit slow for birds.  I have so far found 136 species for the month, which is my highest total at this point in the month (and above all but three previous July's totals with half of the month still left).  I have visited a variety of areas but have really concentrated on checking out the various breeding species at Lake Wallace (much more on that in an upcoming post).  I have added another seven species for the second week of the month including the continued Least Bittern in Hatfield.  Lots of really cool sightings that did not add new species including watching several Marsh Wrens in Hatfield, seeing loads of species that have successfully bred for the season, a Peregrine Falcon make a kill and a Bullfrog eating another Bullfrog.