A big warm up and multiple nights of good migration conditions

Purple Martin and Tree Swallows, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Northern Cardinal with nest material, Bachelor Brook Conservation Area, South Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Mourning Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Gray cheeked Thrush, Belchertown, MA, May 19, 2026

Raccoon swimming, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2026

Lawrence's Warbler, Hardwick, MA, May 18, 2026

Gray Catbird, Ware, MA, May 18, 2026

Butterfly species, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2026

Blue gray Gnatcatcher constructing nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2026

Rainbow Scarab, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2026

Solitary Sandpiper, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Tree Swallow with nest material, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Hooded Merganser eggs in duck box #2, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 17, 2026

We have had multiple nights of great migration conditions thanks to southerly winds that also ushered in record setting temps in the 90's.  As expected I have been out as much as I can each morning before returning to take the Wilson for his required walk.  Even with some species still moving through to points to the north breeding activity around here is in full swing with the first waterfowl young out and about and many species collecting nesting material and building nests.  I have added several new species for the year in the county as well as some rarities.  The highlights included Purple Martin, Gray cheeked Thrush, Yellow breasted Chat, two new species of warbler for the year as part of my warbler big year in the US and a Lawrence's Warbler.  Migration has now peaked at this point and now we begin the downhill slide of another spring migration.  

Third week of November ends with a late Palm Warbler and increasing numbers of irruptives

Palm Warbler 'western', North Hadley, MA, Nov 21, 2025

Song Sparrow, North Hadley, MA, Nov 21, 2025

House Finch, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 20, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 20, 2025

Fox Sparrow, Ware, MA, Nov 19, 2025

Purple Finches, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Nov 19, 2025

Peregrine Falcon, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 17, 2025

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 17, 2025

Canada Geese, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 17, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 17, 2025

Northern Cardinal, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 16, 2025

Hooded Merganser, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 16, 2025

Surf Scoter, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2025

Eastern Bluebird, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 15, 2025

The third week of November has now come to an end and our largely cooler than average and windy weather has continued with a few flurries on a couple days.  Given these weather conditions, the time of year plus the ongoing issues with Wilson (see below) I have concentrated on birds in the south Quabbin area (particularly around Winsor Dam).  Waterfowl is always the big draw here this time of year with gulls not far behind.  The best waterfowl species of the week was certainly the Barrow's Goldeneye at the Holyoke Dam on the 12th (and continued through the week).  No huge shows of waterfowl at Winsor Dam although the diversity has been decent overall with some mornings more productive than others.  The gull show has been good too with the best for the week being an Iceland Gull on the 17th.  Irruptives of multiple species continue to arrive into the area.  The best was a flyover White winged Crossbill on the 17th.  Evening Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills continue to be around in small numbers at multiple locations.  Pine Siskins and Purple Finches also continue to show quite well plus increasing numbers of American Goldfinches.  The Finch Forecast (which I contribute data to) called for the potential of a large flight of many species and so far the forecast is looking to be playing out.  It will be interesting to see what the rest of winter brings in.  With a little extra time away from home I covered a few spots the last couple mornings trying for late warblers and find a group of half a dozen Yellow rumped Warblers in an area they have overwintered in the past and a very late 'western' Palm Warbler today.

Wilson continues to occupy my time and thoughts as we struggle through what we will do with him.  For now we are just in monitor mode of the tumor and trying to stay on top of him making things worse.  As I said before there are no good options available for us and it continues to be some stressful times.  Thankfully he is still acting happy (although he really wants to lick at his foot every chance he gets!).

First week of November and an update on Wilson

American Wigeons, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2025

American Black Ducks (and a few Mallards), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2025

American Black Ducks (and a few Mallards), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 7, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 6, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 5, 2025

Dark eyed Junco, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 5, 2025

Red winged Blackbirds, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 5, 2025

Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 5, 2025

Barred Owl, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 3, 2025

American Tree Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 3, 2025

Savannah Sparrow, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 3, 2025

Savannah Sparrow with large bill, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Nov 3, 2025

Fox Sparrow and Northern Cardinal, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 3, 2025

Northern Cardinal, Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 2, 2025

Cedar Waxwing, Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 2, 2025

Wilson resting, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 5, 2025

 

Wilson out walking, Belchertown, MA, Nov 6, 2025

The first week of November has overall been cool and mainly windy with multiple bouts of rain as an active pattern has set up as we slide rapidly toward late fall.  At times the wind has been quite strong with the direction changing from southwest to west to northwest and back again.  I have spent a lot of time in the south Quabbin area looking for waterfowl and staying close to home for Wilson (more on that below).  With so much windy weather trying to track down late passerines has been tough but I have tried when the wind calms a bit and I have managed to find just two species of warblers.  Waterfowl migration has been hot or miss with a few mornings producing little and a couple being decent, including this morning at Winsor Dam with ten species including nearly 200 American Black Ducks.  Irruptive species continue to show up with continued large numbers of Purple Finches and increasing numbers of Pine Siskins and Evening Grosbeaks 

Now for some sad news concerning my best bud Wilson.  The cancer on his foot has returned to the point that the tumor has ruptured on a small part of the foot and the remainder of the tumor continues to grow rapidly. We knew the tumor would be back at some point as the removal of two of his toes two years ago was not enough to get all of the tumor but we just could not go through with a full amputation at that time. With all these recent changes for all of us we have had to cancel our trip down to south Texas we had scheduled for mid November. He has thrived the last couple years and does not act his age of 14 1/2. He is in no pain right now but he has to wear the booty to keep him from licking at the foot. Unfortunately there are not any good options going forward and we are still deciding on what to do. In the end it will be quality of life for him, as it has always been. He is convinced he can just lick the cancer away if we just gave him a chance! He still runs around when it is play time, even with the boot on. Fuck cancer.