The last full weekend of July

Green Heron in the fog, Old Deerfield, MA, July 25, 2015

Great Blue Heron, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, July 25, 2015

Winsor Dam before dawn, Quabbin Park, MA, July 25, 2015

As is typical for the end of July the amount of bird song has dropped off substantially and the chances of finding something unusual around here is fairly low.  Nonetheless I still made it out a little this weekend (as well as on Friday).  On Saturday I decided to try my luck in finding unusual egrets/herons in a variety of spots as I travelled from Quabbin to Nothampton and then heading up the west side of the Connecticut River ending up in Deerfield (where a small pond has a history of attracting Black crowned Night Herons...none on Saturday) before heading back across the river and coming back south.  Despite much effort I managed to just find just a number of Great Blue Herons and Green Herons but nothing more unusual.  Before heading out on my quest for herons I made a predawn stop at Winsor Dam where I found at least one Eastern Whip Poor Will still calling.  Other highlights of the morning included a couple Black Vultures in among the Turkey Vultures at a roost in Hadley.

Sunday morning started out with occasional rain showers that I managed to mostly dodge as I checked a few spots in town including Lake Wallace, Covey WMA and Winsor Dam.  The best bird of the morning was a Merlin that came in low over the water heading north to south at Winsor Dam at first light.  Other highlights included a decent number of waterfowl at Lake Wallace ( http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24384134). 

Virginia Rail, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, July 24, 2015

Virginia Rail juveniles, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, July 24, 2015

River Otter eating frog, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, July 24, 2015

Friday was a beautiful day and I made several stops including Lake Wallace and Covey WMA.  Some good stuff including at least six Virginia Rails at Covey WMA including at least three dark juveniles with an adult plus a River Otter munching down on a frog at Lake Wallace  (video link here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/19788653239/in/dateposted-public/ )....full lists with photos below:

Lake Wallace: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24362655
Covey WMA:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24362967

No luck finding the Snowy Owl in Deerfield

This morning I hoped to finally catch up with the Snowy Owl that has been hanging around in some fields near Old Deerfield way up there in Franklin County but the owl was just not cooperative....perhaps the owl didn't realize how infrequently I travel up that way and that he should have made himself visible.  The only birds of note during my time up in Deerfield were several hundred Canada Geese and at least 18 Horned Larks.  I didn't run across any other birders while I was there but did have a guy in his pick up 'walking' his dog through the fields (by walking his dog I mean driving his pick up behind the dog beeping his horn).  He stopped briefly and said the owl was present yesterday sitting on a dirt mound less than 50' from the road.  He also said he has tried to get the owl to flush with his dog so he could see the bird fly but the dog had no interest...another example of the dog being smarter than the owner. 

I also stopped briefly at the Honey Pot before dawn but no luck with a Short eared Owl either (think I may have been just a few minutes too late).  The only owl I managed to find today was an Eastern Screech Owl in the Bashin area of Hatfield. 

Black-crowned Night Herons in Deerfield

Black-crowned Night Herons, Old Deerfield, MA, July 26, 2012

Black-crowned Night Herons, Old Deerfield, MA, July 26, 2012

Black-crowned Night Herons, Old Deerfield, MA, July 26, 2012

Black-crowned Night Heron (3rd bird), Old Deerfield, MA, July 26, 2012

Great Egret, Old Deerfield, MA, July 26, 2012

I had an appointment in Deerfield today so I decided to make a brief swing by the small ponds near Old Deerfield where Black-crowned Night Herons have been reported.  This is the most reliable spot for this species, in season, in western Massachusetts that I’m aware of.  There is usually at least one found here every season going back several years.  The question becomes: are these local breeders or dispersals from the coast?  The answer to that question is unknown at this point.  When I did stop by there this morning I immediately saw two individuals in the south pond right next to the road.  On the north side pond there was another individual on the far end of the pond near a Great Egret.  There have been up to four seen at this location over the last couple weeks.  The total of three I had this morning was the most I have ever had in one group in western Mass. 

Wood Duck eating berries (Gray Catbird in background), Old Deerfield, MA, July 26, 2012

Wood Duck eating berries, Old Deerfield, MA, July 26, 2012

Other birds of note included a Northern Waterthrush working the shoreline and a Wood Duck that would come out of the water and pluck berries from scrubs along the shore.  All photos taken with my iPhone through my scope.  Not the best quality but better than nothing.