Nesting Red headed Woodpeckers and loads of Red Crossbills in Montague

Red headed Woodpecker, Montague Sand Plains, Montague, MA, Jun 24, 2026

Red headed Woodpecker, Montague Sand Plains, Montague, MA, Jun 24, 2026

Red headed Woodpecker, Montague Sand Plains, Montague, MA, Jun 24, 2026

Red headed Woodpecker, Montague Sand Plains, Montague, MA, Jun 24, 2026

Red headed Woodpecker, Montague Sand Plains, Montague, MA, Jun 24, 2026

Red Crossbills Type 12, Montague Sand Plains, Montague, MA, Jun 24, 2026

Common Ravens, Montague Sand Plains, Montague, MA, Jun 24, 2026

Sunrise, Montague Sand Plains, Montague, MA, Jun 24, 2026

I did some more guiding this morning for a birder from India with the main goal being seeing a Red headed Woodpecker.  Initially we were going to try for the one that showed up at Quabbin Park on June 20th.  Although I had it the following day and it was very cooperative, subsequent visits the next two mornings failed to turn it up.  With the Quabbin Park bird far from certain we made the decision to make the drive up to the Montague Sand Plains instead where there have been multiple individuals for several weeks.  I seldom head up there but it is a very unique habitat in this area and a fantastic birding spot.  We arrived a bit after sunrise and were greeted by a family of very vocal Common Ravens and then started our walk out through the sand plains.  Beyond the usual species expected here in numbers (such as Field Sparrows, Eastern Towhees and Prairie Warblers) we had multiple flyover groups of Red Crossbills.  The vast majority were Type 12 but we did have at least one that almost certainly was a Type 4 (sadly my attempted recording failed to capture it so it will have to remain as unconfirmed).  Thanks to some fantastic directions we were able to find the Red headed Woodpecker at a nest site.  We were able to watch from a distance the largely silent birds move around the area and come out of the nest where they are very likely sitting on eggs (Red headed Woodpecker is a very rare breeding species here so having them likely nesting is quite notable).  After watching the Red headed Woodpeckers for a bit, as well as an active Northern Flicker nest nearby, we continued our walk and eventually had a couple Red Crossbills actual land so we could see them perched in a pine.  On our return walk we once again stopped briefly in the area of the nest and got to see the changing of the guard at the nest hole...very cool to see.

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.

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.  

A record setting pace for the first week of July in Hampshire County

Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Jul 1, 2022

Song Sparrow, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jul 1, 2022

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

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

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 3, 2022

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

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jul 5, 2022

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

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

Peregrine Falcon, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jul 5, 2022

Belted Kingfisher, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 6, 2022

Ovenbird, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jul 6, 2022

Common Loon taking off, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 6, 2022

Broad winged Hawk, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 6, 2022

Marsh Wren, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Jul 7, 2022

Great Blue Heron, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Jul 7, 2022

Savannah Sparrow, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 7, 2022

Killdeer, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 7, 2022

Black Vultures, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jul 7, 2022

I began the month of July with a few stops on my way to work where I found the continued Lawrence's Warbler that has successfully bred for another year in Belchertown.  I had very limited time to bird for the day but still turned up 67 species to start the month.  

After work on the second I added a few unusual species on my way toward home with a singing Blue Grosbeak in Hadley, the continued Brewster's Warbler in Amherst and then the continued Red headed Woodpecker at Quabbin Park. 

I once again had to work on the third but still managed a few stops on my way in but didn't find anything too unusual.

On the fourth of July I got out of work and headed up to Great Pond to add a few Marsh Wrens for the month (no luck finding the Least Bitterns but I didn't stay long).  I then went north and crossed the river and headed up to Pelham with multiple stops that yielded a number of new species including multiple warbler species, a flyover group of Type 10 Red Crossbills in Pelham and the continued Acadian Flycatcher along the Gate 8 road.  There have been more and more Red Crossbills being reported lately and I have also noticed more than usual Red breasted Nuthatches around for this time of year...perhaps this will be another irruptive year for multiple species.

On Tuesday the 5th I woke up early so decided to head out before dawn to catch up with a variety of locally rare species (plus others) and after hearing an American Bittern at home my first stop was over to Winsor Dam where I had multiple Eastern Whip Poor Wills singing.  I then made a quick stop at Lake Wallace where I had a Sora calling once again (perhaps breeding here this year?).  I then headed down to the Holyoke Dam to add a few other species for the month.  I then headed north along the river with a hike to the top of the mountain at Skinner SP and added unusual breeders there including Dark eyed Junco, Cerulean Warbler and Worm eating Warblers.  After an hour and a half there I headed up to the Honey Pot to see the nesting Blue Grosbeaks and other grassland species.  I also got to see a pair of adult Peregrine Falcons zip through together and take out a Mourning Dove.  I made a few other stops for the day as some intermittent rain fell and I ended the morning with 103 species without hitting some areas that certainly would have produced several more species.  

Wednesday I started my morning at Lake Wallace and then went down to Granby before heading back to Quabbin Park.  Nothing too unusual (beyond the continued Red headed Woodpecker at Quabbin) but I had a nice selection of species

On the 7th I decided to make several stops to catch up with a few possible rarities as well as other species I had not yet seen for the month.  I started my morning once again at Lake Wallace but didn't find anything new.  I then stopped at the Holyoke Dam where I had a decent count of Chimney Swifts and Double crested Cormorants plus a couple Black Vultures.  I then went north and walked around part of the East Meadows and turned up quite a few Savannah Sparrows plus numerous Killdeer (oddly only adults) plus a couple Horned Larks (one of the few spots they breed in the county).  My next stop as I headed north along the river was to Great Pond in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the Least Bitterns that have been seen there.  No luck with the bitterns despite a lot of looking but I did have several Marsh Wrens as well as other marsh birds.  Since I was already on the west side of the river I headed over to Williamsburg and added Evening Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills for the day (unfortunately I failed to get any identifiable recordings of either species).

With the end of the first week of July I'm well on my way to breaking my previous best July in Hampshire County.  At this point I'm at 129 species for the month (which is my highest total for the first week of July ever).  My previous best first week of July was last year with 123 species.  My best overall July was back in 2018 when I topped out at 143 species.  Not sure I will be able to beat that total as there were a number of rare shorebirds late in the month that year but I will give it a try.