Mid July birds during continued heat wave

Belted Kingfisher, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 17, 2024

Purple Martins, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 17, 2024

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 17, 2024

Barn Swallows, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 17, 2024

Yellow Warblers, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Jul 15, 2024

Alder Flycatcher, Fitzgerald Lake, Northampton, MA, Jul 15, 2024

Killdeer, Pilgrim Airport, Hatfield, MA, Jul 15, 2024

Sora, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2024

Eastern Kingbirds, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2024

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 13, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jul 12, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jul 12, 2024

Blue winged Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jul 12, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jul 12, 2024

As we continue to suffer through yet another heat wave I have managed to get out and bird a bit but this time of year is typically quite slow and it has been tough to get motivated to brave the heat and humidity and all the mosquitoes.  Nonetheless I have gotten out a bit and mainly concentrated on following up on breeding success and a little on checking for early migrating shorebirds.  The weather looks to break for a little while after a front moves through today (almost certainly with more severe storms).

Mid June update

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2023

Blue winged Teal, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2023

Sora, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2023

Dawn over Hop Brook, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 16, 2023

American Redstarts in nest, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 15, 2023

Hooded Warbler, Westfield, MA, Jun 14, 2023

Eastern Coyote, Westfield, MA, Jun 14, 2023

Double crested Cormorants, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 14, 2023

Muskrats, Pines Edge Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, Jun 12, 2023

Eastern Phoebe nest, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 9, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 11, 2023

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 11, 2023

Song Sparrow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 9, 2023

Eastern Phoebe, Grand Trunk Trail, Brimfield, MA, Jun 8, 2023

Swamp Sparrow, Grand Trunk Trail, Brimfield, MA, Jun 8, 2023

The middle of June has now arrived and I will post a quick update.  I have been able to get out just a bit over the last several days due to work and wanting to be home with Wilson as he recovers from surgery that he had done on the 8th meaning I'm only out for a few hours around dawn.  He is slowly recovering but it is tough to keep an active boy like him down and he just wants to be active again (more on his recovery below).  As far as birds go, nesting season is underway and I have found some nests I have been watching including an American Redstart nest I have been watching since mid May that fledged young today.  There have also been a few unusual species around including yet another Purple Martin that arrived at the nesting gourds in Hadley and male Blue winged Teal I found today at the same location.  There were also at least two Soras present in Hadley again this morning.  I also made an early morning trip down into Hampden County a few days ago to see the breeding Hooded Warblers there.  During my time at home I also made a brief post concerning Mourning Warblers this spring in the area.

Wilson finding another comfortable spot, Jun 13, 2023

Wilson sleeping, Jun 11, 2023

Wilson the day after surgery, Jun 9, 2023

Now to Wilson.  He had surgery on the 8th and he has been recovering as well as expected.  It is tough on all of us (especially Wilson) keeping his activity limited as the surgery site heals.  He does not like being limited in activity and I know he is itching to get out on walks again.  We are still a couple weeks away from even short (ten minute) walks but he wants to start now.  We have tried to keep him as comfortable as possible and have someone with him as much as possible so he doesn't have to wear a cone much.

Stops in Florida on the way to and the way back from a cruise to the tropics

Anhinga's at nest, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Mar 18, 2023

Sora, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Mar 18, 2023

Tricolored Heron, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Mar 18, 2023

We flew down to Florida on Saturday the 18th so we could take an early flight over to Barbados to start our cruise (much more on that coming soon). Most of our time on Saturday afternoon was spent driving or visiting family but managed a little birding with a late afternoon stop at Green Cay. Not surprisingly it was fairly quiet given the time but it was nice to be outside in the warmth.  Warblers seen during the stops in Florida can be found at the following link.

Swallow tailed Kite, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Great crested Flycatcher, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Black and White Warbler, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Laughing Gull, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Shiny Cowbird, Everglades NP, Flamingo, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Osprey, Everglades NP, Flamingo, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Northern Parula, Everglades NP, Flamingo, FL, Mar 27, 2023

White eyed Vireo, Mahogany Hammock, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

Florida Bay, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023

After the cruise we flew back to Miami on Sunday the 26th and then spent a couple days in south Florida before returning home late on Tuesday the 28th. Our flight out of Barbados got delayed so we never made it to our lodging in Homestead until well after dark. Monday we spent most of a very hot day exploring Everglades National Park from the entrance all the way down to Flamingo. I had made multiple trips down to this area of the Everglades in the late 90’s and early 2000’s and loved the place. Unfortunately in 2005 two hurricanes (Katrina and Wilma) struck the area and did significant damage including destroying the hotel on site. The rebuilding process has been incredibly slow. You could still see damage left from the hurricanes in many places with the most obvious being the destruction at Eco Pond. Nonetheless it was great to make it back down there. Even before we arrived within the park I added a new Florida species with a Common Myna (an established exotic) at a convenience store. We arrived in the park around 8:30 and spent the next six plus hours stopping along the way for short hikes before arriving in Flamingo. A lot of waders appeared to have vacated the area for parts north to breed. Although many spots were quiet it was nice to hear lots of White eyed Vireos and Great crested Flycatchers singing. The most productive spots turned out to be in Flamingo itself with another new Florida species (#237) for me with a male Shiny Cowbird in among a flock of Brown headed Cowbirds. Certainly some migrants around but no big numbers.

Brown Pelicans, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, FL, Mar 28, 2023

Ovenbird, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, FL, Mar 28, 2023

Before making the flight back home in the evening we made the drive through the horrendous Miami traffic to spend a few hours at the south end of Key Biscayne at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP.  I spent a few hours covering multiple trails in the morning and then took a break for lunch and then continued walking the trails during the early afternoon despite the sunny and hot conditions.  Nothing too unusual but fun to soak up the last of the tropical heat before a return to reality.

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.