The third week of October

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 21, 2025

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 21, 2025

Swamp Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 21, 2025

Song Sparrow, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 21, 2025

Common Loons, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 20, 2025

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

Tennessee Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 19, 2025

 

Blue Jay, Belchertown, MA, Oct 19, 2025

 

House Wren, Amherst, MA, Oct 19, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 19, 2025

White crowned Sparrow, Amherst, MA, Oct 19, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2025

Orange crowned Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 17, 2025

Bald Eagle, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 16, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Oct 15, 2025

The last week has seen more great migration conditions early on and then a bit of a warm up and some rain to end the time period.  Warbler migration is largely over beyond the late season migrants although I did have a very good day yesterday with a total of eight species of warblers (quite good for this late in the month this year given all the great migration conditions).  Sparrows continue to arrive in numbers with a great selection of species around.  Waterfowl numbers and diversity have been on the low side so far although I expect that will change with the arrival of cooler weather into the four week of November.  Purple Finches and Pine Siskins continue to increase in number and will hopefully be just the vanguard of irruptive species to arrive this year...time will tell.  I'm a bit behind for the month as waterfowl has not really shown up in numbers and I have concentrated on finding late warblers...I currently stand at 125 species, which is my lowest count at this point in October since 2017.  I also presented a program at the Hampshire Bird Club on the evening of the 14th and it was apparently well received and had the biggest crowd for a program at the club since Covid.  The topic was "Endemic Warblers of the Caribbean".  I have made a couple presentations recently and have found that I really enjoy doing them.

More arrivals the last few days

Gray Squirrel juvenile, Belchertown, MA, Sep 10, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Tennessee Warblers, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Yellow throated Vireo, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Scarlet Tanager, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Red breasted Nuthatch, Belchertown, MA, Sep 9, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Ware, MA, Sep 8, 2025

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 8, 2025

Bay breasted Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 8, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 8, 2025

The last few days have featured mainly good conditions for migration and I have found more and more migrants including my first American Pipits, White Throated Sparrow and Ruby crowned Kinglet of the fall (all today in various spots).  I have concentrated mainly on warblers and although I have not found any new species for the month in the last few days I have run across multiple mixed flocks which featured a variety of species (including continued good numbers of Cape May Warblers, Bay breasted Warbler and Tennessee Warblers).  The number of Red breasted Nuthatches continue to climb and we are certainly seeing an incursion of them.  Beyond birds I ran across a fresh out of the nest juvenile Gray Squirrel today.  It was totally unfazed by me and I do hope it is able to survive...they become a menace at times when adults but as young they are damn cute.  

A few early warblers and my highest count of Green Herons for the year

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Bay breasted Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Pelham, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Pelham, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Red shouldered Hawk, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Despite southerly winds the last few nights I had some good luck with early arriving warbler this morning in the Belchertown/Pelham area.  The birds have likely been around for at least a few days as the migration conditions were not great for them to arrive in the last couple days.  I found three early arrivals including a Northern Parula, a molting Bay breasted Warbler and a Tennessee Warbler.  All of the warblers were with mixed species flocks and it is always fun to sort through the largely silent flocks as they move through the woods.  

Before looking for warblers I stopped by Lake Wallace to see what might be around and I was quite surprised to get my highest count of Green Herons for the year with at least 33 individuals present.  The numbers had been declining lately after peaking out at 31 on August 8th.  The total this morning came up four short of my highest total of 37 on August 16th in 2018 (which is also the highest total ever for the species in Hampshire County).  The species should be heading out soon to points south (as everyone should!).  Besides the Green Heron I had at least one Virginia Rail (likely two), a continued Great Egret as well as a juvenile Red shouldered Hawk that showed well and pestered most of the other occupants of the marsh.

We have one somewhat warm day tomorrow before another cold front comes in and drops the temps a bit and likely pushes more early migrants in.  I currently sit at 156 species for August in the county, which is my second highest total ever by this date and my total for the year in the county is at 228, which ties me for my highest total ever YTD...guess I should have chased more rarities earlier in the year to give me a shot of topping my highest total ever...oh well!  Should still end up being a decent year by the end of December.

The fourth week of August comes to an end

Pine Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 28, 2024

House Wren, Ware, MA, Aug 28, 2024

Prairie Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 28, 2024

The end of the fourth week of August brought with it some warm conditions with temps in the upper 80's with humid conditions.  The weather looks to cool down to end out the month.  Despite the heat and humidity I was out looking for migrants at the crack of dawn and spent my time mainly in Ware and had a decent selection of birds.  Nothing too unusual but certainly more migrants moving through.

Today also marks a big anniversary in birding around here for me.  It was 13 years ago today that Hurricane Irene moved through the area and dropped an incredible selection of birds at Winsor Dam.  I managed two life birds, four state birds and seven Hampshire County birds (one of which, White tailed Tropicbird, was a first county record).  Post covering the day at the following link: hurricane birds and the full eBird list for the day at the following link.  There are some indications the hurricane season will heat up by the early part of September but for now all is quiet.

Wood Ducks in the fog, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Bobolink, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Tennessee Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Magnolia Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Philadelphia Vireo, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 27, 2024

White breasted Nuthatch, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Red breasted Nuthatch, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Tennessee Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Aug 27, 2024

On Tuesday I spent another morning guiding a visiting birder from India (Bindhu) and we spent about an hour and a half along the rail trail in Amherst before going to nearby Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River in an attempt to find a fog free area.  Although the fog was fairly thick along the rail trail we were still able to see well enough to get nearly 40 species.  Silvio Conte NWR was still foggy but not as bad as the rail trail and we had a nice mixed flock that produced seven species of warblers plus a Philadelphia Vireo as well as other species.  Once I dropped Bindhu I took a walk in the area of Harris Mountain and had a large mixed flock that contained 13 species of warblers.  The fog never totally burned off until later morning and once it did it warmed into the low 80's.

Black Bear, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 26, 2024

Blue winged Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 26, 2024

Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 26, 2024

American Redstart, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 26, 2024

Hail, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2024

Hail, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2024

I had some decent luck with birds on my way home from work on Monday morning with more early arriving warblers including Tennessee Warblers and Northern Parula at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River (plus loads of mosquitoes!).  I also had a close encounter with a beautiful Black Bear.  The afternoon on Monday brought the worst hailstorm I have ever had at the house with hail up to quarter size.  It mounted up enough on the ground to look like snow...crazy.

On my way to work on Sunday the 25th I stopped at Silvio Conte NWR briefly and had my first Philadelphia Vireo of the year plus an early Blackpoll Warbler and yet another Tennessee Warbler.

Tennessee Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 24, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 24, 2024

After getting out of work on Saturday morning I went to Silvio Conte NWR in Hadley where I ran into Jack and we birded together for about an hour and a half.  During our time checking the area we had an adult Black crowned Night Heron flush from a thicket, a couple Tennessee Warblers and a Northern Parula among 46 species total.

Dawn, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 23, 2024

On my way to work on Friday morning I stopped briefly at the Honey Pot mainly looking for shorebirds and had just three species.

Mourning Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Cedar Waxwing, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Ware, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 22, 2024

Wilson resting, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 22, 2024

To start the fourth week of August I stayed in the Ware/southern Quabbin area and had a decent selection of species with highlights including two Mourning Warblers, Cape May Warbler and another Tennessee Warbler.