Mid August

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 18, 2026

Black Bear, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 18, 2026

Wilson sleeping, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 18, 2026

Wood Ducks, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Aug 16, 2026

Northern House Wren, Belchertown, MA, Aug 16, 2026

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 16, 2026

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 15, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 14, 2026

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 13, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 12, 2026

Great Blue Heron, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 12, 2026

Yet another warm month is rapidly flying by as we head toward fall.  I have tried to get out as much as I can despite the horrific mosquitoes most everywhere and projects at home keeping me there.  Migration is certainly increasing and mixed flocks are starting to increase in frequency.   Common Nighthawks have started to arrive with the peak of that migration in the next couple weeks.  Red Crossbills continue to show up in more and more places and I have had a few that are not the Type 12 variety expected here with my first confirmed Type 4 today at Quabbin Park.  Shorebirds and waders are also moving through the area although Hampshire County has so far missed out on anything unusual although the show of Green Herons at Lake Wallace continue to impress.  Wilson continues to plug along with some days better than others but all things considered he is doing well for a nearly 15 1/2 year old dog.  

The first few days of August

Gray Catbird, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Aug 5, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Aug 5, 2026

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2026

Wood Duck, Rail Trail,  Amherst, MA, Aug 4, 2026

Red tailed Hawk, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Aug 4, 2026

 

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 2, 2026

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 2, 2026

Killdeer, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 2, 2026

Looking northeast from Gate 52 over a low reservoir, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 2, 2026

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 1, 2026

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, Aug 1, 2026

House Wren nest with nestlings, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 1, 2026

It has been a somewhat average start to August with widely variable weather including some humidity, heavy rain and then more fall like days with cool mornings.  I got out at least a bit every morning and found a total of 126 species so far with the only somewhat unusual species being continued numbers of Red Crossbills in various locations, Grasshopper Sparrow, a slightly late Orchard Oriole and continued Blue Grosbeaks in Hadley.   We are forecast to warm up again with a possible heat wave starting tomorrow and lasting into the weekend.  I will get out early to beat the heat.  On a bird related note the American Ornithological Society (AOS) is in the midst of having their annual conference and this year it is occurring at UMASS!  Wish it was not so expensive to go as it would have been interesting to hear some of the talks and presentations.  

The first week(ish) of July

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 8, 2026

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 8, 2026

Eastern Kingbird, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, Jul 8, 2026

Luna Moth, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 8, 2026

American Woodcock, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 7, 2026

Black throated Blue Warbler, Quabbin Gate 12, Pelham, MA, Jul 5, 2026

Wood Duck with ducklings, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 5, 2026

Eastern Bluebird nest nearly complete, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 4, 2026

The first week(ish) of July is come to an end and I have been out as much as I could be to add species to my July list in Hampshire County before I head out west for a couple weeks.  I have managed to put myself at a record setting pace for the month with 129 species so far which is several species ahead of a typical July here.  Lots of breeding activity continues with loads of fledglings around.  

Very hot start to July with a multi day heat wave

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 1, 2026

Red eyed Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 1, 2026

Scarlet Tanager, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 1, 2026

Yellow throated Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 1, 2026

Peregrine Falcons, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 2, 2026

Common Yellowthroat during banding process, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 2, 2026

Blackburnian Warbler fledgling, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Prairie Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Turkey Vultures, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Downy Woodpecker, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Sun through the trees on a very humid morning, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

White spotted Skipper, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Eastern Bluebird nest construction underway, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler fledgling, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 4, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 4, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 4, 2026

Wood Duck with ducklings, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 4, 2026

White tailed Deer, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 4, 2026

A heat wave that started on the last day of June continued into the first four days of July with highs that reached the upper 90's with high humidity on multiple days.  I started the month by tracking down all the regularly occurring warblers in Hampshire County and getting lots of other species along the way.  After a number of thunderstorms overnight into the 2nd I headed out before dawn to track down more species for the month hitting multiple spots along the Connecticut River from the Holyoke Dam north to Hadley.  On July 3rd I started in Belchertown and then over to Amherst before ending my morning in Granby.  It was incredibly humid and the low temp to start the day was 72!  Really felt like being in the tropics.  Saturday was the last day of the heat wave and for that day I went after a few nocturnal species at Quabbin Park and nearby Ware before a longer walk along the rail trail in Ware.  I then spent a few hours in Quabbin Park plus a brief stop at Lake Wallace before heading home early to get Wilson a walk.  Lots of evidence of breeding around as expected for early July.  Despite the heat the first four days of the month have been productive in the county with 123 species so far.