Great Egret, Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, Sep 2, 2024
Northern Flickers, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 3, 2024
Magnolia Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 3, 2024
Indigo Bunting, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 3, 2024
Gray Catbird, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Sep 4, 2024
Eastern Towhee, Ware, MA, Sep 4, 2024
Yellow bellied Flycatcher, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 4, 2024
Wood Thrush, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 4, 2024
Northern Parula, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 4, 2024
Sanderling, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Sep 5, 2024
Peregrine Falcon, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Sep 5, 2024
Gray Catbird, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Sep 5, 2024
Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Sep 5, 2024
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 6, 2024
Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 7, 2024
Gray Catbird with leg band, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 7, 2024
Pine Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 7, 2024
The first week of the big fall migration month of September has now come to an end and I have so far run across 126 species (which is around average for me for the first week). I have mainly concentrated on warblers and have probably missed other species I could have gotten if I visited other habitats. Overall the weather has been mainly sunny with cool (to even cold) mornings that warmed up nicely, giving the week a typical fall feel. I have had a number of unusual species for the first week including Sandhill Crane, Sanderling, Sedge Wren and Mourning Warbler. Unfortunately I aggravated my most recent back injury again and I will have to keep my walking on mainly level areas. This should not be too much of an issue in the fall. Looking forward to seeing what the rest of the month brings as fall migration peaks. A big miss to end the week for me was a Sabine's Gull that Ted found midday at Winsor Dam today. The bird flew out with a group of Ring billed Gulls and was not seen again by anyone despite a valiant effort. This is only the second county record ever for the species and only the second inland record ever in the state...a truly rare bird and another tough one to miss.
Raccoons, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 6, 2024
Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 4, 2024
Short tailed Weasel, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 3, 2024
Raccoon, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 3, 2024
Scarlet Tanager, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 2, 2024
Black capped Chickadee and Ruby throated Hummingbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 2, 2024
The game cameras continue to impress at the house and I have captured stuff both at the water feature and along Jabish Brook. The water feature has featured several species of birds plus a few mammals. The camera along the brook produced a new mammal with what appears to be a Short tailed Weasel...video attached below. The family of Raccoons also continued and put on quite a show one night with lots of chasing, playing and fighting. I have linked multiple videos below:
Short tailed Weasel video
Raccoon videos:
video 1
video 2
video 3
video 4
video 5
video 6
video 7
