Breeding in full swing including Cerulean Warbler cooperative breeding

Cerulean Warbler male with leg bands and female with nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

Cerulean Warbler adult male without bands with nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

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

Virginia Rail fledgling, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 16, 2026

Common Ravens, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 15, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 14, 2026

Looking southwest from peak, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, Jun 14, 2026

As mid June arrives and the longest days of the year are upon us here in western Massachusetts breeding activity rapidly reaches its peak.  Loads of species are on nest, feeding nestlings or feeding nestlings.  The next few weeks will bring more of the same as the next generation of many species head out into the big (and at times cruel) world.  A highlight for me today was seeing a Cerulean Warbler nest at Skinner SP being tended by two males and a female (cooperative breeding with this species is extremely rare).  

A big warm up and multiple nights of good migration conditions

Purple Martin and Tree Swallows, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Northern Cardinal with nest material, Bachelor Brook Conservation Area, South Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Mourning Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Gray cheeked Thrush, Belchertown, MA, May 19, 2026

Raccoon swimming, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2026

Lawrence's Warbler, Hardwick, MA, May 18, 2026

Gray Catbird, Ware, MA, May 18, 2026

Butterfly species, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2026

Blue gray Gnatcatcher constructing nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2026

Rainbow Scarab, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2026

Solitary Sandpiper, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Tree Swallow with nest material, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Hooded Merganser eggs in duck box #2, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 17, 2026

We have had multiple nights of great migration conditions thanks to southerly winds that also ushered in record setting temps in the 90's.  As expected I have been out as much as I can each morning before returning to take the Wilson for his required walk.  Even with some species still moving through to points to the north breeding activity around here is in full swing with the first waterfowl young out and about and many species collecting nesting material and building nests.  I have added several new species for the year in the county as well as some rarities.  The highlights included Purple Martin, Gray cheeked Thrush, Yellow breasted Chat, two new species of warbler for the year as part of my warbler big year in the US and a Lawrence's Warbler.  Migration has now peaked at this point and now we begin the downhill slide of another spring migration.  

Birds to end the third week of July

Peregrine Falcon, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jul 21, 2024

Worm eating Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jul 21, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jul 21, 2024

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jul 21, 2024

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 20, 2024

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 20, 2024

Song Sparrow, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 20, 2024

House Wren, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 20, 2024

Bonaparte's Gull, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 20, 2024

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jul 19, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Ware, MA, Jul 18, 2024

Yellow Warbler, Ware, MA, Jul 18, 2024

Indigo Bunting, Ware, MA, Jul 18, 2024

Common Goldeneye, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 18, 2024

With a break in our high levels of heat and humidity I got out a bit the last few days and turned up some decent birds in what is typically a rather dull part of the year.  Highlights the last few days included a reappearance of the female Common Goldeneye at Winsor Dam (she has been around since spring and is assumed to be unable to fly) and a breeding plumaged Bonaparte's Gull (also at Winsor Dam).  I have also spent time tracking down warblers with the best being a Worm eating Warbler away from any known breeding location so also certainly a post breeding dispersal bird.  Shorebirds have slowly been trickling in as their migration ramps up.

First week of June

Black and White Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 1, 2024

Common Goldeneyes, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 1, 2024

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 1, 2024

Green Heron, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 1, 2024

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 1, 2024

The first week of June has now come to an end and so far for the month I have located 126 species despite being back to work and therefore not birding everyday.  I started out the month trying to relocate some continued rarities and found a few including the Prothonotary Warbler in South Hadley, the long staying Common Goldeneye at Winsor Dam, a slightly late Common Nighthawk at home and both Pine Siskins and Red Crossbills.  I ended the first day of the new month with 108 species.

Dawn at the UMASS orchard, BBS stop #3, Belchertown, MA, Jun 2, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, BBS stop #34, Monson, MA, Jun 2, 2024

On the 2nd I conducted my Breeding Bird Survey for my 15th year and reached my highest species count along the route with 84 species.

Brown Thrasher, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Field Sparrow, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Prairie Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Killdeer giving distraction display, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Wild Turkey poult, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 3, 2024

Great Blue Heron at nest, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 3, 2024

On the last day before I had to return to work I conducted a bird survey at a WMA that has had work done in the last couple years to create some pine barren habitat and I was very happy with the species diversity that has taken advantage of the change in habitat with several Eastern Whip Poor Wills before dawn and several species of scrub type species as the morning wore on including Brown Thrasher, Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Blue winged Warbler, Chestnut sided Warbler and Prairie Warbler.  It will be interesting to see how the next few years shakes out with species at the location.  I also spent some time at both Quabbin Park and Lake Wallace with both locations being quite active.

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 5, 2024

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 5, 2024

Wild Turkey with poults, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 5, 2024

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 5, 2024

I had to work on the 4th so only able to bird a bit before work and during that time I didn't have anything too unusual.  Once I was out of work on Wednesday morning I made a few stops on my way home including the East Meadows, Silvio Conte NWR (striking out on any Purple Martins), the rail trail in Amherst and then Quabbin Park.  Quabbin Park was fairly productive with the continued pair of Common Goldeneyes (likely that one of the pair in injured in some way and the mate is staying with them as the pair bond is quite strong...this species should be way into Canada breeding at this point).  I also had at least two Cerulean Warblers continuing but no sign of a female yet.

Worm eating Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 7, 2024

American Robin with white on right wing, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 6, 2024

I had to work on the 6th also and it was an overall rainy day so not much to report from that day.  I did get out to a few spots after work today to end the first week of June.  I failed to relocate the Prothonotary Warbler in South Hadley and I think it has moved on.  I took my first hike with some elevation since I got hurt a few weeks ago and I picked the Mount Holyoke Range SP in Granby to try to get some photos of Worm eating Warbler and I had some success.  There were a number of other species around too with nothing unexpected.  By the end of the first week of June I had found 126 species in Hampshire County.

More on warblers to start July can be found at the follow link: Warblers for the first week of June