Red Crossbills

Red Crossbills, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Red Crossbill, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Red Crossbill, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Today I decided to head into the permit only, restricted access Prescott Peninsula to check my Whip-poor-will survey route as I want to make some minor changes for next years route.  I have been meaning to do this for several weeks but I got a kick to make the trip up there when I got an e-mail in the middle of the week from a friend that is doing research in there and he came across some Red Crossbills recently.  I found Red Crossbills breeding in a few areas of the peninsula during the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas.  This is one of the few areas in the state where this species has bred.  I started in around 6am and ran across a Moose fairly early.  I made it down to the area where the crossbills had been days ago but despite quite a bit of looking around I did not find them there.  Knowing how much the birds like to roam I was not surprised they were not in the immediate area still.  I then drove further down my whip-poor-will route always keeping an ear out for anything good.  I finally heard my first Red Crossbills about half way down the peninsula and got some quick views of a few males and females.  During my ride back out I came across an additional two groups of two (one male and female together and a group of two females) plus a flyover bird calling a bit further on.  The total for the morning was nine Red Crossbills although there may have been more in the flyover group.  Given the number I ran across I would advise anyone around Quabbin to be on the lookout for this species as they disperse.

Indigo Bunting, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Indigo Bunting, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Indigo Bunting fledgling, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Moose, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Magnolia Warbler,Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

Other birds of note included a very cooperative Indigo Bunting with two fledglings in attendance, a mixed species flock of various warblers, vireos and sparrows and many other expected birds.  The amount of bird song has trailed off quite a bit but some birds were still singing occasionally.  Without song it is a bit more difficult to track down some species I know are still around in large numbers but are not very obvious, such as Ovenbirds. 

American Woodcock, Prescott Peninsula, July 21, 2012

I also ran across an American Woodcock sitting in the road that allowed fairly close approach.

Last day of April...and nest box update

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, April 30, 2012

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, April 30, 2012

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, April 30, 2012

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, April 30, 2012

Common Loons, Quabbin Park, MA, April 30, 2012

The last day of April dawned cold and clear with a temperature in the 20's.  Thankfully the wind backed off today so it did not feel nearly as cold.  Eventually the temperatures made it into the 60's.  Although the winds last night were not great for a big push there were still more birds that did show up.  I had three first of year birds today including Chimney Swift, Merlin (way overdue for me) and the most surprising- a Yellow-throated Vireo.  The date of the vireo is the earliest I have ever had one here.  The bird was with a mixed species flock along the shoreline near Goodnough Dike.  It was feeding in the tops of some oak trees.  I got great looks in good light but before I could get a photo the bird flew further down the shore.  I followed it for a few hundred feet and then lost it before I could get close again.  I didn't add any new warbler species today but did manage to find all the species I had previously seen so far this year including the Blackburnian.  Lots of other good stuff around today too.  I spent over an hour at Winsor Dam late AM trying for some raptors.  The only obvious migrants were Ospreys flying quite high heading northeast.  The Merlin I saw was actually fairly low and heading west.  During my vigil at the dam I also had the only Chimney Swift of the day as one lone bird moved through heading northeast.  Tomorrow should bring in a real good push of birds if the winds stay south and the rain doesn't shut down migration too early.

Hooded Merganser chicks in nest box, April 30, 2012

The Hooded Merganser eggs have hatched and the birds are probably only a few days away from fledging out of the new nest box.  This was the only one of the three boxes used this season so far but the birds appear to have been successful.

Weekend birding-sunny, cool, windy

Pileated Woodpecker, Rail trail-Amherst, MA, April 29, 2012

Pileated Woodpecker, Rail trail-Amherst, MA, April 29, 2012

Pileated Woodpecker, Rail trail-Amherst, MA, April 29, 2012

As April rapidly comes to a close the cooler than normal conditions continue.  Yesterday the temperature stayed in the 50’s with a strong wind.  Today the temperature started out in the 20’s and warmed only into the upper 50's again.  Record setting cold morning temperatures for late April with coldest night likely to be tonight with lows in the low 20's possible.  Given the conditions of northerly winds and cool temperatures there was little obvious migration taking place.  The conditions to our south and west continue to point toward an increase in migration but the conditions here will remain unfavorable to a big push of migrants until perhaps Monday into Tuesday.  Once the migration conditions improve there should be a big influx of both numbers and variety.  Even without a big push there are still migrants that move through with the following new species seen over the weekend: Yellow Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

I stayed around the local area visiting Quabbin Park and Reed Conservation area on Saturday and made the trip over to Amherst to the rail trail at dawn and then headed back over to Quabbin Park and then Covey WMA on Sunday.  Sunday was a more productive day with the winds staying a bit calmer for longer in the morning.  I had a little pulse of raptors moving at Quabbin Park mid morning at Quabbin with 13 Broad-wings, an Osprey, a Northern Harrier and three each of Bald Eagle and Turkey Vulture.  On Sunday I had my first eight warbler species day of the season including my first Yellow Warbler as well as the continuing Blackburnian, several each of Black and White and Black-throated Green, the Louisiana Waterthrush at the house plus many each of Pine, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Other birds of note included three Eastern Meadowlarks along the rail trail as well as a few vocal Brown Thrashers plus a very cooperative Pileated Woodpecker.  Overall a good weekend despite the less than warm temperatures.

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Rail trail-Amherst, MA, April 29, 2012

Pine Warbler, Rail trail-Amherst, MA, April 29, 2012

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Rail trail-Amherst, MA, April 29, 2012

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Rail trail-Amherst, MA, April 29, 2012

Birthday birding

Palm Warbler (yellow), Gate 9-Quabbin, April 25, 2012

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle), Gate 9-Quabbin, April 25, 2012

Black and White Warbler, Gate 9-Quabbin, April 25, 2012

Song Sparrow, Gate 9-Quabbin, April 25, 2012

Black capped Chickadee, Gate 9-Quabbin, April 25, 2012

I took the day off from work today for my birthday and spent the morning exploring various areas around Quabbin trying to find some new arrivals.  I did not find any new species for this migration season but still had some good birds.  I was really hoping to find a southern warbler (Yellow-throated, Prothonotary, etc) that was carried north by the southern winds of last week and the storm over the weekend.  Despite my best efforts I had no luck finding any.  The day started out at a chilly 35 and warmed up to the mid 50's before the breeze really kicked in and cooled it down a bit again.  I started the day Quabbin Park.  I had a few loons and eagles in the usual spots.  The Blackburnian Warbler present near Goodnough Dike was still there this morning.  The number of Chipping Sparrows, Eastern Towhees and Yellow-rumped Warblers continue to go up.  I also ran across a pair of very vocal Cooper's Hawks copulating just off the road.  The male was then breaking off sticks and carrying them into the nest site.  I next headed for Quabbin Gate 9 (more accurately the large marsh opposite Gate 9).  I ran into a nice large group of warbler here with several coming in quite close for good looks.  After walking as far as I could there I headed up to Gate 12 and walked down about a half mile.  Quite a few woodpeckers in the area as well as a calling Broad-winged Hawk low over the trees.  I then headed down to Gate 8 and drove down to the end.  It was quite quiet here so I didn't stay too long.  A couple other quick stops didn't produce any birds of note.  I stopped briefly at home and picked up Wilson and he headed to Covey WMA for a long walk around the area.  Some good birds but nothing out of the ordinary.  During the afternoon I had a few Broad-wings streaming north very high up but little else.