Quabbin birding and beyond

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Search for shorebirds in the valley...plus species #222

Bobolink, Honeypot, Sep 8, 2013

Although I didn't think there would be quite enough rain overnight to force down migrants (shorebirds) I nevertheless decided to try my luck at various spots checking for them anyway. Looking at the rainfall summary from overnight did show a little rain but probably not enough. I started off at Arcadia before dawn and scanned through the marsh a few times but only managed to find a single Solitary Sandpiper (an appropriate species for a lone shorebird). I debated on spending the rest of my time at the Arcadia meadows (looking for a CT warbler or an odd sparrow) but instead decided to head to the East Meadows to check the fields there.

East Meadows at dawn, Sep 8, 2013

Despite scanning several fields at the East Meadows I could only turn up a half dozen Killdeer and a flyby Least Sandpiper. Also had a couple Horned Larks there as well as several flyover Bobolinks.

American Wigeon, Hadley, Sep 8, 2013

My next stop was along the Connecticut River in Hadley where I have had some shorebirds lately but the water was up ever so slightly and, alas, the only shorebird was a Spotted Sandpiper. However a scan through the fifteen ducks present turned up a somewhat early American Wigeon. After watching them for several minutes part of the group flushed, including the wigeon which gave me some great views of the bird in flight confirming it was not anything more unusual than an American Wigeon.

Common Yellowthroat, Honeypot, Sep 8, 2013

Vesper Sparrow, Honeypot, Sep 8, 2013

Bobolink, Honeypot, Sep 8, 2013

Indigo Bunting, Honeypot, Sep 8, 2013

American Golden Plovers in flight, Honeypot, Sep 8, 2013

American Golden Plover, Honeypot, Sep 8, 2013

American Golden Plover (with Killdeer), Honeypot, Sep 8, 2013

Northern Harrier, Honeypot, Sep 8, 2013

My final stop of the morning was over to the Honeypot where I scanned the various fields and turned up a handful of shorebirds plus other birds. The shorebird totals included eight American Golden Plovers (five in one group and three in another), a flyover Greater Yellowlegs, six Killdeer and five Least Sandpipers. Lots of swallows and Bobolinks still around. Other notable birds included six raptor species (including four Northern Harriers, a Merlin and a Peregrine Falcon), at least16 Indigo Buntings, a Vesper Sparrow and a Lincoln's Sparrow which became species #222 for Hampshire County this year. I missed this species in the spring so I was happy to get one already this fall. I searched for but never found a Connecticut Warbler today....perhaps tomorrow?

Wilson watching vultures

Once I got home I picked up Wilson and we went for a walk along Jabish Canal. Fairly quiet as far as birds go as it had gotten a bit breezy. Wilson did pick out a few vultures coming by...his day late observation of International Vulture Day (yup...its a real thing).

With the north winds tonight I would suspect tomorrow will be a good day to be out. Tonight should feature quite a bit of movement with (hopefully) lots of nocturnal flight calls. I will be out listening to see if I can hear anything interesting. Speaking of calls at night I have had Barred and Great Horned Owls calling at the house over the last week and had an Eastern Screech Owl calling yesterday at the Honeypot. Perhaps I will try my luck in finding a saw whet owl sometime soon.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Birds at the Honeypot

Grasshopper Sparrow, Honeypot, Sep 7, 2013

American Golden Plovers, Honeypot, Sep 7, 2013

Cliff Swallow, Honeypot, Sep 7, 2013

Swallows (mainly Bank Swallows), Honeypot, Sep 7, 2013

Bank Swallow and Barn Swallow, Honeypot, Sep 7, 2013

Bobolinks, Honeypot, Sep 7, 2013

Song Sparrow, Honeypot, Sep 7, 2013

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Honeypot, Sep 7, 2013

Another cool morning (45 degrees) found me heading over to Hadley with Ian to check the honeypot for any migrants that might be around. Before meeting Ian I stopped briefly at Orchard Hill where at least two American Woodcocks were still flying around and displaying. I picked up Ian at 6 and we headed for the honeypot where we stayed for about three hours. Highlights included a Grasshopper Sparrow, 220+ Bobolinks, five raptor species (including Peregrine Falcons and Northern Harrier), at least seven American Golden Plovers both on the ground and in flight (wide assortment of plumage), a Lesser Yellowlegs, at least 21 Killdeer, about a dozen Least Sandpipers, at least 25 Chimney Swifts, 13 Indigo Buntings (several calling), an Eastern screech Owl spontaneously calling along the river, a Great Egret, a Tennessee Warbler, Black throated Green Warblers feeding down in the grasses with sparrows, and swallows in large numbers (400+ Bank Swallows, 220 Barn Swallows, 150 Tree Swallows, 2 Cliff Swallows and hundreds too far out to ID). We also had a bird that got away that may have been a Connecticut Warbler but we couldn't confirm it. A total of 57 species at this location overall.

Lesser Yellowlegs, Hadley, Sep 7, 2013

We then made a brief stop along the river in Hadley where we had another Lesser Yellowlegs, three Least Sandpipers, a Spotted Sandpiper and a Killdeer plus another Great Egret.
We headed over to the East Meadows but the bird activity was very light and the human activity somewhat heavy so we headed out of there and worked out way back to UMASS where we made a quick stop at the drawn down campus pond. The usual geese and Mallards plus a Great Blue Heron. With the mudflats present at the pond, there is a chance of a shorebird stopping by but none today.

Red eyed Vireo, home, Belchertown, Sep 7, 2013

At home I had a few mixed species flocks move through with the most numerous warbler being Black throated Green Warbler but had a few others mixed in including a Northern Parula (had an Ovenbird around yesterday)

Friday, September 6, 2013

Migrants at Orchard Hill and the Honeypot

Wood Thrush, Orchard Hill UMASS, Sep 6, 2013

Philadelphia Vireo, Orchard Hill UMASS, Sep 6, 2013

Black and White Warbler, Orchard Hill UMASS, Sep 6, 2013

White breasted Nuthatch, Orchard Hill UMASS, Sep 6, 2013

Bay breasted Warbler, Orchard Hill UMASS, Sep 6, 2013

With the radars lit up overnight and flight calls heard as I was outside last evening I had high hopes for a good morning of birding and I was not disappointed. Although the morning started off a bit cool with a temperature at 39 it was at least sunny and did warm up. I started my morning predawn at the honeypot before heading over to UMASS. I didn't want to spend too much time at the honeypot as I wanted to be on Orchard Hill for sunrise so I was not able to turn up anything noteworthy there first thing. I made it over to Orchard Hill just as the sun was rising and joined a few other birders there. Quiet at first but then the activity picked up with the arrival of the sun. We had some fantastic birds including at least three Bay breasted Warblers (all in the same small area...never have had so many close together in Mass before), a Tennessee Warbler, a Wilson's Warbler, a Philadelphia Vireo (one of four vireo species there), a total of 13 warbler species and just over 45 species total for a few hours in the morning. The activity quickly trailed off and others needed to head to class so I left the hill and headed back to the honeypot to try my luck once again finding shorebirds from the dike.

American Golden Plovers (they are there!), Honeypot, Sep 6, 2013

Honeypot at dawn, Sep 6, 2013

Almost as soon as I arrived at the Honeypot a Merlin came in from the north and I thought any shorebirds would have flushed but nothing moved. I scanned through the fields a couple times and came up with eight American Golden Plovers as well as a couple Killdeer. Still lots of Bobolinks flying overhead and calling as well as hundreds of swallows along the river and fields.

I took Wilson for a couple walks including along Jabish Canal (one mixed species flock but nothing unexpected) and along the land trust trail. The best bird along the land trust trail was a Yellow bellied Flycatcher in the woods that allowed for some great views. I tried to get a photo with the phone through the binoculars but no luck with that. A few other notable birds were reported today including Connecticut and Orange crowned Warblers...both of which I have yet to see this year in the county...maybe tomorrow?

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Honeypot this morning

American Golden Plovers, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Sep 5, 2013

American Golden Plover, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Sep 5, 2013

American Golden Plovers, Honeypot, Hadley, MA, Sep 5, 2013

Made a few stops on my way to work today with my first stop at the Honeypot in Hadley. As I was arriving there just before dawn it started to rain. I stopped to scan from the dike and shortly thereafter Ian and Ben stopped. Given the rain showers they decided that perhaps the East Meadows would be productive. I decided to join them after I scanned a bit of the fields and found three American Golden Plovers in among the grasses. After scanning though a couple more times I headed to the East Meadows where I caught up with Ian and Ben and they had nothing so we headed back over to the Honeypot for just over an hour. Highlights included a total of four American Golden Plovers, four Killdeer, two Great Egrets flying by, a huge gathering of swallows (minimum numbers-250 Bank Swallows, 300 Tree Swallows, 10 Barn Swallows and hundreds of others too far out to ID), four Double crested Cormorants, at least 18 Chimney Swifts, 16 Horned Larks and 120+ Bobolinks plus an awe inspiring symbol of 'merica flying by. I had to leave for work but they managed to add a Cliff Swallow to the species seen. If only the rain showers had hit a few hours earlier it could have been even more productive.

I got a call around midday that Bob Z was back at the Honeypot and had half a dozen golden plovers as well as a Buff breasted Sandpiper and a few Least Sandpipers in the fields plus a single Semipalmated Plover on a sandbar in the river.

Tonight should feature a big influx of migrants as the winds continue out of the north. The overnight low may actually set a record as the temperature dips down to the upper 30’s. We shall see what tomorrow brings as far as new migrants go.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Early morning in the east meadows

Semipalmated Plover (with Killdeer), East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Sep 3, 2013

Semipalmated Plover, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Sep 3, 2013

With additional rain showers and storms overnight I headed out early to check areas around the Connecticut River. An area in Hadley that has been quite productive for shorebirds only had a single Solitary Sandpiper and a few Least Sandpipers today but with most of the mudflats covered by the rising river the numbers were not too surprising. I then met up with Ian, Keenan and Ben over in the East Meadows where we had some interesting birds for the hour plus we were there. Although we didn’t cover too much area due to muddy conditions we still had some really good stuff. We had the following shorebirds around this morning: three Semipalmated Plovers (one with Killdeer and two others together in a separate field), at least eight Least Sandpipers, 26 Killdeer and a golden plover that was heard and seen flying south. The vocalization was a bit odd and it may have been something more unusual than an American Golden Plover but we were never able to find the bird again despite searching several fields for it. We also heard and then saw a Dickcissel down near the red barn (I believe Ian got some flight shots of the bird), a Vesper Sparrow, a Northern Harrier (there were actually at least four present but I only saw the one), lots of flyover Bobolinks and swallows (mainly Tree Swallows but a few Barn and Bank Swallows also and hundreds more too far out to ID).

Sunday, September 1, 2013

September starts with two new species for the county this year...#220 and #221

Cooper's Hawk, Honeypot, Sep 1, 2013

American Golden Plover, Honeypot, Sep 1, 2013

Following thunderstorms that lasted most of the night and kept me up (and Wilson very nervous) I got a bit of a late start (for me anyway) heading out this morning. I made it over to Winsor Dam for a brief look around 6 AM and found 77 Mallards and a single Common Loon but nothing else noteworthy. I then headed over to Hadley with my first stop along the Connecticut River where I found a Greater Yellowlegs, two Lesser Yellowlegs, a Solitary Sandpiper and a couple Spotted Sandpipers despite the river level being up a few feet due to the rain. Certainly a decline in the species and numbers present when more mudflats were exposed just a couple days ago. I then got a call from Steve about a flyby American Golden Plover at the Honeypot. As I was already planning on heading over that way eventually anyway I cut my time short along the river and headed to the Honeypot to try to find the bird. I briefly checked the various fields on my way down to view the river. After talking briefly with Bob near 'Thats a plenty farm' I decided to work my way back out toward the east end of the Honeypot and check every field with the scope. I managed to find a Vesper Sparrow, 130+ Bobolinks, 35+ Bank Swallows, and 200+ other swallows (Tree and Barn but many too far away to ID), a Sharpshinned Hawk, a cooperative Cooper's Hawk and a singing Brown Thrasher as I worked my way through all the fields. As I was checking the last field right along the dike I finally came across some shorebirds when I found at least nine Killdeer. I then came across an American Golden Plover in among the Killdeer. This is likely the same individual seen by others in flight not too far away earlier in the morning. The American Golden Plover became species #220 for Hampshire County this year. In addition to the plover and Killdeer there were at half a dozen or so Least Sandpipers and a single flyby peep that I was unable to ID. With my lack of sleep catching up with me I headed for home. However, just before I got there I got a call from Scott about a Buff breasted Sandpiper (plus additional American Golden Plovers and a Semipalmated Plover) in the East Meadows in Northampton. I then decided that it was worth a try as I may not get another chance to see another Buff breasted this year.

Buff breasted Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton,MA, Sep 1, 2013

I arrived in the East Meadows to find Scott and Tom looking at the field where the Buff breasted Sandpiper HAD been (it disappeared not long before Tom and I arrived). We scanned the field several times finding Killdeer and Least Sandpipers but no Buff breasted. As the weather continued to be overcast with more and more drizzle we figured the bird was still around nearby. Tom went to check one field while I went around the opposite side of the field the bird had been in. Not long after arriving on the opposite side I found the Buff breasted Sandpiper and got myself a second new species for the year bringing my total to 221. Tom and Bob managed to come over and we all got good scope views of the bird. Other birds around the area included at least two Horned Larks, a Vesper Sparrow, 13 Killdeer and five Least Sandpipers.

Once I got home I picked up Wilson for a walk along the land trust in Belchertown which quickly turned into an adventure as we got caught in a tropical like downpour. Although not the best way to end the morning we didn't melt. It was a very productive morning with two new species for the year, a total of eight species of shorebird and about 55 species overall. Thanks to all the other great birders out there today we all had a great morning. A lesson to all to always go out and bird even (or especially) when the weather is 'bad'.