The third weekish of June

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 22, 2023

Cedar Waxwing, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 22, 2023

Great Blue Heron and Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 22, 2023

Wilson waiting for dinner, Home, Jun 21, 2023

Wood Duck with ducklings, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2023

Mallards, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2023

Barn Swallow fledgling, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 21, 2023

House Wren with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 21, 2023

Painted Turtle laying eggs, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 19, 2023

Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 19, 2023

Ruffed Grouse, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 17, 2023

Wood Duck with ducklings, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Jun 17, 2023

Birding continues to be a bit curtailed as the third week of June has come and gone as I stay close to home to be with Wilson as he recovers from his surgery.  Nonetheless I have tried to get out a bit  early every day that I'm not working and I have found a number of decent birds including relocating the Lawrence's Warbler at Quabbin Park I last saw on June 1st and a Cerulean Warbler singing a parula like song today at Quabbin Park.  Breeding season is in full swing and I have found lots of evidence of successful breeding with some juveniles around and many adult birds carrying food at many different locations. 

Mid June update

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2023

Blue winged Teal, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2023

Sora, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2023

Dawn over Hop Brook, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 16, 2023

American Redstarts in nest, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 15, 2023

Hooded Warbler, Westfield, MA, Jun 14, 2023

Eastern Coyote, Westfield, MA, Jun 14, 2023

Double crested Cormorants, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Jun 14, 2023

Muskrats, Pines Edge Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, Jun 12, 2023

Eastern Phoebe nest, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 9, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 11, 2023

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jun 11, 2023

Song Sparrow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 9, 2023

Eastern Phoebe, Grand Trunk Trail, Brimfield, MA, Jun 8, 2023

Swamp Sparrow, Grand Trunk Trail, Brimfield, MA, Jun 8, 2023

The middle of June has now arrived and I will post a quick update.  I have been able to get out just a bit over the last several days due to work and wanting to be home with Wilson as he recovers from surgery that he had done on the 8th meaning I'm only out for a few hours around dawn.  He is slowly recovering but it is tough to keep an active boy like him down and he just wants to be active again (more on his recovery below).  As far as birds go, nesting season is underway and I have found some nests I have been watching including an American Redstart nest I have been watching since mid May that fledged young today.  There have also been a few unusual species around including yet another Purple Martin that arrived at the nesting gourds in Hadley and male Blue winged Teal I found today at the same location.  There were also at least two Soras present in Hadley again this morning.  I also made an early morning trip down into Hampden County a few days ago to see the breeding Hooded Warblers there.  During my time at home I also made a brief post concerning Mourning Warblers this spring in the area.

Wilson finding another comfortable spot, Jun 13, 2023

Wilson sleeping, Jun 11, 2023

Wilson the day after surgery, Jun 9, 2023

Now to Wilson.  He had surgery on the 8th and he has been recovering as well as expected.  It is tough on all of us (especially Wilson) keeping his activity limited as the surgery site heals.  He does not like being limited in activity and I know he is itching to get out on walks again.  We are still a couple weeks away from even short (ten minute) walks but he wants to start now.  We have tried to keep him as comfortable as possible and have someone with him as much as possible so he doesn't have to wear a cone much.

The first week of June

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 1, 2023

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 1, 2023

Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 1, 2023

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 1, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 3, 2023

Louisiana Waterthrush fledgling, Hadley, MA, Jun 5, 2023

Winsor Dam with wildfire smoke, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 6, 2023

Eastern Towhee, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 6, 2023

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 6, 2023

Olive sided Flycatcher, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jun 6, 2023

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jun 6, 2023

American Redstarts at nest, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 7, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 7, 2023

Eastern Towhee, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 7, 2023

Gray Catbird, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 7, 2023

Hooded Merganser, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 7, 2023

American Robin building nest, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 7, 2023

Blackburnian Warbler, Cadwell Memorial Forest, Pelham, MA, Jun 7, 2023

The first week of June has now come to a close and although there are still a few species moving through to points further north, most birds around now are breeders.  I'm certainly still trying to track down late migrants and have had some luck with a few late moving warblers and flycatchers (much more on warblers for the first week of June at the following link).  As the breeding season arrives I will be spending even more time tracking down breeding species and conducting a variety of breeding bird surveys.  I have already completed my two Eastern Whip Poor Will surveys and will soon be doing some field surveys on Prescott plus conducting my annual Breeding Bird Survey from Belchertown down to the Connecticut line as well as other surveys.  It is a fun time of year and not nearly as hectic as May when every day brings lots of new potential and I'm usually out the door well before the sun comes up.  There certainly is the chance of rarities to still show up but chances are a bit less and I'm not out looking as hard for them as most birds around now are here to breed.  The weather has been a bit more unsettled and cooler than normal and we continue to get smoke from wildfires in Canada which at times has cut visibility way down.  Nonetheless there are lots of birds to see and it well worth getting out to look and listen as much as you can.

Wilson getting belly rubs, Home, Jun 6, 2023

Wilson enjoying a walk a few years ago

Tomorrow my buddy Wilson goes in for his surgery and we are all hopefully it goes smooth with no complications and he will be back to getting around without difficulty after several weeks of healing.  I miss our walks and can't wait to get back to doing them again.