Visit to the hilltowns produces an early Eastern Kingbird (plus other new stuff in the valley)

Long tailed Ducks, Lake Metacomet, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2013

Long tailed Ducks, Lake Metacomet, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2013

Long tailed Ducks, Lake Metacomet, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2013

I headed out before dawn this morning to meet up with Ian and check a variety of areas. We went over to Arcadia but the area was quite flooded and fairly unproductive. We decided to take a ride up to some of the hill towns to try to catch up with an American bittern and/or Evening Grosbeak. Although we didn't find either of these two species we still managed to find some good stuff including an early Eastern Kingbird (#134) in a small marsh near the Cummington Fairgrounds. I didn't have my DSLR with me but Ian did and got some photos of the bird.  We also had a calling Virginia Rail in the same area. We made stops at Fisk Meadow WMA plus the series of wetlands in Cummington before heading to Great Pond in Hatfield. The wind really started to pick up by this point so the pond was fairly quiet. The winds for the remainder of the day continued to be strong out of the south (20 MPH sustained with gusts over 30 MPH) in advance of a cold front that is forecast to arrive tonight. It will be interesting to see what the rains associated with the front force down overnight. 

 

Common Goldeneye (left) with Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Apr 19, 2013

On my way home I stopped briefly at Winsor Dam and had a Common Goldeneye in with a group of half a dozen Bufflehead plus I had a Peregrine Falcon.  Once I arrived home I picked up Wilson and we headed to the Jabish Canal. Birds of note included 54 Double created Cormorants heading northeast in a single flock, several Common Mergansers heading north as well as a Great Blue Heron. Oddly there was little raptor movement seen. As we were returning from our walk I got a message from Evan Dalton that three Long tailed Ducks were on the water at Lake Metacomet (a very unusual bird inland in spring). I was able to stop on my way home and add the Long tailed Ducks (#135) to my county list. I was able to add yet another species in the afternoon while I was home when I had a Blue headed Vireo (#136).

Glossy Ibis (x3) and other new arrivals

Glossy Ibis, rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2013

Glossy Ibis, rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2013

Glossy Ibis, rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2013

Glossy Ibis, rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 18, 2013

I decided to head over to the bike path before dawn to follow up on a report of a group of three Glossy Ibis found there last evening.  Before I even left the yard this morning I had a Louisiana Waterthrush (#129) singing along the stream at 5:20.  Once I arrived at the rail trail I added a few species of new birds for the county this year including a Brown Thrasher (#130) and a Black and White Warbler (#131).  After quite a bit of searching through the fog filled marsh I had no luck finding the ibis nor did the three other birders with me.  Later in the morning, after the fog burned off, I got a call that the ibis were back.  I finally made it back over there late in the afternoon and all three Glossy Ibis (#132) were present.  After viewing them for awhile along with several other birders, I decided to head out but not before adding another species when a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (#133) started calling and was seen briefly.

In addition last evening I went out to areas around Quabbin Park in search of an early whip-poor-will, owls or rails.  No luck finding any whip-poor-wills but I did have a Virginia Rail (#128) in the Route 9 marsh and a Barred Owl calling from the middle entrance at Quabbin Park.  I also had a nice view of a Gray Fox when I arrived home.

Costa Rica -April 6, 7 and 8

Black-mandibled Toucan (Chestnut-mandibled) in flight, Rio Magnolia Lodge, April 7, 2013

 

Bay headed Tanager, Rio Magnolia Lodge, April 7, 2013

Cherrie's Tanager, Rio Magnolia Lodge, April 7, 2013



Masked Tityra, Rio Magnolia Lodge, April 7, 2013

This will be the first of several posts regarding our recent trip down to Costa Rica.  We travelled down to Rio Magnolia Lodge on April 6 making the four hour drive from San Jose and arrived there just before sunset.  Along the way the most notable bird was a Bare-throated Tiger Heron south of Quepos which became my fist life bird of the trip.   A few birds were still calling once we arrived at the lodge but I would have to wait until the next day to truly start adding up my bird list. 

Brown Violetear, Rio Magnolia Lodge, April 8, 2013

On April 7 I spent the entire day on my own around the various trails and habitats around the lodge.  I ended the day with 63 species with a few new to my life list or Costa Rica list.   The variety of species ranged from various tanagers to toucans to flycatchers to North American bound migrants.  I managed one life bird for the day, a Sulphur belled Flycatcher.  The early morning (prior to sunrise) provided the only rain of the entire trip. 

Rufous tailed Hummingbird, Rio Magnolia Lodge, April 9, 2013

Black Hawk Eagle, Rio Magnolia Lodge, April 9, 2013

Scarlet Tanager, Rio Magnolia Lodge, April 9, 2013

The following day on April 8 I was joined at the lodge for the morning by a bird guide and we explored other areas around the lodge and had another fabulous day of birding.  Highlights were many and included a half a dozen life birds including Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Yellow Tyrannulet, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Dusky Antbird, and Ruddy Pigeon.  One of the more memorable experiences of the morning was watching the activity associated with the birds near an army ant swarm.  As the army ants move through the jungle the local insects flea from them and become the meal of a variety of bird species that typical follow these ant swarms.  An impressive scene to watch as the birds took advantage of the easy prey.

Many more photos from these days, as well as other days, can be found at my Flickr site at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/sets/72157633255364904/

East Meadows this morning

Lapland Longspur, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Apr 16, 2013

Lapland Longspur, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Apr 16, 2013

Eastern Meadowlark, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Apr 16, 2013

I spent an hour of so this morning with Ian Davies checking a few areas around Northampton before work.  Given the appearance of a lot of migration on the radar last night we had high hopes.  We started at Arcadia but the area was quite flooded so we headed over to the East Meadows instead.  In the East Meadows we ran across several large flocks of Horned Larks that totaled at least 400 individuals.  In among them were at least two Lapland Longspurs that are a bit unusual to have around in the middle of April here.  An Eastern Meadowlark sang a few times and showed itself well.  Our attempt to find anything more unusual failed but the area looks prime to host some unusual birds and with more time we may have found some but not today.

Another day of new arrivals...and yard bird #150.

Common Loon, Atkins Reservoir, Shutesbury, MA, Apr 15, 2013

Although today started out cool with temperatures just below freezing it warmed nicely into the low 60's during the day with sun and a slight breeze. I spent the morning trying to catch up with a few other newly arrived migrants and had some good luck once again. I started at Lake Wallace at dawn and then moved on to the rail trail in Amherst. Nothing too unusual at either location but many species of migrants continued to increase in number including Palm Warblers, Ruby crowned Kinglets, Tree Swallows and Eastern Phoebes among others. I then headed north briefly to Atkins Reservoir where the only species of waterfowl on the small body of water was a Common Loon. Along the way in Shutesbury I had a singing Louisiana Waterthrush. 

Blue winged Teal (female-center of photo), Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Apr 15, 2013

Green winged Teal, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Apr 15, 2013

I then decided to try my luck across the river at Great Pond trying to catch up with some waterfowl. Initially the pond seemed quiet with a handful of Wood Ducks, Black Ducks and Mallards. After viewing the pond for some time a group of teal came in which included a female Blue winged Teal (#125) in among the 74 Green winged Teal. There was also a group of 50+ swallows which included at least three Northern Rough winged Swallows (#126) and five Barn Swallows among the Tree Swallows. 

Ring necked Duck, Quabbin Park, Apr 15, 2013

 I then headed back east to Quabbin Park where I ran across one of the best birds of the day when a Northern Goshawk (#127) cruised north toward Prescott Peninsula.  I got some great views through the scope of an adult bird but was unable to get any photos.  Nothing else too unusual around but some decent numbers of recently arrived migrants.

As I worked in the yard this afternoon I managed to add a new yard species when a Merlin cruised over.  The Merlin became species number 150 for my two acre plot of land. 

A brief morning of birding after my return from Costa Rica...lots of new stuff around

Red necked Grebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Apr 14, 2013

Bonaparte's Gull (center front with Ring billed Gulls), Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Apr 14, 2013

Bonaparte's Gull, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Apr 14, 2013

Lesser Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Apr 14, 2013

Greater Scaup, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Apr 14, 2013

Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Apr 14, 2013

Bufflehead, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Apr 14, 2013

Just got back from another great trip down to Costa Rica which produced lots of good birds (more info and photos to follow in future posts).  During my absence spring migration around here appears to have cranked up nicely and I spent a few hours this morning in a jet lag/sleep deprivation fog trying to catch up with new arrivals.  I managed to add several new species to my county list for the year. I began at home with Chipping Sparrow (#113) and then headed over to Quabbin Park.  I started at Winsor Dam where I quickly added Lesser Scaup (#114), Bonaparte's Gull (#115), Red necked Grebe (#116) and Pine Warbler (#117).  In addition to these new birds I had two Greater Scaup, a few Horned Grebes and Common Loons.  I then headed through Quabbin Park where I added Yellow bellied Sapsucker (#118), Ruby crowned Kinglet (#119), Hermit Thrush (#120), Palm Warbler (#121) and Yellow rumped Warbler (#122).  The amount of song and variety of species had increased quite a bit from what it was like before I left and sounded like spring even if the temperatures in the high 30's didn't make it feel like spring.  I made another brief stop at Winsor Dam on my way home and found many of the same birds but also added Barn Swallow (#123).  Later in the morning I went for a walk along Jabish Canal and turned up one new species for the year when a Broad winged Hawk (#124) flew over.  I also had at least half a dozen Rusty Blackbirds in the same area along the canal.  A very productive morning with an even dozen new species for the year in Hampshire County.

Mid week birds

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Apr 4, 2013

Common Loon, Winsor Dam, Apr 4, 2013

American Wigeon (rear middle) with Mallards and Black Ducks, Hadley Cove, Hadley, MA, Apr 4, 2013

I stopped briefly at Hadley Cove on the way to work and had a nice assortment of waterfowl with 125+ Mallards, three Northern Pintails, 16 Green winged Teal, a pair of American Wigeon and 18 Black Ducks.  On my way home I stopped at Winsor Dam and despite the boats being on the water trying to keep the gulls away I still had a Common Loon in close.  The bird was the first loon I have seen this season in full breeding plumage.

Also had my first Black Bear of the season when one showed up at dusk at home.  I guess my bird feeding is done for another season.