Arcadia this morning and nighthawks last evening

Least Sandpipers, Arcadia, Aug 23, 2013

Least Sandpipers, Arcadia, Aug 23, 2013

Solitary Sandpiper, Arcadia, Aug 23, 2013

Solitary Sandpiper, Arcadia, Aug 23, 2013

Spotted Sandpiper, Arcadia, Aug 23, 2013

Great Blue Heron, Arcadia, Aug 23, 2013

With the cold front moving through last night, a little rain and the winds eventually coming from the northwest I had hopes of catching up with some migrant shorebirds this morning at Arcadia.   I arrived early and found the following six species of shorebirds: a Greater Yellowlegs, four Lesser Yellowlegs, two Solitary Sandpipers, a Spotted Sandpiper, 19 Least Sandpipers and a couple Killdeer.  Nothing really new there as far as species composition goes.  I really hoped to find something unusual this morning but no luck.  At least this morning featured clearer conditions without the thick fog of a handful of previous visits earlier in the week.  I’m sure the next few nights with northerly winds will bring in new migrants.

Common Nighthawk, Belchertown, MA, Aug 22, 2013

Common Nighthawk, Belchertown, MA, Aug 22, 2013

Chimney Swift, Belchertown, MA, Aug 22, 2013

Yesterday I had a male Northern Parula along the rail trial in Amherst at first light but other than that species, nothing too unusual.  In addition the migration of Common Nighthawks continues to pick up with at least 42 over the house last evening, most quite high feeding.

Arcadia marsh the last couple mornings

Common Merganser, Arcadia, Aug 21, 2013

Solitary Sandpiper, Arcadia, Aug 21, 2013

Wild Turkeys, Arcadia, Aug 21, 2013

Great Egret, Arcadia, Aug 21, 2013

The last couple mornings I have stopped at Arcadia marsh looking for shorebirds and/or unusual waders.  Yesterday was extremely foggy with visibility very low.  With the visibility so poor I only had a few shorebirds including a Greater Yellowlegs, two Lesser Yellowlegs, two Least Sandpipers and a couple Killdeer along with one each of Green and Great Blue Herons.  Although the fog continued this morning it was not nearly as thick as yesterday and most of the area of the marsh could be viewed.  The mudflats continue to increase in size as the weather has been dry the last several days.  This morning I had two Greater Yellowlegs, six Lesser Yellowlegs, two Spotted Sandpipers, three Solitary Sandpipers, two Least Sandpipers (I’m sure more were hidden in the grasses) and, oddly, no Killdeer.  A single Great Egret joined the other two typical species of waders.  Other birds of note included a single Double crested Cormorant, a vocal Common Merganser, and flyover Bobolinks.  Both mornings featured a group of around 15 Wild Turkeys that allowed very close approach before they moved off into the woods.  Perhaps more good stuff will show up Thursday night into Friday when a cold front comes through, a few storms pass through and the winds turn north.  Time will tell.

Search for unusual waders

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Aug 19, 2013

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Aug 19, 2013

Great Blue Herons on nest, Lake Wallace, Aug 19, 2013

With the several recent reports of unusual waders (Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egrets and Black crowned Night Heron) in the nearby area I headed out this morning in search of them.  Although all have been seen in either Franklin or Hampden County the areas are close enough that finding one in Hampshire County seems very possible.  Despite my visits to several areas I was not able to find any this morning.  The areas I searched included Lake Wallace (and fields nearby), the route 9 marsh, the rail trail in Amherst, the UMASS marsh and along Jabish Canal.  At Lake Wallace I had five Green Herons, three Great Blue Herons (two still in nest), four species of waterfowl, a Greater Yellowlegs and 29 Killdeer on the nearby fields.  The route 9 marsh was fairly quiet with several Wood Ducks and a single Green Heron. 

Great Egret, rail trail Amherst, Aug 19, 2013

Marsh along rail trail Amherst, Aug 19, 2013

The rail trail contained a Great Egret, two Green Heron, three Great Blue Heron, five Belted Kingfishers, a Yellow Warbler and other expected species. The UMASS marsh and the Jabish Canal were both fairly quiet. Although I didn't find any unusual waders (or other unusual species) today it was fun looking. I have no doubt somewhere in the county there are unusual waders yet to be found...perhaps tomorrow?

Arcadia shorebirds and egrets along the rail trail

 

White rumped Sandpiper (R) with Lesser Yellowlegs (L), Arcadia, Aug 18, 2013

 

Lesser Yellowlegs, Arcadia, Aug 18, 2013

Killdeer, Arcadia, Aug 18, 2013

 

Solitary Sandpiper, Arcadia, Aug 18, 2013

I decided to try my luck finding shorebirds over at Arcadia this morning and I was not disappointed. I arrived there just after 6 and Steve Motyl was already there. A very nice selection of shorebirds on the mudflats including a White rumped Sandpiper, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, a couple Solitary Sandpipers, a Spotted Sandpiper, 21 Least Sandpipers, six Lesser Yellowlegs and seven Killdeer. I attempted several times to get good photos of the White rumped Sandpiper but the best of the bunch is still not great at showing the field marks to ID the bird.  The bird was larger than the other peeps present with long wings crossing behind the tail, an obvious white supercilium, and streaking on the sides of the belly.  Seven species of shorebirds is not too bad for a small area inland on a nice weather day. The best part is that one of the species, the White rumped Sandpiper, was new for the year in Hampshire County making it species #217.  A handful of Wood Ducks, Mallards and Canada Geese were the only waterfowl around. A pair of adult Bald Eagles chased each other back and forth over the oxbow and a pair of Cooper's Hawks were flying around the fields on my way out.  A brief stop at the Ibis Pool didn't produce anything unusual but the area looks prime for sparrows in the coming months.

Great Egrets, Rail trail-Amherst, Aug 18, 2013

Great Egrets, Rail trail-Amherst, Aug 18, 2013

I stopped at the rail trail in Amherst on my way home and walked out to Hop Brook where I had three Great Egrets plus a few Green Herons and a Great Blue Heron. Also had a couple Least Sandpipers, a Killdeer and an American Woodcock that I flushed from right along the busy rail trail.  A total of eight shorebirds for the morning made me quite happy.

Gate 22 this morning

 

Dawn at gate 22, Aug 17, 2013

Bald Eagle on Osprey platform, Gate 22, Aug 17, 2013

Merlin (one of two), Gate 22, Aug 17, 2013

I headed up to Quabbin Gate 22 in New Salem before dawn to see if I could catch up with any of the egrets seen there over the last few days (Great and Snowy Egrets). I started the long walk down to the water just before six and arrived about a half hour later. The fog and early morning light made it difficult to see the islands really well but after quite a bit of time looking I'm fairly certain there were no egrets there this morning on the west side of the island. I did have some good stuff including two Merlins that were harassing the crows and I eventually had one perch in a tree at which point it was harassed by a hummingbird. The only shorebirds I had there included two each of Greater Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpipers. Other notable birds at Gate 22 included a Northern Harrier and at least five Common Loons plus a Bald Eagle perched up on the Osprey platform the entire time I was down at the waters edge. I had a handful of passerines around but nothing too unusual.

 

Green Heron, Route 9 marsh, Aug 17, 2013

Double crested Cormorant and Ring billed Gull, Winsor Dam, Aug 17, 2013

I then headed back south and made a brief stop at Winsor Dam and the Route 9 marsh. Winsor Dam had a couple of Double crested Cormorants and the marsh had a few Wood Ducks and a Great Blue Heron and Green Heron.

Morning stops the last few days

Semipalmated Sandpiper (L) and Least Sandpiper (R), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 16, 2013

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 16, 2013

Lesser Yellowlegs, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 16, 2013

Lesser Yellowlegs, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 16, 2013

I have hit a few areas briefly in the morning before work the last few days including the rail trail in Amherst on Wednesday, Lake Wallace on Thursday and Arcadia today.  The rail trail highlights included an Osprey and various flycatcher species.  Lake Wallace had the usual expected species but the nearby soccer fields contained at least 27 Killdeer.  Arcadia this morning had a nice selection of shorebirds on the mudflats there including a Greater Yellowlegs, three Lesser Yellowlegs, five Killdeer, two Spotted Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, nine Least Sandpipers and another unidentified peep that I was never able to ID as I had a brief look at it and never could find it again.

Rail trail at dawn, Amherst, MA, Aug 14, 2013

Various stops yesterday and today...plus an Olive sided Flycatcher at home

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Aug 11, 2013

Great Blue Herons at nest, Lake Wallace, Aug 11, 2013

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Aug 11, 2013

 

Yesterday I stopped briefly at Lake Wallace on my way to work and was surprised to find the three young Great Blue Herons still in the nest there.  I really thought they would have been long gone by now.  Not much else of note beyond the usual species.  I hoped for an unusual egret or heron but no luck today.  There were several Killdeer on the nearby soccer fields but no other shorebirds.

Tree and Bank Swallows, Hop Brook, Amherst, MA, Aug 12, 2013

I spent a few hours this morning checking various spots around the area with the main focus being waders and perhaps shorebirds. I started at Covey WMA, then over to the Route 9 marsh, Winsor Dam, Lake Wallace, the rail trail in Amherst and finally to Wentworth Farm. No waders at Covey but did have a roost of grackles and blackbirds numbering several hundred that lifted off near dawn heading northeast. The Route 9 marsh and Winsor Dam were both fairly quiet with nothing unexpected. Lake Wallace itself was quiet but with the mowing going on nearby I was not surprised. The Great Blue Herons were still hanging out in the nest. A Yellow Warbler was still singing occasionally too. The nearby soccer fields held at least 24 Killdeer but not much else. The rail trail had a flyover Greater Yellowlegs calling as well as a few Killdeer. The Hop Brook marsh held a couple Great Blue Herons as well as at least five Green Herons plus an assortment of swallows.  I managed to find a rather late Orchard Oriole at Wentworth Farm. Overall nothing too unusual this morning but still a nice morning to be outside.

Olive sided Flycatcher, Home, Aug 12, 2013

Olive sided Flycatcher, Home, Aug 12, 2013

Olive sided Flycatcher, Home, Aug 12, 2013

After finishing up some yard work Wilson and I headed down to get the mail and noticed a flycatcher at the very top of a large dead pine. It behaved like an Olive sided Flycatcher so I headed back home and pulled out the scope to get a good look at the bird. It was indeed an Olive sided Flycatcher and one of the earliest I have ever had in fall.  It was the first one I have had at home in fall ever.