MA - Henslow's still around - 07/01

Swung by Montague on my way out this morning and was pleased to see and hear the Henslow's Sparrow still singing vigorously in the middle of the same field off Meadow Road. Dull, foggy, almost autumnal conditions meant that my struggle for a decent image of this bird goes on!

Henslow's Sparrow. Singing just off Meadow Road, Montague, Franklin Co., MA. July 1st, 2009.

MA - Henslow's Sparrow - 06/28

The Henslow's Sparrow was again present and singing at Meadow Road, Montague today, much to the delight of many assembled birders. We visited the site around noon and were eventually rewarded with a prolonged view of the bird teed up nicely for several minutes. The bird was vocal throughout much of our short stay though only visible for us on this one occasion. A most exciting bird to have in the Pioneer Valley during the summer months! Let's hope it sticks around.

Earlier today, Matt Garvey captured some video footage of the Henslow's including some excellent audio of the diagnostic song, which is really worth listening to. Click here for Matt's video.




Henslow's Sparrow - Meadow Road, Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 28th, 2009. These images were taken from the roadside through heat-haze at midday with the bird about 40 meters distant.

MA - Henslow's Sparrow - 06/27

Henslow's Sparrow Ammodramus henslowii. Singing from a Hay Field off Meadow Road in the town of Montague, Franklin County, MA. Although somewhat distant, the bird was visible for long periods during the 75 minutes that I was present with Matan along with two visiting birders (Ida Giriunas and Molly Taylor) from the Boston area. Found and reported by Mark Fairbrother earlier in the day. I can't remember seeing a report of a singing Henlsow's Sparrow on Massbird since I've been living in Massachusetts!

MA - Moose - 06/22

One of the joys of doing fieldwork in the Quabbin Watershed - the ever present chance of an encounter with a large mammal. Digibin shots taken from the car on the Prescott Peninsula.

CO - White-tailed Ptarmigan - May '09

Wonderfully cryptic, ridiculously approachable and absolutely enchanting! A personal highlight of the recent Birdfinders trip to Colorado & Wyoming, this fine male White-tailed Ptarmigan fed unconcerned by the tourist masses within meters of the main road through Rocky Mountain National Park. These images were taken over two days, May 24th and 25th.

WY - Badger! - 06/03

One of the highlights of our recent Colorado and Wyoming tour, this American Badger was spotted from the tour bus by Alan Knight as we sped along at 60 mph! The area was just south of Rock Springs, Wyoming. These are digibin shots taken from the tour bus on June 3rd.

MA - Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 05/18

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - Prescott, Quabbin, Franklin Co., MA. May 18th, 2009.

This wonderfully co-operative Yellow-bellied Flycatcher put on a fine show at the southern end of the Prescott Peninsula in the Quabbin. Most of my previous experiences with this species have been frustrating with birds most usually identified by song or call and giving only fleeting views. This bird was rather exceptional though, and gave what must have been my best views of the species.

Mid to late May is a fine time to detect migrants destined for the Boreal forests and Northern woods passing through Massachusetts, and this bird fits right into that pattern. Other birds around today included several Blackpoll Warblers in Amherst, plus Evening Grosbeaks, Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo and Winter Wren all in Central Quabbin.