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So we moved recently, finally leaving Amherst behind after a five years and finding ourselves in a distinctly rural setting just a half mile south of the center of Gill, Massachusetts. There's nothing quite like exploring new surroundings and the thrill of building up a new yard list, all of which has provided a pleasant tonic from the chaos of moving and 'still-packed' boxes.
Birds appearing daily in the yard have included Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Carolina Wren, Cedar Waxing, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, Purple Finch and Song Sparrow. We've already found Pileated, Hairy, Downy, and Red-bellied Woodpekers, Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on or near the property and the 5th was especially good for raptors with Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Broad-winged and Cooper's Hawks, American Kestrel and Turkey Vulture. The morning of the 7th was highlighted by a Barred Owl vocalizing just outside the house at 05:45am.
Landbird migrants have been scarce perhaps down to the warm, dry conditions and winds in the Southern quarter but the last three days produced a handful of interesting birds with most species appearing in Alders above the brook behind the house including Warbling Vireo on the 2nd, American Redstart (2), Chestnut-sided Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo on the 3rd, American Redstart, Swainson's Thrush and Philadephia Vireo on the 4th, and Barn Swallow (2), House Wren, Red-eyed Vireo and Magnolia Warbler on the 5th, Wood Thrush and Black-billed Cuckoo on the 6th and Eastern Wood-Pewee on the 7th.
On the down side I have two pairs of Leica binoculars currently being repaired in New Jersey with no prospect of having them returned before October. I've also been having teething troubles working with a new digi-scoping set up so I've been doing rather badly when it comes to getting images of all these wonderful birds.
JPS