NJ - Cape May - Day 3 October 12th

American Kestrel (in migration) - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 
The CMBO counters tallied over 5400 for the day.

We met at 06:45 hours and headed over towards Higbee Beach for another attempt at the Morning Flight. Severe thunderstorms had awoken some of our party during the night but hadn't disturbed others, including me! On arrival at Higbee Beach dike we didn't even bother getting out vehicle as the whole area was being pounded by near gale force WNW winds. Instead we headed for the sheltered hedgerows and fields of Higbee Beach WMA but only found a single Eastern Phoebe. Having seen Black and Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed and Sharp-shinned Hawks, and Osprey on the move before sunrise we decided to head for the dedicated CMBO Hawkwatch Platform at Cape May Point State Park. Even though it was still relatively early, raptors were scattered all over the sky with flurries of American Kestrels, Merlins and Cooper's Hawks setting the theme for the rest of the day. Indeed, the day belonged to the small falcons and we had difficulty tearing ourselves away for brunch though we needn't have worried as raptors poured through at an even heavier rate in early afternoon. The end result, according to CMBO staff, was a new one day record for American Kestrel with over 5400 recorded but I think I was secretly more impressed with the Merlins that peppered the sky throughout the day sometimes playfully (and not so playfully) stooping at the thousands of Tree Swallows gathering over the dunes and bunker pond. Apparently the CMBO staff tallied almost 500 Merlins for the day!

Merlin  - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Migrant of the day for my money.

Osprey - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Great Blue Herons (in migration) - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Snow Geese with Canada Geese - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

The specks all over this shot are Tree Swallows.

Snow Geese - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Tree Swallows - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Absolutely mesmerizing numbers of Tree Swallows passing through Cape May.

Eastern Phoebe - Higbee Beach WMA, Cape May Island, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

Cape May Warbler - Cape May Point State Park, NJ. October 12th, 2018. 

This isn't to say that we weren't too overwhelmed to look at other birds during the course of the day and with a great selection of waterfowl on view at bunker pond that included Snow and Cackling Geese, Eurasian and American Wigeons, and Blue-winged and Green-winged Teals, we didn't have to go too far. Indeed, the state park was the place to be with Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, and Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped, Nashville and Cape May Warblers all putting on a fantastic show and seemingly oblivious to the hordes of admiring birders.

NJ - Cape May - Day 2 October 11th

Saltmarsh Sparrow - Two Mile Landing, Wildwood Crest, Cape May Co., NJ. October 11th, 2018. 
Image appears courtesy of David Hughes. 

We awoke to some seriously heavy showers and thunderstorms fueled by a brisk south-easterly wind. Our plan for seeing the Morning Flight at Higbee Beach was washed out on the first morning of the tour so we ultimately opted for a seawatch under cover at the end Sunset Boulevard on Cape May Island. Within minutes we started to see Parasitic Jaegers passing south, some distant but many fairly close to shore between the beach and the 'Concrete Ship'. We settled in for what would become an extremely enjoyable three hour seawatch tallying around 100 Parasitic Jaegers along with a seemingly endless stream of Laughing Gulls, Forster's Terns, some Royal Terns and a few Common Terns, plus flocks of Surf and Black Scoters and with a single southbound Brown Pelican. Bald Eagle, Osprey, Peregrine and Great Blue Heron all came in off the bay whilst we were there.

Brown Pelican - southbound over Delaware Bay from Sunset Beach, Cape May Island. October 11th, 2018. 

This would prove to be the only Brown Pelican of the whole tour. 

Black Scoters - Delaware Bay from Sunset Beach, Cape May Island. October 11th, 2018. 

Laughing Gulls and Forster's Terns  - 'Concrete Ship' from Sunset Beach, Cape May Island. October 11th, 2018. 

Great Blue Heron - southbound over Delaware Bay from Sunset Beach, Cape May Island. October 11th, 2018. 

Parasitic Jaeger - southbound over Delaware Bay from Sunset Beach, Cape May Island. October 11th, 2018. 
An excellent morning for this species with around 100 counted over three hours from 07:15 am.

After an enjoyable brunch at a Beach Ave restaurant, we headed north with some tricky salt marsh species in mind, in particular the Ammodramus sparrow group. Fortunately, though windy, the weather cleared up enough for us to spend several hours at Two Mile Landing where we ultimately had a brilliant sparrow study with exquisite views of Seaside, Saltmarsh and Nelson's Sparrow close together. A Clapper Rail jumped in on the action too and with Brant, Semi-palmated and Least Sandpipers and Boat-tailed Grackles all on show, we were kept busy for a while. After a short coffee break in Wildwood with Fish Crows calling around the cafe, the showers returned and set in for the evening. We ended up back under cover at the end of Sunset Boulevard where we were treated at an amazing show of Royal Terns streaming south, presumably heading for  roost, and a huge flock of Black Skimmers heading NW across the bay.

Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows - Two Mile Landing, Wildwood Crest, Cape May Co., NJ. October 11th, 2018. 

Nelson's Sparrow - Two Mile Landing, Wildwood Crest, Cape May Co., NJ. October 11th, 2018. 

Seaside Sparrow - Two Mile Landing, Wildwood Crest, Cape May Co., NJ. October 11th, 2018. 

A brilliant (if not a little challenging) first day came to an end with a fine evening meal at a local Cape May restaurant.

MA - more Fox Sparrows and an Evening Grosbeak

Evening Grosbeak (male) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 26th, 2018. 

Northfield just keeps on giving! Fox Sparrows at Northfield Meadows increased to five this morning and I went on to find a 'pocket' of seven White-crowned Sparrows until farming activity forced me to try my luck elsewhere. It really worked out when a calling male Evening Grosbeak flew in and landed just two meters in front of me. It certainly seemed odd to see an Evening Grosbeak in the middle of agricultural fields but I'll take it, quite happily. 

Evening Grosbeak (male) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 26th, 2018. 

Evening Grobeak (male) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 26th, 2018. 

Evening Grosbeak (male) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 26th, 2018. 

Evening Grosbeak (male) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 26th, 2018. 

Fox Sparrow - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 26th, 2018. 

One of five in the same hedgerow this morning. 

Northern Harrier (juvenile) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 26th, 2018. 

MA - good stuff in northern Franklin County

Rusty Blackbird (first-winter) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2018. 

Since returning from Cape May on October 19th I've been struck with a barrage of scarce and noteworthy bird species virtually every day, and all within about 15 minutes drive of home in Northfield. In particular, Northfield Meadows has been outstanding, each day producing something new including concentrations of White-crowned Sparrows the likes of which I've never seen in the eastern US, least of all in Franklin County!

Some of my personal highlights from October 20th - 25th are as follows:

Cackling Geese (2) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018. Distant digi-scoped shots. 

Cackling Geese (2) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2018.

Cackling Geese - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2018. 

Present at the same time as the above pair but choosing not to associate with them. 

Cackling Goose; 1 - 3 daily at Turner's Falls including 3 close together in a relatively small flock of Canada Geese on the 25th. Also, 1 - 2 regularly at Tri-town beach during the same period. This is already shaping up into one of the best late fall periods that we've had for this species locally.


Bufflehead - regularly in the Barton Cove/Turner's Falls power canal area including 4 males on the 21st, and 6 (3 male, 3 female) together on the 25th.

Common Goldeneye (male) - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2018. Distant digi-scope. 

Common Goldeneye - male at Barton Cove/Turner's Falls on 23rd-25th. Typical arrival date.


Northern Saw-whet Owl - one heard calling pre-dawn on North Cross Road, Gill on the 22nd.


Golden-crowned Kinglet - 10+ along North Cross Road, Gill on the 21st.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2018.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - widespread arrival at many locations over 21st/22nd with 2 -3 together at most of these spots. Fewer by the 25th.


American Robin - noteworthy arrival in Northfield Meadows on the 25th with at least 250 present.


Nashville/Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 seen briefly in Northfield Meadows on the 24th, all too brief to determine the species.


Yellow-rumped Warbler - 100+ along North Cross Road, Gill on the 21st and 45+ in Northfield Meadows on the 23rd. Major overnight departure on the 24th with only one present in Northfield Meadows on the 25th.

Palm Warbler (eastern) - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2018.

Palm Warbler - 1 - 3 at many scattered locations but still 20+ in Northfield Meadows on the 23rd.

Black-throated Green Warbler - Erving, Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2018.

Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 at Zelinski Field, Erving on the 20th.



Field Sparrow - 1 in Northfield Meadows on the 22nd.



Vesper Sparrow - 1 in Northfield Meadows on the 22nd.

White-throated Sparrow - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018.

White-throated Sparrow - good numbers daily at many locations but 200+  in Northfield Meadows on the 24th was impressive.

White-crowned Sparrows - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018.

White-crowned Sparrows - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - unprecedented influx of migrants concentrated at Northfield Meadows with 45+ on the 22nd, 90+ on the 23rd, 55+ on the 24th but a near complete exodus overnight with only 1 (an adult) on the 25th. Tallies of 3 - 6 would be much more in keeping with October dates but these numbers are off the charts in my experience. Never seen anything quite it in Franklin County.

(Red) Fox Sparrow - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 24th, 2018.

Fox Sparrow - 2 briefly on North Cross Road, Gill on the 21st, then 1 in Northfield Meadows on the 24th and 2 there on the 25th.

Swamp Sparrow - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 25th, 2018.

Swamp Sparrow - 6 - 10 regularly in Northfield Meadows.


Lapland Longspur -  1 south over Northfield Meadows on the 23rd.


Brown-headed Cowbird - 75+ by Upinngil Farm on the 23rd.

Rusty Blackbird - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2018.

Rusty Blackbird - 1 at Northfield Meadows on the 23rd, 1 showing very well at Unity Park, Turner's Falls on the 24th.


Evening Grosbeak - 1 on South Main Street, Sunderland on the 23rd (Brian Kane).


Purple Finch - continued high numbers with 12 - 20 regularly in Northfield Meadows.


Pine Siskin - daily flyovers at many locations in Northfield, Gill and Turner's Falls.

NJ - Cape May Day 1 - October 10th.

Northfield - Hadley - Newark - Cape May

With my group arriving early evening at Newark Liberty International Airport I planned a casual, less stressful approach to the drive by taking Interstate 91 south, then west on the Massachusetts Turnpike and south on the New York State Thruway before picking up the Garden State Parkway just before Newark. Before the journey started in earnest I decided to have one last attempt at seeing the long staying Yellow-crowned Night-heron at Lake Warner Dam in Hadley. Much to my chagrin this darn heron had eluded me on three previous visits. I didn't do anything different but this time the beast came to me. I just parked up, started scanning and there it was, roosting out in the open amid beautiful autumnal foliage. Five minutes later I was on my way south focusing on the job in hand but certainly, the appearance of the often aloof night-heron seemed like a solid precursor to a great trip to Cape May. 

Yellow-crowned Night-heron. Lake Warner Dam, Hadley Hampshire Co., MA. October 10th, 2018. 
Juvenile, present but often aloof from about September 16th, 2018. 

As much as I didn't relish the thought of picking up a group from the airport at rush hour it wasn't too long before we were well south of Newark and speeding down the Garden State Parkway towards Cape May. Dave, John and Angela had been genuinely surprised by a wave of warm, humid air that hit them on leaving the air-conditioned terminal building but thankfully October 10th would prove to be the only day of the trip where heat and humidity might have been a problem. Fortunately for us the day was dedicated solely to travel.

Roadside birds were few as we drove south but we did record Great and Snow Egrets, Black-crowned Night-heron, Turkey and Black Vultures, Peregrine, Red-tailed Hawk and Chimney Swift before reaching Cape May in the coastal darkness, the lights of the harbor guiding us in towards our accommodation for the next eight nights. Checking into our clean, quiet, quaint motel couldn't have been more straight forward. And we even had time for an evening meal at the rather busy 'Lucky Bones Back Water Grille' to set us up for an early start the next day. It felt really good to be back in Cape May!

MA - White-crowned Sparrow pandemonium in Northfield

White-crowned Sparrows (5) and a Song Sparrow - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2019. 

A cluster of five birds from a remarkable concentration of  45 White-crowned Sparrows in Northfield this morning. 

The day got off to a pretty good start with a Northern Saw-whet Owl calling spontaneously in the pre-dawn chill on North Cross Road, Gill. The call was not the familiar territorial 'tooting' but an eerie, drawn out 'wail' or 'whine' repeated about three times and proved to be my first migrant saw-whet of the fall. As the morning warmed up a little I found myself in the hoar-frosted fields of Northfield Meadows where I was greeted almost immediately by a half-dozen White-crowned Sparrows. Any October day with a White-crowned Sparrow is noteworthy in our area but to have six together straight of the blocks was a neat precursor to what would become my biggest day (locally) for the species. After an hour of working a relatively small area of fields I'd logged a minimum of 45 White-crowned Sparrows and I couldn't even get to the remainder of the fields because of fumigation taking place nearby. Any autumn morning with 3 - 6 White-crowned Sparrows would be excellent for northern Franklin County but a tally of 45 is totally unprecedented and I've certainly not seen anything quite like it before. It's the first morning that I've had where White-crowned outnumbered the often abundant White-throated Sparrows. In fact, it was quite the sparrow show in Northfield this morning with Savannah (25), Song (30), Chipping (8), Vesper (1) and Field (1) Sparrows all on view. Warblers had virtually cleared out from this particular spot and I only saw one Yellow-rumped all morning. 

White-crowned Sparrows - Northfield Meadows, Franklin Co., MA. October 22nd, 2019. 

The majority, about 85%, were immatures.

MA - a Franklin County Common Gallinule

Common Gallinule (juv/first-winter) - Tri-town Beach, Whately, Franklin Co., MA.October 19th, 2018. 

First discovered on October 15th by Josh Rose.

We've lived in Franklin County since the fall of 2010 and during all that time I don't recall a Common Gallinule ever being reported in the county so it certainly came as a surprise when Josh Rose found and reported an immature at Tri-town Beach, Whately on October 15th. I was in Cape May leading a private tour at the time but fortunately the bird was courteous enough to stick around throughout the week and was still present when I went to check on it this morning. It was quite distant, a 'scope bird' as such, so all these images are digi-scoped shots, and this is the first time that Common Gallinule has featured on this blog.

I would have to admit that Common Gallinule hasn't been on my radar of 'hoped-for' species in Franklin County though it's rarer cousin Purple Gallinule has, inspired by a record of a long staying immature in Leverett on October 11th - 22nd, 1985, and another well photographed by Al and Lois Richardson at Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke, Hampden County November 3rd, 2005 - perhaps we're overdue for another?