Veery - Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 16th, 2020.
Plentiful during the Mass Audubon bird-a-thon. This was off River Road, Gill.
It hardly seems like a week has already passed since the Mass Audubon Bird-a-thon event last weekend! In terms of migration, gradually dwindling numbers of northbound migrants tapered towards the end of the week.
Upinngil Farm, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 15th, 2020. The storm clouds that brought an abrupt end to Friday evening viewing during the bird-a-thon.
The Mass Audubon Bird-a-thon was just fabulous. Given the climate of the time, it was a human-powered, socially distant event, restricted to families birding from home and nearby surroundings. Being a 'carbon-free' effort, bicycles were allowed and between 6pm on Friday the 15th and 6pm on Saturday the 16th I managed to log 54 miles of Garmin measured riding and notched up 114 different bird species. I was impressed with that tally considering no vehicles were involved and the fact that a major thunderstorm brought an abrupt and early end to plans for night birding on the Friday. My 'remote' field companions, all independently covering other corners of Franklin County, had successful days too with plenty of migrants around though usually reliable summer breeders such as Black-billed Cuckoo and Alder Flycatcher were notably absent. However, between my family and three other teams working Franklin County, we managed a combined haul of 126 species - all on foot or by bicycle. During the count I discovered that North Cross Road was something of a sweet spot for warblers, especially Cape May Warblers with more than a dozen there on the 16th and a huge count of 25 on the 17th. With them came Bay-breasted, Blackpoll and Tennessee Warblers and a lot of Northern Parulas. I really enjoyed the bird-a-thon but as much as I'd like to do it again next year, I'm genuinely hopeful that my tour schedule will be up and running and we'll have returned to 'relative normal' in spring 2021.
Early morning, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 16th, 2020.
Some unfortunate roadkill along the bird-a-thon , two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak below.
Louisiana Waterthrush - Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 16th, 2020.
Plentiful during the Mass Audubon bird-a-thon with 27 noted on the 16th. This one was off River Road, Gill.
Swainson's Thrush - Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 16th, 2020.
A scarce migrant, this one was off River Road, Gill.
Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 16th, 2020.
Woodland fringe on the Mass Audubon bird-a-thon, off River Road, Gill.
Cape May Warbler - Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 16th, 2020.
Very good numbers (16) seen during the Mass Audubon bird-a-thon. This male was on North Cross Road, Gill.
Even more were present on North Cross Road the next day.
Image appears courtesy of Josh Layfield.
Cape May Warbler (male) - Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 17th, 2020.
Image appears courtesy of Josh Layfield.
Wilson's Warbler - Greenfield Community College, Franklin Co., MA. May 16th, 2020.
Image appears courtesy of Josh Layfield.
Josh managed to tally four of these scarce spring migrants in the college grounds during the bird-athon.
54 miles ridden at an average speed of 11.5 miles mph and 114 bird species recorded.
Gray-cheeked Thrush - Orchard Hill, Umass-Amherst, Hampshire Co., MA. May 19th, 2020.
Swainson's Thrush - Orchard Hill, Umass-Amherst, Hampshire Co., MA. May 19th, 2020.
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