May 12th - 13th

Orchard Oriole (male) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 12th, 2020.

The return of a pair to a traditional breeding site in Gill. 

Back to cold air unfortunately, apparently a system feeding straight off an ice-covered Hudson Bay! The 12th saw blustery north-westerlies once more and a chilly, uninviting start at Barton Cove, Gill. However, that didn't deter the first Orchard Orioles from showing up at a traditional breeding site with the male singing vigorously and a female already in tow. Other species new for the year included Red-eyed Vireo and Indigo Bunting though warbler numbers did appear to be reduced from previous days. Although water levels on the cove were not especially favorable for shorebirds, 10 Least Sandpipers continued to linger from the 11th.

Orchard Oriole (male) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 12th, 2020.

Meanwhile up in Northfield, Josh Layfield did rather better on warblers producing the first Wilson's (1) and Cape May Warblers (2) of the spring as well as Red-eyed Vireo and no less than four Solitary Sandpipers and a Green Heron. And in Sunderland, Brian Kane noted our first Franklin County Lincoln's Sparrow of the spring.

 American Redstart (female) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 12th, 2020. 

Cape May Warbler (male) - Hell's Kitchen, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. May 12th, 2020.

One of two males present, image appears courtesy of Josh Layfield.

Wilson's Warbler (male) - Bennett Meadow, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. May 12th, 2020.

Uncommon migrant in spring. Image appears courtesy of Josh Layfield. 

In the evening, while preparing for a bike ride at the east end of Turner's Falls Airfield, I unexpectedly disturbed what could only have been a Lark Sparrow from a sandy parking spot and watched it fly low and direct towards Montague Sandplains. As reluctant as I am to post possible or probably sightings anywhere, I had good, close, naked-eye views of this bird noting the direct yet bounding flight, very prominent white tips to the tail and creamy white underparts. But, I wasn't 'switched on' for birding in those moments and the beast was escaping before I realized what I had in front of me. That much said, I do get to see hundreds of Lark Sparrows each year on my tours and feel pretty confident about this one. Let's hope it gets relocated! While I was musing on what could have been, 10 Fish Crows flew over and dropped into the pines along the northern fringe of the sand plains.


The start of the 13th was even colder  in Gill with temperatures of 28 deg F and a sharp frost. New birds were not at all obvious though a trickle of Yellow-rumped Warblers moved north over North Cross Road and there was also a Palm Warbler with them. Otherwise the chorus along North Cross Road was composed mostly of Wood and Hermit Thrushes, a few Louisiana Waterthrushes and the first singing Winter Wren in a while.

MA - Gill Lark Sparrow - 08/04

Sadly no pictures to share, but yesterday, whilst driving Matan home from a birthday party I heard the decidedly 'out-of-place' 'tsip' calls of a Lark Sparrow through the open car window and turned my head to see a long tailed, robust sparrow in strong direct flight over the parking lot of Oak Ridge golf course on West Gill Road. It was flying north, possibly alighting along the tree line directly north of the golf course parking lot. I didn't have any time to stop but may get back to the area to check it out over the next few days. The grassy fringes to the golf course would probably be an ideal place for a Lark Sparrow to feed along with the many (post-breeding) Chipping Sparrows that frequent the same area. 

On a personal level, this is the first obvious autumn migrant (or post breeding visitor) that I've have seen in Gill this season. I say 'obvious' because Lark Sparrows don't breed in Massachusetts or New England and this bird must have come from parts much farther south-west.

JPS