MA - Mourning Warbler.....Northfield

 

Mourning Warbler - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 14th, 2021.

The last two days have seen a distinct swing towards slightly later season migrants in Northfield with Swainson's Thrush, Northern Waterthrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler and White-throated Sparrow (8) all making their first appearances at Caldwell Road fields. In addition, up to 25 Common Yellowthroats and 5 Lincoln's Sparrows both showed obvious increases over the 13th and 14th. A couple of late migrants also turned up with two Yellow Warblers (together) and a Willow Flycatcher on the 13th. 

Lincoln's Sparrow - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 13th, 2021.

Mourning Warbler - Caldwell Road, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 14th, 2021.

But in general, warbler numbers and diversity remain quite low for this time of year. All the more rewarding then to have good views of a calling Mourning Warbler on the 14th, in my view something of a county rarity on fall migration. In fact, I've actually had more luck with Connecticut Warbler over the years though the tiny handful of Mourning Warblers I've encountered tended to be bolder and more cooperative. 

Mourning Warbler - Northfield Meadows, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. September 18th, 2020.

Historical image, also from Northfield in mid-September. 

The 14th also produced a 'heard-only' Connecticut Warbler that called just once from a dense patch of Jewelweed, totally catching me off guard as I walked a mere five paces from my car at the start of the day. Despite much effort and patience, it couldn't be coaxed into view. While I'm pretty hesitant to call Connecticut Warbler by sound only the loud, distinct 'pwik' call was close enough to be sure and I'm not at all surprised that the bird didn't show given the mercurial nature of the species. 

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 - Marsh Wren in Gill!

Marsh Wren - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

September 16th and yet another morning shrouded in fog. I considered having an hour's birding before heading out for a mid-morning bike ride. Since it was a peaceful Sunday morning I decided to take my chances at Gill Elementary School and work the field edges adjacent to the school property. Despite the damp foggy start things looked promising and within minutes I was looking at Indigo Buntings and my first White-throated Sparrow of the fall. That was rapidly followed by a smart adult Cape May Warbler which put on a nice show feeding openly in the fields surrounded by Song Sparrows and Indigo Buntings! The morning was starting to 'feel' special when I came across a nice spot overlooking a scrub filled dell that was loaded with bird activity. A wren giving a quiet sub-song caught my attention and turned out to be a Marsh Wren which went on to sing and call for the next two hours - not only my first in Gill but a surprise Franklin County tick.

Marsh Wren - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

White-throated Sparrow - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

Cape May Warbler - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

Cape May Warbler - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

Pine Warbler - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

Lincoln's Sparrow (above) with Song Sparrow - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

After the Marsh Wren came Black-throated Green, Palm (yellow) and Pine Warblers, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Purple Finches, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and many other nice species including my first Lincoln's Sparrows (3) of the fall.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female/juv) - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

Eastern Wood-Pewee - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Gill Elementary School, Franklin Co., MA. September 16th, 2018. 

The 14th and 15th saw good migrations of Broad-winged Hawks at Putney Mountain, Vermont and on the afternoon of the 14th I tried a short migration watch from Apex Orchards in Shelburne Falls  which produced 78 Broad-winged Hawks, 3 Ospreys, a Merlin and my first American Pipit of the fall. Two Black Vultures also appeared over Apex Orchards but headed east, probably to roost in Greenfield with the local Turkey Vultures.

Black Vulture (one of two) - Apex Orchards, Shelburne Falls, Franklin Co., MA. September 14th, 2018.

MA - 05/02 - lots going on!

Lincoln's Sparrow - Amherst, Hampshire Co., MA. May 2nd, 2010.

Well, the floodgates really have opened! Most of the expected migrant breeders have shown up locally, and even one or two that might not have been expected. Sunday May 2nd was a scorching day with temperatures close to the 90s with relatively high humidity. During the course of a six mile run from home I heard/saw lots of local firsts - Ovenbird and Black-throated Green Warbler on Redgate Lane, Blue-winged Warbler and Eastern Kingbird on North-east Street, Prairie Warbler and 2 Northern Waterthrushes near Cushman Market, North Amherst. Despite the heat of the day, a walk on the Amherst bike path was equally productive with many Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, though few warblers with only Nashville and Black-throated Green amongst the more numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers. Slightly more surprising was Lincoln's Sparrow with a handful of migrant White-throateds, and back home on North Whitney Street, Amherst a female Eastern Towhee was an unexpected yard first.

North Hadley - Oct 1st

Peregrine Falcon - Juvenile of Arctic race 'tundrius'. Obviously a really poor image but has generally pale-headed appearance with distinct white cheek and well marked, but not especially broad, black mustache.The crown of this bird was pale, creamy-buff, well shown by this bird in Northampton's East Meadows in October 2005.


Lincoln's Sparrow - Five plus today at North Hadley, plus one at Mt. Warner Road, Hadley.

The day started with heavy showers which soon eased up after 07:30am. Not having too much time to play with, I headed across to North Hadley to have an hour checking for migrants by the CT River. It was very slow to begin with, but after a little while I found a decent feeding flock consisting mostly of sparrows, primarily Song and White-throated Sparrows. Loosely associating with the flock were 2 Blue-headed Vireos, 5 Blackpoll Warblers, 1 Magnolia Warbler, a dozen or so Common Yellowthroats, 1 Scarlet Tanager, 6 Indigo Buntings, 2 House Wrens, 10+ Swamp Sparrows and 5+ Lincoln's Sparrows. A latish Chimney Swift also flew over south.

On the way back to Amherst I made a very brief stop at Mt. Warner Road in Hadley and found the place pretty busy with Chipping Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Eastern Bluebirds and at least 5 Eastern Phoebes. The highlight was a stunning 'blond-crown' juvenile tundrius Peregrine which swept through my binocular view as I was scanning the fields for sparrows. The views were immaculate, but were also very fast and the bird was already moving away by the time I'd got the camera to my bins. A fine bird to finish the morning though!


Best birding,


James

Hadley Sparrows - Sept 25th

A return visit to the riverside fields at Hadley found generally fewer warblers today but a major influx of sparrows, with 50 White-throated, 35 Song and about 4 Lincoln's Sparrows moving around in a roving flock. The damp, foggy conditions felt good for a warbler arrival but it wasn't to be, though the variety was still nice; 6 Yellow-rumped, 5 Blackpoll, 2 'Eastern' Palm, Chestnut-sided and Black-and-white Warblers, plus 3 American Redstarts and over a dozen Common Yellowthroats. There was also 3 each of Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, 3 Scarlet Tanagers and a flyover Bobolink.

Lincoln's Sparrow - One of about four in the Hadley fields today.


Common Yellowthroat - Female, probably first-winter.


Common Yellowthroat - First-winter male.


On the Amherst bike path whilst walking with Matan - 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 3 Brown Thrashers, plus still plenty of Catbirds.

Best birding,

James.