MA - egrets, shorebirds and crossbills!

Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. July 29th, 2020.

Seven of the nine Great Egrets present forming an evening roost on Barton Island. 

July went out with something of a bang as clear indications of an incursion of Red Crossbills became very evident on the last day with seven passing over North Cross Road in mid-morning, and at least one other calling and singing at Hell's Kitchen. Later that evening, I came across a further six Red Crossbills on North Cross Road feeding in White Pines with a similar number of Cedar Waxwings for company. The 31st also brought a singing Lousiana Waterthrush to our Northfield yard, quite a rare visitor in late summer/early fall and almost certainly a migrant. 

Shorebird migration has been particularly evident in the last two weeks of the month with Least Sandpipers consistently present at Hell's Kitchen (2 - 3 birds) and also for a couple of days at the Turner's Falls power canal (10 - 15 birds on Jul 23rd and 24th). Being partially drained on those dates, the power canal showed much promise and also held a Semi-palmated Plover on Jul 24th. Similarly, Solitary Sandpipers were present at Hell's Kitchen (1 - 3 ) and at the power canal when water levels were drawn down. Unfortunately, power canal water levels went back to normal on the 25th ending a short but sweet spell for migrant shorebirds there. Rather less expected was a wandering, calling Greater Yellowlegs over North Cross Road on Jul 29th, the same day that no less than 9 Great Egrets showed up for an evening roost at Barton Cove in what has become a traditional late July build of that species in northern Franklin County. However, they were not present the following evening when a juvenile Bald Eagle had taken a liking to their preferred roost tree!

Breeding species continued to be of interest late into the month with a notably strong presence of Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Alder Flycatchers in Gill/Northfield and the successful breeding of Barred Owls for the third consecutive year on North Cross Road, Gill. And of special interest, confirmation of breeding Merlins at an unexpected location in Greenfield where a pair raised at least three young to the fledgling stage. I was lucky enough to be there with the finder just as some of the fledglings were taking practice flights right over her backyard! Although I've suspected breeding Merlins in the Gill/Turner's Falls area for years this was first actual nest and confirmation of breeding that I've come across anywhere in Franklin County......thanks very much to Tamsin Flanders for sharing the experience! 

Merlins - all recently fledged young, Greenfield, Franklin Co, MA. July 24th, 2020. 

May 12th - Shorebirds!

Least Sandpipers - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 11th, 2020.

A sample of the 28 birds present on the cove this morning.

An interesting day with a distinct 'air' of change compared to the previous three days, especially with an unexpected arrival of shorebirds to northern Franklin County. I say 'unexpected' because the perfectly calm, clear morning offered no indication at all that a shorebird fall-out might occur. Things got off to a promising start with a Common Loon departing north over Barton Cove and reduced water levels produced a nice array of shorebirds scattered around the cove including the first tundra breeders of the season; Least Sandpiper (28) and Semi-palmated Plover (2). In addition, Solitary Sandpiper (2), Spotted Sandpiper (15) and Lesser Yellowlegs (2) were also present. Apparently a strong day for Solitary Sandpipers continued with five together on a small flooded area in Greenfield and three individuals from three different sites in Montague/Sunderland (Brian Kane). The Greenfield birds were close enough for Matan to try his hand at photography and a couple of his shots appear here. 

Solitary Sandpipers - Greenfield, Franklin Co., MA. May 11th, 2020.

Images by Matan Lerman-Smith, some of the five birds present at this site. 

Gulls were not represented early in the morning by noon 14 Ring-billed Gulls had dropped into Barton Cove. Noteworthy passerines included Scarlet Tanager, Great Crested Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and 6+ Blackburnian Warblers at Barton Cove campground along with a widespread arrival of Black-throated Blue and Blue winged Warblers in Gill. Northern Parulas were also especially evident in Gill this morning with over a dozen at a wide scatter of locations.

Common Loon - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 11th, 2020.

Migrant departing north at 06:50 hrs. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler (female) - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. May 11th, 2020.

Large numbers currently moving through northern Franklin County. 

MA - early June, and still plenty to see in Franklin County!

American Bittern - New Salem, Franklin Co., MA. June 5th, 2019.

Migration started to wind down rather abruptly in early June and many local summer residents already settled well into their respective breeding cycles. Even so,  a few migrant passerines were still fairly evident on the 1st with a Canada Warbler on North Cross  Road, Gill and a Nashville Warbler in our yard in Northfield neither of which would be expected breeding locations for those species. Additional migrants on the 1st included Olive-side Flycatcher (Deerfield), Blackpoll Warbler (Warwick), Tennessee Warbler (Turner's Falls) and Northern Parula (Gill).

Green Heron - Gill, Franklin Co., MA. June 3rd, 2019.

Loggerhead Shrike - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. June 3rd, 2019.

Pride of place would have to be the Loggerhead Shrike at Turner's Falls Airport found by Peter Garagin on June 3rd, a local 'mega' and a state documentation species. Considering it was a major rarity, the bird couldn't have been more obliging and entertained tens of birders but disappointed those who could only make it the following day. Despite looking settled and comfortable on the 3rd, the shrike would ultimately prove to be a one-day-wonder. The Loggerhead Shrike could well have been the last 'trump from the horn' of spring but four Semi-palmated Plovers at the Caldwell Road sod fields on the 6th showed that northbound migrants were still passing through.

Semi-palmated Plovers (4) - Caldwell Road fields, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. June 6th, 2019.

Red-headed Woodpecker - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. June 6th, 2019.

Red-headed Woodpecker - Montague, Franklin Co., MA. May 29th, 2019.

Grasshopper Sparrow - Turner's Falls, Franklin Co., MA. June 2nd, 2019.

With so many species settling down for breeding in Franklin County it's a little difficult to pick out some of the highlights but last month's Red-headed Woodpecker continued trying attract a mate in the Montague Plains until the 6th at least. The sandplains also hosted 11 singing Eastern Whip-poor-wills on June 1st with the nearby Turner's Falls Airfield hosting 3 - 5 Grasshopper Sparrows throughout the period, and an Eastern Meadowlark on the 2nd.  And a 'singing' American Bittern in New Salem on the 5th gave me as much pleasure as any of the above primarily because I've found it an exceptionally difficult bird to see well in Franklin County over the years.

Worm-eating Warblers - Deerfield, Franklin Co., MA. June 3rd, 2019.

MA - Semi-plover 06/03

Common Loon - Barton Cove, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. June 3rd 2013.

The last few days have been distinctly hot with winds in the southern quarter. Overall, the feeling has been of spring migration tapering as one might expect in early June. But last night's storms followed by a gloomy morning were still enough to send me down to Barton Cove looking for a few late spring stragglers. Aside from a lingering Common Loon, the cove seemed to be VERY quiet. Then, just as I was pulling out from the public boat ramp, a movement on the grass close to shore caught my eye. It was a handsome breeding plumage Semi-palmated Plover furtively walking to short grasses looking remarkably unobtrusive for such a strikingly marked bird. With fine weather in the forecast for the next two days, there's some chance that this will be the last 'tundra-bound' shorebird that I see at Barton Cove this spring - but we shall see.

 Semi-palmated Plover - Barton Cove public boat ramp, Gill, Franklin Co., MA. June 3rd 2013.