Pioneer Birding: Worm-eating Warbler

Thursday, June 6, 2019

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.

Friday, May 26, 2017

MA - good birding in 'the valley' in late May

Worm-eating Warbler - Deerfield, Franklin Co., MA. May 25th, 2017.

Late May often produces some very good birding in the Pioneer Valley and this year was no exception. It's usually a good time to find 'boreal' migrants appearing alongside breeding birds, and we didn't have to look any further than our own yard in Northfield where Swainson's Thrush, Blackpoll and Mourning Warblers all appeared on the 20th. Indeed, the passage of Blackpoll Warblers continued through to the 26th at least with, for example, 18-20 singing males counted on a 14 mile bike ride between Greenfield and Northfield on the 24th. Brian Kane and friends also had a nice Olive-sided Flycatcher in Montague on the 21st.

Olive-sided Flycatcher - Meadow Street, Montague, Franklin Co., MA. May 21st, 2017.

Image appears courtesy of Alan Snow.

Ideal conditions (wind, rain and reduced water levels) at Barton Cove, Gill produced a nice arrival of Arctic-bound shorebirds on the 22nd/23rd and with 7 Black-bellied Plovers, 18+ Least Sandpipers and single Semi-palmated Sandpiper and Dunlin at the very least, and I am aware that birders reported more shorebirds from the Turner's Falls Rod & Gun club, a site which I couldn't visit on the 22nd. Also of interest on the 23rd (with Brian Kane), a Great Egret at the Rod & Gun Club and at least 3 Black Vultures over Rt 2 in Greenfield soaring with a handful of Turkey Vultures .