Some neotropical migrants still seem to be arriving in this region,
although some warblers that we are expecting are still not around in big
numbers, e.g. American Redstart, Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue--all
present but very intermittent. No Magnolias--guess they're all in
Northfield!
Red-eyed Vireos finally seem to be settling in. Barre Falls WMA is
chock-full of Ovenbirds and Blue-headed Vireos, Prairie Warblers are
omni-present, and we had one Canada Warbler on 5/27. Single Field and
White-throated Sparrows were singing. Oddly, the only flycatcher species
noted when we were there were Eastern Phoebe and Great-crested; although
perhaps the other expected species were present elsewhere in this huge
cachement area.
Today we birded the Swift River reservation, Brooks Woodland Preserve
(south sector), and Connor's Pond area in Petersham. There were good
numbers of Yellow, Pine, Black-throated Green, and Chestnut-sided Warblers,
Veerys, and Baltimore Orioles, and several Alder and Least Flycatchers
(our first of the year).
NO Indigo Buntings found at any of these spots, and only a few Tree
Swallows (maybe they took a hit during that nasty weather period earlier in
the month?).
Besides a nice long list including the expected species for this location
were the following highlights:
A pair of ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS which are likely nesting in the old rock
dam at Connor's Pond were waddling about/resting on a concrete platform near
the pond--unusual to see them close up like this.
A male NORTHERN GOSHAWK in striking, crisp plumage ambushed a Bluejay that
was sitting in a small, shrubby tree in the Moccasin Brook bog at the Brooks
Preserve (see page 266 of "Bird Finding Guide to Western Mass."); , and we
had a wonderful look at this hefty raptor when it failed to catch the
Bluejay and emerged from the tree. Five minutes earlier, we had discovered
a partially-eaten duck carcass about 15 feet from the hiking path, and had
speculated about possible predators. The duck remains were in the midst of
a circle of plucked breast feathers and looked like those of a female Wood
Duck. The kill was fairly fresh; the tail and feet were intact, the head
gone, the bones still showing blood. The Goshawk seems to be the most likely
suspect.
One calling COMMON NIGHTHAWK flew over Moccasin Brook bog.
Many AMERICAN TOADS singing at Swift River and Connor's pond.
(report from Wendy Howes & Alan Rawle)
We spent the morning birding Quabbin Park (Belchertown); off Rt.9 from dawn
till c.10AM (see western guide for directions); . There were some migrants
moving (as opposed to "migrant breeders" on territory); , but migration was a
pretty local phenomena here today, most evident along the ridges west of the
rotary.
Canada Goose (1ad+ 1ad w/8yg);
Mallard (2ad+ 1f w/4yg);
Hooded Merganser (1f);
Common Merganser (2m);
Bald Eagle (1ad);
Red-tailed Hawk (1);
Wild Turkey (4);
Spotted Sandpiper (2);
Chimney Swift (2);
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1);
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (4);
Downy Woodpecker (3);
N Flicker (3: 1 bird was loudly advertising territory by drumming on a metal
stanchion of a power line);
Pileated Woodpecker (1);
Olive-sided Flycatcher (1);
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1);
Note bene: on our one way tour through Quabbin Park, we did not hear any
Least Flycatchers, which is a first for us for this time of the year. It may
have just been the time of day (too early); .
Eastern Phoebe (12);
Great Crested Flycatcher (2);
Eastern Kingbird (6);
Yellow-throated Vireo (4);
Warbling Vireo (2);
Red-eyed Vireo (56);
Blue Jay (13);
A Crow (16);
C Raven (1ad attending at least 1 yng in nest. The views were pretty tough,
so all I can be sure of is 1 yg);
Tree Swallow (10+);
N Rough-winged Swallow (8);
Barn Swallow (2);
Black-capped Chickadee (7);
Tufted Titmouse (17);
White-breasted Nuthatch (1);
Winter Wren (1);
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (7);
Eastern Bluebird (1m);
Veery (22);
Bicknell's Thrush (1 seen and singing: we watched this bird for 15 minutes
while it periodically sang as it was perched on a branch in a dark and dense
area of mixed woods. A real treat);
Swainson's Thrush (1);
nota bene: NO Hermit Thrushes, which is a bit strange. My numbers lately at
several locations have been low);
Wood Thrush (2: low);
A Robin (26);
Gray Catbird (22);
Cedar Waxwing (15);
WARBLERS:
Blue-winged (4);
Tennessee (1);
Yellow (6: 1 bird sang an unusal song and initially we could not figure out
what we were listening to. It was a long series of repeated loudly emphatic
notes very like the "tsweet" (Sibley); of the Protonotary, except the series
was somewhat shorter than a typical Protonotary. It was skulking in some
shrubs at the base of some young maples and it took some time to get good
looks at the bird, which turned out to be simply a male Yellow Warbler. );
Chestnut-sided (17);
Black-throated Blue (1);
Black-throated Green (2);
Blackburnian (5);
Pine (13);
Prairie (4);
Bay-breasted (2);
Blackpoll (11);
Black and White (8);
A Redstart (21: actually a lower than typical count for this area);
Ovenbird (37);
Mourning Warbler (1 singing and seen at the Winsor Memorial. We got John
Green's group on this bird);
C Yellowthroat (20);
Canada (1);
Scarlet Tanager (19);
Eastern Towhee (15);
Chipping Sparrow (27);
Field Sparrow (3);
Song Sparrow (7);
Swamp Sparrow (1);
(John reported a White-crowned Sparrow near the Administration Building);
N Cardinal (2);
Rose-breasted GRosbeak (6);
Indigo Bunting (6);
Red-winged Blackbird (25+);
C Grackle (15+);
Brown-headed Cowbird (14);
Baltimore Oriole (16);
A Goldfinch (13);
ALSO: American Toads were trilling EVERYWHERE. This was unusual. I walked
across the dam and they were trilling from the reservoir side of the rocks.
They were trilling from the boat cove. Almost every stop we made had toads
trilling. Maybe this will pump up the population of Hognosed Snakes locally!
When I walked across the dam I was beset by swarms of Biblical proportions
of small midges or gnats. They were getting in my eyes, ears, nose, et. It
was decidedly unpleasant. Yesterday in the Berkshires, the Black Flies and
mosquitoes were also horrendous, so be forewarned: Apply DEET liberally
before venturing out.
As we were driving through the center of Brookfield on Rt9 en route to
Quabbin Park, a Beaver was crossing the road going into someone's backyard.
I had this vision of the house owner waking up and finding his picnic table
missing a few legs. We also gave a helping hand to several turtles as they
were attempting to cross various roads. Helping giant antediluvian Snappers
cross the road is my kind of X-Game. Use common sense of course, and don't
risk getting killed, but where possible, look for turtles trying to cross
roads and give them a hand. Sprawl has done a number on these critters.
(report from Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll).
