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Rain hampered our walk, but a few members stayed on to enjoy the songs of Veery, Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles. Though there were no ducks in sight, we did see muskrats and lovely Painted Trillium to brighten the walk.

At 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, about 20 members of the public joined the Allen Bird Club and the Friends of Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge for an introductory bird walk. This trip was led by Allen Bird Club member Jan Collins, with assistance from Terri Skill, Jim Wang, and Andrea Bugbee. The Friends of Stebbins were represented by Cynthia Sommer and Jim Dorschner, who provided helpful information about the refuge, as well as binoculars to those in need. The Allen Bird Club contributed bird knowledge and two scopes so guests could enjoy the closest views possible.

This trip began at the sign at Bark Haul and Pondside Roads with ambient temperatures of 68 degrees. Participants were introduced to the Allen Bird Club and the Friends of Stebbins, then leaders walked them through a brief tutorial on binocular use. From there, the group set off as a whole down Pondside Road.

Very quickly, the group’s  size, enthusiasm, and varying interests broke the pack of beginners into three or four smaller groups, which were attended by the team of leaders. The many birds visible while walking to the Pondside Pavillion gave beginners ample opportunity to practice with their binoculars, thrill to new birds such as the Baltimore Oriole, appreciate the stunning iridescence of the Common Grackle, learn about the smartphone apps Merlin and eBird, share stories of spark birds from their yards or travels, and meet friendly nature lovers like themselves.

The temperature had risen to a sunny, humid 78 degrees by the end of the walk, and guests shared appreciative, positive feedback before heading home. Thirty-two species were noted in just under two hours.  See complete list below.

It was a perfect spring day to start the first of the Allen Bird Club's series of Wednesday morning walks.  Bird song filled the air.  Before reaching the T on the Bark Haul Trail, we had spotted Yellow-rumped Warblers and seen and heard several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, many with their ruby crowns showing.  A highlight along the trail was finding a trio of Palm Warblers on the ground - like little yellow jewels sparkling in the fresh green grass.  Mallards, Wood Ducks, and a Green-winged Teal were found in the beaver ponds along the way where a single Chimney Swift and a Belted Kingfisher flew over us.  On the Natti Trail we found a Hermit Thrush and heard towhees call back and forth to each other.  White-throated Sparrows sang and scratched about in the undergrowth nearby.  Near the brook, two more migrants, Blue-headed Vireo and Black-and-white Warbler, made an appearance.  A House Wren chattered off the trail as did Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.  Other highlights were two Rusty Blackbirds near the railroad tracks, still lingering here before heading further north, and just below them on the ground was another new arrival - a Northern Waterthrush.  As we neared the parking area on our return, the sweet song of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, another new arrival, ended our walk on a bright note.  There were 12 participants and a total of 42 species.

Fourteen Club members, led by John Weeks, toured the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, crown jewel of the Granby (CT) Land Trust.  The weather could have been better, but the rain held off, and we were able to find 44 species during our visit.  There were few warblers, aside from summer residents, and no rarities were encountered.  We enjoyed excellent views of Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat; two Virginia Rails and a Barred Owl pestered by an oriole and a Red-winged Blackbird were special treats.  Spring ephemerals such as marsh marigolds, bluets, white violets, wood anemones and fringed polygalas offered touches of color, and two otters cavorting in the pond were a hit with the group. View complete species list below.

Six members of the ABC attended the first-ever field trip to Five Bridge Road/Grand Trunk Trail in Brimfield.  As we were practically surrounded by marsh, the sounds of Red-winged Blackbirds and Swamp Sparrows were constantly present.  The majority of our observations were mostly of permanent residents, species we were all familiar with.  Early spring migrants (and they seem to be getting earlier each spring!) included Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, and Chipping Sparrow.  Singing Purple Finches were heard at two spots, and a Red-shouldered Hawk was seen carrying nesting material.  Blue-gray Gnatcatchers flitted high in the treetops, their buzzy song attracting our attention, as did the ethereal, high-pitched song of the Brown Creeper.  But probably the highlight of the trip were the warblers:  Black-and-white Warblers crawling along tree branches, Yellow-rumped Warblers all along our walk, Palm Warblers flying and landing, wagging their tails, and Pine Warblers singing high in the trees, staying out of sight until finally we saw one to our satisfaction.  The entire species list for the trip is below.

Seven members gathered for this morning’s field trip, which started at Pynchon Pt.  The river was high, so activity there was low. We counted Mallards, Wood Ducks and European Starlings.  From there we headed to Stebbins Refuge and walked up Pondside Rd, finding the water was also high in the ponds and recent storms had cleared a lot of the waterfowl out.  The nesting Bald Eagles were very active and there was at least one eaglet in the nest.  For other species identified along Pondside Rd, see list below.

This evening walk at Stebbins brought out 14 members.  At least ten American Woodcock were spotted, with 4-5 on the trail right near us at different times during the evening.  There were also multiple Woodcock flight displays.  Other flyovers included ducks and geese and heard birds were American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds.

Surprisingly few members came out to enjoy what historically has been a favorite, well-attended field trip. The weather was not to blame, it was sunny with temps 35-45 degrees. This trip focuses on migrating waterfowl and we picked out 10 different species, namely Canada Goose, Mute Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, and Hooded and Common Merganser.  We had a Bald Eagle flyover at Barton’s Cove, but did not find the Red-throated Loon which was recently reported there. Some early migrants spotted were Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Song Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird.

Sixteen participants came together to enjoy a Saturday morning at Stebbins Refuge.  We had a double-digit duck day!  Click below to view a list of the 37 species we spotted.

Temps were in the mid-30s, but winds from the northwest made it feel colder. That didn’t hinder the eight members who gathered to do some winter birding.  Highlights from the trip included Bald Eagle, Ring-necked Ducks, a Peregrine Falcon on the Calvin Coolidge Bridge perched near the nest box, lots and lots of Canada Geese and three Greater White-fronted Geese as a special prize.

A wind speed of 15 mph and temps in the 20s made the morning at the coast feel quite cold. Tim arrived at Lot 1 on the Parker River NWR very early and received good information from other birders as to the whereabouts of a Snowy Owl.  Indeed, we followed their directions to the boardwalk of Lot 3 and were rewarded with excellent scope views!  With one owl ticked, we decided to head straight to Salisbury.  A Long-eared Owl had been photographed earlier in the morning, perched in the relative open, so a rare view awaited us.  We found the owl in the same position as in the photograph, coincidently also in Lot 3, though this one in Salisbury.  After enjoying once-in-a-lifetime views, we birded the transfer station, picking up sparrows and a Mockingbird, then headed to the boat ramp, where we scoped out Horned Grebe, Wigeon, and Gadwall, in addition to White-winged and Surf Scoters, Bufflehead, Common Loons, Common Eiders, Red-breasted Mergansers, and a multitude of Black Ducks.

The plan was to head back to Plum Island to see what else we could find there, but instead we decided to try for a Western Tanager that had been reported at a feeder on Broad St in Merrimac. The homeowner was very gracious, inviting us into his driveway and leading us to the feeding stations for better views. There was a Sharp-shinned Hawk perched high up in a tree behind the house, reducing the number of birds coming to the feeders, but after a short while, we spotted the tanager in a nearby tree, getting great views of it before it descended to the feeder.  Success!  

After a brief rest stop at Dunkin, we headed to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester to find our next rarity sitting in the marsh tearing away at a medium-sized carcass.  It was a Swainson’s Hawk, and though we did not get to see it in flight, we did get wonderful scope views. A bonus Short-eared Owl was spotted flying in the distance and landing atop a far-away pole.  What a great morning of birding!

From here we headed to Jodrey’s Fish Pier in search of Iceland Gull.  We missed on the gull but picked up Long-tailed Duck.  Next stop was Loblolly Cove in Rockport, where we added two Black Guillemots, 4 Common Goldeneye, 6 Harlequin Ducks and a Red-throated Loon.  Our final birding of the day was at Granite Pier, where we missed on alcids, but added 10 Brant, bringing our final species count for the day to 53.

Winter coastal birding is a thrill that cold weather will not keep us from enjoying!

Day 1 - The small group of four met up at Lawton Valley Reservoir in Portsmouth, RI to find a very rare bird, the Tundra Bean-Goose.  There, we also found several other bird club members among the dozens of birders gathered to find this species in amongst a throng of Canada Geese.  It was cold and breezy, but weather does not matter to birders when the opportunity to observe such a rare bird presents itself.  The Bean-Goose was found at 7:45 AM.  Other birds on the reservoir included 15 Ring-necked and 13 Ruddy Ducks, 12 Shovelers, 5 Mallards, 2 Coot and a Hooded Merganser.

Our next stop was Fort Adams State Park where we missed finding the reported Lark Sparrow, but did find 9 Snow Geese, a perched Cooper’s Hawk, 2 Bufflehead and 4 Common and 2 Red-throated Loons, both of which would become frequent sightings over the weekend.  While in the area, we made a few stops along the shoreline of Brenton Point State Park.  Here we added a Razorbill, seen well by all, a Common Goldeneye, 6 Harlequin, 5 Horned Grebe, 6 Black and 1 White-winged Scoter, 150 Common Eider, 7 Brant, 8 Double-crested Cormorant, 2 American Wigeon and a fly-by of 40 Purple Sandpipers.

It was lunchtime, but unfortunately, we did not find a place to stop on the way to our next destination, Easton Pond.  Though mostly frozen, we managed looks at Mallard, Common Merganser, a Coot, a Great Blue Heron, and 3 Green-winged Teal that Jim spotted in a ditch beside the road.  Nearby at Green End Pond, we counted 30 more Coot, 5 Brant, another Great Blue Heron, over a hundred Canada Geese, 10 Common and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, a dozen Ruddy Ducks and one Sanderling.

It was well into the afternoon when we headed to Third Beach.  Here the wind subsided for a short time, allowing us to bird in relative comfort.  The light was perfect, and we got beautiful views of 40 Black and 5 Surf Scoters, 3 Horned Grebe, 8 Common Goldeneye, 8 Bufflehead, 20 Greater Scaup, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Brant, a Common Loon and 13 Sanderlings.

Nearby Sachuest gave us a rest stop and a long walk.  Here we added a Harrier, a Great Cormorant, a Long-tailed Duck and a Catbird to our list.  Also there were 80 Greater Scaup, 22 Black and 1 White-winged Scoter, 40 Common Eider, 2 Harlequin, 5 Horned Grebe, 4 Red-throated Loons and a Red-breasted Merganser.

It was getting near dark when we headed to Newport State Airport in hopes of finding a reported Short-eared Owl.  It was not to be.  Now tired and very hungry, after missing lunch, we headed directly to dinner at the Atlantic Grille. Nice to end the birding day with food, laughter, and a review of our day’s good bird finds!

Day 2 – Usually, we begin the second day of our RI trip at Beavertail State Park, but to save time we skipped this spot and headed straight to Narragansett. We stopped briefly at the end of Newton Ave, off Ocean Rd, to try for reported Bonaparte’s Gulls and Razorbills.  We dipped on those species but spotted all the usual sea ducks plus 2 Red-necked Grebes and 9 Brant.

Next, we visited Scarborough Beach State Park, picking up two of our target birds, 15 Snow Buntings and a Black-headed Gull.  Also there were 30 Black, 6 White-winged and 2 Surf Scoters, a dozen each of Bufflehead and Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Horned Grebe, 3 Great Cormorant and 2 fly-by Purple Sandpipers.  We missed the reported Iceland Gull at Galilee Harbor, but Salty Brine State Beach gave us 2 Wigeon and 2 Long-tailed Duck, along with the usual scoters, eiders and mergansers.

Moonstone Beach Rd and a walk down the beach gave us views of Trustom Pond, where many waterfowl huddled together on the only open water in the distance.  Our scopes allowed us to get views of 4 Tundra and 4 Mute Swans, 2 Gadwall, a Bald Eagle sitting on the ice, 2 Redhead and 30 Ring-necked Ducks, 40 Wigeon, 12 Common and 12 Hooded Mergansers, 30 Coots, 4 Bufflehead and 10 Red-breasted Mergansers.  We then headed to the Trustom Pond Visitor Center and added several feeder birds to our list, including two targets, Fox Sparrow and Eastern Towhee.

The South Shore Management Area was a brief stop, failing to find any of the seven different sparrow species that were reported, but the flat open fields looked right and maybe earlier in the day would have been a better time to visit.  The group split up after this stop, but two continued, going to nearby Green Hill Beach and then back to Trustom Pond NWR to walk the mile-long trail to the viewing deck that looks over the same pond visited earlier from a different angle.  Canvasback was reported to be there somewhere in the huddled masses and it was a life bird for Tim.  The sun was behind our right shoulders, casting great light on the ducks, who were still far away in the open water.  Panning carefully with our scopes we picked out the lone Canvasback, with its sloping forehead and bright white body.  A third Redhead, 20 more Ring-necked Ducks, and 3 Harriers added to previous totals. We left very happy for all the great birding RI provided on this winter weekend, a total of 71 species!

Click below to view or download complete count results.

2024 SPFLD CBC Results

This was our 34th year of participation in Audubon’s Christmas Count as Cobble Mtn Circle, with our first count taking place in 1991.  Here’s a rundown of how we did this year compared to past years.  We brought in a total of 61 species, down five species from last year, eight species from 2022, but just two below average over all the years.  Observer effort was up by one birder and hours in the field was up by four, both were above average for the count.  

Conditions for the count were fairly comfortable.  Waters were mostly unfrozen and open, with some ice along the edges and covering shallow areas. The temperature ranged from 23-30 degrees, clouds prevailed throughout the day, with some light snow in the morning.  Winds were from the northwest at 5-30 mph, mostly light in the morning and increasing in the afternoon with stronger gusts.

There were several species found in higher numbers than usual.  Of these, four species were at an all-time high, Red-bellied Woodpeckers at 68 (avg 29), Winter Wren at 4 (avg 2), Dark-eyed Juncos at 1384 (avg 636) and Common Grackles at 2,000 (avg 320).  The grackles were found in one flock by Al and Lois.  Other high counts were Tufted Titmouse at 228 (avg 143, max 230 in 2004), Carolina Wren at 35 (max 46 in 2023), and American Tree Sparrow at 114 (numbers have been well below 100 from 2007-2023).  

There was just one species found in notably lower numbers than usual.  The Northern Mockingbird count of a just 5 individuals this year was the lowest ever in count history (avg 32, max 59).  

We were fortunate to find some rarer species.  It seems Congamond always comes through for us, and this year the lakes gave us a Common Loon (last seen in 2011).  Two teams found Fish Crow, though as Dave suggested, it might be the same individual as the territories were adjacent.  Red-headed Woodpecker was found by Josh in the Southwick WMA, with the only other count sightings occurring in 1997 and 1998.  Finally, White-crowned Sparrow spotted by Dave and Kim was only recorded on one other count since 2006.

Unfortunate misses this year were Horned Lark and Purple Finch (both hit or miss species on the count), Red-breasted Nuthatch (only missed on 3 other counts over the years), and Cedar Waxwing (first year missed in count history).

One count week species was added by Dorrie Holmes, and a very special species at that, a Northern Saw-whet Owl.

Special thanks to Joanne Fortin, who hosted the compilation and is always so gracious about sharing her home with the group.

Click below to view or download complete count results.

2024 Cobble Mtn CBC Results

Seven members joined together on a snowy morning to visit the Honey Pot in Hadley. There were hopes to find the Western Meadowlark that had been reported, but it was not to be.  However, the trip had several consolation prizes that would bring a smile to any birder’s face. Click below to view trip list.

The day was cold and windy, with temps hardly breaking 30 degrees and the wind bringing the “feels like” temp to 20.  Our small group left Ludlow and headed straight for Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge on Morris Island in Chatham. The trip was scheduled for Falmouth and Sandwich birding, but that plan was rerouted when we read about various sightings of a western hawk in the Chatham area.  It was a Ferruginous Hawk, very rare in this locale, and would be a state bird for most birders gathered there that morning.  The parking lot was full and there was even a reporter from the Cape Cod Times present to capture a few photos and get the birding excitement in the news.  While hunting for the hawk, we managed to spot a Hermit Thrush, several Northern Gannets, Common Loons, Long-tailed Ducks, White-winged Scoters and a Cooper’s Hawk that flew in, just a few feet in front of us, and perched very close in a leafless shrub.  He did not seem daunted by the small crowd of birders gathered there.  Alas, the Ferruginous Hawk was not to be found by anyone that day.  Many birders had been there before daylight in heated search, so by 11:30 AM we gave up hope and turned our combing to less rare species at other locations.

Since we were so far out on the Cape, we decided to hit some beaches that had never been explored on this annual January trip.  At West Dennis Beach the reported Lesser Black-backed Gull was observed in good light, along with 15 Sanderlings, and Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead and Common Eider were surfing the waters.  

Onward to the next stop, Eugenia Fortes Beach in Hyannis, home of the Kennedy Compound.  We searched in vain for the reported Black-headed Gull, but this bird was also not to be spotted by any-one that day.  While walking the beach, we passed in front of the Kennedy mansion.  Interesting, but we agreed that finding the gull would have been our preference.  

The next stop on our route brought us to the Mill Pond at Marston’s Mill.  Here we racked up a few dabbling ducks, including Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail, as well as a couple of Mute Swans.  Next, we headed back to the shore to Loop Beach in Cotuit and were rewarded with a male and female Barrow’s Goldeneye among the many Common Goldeneye.

We next journeyed inland to Old Meeting House Road in Falmouth, where we hoped to find an Ash-throated Flycatcher that was most recently spotted just two hours previous to our arrival.  This flycatcher is a western bird, whose winter range is Mexico and Central America.  Unfortunately for us, a Sharp-shinned Hawk swept low in the area as we approached and a Red-tailed Hawk was perched in the tree right above.  This could very well be the reason we did not get eyes on the flycatcher.

Shawme Pond in Sandwich was next, and while driving in we noticed a throng of ducks at the north end of the pond.  Searching through 130 American Wigeon and a few Hooded Mergansers, we found the lone male Eurasian Wigeon.  It is a stunning bird and the light was great for us to take it all in.  Also at Shawme were a Ring-necked Duck, 45 Gadwall, 2 Bufflehead, Mallards and Canada Geese.  The trees and bushes along the shore often give us a variety of land birds and this day was no different.  We picked up a flock of 50 Robins, a Hairy and a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Tufted Titmouse, 2 White-throated and 3 Song Sparrows, 3 White-breasted Nuthatches, a Catbird and another Cooper’s Hawk perched low nearby.

It was getting late, and skipping Town Neck Rd, we sped over to Scusset Beach only to find that the gates to the beach close at 4:00 PM.  The guard was nice enough to allow us entrance at 3:45 for a quick look around.  Not having time to walk out to the beach overlook, we settled for scanning the canal to find a Great Cormorant, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Common Loons, 22 White-winged Scoters, Black Ducks, Mallards and a raft of 500+ Common Eider, but no Razorbills.

Our last stop with dimming light was at the south end of Great Herring Pond.  Here we added 60 Lesser Scaup, 15 Common Goldeneye, a Hooded Merganser, 3 Common Loons and another Great Cormorant.  By dark we had identified a total of 48 species.  It turned out to be a great birding day after all, despite the cold weather!

A big thank you to our leader and newer member, Will Fitzgerald, who provided a wonderful tour of Plymouth birding for seven lucky members.  We began our day by visiting Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, exploring trails, walking over 3 miles and gathering a few puddle ducks (incl. Black Duck, Am. Widgeon) and many land birds (incl. Downy, Flicker, Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglet, Tree and Swamp Sparrows, a Palm and 6 Yellow-rumped Warblers).

From there we headed to White Horse Beach, Manomet, parking along side of the road.  Scanning the ocean, we picked up 5 Surf and 20 Black Scoters, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 20 RB Merganser, 7 Red-throated and 2 Common Loons.  We were almost certain we were looking at 2 Dovekie, but they turned out to be Razorbills.  Just down the road at Manomet Point, we added 1 White-winged Scoter, more Long-tailed Ducks and RB Mergs, another Razorbill, a Bonaparte’s Gull, 3 Horned Grebe, a Northern Gannet and a surprise Bald Eagle flying across and well over the ocean waters.  

A rest stop at Leyden Coffee House was welcome by all, great coffee!  From there we headed to the Plymouth Beach parking area along 3A, where we added beautiful views of Red-necked Grebe.

Nelson Field was our next destination, and we checked off our usual sighting there, 20 Brant. We saw several already mentioned sea ducks but were delighted to add 12 more Bonaparte’s Gulls to our list.

Cumberland Farms, entered by River St., was our last and very rewarding stop. We walked and counted a total of 7 Northern Harriers and 24 Red-winged Blackbirds, but backtracked to the solar panel area, where we stood atop a structure in the field to get good looks at 2 or 3 Short-eared Owls making their way back and forth in the area of the solar panels.  It was an excellent way to end our day at the coast with a total species count of 51.

Seven participants braved an early morning cold and windy start to a wonderful day of bird watching. As is typical the day started at the Jodrey State Fish Pier which provided a viewing of the typical candidates such as the Common Eiders, Surf Scoters, Long-tailed ducks and Double-crested Cormorants along with others. As the trip proceeded to Rocky Neck beach and Niles Beach more ducks were added such as the Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, White-winged Scoter along with an adult Bald Eagle. At Eastern point we were graced with a great viewing of a Green-winged Teal.

Moving back up the shoreline we were on the lee side of the cape providing much awaited warmth. Stopping at Niles Pond we were not disappointed as restricted open water due to ice that developed during the previous cold weather conditions contained its occupants. Many ducks were on display with great late morning lighting. Among the ducks seen were Ruddy, Greater Scaup, Ring-necked, Mallard, Wood Duck and 25 Hooded Mergansers. On to the Elks parking lot along Atlantic Ave, where we got a view of more Scoters, Red-necked Grebes, a Black Guillemot and 3 Northern Gannets. After taking a lunch break, we continued on our journey with a stop at Pebble Beach, which had a limited viewing due to the angle of the sun. Around the corner lay Loblolly cove which gave us a viewing of the Harlequin Ducks, another Black Guillemot and a couple of Northern Harriers. Our last stop was Old Granite Pier which provided more of the previously seen ducks and gulls. As there was a rare bird sighting in our path home, we made a side trip to Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary for a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, which a couple of lucky participants had the opportunity to see. Also at the location we had a viewing of a Merlin flyover and landing in a distant tree.

All in all, everyone had a great day of birdwatching with a total of 50 species.

On November 2 six members met and scoped out the lakes in Berkshire County.  We tallied 38 species, including 15 species of waterfowl.  We had 4 Pied-billed Grebes, 3 together at No Name Road; a nice male Pintail at the "Teal Hole" plus one more; many Hooded Mergansers throughout; 10 Black Scoters at our first stop on Pontoosuc; and 7 Ruddy Ducks on Richmond (and possibly 3 more at Stockbridge Bowl).  One Common Loon was seen from Burbank Park as well.  We also saw one Bald Eagle, one Harrier, and heard a Raven.  At No Name we saw about 100 Grackles flying swiftly and had a few Red-winged Blackbirds as well. At the Teal Hole we had 3 Carolina Wrens together and saw a Kingfisher.  A Berkshire Lakes trip would not be complete without a stop at Bartlett's Orchard, and all enjoyed that.

Four stalwart members gathered to explore Quabbin Reservoir and were rewarded with a list of 26 species.  Click below to view trip list.

Six members gathered to enjoy a 2-mile walk along the shores of Ashley Ponds.  Click below to view trip list.

After meeting at the usual spot for our September morning walks, we immediately drove to the parking area for the Longmeadow Sandbar.  Two unusual species had been re-ported to be there.  With the aid of scopes, everyone was able to see the Red Phalarope and the Red-necked Phalarope as they walked along the far side of the sandbar.  Our timing was good, as by late morning, the Red Phalarope had continued on its migratory journey.  There was also a Great Egret, several Ring-billed Gulls and three very distant peeps too far away for identification.

With the phalaropes on the morning's list, we moved on to walk the field edges off West Road, finding several Song Sparrows and two Swamp sparrows.  Warblers stayed high and silent, and mostly unidentifiable among the leaves, but we did manage to see Northern Parulas and several Common Yellowthroats.  There were also three species of woodpeckers - Downy, Red-bellied, and Pileated.

Checking out the mudflats further south on the river, we had Semipalmated Plovers and Least Sandpipers running around close to us.  As we moved on to see what was around on Pondside we added the expected species of Great Blue Herons, Mallards, Wood Ducks, and one migrant - DC Cormorant.  The 9 participants ended the morning walk with 27 species.

Ten members gathered to explore birds along the Ludlow Reservoir this morning.  We spent about 3 ½ hours walking the trail and identified 26 different species.

Nine members joined in the fun to identify the following species on our morning walk.

Canada Geese

Bald Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Northern Harrier

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

Brown Creeper

White-breasted Nuthatch

Tufted Titmouse

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Palm Warbler

American Crow

Common Raven

Song Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Eastern Towhee

Our walk today was pretty successful with 37 species and 7 members. We did see the 2 Sandhill Cranes in the water area from the tower.  They were definitely the highlight bird of the day.  The weather was nice, not too hot or cold. We heard a good number of birds that we didn't see but we did get a few warbler species, nothing unusual. The sparrows were not around yet so that was slow.

Seven members met to board the 3 PM ferry in Port Clyde, ME and begin our visit to Monhegan. We were thirteen all together once we joined with others already on the is-land. Beautiful weather was in store for us as the sun shone throughout and there was just the slightest of breezes to cool us occasionally while we explored miles of trails on the island. Good fortune was with us too, as Doug’s friend, Don Reimer, expert bird guide and author, led the group, generously sharing his knowledge of the birds and history of the island.

Day 1 – The ferry ride was smooth, and we picked up a half dozen Black Guillemots in winter plumage, Common Eider, an Osprey and three Common Loons on the way over.  Tim got on the best bird of the crossing, a Dovekie.  There were also the usual Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls and Double-crested Cormorants. After checking in we gathered for a late day walk with Don and Doug leading us to a rocky lookout on the island’s west shore, just down the hill from the church, where they had scouted and found Lesser Black-backed Gulls earlier. Bingo!  They were still there, giving us a great start to our Monhegan trip list. Also spotted along the way were Northern Harrier, our first of many Northern Flickers, Carolina Wrens and Mockingbirds and the more usual songbirds.

Day 2 – The morning was spent visiting the Ice Pond (Solitary Sandpiper, Wood Duck) the Trembler farm gardens (several Eastern Wood-Pewees, Wilson’s and Black-and-white Warblers, Lincoln’s Sparrow, a couple of Sharp-shinned Hawks, a Peregrine Falcon and a Merlin) and the pump station at the back of the marsh that lines the main road (20 Mallards, but missed on Green-winged Teal spotted by Don while scouting). We also took our first hike out to Whitehead, a lookout towering 160’ over the open ocean below. From there we spotted 2 Laughing Gulls, Double-crested Cormorants, 18 Black-Guillemots and many Common Eider. Other highlights of the morning included the ubiquitous Ring-necked Pheasant, Yellow Warbler, Redstart, Cedar Waxwings, a Common Nighthawk and a Bald Eagle.

In the afternoon we took a narrated boat ride that skirted the shores of the island, giving us a different perspective of the cliffs that line the eastern shore. We spotted more Black Guillemots, a Bald Eagle, and many Gray Seals, some resting on the rocks, others slipping into the ocean as we passed.

In the evening, Doug and Barbara hosted us for dinner and Don presented a program chock-full of stunning photographs of birds taken on the island. He offered many tips to help us identify the birds and captivated us with stories of past experiences. It was a wonderful addition to our trip, made only more special by Doug and Barb’s hospitality.

Day 3 -  A few of the group ventured out at 5:30 AM to Whitehead to view sunrise.  The morning was overcast and foggy, and we did not get the sunrise over the ocean, but did manage a peak at the sun rising over the cloud bank. On our return hike, we picked up a Golden-crowned Kinglet, a handful of Robins, two Sharp-shinned Hawks, and other songbirds.  We came down just in time to meet up with the group for our 7:00 AM walk on the south end of the island. We visited Lobster Cove, which can produce Northern Gannets if the wind is up, but none were spotted with the mild weather and ever so light winds. While walking there we added Eastern Phoebe and Eastern Kingbird, House Wren, Norther Waterthrush, Northern Parula and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Cardinal and White-throated Sparrow and to our list. Then in the afternoon we hiked a loop along Black Head Trail and Cathedral Woods to Squeaker Cove, Little Whitehead, and back on Red Ribbon Trail.  The views were spectacular, though the birds were few, but we managed more Black Guillemots and DC Cormorants, Raven, Black-capped Chickadee and Golden-crowned Kinglet.

We dined at the Monhegan House, where the food was very gourmet and yummy. There we took the time to revisit the day’s sightings and enjoy lots of laughter.

Day 4 – On our final morning, we walked leisurely along the main road, picking up one of the best birds of the trip, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, though admittedly the views were partial and difficult.  We hit the gardens in hopes of newly arrived warblers.  It was not to be, but the Ice Pond awaited and gave us show-stopping looks of a Sharp-shinned Hawk sparring with a Belted Kingfisher over and over again.  The Wood Duck and the Solitary Sandpiper were still present and we picked up Yellow-bellied Sapsucker along the way.  After breakfast we met up near the Trailing Yew, where we enjoyed close-up views of an Eastern Kingbird and an Eastern Phoebe. The group paused to watch Cedar Waxwings feast like flycatchers on a late-season swarm of gnats.  Later, Jim got us on a surprise Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, but we boarded the 12:30 PM ferry, with our tireless leaders and friends sending us off with flowers to throw overboard, thereby insuring our return to this lovely island.  On the ferry ride we added a White-winged Scoter to the trip list. Back on the mainland, it was decided to take Don’s advice and make one last birding stop to Weskeag Marsh.  There we scanned the marsh near and far, finding seven Great Blue Herons, at least a dozen Great Egrets and 40+ Snow Egrets. We also spotted 4 Greater Yellowlegs and got good looks at a Northern Harrier flying low over the marsh.  The rarest bird there by far was an immature Tricolored Heron, which everyone enjoyed through scopes for the best views.

We ended with a total of 72 species for the trip.  Much thanks to our special leader for the entire trip, Don Reimer and his wife, Sherry, and to Doug for careful route planning and guidance, and finally to Doug and Barbara once again for graciously hosting us during our visit.

View complete species list below.

The Owl Prowl brought 15 members out to listen for the calls of owls. Two Barred Owls vocalized for the group in two different locations.

Ten people met up at Bark Haul Road for a 3-hour walk on a cool Saturday morning. We started on the left trail headed towards the boardwalk. It was a slow start until the sun started to warm things up. Along the way we sighted many Song Sparrows and a few Red-eyed Vireos and Eastern Phoebes. As we made our way to the Boardwalk the 20 or so Wood Ducks could be heard and seen making their way to the other side of the marsh. We had an Ovenbird seen along the boardwalk. A Kingfisher was also more than willing to pose for pictures.

As we made our way into ‘Warbler Corner’ we were greeted with Warbling Vireo, Northern Parula, Redstarts, (F) Oriole, Solitary Sandpiper, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. After returning to the parking lot, a few of us decided to go over to the sandbar off West Road. A Merlin was observed Pondside preening in a tree in the middle of the marsh. We were rewarded at the sandbar with scope views of a Black-bellied Plover that had been reported for the past few days. A nice ending to the Saturday morning walk.

Today we held the annual joint hawk watch and picnic of the Allen Bird Club (Springfield) and Hoffmann Bird Club (Berkshires). Also on hand were several members of the Massachusetts Audubon Society (Arcadia Sanctuary) led by Patti Steinman and Dan Russell. Many seasoned observers were among the 30 or so persons present, and everyone helped with spotting birds in a difficult sky.

The sky was cloudless but hazy until noon EDT; cumuli developed in the afternoon, increasing from 10% to 35% of the sky. Wind persisted all day from the NE, but very light, never exceeding 6 mph. Temperature 66-78 F.

All enjoyed a varied and interesting, but far from massive, flight. The largest kettle of Broadwings was only 17 hawks; many flew extremely high and at the limit of observation. Seven Harriers is a high turnout for Blueberry Hill; one was a gray ghost. Eight unidentified raptors is a high number for one day at the site — an indication of the difficulty of making out distant birds through the veil of haze. Not counted as migrants: 2 Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles (adult and juvenile), Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, 2 Red-tails (adult and immature).

Non-raptors identified were Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeons (ca. 25), Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker (dazzling flyby), Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jays (2), Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadees (2), Tree Swallow, Cedar Waxwings (ca. 20), Eastern Bluebirds (10), American Goldfinch, Eastern Towhee, American Redstart, Prairie Warbler, Scar-let Tanager (f), Northern Cardinal.

Most of the participants also got their first view of the granite memorial bench placed at the hawkwatch site by the Allen Bird Club to honor the contributions of Seth Kellogg to the club and to remember his dedication to recording hawk migration here for many decades.

Nine birding enthusiasts participated in a 3-hour walk on a cool (49º F) bluebird sky morning.

On our walk, the eager group experienced the beginnings of the fall migratory cycle which provides a variety of birds that may not be typical during the Spring/Summer nesting and rearing phase of the local bird cycle. We were privileged to identify 35 different species which consisted of both local and migrating bird species.

As we walked the trail that led us across the rail lines to "warbler corner" we started to see and hear many birds high in the trees beginning to feast on the insects that were coming active due to the brilliant sunlight that rapidly was warming the day.

Among the species espied by the observant team the commonly seen male Wood Ducks in their final stages of their eclipse transition to their nuptial feathering phase were easily observed. There was one instance of the Solitary Sandpiper heard as well as a brief sighing of a Green Heron. Among the passerines seen there were the Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, American Redstart and the Black-and-white Warblers. A male Scarlet Tanager sporting its yellow body and black wing fall plumage presented itself for a view.

All appeared to enjoy the outing looking forward to more avians friends to grace them on future adventures.

Eleven members of the Allen Bird Club gathered at Pynchon Point Park to scan the confluence of the Connecticut and Westfield River.  At this first stop we found a Spotted Sandpiper, a Great Blue Heron, and a Great Egret.  There were also a couple of Carolina Wrens belting out their morning songs.  A perched up Bald Eagle to the north, four Mallards, and the expected robins, starlings, mourning doves, and two young cardinals were added to the list.

We moved on along River Road to the parking area for the bike path, seeing a mockingbird along the way.  Scoping the river and the Longmeadow Sandbar, we a spotted a Belted Kingfisher and another Great Blue Heron.  Only four Ring-billed Gulls were counted.

Our next stop was the dike off Circuit Rd near the Big E grounds.  Two Least Sandpipers were the only migrating shore birds we found for the trip.  A Fish Crow was heard as we passed by McDonald's on our way to the dike.  Once there, we had 10 American Crows fly over.  Here we added a Red-tailed Hawk and another Great Blue Heron, and heard the only Black-capped Chickadee of the morning.  Other new species seen here were Downy Woodpecker, House Finch, House Sparrow, and many pigeons.

We then moved on to Longmeadow and birded along Pondside Road for the remainder of the time.  The recently reported Northern Shovelers eluded us, but we did have several Wood Ducks - the males starting to regain their colorful attire.  A Warbling Vireo sang over our heads, and catbirds were complaining in the thickets.  Red-bellied Woodpeckers announced their presence several times as we moved along.  It was exciting to find five Scarlet Tanagers moving about in the higher foliage.  There must have been good berries or grapes nearby.

When we reached the viewing platform, we found 3 more Great Blue Herons, another Spotted Sandpiper, a Double-crested Cormorant, another Great Egret, and a Mute Swan.  An Osprey circled overhead while a female Red-winged Blackbird walked on lily pads seeking insects.  Cedar Waxwings were also seeking insects over the water.

Perhaps our most memorable sighting for the morning was four juvenile Green Herons perched in a line on the narrow branch of a dead tree midway down the pond.  A short time later an adult Green Heron flew in almost in front of us allowing a much closer view of this species.

Near the end of the trip, a Piliated Woodpecker flew across the water in front of us, much to the delight of Maryann, one of our new members.  As we were getting into our cars at the end of the walk, a Goldfinch sang a goodbye and a phoebe sat on a post bobbing its tail.   So we did see shorebirds, herons, and egrets - and totaled 40 species.

Twenty-two Allen Bird Club members spent a perfect late summer evening watching the sky for migrating Common Nighthawks.  Some of these birds flew over early (lucky Bill P. was there before 6:30 to catch them) and more after many people had left, but come they did, for a total of 20.

While we watched and waited, there was other bird activity to see.  What seemed like nearly a hundred Chimney Swifts and a few Tree Swallows swirled around over the viewing platform where we stood.  We watched huge flocks of blackbirds (starlings, grackles, and Red-winged Blackbirds) rise up and settle back down in the treetops, while Cedar Waxwings sallied out for insects in the lower bushes.

Wood Ducks and Mallards flew over, and we picked out a couple of Double-crested Cormorants and Great Blue Herons.  Northern Flickers and a Belted Kingfisher called out to get our attention.

It was a very pleasant evening toward the end of our club birding season to meet new club members as well as greet long time birding friends.

Nine members gathered to enjoy a beautiful weather day on Plum Island.  Bugs were not a problem and birds were plentiful!  Altogether we spotted 63 species, including Mute Swan and Red-tailed Hawk on the road, and had our usual fun studying the finer points of plumage to identify the less common shorebirds.  

The birding day began in Lot 1, where we met up with Holly.  She had already spotted a Bald Eagle, a N. Mockingbird and a N. Flicker to start our list. During the first 5 minutes we got on a Towhee, over a thousand Tree Swallows, a couple of Mourning Doves, 5 Cedar Waxwings, two Great Egrets, a Song Sparrow and a Goldfinch—and that was without stepping out of the parking lot.  Our aim was to arrive at Sandy Point by high tide (in 1 ½ hours), when shorebirds were expected to be resting along the beach, so no time to dally.  

We could not pass up the birds present at the Salt Pannes on the way, however, hoping it would not delay us too long.  There we picked up over 200 Semi-palmated Sandpipers, 120+ Semi-palmated Plovers, a handful of Least Sandpipers, 6 White-rumped Sandpipers and a Ruddy Turnstone.  Also there were one Great and about a dozen Snowy Egrets, two Great Blue Herons and two Osprey, along with a few songbirds, including another Towhee whose song rang out the whole time we were there.

From the Pannes we headed out to Sandy Point with only an occasional slowdown to try to identify birds here and there.  It was easy to notice the thousands of Tree Swallows that rose in large flocks along the way, and someone commented that there were less present than last year, but still more than enough for any casual observer to be in awe of the numbers.  On the drive, we spotted a Northern Harrier, a large group of mixed Snowy and Great Egrets, several Eastern Kingbirds and a Gray Catbird or two.

Upon arriving, after travel on a very bumpy road for several miles, there was just one space available in the lot next to the beach, leaving the other two cars to park in the alternate lot. Once together again, we ventured out to the beach and walked a way to find over 200 Semi-palmated Sandpipers and 150 Semi-palmated Plovers on the beach in close range and Craig spotted our only Sanderling for the day.  There were also groups of gulls, mostly Ring-billed, a few Herring and Greater Black-backs.  In a short time, Lois’ sharp eyes picked out a Lesser Black-backed Gull and Craig helped to clinch the identification of an immature Laughing Gull.  Also present was a group of Common Terns at the water’s edge and several more flying about. Two Least Terns were spotted in flight and sharing the air was a Peregrine Falcon and two Turkey Vultures.  It seems that arriving in time for high tide worked in our favor.

Stage Island Pool was our next stop.  Several birds noticed in that location on the way earlier had dispersed, but there was still a good number to observe even two hours after high tide.  We add-ed 20 Short-billed Dowitchers, many more peeps, two Green-winged Teal, 15 Mallards, and several Double-crested Cormorants.  A kind, young birder named Harry W., tried to help us with shorebird identification from the viewing platform.

We skipped past the blind to approach the Bill Forward Pool from the dike at Hellcat. The bird numbers were less than we expected, but we did get close-up views of Short-billed Dowitchers in a confusing variety of plumages, while trying without absolute success to pick out a Long-billed Dowitcher among several candidates.  There were also a good number of Greater Yellowlegs with the smaller shorebirds.  After careful study we added two Stilt Sandpipers and four immature or female Gadwalls to our list, too.

At the North Pool Overlook, Holly spotted a Black-crowned Night Heron tucked into the tall grasses at the edge of the water.  Here we also spotted two young Blue-winged Teal and our only Black Duck of the day.  Further along at the Warden’s, the walk out to the water gave us a meager Semi-palmated Sandpiper and two Black-bellied Plovers.

The Salt Pannes were empty on our way by, letting us know that approaching low tide was not a great time to stop for a visit.  Luckily, we had the foresight to stop early in the day, while the shorebirds were present in abundance.  Lot 1 was crowded by beachgoers, but we did bird across the street, picking up our first Willet and a couple of Greater Yellowlegs.

The last stop of the day was during low tide at the “Seawall,” which worked out well.  At least 40 Bonaparte’s Gulls were found on and over the water and another lone Willett was plodding along on the close shore with several Black-bellied Plovers. There was a dozen or more Double-crested Cormorants and lots of peeps and Black-bellied Plovers on an exposed mudflat part way across the open water.  It was a great ending to a perfect summer day spent birding with friends on the coast!

Nine members joined in to enjoy a total of 53 species at Quabbin Park this morning.  

Click below to view trip list.

There were eight adult members and one junior birder (5-yr old) that gathered to enjoy a sunny and warm morning at Fort River Refuge. While waiting for everyone to meet, we began our bird list from the parking lot, spotting Tree, Rough-winged, Bank and Barn Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Mourning Dove, Grackles, Starlings, Blue Jays, Robins, Cedar Waxwings and Bobolinks. The highlight bird here was the Purple Martin!

As we walked along the 1-mile path we saw Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Orchard oriole, Eastern Bluebird, Willow Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmouse.  

The birds seen along our walk on Moody Bridge Road near the pond and fields were Common Yellowthroat, Catbird, Wood Thrush, Goldfinch, House Wren, Phoebe, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cardinals, Song and Field Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Veery, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher; Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Kingbird, Belted Kingfisher, more Bobolinks and an American Kestrel. In the pond were female Wood Duck with ducklings, and Mallards.

We all had a great morning, despite the thousands of mosquitoes from all the rain the day before.  We managed to identify a total of 47 species!

Six members joined together to take a leisurely walk through the beautiful Stanley Park Sanctuary. The weather was cloudy with no wind and temperatures hovered around 60 degrees.  Forty-five species were tallied in all.  Complete list of species below.

Eight members traveled to the Adirondacks for the club’s Northern New England trip this year.  One other member was with us “in spirit”; COVID interfered with his plans to join us, reminding us that the virus has not gone away…

As we drove from our meeting place near Warrensburg, NY the trip list started with one car seeing a Common Nighthawk. Birding began in earnest along the road into Moose River Plains, but this year it did not prove to be as productive as previously.  Birding was mostly “by ear” and we had poor looks at those birds we did see, until we came to Cedar River Flow where sharp eyes picked out a nesting Common Loon, a Common Merganser, and a distant Kingfisher sitting on a snag.  Ferd’s Bog is a required stop and offers a chance to stretch our legs on the short walk in.  None of the boreal species came into view but we did enjoy looks at the plant life of the bog.  Raquette Lake marsh, our last stop before heading to the hotel in Long Lake, gave us a look at a nesting Osprey.

Saturday morning we veered from the usual itinerary by birding the two sections of Sabattis Road (or Circle Road) before heading to Tupper Lake marsh.  We were not disappointed, and we finally saw some birds!  These included two American Bitterns, and some nice warblers, notably a beautiful Magnolia in the same tree as a Northern Waterthrush!  Parulas and Yellow-rumped also showed nicely.  The marsh at Tupper Lake often provides some surprises.  Here we heard Snipe calling, then a Least Bittern (or was it American?) flew in front of the platform.  We typically don’t check the view from the parking area, but this time we did, and we were re-warded with scope views of two Sandhill Cranes!  Seeing them reminded us that it was their call we heard when we got out of the cars previously.  

After a bit of confusion finding the entrance to the trail into Massawepie Mire, we geared up to fend off mosquitoes.  Although not as bad as last year, they were annoying until the bog opened up on both sides.  We had looks at Nashville Warblers and Lincoln Sparrows, targets for this area, but had no luck finding Olive-sided Flycatcher or Gray Jay.  After lunch at Tupper Lake we headed to Bloomingdale Bog.  E-bird had reported sightings of Black-backed Woodpecker and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on Bigelow Road, so we went there first.  Although we did not get these species, we did see a couple of Golden-crowned Kinglets.  By then it was getting late in the af-ternoon and we decided to skip walking on the trail into the bog as the drive to Long Lake from this area takes a solid hour.  

Sunday began with dense fog which did not bode well for viewing at Shaw Pond marsh near Long Lake.  When we arrived, though, it was not just fog that limited our viewing opportunities.  The pond was empty of water, and we assumed a beaver dam had broken during one of the re-cent rain events.  In the parking lot of the Northfield-Lake Placid Trail we heard a different song of Blackburnian Warbler and had nice looks at a couple of birds.  The walk itself was pretty quiet except for Hermit Thrushes, Winter Wrens, and White-throated Sparrows, until we neared the parking lot on our way out.  While some in the rear were hoping to pull a Boreal Chickadee out of a small flock of Black-capped, those in the front had close, and interesting, looks at a Merlin.  

Our last stop in the higher elevations was to the historical ironworks at Tahawus.  We saw a Hooded Merganser mom with one baby, a cooperative Junco, and a quiet Red-eyed Vireo.  And, while most of us studied the descriptions of the old iron forge, one member of the group used the time to shoot some photos.  Later we discovered she had taken a great shot of a Yellow-throated Vireo, the only one of the trip!

We finally made our way to the grasslands near Fort Edward, which is always productive.  It was hot in the afternoon, but we had quite a bit of activity.  We added Kingbird and Mockingbird, Red-tailed and Cardinal.  At the marsh on Town Line Road a Marsh Wren delighted us with close views.  Then we were startled by a Least Bittern that flew from one side of the road to the other, nearly crashing in to one of us!  (Seeing this individual confirmed that the bittern we saw at Tup-per Lake was indeed an American. But we could now confirm Least Bittern as a new sighting for the Adirondacks trip). As we kept an eye on the location of the bittern, a Green Heron then flew out.

There was no Grasshopper Sparrow at the grasslands where Town Line meets Hinds Road where we have seen it in the past.  These Washington County grasslands have been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by National Audubon Society and some areas are managed by NY State Dept of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Grassland Bird Trust.  There is at least one viewing blind already set up with plans for some mowed trails.  But we also unfortunately witnessed what happens when fields are not managed.  This is farm country as well, and farmers mow their hayfields at this time of year.  When mowed too early, either inadvertently or for economic reasons, the nests of grassland species are destroyed.  Near the end of our tour we came upon a newly mowed field where we saw adult Bobolinks and Red-winged Blackbirds flying around and landing in the mown area apparently looking for their nestlings.  It was a sad reminder that more needs to be done to protect these habitats while also allowing economic activity to go on.

Click below to view or click here to download or the complete species list.

Five members enjoyed a morning in the lovely Tyringham Valley on June 8, gathering a total of 70 species.  While doing roadside birding along Meadow Street and Breakneck Road we spotted Cliff Swallows and a Thrasher and heard a Blue-winged Warbler. Along Jerusalem Road we were treated to a lively chorus of Raven calls, presumably from a family roosting nearby.  During a short walk at Tyringham Cobble (a Trustees property) we saw Bobolink and two Kestrels, heard Field Sparrows and Indigo Bunting. On the way to Post Farm Marsh in Lenoxdale some saw a Green Heron.  At the marsh itself we all heard, and saw, a Marsh wren and a Kingfisher.  Two raptors soaring high above caught our attention and we studied them for a while, finally concluding they were Red-tailed Hawks. A trip to these locations never fails to produce something interesting. Click below to view complete species list.

The field work for this, the 21st, Little River IBA Count was done in good birding weather.  Friday evening was mild with temps hovering around 70 and west winds less than 5 mph, followed by cool temps in the early morning (a low of 50) and a mild afternoon, warming to a high of 85 with calm winds. Humidity was not a factor this year.

Altogether, there were 9 teams and 13 observers in the field for a total of 83.2 hours.  The hours of effort were the highest in the last 7 years, and well above the Count’s average of 70.7. Steve joined in the count this year after taking a few years off, adding hours of effort and two species to our list for the year.  The total number of species counted was 114, above our average of 110.4.  The number of individuals at 3,291 was the just slightly below average.

Misses of note include Bald Eagle, Acadian Flycatcher (missed the last three years in a row), Golden-crowned Kinglet (5th miss in 21 years, three of those in the last 5 years), Nashville Warbler (only second miss in 21 years), and White-throated Sparrow (missed for the last 4 years, but seen every year before that in decent numbers).

The species coming next had higher numbers in this count than the last, but decline can be seen when compared with the 20-year average.  Recorded in parentheses after each species is the count for this year, followed by last year’s count and finally the 20-year average:  Black-capped Chickadee (63, 54, 86.5), Veery (89, 67, 135.9), Hermit Thrush (12, 6, 21.8), Wood Thrush (28, 16, 44.4), Blackburnian Warbler (36, 24, 52.2), Black-throated Blue Warbler (49, 32, 77.9), and Yellow-rumped Warbler (6, 4, 15.1).  Higher numbers this year compared to last is likely due to better weather, more hours of effort and two more teams in the field.

Species that appear to be doing better, not only compared with last year’s numbers, but also compared to the 20-year average provide a much longer list:  Turkey Vulture (23, 11, 12), Black-billed Cuckoo (5, 1, 1.9), Eastern Kingbird (21, 9, 17.3), Blue-headed Vireo (23, 11, 16), Comon Raven (13, 5, 5.9), Rough-winged Swallow (20, 9, 3.8), Red-breasted Nuthatch (10, 5, 5.8), Brown Creeper (12, 6, 7.2), Winter Wren (12, 8, 7.7), Northern Waterthrush (5, 1, 3.2), Yellow Warbler (68, 41, 46.3), Prairie Warbler (24, 18, 10.1), Chipping Sparrow (102, 55, 73.9), Dark-eyed Junco (10, 1, 4.9), and Song Sparrow (89, 55, 63.3).

Most of us were lucky enough to have a good find or two or more, contributing species to the count that other teams did not observe.  Al & Lois beat us all in that category, with Ring-necked Duck (new to count), American Bittern, Cooper’s Hawk, Virginia Rail and Orchard Oriole. Next, Janice and Gail found Hooded Merganser, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bank Swallow and White-crowned Sparrow (new to count).  Joanne identified Common Merganser, American Woodcock and Northern Harrier.  Tom gave us Double-crested Cormorant and Ruffed Grouse.  Steve pitched in with two Blue-winged Warblers and a Worm-eating Warbler.  Kathy and Myles spotted an American Kestrel, and John got the only Purple Finch.  Though it feels special to learn you have clinched a bird for the count, territories vary in size and number of differing habitats, so the important thing is to get out there, find all the birds you can, and let them magically lift your spirits.

Click below to view or download complete count results.

2024 June Count Results

2024 May Count Summary

There were 16 teams and 32 observers out in Hampden County territories for the count held on May 17-18.  The weather was cool in the lower 50s on Friday evening with 5 mph breeze from the NW.  Saturday early morning was on the cold side, with temps in the low 30s for those who owled, reaching 50 by 9:00 a.m. and climbing to a high of 68 by mid-afternoon.  The wind was negligible, from 0-5 mph—a good birding day all the way around.  Together the teams recorded 137 species, which was seven less than last year, but two more than the average counted in the last ten years.  At 9,783 individuals, we were ~340 birds above the ten-year average.

As is typical, most of the common species were near their recent or long-term average, but a few were noticeably higher.  In parentheses is the total for 2024, followed by the past 10-year average:  Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (14-8), Eastern Wood-Pewee (48-21), Great Crested Flycatcher (90-55), Red-eyed Vireo (164-95) and House Finch (92-66).  Other species reached an all-time max since 1963.  In parentheses is the total for 2024, the all-time max, followed by the 10-year average:  Canada Goose (563-411), Mute Swan (32-7), Carolina Wren (90-30), Eastern Bluebird (27-9), Fish Crow (17-6), and Raven (15-8).

We did not add any new species to the May Count this year, but we did have a few species that had not been counted for several years.  The date following the species is when it was last recorded on the May Count:  Red-headed Woodpecker (2017), Cerulean Warbler (2007), and Purple Finch (2010).

There were quite a few species with low counts this year.  In parentheses is the total for 2024, followed by the 10-year max, and the 10-year average: Solitary Sandpiper (4-36-19), Least Sandpiper (10-63-28), Ring-billed Gull (2-89-39), White-breasted Nuthatch (27-88-48), Northern Parula (9-193-51), Magnolia Warbler (7-53-26), Black-throated Blue Warbler (1-73-25), Yellow-rumped Warbler (21-174-70), and White-throated Sparrow (1-219-25).

Noticeable misses this year were Great Horned Owl, only missed two other times in the last 50 years and Eastern Meadowlark.  

Thanks to all who spent many hours in the field, especially the teams of Janice Z and Dave M, who put in 15 or more long hours of effort, and Dave M’s team, who always captures the most species, 108 this year.  The variety of habitats in certain territories lends itself to finding higher counts and unusual species, and some teams managed to find a species or two or more that no other team identified on the count.  My team got Red-shouldered Hawk, Joseph S and Terri S picked up Cooper’s Hawk and Purple Finch, Ben H added American Kestrel and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Vince and Cathy Y found Nashville Warbler, White-throated Sparrow and Semi-palmated Plover, Harvey and Craig A came up with Broad-winged Hawk, Upland Sandpiper and Grasshopper Sparrow, and Steve S found Red-headed Woodpecker and Cerulean Warbler.  To finish, I’ll rattle off all the species Dave M and Kim J added to the count this year—Virginia Rail, Hooded Merganser, Sora, Black-throated Blue, Wilson’s and Worm-eating Warblers, Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Wren and Dark-eyed Junco.  Though these teams stand-out, EVERY team that participates contributes to covering a piece of the pie and all efforts are sincerely appreciated.

Click below to view or download complete count results.

2024 May Count Results

Click below to view complete trip list., or view on eBird, https://ebird.org/checklist/S174862844.

Seven members took part in today’s field trip in Hadley, identifying a total of 27+ species.  Highlights included nesting Green Herons from the Fort River boardwalk and nesting Meadowlarks and Bobolinks from Moody Bridge Road. Those who stayed longer to try for the reported Prothonotary Warbler in South Hadley were rewarded for their efforts!  Click below to view partial species list.

Six members, plus three birders who joined in on our walk, enjoyed terrific birding on this sunny, but cool morning on Mt. Holyoke.

We can start off this report by stating that we got all of our target birds! The top three being the Worm-eating, Bay-breasted, and Cerulean Warblers. Great views and plenty of photo ops for our members with cameras.

Other warblers that made our list were Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Ovenbird, Black-and-white, Blackpoll, Redstart, Tennessee, and Yellow-rumped.  Other target birds spotted included Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We had close views of 2 Ravens, and a Veery who posed for photos on the road within 10 yards of us.

The surprise bird of the morning was a Nighthawk!

We also had Robins, Catbirds, Phoebes, Eastern Bluebird, Goldfinch, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Wood and Hermit Thrush, Chipping and Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Tufted Titmouse, Cardinal, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Seen flying high were Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, and Chimney Swifts.

Another surprise awaited us to end our trip. We all headed over to the Batchelor Brook Conservation Area, where the majority of us were able to view the Prothonotary Warbler!  A lifer for a few of us!!  It was a great morning of birding, and great ending of our walk! Click below to view complete trip list.

Weather: Sunny day with low-50's at the beginning of the trip and low-70s at the end.

8 participants  

31 total species

It was a very casual walk on a flat, paved road along a very beautiful body of water.  The weather was very cooperative since it was neither too cold when we started in the morning nor too warm when we finished about 3 hours later.  There were not many birds singing so our species count was a little lower than it could have been if we would have heard more bird song.  This trip is scheduled early in migration so, depending on conditions, we can get many early warbler arrivals or very few.  This year we only had 5 warblers, a low count for the trip. We saw many of the regulars along the path as we walked about 1 1/2 miles.  Everybody seemed to have a good time, which is most important of all.  

Bird Highlights included a Broad-winged Hawk that swooped down over the reservoir and was seen by most of the people on the trip.  There were 2 Common Loons in breeding plumage, a Spotted Sandpiper sitting on a rock, and 5 Double-crested Cormorants on their usual place on some rocks on a small island.  We heard a Pileated Woodpecker banging on a tree and the five warblers were Ovenbird, Pine, Black-throated Blue (heard), Yellow-rumped, and Black-and-white.

Three intrepid birders showed up for birding despite a gloomy weather forecast.  We walked almost 4 miles and identified a total of 38 species.  View complete list by clicking below.

Eight members participated in the morning walk, identifying a total of 39 species.  Some who were able to stay a little longer were rewarded with a Least Bittern.  Click below to view a complete trip list.

On a cloudy rain threatening morning with temperatures in the mid-60s, 11 eager birders ventured out on a 3 plus hour trek through the trails of Stebbins. The trail conditions were good for the time of year as well the biting insect level was tolerable. The woods were relatively quiet possibly due to the weather conditions though as the morning progressed and as the clouds showed some brief thinning the bird song and viewing increased. The total count including a couple of shorebirds seen in the West Road fields was 51 which is par for this time of year (IMO). Of note and probably number one on most people's list was the hearing of the Black-billed Cuckoo at the once known "Warbler Corner" to some long time Stebbings birders. Warbler viewing and count was low with sightings of the Canada, Magnolia and Northern Parula along with the more common ones. A variety of thrushes were heard and/or seen including great viewing of the Veery and more notably the Swainson's. Of the aforementioned shorebirds one was seen inside of Stebbins (which offered some debate regarding ID) and was finally settled upon as the Solitary sandpiper based on the keen eyes and detailed picture that Al and Lois provided. The other shorebirds seen on West Road included the Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover and Spotted sandpiper. All in all, everyone enjoyed the time in the woods.

Ten members joined in for a 2-mile walk, identifying a total of 39 species.  Click below to view species list.

The river was quite high, but our small group of three managed to view some interesting bird behavior and garner 28 species.  There were Great Blue Herons and Turkey Vultures feeding on Shad in the river below the dam. We visited Canal Park to take advantage of wonderful views up and down the river.  From this location a Bald Eagle’s nest is visible, but the one young produced this year had already fledged.  Probably the most interesting behavior we observed was an aerial battle between an adult Bald Eagle and an Osprey.  It was quite a sight!  Click below to view complete trip list.

Six members gathered under mostly cloudy skies to enjoy the annual Mother's Day walk at Robinson State Park.  The temps were in the mid-50s, with a light breeze.  We counted a total of 60 species.  Click below to view complete trip list.

Nine members gathered for a two hour walk on the rail trail.  We identified 38 species with some quite special observations, including great looks at a non-bird species—an Eastern Red Bat. The rarest bird species was a Least Bittern, which flew up from reeds on pond across open water and landed in another reed bed.  The last bird of the evening, a Barred Owl, was spotted for the group by one sharp-eyed birder. Click below to view complete trip list.

Five hardy souls showed up at Stebbins this morning.  We gave it the old college try for about 10 minutes and then the rain started in earnest so we all voted to call it.  We did see 1 Great Blue Heron, 1 Swamp Sparrow, 1 Grackle and the usual Red-winged Blackbird suspects (5 or 6).

The morning was sunny and cool.  Thirteen members joined in and were able to identify a total of 44 species.

As we waited in the Dunkin parking lot for everyone to arrive for our walk, we had 13 species! Seen flying high: Red-tailed Hawk, Canada Geese, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, and a couple of Mallards.  Spotted around the parking lot: Red-winged Blackbirds, Rock Pigeons, House and Song Sparrows, Goldfinch, Cardinal, and a few Starlings.  The star attraction was the Killdeer that kept walking back and forth on a very busy State Street!

The morning was sunny and cool and at Lake Wallace, we started at the viewing platform. Birds seen here: Red-winged Blackbirds, Double-crested Cormorants, a Green-winged Teal, a Common Merganser, Green Herons, a Solitary Sandpiper, Great Blue Herons (one on confirmed nest), Tree Swallows, Mourning Doves, and plenty of Catbirds.

The star attraction here was the Northern Flicker perched outside its nesting hole, displaying the use of its tail as a kickstand to stable itself. (Very cool for those who were watching this for the first time)!

As we continued our walk around Lake Wallace, around the playing fields and onto the trail in the wooded area in the back, more of the above-mentioned birds were seen plus the following: Carolina Wren, Grackles, Phoebes, Red-eyed, Yellow-throated, and Warbling Vireos. The warblers seen were, Yellow-rumped, Yellow, Black-and-white, and Palm, also Common Yellowthroat and Ovenbird.

Other birds seen included Swamp and Chipping Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadees, Raven, Crow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Mockingbird, and the beautiful Eastern Bluebird and the Baltimore Oriole.

Great morning with a great group!

Despite the chilly temps and occasional drizzle, we had a decent outing today.  We were ten members altogether, walked 1.5 miles during the three-hour adventure, and counted a total of 50 species.  It was a curious mix of birds we found — a Cape May Warbler and a late Palm Warbler, but the resident Northern Flicker, Brown Creeper, Louisiana Waterthrush, American Goldfinch and Scarlet Tanager were all no-shows, as were all three of the buteos and Turkey Vulture.  Nevertheless, everyone seemed to have a good time.  The Virginia Rail gave a nice performance.  Click below to see complete species list.

Migration continues.  There were 10 participants, and working together, we managed to hear and/or see a total of 48 species.  We walked the Bark Haul loop, and also did a detour onto the Eliot Trail.  Early on, a Virginia Rail was doing its kek, kek, kek, but stayed out of view.  Yellow-rumped Warblers seemed to be everywhere, and after careful looking and listening, we found several Northern Parulas and a few Black-throated Greens among them.  A single Black-throated Blue Warbler was spotted on the Eliot Trail by new member Allan Burrage, mixed in with Ruby-crowned Kinglets.  Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroat also added to the almost constant bird song.  Baltimore Orioles, Wood Thrush, and Catbirds were new from last week.

The weather was cloudy and cool, with temperatures running in the mid-40s as thirteen members gathered in the parking lot.  While awaiting everyone’s arrival, we captured 15 species.  There was an abundance of Tree and Barn Swallows, and Red-winged Blackbirds.  Sparrows spotted were House, Song, and Field.  Woodpeckers seen were Red-bellied and Northern Flicker.  Flying overhead, we spotted Canada Geese, Wood Ducks, and a Red-tailed Hawk.  Other birds in the lot were Robins, Blue Jays, Eastern Bluebirds, Goldfinches, and Mourning Doves.

On the one-mile trail, we saw Swamp, Field, Chipping, White-throated, and Savannah Sparrows.  Woodpeckers identified were the Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied and Northern Flicker.  Other birds seen were Grackle, Eastern Towee, Phoebe, Brown-headed Cowbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black-capped Chickadee, and Crow.

Our first and only warbler of the day was the Yellow-rumped!  The last platform on the trail didn’t dis-appoint with a beautiful view (through a scope) of an American Kestrel resting on its nesting box.  Continuing to the end of the trail, we had beautiful views of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

The final stop for birding was the area on Moody Bridge Road by the pond and the fields.  Highlights there were another Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown Thrasher, and Belted Kingfisher.  Also spotted were Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Starlings, Mallards, and Field Sparrows.  Flying overhead, we saw a Raven and a Turkey Vulture while walking back to our cars.

Great morning, great group of birders, and a total of 41 species for the morning!

Ten members joined in the fun of this annual trek at Ashley Ponds in hopes of sighting early spring arrivals.  They were rewarded with a total of 56 species.  Click below to view complete list.

Though forecasters predicted rain for the morning, thankfully they were wrong (again).  A Rose-breasted Grosbeak greeted us with its beautiful song soon after the walk began.  Green Herons were migrating in and we were treated to a flyover early in the walk and later spotted two more perched in trees on separate ponds.  For a short time it was like the "old days" as we bumped into a large feeding flock of Blue-headed Vireos, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.  Along Bark Haul Trail and West Rd Trail to the back culvert, the regulars made themselves known as we heard and/or saw Black-capped Chickadees, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinals, and Tufted Titmice.  After checking out the new beaver dam and resulting pond, we returned to Pondside where swallows and Chimney Swifts were hawking insects.  Here we found many Tree Swallows, a few Rough-winged Swallows, and a single Barn Swallow.  A female Ring-necked Duck was feeding with the Mute Swans and Canada Geese.  There were also Double-crested Cormorants and Wood Ducks. A final stop by the Bald Eagle's nest gave us scope views of the female on the nest with occasional glimpses of an eaglet.  The male eagle stood regally across the pond.  Last bird for the trip was a newly arrived Warbling Vireo claiming his territory.  We had 6 participants that contributed to a total of 38 species.  There were also two new people that joined us.  One asked to see a Red-bellied Woodpecker and with the groups help, the request was granted - one of the joys of having club trips.  And a special thanks to Joanna, visiting from California, who kept the list.

Our Family and Beginner Bird Walk in Forest Park today was a joy-filled romp packed with discoveries. We had 17 people in all and saw 35 species. Our junior birders renamed the Wood Duck "Rainbow Head" and the Canada Goose "Mr. Bossy Pants." Every bit of this fun was thanks to members and friends of the Allen Bird Club. Feeling grateful for our wonderful, growing community of birders.

Ten members joined in to enjoy the evening sky dance of the American Woodcock. This event was originally scheduled for March 28, but poor weather forced a delay. This day the temps were in the 40s and the wind was light at 5-7 mph from the north. In addition to getting 5 Woodcock, we also counted 3 Canada Geese, 6 Mute Swan, 4 Wood Duck, 2 Mallard, 2 Black Duck, 1 Virginia Rail, 2 Robin, and 2 Song Sparrows.

Ten members met up to bird at Pynchon Point, but we also hit the Big E Fairgrounds and Lagoon, and Longmeadow Flats and Pondside.  The weather was overcast and cool, with the wind picking up as the morning went on, making it feel colder than low 40s. Click below to view the complete trip list.

We changed the meet up location to Esselon Café in Hadley for breakfast.  That option worked out well, allowing us to take a quick drive through the Honeypot before heading upriver.  The weather was mostly cloudy in the mid-40s, with winds increasing to 14 mph and some light rain.  

The Honeypot gave us a Harrier, a Great Blue Heron, 6 TVs, 2 Bald Eagles, a Redtail and some land birds.  

At Barton’s Cove (various locations) we got looks at C. Merganser, DC Cormorant, Fish Crow, 5 Bald Eagles at one time, Tree Swallows, and other common birds.  

The Turners Falls Rod and Gun Club had a dozen C. Mergansers, 2 Mute Swans, a Kingfisher and 2 Phoebes. Nearby, the feeders at the top of the hill added a Pine Siskin, several other songbirds, and a flyby Sharp-shinned Hawk.  The Turners Falls Airport proved to be worth a stop, as we found a pair of Bluebirds, 2 Killdeer, 2 Kestrels, and a Chipping Sparrow.  Unity Park added 2 more Fish Crows and 13 Cedar Waxwings, but no Bohemian. The gate was open at the power canal and we got nice looks at a Pine Warbler, with another calling nearby.  Also there were 2 Ring-necked Ducks, an Eagle, a Raven, and a few other songbirds, but no Screech Owl in the old cavity.  

While at the campground of Barton’s Cove earlier in the day, we bumped into a birder named Zeke.  He gave us directions to a Barred Owl spot, so when we finished at the Power Canal, we headed to Highland Park in Greenfield.  We did not get the Barred Owl but did get large flocks of singing Goldfinch and Pine Siskins, visible Brown Creepers, 2 Palm and 3 Pine Warblers and a half dozen Rough-winged Swallows, so all was not lost.

Five members joined in to visit a few local hotspots. The group met at Atkins Farms and  two Turkey Vultures were spotted just a short distance away.  Doing a quick detour to the Honeypot of Hadley to pick up a member, we headed up to Turners Falls along Rte. 47, the back road.  Black Ducks were spotted in Montague Center.  The water was mostly frozen at the Rod and Gun Club, but coupled with the nearby feeder, we managed to spot Common Merganser, Mute Swan, Bald Eagle, Junco, White-throated Sparrow, House Finch, Song Sparrow and Downy Woodpecker.  Barton’s Cove was next, again partially iced-in, but we got looks at another Bald Eagle, Canada Geese, Mallards and Ring-billed Gulls.  Our last stop was at the power canal and, unfortunately, the gate was locked.  We did walk in getting more Canada Geese and Mallards, two Bufflehead, one Ring-necked Duck, two Hooded Mergansers and another Bald Eagle.

This hotline trip headed to Plum Island and Salisbury Beach State Reservation, with eleven members braving the weather to enjoy some coastal birding. The weather forecast was for sunny skies, high temps in the upper 30s and NW winds blowing all day.  What we encountered was just some sun and brisk NW winds, which grew stronger by the end of the day.  We were able to identify around 50 species with some excellent views of a few target birds as our reward!

Highlights:

Lot 1 - 4 Harriers, a Northern Gannet and a dozen Long-tailed Ducks  

Salt Pannes - 80+ Pintail Ducks, 4 Green-winged Teal and 2 Bald Eagles

Warden’s - a flock of over 30 Snow Buntings and 4 Tree Sparrows

Hellcat Dike - an American Bittern giving great views, a Northern Shoveler and a Peregrine Falcon

Pines – 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 Ravens, 15 Green-winged Teal, a Hooded Merg and Hermit Thrush

Salisbury – a Long-eared Owl and 2 Harriers

See complete list below.

After more than a week of overcast skies, it was "sunny with a chance of bird sightings" for the Saturday, February 3 field trip to Canal Park in South Hadley. Twelve participants joined leader Harvey Allen in the parking lot behind South Hadley Public Library. Temperatures were in the 30s with a chilly breeze, and birders enjoyed three hours of birding in five different, nearby locations. The locations were South Hadley Public Library, the Ted Belsky Overlook at Canal Park, River Road, Brunelle's Marina, and Bachelor Brook Conservation Area.

Special circumstances for this trip included the fact that the gate allowing access to an excellent river viewing platform behind the South Hadley Public Library is locked October through April. Also, the Connecticut River was rapid and high due to more than 6 inches of rain and 5 inches of snow in January, following the second rainiest summer in recent history.

Still, there were birds to be seen.

A highlight of the morning was when birders spotted two adult and one juvenile bald eagle soaring over the river, perching in trees, and one flying into an established eagle's nest visible across from the Belsky Overlook. Another notable moment occurred when, upon returning to their cars after walking in Bachelor Brook CA, birders saw three Red-tailed Hawks standing in the parking lot, offering a memorable end to a pleasant day.

Birds seen included: Common Merganser, hooded Merganser, Common Goldeneye, American Bald Eagle, Mallards, Great Blue Heron, Black Ducks, Belted Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawk, Raven, Crows, Herring Gulls, Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Robin, Blue Jay, Herring Gull, Rock Doves, Starlings, House Sparrow, and Canada Geese.

A couple of members extended this trip, heading to the Quabbin Reservoir Visitors Center. There, they were rewarded with excellent views of a Say’s Phoebe feasting on stink bugs. Unusual for our area, the Say’s Phoebe has been reported there intermittently since November.

Clouds, rain and snow were all in the forecast for the weekend, but seven members braved the weather to enjoy some winter surprises in RI.  A light breeze with temps in the mid-30s made our first day quite bearable.  Day two was not as pleasant, with rain throughout the morning, and snow-covered roads on the drive home in late morning.  Rather than following our usual stops on this long-running Rhode Island trip, we planned more of a hotline route, using eBird reports to guide the way.  

Day 1

The Barrow’s Goldeneye previously reported at Colt State Park in Bristol had not been seen for a week, but we were lucky enough to spot a female on our last scan of Narragansett Bay before heading out. We did not find the male, however.  Also of interest were three species of shorebird, Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin and Sanderling, hunkered into a corner where they blended into the beach shells and rocks perfectly.  A Peregrine Falcon flew by close in and low enough for us to see it was carrying breakfast in its talons.  The many Brant, Bufflehead, and lesser numbers of Common Goldeneye were all floating on waters very close to shore.  There were over 300 Canada Geese feeding in the grassy fields opposite the bay and 4 Horned Larks flew in, with one calm bird giving us spectacular scope views.

A Cackling Goose was reported feeding with 150 Canadas at St. Barnabas Church in Portsmouth, but when we arrived there after a nearby rest stop at Grafik Coffee Co on Rte. 138, there were no geese in sight.  From there we headed directly to Fort Adams State Park in Newport to try for a Dickcissel, reported to be feeding with a Lark Sparrow and several Song Sparrows near the Eisenhower House earlier in the week.  This was the second minor disappointment of the day, because our search turned up very little in the way of sparrows, excepting one Song, one Whitethroat and one House Sparrow.  We did pick up Mockingbird and Carolina Wren during the search and snuck in a scan of the ocean waters to find our only Razorbill and two Common Loons before retiring the spot.

We scoped out the fields near the Newport Country Club looking for the reported Ross’s Goose, but again no Ross’s and actually no geese at all.

Brenton Point State Park on Ocean Dr in Newport was next on the list of planned birding stops.  At this location we found all three scoter species in small numbers, Common Goldeneye and Eider, over a dozen Harlequin Ducks, Bufflehead, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Loons, Horned Grebes and 40+ Purple Sandpipers flying back and forth with occasional stops on the rocky shoreline lasting long enough for us to get a good count.  As we were finishing up, one of us noted an up-to-date report of the Ross’s Goose at Jamestown Reservoir, so off we went, across the bridges to a new birding location.

Jamestown Reservoir did turn up excellent views of a Ross’s Goose (see photos) and also there were a couple dozen Canada Geese, two Common Mergansers, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Turkey Vulture and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.  Since we were on the west side of the bridges, and the forecast threatened to cancel birding for the next day, we decided to try for a reported Chat and hit some of the coastal spots in the area before dark.  We missed completely on the Chat at John H Chafee Wildlife Refuge but did manage to find two Black-headed Gulls along the shore at Scarborough State Beach, and the waters held a dozen Black Scoters, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, two Horned Grebes and the grassy area beside the parking gave us thirty more Horned Larks.  

From there we headed towards Pt. Judith, parking at Camp Cronin Fishing Area. Here we saw our first and only Bonaparte’s Gulls for the trip, another dozen Purple Sandpipers, one Common and two Red-throated Loons, a Surf Scoter and a lone Double-crested Cormorant.

Our last birding spot of the day was in Galilee at Salty Brine State Beach, adding more of the same seabirds.  

Day 2

Rain, rain, rain, but several of us ventured to Easton and Green End Ponds to pick up a few new species for the trip.  There we found 10 Coot, 6 Hooded, 12 Red-breasted and 6 Common Mergansers, 6 Ruddy Ducks, 3 Lesser and 1 Greater Scaup, 2 Mute Swans and a Wood Duck lurking at the water’s edge, where branches hung low providing cover.

Before the rain became very heavy, we headed back to Fort Adams State Park to try for the Dickcissel once more.  Again, we failed to find the bird, but did find a couple of flocks of sparrows, giving us more Songs and Whitethroats, a Tree, a Chippy, and a Lark Sparrow for our efforts.  We managed to rack up 63 species and some added several “life-birds” to their lists.

Eight members met up in the Northampton commuter lot on Old Ferry Rd at 10:00 AM.  The forecast called for the rain to settle down and maybe even stop by then, but it was not to be.  

We headed to the Honey Pot in Hadley to search for the reported Northern Shrike.  The bird was not in the landfill area, one of the spots it had been seen, so we regrouped on Cemetery Rd for a walk down the dike to the river to check out another location of reported shrike sightings.  No birds were moving around, and the rain was still coming down lightly, but persistently.  Well after arriving at the river, the skies lightened up, the rain stopped, and the birds began to appear.

Donna found a Northern Harrier across the field, perched in a tree to our south.  We all got scope looks, later the same harrier was found perched on a fence, giving us much closer views.  A Common Merganser was spotted on the river and a Merlin perched high in a tree on the far side of the river.  We heard Horned Larks fly over many times and spotted three groups that totaled to approximately 150 birds.  

When we turned around to head back down the dike, there was a bird perched atop a large leafless tree.  It resembled a Mockingbird, but the posture was upright.  We hurried to get a scope view and it was the immature Northern Shrike, our target bird for the trip.  Lois was able to capture the bird in a photo. If you click on the photo and look closely, you can see the tell-tale hook on the shrike's beak. Now all of us were smiling, but more awaited.  As we were saying our goodbyes, 3 Bald Eagles came into view to put frosting on the cake of a well-planned hotline trip.   See complete list below.

Click below to view or download complete count results.

2023 SPFLD CBC Results

This was our 33rd year of participation as Cobble Mtn Circle in National Audubon’s Christmas Count.  Here’s a rundown of how we did this year compared to past years.  We brought in a total of 66 species, down three species from last year, but still three over average.  Observer number was down by one birder and hours in the field was down by seven, but both were above average for the count.  Water was unfrozen for the most part, excepting some thin ice on the edges of still, shallow waters. The temperature ranged between 20-40 degrees F, the morning had clear skies, but clouds prevailed in the afternoon with a light breeze out of the S at 0-5 mph.

You could say things were ho-hum this year, with most species and numbers coming in about average.  There was one species found in a higher number than usual and that was Golden-crowned Kinglet.  We counted 35 kinglets, 5 above average, and we must go back to 2009 to find a higher count of 47.

There was also one species found in notably lower numbers than usual.  It was the House Sparrow.  At 174 individuals, it was 200 below average and the lowest number ever recorded on the count.  YAY!!!

We were fortunate to find some rarer species.  It seems Congamond always comes through for us, and this year the lakes gave us two American Wigeon (first time recorded), two Green-winged Teal (seen only one other time over the last 10 years), and 4 Greater Scaup (highest number of individuals to date). Pine Siskins had the highest count in the last 15 years at 37.  And finally, a Pine Warbler and a Vesper Sparrow were found for the first time ever in count history.

An unfortunate miss for this year was Sharp-shinned Hawk. The year 2013 was the only other count where this species was not recorded.  

Three count week species were added by Dave McLain and Kim Jones.  On the day after the count, they found 18 Lesser Scaup, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, and 1 Ruddy Duck on Congamond.

Special thanks to Joanne Fortin, who hosted the compilation and is always generous and gracious about sharing her home with the group.

Click below to view or download complete count results.

2023 Cobble Mtn CBC

What better way to start the new year than by venturing out for a day of coastal birding.  Six members were game to go, and rather than follow the scheduled route of birding Falmouth, Sandwich and Plymouth, we checked the latest rare bird reports and decided to head straight to Eastham.  A Western Kingbird was the draw, and the views of the kingbird were plenty of reward for the extra drive, but we were also rewarded with eye-dropping views of a Lark Sparrow and four Savannah Sparrows, perched all together in low vegetation on the visitor center grounds.

With some advice from local birders, we went to Herring Pond next, also in Eastham, and counted large numbers of many types of waterfowl, including 58 Ring-necked Ducks, 26 Ruddy Ducks, 20 Wigeon, 15 Red-breasted and 12 Hooded Mergansers, 5 Bufflehead and one stunning male Redhead Duck. At Town Cove in Orleans, we added 2 Belted Kingfishers, a Coot, 4 Gadwall, 5 Greater Scaup, and 25 Black Ducks.  That completed our pond birding, but we were anxious to see what the ocean waters held for us.  

We headed to Nauset Beach on the Nantucket Sound side of the Cape, where the waters were calm and the sky was eerie, as New England was expecting a northeaster to begin that evening.  Maybe the Razorbills knew, because we counted 55 of them spread out, mostly in small groups. Also there were 5 Red-throated and 2 Common Loons, 10 Gannets relatively close in and diving for food, 45 Black Scoters and single digit presence of White-winged and Surf Scoters, as well as Long-tailed Ducks.

From there we drove north to bird the bay side of the Cape, with the first stop being Corporation Beach in Dennis.  The number of seabirds was not quite as impressive, but the variety was good, and we added Horned Grebe to the day’s list.  We traveled just a short way to visit Dennis Chapin Beach and it turned out to be a perfect choice.  The tide was still out and the beach stretched far out into the bay.  There were over a hundred Dunlin, some close in, some farther away.  With the more distant Dunlin were over 50 Sanderlings, and very close in were two Black-belled Plovers.  As we packed up our scopes and walked back to the parking lot, one of us notice a Red Fox making its way across our path, and then we all saw a second Red Fox follow in pursuit.

We were hoping to get on the road early in an effort to beat the snowy forecast, but there was one last spot in the offing and that was Town Neck Rd in Sandwich.  We found the Treehouse Brewery parking lot to be quite busy, with just a few spaces available.  There was a large raft of Common Eider not far offshore, 5 Razorbills, some Black, White-winged and Surf Scoters, a dozen or so Red-breasted Mergansers, one Goldeneye and over 50 Robins flying about the hedge at the edge of the lot and swirling everywhere we looked as we exited.

For a cloudy day with temperatures hovering in the mid-30s and just a light northeast breeze, it’s a wonder most of us still felt cold at some point during the day. We ended as darkness approached with a total of 54 species and many moments of laughter to make the day even more memorable.

Nine members, including one new and very welcome member, enjoyed mild temps and winds from the south around 10 mph throughout the day while searching for seabirds along the coasts of Cape Ann.  We came to a total of 51 species for the day.  Locations visited and birding highlights below.

Green Landing and Marsh – 18 Bufflehead, 5 Black Duck, 1 Scoter sp

Jodrey’s Fish Pier – 5 RB Merganser, 7 C Loon, 225 C Eider, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 10 Surf Scoter, Herring, Blk-back, Ringed-B Gulls, but no white-winged gull present

Rocky Neck – 35 RB Merganser, 20 Purple Sandpiper, C Loon, 20 C Eider, 4 Long-tailed Ducks, 4 Surf, a WW, a Black Scoter, RN Grebe, 12 Bufflehead

Niles Beach – 2 RB Mergansers, 30 Surf Scoter, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, Bufflehead

Eastern Point – 1 Gadwall, 4 Blk Duck, 34 C Eider, 1 Bufflehead, 9 RB merganser, 1 C Loon, 8 Surf Scoter, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 RT Hawk, 1 Horned Lark

Niles Pond – 83 Ruddy Ducks, 16 Ring-necked Duck, 10 Bufflehead, 1 Greater Scaup, 2 Hooded Merganser, 1 C Loon, 2 Coot, 1 DC Cormorant

Elks Club – 3 No Gannet, 1 Blk Guillemot, 1 RN Grebe, 4 C Loon, 6 C Eider, 11 Bufflehead, WW Scoters, 1 DC Cormorant, 75 Purple Sandpiper, 9 Sanderlings

Stop and Shop for rest stop and birding the adjacent marsh – Cooper’s Hawk, Great Blue Heron

Pebble Beach – 4 Surf Scoter, 2 Bufflehead, 18 DC Cormorants, 8 C Eider, 1 C Loon

Loblolly Cove – 1 GW Teal, 3 C Loon, 12 Harlequin Duck, 2 Horned Grebe, 2 WW Scoter, 7 Bufflehead, 7 RB merganser, 2 Purple Sandpiper

Granite Pier – 2 Iceland Gull, 6 Surf Scoter, 1 C Loon, 1 DC and 2 Great Cormorants, 5 C Eider, 10 Harlequin Duck

Andrews Point – 7 Long-tailed Duck, 15 C Eider, 8 Surf, 5 Blk, and 3 WW Scoters, 80 Harlequin, 20 RB Merganser, 2 C Loon, 2 Purple Sandpiper

Halibut Point – 12 No Gannet, 2 Dovekie, 2 C Loon, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 4 Surf, 100 Black, and 1 WW Scoter, 15 Harlequin, 2 Blk Duck and 30 Mallards in Quarry

Five members turned out for the annual trip to the lakes.  Although the waterfowl were not too numerous, we did end up with 41 total species.  The weather was pleasant, but on the cool side.  In addition to numerous geese and mallards, we saw quite a large number of both Common and Hooded Mergansers. Two species of grebes were spot-ted - a distant, hard-to-id Pied-billed at Cheshire and later, from the fishing pier on Ono-ta, a Horned.  The pier also gave us our only Long-tailed Duck. A Wigeon and two Pin-tails were seen at Cheshire, Green-winged Teal at Pontoosuc, and a pair of Wood Duck at Onota causeway.  Loons delighted us more than once - first a distant Red-throated from the Bull Hill stop on Pontoosuc and then from Narragansett, 3 more Red-throated and 3 Common.  Richmond Pond did not disappoint.  There we had two Less-er Scaup (which were close enough to study well), three Bufflehead, and 18 Ruddy Duck, in addition to two flyover Red-tailed Hawks, and two Ravens.  A Bald Eagle was seen by some, and a Merlin gave a brief but good view to one attentive participant.  Other land birds of note included a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, only one Cedar Waxwing, and a Pileated seen by the leaders after we departed our last stop at Bartlett’s Orchard.  See complete species list below.

Plum Island gave our group of nine members a full day of birding.  The temps were in the low 70’s with winds from the east 10-15 mph, some sun early on, but clouds increased to total overcast by late afternoon.  

Our first thought was to head straight down to the end of the island, because we were shut out of the parking there by beach goers last summer.  On the way, it was hard to miss the large numbers of Tree Swallows gathering for migration.  We had to make a stop to enjoy the spectacle of them rising from the low shrubs to cover the sky.  One member, who was keen to see the congregating Tree Swallows, described it as THRILLING!  It was exciting for the entire group and for the hunting Merlin, too.

Other raptors observed during the day were Northern Harriers flying low over the marsh, Osprey “treading air” above a kettle pond for at least 15 minutes while fishing, and three Peregrine Falcons performing aerial feats over the salt pannes.  We got great views of Least Terns on the beach at Sandy Point, but our long walk to the tip was not rewarded, finding only boats and people and not the hoped-for shorebirds.  The parking area used to access Emerson Rocks was full by the time we got there, so we began heading back towards Lot 1 with many stops along the way.  

Other highlights of the day included Black-crowned Night-Heron (immature), Black-bellied and Semi-palmated Plovers, Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted, Least, and Semi-palmated Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitcher, Snowy and Great Egrets and Great Blue Heron.  We picked up a few songbirds, too, including Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Black-capped Chickadee, a striking Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warbler and American Goldfinch.

There were some misses as well, but a day of birding with friends never fails to provide a good bird sighting or two, some lovely scenery, and a good dose of camaraderie.

There was a trip today to Ashley Reservoir, sort of.  The military had closed the area to the Elks Lodge and the road to the neighborhood.  So, we went to the next best and closest place, Bear Hole - north.  Eight members attended and we saw or heard 26 species.  See list below.

Members participating were 6.5. The 0.5 being our youngest family member (age 3).

It was a cool and cloudy start and continued to be on the verge of rain the whole walk.

Starting in the parking lot, waiting for members to arrive, we spotted our first birds being Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Blue Jays (the most popular bird of the day).

On the water we found Canada Geese, Mallards, Double-crested Cormorants, and a single parent Common Loon with their one chick.  A Great Blue Heron was spotted flying away as we approached the area it was in.

Other birds spotted on our 2-mile walk included Mourning Dove, Tufted Titmouse, Phoebe, Catbird, Pileated and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Robins, and the first of the fall season for many of us, the Dark-eyed Junco.  The star bird of the day was a Swainson’s Thrush.

The total species count was 17.  Always a good day to be out birding, almost no matter the weather!

A group of five birders/photographers gathered on this chilly morning, with temps in the low 40s as we began our loop walk at Stebbins.  We encountered beautiful spider webs, a deer running off deeper into the woods, and quite a few good birds as well.  The Red-winged Blackbirds were surprisingly numerous, as were Wood Ducks, Flickers, Phoebes, Chimney Swifts and Catbirds.  The warblers were few, but the two we encountered were seen well by all, Palm Warblers and Common Yellowthroat.  The bird we most enjoyed finding was the beautiful Blue-headed Vireo.  We had wonderful looks as it bounced from one shrub to the next in the few shrubs that towered over the tall grasses in the field.  Another special sighting for us was Swamp Sparrow, though he tried to evade us by burying himself in the low vegetation, we got glimpses enough to clinch the identification.  In the end we got great tips on bird photography as well as 21 total species. See species list below.

Eleven members gathered to walk the loop at Stebbins. The weather was cloudy, with some humidity and surprisingly the mosquitoes weren't bad! We had a total of 30 species, among the highlights were Warbling Vireo, juvenile Baltimore Oriole, Great Crested Flycatcher and numerous Wood Ducks. We concluded our trip at the Longmeadow Flats with Savannah Sparrows, juvenile Bobolinks. All in all, a good start to the fall migration.

Five Allen Club members chose to ignore the weather forecasts of thunderstorms and heavy rain predicted for the morning.  As we were grouping up, so was a huge flock of Red-winged Blackbirds.  We started out along the Bark Haul Trail hearing Warbling Vireos and Carolina Wrens.  Several Gray Catbirds and a House Wren added some chatter.  Wood Ducks and Mallards, and a Flicker were spotted by the ponds near the RR tracks.  Soon after hearing thunder, one of our group wisely turned back, and before leaving Stebbins, checked the north pond on Pondside Road to add American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal.  Meanwhile we continued on, but turned back at the T, after watching a Common Yellowthroat try to evade us.  The sprinkles turned to heavy rain.  By the time we returned to Pondside, no one wanted to subject their optics to the rain, and we called it a morning, with a total of 21 species.

The day dawned cool, clear, and calm, perfect conditions for mid-September birding.  Even though the trails were wet (and sometimes submerged) our group of seven enjoyed the common species at this time of year: the high-pitched squeaking of the Wood Duck, the “churring” note of the Red-bellied Woodpecker, the seemingly constant mewing and squawking of the Gray Catbird, and the overhead “checking” of the Red-winged Blackbird.  These and other familiar species, such as Canada Goose, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, were our feathered companions as we explored the refuge.  But the definite stars of the day were the wood warblers.  Along one short stretch we encountered a warbler wave that included five different species: Tennessee, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, American Redstart, and most abundantly, Northern Parula.  This last warbler seemed to be everywhere we looked -- we sometimes had multiple individuals in sight simultaneously.  Chestnut-sided Warbler and Common Yellowthroat were also observed elsewhere in the refuge.

Our last stop was the northern-most pond off Pondside Road, and we were rewarded with views of a small group of Blue-winged Teal mixed in with the more common waterfowl, bringing out total for the day to 35.  A nice ending to a beautiful day for birding!

A complete list of species observed is below.

Seven members gathered for the trip through Arcadia.  We managed to miss the rain until the end, when it was starting to rain lightly.  The star birds were the Sandhill Cranes. The warblers were not plentiful, and we suspected it might have been too cold.  Two of us got a nice and unexpected surprise when a Ring-necked Pheasant ran out of a shrubby area and into the corn field.  All together we identified 30 species.  See list below.

Four members gathered to walk a loop at Stebbins. The temps were pleasant, as were the lack of mosquitoes all along the walk.  Recent rain left a few areas more difficult to pass, but there was no stopping the brave birders on this morning.  We enjoyed many of the usual birds for this location, a total of 28 species, and shared interesting conversation along the way.  The species list is below.

Members gathered to enjoy a day of hawkwatching and catching up with each other, while taking in the vistas that Blueberry Hill has to offer on a beautiful day in mid-September.  We counted a total of 499 migrating raptors - Osprey 6, Bald Eagle 1, Sharp-shinned Hawk 12, Broad-winged Hawk 474, American Kestrel 4, Merlin 1, Unknown raptor 1!

Weather - Nearly cloudless skies in the a.m.; clouds increasing all afternoon, from 5% to 90% at the end of the watch. Annoying haze throughout. Wind NW/WNW shifting late to W and subsiding from maximum 11 mph to maximum 3 mph. Temperature 61-71 F.

Observation Notes - Broadwings passed through all day, usually in small groups but with a few larger kettles (65, 30, 60 and, at the very end, 146). A smattering of other raptors rounded out the total. Not counted as migrants: Turkey Vultures (2), immature Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk.

Non-raptor Notes - Rock Pigeons (ca. 20), Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker (spectacular flyby), Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crows (5), Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Cedar Waxwings (ca. 20), American Pipit, American Goldfinch, Eastern Towhees (2), Palm Warblers (2), Prairie Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Monarchs: 11.

On a warm sultry late summer morning six hearty participants ventured the trails at Fanny Stebbins in search of the elusive resident and migratory birds. Signs of the season change were evident in the leaf coloration as well as the perineal scent of the wild grapes on the vine. There was a total of 34 different species recorded by the group with varied representation. Of the warbler species there were a total of 3. With the concerted efforts of the team, Andrea locating and Al picture taking skills and analysis from the collective we identified the Northern Parula followed by discussion on the proper pronunciation 😁. Representatives from the flycatcher realm included the Great Crested and the Eastern Phoebe. As is typical, many Wood Ducks are seen at various pond locations. Conditions along the trail were wet due to recent and summer long rains with a concentration where beaver activities resulted in a blockage in the drainage near the infamous "Warbler Corner" of the past. Mosquitoes were ever present in the wooded sections, though there was relief from their constant attack in the open field sections.

All in all, a great time was had by a fun group of like-minded fellow bird lovers.

Twenty-two Allen Bird Club members gathered at the viewing platform on Pondside Road in Longmeadow to search the sky from 6:45 until dark.  We watched, and watched, and watched.

There was good news and bad news this evening.  The good news was that everyone had a great time catching up with long time members and meeting our newer members.  During all the conversations the members managed to spot 17 species.

Swifts, Cedar Waxwings, and a couple of Tree Swallows flew over the water hawking insects.  We watched several Mallards and Wood Ducks fly by to their nightly roosting spot.  Two large groups of grackles perched for a time across the pond in the treetops.  On the other side an even larger group of blackbirds, mostly Red-winged, flew out from the trees to disappear in the nearby swamps.  Two cormorants were perched in their favorite snags, soon joined by a third.  A Green Heron flew across, and then a second.  Also spotted were a flicker, robin, kingfisher, and a couple of Great Blue Herons.

And now for the bad news -- only one Common Nighthawk was seen and unfortunately many in the group missed it, including one of the leaders.

Let's hope that next year the nighthawks will cooperate!

Eleven birders spent a pleasant late summer morning checking local areas for shorebirds and herons.  We did a quick check of the confluence of the Westfield and the Connecticut River.  Here found a couple of Spotted Sandpipers and a few of the common year-round resident birds.  The big surprise was a mink that scurried out of the water and up the bank in front of us.

Because a Stilt had been seen in Longmeadow Flats the day before, we drove to West Road to try for it -- unsuccessfully as it turned out.  However, we did find Yellowlegs, as well as Pectoral, Least, Semipalmated, and Solitary Sandpipers, and Semipalmated Plovers in spite of a Peregrine Falcon that was keeping watch from its perch in a tree behind the puddles.  Red-shouldered Hawks made an appearance, chased by crows.  Add a few ravens to this raucous mix.  There were Bobolinks starting their migration perching up in the cornfields along with a huge flock of Red-winged Blackbirds.  Two lucky people spotted a Northern Waterthrush - our only warbler for the morning.

Thanks to Beth Spirito, we got a mid-morning energy boost from her delicious lemon-blueberry mini-cakes that she shared with us before heading to Pondside Road.  Here we found Great Blue Herons, a Great Egret, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Green-winged Teal, a lone Canada Goose, Kingbirds, Phoebe, and Cedar Waxwings.

Although it was now nearly 11:00 am, we decided to return to West Road for one last try for the Stilt.  Only minutes after we joined a group of other birders to scan the puddles once more, Michele Moore spotted a Buff-breasted Sandpiper.  A perfect way to end the trip.   We had 41 species.

Most of the field work for this 20th annual Little River IBA Count was done on an evening of cloudy weather then rain with thunder (temps in the 70s, winds N at 2 mph), followed by a cool day with periods of misty precipitation (temps hovered around 60 degrees all day, winds ENE at 5-8 mph).  High humidity made birding less comfortable than usual on both days.  

Altogether, there were 7 teams and 12 observers in the field for a total of 61.5 hours.  The hours of effort were only down 0.5 from last year, but still well below the Count’s average of 71.2.  April and Bambi splitting the territory of Al and Lois for the first time added to the hours of effort, but we missed hours usually birded in West Granville by John. The total number of species counted was 104, falling below our average of 111.  The number of individuals at 2491 was the lowest ever, which might be due in part to the weather, but the past five years of counts have produced significantly lower numbers in several families of birds as you will read below.  

Misses of note include Hooded and Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Acadian Flycather, Bank Swallow (holes in bank seen in usual spot, but no sign of the swallows), White-throated and Savannah Sparrows, and finally, Virginia Rail that had been identified in 5 of the previous 6 years.

To give more detail to the decline in individuals of some species, recorded in parentheses after each species is the count for this year, followed by last year’s count and finally the 20-year average.  Let us begin with Red-tailed Hawk (2, 10, 5.5) and Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1, 7, 2.5).  Also low in number this year were the woodpeckers, with Downy (5, 18, 7.9), Hairy (5, 11, 10.7) and Pileated (5, 14, 9.9).  Next is the hard-hit flycatcher family, Pewee (26, 52, 48.6), Willow (2, 6, 4.3), Least (7, 9, 14.1) and Eastern Kingbird (9, 20, 17.9).  The family of thrushes follows, with Veery (67, 102, 139.5), Hermit (6, 9, 22.6), Wood (16, 40, 45.9) and Robin (88, 172, 136.4).  Also having a low count this year was Catbird (49, 74, 73.8).  Then comes our prized songbirds, the warblers, with Ovenbird’s second low count ever (146, 175, 238.8), Louisiana Waterthrush (3, 3, 6.3), Black-and-white (43, 61, 77.7), Blackburnian (24, 30, 53.7), BT Blue (32, 47, 80.3), Yellow-rump’s lowest count ever (4, 5, 15.6) and BT Green (26, 21, 50.7).  The numbers for most of these warbler species have been lower in the last five years and more numerous in the preceding 15 years, so the averages, even as high as they seem, are masking the actual decline we are seeing on our count in recent years.

High counts were found in just one species, Wild Turkey (57, 16.7).  Even so, we did have several good finds this year.  Myles and Kathy recorded a Kestrel for the first time since 2017 and only found in 6 other counts over the 20 years.  Whip-poor-will made the count again after missing for 3 years.  Spotted Sandpiper was a lucky find by me and Gail at Cobble Mtn Reservoir.  Tom identified two Ruffed Grouse nearby Miller Swamp in Blandford, and I needn’t say that this species is always welcome.  He also gave us a reasonable count of Canada Warbler, finding 5 of the 6 counted this year.  John and Joanne contributed the only Woodcock on the count and Doug had the only Barred Owl (there were 8 counted last year).  One last piece of good bird news, the Brown Cowbird count was just 15, after 36 were counted last year and the 20-year average is at 29.  Woo-hoo!

Joanne Fortin graciously hosted the compilation get-together at her home in Westfield.  Appetizers, pizza and salads were feasted upon by all, not to mention beverages.  Lois treated us to home-made cookies for dessert.  Joanne gave us a sought-after tour of her lovely perennial gardens and provided gardening tips as well.  The compilation detail and sharing of birding adventures was as interesting as always.  Great fun was had by all!

Click below to view or download complete count results.

2023 June Count Results

The weekend of June 16-18 carried predictions of rainy skies and thunderstorms each day.  Did we dare continue with our plans to bird the north woods and lakes?  Of course we did.  Seven members opted to defy the odds and venture to New York.  (We also didn’t want to lose our room deposits!).  The trip proved to be a success; any trip where life birds (and mammals) are added is a success, after all!  Two participants saw life birds on this trip, and others had a life sighting of a Fisher.  

On Friday we drove the 12-mile entry road into the Moose River Plains area, and then out to the town of Inlet.  We made many of the stops we have done before, but also added a short walk to very pretty Lost Ponds. We heard or saw many woodland species including Magnolia, Blackburnian, and Nashville Warblers, Northern Parula, and several Swainson’s Thrushes (al-ways nice to hear). We did not linger in Inlet since the skies were threatening, but instead made our way to Ferd’s Bog.  We always hope for at least a glimpse of boreal species here, but this day we only heard a couple of specialties - Olive-sided Flycatcher (maybe 2) and Lincoln’s Spar-row - before distant thunder was heard and we made our way back to our cars.  We ended the afternoon at Raquette Lake marsh as an Osprey flew over.

Saturday was overcast and the views at Tupper Lake marsh were not great, but we did add some Ring-necked Ducks to our list.  Next stop was Massawepie Mire. Highlights on the drive through the Boy Scout camp gave us Tanager, Yellow-rumped and Pine Warblers, Hermit Thrushes, and Winter Wrens.  The mosquitoes at the Mire were as bad as we’ve ever seen them, especially through the woods.  But once the terrain opened up to the bog, they weren’t as fierce and we were able to have good looks at Nashville Warblers, and fleeting looks at Lincoln’s Sparrow.  The highlight here was a family of Gray Jays.  What turned out to be the high-pitched whiny calls of the juveniles confused some of us at first as we thought they were Waxwings.  Then the mob came into view and there was no mistaking the jays!

Rains began as we left the mire and headed back to Tupper Lake where we made a lunch stop eating in our cars.  It continued to rain as we headed to Bloomingdale Bog, but by the time we arrived, the rain had stopped.  Skies still threatened but we walked along the flat trail.  This time we had really nice looks at Olive-sided Flycatcher and Lincoln’s Sparrow as well as Nashville and Palm Warblers.  Some also had a glimpse of a Green Heron as it took off over the bog.  

Floodwood Road was next where our leaders promised a look at Common Loon with babies (“we always get them here…”).  It wasn’t until we were on our way back out that we did finally see one adult loon!  The best birds here, though were seen by only two, who lingered in the last car.  They saw a Hooded Merganser, then heard and had great looks at Canada Warbler.  At least this time it was best to be in the last vehicle!

Sunday also began drizzly and overcast.  A drive up Whiteface was not in our plan this year, so rather than make the long drive back up through Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, we decided to simply head east on 28N out of Long Lake toward our afternoon destination of the Fort Edwards grasslands.  First, we spent some time at Shaw Pond scanning and listening for any marsh birds and waterfowl.  We had Mallard, Black and Wood Ducks, some saw a Kingbird, then we all saw a cooperative American bittern, and a close Virginia Rail.  A great start to the day.  We hoped for some specialties on a walk on the Northfield-Lake Placid Trail, but only had more of what we had been seeing and hearing - Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, vireos, and woodland warblers.  

The Adirondacks Visitor Center in Newcomb provided not only a bathroom stop, but also a very nice trail walk.  Here we added Ruffed Grouse, heard by two, a Sharp-shinned Hawk which seemed to be guarding a nest, and a Hairy Woodpecker, which we had hoped would have been a Black-backed instead.  

This trip always ends with car birding through the grasslands and farms near Fort Edwards.  The skies turned sunny for us as we neared and we were rewarded with some very nice birds.  In addition to those we expected such as Catbirds, Kingbirds, Finches and Swifts, we had Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, and Harrier.  Our hoped-for Grasshopper Sparrow appeared at the “usual location” and gave us the “best looks ever.”  Just before that we also had an active Baltimore Oriole family including a just-fledged youngster with its downy feathers still showing.  The trip that was supposed to be a wash-out seemed to get better with each stop, and with a total of 107 species, we were not disappointed.  

2023 May Count Summary

There were 16 teams and 31 observers out in Hampden County territories for the count held on May 12-13. The weather was pleasantly warm in the 80s on Friday evening with hardly a breeze. Saturday early morning was cool, temps were in the 50s, reaching mid-80s by late day—wind was negligible—a good birding day all the way around.  Together the teams recorded 144 species, which was 9 more than the average counted in the last ten years. At 11,166 individuals, we brought in the highest number of birds since 2011 and 1,700 birds above the ten-year average.

As is typical, most of the common species were near their recent or long-term average, but some were noticeably higher.  In parentheses is the total for 2023 followed by the past 10-year average:  Solitary Sandpiper (28-19), Least Sandpiper (63-28), Northern Waterthrush (22-12), Black & White (92-55), Tennessee (35-10, more than half of the 35 for this year counted in same location), Parula (118-51) and RC Kinglet (9 – only one other seen in last 10 count years and it was in 2020.

Those species having the max count for the last ten count years include, DC Cormorant (70-41), Broad-winged Hawk (7-3), Kingfisher (18-11), Warbling Vireo (163-118), Rough-winged Swallow (105-55), Barn Swallow (108-67), RB Nuthatch (23-1), Scarlet Tanager (91-70), Indigo Bunting (29-18), Grackle (573-430), and Fish Crow (16-6).

There were several species whose numbers were highest ever in our 61-year count history, Canada Goose (547), Bald Eagle (20) and Lesser Yellowlegs (14).

We did not add any new species to the May Count this year, but we did have several species that had not been seen for quite a while. The date following the species is when it was last recorded on the May Count.  Steve S had Philadelphia Vireo (2001) and Michele and Chris M spotted Green-winged Teal (2008) and Wigeon (2002, and only ever seen one other time in 2000).

Low species counts this year were Downy Woodpecker (45-55), Chickadee (105-143) and House Wren (35-59).

We did have some misses this year that would have been nice to include.  We did not get Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and itis the 5^th time we miss it in the past 10 years and no Nighthawks either, 4^th time for this species. Gulls are hit or miss at this time of year in our area, but we did miss on Herring and Great Black-backed Gull.  

Thanks to all who spent many hours in the field, especially Steve S’s team, who put in a tiring 18 hours of effort, and Dave M’s team, who racked up 111 species for the day.  Though these teams stand-out and deserve recognition, every team that participates contributes to covering a piece of the pie and all efforts are sincerely appreciated.  

Click below to view or download complete count results.

2023 May Count Results

Highlights of the Dec 17, 2022 - Springfield Christmas Count

Total Species: 67

Total Individuals: 13,750

1 Rufous Hummingbird

5 Eastern Towhee

3 Red-Shoulder Hawk

1 Barrow's Goldeneye - Ct River from Longmeadow

3 Fish Crow

1 Iceland Gull - Ct River from Longmeadow

1 Merlin - Springfield

2 Yellow-rump Warbler - West Springfield

10 Ravens - all over

106 Horned Larks - most West Road Longmeadow

123 Hooded Merganser -  all over

16 Bald Eagles

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Click below to view or download complete count results.

2022 Springfield CBC Results

Tyringham Valley is always a beautiful area to bird, and our half-day trip there in June did not disappoint, giving us a total of 63 species. Eight members spent some time walking a short way on the AT and at the Tyringham Cobble (a Trustees property), and again at Post Farm Marsh in Lenoxdale.  Otherwise, we did roadside birding.  Highlights included two Bald Eagles, a Kestrel, 3 Ravens, and 2 Black Vultures (seen by one who tried in vain to call attention to the rest of the group). At the Cobble we had nice looks at Indigo Bunting and Prairie Warbler.  We also heard a Blue-winged Warbler and one astute member heard and called our attention to a singing Yellow-throated Vireo. On Breakneck Road we saw about a half dozen Cliff Swallows, but did not hear or see any Snipe.

Post Farm Marsh did not disappoint either.  We all heard, and one person saw, Marsh Wren, and we all had very nice looks at a close Virginia Rail.  Both locations are easily accessible, easy to bird, and never fail to produce something interesting.

We began our walk under overcast skies with a light mist and temps in the mid-50s.  All 13 members who gathered for the trip were anxious to see the target species for Skinner Mtn—namely, Worm-eating and Cerulean Warblers.  Both were seen multiple times with great views! Other warblers spotted this morning walk include Tennessee, Blackpoll, Black-and-white, Ovenbird, Northern Parula, American Redstart, and Black-throated Green.  On the way down the mountain, almost at the end of the walk, we heard a Mourning Warbler.

Other Skinner Mtn colorful specials spotted were Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Three different vireos were identified: Red-eyed, Blue-headed, and Yellow-throated.  Soaring birds were Black and Turkey Vultures, Ravens, Crows, Red-tailed Hawk, and 3 beautiful Bald Eagles.

Other birds spotted included Wood Thrush, Carolina and Winter Wrens, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Pewee, Phoebes, Hummingbird, Veery, Great Crested Flycatcher, and many more!  The total species count by the time we were back at our cars was 49.  It was a great morning of birding—Skinner Mtn did not disappoint!

Thirteen members participated and started birding right in the parking lot of the Quabbin Headquarters. First spotted was a group of Chimney Swifts flying overhead. Other birds seen at this location were Robins, Chipping and Song Sparrows, Eastern Towhee, Northern Cardinal, American Redstart, Gray Catbirds, and a White-breasted Nuthatch.  At the lookout area of the reservoir, we saw a pair of Common Mergansers, and a Great Blue Heron flying by.

We then got in our cars and headed to the 2nd entrance to Quabbin. We parked on the right soon after entering. In this area we saw Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings, many Red-eyed Vireos, a Raven, Crows, Baltimore Orioles, Eastern Pewee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and a half dozen Turkeys grazing in the grass on the dam.

Continuing down the road to a lookout on the left-hand side of the road, a favorite spot of Tim’s each year, we saw Prairie and Chestnut-sided Warblers, more Baltimore Orioles, Eastern Bluebirds, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Great Crested Flycatcher, Phoebe, Black-capped Chickadee, Wood Thrush, and Yellow-throated Vireo.

We then got back in our cars and headed toward the Tower Area, The Apple Orchard, and the Enfield Lookout. Birds spotted in these areas were Pine Warbler, Northern Parula, Blue-headed Vireo, Northern Flicker, Tufted Titmouse, and Hairy Woodpecker.

Next, we made our way over to the Artillery Area and walked down to the water.  We were unable to walk much of the shore because the water was very high.  Here we saw a Fish Crow, and a couple of Common Loons.

Running out of time, our last stop was just around the parking area at Hanks Meadows where we saw a Blackburnian Warbler to finish off the day!

Seventeen participants gathered for the walk around this beautiful grassland habitat. The list below is in taxonomic order and comprises 44 species.  For certain birds, I noted the WMA they were found in. The numbers for some of the usual grassland birds were on the low side (for instance, a single Song Sparrow).  During multiple visits to the WMA, however, I’ve noticed that the number of singing birds can fluctuate dramatically from one day to the next.  The two Blue Grosbeaks, together with the excellent views we had of species like Prairie Warbler, made for a great morning of birding on a beautiful June day.

Mourning Dove

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Suffield, at the parking lot)

Great Blue Heron (flyby, Suffield)

Red-shouldered Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk (immature)

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Kestrel

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Willow Flycatcher (2; one in Suffield, one in Southwick)

Eastern Phoebe

Yellow-throated Vireo (Chris heard)

Red-eyed Vireo

American Crow

Common Raven

Tree Swallows (2)

Barn Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Eastern Bluebird (4)

Veery (2)

American Robin (4)

Gray Catbird (2; one in Suffield, one in Southwick)

Brown Thrasher (3)

Northern Mockingbird (3)

European Starling

American Goldfinch (4)

Grasshopper Sparrow (2; one in Suffield, one in Southwick)

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow (2; one in Suffield, one in Southwick; a low count there for this species)

Song Sparrow

Eastern Towhee (2)

Orchard Oriole (2; both adult males; one in Suffield, one in Southwick)

Baltimore Oriole (heard)

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird (3)

Blue-winged Warbler (heard by Janice and others [names?])

Common Yellowthroat (2)

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Prairie Warbler (3)

Scarlet Tanager (2; one in Suffield, one in Southwick)

Northern Cardinal (2)

BLUE GROSBEAK (2; both first-summer singing males; they exhibited discernibly different plumage patterns).

Indigo Bunting (4)

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Spring migrants, Winter Wren, and possible Worm-eating Warbler

Four birders showed up for this walk, on a cool, overcast, and foggy, morning, although the rain that had been forecast (which probably depressed our attendance numbers) never really descended on us. In fact, visibility improved as the morning wore on, even though it never became truly clear. I want to call immediate attention to the sub-headline to this trip: Yes, we did get a Worm-eating Warbler. Altogether, we got 22 species, including the highlight bird, along with Black-and-white Warblers (4, one for each of us), 3 American Redstarts, 2 Magnolia, 1 Chestnut-sided, and 4 Prairie Warblers (which seemed to like the altitude). We had a baker’s handful (6) of Wood Thrushes, all the Red-eyed Vireos anyone could want (7), 4 Great Crested Flycatchers, plus Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees (but no Carolinas or Boreals), and a couple of Tufted Titmice, although in the Carolina department, we had two Carolina Wrens and one Winter Wren (see sub-headline again). We had Gray Catbirds, Eastern Towhees, Baltimore Orioles (but no Orchards), a couple of Ovenbirds, and four each of Scarlet Tanagers, Northern Cardinals, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. To top the list, we had a flyover by a dinosaur-like Great Blue Heron. (The conditions were not suitable for photography, so we were out of luck on that front.)

About a dozen members joined in the Stebbins morning walk and together had a total of 50 species. Some highlights are listed below.

Twelve birders showed for a trip around Hadley in search of good birds and were not disappointed.  A pond on Moody Bridge Rd gave us one highlight bird, a Sora.  We saw Orchard Orioles carrying nest building material. On Aqua Vitae Rd, we spotted Baltimore Oriole on its nest, a Bluebird and 3 Red-tailed Hawks.  In the Honey Pot, we got views of Willow Flycatcher, 4 Common Mergansers, 2 Killdeer, a Great Blue Heron, 2 Flickers, 2 Warbling Vireo, 8 Tree Swallows, a Brown Thrasher and two Mockingbirds.

We had just 7 members along for the walk at Stony Brook, but we got great birds and a total species count of 61.

After a few years hiatus due to COVID, three bird clubs (Allen, Hampshire & Brookline) were once again able to take a tour of Westover ARB. The weather was cloudy and misty for the trip, but we managed to score 21 species. The “hoped for” species include grassland species of birds, particularly Upland Sandpipers, Bobolinks, Meadowlarks and Grasshopper Sparrows.  All were seen by various people.  We were lucky concerning the weather since the forecast was for rain during the day, but the rain held off until the end of the trip when we were all back at our cars and ready to head home.  Westover supplied a bus to drive us to a few different areas where we might see our target birds.  

We had a lot of eyes to search the grasslands and many Upland Sandpipers were seen at various stops. We saw at least 5 Upland Sandpipers. Most people, if not all, had Bobolinks and some had a Meadowlark.  Despite the short grass, we saw a few Grasshopper Sparrows.  As a bonus, we also saw a Savannah Sparrow and a Killdeer sitting on her nest in the gravel.

Ten birders participated in a 3 hour walk at Stebbins refuge this morning. The weather was cool and breezy, starting in the 40s and raising to the 50s by the end of the walk with clear skies. The trails we walked were wet in spots, but considerably drier than the previous week.

Bird activity was good resulting in a total bird species count of 55. There were a significant number of warblers species seen with a highlight on the Magnolia, which presented great views in multiple locations. Other birds seen include the Scarlet Tanagers, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird and Solitary Sandpipers. Great joy was experienced by many with a lengthy viewing of a Green Heron located in the marsh at the southeast corner of the refuge.

All in all, it was an enjoyable walk amongst like-minded folks.