Quabbin Reservoir

The day started out cool at 7 a.m., but the birding turned hot by 8 a.m.   Seven participants ended up seeing a total of 52 species, including the Green Heron and Eastern Kingbirds scouted out at the route 9 swamp.
Of the 8 warblers seen, a pair of Blackburnians at Windsor Park was heart stopping.   The female dropped into the low trees in front of us and pulled material from the tent caterpillar nests.   She proceeded to come back and forth in front of us while the male flew around.   We walked down the road from Windsor Park to the culvert, getting a Bay-breasted Warbler, a Yellow-throated Vireo, an Indigo Bunting and a Sapsucker.   It got quieter after that until a Ruby-throated Hummingbird buzzed the group, a mere 2 feet away, and a Chestnut-sided Warbler picked at nesting material close by.   We walked down Gate 52.  There we had a Gray-cheeked Thrush that seemed to have no knowledge of people.   He hopped in the trees at the water's edge modeling his fine features as we watched him for at least 10 minutes.   A Pewee had given us a similar show at the spillway.  Birding as it should be!