Southwick/Suffield WMA

The weather was just about as close to perfect as a June morning can be, with abundant sunshine and a welcome cooling breeze, when ten Allen Bird Club members visited the Southwick Wildlife Management Area.  The site is renowned for hosting many grassland species, and it did not disappoint on this occasion.  We tallied 34 species and had excellent views of many of them, including Willow Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Grasshopper Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Blue-winged Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Prairie Warbler and Indigo Bunting.  A Chestnut-sided Warbler teased us, singing repeatedly from cover, but declining to come out in the open.  The catch of the day was unquestionably the Blue-wing, and not just because the species has been unusually scarce in our area this season:  for one member of our party, this confiding Blue-winged Warbler was her 200th life bird in the lower 48 states. We all congratulate her on reaching this milestone, and wish her luck as she aims for 300!

Click below to view total species list.