Trip Highlights

The weather followed the forecast, with sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70s—ideal birding conditions. We gathered at the commuter lot in Ludlow, carpooled to Joppa Flats, met up with additional members, and then headed directly to Sandy Point, where several more joined us. In all, 15 members traveled in six vehicles.

We saw thousands of Tree Swallows swarming the skies on our ride through the refuge, but we arrived at the end of the road to find the lots were already full. While the drivers waited in line for a spot, the passengers got out and began birding at Emerson Rocks. We spotted a Black Guillemot on the ocean and four Piping Plovers near the water’s edge. Scanning a group of terns on the beach, we were unable to find the reported Roseate or Forster’s Terns, but we did see Common Terns—both adults and juveniles—as well as a Least Tern.

The walk down Sandy Point provided additional views of terns and gulls. The group of three who had arrived earlier found Laughing and Bonaparte’s Gulls, but the rest of us came up empty on those species—although we did find Laughing Gull later in the day. While scanning the shorebirds spread out along the upper beach, we spotted a Ruddy Turnstone and a few Least Sandpipers among the many Semipalmated Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers. An Osprey also gave us a flyby.

After birding Sandy Point, we returned to Emerson Rocks to look for a Caspian Tern that three members had spotted while the rest of us were at the point. Unfortunately, most of us missed it; we heard that it had flown off just minutes before we arrived.

Stage Island Trail was next. There, we added Short-billed Dowitcher, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Gadwall, and Black-crowned Night-Heron to our list. We initially misidentified the night-heron as a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. From the platform deck, we spotted a slightly larger, whiter shorebird feeding frantically back and forth just beyond a group of Semipalmated Sandpipers on the far side of the pool. We were puzzled by this bird’s identification, but found out later that it was a Wilson’s Phalarope.

The birds were distant and the light was poor during our visit to Bill Forward Pool, but the North Pool Overlook did not disappoint. Luck was on our side when a King Rail appeared behind the tall grasses and came into the open several times, giving us a show-stopping performance. We also saw a Northern Waterthrush scurrying along the water’s edge beside the tall grasses.

Our next stop was the Salt Pannes, where numerous shorebirds made birding both enjoyable and challenging as we searched for rarities. We found several White-rumped Sandpipers, a small flock of Black-bellied Plovers, and a Spotted Sandpiper to add to our shorebird count.

A lone Purple Martin perched atop a martin house at Lot 1. Across the street, we added Marsh Wren, Barn Swallow, and Killdeer to our growing list. Our final birding stop was outside the refuge at the seawall. With the tide in, our visit there was brief.

We ended the day a bit tired but smiling as we tallied 69 species on our adventure to the coast. Click below to view complete species list.

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The weather was warm and humid for our midsummer morning walk through the refuge. One sharp-eyed member spotted both male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks amid the tree foliage. A Great Blue Heron stood at the edge of a pond while Wood Ducks swam lazily across the water.

We enjoyed wonderful views of American Kestrels hunting, carrying prey, and perching atop a nest box in the field. As we approached the large open fields, we heard Bobolinks singing and then spotted them perched on shrubs along the far side.

The six participants recorded a total of 42 species. Click below to view complete trip list.

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.

Five members leisurely wended our way from south to north in the lovely Tyringham Val-ley, enjoying not only the birds but also scenic vistas.  At this time of year birding is al-most all by ear, but we had looks at some species as well.  Thrushes were around, and we heard several Veery and some Wood Thrush in addition to seeing Bluebirds and Robins.  Warbler species included Black-and-white, Common Yellowthroat, Redstart, Parula, Yellow, Pine, BT Green, and Ovenbird.  We had a nice look at a Kestrel at the Cobble; the only other raptors were two Red-tailed Hawks.  We were glad to see that Cliff Swallows had returned to a nesting site on Breakneck Road where they had been absent for several years.  In the end, we added some Rough-winged Swallows on Meadow Street, in a location where earlier in spring there were Bank Swallows.  Tyring-ham didn’t give up anything too notable this trip, but it is always a delightful place for a morning of birding.  

Click below to view complete list of 56 species.

The trip started at the Quabbin Park HQ on a pretty sunny and warm Sunday morning, with 6 members in attendance.  We birded around the HQ for a few minutes before heading to the other side of the Winsor Dam.  We usually catch a raven over there and this time we came upon a whole family.  I was reminded that sometimes it is not about the birds you see but what they are doing that can make the sighting memorable.  This group consisted of two adults and two ado-lescents and another one that I could not tell.  They were flying around, with the two younger birds following the adults begging (calling) for food from the adults, who seemed more content to fly around with them and show them where to look.  Many of us thought this might be the high-light of the trip but there was more to come.  

With the trees in full foliage, finding the birds was a little harder but the Winsor Memorial did yield good views of a Black-and-white Warbler and an American Redstart (which we were hearing all day).  As we drove towards the tower, we heard a Prairie Warbler calling and so we pulled over.  After much searching, he decided to come out and sing for us in the sunlight for a number of minutes.  At this same location we had great looks at a Chestnut-sided Warbler and heard a Cerulean Warbler calling.  

Not much in the tower area so we headed to Gate 54 (the artillery platform) and walked down to the shore.  On the way down while looking for a Hairy Woodpecker in a nearby tree we found a Black-billed Cuckoo.  We then proceeded down to the water where we saw a distant duck and a raptor that flew past us and landed in a tree on the far shore (even with binoculars this raptor was near impossible to see).  A scope was retrieved and the duck turned out to be a Common Merganser with at least two ducklings and the raptor turned out to be a Merlin.  The other interesting thing we saw there was a Great Blue Heron that flew into a pine tree near us and about 30 ft up, who proceeded to stand on the branch with bill open and gullet fluttering, cooling itself.  At this point the morning was running out, the heat was climbing and the two birds we usually look for at the power lines at the end had already been seen, so we decided to end the trip on those high notes with 40 species tallied.  

Click below to view complete list.