Trip Highlights

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!

A whopping number of birders, 25 in all, gathered to enjoy a total of 57 species in three hours of birding the refuge.   Highlights included Common Nighthawk sleeping on a branch of a Maple tree, Red-shouldered Hawk, two Willow Flycatchers, and two Canada Warblers (unfortunately only seen by a few in the group).   Only seven species of warbler were spotted, but other specialties made up for that disappointment.

Rainy weather canceled the walk up Mt. Holyoke though the leader and one intrepid birder showed up hoping to get glimpses of the Worm-eating and Cerulean Warblers.

Click below to view or download complete count results.

2017 May Count Results

Only a couple of members took advantage of a walk through Hillcrest Cemetery, finding a total of 22 species.   The usual neighborhood birds were spotted, as well as a Yellow-rumped Warber and Yellow-throated Vireo, Chimney Swifts, and a Red-tailed Hawk.   The highlight of the walk was the return of the Barn Swallows.