Trip Highlights

Over 20 birders turned out to walk along the rail trail near Station Road in Amherst.  While scanning, we suddenly heard, then saw the elusive Virginia Rail ten feet in front of us dashing along the muddy shore.  Another prize for the evening was a Woodcock with two young.  Other sightings were a singing Orchard Oriole, Kingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellowthroat, Catbird, and an eye-level look at a Pileated Woodpecker framed against the setting sun.

Twenty-five participants located 38 species of birds on the second Wednesday morning walk at Stebbins.  Gone were the groups of early warblers, replaced by Yellowthroats, Redstarts, Wilson’s, and Yellow Warblers.  Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Orioles were flashing their colors and singing emphatically.  A group of 16 goslings followed a pair of Canada Geese.  The biggest treats of the walk were a pair of Orchard Orioles and a Common Gallinule.

It was our 65th year for a Mother’s Day excursion through Robinson State Park, a walk plagued by showers that eventually cut the trip short.  It was also the earliest possible date and followed up a week of cold, wet weather.  Still, over 20 walkers were not deterred, and we managed to find Blue-headed Vireo and Gnatcatchers, several Ovenbirds, and a loud Louisiana Waterthrush.  Even louder was the Wood Thrush that sang as we entered the park, the first of several.  Catbirds were chortling deep in the bushes and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were singing their sweet melody.  Other warblers in the almost leafless trees were Black-and-white, Redstart, three Black-throated Blue, Yellowrumps and Black-throated Greens.  A good show was put on by some Black-throated Blue Warblers.  A couple of Scarlet Tanagers and Baltimore Orioles crowned our brief venture.  When the rain got heavy, hosts Madeline Novak and Steve Perreault offered delicious goodies and warming coffee in their home beside the park.  The Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the feeder there was an added feast for the eyes.

The birders did not quite number the Great Blue Heron nests (19) at the flooded beaver pond, but they all enjoyed that spectacle as well as the several Great Blues and a few Wood Ducks.  Other birds of the woodland and wetland were three Blue-headed Vireo, many Gnatcatchers, some Ruby-crowned Kinglets, seven Wood Thrushes, Louisiana Waterthrush, and three Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Of the 32 species noted, most unexpected was an Osprey that was hunting low over a second marsh.

It was another cool and cloudy day with a few sprinkles of rain, but this impromptu trip attracted 21 viewers.  We started by scanning the lake where there were Hooded Mergansers as well as Canada Geese with goslings and Wood Ducks with ducklings.  We also got to scope a Kingfisher and Great Blue Herons, one of whom was sitting on a nest.  It is the first time they have nested here in a couple of years.  The lake had a large number of mostly Tree Swallows, with a few Rough-winged Swallows and a single Barn Swallow.  As we got to the bridge heading into the woods on the west side of the lake, we spotted a Solitary Sandpiper out in the open on a log and a Pileated Woodpecker.  We then worked our way through the woods in search of our target birds the Sora and the Virginia Rail.  We heard both of them calling at various times from the middle of the reeds, but failed to see either one.  On the way back to the parking area, we got good views of Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a number of bright Savannah Sparrows.  On this trip our total was 37 species.