Trip Highlights

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.

For a bird trip in early May, the nine attendees had weather more appropriate for mid-April.  The sky was overcast during the entire trip with temperatures ranging from the mid-40s to the low-50s with a constant, fairly brisk, wind coming off the reservoir.  Despite these conditions, the walk along the paved path at Ludlow Reservoir is always an adventure.  As soon as we had open views of the water hundreds of swallows of various types came into view.  They were mostly Tree Swallows but there were also a good number of Barn Swallows.  In addition, some of the group saw at least two Rough-winged Swallows and one Bank Swallow.  The Phoebe was in its usual spot building a nest, flying in and out from underneath the fishing pier.  We did miss the Yellow-throated Vireo, which has been in the same place for the past few years.  In fact, we missed many birds we usually see on this trip, the most notable being the Baltimore Oriole.  Normally we see and hear them throughout the walk.  This year, however, we did not see any.  Very disappointing!  

The trip was supposed to have ended by 10:30 but by that time we were just getting started.  We had only traveled a little more than a half mile to just past the fishing pier.  We kept on going.  The birding was slow but we did have good looks at most of the birds we did see.  I wanted to go to a location further ahead with good views of the water since we were now walking through an area where trees blocked our view of the reservoir.  At that point about half the group turned back due to other commitments.  When we arrived at the water, we had an interesting treat awaiting us.  The swallows (remember them), mostly tree swallows, hundreds of them, were flying very low to the water and in and around the remaining group who were congregated along the water, almost as if we were pylons for a rather interesting swallow flight competition.  By that time it was close to 11:00 and we turned back to return to the cars.  

We did see other interesting birds on the way back.  We all had good looks, some through the scope, of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  Before we arrived at the parking lot, we had another treat.  There were three Bald Eagles interacting among themselves.  Flying high then diving at each other.  They were quite close so everyone could enjoy the show.  In total we saw four eagles.  We finally made it back to the parking lot just before noon.  In total we had eight warblers (Ovenbird, Black-and-white, Common Yellowthroat, Redstart (more scope views), Parula, Pine Warbler (heard only), Yellowrump, and Palm) and a total count of 39 bird species.  We were all a little chilled but everyone considered it another successful Allen Bird Club outing.

Twelve birders met at the corner of Bark Haul and Pondside Roads in Longmeadow at 7:30 a.m. In the next three hours, they tallied 52 species of birds, including three vireos (Warbling, Red-eyed, and Blue-headed), six warblers (Yellow, Yellow-rump, Blue-wing, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, and Palm Warbler), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Green Herons and Great-blue Herons, and a Kingfisher. Two Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were found and Wood Thrushes were singing. The male Red-headed Woodpecker was seen in his usual spot. Flycatchers were returning and the group saw four Eastern Kingbirds and six Eastern Phoebes. Interesting sightings of common birds included a second year Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a stub while being mobbed by a Blue Jay and Red-winged Blackbirds; a White-breasted Nuthatch nest with both adults bringing food on Bark Haul at the north west corner of the pond; and, 15 goslings with 11 adult Canada Geese at Tina Lane. The temperature was between 48 and 51 degrees F, and it was overcast with light rain at the end.