nohobirdclub home (send sighting reports to nohobirdclub@hotmail.com)
August 2004 Sightings FIRST
OF THE YEAR IN RED
Hampshire, Hampden & Franklin Counties of Massachusetts
August 2 - Monday
Western Voice of Audubon: Seen below the Holyoke
Dam were a BALD EAGLE, a BONAPARTE'S GULL, 20 COMMON MERGANSERS, 10 DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS, 3 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and 4 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED
SWALLOWS.
The Turners Falls Canal has been drained this week. Birds found feeding there were an AMERICAN WIGEON, a COMMON GOLDENEYE, 6 GREEN HERONS, 22 KILLDEER, 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 5 SOLITARY and 4 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 2 GREATER and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 6 SANDERLINGS, 4 SEMIPALMATED and 6 LEAST SANDPIPERS.
GREAT EGRETS have been reported in several areas, including Westfield, Amherst. Two were seen in West Brookfield, 4 in Hadley, 2 in Lee, and 7 in Great Barrington.
Noted in Sunderland were 3 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, 2 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and 2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS.
Seven GREEN HERONS and a CAROLINA WREN were in Deerfield,
Other birds reported in Amherst were 4 WOOD DUCKS, GREEN and GREAT BLUE HERONS, 2 SHARP-SHINNED and a COOPER¹S HAWK, a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, an EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, 3 EASTERN KINGBIRDS, 2 MARSH WRENS, 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 2 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, an INDIGO BUNTING, and an EASTERN MEADOWLARK.
A CAROLINA WREN was also singing in Agawam.
Seen in Southwick were a WHIP-POOR-WILL, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, 3 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, 4 EASTERN KINGBIRDS, 3 BELTED KINGFISHERS, a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, a PINE WARBLER, and an INDIGO BUNTING.
August 4 - Wednesday
HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) Early this evening I flushed two immature Black-crowned
Night-herons from some trees that were overhanging in the Connecticut River.
I only saw them as they flew a short ways up river and back into the trees.
I continued walking in/along the river and they flushed again. All indications
were that they weren't immature yellow-crowned night-herons i.e. - only part
of yellow foot went past tail, wings had largish pale spots, overall color of
bird was light brownish. One made call that sounded like black-crowned night-herons
I've heard in the past.
August 4 - Wednesday
AMHERST (from Heather MCQueen) Saw 2 very young Brown Thrashers today with the
parent birds.
August 5 - Thursday
NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) I took a ride through
the Arcadia area today..highlight would be 30+ Eastern Kingbirds on the wires
coming in from South Park Terr. toward Old Springfield Rd...quite a gathering.
August 5 - Thursday
VARIOUS (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard)
Barton Cove, Gill Great Egret-1
Turners Falls Canal The lost and now heartbroken female Common Goldeneye
Deerfield Academy playing fields Great Egret-1
Whately Road, Deerfield Killdeer-38 Semipalmated Plover-1 Least Sandpiper-4
Mt. Sugarloaf, Deerfield Peregrine Falcon-1
And I heard of another Great Egret at the Beaver Brook Country Club in Haydenville.
August 7 - Saturday
HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I walked along
the Conn. River from 6-8pm and saw the following highlites: Black-crowned Night-heron
(1 im), Great Blue Heron (1), Bald Eagle (1 im), Merlin (1 flying over river),
Screech Owl (1 calling oddly enough @6:30), Spotted Sandpiper (2), Unidentified
Peeps (20 - no scope with us), Kingfisher (1), and numerous Swallows and Swifts
flycatching/migrating.
August 9 - Monday
Western Voice of Audubon: On the sandbar in
Longmeadow there was a GREAT EGRET, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 4 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS,
and 14 LEAST SANDPIPERS.
Found in Agawam were 2 GREAT EGRETS, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, 6 EASTERN WOOD PEWEES, and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH.
In West Springfield on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition there were 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, 2 GREEN HERONS, 12 WOOD DUCKS, and 6 COMMON MERGANSERS.
WHIP-POOR-WILLS are still calling in Southwick and a BLUE GROSBEAK visited a feeder there briefly on Saturday. Also in Southwick were 4 BROWN THRASHERS, 8 FIELD SPARROWS, and 5 INDIGO BUNTINGS.
Five RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, 33 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and 10 BALTIMORE ORIOLES were reported in Northampton.
August 12 - Thursday
HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) The Arcadia Meadows looks promising
for the fall migration. There are numerous farmer fields that were used to raise
cucumbers this year. These have been harvested and are primed for rain/puddles
which will hopefully attract shorebirds. There are also numerous weedy fields/edges
which will hopefully attract seed eaters. Also, the area around the Ibis Pool
has been mowed in preperation for a deep tilling this fall. This will hopefully
improve the conditions of this area for future migrations. This afternoon I
saw mainly catbirds, kingbirds, song sparrows and goldfinches.
August 12 - Thursday
HADLEY (from Janice Jorgensen) Forgot to report 4 adult turkeys and 11
chicks... midsized on Huntington Road.
August 13 - Friday
WARE (posted to Massbird by David Norton) There were three
beautiful great egrets all perched in the same dead tree in the western end
of the Rt. 9 marsh in Ware this morning, quite close to the road...a nice treat
while driving to work!
August 13 - Friday
HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) There was a Great Egret in the pond near the Horse
Farm.
August 13 - Friday
LONGMEADOW (from David Mako) Caitlin Robinson and I decided to check
out the Longmeadow sandbar today (4-6 pm) in search of shorebirds. We were disappointed
to find only 3 greater yellowlegs and 2 spotted sandpipers. However, we were
thrilled to see a jv peregrine falcon flying downriver, only a couple feet above
the water, and land on the island in front of us. It spent several minutes washing
at the water's edge while keeping an eye on a flock of about 100 Canada geese
and 4 mallards as they drifted by. A short while later, an immature bald eagle
flew upriver and spooked the mallards. The falcon, seemingly upset over the
lost dinner opportunity, went chasing after the eagle! Other highlights include
a flock of over 200 crows in the nearby cornfields with vocalizations of both
American and fish crows. Another (?) jv peregrine flew in and perched in a tree
along Pondside Rd where there were ~25 wood ducks, 4 mute swans, several great
blue and a green heron.
August 14 - Saturday
NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) I made a trip through the Arcadia meadows
via Pynchon Meadow Rd and then over to the visitors center and walked some of
those trails saturday afternoon. Highlights from today would be Common Yellowthroat
(2), American Redstart (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Red eyed Vireo (1),
Tree Swallow (160+), Barn Swallow (7), Bank Swallow (3), Eastern Kingbird (5),
Osprey (1), Bobolink (30+)...all near the intersection with old springfield
rd, Savannah Sparrow (3), Carolina Wren (2), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (2), Kingfisher
(1), Wood Thrush (2), Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1), Northern Mockingbird (6),
Scarlet Tanager (1), as well as lots of the other usuals...
August 15 - Sunday
VARIOUS LOCATIONS (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I searched for shorebirds
in a few spots today and found the following:
HATFIELD - At the old Pilgram Airport we found 35 Killdeer, 5 Semipalmated Plovers,
1 Least Sandpiper and 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers. Also 1 juv. Peregrine Falcon.
DEERFIELD - On Whately Road we found 12 Killdeer and 1 Least Sandpiper along
with a hummingbird.
OLD DEERFIELD - In a puddle next to a manure pile there was 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper
and 11 Least Sandpipers (10 juv and 1 adult).
August 15 - Sunday
HADLEY (from Janice Jorgensen) Filled the bird feeders and have 4 female rose-breasted
grosbeaks and one male.. and one northern flicker, one Baltimore Oriole, one
Ruby-throated hummingbird, catbirds, white breasted nuthatch, titmice, goldfinches,
and chickadees.
August 16 - Monday
HADLEY (from Pete Yeskie) A Common Loon has been in the river under the Coolidge
Bridge since yesterday.
August 16 - Monday
TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Fairbrother) As of this morning there
are six (at least) Common Egrets at Barton Cove.
August 16 - Monday
TURNERS FALLS (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) Just to add to Mark Fairbrother's
report from Barton Cove in Gill, I found 5 Great Blue Herons along with the
reported Great Egrets. 1 adult and 1 juvenile Bald Eagle, and 2 Common Terns
perched on the white buoys. 2 Greater Yellowlegs were heard as well.
August 16 - Monday
QUABBIN PARK (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We birded Quabbin Park this
morning in mist and rain. Despite the gloomy weather, there were a few passerines
about, but they were in a very few and widely separated "mixed species" flocks
(a la fall migration). Only a very few birds were still "on territory" and song
was almost absent. Common Loon (3ad) Double-crested Cormorant (5) Green Heron
(2) Canada Goose (27) Wood Duck (7) Mallard (3) A Black Duck (1) Red-tailed
Hawk (3) Wild Turkey (2adF w/16 yng) Virginia Rail (1) Killdeer (1) CASPIAN
TERN (1: likely yearly at Quabbin and possibly Wachuset Reservoir) Ruby-throated
Hummingbird (2) E Screech Owl (1: this species is very tough anywhere in Quabbin
proper where Saw-whet is the common small owl. Quabbin Park remains your best
bet for finding a Screech Owl in the area) Belted Kingfisher (1) Red-bellied
Woodpecker (1) Downy Woodpecker (9) Hairy Woodpecker (4) Pileated Woodpecker
(2) E Wood Peewee (12: one of the few species still singing) "empid sp." (1
"Traill's type") E Phoebe (10) Great Crested Flycatcher (1) E Kingbird (3) Tree
Swallow (11) Barn Swallow (18) Black-capped Chickadee (14) Tufted Tirmouse (7)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (1) White-breasted Nuthatch (12) Yellow-throated Vireo
(2) Red-eyed Vireo (19: almost all were silent except for giving scold notes)
Blue Jay (22) A Crow (9) C. Raven (1) House Wren (3) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (7)
E Bluebird (3) Hermit Thrush (4) A Robin (3) Gray Catbird (20) WARBLERS: Yellow
(3) Chestnut-sided (2) Black-throated Green (4) Blackburnian (1m) Pine (6) Prairie
(5) Black and White (2) A Redstart (3) C Yellowthroat (4) Scarlet Tanager (8)
N Cardinal (3) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3) E Towhee (10) Chipping Sparrow (23)
Field Sparrow (5) Swamp Sparrow (1) Song Sparrow (11) Bobolink (4 overhead)
Red-winged Blackbird (2) Brown-headed Cowbird (only 1) Baltimore Oriole (12)
A Goldfinch (12) PLUS: among the typical late summer blooms we saw at Quabbin
Park today were Great Lobelia, Fern-leaved False Foxglove (try saying THAT fast
10 times), Wand-like Bush-Clover, Blue Curls, and the ever popular Devil's Walking
Stick.
August 16 - Monday
Western Voice of Audubon: At Quabbin Gate 22 in New Salem, 3 COMMON
LOONS, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, an adult female and a juvenile SCARLET TANAGER,
and 2 BALTIMORE ORIOLES were noted.
At Gate 8 in Belchertown 4 immature COOPER’S HAWKS were observed at the fishing area.
In Northampton in the East Meadows a SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, 6 juvenile LEAST SANDPIPERS, 6,000 TREE SWALLOWS, 50 BANK SWALLOWS, 25 BARN SWALLOWS, 2 INDIGO BUNTINGS, 45 BOBOLINKS, and 250 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were reported.
In Hadley at Allard’s Farm were 57 KILLDEER, 2 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 49 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 4 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS and a WILSON’S SNIPE.
In a yard in Conway, 3 BARRED OWLS have been heard regularly and a COOPER’S HAWK, 4 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, and 2 COMMON RAVENS have been seen. Six RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS, 4 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS with a fledgling, 10 adult PURPLE FINCHES with several young, and 4 adult EVENING GROSBEAKS with 6 young have been visiting the feeders.
A GREAT BLUE HERON, a GREEN HERON, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK by the slough at the north end of the village in Old Deerfield.
August 17 - Tuesday
NORTHFIELD+ (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) This
morning we birded HELL'S KITCHEN AND SATAN'S KINGDOM WMA in Greenfield, near
the VT border (see pp. 110 in the BIRD FINDING GUIDE TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS).
This modestly sized WMA is mostly mixed forest with good stands of hemlock and
also includes a nice string of small beaver ponds. Temps were in the mid-60s,
fairly cool for a visit to the nether regions. Birds were in a few mixed species
flocks and seemed to be on the move. Great Blue Heron (3) Wood Duck (13) Osprey
(1 migrating SSW) N Goshawk (1ad) Broad-winged Hawk (4 migrating SSW) Killdeer
(1) Solitary Sandpiper (1) Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2) Belted Kingfisher (2)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1) Downy Woodpecker (7) Hairy Woodpecker (3) N Flicker
(1) Olive-sided Flycatcher (2: the wooded beaver marshes here are perfect for
finding this species in migration) E Wood Peewee (7) E Phoebe (28) E Kingbird
(4) Tree Swallow (9) Black-capped Chickadee (42) Tufted Titmouse (6) White-breasted
Nuthatch (5: curiously for such perfect habitat: NO RB Nuts!) Brown Creeper
(3) Winter Wren (1) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (4) Golden-crowned Kinglet (1) Gray
Catbird (4) Yellow-throated Vireo (1) Blue-headed Vireo (3) Warbling Vireo (1imm)
Red-eyed Vireo (14) WARBLERS(mostly immatures of females): Chestnut-sided (6)
Magnolia (3) Yellow-rumped (4) Black-throated Green (18) Pine (3) Black and
White (9) A Redstart (1) C Yellowthroat (3) Canada (6) Scarlet Tanager (5) Chipping
Sparow (9) Song Sparrow (5) Purple Finch (1) Soul-sucking Spawn of the Dark
Realm (0) On the way home, we stopped by BARTON'S COVE, GILL: Double-crested
Cormorant (2) Great Blue Heron (3) Great Egret (4) Green Heron (3) Wood Duck
(9) Mallard (299) A Black Duck (4) Osprey (1) Bald Eagle (1 imm+1ad) Belted
Kingfisher (2)
August 19 - Thurday
NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by Bill Lafley)
August 20 - Friday
NORTHAMPTON (from Heather McQueen) Chris and I saw a single Ruddy
Turnstone in the East Meadows this morning.
August 20 - Friday
HATFIELD (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) This afternoon at Great Pond in
Hatfield with Pat Serrentino: DCCormorant-3 Great Blue Heron-4 Green Heron-1
Wood Duck-app 10 Mallard-3 Blue-winged Teal-1 Hooded Merganser-2 Osprey-1 Cooper's
Hawk-1 Bald Eagle-1 Killdeer-4 Pigeon-2 Mourning Dove-1 RTHummingbird-1 BKingfisher-1
NFlicker-1 EKingbird-1 ACrow-2+ Tree Swallow-10+ TTitmouse-2 Carolina Wren-1
GCatbird-1 CWaxwing-4+ Redwing-50+ in scattered flocks AGoldfinch-3+ Bob Packard
August 20 - Friday
OWLS CALLING - (from Joe Wojtanowksi) In Southwick on the 16/Aug (2) Eastern
Screeh Owls were calling back and forth 0610. On the 17/Aug also in Southwick
(1) Barred Owl calling 0405, (1) Great Horned Owl calling 0510. None were heard
on the 18th.
August 21 - Saturday
Northampton Bird Watcher's Club - SEARCH FOR SHOREBIRDS Trip
NORTHAMPTON
East Meadows - Ruddy Turnstone (1ad 1juv), Solitary Sandpiper (1), Least Sandpiper
(2).
Venturer's Field Road - Killdeer (35).
Arcadia Meadows - Killdeer (18), Solitary Sandpiper (2), Spotted Sandpiper (2).
HATFIELD
Near Great Pond - Killdeer (3), Least Sandpiper (1)
Pilgram Airport - Killdeer (47), Semipalmated plover (3), Lesser Yellowlegs
(1juv), Least Sandpiper (6).
DEERFIELD
Stillwater Road - Solitary Sandpiper (1).
Other birds seen on the trip included: Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon (juv), Bald Eagle (juv), Ring-billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Rock Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Crow, Robin, Catbird, Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Tree Sallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Goldfinch, Indigo Bunting, Starling, House Sparrow
August 22 - Sunday
CHESTERFIELD (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) This morning at the Fisk Meadow
WMA in Chesterfield: DCCormorant-1-flyover, trailing fishing line and a lure
or sinker from the corner of its bill. GBHeron-3 Canada Goose-42 Mallard-1 Wood
Duck-10 Hooded Merganser-1 TVulture-2 Cooper's Hawk-1 Redtail-1 imm Broad-wing-2
Merlin-1-perched on snag over marsh Gr Yellowlegs-1 Solitary Sandpiper-1 "peep"-1-flyover
Hairy Woodpecker-1 Downy Woodpecker-2 NFlicker-1 BKingfisher-2-the Cooper's
took a dive at a female, but was not close, and the irritated female perched
on a rock almost directly underneath the tree the hawk was in. Mourning Dove-1
RTHummingbird-1 CSwift-1 Blue-headed Vireo-1 Red-eyed Vireo-2-one eating Arrowwood
berries. Great-crested Flycatcher-1 EPhoebe-7 NRaven-13-one kettle of 8, plus
another one saw the Cooper's soaring low over the edge of the marshy river and
flew out of his way over to and under the accipiter, and the Cooper's strafed
him with his talons. The two circled together for over 5 minutes, the Cooper's
chasing and strafing the Raven. The Raven would occasionally circle above and
behind the hawk, but never harassed it at all. It was as if it enjoyed the game
of being chased and dove on, as it could have left at any time. It would always
stay just out of reach, or turn over and bare his claws at the hawk when he
took a dive at him. But I never got the impression that either was too serious
about the whole exercise. ACrow-9 Blue Jay-8 BCChickadee-14 WBNuthatch-6 GCatbird-4
ARobin-3 CWaxwing-5 Tree Swallow-115 Barn Swallow-2 Bank Swallow-1 RBGrosbeak-2
Black-throated Green Warbler-2 ARedstart-1 CYellowthroat-13 Canada Warbler-1
Swamp Sparrow-4 Song Sparrow-6 AGoldfinch-9 Redwing-2 Plus I got to watch an
Otter basking in the morning sun in the shallows of the flooded marsh. He saw
me, but being in a kayak, I guess he wasn't sure what I was, and you could see
his nostrils flaring as he was trying to get a whiff of me.
August 22 - Sunday
HATFIELD (from Heather McQueen) At the Pilgram Airport there was a
Red-necked Phalarope, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 3 Least Sandpipers, a Semipalmated
Sandpiper and 50+ Killdeer. The phalarope was put up by a Peregrine Falcon and
did not return within the 2 hours we were there. In NORTHAMPTON the juvenile
Ruddy Turnstone continued in the East MEadows. At the horse farm in HADLEY Chris,
Larry THerrien and I saw 3 Pectoral and 1 Solitary Sandpiper along with 20+
Killdeer.
August 22 - Sunday
MONROE (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) Turkey Vulture (2) Broad-winged Hawk
(1) Winter Wren (1) Golden-crowned Kinglet (3) Blue-headed Vireo (1) Red-eyed
Vireo (5) Blackburnian Warbler (1 1stW) Black-throated Green Warbler (9: at
least 3 1stW) Black and White Warbler (1)
August 23 - Monday
Deerfieldl (from Heather McQueen) Birds seen today in Deerfield include Northern
Harrier (2), Peregrine Falcon (1), Killdeer (17), Pectoral Sandpiper (1), Least
Sandpiper (7), Bobolink (5). In NORTHFIELD there were 30 Killdeer at a large
puddle in a sod field. looks like a good spot for shorebirds after a storm.
August 23 - Monday
NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Down in Arcadia I had Killdeer (10) and Solitary
Sandpiper (2) in the cucumber fields. Also had an Osprey overhead. Also had
Chimney Swifts (75+) and a few Common Nighthawks near the old state hospital
this evening. Also there is a big roost of Grackles and Blackbirds every evening
in the swamp near Stop and Shop...has been for the past few weeks at least.
AUGUST 23 - Monday
WESTERN MASS VOICE OF AUDUBON -
TAt Arcadia Sanctuary in Easthampton the following birds were noted an OSPREY, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 10 NORTHERN FLICKERS, 12 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, a WOOD THRUSH, a BROWN THRASHER, 4 AMERICAN REDSTARTS, 2 CANADA WARBLERS, and a SAVANNAH SPARROW.
An early morning watch at a beaver pond in Leverett produced 8 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 10 WOOD DUCKS, an OSPREY, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 3 BELTED KINGFISHERS, a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, a PILEATED WOODPECKER, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER in North Amherst, and a BARRED OWL at the top of Rattlesnake Gutter in Leverett.
August 24 - Tuesday
NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) In the cucumber field in the east meadows there
was an Upland Sandpiper, 7 Least Sandpipers, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers and a few
Killdeer. Also 20 Horned Lark - the first group I've seen since last spring.
In Arcadia Meadows cucumber fields there were 7 Killdeer and a Pectoral Sandpiper.
August 25 - Wednesday
NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) This morning Heather and I saw a Baird's
Sandpiper in the East meadows near the manure pile. Later, around
4 pm I saw 11 Least Sandpipers and 7 Killdeer.
August 25 - Wednesday
NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) I was down there around 8:30am and had a few
Killdeer and a couple Least Sandpipers and a Semipalmated Plover past the red
barn. I then went back down again at 10 after seeing your post and had Killdeer
(8), Least Sandpiper (10) and a group of other peeps (4) which took off before
I could get a good look. I did have a group of three sandpipers near the manure
pile, fairly distant, at least two were Least's and the other may have been,
but was not moving in quite the same way. I was unable to get great looks due
to distance and heat shimmer...may have been the Baird's but not sure...This
morning I also had a group of five large shorebirds put down in one of the lower
fields toward the river, but was never able to get a good look...they landed
beyond a small hill on the far side of the field and by the time I drove around
to the other side, they were gone.
August 25 - Wednesday
NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by Scott Surner) I went to the East Meadows
looking for the Bairds sandpiper that Chris Gentes reported earlier in the day.
After parking near the large manure piles I scanned the fields with no luck.
I then walked out into the fields and after about 5 min found not one, but (5)
Bairds Sandpipers (all Juv) and (2) Ad Am.golden-Plovers.
After a while the Bairds flew further down the field and continued to feed,
the Golden Plover (only (1) now ) was still present near the manure piles.
August 26 - Thursday
NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) The area around the Ibis Pool has been tilled
twice now and there were 20 Killdeer there this afternoon. I went over to the
East Meadows @4pm but didn't see any shorebirds other than a few Killdeer. I
didn't stay long or walk around it was very hot and dusty. This morning @ 7am
I didn't see any either.
August 26 - Thursday
NORTHAMPTON (posted to massbird by Scott Surner) A
Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found late this afternoon in the East
Meadows/Northampton by Tom Gagnon. Bob Bieda and I relocated the Buff-breasted
around 5:45 along with the Bairds Sandpiper (1). Bob and I watched the bird
for about twenty minutes when a plane taking off at the Northampton airport
flushed the birds...With the help of others, The Buff-breasted, Bairds and (2)
Am.Golden Plovers were later found in another open field just down the road
from the original field. Also present were about 12,000 Swallows-vast majority
"Tree".
August 26 - Thursday
WHATELY (posted to Massbird by Mark Faherty) This afternoon in Whatley I discovered
that it's difficult to count migrating nighthawks and play center field at the
same time. Between pitches I counted about 50 heading south along the river.
Some were undoubtedly slipping by unnoticed. As I was leaving a Screech Owl
was calling in the narrow riparian woodland strip between the field and the
river. Earlier in the day an immature Bald Eagle headed south high over Hadley
following the river.
August 27 - Friday
NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) At 9am near the red barn I had Buff Breasted
Sandpiper (1), Baird's Sandpiper (1), Killdeer (7), Least Sandpiper (8), Bobolink
(6+), Savannah Sparrow (2) and lots of swallows. This evening near the state
hospital area I had Chimney Swifts (50+), Common Nighthawks (4).... The Buff
Breasted and Baird's were with a group of Killdeer and quite close to the road
initially and then moved toward the middle of the field.
August 27 - Friday
NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massburd by Andrew Spencer) Today around noon my grandmother
and I saw the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 1 American Golden-Plover, at least 4
Baird's Sandpipers, and 20+ Least Sandpipers at East Meadows in Northampton.
They were in the large bare field near the red barn and by the manure pile.
The Golden-Plover and the buffie would habg out with the many Killdeer present,
while the Baird's mostly kept to themselves. A photo of the Golden-Plover can
be seen at: http://www.owlspleasure.com/agpl1.jpg And a photo of the Buffie
at: http://www.owlspleasure.com/bbsa1.jpg
August 27 - Friday
NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I were down in the east meadows
from 4-6:30 pm near the red barn where we saw both a Baird's Sandpiper and the
Buff-breasted Sandpiper found by Tom Gagnon on Thursday. Also 1 semipalmated
plover. As we were leaving the meadows we saw a PARAKEET! perched up on a telephone
wire.
August 28 - Saturday
NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We birded the fields of East
Meadows from dawn on this morning. We were later joined by Tom Gagnon, which
is always cheery. Sharp-shinned Hawk (1 that flew into the clouds of swallows
and kept moving on) Peregrine Falcon (1imm: at dawn this bird did some serious
buzzing of the fields. Later we had it perched) Killdeer (15++) Semipalmated
Plover (1) American Golden Plover (1ad) Least Sandpiper (15++) Baird's Sandpiper
(3) Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1) Nota bene: when we first arrived, there were
NO shorebirds in the field across from the manure pile. Driving much further
down the road, we found a flock of Killdeer, the Buff-breasted and several peep,
including 2 Baird's at the far end of a field. Tom joined us at this point.
These birds eventually left, flying far off south. Efforts to relocate this
flock were unsuccessful, but it's a large area and birds could be in any number
of places. Then we went back to the field opposite the manure pile, but this
time from the opposite side (near the red barn). Here was the Golden Plover
and 1 Baird's Sandpiper and several Leasts, all offering great views. Much later,
open leaving, we passed the "manure field" again, which was being plowed. A
group of Killdeer, Leasts and (2) Bairds were in a tight group there. Horned
Lark (9) TREE SWALLOW (75,000++: when we arrived at dawn, the numbers of Tree
Swallows on the road, in the air and roosting in the corn was nothing short
of breathtaking, swirling in huge dense clouds, certainly rivaling anything
I have ever seen on Plum Island. Within an hour, they began to disperse considerably,
though there remained numbers of swallows throughout the morning) Bank Swallow
(30++) Barn Swallow (100++) Yellow Warbler (2) C. Yellowthroat (2) Indigo Bunting
(4) Bobolink (56: flying overhead all morning, but especially early on) Red-winged
Blackbird (40+) Baltimore Oriole (3)
August 28 - Saturday
SUNDERLAND (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I roamed around on this very hot
day looking for new possible shorebird locations. The first place we checked
was on the Conn. River in Sunderland near the Montague border. There is a pulloff
parking spot where you can put in a canoe. South of this location there was
a gravel island where we observed Least Sandpiper (3) and Killdeer (5). Othe
birds seen included a Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher, two Double-crested Cormorants
and a female C. Merganser. We then checked out some fields in NORTHFIELD where
we had an amazing 125+ Killdeer, 2 Least Sandpipers, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers.
A peregrine came in and everything put up. Also seen 2 bluebirds anda Cooper's
Hawk. Later on in North Hadley I checked a few spots on the river with islands,
but the river was too high. I also discovered a large cucumber field, but had
no birds on it.. I did hear a screech owl whinnying in some trees next to the
Conn. River @7pm.
August 29 - Sunday
HATFIELD (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor)
After checking out the East Meadows in Northampton this morning and striking
out on shorebirds, with the exception of a few Least Sandpipers and Killdeer,
I headed North to check out the fields by the old Pilgrim Airport in Hatfield,
near the Whatley town line. This field is off of Main St. on the West side and
has been productive in the past. The field had been plowed under, which is a
good sign, but lacked the large wet areas that they had last year. Nonetheless,
when I pulled in, (there is a decent road, when dry, to pull in to) I had 1
Least Sandpiper in the only puddle in the road. Many Killdeer were in the field
(22) also but nothing else that I could pick out. I drove down to the old hanger
building in the back and from here I spotted 2 juvenile Baird's Sandpipers foraging.
I viewed them at close range for about two minutes when they put up, giving
their soft, raspy "prrrreet" flight call and headed off Southeast. A heavy rainstorm
or two could help draw more shorebirds in.
August 29 - Sunday
NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Early this evening there were (2) adult Golden
Plovers in the lower field along with 4 Least Sandpipers and a dozen Killdeer.
Also Kestrel-1 Merlin-1 Northern Harrier-2 Cooper's Hawk-1 Also @100,000+ swallows
are roosting in the cornfields in the east meadows. A possible PURPLE
MARTIN call was heard by Andrew Magee from the clouds of swallows.
August 30 - Monday
NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) 30 Killdeer in tilled field near Ibis Pool.
There were no shorebirds at all in any of the fields in the afternoon. I did
have a pair of Double Crested Cormorants over the oxbow.
August 30 - Monday
WESTERN MASS VOICE OF AUDUBON
In Northampton were a COOPER'S HAWK, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and a PRAIRIE WARBLER.
A Nighthawk watch in Southwick counted 26 on Thursday, 99 on Friday, and 150 on Saturday. Also seen in Southwick were two GREEN HERONS, a COOPER'S HAWK, 2 GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, 2 CAROLINA WRENS, a BLUE WINGED, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, and PRAIRIE WARBLER, 2 SCARLET TANAGERS, and 3 BALTIMORE ORIOLES.
August 31 - Tuesday
NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) In the East Meadws this morning there were 3
Pheasants. Two male and 1 female. No shorebirds seen. Later in the day in the
Arcadia Meadows there was a solitary Sandpiper and some Killdeer. I checked
many fields in Hatfield and came up with only 1 Least Sandpiper. Conditions
still dry and the river very high today.
August 31 - Tuesday
VARIOUS LOCATION (from Larry Therriien) As far as sightings today...went looking
for shorebirds and came up fairly empty. We didn't get nearly the rain I thought
we would. I stopped at the Arcadia meadows this AM and had Killdeer (34) near
the Ibis pool. Also had several thousand swallows moving by, mainly tree swallows...must
have been coming from the roost in the east meadows. I also had a Coopers Hawk
perched on the power lines along the upper part of Pynchon meadow Rd...great
views. I then went to the old airport in Whatley and had Killdeer (4) and Boblink
(2). Final stop today was in the East Meadows were I had Killdeer (3), Amer
Kestrel (1), Bobolink (5), Savannah Sparrow (5), Amer Redstart (1), Ruby Throated
Hummingbird (2), plus the other usuals.