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May 2005 Sightings
Hampshire, Hampden & Franklin Counties of Massachusetts
First of the Year in RED

May 1 - Sunday - Rain and Cool early, Sun, Breezy and Mild later

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by Tom Gagnon) Seen this Sunday morning before the showers started up again I saw the following: Peregrine Falcon 1 pair (female very dark bird, male very light colored breast, this could have been the pair from Holyoke) birds were VERY VOCAL Kestrel 1 pair Common Merganser 4 Blue-winged Teal 2 pair Barn Swallow 12+ BANK SWALLOW 1 Brown Thrasher 1 Carolina Wren 1 pair WOOD THRUSH 1 Yellow Warbler 1 A VERY POOR morning considering the date of May 1.

AMHERST (from Deedee Minaer) Heard a sora rail (once only) from the bike path.

SHUTSBURY (from Kevin Weir) House Wrens are back. Bird Boxs- All remains the same as last Tuesday (5 Bluebird eggs Box-1) with the exception that box #2 has an almost completed tree swallow nest.

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I started out biking to South Amherst but got caught in the rain so we headed back home. Later when things cleared up we tallied 9 Lesser Yellowlegs and 6 Greater Yellowlegs on Aqua Vitae Road. Also heard a House Wren and Rose-breasted Grosbeak there. We went over to NORTHAMPTON checked the flooded pool in the East Meadows but only saw a pair of Kestrels, female Harrier, Meadowlark, 3 Savannah Sparrows and 50 Crows. We then checked a flooded area in AMHERST on Rte. 116 near an electrical plant and observed 2 Solitary Sandpipers. (this spot was 'discovered' as a spot for Solitarys last year by Dave Mako). A walk up Mount Warner and all we had was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

AMHERST+ (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) Our MAS class birded just a few scant areas in the mid-lower Connecticut River Valley this morning. The weather for the first half of the trip was poor: misty, raining at times, cold. But by the time we hit Longmeadow, the sun came out. SEE: new Western bird finding guide for all directions. Special thanks to Tom Gagnon for scouting some of the birds. AMHERST: WILDWOOD CEMETERY: only a few birds Red-bellied Woodpecker (2) E Phoebe (1) Carolina Wren (2) House Wren (1) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) Brown Thrasher (1) Yellow-rumped Warbler (8) Pine Warbler (2) Palm Warbler (1) Black and White Warbler (1) PLUS; the usual contingent of melanistic Gray Squirrels HADLEY: we only went to Aqua Vitae Road and the Honeypot: Wood Duck (9) N Harrier (1f) Red-tailed Hawk (1) A Kestrel (1m being harassed by 3 Mockers) Killdeer (3) Lesser Yellowlegs (6) Greater Yellowlegs (4) House Wren (1) Yellow Warbler (3) Savannah Sparrow (8) Vesper Sparrow (1) EASTMEADOWS, NORTHAMPTON (rain: we cut the visit short so as not to get mired in the dirt roads) Canada Goose (2) Mallard (4) A Kestrel (2) PEREGRINE FALCON (2: stunning birds, we had them perched and "in the scope". One bird was screaming constantly. Nesting nearby, at Mt Tom or someplace in the Holyoke Range?) Savannah Sparrow (25+) FANNIE STEBBINS, LONGMEADOW: Double-crested Comrorant (2imm) Great Blue Heron (1) Turkey Vulture (1) Mute Swan (pair w/nest. We got to watch the cob bully and drive off a number of Canada Geese) Canada Goose (22: spme trying to nest in the impoundment occupied by Chez Swan) Wood Duck (5) Mallard (13) Osprey (1) Sharp-shinned Hawk (1) Bald Eagle (1ad) Red-tailed Hawk (1imm: fearless, we got to watch this bird on the road in front of us casually toy with and eventually eat part of a Green Frog. It stayed in the immediate area, soon caught a large mouse and we watched it eat that) Virginia Rail (2) Belted Kingfisher (1) Downy Woodpecker (9) hairy Woodpecker (1) N Flicker (2) Chimney Swift (8+) Tree Swallow (25+) Bank Swallow (10+) N Rough-winged Swallow (15+) Barn Swallow (8+) Warbling Vireo (4) BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (22: everywhere: youw ere never out of earshot of one of these birds. This is archtypical habitat for them) Cedar Waxwing (8) Yellow Warbler (21) Chestnut-sided Warbler (2) Yellow-rumped Warbler (58) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1m) Baltimore Oriole (3) PLUS: Muskrat, and a nice display of Jack-In-The-Pulpits.

HADLEY (from Gina Martel and Jaap Van Heerden) At 4:30pm we saw a Blue-winged warbler off of Mitch's Way Marina road in Hadley. The Blue-winged warbler was on the path that runs from Route 47 down into the dirt road (River Rd.?) that extends beyond Mitch's Marina snack shop. I think the path is part of the Connecticut River Greenway.

May 2 - Monday - Mostly Sunny and Cool - Rain Storms Later

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellogg) Ovenbird and a Wood Thrush.

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) 5 Blue-winged Warblers throughout Amherst today.

AMHERST (from Jaap Van Heerden) This morning,at 9:30, on a walk through an otherwise very quiet Wildwood Cemetery, I had a male Northern Parula foraging in a tall birch tree at the low end of the trail that goes past the brush pile. Not much else (Black and White, Chipping Sparrows) other than a very startled Great Horned Owl, gliding away from me, next to the railroad tracks.

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) 2 Greater Yellowlegs in the Ibis Pool.

ASHFIELD (posted to Massbird by Steve Sauter) Today in Ashfield Red-eyed Vireos and Nashville Warblers arrived. Still no Ruby-throated hummingbirds- 1st time in 6 years that he has not come earlier than the previous year. Common merganser pair back on the Swift river.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia: Yellow Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (5), Pine Warbler (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (3), Brown Thrasher (1), Eastern Phoebe (2), Killdeer (1), Great Blue Heron (12) several on nest and a couple sunning themselves with wings spread open, House Wren (1), Eastern Bluebird (2), American Kestrel (3), Tree Swallow (35+), Vesper Sparrow (1), Savannah Sparrow (8), White Throated Sparrow (12), Chipping Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (13), Chimney Swift (1). HOLYOKE- Mount Tom, around Bray lake: Baltimore Oriole (1) singing, Louisiana Waterthrush (2)...maybe a third, Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (3), Pine Warbler (3), Blue Headed Vireo (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (4), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), Eastern Phoebe (2), Junco (3), Kingfisher (1), Chipping Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (4), Red Breasted Nuthatch (1), Tree Swallow (3), Turkey Vulture (1). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (3), Yellow Rumped Warbler (7), Palm Warbler (3), Brown Thrasher (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Carolina Wren (1), Field Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (5), Tree Swallow (2). NORTHAMPTON- Fitzgerald Lake wildlife blindfrom Marian St: Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Kingfisher (1), White Throated Sparrow (1)....relatively quiet here but probably due to going in later in day and dealing with quite a bit of wind. I also had a pair of Chickadees excavating a nest in a small stump...they were both very busy working on making the cavity big enough. Hopefully they are not building too low...its less than two feet off the ground.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday May 2

Found in Longmeadow were 2 VIRGINIA RAILS, a GREEN HERON, a BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, 4 WARBLING VIREOS, 22 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, 21 YELLOW WARBLERS, a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, 2 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS, and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE. Feeding over the ponds were 9 CHIMNEY SWIFTS, 10 BANK SWALLOWS, 15 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, 8 BARN SWALLOWS and many TREE SWALLOWS.

The first RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD of the season was reported at a feeder in Hampden.

Two UPLAND SANDPIPERS were noted on the Westover Air Reserve Base fields. They were seen from the end of Randall Road.

Seen in Southwick were a GREAT EGRET, 2 BANK SWALLOWS, 2 WINTER WRENS, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, a WOOD THRUSH, YELLOW WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, and 2 OVENBIRDS.

Noted in Westfield were 5 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, a WINTER WREN, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

In Amherst there was a SORA, an EASTERN KINGBIRD, a WARBLING VIREO, 5 BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS, a NORTHERN PARULA, and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE.

Observed on the east and west meadows of Northampton were 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, 4 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 12 BARN SWALLOWS, and a WOOD THRUSH.

Found in Hadley were 10 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS, a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, 2 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, 8 SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and a VESPER SPARROW.

A GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH were at the Quabbin Reservoir.

A NASHVILLE WARBLER was in Ashfield.

A GRAY CATBIRD and a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER were reported in Lenox, and 2 FISH CROWS and a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER in Pittsfield.

A birding trip in Northfield produced a SORA, 4 HOODED MERGANSERS, SOLITARY and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 20 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, 10 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, 3 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, and a VESPER SPARROW.

May 3 - Tuesday - Mostly to Partly Cloudy - Cool and Breezy

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) An Ovenbird and Great-crested Flycatcher both at Amherst Woods. Ran into Larry and Deedee at hop brook. Larry and I thought we heard a boblink, but we couldn't locate it

AMHERST (from Deedee) I heard [Heather's] oven and while I was at "the bath tub" I saw a female coopers briefly. I heard the male calling from beyond the live RR tracks. When I was trying to see the oven I heard a wood thrush but it was so faint I could not tell direction.

AMHERST+ (from Larry Therrien) AMHERST-Rail trail from Mill Lane to Station rd, then along river to Groff Park: Gray Catbird (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Willow/Alder Flycatcher (1)...would not sing at all, Black Throated GreenWarbler (1), Yellow Warbler (6), Black and White Warbler (10) Yellow Rumped Warbler (19), Palm Warbler (3), Warbling Vireo (1), American Woodcock (1)...flushed while walking a side trail, Spotted Sandpiper (1)..walking around on the rail trail, Brown Thrasher (2), Green Heron (1), Great Blue Heron (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (4), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (4), Common Raven (1)...flew by twice, House Wren (1), Carolina Wren (3) Eastern Phoebe (2), Eastern Bluebird (1), Eastern Meadowlark (2), Killdeer (1), Chimney Swift (15+), Barn Swallow (3), Tree Swallow (55+), Swamp Sparrow (2), Field Sparrow (2), Chipping Sparrow (2), White Throated Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (19), Brown Creeper (1), Kingfisher (3), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (7), American Turkey (1), House Finch (7), Red Tailed Hawk (2), Turkey Vulture (4), Wood Duck (3), Mallard (5), Canada Geese (11). While near the hop brook bridge, Heather and I heard what sounded like a Bobolink...heard only once. A good morning despite the early fog and cool temps....57 species, maybe 58 with the Bobolink included..not bad for a few hours time. NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (10), Palm Warbler (4), Blue Headed Vireo (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Field Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (9), Song Sparrow (6), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Chimney Swift (2), Carolina Wren (1).

SOUTH HADLEY (from Anthony Hill) Ovenbird and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher today in South Hadley.

NORTH HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) 4 Greater Yellowlegs tucked away in a temporary pool. Also a pair of Rough-winged Swallows checking out their 'nest pipe'. In Northampton a bleak day. 1 Yellowlegs in the Ibis Pool at 1pm. Nothing in the East Meadows pool. Only warbler was a Black-and-white near Paradise Pond this morning. In the HONEYPOT a few Savannah Sparrows and a Kestrel pair on the tree that the box is on.

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Clouds covered just over half the sky. Wind W to NW, 10-15 mph. Temperature 47-50 F (felt colder). Actual start-time: 9:40 EDT. Observations: Two accipiters moved. Non-migrants: 3 Turkey Vultures, immature Cooper's (chased a Flicker), Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk. Chimney Swift (first of year), Nashville Warbler (first of year), Northern Parula (first of year), Yellow-rumped Warblers (10+), Palm Warbler.

SOUTHWICK (posted to Massbird by Scott Ricker) Had a Coopers dive bomb the neighbors feeder and also had a turkey strut thru the neighborhood. The feeder has numerous Grackles and R-wings. Also two pheobes have set up nesting next door.

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellogg) Catbird.

May 4 - Wednesday - Mostly to Partly Cloudy - Chilly and Breezy

NORTHFIELD (posted to Msasbird by Mark Taylor) At approximately 11:00 this morning Dave Caldwell and I spotted a Sandhill Crane flying at low altitude over the Connecticut River. We were in West Northfield on Caldwell Rd. at the time and followed the bird with binos until it dropped down in a general area that I thought might attract the bird on the other side of the river. We headed back to the eastern side of Northfield and sure enough we found the bird at Pauchaug Brook WMA on the northern edge of town. This expanse of cornfield has not been tilled under yet and has a large strip of winter rye, much like the New Salem fields that we found the other Sandhill Crane over a week ago. The bird was at the far end of this winter rye strip which is closest to the river. The crane walked away from sight over a berm but should stick around unless disturbed by walkers. To get here follow Rt. 10 and Rt. 63 through the main street of Northfield. Turn left on Rt. 63N were it branches off Rt. 10 then take first left; less than 100 yds. Walk past the gate and look directly West toward the river, keeping in mind that it was last seen in this green strip. Hopefully the bird will stick around. The only way to be sure (If not in sight) would be to walk in closer from the north end of the field and look back south. ***** Before seeing the Sandhill Crane this morning, we surveyed some of Northfield's best birding spots in search of new arrivals on breeding territory. These areas are highlighted in "The Bird Finding Guide to Western Mass". Our first stop was the "Old Dump" section and found few 'new' birds with the exception of a Virginia Rail. At the Northfield Public Golf Course, or Mill Brook Wetland Area, we saw right off, a Wood Thrush in the trail scratching away the leaves. Farther down the trail, a few Black and White, Black-throated Green, Pine, Palm Warblers, and Blue-headed Vireos were seen. A Solitary Sandpiper was in the wetland area. At Bennett Meadow, Yellow Warblers and Warbling Vireos were on territory. In the Hell's Kitchen region we picked up our first Bank Swallow of the year but target Flycatchers and Yellow-throated Vireos were not 'in' yet. Migration very slow to develop this Spring.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) NORTHAMPTON- Arcadia: Yellow Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (5), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (2), Greater Yellowlegs (1) in the Ibis pool, Gray Catbird (1), Brown Thrasher (1) singing continously, Hermit Thrush (1), House Wren (1), Kingfisher (1), American Kestrel (3)...two females and a male, Barn Swallow (12), Tree Swallow (30+), Common Merganser (1) flyby, Great Blue Heron (7), Savannah Sparrow (3), Chipping Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (17), Song Sparrow (17), Cedar Waxwing (3), plus the usuals. NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Blue Winged Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (2), Black Throated Green Warbler (1), American Redstart (3), Black and White Warbler (3), Palm Warbler (4), Yellow Rumped Warbler (9), Blue headed Vireo (3), Baltimore Oriole (1), Rose Brested Grosbeak (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), Brown Thrasher (1), House Wren (1), Field Sparrow (2), White Throated Sparrow (14), Northern Flicker (2). All the warblers (except the yellow's and blue winged), vireos, other neotropics where in two seperate groups fairly high up and quite active at midmorning...best movement I have had yet this season. NORTHAMPTON- Fitzgerald Lake via Boggy Meadow trail: Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Pine Warbler (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (3) with pair building nest, Spotted Sandpiper (1) near the dam, Hermit Thrush (1), Swamp Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (5).

ASHFIELD (from Steve Sauter) A single Blackburnian Warbler as well as hordes of B&W's and Ovenbirds. Singing ruby-crowned kinglet.

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) A Pileated was seen working a tree along rte 47. Also 2 Spotted Sandpipers flying along the river and 2 male Baltimore Orioles singing. Four Kestrels and 4 Savannah Sparrows in Honeypot. In NORTHAMPTON near the Bowling Alley I saw 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 1 Blue-headed Vireo. Nearby a Catbird was singing. Over near the Ibis Pool I bumped into Pete who had a Greater Yellowlegs in the Ibis Pool. Later in NORTH HADLEY Heather and I were hoping to see a nighthawk but there were only Tree, Rough-winged and Barn Swallows over the pond. An Osprey was perched out on a tree.

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) On the bike path more of the birds that have arrived already - ie House Wrens, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Warbling Vireos, Towhees, Catbirds. Also a Bobolink in the meadow near the KC Trail in Amherst.

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellogg) Bobolink, Whipoorwill

May 5 - Thursday - Mostly Sunny - Warm

SOUTHWICK (from Seth Kellogg) Prairie Warbler, Kingbird

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) On the bikepath near the railroad bridge over the Conn River I saw a Baltimore Oriole, 1 Redstart, 2 Yellow Warblers, 1 Warbling Vireo, 2 Robins building nests on the bridge work, and in a field on the Hadley side just over the bridge 4 red fox pups playing in a freshly plowed field. In NORTHAMPTON at Paradise Pond on a little mud flat there was a Killdeer and a Solitary Sandpiper. In the West Meadows nothing of note. In the East Meadows nothing except 30 gulls following a tractor plowing over the corn.

NORTHAMPTON (posted to Massbird by Bill Lafley) There is a group of 6 fish crows hanging around the Market St/Bridge St/King St block in downtown Northampton.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) NORTHAMPTON- Arcadia meadows: Common Yellowthroat (1)..found after alot of looking, Yellow Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (3)...all three males chasing each other around near the trolley line, Yellow Rumped Warbler (1), Blue Headed Vireo (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (3), White Crowned Sparrow (1), Savannah Sparrow (3), White Throated Sparrow (8), Song Sparrow (16) including one carrying nesting material, Spotted Sandpiper (1), Brown Thrasher (1), Great Blue Heron (7), Barn Swallow (3), Tree Swallow (25+), Cedar Waxwing (12), Wood Duck (6), Red Tailed Hawk (1). HOLYOKE/EASTHAMPTON- Mount Tom State Reservation: Stopped briefly near Bray Lake and then various stops along Christopher Clark Rd...most activity along this road down to Rt 141. Following seen: Worm Eating Warbler (2)...one seen for a few minutes at near eye level...great views, Ovenbird (4), Black Thoated Green Warbler (5), Black and White Warbler (6), Pine Warbler (1), Louisiana Waterthrush (2), Yellow Throated Vireo (1), Blue Headed Vireo (4), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1),Winter Wren (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Tree Swallow (3), Broad Winged Hawk (1), Chipping Sparrow (4). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (3), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (3), Brown Thrasher (1), Eastern Bluebird (1), Chimney Swift (2), Field Sparrow (2), White Throated Sparrow (11), Song Sparrow (10), House Wren (1), Carolina Wren (1), Red tailed Hawk (1), Northern Flicker (2). WILLIAMSBURG- Graves Farm: Northern Waterthrush (1), Ovenbird (1), Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (3), Pine Warbler (2), Yellow Throated Vireo (1), Hermit Thrush (5), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Golden Crowned Kinglet (2), Yellow Bellied Sapsucker (2), Cliff Swallow (5), Barn Swallow (2), Tree Swallow (25+), Eastern Bluebird (1), Red Brested Nuthatch (1), Eastern Phoebe (2), Broad (1), Chipping Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (3).

GRANVILLE BLUEBERRY HILL HAWK WATCH Official Counter: John Weeks Observers: John Weeks Weather: Sunny with increasing cirrus cover. Wind extremely variable (boxed the compass), 5-10 mph. Temperature 54-63 F. Observations: Skimpy flight; promised S wind never came -- but it's probably too late in the season for this to have done much good anyway. Non-migrants: 3 Turkey Vultures, Osprey (one observed flying S), Goshawk, 2 Red-shouldered, Broad-winged. Wild Turkey, Chimney Swift, 2 Barn Swallows (first of year), Nashville Warbler, 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers, American Redstart (singing male - first of year), first female Eastern Towhee of season. This is the last hawk report from Blueberry Hill until next August. Adios, amigos.

NORTHFIELD (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) I thought I should check out a few cornfields in Northfield before this weekend to see what the farmers were up to. Pauchaug Brook WMA is now being tilled, probably eliminating any chance of the Sandhill Crane sticking around here. I checked out Northfield's own "Great Meadow" behind the IGA Store and came up empty here as well. I guess the odds of this bird sticking around here are low, but you never know. Many expanses of cornfield along the Connecticut River Valley just to the north in Vermont, so birders over the border should be on the lookout. As you know, Massbirders can't cross the border to bird. Just joking!

May 6 - Friday - Cloudy and Cool

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) magnolia warbler today, with myrtles

AMHERST+ (from Larry Therrien) Rail Trail from Mill Ln to Station Rd: Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (3), American Redstart (1), Yellow Warbler (8), Black and White Warbler (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (12), Warbling Vireo (1), Gray Catbird (7), Eastern Kingbird (2), Bobolink (8)..probably more, Rose Breasted Grosbeak (2) pair, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (4), Eastern Meadowlark (1), Sharp shinned Hawk (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Eastern Bluebird (1), Hooded Merganser (1), Wood Duck (6), Kingfisher (1), Swamp Sparrow (1), Chipping Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (3), Song Sparrow (8), Chimney Swift (20+), Tree Swallow (40+), plus the other usuals. SOUTH HADLEY- Skinner State Park, summit down to Taylors Notch: Black Throated Blue Warbler (1), Ovenbird (2), American Redstart (1), Black and White Warbler (3), Yellow Rumped Warbler (2), Warbling Vireo (1), Blue Headed Vireo (2), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (2), Common Raven (1), Eastern Phoebe (2), Red Breasted Nuthatch (1), Tree Swallow (1), Junco (6), House Finch (2), Broad Winged Hawk (1), Sharpshinned Hawk (1), Turkey Vulture (2). HADLEY- Mitch's Way: Common Yellowthroat (1), Yellow Warbler (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (10), Yellow Throated Vireo (2), Warbling Vireo (2), Blue Headed Vireo (2), Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Baltimore Oriole (3), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Gray Catbird (5), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Great Blue Heron (1), Tree Swallow (10), Cedar Waxwing (7), Red tailed Hawk (1), Turkey Vulture (2), Chipping Sparrow (1), Mallard (2). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails in the afternoon: Blackburnian Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (3), Black and White Warbler (4), Yellow Warbler (5), Yellow Rumped Warbler (18), American Redstart (2), Common Yellowthroat (2), Palm Warbler (1), Blue Headed Vireo (2), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (4), Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1), Brown Thrasher (2), Eastern Towhee (1), Cedar Waxwing (3), House Wren (1), Carolina Wren (1), Field Sparrow (1), Chipping Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (10), Song Sparrow (4), Northern Flicker (3). The birds were concentrated near the various flowering trees taking the many insects attracted to the flowers.

AMHERST+ (posted to Massbird by David Norton) Our woodthrush was singing when I awoke this morning (in Amherst) -- arrived last night, I assume. I heard ovenbirds in the woods behind us yesterday also. I stopped at the Windsor Memorial this morning for a few tantalizing minutes... SO much more activity than on Wed. eve-- at least 20 yellow-rumped warblers, red-eyed and YELLOW-THROATED (great looks at the latter!) vireos, gnatcatchers, a group of three noisy flickers, a noisy downy woodpecker, the resident chipping sparrows, and a graceful fly-by by an adult bald eagle.

AMHERST - Sally Hills saw a Common Moorhen in the water east of the Hop Brook bridge about 12:15 Friday.

May 7 - Saturday - Rainy, Cold and Breezy

SOUTH AMHERST (club walk) Total Species - 45. This was a cold, wet, windy, rainy morning, but the birds didn't seem to mind too much. Dave Mako, Chris Gentes and Heather McQueen went on this walk and saw the following: Canada Goose (with goslings), Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier (f), Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Chimney Swift, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Phoebe, Empid. Flycatcher, Am. Crow, Bluejay, Starling, Chickadee, WB Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Titmouse, Robin, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Warbling Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler (1), Northern Parula (2), Pine Warbler (3), Yellow-rumped Warbler (20), Palm Warbler (3), Yellow Warbler (6), Black-and-white Warbler (3), American Redstart (1), Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Cowbird, Northern Cardinal, Goldfinch.

HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) In the afternoon I looked for shorebirds and only had 6 Greater Yellowlegs on Aqua Vitae Road (puddle almost gone) and 2 Solitary Sandpipers on Stillwater Road in Deerfield. Drove through Hatfield but couldn't locate any suitable puddles in the fields.

QUABBIN PARK (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We birded Quabbin Park this AM in what has to be the worst conditions to go birding here: periodic showers and rain, windy (sometimes with high gusts), overcast. Really not ideal conditions for inland birding by any ways or means. Early on before it started raining in earnest (ie: pouring) , there were a few pockets of birds and some song. Later as the winds really picked up, and white caps appeared on the Quabbin surface, landbirds became much harder to find and mostly what we tallied were the "persistant" singers. Even so, we did OK, with some great surprise birds and the morning overall was a real challenge to see what we could turn up. Great Blue Heron (1) Canada Goose (pair w/nest) Wood Duck (pair) Mallard (1) Common Merganser (pair) Turkey Vulture (11: these birds were having an extremely tough time in the high winds) Bald Eagle (2ad: these birds were NOT having a hard time in the wind) Red-tailed Hawk (1) BLACK TERN (1: see heading out from Administration Building early on) Mourning Dove (3) Belted Kingfisher (1) Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) Downy Woodpecker (5) Hairy Woodpecker (1) N Flicker (2) Pileated Woodpecker (1) E Phoebe (1) Tree Swallow (145++: large numbers working low over the water in several spots) Bank Swallow (1) N Rough-winged Swallow (2) Cliff Swallow (2) Barn Swallow (33) Yellow-throated Vireo (2) Blue-headed Vireo (1) Blue Jay (3) A Crow (9) Common Raven (4: we checked the nest and could see no activity, but the conditions were such that lighting was poor and birds may have been tucked far up and in. On the other hand, the birds may have fledged) Black-capped Chickadee (14) Tufted Titmouse (3) Red-breasted Nuthatch (1) White-breasted Nuthatch (3) Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (5) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) E Bluebird (4) A Robin (14) WARBLERS: Nashville (1) Yellow (1) Chestnut-sided (1) N Parula (1) Yellow-rumped (8) Black-throated Green (1) Blackburnian (2m: great views and singing) Black and White (9) A Redstart (5) Ovenbird (3) Chipping Sparrow (29) Field Sparrow (2) Song Sparrow (1) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1m) BLUE GROSBEAK (1ad: vicinity of spillway) Red-winged Blackbird (17) C Grackle (21) Brown-headed Cowbird (6: neither rain, nor sleet nor dark of night keeps these brood parasites from their appointed rounds) Purple Finch (4) A Goldfinch (5) PLUS: Rockcrest, Pussytoes everywhere, and a nice patch of Two-leaved Toothwort.

LITTLE RIVER IBA (posted to Massbird by Seth Kellogg) Saturday morning the 7th the Allen Bird Club toured parts of the Little River IBA (Blandford and Granville) and had the following Highlights (Not complete highlights or numbers) 6 Wood Duck 1 Common Merganser 2 Turkey 1 American Bittern 3 Great Blue Heron 1 Black Vulture 1 Bald Eagle adult (perched in tree at edge of small swamp} 2 Broadwing Hawk (near nest) 1 American Kestrel 3 Virginia Rail 4 Black-headed Vireo 1 Raven 2 Winter Wren 2 Bluebird 3 Sapsucker 2 Yellow Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue 6 Yellowrump 1 Pine 2 Black & White 1 Ovenbird 1 Yellowthroat 10 Swamp Sparrow

NEW SALEM (posted to Massbird by Bill Lafley) Sat. morning I was surprised to hear Evening Grosbeaks calling from the trees across the street. They have been very scarce.

May 8- Sunday - Cloudy, Cool and Windy

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) State Hospital: Blue Winged Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (5), Yellow Rumped Warbler (10), Eastern Kingbird (1), Barn Swallow (8), House Wren (1), Field Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (3).

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) No Yellowlegs Aqua Vitae Road this morning. Mitch's Way: Cormorant-1, Harrier-1, Turkey-2, Spotted Sandpiper-1, Wood Thrush-1, Warbling Vireo-1, Catbird-3, Ovenbird-1, Yellow Warbler-5, Redstart-1, Common Yellowthroat-2, Rose-breasted Grosbaek-6, Baltimore Oriole-2. No Cerulean up at Skinner Park (very Windy).

NORTHFIELD (posted to Massbird by Mrk Taylor) More in the order of winter birds here in Northfield, we had four Evening Grosbeaks, one Dark-eyed Junco, and two Purple Finch. Foliage around the yard has advanced to late April stages. No wonder migrating birds have not advanced as well, although this afternoon we had a hungry Rose-breasted Grosbeak at the last remaining feeder after major Black Bear attacks. A Northern Parula was the only other 5B bird here today. Birding locally in varying habitats turned up little in the way of any birds.

DEERFIELD (psoted to Massbird by Rob Ranney-Blake) A solitary Lesser Yellowlegs was among nine male Mallards, scores of Starlings, assorted redwings, Grackles, Cowbirds, and Robins at the hayfield puddle near the Mill Village Road end of Stillwater Road Sunday afternoon.

EAST LONGMEADOW (posted to Massbird by George Kingston) I have located a Turkey Vulture nest in an old shed in East Longmeadow. The female is sitting on at least one egg. This is a first record of nesting of this species in this town.

ASHFIELD (from Steve Sauter) four barred owls, two adults and two young put on a spectacular concert tonight, one owl in each of my yard maples.

May 9- Monday - Sunny and Pleasant

AMHERST+ (from Larry Therrien) - Rail Trail from Mill Ln to Station Rd: Common Moorhen (1) seen briefly twice this morning...looks like it is still around for now, Sora (1) heard a few times, Blue Winged Warbler (4), American Redstart (1), Yellow Warbler (8), Black and White Warbler (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (11), Warbling Vireo (1), Baltimore Oriole (1), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Gray Catbird (6), Eastern Kingbird (3), Bobolink (4), Brown Thrasher (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Eastern Meadowlark (1), Sharp shinned Hawk (2), House Wren (1), Bank Swallow (2), Barn Swallow (6), Chimney Swift (15), Tree Swallow (30+), Great Blue Heron (1), Killdeer (1), Wood Duck (4), Kingfisher (1), Northern Mockingbird (1), Swamp Sparrow (1), Chipping Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (5), Song Sparrow (4), plus the other usuals. HADLEY- Mitch's Way: Northern Parula (1), Common Yellowthroat (2), Yellow Warbler (2), Black and White warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (4), Ovenbird (1), Yellow Throated Vireo (1), Warbling Vireo (2), Least Flycatcher (1), Baltimore Oriole (3), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (3), Gray Catbird (3), Osprey (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Cedar Waxwing (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), White Throated Sparrow (6), Red tailed Hawk (1), Turkey Vulture (2). SOUTH HADLEY- Skinner State Park, walked from bottom to top, mainly along road: Black Throated Blue Warbler (2), Black Throated Green Warbler (7), Ovenbird (6), American Redstart (4), Black and White Warbler (5), Yellow Rumped Warbler (5), Blue Headed Vireo (2), Wood Thrush (1), Winter Wren (2), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Common Raven (1), Eastern Phoebe (2), Junco (5), Red Tailed Hawk (1), Turkey Vulture (1). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Chestnut Sided Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (6), Yellow Rumped Warbler (5), Palm Warbler (1), Brown Thrasher (1), Gray Catbird (2), House Wren (1), Carolina Wren (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Killdeer (1), Savannah Sparrow (2), White Throated Sparrow (10), Song Sparrow (4), Cedar Waxwing (3), Tree Swallow (2). Also saw my first on the year Black Swallowtail...had a Tigar Swallowtail there a few days ago.

NORTH HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) This morning there were 2 Greater Yellowlegs and a pair of mating Killdeer in a small pond. This afternoon a male Orchard Oriole was back singing in his usual haunts. In NORHAMPTON in the East Meadows 3 Horned Larks. A Spotted Sandpiper was on the small sandbar at Paradise Pond. Heather and I looked for the Common Moorhen from 6-8pm but had no luck.

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) Bluebirds have chicks. Look about 2 or 3 days old.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday May 9

A COMMON MOORHEN was found Friday in Amherst east of the Hop Brook bridge on the bike trail. It was still present today.

A SANDHILL CRANE dropped into a corn field in Northfield on Wednesday, but was not seen thereafter.

A HOODED WARBLER was heard singing but not seen at the end of Bark Haul Road on West Road in Longmeadow today

A TURKEY VULTURE was discovered nesting in an old shed in the town of East Longmeadow.

A tour of South Quabbin in the wind and rain Saturday turned up a BLACK TERN, and a BLUE GROSBEAK. The GROSBEAK was near the spillway. Also present were 2 CLIFF SWALLOWS, 33 BARN SWALLOWS, a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, NASHVILLE, CHESTNUT-SIDED, and 2 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS, 2 NORTHERN PARULAS, and 5 AMERICAN REDSTARTS.

In Southwick there was a WHIP-POOR-WILL an EASTERN KINGBIRD, a LEAST FLYCATCHER, a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, a COOPER’S HAWK, 50 BANK and 80 BARN SWALLOWS, a PRAIRIE and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and an INDIGO BUNTING.

A BLACK VULTURE and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK were seen in Granville, a GREEN HERON in Westfield, a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD in Granby, and 2 WORM-EATING WARBLERS and a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO on Mt Tom.

A tour of Blandford produced an AMERICAN BITTERN, 3 VIRGINIA RAILS, 2 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, a BALD EAGLE, 2 WINTER WRENS, and a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER.

Noted in Agawam were a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, 2 BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS, and a WORM-EATING, a PALM, and a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER.

Seen in Amherst were a NORTHERN HARRIER, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, a MAGNOLIA WARBLER, and a BOBOLINK.

Six FISH CROWS were in Northampton.

In Northfield there was a VIRGINIA RAIL, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, NORTHERN PARULA, and an EVENING GROSBEAK.

An EVENING GROSBEAK was also seen in New Salem and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS in Deerfield.

In Hadley there were 7 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 6 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SOLITARY and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, a LEAST FLYCATCHER, and an ORCHARD ORIOLE.

A SORA and 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS were noted in Lenox, an EASTERN KINGBIRD and BOBOLINK in Great Barrington, an EVENING GROSBEAK in Williamstown, a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER and an AMERICAN REDSTART in Monterey, and an AMERICAN BITTERN in Hinsdale. Found in Pittsfield were 3 VIRGINIA RAILS, a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, 2 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, and an INDIGO BUNTING.

May 10 - Tuesday - Sunny and Warm

ASHFIELD (from Steve Sauter) On my walk today I got my first Veery of the year. RT hummingbird came back yesterday- latest date in 7 years. Also 2 Tennessee Warblers and tons of Black- throated blues.

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) Heard a Veery today on the bike trail. I also observed a female Baltimore Oriole START building a nest. I watched her with strands of grass check out a few places on a few trees before she picked a spot and suddenly started wrapping the strands around a forked branch. She left some strands hanging and tucked in some of the other ones.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Chris Gentes) On the old trolley line over Ned's Ditch toward the fields I heard a Black-billed Cuckoo calling several times around 1:15pm Also a Parula not too far up the trail. In the morning in HADLEY biking from North Hadley to the bike trail bridge (Conn River) I had: Wood Duck-2, DC Cormorant-1, Greater Yellowlegs-1, Spotted Sandpiper-5, Flicker-2, Phoebe-3, Wood Thrush-1, Hermit Thrush-1, Catbird-3, Rose-breasted Grosbeak-1, Baltimore Oriole-3, Yellow Warbler-5, Redstart-2, Savannah Sparrow-3. Haven't seen any Kestrels or heard the Vesper Sparrow in over a week. 7pm to dusk in NORTH HADLEY Heather and I took a stroll and saw 3 displaying Woodcocks, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a pair of Orchard Orioles.

MOUNT SUGARLOAF (from Deedee Minear) The sugarloaf peregrine has at least two very small white fluffy chicks.

MOUNT TOM+ (from Larry Therrien) EASTHAMPTON/HOLYOKE- Mount Tom SP. I walked from Rt 141 to Goats Peak and back and then around Bray Lake. Total time there was about 4 hours. Following highlights: Worm Eating Warbler (7), Ovenbird (26), Black Throated Blue Warbler (1), Black Throated Green Warbler (11), Louisiana Waterthrush (4) with a pair seen for several minutes working the shore of Bray lake...great looks, Nashville Warbler (1), Northern Parula (3), Black and White Warbler (15), Pine Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (14), Yellow Throated Vireo (2)...been seeing quite a few of these this year, Warbling Vireo (1), Blue Headed Vireo (8), Red Eyed Vireo (1), Veery (1), Wood Thrush (4), Winter Wren (2), Baltimore Oriole (2), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (2), Eastern Towhee (4) with a pair chasing each other near Goats Peak, Ruby Crowned Kinglet (3), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (4), Eastern Phoebe (6), Brown Creeper (1) singing continously, Pileated Woodpecker (1)..very close view, Double Crested Cormorant (79)...flocks of 46 and 33 from Goats Peak, Common Raven (2), Chipping Sparrow (15+) with pairs mating, Turkey Vulture (10), Red Tailed Hawk (3), Blue Jay (40+)...biggest single group of 25+. EASTHAMPTON- Along East St portion of bike path: Northern Parula (1), Nashville Warbler (1), Ovenbird (1), Common Yellowthroat (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (1), Warbling Vireo (1), Baltimore Oriole (3), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (2)...including a partially albino...bird mostly white with some black feathers were they should be...neat bird, Gray Catbird (3), Eastern Phoebe (2), Sharp Shinned Hawk (1), Red Tailed Hawk (1), Turkey Vulture (1), White Throated Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (5), Wood Duck (2), Chimney Swift (12), Tree Swallow (4), Northern Flicker (1). EASTHAMPTON- Arcadia. Area near parking lot and the old orchard...very active spot: Chestnut Sided Warbler (1), Nashville Warbler (1), Northern Parula (2), Blue Winged Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (1), American Redstart (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (6), Black and White Warbler (2), Pine Warbler (1), Blue Headed Vireo (1), Least Flycatcher (1), Baltimore Oriole (1), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Gray Catbird (3), Eastern Towhee(1) female, House Wren (1), White Crowned Sparrow (1), White Throated Sparrow (7), Chipping Sparrow (3), Cedar Waxwing (2), Northern Mockingbird (1), Tree Swallow (11). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails early afternoon: Worm Eating Warbler (1) eating insects in the fruiting trees...watched for several minutes from less than 10 feet away...never seen one of them here, Blue Winged Warbler (2), Nashville Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (1), American Redstart (4), Yellow Warbler (7), Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (4), Blue Headed Vireo (1), Baltimore Oriole (1), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Brown Thrasher (4)...most ever seen here, Gray Catbird (2), House Wren (2), Fish Crow (1), Savannah Sparrow (2), Field Sparrow (1), White Crowned Sparrow (8), Red Tailed Hawk (1).
9pm, May 10 - This is the kind of radar imagery that means birds are migrating!

May 11 - Wednesday - Sunny and Warm

SHUTESBURY+ (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I headed over to Shutebury first thing and saw the Bluebird chicks - all five of them. Other birds seen in the brief visit with Kevin included: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, House Wrens (defending boxes), Baltimore Oriole, 2 Common yellowthroats, Pine Warbler, Northern Waterthrush. Later in Northampton I checked out the Ibis Pool and saw 3 Least Sandpipers, 4 Greater Yellowlegs and 2 Solitary Sandpiper and not too far away a Vesper Sparrow. Toward dusk in NORTH HADLEY I tallied the following: Ruby-throated Hummingbird-1, Chimney Swift-4, Kingbird-2, Phoebe-1, Rough-winged Swallow-1, Wood Thrus-3, Brown Thrasher-3, Catbird-7, Blue-winged Warbler-7, Parula-4, Nashville-1, Magnolia-2, Yellow-5, Common Yellowthroat-3, field Sparrow-3, Baltimore Oriole-9, Orchard Oriole-5 (3m, 2f), Rose-breasted Grosbeak-9, Indigo Bunting-2.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia. Walked the trails near the visitors center and some limited areas of the meadows. Some areas were really good this monring including the old orchard and along the trolley line. The numbers are absolute minimums...some places had so many birds going by I missed many. Some trees had 20+ warblers at a time. Highlights as follows: Canada Warbler (1), Tennessee Warbler (1), Chestnut Sided Warbler (7), Black Throated Blue Warbler (3), Magnolia Warbler (6), Nashville Warbler (1), Black Throated Green Warbler (4), Northern Parula (1), Blue Winged Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (5), American Redstart (6)..including one female, Yellow Rumped Warbler (40+)..they were everywhere, Black and White Warbler (2), Ovenbird (4), Common Yellowthroat (8), Yellow Throated Vireo (1), Warbling Vireo (2), Red Eyed Vireo (4), Scarlet Tanager (3), Indigo Bunting (1), Baltimore Oriole (4), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Wood Thrush (2), Hermit Thrush (2), Bobolink (21), Eastern Kingbird (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), Gray Catbird (17), Greater Yellowlegs (3), Solitary Sandpiper (2)...these and yellowlegs in Ibis pool..missed some other shorebirds seen by Chris, Spotted Sandpiper (1), Blue Winged Teal (2) pair in Ibis pool, Wood Duck (6), Great Blue Heron (7), House Wren (2), Eastern Phoebe (1), Chimney Swift (5), Barn Swallow (3), Tree Swallow (60+), Savannah Sparrow (5), White Throated Sparrow (10), Chipping Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (7). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Bay Breasted Warbler (1) great looks at singing male, Tennessee Warbler (1)..again great looks at singing bird at eye level, Wilson's Warbler (1), Prairie Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (2), Magnolia Warbler (2), Louisiana Warbler (1), Blackburnian Warbler (2), Chestnut Sided Warbler (3), Northern Parula (1), Nashville Warbler (2), Black Throated Blue Warbler (3), Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (4), Yellow Warbler (9), Black and White Warbler (2), American Redstart (7), Common Yellowthroat (9), Yellow Rumped Warbler (5), Ovenbird (2), Red Eyed Vireo (3), Blue Headed Vireo (1), Scarlet Tanager (3)..including one female...also had a male perched right next to a male cardinal..the added brightness of the tanager in comparison was amazing, Yellow Billed Cuckoo (1)...perched in the top of a tree for five minutes...best and longest view of a cuckoo I have ever had, Indigo Bunting (3), Baltimore Oriole (2), Wood Thrush (2), Eastern Kingbird (1), Least Flycatcher (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (4), Pileated Woodpecker (1) close flyby, Gray Catbird (18), Brown Thrasher (1), House Wren (1), Field Sparrow (1), Savannah Sparrow (2), White Throated Sparrow (10), Song Sparrow (7), Chimney Swift (10), Barn Swallow (2), Tree Swallow (3), Northern Mockingbird (1), Turkey Vulture (1). Total of 20 warbler species here today! WILLIAMSBURG- Graves Farm: Northern Waterthrush (1), Pine Warbler (1), Blackburnian Warbler (2), Black Throated Green Warbler (4), Black Throated Blue Warbler (2), Black and White Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (2), Common Yellowthroat (1), Ovenbird (8), Blue Headed Vireo (2), Red Eyed Vireo (1), Northern Goshawk (1) heard, Broad Winged Hawk (3) soaring together and calling, Red Tailed Hawk (1), Baltimore Oriole (1), Eastern Kingbird (1), Bobolink (6), Veery (1), Wood Thrush (3), Hermit Thrush (1), Least Flycatcher (1), Eastern Bluebird (4), Yellow Belled Sapsucker (1), Cliff Swallow (8) going in and out of nests, Barn Swallow (3), Tree Swallow (25+), Kingfisher (2), Swamp Sparrow (1), Chipping Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (1).

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) brickyard trail esp old KC section 14 species of warbler inc male and female! blackpoll. Dont think I have ever seen them together in migration. also prairie, female blackburian, several canada, Indigo bunting , heard a BB cuckoo in there also.

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) Many more bobolinks More parulas The oriole has the whole structure of her nest completed Saw a total of 5 veerys on the path and in brickyard there was black throated blue, magnolia, Nashville, and least fly.

LONGMEADOW (posted to Massbird by John Hutchison) Highlights (Allen Bird Club) as follow: Wood duck-16 Eastern wood pewee-1 first of year Bl Headed vireo-3 Veery-5 Wood Thrush-6 13 warbler species Blue wing-4 Parula-12 Magnolia-4 Black throated blue-5 Black throated green-4 Chestnut sided-2 Blackpoll-1 firdt of year Scarlet Tanager-1 Rose Br Grosbeak-22 Baltimore Oriole-17 A nice 2 and half hour walk.

GRANVILLE (posted to Massbird by Seth Kellogg) Here is a list of all species on a stop and go tour (6-6:45 am) of Wildcat Road in Granville. These birds are mostly nesters. 2 Sapsucker 1 Pileated 3 Yellow-throated Vireo 3 Blue-headed Vireo 6 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Titmouse 5 Winter Wren 7 Wood Thrush 1 Veery 2 Catbird 7 Black-thr. Blue 3 Black-thr Green 4 Chestnut-sided 4 Black & White 6 Redstart 16 Ovenbird 1 La Waterthrush 1 Canada 2 Yellowthroat 4 Sc Tanager 4 Towhee 3 Rose-br. Grosbeak 1 Oriole 1 Purple Finch 5 Goldfinch

AMHERST+ (posted to Massbird by David Norton) I awoke to singing Baltimore Orioles and Scarlet tanagers.. Finally! Stopped briefly at the Quabbin.. Two beautiful scarlet tanagers, several orioles singing and chattering, LOTS of redstarts (at least 10, mostly male, but one female), 4 gnatcatchers, yellow throated and red-eyed vireos, and as I got in the car a beautiful blackburnian and black-throated green at the Winsor Memorial.

FLORENCE (posted to Massbird by Tom Gagnon) This evening our Ruby-throated Hummingbird returned, ONLY 12 days later than last year. About 7:45 a large male Black Bear (about 300 Lbs.) wandered through the yard and stopped and drank out of the bird bath.

GRANBY (posted to Massbird by Bill Benner) Some nice yard birds this morning for an hour before work--assuming the "yard" includes the pond behind the house. Great to see some nice spring migrants and returning old friends: Wood Ducks 3 Great Blue Heron 1 Solitary Sandpipers 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Rough-winged Swallows 5+ nesting in bank? Gray Catbird 2 Wood Thrush 1 singing Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 females Black-and-White Warbler 1 male Ovenbird 1 singing male Am. Redstart 1 full-colored male C. Yellowthroat 2 males Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 or more singing males Baltimore Oriole 3+ Also, we've only seen Ruby-throated Hummingbird briefly on Saturday, 5/7, a female seen several times. Otherwise, they have yet to return to the feeders.

AMHERST (posted to Massbird by Scott Surner) This morning Val Miller and I birded the bike trail in Amherst from So.East Street to Hop Brook. We did not locate the Co.Moorhen that Sally Hills found a couple of days ago, but there were plenty of other birds to keep us busy. Highlights..... Green Heron-1 Gr.Yellowlegs-1 Solitary Sandpiper-1 Spotted Sandpiper-1 Least Sandpiper-4 Least Fly-2 Gr.Crested Fly-1 Eastern Kingbirds-5 Bh Vireo-1 Warbling Vireo-5 Blue Jay-27 migrating No.Rough-winged Swallow-2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-2 Veery-2 Wood Thrush-2 Gray Catbird-12 Brown Thrasher-3 Am.Pipit-1 Warblers No.Parula-2 Yellow-6 Yellow-rumped-12 B&W-2 Am.Redstart-9 Ovenbird-2 Co.Yellowthr-2 Wilson's-1 Scarlet Tanager-1 R.B.Grosbeak-2 B.Oriole-5

ARCADIA - Andrew Magee had a female Cape May Warbler

May 12 - Thursday - Sunny, Breezy and Cool (FreezeOvernight)

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) State Hospital trails early afternoon: Magnolia Warbler (2), Chesnut Sided Warbler (1), Northern Parula (1), Blue Winged Warbler (4), Common Yellowthroat (7), American Redstart (6), Yellow Warbler (7), Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (5), Red Eyed Vireo (1), Indigo Bunting (1), Baltimore Oriole (2), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (2), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Wood Thrush (1), Brown Thrasher (2), Gray Catbird (10), Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1), Bobolink (3), House Wren (2), Killdeer (1), Great Blue Heron (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Barn Swallow (3), Tree Swallow (4), Chimney Swift (2), Wood Duck (1), Savannah Sparrow (3). DEERFIELD- Stillwater Road: Solitary Sandpiper (6), Killdeer (1), Mallard (6), American Redstart (1), Common Yellowthroat (1), Warbling Vireo (1). GREENFIELD- Poet Seat, short stop with the following: Nashville Warbler (1), Northern Parula (1), Pine Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (2), Ovenbird (5), Red Eyed Vireo (2), Scarlet Tanager (1), Gray Catbird (1).

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) I saw 3 Greater Yellowlegs in the Ibis Pool and a Great Egret (seen at a distance). I was on Old Springfield Road looking over the Bobolink Field along the Power Lines and way in the back near the Heron Rookery there was a Great Egret flying around. in the morning ~6:30 I bumped into Larry at the Old State hospital trails and pretty much saw what he did in the afternoon. The great wave from 5/11 had mostly moved on.

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) heard a willow (fitzbew) flycatcher and a no. waterthrush. Saw a chase (in a line) involving four male baltimore orioles while a fifth was singing. Brickyard was quiet.

May 13 - Friday - Sunny, Chilly, Light Breeze

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia. Wilson's Warbler (3)..most I have seen in a day...one was singing, rest silent. One was near old orchard and the other two near the trolley line. Magnolia Warbler (3), Nashville Warbler (2), Northern Parula (1), Blue Winged Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (15), American Redstart (8), Yellow Rumped Warbler (6), Black and White Warbler (4), Common Yellowthroat (12), Warbling Vireo (3), Red Eyed Vireo (1), Swainson's Thrush (1), Veery (1), Wood Thrush (4), Baltimore Oriole (7)..one group of three males chasing each other, Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Brown Thrasher (4), Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Least Flycatcher (2), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (3), Group of swallows over Ibis pool and perched nearby with Cliff Swallow (4), Bank Swallow (25+), Barn Swallow (12), Tree Swallow (70+), White Crowned Sparrow (1), Savannah Sparrow (8), White Throated Sparrow (5), Chipping Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (20), Bobolink (6), Gray Catbird (18), Great Blue Heron (11), Wood Duck (8)..all males in pool along trolley line, Kingfisher (1), House Wren (2), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Northern Mockingbird (1). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Blue Winged Warbler (4), Chestnut Sided Warbler (3) with one female, Magnolia Warbler (2), Northern Parula (1), Black Throated Blue Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (7), American Redstart (7)..had a female gathering nesting material...she would perch on a limb then jump onto a vine and strip off material..watched her do this several times, Yellow Warbler (8), Black and White Warbler (2), Yellow Rumped Warbler (7), Scarlet Tanager (1), Baltimore Oriole (2), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (2), Least Flycatcher (2), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Gray Catbird (13), Bobolink (2), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (3), Ruby Crowned Kinglet (1), Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1), Barn Swallow (3), Tree Swallow (4), Chimney Swift (8), Savannah Sparrow (3), White Throated Sparrow (4)..including one acting like a warbler picking insects out of a flowering tree.

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) warblers at the top of mt warner rd., bt green 5, blackburnian 3, chestnut-sided 2, blackpoll-2, a heard a Tennessee on the bike path next to the umass extension

GRANBY (posted to Massbird by Lori Rogers) I just had a pair of Evening Grosbeaks at my feeders. This is the first time I've ever had them at my feeders, either here in Granby or in South Hadley where I lived for 6 years prior to moving to Granby. Also, on a short walk down the street to Batchelor Brook this morning I had the following highlights: Scarlet Tanager (M) - first I've seen this year White Crowned Sparrow - great looks! No Parula Black Throated Green Oriole's are continuing to visit my jelly feeders regularly. RT Hummingbirds were scarce until yesterday, now they're visiting regularly.

SPRINGFIELD (from Joe Wojtanowski ) Terry and I got 3 Common Nighthawks. We also had 40 Swifts, 2 Peregrine Falcons. (28 total species).

SKINNER PARK (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I treked up the mountain at 5:30pm. Very quiet overall. No Cerulean. Highlights were Worm-eating Warbler-1, and Junco-1.

May 14 - Saturday - Partly Sunny, Mild

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) Heahter and I went through the East Meadows and Arcadia this morning. In the East Meadows we saw the following birds of note: Killdeer-5, Semipalmated Plover-2, Solitary Sandpiper-10, Greater Yellowlegs-8, Lesser Yellowlegs-2, Least Sandpiper-60+, Spotted Sandpiper-1, Horned Lark-1, American Pipits-25+, Savannah Sparrow-10, Song Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow-3, Meadowlark-1. Over in the West Meadows near/in the Ibis Pool we saw the Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Greater Yellowlegs-4, Least Sandpiper-5, Solitary-2, along with Cliff Swallow-3, and Bobolinks. Next we went up to the orchard area of Arcadia and had a nice assortment of birds including Lincoln's Sparrow-1, Tennesee Warbler, Parula, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo etc. (see Larry's report below). We ran into Larry and the three of us searched the spruces hoping a Cape May would show up - but no such luck. There was a Common Yellowthroat doing a nice imitation of one however. Later we checked SKINNER for the Cerulean - still absent. There were however 10 Redstarts, a Junco and an Indigo Bunting. Nearby in some fields we saw 3 Solitary Sandpipers, a Spotted Sandpiper, more bobolinks and savannah sparrows. In HADLEY at the horse farm there was Greater Yellowlegs-1, Least Sandpiper-15, Pectoral Sandpiper-1, and more bobolinks. Later in NORTH HADLEY we observed 8 Bobolinks in a single Apple Tree! Must have been migrating. Also Orchard Orioles, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrow, Blue-winged Warbler, etc. Found a robin nest with 3 eggs.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia. Old orchard area, along trolley line: Canada Warbler (1), Wilson's Warbler (1)...checked one spot where I had one yesterday...still there singing away, Tennessee Warbler (2)..eventually had both within feet of each other singing, Magnolia Warbler (4), Northern Parula (4), Chestnut Sided Warbler (1), Black Throated Blue Warbler (3)...two females, Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (3), Yellow Warbler (6), Yellow Rumped Warbler (21), Pine Warbler (2), Common Yellowthroat (12), Ovenbird (1), American Redstart (3), Yellow Throated Vireo (1), Red Eyed Vireo (4), Scarlet Tanager (4), Baltimore Oriole (3), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Least Flycatcher (2), Wood Thrush, Veery, Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1), Bobolink (3), House Wren (2), In Ibis Pool had Greater Yellowlegs (4), Least Sandpiper (1), Solitary Sandpiper (1), Blue Winged Teal (1), Over and near Ibis Pool had Cliff Swallow (3), Bank Swallow (20+), Barn Swallow (9), Tree Swallow (45+), Gray Catbird (15), Kingfisher (1), Great Blue Heron (5) flybys, Savannah Sparrow (5), Chipping Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (8). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Canada Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (2), Nashville Warbler (1), Northern Parula (1), Black Throated Blue Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (6), Yellow Rumped Warbler (3), Common Yellowthroat (7), American Redstart (4), Warbling Vireo (1), Red Eyed Vireo (6), Scarlet Tanager (2), Baltimore Oriole (2), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Least Flycatcher (1), Eastern Kingbird (1), Gray Catbird (9), Brown Thrasher (1), Field Sparrow (1). NORTHAMPTON- Fitzgerald Lake-from Marian St to blind and out to pine grove near lake: Great Horned Owl (1)...flushed by Blue Jays at far side of swamp opposite blind...flew to far left of swamp and perched..oddly jays didn't follow but continued to harass something in the pine grove...perhaps another Great Horned? They gave up after a few more minutes. Bird perched was still there when I left at 3:45. Blackburnian Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (1), Pine Warbler (3), Black Throated Blue Warbler (1), Black Throated Green Warbler (3),Yellow Warbler (5), Common Yellowthroat (2), Ovenbird (8), Red Eyed Vireo (2), Scarlet Tanager (2), Baltimore Oriole (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (2) pair near trail to blind, Eastern Kingbird (1), Broad Winged Hawk (2) pair, calling overhead near Marian St, Swamp Sparrow (2), also a couple of thrushes I flushed along the trail...never got a good look and they went deep into the woods.

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) Heard bb cuckoo at orchard hill and at marks meadow today. Tennessee singing at orchard hill in an apple tree, Wilson's in the willows. pair of orchard orioles at pulpit hill this eve.

SPRINGFIELD (from Joe Wojtanowski) At Blunt Park in Springfield today 14th of May, I had a Gray-cheeked Thrush.

The current (9:40pm.) radar imagery shows a movement of birds over the Northeast. With the approaching rain expected sometime overnight, a nice fallout might occur Sunday morning.

May 15. Sunday - Cloudy with Occasional Rain

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I checked out the East Meadows shorebird pool and had the following: Killdeer-2, Semipalmated Plover-3, Solitary Sandpiper-24, Least Sandpiper-41, Snipe-1, Black-billed Cuckoo-2 calling from near the river, Pipit-2, Bobolink3. In the West Meadows we had the following in the Ibis Pool area: Greater Yellowlegs-3, Solitary Sandpiper-8, Least Sandpiper-16, Lincoln Sparrow, all 5 Swallow species and Bobolinks. Also - a Tree Frog IN an empty birdbox! Near the wooded swamp off Olive Street there was a little warbler wave including: Chestnut-sided-3, Common Yellwothroat-6, Yellow-4, Blackpoll-4, CAnada-1, Magnolia-1, Parula-2, Redstart-4, Black-throated Blue-1, Yellow-rump-8, Tennesee-1, Wilsons-1. Also Indigo Bunting, Swamp Sparrow, Warbling Vireo-3, Red-eyed Vireo-3, Least Flycatcher, Waxwings-15, DC Cormorant-5. Also 2 Solitary Sandpipers in flooded pools around the Hadley Mall. In DEERFIELD at the Stillwater Road mud puddle there were Killdeer-4, Solitary Sandpiper-25, Greater Yellowlegs-1, Lesser Yellowlegs-3, Least Sandpiper-3. Near OLD DEERFIELD we saw 4 Green Heron. In NORTH HADLEY in a puddle there were Wood Duck-15, Solitary Sandpiper-9, Least Sandpiper-4, Spotted Sandpiper-5, a Hermit Thrush and a Tanager.

DEERFIELD (posted to Massbird by Rob Ranney) By Sunday morning, the count of Solitary Sandpipers at the Stillwater Road hayfield puddle in Deerfield is 12, with 4 Greater and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Killdeer, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, 11 Least Sandpipers, 2 male Wood Ducks and 8 male Mallards. Between there and the Stillwater Bridge are Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, Baltimore Orioles, Redstarts, Yellow, Black-throated Blue & Black-throated Green Warblers, a Parula, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Robins, Chickadees, Titmice, WB Nuthatches...

AMHERST (from Harvey Allen) Today on the H.A.Trail toward Belchertown there was an Olive-sided Flycatcher, quite a distance off and then flew off. On the Bike Trail going the other way he had a few Veerys and a Gray-cheeked Thrush on the Bike Trail. The Yellow-thoated Vireo is backat Hop Brook. Also saw a pair of Wood Ducks - the female went in a hole in a tree.

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) Heard a mourning warbler early (6:15) in Pulpit Hill Con area. (Pulpit Hill Road near golf course.) Never saw it. It was singing the same song that the one at the Hitchcock Center last year sang. (no or minimal turn at the end) When I went back later it was not heard. In between I tracked down a GHO surrounded by screaming crows. At that time, while a noisy freight train went by, a veery was singing nearby. Another mourning warbler orchard hill low area where east west trail cuts through cattails singing enough 8 30 to 9 for me to see it eventually. at times feeding above eye level in the poplars. also there: BB cuckoo, two tennessee, wilson's

HADLEY (from Janice Jorgensen) Had one ruby throated hummer in my quince this a.m.

QUABBIN PARK (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) Our MAS class took a trip this morning to Quabbin Park. The weather was a bit iffy, with some periods of showers and a general dark overcast . This probably cut down on song and movement somewhat, but we did fine none-the-less with some outstanding views of lots of birds: Common Loon (5) Double-crested Cormorant (1) Great Blue Heron (1) Turkey Vulture (2) Canaad Goose (1) A Black Duck (2) Mallard (1) Common Merganser (2f+1m) Osprey (1) Red-tailed Hawk (1) Wild Turkey (5) Killdeer (1) Spotted Sandpiper (2) Ring-billed Gull (22) Chimney Swift (2) Ruby-throated Hummingbird (2) Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2) Downy Woodpecker (7) N Flicker (2) Pileated Woodpecker (1) Eastern Wood Peewee (3) Least Flycatcher (10) Eastern Phoebe (12) Great Crested Flycatcher (1) Eastern Kingbird (7) Yellow-throated Vireo (10) Warbling Vireo (2) Red-eyed Vireo (38) Blue Jay (16: some migratory movement east) A Crow (8) Common Raven (pair at nest with young) Tree Swallow (9) N Rough-winged Swallow (2) Barn Swallow (2) Black-capped Chickadee (14) Tufted Titmouse (5) Red-breasted Nuthatch (1) White-breasted Nuthatch (6) House Wren (1) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (14) Eastern Bluebird (2) Veery (4) Hermit Thrush (1) Wood Thrush (2) A Robin (28) Gray Catbird (10) Cedar Waxwing (1) WARBLERS: Blue-winged (3) Nashville (2) N Parula (5) Yellow (12) Chestnut-sided (43) Magnolia (11) Black-throated Blue (6) Yellow-rumped (15) Black-throated Green (12) Blackburnian (11) Pine (12) Prairie (3) Black and White (14) A Redstart (47: everywhere. Several times we watched several males in high display around a single female : chasing each other et) Worm-eating (1) Ovenbird (18) C Yellowthroat (13) Wilson's (6) Canada (2) Scarlet Tanager (17) E Towhee (14) Chipping Sparow (44) Field Sparrow (3) Song Sparrow (7) White-crowned Sparrow (1ad feeding on a trail in front of the whole class) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (12) Indigo Bunting (3m+1f) Red-winged Blackbird (6) C Grackle (22) Brown-headed Cowbird (15+) Blatimore Oriole (39) House Finch (1) A Goldfinch (8) PLUS: Loads of American Toads calling along the water's edge; River Otter, some nice areas of Columbine in full bloom. Mark Lynch/Sheila Carroll

NORTHFIELD (posted to Massbird by Mark Taylor) While walking on the main path in the Millbrook Wetland Area in Northfield this morning, we were pleasantly surprised at the sight of a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO foraging above us. Great looks of this uncommon and secretive bird. The Cuckoo vocalized its "tok" call as described in Sibley. Other highlights include: Hooded Merganser ( Female with newly hatched young) Common Merganser (Female. Possible breeder? I'll keep checking) Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird (2) Wood Thrush (6) Veery (2) Brown Thrasher Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee LINCOLN'S SPARROW Warblers: TENNESSEE Blue-winged (4, the males singing Blue-winged song, all pure Blue-winged) Yellow (3) Chestnut-sided (3) Magnolia (2) Blackburnian Yellow-rumped (8) Black-throated Green Pine (2) Black-and-White American Redstart (6) Ovenbird (3) Common Yellowthroat (4)

May 16. Monday - Partly Cloudy - Nice

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) This afternoon in the Ibis Pool there were 2 Dunlin, 3 Greater yellowlegs, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Solitary Sandpipers and 13 Least Sandpipers.

AMHERST (from Heather McQueen) Time for a good ole fashioned birds on the bike path count: From Railroad St Hadley to Amherst College, Tennis Court entrance House Wren – 5 Carolina Wren -3 Brown Thrasher -2 Catbird- lost count Wood Thrush – 3 Veery-2 Kildeer- 5 (2 pairs + one pair had a chick with them) Chestnut Sided – 7 Palm - 2 Yellow Warbler – 9 Redstart – 8 Black and White- 3 BlackPoll- 5 C. Yellowthroat –6 Tennessee-1 BT Blue -2 Parula – 2 Blackburnian-1 BT Green – 2 Ovenbird – 1 Pine - 1 Scarlet Tanager – 2 Least Fly- 3

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) East Meadows-Made a quick drive through this morning in the rain...only birds of note were Killdeer (3) and a Ruby Throated Hummingbird doing a flight display...arcing back and forth in the air...always interesting to see. NORTHAMPTON/EASTHAMPTON- Arcadia: Made a morning trip down there and returned to Ibis pool mid afternoon: Canada Warbler (1), Bay Breasted Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (2), Wilson's Warbler (2)...one along trolley line still in same spot for at least four days, Magnolia Warbler (7), Northern Parula (3), Chestnut Sided Warbler (3), Black Throated Blue Warbler (3), Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (6), Yellow Rumped Warbler (12), Pine Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (10), Ovenbird (1), American Redstart (7), Yellow Throated Vireo (1), Red Eyed Vireo (4), Baltimore Oriole (2), Willow Flycatcher (1), Least Flycatcher (5), Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Eastern Kingbird (3), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (2), Eastern Phoebe (1), Bobolink (25+), Wood Thrush (3), Hermit Thrush (1), Veery (1). In Ibis Pool had Dunlin (2), Greater Yellowlegs (5), Lesser Yellowlegs (2), Semipalmated Sandpiper (1), Least Sandpiper (15), Solitary Sandpiper (5), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Wilson's Snipe (1), Blue Winged Teal (2), Wood Duck (2). Also had a big gathering of swallows near the Ibis Pool this morning with Cliff Swallow (75+)..lots of them, Bank Swallow (100+), Barn Swallow (15), Northern Rough Winged Swallow (3), Tree Swallow (90+)...these numbers of swallows are conservative. Chimney Swift (8), Gray Catbird (15), Cedar Waxwing (8), Great Blue Heron (3) flybys, Savannah Sparrow (15), Chipping Sparrow (3), Song Sparrow (8). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Black Billed Cuckoo (1) calling, Canada Warbler (1), Wilson's Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (3), Nashville Warbler (1), Chestnut Sided Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (3), Northern Parula (1), Black Throated Blue Warbler (2), Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (10), Yellow Rumped Warbler (3), Common Yellowthroat (11), American Redstart (6), Red Eyed Vireo (4), Scarlet Tanager (1), Baltimore Oriole (4), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Bobolink (35+)..most I have had here...big group in field opposite compost dump, Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Least Flycatcher (4), Eastern Kingbird (1), Indigo Bunting (1), Gray Catbird (13), Brown Thrasher (1), Wood Thrush (2), Killdeer (1), Bald Eagle (1) juvenile, Savannah Sparrow (3), Northern Mockingbird (2), Bank Swallow (2), Barn Swallow (4), Chimney Swift (5), Carolina Wren (1).

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday May 16

In Springfield there were 3 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, an EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, 5 SWAINSON’S THRUSH, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, a BLACKPOLL, and a WILSON'S WARBLER,in Ludlow a COMMON LOON, 5 BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, and an ORCHARD ORIOLE, and in Hampden a WORM-EATING WARBLER and 7 NORTHERN PARULAS.

Noted in West Springfield were a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, 4 CLIFF SWALLOWS, 22 NORTHERN PARULAS, 5 BLACKPOLL, and a WORM-EATING WARBLER.

Seen in Longmeadow were 2 VIRGINIA RAILS, 2 SORAS, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 5 GREATER and 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 24 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 25 LEAST SANDPIPERS, a SNIPE, an EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, 13 NORTHERN PARULAS, a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, and 3 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.

In Agawam there was a MERLIN, 3 EASTERN WOOD PEWEES, a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, 3 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, 18 SWAINSON’S THRUSH, 2 TENNESSEE, 4 BLACKPOLL, 3 WORM-EATING, 3 WILSON’S, and 2 HOODED WARBLERS, and an ORCHARD ORIOLE.

Observed in Holyoke were a COMMON LOON, an AMERICAN BITTERN, a BARN OWL, a SORA, a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, a MARSH WREN, 3 TENNESSEE, 2 WORM-EATING, 2 WILSON’S, and a MOURNING WARBLER.

In Chicopee there were 2 SORA, 2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS, 5 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, and 11 NORTHERN PARULAS.

In Northampton there was a GREAT EGRET, a DUNLIN, 3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 32 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, a SNIPE, 2 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, 25 AMERICAN PIPITS, and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW.

Found in Hadley were 9 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, and 5 ORCHARD ORIOLES.

Deerfield had 4 LESSER and 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 25 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS.

Northfield had a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, a TENNESSEE WARBLER, and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW.

Mt Holyoke had a CERULEAN WARBLER, and Quabbin Reservoir had 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 9 COMMON LOONS, a CERULEAN, a WORM-EATING, and 7 WILSON¹S WARBLERS.

In Southwick there were YELLOW-BILLED and BLACK BILLED CUCKOOS, a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and 2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS.

May 17 - Tuesday - Partly Cloudy - Nice

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia. Warblers numbers lower today: Wilson's Warbler (2), Magnolia Warbler (5), Northern Parula (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (6), Yellow Rumped Warbler (12), Common Yellowthroat (14), American Redstart (3), Red Eyed Vireo (5), Warbling Vireo (1), Eastern Wood Pewee (1), Baltimore Oriole (3), Willow Flycatcher (2), Least Flycatcher (2), Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Indigo Bunting (1), Eastern Kingbird (5), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (3), Bobolink (12), Wood Thrush (3), Veery (1), Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1) gathering nest material along trolley line, Bald Eagle (1) adult, Eastern Bluebird (1), In Ibis Pool- Dunlin (2), Greater Yellowlegs (2), Lesser Yellowlegs (2), Least Sandpiper (10), Solitary Sandpiper (2), Killdeer (1), Blue Winged Teal (2). Cliff Swallow (3), Bank Swallow (40+), Barn Swallow (2), Northern Rough Winged Swallow (1), Tree Swallow (45+). Chimney Swift (8), Gray Catbird (22), Cedar Waxwing (14), Great Blue Heron (5) flybys, Savannah Sparrow (10), Chipping Sparrow (2). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Black Billed Cuckoo (1) calling, Canada Warbler (2), Wilson's Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (3), Nashville Warbler (1), Chestnut Sided Warbler (4), Magnolia Warbler (4), Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (8),Yellow Rumped Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (12), American Redstart (5), Warbling Vireo (1), Red Eyed Vireo (3), Eastern Wood Pewee (1), Scarlet Tanager (2), Baltimore Oriole (2), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Bobolink (6), Willow Flycatcher (1), Least Flycatcher (2), Common Merganser (1) flyby, Indigo Bunting (1), Gray Catbird (17), Wood Thrush (3)..pair has a nest built along trail...nest is quite exposed and less than three feet off the ground...will be interesting to see if it is successful, Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1), Field Sparrow (1), Savannah Sparrow (2), Northern Mockingbird (1), Barn Swallow (2), Chimney Swift (5), Carolina Wren (1).

NORTHAMPTON (from Chris Gentes) In the East Meadows puddle this morning I counted: Killdeer-2, Greater Yellowlegs-1, Solitary Sandpiper-5, Least Sandpiper-102, Bank Swallow-40, Brown Thrasher-1.

NORTH HADLEY (from Larry Therrien) Walk with Chris & Heather: Black-billed Cuckoo^ (pair, 1 other), Common Nighthawk (3), Canada Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (3), Magnolia Warbler (2), American Redstart (1), Warbling Vireo (2), Orchard Oriole (1), Baltimore Oriole (4), Scarlet Tanager (1), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (2), Wood Thrush (3), Eastern Kingbird (1),Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1), Empidonax Flycatcher (1), Field Sparrow (1), Northern Rough Winged Swallow (1), Chimney Swift (10).White Throated Sparrow (6), Gray Catbird (7)...plus other usuals.

May 18 - Wednesday - Partly Cloudy - Nice

MT. HOLYOKE (from Deedee Minear) Yellow bill cuckoo heard this aft near base of skinner mt. (Harvey had one on top this am.) At summit this morning, BB cucko heard, yellow throated vireo, and two redstarts building nest near the indigo bunting. No ceruleans. One bay breasted a couple of turns down. Three swainsons (two near bottom of road) Others saw the worm eating pair at Taylor Notch.

NORTHAMPTON + (from Larry Therrien) (1), Black and White Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (3), Yellow Rumped Warbler (3), Pine Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (11), American Redstart (2), Warbling Vireo (1), Red Eyed Vireo (5)..including one poor individual unable to fly...all it could do was climb the bushes to get away from threats., Black Billed Cuckoo (1) calling, Baltimore Oriole (2), Scarlet Tanager (1), Eastern Wood Pewee (1), Willow Flycatcher (3), Least Flycatcher (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Eastern Kingbird (3), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (2), Eastern Phoebe (2), Bobolink (8), Wood Thrush (3), Veery (2), White Crowned Sparrow (1), Ruby throated Hummingbird (1), In Ibis Pool had Dunlin (2), Greater Yellowlegs (3), Least Sandpiper (7), Solitary Sandpiper (5), Blue Winged Teal (2). Wood Duck (1), Cliff Swallow (1), Bank Swallow (35+), Barn Swallow (2), Tree Swallow (35+), Chimney Swift (3), Gray Catbird (16), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Cedar Waxwing (8), Great Blue Heron (2) flybys, Savannah Sparrow (8), White Throated Sparrow (3), Chipping Sparrow (3), Song Sparrow (8). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Yellow Billed Cuckoo^ (1)..great looks, Black Billed Cuckoo (1) calling, Canada Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (3), Chestnut Sided Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (5), Common Yellowthroat (7), Ovenbird (1), American Redstart (6), Red Eyed Vireo (2), Lincoln's Sparrow (1), Eastern Towhee (1), Baltimore Oriole (2), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Bobolink (3), Least Flycatcher (1), Indigo Bunting (1), Gray Catbird (16), Brown Thrasher (1), Wood Thrush (5), Savannah Sparrow (2), Barn Swallow (2), Chimney Swift (10), Carolina Wren (1), Red tailed Hawk (2) pair.

May 19 - Thursday - Partly Cloudy - Nice

TURNERS FALLS - Nancy Buchanan found 6 Short-billed Dowitchers and a Greater Yellowlegs at Turners Falls canal.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) NORTHAMPTON- Fitzgerald Lake-Went in from North Farm Rd this morning: Black Throated Green Warbler (2), Magnolia Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (1), Pine Warbler (1), American redstart (1), Common Yellowthroat (5), Ovenbird (3), Red Eyed Vireo (4), Hooded Merganser (2) females, Green Heron (1), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Scarlet Tanager (1), Hermit Thrush (1), Wood Thrush (2), Veery (3), Baltimore Oriole (2), Swamp Sparrow (1). AMHERST- Rail trail from Mill Ln down to Brickyard area and nearby trails: Golden Winged Warbler (1) female, Mourning Warbler (1), Blue Winged Warbler (3), Wilson's Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (1), Northern Parula (1), Black Throated Blue Warbler (2), Black Throated Green Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Chesnut Sided Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (8), Common Yellowthroat (14), American Redstart (3), Warbling Vireo (6), Red Eyed Vireo (2), Black Billed Cuckoo (1) seen and heard, Greater Yellowlegs (1), Solitary Sandpiper (2), Least Sandpiper (2), Killdeer (1), Baltimore Oriole (10) with one near complete nest over the trail, Scarlet Tanager (1), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (3), Willow Flycatcher (1), Least Flycatcher (2), Eastern Kingbird (3), Wood Thrush (7), Veery (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Bobolink (3), Great Blue Heron (2), Swamp Sparrow (1), Chipping Sparrow (1), Gray Catbird (20+), Carolina Wren (1), and other usuals. NORTHAMPTON/EASTHAMPTON- Arcadia- Black Billed Cuckoo (1) seen at 10 feet away in full light and heard, Wilson's Warbler (1)..still in same spot along trolley line, Yellow Warbler (2), Pine Warbler (1), American Redstart (3), Common Yellowthroat (4), Warbling Vireo (1), Red Eyed Vireo (2), Baltimore Oriole (3), Great Crested Flycatcher (3), Willow Flycatcher (1), Brown Thrasher (1), Eastern Kingbird (3), Ruby Throated Hummingbird (2), Least Sandpiper (8), Solitary Sandpiper (1), Great Blue Heron (3) flyby, Bobolink (5), Eastern Bluebird (4), House Wren (1), Red Tailed Hawk (3), Gray Catbird (12), Bank Swallow (30+), Barn Swallow (4), Tree Swallow (40+), Chimney Swift (20+), Savannah Sparrow (4), Cedar Waxwing (3).

May 20 - Friday - Mostly Sunny - Nice

AMHERST (from harvye Allen) A Little Blue Heron seen at Plum Springs this afternoon, (likely the one seen earlier this week by Janet and Joyce along with a Black-crowned Night-heron).

HADLEY+ (from Larry Therrien) HADLEY- Mitch's Way: Canada Warbler (4), Wilson's Warbler (1), Blackpoll Warbler (1), Chestnut Sided Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (2), Blue Winged Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (3), American Redstart (7), Common Yellowthroat (9), Ovenbird (1), Yellow Throated Vireo (1)...near beggining of road..had it there the last three times I have stopped, Warbling Vireo (6), Red eyed Vireo (4), Orchard Oriole (2) pair...female had nest material, Baltimore Oriole (8), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Least Flycatcher (1), Wood Thrush (7), Veery (3)...one with nest material, Green Heron (1), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Common Raven (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Gray Catbird (20+), Northern Rough Winged Swallow (3), Bank Swallow (25+) over the river, Eastern Kingbird (1), Kingfisher (3), Wood Duck (4). HADLEY- Skinner SP..walked from bottom to top and back along road: Worm Eating Warbler (2)...one seen quite well, Black Throated Green Warbler (4), Blackburnian Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (2), Black and White Warbler (5), American Redstart (6), Ovenbird (9), Red Eyed Vireo (13), Swainson's Thrush (3), Veery (1), Wood Thrush (9), Scarlet Tanager (2), Baltimore Oriole (1), Eastern Wood Pewee (2), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Indigo Bunting (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Common Raven (2), Pileated Woodpecker (2), Cedar Waxwing (2). NORTHAMPTON- Paradise Pond area looking for Kentucky warbler without luck. Did have the following: Blackpoll Warbler (1) as I was leaving, Black and White Warbler (1), American Redstart (2), Common Yellowthroat (3), Red Eyed Vireo (3), Warbling Vireo (2), Yellow Billed Cuckoo (2)...one seen high in the trees, Scarlet Tanager (1), Green Heron (1), Common Merganser (10)...one adult female and 9 little puff balls...swimming and diving near the island, Spotted Sandpiper (1), Killdeer (2), Eastern Kingbird (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Baltimore Oriole (1), Gray Catbird (3), Carolina Wren (2)..pair near where the Kentucky was seen. Also had a mink running the far bank..going up river quick. NORTHAMPTON- Short stop at State Hospital trails: Blue Winged Warbler (2), Black and White Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (5), Common Yellowthroat (3), Indigo Bunting (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Brown Thrasher (1), Eastern Kingbird (1), Bobolink (5), Gray Catbird (9)...with one bird who had webs all over its chest, beak and wings...probably getting some tent catepillars. Also made a brief stop by Ashley Res. in Holyoke and had highlights of Pine Warbler (3), Blue Headed Vireo (1), Red Breasted Nuthatch (1), Double Crested Cormorant (2)...plus other stuff...but that was the new stuff

NORTHAMPTON - Anne Lombard heard and saw a Kentucky Warbler at the far side of Paradise Pond near the small muddy pool/inlet.

QUABBIN (posted to Massbird by David Norton) Brief stops at the Quabbin near the Winsor both this morning and this evening revealed lots of birds and song, although nothing terribly unusual in my brief stay. There was a very noisy yellow-bellied sapsucker both calling and drumming, but I never did see him. Warblers included--black and white, Canada, magnolia, redstart (heaps), common yellow throat, chestnut-sided, palm, yellow-rumped, ovenbird. There were lots of baltimore orioles, many chasing each other, (no orchard orioles seen by me-- although I wish!). Also two (at least) male scarlet tanagers, a least flycatcher, 4 blue gray gnatcatchers, many catbirds, one wood thrush seen, others heard, and veeries heard. A beautiful common loon flew by the area of the memorial, just past the treees over the water. The pull off just down the hill from the memorial was particularly birdy, and as there are lots of small trees bushes, the warblers were at eye level... redstarts were practically at my feet with a chestnut-sided and black and white.

May 21 - Saturday - Mostly Sunny - windy

Highlights from the club big day include American Bitterns at both Fitz. Lake and Hop Brook, Swainson's Thrush on Mount Tom, Orchard Oriole in North Hadley. Click here for complete report.

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) bb cuckoo opposite atkins.

MONSON (posted to Massbird by Mark Lynch) We headed today to one of the more out-of the-way small towns of Massachsuetts: Monson. This town is south of Palmer, well east of the Connecticut River and on the Connecticut border. It is adjacent to Wales, MA if that is any help. It is a rather attractive town. There is a small main street and the rest of the town is typical suburban mixed with small farms and wooded hills that are rapidly being developed at a discouraging rate (the number of "Starter Castles" and "McMansions" is growing daily). Much of the area is quite steep, especially in the NW corner, the hiilsides covered with deciduous trees with an undergrowth of Mountain Laurel et. There are important small areas of hemlocks which were very hard hit by wooly adelgid several years back. We went back to see how these areas were doing. In the Lunden/Miller Pond area, a number of trees are effectively dead, with some even now fallen over. However, the worst hit trees were those that were on the very pond edge and therefore getting the most sun, those set back in the forest were damaged some, but seemed to be holding on and we did detect new growth. So all is not lost. It may be that the severe winters have stopped the spread at least temporarily. We mostly stuck to just a few areas: Butler Road, which has two nice Trustees of Reservations properties: Peaked Mountain (we only birded the base of this hill) and Lunden/Miller Pond (which we hiked around). We then hit Conant Brook Army Corps of Engineers water control project which has a nice wooded swamp with trails. BTW: if you look at your road map, it may show this area as a big reservoir, but it isn't. Both of these spots are in the BIRD FINDING GUIDE TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS (pp.293). We also did some birding along the winding roads of the NW corner of the town. There was virtually NO migration in evidence today here, and except for (1) Solitary Sandpiper, (2) Blackpolls and a Parula, all the other birds are very likely breeders. Great Blue Heron (2) Turkey Vulture (5) Canada Goose (7+1 on nest) Mallard (5) Red-shouldered Hawk (1) Broad-winged Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawk (4) Ruffed Grouse (1) Wild Turkey (4) Solitary Sandpiper (1) Spotted Sandpiper (3) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1) Belted Kingfisher (2) Red-bellied Woodpecker (3) Downy Woodpecker (4) Hairy Woodpecker (4+ 1f at nest with young heard inside) N Flicker (5) Pileated Woodpecker (1) Eastern Wood Peewee (9) Acadian Flycatcher (1: possibly a breeder, but most likely a migrant) Eastern Phoebe (15) Great Crested Flycatcher (5) Eastern Kingbird (7) Yellow-throated Vireo (2) Blue-headed Vireo (9) Warbling Vireo (13) Red-eyed Vireo (80) Blue Jay (31) A Crow (12) Tree Swallow (33) N Rough-winged Swallow (6) Barn Swallow (9) Black-capped Chickadee (42) Tufted Titmouse (55) Red-breasted Nuthatch (10: we got more of these here than inside Quabbin last weekend!) White-breasted Nuthatch (11) Brown Creeper (5) Carolina Wren (1) House Wren (6) Winter Wren (1) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2) E Bluebird (4) Veery (13) Wood Thrush (11) A Robin (144) Gray Catbird (54) Cedar Waxwing (4) WARBLERS: Blue-winged (5) Nashville (1) N Parula (1) Yellow (17) Chestnut-sided (6) Magnolia (1) Black-throated Blue (1: low. Likely more found higher up on Peaked Mountain) Yellow-rumped (4) Black-throated Green (10) Blackburnian (3m: this bird has been very affected by the devastation of the hemlocks) Pine (9) Blackpoll (2) Black and White (7) A Redstart (30) Worm-eating (1) Ovenbird (43) Northern Waterthrush (2) Louisiana Waterthrush (1) C Yellowthroat (31) Scarlet Tanager (18) E Towhee (24) Chipping Sparrow (83) Field Sparrow (1) Song Sparrow (40) Swamp Sparrow (3) N Cardinal (20) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (24) Indigo Bunting (6m) Bobolink (6) Red-winged Blackbird (72) C Grackle (69) Brown-headed Cowbird (5) BALTIMORE ORIOLE (62: we were never out of earshot of an oriole) Purple Finch (1) A Goldfinch (29) PLUS: Celandine, Starflower, Ladyslippers almost in bloom and a very nice display of Fringed Polygala and soem Dwarf Ginseng too.

May 22 - Sunday - Rainy and Cool

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) Warbling vireo out back. Indigo buntings, orchard orioles, chestnut sided warbler, scarlet tanangers, rose breasted grossbeaks, yellow throats, b orioles, wood thrush, overnbirds, barn swallows among arrivals over the last week.

NORTH HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) In North Hadley mud puddle there were 3 Least Sandpipers, 5 Solitary Sandpipers and 2 Spotted Sandpipers. At the Horse Farm I saw 1 Greater Yellowlegs. At Stillwater Rd. in Deerfield I counted 5 Solitary sandpipers. In some scrub next to the Old Deerfield Pond I saw a Mourning Warbler.

May 23 - Monday - Cloudy and Cool

PELHAM+ (from Chris Gentes) Heather and I walked in Gate 15 and had the following birds: Grouse-1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-2, Downy Woodpecker-1, Acadian Flycatcher-(at least 1 - heard calling 2 different location a half hour apart - may have been same bird), Hermit Thrush-1, Winter Wren-1, Black-capped Chickadee-5, Red-eyed Vireo-7, Ovenbird-6, Black-throated Blue Warbler-6, Blackburnian Warbler-4, Black-throated Green Warbler-5, Magnolia Warbler-1, Black-and-white Warbler-1, Common Yellowthroat-1, Redstart-1, Lousiana Waterthrush-1, Canada Warbler-1, Scarlet Tanager-2, Towhee-2, Chipping Sparrow-3. At Jonathan Bridge in NEW SALEM we has Pileated Woodpecker, Grouse, Alder Flycatcher. We then stumbled across the Kiwanis Park in ORANGE which consists of a few trails near a beaver pond. It was very birdy for such a small areaand might be good for ducks in migration as you get a nice view of the pond. Wood Duck-3, Kingfisher-1, Pileated Woodpecker-1, Downy Woodpecker-1, Phoebe-2, Kingbird-3, Chickadee-3, Brown Creeper-1, Red-eyed vireo-1, Warbling Vireo-1, Yellow-rumped Warbler-1, Black-throated Green Warbler-2, Blackburnian Warbler-1, Redstart-1, Common Yellowthroat-1, Black-and-white Warbler-1, Tanager-2, Towhee-1, Red-winged Blackbird-6.

FLORENCE (from Larry Therrien) Tennessee Warbler singing near downtown Florence.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday May 23.

In Amherst there was a LITTLE BLUE HERON, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, and GOLDEN-WINGED, MOURNING, and WILSON’S WARBLERS.

A KENTUCKY WARBLER was found Friday at Paradise Pond in Northampton. Also seen in Northampton were 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL, an AMERICAN BITTERN, a BLACK-BILLED and 2 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, 3 GREATER and 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 DUNLIN, a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, TENNESSEE and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW.

In Deerfield there was a MOURNING WARBLER along with 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS.

In Turners Falls 6 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS were noted.

Found in Hadley were a HOODED MERGANSER with a chick, a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 3 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS and a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, 3 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, 3 SWAINSON’S THRUSH, and a WILSON’S WARBLER. On Mt. Holyoke 3 WORM-EATING WARBLERS were seen.

An ACADIAN FLYCATCHER was in Pelham by Gate 15 of the Quabbin Reservoir. An ALDER FLYCATCHER was noted in New Salem.

A tour of areas in Monson produced a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, 9 EASTERN WOOD PEWEES, NASHVILLE, BLACKBURNIAN, WORM-EATING, and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, a NORTHERN PARULA, 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, and 62 BALTIMORE ORIOLES.

Another tour along the Ware River had an AMERICAN BITTERN, a HOODED MERGANSER, a VIRGINIA RAIL, 4 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 6 NASHVILLE WARBLERS, a CAPE MAY WARBLER, a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, a LINCOLN’S SPARROW and an ORCHARD ORIOLE.

Found in Sheffield were 18 BLACK VULTURES, a PURPLE MARTIN, and a WILLOW FLYCATCHER. Several PINE SISKINS came to a feeder in Pittsfield.

A VIRGINIA RAIL, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH were in Longmeadow, and a WORM-EATING WARBLER and ORCHARD ORIOLE were seen in Agawam.

The ACADIAN FLYCATCHER continues on Wildcat Road in Granville. Also noted in Granville were 3 COMMON LOONS, an AMERICAN BITTERN, a COOPER’S HAWK, a BARRED OWL, a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, 4 SWAINSON’S THRUSH _ one singing _ 2 NASHVILLE, 3 BLACKPOLL, and 3 CANADA WARBLERS, a NORTHERN PARULA and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH.

In Southwick there were 2 EASTERN SCREECH OWLS, a WHIP-POOR-WILL, 2 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, 2 VESPER SPARROWS, and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.

May 24 - Tuesday - Rainy and Cold

DEERFIELD (from Chris Gentes) Stillwater Road had 7 Solitary Sandpipers, 1 Least Sandpiper and 3 Greater Yellowlegs. Near Old Deerfield there was a Kestrel. In NORTH HADLEY there were 1 Killdeer, 6 Solitary Sandpipers, a Least Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Sandpipers and 40 very low flying Chimney Swifts.

NORTHAMPTON+ (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) At about 5:30 P.M. an adult Arctic Tern was hunting the edges of Fitzgerald Lake in Northampton. It can be seen from the boat launch accessible from the paved pathway on North Farms Road. There are a few Cliff Swallows there also. This morning at the manure swale on Stillwater Road in DEERFIELD: Wood Duck-2 Mallard-3 Greater Yellowlegs-3 Solitary Sandpiper-9 Spotted Sandpiper-2 "peep"-1-chased by Redwing back and forth across swale. Sure looked like Least.

May 25 - Wednesday - Rainy and Cold

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) Looked for the tern this morning before work...not found by myself or another guy who was there before me. No sightings from 6-6:45. However I only looked from the boardwalk and the fishing spot, as did the other guy earlier this morning, The other guy there had an Osprey there. I had Common Yellowthroat (5), Yellow Warbler (1), Ovenbird (2), Red Eyed Vireo (3), Swamp Sparrow (2), Wood Thrush (3), Hermit Thrush (1).

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) Lots of poison ivy....but last night lots of warblers. There was one of the loudest black throated blue warblers I have heard right above the chair. Buntings, chestnut sided, warbling vereo, lots of goldfinch and a bunch I couldn't id. They are feasting on the tree catkins.

DEERFIELD+ (from Chris Gentes) At Stillwater Road there were 9 Solitary Sandpipers, 8 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Spotted Sandpipers. Elsewhere in Deerfield there were 6 Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Solitary Sandpiper and a Green Heron on a nest. In the East meadows we saw a female Northern Harrier. No shorebirds there however, and nothing in the Ibis Pool.

May 26 - Thursday - Cloudy and Cool

NORTH HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) Two unusual birds this morning in North Hadley - a singing Tennesee Warbler and a hammering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Also catbirds building a nest, an Empid flycatcher, warbling vireos and baltimore orioles. On Aqua Vitae Road we saw 10 Semipalmated Plovers, 2 Killdeer and 2 Least Sandpipers. In LONGMEADOW we couldn't find any suitable shorebird puddles. We did see 15 DC Cormorants, 2 Great Blue Herons, 1 Great-crested Flycatcher, a calling Virginia Rail, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper and a Blackpoll. In one of the swamps way in back there was a gathering of 30+ male mallards - seemed like they may have gathered there to molt. Also throughout we had warbling vireos, common yellowthroats, yellow warblers, baltimore orioles, song sparrows, robins (including 2 chicks with open eyes in a nest).

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) Arcadia meadows drive through, Oxbow and Ibis Pool: Solitary Sandpiper (1) along road, Blackpoll Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (3), Red Eyed Vireo (1), Double Crested Cormorant (3), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Willow Flycatcher (2), Eastern Kingbird (1), Bobolink (10+), Barn Swallow (3), Tree Swallow (30+), Chimney Swift (15), Savannah Sparrow (3). NORTHAMPTON- East Meadows: No shorebirds, no big puddles (or even many small ones). Had a Mallard and a group of Canada Geese (35). NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: In a steady drizzle late this morning: Northern Parula (1), Blue Winged Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (3), Common Yellowthroat (5), American Redstart (4), Warbling Vireo (1), Red Eyed Vireo (1), Yellow Billed Cuckoo (1), Wood Thrush (2), Indigo Bunting (1), Ruby Throated Hummingbird (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Gray Catbird (6), Bobolink (5), Savannah Sparrow (2). NORTHAMPTON- Fitzgerald Lake via North Farms Rd: No tern seen today...didn't really expect it to be there. Did have the following: Osprey (2), Canada Warbler (1), Black Throated Green Warbler (4), Black Throated Blue Warbler (1)Black and White Warbler (1), Pine Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (2), Common Yellowthroat (7), Ovenbird (4), Red Eyed Vireo (7), Alder Flycatcher (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (3), Yellow Billed Cuckoo (1) heard, Scarlet Tanager (1), Baltimore Oriole (3), Eastern Wood Pewee (1), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Kingfisher (1), Wood Duck (2), Veery (5), Wood Thrush (7), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (2), Yellow Bellied Sapsucker (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Cliff Swallow (2), Northern Rough Winged Swallow (1), Bank Swallow (12), Barn Swallow (4), Tree Swallow (15), Turkey Vulture (8), Swamp Sparrow (2).

LEVERETT (from Deedee Minear) Leverett Pond: common loon and adult bald eagle (taking off) this aft.

DEERFIELD (posted to Massbird by Rob Ranney-Blake) On Mount Sugarloaf in Deerfield, the 3 Raven juveniles seem to be off their nest today (11:00 AM Thursday 5/26), and there was constant - yes, constant - Raven squawking from the little mountain's top, north of the nest area. The mountain's Peregrine chick (maybe plural) was still white and fuzzy Saturday, and today at least one of the parents is on their ledge. The chick(s) are very rarely visible, but the parents are usually obvious. Dozens of Chimney Swifts arrived today. The Stillwater hayfield mud puddle near the stinking silage heap had only one Solitary Sandpiper this morning, with 2 Spotted Sandpipers and at least 9 very active Greater Yellowlegs. Among the many Tree and several Barn Swallows feeding over the field was at least one Cliff Swallow. No Phalaropes. Regulars on Sand Gully Road include 2 Pileated Woodpeckers, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Wood Thrushes, Baltimore Orioles, 7 or more Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Eastern Bluebirds. Still waiting for Peewees. I didn't post this before, but I saw two Bald Eagles over the Deerfield river on May 14. Nesting Bald Eagles are now residents around here, but these were notable for being dark-headed sub-adults.

May 27 - Friday - Mostly Sunny and Warm

AMHERST (from Deedee Minear) Amherst rail trail: a few migrants: blackpoll (2), magnolia (3), mourning warbler singing eye level (countersinging with the resident yellow-throat) opposite the former pileated hole. (not there on my return) residents: no. waterthrush (2), canada (2), alder fly (past station road). Cuckoo-flower in bloom, but heard no cuckoos.

NORTH HADLEY+ (from Chris Gentes) In North Hadley the empid from Thursday was calling - Alder Flycatcher. Tennessee still singing near car shop. Also Blackpoll-1 along with the regulars - Warbling Vireo, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Redstart, Catbirds, etc. Heather and I took a walk in Mitch's Way. Warblers: Parula-1, Yellow-5, Chestnut-sided-1, Redstart-3, Magnolia-4, Canada-3, Common Yellowthroat-5, Black-and-white-1, Blackpoll-2. Also Black-billed Cuckoo-1 (called like a yellow-billed), Yellow-billed Cuckoo^-1, Solitary Sandpiper-1, Spotted Sandpiper-3, Waxwings-30, and all the expected including veery, pewee, rb grosbeak, indigo bunting, etc. Later in NORTH HADLEY w saw Blue-winged-2, Chestnut-sided-3, Redstart-1, Magnolia-5, female Hooded-1. Nothing else I can think it was. Was skulking. I got a long look and drew a picture. Had olive back that went to cap on head. Face was yellow. Had thin black lores. Had slight black on chin. Had white on tail feathers. Also Nighthawk-1, Brown Thrasher-2.

SPRINGFIELD (posted to Massbird by Russ Titus) Friday morning there was a good fall-out of migrants along Emerson St. in Springfield including a Philadelphia Vireo, Tennessee and Cape May Warbler plus 8 other warbler spp.

MONTAGUE PLAINS (posted to Massbird by Bob Packard) Montague Plains WMA in Montague: GBHeron-4+-flying over back and forth all day from who knows where to who knows where. Cooper's Hawk-2-male and female circling overhead together. These breed here. Redtail-2 Spotted Sandpiper-1-flooded road MoDove-2 Barred Owl-heard during darkening sky RTHummer-1 EWPewee-2 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER-2-fighting and calling a plaintive pyeer right over me in small trees. Alder Flycatcher-1-breed in scrub Great Crested Fly-2 BHVireo-1-chattering like chat REVireo-4 BlueJay-5 ACrow- TreeSwallow-1 TTitmouse-3 BCChickadee-3 WBNuthatch-2 Veery-2 Hermit Thrush-5+ ARobin-3+ GCatbird-3+ BThrasher-3 CWaxwing-3 Blue-winged Warbler-2 Nashville-5+-everywhere in the WMA Chestnut-sided-3 Magnolia-1 Yellow-rumped-3 Black-and-White-5+ Blackburnian-2 Black-thr Green-1 Prairie-8+ Pine-10+ Canada-1 Ovenbird-11 CYellowthroat-3 ARedstart-4 Scarlet Tanager-4 ETowhee-10+ Field Sparrow-8+ Chipping Sparrow-10+ RBGrosbeak-1 Indigo Bunting-1 m. ComGrackle-4 BHCowbird-3 AGoldfinch-5 This morning in Turners Falls three Grasshopper Sparrows were singing. This was not at the airport, but on private property, I think.

May 28 - Saturday - Sunny and 70s

HADLEY (from Chris Gentes) In North Hadley we heard a Black-billed Cuckoo. At Mitch's way we mostly had the same birds from Friday with a few differences. Warblers: Blue-winged-1, Chestnut-sided-1, Yellow-5, Redstart-3, Blackpoll-2, Bay-breasted-1, Canada-1, Mourning-1, Common Yellowthroat-7. We also had 3 Black-billed Cuckoos and 1 Yellow-billed^. Also 7 migrating Cormorants, hummingbird, 1 Orchard Oriole. Later we had a single Solitary Sandpiper at Stillwater Rd. in DEERFIELD.

NORTHAMPTON+ (from Larry Therrien) NORTHAMPTON/EASTHAMPTON- Arcadia: Blackpoll Warbler (3), Yellow Warbler (3), Northern Waterthrush (1), Black and White Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (13), American Redstart (8), Yellow Throated Vireo (1), Warbling Vireo (4), Red Eyed Vireo (3), Olive Sided Flycatcher (1) flycatching along the trolley line, Great Crested Flycatcher (3), Willow Flycatcher (5), Eastern Wood Pewee (2), Baltimore Oriole (1), Eastern Kingbird (4), Eastern Phoebe (1), Eastern Bluebird (2), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (1), Wood Thrush (2), Veery (1), Bobolink (6), Solitary Sandpiper (1) flyby, Killdeer (1) flyby, Ruby throated Hummingbird (1), Brown Thrasher (1), Great Blue Heron (5) flybys, House Wren (1), Gray Catbird (19), Savannah Sparrow (5), Wood Duck (1), Cedar Waxwing (15), Bank Swallow (22), Tree Swallow (25), Chimney Swift (1), and other usuals. Although no shorebirds in the Ibis Pool, did have a Snapping Turtle just outside it. Also a deer and a few rabbits. NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital Trails: Blue Winged Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (3), Common Yellowthroat (7), American Redstart (5), Red Eyed Vireo (2), Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Willow Flycatcher (1), Baltimore Oriole (2), Indigo Bunting (2), Gray Catbird (6). WILLIAMSBURG- Graves Farm: Blackburnian Warbler (4), Black Throated Green Warbler (3), Black Throated Blue Warbler (1), Yellow Rumped Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (4), Ovenbird (10) including a pair in the same pine tree at eye level slowly following each other around giving a very low series of chip notes...barely able to hear it even close up...never heard it before...neat. Blue Headed Vireo (2) pair chasing off a cowbird, Red Eyed Vireo (11), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Indigo Bunting (2), Great Crested Flycatcher (1), Brown Creeper (1), Wood Thrush (2), Hemit Thrush (2), Veery (3), Eastern Wood Pewee (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Bobolink (3)...didn't check the main fields, Cliff Swallow (15+), Barn Swallow (1), Tree Swallow (15), Broad Winged Hawk (1), White Throated Sparrrow (1).

May 29 - Sunday - Rainy then clearing

SHUTESBURY (from Kevin Weir) Spotted two indigo buntings and first day - pewee

May 30 -Monday - Sunny and nice

NORTHAMPTON/EASTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) - Arcadia: Peregrine Falcon (1) juvenile perched in a tree on the trolley line with a few crows in attendance. Both the flacon and the crows were making some weird noises. A tree swallow was also making dives at the falcon. After about 10 minutes, the falcon decided to head off. Also seen there were Pine Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (1), Chestnut Sided Warbler (1), Yellow Warbler (6), Common Yellowthroat (12), American Redstart (6), Warbling Vireo (6), Red Eyed Vireo (10), Willow Flycatcher (6), Great Crested Flycatcher (4), Eastern Kingbird (7) with some carrying nesting material, Eastern Wood Pewee (2), Brown Thrasher (1), Baltimore Oriole (5), Bobolink (3), Eastern Phoebe (1), Indigo Bunting (1), Blue Gray Gnatcatcher (3), Wood Thrush (3), Eastern Bluebird (2), Gray Catbird (25), Great Blue Heron (5) flybys, Wood Duck (8)..most near Neds Ditch, Brown Creeper (1), Bank Swallow (30+), Tree Swallow (25+), Chiiping Sparrow (1), Savannah Sparrow (3), Red Tailed Hawk (2) pair, Cedar Waxwing (17), House Finch (1) and other usuals. Also had a Snapping Turtle in the Ibis Pool and one in an area of Ned's Ditch. NORTHAMPTON- State Hospital trails: Canada Warbler (1), Black and White Warbler (2), Yellow Warbler (4), Common Yellowthroat (7), American Redstart (5), Warbling Vireo (1), Red Eyed Vireo (6), Great Crested Flycatcher (2), Baltimore Oriole (3), Rose Breasted Grosbeak (1), Indigo Bunting (3), Wood Thrush (3), House Wren (1).

MOUNT TOM (posted to Massbird by Tom Gagnon) This morning I spent some time on Mt. Tom State Reservation like I have for the past 20+ something years on Memorial Day weekend. I like to count the local breeders and usually find a few migrants each year. It appears to me that many of the warblers seem to have missed the Connecticut Valley this spring and seeing all your reports from different hot spots on the coast, I would say that they almost totally missed the valley. I was pleased to see a report yesterday from Ida G. stating it almost seemed like the old days with good numbers of warblers. In years past I would usually list about 12 -14 species of warblers. Today SIX Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Overbird 4 Worm-eating Warbler 3 Black & White Warbler 3 Redstart 2 Magnolia Warbler 1 All local breeders, NOT a single migrant. Scarlet Tanager 4 SHOULD HAVE BEEN 12-15 All species were way down in numbers. My ONLY MIGRANT was a Gray-cheeked Thrush, which I have several times seen here on Memorial Day Weekend. Certainly not encouraging numbers.

LEVERETT (posted to Massbird by Seth Kellogg) Benjamin Normark reports that today he observed a Swallow-tailed Kite circling low for several minutes over the town of Leverett, before the bird headed off to the east.

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS This is the Western Voice of Audubon for Monday May 30

Today a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen circling for several minutes low over Moore’s Corners in Leverett. before it went off to the east.

An ARCTIC TERN was found Tuesday afternoon on Fitzgerald Lake in Northampton, but was not present the next morning or subsequently.

Other sightings in Northampton during the week were a NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 5 CLIFF SWALLOWS, a NORTHERN PARULA and a BLACKPOLL WARBLER.

Seen in Hadley were 3 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, an ALDER FLYCATCHER, an ORCHARD ORIOLE, a female HOODED WARBLER, a COMMON NIGHTHAWK, a NORTHERN PARULA, and a TENNESSEE, 3 CANADA, 2 BLACKPOLL, a BAY-BREASTED, and a MOURNING WARBLER.

In Springfield there was a PHILADELPHIA VIREO, a TENNESSEE WARBLER, and a CAPE MAY WARBLER.

Three GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were at Turners Falls, a MOURNING WARBLER in Pittsfield, a BLACK VULTURE in Williamstown, a VIRGINIA RAIL and BLACKPOLL WARBLER in Longmeadow, a MOURNING WARBLER in Westfield, 2 WORM-EATING WARBLERS in the south Quabbin Reservoir, and a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER in Southwick.

A walk along the Appalachian Trail and up the Cobble in Tyringham produced 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS, 3 WILSON'S SNIPE, an AMERICAN WOODCOCK, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 10 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, 7 ALDER and 3 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, and 3 BLACKBURNIAN and 2 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.

Noted in Amherst were 2 ALDER FLYCATCHERS, 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, 2 BLACKPOLL, a MOURNING, and 2 CANADA WARBLERS. In Montague there were two COOPER’S HAWKS, 2 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, 5 NASHVILLE, 2 BLACKBURNIAN, 8 PRAIRIE, and a CANADA WARBLER.

Early in the week in Deerfield there were 6 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 8 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 9 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS.

May 31 -Tuesday - Sunny and nice

UMASS (from Gina Martel) 3 Peregrine chicks were banded from the nest box on the northeast corner of the roof of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library at UMass by two staff members of MassWildlife's Connecticut Valley District. The two females and one male chick are about 2-3 weeks old. This is the third year in a row that the library nesting has been successful. In 2004 there were four chicks. In 2003 there was one chick.

MOUNT SUGARLOAF (froM Deedee Minear) 2 chicks banded at Sugarloaf (dont know sex) we decided to watch from below since the bander decided to band them at the nest site. If you are ever on top and get a good look, the female is banded, I think it is silver on the right and yellow over red on the left. They asked if anyone saw the numbers on the colored bands.

NORTHAMPTON (from Larry Therrien) I had a Sora calling in the Barrett St marsh at 4pm...easily heard from the parking lot at Stop and Shop.