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3rd Annual Big Valley Day Results
May 21, 2005
narrative by Chris Gentes

The major change for the 2005 NBWC Big Day was that instead of looking for birds in Hampden, Hampshire and Frankilin counties, our search area was limited to the Northampton Christmas Bird Count circle. A map of this area can be found here (courtesy Hampshire Bird Club)

At 4am Harvey Allen, Dave Mako, Chris Ellison, Heather McQueen and I met at Fitzgerald Lake (Cooke St.) to begin the big day. It was cool and the skies were clear. We set off for the blind in the dark still morning. At 4:10 we heard out first bird of the day - an OVENBIRD (1). We tried for owls long the way but got no responses. As we turned off the main path toward the blind we heard a SCARLET TANAGER (2). These would be one of the most common birds we encountered throughout the day. At 4:20 we arrived at the blind: WHIP-POOR-WILLS (3) called from Cookes Pasture. Over the next 45 minutes it slowly got lighter and bird song increased. While at the blind we heard: CARDINAL (4), VEERY (5), SWAMP SPARROW (6), COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (7), RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (8), TREE SWALLOW (9), YELLOW WARBLER (10), SONG SPARROW (11), HERMIT THRUSH (12), WOOD THRUSH (12), RUFFED GROUSE (14), EASTERN PHOEBE (15), BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE (16), and BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (17). As the sky lightened an AMERICAN BITTERN (18) flew across our field of view from right to left heading toward the lake. Next a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (19) called from across the marsh. Bird song continued for the next half hour and we began to see birds as well. We added: WILLOW FLYCATCHER (20), BLUE JAY (21), YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (22), WOOD DUCK (223), and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (24).

We headed over to the dam at 5:30 and along the way we encountered ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (25), RED-EYED VIREO (26), and TUFTED TITMOUSE (27). At the dam there was a pair of NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS (28). What appeared to be a young (and injured) GREAT-HORNED OWL (29) flew in front of us and perched on a tree for a few minutes. As the sun hit the tree tops we added a few more birds including: BALTIMORE ORIOLE (30), BLACKPOLL (31), BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (32), COMMON GRACKLE (33), GRAY CATBIRD (34), GREAT BLUE HERON (35), WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (36), DOWNY WOODPECKER (37), KINGFISHER (38), MALLARD (39), BARN SWALLOW (30), and AMERICAN CROW (41).

At 6:30 we left the dam and along the path heading back to the Moose Lodge we added BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (42), BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (43), EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (44), BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (45), and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (46). In the parking lot we observed a HOUSE FINCH (47).

Larry Therrien joined the group and we headed over to the East Meadows. Along the way we quickly tallied MOURNING DOVE (48), STARLING (49), HOUSE SPARROW (50), CHIMNEY SWIFT (51), ROCK PIGEON (52) and AMERICAN ROBIN (53).

As we drove into the meadows at 7:30 it was obvious the the cold and windy conditions would make finding our two target birds, Horned Lark and Vesper Sparrow, difficult. And indeed we missed both birds. An AMERICAN KESTREL (54) quickly flew by. While looking for the lark we added KILLDEER (55), SAVANNAH SPARROW (56), and CANADA GOOSE (57). A puddle in the field which had hosted an assortment of birds over the past week had all but dried up. A few shorebirds in the puddle flushed as we approached. After comparing notes we had seen between us SPOTTED SANDPIPER (58), GREATER YELLOWLEGS (59), LEAST SANDPIPER (60), and SOLITARY SANDPIPER (61). A RED-TAILED HAWK (62) and some TURKEY VULTURES (63) soared in the distance. BANK SWALLOWS (64) flew over the puddle. We checked out another small pool of water and added CEDAR WAXWING (65) and WARBLING VIREO (66). Dave departed at this time, planning to rejoin us later in the day. The dusty, windy conditions chased us out of the meadows at 8:25.

We entered the West Meadows from behind the bowling alley. We observed several AMERICAN REDSTARTS (67) but not much else. There was a BALD EAGLE(68) on a tree in the Oxbow. At the Ibis Pool we added BOBOLINK (69), EASTERN KINGBIRD (70), RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (71) and FLICKER (72). Larry headed off for the day. We checked along the hedgerow but found few birds. Dave McLain gave us a tip - he had just seen a Lincoln's Sparrow along Ned's Ditch. We headed over but couldn't locate it. A MAGNOLIA WARBLER 73) was briefly seen in some brambles and then a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (74) landed for a few brief moments.

At 10:40 we stopped at Arcadia HQ hoping to add some of the common birds we had yet to see. We only added EASTERN BLUEBIRD (75) and CHIPPING SPARROW (76). It quickly was becoming obvious that this was not a 'migrant' day. We had not encountered the waves of warblers that had present the previous week. Even common birds like thrasher, house & Carolina wren, mockingbirds seemed to be absent. We were really going to have to work at getting to our goal of 100 birds.

At 11:10 we drove along Christopher Clark Road on Mount Tom hoping to quickly add worm-eating warbler. It was not to be. We walked along the road for over an hour but didn't hear one. Fortunately the time was well spent and we added COMMON RAVEN (77), EASTERN TOWHEE (78), GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (79), BROAD-WINGED HAWK (80), PILEATED WOODPECKER (81) and nice long looks at a SWAINSON'S THRUSH (82). Down at Bray Lake we looked for a Louisiana Waterthrush but couldn't find it. We did add a PINE WARBLER (83). It was now 1:45pm. We seemed to have stalled out. The only sure bird we could think of was Cliff Swallow at Graves Farm so we headed there.

Along the way a short stop at Paradise Pond proved fortuitous and we added COMMON MERGANSER (84). At Graves Farm we saw the CLIFF SWALLOWS (85). We took a walk through the trails and added INDIGO BUNTING (86), BLUE-HEADED VIREO (87) and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (88). We dipped on red-breasted nuthatch at the reservoir. Rain clouds loomed in the distance. As we drove back to Northampton a MOCKINGBIRD (89) lifted out of some bushes. Harvey headed back to Amherst - he would meet up with us at later at the rail trail.

In North Hadley we added the ORCHARD ORIOLE (90) and had a brief respite. It was 5pm. There were three places we could try for birds before heading over to the rail trail to end the day. We could try for the Peregrine Falcons at UMass. This was quickly ruled out because it was graduation day. We could head over to Skinner and try for Worm-eating, Cerulean and Junco. This was ruled out as well because none were a sure thing, and it would waste a lot of time getting over there - PLUS it was now raining. For the third straight big day in a row we didn't make it up Mt. Holyoke.

Our final choice was to head over to Mount Warner Road (since it was nearby) and try to pick up meadowlark, thrasher and field sparrow. Maybe the rain had pushed some turkeys into the field or there were nesting house wrens. As we drove down the Mt. Warner Road hill the skies cleared and a double rainbow appeared - it seemed as if we had made the right choice. There we quickly added EASTERN MEADOWLARK (91) and FIELD SPARROW (92). We also got beautiful looks at a first year male Orchard Oriole.

At 6pm we arrived at the Mill Lane parking lot to the bike trail. Near the parking lot a HOUSE WREN (93) was calling. As walked toward the Hop Brook bridge we added a HAIRY WOODPECKER (94) and BROWN THRASHER (95). From the bridge we discovered a female HOODED MERGANSER (96) with 8 chicks. Suddenly a pair of YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS (97) appeared in a tree above the bridge. We had tallied seven birds in under an hour and were just three away from hitting the century mark.

Harvey rejoined us near the Mad Woman Farm pool. We heard a bittern calling, got nice looks at a kestrel and saw another greater yellowlegs. Back at the bridge Dave rejoined the group. As darkness approached we waited patiently for nighthawks to appear or rails to call. We observed a gnatcatcher on the nest - its long tail all that was visible. Yellow warblers feeding in the trees along the path continually tricked us into believing they were something else. A GREEN-BACKED HERON (98) perched on a snag in frot of us. 8pm came and went. No rails called. Then a single COMMON NIGHTHAWK (99) swooped across the field and over our heads. We walked over to a large field and several AMERICAN WOODCOCKS (100) peented and displayed as the full moon rose.

A Brief History of "Big Days" in Massachusetts

Also known as "Century Run" and "Grim Grind".

"....the primary objective is to identify as many bird species as possible in one day." -- ABA Rules
"These all day bird outings are great fun and a good test of ones knowledge and skills." -- Seth Kellogg

In the story "The Big Day" (Birds Over America. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1948.) Roger Tory Peterson relates the tale of one of the first "Big Days" in Massachusetts. It occurred in the 1930s and was led by Ludlow Griscom. They visited Crooked Pond in Boxford, the Lynnfield Marshes, Nahant, Mount Auburn, Carver, and Monomoy Island. They ended up with 148 species - a new record at the time for Massachusetts. On May 20, 1945 this record was broken in Essex County alone with 160 birds seen by a group of birders. Not to be outdone Peterson and Griscom set a new record of 161 on May 23, 1948!

On May 25, 1987 Glenn d'Entremont, D. Brown, and S. J. Dinsmore, following rules of the American Birding Association, tied Griscom and Peterson with 161 species.

This record stood for fifteen years until May 27, 2002 when Strickland Wheeler, Bob Lawson and his son Barrett set a new Massachusetts record with 162 species. (Bird Observer. Volume 30, Number 5. October 2002.)

On May 22, 2004 a new state record was set by Peter Trimble, Vernon Laux, and Jeremiah Trimble who saw an astonishing 185 species! They drove almost 600 miles from the New York and Connecticut borders to Newburyport and Cape Cod between midnight and 1030pm.

Here in the western part of the state Seth Kellogg has tallied up some impressive numbers for big days, both in conjunction with the bird-a-thon and on trips with John Hutchison. The record stands at 141 seen on May 20, 1995 in Hampden County alone! Other Hampden County only records include 126 on May 17, 1997 and 113 on May 20, 2002. He has also recorded the following - Western Mass-121 on May 15, 1993; Southwick & Granville-116 on May 16, 1992; Agawam only-111 on May 11, 1996.

The Hampshire County only record is held by Tom Gagnon with 132 seen on May 20, 1995.

1st Annual Big Valley Day Results
May 11, 2003

Narrative by Chris Gentes

Heather and I started out at 3:30 am in search of owls in Hadley, Sunderland and Hatfield without any luck. We also stopped by Great Pond to see if there were any rails or bitterns calling, but we heard nothing there as well. We arrived at "The Rocks" in Hatfield and in the darkness heard the first bird of the day - a SONG SPARROW (1). Soon thereafter we heard the nasal peents of a few AMERICAN WOODCOCKS (2), and then some AMERICAN ROBINS (3) joined the chorus.

We drove along Rocks Road and stopped in a clearing and listened intently. Soon we heard a WHIP-POOR-WILL (4) and then another. With at least a few of our early morning target birds met we continued. Along the way toward Linseed Road we added HERMIT THRUSH (5), NORTHERN CARDINAL (6), TUFTED TITMOUSE (7), and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE (8). As the morning light increased we stopped near an open field on Coles Meadow Road and heard more whip-poor-wills as well as EASTERN PHOEBES (9), COMMON YELLOWTHROATS (10), BLUE JAYS (11), RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (12), and COMMON GRACKLES (13).

It was just a little after 5am - we had two hours before we were to meet up for a scheduled bird walk at Fitzgerald Lake. Next on our itinerary was Northampton's East Meadows, but before going there we made a stop on King Street in a parking lot to look for crows. Sure enough we spotted three crows together - one large and two small. After careful scrutiny, and a helpful auditory clue, we determined we were looking at an AMERICAN CROW (14) and two FISH CROWS (15). En route to the meadows we picked up a few gimmees - STARLING (16), HOUSE SPARROW (17) and MOURNING DOVE (18).

As we drove down the dirt road in the East Meadows past the red barn we heard and then located a singing HORNED LARK (19). We continued down the road to a small group of trees where we located singing VESPER SPARROWS (20). Continuing along the dusty road we added a CATBIRD (21) that was calling from an edge. Heading out of the meadows on Hockunum Road we heard and saw several KILLDEER (22), and at a small pond there were numerous WOOD DUCKS (23), a singing YELLOW WARBLER (24), a few MALLARDS (25) and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE (26).

We had a little over an hour before we were due at Fitzgerald Lake. We made the decision to drive down Route 5 to the Marina with hopes of seeing a Mute Swan and a Pied-billed Grebe. We struck out on both, but at the Marina we added TREE SWALLOW (27), RING-BILLED GULL (28) and BALD EAGLE (29). Amazingly there were no other gull species there or anywhere else for the rest of the day.

We zipped back up Route 5 and into the West Meadows from behind the bowling alley. We quickly added WARBLING VIREO (30), AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (31), RED-EYED VIREO (32), OVENBIRD (33), RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (34), and NORTHERN FLICKER (35). In a wet meadows we flushed a lone WILSON'S SNIPE (36). Continuing along toward the open fields we heard a WOOD THRUSH (37) singing.

Now surrounded by open fields we easily added a flying GREAT-BLUE HERON (38), displaying BOBOLINKS (39), a singing SAVANNAH SPARROW (40) and a RED-TAILED HAWK (41) that flew directly over our car with a blackbird in hot pursuit. A stop near the pontoon bridge was rewarded with a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (42) fishing in the oxbow. Like many of the species that day - it was the only individual seen.

Pressed for time we heading back into the meadows and drove past the Ibis Pool. It was devoid of shorebirds. No longer the muddy migrant shorebird trap of years past it was now overgrown with weeds and grass. We would have to find shorebirds elsewhere this year. We did however add a few more birds including EASTERN BLUEBIRD (43), BROWN THRASHER (44), MOCKINGBIRD (45), and AMERICAN KESTREL (46).

We then headed to Fitzgerald Lake stopping briefly at Paradise Pond where we added CHIMNEY SWIFT (47), COMMON MERGANSER (48), and EASTERN KINGBIRD (49). Almost halfway home and it was barely 7 am.

At Fitzgerald Lake we joined Ted Zervas, Stefan Rayer and Michele Stacey for a scheduled bird walk. Barely out of the car we got five quick birds - BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (50), YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (51), YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (52), CANADA GOOSE (53), and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (54).

Walking along the paved path toward the boardwalk we added BLUE-HEADED VIREO (55) and MAGNOLIA WARBLER (56). At the boardwalk we observed several WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS (57), a few GREEN HERONS (58), and a SOLITARY SANDPIPER (59). Suddenly a female HOODED MERGANSER (60) flew in and landed on the pond.

As we entered the woods we saw a VEERY (61). Continuing along toward the dam we heard several BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS (62), a calling GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (63) and observed a few CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS (64). Once past the dam in the tall pines we added BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (65), BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (66), and PINE WARBLER (67).

Near the blind in an area of sapling trees we heard NASHVILLE WARBLER (68) and located a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (69) with a very curious song. Near the blind Stefan made the sighting of the day - a MARSH WREN (70) that perched in the reeds for everyone to see. Then it broke into a jubilant song before disappearing into the marsh not to be seen or heard again. From the blind we added SWAMP SPARROW (71), and a COOPER'S HAWK (72) that perched on a dead snag for five minutes.

We then headed back toward the dam and were greeted along the way by a very friendly WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (73) that clung to a tree a few feet away waiting for everyone to get a close look. In Cooke's Pasture we added two birds - a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (74) and a WILSON'S WARBLER (75).

It was about 11:30 when we arrived back in the parking lot. Ted and Michele called it a day and we planned to meet Stefan at our next stop -- Grave's Farm in Williamsburg. Heather and I stopped along the way at a swamp with a lot of dead snags in it. We were hoping to see an olive-sided flycatcher, but instead located BELTED KINGFISHER (76), DOWNY WOODPECKER (77), HAIRY WOODPECKER (78), BARN SWALLOW (79), and CLIFF SWALLOW (80).

At Grave's Farm we soon located an AMERICAN REDSTART (81). After Stefan arrived we located CHIPPING SPARROWS (82) and a HOUSE WREN (83). Then we observed a calling LEAST FLYCATCHER (84). This was Stefan's 600th life bird in the world. Upon departing we realized we hadn't listed ROCK DOVE (85) yet- there were two at the farm.

Our next stop was in Deerfield at a muddy pool in a field that had been discovered by Bob Packard a few days earlier. It was a shorebird bonanza. We added SPOTTED SANDPIPER (86) and LESSER YELLOWLEGS (87). We also observed more killdeer and solitary sandpipers. There was also another bird that had us puzzled. It was some kind of calidris sandpiper. Without a scope we were unable to determine its specific identity, however, later in the day Stefan returned to the spot and determined it was WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (88) -- #601 for his world life list.

Heading back to Hadley we made a quick stop at the base of Mount Sugarloaf where we spotted COMMON RAVENS (89) in the nest. After a little more searching we observed a PEREGRINE FALCON (90) on its usual perch. We then said farewell to Stefan and headed home for some lunch. A HOUSE FINCH (91) was singing as we parked our car. After eating lunch it was about 3:30. We searched around North Hadley for a short while and located an ORCHARD ORIOLE (92) building a nest.

We then went to Mount Skinner where we met up with Pete Yeskie to try for the cerulean and worm-eating warblers as well as indigo bunting. But much to our dismay the park was closing. In order to try for these birds we would have to walk up the summit - we simply didn't have time. To make matters worse a storm was approaching. Saying good bye to Pete we headed to South Amherst and the bike path to pick up a few more birds.

At the end of the Harvey Allen Trail we waited patiently for prairie warbler that never appeared. We did, however, hear a RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE (93). With the wind blowing and rain beginning to come down we zipped over to Station Road. Now the rain was really coming down so we decided to call it quits - the weather had beaten us. Driving along South East Street Heather looked out the window and saw a TURKEY VULTURE (94) soaring in the sky.

This gave us some inspiration to get to 100 so we parked at the K.C. Trail entrance and walked to the bike path hoping to see the blue-gray gnatcatchers at the nest they had been constructing. It was pouring rain. The gnatcatcher must not have laid eggs yet since she wasn't on the nest. It didn't matter, even if we were able to climb the tree to look in the nest, Guideline VII clearly states, "Eggs do not count as birds!"

With lightening and thunder crashing around us we dejectedly walked back to the car. Along the way the rain lifted a little bit and we saw an EASTERN MEADOWLARK (95) fly overhead. Then a few began calling. A group of birds descended on a small pond in the field catching flies. One of them was a ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (96).

Back at the car, soaked to the bone, we decided to keep going . We headed over to the campus pond at Umass hoping maybe there was a black duck there. Upon arriving we only saw six mallards. It continued to rain off and on. Darkness was approaching. We drove over to Mount Warner Road and observed six WILD TURKEYS (97) in the field. Now we only needed three more to get to our goal of 100.

With darkness fast approaching we made a mad dash up Route 116 to check a few ponds for black ducks. We came up empty handed, but observed several BANK SWALLOWS (98). Tired and cold in our wet clothes we decided to call it a day. We drove home silently. Then out of the blue on Knightly Road we watched a NORTHERN HARRIER (99) flying over the fields and toward our car. It banked and disappeared into the night.

Back home we waited for dark knowing we still had a few hours left to try for an owl. As the rain subsided we heard a GREAT-HORNED OWL (100) softly hooting in the distance from the direction of Mount Warner.

2nd Annual Big Valley Day Results
May 22, 2004

Narrative by Chris Gentes

In balmy 58 degrees weather, with forecasts for a muggy day in the high 70s and scattered thunderstorms, Heather McQueen, Dave Mako and I headed out to the Fitzgerald Lake blind at 3:40am via the Boggy Meadow Road. Twenty feet down the road it started drizzling. We tried for owls along the path, but heard none. As we approached the blind at 4:10 we heard a Whip-poor-will (1) calling from Cooke's Pasture. Over the next hour, as the darkness slowly lifted we heard the following: Red-winged Blackbird (2), Yellow Warbler (3), Ovenbird (4), Song Sparrow (5), Swamp Sparrow (6), American Robin (7), Common Yellowthroat (8), Willow Flycatcher (9), Northern Cardinal (10), Veery (11), Gray Catbird (12), and Black-capped Chickadee (13).

At 5:05 we has our first visual identification - a Wood Duck (14) flying by. At 5:15, just a few minutes before dawn, a steady rain began. We soon added Blue-winged Warbler (15) - which had, we believed, been singing an odd variation of its beee-buzz call before it became light. We added Mallard (16) and Common Grackle (17) before heading over to the dam.

Along the path to the dam we added Black-and-white Warbler (18), Blue Jay (19), Magnolia Warbler (20), Red-eyed Vireo (21), Mourning Dove (22), Scarlet Tanager (23), American Goldfinch, (24) Black-throated Green Warbler (25) and Blackburnian Warbler (26). We heard a Red-shouldered Hawk (27) call a few times near where it had nested in the late 1990s. Maybe they had returned to the location.

Up on the dam we added Hermit Thrush (28), Baltimore Oriole (29), Wood Thrush (30) and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (31). On the lake there was a female Hooded Merganser (32). A few more birds we ticked off at the dam included Eastern Wood-Pewee (33), Tree Swallow (34), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (35), Great Blue Heron (36), Great-crested Flycatcher (37), and Chipping Sparrow (38).

In between intermittent showers and drizzles we headed back to the truck. As we walked along in the dark morning, watching the path to avoid stepping on red efts, Dave suddenly stopped in his tracks. Twenty yards in front of us was a huge black bear ambling along. We had almost overrun him. We watched as he slowly strolled along unaware of our presence. Then he walked off the path and into the woods. Thinking we had spooked him off we slowly approached where he had walked off the trail. He was still there - but then seeing us ran off into the woods.

Before reaching the parking lot we added Cedar Waxwing (39), Blue-headed Vireo (40), Black-throated Blue Warbler (41), and Tufted Titmouse (42). In the parking lot we saw a Red-tailed Hawk (43), Brown-headed Cowbird (44), House Wren (45) and Red-bellied Woodpecker (46). We were moving right along.

Our next stop was at the King Street Marsh where we added European Starling (47), Rock Pigeon (48), Blackpoll Warbler (49), House Sparrow (50) and Chimney Swift (51), but we missed Fish Crow and rails. We also heard a brief burst of song that seemed like a Marsh Wren - but it was a brief call so we didn't count it.

Over in the East Meadows we picked up Barn Swallow (52), Killdeer (53), and Savannah Sparrow (54). It took a little bit of patience to find our target birds - Horned Lark (55) and Vesper Sparrow (56), but they both made an appearance. At a small pond near Hockanum Road we added Least Flycatcher (57), Warbling Vireo (58) and American Redstart (59). It was a little bit before 9am.

On a brief stop at the Oxbow Marina we added Ring-Billed Gull (60), Herring Gull (61) and Bank Swallow (62). On Island Road we ticked off Downy Woodpecker (63) and Northern Mockingbird (64). As we approached the Arcadia parking lot we saw a Northern Flicker (65) on a telephone pole. In the parking lot we easily added Eastern Phoebe (66), Eastern Bluebird (67) and American Crow (68). There was a short discussion over whether we could add the nuthatch on the nest that we had seen in the lobby on a closed-circuit TV. Fortunately the potential controversy ended when we saw a live White-breasted Nuthatch (69) flying nearby. Rule VII will have to be amended so that not only do eggs not count as birds, but birds seen on TV do not count as birds. As we headed out of the parking lot we saw Bobolink (70) and Eastern Kingbird (71).

Down by the Pontoon Bridge we bumped into Bob Bieda, Tom Gagnon, Larry Therrien and his brother Mike. Tom had been up on Mount Tom and heard a spattering of warblers including a Worm-eating. Larry and his brother had just been at the visitors center and seen Brown Thrasher and Carolina Wren - all birds we needed. It had turned colder and was breezy. The prospects for the rest of the day didn't seem too good. Then a Belted Kingfisher (72) flew overhead. Tom gave us a good tip - a nesting Great-horned Owl over in the heron rookery. Larry suggested we try for Fish Crow and Field Sparrow over on Burts Pit Road. It was after 10am - our informal schedule had us at Mount Sugarloaf ticking off Raven and Peregrine Falcon.

We decided to try for the owl, but none was seen - the chicks must have just fledged that week. We did pick up a Green Heron (73) - the only one of the day - so we didn't feel like the effort was wasted. There were no new birds seen driving out of the meadows. We drove by Paradise Pond hoping for Common Merganser, but saw none. Over by the dump on Burts Pit Road we picked up a vocal Fish Crow (74). The Field Sparrows were silent and we missed them for the day.

We headed over to Graves Farm in Williamsburg via some backroads bordering the Mill River. We hoped to catch sight of a merganser. In Leeds we drove by a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (75) at a flowering bush. We ended up seeing four throughout the day. Still without a merganser we had one last chance to pick one up - behind the Brassworks on Route 9. As we pulled into the parking lot we saw a bird fly into the river. We jumped out of the truck and saw a female Common Merganser (76) floating along.

Up at Graves Farm we added Cliff Swallow (77) and a bonus bird - a Winter Wren (78) singing near the road. In the parking lot we saw an Indigo Bunting (79) and a Pine Warbler (80). Then Larry and Mike came out from the trails - they hadn't seen anything we needed. We said goodbye and headed up to the muck pool on Stillwater Road in Deerfield. Along the way we added Canada Goose (81) and a few Turkey Vultures (82). The pool was mostly dried up but there were a few Least Sandpipers (83) in it.

It was now noon. Our original plan called for us wrapping up in Northfield and heading toward Route 202 to try for Alder and Acadian Flycatchers, then to the Quabbin for Loon, Westover for Upland Sandpiper and on to Longmeadow for shorebirds. But we still had to go to Mount Sugarloaf, Turners Falls Airport, and the Canal. It was becoming clear that we couldn't do both and get to Mount Skinner for Cerulean and Worm-eating by the time the gates closed at 7pm. We decided to bypass Mount Sugarloaf, hit the Canal and the Airport and then head up to Northfield. From there we would decide whether we could make the Quabbin run.

At the canal we easily added Mute Swan (84) and the perennial female Common Goldeneye (85) - this year joined by a mate. Over at the airport we heard Grasshopper Sparrow (86), Prairie Warbler (87) and Eastern Meadowlark (88), but no towhees - a bird we ended up missing for the day. A short stop at the Turners Falls Road & Gun Club gave us House Finch (89) and Spotted Sandpiper (90). We also watched a flock of 100+ shorebirds circling the area. There were at least 3 species judging by their sizes, but they never landed to afford us a look. At Bartons Cove we added Double-crested Cormorant (91) and Bald Eagle (92).

We arrived at Satans Kingdom in Northfield at 2pm. It was cold and damp. Our main target bird was Olive-sided Flycatcher, but we could not locate one. At one of the swamps we heard a Ruffed Grouse (93) drumming from the woods behind us. We walked along the road and soon added a Chestnut-sided Warbler (94). At a very reliable spot we heard and saw a Yellow-throated Vireo (95) - this was Dave's 712th world bird. Looking out over another swamp we watched a Cooper's Hawk (96) with some prey fly by - presumably heading back to young in a nest. A Pileated Woodpecker (97) foraging close to the road gave us some great looks at it. We heard a Brown Creeper (98) and saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (99). Our 100th bird was a Yellow-rumped Warbler flitting about in a tree. This tied the club record. We broke the record with a nesting pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (101). It had been a great stop even though we had missed the flycatcher.

Now about 3:30 it was obvious that the Quabbin route was out of the question so we decided to head straight to Longmeadow on the highway. Hopefully there would be some shorebirds in the flooded fields off West Street. As we drove out of Northfield we saw a Common Raven (102) being chased by some blackbirds. Just outside of Holyoke we hit a major traffic jam. The freeway had become a parking lot. We made a quick exit, took some backroads, and were soon back on the highway speeding toward Longmedow. We made short detours and picked up a few easy nesting raptors - Peregrine Falcon (103) in Springfield and Osprey (104) in West Springfield.

Longmeadow was an oasis of birds. In the flooded fields on West Street we added an unexpected Snowy Egret (105), 20+ Semipalmated Plovers (106), a few Greater Yellowlegs (107), a Lesser Yellowlegs (108), 40+ Short-billed Dowitchers (109), and an American Black Duck (110). Out in the fields Dave spotted a single Wild Turkey (111) and a Carolina Wren (112) sang. At pondside a Great Egret (113) flew in briefly before being chased off by a Great-blue Heron.

The hot muggy afternoon with thunderstorms had never materialized. It was cold and windy and damp. It was 6pm and not only had we run out of time to hit the Quabbin and Westover, but we had also run out of time to head up Mount Skinner to try for Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers. We decided to head up to North Hadley to get the Orchard Oriole and some warmer clothes before going to South Amherst to try for a Bittern. Caitlin Robinson, who had planned to join us on the big day before taking ill during the week, would meet us there at 7:30.

In North Hadley we saw the reliable Orchard Oriole (114). Dave also got a good look at a Blackpoll - his 713th world bird. We headed over to Hop Brook. We made a few brief stops along the way. Off Mount Warner road we finally added the elusive Brown Thrasher (115), and near the Horse Farm we added American Kestrel (116). Dave had flushed a Snipe earlier that week in the area, but we didn't have any luck today.

We met up with Caitlin at the bike path at 7:30 pm. At least she could finish up the big day with us. As we walked along the path we only needed 4 more birds to hit 120. Another Brown Thrasher flew out along the path belting out a song as if to greet us. At the bridge we listened intently for a Bittern but didn't hear one. Soon a half-dozen Common Nighthawks (117) were calling and flying above us. As darkness fell we heard a Long-billed Marsh Wren (118) calling from the marsh. Then a Virginia Rail (119) began calling as well. The final bird of the day were some American Woodcocks (120) calling and displaying from a nearby field.

Big Valley Day Guidelines
Adapted from the Big Day Count Rules of the ABA Listing Rules Committee