January 1,
Wednesday, New Year's Day Valley Count
March 8, Saturday, Hampshire College Woods,
Breeding Raptor Survey
April 13, Sunday. Northampton, West Meadows.
May 11, Sunday. Northampton, Fitzgerald
Lake
June 8, Sunday: Northampton, Roberts Hill
Conservation Area
July 12, Saturday - Stellwagen
Bank Pelagic Trip
August 10, Sunday 8am Arcadia - Pynchon Meadows
October 12, Sunday. Northampton West Meadows
November 8-9, Second Annual Northampton
Waterfowl Census
December
14, Sunday - Northampton Christmas Count - Haydenville Area
January 1, Wednesday, New Year's Day Valley Count
10:00am.
Participants: Stefan Rayer, Terry & Joe Wojtanowski,
Heather McQueen & Chris Gentes.
Species Seen: 28
This trip started with a walk around the Northampton Airport
at 10am. Birds seen included Red-tailed Hawks (at least 4), American Kestrel
(2), Bald Eagle (1 ad.), Ring-billed Gull (1), Mourning Dove (40), Rock Dove
(35), Downy Woodpecker (6), Horned Lark (50), American Crow (8), Blue Jay (2),
Starling (104), Mockingbird (2), Chickadee (1), White-breasted Nuthatch (1),
Cardinal (1), Song
Sparrow (8), Savannah Sparrow (2), Tree Sparrow (3), Junco (1), American
Goldfinch (9), House Sparrow (5). Then we bumped into Tom Gagnon, Bruce, and
Scott Surner who proceeded to scope out the airport and discover Lapland Longspurs
(11), and a Snow Bunting. Next we took a quick look at the Oxbow and found a
Herring Gull and a pair of Mallards. The next stop was the Canoe Club where
we located Tufted Titmouse (2) and Canada Goose (12). By now it had started
raining pretty hard so we called it a day.
OTHER BIRDS: While birding around the airport we bumped into John Lynes and
friend. They had seen a Red-winged Blackbird toward the red barn. Other birds
that Tom Gagnon saw earlier in the day included an Iceland Gull, Hairy Woodpecker,
and Red-bellied Woodpecker. At dawn Joe and Terry Wojtanowski were on Blueberry
Hill in Granville where they recorded Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern
Meadowlark, and Raven! Stefan Rayer had earlier located some Common Goldeneyes
and Black Ducks in Sunderland. Tom Gagnon had also located Common Goldeneyes
at the Dinosaur Tracks in Holyoke as well as a Mute Swan. Chris Gentes had seen
a House Finch at his feeder in Hadley earlier in the morning. Upon arriving
home there was a report that Al Richards had located a Red-headed Woodpecker
and three Pintails in Turner's Falls! Meanwhile in Hadley Pete Yeskie had a
Carolina Wren, Great Black-backed Gull, and white-throated sparrow as yard birds.
March 8, Saturday, Hampshire College Woods, Breeding
Raptor Survey 8 am - Noon
Participants: Sarah Thomsen, Heather McQueen, Chris Gentes.
This bird walk was conducted as part of a breeding raptor survey by Hampshire College student Sarah Thomsen. Her survey consists of an ongoing project to document breeding raptors in the Hampshire College woods. This was an initial survey in which we were looking for any raptors, as well as any nests. She had a GPS device and whenever we located a nest or raptor she made a notation of the Lat. and Long. There are 13 possible raptor species that may breed in or nearby these woods from now through the summer. They are: American Kestrel, Northern Goshawk, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Great-horned Owl, Barred Owl, Long-eared Owl, Screech Owl, and Saw-whet Owl. While some of these are unlikely - others are probable, and the documentation of nests now, without leaf cover, may go a long way toward locating some of the raptors which may be breeding in the woods later in May and June.
We were able to locate 4 raptor species during this walk including: Great-horned Owl, Barred Owl, Saw-whet Owl, and Red-tailed Hawk. The high point was this saw-whet owl which was located in a grove of small "Christmas-type" trees. I managed to take a few pictures before he fell fast asleep. Overall the woods were open deciduous with areas of coniferous. There were some brooks running through the woods. My impression was that this would be a great place for saw-whet owls to breed, and hopefully that will prove to be the case.
The barred owl was observed in an area that was primarily coniferous and had that "barred owl feel" to it. The great horned owl was seen in a stand of tall white pines near a field - a nest may be nearby still undiscovered. A pair of red-tailed hawks were seen soaring overhead - they most likely are going to nest somewhere in the area.
Other birds seen included: Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, and a gull species.
April 13, Sunday. Northampton, West Meadows.
5:30pm - 8:30 pm.
(left to right): Chris Gentes, Michele Stacey, Caitlin McKinnel, Dan Klatz,
Heather McQueen, Pete Yeskie, and Kathryn Kelley.
Species Seen: 25
We started out at the foot of Olive Street. In a flooded field we soon discovered
6 Wilson's Snipe and an Osprey flying overhead. Also seen nearby where many
Robins and several Flickers, as well as a lone Killdeer. Flying overhead were
many Mallards, Black Ducks and several Wood Ducks. In the distance we observed
four DC Cormorants. We heard a Red-bellied Woodpecker and saw a few Tufted Titmice.
Several Great Blue Herons flew overhead. We then headed past Zukel's Swamp toward
the open fields and the Oxbow along Old Springfield Road and observed numerous
Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Song Sparrows. At the Oxbow near the Water
Ski Club we observed a few Common Mergansers and got great looks at an adult
Bald Eagle flying across the water. We then walked along Ned's Ditch and saw
8 Great Blue Herons on nests, 5 empty nests, and several more Great Blue herons
flying overhead. As darkness fell we headed back to Olive Street and heard and
observed at least 5 American Woodcocks 'peenting' and displaying. Other birds
seen included: Crows, Mourning Dove, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Starling, Canada Goose,
and Great-black Back Gulls.
May 11, Sunday. Northampton, Fitzgerald Lake. 7:00
am - 11:30am
Participants: Michele Stacey, Stefan Rayer, Ted Zervas, Heather McQueen
and Chris Gentes
Species Seen: 51
This was a nice walk with a few surprises. While no rails were encountered we
did see a SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a female HOODED MERGANSER near the boardwalk.
Near the blind we got excellent looks at a MARSH WREN (discovered by Stefan).
The bird also briefly sang. Marsh wrens are an uncommon breeder in the Connecticut
River Valley. The back marsh at Fitzgerald Lake is an ideal spot for them -
and there is a vast area of the marsh which is inaccessible. They very well
may be a common breeder there. In early July several years ago we encountered
a marsh wren in this area. Pete Yeskie has also seen marsh wrens in this area
on several occasions.
Warblers - 14 species: Blue-winged (2), Nashville (1), Yellow (3), Chestnut-sided (2), Magnolia (3), Black-throated Blue (5), Black-throated Green (4), Blackburnian (2), Yellow-rumped (2), Pine (2), Black-and-white (2), Ovenbird (12), Common Yellowthroat (5), Wilson's (1).
Other birds seen:
Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Cooper's Hawk, Chimney Swift, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Great-crested Flycatcher, Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Crow, Bluejay, Titmouse, BC Chickadee, WB Nuthatch, Tree Swallow, Catbird, Mockingbird, Veery, Wood Thrush, Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Cowbird (many), Grackle, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Goldfinch
June 8, Sunday: Roberts Hill Conservation Area, Northampton
Participants: Eric Labato, Heather McQueen and Chris Gentes
Species Seen: 30
Eric was in town from New York and joined us on this trip. Common birds in the Buffalo area include red-headed woodpecker, and hooded warblers while mockingbirds are rare. We birded the area from Dimock Street to the the wooded swamp, to the summit of Robert's Hill and then around the back way back to the Muck Pond.
Ruffed Grouse 1, Chimney Swift 1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Pileated Woodpecker 1, E. Pewee 4, Great-crested Flycatcher 2, Wood Thrush 5, Veery 6, Am. Crow 5, Blue Jay 6, Catbird 1, Brown Creeper 2, Tufted Titmouse 1, Chickadee 6 (and two chicks in a nest), House Wren 1, Carolina Wren 1, Red-eyed Vireo 9, Solitary Vireo 1, Common Yellowthroat 2, Yellow Warbler, 1, Chestnut-sided Warbler 2, Black-throated Blue Warbler 5, Blackburnina Warbler 1, Black-and-white Warbler 1, Ovenbird 6, Scarlet Tanager 1, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1, Eastern Towhee 6, Cardinal 1.
July 12, Saturday - Stellwagen Bank 8:30am - 1 pm
Participants: Eric Labato, Ted Zervas, Chris Gentes
This was a great trip from Gloucester to South Stellwagen Bank aboard the Hurricane
II Cape
Anne Whale Watch
While still in Gloucester we saw our first pelagics of the day - a dozen Wilson's
Storm Petrels. The long ride to South Stellwagen was mostly uneventful, but
upon arriving at our destination we were amazed to see over 10 humpback whales
bubble and tail feeding. We remained with them as they put on an amazing show.
Along with the whales we say 30+ Greater Shearwaters and 10+ Sooty Shearwaters,
and an adult Northern Gannet.
 Ted Zervas and Eric Labato aboard the Hurricane II. |
 Humpback Whales and Gulls |
 Greater Shearwater |
 |
August 10, Sunday Arcadia
8am-11 am
This trip started
with about an hour of light rain before the sun came out. The only participants
were Heather McQueen and Chris Gentes and a total of 40 species of birds were
seen. We walked from Arcadia HQ all the way to the far side of the Wood Duck
Pond, back to the tower, up through the old orchard area and then drove out
to the grasslands.
Great Blue Heron (3), Mallard (1), Wood Duck (20), Turkey
Vulture (1), Cooper's Hawk (1), American Kestrel (1), Spotted Sandpiper (1),
Rock Dove (4), Mourning Dove (25), Hummingbird (4), Chimney Swift (7), Great-Crested
Flycatcher (1), Phoebe (1), Kingbird (4), Tree Swallow (10, Barn Swallow (1),
Blue Jay (2), Am. Crow (8), WB Nuthatch (2), Black-cap Chickadee (10), Titmouse
(2), Bluebird (3), Robin (5), Catbird (5), Cedar Waxwing (7), Starling (2),
Red-eyed Vireo (3), American Redstart (3), Black and White Warbler (2), Common
Yellowthroat (2), Scarlet Tanager (1), Song Sparrow (5), Savannah Sparrow (3),
Baltimore Oriole (3), Red-wing Blackbird (2), Bobolink (8), Cardinal (4), Indigo
Bunting (2), Am. Goldfinch (7), House Sparrow (2)
October 12, Sunday. Northampton West Meadows
9 am - Noon
|
Total Species Seen: 32 Heather and I were the only participants on this walk - there was sporadic scattered rain. We checked out most of the areas around the Ibis Pool and surrounding meadows looking for sparrows. They were few and far between, but we did have a few surprises. We located the Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow first observed on Oct 6 by Pete Yeskie. We also located a Vesper Sparrow. We also checkd out the Arcadia Marsh for ducks where we observed a towhee and 25 white-throated sparrows near the shore in some mud. One nice surprise was bumping into Ilija Dukovski who was getting in a few hours of birding while visiting from Newton. |
 NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW - photo by Chris Gentes |
BIRDS SEEN: Great Blue Heron (3), Mallard (42), Black Duck (10), Ring-billed Gull (10), Sharp-shinned Hawk (2), Kestrel (1), Mourning Dove (4), Rock Dove (1), Downy Woodpecker (1), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Flicker (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Robin (2), Bluebird (9), Catbird (4), Blue Jay (30), Crow (15), Black-capped Chickadee (6), Tufted Titmouse (5), Yellow-rumped Warbler (29), Common Yellowthroat (1), Eastern Towhee (1), NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW (1), White-throated Sparrow (40), White-crowned Sparrow (6), Song Sparrow (30), Swamp Sparrow (7), Savannah Sparrow (3), VESPER SPARROW (1), Cardinal (1), Red-winged Blackbird (40), American Goldfinch (3).
Second Annual Northampton Waterfowl Census Nov 8-9
11 species of "waterfowl" were observed in over 25 different locations, all within the city limits of Northampton. Noticable misses include Mute Swam and Wood Duck. Some places were checked both days, while others were checked only one day. Only the highest total for either day are listed below. Water levels were very high on the Connecticut River, Oxbow and Arcadia Marsh. Shallow water frozen overnight Sunday. Last year's totals are in RED.
Pied-billed Grebe (1) 1
A single individual observed in the Oxbow.
Canada Goose (824) 1670
Look Park (243), Fitzgerald Lake (203), Roberts Meadow Res. (145), Arcadia Marsh
(106), East Meadows fly-by (67), Paradise Pond (20).
Mallard (223) 273
Look Park (112), Arcadia Marsh (67), Wood Duck Pond (23), Oxbow (15),
Fitzgerald
Lake (5), East Meadow Pond (3).
Rookery Pond (1).
Black Duck (44) 43
Wood Duck Pond (17), Look
Park (16), Arcadia Marsh( 5), East Meadows fly-by (4), Rookery Pond (2).
American Wigeon (1) 2
One seen in Arcadia Marsh
Green-winged Teal (17) 1
Arcadia Marsh (10), Fitzgerald Lake (5), Wood Duck Pond (2).
Ring-necked Duck (20) 2
Arcadia Marsh (11), Fitzgerald Lake (9)
Hooded Merganser (5) 22
Water St. (2), Upper Res.(1), Robert's Meadow Res. (1), E. Meadow Pond (1).
Common Merganser (24) 28
Robert's Meadow Res. (11), Paradise Pond (10), Leeds Beach (1), Water St. (1),
East Meadow Pond (1).
Bufflehead (1) 0
Connecticut River (1)
American Coot (1)
0
Fitzgerald Lake (1)
Daily Results
Saturday, November 8
Pied-billed Grebe (1), Great Blue Heron (1), DC Cormorant (3), Canada Goose
(824), Mallard (223), Black Duck (44), Am. Wigeon (1), Green-winged Teal (17),
Ring-necked Duck (20), Common Merganser (11), Hooded Merganser (1), Bufflehead
(1), Sharp-shinned Hawk (2), Red-tailed Hawk (4), Ring-necked Pheasant (1),
AMERICAN COOT (1), Greater Yellowlegs (2), Ring-billed Gull (60), Mourning
Dove (16), Rock Dove (31), Kingfisher (1), Downy Woodpecker (2), Hairy Woodpecker
(1), American Crow (243), Blue Jay (11), Brown Creeper (4), Red-breasted Nuthatch
(1), White-breasted Nuthatch (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), Golden-crowned Kinglet
(4), Starling (20), Red-winged Blackbird (8), Cardinal (6), Junco (20), Song
Sparrow (4), Am. Tree Sparrow (18), White-throated Sparrow (4), American Goldfinch
(12), House Sparrow (28). The coot was in Fitzgerald Lake toward the Dam along
the edges of the cattails. Also seen and photographed was a very young Northern
Brown Snake!
Sunday, November 9
DC Cormorant (2), Canada Goose (45), Mallard (35), Hooded Merganser (4), Common
Merganser (24), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Herring Gull (1), Mourning Dove (18), Rock
Dove (120), Red-bellied Woodpecker (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Downy Woodpecker
(3), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Horned Lark (75), American Pipit (60), Crow (190),
Blue Jay (19), Tufted Titmouse (15), Black-capped Chickadee (13), White-breasted
Nuthatch (4), Golden-crowned Kinglet (3), Brown Creeper (2), Starling (300),
Junco (48), Savannah Sparrow (1), White-crowned Sparrow (1), White-throated
Sparrow (13), Tree Sparrow (10), Cardinal (2), Am. Goldfinch (28, Carolina Wren
(1).
December 14, Sunday
Northampton Christmas Count - Haydenville Area
Participants: Bob Packard, Bruce Hart, Bill Packard, Jonathan Gottsche, Shelly Parker, Larry Therrien, Marty Espinola, Heather McQueen, and Chris Gentes.
We saw 35 species - third highest for the area. Three new species were added: Great Blue Heron, Chipping Sparrow and Purple Finch. This was the second count that Pine Siskins were seen, and the thrid that Common redpolls were. It was the second highest total of individual birds seen with 1026. The highest was 1065 in 1998.
The 2003 count in Haydenville started cold and clear. Clouds moved in overnight
and a snow storm was expected anytime between 11am and 3pm. Bob began owling
at half past Midnight and tallied 2 Great-horned Owls. At 6am Chris and Heather
began their walk up the ridge off Route 9 where they heard 3 Great-horned Owls.
At dawn Bob and Bruce began their six hour hike through the hills of Haydenville.
They tallied many birds including the first PURPLE FINCH
for the area. Also seen were 2 PINE SISKINS and 35 COMMON REDPOLLS - new highs
for both species. Bill covered Route 9 and North Farms Road where he observed
the first CHIPPING SPARROW for the area. At 9am
Shelly and Jonathan joined Chris and Heather at the Golf Course. They headed
to the frozen reservoir where they tallied the only waterfowl of the day - 2
Black Ducks feeding under the spillway. At 10am Larry joined the group. He covered
Mountain Street to Haydenville where he picked up good numbers of feeder birds,
Cedar Waxwings, and a Red-tailed Hawk. Chris, Heather, Jon and Shelly then went
to Whately where they dipped on Grouse but picked up Song Sparrow and Golden-crowned
Kinglets. At Noon Bob and Bruce emerged from the woods and met up with everyone.
A search of the corn fields area near the reservoir yielded no new birds. By
1pm the snow had started. Unfortunately by the time Marty arrived at 1:30pm
the snow was really coming down - so he headed home, as had everyone else except
Bob: "I checked the swampy stream below the
reservoir during the snowstorm. Beautiful in the falling snow. Flushed a GREAT-BLUE
HERON twice, and found 3 Bluebirds eating holly berries. One overturned
root mass contained a dozen tree sparrows and 5 juncos hiding in it. I always
wondered where they go in blizzards."
Great
Blue Heron-1 imm. new species
Black Duck-2
Sharp-shinned Hawk-1
Red-tailed Hawk-3
Gull sp.-3
Rock Dove-4 ties low
Mourning Dove-68
Great Horned Owl-5 new high
Red-bellied Woodpecker-3 new high
Downy Woodpecker-12-new high
Hairy Woodpecker-5
Pileated Woodpecker-2
Blue Jay-66 new high
American Crow-48
Black-capped Chickadee-124 new high
Tufted Titmouse-16
Red-breasted Nuthatch-8 new high
White-breasted Nuthatch-26 new high
Brown Creeper-2
Golden-crowned Kinglet-14
Eastern Bluebird-3
American Robin-14
Northern Mockingbird-2
Starling-149
Cedar Waxwing-57
Tree Sparrow-36
Chipping Sparrow-1 new species
Song Sparrow-4
White-throated Sparrow-9
Junco-121 new high
Cardinal-20 new high
Purple Finch-1 new species
Common Redpoll-35 new high
Pine Siskin-2 new high
American Goldfinch-156 new high
House Sparrow-7
Mammals
Gray Squirrel-20 new high
Red Squirrel-5
Cottontail-1
White-tailed Deer-2
MISSES - Grouse, Turkey (many tracks seen in snow), Flicker (two seen day before), House Finch.