Hadley Area

This morning Valerie and I birded a section along the Connecticut River in Hadley across the the North Hadley Sugar Shack. It started out pretty foggy, but eventually cleared up and became quite nice. We had a nice movement of birds throughout the morning and ended up with 42 species. Blue Jays and Black-capped Chickadees were the most numerous, small flocks moving along the tree line along the river. Northern Flickers (17) also were well represented.

One of the highlights was my fourth Philadelphia Vireo of the fall, Lincoln's Sparrow, 8 species of warblers and a very cooperative Scarlet Tanager. Later in the morning a few Broad-winged Hawks were seen going over the Honey Pot in Hadley, along with three American Kestrels and eight Barn Swallows. Another awesome event this weekend was the Broad-winged Hawk migration this weekend.  Now I have a unique ability of missing this event. Most of the time it happens during the weekdays, but not this year.  Tom Gagnon  had 5100 at Goat's Peak (Mt. Tom) on Saturday (9-18) and the majority passed over the tower in a forty-five minute span in the latter have of the afternoon. On Sunday- another good push at Blueberry Hill and at Mt.  Watatic,  Mt. Watatic was the big winner with over 1,800.

  Below are photos from today and over the last couple of weeks.....

Scott

Ruby-throated Hummingbird- Home feeder.

Great Blue Heron- Umass Marsh.

Great Egret- small marsh off of Stockwell Street-Hadley.

Scarlet Tanager- Hadley

White-throated Sparrow- can winter be far away?

Yellow-rumped Warbler- Hadley. Just the beginning.....Thousands on the way.

Eastern Phoebe- Looking better in the fall than in the spring.

American Golden-Plover-East Meadows in Northampton. (2 of 4 birds) Only ones this fall...so far!

Philadelphia Vireo- Hadley.

Pileated Woodpecker- Hadley.

Red-eyed Vireo- Hadley. One of twenty five that day.

Northern Harrier- East Meadows

House Wren-

Philadelphia Vireo- Hanging onto Cornstalks, East Meadows.

Northern Harriers- East Meadows

Location: Route 47, Hadley -- Across from Stockwell Rd

Observation date: 9/19/10
Number of species: 42

Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Killdeer 3
Mourning Dove X
Eastern Screech-Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 16
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 1
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 60
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee 55
Tufted Titmouse 8
White-breasted Nuthatch 8
Carolina Wren 2
House Wren 3
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 30
Gray Catbird 16
Cedar Waxwing 12C
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 1
Blackpoll Warbler 4
American Redstart 4
Common Yellowthroat 17
Song Sparrow 9
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 9
Scarlet Tanager 4
Northern Cardinal 10
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 2
American Goldfinch 8