Marvelous May - Part 1
Oh migration season - what can I say other than - thank you little feathered gems for dropping out of the sky in our fields, woods and backyards! I have been seeing an amazing variety of birds since migration began in full swing early May. The vast majority of these photos are from Bullitt Reservation in Ashfield with a small handful from Charlemont and Plainfield, MA where I went with our dear friend, Anne.
It is time to come along with me as I share with you the joy that around ounce can bring. Just as a little reminder most of these birds are in the approximate one ounce range in weight - with many weighing less than ounce - their little hollow bones weigh next to nothing. They can travel thousands of miles from their wintering spots far south of us to come to our area for our warmer months. I often think about all of the birds flying above us when we are asleep during the night. The Veery will fly up to 10-11 hours non-stop in a single night - up to 160 miles - while it works it way up to us. Many will fly much longer distances non-stop in a single night. The resilience of birds is mind-boggling.
Here’s to resilience-
Black and White Warbler singing his heart out
White breasted Nuthatch
Tree Swallow
I kept hearing the gorgeous songs of a Northern Yellow Warbler and couldn’t spot him…. until I did!
The unmistakable song of a Wood Thrush was echoing through the woods… I focused just on his song and kept making my way towards his soul stirring song… and finally found him!
An Ovenbird. I have seen and heard more ovenbirds this year than ever before. Ovenbirds are ground nesters. They build nests in the shape of a dome with dead leaves, stems, bark and more on the forest floor. According to All About Birds about their nests - “Its resemblance to an outdoor bread oven with a side opening gives the Ovenbird its name”.
On a cloudy, misty morning Merlin kept telling me Rose-beasted Grosbeaks were singing. I finally spotted that incredible red breast!
Ovenbird
Brown Creeper
American Goldfinch
Black-throated blue warbler. Anne and I were determined to spot this guy - he was singing all around us as walked in the light rain trying to locate him. Finally - score!
Four days in a row I kept hearing the songs of the American Redstart with no luck spotting them… then on this glorious morning a flash of color up and to my left caught my eye - bingo!
As soon as the American Redstart landed he belted out his song - just incredible…
Northern Yellow warbler
Like I said, I have been on a roll spotting Ovenbirds…. :). Just love these busy little birds…
Black and White Warbler - they are stunning
My first Indigo Bunting sighting of this season!
You know by now that I absolutely love Common Yellowthroats. They weigh approximately 1/3 of an ounce. They are among the first arrivals during migration - having traveled up from as far south as Central America.
Veery - is in the thrush family. On this particular morning I was surrounded by the beautiful symphony of the Veery, Wood Thrust and Ovenbird - all singing at the same time all around me - I will never forget it!
I was just finishing my first loop through the Pebble Trail at Bullitt when a flash of movement caught my eye - I quickly set up my tripod and literally in less than a second this majestic Black and White landed so close to me I almost couldn’t focus quickly enough…
Right after I took the Black and White shot I reversed direction and walked back through the wooded loop in the opposite direction… and could not believe that I spotted this incredible American Redstart!
Male Common Merganser - in Plainfield, MA
Male and female Common Mergansers
Spotted Sandpiper - in Plainfield They are unmistakable as they constantly bob their tails. It is usually the bobbing tail that catches my attention first when I see one of these cuties. A fun fact about these amazing birds - according to All About Birds - “They also have intriguing social lives in which females take the lead and males raise the young. With their richly spotted breeding plumage, teetering gait, stuttering wingbeats, and showy courtship dances, this bird is among the most notable and memorable shorebirds in North America”.
I’ll end with the following photo of a Song Sparrow looking away from me in the soft rain of this beautiful morning - the opposite of so many other mornings with brilliant sunshine and birds singing their hearts out. Instead, the beauty of the stillness while quiet rain fell softly all around…