August 24th, 2005. East Meadows, Northampton, MA.
| American Kestrel Falco sparverius, adult female.
| At
last it’s really beginning to feel like autumn. A cool start at dawn
(just 55 F in Amherst) and there was a cooling breeze from the north-west for
much of the day. Not too much had changed at the East Meadows since my
last visit on Sunday, with the exception of raptors which were more
evident this
morning than on any of my previous visits this fall. Moreover, a high
passing Osprey heading south-west really looked like a genuine migrant.
Shorebirds still continue to fly over without landing in the fields but
at least they
call, which is usually enough to clinch an identification.
It was a toss up between American Kestrel and Pectoral Sandpiper for bird of the morning. Bobolinks continue to rage on!
Highlights from the East Meadows (07:10 - 11:00hrs);
Double-crested Cormorant - 3, all moving south.
Turkey Vulture - 12
Bald Eagle - 1 juvenile.
OSPREY - 1, presumed migrant, heading high to the south-west at 10:35hrs.
Red-tailed Hawk - 4 (plus plenty over the Holyoke Range with Ravens).
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 over the river for a good 10 minutes or so.
Cooper’s Hawk - 4 juveniles.
Northern Harrier - 1 juvenile.
American Kestrel - 2 (adult female. juvenile male).
Killdeer - 37
Semi-palmated Plover - 1
PECTORAL SANDPIPER - 1 circled the fields calling but didn't stop.
Seemed to head NE towards the river, perhaps looking for a sand bar.
Least Sandpiper - 2
Solitary Sandpiper - 1 moving downstream at 07:10hrs.
Ring-billed Gull - 15
Mourning Dove - 250+
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4
Baltimore Oriole - 3
Tree Swallow - 600
Bank Swallow - 100
Barn Swallow - 40
Horned Lark - 1 juvenile.
Cedar Waxwing - 15
Yellow Warbler - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 1500+.
Savannah Sparrow - 40.
Indigo Bunting - 3
Bobolink - 250+.
Also, 2 Great Blue Herons flew low over the Hampshire Mall on Route 9 early this morning.
In our yard on Baker Street - now 6 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds visiting regularly.
| | Taken using Canon Powershot A-95 and Swarovski HD telescope.. |
|
