Spring Migration 2024 #1

Spring has finally sprung here in Western Mass. This means that we get to see all the spring migrants moving through or coming back into our area to breed. This week in Wilbraham, I have seen the Black Vultures soar over my house, heard my Eastern Phoebe announcing his return and Red-winged Blackbirds vocalizing everywhere, and watched an adorable Hooded Merganser couple diving in Bruers Pond. I saw the Double-crested Cormorants and the intricately patterned Wood Ducks alongside the nesting Mute Swans in Fannie Stebbins. I heard Cedar Waxwings in Monson recently and had some beautiful Purple Finches at my feeders. Shiny Tree Swallows are swooping through all our local towns now. Brown-headed Lots of birds are nesting, including Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice. Brown-headed Cowbirds are also scoping out nests to pilfer everywhere and Chipping Sparrows are back to be their likely targets. What other birds are around locally now?

I just checked Cornell’s BirdCast to see which birds are migrating birds through Hampden County now. Virginia Rails, a bird that is still on my bucket list, moved through on Monday. Some lucky people spotted them in Fannie. Last night, 14 bird species arrived in our area. Only 1 wading bird, the beautiful and graceful Great Egret (#1) is on the EBird list of migrants. As for the waterfowl, 5 species of ducks are joining the Green-winged Teals and Northern Pintails that are already here. The Northern Shovelers (#2) continue to move through our area. They are so interesting to look at with their patchwork colors and huge, flat beaks. I love watching the diving ducks look for food. They look like synchronized swimmers to me! Blue-winged Teals (#3) are small, shy ducks that show light blue wing patches in flight. Ring-necked Ducks (#4) often gather in large flocks and actually have rings on their beaks! Buffleheads (#5) and American Wigeons (#6) also came in overnight. I have seen these birds in Fannie Stebbins Wildlife Refuge in Longmeadow, Forest Park in Springfield, the Ludlow Reservoir, and near the bike path in Agawam.

There were no new shorebirds on the list but the fun-to watch Killdeer (above) already arrived. What other species did make the list? Two different sparrows are on the move. The American Tree Sparrows (#7) are leaving and my little Dark-eyed Juncos (yes, a sparrow!), and White-throated Sparrows will be joining them soon. Fox Sparrows (#8) are arriving. The Brown Thrasher (#9) and the super-shy Eastern Meadowlarks (#10) are coming. You can hear their AMAZING songs in my recent blogs from Florida. Speaking of songs, if you listen carefully, you can hear the arrival of the arriving tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (#11). You may also hear the similarly high-pitched, squeaky songs of the recently arrived Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Hermit Thrush. Elizabeth posted a recent Wood Thrush photo in the Hampden, Wilbraham, Monson page on Facebook, but I am still waiting to see one this year.

The remaining 3 birds on the list are all Wood Warblers. Everyone loves their beautiful spring breeding colors and the songs most of them sing! The Louisianna Waterthrush (#12) is often heard near water but rarely seen. The Palm Warbler (#13) and the Pine Warbler (#14) can often be confused with the recently settled Yellow-rumped Warblers. I have seen and heard almost all these songbirds in my yard in Wilbraham before, so you likely can too. I just heard the Hermit Thrush yesterday in Stony Brook Wetlands in Ludlow. So many beautiful birds will be arriving soon. It will be tricky to choose which birds to share with you this spring. You can check my spring migration blogs from the last 2 years on my Blog page to see AND hear many of the spring migrants you can be watching for. You can also check my eBird reports to see the birds I am logging in real time at home and in the local hotspots. My profile info is on the Robin’s Nest and Contact Me pages. Look and listen and consider joining the eBird community to log the birds you see and hear. I warn you-it can become addicting! I would LOVE to hear about the birds YOU are seeing in the comments below. Please share and follow me here and on my Facebook and other social pages to help our waning bird populations. Take care, Robin 😊