July 28th, 2005. West Quabbin, MA.
| Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
| Today was a much more pleasant day to be out with much clearer air after last
night’s thunderstorms. It was just 62 degrees when I arrived at the western side of the
Quabbin Reservoir around 8 am. The area was very birdy with lots of activity,
perhaps a little surprising for this late in the summer.
The highlight was easily the finding of two territories of Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens, including a pair with an active nest (still incubating eggs). Although Acadian Flycatchers
arrive late in the spring, I was somewhat surprised to find them in the
middle of breeding in late July. I heard the birds calling until the
early afternoon, but seeing them was a completely different
ball game altogether! It was very, very hard to get clean looks at
these birds in the damp, shady groves of Eastern Hemlock. The western
side of Quabbin reservoir is known to be a traditional spot
for this species but nowhere are they common. The Quabbin most likely
represents the northern most limit of their breeding range in New
England.
Other species in the area included Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Pileated Woodpecker and numerous Hermit Thrushes, Winter Wrens, Magnolia Warblers and Scarlet Tanagers to mention just a few. All in all, it was a great morning.
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