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July 31st, 2005. East Meadows, Northampton.
| Northern Harrier Circus cyanus, juvenile.
| Taken using Canon Powershot A-95 through Leica 10x42 binoculars.
| I
managed to enjoy a couple of hours in the fields at the East Meadows
this morning before a major rain bearing front brought a deluge from
about 10 am. Again, the fields were quite interesting with a juvenile
Northern Harrier quartering low over the crops. A juvenile in late July
seems early for a migrant and may have been raised relatively locally?
Tree Swallows are beginning to gather with over 830 in the air before
7:30 am, and I noted good numbers of Bank Swallows (130) around as
well. Nine Yellow Warblers were scattered amongst the crops, most in
potato fields in small groups of 2 - 3, and about 6 Bobolinks were also
present.
One loose flock of 27 Killdeer was foraging just west of the Red Barn,
and two Least Sandpipers flew over without stopping. Other birds around
included Great Blue Heron, 3 singing Indigo Buntings, Eastern
Meadowlark and a juvenile Green Heron flying south, high over the open
fields.
A brief check of the playing fields west of the UMASS stadium produced a Green Heron, 8 Killdeer and 2 Eastern Bluebirds.
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