Mt. Holyoke - Skinner State Park

Six members, plus three birders who joined in on our walk, enjoyed terrific birding on this sunny, but cool morning on Mt. Holyoke.

We can start off this report by stating that we got all of our target birds! The top three being the Worm-eating, Bay-breasted, and Cerulean Warblers. Great views and plenty of photo ops for our members with cameras.

Other warblers that made our list were Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Ovenbird, Black-and-white, Blackpoll, Redstart, Tennessee, and Yellow-rumped.  Other target birds spotted included Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We had close views of 2 Ravens, and a Veery who posed for photos on the road within 10 yards of us.

The surprise bird of the morning was a Nighthawk!

We also had Robins, Catbirds, Phoebes, Eastern Bluebird, Goldfinch, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Wood and Hermit Thrush, Chipping and Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Tufted Titmouse, Cardinal, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Seen flying high were Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, and Chimney Swifts.

Another surprise awaited us to end our trip. We all headed over to the Batchelor Brook Conservation Area, where the majority of us were able to view the Prothonotary Warbler!  A lifer for a few of us!!  It was a great morning of birding, and great ending of our walk! Click below to view complete trip list.