Late migrants and nesting Herons

During the late afternoon on the 24th a flycatcher passed over the back deck, fortunately it stopped on a nearby dead tree at the edge of the yard. Open further inspection it turned out to be an Olive-sided Flycatcher, it only stayed about 5 minutes....long enough to grab the camera and snap a few photos.

This Olive-sided Flycatcher was a yard first!

On Monday I took some time to check the progress on a nearby Great-blue Heron Colony, at High Ridge WMA.  There were 21 active nests, about 1/2 had newly hatched young in the nests, while the remainder had adults that appeared to be incubating. One industrious heron was still adding small branches, from an eastern hemlock, to a nest while its mate sat "tight" on the nest. Other hi-lights were a Wood Duck with 11 newly hatched young, a Black-billed Cuckoo calling, many Bobolinks in the nearby hay fields and some nice views of common area nesters.

A pair of Chestnut-sided Warblers

A "scolding" House Wren

A very cooperative Red-eyed Vireo

Great-blue heron coming for a landing, its mate's head can be seen in the lower left of the photo.

Adult with newly hatched chicks

A Common Grackle sitting on eggs, with out the bright eyes it would have gone unnoticed.

Great-crested Flycatcher

This Wood Duck had 11 youngsters.

An Alder Flycatcher from along Scoot Brook in Royalston.

Swamp Sparrow also from Scott Brook.

An other nice local bird was a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher heard during hike with Karin, at Wachusett Mountain, along the Jack Frost trail.