Ware River Nature Club - FROM THE FIELD

A Record-Setting Wet Fall

11/13/2018

Flooding on Ruben Walker Road, Ware River Watershed, Barre, 7 November 2018

Flooding on Ruben Walker Road, Ware River Watershed, Barre, 7 November 2018

Wettest fall season standings at Blue Hill Observatory. On November 7th, CBC News reported, "we’re on pace to compete for wettest fall without a landfalling tropical system. It’s already been the 15th wettest fall (Sept-Oct-Nov) on record at Blue Hill Observatory with several weeks to go."

Green-winged Teal, Rutland Brook Sanctuary, Petersham/Barre, 4 November 2018

Savannah Sparrow, Barre Falls Dam, 21 October 2018. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Harvard Pond water level was a bit higher than average on 6 October 2018.

An amazing variety of fungi were present along a very short portion of the trail at Harvard Pond on 6 October.

It was a banner year for amphibians like this Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris) found in late September.

Canada Geese lift off at dusk on 20 October 2018 in Hardwick. Photo by Alan Rawle.

Winter Wren, Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick, 11 November 2018

The extraordinarily wet and humid summer and fall resulted in a bumper crop of colorful fungi in October. Photo taken at Harvard Pond, Petersham mushroom foray on 6 October.

White-throated Sparrow 14 October 2018 Hardwick. Photo by Alan Rawle

A White-crowned Sparrow easily found a puddle for bathing on 11 November 2018 in Hardwick. This species breeds much further north and is only seen here on migration. Note the differences between this bird and the White-throated Sparrow above.

Bobolink Summer

9/15/2018

Courtship display by male Bobolink at Moore State Park, Paxton, June 2018 by Bill Platenik.

Our Grassland Bird Initiative volunteer teams monitored several central MA locations this summer. Bill & Carol Platenik made dedicated weekly visits to Moore State Park in Paxton, where a bird-friendly mowing regime has been established. Todd& Alice Livdahl and Wendy Howes observed at Mt. Jefferson Conservation Area in Hubbardston which used to (and may still) designate one field for mowing after July 4th. At DCR Ware River Watershed Prison Camp fields in Rutland, with a current mowing contract stipulating mowing after August 1st, Doug Wipf and Linda Mueller made regular visits throughout the nesting season. We are still looking for volunteers to monitor High Ridge WMA in Gardner/Westminster. Bobolinks nested there successfully this year, but no one was able to formally monitor. The WMA has established late mowing--after August 1st--regimes for all the fields, so prospects for grassland bird species are very good there.
Volunteer Ted Purcell observed a town-owned field at Glenwood School in Rutland and found many Bobolinks early in the season, but the fields are part of the Town's mowing contract and are not currently being managed for wildlife and grassland birds.
Photographer Anne Greene of Rutland found Bobolinks at fields owned by Alta Vista Farm in Rutland and gave the owners information about grassland birds available through Mass Audubon: https://www.massaudubon.org/our-conservation-work/wildlife-research-conservation/grassland-bird-program
Overall it was a good year for Bobolinks in both protected and non-protected areas. High amount of rainfall caused some haying delays which benefited birds. Heat and humidity helped insect populations and therefore boosted Bobolinks' food supply. The highest number of Bobolinks were encountered at Moore State Park, where a huge flock of over 130 birds--including adults and this season's fledglings--was seen in mid-August.
Thanks to all who pitched in on behalf of grassland birds!

Female Bobolink at Moore State Park, Paxton, June 2018, by Bill Platenik.

Male Bobolink at Moore State Park, Paxton, June 2018 by Bill Platenik.

Bobolink at Alta Vista Farm, Rutland, by Anne Greene.

Photo by Bill Platenik.

Singing Bobolink at Alta Vista Farm, Rutland, by Anne Greene.

Alta Vista Farm, Rutland. Photo by Anne Greene.

Bobolink pair 8 June 2018 at DCR Ware River Watershed Prison Camp fields, Rutland. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Photo by volunteer Bill Platenik.

DCR's Moore State Park in Paxton has adopted field management guidelines that allow mowing of pathways of the perimeters of all fields along the walls and a single mower width path through the center of the largest fields. Agricultural mowing of the hay/tall grass will take place after the nesting season, in August or September.
One of the center paths, which is maintained starting in April and therefore not attractive to Bobolinks, is shown here. It also provides good access for bird monitoring.

Two female Bobolinks at DCR Ware River Watershed Prison Camp fields, Rutalnd, 8 June 2018 by Doug Wipf.

Bobolink pair at Prison camp fields, Rutland, 8 June 2018 by Dough Wipf.

Tree Swallows checking out a nestbox at Moore State Park, Paxton, June 2018. Photo by Bill Platenik.

Although it wasn't officially part of his grassland bird monitoring job, Bill Platenik documented this young porcupine at Moore State Park, Paxton on 23 August 2018.

Female Bobolink at DCR Ware River Watershed Prison Camp fields, Rutland 8 June 2018 by Doug Wipf.

Male Bobolink at Prison Camp fields 18 June 2018. Photo by Doug Wipf.

Female Bobolink carrying food--which confirms nesting--at Moore State Park, Paxton, 16 June 2018 by bill Platenik.

A couple of molting Male Bobolinks at Moore State Park, Paxton, in August. Photo by Bill Platenik.

Two more male Bobolinks losing their alternate (breeding) plumage August 2018, Moore State Park. Photo by Bill Platenik.

On 18 August 2018 at Moore State Park, Paxton, photographer Bill Platenik counted more than 60 Bobolinks flying about the fields. Males were starting to molt into basic (non-breeding) plumage, which resembles female/juvenile plumage.

Savannah Sparrow, a species that prefers tall grass for nesting, at Moore StatePark, Paxton, June 2018. Photo by Bill Platenik.

Tropical Central Massachusetts

7/15/2018

Summer of 2018 in central Massachusetts brought record high temperatures and rainfall, creating conditions that at times made us feel that we were living in the steamy tropics. It was often a challenge to get out in the field! A number of butterfly walks sponsored by the Massachusetts Butterfly Club took place, and it's hard to resist taking pictures of these pretty creatures.. Members who were outdoors enjoying butterflies, birds, and other critters in spite of the challenging weather shared some wonderful photographs.

Common Sootywing ( Pholisora catullus) at Elm Hill Sanctuary, Brookfield. 21 July 2018, where it's main host plant Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) was present in large quantities. Photo by Alan Rawle

Early morning songster, a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), what else?

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) was caught in a ray of sunlight by photographer Anne Greene in Rutland.

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) with some leucistic plumage (lacking pigment so appears white), Rutland, June 2018. Leucistic characteristics show up fairly frequently in birds. Photo by Ted Purcell

Baltimore Checkerspot ( Euphydryas phaeton) 7 July 2018 DCR Kristoff Farm property, Sterling, was the only one of thisspecies found on the summer butterfly count. Photo by Alan Rawle

Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) in Rutland, June 2018. In the breeding season this flycatcher can be distinguished from look-alike Alder and Willow flycatchers by their distinctive "cheBEK" calls. Photo by Doug Wipf

Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) at Moore State Park, Paxton, June 2018. The unmowed fields at the Park were beneficial for odonates and butterflies as well as grassland birds. Photo by Bill Platenik.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) showing off its waxy red secretions on its secondaries. For a fascinating discussion of this feature, go to: https://blog.nature.org/science/2017/02/27/waxwings-really-have-wax-wings/ Photo taken in Hardwick, June 2018 by Alan Rawle.

Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta) dragonfly.

Basking Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) in Hardwick, June 2018. Photo by Alan Rawle

A Promethea Silkmoth (Callosamia promethea) landed on Rutland photographer Anne Greene's leg while she was in her yard in June. These beautiful moths have no mouth parts and do not feed in this adult stage. Their sole occupation is mating and egg-laying.

The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) infestation of the past couple of years continued throughout much of southern Worcester County. This female Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) was carrying a gypsy moth caterpillar to feed nestlings in June at Muddy Brook WMA, Hardwick, where they are common nesters. Photo by Alan Rawle

A Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia) shares the grassy fields of Moore State Park in Rutland with many other insects, animals, and birds.

Bird Biology: What Central MA Birds Are Doing in Spring

6/1/2018

Showing bright plumage. Male Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) by Alan Rawle

Searching for suitable nesting sites. Male Tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) by Bill Platenik.

Molting into summer breeding (alternate) plumage. American Goldfinch ( Spinus tristis) by Anne Greene

Migrating to regions further north. Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) by Alan Rawle

Singing. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) by Anne Greene.

Trying an atypical migratory route. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), 15 April, Rutland, by Tanner Purcell.

Alarm-calling. Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) by Doug Wipf.

Hunting. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) by Alan Rawle.

Defending a territory. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) by Alan Rawle.

Searching for food. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) by Anne Greene.

Eating. Yellow-rumped Warbler ( Dendroica coronata) by Alan Rawle.

Stretching and preening. Ruby-throated hummingbird by Anne Greene.

Nest-building. Female American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) by Alan Rawle.

Resting but staying alert. Red-shouldered Hawk ( Buteo lineatus) by Alan Rawle.

Looking for a mate. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) by Tom Murray.

From the Field Through the Viewfinder

3/30/2018

While all are not representative of nature sightings in central Massachusetts, these photographs were taken by central MA residents and shown during our SHARING NATURE PHOTOS meeting on 28 March. There are some outstanding pictures here, and we think they deserve a wide audience.

Tandayapa Bird Lodge, Ecuador: Crimson-rumped Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus haematopygus) by Todd Livdahl

Holden: Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) by Jim Morelly

Quabbin Reservoir: Bobcat with deer carcass by Jim Morelly

Rutland: Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) on Pink-spiked Celosia by Ted Purcell

Everglades National Park, Florida: Green Heron (Butorides virescens) by Alan Rawle

Galapagos Islands: Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone nigra) by Todd Livdahl

Galapagos Islands: Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) by Todd Livdahl

Everglades National Park, Florida: Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) gleaning pond lily seeds by Alan Rawle

Tandayapa Lodge, Ecuador:
Andean Emerald (Amazilia franciae)
by Todd Livdahl

Everglades National Park: Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) by Alan Rawle

Florida Keys: Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) by Ted Purcell

Quabbin Reservoir: Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) by Jim Morelly

European Starling(Sturnus vulgaris) in winter by Anne Greene.

Autumn scene, Rutland by Anne Greene. See more of Anne's work at https://www.annegreenephotography.com/

Sightings During a Fickle Winter

1/15/2018

Here in central Massachusetts, a mild fall was inevitably sidelined by the "real" winter that came in with the first significant snowfall on December 9th. Weeks of very slow-paced activity at birdfeeding stations gave way to a steady stream of visitors. Dark-eyed Junco numbers increased throughout December, and we were seeing them on roadsides, woods edges, and on the ground under birdfeeders. Christmas Bird Counts turned up many half-hardy species that either got caught off-guard or decided to stick it out. Temperatures plunged and fruit-eating birds descended on winterberry (IIlex verticillata), sumac, and poison ivy berries. Both Red and Gray Squirrels, in spite of winter food stashes, sought out feeders, too, joining the expected permanent resident birds and a few surprise species. Massachusetts made the national news when the very harsh "bomb cyclone" snowstorm followed by a frigid Arctic blast brought a deep freeze. Birds concentrated even more at feeders 4 January through 10 January. Heavy rains and unseasonably high temperatures up to the low 60s F. on 11-12 January created small ponds in fields and triggered some confusion in amphibians before giving way to returning "normal" winter conditions.

Female Pileated Wodpecker feeding on poison ivy berries, Hardwick, 30 December 2017 (Quabbin Christmas Bird Count) Photo by Alan Rawle

Ted Purcell was fortunate to encounter some Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) in Rutland in early January. They have been uncommon in our region since their breeding season ended in August.

One of a flock of eight Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) feeding on Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) berries in Hardwick on 13 January. Photo by Alan Rawle

American Red Squirrels are primarily granivores, but incorporate other food items into their diets opportunistically. Seeds at birdfeeding stations fit nicely into their natural diets. Photo by Ted Purcell

Winterberry or Black Alder (Ilex verticillata) produced abundant fruit in 2017. An important role played by winterberry is as a fall and winter food source for songbirds: the fleshy, bright red berries are said to be toxic to humans, but fruit-eating birds such as robins, mockingbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, and Cedar Waxwings evidently find them palatable. It is possible that, as with American Holly, the levels of toxic or unpalatable chemicals in winterberry berries decline as the fruit matures and hangs on the shrubs. In our area at least, winterberry seems to be eaten by the birds after the winter solstice.

A Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) in Rutland, Photo by Ted Purcell

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) in winter/non-breeding plumage. Photo by Ted Purcell.

In Rutland, this immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) visited Doug Wipf's birdfeeding station from fall through 29 December 2017. Whether the bird moved on prior to the oncoming storm (birds react to barometric pressure changes and can adjust their behaviors) or simply didn't survive is unknown.

Watchful Eye

Hiker and wildlife photographer Jim Morelly sent this trail camera image of a Bobcat captured on 21 December. Jim writes: "I have been watching and exploring several central Massachusetts swamps since last winter. They certainly have shown promise [for capturing images of wildlife] . . .the variety of tracks and scat have been consistent throughout the year. The first snow on December 9th showed continued activity with predators skirting the swamp's edge."

Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) tracks in fresh snow in Rutland, before the thaw. Anecdotal information suggests that 2017 was a "good" year for cottontail reproduction. Photo by Ted Purcell

Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) 13 January 2018 in a flooded cornfield in New Braintree. Photo by Alan Rawle.

YOU are the rare bird if you live in central MA and haven't encountered a Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) this winter! Photo by Alan Rawle

This 2 1/2 inch salamander responded to the heavy rains and high temperatures of 11-12 January by emerging from its winter shelter beneath the rocks. When the temperatures dropped into single digits on the 13th, it presumably resumed hibernation, withstanding the freeze by a chemical change in the body that bathes its organs in a glucose-filled fluid "antifreeze."

Blue Jay by Ted Purcell. Who's watching whom?

Final Days for Pollinators

11/5/2017

Lingering pollinators, a result of the mild fall weather, visit the last of the garden flowers on November 3rd. While all have left larvae, pupae, or eggs that will overwinter and become adults next spring, the lives of some of these insects will end with the onset of freezing weather.*

A flower fly (Eristalis transversa) with Apple Leaf Skeletonizer Moth (Choreutis pariana).

A sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens) * Only mated females survive the winter.

The hairs on the body of this fly point to a tachinid species, Euclytia flava. Tachinids are internal parisitoids of other insects, the females often laying eggs directly on the host insect.

A sweat bee of the Augochlorini tribe. These metallic green pollinators, difficult to identify in the field, also feed on the honeydew secreted by aphids in warmer months.

American Hover Fly
(Eupeodes
americanus)
Although not studied as much as bees, fly family pollinators are thought to be equally important. While bees may be able to carry a greater volume of pollen on their bodies, flies may compensate for this by making a greater number of flower visits. * Some hoverflies are able to overwinter as adults.

Two-spotted Bumblebee (Bombus bimaculatus) and potter (or mason) wasp (Parancistrocerus perennis).

Butterfly Gallery

10/1/2017

All of these butterflies were found in central Massachusetts July-September 2017.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) Male red admirals are territorial. Territories tend to be oval in shape, 8-24 feet long, and 13-42 feet wide. In order to maintain their territory, males must fly around and patrol an area dozens of times per hour. Only males of exceptional flying ability are able to prevent intruding males and successfully court females. (Wilkipedia)

Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) This species is closely related to other fritillaries, but there are important differences in their life history. They have two or three broods per year vs. one per year (as Great Spangled Fritillary) ; they are nomadic vs. sedentary--the ones we see here are flying in from other states ; and they use a wide range of host plants vs. just violets.

Eastern Tailed-blue (Cupido comyntas) Caterpillars of this species eat the flower buds, flowers, seeds and new leaves of their host plants in the L-legume family like yellow sweet clover, alfalfa, vetch, white clover, wild pea, bush clover, and tick-trefoil. Eastern Tailed-blues overwinter as caterpillars (often in the seed pod of their legume host) and pupate the following spring.

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) This was a good flight year for this seasonal immigrant species. It is a regular summer and fall immigrant into Massachusetts, but it cannot survive winters here so far as is known. It re-populates southern New England each year from larger populations further south, and is able to produce one or more generations here, depending on the date of arrival.

Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Two distinct phenotypes of Limenitis arthemis, the southern-based Red-spotted Purple (non-banded) and the northern-based White Admiral (white banded), occur in Massachusetts. The two forms were long treated as separate species, and they are sufficiently differentiated that most authors today refer to them as subspecies. The state is in the blend zone between these two venerable forms, so that many intergrades (“hybrids”) are also found here. (Butterflies of Massachusetts web-site)

Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Sightings of this popular species were more frequent this summer than in the past two years, but the species is still in decline. A study published in Science News this spring made a strong case that the reasons for this decline go far beyond what's happening on the wintering grounds. The study provides the first empirical evidence of a negative association between glyphosate (the main ingredient in the herbicide Roundup) application and local abundance of adult monarch butterflies during 1994-2003, the initial phase of large-scale herbicide adoption in the Midwest. Reduction of milkweed plants available as host plants may be one big reason for the shrinking Monarch population.

Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) Like our other migratory skippers, Fiery Skipper typically arrives in Massachusetts toward the middle or end of the summer season. It may become a temporary colonist, perhaps raising a brood, but it does not persist here owing to lack of cold tolerance. It cannot survive the winter.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) This large and showy species is one of the most familiar butterflies in Massachusetts. The first known drawing of a North America butterfly was of an eastern tiger swallowtail. It was drawn by John White in 1587 during Sir Walter Raleigh's third expedition to Virginia. (Wikipedia)

Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) In Massachusetts, the main plants that host the caterpillars of this butterfly appear to be oaks, especially red (Quercus rubra) and scrub (Q. ilicifolia) oaks.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) This migratory species occurred in high numbers in Massachusetts this year. While warm season migrations are often easily observed, e.g. hundreds sometimes seen flying onshore during a migratory movement, autumn migrations take place at high altitude, which explains why these migrations are seldom witnessed.

Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) Various species of native violets have reported to serve as a larval host plant for the great spangled fritillary, including the native round-leaf violet (Viola rotundifolia), the arrow-leaf violet (Viola fimbriatula) and the common blue violet (Viola sororia).

Northern Pearly-Eye ( Lethe [Enodia] anthedon) This butterfly is the region’s most forest-adapted butterfly. Its larval hosts are woodland grasses; adults feed on sap from tree wounds. Northern Pearly-Eye is usually found in the shady under-story, rather than the sunny canopy, and is often perched head-downward on tree trunks. (Butterflies of Massachusetts website)

Midsummer Miscellany

7/2/2017

Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor) in Hardwick on 6/22. Adults rarely descend from high treetops except during the breeding season. According to Wikipedia, mating calls and chorusing are most frequent at night, but individuals often call during daytime in response to thunder or other loud noises.

Northern Paper Wasps (Polistes fuscatus), which build their nests in June, are interesting creatures that conjure up misplaced fears. This placid queen, which will die by fall, has built a nest from wood fibers and laid eggs that will develop into new queens. Color patterns of P. fuscatus are highly variable and strongly influenced by geography. Wasps can even recognize each other's individual faces due to the great amount of variability.

On 6/8, Linda Leehy spotted this Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), a species more common in southerly locations, in her Gilbertville yard. The early date suggests that the butterfly, rare- to-uncommon in central MA, probably successfully overwintered as a chrysalis. The Butterflies of Massachusetts web-site states: "Giant Swallowtail faces difficult conditions in over-wintering in Massachusetts, but some have been surviving in warmer winters in suitable locations. Climate warming will probably lead to an increase in Massachusetts of this southern-based species both through over-wintering and increased immigration each spring. "

A Hobomok Skipper (Poanes hobomok) and a potter wasp (Ancistrocerus adiabatus) search for nectar on Purple Vetch (Vicia cracca), a non-native plant brought to North America as a forage plant and for its ability to fix large quantities of nitrogen. It is a favorite of nectaring insect species. Unless it is aggressively crowding out native species, a small amount of this vetch can be tolerated in the landscape.

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) laying eggs on 6/8 in Hardwick. The sex of the young is determined by the temperature of the nest; cooler temperatures favor males, warmer temperatures favor females. This nest was protected from predators with wire, so in August or early September, we hope to see young emerge. Temperatures were up and down this summer, so who knows which sex will prevail. After emerging, the young will instinctively seek out the security of the nearby pond.

A Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) suns itself on a shrub in Rutland. Photo by Ted Purcell.

CAN YOU GUESS THE SPECIES OF THIS BIRD? Jim Morelly sent us this puzzling image of a bird seen in the distance. He was able to grab this shot and described the bird as being about the size of a Scarlet Tanager. For the answer, go to our HOME page.

Our FROM THE FIELD post wouldn't be complete without one of Jim Morelly's stunning mammal photographs, this one of a White-tailed Deer in the Quabbin region.

A photographer who was focused on another subject inadvertently captured this image of a Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) feeding a fledgling. Cuckoos of both species were abundant this year, albeit extremely camera-shy. They feasted on Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) caterpillars, one of their preferred foods. Indigestible hairs of the caterpillars hairs accumulate in the stomach until the bird sheds the stomach lining and disgorges a pellet.

Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) in Hardwick on 6/29. According to butterfliesofmassachusetts.net, this species is a regular temporary colonist, arriving in Massachusetts from its year-round range further south. It seems to be appearing earlier in the last 25 years than it did historically. Photo by Bette Robo.

May Migrants & More

5/28/2017

Around the beginning of May, just as we were planning to discontinue feeding the birds and avoid attracting bears, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (Pheucticus ludovicianus) began showing up for sunflower seeds. Photo by Bob Stetson.

The long, continuous series of warbles, chirps, chips, and mews--sometimes for as long as ten minutes-- emanating from a thick tangle of shrubbery or vines--means that a Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) has arrived from its wintering grounds and is planning to spend the next five months somewhere nearby.

Right on schedule, this Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) was found in Warren on May 6th, en route to breeding territory in Canada. Unlike other sandpipers, Solitary Sandpiper lays its eggs in the tree nests of several different song birds, particularly those of the American Robin, Rusty Blackbird, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Jay, and Cedar Waxwing. See allaboutbirds.org for more information. Photo by Jim Engberg.

Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) was common at Muddy Brook WMA in Hardwick in May.

This Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) chose to bask atop an evergreen shrub in Rutland. Photo by Ted Purcell.

Warm, sunny days bring out butterflies such as this Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), a common but diminutive, and therefore easily overlooked, species.

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) in Rutland. Photo by Ted Purcell.

Three-banded Lady Beetle (Coccinella trifaciata), one of twelve species of lady beetles in North America, was spotted in Hubbardston.