Westover Grasslands Complex, Hampden, Massachusetts, US
Jun 4, 2016 7:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments:     BBC – Westover Air Force Base for Grassland Birds – Leader: Linda Ferraresso – multiple locations – BBC walk combined with Allen and Hampshire bird clubs – cloudy much of the visit, though sun came out mid morning; temperature in the 60’s.  Combined group of birders split into a few groups; counts are a composite of all groups in various locations out on the grassland.
35 species

Mallard  1
Wild Turkey  2
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Great Blue Heron  5
Turkey Vulture  3
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Killdeer  2
Upland Sandpiper  19     According to the Chief of  Environmental Engineering at the base, there are approximately 40 nesting pairs currently at this location.  Birds were calling, giving wolf whistle, flying around us, seen walking in the grass – generally a very impressive display of this species.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  X
Mourning Dove  6
Chimney Swift  2
American Kestrel  2
Eastern Kingbird  5
Red-eyed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  1
Tree Swallow  4
Bank Swallow  2
Barn Swallow  1
Cliff Swallow  2     Seen by Jan Smith and others in a combined group of 36 birders from 3 bird clubs.
House Wren  1
Eastern Bluebird  2
American Robin  6
Gray Catbird  1
Brown Thrasher  1
Northern Mockingbird  3
Common Yellowthroat  1
Grasshopper Sparrow  15     Nesting habitat for this species; this is a MA Audubon IBA for grassland species.
Field Sparrow  5
Savannah Sparrow  2
Bobolink  20
Red-winged Blackbird  5
Eastern Meadowlark  10     Nesting habitat for this species; this is a MA Audubon IBA for grassland species.
Common Grackle  1
American Goldfinch  1
House Sparrow  X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30083075

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