Environment

A common nighthawk

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Migrants in area, nesting birds settle in

Friday, May 24, 2013

The Audubon Society has reported a variety of recent bird sightings in western Massachusetts. Some uncommon migrants found in the region over the weekend were common nighthawk, olive-sided flycatcher, Swainson’s thrush, Cape May warbler, Tennessee warbler, bay-breasted warbler, Wilson’s warbler, Lincoln’s sparrow, white-crowned sparrow and pine siskin. Uncommon nesting birds reported were American bittern, upland sandpiper, black-billed cuckoo, alder flycatcher, … 0

A copperhead snake

GREG HUME/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Earth Matters The pleasures of nature: To share or not to share

Friday, May 24, 2013

At a meeting of the Hampshire Bird Club last June, a friend shared with me some pictures of snakes and offered to show me where she had seen them. The snakes were northern copperheads, a locally uncommon species I had never seen, so I was eager to take her up on the invitation. … 0

Valley Views Local photographers aim their cameras outdoors

Friday, May 24, 2013

RAINBOW MORNING Mount Pollux, Middle Street, Amherst Photograph and text by Karen Lemoine of Amherst By mid-April last year, spring buds were beginning to show lots of color, so I decided to hike to Mount Pollux to capture the beautiful morning light as it fell across the Holyoke Range. On the way there … 0