A Rainy Weekend in the Berkshires


We've had a lot of rain this spring. This Traveler headed out to western Massachusetts near Lanesboro for the weekend, despite the gloomy weather. I stayed in the heart of the Berkshires right near Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts.

On the way, I stopped off at Mass Audubon's Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. This was my first visit to this sanctuary. It's beautiful. Lots of walking trails. Lots of different ecosystems. The warblers were out and singing away. The woodpeckers too. Got a beautiful glimpse at a Pileated Woodpecker, flashing and swirling through the branches. And the trilliums were blooming in profusion on the forest floor.

Trillium

Birds sighted: Black and White Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Flicker, Gray Catbird, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal

One stinky cat

The next day was very rainy but I headed outdoors anyway. Stopped off at Cricket Creek Farm in Williamstown. They have fantastic yogurt and cheese as well as baked goods. I was greeted by one of the farm cats who proceeded to escort me about the farm and the store. Unfortunately, the cat had been in the barn and was a bit stinky. Despite the rather malodorous state of my escort I still enjoyed its company and the farm.

Bluets

Just down the road from Cricket Creek Farm is Field Farm. There are some nice walking trails here through field, forest and wetland. There is also a rather unique guest house as well. The Canada Geese were out in force with their newly hatched broods. There were white-tailed deer lurking at the edges of the woods along the wetlands and one rather bedraggled woodchuck out enjoying the new spring grass.

Wood Duck (male) and Common Merganser (female)

The final day in the Berkshires I stopped at Mass Audobon's Canoe Meadows Sanctuary. There is great wild birdwatching here. On a log on one of the ponds I found a male Wood Duck and a female Common Merganser hanging out campanionably. They paddled off together as well...
Birds sighted: Veery, Wood Duck, Mallard, Common Merganser, Belted Kingfisher, Tree Swallow, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-Capped Chickadee, Redstart, Robin, Gray Catbird, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird.

Ferns




Comments

  1. I love getting wet in rain. Everything comes to life during rains and i think that it is also very romantic season. Nice blog loved it.

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