Third warbler species in March-Yellow-rumped Warbler

I found my third warbler species for the month of March at Great Pond in Hatfield this morning as I ran across a Yellow-rumped Warbler working its way along the ridge above the pond.  There was also a very vocal Pine Warbler in the same area.  The Pine Warblers are back in force and singing on territory at most stops today.  With only one day left in the month this will likely be the last species of warbler for the month but you never know.  The warbler season is certainly off to a good start so far with Pine, Palm and Yellow-rumped here so far.

Palm Warbler at home...in March.

Yet another very early warbler arrival this evening as I came across a Palm Warbler here at home.  Initially heard as I walked the dog for his evening walk.  I had no binoculars or camera with me but I kept hearing the bird chip and it came into a tree perhaps 10 feet away, providing great naked eye looks.  It was a male with a continuously pumping tail.  It was seen at 6:35 along Jabish Brook and then moved down the stream out of view and I continued with my walk.  I then heard it chip a few more times before I headed back to the house to get my camera.  Despite much effort I was unable to relocate and get a photo.  The number of Pine Warblers has grown quite a bit in the last week and they seemed to be present at every location I stopped at today.  The Pine Warbler at the house sang on and off all day long.

Pine Warbler in March

The unseasonable warmth and south winds has resulted in many early migrants arriving at record early dates.  Today I found a singing Pine Warbler at Covey WMA. The earliest date I have had them back here ever, beating my old record of April 1 in 2006. A normal year finds the first one arriving the first week of April.  The temperature today topped out around 78 and it should stay in the 70's the next two days and then into the 80's on Thursday...a full 30-40 degrees above the average high this time of year...amazing!