End of August warblers with a few early species

Cape May Warbler, Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2017

Yellow Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 29, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 31, 2017

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 24, 2017

Wilson's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 24, 2017

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 24, 2017

As August comes to an end the fall migration season will soon be here in full force. The next month will see a big movement of warblers as they head south until next spring. So far for this fall migration season (August 15-November) I have found 23 species of warbler including some early migrants including two Tennessee Warblers on August 17, Connecticut Warbler, Cape May Warbler and two Northern Parula on August 29 and a Wilson's Warbler on August 24.  The Connecticut Warbler is my earliest record ever around here and my first in August.  It will be interesting to see how many Connecticut Warblers I can find this season and if I can come close to my record breaking season last year when I found an amazing ten individuals!  More about last year at the following link:Connecticut Warblers 2016.  The Connecticut Warbler becomes warbler species #32 for the year in Hampshire County for me so far.

A few selected lists from the end of August with additional photos here:

Quabbin Park Aug 24
Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River Aug 29
Arcadia Aug 31

Some warblers around Arcadia including an interesting one

Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 19, 2017

Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 19, 2017

Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 19, 2017

Yellow Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 19, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 19, 2017

Arcadia once again offered up some great birds with the best by far being a very interesting individual I initially identified as an exceptionally early Connecticut Warbler found along the edge of a field in some low brush.  The behavior was exactly what I would expect from a Connecticut Warbler including walking up a branch.  However the plumage details point more to a juvenile Mourning Warbler although I still cannot explain the odd behavior.

Full eBird list with more photos here: Arcadia

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 19, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 19, 2017

Late in the morning I made my way over to Quabbin Park where I was once again able to find one of the Mourning Warblers still hanging around...full list here: Quabbin Park.

Mid August warblers

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 16, 2017

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 16, 2017

Canada Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 16, 2017

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 16, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 16, 2017

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 16, 2017

The fall warbler migration is just starting to heat up with a handful of mixed flocks around during my stops at Lake Wallace and Quabbin Park this morning.  A total of 13 species of warblers this morning including at least two Mourning Warblers (an adult male and a juvenile) in the area they bred this year.  Another highlight was a Louisiana Waterthrush (getting a little late for this early migrant).  The next several weeks through the end of September will see the numbers and variety of warblers increase.  Full lists from the morning with photos attached below:

Lake Wallace
Quabbin Park
Lake Wallace

Groups of Yellow Warblers and continued Mourning Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush over the last few days

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 11, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 11, 2017

Yellow Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 9, 2017

Yellow Warblers, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 9, 2017

I made it over to Arcadia on Wednesday and the most notable warblers there were the decent numbers of Yellow Warblers around with several still singing. I assume some of these individuals came in from other areas as the density seemed high for just breeders. This spot can be a good location to find late Yellow Warblers as the migration season continues. Other notable warblers around included a somewhat late Louisiana Waterthrush at Lake Wallace on Thursday and at least one Mourning Warbler continuing at Quabbin Park today.

Lists with additional photos:
Arcadia- Aug 9
Lake Wallace- Aug 10
Quabbin Park -Aug 10
Quabbin Park -Aug 11

Mourning Warbler at Quabbin Park update

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, July 26, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, August 8, 2017

A quick update on the Mourning Warblers at Quabbin Park as we start into the second week of July.  I managed to find a female carrying food on July 26 to a likely nest location so it does indeed appear that breeding did indeed take place.  I have made several stops during the end of July up until today and the male is still around but is very quiet and hard to find.  I assume at this point that the nestlings have fledged (assuming the nest was successful) and have left the area, along with the female.