Sunday, September 30, 2018

September warblers


Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 23, 2018
Orange crowned Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 27, 2018
Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 27, 2018
Canada Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 27, 2018
Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 26, 2018
Yellow Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 26, 2018
Wilson's Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 22, 2018
Magnolia Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 16, 2018
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 13, 2018
Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2018
Black throated Green Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 13, 2018
Cape May Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Sep 30, 2018
September has rapidly come to a close and it was (as usual) the second best month for warblers around here as far as diversity goes (May of course beats it out).  I had a total of 27 species over the course of the month with several highlights including multiple Connecticut Warblers (more on that below), higher than usual numbers of Tennessee Warblers and Bay breasted Warblers (others had higher than usual numbers of Cape May Warblers too but I didn't spend as much time in proper habitat for them), a few late lingering species late into the month and great looks at a Orange crowned Warbler (a oddly tough species to find sometimes here in the fall).
Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018
Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018
I found a total of eight Connecticut Warblers with all but two concentrated in just a few days between the 20th and 23rd.  The weather conditions we experienced almost certainly led to the concentration on just a few days.  I even had a morning with three at the same location, something I have never been able to accomplish in the past...there was another birder that had five in the same area the following day!
Bay breasted Warbler (with House Wren), Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 19, 2018
Bay breasted Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 19, 2018
I also added another warbler species (#14) to the water feature list when the motion camera captured a Bay breasted Warbler that dropped in.  I had a decent selection of warbler species in the yard for the month with a total of fifteen species seen.  No luck again this year in finding a Blue winged Warbler for the yard...really the only common warbler I have not had in the yard yet (current yard total is 28 species)...maybe next year.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Three Connecticut Warblers today

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018
Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018
 Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018
Yellow Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018
Northern Parula, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018
American Redstart, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2018
After finding just a single Connecticut Warbler for the season prior to today I hit pay dirt this morning at Arcadia with three separate individuals (two adults and a first year) and even managed to get decent views (and some photos) of two of them.  This is the first time I have ever managed to find three in a single day and a record I'm unlikely to break anytime soon (I have had two on single days on just a couple occasions).  Besides the Connecticut Warblers I had a nice selection of warblers today with a total of 17 species...about as good as it gets in mid September. 
Bay breasted Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 19, 2018
At home my motion activated camera caught another new warbler species at my water feature with the capture of a Bay breasted Warbler yesterday bringing my warbler list at the water feature up to 14 so far.