Warblers on a short Florida stop

Prairie Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Palm Warbler 'western', Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Palm Warbler 'western', Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Orange crowned Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Northern Parula, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Yellow throated Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Pine Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Black and White Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Common Yellowthroat, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

Following our stay down in Costa Rica we made a brief stop in Orlando, Florida on the way home arriving late on Sunday and leaving in the afternoon on Tuesday which gave me a full day and bit of another to try to turn up some warblers. I figured I would try to find my main targets at the Orlando Wetlands Park and arrived there around sunrise on Monday to find it quite windy. I worked my way to the north side of the park where the trees acted as a shield to the wind and the conditions there were mostly calm with the sun shining on the trees. I started racking up the warblers right away with Northern Parula and Orange crowned Warblers in among the very numerous Yellow rumped Warblers and lesser numbers of Palm Warblers and Common Yellowthroats. Just a bit further down the path I ran across a couple Pine Warblers plus my first Black and White Warblers. After a bit more searching I eventually turned up singles of Yellow throated Warbler and Prairie Warbler. I was very happy to find all my targets (and get photos) within just a few hours at a single location. A total of nine species of warblers for the morning was somewhat unexpected given the conditions that I found when I arrived.

Warblers on a trip to Costa Rica -January 10-19

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 12, 2020

Tennessee Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 12, 2020

Mourning Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 11, 2020

 Yellow Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 11, 2020

 Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 11, 2020

Recently back from yet another relaxing trip down to Costa Rica (our 13th trip!) with almost our entire vacation spent at Rio Magnolia Lodge in the southern Pacific foothills with just a half day trip down to the coast to break up our time at the lodge.  The first full day at the lodge turned up seven species of warbler which was about the average number I would find over the course of a typical day at the lodge (I was never able to find more than that total in a single day at the lodge for this trip). As is typically the case at the lodge the most common species were Chestnut sided Warblers and Tennessee Warblers with double digit totals most ever day. On January 12th I found a Blackburnian Warbler in among a mixed flock which was a species I had never had at the lodge before (bringing my total at the lodge to 16 species of warblers).

Kentucky Warbler, Hacienda Baru NWR, Costa Rica, Jan 13, 2020

Northern Waterthrush, Hacienda Baru NWR, Costa Rica, Jan 13, 2020

On Monday we made a trip down to the coast in the morning and stayed at Hacienda Baru through early afternoon. The lower elevation typically produces some different warbler species that are not found at the lodge. My main targets for warblers were Northern Waterthrush (which is very common at the location) and Prothonotary Warbler (which can be a bit tougher to find). I found a Prothonotary Warbler within the first half hour but failed to get a photo when my normally reliable camera had a hiccup (some error message showed up regarding the lens and the camera refused to take a photo). I managed to get the camera working again but by then the bird had disappeared and did not show itself again despite much effort on my part. The surprise warbler of the day was a Kentucky Warbler that showed quite well not too far away from where I had the Prothonotary Warbler. Despite the less than ideal lighting conditions in the forest I was able to get a few decent photos. A couple other notable warblers included a male American Redstart and a Common Yellowthroat. The most common warblers overall were as expected Chestnut sided Warblers and Tennessee Warblers plus several Yellow Warblers. Overall for the trip down to Hacienda Baru I found a total of eight species of warblers with three of those new for the trip.

Gray crowned Yellowthroat, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2020

Black and White Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2020

MacGillivray's Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2020

Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 15, 2020

Yellow Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 15, 2020

The remainder of the trip (Tuesday-Sunday) was spent solely at the lodge with each day bringing a great selection of birds including a number of warblers including my second MacGillivrays Warbler I have ever had at the lodge. I also managed to get some better looks (and photos) of ones I saw earlier in the trip. My total number of warblers seen for the trip totaled 15 species.

Pine Warbler in January in Granby!

Pine Warbler, Granby, MA, Jan 23, 2020

Pine Warbler, Granby, MA, Jan 23, 2020

Pine Warbler, Granby, MA, Jan 23, 2020

While I was on vacation and checking reports from back at home I noticed that a Pine Warbler was reported coming to a series of suet feeders at a private residence in Granby.  I contacted the homeowner (Carol M.) to see if I could post her report to eBird and include the through the window photo she took and she allowed me to post the report and photo.  She continued to report the bird coming in despite the below zero lows for the last couple mornings.  I got back in touch yesterday to see if I could swing by to try to see the bird and possibly get some better photos and she graciously allowed me to stop by this morning.  The house is in a suburban area and it would be very difficult to get looks at the bird without the cooperation of the homeowner and neighbors as you have to look right at the front of the house to get looks at the bird if it showed up.  Carol was great about letting her neighbors know I would be stopping by.  I made it to the location a bit before eight in the morning and almost immediately had the bird come in briefly to the suet before it disappeared.  I then set up the scope and after a wait of about 15 minutes it returned and I got a series of digiscoped shots.  A fantastic warbler to have around the area in January and one of just a handful of records for the area in winter (and my first ever in January around here).  In looking at eBird reports there are just two other winter season reports (one in January and another in February) in Hampshire County.  I was very appreciative of the Carol for letting me intrude on her neighborhood so I could see the bird and get some better documentation photos.  Hopefully the bird continues to make it through the winter.  Link to eBird report with additional photos here.

More Yellow rumped Warblers over the last few days

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 7, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 7, 2020

Yellow rumped Warblers 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 7, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 10, 2020

There continues to be a number of Yellow rumped Warblers around from the end of the first week of the month into the middle of the second week.  I went down to Arcadia on Tuesday morning where the species has been the most reliable lately with multiple individuals around.  I initially could not find any in the area near the metal bridge but after exploring a couple other areas I found a group of at least five in a new area (I also saw a report from yesterday of another group of several individuals near the rookery which is well away from where I had mine on Tuesday so there is likely at least two separate groups of the warblers down at Arcadia).  After work this morning I headed down to the East Meadows where Aaron had an amazing flock of 18 Yellow rumped Warblers yesterday (easily the largest group of warblers in western mass in January, if not the entire winter season...I had a group of eleven one day back in February 2018, which is my highest count for warblers in the county in the winter season).  It was very cold to start the morning with a slight breeze which is what probably kept the warblers a bit more subdued and I managed to turn up just four (which is still quite good for January!).  Certainly looks as if a fair number of warblers are attempting to overwinter and I will keep tabs on them as much as vacations, work and weather allow.

Yellow rumped Warblers continue into 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 1, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 1, 2020

I was able to find at least half a dozen Yellow rumped Warblers together at Arcadia this morning to kick off the new year.  This now makes the 33rd month in a row I have found at least one warbler species in Hampshire County.  I didn't have time this morning to check a couple other spots I have had at least a few others in recent weeks but hope to hit them in the next few days.  A good way to start off the year!