Warblers for the month of May

Northern Parula, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 4, 2020

Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2020

Nashville Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2020

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2020

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 7, 2020

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2020

Bay breasted Warbler, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Canada Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 17, 2020

Ovenbird, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, May 18, 2020

Wilson's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

The month of May has now come to an end and with it the big push of warblers.  I managed to find a total of 29 species of warbler plus a few hybrids for the month (including a Lawrence's Warbler that continued until the end of the month).  The big miss for the month was not finding any Hooded Warblers but hopefully I will find one in June.  Overall the migration was a bit slow to start the month with cooler than normal conditions and less than optimal conditions for migration.  The pattern finally changed around mid month and the flood gates were opened.  Conditions after that were great for migration and many species moved through rather quickly. 

The last few Mays have produced the following totals for warblers:
2019: 29 species
2018: 30 species
2017: 30 species

Yellow rumped Warbler with white head, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler with white head, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

 Black and White Warbler with unusual plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

Black and White Warbler with unusual plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

I had a couple of interestingly plumaged warblers this month including a Yellow rumped Warbler with a white head at home and an odd looking male Black and White Warbler along the rail trail in Amherst.

Ovenbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 13, 2020

Wilson's Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Black throated Blue Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 11, 2020

In the yard for May I had 23 species of warbler for the month.   Yet again I failed to find a Blue winged Warbler for the yard list despite a lot of looking.  The water feature captured a number of warblers including two new species (Ovenbird and Wilson's Warbler) bringing the total number of warblers captured at the water feature to 16.

Unusual plumaged Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler with unusual plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

Black and White Warbler with unusual plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

Black and White Warbler with unusual plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

Black and White Warbler with unusual plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

Black and White Warbler with unusual plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

I ran across another unusually plumaged warbler this morning while walking the rail trail in Amherst (after finding an unusual Yellow rumped Warbler at home a few days ago).  This time it was a male Black and White Warbler with odd markings.  It was in the company of a female Black and White Warbler and they appeared to be paired up so it will be interesting to see if they stay around to breed in the area.  I'm not sure if it is some aberrant plumage (melanistic perhaps?) or some hybrid with who knows what else.  My guess is it is just an aberrant plumage.  Whatever the reason behind the appearance it is an interesting individual and unlike any I have seen before.  A full album with additional photos can be found at the following link.

Large influx of warblers yesterday and warblers around the house today including an unusual Yellow rumped Warbler

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2020

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2020

Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2020

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2020

Bay breasted Warbler, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Cape May Warbler, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

The warblers are really back now in decent numbers thanks to a few nights of great migration conditions. Yesterday was a fantastic day at Quabbin Park with loads of warblers around (really impressive numbers of several species including Cape May Warbler, Black throated Blue Warbler and Northern Parula as well as others). Most were showing fairly well although many were up high but thanks to a late leaf out that was not an issue with seeing them. The warblers continued into today with a few new ones for me for the year (Bay breasted Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler).

Yellow rumped Warbler with white head, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler with white head, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Wilson's Warbler photo bombing, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler with white head, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

The yard was good for warblers today with 15 species including Tennessee, Canada and Wilson’s Warbler. One of the more unique sightings was a Yellow rumped Warbler with a white head that I managed to get a few shots before it disappeared.  I would have loved to have gotten some clearer photos and more prolonged looks.  Not really sure what the issue was with the individual but it is not something I have come across before and I have looked at many thousands of Yellow rumped Warblers over the years.  Repeated searches later in the day failed to relocate the individual.   The camera at the water featured captured a few of the warblers including a photo bombing Wilson’s Warbler which became the 16th species of warbler at the water feature.

A search for warblers today

Ovenbird, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2020

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2020

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2020

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2020

Wilson's Warbler, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2020

Black and White Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2020

Canada Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2020

I headed out before dawn this morning with the intention of trying to catch up with as many warbler species as I could. Unfortunately the conditions were not right overnight to bring in some the later arriving species so I fell short of a record setting day. Nonetheless I still managed to find 23 species of warbler for the day. Yet to arrive expected species (at least for me) that I did not find today include Bay breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Mourning Warbler. I also struck out on finding a late Palm Warbler and the Orange crowned Warbler in Hadley appears to have moved on. Perhaps I will try again sometime in the next week if I get the chance.

Ovenbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 13, 2020

A notable capture on my camera at the water feature was an Ovenbird that showed up late yesterday and showed again today. The Ovenbird became the 15th warbler species I have captured at the water feature so far.

Slight improvement in migration conditions brings in some warblers

Northern Parula, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 11, 2020

Northern Waterthrush, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 11, 2020

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 11, 2020

Wilson's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 11, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, May 11, 2020

American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 11, 2020

Slightly improved migration conditions overnight brought in some more warblers but still not the big numbers or diversity.  It was yet another cold start but the sunny conditions and lack of wind initially made it bearable.  I spent the entire morning covering a variety of different locations before heading home late in the morning.  The entire afternoon featured on and off rain showers with a few sunny breaks as yet another cold front moved through.  The yard was productive with 13 species of warblers around.  Overall for the day I found a total of 19 species of warblers including my first Wilson's Warbler of the season (I also had one hybrid warbler)....I'm sure with a little more effort (like a trip up the mountain at Skinner SP) could have added at least a couple more.

Black throated Blue Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 10, 2020

Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 10, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, May 10, 2020

Black throated Blue Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 10, 2020

The water feature continues to capture some warblers including three species in one day yesterday including my first male Black throated Blue Warbler (which continued to visit throughout the day today).