Wednesday, December 30, 2020

End of the year wrap up

White lored Warbler, El Dorado Lodge, Magdalena, Colombia, Feb 4, 2020
Santa Marta Warbler, Cuchilla San Lorenzo, Magdalena, Colombia, Feb 5, 2020
Yellow crowned Redstart, Cuchilla San Lorenzo, Magdalena, Colombia, Feb 5, 2020
Barbuda Warbler, Coco Point Road, Barbuda, Feb 28, 2020
Vitelline Warbler, Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman, Mar 4, 2020
Swainson's Warbler, Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman, Mar 2, 2020

Yet another year is in the books and yet again it was another great year for me in my quest to see all the new world wood warbler species.  I added a half a dozen new species to my total with White lored Warbler, Santa Marta Warbler and Yellow crowned Redstart in the Santa Marta Mountains of Colombia, Barbuda Warbler on the island of Barbuda and Vitelline Warbler and Swainson's Warbler on Grand Cayman.  Trips away from the local area included Costa Rica in January with a few day stop in central Florida on the way home, the Santa Marta Mountains in Colombia in early February, Antigua and Barbuda late February into early March and Grand Cayman Island in early March.  The remainder of the year was spent in the local area as travel became heavily restricted due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Jan 1, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Easthampton, MA, Jan 7, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 9, 2020

The new year started off with me finding Yellow rumped Warblers continuing at Arcadia and the next several days found several others at multiple locations....a good start to the year!

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 12, 2020
Tennessee Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 12, 2020
Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 15, 2020
Kentucky Warbler, Hacienda Baru NWR, Costa Rica, Jan 13, 2020
Northern Waterthrush, Hacienda Baru NWR, Costa Rica, Jan 13, 2020

We made our at least annual trip down to Costa Rica on January 10 and stayed until the 19th.  I managed to add another new warbler species for me at the lodge (Blackburnian Warbler).  Most of our time was spent around the Rio Magnolia Lodge with a half day trip down to the coast.
Prairie Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020
Yellow throated Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020
Orange crowned Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020
Palm Warbler 'western', Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 20, 2020

On our way home from Costa Rica we made a few day stop in Florida in the Orlando area.  Despite having just one day to bird and less than ideal weather I found a nice selection of warblers with nine species in just the one full day I had available.
Pine Warbler, Granby, MA, Jan 23, 2020
Once we arrived back home I followed up on a report of a Pine Warbler coming into some feeders at a private residence in Granby...a very rare species for January!
Pine Warbler, Granby, MA, Feb 2, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Feb 2, 2020
I started out February with two warbler species on the same day when I caught up with the continued Pine Warbler at a private residence in Granby as well as multiple Yellow rumped Warblers in the East Meadows.
Santa Marta Warbler, Cuchilla San Lorenzo, Magdalena, Colombia, Feb 5, 2020
White lored Warbler, El Dorado Lodge, Magdalena, Colombia, Feb 4, 2020
Yellow crowned Redstart, Cuchilla San Lorenzo, Magdalena, Colombia, Feb 5, 2020
Slate throated Redstart, El Dorado Lodge, Magdalena, Colombia, Feb 5, 2020
Tropical Parula, Finca Palo Alto, Magdalena, Colombia, Feb 6, 2020
On the third of the month I took a trip down to the Santa Marta Mountains of Colombia in search of three species of warbler endemic to the area (Santa Marta Warbler, White lored Warbler and Yellow crowned Redstart).  I happily found all three (as well as other warbler species) during the brief trip.
Barbuda Warbler, Coco Point Road, Barbuda, Feb 28, 2020
Cape May Warbler, Coco Point Road, Barbuda, Feb 28, 2020
Yellow Warbler (golden), Coco Point Road, Barbuda, Feb 28, 2020
Northern Parula, Coco Point Road, Barbuda, Feb 28, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', McKinnon's Saltpond, Antigua, Feb 29, 2020
At the end of February I headed down to Antigua and Barbuda with the goal of finally making it over to the island of Barbuda to see the endemic Barbuda Warbler.  It was an adventure getting there but well worth it and I had many fantastic looks at the species.  I had a total of half a dozen warbler species during my brief stop including two rarities for the islands with a Cape May Warbler on Barbuda and a group of three Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' on Antigua.  I stayed on Antigua until March 1st when I then flew down to Grand Cayman to continue the vacation.
Vitelline Warbler, Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman, Mar 6, 2020
Swainson's Warbler, Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman, Mar 2, 2020
Blue winged Warbler, Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman, Mar 2, 2020
Nashville Warbler, Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman, Mar 7, 2020
Black throated Green Warbler, Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman, Mar 6, 2020
Yellow throated Warbler, Old Man Bay, Grand Cayman, Mar 6, 2020
Worm eating Warbler, Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman, Mar 4, 2020
Hooded Warbler, Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman, Mar 5, 2020
I arrived late into Grand Cayman on March 1st and then spent the next week on the north end of the island with multiple visits to the nearby Mastic Trail as well as other locations.  My main goal was to locate the near endemic Vitelline Warbler and possibly a wintering Swainson's Warbler.  I succeeded in finding multiples of both species as well as a number of island rarities including Blue winged Warbler, Nashville Warbler and Black throated Green Warbler among a total of 21 species of warbler overall.
Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Mar 31, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Mar 18, 2020

Once I got home it was back to work and the beginning of dealing with the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.  Yellow rumped Warblers continued through the month in addition to the arrival of the first migrant Pine Warblers at the end of the month.  A look at the warblers overall for the winter season in Hampshire County found at least two species of warblers for every month of the winter...something I have never been able to do before.
Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 5, 2020
Louisiana Waterthrush, Nash Hill Rd, Williamsburg, MA, Apr 7, 2020

April started off with the arrival of Palm Warblers and a record early date for Louisiana Waterthrush on April 7th.  Most of the month featured below average temperatures and weather not conducive for migration.  By the middle of the month I had just four species of warbler.  By the end of the month I had tallied just nine species of warbler (with many represented by just a single individual).
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 3, 2020
Northern Parula, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 4, 2020
Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Piper Farm Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 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
Magnolia Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 13, 2020
Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler with odd plumage, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 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
Black and White Warbler with odd plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

The big warbler month of May began with a nice show of Yellow rumped Warblers with large flocks around (numbering into the hundreds).  The weather curtailed migration early on in the month but the birds eventually started to push in including multiple hybrid warblers including a long staying Lawrence's Warbler.  By the middle of the month migration conditions finally improved and a large influx of warblers arrived.  Among the warblers arriving in the middle of the month were a couple of oddly plumaged individuals.  By the end of the month I had found a total of 29 species plus a few hybrids but nothing too unusual.
Hooded Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 7, 2020
Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 8, 2020
Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jun 16, 2020
Yellow Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2020
The month of June featured the tail end of migration with the typical species around through mid month plus a few hybrids.  The most unusual sighting for the month was a Hooded Warbler that stayed around for a couple days early in the month in Hadley.
Canada Warbler, Packardville Road marsh, Pelham, MA, Jul 1, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Cadwell Memorial Forest, Pelham, MA, Jul 1, 2020
Common Yellowthroat, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, Jul 18, 2020
Pine Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, Jul 18, 2020
I decided to start off the normally birding doldrums of July with a big warbler day in Hampshire County on the first and I found a total of 19 species plus the continued Lawrence's Warbler.  The remainder of the month was rather uneventful and I didn't add any new species beyond the 19 I found on the first of the month.
Blue winged Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2020
Canada Warbler, Packardville Marsh, Pelham, MA, Aug 8, 2020
American Redstart, Ware, MA, Aug 11, 2020

The beginning and middle of August was hot and humid as usual but it featured the beginning of fall migration and dispersal of local breeders.  The highlight for the beginning of the month was the discovery of a Blue winged Warbler in the yard...a species I have been looking for since moving to Belchertown nearly 15 years ago!  The Blue winged Warbler became the 29th species of warbler for the yard...no idea why it took so long to get this species to show up in the yard but it was nice to finally get it.
Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 4, 2020
Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 13, 2020
Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2020
Cape May Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 19, 2020

September began with a new late date for Louisiana Waterthrush for me in the county.  The first third of the month started out quite slow for warbler migration.  Things heated up a bit by the 19th with 19 species of warbler for the day including my first Connecticut Warbler (it ended up being a very slow season for that species compared to the last few years).  By the end of the month I had found 27 species of warbler for the month.  Overall the month was quite slow for warbler migration with very low numbers of several species....I suspect many birds took advantage of night after night of good migration conditions and just bypassed the area on their journey south.  Tennessee Warblers were the exception to the slow season with good numbers around for the entire month.
Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2020
Palm Warbler 'western', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2020
Connecticut Warbler, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Oct 6, 2020
Orange crowned Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020
 
Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 22, 2020

October began with a large influx of Yellow rumped Warblers with one of my highest single day counts.  By the end of first week I had found 17 warbler species including a late Connecticut Warbler (one of just three this entire fall and the only one I got photos of).  I had a great day mid month where I had 11 species for the day including some late individuals as well as high counts for a number of others for so late in the season.

Blackpoll Warbler, Hadley Cove, Hadley, MA, Nov 1, 2020
Magnolia Warbler, Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 9, 2020
Tennessee Warbler, Hadley Malls, Hadley, MA, Nov 11, 2020
Wilson's Warbler, Hadley Malls, Hadley, MA, Nov 11, 2020

I started off November with three species including a couple of late Blackpoll Warblers and by the end of the first week I had found a total of five species (which is a higher total then I have over the course of a typical November here).  Then remainder of the month produced even more warblers and by the end of the month I had a record setting total of eight with multiple species setting new late date records for me.  

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Dec 1, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Dec 21, 2020
Yellow throated Warbler, Lancaster, MA, Dec 24, 2020

The last month of the year started off with a couple Yellow rumped Warblers at Arcadia...making it 44 months in a row I have had at least one warbler species in Hampshire County.  I searched many of my 'go to' spots for late season warblers over the last few years but came up empty for most of the month.  Thankfully at least one continued into late month in Hadley...hopefully it can make it through the winter and continue my streak of warblers in the county.  A little before Christmas I heard of a Yellow throated Warbler coming to a feeder at a private residence in Worcester County and I made the drive out on the morning of Christmas Eve to see it as I had yet to see this species in the state.  After about an hour of waiting it showed up...now just to find this species in Hampshire County.  I sadly was unable to find another warbler species in the county for the month so December ended by streak of two warbler species in the county for the year.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 29, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, May 4, 2020
Black and White Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 4, 2020
Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 10, 2020
Black throated Blue Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 11, 2020
Ovenbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 13, 2020
Common Yellowthroat, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 15, 2020
Wilson's Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020
American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020
Northern Parula, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2020 (first warbler at the new water feature)
Black throated Green Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 28, 2020
 Palm Warbler 'yellow', Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2020
 Tennessee Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 9, 2020
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2020
Blackpoll Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 11, 2020

The camera at the old water feature caught a number of warblers for the year including two new species for the water list (Ovenbird and Wilson's Warbler) bringing the total number of warbler species captured on the camera up to 16.  After having an issue with the old water feature late in the summer I decided to upgrade to a new set up that I got up and running later in September.  Even with the late date I still managed to capture five species of warbler (including my first Black throated Green Warbler at the water feature...warbler species #17 at the water feature overall).  Really looking forward to seeing what next spring brings in to the new water feature.

This is where I typical look toward the next year and the trips I have planned to find more warblers but given the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic and the inability to travel to many of the spots I want to go to without loads of restrictions I don't have any trips planned at this point.  My hope is that by next fall the pandemic will be under control and travel will be back open.  I have some thoughts on trips to take but until travel opens up again I can't plan much of anything.  My next trips will likely be another trip down to Costa Rica and perhaps Baja California and/or a couple more islands in the Caribbean but who knows when those trips will happen.


Below are few tables of warblers seen overall for the year, warblers per month and warblers seen in Hampshire County by month.

Warblers (running tally for year)

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun      Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
22        30        40         41        46          46       46       46        47        47        47       47


Warblers overall per month

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
22        16        23         9          29          24      19       20        27        19        8         2


Hampshire County warblers by month

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May     Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
2          2           2          9          29         23      19       20        27        19        8          1


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