Record number of warblers for November

Tennessee Warbler (one of three present!), Hadley Malls, Hadley, MA, Nov 11, 2020

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 4, 2020

Magnolia Warbler, Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 9, 2020

Blackpoll Warbler, Hadley Cove, Hadley, MA, Nov 1, 2020

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 7, 2020

Pine Warbler, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, Nov 4, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 4, 2020

Wilson's Warbler, Hadley Malls, Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2020

With the month of November rapidly coming to a close I will look at the record setting total of eight species I had for the month in Hampshire County.  I believe my previous best November had a total of five species so this year November was really impressive.  The warblers I had included Tennessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow rumped Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.  A few of these are new record late dates for me including Magnolia Warbler (previous late date 10/26 back in 2014) and Wilson's Warbler (previous late date 10/11 in 2007).  I managed to get at least record shots of all of these warblers.  In addition there were at least three other species of warbler reported late in the month that I failed to catch up with despite trying.  

Late warblers including Magnolia Warbler, Tennessee Warblers and Wilson's Warbler during a record warm stretch of weather

Tennessee Warbler, Hadley, MA, Nov 11, 2020

Tennessee Warbler, Hadley, MA, Nov 11, 2020

Tennessee Warbler, Hadley, MA, Nov 11, 2020

Magnolia Warbler, Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 9, 2020

Magnolia Warbler, Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 9, 2020

Magnolia Warbler, Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 9, 2020

'Warbler gulch', Hadley, MA, Nov 11, 2020

The last several days of November have featured well above normal temperatures and overall sunny conditions with highs most days well into the 70's, setting records for several consecutive days.  During this time I have caught up with a number of late warblers species (all setting new late dates for me).  On the 8th Ted had both Tennessee Warbler and Nashville Warbler in areas near the rail trail in Amherst so on the 9th I headed over to try to relocate the birds.  Although I had no luck with the warblers Ted found I did run across a very late Magnolia Warbler at Wentworth Farm Conservation Area (my previous late date for the species was Oct 26, 2014).  Mike L. found a few late warbler species in Hadley and after work today I headed over to the location to try to relocate them but had no luck so I headed back to Wentworth Farm in Amherst where the only warbler I had was a Yellow rumped Warbler.  Later in the morning I noticed that Mike and Scott had both Tennessee Warbler and Wilson's Warbler in the same area Mike had some unusual warbler the day before so after walking Wilson I headed back over and quickly located at least three Tennessee Warblers and a female type Wilson's Warbler.  I was able to get multiple photos of the Tennessee Warblers but the Wilson's Warbler was just too skulky.  My old late dates for these warblers were Oct 21 for Tennessee Warbler (back in 2012) and Oct 20th for Wilson's Warbler (set earlier this year).  It was amazing to catch up with multiple warblers on a single day well into the second week of November. (Thanks to Ted, Mike and Scott for helping me get to areas with late warblers).  So far for the month of November I have had seven species of warbler which is the highest number I have ever had for the month of November.  

Wilson's Warbler, Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2020

Wilson's Warbler, Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2020

Wilson's Warbler, Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2020

I returned to the same area the next day and managed to get better views and a few marginal photos of the Wilson's Warbler.

Warblers for the first week of November

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

Blackpoll Warblers, Hadley Cove, Hadley, MA, Nov 1, 2020

Blackpoll Warbler, Hadley Cove, Hadley, MA, Nov 1, 2020

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 4, 2020

Pine Warbler, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, Nov 4, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 6, 2020

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 7, 2020

The first week of November has now come to an end and during this time I have managed to catch up with five species of warblers in the county.  Although the month started off cold with some snow, by mid week it started warming up and ended with record setting warmth and sunny conditions the last few days.  The species for the month include Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler and Yellow rumped Warbler.  All but the Yellow rumped Warbler consist of just one or two individuals and the count of five is about as good as I typically do for warblers for the whole month.

October wrap up and the first day of November

Prairie Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 5, 2020

Connecticut Warbler, Aqua Vitae Rd, Hadley, MA, Oct 6, 2020

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 10, 2020

Northern Parula, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Orange crowned Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 22, 2020

Now that October has come to an end the warbler migration is for the most part over although there will still be some lingering species as well as the chance for a rarity to show up as the end of the year rapidly approaches.  In addition I will be out looking to see if I can continue to find at least one (maybe more) species of warbler every month through the end of the year (and hopefully beyond).  The month of October was productive with my highest species count for the month ever with 19 species of warbler in Hampshire County including a number of new late dates for species for me in the county including Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.  Other notable warbler occurrence included a big influx of Yellow rumped Warblers at the beginning of the month.  I even had a double digit count of warbler species into mid month.

A number of rare warblers have already shown up in the east with multiple Townsend's Warbler.  I will certainly be out looking to see if I can track down any rarities.

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

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

Blackpoll Warblers, Hadley Cove, Hadley, MA, Nov 1, 2020

Blackpoll Warbler, Hadley Cove, Hadley, MA, Nov 1, 2020

November started the same way that October ended...cold!  I got out a bit after work with a few stops during which I turned up three species of warbler.  Arcadia featured at least eight Yellow rumped Warblers working through a recently harvested field.  A brief stop at Hadley Cove on my way home proved to be quite productive with a Pine Warbler and two Blackpoll Warblers.  Given the cold conditions without a lot of sun and being very tired I was happy to turn up three species.