Record early Louisiana Waterthrush and the first Pine and Palm Warblers

 

Louisiana Waterthrush, Williamsburg, MA, Apr 5, 2022

Louisiana Waterthrush, Williamsburg, MA, Apr 5, 2022

Pine Warbler, Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Apr 5, 2022

Pine Warbler, Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Apr 5, 2022

Pine Warbler, Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Apr 5, 2022

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 5, 2022

Once I got out of work today I headed up to Williamsburg to follow up on a couple Louisiana Waterthrushes that Mary found the day before.  I normally would not have made the ride up but getting one today would be a record early date for me for the species in Hampshire County so I figured I would give it a try.  I found at least one singing (and possibly a second one) but trying to get looks at it took some time.  I eventually found it singing perhaps 30-40 feet up in a tree (It is not too unusual to have the species singing fairly high up when they first arrive on territory.  My previous early date for the species was April 7 in 2020 when I had two singing in different spots (also in Williamsburg).  The early arrival is especially noteworthy as conditions have been less than ideal for migration lately and Pine and Palm Warblers have both been behind a bit for their first arrival into the county.  In fact, despite a lot of looking from late March into early April, I only managed to turn up my first Pine Warbler on April 3rd and that individual showed up in the yard and not in all the usual typical spots where the first arriving individuals of the species are usually found.  Today turned out to be a good day for early season warblers as I turned up my first Palm Warbler also.  All of these species will be on the increase as the month goes on.