Sunday, August 7, 2022

Warblers during the first week of August including interesting feeding behavior of a Black and White Warbler

Northern Waterthrush, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 1, 2022
Ovenbird, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Blackburnian Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Yellow Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Pine Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 6, 2022
Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 6, 2022
Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 7, 2022
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 7, 2022

August began much as July had ended with hot and humid weather which made being outside a bit uncomfortable at times.  I started the month in the local area and then up the west side of Quabbin and turned up a number of warblers but few species were singing much at all although a family of Canada Warblers were quite vocal.  I had to work on the 2nd and 4th so I didn't add too much on those days or on my in between days.  I made up for it a bit after getting out of work on Friday when I made a hot and humid hike up to the summit at Skinner SP.  I found at least one (and possibly two) Cerulean Warblers near the summit, a single Worm eating Warbler plus a few other species I had missed until that day.  I also witnessed some interesting feeding behavior of a Black and White Warbler (more on that below with more photos).  On Saturday I took a long walk along the Gate 8 road at Quabbin mainly looking for Red Crossbills but with a secondary goal of catching up with forest dwelling warblers I had not yet had for the month and I added a few species but warblers were few and far between although Pine Warblers gave a good showing.  Today I returned to various areas of Pelham and added a couple more species for the month including Black throated Blue Warbler and Prairie Warbler.  I have so far found 18 species for the month with my only miss for early August being Blue winged Warbler.

Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022
Black and White Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 5, 2022

Now for more on the odd feeding behavior of a Black and White Warbler at Skinner SP.  The bird would flare its wings (much like a Northern Mockingbird does).  It did this several times and I managed to catch it in a series of photos shown above.  I could not identify the insects it was eating but it did seem to be quite successful.  It was interesting to watch for sure.

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