End of October

 

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 30, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 30, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 30, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 30, 2022

I ended the month of October with a few stops looking for warblers on my way home from work.  I initially was going to stop by the East Meadows to take advantage of a no hunting day but the fog was thick when I arrived so I instead headed across the river and made a brief stop along a very frosty Aqua Vitae Road but didn't find much there and the fog was fairly thick at that location also.  I then went over to Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River and after it warmed up a bit I started getting a few late warblers with the highlights being a very uncooperative Common Yellowthroat plus at least four Palm Warblers.  I also had half a dozen Yellow rumped Warblers.  I then headed further east and made a half hour stop at Herman Covey WMA where I had more Yellow rumped Warblers.  I ended the month with 17 species of warbler.

A Yellow rumped Warbler with white splotches on its face (plus other warblers the last few days)

 

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' with white splotches on face, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 27, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' with white splotches on face, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 27, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' with white splotches on face, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Oct 27, 2022

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

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 24, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 24, 2022

We enjoyed a few unseasonably warm days but today it is coming to an end as strong northwest winds bring in cooler air for the rest of the week and into the weekend.  Nonetheless it was nice while it lasted with temps yesterday that topped off in the low 70's with high humidity...a taste of summer in late October!  I have been out looking for warblers the last few days when I could and turned up mainly the expected Yellow rumped Warblers and Palm Warblers plus a Common Yellowthroat on Tuesday that would not cooperate for photos.  Among the Yellow rumped Warblers I have had the last several days was a unique individual this morning that had white splotches on its face (more pronounced on the left side).  A neat looking bird and reminded me of another Yellow rumped Warbler with lots of white on it I had at the house back in May 2020 although the one today was much more subtle.  Always fun sorting through hordes of Yellow rumped Warblers and coming across something a little different.

Some late warblers to begin the fourth week of October and a relatively slow third week of the month

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 22, 2022

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 22, 2022

Palm Warbler 'western', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 22, 2022

Blackpoll Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 22, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 22, 2022

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2022

Nashville Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown, MA, Oct 22, 2022

I started off the fourth week of October turning up a decent selection of warblers for the date with a few late species.  The morning started off a bit frosty but with full sunshine the temps eventually warmed up into the upper 60's by the afternoon.  I actually had a few hours available after getting out of work and not having to head right home to meet with contractors like I had to for most of last week.  I started off at Arcadia where I turned up two late Common Yellowthroats and a late Black throated Green Warbler plus a single Blackpoll Warbler, a high count of 16 Palm Warblers (with one 'western' type) and lots of Yellow rumped Warblers.  After a bit over an hour and a half I headed across the river and stopped at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River which produced a late Nashville Warbler, eight Palm Warblers and a few Yellow rumped Warblers.  I ended the morning with a half dozen warbler species.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 16, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 16, 2022

Palm Warbler 'western', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 16, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 18, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Swift River, Belchertown, MA, Oct 19, 2022

I have not been out birding as much as I wanted during the third week of the month as I have spent most of the week dealing with oil furnace issues as the old unit finally bit the dust and I had to schedule multiple days to get everything replaced...an expensive nightmare but I was glad it happened when I had some time off and it was not the dead of winter (or during the peak of migration).  I did get out a bit and I'll quick summarize the days below.  After work on Sunday the 16th I stopped briefly at Arcadia but it was a bit too foggy and slow there so I headed over to Hadley to Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River and that area was a bit more active but still relatively slow.  Monday was also foggy and slow for warblers with just a couple species with occasionally rainy conditions.  On Tuesday I was out early before I had to return home to meet some contractors and found little in the way of warblers but I did have a slightly late Pine Warbler among the more expected species.  Wednesday was the coldest morning of the fall season so far with lows in the upper 20's and some freezing fog to make the morning more interesting.  I only had about an hour right at sunrise and decided to try to relocate the Pine Warbler I had the day before to get some photos but had no luck.  Only warblers around were a few Yellow rumped Warblers and a single Palm Warbler (not surprising as there was a good night of migration on Tuesday night so lots of stuff moved).  Thursday was another frosty morning and I had just a bit of time before I had to be back home to meet with contractors again and my stop at Quabbin Park produced several Yellow rumped Warblers and three Palm Warblers.  

Orange crowned Warbler tops off the second week of October

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 14, 2022

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 14, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 14, 2022

Palm Warbler 'western', Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 14, 2022

Palm Warbler 'western', Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Oct 14, 2022

I ended the second week of October finally getting a brief look at an Orange crowned Warbler after a lot of looking  Unfortunately it was not cooperative for photos but some of the other warblers were a bit more accommodating.  We had lots of rain overnight and the rain was forecast to come to an end before dawn and then get sunny but the rain continued for the first few hours after sunrise and it never got sunny.  I initially tried Arcadia again but it was just too rainy so I headed through a muddy East Meadows before making a stop in Hadley where I turned up the continued Nelson's Sparrow before I finally came home.  Wilson and I then went for a damp walk as the rain had been reduced to just some drizzle and mist.  Once the walk was done I headed out again and stopped over to the nearby Herman Covey WMA.  I walked through some weedy fields and turned up some warblers among the hordes of sparrows.  I had a couple Common Yellowthroats, lots of Palm Warblers (including a 'western' Palm Warbler) and several Yellow rumped Warblers.  After a lot of walking I finally had brief, but good looks at an Orange crowned Warbler that then promptly disappeared into the weeds and was not seen again.  I would have liked some photos but just finding one was good enough for today.  This becomes warbler species #47 for the year and likely the last one I will get unless a mega rarity shows up around here by the end of the year.

I had to work on the 13th so no birding beyond a quick early morning walk that turned up just a few warblers.

Nashville Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 12, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 12, 2022

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 12, 2022

My last of three consecutive mornings at Arcadia started off foggy again but thankfully it burned off a little after eight and the rest of the day was sunny and pleasant.  There was not a lot of migration the night before so no big influx of birds but I did have a couple new species I did not have the previous two mornings there with two Nashville Warblers and a Black throated Green Warbler.  Other warblers included a high count of eight Common Yellowthroats plus the expected Palm and Yellow rumped Warblers.  No luck once again in finding an Orange crowned Warbler.

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 11, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 11, 2022

Blackpoll Warbler with growth on face, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 11, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', North Hadley, MA, Oct 11, 2022

On my second consecutive morning at Arcadia I arrived to a mainly fog free area after driving through intermittent fog the entire drive over.  I had hopes for finding some sunny edges as the sun came up and warmed up the chilly morning but that was not to be.  The fog fairly quickly settled in and stayed in place through my entire time there.  I had just four species of warbler with a single Blackpoll Warbler with a growth on its face (tick, tumor or injury...who knows?) and a high count of nine Common Yellowthroats plus the expected Palm Warblers and Yellow rumped Warblers.  After trying to wait out the fog at Arcadia I started my way toward home and made a few stops along the river in Hadley but the fog held firm and I didn't find too many warblers.  The fog finally lifted late in the morning when I got home but I still failed to turn up anything noteworthy despite multiple additional stops.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 10, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 10, 2022

Palm Warbler 'yellow', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 10, 2022

On Monday I spent the first of three morning at Arcadia with the main goal being trying to turn up an Orange crowned Warbler for the year.  Although I had nearly four hours there I had no luck with an Orange crowned Warbler but I did have some other good stuff.  The highlight for sure was a Connecticut Warbler near the end of my time there.  It was not my latest date for the species (which occurred last year when I had one through the 15th of October).  I also had high counts of Common Yellowthroat and Palm Warbler for the day.  I made a brief stop in the East Meadows on my way home but didn't find anything beyond the expected warblers there.

Tennessee Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 9, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 9, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 9, 2022

On the 8th I got out of work and made a few stops but didn't turn up too much in the way of warblers.  I had a bit more luck on the 9th when I started my morning Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River and had a slightly late American Redstart in a mixed flock.  I then hit a few spots along the river in Hadley before returning to Silvio Conte NWR.  My second stop produced some better photographic conditions and more warblers but nothing unusual.

First week of October warblers

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2022

Nashville Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2022

American Redstart, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2022

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Hadley, MA, Oct 6, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Hadley, MA, Oct 6, 2022

The weather finally changed for Thursday and we had sun and temps that eventually reached the 70's...quite an improvement over the last several days.  This weather would have been perfect for turning up lingering species if it had happened at the beginning of the month instead of the end of the first week after several nights of good migration conditions thanks to northerly winds but I still had a good day of warblers with nine species.  Palm Warblers were the most abundant species with Yellow rumped Warblers a close second.  I spent a good portion of the morning at Arcadia arriving there early and staying for around four hours before heading back across the river with a quick stop in Hadley.  No big rarities but did have my first Tennessee Warbler and Nashville Warblers for the month.  Tomorrow will certainly be another good day with similarly sunny and warm conditions but I have to work so someone else will have to be out there finding the good stuff.

Yellow Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 4, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 4, 2022

Although the forecast originally called for the winds to slacken off a bit starting on Tuesday that just did not occur and the strong northeast winds continued throughout the day with rain starting by mid morning and continuing on and off throughout the rest of the day.  I was really getting sick of the conditions and the lack of warbler activity so I decided to try to get out looking again in the hopes of turning some up.  There was actually a little bit of sun early at Arcadia but it didn't last too long.  I walked a lot of areas and had five species of warblers scattered around with the most notable being a late Yellow Warbler and a high count of eight Common Yellowthroats.  I birded a few other areas and came across another Yellow Warbler at the Holyoke Dam among a large group of Yellow rumped Warblers before the rain started up again.

Wednesday I had family obligations so was not able to get out much at all but given the weather conditions (rain, wind and temps in the 50's)  I doubt I missed much.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Ware, MA, Oct 2, 2022

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2022

The interaction of the remnant low and high pressure to our north caused the winds to really crank out of the northeast starting on the night of the first and continued throughout Sunday.  This certainly made tracking down warblers tough but I gave it a try in Ware and had just four species although one was a late Cape May Warbler.  During the afternoon on Sunday I was inside studying and glanced out the window and saw some movement in the trees in the yard..  I stepped outside and found a mixed flock moving through that contained five species of warblers with numbers of Blackpoll Warblers and Yellow rumped Warblers.  It was tough to keep track of them all and a few certainly got past me without being identified.

Monday continued with the windy, cool weather and the warblers were few and far between again with just five species and few photographic opportunities.

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 1, 2022

Black and White Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2022

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2022

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2022

Blackpoll Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2022

On the first day of the month I had plans to get out early before the rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ian arrived but the forecast for the rain holding off until late morning was wrong.  The light rain instead began a little before seven and continued until late morning.  Nonetheless I still eventually found some warblers although the pickings were slim during the rainy part of the morning and I only added a little variety after the rain stopped.  My stops during the rain in Hadley turned up only four species despite hitting some good habitat.  The temps stayed around 50 with a slight breeze at times so not great weather to turn up warblers.  I added another half dozen after running across a mixed flock in Belchertown and brought the total for the first day of the month to ten species...not too bad considering the cool, breeze and wet conditions.  There definitely was in influx of Blackpoll Warblers in the area and I turned them up at most every stop with several around in a few spots.