May comes to an end with an unusually plumaged Black throated Blue Warbler and continued Lawrence's Warbler and Cerulean Warblers in Quabbin Park

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 26, 2023

American Redstart on nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 26, 2023

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 24, 2023

The big month of May has now come to an end and with it the busiest and most diverse time of warblers here.  It was a fairly decent month for warblers with 30 species in Hampshire County and a total of 31 species for the month (the addition to the county list was the continued Yellow throated Warbler in Franklin County).  The biggest rarities for the month included an Orange crowned Warbler and at least one Hooded Warbler that was rather uncooperative but at least I was able to hear it (Last year I missed having a Hooded Warbler in the county for the first time in several years so at least one was back this year).  Bay breasted Warblers and Tennessee Warbler made a good showing this month but Cape May Warbler were down.  I had a decent number of Mourning Warblers again this spring and I will cover that species in great detail in an upcoming post.  Most other species seemed to be around average with lots of great nights for migration from mid month onward.  With most migrant species that are heading further already having moved through the next few months will be spent catching up on all the breeding species and taking part in a wide variety of bird surveys.  

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 30, 2023

After initially finding a Cerulean Warbler on May 22 and finding it on a few subsequent visits I had two present in the same general area on May 30 and perhaps breeding will once again take place within Quabbin Park.  My post from the 22nd goes into greater detail on Cerulean Warblers in Quabbin Park.

Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

I also relocated the Lawrence's Warbler on first found on the 12th and then saw again on the 19th, 20th and 21st and then went missing again until today.  It will be interesting to see if it manage to find a mate like the one I had in Belchertown last year did.

Black throated Blue Warbler with unusual plumage, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

Black throated Blue Warbler with unusual plumage, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

Black throated Blue Warbler with unusual plumage, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

Black throated Blue Warbler with unusual plumage, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

Another interesting warbler this morning at Quabbin Park was a Black throated Blue Warbler that was singing a Cerulean Warbler like song and had some odd plumage on the chest.  Black throated Blue Warblers in the area can sing Cerulean Warbler like songs and David Sibley wrote an interesting post about it a few years ago (link to article here).  I have never seen a Black throated Blue Warbler with the plumage I saw today with blue on the chest that formed a partial ring.

Cerulean Warbler at Quabbin Park

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2023

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2023

Bay breasted Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2023

I stayed mainly local today with most of my time spent at Quabbin Park where I spent hours exploring various areas and turned 22 species of warbler.  I had high counts of a number of species, both breeders and those moving to places further north.  The highlight for me was finding a singing male Cerulean Warbler in the general area where they once bred (more on that below).  I initially heard it and it sounded perfect for a Cerulean Warbler but I have been fooled by Black throated Blue Warblers many times.  Black throated Blue Warblers in certain areas of the northeast can sing a very convincing Cerulean Warbler like song so you have to get a look at any suspected Cerulean Warbler around here (David Sibley wrote an informative post on this a few years ago and that post can be found at the following link).  After a bit of looking and waiting I got looks at a beautiful male Cerulean Warbler and got some photos and video.  Something very satisfying about finding a Cerulean Warbler around here away from their known nesting colony at Skinner SP.  

Now a look at Cerulean Warblers historically in Quabbin Park.  At one time they reliable bred in the area of the Winsor Memorial until the early 2000's or so.  After that they disappeared as a breeder in the park.  I have had Cerulean Warblers within Quabbin Park on several occasions and many times in the general area where they once bred.  A few times a singing male stayed around for several days but no evidence of breeding was ever found by me.  Below is a list of the Cerulean Warblers I have had within the park over the years since moving to Belchertown and birding Quabbin Park a bit. 

-A male singing in the area of the memorial from May 22-June 4, 2010

-A male singing in the area of the memorial from May 9-May 13, 2014

-A silent male in a mixed flock near Goodnough Dike on May 13, 2016

-Another silent male in mixed flock on May 17, 2017

-A silent male in the area of the memorial on May 2, 2021 and again on May 8, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 22, 2023

I had to run a few errands in Amherst so I made a stop along the rail trail and had a very frustrating bird that may have been something good.  I was walking down the trail and heard an odd song with Blue winged Warbler like qualities (recording in list).  Despite my best efforts to track it down I never got looks at it and after singing for perhaps 15 minutes it went silent and never made another sound.  I looked in multiple areas nearby but never relocated the bird. 

Lots of warblers to close out the third week of May

Wilson's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

American Redstart building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Northern Waterthrush, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Bay breasted Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Ware, MA, May 18, 2023

I have had a few more really good day for warblers with each day producing some great counts once again.  Thursday was a record setting cold morning that started off around 28 degrees.  I began my day along the rail trail in Ware and had 15 species there plus another Blue winged x Golden winged hybrid.  I then spent a couple hours in Quabbin Park which was very productive with some fantastic looks at a number of species.  I didn't have the time to make it to a few other spots that would normally produce more species so my total was a bit lower than other days.  However the quality of some of the views made up for a lower species total.

Mourning Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2023

American Redstart, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2023

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2023

Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2023

Friday I wanted to try my luck with catching up with a number of Mourning Warblers and with that in mind I went to Mitch's Way and had an impressive four separate individuals singing and I got recordings of all of them.  Three turned out to be from the eastern regiolect and one from the Newfoundland regiolect.  With a good start to the morning with 17 species I then hiked up Skinner SP, then on to some other trails nearby and finally over to the rail trail in Amherst before going toward home where I made my way to Quabbin Park and relocated the Lawrence's Warbler I originally found on the 12th and then failed to find again on subsequent visits.  Although Quabbin Park was looking productive I got a text that a Hooded Warbler was singing at Mitch's Way so I decided to head back over there once again and by the time arrived the bird had stopped singing.  I waited for a bit with no luck.  I was almost home and saw a report of a possible Golden winged Warbler at Quabbin Park.  The description of the area where it was heard sounded like it might have been an oddly singing Blue winged Warbler I had previously.  I arrived and quickly confirmed it was the same bird and not a Golden winged unfortunately.  Without finding the Hooded Warbler I ended the day with 27 species

American Redstart building nest, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 20, 2023

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2023

Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2023

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2023

On Saturday the forecast called for rain by midday with drizzle before the heavier rain arrived so I decided initially to stay local and I started off the morning at Quabbin Park where I spent the next three hours and racked up a total of 22 species plus a few hybrids including the continued Lawrence's Warbler.  Mostly resident birds with lower numbers of obvious migrants.  As I was looking and listening to the Lawrence's Warbler I got a text saying the Hooded Warbler was continuing at Mitch's Way and singing constantly.  I initially was not going to go as I hate birding popular areas like there on weekends as it gets too busy.  After hearing it was not overcrowded with people I made the drive over and arrived there around 8:30 and walked in and had the Hooded Warbler singing repeatedly in a stretch of forest and despite my best efforts to see the bird I had no luck.  It was moving around a bit but the mainly leafed out trees made finding a warbler tough.  Eventually the bird went quiet again and after waiting awhile it never sang again.  I walked a bit more and turned up more warblers, including an impressive tally of singing Tennessee Warblers with at least seven present.  I then headed over to nearby Skinner SP and picked up more species.  I also made a brief stop along the rail trail to try to relocate the Brewster's Warbler again and yet again had no luck.  I then made my way back home to be with Wilson for a bit before the heavy rain arrived.  I ended the morning with 27 species plus hybrids...the big miss for the day was Cape May Warbler.

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

Tennessee Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 21, 2023

After rain overnight and no real migration I decided I would try to track down some Mourning Warblers and try to get some recordings plus see if the Hooded Warbler decided to stick around in Hadley.  I made it there before sunrise and walked about a mile in and then back out with just a single Mourning Warbler that sang just once and no sign of the Hooded Warbler.  More birders were arriving as I was leaving and as far as I know the Hooded Warbler was not seen or heard by anyone today.  The number of singing Tennessee Warblers at the location continues to be impressive.  I made a few more quick stops as I headed back toward home and then onto Quabbin Park for a couple hours.  I had some decent warblers in the park once again with two Mourning Warblers (I managed to get a recording and some photos of one).  Just 23 species of warblers for today with no Bay breasted Warbler or Cape May Warblers and not the two expected species one would get at Skinner SP as I didn't make it up the mountain today.  There is still the slim chance of having another big warbler day but the door is rapidly closing on that possibility.  

Brewster's Warbler and another hybrid this morning

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Sweet Alice Conservation Area. Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Sweet Alice Conservation Area. Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023

I headed out on a windy and cool morning in the hopes of tracking down a Brewster's Warbler that Ted found yesterday along the rail trail.  This hybrid is a combo of Blue winged x Golden winged parentage and one I had not yet run across this spring.  Of the two named and easily recognizable hybrids of these two species, Brewster's Warbler is the more common one with Lawrence's Warbler being less common.  I actually already had Lawrence's Warbler for the year at Quabbin Park on May 12th so I was overdue to find a Brewster's.  I arrived and started walking to the general area where Ted had it and after a bit of searching I could hear a Blue winged Warbler song and tracked down the bird making the song and found the Brewster's.  It is a really neat looking bird and I wish the lighting was better for photos but I was happy to get a view and some decent photos.  I then walked a few trails in the area and when I returned once the sun popped up, the bird was no where to be found.  I then made a few other stops at various locations mainly checking on any Blue winged Warbler songs I heard.  Another hybrid that I found in Amherst was also still around (overall Blue winged like in appearance but with a yellowish wing patch).  All the other birds that I tracked down looked like typical Blue winged Warblers.  Still holding out hope to see a pure Golden winged Warbler this spring and perhaps with a little luck I will have some success.  The last Golden winged Warbler I had in the county was the one I found at the very end of May 2017 in Quabbin Park that stuck around for a few days with lots of people getting to see it.

Three days of trying to see the maximum amount of warblers in Hampshire County (two days with 27 species and today with 28 species)

Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Pine Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

American Redstart, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Ovenbird, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Blackburnian Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Magnolia Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2023

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2023

Black and White Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, May 14, 2023

The last three day I have been out for the morning trying to max out the number of warblers I can see and hear.  With the peak of migration the third week of May is usually the best time to try this feat.  Getting a high total involves knowing the location of known species, knowing the different favored habitats, finding lingering species at the end of their migration (like Palm Warbler...which I missed every one of the last three days), tracking down just arriving species (such as Mourning Warblers) and lucking out with a rare warbler making an appearance.  On Sunday I was out the door early for my first attempt at a warbler big day in the county.  Although migration conditions were not great overnight the superb conditions the night before had brought in a number of species the day prior including a very frustrating to track down Hooded Warbler.  I had high hopes for the day and I started my morning at Mitch's Way before dawn and walked in perhaps a mile.  My main goal was to try to find my first Mourning Warbler of the year and I had success as one was singing on my way back out and I got some recordings to determine the regiolect (It was from the eastern regiolect).  I had 18 species when I left Mitch's Way and headed over to nearby Skinner SP where I added a number of species but had no luck with relocating the Hooded Warbler.  Nonetheless the area was productive and although many species stayed up high some were down lower and I had killer looks at a male Bay breasted Warbler as I made my way down the mountain.  I made a brief stop in Amherst and picked up Cape May Warbler and then went over to Quabbin Park.  The park produced a number of warbler species with a couple new ones for the day.  A couple other quick stops didn't produce any new species.  I ended the day with 27 species of warbler...not too bad at all but not record setting with no rarities around.

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Bay breasted Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 15, 2023

Blue winged Warbler, Slobody Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 15, 2023

On Monday I decided to devote a majority of my time in the morning to Quabbin Park as the migration conditions overnight did not indicate there would be a big influx of new migrants and I had not been to the park in a couple days.  I arrived there before sunrise and started walking and despite the temperatures starting out near freezing the birds were singing.  I then spent the next four plus hours in the park and racked up a total of 25 species of warblers among a total of 100 species overall.  Among the many highlights was a silent male Mourning Warbler that popped up briefly, three Bay breasted Warblers travelling together, a Black throated Blue Warbler singing a Cerulean Warbler song and at least five Canada Warblers plus high counts of a number of species.  With a very good start for the morning at Quabbin Park I headed over to the rail trail in Amherst in the hopes of finding a rarity but no luck.  As I started my drive over to Skinner to add Cerulean Warbler and Worm eating Warbler I heard a Golden winged Warbler song at Slobody Farm and I immediately stopped to see what species was making the song.  I have had multiple Blue winged Warblers that sing Golden winged Warbler like songs (including one at the exact same spot last year).  After a lot of looking I finally tracked down the culprit and it looked like a typical Blue winged Warbler (too bad!).  My final stop for the morning was to Skinner SP where I had a number of warblers at the top including the expected Cerulean Warblers and Worm eating Warblers.  I yet again ended the day with 27 species of warbler.

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2023

American Redstart gathering nest material, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2023

American Redstart nest building, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2023

Ovenbird, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 16, 2023

Mourning Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 16, 2023

On my third day I finally broke past the 27 species mark with the sighting of an unusual species (more on that at the end).  I started off predawn at Mitch's Way once again and had birds singing as it was getting light.  Unfortunately a solid cloud deck for most of the morning and a bit of a breeze made tracking down birds tough and photo opportunities were few and far between.  I spent a couple hours there and found 18 species with the highlights being two Mourning Warblers (the one I got a recording of was another eastern regiolect) and at least five singing Tennessee Warblers.  Many other species were around in low numbers except the on territory breeders.  My next stop was a hike back up Skinner SP to get the unusual breeding species there.  The amount of song and overall numbers were down despite indications a lot of birds were on the move during the previous night.  My final main stop for the morning was over a favorite of mine...Quabbin Park.  This is where I found the rarest species of the day with a brief view of an Orange crowned Warbler that stayed in view just long enough to get a view and then disappeared back down a thickly vegetated slope from which it came.  I tried in vain to relocate the bird.  Orange crowned Warbler is unusual here, especially in spring.  This was only my 8th spring record for the species.  I added a few other species at the park that I did not get earlier in the morning and I ended the day with a very respectable 28 species of warbler in Hampshire County.  I may try one more time in the next several days if the migration conditions work out.