Warblers at the end of November

Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 26, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 26, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 28, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 28, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 30, 2023

The end of November has arrived and with it the weather has turned even more winter like with cold days, colder nights, strong winds and a few dustings of snow.  I mainly spent my workfree time keeping tabs on the lingering warbler species.  I last saw the Wilson's Warbler on the 16th and multiple trips after didn't produce it so it may have moved on or finally got taken out by the weather or a predator.  I was very surprised to find the Nashville Warbler still hanging on in Hatfield through at least the 26th (and pushing my latest date for the species even later).  The group of Pine Warblers at Winsor Dam continued through the very end of the month although the numbers have dwindled the last couple days.  I had multiple Yellow rumped Warblers at multiple locations and some will likely still be around to start off the month of December.  Overall for the month I had a half dozen species in the county.

Pine Warblers continue at Winsor Dam despite cold weather and a little snow

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 22, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 22, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 22, 2023

After a cold snap with lows in the teens and then a little snow overnight and windy, rainy weather today I was not sure if the Pine Warblers were still hanging around in the area of Winsor Dam.  I was able to see one briefly yesterday but the flock it was with was moving into an off limit area so I could not follow them to see if there was more than one.  I really didn't expect to find them today with the weather conditions mentioned above.  Therefore I was a bit surprised when I had at least two in a mixed flock and I was able to get some marginal photos.  They really looked miserable with the wind and rain buffeting them.  With any luck they will stay put at least into the beginning of December.

Four species of warbler on a 'big warbler day' in mid November

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

With a few very late lingering warblers (Wilson's Warbler, Nashville Warbler as well as a group of Pine Warblers) hanging around through at least the beginning of the week and cooperative weather I decided to try my luck at a big warbler day for November.  My goal was to try to get four species of warblers for the morning and I'm happy to say I succeeded.  

I started off my morning at dawn at the UMASS campus pond in the hopes of turning up a Common Yellowthroat (I had at least two present at the location to begin the month).  Despite my best effort I had no luck with finding one.  The location where I had two early in November had two guys on a see saw talking constantly talking and making noise so finding a warbler there was a long shot (at least they were raising money for a good cause by see sawing for 24 hours).  

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

My next stop was down to an area along the river in Hadley to get Yellow rumped Warbler (the most likely species by far for the day) and I turned up at least three and I'm sure with a little more effort, covering more territory, I could have added even more but I was trying to maximize species so once I got good looks and some photos of a few of them I headed out to the next stop.

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

I then headed a bit further south to Mount Holyoke College  to try for the Wilson's Warbler.  It was still quite cool, and the sun had not really hitting the area when I arrived.  I thought I heard it call but I was never able to confirm at that point so I then spent more time wandering around the area and as I was standing there scanning through various species I saw a little yellow ball fly past me and land in a weedy patch and then pop up into a tree...the Wilson's Warbler!  Very happy to still see the guy quite active and feeding actively.  I got some great shots as he worked through the various trees.  

Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Once I finished up at Mount Holyoke College I headed north up to the area of Great Pond with the main goal being relocating the Nashville Warbler that was first seen at the location on November 12th, with a secondary goal being a Palm Warbler (seen at the spot a couple days ago).  I was quite happy to turn up the Nashville Warbler fairly quickly and got even better photos then on my previous visit there.  The rest of the hour and a half of time at the location failed to produce a Palm Warbler but did turn up a few other noteworthy non warbler species.  

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

As it was getting late at this point I headed back toward home with a stop off at Winsor Dam to look for some of the Pine Warblers that have been at the location.  I arrived around 10:45 and started walking around in search of the warblers.  They have been associating with a mixed flocks of Dark eyed Juncos and Eastern Bluebirds (and others) and once I eventually found some bluebirds, I found the warblers (it took me over an hour to finally find them!).  I had at least a half a dozen individuals with a few brighter yellow birds as well as multiple dull ones.  It will be interesting to see how long the group sticks around.  I don't remember even having such a large group still around in the middle of November.

I ended the morning with four species of warbler (Yellow rumped Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Nashville Warbler and Pine Warbler) with the sightings of the Wilson's Warbler and Nashville Warbler yet again setting new late dates for me for the species in the county.  I'm sure there was at least some Palm Warblers and Common Yellowthroats around in the county somewhere but I failed to locate them this morning.

Nashville Warbler today sets new record for a late date for me with the species

Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 13, 2023

Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 13, 2023

Today was the coldest morning we have had to endure so far with lows down near 20.  Thankfully there was no wind and the skies were sunny for the morning.  I had to be over in the Hadley area to pick up my new car in the morning so I headed in that direction to start my morning.  After a few stops I decided to try my luck up at Great Pond to try to relocate a very late Nashville Warbler that Scott found a couple days ago.  I found the bird fairly quickly but trying to get any photos took a bit longer.  Eventually I got some at least marginal photos.  The sighting becomes my latest ever for the species in the county, beating my previous best I set last year on November 7th at the same location.  The Nashville Warbler brings me up to half a dozen warbler species for the month in the county so far.

Pine Warblers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2023

Pine Warblers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2023

On my way home I decided to make a quick stop at Winsor Dam with the main focus being on checking for any waterfowl but I quickly noticed multiple species using the thickets and lawn in front of the admin building to feed and I figured there was a good chance the Pine Warblers that have been around may join the flock and I was right.  I had at least three individuals (two dull birds and a bright male)...yesterday I had at least two bright individuals so there is likely at least four Pine Warblers around the location.

Three species of warbler today including the continued Wilson's Warbler

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023

After a yet another long shift at work I headed out on a cold morning to try my luck in turning up warblers with the main target being the continued Wilson's Warbler which I last saw it on November 7th and a sighting today would tie my latest ever record for the species in Hampshire County (more on that below).  As it was only in the 20's to start the morning I decided to try a couple other spots before heading down to try to find the Wilson's Warbler after it warmed a bit.  I found at least a half a dozen Yellow rumped Warblers along the river in Hadley in a spot which has featured overwintering Yellow rumped Warblers in past years.  I was happy to see multiples around and hopefully at least some will stick around through the winter.

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023

I arrived at Mount Holyoke College around quarter of nine and started looking for the Wilson's Warbler.  After a bit of looking around the botanic garden I checked a few other nearby spots and finally found it.  It was moving around a lot and trying to get photos as it flew from one area was a bit of a chore but I was happy to get any photos.  This sighting ties a sighting back in 2020 for my latest date for the species.  It will be interesting to see how long it stays around the location.

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Although I was starting to losing steam from being tired I wanted to find more warblers and thought of going to UMASS to see if any Common Yellowthroats were still around the campus pond but instead decided on trying my luck at Winsor Dam trying to find any Pine Warblers that have been reported from there sporadically the last several days.  I had good luck with this search and got distant looks and photos of at least two and possibly three individuals.  The Pine Warblers added another warbler species for the month for me, bringing my total to five.

A very late Wilson's Warbler and a few others cap off the first week of November

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 4, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail trail, Ware, MA, Nov 1, 2023

Wilson enjoying the first snow, Belchertown, MA, Nov 1, 2023

The first week began with cold weather and a little snow on the first followed by slowly warming temps (back to normal) with some sunny conditions by the end of the period including a windy day today with temps that topped off above normal in the 60's.  I continued to fight the lingering symptoms of a cold to start the month but did get out a little on the 1st to get Wilson a walk before the first snow of the season fell (it only coated a few grassy spots so nothing major and it quickly melted).  I turned up a few Yellow rumped Warblers but nothing else for warblers that day or on the next few days despite some looking.  I finally had a little more time and more cooperative weather on Saturday morning and after a very busy shift at work I headed down to Mount Holyoke College in search of a late Wilson's Warbler that has been present in a small botanical garden since late October. I had no luck finding the Wilson's Warbler but given the cool morning weather and my early arrival perhaps the bird had not yet become active for the day.  It is certainly getting late for the species and is approaching my latest date ever for the species in the county that occurred on November 12th in 2020.  With a little remaining free time and energy I headed up to UMASS to look for a late Common Yellowthroat Matt had recently.  I had much better luck there with at least two and possibly three Common Yellowthroats hanging in around the campus pond.  I worked a little overtime on Sunday so no warblers for that day but I made up for it on Monday once I got out.  I decided to try my luck one more time with the Wilson's Warbler at Mount Holyoke College and after looking and listening for almost an hour I caught a quick glimpse of the bird and after a bit more waiting I managed to get some photos of it as it rapidly moved around the small botanic garden eating insects.  It will be interesting to see how long it hangs on in the location.  I then made a few more stops before getting home to take Wilson for a walk and I added a Palm Warbler for the month in Hadley.  Today I had just a single Yellow rumped Warbler in Ware that was not cooperative for photos.  I now stand at four species for the month and any additions to this total will be totally dependent on either a very late lingering species or a rarity from out west.