Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2024
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2024
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2024
Chestnut sided Warbler building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2024
Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2024
Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 14, 2024
Brewster's Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 14, 2024
Common Yellowthroat, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 14, 2024
Northern Parula, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 14, 2024
Wilson's Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 14, 2024
Yellow Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2024
On Tuesday the 14th I began my first day of a week plus of trying to track down a maximum number of warbler in the county each day. Roughly the third week of May is prime time to try for a big warbler day as the variety of species is reached at that point with the chance of a late Palm Warbler and arriving Mourning Warblers plus the ever present chance of a rarity or two. Given my recent back issues topping out my record species would be tough as I would not be able to make the hike up the mountain at Skinner to get Cerulean Warbler and Worm eating Warbler nor to a couple other typically productive spots. Thankfully a couple of Cerulean Warblers have been in Quabbin Park but Worm eating Warbler would still be tough to get. Nonetheless I made my first attempt after another fitful night of sleep where I was awake around 3:30 and finally got out of bed a bit after four. I decided to head to Hadley along the river to start my day. I walked in just as it was getting light and started adding warblers. Among the 16 species I had in just under two hours included my first Mourning Warbler of the season (unfortunately no recording to determine regiolect) and at least nine Tennessee Warblers. As I was trying to get a shot of a Tennessee Warbler I had a rare White eyed Vireo pop out and that turned out to be the rarity of the day for sure. After my time along the river I headed to Silvio Conte NWR to try to relocate the western Palm Warbler I had at the location yesterday but it appeared to have moved on with the great migration conditions overnight. I then made my way to the rail trail where I had all the continued hybrid warblers plus 14 other species of warblers. I ended my morning at Quabbin Park as the sun finally came out and warmed things up rapidly into the 70's. The park featured 18 species including at least one Cerulean Warbler. Despite the fairly strong southwest wind through the day I had 25 species of warbler plus the multiple hybrids. Not bad considering my limitations.
Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 15, 2024
Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 15, 2024
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2024
Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2024
Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2024
Wednesday dawned with scattered showers in the area and I debated on where to go given the conditions. I settled on a couple walks in Hadley and Amherst as I dodged the hit and miss showers. It appeared that some species and numbers had moved out and not been replaced by new arrivals. I had a good selection of warblers on my walks but nothing out of the expected. I then headed to Quabbin Park where I turned up more species including the two Cerulean Warblers. I ended the day with a 24 species plus the various hybrids.
Thursdays weather was even worse than the day before with rain to start off the day. My back needed to get some exercise so I took a walk in the light rain and turned up some warblers despite the cool, rainy conditions. No photos for the day as I didn't want to take the camera out in the rain. Given the poor weather conditions it was not surprising that I had just 18 species. I was actually glad the weather was bad as I was not feeling great after a follow up visit regarding my back injury and the new stretches and exercises they gave me to do that had my back aching even more.
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024
American Redstart building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024
Ovenbird looking very irritated with another Ovenbird that flew in, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2024
Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024
Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2024
Yellow Warbler, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2024
Thankfully Friday was much better weather wise with sunny and calm conditions to start the day. The only negative was the lack of migration owing to the continued northerly winds. I certainly tried once again to get warblers for the day but managed just 20 species plus some hybrids (missed what should be easy species for the date like Nashville Warbler and Yellow rumped Warbler as well as others that should be around now). Even without big variety I got to see multiple species building nests, a neat interaction between three Ovenbirds, the continued hybrids and at least two Cerulean Warblers at Quabbin still trying to attract mates.
Prothonotary Warbler, Bachelor Brook Conservation Area, South Hadley, MA, May 18, 2024
Prothonotary Warbler, Bachelor Brook Conservation Area, South Hadley, MA, May 18, 2024
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2024
Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2024
Black and White Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 18, 2024
Saturday was a very impressive day for warblers even with missing some that should have been easy given the time of year (like a Wilson's Warbler and Mourning Warbler). It was another mainly overcast day with winds out of the north and east. With no real migration to speak of I had somewhat low expectations for the day. I took a walk in Amherst and then got a message about a Hooded Warbler. Although I had seen one in late April, it is a rare enough warbler for me to go try for it. I got to hear it singing in suitable habitat without ever getting a look at it. I left there to go to Quabbin Park where I had a decent assortment of warblers. I figured the Hooded Warbler was the rarest warbler of the day and I was quickly proven wrong. While out for a walk with Wilson I got a message regarding a very plausible report of a Prothonotary Warbler in South Hadley. Once done with Wilson's walk I headed over and after a bit of searching found the Prothonotary Warbler in a floodplain forest that looked great for breeding. It was singing a very odd two part song and was tough to get eyes on at times. I got some decent looks to start and after quite a bit of waiting got even better looks. A true rarity in the county and only the second one I have ever had in the county (with my initial sighting being twenty years ago!). By the end of the day I had logged a season high 27 species of warbler plus a few hybrids.
Canada Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2024
Canada Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2024
Canada Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2024
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2024
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2024
Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2024
Blue winged Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2024
Prothonotary Warbler, Bachelor Brook Conservation Area, South Hadley, MA, May 19, 2024
Although the forecast made Sunday look like a better day than Saturday, the forecasted sunny conditions never materialized and a steady breeze throughout the day made tracking down warblers tough. After a very restless night of sleep with my back given me issues again I got out of bed a bit after four to get out and walk a bit to loosen everything up. With the two rare warblers of the previous day on my mind I tried to maximize warbler species for the day and fell just short of the previous day with 26 species. I had no luck with finding any Mourning Warblers (I suspect they will arrive soon when the migration conditions improve) and also missed relocating the Hooded Warbler. The Prothonotary Warbler continued and was mainly heard with some somewhat distant views. I then walked the rail trail in Amherst and then some at Quabbin Park (where I had a particularly cooperative Canada Warbler) and ended the day with 26 warbler species.
Tennessee Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024
Tennessee Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024
Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024
Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024
Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024
Black throated Blue Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024
Blue winged Warbler collecting nest material, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024
Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2024
Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 20, 2024
Monday was the first day of what would become three days with highs at or above 80. It started off overcast and the migration overnight was lackluster so I didn't have a lot of expectations of coming up with something unusual. I started off at the easy walking rail trail where I had the continued Brewster's Warbler but could not find the other two hybrids that had been around. I ended my time on the trail with a dozen warbler species. I then went to Quabbin Park and ran across a few pockets of warblers with one group of obvious migrants that were in a small area and I got some great looks at a variety of species down low. I didn't really try multiple areas to get more species as I was not feeling up to it and I ended the day with a rather paltry 23 species.
Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 21, 2024
Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 21, 2024
Brewster's Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 21, 2024
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2024
Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2024
With what looked like good migration conditions on Monday night into Tuesday morning I had thoughts of finally trying to make the walk up to the summit at Skinner SP as my back has been feeling better. However after only a short distance I figured out I was not yet up to it and instead went to a couple nearby areas that featured even, flat trails. I checked on the Prothonotary Warbler and once again found it singing nearly continuously. It never offered more than brief glimpses and after a bit of waiting for it to show closer in I moved on to the rail trail in Amherst and once again found all three hybrids continuing. I then headed to Quabbin Park and tracked down 19 species of warbler there alone. Overall for the day I found 26 species plus the hybrids. Once the sun came out it warmed quickly into the 80's and gave the day a summer like feel.
Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2024
Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2024
Prothonotary Warbler, Bachelor Brook Conservation Area, South Hadley, MA, May 22, 2024
As the fourth week of May began on Wednesday the window on getting a record setting big day quickly faded. I had some hopes with another night of good migration season but the results on the ground seemed to point to most migrants moving right past us here. It was the warmest day of the season so far with temps that started around 60 and eventually warmed to near 90 degrees. I completely missed on finding any Mourning Warblers for the day (where are they this year?). I have only had two so far and neither were cooperative or vocal...hopefully some will come in over the next or so as May comes to an end. I took a few walks in Hadley and South Hadley and the highlight was the continued Prothonotary Warbler which was heard much more than it was seen. I managed just a few distant shots as it worked through the trees at least fifty feet up. I got word from Derek of a possible Hooded Warbler but I failed to relocate it. I also took a brief walk on the rail trail in Amherst and for the first time failed to find the Brewster's Warbler in a couple weeks. I then made my way back to Quabbin Park to end the morning. The rather lackluster day produced just 20 species of warblers.
During the past week plus the best day overall for species diversity turned out to be May 18th with a total of 27 species plus a few hybrids. Not a record for me but fairly respectable given my limitations this year.
