October Big Day warblers yesterday (plus more from today)

Magnolia Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 11, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 11, 2026

Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR -Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 11, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR -Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 11, 2026

I took part in the annual October Big Day yesterday and I kept my focus on warblers as I explored a number of areas during a large portion of the morning.  It started off quite cool with temps in the 40's with thankfully no wind and abundant sunshine.  It warmed throughout the morning and eventually the temps made it to the low 60's by the afternoon.  I found a total of ten species of warblers for my effort including a couple late species including Magnolia Warbler and Cape May Warbler.  The most common species by far was Yellow rumped Warbler with multiple areas hosting double digit counts of the species.  Today I headed out once again on a cold morning although this time there was little sun as clouds and eventually rain moved in from the remnants of Hurricane Isaias.  I had nine species today including a few I missed yesterday, with one new one being another late species (Northern Parula).  The last two days I found a total of 13 species of warblers.  Trying to get double digit counts going forward will continue to become more and more difficult.  The only upside is later fall brings the chance of a vagrant warbler from the west showing up...far from a guarantee but at least it keeps one looking as the slide toward winter continues.

 

First frost of fall but still warblers around to end the first week of October

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Arcadia, Easthampton, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown, MA, Oct 7, 2026

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Belchertown, MA, Oct 7, 2026

We had the coldest morning of the fall so far today with scattered frost and some morning fog.  I decided to head across the river to Arcadia.  Initially it was clear and cold but then the fog rolled in and activity remained subdued until the fog finally burned off.  Yellow rumped Warblers were the predominant warbler species and this will likely be the case moving forward.  I had just half a dozen species at Arcadia over the course of nearly three hours.  Other species including a slightly late Black and White Warbler, at least three Tennessee Warblers, one American Redstart and a few each of Common Yellowthroat and Palm Warbler.  After running a few errands I made another stop in Belchertown and added a Northern Parula and Black throated Green Warbler for the day.  We are now at the point where getting double digit counts for species will be notable.  

Two nights of big migration brings in the last big push of diversity of warblers

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

After two very warm days to start October the conditions cooled a bit thanks to a cold front and with it two nights of heavy migration (millions of individuals per birdcast).  Yesterday was fantastic for the first few hours of the morning before the breeze picked up.  I spent over three hours at Arcadia before heading back toward home.  Arcadia produced seven species of warblers with above typical counts for Tennessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and Magnolia Warbler plus a noticeable uptick in Yellow rumped Warblers.  A stop in Belchertown produced more species including a slightly late Cape May Warbler.  I ended the morning with a lucky 13 species of warbler of a bright and sunny day.  Today was not nearly as sunny with overcast conditions and some morning fog.  I debated on where to go and decided on starting my morning in Ware and a couple stops there produced just four species (with Yellow rumped Warbler being the most common).  I then headed back to Belchertown and added more species including a slightly late Ovenbird and three Northern Parula.  The only species still singing the last couple days have been Pine Warbler and at least one Northern Parula.  Diversity of warblers will continue to dwindle as October wears on.

First couple days of October

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Black throated Blue Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 2, 2026

October started off with a return to warmer conditions with temps well above normal with the 70's yesterday and the low 80's today.  Yesterday was mainly cloudy with a couple brief showers and today was sunnier with a strengthening south wind throughout the day.  With the new month I was out searching for warblers and yesterday I had a total of 15 species including my first Orange crowned Warbler for the year in the county plus two slightly late species with a Northern Yellow Warbler and a Cape May Warbler as I covered a number of areas in Amherst and Belchertown.  Today I headed to Hadley and Amherst before working my way toward home.  Much reduced numbers of warblers today with just five species (likely thanks to the wind making it tough to track down movement).  I only had one new species for the month today with a single Palm Warbler.  The winds will turn to a more northerly direction overnight and hopefully this will entice some more species to migrate into the area.