Warblers to start off August

Common Yellowthroat, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Aug 5, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Rail Trail,  Amherst, MA, Aug 4, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Pelham, MA, Aug 4, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 2, 2026

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 2, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, Aug 1, 2026

I have been out the last few mornings to start adding warblers to my August list.  On the first I had some good stuff including a slightly late Cerulean Warbler plus a Worm eating Warbler in the same mixed flock as well as others netting me a lucky 13 species to start off the month.  The second got me three more species as I covered a variety of habitats.  Monday was basically a rain out with little chance to get outside.  The last couple mornings have been much nicer with coolish mornings and sun throughout the morning with no new species added so a total of 16 species of warblers so far for the month.

Short stop in Minnesota and Wisconsin nets Kirtland's Warbler, Golden winged Warbler and Connecticut Warbler

Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Kirtland's Warbler with leg bands, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Jack Pine habitat, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Mourning Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Golden winged Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Golden winged Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Golden winged Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Brewster's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Brewster's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

American Redstart, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Northern Waterthrush, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

I just returned from a two week plus trip away from home. Although the trip was planned months ago we were not sure we would actually take the trip due to Wilson. Thankfully he was doing well enough for us to to take the trip. It was to be a three part trip with first part being a solo trip on my part to Minnesota and Wisconsin searching for the last three species of warblers I still needed to see for my big warbler year in the US. The three remaining species I needed to find were Kirtland’s Warbler, Golden winged Warbler and Connecticut Warbler (I would still need to see a couple species in Puerto Rico for a true big warbler year in the US but the three mentioned above were the last three in the continental US still needed for the year). After my short stay in Minnesota and Wisconsin I would take a flight to Anchorage to meet Sherri and begin the Alaska portion of the trip and then we would finish the trip with several days in Oregon (more on these portions of the trip in future posts). I flew out out of Hartford to Minneapolis late morning and arrived there in the early afternoon and after a bit of a hassle with the rental car I was finally on the road to make the nearly six hour drive across Wisconsin to my Airbnb on the Michigan border. I eventually made it to my lodging around 7:30pm and settled in as quick as I could, ate a small dinner and then was off to bed to try to sleep. Unfortunately the place I rented was a basement location and the noise from above was super annoying and sleep was in short supply…the place had gotten great reviews and somehow no one mentioned how loud the noise was from the homeowners on the floor above. 

With little sleep I headed out before dawn to drive to a spot to the south about 40 minutes away to try to find my first target…the Kirtland’s Warbler. I would have a much better chance to catch up with a Kirtland’s Warbler in their core breeding range in the lower peninsula of Michigan but I really didn’t want another three plus hour drive each way to get there. After lots of messages with a few people ‘in the know’ as far as possible locations for the species in Wisconsin and possibly the upper peninsula of Michigan, I had what I hoped would be a productive plan to find one. The species came close to extinction just a few decades ago and after lots of effort to provide suitable habitat (they need Jack Pines at a height of five to fifteen or so for breeding locations) and control of Brown headed Cowbirds the species has rebounded and has now been taken off the endangered species list. Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan are at the periphery of the range and the area I would be checking has just a few nesting pairs and the locations are kept secret to protect the species. With the best chance seeming to be the few pairs in Wisconsin I picked that as my destination for the day. I arrived in one spot before sunrise and almost as soon as I arrived I heard one singing! I then spent the next hour or so trying to get looks, photos and recordings. I had at least two males and a female present in a roughly 60 acre pine lot with the perfect height trees present. One of the males had color bands and I’ll see what I can find out about the history of the individual. I also had a number of other warbler species present with Nashville Warblers being the most prevalent (a theme that continued all day). I moved around the area a bit over the next few hours and found another pair of a Kirtland’s Warblers as well as great selection of other species (warblers and others). With the Kirtland’s Warbler in the bag my next target was Golden winged Warbler. I checked a few good looking spots before eventually seeing one and by end of the morning I had seen several including adults carrying food and fledglings being fed. I even had a Brewster’s Warbler hybrid feeding typical looking Golden winged Warbler fledglings.  By midday it was heating well up into the 80’s and after a walk in the area of my lodging I came back to get a shower and some rest. It was a super successful day with perfect weather with lots of sun and cool temps that warmed quickly once the sun came up. Two of three targets seen with lots of great looks at multiple individuals of both species and it would not have been possible without some great information from a number of people. Overall for the day I had a total of 14 species of warblers plus a hybrid. 

Magnolia Warbler, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Mourning Warbler, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Blackburnian Warbler, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Boreal habitat, Sax Zim bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

After a very productive Friday with two targets down, it left me with just Connecticut Warbler to see for the year. Without the need to stay around Wisconsin for another day of searching I made the decision to try for a Connecticut Warbler (this species was not as critical for the trip as I certainly would have a chance to find one in the fall at home). With this in mind I was out the door even earlier on Saturday to make the long drive back to Minnesota with the destination being the Sax Zim bog area a few hours north of Minneapolis. A well known birding spot during the winter for owls and other birds of the north, the summer holds the chance of finding a number of species, including Connecticut Warbler. The downside of heading there was another long drive and to get there early enough to have a chance of getting birds while they are still singing meant another very early morning. Even getting up early I still did not get there until around 7AM (it’s a nearly five hour drive so tough to get there at first light in summer!). The habitat there certainly had the look and feel of the boreal forest. Not long after I arrived I heard a Connecticut Warbler sing in the distance and despite lots of effort on my part I never got eyes on the bird and I only heard it sing one more time and at that point it was even more distant.  Although I would have loved to have gotten a look at the bird and perhaps some photos, I was very happy to finally hear this warbler sing on its breeding grounds. I have actually never heard the song in real life until that morning as the birds that migrate through in the fall don’t sing. There were a number of other warbler species around with Common Yellowthroat and Nashville Warbler the most common with lesser numbers of several other species. I then tried a few other areas to try to find another Connecticut Warbler before I returned to the original area before heading toward the airport just after noon. I had no luck with finding any others or seeing or hearing the original one again. Nonetheless the warbler became warbler species #51 and the last one I needed for the year in the continental US. This was also the one of only  warbler species I never got a look at so far this year and with any luck I will get to see at least one in fall as they migrate through on their way to South America (the other species was MacGillivray's Warbler). Once I finished the three hour drive to Minneapolis I made a short visit to the nearby Fort Snelling State Park and despite the high heat I added a few warblers for the day. I had a total of 13 species of warblers for the day and a total of 18 species during my brief stay in Wisconsin and Minnesota with three of those new for the year…a brief but very productive visit.

19 species of warblers to start off July

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 1, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Jul 1, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Jul 1, 2026

To start off July I decided to try to see how many warbler species I could find despite the heat.  I originally was going to include areas outside Hampshire County but given the heat I decided to stay within the county so I could cover enough areas to get a chance at the most species while also getting home early enough to take Wilson for a walk before it got brutally hot.  I started off looking for warblers in South Hadley and then worked my way to Pelham and finally Belchertown.  I was able to get all 19 of the somewhat expected species of warblers in the county despite the heat and the greatly reduced amount of song from a number of species and got them all before getting home around nine.

Cerulean Warblers confirmed breeding again at Quabbin Park

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 29, 2026

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 29, 2026

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 29, 2026

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 29, 2026

Cerulean Warbler carrying food, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 29, 2026

Cerulean Warbler carrying food, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 29, 2026

After several weeks of following the multiple Cerulean Warblers at Quabbin Park  I was finally able to confirm breeding again for this year.  The first Cerulean Warbler arrived on May 8th and by the next day I had three singing males and one was banded on May 12th (I believe this was original male as the area it started singing in is the same area it has stayed in throughout).  Multiple males continued through May and on June 11th I maxed out the number of singing males at four (with the only banded individual being the one banded this year).  I have been trying in vain to confirm breeding until today.  Following some birding earlier in the morning in Ware and Hardwick I made my way over to Quabbin Park around 8AM.  With somewhat limited time as I had to get some stuff done at home and get Wilson a walk before it got too hot I concentrated on trying to track down some of the Cerulean Warblers.  I have had just one very sporadically singing male during my previous two visits to the area in the past week and a few days ago I was able to get eyes on the banded male.  I walked the area and did not hear any Cerulean Warbler song at all and with calm conditions I'm sure I would have heard even a distantly singing individual.  As I was scanning the area where the banded male has consistently been I caught sight of a female Cerulean Warbler...my first in the park for the year.  I watched her forage for a bit and eventually she had a mouthful of food and disappeared to near the top of a large maple.  She repeated this behavior for at least the next thirty minutes I was watching her. I briefly caught sight of the banded male but I never saw him carrying food or approaching the probable nest location.  Despite trying many different angles to try to find the nest I had no luck but I'm quite certain there is a nest with nestlings in the tree in question.  I'll try again to get views of the nest tomorrow perhaps.  Last year I also confirmed breeding of the species with the sighting of a fledgling in early July and I highly suspect breeding has occurred in a few years previous to last years confirmation.

Northern Yellow Warbler, Hardwick, MA, Jun 29, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Hardwick, MA, Jun 29, 2026

American Redstart, Hardwick, MA, Jun 29, 2026

American Redstart carrying food, Hardwick, MA, Jun 29, 2026

My stops prior to going to Quabbin Park found lots of evidence of breeding warblers with fledglings around and multiple adults of numerous species carrying food to feed nestlings or fledglings. 

Hooded Warblers in Hampden County

Hooded Warbler carrying food, Grace Robinson State Wildlife Sanctuary, Westfield, MA, Jun 25, 2026

Ovenbird fledgling, Grace Robinson State Wildlife Sanctuary, Westfield, MA, Jun 25, 2026

American Redstart, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, Jun 25, 2026

Louisiana Waterthrush, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, Jun 25, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, Jun 25, 2026

Ovenbird, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, Jun 25, 2026

Black and White Warbler fledgling, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, Jun 25, 2026

Although I had already had Hooded Warbler for the year with one that showed up in Hadley in early May I never got any photos of that bird as it stayed hidden from view.  The location in Hampden County I visited this morning has featured breeding Hooded Warblers for multiple years and my goal was to get some photos of the birds.  I had one singing a dawn song distantly fairly early in my walk and eventually had at least two males singing plus a female.  One of the males was seen carrying food multiple times to a hidden nest or fledglings.  I had a number of other warblers in the area including several fledglings.  After over an hour of enjoying the Hooded Warblers I headed over to South Hadley to hike into the southern part of Skinner SP with the dual goals of finding Acadian Flycatchers and turning up more warblers for the day.  Happily I had success with both goals and once again had multiple fledgling warblers.  

Cerulean Warbler nest at Skinner SP with cooperative breeding occurring

Cerulean Warbler female with nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

Cerulean Warbler nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

Cerulean Warbler male with leg bands and female with nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

Cerulean Warbler male with leg bands and female with nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

Cerulean Warbler adult male without bands with nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

Cerulean Warbler nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

American Redstart carrying food, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 17, 2026

I got a text from Jack yesterday letting me know he found a Cerulean Warbler nest at Skinner State Park and the nestlings looked about ready to fledge.  I was in the middle of a project at home yesterday so could not break free to make the trip over to see them.  I hoped they would still be around this morning when I had some free time to make my way over to the park.  Armed with the rough location of the nest I arrived at Skinner SP before sunrise and made the hike up the mountain.  On the hike up I ran across a number of warblers with a few carrying food to unseen nestlings or fledglings.  Once I arrived near the site of the nest I had a male carrying food and then disappearing into the trees toward the yet unseen nest.  The male I saw appeared to have bands (white bands meaning it was the individual banded this year).  As I continued my search for the nest Jack arrived and with his directions I was able to finally find the nest.  Initially the nestlings stayed hunkered down low in the nest and it was tough to even see if there was anything in the nest but as the morning wore on the nestlings became more active and the adults increased their trips to the nest with food.  We got to see the adult female arrive on multiple occasions and spend a little time around the nest before disappearing to get more food for the nestlings.  We had the banded male show up briefly on multiple occasions and even had an unbanded adult male show up to assist with feeding the nestlings.  Jack mentioned he observed this behavior yesterday too and from a bit of research this type of cooperative breeding is extremely rare (and perhaps unrecorded) with the species.  Having a banded male around was the only thing that made this observation possible and the two males never were at the nest at the same time.  Another great reason to color band individuals so you can see this behavior.  After about an hour and a half of observing the nest and talking with Jack I headed back down and once again had a number of warblers.  Jack stayed and after a few more hours all three nestlings fledged from the nest and started their lives outside the nest and out in the big world.  Eventually they will make the long migration down to South America for the winter before making a return trip north to breed.