Trip to southeast Arizona (February 21-March 2)

Black throated Gray Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 22, 2026

 

Orange crowned Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 22, 2026

 

Yellow rumped Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 22, 2026

After a flight on Saturday the 21st from Texas into Tucson I picked up my rental car, got supplies and headed south to Amado where we rented an Airbnb. I arrived too late in the day to get much birding in so that would wait until Sunday. On Sunday I woke up early (as always) and headed north to begin my day at Sweetwater Wetlands. I needed to pick up Sherri midday in Tucson so wanted to bird locations up that way. I spent over two hours at the wetlands and during that time found four species of warblers with the following in descending order of abundance (Yellow rumped Warbler, Orange crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and Black throated Gray Warbler). All the Yellow rumped Warblers were Audubon’s subspecies and all the Orange crowned Warblers were the more nearly solid diffuse yellow of the west. I made another stop before picking up Sherri without finding any new warbler species. I had no luck finding any other warblers species the rest of the day during multiple walks. Although it started cool it warmed nicely to near 80 with abundant sun....weather we would enjoy for the entire trip.

Townsend's Warbler, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 23, 2026

Townsend's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 23, 2026

On Monday, after a brief pre dawn visit to Montosa Canyon, we spent the morning in Madera Canyon arriving there around 7:45. It was a bit cool to start the day and a few areas that are normally hopping with birds were strangely quiet. Eventually it warmed up nicely and the birds responded somewhat but overall it seemed much quieter than when we were here last February. I really wanted to find a Painted Redstart for the year and I certainly looked and listened for one however it was not to be. All was not lost as I did find one new warbler for the year with some Townsend’s Warblers. Just two warbler species for the day with the second being Yellow rumped Warblers. 

Rufous capped Warbler, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Rufous capped Warbler, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Rufous capped Warbler, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Rufous capped Warbler habitat, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Painted Redstart, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Painted Redstart, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

 Black throated Gray Warbler, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

 Yellow rumped Warblers 'Audubon's', Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

I made a long overdue trip down to Sycamore Canyon in the Pajarito Mountains west of Nogales, down near the Mexican border. The main goal for the long trip was to catch up with a pair of Rufous capped Warblers (the only ones currently known to be in the US). Although the species is fairly common south of the border they barely reach into the US in southern Arizona. I have seen the species one other time in the US and that was in Florida Canyon (near Madera Canyon) in 2010. I tried for one last year multiple times in Florida Canyon without any luck. I started the drive down at five and arrived there a little after 6:30 as it was getting light enough to see. The last several miles were over washboard roads with lots of curves and dips. I wanted to get there early before the heat of the day made it too hot and it certainly was not hot when I arrived with temps in the upper 30’s. The trail down the wash was tough to follow at times but not too bad. The scenery was absolutely spectacular and with each twist of the canyon more amazing views awaited. I eventually got down to the area where the Rufous capped Warblers had been reported. Not long after arriving I heard a Painted Redstart and eventually found two. I had hoped to see the species the previous day in Madera Canyon and missed them so picking them up for the day was nice and added a new warbler species for the year in the US. I then heard a chip note and then a couple songs from a Rufous capped Warbler and tried without success to see it. The bird then went quiet and I spent hours walking back and forth looking and listening. I had almost given up as it was getting to be late morning and the heat was rising and I still had to hike out when I once again heard some chipping and saw one and then two Rufous crowned Warblers working through the dense thickets along the stream. I got some decent photos and a recording so I was very happy. The sighting added another new warbler species for the year for me in the US, bringing that total to 28. In addition to the two previously mentioned warbler species I also had multiple Yellow rumped Warblers (all Audubon’s), an Orange crowned Warbler and a Black throated Gray Warbler. With the addition of a Common Yellowthroat during an afternoon walk at Canoa Ranch Conservation Park I totaled half a dozen species of warblers for the day. This would be my highest daily total of warblers for my time in Arizona. 

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Patagonia Lake SP, Patagonia, AZ, Feb 25, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Paton's Center for Hummingbirds, Patagonia, AZ, Feb 25, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Paton's Center for Hummingbirds, Patagonia, AZ, Feb 25, 2026

Wednesday we decided to do a full loop of the Santa Rita Mountains heading south to start with the first destination being Patagonia Lake State Park. I was up well before dawn and made some minor cold symptoms so stayed close to the house. Around 7:15 we started our trip and once we arrived at Patagonia Lake State Park we stayed for three hours. There were a number of Yellow rumped Warblers and Orange crowned Warblers around as well as a single Common Yellowthroat. That would be all the species of warbler I would get for the day. After the lake it was on to Paton’s Center for Hummingbirds, then ice cream, cider and a brief stop to try for some unusual woodpeckers. We made it back to the house mid afternoon and enjoyed the cider while we sat outside and took in the warmth.

Black and White Warbler with leg band, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

Black and White Warbler with leg band, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

Black and White Warbler with leg band, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

A good nights sleep and some cold meds had me feeling better on Thursday so I tried again to find some unusual woodpeckers at a pecan grove about thirty minutes to the north. I found one of the unusual species there (a lifer Lewis’s Woodpecker) and had just a single species of warbler with a few Yellow rumped Warblers. I returned to pick up Sherri a little after eight and then we headed up to Madera Canyon again. We arrived a little later than our previous trip up there a few days ago and the temps were much more tolerable to start. We took our first walk a little lower in the canyon and this proved to be a great choice as it produced a new warbler for this trip to Arizona with a banded Black and White Warbler seen in a small mixed flock. This was my second Black and White Warbler in Arizona (saw one in April of 2012 in the Tucson area). The species is fairly unusual in winter so glad to catch up with it in February. Further walking and some time spent at the feeders at Santa Rita Lodge produced a Painted Redstart and gave me my third warbler species for the day. I tried to find more without any luck.

Black throated Gray Warbler, Anza Trail, Tubac, AZ, Feb 27, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Anza Trail, Tubac, AZ, Feb 27, 2026

I was up early on Friday and went to Montosa Canyon for nocturnal species and then down south to Tubac before returning to pick up Sherri and heading back to Tubac to walk at the Anza Trail along the Santa Cruz River. The trail was mainly in the shade from the large cottonwoods along the river. Yellow rumped Warblers were the main feature of the day with singles of Orange crowned Warbler and Black throated Gray Warbler. It was the first day in the low 90’s for the trip and it got tough to be out in the sun by midday.

Black throated Gray Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

Black throated Gray Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

Black throated Gray Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

Orange crowned Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

After a productive morning run up to Madera Canyon for owls I came back and picked up Sherri and we headed north to Sweetwater Wetlands. The initial plan was Madera Canyon for the morning but that was changed. The wetlands were productive as always and there were certainly warblers around with a total of five species with the most numerous being Yellow rumped and Orange crowned Warblers. I did manage to add a new one for the year in Arizona with a single Northern Yellow Warbler, which became the 9th warbler species for this trip. The rest of the day after the wetlands involved a drive up part of Mt Lemmon, some scouting for rentals for next year and enjoying the sun and warmth. 

Townsend's Warbler, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Mar 1, 2026

Townsend's Warbler, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Mar 1, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Mar 1, 2026

The last full day in Arizona was yet again sunny and eventually hot. After a brief check on Montosa Canyon before dawn we went up to Madera Canyon where we stayed until early afternoon and made a variety of walks as well as extended stationary time at Santa Rita Lodge. The trails were fairly quiet overall with the vast majority of warblers seen at Santa Rita Lodge with a total of three species including Painted Redstart, Townsend’s Warbler and Yellow rumped Warblers. The only warblers I saw away from the lodge were all Yellow rumped Warblers. 

With just a little time free in the morning before catching a midday flight out of Tucson I made a few stops with the first down in Tubac looking in vain for a Rufous backed Robin. After packing up we took a walk at Canoa Ranch again. Just a couple species of warblers for my limited time outside for the day. I then took a flight home to the snow and cold (and Wilson). 

Overall for the trip I had a total of nine species of warblers with three of those being new for the year (Townsend’s Warbler, Painted Redstart and Rufous capped Warbler). I didn’t add any new warbler species for Arizona on this trip (that total remains at 18 species). I now stand at 28 species of warbler in the US for the year.

2025 year end review

Chestnut capped Warbler, Finca Mango, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Orange crowned Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Feb 5, 2025

Painted Redstart, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 21, 2025

Gray crowned Yellowthroat, Arenal Kioro Suites, Costa Rica, Mar 29, 2025

Red faced Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Hooded Warbler, Shindagin Hollow State Forest, Brooktondale, NY, Jul 12, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 13, 2025

Yet another year has come to an end (they really do go by faster every year!).  It was another great year for warblers and I saw a total of 49 species.  Trips away from home included Costa Rica in late January into early February, a short stop in Florida on my way home from Costa Rica in early February, a trip to southeast Arizona in late February, another trip to Costa Rica from late March into early April, a return to southeast Arizona in mid June and the Finger Lakes of New York in July.  A trip to Texas in November had to be cancelled due to some health issues with Wilson.  I also added an Audubon's Warbler (currently a subspecies of yellow rumped Warbler) to my Hampshire County list and managed a total of 31 species in the county this year.  My total number of warbler species went up by one with the split of Yellow Warbler into two species (Mangrove Yellow Warbler and Northern Yellow Warbler).  I have now seen 106 species of new world warblers out of a total of 116 (and two of that total are almost certainly extinct).  

Cape May Warbler, South Hadley, MA, Jan 1, 2025

I started off the new year with catching up with the continued Cape May Warbler at a private residence in South Hadley and continuing my streak of at least one warbler in Hampshire County to 93 consecutive months.  I added a flyover Yellow rumped Warbler on the fifth and extended my streak of two warblers in the county to 34 months...unfortunately this was the only Yellow rumped Warbler of the month.

Pine Warbler, Turners Falls Power Canal, Turners Falls, MA, Jan 17, 2025

I made a brief trip out of Hampshire County with a stop up to Franklin County to see a Pine Warbler in the middle of the month.  I continued to look for warblers in the county through the end of the month with nothing found.

Chestnut capped Warbler, Finca Mango, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 29, 2025

Wilson's Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 30, 2025

Slate throated Redstart, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Golden winged Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 2, 2025

Mourning Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 2, 2025

At the end of the month I headed to Costa Rica for my 16th(!) time.  This time I would stay at an Airbnb in the same vicinity of the now closed Rio Magnolia Lodge.  It was nice to get back down to the southern Pacific area again after a three year absence.  I stayed down there until the early part of February and had a dozen species of warblers for the trip.

Northern Parula, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Feb 5, 2025

Orange crowned Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Feb 5, 2025

Prairie Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Feb 5, 2025

Palm Warbler 'western', Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Feb 6, 2025

Yellow throated Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Feb 6, 2025

On my way home from Costa Rica I stopped off in Florida for a couple days before returning to the snow and cold of home.  The short stop produced ten species of warblers.

Once back home I started looking for warblers for February in Hampshire County despite the continued cold and snowy weather.  I was only able to catch a brief glimpse of a Common Yellowthroat for all of my effort.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'audubon's', Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 20, 2025

Painted Redstart, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 21, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'audubon's x 'myrtle' hybrid, Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia, AZ, Feb 22, 2025

Black throated Gray Warbler, Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia, AZ, Feb 22, 2025

In late February we made a short trip out to southeast Arizona checking out the area as a possible location to spend upcoming winters.  The original plan was to go to south Texas but we changed it to Arizona due to cold weather in Texas.  I added a few new warblers for the year during the trip.  February ended with me just finding a single species of warbler in the county so my streak of two for every month ended at 34 straight months...damn the cold winter!

Northern Waterthrush, Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica, Mar 24, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica, Mar 25, 2025

Wilson's Warbler, Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica, Mar 26, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Arenal Kioro Suites, Costa Rica, Mar 28, 2025

Gray crowned Yellowthroat, Arenal Kioro Suites, Costa Rica, Mar 29, 2025

Magnolia Warbler, Arenal Kioro Suites, Costa Rica, Mar 30, 2025

Slate throated Redstart, Hotel Quelitales, Costa Rica, Apr 1, 2025

At the end of March we headed down to Costa Rica with most of our time spent in the Arenal area with a few rainy days at Arenal Observatory Lodge and then onto Arenal Kioro Suites.  I then spent a few days to the east of San Jose at Hotel Quelitales by myself.  Among the warblers was a new one for me in Costa Rica with a Magnolia Warbler.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 9, 2025

Pine Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Apr 4, 2025

Once back home in early April I got my Pine and Palm Warblers in the county.  The weather turned colder than normal for the end of the first week and well into the second week with some rain and snow.  Warblers were few and far between.

Louisiana Waterthrush, Fitzgerald Lake, Northampton, MA, Apr 10, 2025

Black throated Green Warbler, Ware, MA, Apr 16, 2025

I finally caught up with some Louisiana Waterthrush in the middle of the month and added a record early Black throated Green Warbler the following day.

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 19, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Apr 22, 2025

Near the end of third week of April some southerly winds pushed in more warblers and the next few days to end that week and start the next featured a few more new arrivals plus the biggest push of Yellow rumped Warblers so far.

Yellow Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Apr 27, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 27, 2025

Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 28, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 28, 2025

Nashville Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 25, 2025

Towards the end of the month featured multiple days of continued great migration conditions with many new arrivals including a returning Blue winged Warbler singing a Golden winged song, my first double digit count of warblers in a day for the season and the 20th warbler species captured on the camera at the water feature (Nashville Warbler).

Black and White Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 29, 2025

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Apr 30, 2025

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Apr 30, 2025

By the end of the month I had tied my best ever April in the county with 20 warbler species thanks to early arrivals including record early arrivals of a few species including Cerulean and Worm eating Warblers on the 30th.

Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 2, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 2, 2025

Ovenbird, UMASS demonstration forest, Belchertown, MA, May 1, 2025

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 1, 2025

The first two days of May more warblers showed up including my earliest ever record of a Brewster's Warbler hybrid.  I then added an Orange crowned Warbler on the 4th before the weather took a turn to cooler, rainy conditions for days that slowed migration down.

Blue winged Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, May 6, 2025

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2025

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Ware, MA, May 5, 2025

Prairie Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 4, 2025

Despite the rain I was still out birding to end the first week of May and among the highlights was a return of a Cerulean Warbler back to Quabbin Park (which eventually became at least two in the same area).  

Prairie Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, May 8, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 8, 2025

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Ware, MA, May 9, 2025

Canada Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 12, 2025

Orange crowned Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 12, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 12, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 12, 2025

Ovenbird, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, May 13, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 14, 2025

Migration conditions continued to be quite good through the second week of the month and lots of birds were moving through including my second Orange crowned Warbler of the spring.  

Prairie Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, May 17, 2025

Magnolia Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, May 19, 2025

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2025

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, May 20, 2025

Cerulean Warbler with leg bands, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, May 20, 2025

Cerulean Warbler with leg bands, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, May 20, 2025

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2025

The third week of May featured the peak of migration and brought in even more birds with the notables including a Hooded Warbler at UMASS and two color banded Cerulean Warblers at Skinner SP.  The last few days on the third week featured less than good (to very bad) migration conditions with cold temps and uncooperative winds.  

Bay breasted Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 23, 2025

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 23, 2025

Blackpoll Warbler, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, May 24, 2025

Blue winged Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 26, 2025

American Redstart building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 27, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Ware, MA, May 29, 2025

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2025

As May moved on I continued to get lots of warblers including a number of Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrids.  Mourning Warblers arrived as the month came to an end and I found multiple different regiolects.  I ended the month with 30 species of warbler in Hampshire County.

Cerulean Warbler being banded, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 3, 2025

Ovenbird, Skinner SP, Hadley/South Hadley, MA, Jun 4, 2025

Worm eating Warbler, Mt Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Jun 5, 2025

American Redstart at nest, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 6, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Breeding Bird Survey stop #45, Monson, MA, Jun 8, 2025

I started off the month of June guiding for a client from India and we got to witness the banding of a Cerulean Warbler at Quabbin (a highlight for both of us!).  The migration of warblers rapidly came to an end but not before a very late Mourning Warbler showed up mid month.

Lucy's Warbler, Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Townsend's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Hermit Warbler, Late, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Virginia's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Red faced Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

Grace's Warbler, Mount Lemmon, AZ, Jun 10, 2025

After being tied to home for awhile in May into mid June I finally was able to make a short getaway and I decided on a brief trip out to southeast Arizona and it was a great trip...hot but very productive with multiple new species for the year including my first U.S. Red faced Warbler and decent pictures of Grace's Warbler (as well as other good stuff).  

Chestnut sided Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, Jun 21, 2025

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 25, 2025

Blue winged Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Jun 26, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Pelham, MA, Jun 28, 2025

American Redstart with unique plumage, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 29, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 30, 2025

Once I was back from Arizona I continued to track down warblers close to home including the continued Brewster's Warbler in Amherst and warblers while doing field surveys on the Prescott Peninsula.  As the month came to a close I got a uniquely plumaged American Redstart.  By the end of the month I had managed to find 30 species of warbler (thanks to the Arizona trip and lots of local warblers).

 

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 5, 2025

To start off the month of July I was able confirm breeding of Cerulean Warbler at Quabbin Park...a very exciting moment for me as I highly suspected it the last few years.  Nice to see them back within Quabbin Park again.  

  

Hooded Warbler, Shindagin Hollow State Forest, Brooktondale, NY, Jul 12, 2025

 

Prairie Warbler, Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, Spenser, NY, Jul 13, 2025

In the middle of July we made a short trip out to the finger lakes area of New York.  I had four target species to add to my New York list and found them all during this short getaway.

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 30, 2025

The end of July brought a huge life event for me with my retirement from the fire/EMS field after 33 years of service.  

Canada Warbler, Pelham, MA, Aug 2, 2025

Ovenbird, Quabbin gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 10, 2025

Cerulean Warbler with leg bands, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 14, 2025

Prairie Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 22, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Aug 24, 2025

Bay breasted Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 26, 2025

Nashville Warbler, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2025

I started August with 18 species including a few late Cerulean Warblers.  I continued to find Cerulean Warblers through mid August.  I got a number of early fall arrivals during the third week and by the end of the month I had 26 species for the month, a good total.

Black and White Warbler, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Sep 1, 2025

September got off to a good start and by just pass the end of the first week.  I got my first Connecticut Warbler on the 12th and my the end of the second week I had 24 species for the month.  I had a few more Connecticut Warblers mid month including a sustained look of one.  Toward the end of the month I had a great influx of Blackpoll Warblers and ended the month with 27 species total.

Blackburnian Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Black throated Blue Warbler with unusual plumage, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' with odd white plumage, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2025

Bay breasted Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2025

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2025

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 5, 2025

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 17, 2025

Palm Warbler 'western', Amherst, MA, Oct 21, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 25, 2025

I started off October with a possible hybrid Yellow rumped Warbler and then another oddly plumaged Yellow rumped Warbler.  By the end of the first week I had found 17 species in the county.  Great migration continued to clear out warblers through the start of the second week of the month.  By mid month more and more Yellow rumped Warblers had arrived.  I added a couple Orange crowned Warblers and then more before the third week ended.

 

Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Reserve Naturelle de La Caravelle, Martinique, Dec 13, 2017

By the end of the month eBird made a taxonomic update which netted me another warbler species when Yellow Warblers was split into Northern Yellow Warbler and Mangrove Yellow Warbler.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2025

Palm Warbler 'western', North Hadley, MA, Nov 21, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 24, 2025

November started off slow with only two species of warblers through mid month due to cooler, windy weather and being home with Wilson more after the tumor on his foot returned and ruptured.  I found a late 'western' Palm Warbler to end the third week.  I then added a Common Yellowthroat toward the end of the month.  Due to Wilson's health issues we had to cancel a planned trip to south Texas.  

One of the best warblers of the year for me in Hampshire County showed up on the last day of the month when an Audubon's subspecies of Yellow rumped Warbler showed up in Hadley.  It was the first record ever of the subspecies in the county and only the second ever in western mass.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Easthampton, MA, Dec 6, 2025

  

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 13, 2025

I started off December looking for warblers and found multiple Yellow rumped Warblers and extended my streak of finding at least one warbler species in the county to 104 consecutive months.  I also managed to get some fleeting glimpses of the Audubon's Warbler once again on the 9th and then some photos mid month.  I continued to get Yellow rumped Warblers through the end of the year.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' and Chipping Sparrow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 24, 2025

Nashville Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 25, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler and White throated Sparrow, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 30, 2025

Black throated Blue Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 7, 2025

Black throated Green Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 12, 2025

Canada Warbler and Tufted Titmouse, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 12, 2025

American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 12, 2025

Black and White Warbler and Gray Catbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 14, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 14, 2025

Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2025

Blackburnian Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2025

Blackpoll Warbler and Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2025

Ovenbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 20, 2025

 

Yellow Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Jul 26, 2025

The camera on the water featured captured a number of warblers with a total of 14 species.  I had some issues with the camera in the fall so didn't capture too much for that season unfortunately.  

The next year will see us making a few trips away from home starting with a long stay in Florida in January into early February, a brief trip to south Texas before a couple weeks in Arizona from February into March and finally a trip to Alaska with a stop in Washington in July.  There will likely be other trips too but this is all that is scheduled for now.

Below are a few tallies for the year with overall warblers seen, warblers per month overall and warblers per month in Hampshire County.

Warblers (running tally for year)

Jan       Feb     Mar      Apr      May      Jun      Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
14        25       32         39        43          48       48       48       49         49       49        49

Warblers overall per month

Jan       Feb      Mar     Apr       May      Jun      Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
14        23        21        25         30         30        21       26       27         18       3          1

   

Hampshire County warblers by month

Jan      Feb      Mar      Apr      May     Jun       Jul       Aug      Sep      Oct      Nov    Dec
2         1          1           20        30         21        19        26        27         18       3*      1*

 

* Audubon's Warbler subspecies seen on these months