Lots of fledglings around for the first week or so of July

Northern Yellow Warbler fledgling, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 2, 2026

Louisiana Waterthrush feeding fledgling, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Blackburnian Warbler fledgling, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Blackburnian Warbler fledgling, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler fledgling, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 4, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler fledgling, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 4, 2026

The first week of July has featured lots of fledgling warblers around and it has been great seeing them (as well as the hard working parents trying to keep them fed).  A bit bittersweet as it means the breeding season is rapidly moving along and then the prospect of cooler weather to follow.  However we are not there yet and I will continue to enjoy the warmth and birds here before taking a trip out west to track down more warblers (and others).

Ovenbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 2, 2026

I also added a new species at the water feature for the year with the appearance of an Ovenbird (warbler species #8 so far).

Another species captured on camera at water feature with a Northern Yellow Warbler

Northern Yellow Warbler and House Wren, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 12, 2026

 

Northern Yellow Warbler and House Wren, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 12, 2026

 

Northern Yellow Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 12, 2026

A check of the camera at the water feature today found that a new species was captured a couple days ago with the arrival of a Northern Yellow Warbler, making seven species captured this year (although at least one species, a Wilson's Warbler, visited while I was watching but the camera never caught it).

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 14, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 14, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 14, 2026

Brewster's Warbler carrying food, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 14, 2026

I had some time free this morning so took a walk at the rail trail in Amherst to start the day and then headed over to Skinner SP and hiked up to the top and back down.  Bird song continues to slowly decrease among a number of warblers but there was still song.  Highlights for the morning included the continued Brewster's Warbler (once again seen carrying food) in Amherst, at least half a dozen Worm eating Warblers and just a single Cerulean Warbler singing at Skinner SP.

Big warbler year in the US update

Blue winged Warbler, KC Trail, Amherst, MA, May 20, 2026

Bay breasted Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 20, 2026

Brewster's Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 20, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, South Hadley, MA, May 21, 2026

Now for an update on the progress of my big warbler year in the US.  At this point I have seen a total of 46 species plus the two widely recognized hybrids of Blue winged x Golden winged Warblers.   There are now just five regularly species I have not yet seen with Golden winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Kentucky Warbler and Kirtland's Warbler.  The only species I'm likely to get here at home would be a Connecticut Warbler in the fall.  The rest will require a trip away from home although there is always a chance of a few of the species showing up here as a rarity.  My plan going forward to get the remaining species is to make a drive a bit further south (probably Pennsylvania...hopefully somewhere closer) to get Kentucky Warbler and maybe a Golden winged Warbler.  I then have a short stop planned (two nights) for Wisconsin before our trip up to Alaska in July.  This should get me Prothonotary Warbler near Minneapolis (where I'm flying into), Golden winged Warbler (if I missed it elsewhere) and Kirtland's Warbler (hopefully in the upper peninsula of Michigan and if not I will have to make a longer drive to the lower peninsula).  Depending on how the trip works out I may also try to get Connecticut Warbler on their breeding grounds in Minnesota.  There are other rare warblers possible in the US (Crescent chested Warbler, Gray crowned Yellowthroat, Fan tailed Warbler, Golden crowned Warbler and Slate throated Redstart) but I'm very unlikely to get these as most do not show up every year and each would involve a decent investment of time and money.  The only one of the above mentioned species that has been reported so far this year is Golden crowned Warbler in the lower Rio Grande Valley.  In addition I'm still toying with the idea of making a late year trip down to Puerto Rico to get two more species for the US big year with Elfin Woods Warbler and Adelaide's Warbler (sadly airfares have gone up significantly thanks to the debacle in the middle east).  For now I will continue to try to find one (or more) of the remaining species as a rarity here and try to figure out when to make the drive south to get Kentucky Warbler.

Common Yellowthroat, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 18, 2026

Around the yard I have added a few new warbler species for the year in the last several days with my total for the year now at 22 species with the recent additions of Canada Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Tennessee Warbler.  I also captured a new species for the year at the water feature with a Common Yellowthroat.

Hooded Warbler and Canada Warbler today add two more species for my US big warbler year

Black throated Blue Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2026

American Redstart, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 5, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 5, 2026

Blue winged Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

The day held lots of promise with the best night of migration in quite some time with south winds that were fairly strong and covered a large portion of the eastern US.  I was guiding for a visiting birder from India again today and we kept our plans fluid so we could follow up on any rare bird reports that came in during the morning.  I got a little birding in before meeting up for the morning of guiding and I could tell there had indeed been a good influx of species.  Our first stop was along the rail trail in Amherst and the forecasted strong winds were still light and the amount of bird song was high with multiple warblers even from the parking lot.  Not long after starting our walk I got a text letting me know of a Hooded Warbler in Hadley.  I decided to stick with covering the rail trail to see what else we could find before possibly heading south to try for the Hooded Warbler.  As we walked along the rail trail we turned up more and more warblers with a few showing quite well.  The best warbler for me on the walk was a Canada Warbler that sang from a deep tangle and as typical for the species, did not show at all.  Nonetheless it added another species for me for my big warbler year in the US and became species #42.  I will certainly catch up with more as the migration season continues on.  After about an hour and half along the rail trail and 14 species of warblers we headed south to try for the Hooded Warbler at Mitch's Way.  We made it through the traffic fairly easily and arrived just before eight and started walking in to the spot for the warbler.  Along the way we had lots of birds singing and calling including multiple species of warblers.  We made it to the spot and found Joe, Steve and Leslie on site and within a few minutes we heard the Hooded Warbler singing its classic song. Sometimes it sounded close and other times a distance away and it would go quiet for a time and then be heard again.  We tried to get looks at it but it never showed for us.  The Hooded Warbler became warbler species #43 for me in the US this year.  There were lots of other warblers around and the variety of song reminded me again why I love this area in spring (not so much in the colder months!).  We walked a bit further and ran across Ted (the finder of the Hooded Warbler) before returning to the Hooded Warbler spot.  The Hooded Warbler was still present and singing a non classic song and it yet again defied our efforts to get looks at it.  I had to settle on getting a few recordings before we headed out for the morning.  Mitch's Way produced an impressive 19 species of warbler for us and the morning ended with 20 species of warblers overall.  Sadly I didn't get pictures of either new warbler species for the year but I will hopefully get more chances in the near future.

Northern Parula, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

Northern Parula, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

The water feature also produced three warbler species for the day with a capture of a Northern Parula, Black and White Warbler and American Redstart.  A Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' also showed back up today.  This makes three warbler species so far at the water feature...a bit behind the total of ten warbler I have had in the yard for the year.

The end of April warblers

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 26, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 27, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 29, 2026

Wilson relaxing after a walk, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 29, 2026

Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 30, 2026

The end of April continued to feature mainly subpar migration conditions with below average numbers and variety of warblers.  Today was rainy in the morning and never really warmed up.  Nonetheless I was out walking a little in the rain and my reward was one new warbler species for the year with a Blackburnian Warbler at Quabbin Park (warbler species #38 for the year in the US).  The previous few days were at least mainly sunny and pleasant but without good winds to move stuff in the warblers mainly trickled in.  I did manage my first double digit warbler day of the spring here on Tuesday with eleven species including my first Blue winged Warbler of the year plus my first Northern Parula of the year in Hampshire County.  Yesterday featured one new species for me for the year in the county with a Prairie Warbler.  The record early Magnolia Warbler I found on my birthday continued for me for at least another day 

Palm Warblers 'yellow', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 28, 2026

I also added a second species at the water feature with Palm Warblers on the 28th.

To end out April in the county I found a total of 14 species with two of those (Blue winged Warbler and Blackburnian Warbler) being new for me for my big warbler year in the US moving my total to 38 species so far.  April overall was quite productive for warblers with my trips to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona plus warblers at home bringing me to 27 species seen for the month.  May will rapidly bring in numbers of warblers and I will be out there enjoying them as much as possible.  May migration is truly one of the best reasons to live here.

Slow migration so far, my first capture of the year at the water feature and an update on my warbler big year in the US

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 23, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 22, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2026

The last week has largely been less than ideal for migration and a number of species that typically should have already arrived in small numbers have yet to show.  It is always tough to wait (even a few days) for species that should be trickling back in.  I was out this morning and managed to add two new species for the year in the county with a Northern Yellow Warbler and a slightly early Common Yellowthroat (no photos today as my camera battery was dead because I left the camera on overnight).  

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 22, 2026

The camera at the water feature finally caught a warbler for the year with a Yellow rumped Warbler.  I have had four warbler in the yard so far but none had come to the water feature until a couple days ago.  Hopeful for another good showing of species as migration picks up.

Now for a look at the status of my warbler big year in the US up to this point.  After a recent successful trip to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona where I added eight new species for the year which brought me to 36 species, I now need 15 species to see all the somewhat regularly occurring species in the mainland US.  My plan going forward is to get most of the remaining species near home including the following: Worm eating Warbler, Blue winged Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Bay breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Canada Warbler.  The remaining four (Golden winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Kirtland's Warbler and Kentucky Warbler) will likely require trips away from home and I have a trip to Wisconsin to get three of these before we head to Alaska.  The last one, Kentucky Warbler, will require a trip to the south (although it is remotely possible in western Mass).  I will wait until June to decide where to make a day trip to get that one.  Also if I decide to include Puerto Rico for the year then I could add two more species to that total with Elfin Wood Warbler and Adelaide's Warbler .

There is also the possibility of some rarity wandering over the border from Mexico this year but I'm unlikely to chase any (if they even show up as the species included in that group do not show up every year, with years between sightings for a few of the species).  The true rarity warblers that have occurred in the US before include Crescent chested Warbler, Gray crowned Yellowthroat, Fan tailed Warbler, Golden crowned Warbler and Slate throated Redstart.  I have seen all of these outside the US before in various locations in the tropics.  The two most likely for these rarities to show up would be south Texas and southeast Arizona.

A first taste of early fall like weather

Common Yellowthroat, Ware, MA, Aug 19, 2025

Pine Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 19, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 19, 2025

American Redstart, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 18, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler with Gray Catbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 19, 2025

Ovenbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 16, 2025

We had our first taste of fall like weather the last couple days with lows at night that dropped to around 50 for this morning following a night of north winds and highs that topped into the 70's with low humidity.  Tough to say for certain if any of the warblers I ran across the last couple mornings were truly migrants but there is certainly mixed flocks around today and I had a total of ten species.  A check of the camera at the water feature also turned up a few warblers (none new for the year but some good captures).

More captures at the water feature plus warblers elsewhere the last several days

Common Yellowthroat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 7, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 7, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Black capped Chickadee, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 6, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Black thropated Green Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 8, 2025

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

Prairie Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 4, 2025

Yellow Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 4, 2025

The water feature continues to catch warbler species and in just a couple days I captured four species (Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and Chestnut sided Warbler).  Although none were new for the year I was surprised to see such diversity for early August...hopefully this bodes well for the upcoming fall migration.

I have also been out looking for warblers over the last several days and have seen a fair number.  Not a lot of song left but occasionally some will sing.