California trip warblers

Orange-crowned Warbler, Elkhorn Slough, CA, Sep 21, 2011

Chestnut sided Warbler, Julia Pheiffer Burns SP, CA, Sep 23, 2011

Black-throated Gray Warbler, Drakes Beach, Point Reyes NS, CA, Sep 19, 2011

I have added up my numbers and started going through my photos from my recent California trip (Sept 17-25).  I managed a total of nine species of warbler with the most unusual being an adult Chestnut sided Warbler, which is a rare vagrant in California.  Other species included Orange-crowned, Yellow, Palm, Yellow-rumped (Audubon's), Black-throated Gray, Townsend's and Wilson's Warblers as well as Common Yellowthroat.

California trip

I just returned very late last night from trip out to California spending four days around Point Reyes, a day in Monterey and three days in Big Sur. A fabulous trip with several life birds and lots of photos. A few good warblers around with the most unusual sighting for the area being a Chestnut sided Warbler.  I will download the photos today and perhaps get some up as soon as I can. I still need to total up all my sightings for the trip and that may take awhile. Stay tuned.

Arcadia meadows warblers

Wilson's Warbler, Arcadia, Sept 16, 2011

Northern Waterthrush, Arcadia, Sept 16, 2011

Palm Warbler, Arcadia, Sept 16, 2011

I ran across a few nice warblers down in the meadows of Arcadia.  The recent floods were still in evidence but most areas can be accessed.  The highlights were a Northern Waterthursh, Yellow, Wilson's and Palm Warbler.

Tennessee Warbler

Tennessee Warbler, Quabbin, Sept 10, 2011

Tennessee Warbler, Quabbin, Sept 10, 2011

I came across this very brightly colored individual in central Quabbin on September 10.  It had me guessing initially as it was so brightly colored.  This was the second Tennessee Warbler I have seen in the last week.  The warbler migration is nearing its peak and I have managed to see 17 species so far this month and I'm sure to add several more.  Some of the early migrants have largely left such as Yellow Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrush.  Connecticut Warblers could show up at any time but I have not had any luck so far.

Some warblers on the west side of Quabbin

Ovenbird, Quabbin Gate 16, Aug 30, 2011

American Redstart, Quabbin Gate 11, Aug 30, 2011

I spent a few hours this morning at various gates on the west side of Quabbin.  I started at Gate 16 and then onto Gate 11 and then finally Gate 10.  Many quiet areas but there were a few warblers around with some individual birds as well as some in mixed species flocks.  The numbers and variety were low but some of the views were great.  It should really start to pick up this coming week.

Central Quabbin

I spent a few hours this morning finally getting back out to central Quabbin and was rewarded with several mixed species flocks.  I found a total of 13 species of warblers this morning with the highlights being a male Wilson's, a couple Canada's and a mix of other expected species.  The fall migration is just beginning and the next few weeks should be very interesting to see what is out there.

Some yard warblers



Yellow Warbler

I hope to get more posts on here as the fall season approaches.  I have been busy with the new dog and now recovery from surgery.  Not much to report from here right now beyond the few warbler species that continue to occur at the house.  The Yellow Warblers still occasionally sing and I have a family of Common Yellowthroats that chatter away along the stream.  Soon the Yellow Warblers will head out and the number of migrants around the yard will climb rapidly.