Arizona warblers

Painted Redstart, Madera Canyon, AZ, April 13, 2012

Lucy's Warbler, Tucson, AZ, April 7, 2012

Yellow Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, April 10, 2012

Black throated Gray Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, April 12, 2012

Painted Redstart collecting nest material, Madera Canyon, AZ, April 13, 2012

Yellow-rumped Warbler -Audubon's subspecies, Sweetwater Wetlands, April 10, 2012

Townsend's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, April 13, 2012

Wilson's Warbler, Florida Canyon, April 12, 2012

Black and White Warbler, Tanque Verde Wash, AZ, April 10, 2012

A quick post on the warblers I found on a recent trip out to Arizona (April 7-14).  I managed a total of a dozen species of warbler including Black and White, Orange-crowned, Lucy’s, Nashville, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Grace’s, Black-throated Gray, Townsend’s and Wilson’s Warbler plus Common Yellowthroat and Painted Redstarts.  The Black and White Warbler was new for me in Arizona (an unusual warbler for the area) and was found along Tanque Verde Wash on April 8.    The best warbler spots were along Tanque Verde wash, Madera Canyon, Patagonia Lake SP and Sweetwater Wetlands.  Some highlights included some close up views of Lucy’s Warblers and a pair of Painted Redstarts building a nest in Madera Canyon.  At the end of the trip my total number of warbler species so far for the year stood at 14.

Six species day

Despite the cool, overcast and breezy conditions today I managed a six species day with the following warblers seen or heard:  Blackburnian (in same area as previously found on April 20), Black and White, Palm, Pine, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrush. 

Blackburnian Warbler on April 20...

Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, April 20, 2012

Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, April 20, 2012

Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, April 20, 2012

I ran across a male Blackburnian Warbler this morning at Quabbin Park near the entrance to Goodnough Dike.  I heard it singing over and over but it took quite a bit of time to track it down and get some marginal ID photos of it.  A very early date for this species here in Massachusetts.  Also had four other warbler species so managed five total for the day.

Louisiana Waterthrush arrives

After a recent trip to Arizona I arrived home to find the warm weather followed me here.  The temperatures reached 90 today.  The warblers continue to arrive with building numbers of Palms and Yellow-rumped as well as many Pines.  I added a fourth species this evening as a Louisiana Waterthrush is calling from the stream near the house.  Still calling as I type this at 7:15pm.  I'll update later about the warblers from Arizona.

Third warbler species in March-Yellow-rumped Warbler

I found my third warbler species for the month of March at Great Pond in Hatfield this morning as I ran across a Yellow-rumped Warbler working its way along the ridge above the pond.  There was also a very vocal Pine Warbler in the same area.  The Pine Warblers are back in force and singing on territory at most stops today.  With only one day left in the month this will likely be the last species of warbler for the month but you never know.  The warbler season is certainly off to a good start so far with Pine, Palm and Yellow-rumped here so far.

Palm Warbler at home...in March.

Yet another very early warbler arrival this evening as I came across a Palm Warbler here at home.  Initially heard as I walked the dog for his evening walk.  I had no binoculars or camera with me but I kept hearing the bird chip and it came into a tree perhaps 10 feet away, providing great naked eye looks.  It was a male with a continuously pumping tail.  It was seen at 6:35 along Jabish Brook and then moved down the stream out of view and I continued with my walk.  I then heard it chip a few more times before I headed back to the house to get my camera.  Despite much effort I was unable to relocate and get a photo.  The number of Pine Warblers has grown quite a bit in the last week and they seemed to be present at every location I stopped at today.  The Pine Warbler at the house sang on and off all day long.

Pine Warbler in March

The unseasonable warmth and south winds has resulted in many early migrants arriving at record early dates.  Today I found a singing Pine Warbler at Covey WMA. The earliest date I have had them back here ever, beating my old record of April 1 in 2006. A normal year finds the first one arriving the first week of April.  The temperature today topped out around 78 and it should stay in the 70's the next two days and then into the 80's on Thursday...a full 30-40 degrees above the average high this time of year...amazing!