Early fall warblers at UMASS and honeypot

Common Yellowthroat, honeypot section, Hadley, MA, Sept 7, 2012

I spent the morning birding with Ian Davies and Jacob Drucker at both Orchard Hill at UMASS and the Honeypot in Hadley.  Lots of good warblers around although overall numbers were low for most species except Common Yellowthroats that seemed to be everywhere.  Other species seen included Northern Parula, American Redstart, Black and White, Chestnut sided and Black throated Green Warbler at Orchard Hill and Yellow, Prairie, Nashville, Magnolia Warbler and American Redstart at the honeypot.

Early September warblers

Pine Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, MA, Sep 1, 2012

On September 1st I headed into Prescott Peninsula to check on several field complexes there to set up some survey points for next season.  During my time in there I had a great morning birding and ran across several mixed species flocks with a total of 14 warbler species with highlights including my first of year Cape May Warbler, a Bay-breasted Warbler, 3 Canada Warblers, and 4 Northern Parula's.  Other warblers seen on Prescott included Magnolia, Black throated Green, Black throated Blue, Blackburnian, Black and White, Chestnut-sided and Pine Warblers as well as American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, and Ovenbird.The next day at Quabbin Park I added Prairie Warbler for the month and today I added Northern Waterthrush at Arcadia. 

Migrant warblers start moving through

Common Yellowthroat, Orchard Hill, Amherst, MA, Aug 29, 2012

Common Yellowthroat, Orchard Hill, Amherst, MA, Aug 29, 2012

Yesterday I took a trip over to Orchard Hill at UMASS to see what the night of migration brought in.  Some warblers were around and I found a total of ten warbler species with the highlights being Wilson’s, Tennessee, Yellow, Nashville Warblers and at least five Northern Parula’s.  Other species seen included Black and White, Magnolia and Chestnut sided Warblers, American Redstarts and Common Yellowthroats.  The Louisiana Waterthrush that had been lingering around the house was not seen or heard yesterday or today so it may have finally started its migration south.

Louisiana Waterthrush continues at home

This morning I heard a lingering Louisiana Waterthrush here at home.  It sang just once but chipped constantly right around 5:45am.  I was able to get some audio of the chipping.

Yellow-breasted Chat in Plymouth



Yellow-breasted Chat, Manomet bird banding station, Aug 23, 2012

I took a trip down to Plymouth on Thursday to meet up with Ian Davies. We spent a few hours in the morning at Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences observing the bird banding occuring there. One of the birds caught that day was a Yellow breasted Chat. This was by far the best look from so close I have ever gotten of this species. This species is caught several times a year at this location but is quite rare inland in Massachusetts.

Louisiana Waterthrush singing again

After an absence of several weeks of no singing a Louisiana Waterthrush was singing loudly this morning here at home.  I had seen a few of them over the last few weeks and had them chipping at me but this is the first singing for quite some time.  Reminds me of spring all over again!

Hooded Warbler back

Hooded Warbler, Quabbin, July 1, 2012

Hooded Warbler, Quabbin, July 1, 2012

On Sunday I decided to try again for the Hooded Warbler on the west side of Quabbin. After an absense of a few weeks the male was back singing in the same spot he had been in all spring this year as well as last year. Although difficult to get a good view of I did manage a few marginal photos. There was still no sign of sucessful nesting but I certainly hope he was successful this year.  Lots of other warblers this morning too.