2016 warbler wrap up with loads of photos

Adelaide's Warbler, Roosevelt Roads/Ceba, Puerto Rico, Dec 

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Wrenthrush, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

It was a great 2016 with loads of great sightings and a number of new species as I continue on my quest to see all the new world wood warbler species.  I added three new species this year including Elfin woods Warbler and Adelaide's Warbler in Puerto Rico and Wrenthrush in Costa Rica bringing my total to 64.  I found a total of 41 warbler species during my travels in 2016.  I already have a few trips planned for 2017 that should add some more.

Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 19, 2016

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 19, 2016

Mourning Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 21, 2016

Black cheeked Warbler, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Flame throated Warbler, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Collared Redstart, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Prairie Warbler, Cabo Rojo NWR, Puerto Rico, Dec 4, 2016

Tennessee Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Apr 5, 2016

Yellow throated Warbler, Disney Wilderness Preserve, Poinciana, FL, Jan 16, 2016

Besides the new warblers mentioned above my trips to warmer climes produced a number of other species including both residents and migrants.

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 22, 2016

Connecticut Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2016

Mourning Warbler, UMASS Amherst, MA, May 28, 2016

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 5, 2016

Nashville Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 30, 2016

American Redstart, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, Sep 14, 2016

Cerulean Warbler feeding nestlings, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, June 10, 2016

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 8, 2016

Louisiana Waterthrush, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 14, 2016

Yellow breasted Chat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 9, 2016

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 10, 2016

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2016

Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2016

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2016

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2016

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 10, 2016

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Worm eating Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 12, 2016

Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 6, 2016

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2016

Wilson's Warbler, UMASS Amherst, MA, May 10, 2016

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 10, 2016

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2016

Black throated Blue Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2016

Louisiana Waterthrush, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 18, 2016

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 24, 2016

Within Hampshire County it was another spectacular year for warblers with a total of 32 species with highlights including an incredible ten Connecticut Warblers (most years feature 1-3!), a Golden winged Warbler, five Mourning Warblers, four Orange crowned Warblers (including my second spring record) and two Yellow breasted Chats.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 13, 2016

Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 13, 2016

Canada Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2016

At home I had a total of 22 warbler species including my first record of Connecticut Warbler as well as my second records for both Mourning Warbler and Orange crowned Warbler.  I have now had 28 species of warbler on the two acres here in Belchertown but have still not yet had a Blue winged Warbler!  This year will be the year for sure!

Costa Rican trip produces a new warbler...Wrenthrush

Wrenthrush, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Wrenthrush, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Flame throated Warbler, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Black cheeked Warbler, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Collared Redstart, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 16, 2016

Just back from another trip down to Costa Rica (my tenth!) and it was once again a great trip away from the cold weather at home.  One night was spent around San Jose, another night up in the mountains at Paraiso Quetzal Lodge and the remaining nights at the spectacular Rio Magnolia Lodge (with a day long side trip down to Buenos Aires).  On December 16th I met Andres at 6 am to guide me around the area of Paraiso Quetzal Lodge and hopefully find some of my target birds.  My number one target was a Wrenthrush, which is oddly neither a wren or a thrush but is a wood warbler species endemic to Costa Rica and Panama and one of only two species of breeding warbler in Costa Rica I had not yet seen. Wrenthrush is a small, dark bird with a burnt orange crown that inhabits dense growth within the forest and is much more likely to be heard then seen.  Although there was a glimpses of sun early on, the clouds quickly filled in and the drizzle and light rain picked up and continued for most of the mornings. Andres and I still managed to find some good birds despite the weather including a lifer for me, a Black Guan plus a number of other highland specialities.  After a brief stop to eat we headed back out into the rainy weather and started walking some of the trails within the forest. Andres had a tip on where we might find a Wrenthrush and after a slippery walk down some muddy trails we arrived at the location and almost immediately had brief looks at a couple of Wrenthrush. They moved just way to fast to get photos but I managed to get some recordings as they called from the deep undergrowth. We never got another look at them in that location but we decided to move further down the trail in hopes of finding them further down slope where the trail curved back toward our current location. Sure enough we caught back up with one of them and had brief but very close looks as it foraged among some roots. I tried again for photos with my big camera but it was just too dark and the bird was too fast. I eventually tried my luck with my cellphone camera and I managed a few identifiable photos. I was very happy to have not only found the bird but to have seen it well, managed some recordings and got some photos. We continued our walk until a little before 10:30 when we had to head back to pack up and check out for 11am.  Despite the less than stellar weather I was very happy to find a new species of wood warbler.
Videos of a Wrenthrush:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/31100738344/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/31568054430/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/31568070770/in/dateposted-public/
Videos of Wrenthrush calling: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/31101237734/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/31568210590/in/dateposted-public/

Marsh where a Masked Yellowthroat should have been, Buenos Aires, Costa Rica, Dec 20, 2016 

On December 20th I once again met up with Andres plus another guide that he knew. I met them in San Isidro at 5am (requiring a wake up at 3:30am to make the hour drive down). We then headed south toward the Buenos Aires to explore a variety of locations over the course of the entire day. Although I had a variety of possible new birds in this corner of Costa Rica I have never visited before, my main target was another warbler, a Masked Yellowthroat. This subspecies of Masked Yellowthroat only occurs in a small portion of Costa Rica and nearby Panama and is likely a separate species and known as Chiriqui Yellowthoat. Unfortunately we missed finding the warbler but we were really not quite far enough south to guarantee seeing it as the area we visited was at the northern extreme of its range...I will have to try again next time I come down but will just have to go further toward the Panama border.

Mourning Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 21, 2016

Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 19, 2016

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 19, 2016

Tennessee Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 19, 2016

Yellow Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 21, 2016

I managed to find a total of 13 species of warblers during the trip with the vast majority being Chestnut sided and Tennessee Warbler as well as Collared Redstarts (only up in the mountains).

Videos with a calling of Buff rumped Warbler: https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/31100784644/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54277284@N05/31101143054/in/dateposted-public/

Elfin woods Warbler and Adelaide's Warbler on a trip down to Puerto Rico -Dec 1-5 and end of the year summary

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Elfin woods Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Adelaide's Warbler, Ceiba-Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

Adelaide's Warbler, Ceiba-Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

Adelaide's Warbler, Ceiba-Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

Adelaide's Warbler, Ceiba-Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

I recently made a trip down to Puerto Rico with the intention of catching up with the two endemic warbler species down there, the endangered Elfin woods Warbler and the more widespread Adelaide's Warbler. The Elfin woods Warbler was only described to science in the 1971/1972 time frame and occurs in only a couple of spots on the island.  I managed to catch up with both species with the Adelaide's Warbler seen and heard in multiple locations including a very obliging individual at the old Roosevelt Roads naval station that came in and perched on the mirror of the car. The Elfin woods Warbler was a bit tougher to catch up with. It was missed in El Yunque but I caught up with a few of them in Maricao forest in a mixed species flock on Saturday and got some identifiable photos. We had them once again in nearly the same spot on Sunday but they remained even more hidden and afforded no opportunities for photos. It is a unique looking species that seemed to be hanging out in a mixed flock that included a Black and White Warbler and a couple Black throated Blue Warblers as well as a few Puerto Rican endemics. It is surprising this species remained unknown to science for so long but I guess not enough people were looking in the right spots. The two warblers on the island became warbler species #62 and #63 for me.

Prairie Warbler, Cabo Rojo NWR, Puerto Rico, Dec 4, 2016

Palm Warbler (western), Ceiba/Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, Dec 2, 2016

Black and White Warbler, Bosque Estatal de Maricao, Puerto Rico, Dec 3, 2016

Besides the two endemic warbler species I also found a number of migrant warblers including Northern Waterthrush, Black and White Warbler, Northern Parula, Black throated Blue Warbler, Palm Warbler (western), American Redstart, Yellow Warbler (golden subspecies) and Prairie Warbler. Most were seen in small numbers but the amount of Prairie Warblers at Cabo Rojo NWR in the southwest part of the island was amazing. While checking out some of the mudflats near sunset there was a steady stream of Prairie Warblers moving by totaling several dozen. Every small bush seems to contain several individuals at once...the most Prairie Warblers I have ever seen in one location.


Below is a summary of the year in warblers by month with a running tally of warblers for the year, warblers per month and warblers by month for Hampshire County.

Warblers (running tally for year)

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
7          7           7          21        32          32      32       32        33        33        33        33


Warblers overall per month

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
7          0          1           20        29          20      16       13        24        12        1         19


Hampshire County warblers by month

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
0          0           1          20        29          20      16       13        24        12        1         0

A fabulous fall for Connecticut Warblers including my first one in the yard yesterday

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 22, 2016

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 22, 2016

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 22, 2016

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 22, 2016

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 17, 2016

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 17, 2016

Connecticut Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Sep 16, 2016

Connecticut Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2016

Yesterday while stuck at home while I got some work done on the house I managed to turn up a new warbler species for the yard when I found a Connecticut Warbler.  This became my 28th warbler species in the yard and one of the most unusual ones.  Despite having seen other unusual species here such as Kentucky, Orange crowned and multiples of Mourning, Bay breasted and Cape May Warblers I have still not had a Blue winged Warbler in the yard!  Very strange indeed.  This fall has been an incredibly productive year for finding Connecticut Warbler here in the valley.  I have found a total of eight so far this season spanning the dates from September 9 until yesterday at various locations including Arcadia, the Honey Pot and Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River with multiples seen on a couple different days.  Most years I have between one and three total and never multiples on the same day.  I have also managed to get some of the best photos I have ever gotten of this usually tough to photograph species. (* the final tally for the year ended up being a whopping ten individuals with the last one added in early October)

Another Connecticut Warbler and many others in the last few days

Connecticut Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2016

Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2016

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park,  MA, Sep 10, 2016

Nashville Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 11, 2016

Prairie Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 11, 2016

Yellow Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 11, 2016

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 11, 2016

Common Yellowthroat, Honey Pot, Hadley,  MA, Sep 12, 2016

I continued to have some good luck with fall warblers for the last few days including another Connecticut Warbler at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River on the 10th and one that was cooperative (at least as far as CT warblers go).  I had a total of 22 species of warbler during the three day period between September 9-11.  Besides the previously mentioned Connecticut Warbler and Yellow breasted Chat highlights included Tennessee, Cape May and Bay breasted Warblers.  That brings my total warblers in the county for the year so far to 31.  The likelihood of adding any more species at this point is quite low but you never know...it would take a rarity at this point.  My overall total of warbler species for the year worldwide is at 35 with the additional species coming from Costa Rica and Florida.

Yellow breasted Chat and Connecticut Warbler at Arcadia (and others too)

Yellow breasted Chat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 9, 2016

Yellow breasted Chat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 9, 2016

Connecticut Warbler (yes really), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 9, 2016

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 9, 2016

Palm Warbler (western), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 9, 2016

Magnolia Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 9, 2016

I spent a few hours at Arcadia this morning and as I was walking down the trolley line I had a Yellow breasted Chat briefly pop into view. After several minutes of looking and trying to get this notoriously skulking species to pop back out I had it call once. I then got another view of it as it sat behind some vegetation and I fired off several shots with the camera before it dropped from view once again. As I dropped the camera down and looked back up two more birds showed up at eye level just a few feet from where the chat had been...one was a Common Yellowthroat but the other was an adult male Connecticut Warbler!  The Connecticut Warbler was partially hidden from view but I got great views of it in the binoculars. My attempt at photos was less successful and I got just a few blurry shots of a gray and yellow bird. I would have been happy to get either one of these species today but getting them both one right after the other was great. Two rare warblers within just a few feet of each other...good stuff. The Yellow breasted Chat can be very tough to find in the county and this is only my third record (the other records for me occurred on Sep 9, 2014 and Sep 21, 2005). Oddly all three of my sightings of this species have occurred within a quarter mile or less of each other at Arcadia.

A long overdue update

Olive crowned Yellowthroat, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, Dec 20, 2014

Tropical Parula, Bosque del Tolomuco, Costa Rica, Apr 3, 2014

Slate throated Redstart, Bosque del Tolomuco, Costa Rica, Apr 3, 2014

Slate throated Redstart, Bosque del Tolomuco, Costa Rica, Apr 3, 2014

It has been a very long since I have made any posts to this blog but I figured I might as well do one now.   Since my last post (way back in early January 2014) I have made five trips to Costa Rica, a trip to Ecuador as well as a few trips to Florida.  I have added several new warbler species to my life list during this time including Olive crowned Yellowthroat, Tropical Parula and Slate throated Redstart in Costa Rica and Black crested Warbler, Golden bellied Warbler, Russet crowned Warbler and Speckled Redstart in Ecuador bringing my total number of warbler species to 61.