Just two warbler species for the first week of November despite some record setting heat

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 5, 2024

Although I spent a lot of time looking for late warblers I was unable to come up with any additional species beyond two (Yellow rumped Warbler and Palm Warbler) I found to begin the month.  The weather started off seasonal and then warmed to record setting temps toward the end of the first week.  I had to work on a few days through the week but nonetheless I still was able to bird at least a little every day thanks to the earlier sunrise times with the return to standard time.  Yellow rumped Warbler was the most frequently found warbler (as expected for November) and they continued in dwindling numbers at a few locations.  I also turned up at least three Palm Warblers for the period.  In addition I had fleeting glimpse at another warbler that I was never able to pin down for an ID and was certainly the 'one that got a away' for the week.  I will continue to spend time checking areas for warblers as the month wears on and with a lot of luck I will turn up something noteworthy.  

First couple days of November

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 1, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 1, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 1, 2024

I started off November (as expected) concentrating on trying to find warblers.  I got out of an overtime shift to start the month and immediately headed to a few areas that had featured warblers to end the month of October.  It was a bit windy but still warm with temps that started in the low to mid 60's so quite warm when the normal high now is in the upper 50's!  Eventually it warmed well into the 70's and set another record.  My stops in Amherst yielded several Yellow rumped Warblers as well as at least two Palm Warblers plus another unidentified warbler that I only got brief looks at that was likely something unusual.  Sadly I only got a brief look at a fairly bright yellow bird that flushed up from a goldenrod field and never reappeared.

For the second I was out once again checking a variety of other areas for warblers and only came up with Yellow rumped Warblers (and few of those).  The cooler temps with a breeze certainly didn't help my quest.  

October comes to an end

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 30, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 30, 2024

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 30, 2024

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 29, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 29, 2024

October is ending on a warm note with much above temperatures once again (the end of the month post is today as I have to work overtime tomorrow).  Most of the month featured good to great migration conditions, little rain and warmer temps overall.  I ended the month with 18 species of warblers in total in Hampshire County.  November will bring the possibility of a rare warbler showing up plus hopefully some lingering species.  The only really expected species moving forward will be Yellow rumped Warbler, which will also dwindle to few around by the end of the month.  I spent the last couple days I could bird trying to pin down locations for warblers to start off November on the right foot.

More warblers on a few more very warm days for late October

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 22, 2024

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 22, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 22, 2024

Blackpoll Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 23, 2024

The last couple days have featured near record heat with highs in the upper 70's to low 80's and sunny conditions which continued the record heat we had to end the third week of October.  I have been out each morning trying to track down late warblers and had some decent luck yesterday with a total of five species including a Common Yellowthroat and a Nashville Warbler for late ones.  I had less luck today with breezy conditions making viewing a bit more of a chore and I had just two species for the day (Yellow rumped Warblers and a couple Palm Warblers).  Tomorrow looks to feature cooler temps and north winds following a cold front so I don't anticipate anything unusual for warblers.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' and Dark eyed Junco, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 23, 2024

I also captured what will likely be the last warbler of the year at the water feature today with a Yellow rumped Warbler.  I'll have a summary of all the warbler species at the water feature in the annual year end wrap up.

A few late warblers to end the third week of October

Nashville Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 19, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 16, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 16, 2024

Tennessee Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 15, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 16, 2024

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 17, 2024

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 19, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 21, 2024 

As the third week of October comes to an end on a rather warm note the diversity of warblers continue to drop with mainly just Yellow rumped Warblers around with just a smattering of other species.  The weather has been overall very pleasant with steadily warming temperatures with abundant sunshine with a near record high today in the mid 70's.  The mornings have been quite cold but the sun has increasing resulted in warmer days.  Between my time at work I have been out tracking down warblers in the hopes of finding late/lingering species and perhaps a rarity.  I have caught up with a few late warblers including a Black throated Green Warbler on the 16th and a Nashville Warbler on 19th.  I managed to track down eight species for the third week including my first Orange crowned Warbler of the fall.  

Wilson after surgery, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 19, 2024

Wilson had to have another surgery on Saturday to get a few masses removed and he continues to recover.  We will have to wait and see if any of them are cancer...certainly hope not.  

Warblers to end the second week of the month

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 14, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 14, 2024

Nashville Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 14, 2024

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 14, 2024

I ended the last day of the second week of October exploring in Amherst on a cool, damp and occasionally rainy morning looking for warblers.  I managed to track down four species in the gloom in Amherst with the vast majority being Yellow rumped Warblers.  Although far from record breaking I was happy to see that many species given the conditions.  I have not had much of a chance to bird the last few days due to work and other commitments so it was nice to be out today, even if it was less than ideal warbler weather.  The next few days continue to look cool and windy but then there should be a warm up to end the week and continue for at least a few days after that.

More late warblers for the first week of October

Northern Waterthrush, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 3, 2024

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 6, 2024

After finding 14 species of warblers to start October I continued to search and find a number of late species for the month when I was not working.  

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2024

Magnolia Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 3, 2024

Chestnut sided Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 3, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 3, 2024

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 3, 2024

Northern Waterthrush, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2024

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2024

After getting out of work on the morning of the 3rd I tried Arcadia but with little decent habitat it was rather slow.  I then headed to a spot in Amherst that was productive on the first and I had some good luck there again with a late Chestnut sided Warbler among a half dozen species.  After about an hour and half I headed to Belchertown where I had two more late species with a Northern Waterthrush and an Ovenbird.  Overall for the morning I had eleven species.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', UMASS, Amherst, MA, Oct 5, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Oct 5, 2024

Black and White Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Oct 5, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 5, 2024

Blackpoll Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 5, 2024

I had to work on Friday but got out to bird again on Saturday morning and I started off at UMASS where I had five species of warbler.  I then moved on to a spot in Amherst where I once again had five species of warblers.  I ended the morning with seven species of warblers and I'm sure I could have got more if I was not so exhausted from work and could visit a few other areas.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 6, 2024

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 6, 2024

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 6, 2024

American Redstart, Amherst, MA, Oct 6, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 6, 2024

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 6, 2024

Wilson out for a walk, Belchertown, MA, Oct 6, 2024

The night of Saturday into Sunday morning was a big night of migration (the largest flight in overall numbers all fall according to birdcast).  Although the diversity was down the numbers of Yellow rumped Warblers was impressive with dozens in most spots.  I also turned up a late Ovenbird and ended the morning with just half a dozen species of warblers.  I started off the morning in Amherst and then worked my way back toward home.  Although it was a cold start in the low 40's it eventually warmed up and day featured wall to wall sunshine.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 7, 2024

Common Yellowthroat, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 7, 2024

The week ended on a rainy note to start the day.  I was out before sunrise to find breezy conditions and occasional showers that became a steady rain for a few hours.  My early morning stops were not too productive at all.  Once the rain stopped I headed out again and had a bit more luck with warblers with the primary species being Yellow rumped Warblers.  I ended the day with just four species of warblers with no new ones for the month.  So far I have found 17 species of warblers for the month and the chances of turning up more species rapidly decreases as the month goes on.