More snow and cold and large numbers of Palm Warblers plus the first Louisiana Waterthrush of the season

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Palm Warblers 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Pine Warbler, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Apr 18, 2018

April continues to be much cooler than normal with multiple bouts of wintry precipitation in the last several days including a few inches of sleet one day and another dusting of snow today.  The weather has certainly been tough on those early migrants that have arrived with groups of warblers concentrated in areas where insects can be found (such as marshes and ponds).  The numbers of Palm Warblers has been quite impressive the last few days (the list from Lake Wallace today illustrating the point).  The numbers of Yellow rumped Warblers has also increased the last couple days with double digit counts at a number of locations.  Pine Warblers continue to move in with more and more singing on territory every day.  I also finally heard my first Louisiana Waterthrush yesterday morning at Quabbin Park and saw my first at Covey WMA today.  In addition to the above mentioned four species of warbler there was a report from Mike L. that he had an unusual Palm Warbler at Covey WMA yesterday that was either an aberrant individual or possibly a hybrid with a Yellow rumped Warbler.  I went looking for it on multiple occasions the last couple days but came up empty.