Warblers for the month of May

Northern Parula, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 4, 2020

Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2020

Nashville Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2020

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2020

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 7, 2020

Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2020

Bay breasted Warbler, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Canada Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 17, 2020

Ovenbird, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, May 18, 2020

Wilson's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

The month of May has now come to an end and with it the big push of warblers.  I managed to find a total of 29 species of warbler plus a few hybrids for the month (including a Lawrence's Warbler that continued until the end of the month).  The big miss for the month was not finding any Hooded Warblers but hopefully I will find one in June.  Overall the migration was a bit slow to start the month with cooler than normal conditions and less than optimal conditions for migration.  The pattern finally changed around mid month and the flood gates were opened.  Conditions after that were great for migration and many species moved through rather quickly. 

The last few Mays have produced the following totals for warblers:
2019: 29 species
2018: 30 species
2017: 30 species

Yellow rumped Warbler with white head, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler with white head, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

 Black and White Warbler with unusual plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

Black and White Warbler with unusual plumage, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 19, 2020

I had a couple of interestingly plumaged warblers this month including a Yellow rumped Warbler with a white head at home and an odd looking male Black and White Warbler along the rail trail in Amherst.

Ovenbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 13, 2020

Wilson's Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 16, 2020

Black throated Blue Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 11, 2020

In the yard for May I had 23 species of warbler for the month.   Yet again I failed to find a Blue winged Warbler for the yard list despite a lot of looking.  The water feature captured a number of warblers including two new species (Ovenbird and Wilson's Warbler) bringing the total number of warblers captured at the water feature to 16.