Mid June warblers

Yellow Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2020

Yellow Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2020

Yellow Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Jun 16, 2020

Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jun 16, 2020

Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jun 16, 2020

The migrant warblers have now all moved through and the remaining warblers are here to breed and raise another generation.  Lots of birds actively feeding young or still sitting on nests with the first fledglings expected any day now.  I spent part of the morning looking for any remaining unusual warblers, which this year means the Hooded Warbler in Hadley and the Lawrence's Warbler in Belchertown.  I searched for the Hooded Warbler at first light with no luck at all so it appears it was just around for a couple days (June 7 and 8) and has not been reported since.  My best guess is that it moved on to another area in search of a mate....a tough proposition at the northern extreme of their breeding range around here.   I had better luck with the Lawrence's Warbler, finding it in the same area where I first found it on May 5th.  Still no indication it has found a mate but I will keep looking.

American Redstart, Ware, MA, Jun 14, 2020

I recently completed my annual breeding bird survey route on Sunday and as always there were warblers along the route with a dozen species found.  The most abundant warblers were Ovenbird (present at 64% of stops) and Common Yellowthroat (present at 52% of stops). 

Hooded Warbler in Hadley and a continued Lawrence's Warbler

Hooded Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 7, 2020

Hooded Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 7, 2020

Hooded Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 7, 2020

Hooded Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Hadley, MA, Jun 7, 2020

Chestnut sided Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, Jun 7, 2020

Yellow Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, Jun 7, 2020

Today was a good early June day for warblers in the area.  I started off my morning by conducting some field surveys on the restricted access Prescott Peninsula at Quabbin (although not Hampshire County it is a special place that I love going into).  Nothing too unusual as far as warblers go but lots of birds on territory in the areas I covered.  I hoped to repeat my luck in finding a Hooded Warbler there like I did almost exactly a year ago today but no luck on this year.  The breezy morning just kept getting windier so I cut my time short on the peninsula and headed back toward home with a few stops along the way including a few spots to add warblers including Canada, Magnolia and Yellow rumped Warblers for the month as well as a stop to check on the continuing Lawrence's Warbler (more on that below).  After getting home and then taking Wilson for a walk I was getting ready to do some yard work when I noticed a post from Ted saying he had a Hooded Warbler in Hadley.  I had yet to catch up with this species for the spring in the county so I decided to head over that way and see if I could find it.  Following Ted's perfect directions I quickly located the bird that was singing quite a bit in what looked to be perfect breeding habitat.  There were a few others there and all got some good looks as it played hide and seek among the foliage.  The windy conditions made finding the bird a bit tough at times but with patience good looks could be had.  The Hooded Warbler became warbler species #30 for the year in Hampshire County.

Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jun 7, 2020

Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jun 7, 2020

The Lawrence's Warbler I first discovered on May 5th continues at the same location in Belchertown.  This is by far the longest I have ever had a Lawrence's Warbler stick around after initial discovery.  I didn't see any evidence yet that it has found a mate but if the bird has stuck around this long perhaps he already has found a female.