A very late Wilson's Warbler and a few others cap off the first week of November

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023

Common Yellowthroat, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 4, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail trail, Ware, MA, Nov 1, 2023

Wilson enjoying the first snow, Belchertown, MA, Nov 1, 2023

The first week began with cold weather and a little snow on the first followed by slowly warming temps (back to normal) with some sunny conditions by the end of the period including a windy day today with temps that topped off above normal in the 60's.  I continued to fight the lingering symptoms of a cold to start the month but did get out a little on the 1st to get Wilson a walk before the first snow of the season fell (it only coated a few grassy spots so nothing major and it quickly melted).  I turned up a few Yellow rumped Warblers but nothing else for warblers that day or on the next few days despite some looking.  I finally had a little more time and more cooperative weather on Saturday morning and after a very busy shift at work I headed down to Mount Holyoke College in search of a late Wilson's Warbler that has been present in a small botanical garden since late October. I had no luck finding the Wilson's Warbler but given the cool morning weather and my early arrival perhaps the bird had not yet become active for the day.  It is certainly getting late for the species and is approaching my latest date ever for the species in the county that occurred on November 12th in 2020.  With a little remaining free time and energy I headed up to UMASS to look for a late Common Yellowthroat Matt had recently.  I had much better luck there with at least two and possibly three Common Yellowthroats hanging in around the campus pond.  I worked a little overtime on Sunday so no warblers for that day but I made up for it on Monday once I got out.  I decided to try my luck one more time with the Wilson's Warbler at Mount Holyoke College and after looking and listening for almost an hour I caught a quick glimpse of the bird and after a bit more waiting I managed to get some photos of it as it rapidly moved around the small botanic garden eating insects.  It will be interesting to see how long it hangs on in the location.  I then made a few more stops before getting home to take Wilson for a walk and I added a Palm Warbler for the month in Hadley.  Today I had just a single Yellow rumped Warbler in Ware that was not cooperative for photos.  I now stand at four species for the month and any additions to this total will be totally dependent on either a very late lingering species or a rarity from out west.