Sunday, December 31, 2023

Year end review 2023


Whistling Warbler, Montreal Nature Trails, St. Vincent, Mar 22, 2023
Plumbeous Warbler, Road to Morne Diablotin NP, Dominica, Mar 24, 2023
Yellow throated Warbler, Fort Pierce Inlet SP, Fort Pierce, FL, Jan 20, 2023
Northern Parula, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023
Hooded Warbler, Land Run Falls Trail, Shenandoah NP, VA, Jul 17, 2023
Southern Yellowthroat, Road to Intervales State Park, Ribeirão Grande, Brazil, Dec 8, 2023
White browed Warbler, Intervales State Park, Ribeirão Grande, Brazil, Dec 8, 2023
Riverbank Warbler (Southern), Intervales State Park, Ribeirão Grande, Brazil, Dec 8, 2023
White striped Warbler, Acesso Duas Águas, Bocaina, Brazil, Dec 11, 2023
Flavescent Warbler, Rio Jacaré Pipira, Dourado, Brazil, Dec 11, 2023

Yet another year has now come to a close (they seem to past faster and faster every year).  It was an eventful year with multiple trips that came to pass and a few that got cancelled (mainly due to some unforeseen medical issues with Wilson).  We went to central Florida in January, then a cruise to the southern Caribbean in mid March (where I added two new warbler species) with stops in south Florida before and after the cruise, a mid July trip to Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania (in place of a cancelled Colorado trip), a long anticipated trip to Brazil (adding five new warblers) and then to Panama in December.

It was yet another year where I managed to find at least one warbler species in Hampshire County for every month...in fact I ended up with at least two species for every month of the year in the county, something I have never been able to accomplish before.  I now stand at 80 consecutive months of finding at least one warbler species in the county.

I ended the year with 45 species of warblers with seven of those new for me and getting me ever closer to seeing all the new world warbler species.  Depending on what taxonomic list you use will vary the number of species I have seen and what remains to be seen.  Using the Clements listing (which eBird uses) I have seen 102 of the 115 species of new world warblers.  Other authorities split a number of species and I have seen several of these potential future splits so the number of seen vs needed changes from year to year.

End of year summaries from previous years can be found attached below:


Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle',  East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 2, 2023

I started off the new year with finding a Yellow rumped Warbler on the 2nd and extending my streak for finding at least one species of warbler in Hampshire County to 69 consecutive months.  Unfortunately I got Covid again but thankfully it was another fairly mild case and I was out birding again fairly quickly.

Common Yellowthroat, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jan 5, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Jan 7, 2023
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Jan 10, 2023

The next warbler of the year was a surprise Common Yellowthroat in Amherst in the same place I had one in early December (it appeared to be the same individual) and the same spot I had my latest ever record for the species back in 2019.  An even bigger surprise was seeing another Common Yellowthroat to end the first week of the month.  I added another Yellow rumped Warbler in Hadley on the 10th and then finally had a flyover Yellow rumped Warbler at Arcadia on the 13th.  The Pine Warbler that was coming to a private feeder in December showed back up in mid January after a little snow but I was unable to go and try to see it.

Palm Warbler 'western', Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023
Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 15, 2023
American Redstart, Lake Apopka North Shore, FL, Jan 16, 2023
Wilson's Warbler, Trimble Park, Mount Dora, FL, Jan 16, 2023
Yellow throated Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023
Orange crowned Warbler, Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, FL, Jan 17, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero beach, FL, Jan 18, 2023
Prairie Warbler, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 18, 2023
Black and White Warbler, Round Island Conservation Area, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 21, 2023

The middle of the month found us heading to Florida to bask in some warm weather.  We flew into Orlando where we spent a few days before heading to the coast in Fort Pierce.  I managed to find a total of 14 species including a few that were late in the area.

Common Yellowthroat, Slobody Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jan 28, 2023

Once back from Florida I was out again looking for warblers here and I concentrated on trying to relocate the Common Yellowthroats I had earlier in the month and I found both with one seen briefly on the 24th and the second on the 28th with both setting new late dates for the species for me in the county.  By the end of the month I had two species of warbler in the county and a total of 14 species to start off the new year.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Feb 1, 2023

February started off with finding two species of warbler including a Yellow rumped Warbler and yet another new latest ever date for Common Yellowthroat.  The weather turned to record setting with strong winds on the 3rd into the 5th and multiple subsequent searches for the yellowthroats came up empty as did searches for additional Yellow rumped Warblers through mid month.

I managed to hear a flyover Yellow rumped Warbler to start March but failed to get a photo.  Nonetheless it extended my streak of warblers for every month in the county to 71 consecutive.  

Prairie Warbler, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL, Mar 18, 2023
Black and White Warbler, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023
American Redstart, Everglades NP, FL, Mar 27, 2023
Ovenbird, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, FL, Mar 28, 2023

In the middle of the month we got away on an overdue trip down to warmer locations.  The main vacation was a cruise out of Barbados (more on that below).  Before and after the cruise we made brief visits to south Florida including a long overdue trip back to Everglades NP.  

Whistling Warbler, Montreal Nature Trails, St. Vincent, Mar 22, 2023
Whistling Warbler, Montreal Nature Trails, St. Vincent, Mar 22, 2023
Plumbeous Warbler, Road to Morne Diablotin NP, Dominica, Mar 24, 2023
Plumbeous Warbler, Road to Morne Diablotin NP, Dominica, Mar 24, 2023

The big getaway in March was a roundtrip cruise out of Barbados sailing to the southern Caribbean with visits to Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent, Grenada, Dominica and St. Lucia.  I had three main target warblers for the trip which would all be lifers including Masked Yellowthroat on Trinidad (thanks to a recent split it would be new for me), Whistling Warbler on St. Vincent and Plumbeous Warbler on Dominica.  I found all three species with the help of some great local guides and got some great photos of two of the three (the Masked Yellowthroat just did not want to cooperate).  

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Apr 2, 2023
Pine Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Apr 4, 2023
Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 4, 2023
Louisiana Waterthrush, Hadley, MA, Apr 6, 2023

I ended the month of March with a Pine Warbler (giving me two species in the county for the month) and then started the month of April with a Yellow rumped Warbler followed up with Palm and Pine Warblers as I fought a bad cold.  A near record early Louisiana Waterthrush showed up on the April 6th.

Louisiana Waterthrush, Connecticut River, Hadley, MA, Apr 11, 2023
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 12, 2023
Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 14, 2023

Warbler continued to increase into a very warm second week of April with my first day of four species here in a morning since the previous fall.

Yellow throated Warbler, Mt Toby State Forest, Sunderland, MA, Apr 20, 2023

On the 20th I made a trip out of the county up to Sunderland in Franklin County to try to relocate a Yellow throated Warbler seen the day before and I was successful.  It was one of two of this rare to the area species on the same day, with the other in Hampden County.  It was my first record of the species for me anywhere in western mass (sadly still a miss for me in Hampshire County)

Yellow Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2023
Black throated Green Warbler, Piper Farm Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Apr 21, 2023
Black and White Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2023

By the end of the third week of April I found a couple of early warblers including my earliest date ever for Yellow Warbler.  Decent migration conditions had brought in these warblers to end the third week and start the fourth but then conditions changed dramatically and slowed down arrivals a lot.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 26, 2023
Ovenbird, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Apr 28, 2023

The end of April brought mainly cool and occasionally rainy conditions which delayed the arrival of a number of species that usually start arriving during that time period.  Nonetheless I was getting double digit days by the 28th.

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 2, 2023
Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 4, 2023
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2023
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2023
Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2023
Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 7, 2023
Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 7, 2023

May began as April ended with cool, rainy conditions and a continued slow flow of migrants.  Conditions continued to be subpar for migration overall through the first week but I did have my first 20 species day to finish the first week of May.  Although no big rarities I did come across the first of several Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrids.

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 8, 2023
Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 8, 2023
Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 10, 2023
Worm eating Warbler, Mount Tom State Reservation, Easthampton, MA, May 11, 2023
Black and White Warbler, Southampton WMA, Southampton, MA, May 11, 2023
Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2023
Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 12, 2023
Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 12, 2023
Black throated Green Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 13, 2023
Blackburnian Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 13, 2023
Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 14, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 15, 2023
Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 15, 2023
Mourning Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 16, 2023
Ovenbird, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 16, 2023
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2023
Brewster's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023
Yellow Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area. Amherst, MA, May 17, 2023
American Redstart building nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2023
Blackpoll Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2023

The second week of May brought in a good number of warblers including a Lawrence's Warbler on the 12th and a very uncooperative Hooded Warbler the following day.  I also spent three consecutive days mid month trying to maximize warbler species on a given day with a max of 28 species (Orange crowned Warbler being the rarity during the time period).  I also had my first Brewster's Warbler during these three days.

Wilson's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023
Northern Waterthrush, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023
Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2023
Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2023
Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 19, 2023
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2023
Tennessee Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 21, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023
Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 21, 2023

By the end of the third week of May the peak of warbler migration had arrived and I had a few more days where I had good max counts of warblers with another 28 species day plus a couple more 27 species days.

Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 22, 2023
Bay breasted Warbler, Piper Farm Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, May 23, 2023
Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 23, 2023
American Redstart on nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 26, 2023
Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 30, 2023
Black throated Blue Warbler with unusual plumage, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023
Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2023

For the end of May the diversity of warblers dwindled a bit with mainly breeding species remaining.  The highlights during that period included the continued Lawrence's Warbler and Cerulean Warbler at Quabbin Park as well as an unusually plumaged Black throated Blue Warbler that had extensive blue on chest.  I ended the month with 30 species in Hampshire County (plus an additional warbler species with the Yellow throated Warbler in Sunderland).

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 1, 2023
Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 1, 2023
Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 3, 2023
Louisiana Waterthrush fledgling, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Jun 5, 2023
Blackburnian Warbler, Cadwell Memorial Forest, Pelham, MA, Jun 7, 2023

June began with a decent showing of warblers including the continued Lawrence's Warbler.  By the end of the first week of the month I was up to 22 species in the county (which is a really good number for June without any rarities around, just a handful of late migrants).  I found a total of 21 Mourning Warblers during the spring migration and with sending recordings to a researcher in New Hampshire found I had recorded all three of the expected regiolects in the area.

Hooded Warbler, Westfield, MA, Jun 14, 2023
American Redstarts in nest, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 15, 2023

In the middle of the month I took a ride down to Hampden County to check on the most reliable Hooded Warbler breeding colony in the valley.  I also following a full breeding cycle of a pair of American Redstarts at Quabbin Park from mid May through fledging in the middle of June.

Lawrence's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 19, 2023
Cerulean Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 22, 2023
American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 23, 2023
Yellow Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 29, 2023
American Redstart fledgling being fed by adult, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 30, 2023

I relocated the Lawrence's Warbler at Quabbin Park later in the month of June after disappearing for a couple weeks.  Quabbin Park also continued to produce Cerulean Warblers including one singing a parula like song.  By the end of the month I had found 23 species and came across lots of evidence of successful breeding.

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Jul 5, 2023
American Redstart, Williamsburg, MA, Jul 7, 2023

During the first week of July I concentrated a little of warblers and had 19 species within the first week with lots of young birds around plus adults carrying food to nests.

Yellow throated Warbler, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Sharpsburg, MD,  Jul 15, 2023
Kentucky Warbler, Sweet Run SP, Hillsboro, VA, Jul 16, 2023
Hooded Warbler, Land Run Falls Trail, Shenandoah NP, VA, Jul 17, 2023
Prothonotary Warbler, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Sharpsburg, MD,  Jul 18, 2023

In the middle of the month we took a short trip down to the area where Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland come together and spent a few days down there.  Despite it not being a birding trip I still managed to find 14 species of warblers with two new for me for the year (Prothonotary Warbler and Kentucky Warbler).

Blue winged Warbler, Ware, MA, Jul 24, 2023
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Jul 27. 2023

I got out a little at the end of July in the local area and turned up some warblers with lots of breeding activity still obvious.

Canada Warbler, Pelham, MA, Aug 1, 2023
Black and White Warbler, Cadwell Memorial Forest, Pelham, MA, Aug 1, 2023
Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, Aug 1, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 2, 2023

In the first two days of August I hit a wide variety of areas and quickly added 19 species to the August list including a few slightly late species like Louisiana Waterthrush and Cerulean Warbler.

Tennessee Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 3, 2023
Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 3, 2023
Ovenbird, Ware, MA, Aug 11, 2023
Prairie Warbler, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Aug 11, 2023

I had a couple early migrant warblers on the 3rd of August with two Tennessee Warblers and a Northern Parula.  Although out looking for more early arrivals through the middle of the month I didn't find any.  There were certainly some other species around and mixed flocks began to come more common.

Worm eating Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 20, 2023
Bay breasted Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 20, 2023
Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 20, 2023
Black throated Blue Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 23, 2023
Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 23, 2023
Cape May Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 24, 2023
Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 27, 2023

I found a record late Worm eating Warbler on the 20th plus more early arriving warblers.  By the end of the month I had found 24 species in the county for the month, which is about a high a total as I have ever had.

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 2, 2023
Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 3, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Sep 4, 2023
Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 5, 2023

started September with finding a decent selection of warblers in the first three days of the new month.  By the end of a very warm first week of the month I was up to 24 species with a few more likely to come before the month ended.  

Connecticut Warbler, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Sep 11, 2023
Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 8, 2023
Yellow Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Sep 9, 2023
American Redstart, Hadley, MA, Sep 9, 2023
Northern Waterthrush, Hadley, MA, Sep 10, 2023
Tennessee Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Sep 12, 2023
Yellow Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 15, 2023

I got my first Connecticut Warbler of the year on the 11th in a cornfield in Northampton.  By the middle of the month I continued to get some great diversity of species and good numbers overall.

Tennessee Warbler, UMASS demonstration forest, Belchertown, MA, Sep 19, 2023
Cape May Warbler, UMASS demonstration forest, Belchertown, MA, Sep 19, 2023
Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2023
Palm Warbler 'western', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2023
Nashville Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 20, 2023
Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 21, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 21, 2023
Northern Parula, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 21, 2023
Chestnut sided Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 22, 2023
Orange crowned Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 22, 2023
Black throated Blue Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 23, 2023

As I made it toward the third week of the month I had more mixed flocks in multiple locations and the numbers of Tennessee Warblers and Cape May Warblers (as well as others) continued to impress.  Great weather through the end of the third week and into the fourth week of the month found me spending four consecutive mornings at Arcadia (and a couple other spots later in the morning) during which I found two more Connecticut Warblers, two early Orange crowned Warbler among some 24 species for that four day period.

Northern Waterthrush, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Sep 26, 2023
Cape May Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 27, 2023
Cape May Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 28, 2023

By the end of the month I had set a record for the number of species seen in the county for September with a total of 28 species.  

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2023
American Redstart, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2023
Blackpoll Warbler, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2023
Wilson coming home after surgery, Oct 5, 2023

I made it out as much as I could for the first week of October and found a number of lingering species and found a total of 15 species by the end of the week.  Wilson also had his surgery moved up to the 6th and he made it through fine.

Wilson's Warbler, Arcadia, Easthampton, MA, Oct 9, 2023
Black and White Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 11, 2023
Pine Warbler, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Oct 12, 2023
Cape May Warbler, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Oct 12, 2023
Northern Parula, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Oct 12, 2023
Ovenbird, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Oct 12, 2023
Cape May Warbler, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Oct 15, 2023

By the middle of the month I had found a number of late warblers with new late dates for Ovenbird and Cape May Warbler and then had an even later Cape May Warbler a few days later. 

Common Yellowthroat, Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 20, 2023
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Oct 17, 2023
Pine Warbler, UMASS Demonstration Forest, Belchertown, MA, Oct 22, 2023
Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 25, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 31, 2023
Wilson on his first walk after surgery, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 27, 2023

The diversity of warblers dropped off quite a bit into the third week of October but I did find a few slightly late species.  By the end of October the weather warmed up to record setting levels before a cool down and I ended the month with 16 species of warblers.  The end of the month also brought my first walks with Wilson following his surgery to remove the rupture tumor on his foot.

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023
Common Yellowthroat, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 4, 2023

The first week of November featured a very late Wilson's Warbler among a total of four species as we endured some cold and the first little dusting of snow.  The Wilson's Warbler first showed up in late October and it took me a couple trips to find it. 

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023
Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023
Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 13, 2023
Pine Warblers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2023

The second week of the month featured a day when I had three species in a morning and then a new late date for me for Nashville Warbler in the county.  

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023
Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023
Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 22, 2023
Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 26, 2023
Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 28, 2023

With a couple of late species around I decided to do a big warbler day for November and had four species for the day and set two more late dates for the continued Wilson's Warbler and Nashville Warbler.  The multiple Pine Warblers continued at Winsor Dam into the fourth week of the month despite some cold and snow.  Even more amazing was the Nashville Warbler that continued through at least the November 26th.  

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 1, 2023
Yellow rumped Warblers 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 1, 2023

I started off the final month of the year looking for warblers (of course!) and found two species (yellow rumped Warbler and Pine Warbler)  bringing my streak to 80 continuous months of finding at least one warbler species in Hampshire County.  In addition with finding two species for the month I managed to see at least two species of warbler every month this year.

Golden crowned Warbler, Road to Intervales State Park, Ribeirão Grande, Brazil, Dec 8, 2023
Southern Yellowthroat, Road to Intervales State Park, Ribeirão Grande, Brazil, Dec 8, 2023
White browed Warbler, Intervales State Park, Ribeirão Grande, Brazil, Dec 8, 2023
Riverbank Warbler (Southern), Intervales State Park, Ribeirão Grande, Brazil, Dec 8, 2023
White striped Warbler, Acesso Duas Águas, Bocaina, Brazil, Dec 11, 2023
Flavescent Warbler, Rio Jacaré Pipira, Dourado, Brazil, Dec 11, 2023
Golden crowned Warbler (White-bellied), Rio Jacaré Pipira, Dourado, Brazil, Dec 11, 2023

I made a final trip out of the country to get more new warbler species from early December through the middle of the month.  My first stop was to Brazil with five target species including Southern Yellowthroat, White striped Warbler, Flavescent Warbler, White browed Warbler and Riverbank Warbler.  Happily I found all five target species and got great looks at all of them.

Bay breasted Warbler, Pipeline Road, Gamboa, Panama, Dec 13, 2023
Yellow throated Warbler, Cerro Azul, Panama, Dec 14, 2023
Black throated Green Warbler, Cerro Azul, Panama, Dec 14, 2023

After my time in Brazil I made a short stop in Panama in a long shot attempt to find a Tacarcuna Warbler on Cerro Azul but I failed in that attempt.  I still had some warblers with a few of those being a bit unusual in Panama including Yellow throated Warbler and Black throated Green Warbler.

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 20, 2023
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Dec 25, 2023
Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Dec 26, 2023

Once back from the tropics I caught up with some of the continued Pine Warblers at Winsor Dam before I had my fourth bout of Covid (which was my worst case yet).  I ended out the year with tracking down some Pine Warblers and Yellow rumped Warblers in the county.

Palm Warbler' yellow', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 7, 2023
Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 15, 2023
Palm Warblers 'yellow' and Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 15, 2023
Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 15, 2023
Black throated Blue Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 12, 2023
American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 12, 2023
Yellow Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 13, 2023 (ignore the stamped date!)
Black and White Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 14, 2023 (ignore the stamped date!)
Northern Parula, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 14, 2023 (ignore the stamped date!)
Chestnut sided Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA , May 16, 2023
Common Yellowthroat and Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA , May 16, 2023
Pine Warbler and Tufted Titmouse, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 17, 2023
Black and White Warbler and Black capped Chickadee, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 12, 2023
Black throated Green Warbler and Black capped Chickadee, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 22, 2023

The camera at the water feature once again captured a number of warblers with a total of eleven for the year.  The cameras I have been nursing along for the last few years at the water feature finally stopped working altogether so I had to get a new camera.  Although it didn't offer as much close up detail it was still quite productive after initially installing.  I now have yet another new camera that arrived just a bit too late to try for capturing warblers but it will be out next year for sure.

The arrival of the new year brings more trips to locations away from western Massachusetts.  At this point I have multiple trips planned with a trip to Great Abaco in the Bahamas and then to south Florida in January, a way overdue trip back to Costa Rica in March and a summer trip somewhere for our 20th wedding anniversary.  A trip to Bolivia and/or Peru is also in the cards if I can possibly make it come together.

Below are a few tallies for the year with overall warblers seen, warblers per month overall and warblers per month in Hampshire County.

Warblers (running tally for year)

Jan       Feb     Mar      Apr      May      Jun      Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
14        14       19         21        35         35        37       37        38        38       38        45

Warblers overall per month

Jan      Feb      Mar     Apr       May      Jun      Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
14       2           15       12         31          23       24       24        28        16       6          20

Hampshire County warblers by month

Jan      Feb      Mar      Apr      May     Jun      Jul      Aug      Sep      Oct      Nov    Dec
2         2          2          11         30         22       19       24         28        16       6         2

 



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