I headed out on a cool morning today (temps in the low 40's) in search of warblers and started at UMASS before going to the rail trail and then Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River and finishing at Quabbin Park. Migration conditions overnight were marginal and the only noticeable migrant were Tennessee Warblers (more on that and other warblers below). The best warbler of the day was a western Palm Warbler that I finally caught up with at Silvio Conte after failing to find it on a previous visit. Palm Warblers are at the tail end of their migration through the area and the finding a western subspecies in spring around here is quite noteworthy. Previous to today I have only tallied this subspecies in spring in the county on three other occasions with the first being one at Lake Wallace from March 25-28, 2018, the next being one May 4th, 2021 at Quabbin Park and another at Quabbin Park on May 4th, 2023. During fall it is much more common but is decidedly rare in spring here. It will be interesting to see how long the bird hangs around.
Now to the other warblers for the day beyond the western Palm Warbler. As mentioned above Tennessee Warblers were around in good numbers at a variety of locations with lots of singing. I had great luck tracking down a number of species as well as multiple continued hybrids. I ended the day with a respectable 24 species of warbler. With a Palm Warbler today and the potential for the first arriving Mourning Warblers arriving into the area now, I had some thoughts of trying for a big warbler day today but without a Bay breasted Warbler or Blackpoll Warbler for the day the chances of that fizzled. With great migration conditions on tap for the next few nights the time of year has arrived to try for a big warbler day. As mentioned in previous posts the only way to have a record setting day is to have some rarities around, a lingering Palm Warbler and arriving Mourning Warblers. If the Palm Warbler continues then one piece of the puzzle is in place. It will certainly be tougher for me this year as my back will just not allow a long walk up at Skinner SP to get Cerulean Warbler and Worm eating Warbler. However with a couple of Cerulean Warblers at Quabbin Park and the chance to get a Worm eating Warbler at a lower elevation it will be possible...time will tell.
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