Common Yellowthroat this morning

Common Yellowthroat, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 24, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 24, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 24, 2025

I finally managed to add a new warbler species for November with a Common Yellowthroat at Great Pond, continuing since at least yesterday when Mary found it.  Some years this species will linger quite late and has even overwintered before.  I have looked as much I could for the species in multiple locations for a few weeks with no luck.  Thankfully this guy stayed for me to see and hear it.  There is lots of good habitat so this individual certainly has the potential for sticking around for a bit.  I also had a flyby Yellow rumped Warbler at Great Pond to give me two warbler species for the day.  I tried to relocate the Palm Warbler I found on the 21st but no luck.

Third week of November ends with a late 'western' Palm Warbler

Palm Warbler 'western', North Hadley, MA, Nov 21, 2025

Palm Warbler 'western', North Hadley, MA, Nov 21, 2025

Palm Warbler 'western', North Hadley, MA, Nov 21, 2025

Palm Warbler 'western', North Hadley, MA, Nov 21, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2025

Yellow rumped Warblers 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 20, 2025

With the end of the third week of November any warbler species in the area will be noteworthy with even the Yellow rumped Warblers becoming scarce.  I have tried to get out to track down some late warblers but with mainly breezy and cool weather days as well as other commitments at home I had not had too much luck until today when I found a quite late 'western' Palm Warbler in North Hadley.  I was not really expecting to find a warbler today as it was overcast and cool so when the silent Palm Warbler popped up I was quite surprised.  Not my latest date for the species in the fall but not too far behind it.  Yesterday I managed to track down half a dozen Yellow rumped Warblers in an area along the river I have had the species overwinter multiple times so hopefully these birds will stick around.  There seems to be ample food in the area for them.  Time will tell.   

Slow start to November with just two warbler species and a Wilson update

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 5, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 5, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown, MA, Nov 2, 2025

November is off to a slow start for warblers with just two species thanks mainly to colder than normal weather and windy conditions on multiple days.  Today was actually the first morning without winds but we now face very windy conditions again starting tonight and throughout the next few days.  I have run across a handful of Yellow rumped Warblers but even those seem to be in lower numbers than usual for early November.  The only other species I have had was a brief look at a 'yellow' Palm Warbler this morning in Amherst.  Tough going for warblers for sure.

Wilson resting, Home, Belchertown, MA, Nov 5, 2025

Now for some sad news concerning my best bud Wilson  The cancer on his foot has returned to the point that the tumor has ruptured on a small part of the foot.  We knew the tumor would be back at some point as the removal of two toes on the foot two years ago did not completely removed the cancer but we could not go through with a full amputation at that point.  He has thrived the last couple years and does not his age of just over 14 1/2.  He is in no pain right now but he has to wear a botty to keep him from licking the foot.  After a consult with a surgeon there unfortunately are not any good options going forward and we are still trying to decide what to do.  In the end it will be quality of life for him, as it has always been.  He is convinced he can just lick the cancer away if we just gave him the chance!  He still runs around like a pup when it is play time, even with the boot on.  Fuck cancer.