Despite poor migration conditions that continue to occur (covered in a post yesterday) some birds trickled in overnight with the most unusual being a record early Magnolia Warbler that beat my previous earliest date in Hampshire County by four days, a record that has held for me since 2011. I spent most of my birding time at Quabbin Park and despite temps not much above freezing to start I had hopes that the early sunshine would concentrate what migrants had arrived in sunny edges and perhaps produce something good. I had typical numbers of Pine Warblers and Yellow rumped Warblers for the date as well as several Black and White Warblers before I ran across some more variety with a Northern Yellow Warbler and then the Magnolia Warbler. I was walking and heard the familiar song of the Magnolia Warbler and after a bit of looking got some looks at it. I wanted to document it as well as possible given it is such an early arrival. I was really surprised to see it as many other species that should be around in small numbers have yet to arrive. Usually I expect to get Magnolia Warbler in the area in early May so to get one on my birthday was a special gift for sure. In fact this looks to be one of the first records for the species anywhere in the northeast this spring. Just as I was getting ready to leave the park I heard an Ovenbird singing a few times and after a bit of looking got looks at it in a pine grove. Another early arrival for the day and a nice way to end my morning. I managed seven species of warblers in the park and then added another when I got home with a Black throated Green Warbler singing...my best warbler count for the spring so far. More for the day beyond warblers at the following link.
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