Slow migration so far, my first capture of the year at the water feature and an update on my warbler big year in the US

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 23, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 22, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2026

The last week has largely been less than ideal for migration and a number of species that typically should have already arrived in small numbers have yet to show.  It is always tough to wait (even a few days) for species that should be trickling back in.  I was out this morning and managed to add two new species for the year in the county with a Northern Yellow Warbler and a slightly early Common Yellowthroat (no photos today as my camera battery was dead because I left the camera on overnight).  

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 22, 2026

The camera at the water feature finally caught a warbler for the year with a Yellow rumped Warbler.  I have had four warbler in the yard so far but none had come to the water feature until a couple days ago.  Hopeful for another good showing of species as migration picks up.

Now for a look at the status of my warbler big year in the US up to this point.  After a recent successful trip to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona where I added eight new species for the year which brought me to 36 species, I now need 15 species to see all the somewhat regularly occurring species in the mainland US.  My plan going forward is to get most of the remaining species near home including the following: Worm eating Warbler, Blue winged Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Bay breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Canada Warbler.  The remaining four (Golden winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Kirtland's Warbler and Kentucky Warbler) will likely require trips away from home and I have a trip to Wisconsin to get three of these before we head to Alaska.  The last one, Kentucky Warbler, will require a trip to the south (although it is remotely possible in western Mass).  I will wait until June to decide where to make a day trip to get that one.  Also if I decide to include Puerto Rico for the year then I could add two more species to that total with Elfin Wood Warbler and Adelaide's Warbler .

There is also the possibility of some rarity wandering over the border from Mexico this year but I'm unlikely to chase any (if they even show up as the species included in that group do not show up every year, with years between sightings for a few of the species).  The true rarity warblers that have occurred in the US before include Crescent chested Warbler, Gray crowned Yellowthroat, Fan tailed Warbler, Golden crowned Warbler and Slate throated Redstart.  I have seen all of these outside the US before in various locations in the tropics.  The two most likely for these rarities to show up would be south Texas and southeast Arizona.