Blackpoll Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026
Mourning Warbler, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026
Blackpoll Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026
Blackpoll Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026
Blackburnian Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026
Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026
Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026
Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026
Magnolia Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026
Magnolia Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026
With another night of great migration conditions I figured this morning would certainly get me two more species in the US for the year as part of my ongoing 'warbler big year in the US' (and with some luck give me my big warbler day for the year out here in Hampshire County). The day started off right with a Louisiana Waterthrush singing at the house well before the sun came up. My two targets for the morning were Mourning Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler. Mourning Warblers are just starting through on their migration and I wanted to check some reliable spots for them before the weekend hordes would inevitably descend. I headed to Mitch's Way before dawn and started the walk in with new species starting to sing with every passing minute. I added one warbler after another and I eventually made it out to the river and then started the slow walk back. I eventually found two Mourning Warblers with only one singing. I will send the recordings off to a researcher (see earlier post of that here:
Mourning Warbler regiolects). As is typical for the species there was little cooperation for looks or photos of the guys. I had to be happy with fleeting looks and some marginal photos this time. Tennessee Warblers continued around in good numbers and were singing constantly although they largely remained out of view. I next headed over to
Skinner SP where I planned to walk to near the top to get me my other target for the morning. As a bonus there was a Hooded Warbler reported in the area the day before and as I started up the mountain I heard the bird sing somewhat close and then saw it flying upslope where it sang a few more times before it flew even further away or chose not to sing any longer (my recordings attempts failed...just too far away). Interestingly there was a Magnolia Warbler in the same area giving a decent impression of Hooded Warbler. Once I got up to the upper portions of the road I eventually heard and then saw a Blackpoll Warbler and got my second target for the day and reached my goal of two new warbler species for the big year. I will do a review soon on what remains and my plans to get the rest...suffice it to say trips away from home will be required. At this point I had added a lot of warbler species for the morning and with a quick look at the count I figured I would try to maximize species for the day...a sorta big day within a big year. With a few more stops from Amherst back to near home I added a few new species for the day and brought my total for the day in the county to 28 species. Now is really the prime time for a big warbler day and you need some rarities around and some luck to run across the less frequently seen migrants to get a high count...I think my best ever for the county was 29 species and a hybrid or two for a single day.
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