Lots of fledglings around for the first week or so of July

Northern Yellow Warbler fledgling, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 2, 2026

Louisiana Waterthrush feeding fledgling, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Blackburnian Warbler fledgling, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Blackburnian Warbler fledgling, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jul 3, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler fledgling, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 4, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler fledgling, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 4, 2026

The first week of July has featured lots of fledgling warblers around and it has been great seeing them (as well as the hard working parents trying to keep them fed).  A bit bittersweet as it means the breeding season is rapidly moving along and then the prospect of cooler weather to follow.  However we are not there yet and I will continue to enjoy the warmth and birds here before taking a trip out west to track down more warblers (and others).

Ovenbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jul 2, 2026

I also added a new species at the water feature for the year with the appearance of an Ovenbird (warbler species #8 so far).

Hooded Warblers continue in Westfield

Hooded Warbler, Grace Robson State Wildlife Sanctuary, Westfield, MA, Jul 2, 2026

Hooded Warbler, Grace Robson State Wildlife Sanctuary, Westfield, MA, Jul 2, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler fledgling, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 2, 2026

Common Yellowthroat during banding process, Silvio Conte NWR- Fort River, Hadley, MA, Jul 2, 2026

After having a fantastic day yesterday in Hampshire County with 19 of the somewhat regularly occurring species for July, I was up well before dawn again today to try to beat the heat of our ongoing heat wave and I decided to make the drive down to Westfield to check up on the small breeding colony of Hooded Warblers.  I arrived there before dawn and once I walked up to the breeding area I had first one male and then two and possibly a third singing both dawn songs and the typical song associated with the species.  I got a number of recordings and some blurry photos in the early light and added my 20th warbler species for the month.  I then worked my way back into Hampshire County and made a few stops to add new species for the month as the heat steadily increased.  I eventually made it to Silvio Conte NWR in Hadley and got to witness some of the ongoing MAPS banding program and today featured a number of Common Yellowthroats getting captured and banded.  I would have stayed longer but wanted to get back home to get Wilson a walk before the heat became too oppressive.

19 species of warblers to start off July

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, Jul 1, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Jul 1, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Jul 1, 2026

To start off July I decided to try to see how many warbler species I could find despite the heat.  I originally was going to include areas outside Hampshire County but given the heat I decided to stay within the county so I could cover enough areas to get a chance at the most species while also getting home early enough to take Wilson for a walk before it got brutally hot.  I started off looking for warblers in South Hadley and then worked my way to Pelham and finally Belchertown.  I was able to get all 19 of the somewhat expected species of warblers in the county despite the heat and the greatly reduced amount of song from a number of species and got them all before getting home around nine.