First couple days of October

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Northern Yellow Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Black throated Blue Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 2, 2026

October started off with a return to warmer conditions with temps well above normal with the 70's yesterday and the low 80's today.  Yesterday was mainly cloudy with a couple brief showers and today was sunnier with a strengthening south wind throughout the day.  With the new month I was out searching for warblers and yesterday I had a total of 15 species including my first Orange crowned Warbler for the year in the county plus two slightly late species with a Northern Yellow Warbler and a Cape May Warbler as I covered a number of areas in Amherst and Belchertown.  Today I headed to Hadley and Amherst before working my way toward home.  Much reduced numbers of warblers today with just five species (likely thanks to the wind making it tough to track down movement).  I only had one new species for the month today with a single Palm Warbler.  The winds will turn to a more northerly direction overnight and hopefully this will entice some more species to migrate into the area.

Warblers to start September

Tennessee Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 4, 2026

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 4, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Ware, MA, Sep 4, 2026

Prairie Warbler, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Sep 4, 2026

American Redstart, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Sep 3, 2026

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Sep 2, 2026

Black throated Blue Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 2, 2026

Pine Warbler, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 2, 2026

Despite less than ideal weather to start September including a couple days of rain and mainly southerly winds, warblers were on the move and I have had a 17 species so far.  The early departing species (mainly those at the limit of their breeding range and Louisiana Waterthrushes) are gone south at this point and more and more species from the north continue to filter in.  I predict a decent arrival of new species over the next couple nights as migration conditions improve.  

August comes to an end

Wilson's Warbler, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 31, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 31, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Aug 31, 2026

Prairie Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 31, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 30, 2026

Canada Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 30, 2026

Black throated Blue Warbler, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Aug 30, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Park, MA, Aug 29, 2026

Blackburnian Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2026

August featured a few early arrivals but overall the migration had been fairly slow for the month with the exception of the last few mornings when I finally had some decent mixed flocks with a number of obvious migrants.  One reason for the lack of catching up with as much earlier in the month was likely due to a bumper crop of mosquitoes lately that has curtailed some birding for me as stopping at any point results in multiple bites (even with loads of DEET on).  Hopeful the next month will bring lots of warblers and fewer mosquitoes...time will tell. 

Warblers along the west side of Quabbin the last three days (well mostly from there)

Chestnut sided Warbler, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, Jun 8, 2026

Moose, Prescott Peninsula, New Salem, MA, Jun 8, 2026

Black throated Blue Warbler, Bright Water Bog, Shutesbury, MA, Jun 9, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Gate 12, Pelham, MA, Jun 9, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler carrying food, Quabbin Gate 12, Pelham, MA, Jun 9, 2026

 

Brewster's Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, Jun 10, 2026

I have spent the last three morning largely exploring areas along the west side of Quabbin and the Prescott Peninsula as well as some nearby areas.  These days have been mainly looking for breeding species (both common and unusual) and I have found a decent selection as breeding season is in full swing now.  I also followed up on reports of a few slightly unusual warblers without finding any although I did find the continued Brewster's Warbler when I swung through Amherst to run some errands.

Hooded Warbler and Canada Warbler today add two more species for my US big warbler year

Black throated Blue Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2026

American Redstart, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 5, 2026

Chestnut sided Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 5, 2026

Blue winged Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

The day held lots of promise with the best night of migration in quite some time with south winds that were fairly strong and covered a large portion of the eastern US.  I was guiding for a visiting birder from India again today and we kept our plans fluid so we could follow up on any rare bird reports that came in during the morning.  I got a little birding in before meeting up for the morning of guiding and I could tell there had indeed been a good influx of species.  Our first stop was along the rail trail in Amherst and the forecasted strong winds were still light and the amount of bird song was high with multiple warblers even from the parking lot.  Not long after starting our walk I got a text letting me know of a Hooded Warbler in Hadley.  I decided to stick with covering the rail trail to see what else we could find before possibly heading south to try for the Hooded Warbler.  As we walked along the rail trail we turned up more and more warblers with a few showing quite well.  The best warbler for me on the walk was a Canada Warbler that sang from a deep tangle and as typical for the species, did not show at all.  Nonetheless it added another species for me for my big warbler year in the US and became species #42.  I will certainly catch up with more as the migration season continues on.  After about an hour and half along the rail trail and 14 species of warblers we headed south to try for the Hooded Warbler at Mitch's Way.  We made it through the traffic fairly easily and arrived just before eight and started walking in to the spot for the warbler.  Along the way we had lots of birds singing and calling including multiple species of warblers.  We made it to the spot and found Joe, Steve and Leslie on site and within a few minutes we heard the Hooded Warbler singing its classic song. Sometimes it sounded close and other times a distance away and it would go quiet for a time and then be heard again.  We tried to get looks at it but it never showed for us.  The Hooded Warbler became warbler species #43 for me in the US this year.  There were lots of other warblers around and the variety of song reminded me again why I love this area in spring (not so much in the colder months!).  We walked a bit further and ran across Ted (the finder of the Hooded Warbler) before returning to the Hooded Warbler spot.  The Hooded Warbler was still present and singing a non classic song and it yet again defied our efforts to get looks at it.  I had to settle on getting a few recordings before we headed out for the morning.  Mitch's Way produced an impressive 19 species of warbler for us and the morning ended with 20 species of warblers overall.  Sadly I didn't get pictures of either new warbler species for the year but I will hopefully get more chances in the near future.

Northern Parula, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

Northern Parula, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

The water feature also produced three warbler species for the day with a capture of a Northern Parula, Black and White Warbler and American Redstart.  A Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle' also showed back up today.  This makes three warbler species so far at the water feature...a bit behind the total of ten warbler I have had in the yard for the year.

Swainson's Warbler today

Ovenbird, Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Black throated Blue Warbler, Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Northern Parula with leg band, Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail, Vero Beach, FL, Jan 21, 2026

I finally bit the bullet and made the long, two hour drive south to a small park in Vero Beach called Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail where a Swainson's Warbler was discovered by a great birder named Will about a week and a half ago.  I almost went the day after it was reported but could not get everything to come together.  I reached out to Will (who I first met on a prior trip to Florida) regarding details on the bird and he graciously provided them.  He said he knew of only one other person who tried to relocate it (and failed).  I knew it was a long shot but overwintering birds can certainly stick around if the habitat provides what it needs.  I was out the door very early (prior to 5AM) and I arrived at the location a bit before 7AM and it was a bit breezy.  I checked a few spots in the small park for other birds before settling in to look for this very skulky species.  After about 45 minutes of looking and listening I had brief looks at it before it disappeared.  As I waited for it to appear I had other warblers moving around including my first Black throated Blue Warbler for the year as well as a banded Northern Parula.  I also had at least Ovenbird and about a half hour after initially seeing the Swainson's Warbler it flew in briefly to interact with the Ovenbird.  Unfortunately no luck getting any photos. The tiny park produced eight species of warblers overall.  Although I have seen Swainson's Warbler outside the US this was my first one I have had here.  The Swainson's Warbler became the 50th warbler species that I have ever had in the US and became warbler species #28 for me in Florida.

Louisiana Waterthrush, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Louisiana Waterthrush, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Palm Warbler 'western', Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Northern Waterthrush, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Northern Waterthrush, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Orange crowned Warbler, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

American Redstart, Fort Drum Conservation Area, Yeehaw Junction, FL, Jan 21, 2026

Since I was already very far south I decided to stop at another spot that Will had some great warblers recently.  The spot was Fort Drum Conservation Area located in Yeehaw Junction (really!).  Without having a day use permit I had to make the long walk into the most productive spots.  The wind continued to be an issue and only got worse.  Nonetheless there were still birds to be seen.  I eventually made it down to a small lake (Horseshoe Lake) where a Louisiana Waterthrush was found by Will and the bird was still there and fairly cooperative eventually.  I got some recordings, photos and video.  As I was watching the waterthrush a small mixed flock was moving through and it included another rarity with a Magnolia Warbler (this bird was seen briefly and then never seen again).  I continued walking various trails and came across a few mixed flock and the number of Black and White Warblers was impressive.  I also added American Redstarts to my year list with at least three present.  I had a dozen species of warbler (three new ones for the year) during my time at the conservation area before I started the long drive back home.

For the entire day I had a total of 16 species of warblers...my best day by far for the entire trip.