October Big Day warblers yesterday (plus more from today)

Magnolia Warbler, Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Amherst, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 10, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 11, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 11, 2026

Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR -Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 11, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR -Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 11, 2026

I took part in the annual October Big Day yesterday and I kept my focus on warblers as I explored a number of areas during a large portion of the morning.  It started off quite cool with temps in the 40's with thankfully no wind and abundant sunshine.  It warmed throughout the morning and eventually the temps made it to the low 60's by the afternoon.  I found a total of ten species of warblers for my effort including a couple late species including Magnolia Warbler and Cape May Warbler.  The most common species by far was Yellow rumped Warbler with multiple areas hosting double digit counts of the species.  Today I headed out once again on a cold morning although this time there was little sun as clouds and eventually rain moved in from the remnants of Hurricane Isaias.  I had nine species today including a few I missed yesterday, with one new one being another late species (Northern Parula).  The last two days I found a total of 13 species of warblers.  Trying to get double digit counts going forward will continue to become more and more difficult.  The only upside is later fall brings the chance of a vagrant warbler from the west showing up...far from a guarantee but at least it keeps one looking as the slide toward winter continues.

 

Two nights of big migration brings in the last big push of diversity of warblers

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail Trail, Ware, MA, Oct 4, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Black throated Green Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 3, 2026

After two very warm days to start October the conditions cooled a bit thanks to a cold front and with it two nights of heavy migration (millions of individuals per birdcast).  Yesterday was fantastic for the first few hours of the morning before the breeze picked up.  I spent over three hours at Arcadia before heading back toward home.  Arcadia produced seven species of warblers with above typical counts for Tennessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and Magnolia Warbler plus a noticeable uptick in Yellow rumped Warblers.  A stop in Belchertown produced more species including a slightly late Cape May Warbler.  I ended the morning with a lucky 13 species of warbler of a bright and sunny day.  Today was not nearly as sunny with overcast conditions and some morning fog.  I debated on where to go and decided on starting my morning in Ware and a couple stops there produced just four species (with Yellow rumped Warbler being the most common).  I then headed back to Belchertown and added more species including a slightly late Ovenbird and three Northern Parula.  The only species still singing the last couple days have been Pine Warbler and at least one Northern Parula.  Diversity of warblers will continue to dwindle as October wears on.

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.

Warbler migration continues as September wears on

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 22, 2026

Bay breasted Warbler, Ware, MA, Sep 20, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 15, 2026

Common Yellowthroat, Belchertown, MA, Sep 12, 2026

Black and White Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 12, 2026

American Redstart, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2026

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2026

I have tried to get out as much as possible to try to keep my mind off the recent loss of my long term birding buddy Wilson but it has been tough.  He was my near constant companion and most places I visit remind me of him.  To say it has been a tough couple weeks is an understatement and trying to find joy has been an uphill climb.  Warbler migration has peaked as the third week of September has come and gone.  Without my good camera (which broke recently and just added to a shitty September) I have tried to lug around my old Canon 7D without a lot of success as far as capturing warblers...I honestly have not even tried to download the photos I have captured yet.  Although still on the hunt for a Connecticut Warbler in the county for the year I have had a decent selection of warblers including a few late species and high counts among the 25 species so far.  Perhaps I will add a few more photos when I get a chance but for now I just have some captures I got with my phone plus a few before my good camera broke...better than nothing I suppose.

Warbler species #45 and #46 for the year in the US with Mourning Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler among a total of 28 species in Hampshire County today

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.