Latest update on early/late dates for warblers for me in Hampshire County

As the warbler migration season rapidly approaches I will post my updated list of early and late dates for every species of warbler I have had in Hampshire County.  I last updated this list back in December 2022 and there have been a few changes since then, mainly with new late dates plus more overwintering records (Common Yellowthroats in winter 2022-2023 and many Pine Warblers winter 2023-2024).

Species                                              Early date                                                  Late Date 

Ovenbird                                           24 Apr 2019                                              12 Oct 2023

Worm eating Warbler                        1 May 2015,2017                                     20 Aug 2023

Louisiana Waterthrush                      5 Apr 2022                                                5 Sep 2023

Northern Waterthrush                       19 Apr 2012, 2023                                   14 Oct 2020 

Golden winged Warbler                    13 May 2012                                            15 Sep 2016

Blue winged Warbler                        28 Apr 09,11,17                                       15 Sep 2010 

Black and White Warbler                  17 Apr 2017                                            5 Nov 2018  

Prothonotary Warbler                        24 May 2004 -single record for me 

Tennessee Warbler                            3 May 2017                                             11 Nov 2020 

Orange crowned Warbler                  29 Apr 2019                                            7 Nov 2022

Nashville Warbler                             27 Apr 2006                                            26 Nov 2023

Connecticut Warbler                         29 Aug 2017                                           15 Oct 2021  

MacGillivray's Warbler                    13 Nov-15 Nov 2017  -single record for me 

Mourning Warbler                            12 May 2016                                          22 Sep 2018 

Kentucky Warbler                            8 May 2010                                            2-5 Jun 2009  -two records 

Common Yellowthroat                    24 Apr 2018                                            1 Feb 2023 (overwintered winter 2022-2023)

 

Hooded Warbler                              30 Apr 2021                                            1 Jul 2012 

American Redstart                          25 Apr 2019                                            11 Oct 2020 

Cape May Warbler                          4 May 2020                                            15 Oct 2023  

Cerulean Warbler                            2 May 2021,2022                                   4 Sep 2006 

Northern Parula                               26 Apr 2011,2022                                  14 Oct 2017, 2020

Magnolia Warbler                           29 Apr 2011                                            9 Nov 2020

 

Bay breasted Warbler                      3 May 2018,2019                                  5 Oct 2018,2019 

Blackburnian Warbler                     20 Apr 2012                                          29 Sep 2013

Yellow Warbler                               21 Apr 2023                                          7 Oct 2008 

Chestnut sided Warbler                   29 Apr 2006,09, 13,17                          12 Oct 2004 

Blackpoll Warbler                           6 May 2010                                           5 Nov 2018

Black throated Blue Warbler          25 Apr 2011                                           16 Oct 2006  

Palm Warbler                                  24 Mar 2012                                          28 Nov 2018

Pine Warbler                                   10 Mar 2018                                          4 Nov 2005,2020*  *one overwintered in winter                                                                                                                                    2020 and over a dozen overwintered winter 2023-                                                                                                                              2024

Yellow rumped Warbler                Seen in every month...first overwinter records in 2018 and continued through 2024

Prairie Warbler                               26 Apr 2011                                           5 Oct 2020

Black throated Green Warbler       21 Apr 2019, 2023                                25 Oct 2004 

Canada Warbler                             4 May 2021                                           27 Sep 2018 

Wilson's Warbler                            4 May 2018                                           16 Nov 2023 

Mid October day with eleven species of warbler including two Orange crowned Warblers and multiple late species

Northern Parula, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Orange crowned Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Orange crowned Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Magnolia Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 14, 2020

Today was a fantastic mid October day for warblers with many highlights among a total of eleven species of warbler...probably the last day I will have a double digit count in Hampshire County for this year.  After a couple days of rain and cool temperatures today was sunny with light breezes and although it started cool (upper 30's) it quickly warmed once the sun came up eventually reaching a high around 70.  I spent the majority of my time at Arcadia where I found a total of nine warbler species including at least half a dozen Tennessee Warblers (a high count for this late), two Orange crowned Warblers, 14 Common Yellowthroats in a variety of plumages from very dull to bright adult males, two Northern Parula (late), a Magnolia Warbler (late), both subspecies of Palm Warbler with the majority of the 50+ individuals being 'yellow' Palm Warblers, a couple Pine Warblers, oddly just eight Yellow rumped Warblers and a late female Wilson's Warbler.  After my time at Arcadia I picked up Wilson and we went for a walk in Belchertown where I turned up a very late Northern Waterthrush in a small marshy area as well as a Blackpoll Warbler in among a group of Yellow rumped Warblers.  

A few of these records are new late date records for me in the Hampshire County.  The Northern Waterthrush is a new late date beating my previous late date of October 6 set in 2018.  Northern Parula ties my previous late date (from 2017) and Wilson's Warbler sets a new late date surpassing my previous late date of October 11 set in 2007.  My last update on early and late dates for me in Hampshire County can be found at the following link.

Blackpoll Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Oct 11, 2020

The new water feature produced yet another warbler species a few days ago when a Blackpoll Warbler showed up.  This makes five species so far and I only got it up and running after the peak of fall warbler migration had already moved through.  Really looking forward to what spring migration brings in.

Early and late dates for warblers in Hampshire County

Below is an updated list of all the warbler species I have seen in Hampshire County with the earliest and latest date of the species and the location it was seen.


Species                                                 Early date                                                 Late Date

Ovenbird                                              27 Apr 2017 (Quabbin Park)                   28 Sep 2013 (Jabish canal)

Worm eating Warbler                           1 May 2015,2017 (Skinner SP)               24 Jul 2018 (Skinner SP)

Louisiana Waterthrush                         10 Apr 2010 (Quabbin Park)                    26 Aug 2012 (Home-Belchertown)

Northern Waterthrush                           19 Apr 2012 (rail trail-Amherst)             6 Oct 2018  (UMASS)

Golden winged Warbler                       13 May 2012 (rail trail-Amherst)             15 Sep 2016 (UMASS)

Blue winged Warbler                            28 Apr 09,11,17 (Amherst and B'town)   15 Sep 2010 (Arcadia)

Black and White Warbler                     17 Apr 2017 (Mitch's Way)                      5 Nov 2018 (Silvio Conte NWR) 

Prothonotary Warbler                           24 May 2004 (rail trail-Amherst)-single record for me

Tennessee Warbler                                3 May 2017, 2018 (Mitch's Way)             21 Oct 2012 (Arcadia)

Orange crowned Warbler                      4 May 2017 (Skinner SP)                         11 Oct 2016 (Home-Belchertown)

Nashville Warbler                                 27 Apr 2006 (Covey WMA)                     20 Oct 2018 (Silvio Conte NWR)

Connecticut Warbler                             29 Aug 2017 (Silvio Conte NWR)            7 Oct 2016, 2017 (Arcadia, Silvio Conte)

MacGillivray's Warbler                        13 Nov-15 Nov 2017 (Honey Pot) -single record for me

Mourning Warbler                                12 May 2016 (Mitch's Way)                       22 Sep 2018 (Silvio Conte NWR)

Kentucky Warbler                                 8 May 2010 (home-Belchertown)              2-5 Jun 2009 (Amherst) -two records

Common Yellowthroat                          24 Apr 2018 (rail trail-Amherst)               17 Jan, 2019 (rail trail-Amherst)

Hooded Warbler                                    3 May 2018 (Skinner SP, Rail trail)           1 Jul 2012 (Quabbin Gate 12)

American Redstart                                29 Apr 2017 (UMASS, Quabbin Park)      6 Oct 2007 (Quabbin Park)

Cape May Warbler                                7 May 2017 (Skinner SP)                          10 Oct 2018 (Lake Wallace)

Cerulean Warbler                                  7 May 2017 (Skinner SP)                           4 Sep 2006 (Quabbin Gate 10)

Northern Parula                                     26 Apr 2011 (UMASS)                             14 Oct 2017 (Silvio Conte NWR)

Magnolia Warbler                                  29 Apr 2011 (rail trail-Amherst)               26 Oct 2014 (Winsor Dam)

Bay breasted Warbler                            3 May 2018 (home-Belchertown)             5 Oct 2018 (home-Belchertown)

Blackburnian Warbler                           20 Apr 2012 (Quabbin Park)                     29 Sep 2013 (Quabbin Park)

Yellow Warbler                                     23 Apr 2017 (UMASS)                              7 Oct 2008 (Arcadia)

Chestnut sided Warbler                        29 Apr 2006,09, 13,17 (Quabbin Park,       12 Oct 2004 (Arcadia)
                                                                    Quabbin Park, Arcadia, UMASS)

Blackpoll Warbler                                 6 May 2010 (Covey WMA)                       5 Nov 2018 (B'town Rec Trail)

Black throated Blue Warbler                25 Apr 2011 (rail trail-Amherst)                16 Oct 2006 (B'town Rec Trail)

Palm Warbler                                        24 Mar 2012 (home-Belchertown)             6 Nov 2006, 2015 (Quabbin Park, Arcadia)

Pine Warbler                                         10 Mar 2018 (Belchertown)                       4 Nov 2005 (Quabbin Park)

Yellow rumped Warbler                        seen in every month...first overwinter records in 2018, 2019

Prairie Warbler                                      26 Apr 2011 (UMASS)                              27 Sep 2017 (Quabbin Park)

Black throated Green Warbler              24 Apr 2007, 2011 (Quabbin Park, home) 25 Oct 2004 (N'hamp dog park)

Canada Warbler                                    5 May 2012, 2015, 2018 (UMASS and      27 Sep 2018 (Arcadia)
                                                              Mitch's Way, home-Belchertown, home)

Wilson's Warbler                                  4 May 2018 (rail trail-Amherst)                  11 Oct 2007 (Arcadia)

Palm Warbler in late November

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 28, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 28, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 28, 2018

I had my latest ever record for a Palm Warbler in Hampshire County this morning at Silvio Conte NWR in Hadley after quite a bit of looking.  There was one reported at the refuge yesterday, as well as another report of the same species at Arcadia a few days ago.  I missed it during my initial stop bright and early but found it on a return trip a but later in the morning.  Given the weather we have had the last few weeks with several bouts of snow and record breaking cold it is very surprising to still have this species around.  Hopefully one will linger into December...time will tell.

A few late warblers as the weather turns colder

Black and White Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Black and White Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow' and Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 19, 2018

After enjoying warmer than average temperatures for the beginning of the month the pendulum has swung in the other direction and it has been below average for almost a week now with no end in sight for colder than normal temps.  Given the great migration conditions brought on by the northerly winds that have brought in our cold conditions I was surprised to turn up a couple late warblers this morning at Arcadia including a very late Black and White Warbler (beating my previous county late date by a week and a half) and a Tennessee Warbler (just shy of my latest county date ever).  In addition I had above normal count of Palm Warblers for this late in the season plus a single Common Yellowthroat and nearly fifty Yellow rumped Warblers.  Elsewhere for the day I had a Blackpoll Warbler giving me half a dozen species for the day. Full eBird list from Arcadia here.

Two Common Yellowthroats at Arcadia and a look at early and late dates for warblers in Hampshire County

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 28, 2017

After getting a call from Keenan mid morning about a Common Yellowthroat at Arcadia I decided to make a late morning trip over to see if I could find it.  I arrived around ten and found the bird in the area Keenan had it.  It would call occasionally and stayed hidden most of the time.  As I was getting photos of it another yellowthroat popped into view (this one was an adult male)...two Common Yellowthroats in the same area in late November made my morning.  My previous late date for the species in the county was Nov 2nd back in 2013.  This got me thinking of other late and early dates for warblers that I have seen in the county so I looked up the info on eBird and that bird nerd data is below.  No sign of the Yellow rumped Warbler from yesterday but I spent just a few minutes looking so they could still be around in the surrounding area.


                                                    Early date                                 Late Date
Ovenbird                                     4/27/17                                     9/28/13
Worm eating Warbler                  5/1/15,17                                 7/8/17
Louisiana Waterthrush                4/10/10                                     8/26/12
Northern Waterthrush                 4/19/12                                     9/24/14
Golden winged Warbler              5/13/12                                     9/15/16
Blue winged Warbler                   4/28/09,11,17                          9/15/10
Black and White Warbler            4/18/13                                    10/8/10, 16
Prothonotary Warbler                  5/24/04                                    N/A
Tennessee Warbler                       5/3/17                                     10/21/12
Orange crowned Warbler             5/4/17                                     10/19/17
Nashville Warbler                        4/27/06                                   10/20/17
Connecticut Warbler                    8/29/17                                   10/7/16, 17
MacGillivray's Warbler               11/13/17                                  11/15/17
Mourning Warbler                       5/12/16                                    9/24/07
Kentucky Warbler                        5/8/10                                     6/5/09
Common Yellowthroat                 4/27/11, 16                             11/30/17
Hooded Warbler                           5/4/15                                     7/1/12
American Redstart                        4/28/11                                   10/6/07
Cape May Warbler                        5/7/17                                     10/3/17
Cerulean Warbler                          5/4/17                                      9/4/06
Northern Parula                            4/26/11                                    10/14/17
Magnolia Warbler                         4/29/11                                    10/26/14
Bay breasted Warbler                    5/5/12                                     10/1/17
Blackburnian Warbler                   4/20/12                                    9/29/13
Yellow Warbler                             4/23/17                                    10/7/08
Chestnut sided Warbler                 4/29/09, 13, 17                        10/12/04
Blackpoll Warbler                         5/6/10                                      10/19/16
Black throated Blue Warbler         4/25/11                                    10/16/06
Palm Warbler                                 3/24/12                                    11/6/06, 15
Pine Warbler                                  3/19/12                                    10/16/11, 17
Yellow rumped Warbler                3/30/12                                    11/30/17
Prairie Warbler                              4/26/11                                     9/29/03
Black throated Green Warbler       4/24/07, 17                              10/25/04
Canada Warbler                             5/5/15                                      9/29/13
Wilson's Warbler                           5/5/12                                      10/11/07