Early May brings in lots of warblers including multiple Hooded Warblers, hybrids and a report of a Swainson's Warbler

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 3, 2018

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 3, 2018

Blue Warbler x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2018

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2018

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2018

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2018

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2018

Blackburnian Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2018

 Northern Parula, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 3, 2018

 Wilson's Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 4, 2018

Yellow Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 3, 2018

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 3, 2018

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 3, 2018

The weather changed to more summer like conditions as May began and the southerly winds brought in a nice influx of warblers with 26 species so far plus a couple hybrids.  I had a number of very productive days out in the field with some of the better stops during the beginning of the month listed below (with loads of photos and audio clips)

May 3
Skinner SP, Mitch's Way, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Quabbin Park, Rail trail-Amherst, Home

May 4
Rail trail-Amherst, Quabbin Park

May 5
Quabbin Park, Home

May 7
Rail trail-Amherst, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Quabbin Park

In addition there was a credible report of a Swainson's Warbler reported in Amherst on May 3 but subsequent searches by many (including myself) failed to relocate it.  The species has only been recorded a few times before in the state so a truly remarkable sighting...another was seen and photographed on Cape Cod on Sunday (makes you wonder how many others are out there).

Blackburnian Warbler and Northern Parula, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 3, 2018

Yellow rumped Warblers, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 3, 2018

The water feature continues to attract warblers (and other stuff) with two new warbler added on May 3rd when a Blackburnian Warbler and Northern Parula showed up (plus lots of Yellow rumped Warblers).  I have now captured a dozen warbler species with the motion camera at the water feature.  The yard has so far produced a total of 19 warbler species in the first week of May.

April warblers

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 27, 2018

 Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 27, 2018

Palm Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 21, 2018

 Louisiana Waterthrush, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 20, 2018

Yellow rumped Warbler, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Black throated Green Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Apr 27, 2018

As April comes to an end I will take a look at the warblers that have shown up so far.  The month was overall cooler and wetter (and snowier) than normal which slowed down migration quite a bit.  The cool weather did result in some impressive numbers of Palm Warblers as they stopped on their journey north for an extended period.  Without decent weather for today into tomorrow and other commitments I will likely not add any warblers to my total for the month beyond the eight species I have seen so far.  I expect a large influx starting on Tuesday as the warm weather really kicks in and May begins.  Below are the previous ten years worth of data regarding warblers for the month of April.  As you can see the totals are off the last couple years but not as bad as 2014 and 2015.

2018         8
2017         17
2016         14
2015         5
2014         5
2013         16
2012          9
2011         15
2010         6
2009         15
2008         6

More snow and cold and large numbers of Palm Warblers plus the first Louisiana Waterthrush of the season

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Palm Warblers 'yellow', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Pine Warbler, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Apr 19, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Apr 18, 2018

April continues to be much cooler than normal with multiple bouts of wintry precipitation in the last several days including a few inches of sleet one day and another dusting of snow today.  The weather has certainly been tough on those early migrants that have arrived with groups of warblers concentrated in areas where insects can be found (such as marshes and ponds).  The numbers of Palm Warblers has been quite impressive the last few days (the list from Lake Wallace today illustrating the point).  The numbers of Yellow rumped Warblers has also increased the last couple days with double digit counts at a number of locations.  Pine Warblers continue to move in with more and more singing on territory every day.  I also finally heard my first Louisiana Waterthrush yesterday morning at Quabbin Park and saw my first at Covey WMA today.  In addition to the above mentioned four species of warbler there was a report from Mike L. that he had an unusual Palm Warbler at Covey WMA yesterday that was either an aberrant individual or possibly a hybrid with a Yellow rumped Warbler.  I went looking for it on multiple occasions the last couple days but came up empty.

A few warblers during a very cool April so far

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2018

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 11, 2018

April has so far been much cooler than normal with snow on multiple days and conditions just not conducive for a big influx of early migrants.  Pine and Palm Warblers continue to trickle in as well as a few Yellow rumped Warblers but no species have arrived in decent numbers yet.  Today was the first day I had all three species on the same day and the first time I have had Palm Warblers singing (the handful of Pine Warblers that are back have already been singing).  The next few days should feature some warmer temperatures and southerly winds so I expect many more of the above three species to arrive as well as Louisiana Waterthrush and perhaps something unusual.  Unfortunately I'm fighting another cold so I won't be able to get out as much as I would otherwise but I will try to get out a little.

Palm Warbler at Lake Wallace

Palm Warbler 'western', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 25, 2018

Palm Warbler 'western', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 25, 2018

Palm Warbler 'western', Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Mar 25, 2018

I got a message from Dawn Winkler this afternoon that she had a very early Palm Warbler at nearby Lake Wallace.  I initially was not going to try for it today but decided I was feeling up to it so I took a quick drive over and found the bird right away late in the afternoon.  I typically don't find this species around here until the end of the first week of April into mid April.  I have only had the species in the county in March once before and that was back in 2012 on March 24.  It is even more unusual given that the weather lately has not been conducive for early migrants as we have had snowstorms, colder than average conditions and a major lack of southerly winds.  The Palm Warbler becomes the third warbler species for March for me in Hampshire County, something I have only managed once before (also in 2012).

Florida warblers during trip to Melbourne area

Northern Parula, Turkey Creek Sanctuary, FL, Mar 18, 2018

Pine Warbler, St Sebastian River Preserve SP, FL, Mar 18, 2018

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Turkey Creek Sanctuary, FL, Mar 19, 2018

Prairie Warbler, Pelican Island NWR, FL, Mar 19, 2018

Palm Warbler (western), Pelican Island NWR, FL, Mar 19, 2018

Yellow throated Warbler, Coconut Point Sanctuary, FL, Mar 20, 2018

Black and White Warbler, Coconut Point Sanctuary, FL, Mar 20, 2018

Northern Parula, Coconut Point Sanctuary, FL, Mar 21, 2018

Common Yellowthroat, Pelican Island NWR, FL, Mar 20, 2018

Ovenbird, Coconut Point Sanctuary, FL, Mar 20, 2018

Just back from a trip down to the Melbourne area of Florida arriving down there on March 17 and leaving the the 22nd.  Unfortunately I sick for a large portion of the the trip but still got out as much as I could.  Although a little early to produce a big variety of warblers heading north a few locations did produce some groups of migrants moving through with decent numbers of Northern Parula and Black and White Warblers. It was nice to hear some of the warblers starting to sing.  Eleven species of warbler were seen (with nine photographed) including Ovenbird, Northern Waterthush, Black and White Warbler, Orange crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow rumped Warbler, Yellow throated Warbler and Prairie Warbler.

An eventually fruitful search for an early Pine Warbler

Pine Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Mar 10, 2018

Pine Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Mar 10, 2018

Pine Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Mar 10, 2018

Pine Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Mar 10, 2018

Pine Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Mar 10, 2018

Over the last several days I have tried to catch up with a very early Pine Warbler that showed up at the feeders of the Griffith's but was not successful until late this morning.  The bird showed up on Wednesday the 7th just as the latest nor'easter was starting to crank up.  I got a message from Devin about it but I was at work until the following morning so I would not have a chance to try for it until then.  After getting home and digging out on Thursday I headed out for a few errands and decided to swing by the neighborhood where the bird was seen and I had no luck. As I was heading out I got a text saying the bird had just returned.  Being literally just around the corner I immediately headed over there and missed it by mere minutes.  We waited patiently for it to return but the bird was a no show after almost an hour.   I left and then got another message late in the afternoon saying it was back but I was once again just a little too late to see it. I had a feeling the bird was in the same general area but visiting other locations to feed as it was very irregular at their feeders.  On Friday I met up with Devin late in the morning and we searched all around the neighborhood without finding the bird but we did get a nice close look at a Sharp shinned Hawk as well as a Fox Sparrow.  We also spent some time watching the feeders but once again come up empty.  The bird did not seem to have any real routine besides showing up briefly with long periods of not being present at the feeders.  On Saturday I headed over to areas along the river for the morning and turned up at least two Yellow rumped Warblers in the same area I have had them for weeks at Arcadia.  As I was out I got a text from Devin saying the bird has returned once again and was sticking around.  The sighting was very promising as the bird had not shown up in the morning the previous few days.  I headed right over and once I arrived I quickly found the bird feeding at one of their suet feeders.  I was happy to finally catch up with the bird after multiple attempts...four times was apparently the charm!  I eventually got some close up views and photos of the bird as it fed at the feeders as well as on the ground near the feeders.  Usually I get Pine Warblers around here in early April with very occasionally some showing up in later March (only twice in the last fifteen years or so...2012 and 2016).  My previous early date was March 19, 2012 so this birds beats that record by a healthy margin.  I suspect the bird was an early arrival as it was not seen prior to a push of southerly winds several days before its arrival and is not the only Pine Warbler in the area that has recently shown up at a feeder.  Having two species of warblers in Hampshire County on March 10 is not something I have been able to accomplish before.  A big thank you to the Griffith's for letting me search for this bird in their yard on multiple occasions.