Southern Ecuador warblers (Nov 7-14)

Gray and Gold Warbler, Reserva Buenaventura, El Oro, Ecuador, Nov 13, 2021

Masked Yellowthroat (Black lored Yellowthroat), Uzhcurrumi, Azuay, Ecuador, Nov 8, 2021

Citrine Warbler, Reserva Huashapamba, Loja, Ecuador, Nov 9, 2021

Three banded Warbler, Reserva Buenaventura, El Oro, Ecuador, Nov 13, 2021

Masked Yellowthroat (Maranon Yellowthroat subspecies), Road north of Zumba, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador, Nov 11, 2021

Olive crowned Yellowthroat (southern), Reserva Buenaventura, El Oro, Ecuador, Nov 13, 2021

Just back from a trip down to southern Ecuador with the focus being on warblers. The target species for the trip included Gray and Gold Warbler, Citrine Warbler, Three banded Warbler, Masked Yellowthroat (two subspecies-Black lored Yellowthroat and Maranon Yellowthroat) plus the local subspecies of Olive crowned Yellowthroat (I had previously seen two other subspecies-Belding’s Yellowthroat and Chiriqui Yellowthroat in Costa Rica). These various yellowthroat subspecies likely represent unique species and some taxonomic classification organizations already recognize them as such. I also wanted to see the gray bellied version of the Russet crowned Warbler. In addition I hoped to get some photos of other warbler species I have seen in the tropics before before but did not get photographs of including Three striped Warbler, Black crested Warbler and Spectacled Redstart. 

Gray and Gold Warbler, Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve, Guayas, Ecuador, Nov 8, 2021

Gray and Gold Warbler, Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve, Guayas, Ecuador, Nov 8, 2021

Masked Yellowthroat (Black lored Yellowthroat), Uzhcurrumi, Azuay, Ecuador, Nov 8, 2021

Masked Yellowthroat (Black lored Yellowthroat), Uzhcurrumi, Azuay, Ecuador, Nov 8, 2021

I arrived into Guayaquil in the afternoon of Sunday November 7 and met up with my guide for the trip. We stayed the night in Guayaquil and then set out early the next morning to make the long drive to Saraguro. Our first day of birding produced two target species with Gray and Gold Warbler and the Black lored subspecies of the Masked Yellowthroat. We found the Gray and Gold Warbler in a dry forest in the Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve. The warbler was tough to keep track of as it stayed hidden from view most of the time in the dense brushy understory. The behavior reminded me a lot of a Fan tailed Warbler or any of a number of redstarts that fan their tails often as they feed. The call note of the warbler sounded a lot like a Common Yellowthroat (information used later to recognize when the species was nearby). As we continued our long drive we made a stop along the road which quickly produced the Black lored subspecies of the Masked Yellowthroat in a weedy field. It showed fairly well but was not too close and would not stay in view for any length of time (a common theme with most warblers).

Black crested Warbler, Reserva Huashapamba, Loja, Ecuador, Nov 9, 2021

Black crested Warbler, Reserva Huashapamba, Loja, Ecuador, Nov 9, 2021

Spectacled Redstart, Reserva Huashapamba, Loja, Ecuador, Nov 9, 2021

Citrine Warbler, Reserva Huashapamba, Loja, Ecuador, Nov 9, 2021

Citrine Warbler, Reserva Huashapamba, Loja, Ecuador, Nov 9, 2021

After a night in Saraguro we headed up into some nearby mountains in the Reserva Huashapamba on the morning of Tuesday the 9th. We arrived into the area a bit after six and then birded along the road for a few hours. During our time there we turned up multiple singing Black crested Warblers, Citrine Warblers and Spectacled Redstarts. The Citrine Warblers were not only a new warbler species for me the sighting of them also became my 1600th life bird. Unfortunately the foggy conditions made getting photos a bit difficult and the Citrine Warblers were the least cooperative of any of the warblers present. Nonetheless I got some marginal photos of them as well as slightly better photos of the other warblers present.  I also managed to get recordings of a number of the warblers.  The most productive lists for the morning can be found at the following links:1 and 2.  We ended the day in far southern Ecuador in the small town of Zumba where we spent the next two nights.

Blackburnian Warbler, Road west of Zumba, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador, Nov 10, 2021

On Wednesday we traveled south from Zumba all the way down to the Peruvian border in the morning and then off to the west of Zumba in the afternoon. Although the day did not produce any new warbler species for me it did produce my first Tropical Parula, Blackburnian Warbler, Canada Warbler and Slate throated Redstart for the trip.  We tried in vain to find the Maranon subspecies of Masked Warbler in the area.

Masked Yellowthroat (Maranon Yellowthroat subspecies), Road north of Zumba, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador, Nov 11, 2021

Masked Yellowthroat (Maranon Yellowthroat subspecies), Road north of Zumba, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador, Nov 11, 2021

On Thursday we headed west of Zumba before dawn to get to the paramo and then back into town a bit before lunch.  After an early lunch we started our trip north of Zumba on our way to Buenaventura.  The main focus as we moved north out of Zumba was to locate the Maranon subspecies of the Masked Yellowthroat and after quite a bit of effort in on again/off again light rain we finally found our target.  The subspecies only occurs in the Maranon Valley of northwest Peru and nearby parts of Ecuador.

Russet crowned Warbler, Reserva Tapichalaca, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador, Nov 12, 2021

Three banded Warbler, Chinchas-Portavelo Road, Loja, Ecuador, Nov 12, 2021

Tropical Parula, Chinchas-Portavelo Road, Loja, Ecuador, Nov 12, 2021

As we drove from Tapichlaca to Buenaventura we birded along a twisting dirt road known as the Chinchas-Portovelo Road. Almost every stop we made along this route had decent activity with the first stop producing yet another target species for the trip with a couple of very vocal Three banded Warblers. Other stops along the road produced more Three banded Warblers as well as Tropical Parula, Gray and Gold Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Russet crowned Warbler and Slate throated Redstart. 

Olive crowned Yellowthroat, Reserva Buenaventura, El Oro, Ecuador, Nov 13, 2021

Gray and Gold Warbler, Reserva Buenaventura, El Oro, Ecuador, Nov 13, 2021

Gray and Gold Warbler, Reserva Buenaventura, El Oro, Ecuador, Nov 13, 2021

Our full day at Buenaventura began with loads of activity around the lodge (primarily centered on the feeders) but also drawing in birds to feed in the tangles and forest nearby including more Gray and Gold Warblers and a couple of Buff breasted Warblers singing loudly as they worked their way down the steps to the lodge. After breakfast we headed up the road in the reserve and through the fog found a fairly cooperative Olive crowned Yellowthroat singing in a small clearing. This was my final big target warbler for the trip. As mentioned before this particular yellowthroat complex has been split into multiple unique species by other authorities and I had seen two of those other splits in Costa Rica (Chiriqui Yellowthroat and Baird's Yellowthroat).

Gray and Gold Warbler, Reserva Buenaventura, El Oro, Ecuador, Nov 14, 2021

Buff rumped Warbler, Reserva Buenaventura, El Oro, Ecuador, Nov 14, 2021

Buff rumped Warbler, Reserva Buenaventura, El Oro, Ecuador, Nov 14, 2021

On the last day we got some better looks of the Buff rumped Warblers present in the reserve. The individuals in Ecuador appeared more orange in appearance than those I see in Costa Rica (which show more of a yellowish coloration). 

Total warblers for the trip totaled 13 species with Warblers included Masked Yellowthroat (both Black lored and Maranon subspecies), Olive crowned Warblers (southern subspecies), Tropical Parula (South America subspecies), Blackburnian Warbler, Three banded Warbler, Citrine Warbler, Black crested Warbler, Buff rumped Warbler, Gray and Gold Warbler, Russet crowned Warbler, Canada Warbler, Slate throated Redstart and Spectacled Redstart.

A couple of species of warblers to start off November

 

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 2, 2021

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 2, 2021

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Wentworth Farm Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 2, 2021

The month of November has so far produced two species of warblers in Hampshire County.  My main focus when I headed out this morning was to hit several areas in search of lingering species of warbler and I managed to find several Yellow rumped Warblers (not unexpected) as well as a late Palm Warbler.  I struck out on finding any other species but I'm still hopeful some lingering warblers will be found over the next couple weeks.  Thankfully the weather was fairly calm for the first few hours of the day which made trying to find passerines a bit easier than the previous day.  

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Nov 1, 2021

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, Nov 1, 2021

Despite the windy weather for most of the day yesterday I still managed to find a couple species of warbler including a late Palm Warbler and several Yellow rumped Warblers at multiple locations.  I had to rely on my iPhone to get photos through binoculars as I was out walking Wilson when I found the warblers.

Warblers for October

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 15, 2021

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2021

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2021

Palm Warbler 'yellow', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

Nashville Warbler, North Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Oct 22, 2021

October has now come to an end and overall for the month I found a total of 17 species with many of the total occurring early in the month.  By the end of the month the diversity was down to just a handful of species.  Probably the biggest highlight for the month was the sighting of a very late Connecticut Warbler (presumed to be the same individual) on October 13th and October 15th.  This beat my previous late date for the species by over a week.  The month was overall warmer than normal and fairly dry with lots of good nights of migration which moved a lot of species along fairly quickly.  The end of the month got much cooler and rainier.  As always for October there were some species that lingered a bit but nothing too unusual.  The numbers of both Tennessee Warblers and Nashville Warblers seemed a bit above average for the month.

Warblers to end the third week of October

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

Palm Warbler 'yellow', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 21, 2021

I finished the third week of October with an after work visit to Arcadia and then over to the East Meadows.  Warbler diversity and numbers continue to drop as many birds have already moved through with lots of good nights for migration.  It is now down to just a handful of expected warbler species but the chance of turning up some lingering species and the remote chance of a rarity keeps me looking.  During the morning I turned up just three species of warbler with two Common Yellowthroats being the only late species (just slightly late at this point).  I also found Palm Warblers and Yellow rumped Warblers.  

An even later date for Connecticut Warbler

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 15, 2021

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 15, 2021

I did not expect to break my late date on Friday for Connecticut Warbler that I had just set a couple days ago but I did (I would have posted this earlier but internet issues hampered posting for a couple days).  Friday was yet another foggy morning (but not as bad overall as the last several). I was walking a tree line in the hopes of being in the right spot when the sun finally broke through but just as it looked like it would break through the fog would roll back in. As I was cursing the lack of sun I noticed a yellowish bird pop up from among the sparrow hordes. A quick look showed a Connecticut Warbler out in the open offering great looks. I immediately started taking photos and the bird stayed on the same branch for almost half a minute before flying off and disappearing. I presume it is the same individual as the plumage is similar and it was not too far away from the spot where I had one a few days before. I was really surprised to find the species again as it is getting so late in the season and the migration conditions the last few nights had been great.  Besides the CONW there were just four other species of warbler around with a couple Common Yellowthroats, a single Blackpoll Warbler, 11 Palm Warblers (all of the yellow subspecies) and 20+ Yellow rumped Warblers.

Very late Connecticut Warbler and other stuff for the second week of October

 

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2021

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2021

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2021

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2021

After work today I headed down to nearby Arcadia and arrived to find the location very foggy (a common theme the last few mornings).  I didn't have any target species in mind and just planned on walking a few of the edges and fields and hope the fog lifted early (it did not do so).  As far as warblers go it was quite slow with a noticeable decline in both overall diversity and numbers (the lack of sun didn't help the situation).  Overall I had just five species of warbler at Arcadia but what the stop there lacked in quantity it made up for in quality.  After walking a few edges and finally coming across my first Common Yellowthroats of the morning I noticed another bird pop up and a quick look with binoculars revealed a very late Connecticut Warbler!  The bird was exceptionally cooperative (at least as far as this species is concerned) and allowed great looks in the open and some great photos despite the less than ideal photography conditions.  The sighting today blew away from previous late date for the species in Hampshire County by nearly a week (my previous late date for the species was October 7 which I had in both 2016 and 2017).  Not what I was expecting to find in the middle of October but was certainly very happy to see it.

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2021

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2021

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2021

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 11, 2021

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Belchertown, MA, Oct 9, 2021

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 9, 2021

Besides the Connecticut Warbler today I had a total of half a dozen species today plus a few others for the second week of the month totaling eleven species of warblers.  Nothing too unusual which is not too surprising as the migration conditions have been great for most of the month so far which has moved most species along and resulted in less lingering species.

Warblers for the first week of October

Palm Warbler 'yellow', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2021

Palm Warbler 'yellow', East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2021

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2021

The first week of October has come to an end and the diversity of warblers continues to drop off but I nonetheless still had some good stuff with a total 16 species.  Today I started my morning at a very foggy Arcadia.  The fog made viewing difficult at times and after a couple hours I decided to try another spot as the fog just would not burn off.  I headed to the nearby East Meadows where the visibility was slightly better.  Overall a fairly quiet morning for warblers with a total of just seven species.  I'm sure if the sun came out earlier I could have added a few more but that was not in the cards today.  By midday the sun finally broke through the temps responded with highs in the mid 70's.

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2021

Nashville Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2021

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 6, 2021

Yesterday I birded at Arcadia in mainly overcast conditions but it was at least fairly warm (which unfortunately meant mosquitoes again).  Diversity was way down with just five species of warblers despite covering a lot of territory.  The lack of sun probably had some impact on turning up a number of birds.

It was rainy for most of both Monday and Tuesday (plus I had to work) which resulted in few warblers to be seen.

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 3, 2021

After work on Sunday I went down to Arcadia once again with the highlights being a late Cape May Warbler plus continued good counts of a number of species including Tennessee Warbler.

Black throated Green Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2021

Tennessee Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2021

Palm Warbler 'yellow', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2021

Nashville Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2021

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 1, 2021

I started the month at Arcadia where I spent a few hours tracking down warblers and had nine species including another morning with double digit counts for Tennessee Warblers plus continued good numbers of Nashville Warbler and Common Yellowthroat plus over a hundred Yellow rumped Warblers.  I also made a brief visit to the East Meadows and found at least one late Yellow Warbler continuing in a large weedy patch.

Wilson helping me prep dinner, Oct 5, 2021

We recently got some bad news which has curtailed my birding a bit.  My boy Wilson has cancer and I don't want to leave him home too long as he has to wear a cone when I'm not there.  The soft tissue sarcoma developed on his right front paw as a mass that was biopsied last week and we got the results yesterday.  We have a surgical consult next week and then we go from there.  I'm having a hard time with it as we lost Kody to cancer too.  Wilson is doing just fine and is his normal self with the exception of having to endure a dressing on his foot as we wait for the biopsy wound to heal.  We are hopeful we can beat the cancer and have more years to go out exploring.   We have no idea how much the treatment will cost but we will pay whatever it takes to get Wilson better.  If one is so inclined to donate they can following the following GoFundMe link.