Hooded Warblers in Hampden County and other hill town warblers

 

Hooded Warbler, Mt Tekoa, Montgomery, MA, Jun 23, 2021

Hooded Warbler, Mt Tekoa, Montgomery, MA, Jun 23, 2021

Hooded Warbler, Mt Tekoa, Montgomery, MA, Jun 23, 2021

Hooded Warbler, Mt Tekoa, Montgomery, MA, Jun 23, 2021

After getting out of work this morning I made a variety of stops west of the river including a trip down to the Mt Tekoa area of Montgomery/Westfield primarily searching for Hooded Warblers which have bred in the area for several years.  I last visited the area way back in 2005 when I had my first Hooded Warbler in the state.  This morning I found one singing fairly quickly (singing a dawn song).  A bit further up the trail I found at least one more male (occasionally singing) as well as a calling female.  It was great to see the species still present at the location and likely breeding again.  The Hooded Warbler also added another warbler for me for the month of June which brings my total to 22 species.

Black throated Blue Warbler collecting nest material, Henhawk Trail, Williamsburg, MA, Jun 23, 2021

Before heading down to Hampden County to see the Hooded Warblers I spent some time in the hill towns of Hampshire County with most of my time spent in the Henhawk Trail area of Williamsburg which featured a great collection of breeding warbler species with both fledglings around and birds still collecting nest material.  This area had at least 13 species of warbler present in less than a half a mile...a fantastic spot for breeding warblers.  I had a total of 16 species of warbler for the morning and easily could have added a few more with a couple more stops but I was running out of energy by late morning.

A very odd Cerulean Warbler singing both Black throated Blue Warbler and Black and White Warbler songs

 

Cerulean Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 18, 2021

Cerulean Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 18, 2021

Cerulean Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 18, 2021

Cerulean Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 18, 2021

I finally came across a very odd sounding Cerulean Warbler in the Mount Holyoke Range SP yesterday and I returned today to better document the individual (more on yesterdays sighting below).  The whole saga began in early June when I got a message regarding a Cerulean Warbler singing an odd song within the Mount Holyoke Range SP (well away from the core breeding area at Skinner SP).  The recording the original observer sent me of the bird sounded like a Black throated Blue Warbler and if I had heard it while walking through the woods would have identified it as such.  She was adamant that she saw the bird singing the song and was certain it was a Cerulean Warbler.  I trust her abilities and I spent the next couple weeks climbing up to the ridge top on multiple occasions.  After finally finding it yesterday I returned again this morning to try to get better photos and recordings.  I initially arrived in the area and found no sign of the bird and was afraid I would once again have made the trip up the hill without hearing the bird.  After waiting about thirty minutes I decided to walk a bit further along the ridge before returning.  When I returned I heard the Black throated Blue Warbler like song and stationed myself in a good spot to hopefully see the bird.  In the meantime I got some more recordings and then the bird when silent.  After waiting for a bit I noticed a bird fairly far up in a large oak and got the binoculars on it and saw it was a male Cerulean Warbler.  I watched it for a few minutes and got some photos as it enjoyed a caterpillar.  I continued watching it and than an amazing thing happened...I watched it sing and this time a Black and White like song came out of the bird!  I was blown away.  I guess this explained why I was no longer hearing the Black throated Blue Warbler like song.  I got a recording of the bird singing yet another unusual song before it went quiet and disappeared downslope.  To make the whole situation even more complicated there were a number of Black and White Warblers that were also in the area and singing.  I have had a few slightly odd sounding Cerulean Warblers over the years but they typically sing a song that can be quickly identified as coming from a Cerulean Warbler.  Black throated Blue Warblers (especially in the central part of New England) can sing songs that sounds very much like Cerulean Warbler (David Sibley wrote a nice post about this which can be found at the following link.)  The bird looked like a typical Cerulean Warbler so I don't suspect a hybrid of some sort but I have no idea why the bird is singing two songs that don't sound anything like a Cerulean Warbler.  No sign of a mate in the area and I'm not sure he will attract the right species with the songs he is singing but who knows?

Link to the eBird list today with recordings and more photos located at the following link.

Cerulean Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 17, 2021

Yesterday I got to the area and finally heard a bird that sounded very similar to a recording the original observer sent me of the bird.  Despite looking for the better part of 30 minutes I could never get a look at the bird and the bird would go silent for extended periods.  After exploring a few other locations nearby where I turned up more Worm eating Warblers (including an individual carrying food) I decided to give it one more try to find the bird.  I arrived at the location and the bird sounded a little closer and after more looking I finally got looks at the Cerulean Warbler.  I got multiple videos with the bird singing and even managed a horrible ID shot through the binoculars with my iPhone.

The eBird list from yesterday can be found at the following link.

Worm eating Warbler, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 18, 2021

Ovenbird, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 18, 2021

Louisiana Waterthrush fledgling, Mount Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 18, 2021

Besides the Cerulean Warbler there were a number of warblers present during my trips up along the ridge with the highlights including several Worm eating Warblers (with a few carrying food to nestlings), loads of Ovenbirds (including some very freshly fledged young) and fledgling Louisiana Waterthrush as well as others.  

Golden winged Warbler continues in Montague

 

Golden winged Warbler, Montague, MA, Jun 16, 2021

Golden winged Warbler, Montague, MA, Jun 16, 2021

Golden winged Warbler, Montague, MA, Jun 16, 2021

Golden winged Warbler, Montague, MA, Jun 16, 2021

Golden winged Warbler, Montague, MA, Jun 16, 2021

Golden winged Warbler, Montague, MA, Jun 16, 2021

I caught back up with the Golden winged Warbler that has now been present for over a month in Montague.  It was originally found on May 8th by Amasa and Genlyne Fiske-White and I first caught up with it on May 10th.  Many birders made the trip to see the bird during May but there had been few recent sightings of the bird save for James seeing it on two visits (as well as Hooded Warbler during a visit on June 3rd).  I originally had no plans to try for it again today but my initial plan for conducting field surveys on Prescott Peninsula got sidelined when I arrived on the peninsula to find the weather very breezy.  Since I was already in Franklin County I decided to head a bit west and try for the Golden winged Warbler.  I actually found it fairly quickly and got a few shots before it disappeared, never to be seen again despite some time looking and waiting.  The bird was mainly silent but would occasionally sing a very quiet Blue winged Warbler dawn song.  There was no indication that the bird had found a mate but I would not be surprised if it found a Blue winged Warbler to breed with.  I also looked around a bit for the Hooded Warbler but no luck with that species.  

Hybrids continue into early June and lots of Worm eating Warblers along the Mount Holyoke Range

 

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jun 11, 2021

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jun 11, 2021

Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, Jun 7, 2021

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jun 1, 2021

Blue winged Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Jun 1, 2021

During the first part of June I was able to relocate the Lawrence's Warbler that I first found on May 3rd and then last saw on May 10th.  I checked on many occasions over the next few weeks with no luck again until June 7th.  I have no idea where the bird went during those few weeks but it was nice to see it back again.  The Brewster's Warbler at Sweet Alice Conservation Area in Amherst has been much more cooperative (although it also requires some patience to get good looks at sometimes).  It appears to be paired with a 'typical' looking Blue winged Warbler so it will be interesting to see if what the offspring of the two will look like (assuming they are successful in raising young).  Lots of Blue winged Warblers continue in the area but sadly no sign of a Golden winged Warbler showing up in Hampshire County.  Oddly the one in Montague that was not seen for a couple weeks was relocated again in the same area early in June...not sure if it not being seen was a function of less people looking or if it just stayed more hidden.

Yellow Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Jun 11, 2021

Ovenbird, Mt Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Jun 11, 2021

Worm eating Warbler, Mt Holyoke Range SP, Amherst, MA, Jun 7, 2021

Worm eating Warbler, Mt Holyoke Range SP, Granby, MA, Jun 3, 2021

Louisiana Waterthrush, Quabbin Park, MA, Jun 2, 2021

I spent multiple days covering various trails in the Mount Holyoke Range SP mainly looking for Worm eating Warblers and Cerulean Warblers.  I had great luck finding many pairs of Worm eating Warblers all along the ridge with lots of singing males.  I suspect there may be a few dozen breeding pairs in total along the entire ridge.  I had no luck finding any Cerulean Warblers despite a lot of effort.  Although there appears to be multiple locations along the ridge that look perfect for the species I was unable to find any away from the core breeding location on Mount Holyoke (in Skinner SP just west of the Mount Holyoke Range SP).  I didn't have much in the way of late season migrants during early June with just breeding species around at this point.

Pine Warbler caught in nets during banding at house

Pine Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Jun 8, 2021

During a banding session in the yard being conducted by Sebastian for his PhD research we caught a female Pine Warbler.  As the warbler was not one of the three target species the bird was quickly freed from the net and released without banding (much to the relief of the male Pine Warbler who was right nearby).  This is the second time a warbler has made it into the nets at the house during the last several years of banding (last time was 2019 as part of the Neighborhood Nestwatch Program).

End of May wrap up

Black and White Warbler, Herman Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, May 3, 2021

Lawrence's Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust Trail, Belchertown, MA, May 3, 2021

Orange crowned Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 4, 2021

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 7, 2021

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 7, 2021

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 8, 2021

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 8, 2021

Golden winged Warbler, Montague, MA, May 10, 2021

Cape May Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 13, 2021

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2021

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, May 20, 2021

Mourning Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 26, 2021

The big month of warblers has now come to an end and I will take a quick look at totals and highlights for the month.  The very beginning of the month started off strong with double digit species counts to start the month.  By the end of the first week I had added Lawrence's Warbler and Orange crowned to the growing list of warblers for the month.  On the 10th I had a morning with both Blue winged Warbler and Golden winged Warbler plus both easily recognized hybrids...something I have never done before in the area (unfortunately the Golden winged Warbler was in Franklin County and not in Hampshire County).  On the 18th I did a big warbler day in Hampshire County and found a total of 28 species.  Nearing the end of the month another Brewster's Warbler along with multiple Mourning Warblers showed up but after that the weather got very cool and rainy and I had to work so no chance to add any other unusual warblers.

Total warblers for the month came to 31 with thirty of those seen in Hampshire County (the Golden winged Warbler in Franklin County being the only species seen for the month but not in Hampshire County).  In addition I had multiple hybrids with a Lawrence's Warbler and two Brewster's Warblers (as well as other Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrids).   Overall the warbler migration season started off strong but by the end it fizzled out with many late season migrants showing up in low numbers (compared to a typical year).  We shall see by fall if the number of these species bounce back with the low numbers in spring being caused by the birds taking advantage of good migration conditions and flying over without stopping and not a drop in numbers of migrants...time will tell.

Another Brewster's Warblers and multiple Mourning Warblers

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

Brewster's Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

Brewster's Warbler, KC Trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2021

Blue winged Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

Yellow Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

While out along the rail trail this morning I got a text from Annemarie regarding an odd Blue winged Warbler at Sweet Alice Conservation Area.  She sent along a photo and the bird was quickly identified as a Brewster's Warbler.  I made my way over to the location and met up with Annemarie and she showed me where she had the bird.  I then spent the next hour and a half looking for the him and just as I was about to leave I finally got a look at him...persistence pays off.  It was singing a typically bee-buzz song of a Blue winged Warbler (unlike the other Brewster's Warbler in the area that sang an odd three part song).  I got a number of photos and some great looks and easily determined the bird was a different individual from the other Brewster's Warbler in Amherst.  The one today has a unique yellow "T" shape on its chest which the other bird does not.  I did make a quick stop to the area the other Brewster's Warbler has been hanging around but it was not present (or at least didn't show itself).  A bonus was having a couple of Mourning Warblers in the area, including one singing.

Mourning Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

Mourning Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 24, 2021

Although the warbler migration is rapidly slowing down there are still late season migrants moving through and I got some great looks at a Mourning Warbler along the rail trail in Amherst today.  I initially heard the bird singing and as I waited to try to get a recording to determine its regiolect I noticed two yellow bird chasing each other with one being the Mourning Warbler (the other was a Common Yellowthroat).  It was nice to actually see the Mourning Warbler well as many times all you do is hear them singing or calling from dense thickets.