Lots of warblers and other migrants the last few days

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 10, 2016

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 10, 2016

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 10, 2016

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 10, 2016

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 10, 2016

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 10, 2016

Wilson's Warbler, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 10, 2016

The last few days have been cool in the morning but sunny and warm by midday so I have been out quite a bit. I will keep this post short but suffice it to say that the days have been bird filled and great for photography. Yesterday I hit a wide variety of spots from Amherst to Hadley and then back toward home. I have included the full lists (with lots of photos) below. A total of 23 species of warbler that day including the very best looks I have ever gotten of a Cerulean Warbler. I was just in the right place at the right time as the bird fed overhead and then dropped down almost at eye level near the parking lot to feed on abundant insects right in the sun! I added New species for the year including Cape May Warbler (#185) at UMASS, Worm eating Warbler (#186), Indigo Bunting (#187), Eastern Wood Pewee (#188) and Cerulean Warbler (#189) at Skinner SP.

Rail trail: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29532867

UMASS Orchard Hill:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29533095

UMASS Northwest campus: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29533450

Mitch's Way:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29534979

Skinner SP:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29535756

Quabbin Park:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29540174

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Eastern Towhee, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2016

Today I decided to spend my morning at Quabbin Park to see how much I could see there in a single morning. I managed 93 species by late morning and I'm certain with a little more effort I could have made it to a hundred. A total of two new species for the year today with Swainson's Thrush (#190) and Bay breasted Warbler (#191). Again the lists from today are posted below.

Winsor Dam:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29556630

Quabbin Park:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29562584

Winsor Dam:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29560237

Gray Catbird with bands, home, Belchertown, MA, May 10, 2016

Baltimore Oriole, home, Belchertown, MA, May 10, 2016

Meanwhile at home I finally got a banded bird that returned after last being seen last summer.  It was a male Gray Catbird (one of five catbirds banded in the yard last June).  Very cool to see it return to the exact same spot after spending the winter down south.  Hopefully more will return over the coming days.  I also continue to get new birds at the water feature including my first catbird and a Baltimore Oriole...fingers crossed for more good stuff (hopefully as good as the stuff that Steve gets at his water feature!)