Tropical update and motion camera shots and a new species for the yard

Model tracks for Invest 97L, Sep 28, 2016

Hurricane Hazel track 1954 (courtesy of Weatherunderground)

Now for an update on the tropical Atlantic and an area of disturbed weather (Invest 97L) that could threaten the United States at some point.  The system has been moving fairly rapidly across the Atlantic toward the southern part of the Lesser Antilles.  The track of the system is fairly far south for a tropical system..in fact it is far enough south to threaten the upper coast of South America.  The speed of the system as well as its more southern track has kept development slow so far.  All forecast models seem to be in agreement that the system will develop into a named system over the next few days (when it will receive the name Matthew).  The future of the system at that point becomes a bit more murky with lots of variables coming into play.  The  latest models have shown the system continuing to head west over the short term before making a hard turn to the north.  The speed at which this all happens differs greatly between the big models (Euro vs GFS) with the Euro slowly the system down a lot.  It could then hit Florida, the east coast of the US or head out to sea.  The very rapid turn to the north is a bit unusual but not unprecedented.  Hurricane Hazel back in 1954 took a somewhat similar path and made a landfall on the South Carolina/North Carolina border as a major hurricane (Cat 4).  The system certainly bears watching and it has the potential at least to become a major problem somewhere in the United States.  Some of the best sites to keep track of the system include the following:
National Hurricane Center:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Tropical Tidbits:  http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/
Jeff Masters Weather Blog:  https://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

Swainson's Thrush, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2016

Striped Skunk, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 22, 2016

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 18, 2016

I have finally got a few captures of birds on the motion camera at the pond in the last several days.  Nothing new but I did get another Swainson's Thrush, a few White throated Sparrows and a chickadee.  The camera has been very quiet the last few weeks so it was nice to see some stuff.  The mammals have been more active with the usual chipmunks and squirrels plus a Striped Skunk.  The camera on the hummingbird feeder is up and waiting for something unusual to show.  The last capture of a Ruby throated Hummingbird at the feeder was on the 18th.

I also added a new species to the yard list today when I was down along Jabish Brook...a Connecticut Warbler chipping away.  It continues to be an amazing fall for this species and I have seen more this fall than any other.  The Connecticut Warbler becomes species #162 for the yard and the 28th species of warbler.  I have had several unusual to rare warbler species in the yard including Orange crowned, Kentucky, Mourning, Cape May and Bay breasted Warblers but still have not had a Blue winged Warbler!