More migrants over the last few days including two Mourning Warblers

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

American Redstart carrying nest material,  Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

Red eyed Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

I headed out before dawn today to try to get out before the crowds would eventually arrive given the weather forecast of sunny skies, low humidity and temps in the 70's.  It started out quite cool with a breeze which made spotting some stuff difficult but kept the bugs to a minimum.  My first stop was to Mitch's Way which had the expected species, with most appearing to be on territory breeders.  The number of Canada Warblers was much reduced from just a few days ago.  Once I finished up at Mitch's Way I made a quick stop at Sweet Alice Conservation Area but didn't find anything too noteworthy beyond a Tennessee Warbler but did manage to pick up a fair number of ticks.  My last stop before heading home to get Wilson was over to Quabbin Park where I had a few good birds including a Bay breasted Warbler and my second Mourning Warbler of the season.  I added another Bay breasted during a walk with Wilson up at the Cadwell Forest in Pelham.

Ovenbird carrying nest material, Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, May 19, 2017

Eastern Phoebe, Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, May 19, 2017

After getting out of work yesterday I decided to take a short walk at Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area out to the wildlife blind in the slim chance of catching up with a Yellow breasted Chat that was seen there a few mornings before. The biting insects were out in force and even with a liberal dose of bug spray they were still quite annoying. Nonetheless I made it to the blind but didn't have any luck with the chat although I did hear a call quite distantly that might have been it but it was too distant to be certain as it could have been a catbird. Lots of flycatchers around the area of the blind taking advantage of all the insects. On my walk back to the car the most notable sighting was an Ovenbird building a nest along side a fallen tree...very interesting to watch.

Canada Warbler. Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2017

Lincoln's Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2017

Wilson's Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Sweet Alice Conservation Area, Amherst, May 17, 2017

Blackpoll Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 17, 2017

Wednesday I started out at UMASS in the hopes that Orchard Hill would produce some good stuff at first light but it was very quiet so I headed south to Mitch's Way instead and walked out a bit past the river overlook in search of new arrivals. The number of Canada Warblers here (at least seven) was impressive plus I added a couple Wilson's Warblers too. I did not manage to find my main target of Mourning Warbler there despite quite a bit of looking. I next made it over to Skinner SP but the gate to the top was still closed but I still managed to get a Worm eating Warbler right at the base of the mountain. I listened once again for a Kentucky Warbler that was reported in the area several days ago but again had no luck. With no easy way to the top of the mountain I decided to skip a walk up and instead headed over to Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River where I walked the loop and came up with more Canada and Wilson's Warblers plus many other expected species. While I was there I got a text from Mike L. telling me about an unusual plumaged Blue winged Warbler at the nearby Sweet Alice Conservation Area. I always enjoy tracking down unusual warblers so I figured I would stop on my way home...and I was certainly glad I did! Although I had no luck finding the unusual Blue winged Warbler I heard and saw a male Mourning Warbler. It showed itself quite well (at least briefly before disappearing back into the low tangles where it continued to occasionally call. I explored a bit more there to see what else was around but in the end just managed to pick up more ticks. As I seemed to be having a decent day with warblers I made a brief swing by Quabbin Park and picked up a few more species before heading home to get Wilson. I found a total of 24 species of warblers for the day among a hundred plus species overall. Wednesday was also the first of two back to back recording setting hot days with temperatures hitting the mid 90's both days but with more humidity on Thursday...quite a change from just a few days ago when the hill towns had a dusting of snow!

Bobcat, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2017

American Redstart fighting with Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2017

Nashville Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2017

Black capped Chickadee, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2017

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2017

On Tuesday I had some unexpected stuff come up that kept me close to home but I took advantage of it by making a quick morning trip over to Quabbin Park where I ran across a lot of the expected species plus had a decent look at a Bobcat that was walking up the road.