More migrants the last few days

Cape May Warbler, Amherst, MA, Sep 11, 2017

After several nights of northerly winds bringing great migration conditions the winds have turned to the south and we have enjoyed a return to summer like temperatures with highs in the 80's. With the great migration conditions the last few mornings have produced some great birds.  Until the conditions change again I would not expect many new arrival nor many departures.

Grasshopper Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 13, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 13, 2017

Lincoln's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 13, 2017

Gray Catbird, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 13, 2017

Clay colored Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 13, 2017

Today I headed over to Arcadia to see what I could find after not being there for a few days. The thick fog that was present when I arrived stuck around through mid morning before finally burning off. Despite the less than ideal conditions there were some great birds around with the highlights including three Yellow Warblers, both subspecies of Palm Warbler, a Clay colored Sparrow (seen distantly in the fog), a Grasshopper Sparrow and a flyby Dickcissel.  Full eBird list from the morning: Arcadia

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 12, 2017

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 12, 2017

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 12, 2017

Bay breasted Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 12, 2017

Northern Cardinal, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 12, 2017

Yesterday I spent the morning around Quabbin Park starting off predawn where I had at least three Eastern Whip Poor Wills still calling as well as a few owls. Once the sun came up the temps warmed up and the birds responded. There were several mixed species flocks with highlights including five Wood Thrushes, a Cape May Warbler, three Bay breasted Warblers and almost thirty Pine Warblers among 15 species of warbler and others among some sixty species total.  List from the morning here: Quabbin Park

Cape May Warbler, Amherst, MA, Sep 11, 2017

Northern Parula, Amherst, MA, Sep 11, 2017

Tennessee Warbler, Amherst, MA, Sep 11, 2017

On Monday morning I spent another cool morning out, this time in Amherst with Keenan and Isabel. It was another productive morning with several notable sightings including a spectacular number of Tennessee Warblers (at least 13). So far this fall has been spectacular for a few northern breeding species that nest in spruces with the most noteworthy being Tennessee Warbler. Some mornings I have seen more individuals in a single day then I have gotten in an entire season in the past. The count of 13 on Monday morning is the highest count in eBird for Hampshire County ever...really crazy considering all those birds were in such a small geographic area. It will be interesting to see if the large counts here in fall translate into higher counts in their wintering area (Costa Rica is one such area I will be checking) and if there is a noticeable increase in numbers here next spring. Other spruce nesting species such as Bay breasted Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler also have been around in larger than typical numbers.  I will give a full tally of the numbers once the fall migration ends.

Common Nighthawk, home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 12, 2017

Common Nighthawk with mouth open about to catch flying ant, home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 12, 2017

The warmer temperatures brought in some Common Nighthawks over the house taking advantage of a hatching of flying ants.