More migrants moving through and the latest tropical update

Clay colored Sparrow, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 15, 2017

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 15, 2017

Blackpoll Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 15, 2017

Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 15, 2017

Ovenbirds having a squabble, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 15, 2017

Ovenbirds having a squabble, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 15, 2017

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 15, 2017

On Friday morning I decided to spend my entire morning at Quabbin Park and get away from the crowds. It was a banner day with loads of stuff around including my first Clay colored Sparrow I have ever had at Quabbin Park (species #236 for me there...it has been awhile since I have added a new species there). Before the sun came up I was over at Winsor Dam listening for Eastern Whip Poor Wills and I heard at least two still singing. The rest of the morning I spent exploring various trails in the park and I came across a number of mixed species flocks containing a nice variety of migrants. Full list with lots of photos here: Quabbin Park

Merlin, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 16, 2017

Merlin, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 16, 2017

Marsh Wren, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 16, 2017

Marsh Wren, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 16, 2017

Grasshopper Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 16, 2017

Saturday morning was spent around Arcadia with Keenan, Devin and Aidan. The low clouds stayed in place throughout the morning but at least the visibility was decent. No luck finding any Connecticut Warblers but we did have some unusual species as well as decent numbers of some more common species. The unusual species included a Marsh Wren and a Grasshopper Sparrow. Unfortunately while we were there one of the best fields for sparrows was plowed under so the birding will not be nearly as good moving forward. Not too surprised as the fields in question are active farm fields but it would have been nice if the plowing was put off until later in the season...oh well.

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2017

House Wren, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2017

Sunday started off as yet another warm morning with low clouds and fog. Without a lot of time to go out before other commitments later in the morning I stayed close to home with a visit back over to Quabbin Park. After adding a new species to my Quabbin Park list just a couple days before I added another on Sunday with a Connecticut Warbler...two new species in just three days. I guess it pays off to spend a little more time there in fall. Before I found the warbler later in the morning I had some good stuff early morning including two Eastern Whip Poor Wills, a half dozen Great Horned Owls, a Barred Owl and a Eastern Screech Owl. Overall the park was a little be slower then a couple days ago but the weather was not as good and I didn't have as much time to poke around. Full list from the morning here: Quabbin Park

Dickcissel, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 18, 2017

Dickcissel, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 18, 2017

Dickcissel (dull individual), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 18, 2017

Marsh Wren, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 18, 2017

With the thought that the crowds of the weekend would be gone I headed back to Arcadia on Monday morning to enjoy the last calm morning before the effects of Hurricane Jose start being felt here with increased winds and rain. The storm looks to brush past southern New England before heading out into the Atlantic (more on the tropics below).  I was joined for part of the morning by Keenan as we explored a variety of areas on a foggy, misty morning which made viewing a bit tough at times.  Overall numbers were down a bit but we nonetheless still managed to find some good stuff including two Marsh Wrens, a Connecticut Warbler (seen very briefly) and two Dickcissel (an incredible fall for this species).


Hurricane Jose remains a Category 1 storm as it continues north on the way to a brush past southern New England.  The storm should stay far enough offshore to spare extreme damage but there will certainly be some wind, rain and beach erosion.  As far as bird activity is concerned there is always the potential for something unusual to show up or be grounded by the weather but the chances are quite low with the track of Jose.  Beyond Jose the tropics continue to be active with two more named storms out in the open ocean...Maria and Lee. Hurricane Maria is moving northwest through the northern Lesser Antilles...an area that does not need any more impacts from tropical systems but it appears they will indeed. It also looks to be heading for a direct hit on Puerto Rico on Wednesday before continuing northwest.  The storm is now a Category 4 storm with 130 MPH and is forecast to remain a major hurricane for the next several days. The long range forecast is tough to determine this far out but there is the distinct possibility it could be a threat to the US at some point.  Lee has lost most of its strength and is no threat to any landmass as it slowly drifts way out in the Atlantic.