Unusual species post CBC...Gray Catbird, Ruby crowned Kinglet and Yellow rumped Warbler

Gray Catbird, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Dec 17, 2018

Gray Catbird, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Dec 17, 2018

Ruby crowned Kinglet, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Dec 17, 2018

Ruby crowned Kinglet, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Dec 17, 2018

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Dec 17, 2018

I had hoped to head out early this morning to try to catch up with any rarities seen by other teams yesterday during the Northampton Christmas Bird Count but the forecast called for snow, ice and rain overnight into the morning.  I got up around dawn and saw the frozen precipitation never really materialized here but it was still gray, breezy with occasional spits of rain and snow.  I stayed close to home hitting Quabbin Park before the rain picked up again which sent me back home.  By mid morning the rain had stopped and I saw a number of unusual reports of species that might still be around including a Gray Catbird and Ruby crowned Kinglet seen at UMASS by Keenan and Isabel and a Yellow rumped Warbler seen by Scott in Hadley.  I had not seen two of the three species yet this month and I had just a flyover Yellow rumped Warbler earlier in the month so I thought it would be worth reaching out for more details.  I got the locations for all of them courtesy of Keenan and Scott and with a little bit of time left in the morning I headed over to UMASS.  Both the catbird and kinglet were fairly quickly located and I got photos of both.  The thick tangles were both birds were located look to offer decent cover and food so hopefully both species will hang on for the winter.  I only had until about eleven and it was already past ten when I finished my time at UMASS but I decided I might as well try a brief swing by Aqua Vitae Road for the warbler.  I arrived and despite having only about 15 minutes available I found the bird thanks to great directions from Scott.   The bird was not super cooperative but I managed to get several looks and some marginal photos. Now I have seen and photographed a warbler species in every month this year in Hampshire County...something I have never been able to accomplish before this year.  The Gray Catbird and Ruby crowned Kinglet were both new species for the month for me in the county bringing my total up to 95...a highest total I have ever had for the month of December in Hampshire County.

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 14, 2018

Bobcat, Home, Belchertown, MA, Dec 11, 2018

The game cameras continue to capture good stuff including several captures of a Bobcat.