Fantastic morning with Lawrence's Warbler, multiple early warbler species and others

 

Lawrence's Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 13, 2022

Northern Waterthrush, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 13, 2022

Blue winged Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 13, 2022

Tennessee Warbler, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 13, 2022

Northern Parula, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 13, 2022

Following another great night of migration conditions thanks to light northerly winds I headed out after getting out of work this morning.  I made a few stops in Northampton before deciding to try my luck over at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River where I had a few early warblers a couple days ago.  I arrived to rather cool conditions with temps in the 50's and I had hopes some warblers be active in areas being warmed by the early morning sun.  Initially I did not have too much for activity but once I made it to one of the overlooks I quickly found some warbler activity with a Northern Parula and Tennessee Warbler (both early for this date).  There were lots of other birds around too but I eventually decided to move on to cover other areas and I then ran across yet another early migrant warbler with an early Mourning Warbler that briefly popped into view but was not seen again.  Something told me to head back to the original area where I had activity earlier and when I arrived I found a Lawrence's Warbler feeding down fairly low...a very rare hybrid, especially in fall migration (almost certainly the same individual Ted found in the general area a few days before).  I continued to turn up warblers in a few areas before I headed for home and eventually found a dozen species (plus the hybrid) for the morning at Silvio Conte.  More on warblers for the morning can be found at the following link.

Blue Grosbeak, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 12, 2022

Orchard Oriole, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 11, 2022

Common Yellowthroat, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Aug 11, 2022

Canada Warbler, Pelham, MA, Aug 9, 2022

Red Fox, Holyoke Dam, South Hadley, MA, Aug 9, 2022

Tennessee Warbler, Ware, MA, Aug 8, 2022

Besides my great morning today I have gotten out a bit the last several days before and after days at work and have found a number of continued rarities as well as early migrants and some lingering species.  Early migrants before today have included multiple Northern Parula and Tennessee Warblers (including my earliest record ever for the species for the fall).  Lingering species have included a few Orchard Orioles as well as Louisiana Waterthrush.  Rarities have included flyover Black bellied Plovers, multiple Red Crossbills and Blue Grosbeaks.

Chipping Sparrows, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 11, 2022

Carolina Wren, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 11, 2022

Black and White Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 11, 2022

Black capped Chickadees with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 11, 2022

Chestnut sided Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 10, 2022

American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 10, 2022

American Robins, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 9, 2022

After a bit of a lull for the middle of summer I have set the camera back up on the water feature and I captured a number of species with four species of warbler in just a few days.  With all the dry weather I suspect the water feature will capture more good stuff as fall migration really starts picking up.