MACGILLIVRAYS'S WARBLER in Hadley! (plus other rarities in the area)

MacGillivray's Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 13, 2017

MacGillivray's Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 13, 2017

MacGillivray's Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 13, 2017

MacGillivray's Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 13, 2017

White crowned Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 13, 2017

American Tree Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 13, 2017

A MacGillivray's Warbler has shown up in Hampshire County for probably just the second time ever and the first time when there has been multiple observers and it has been well documented.  The bird was found yesterday by Ted Gilliland and seen by several others late in the day.  I got a few phone calls and messages about the bird but I couldn't check them due to other obligations until it was too late in the day to try for the bird.  I had high hopes to relocate it this morning but my hopes were tempered by the fact that unusual warblers can be difficult (or impossible) to relocate after the initial sighting.  I arrived before dawn and started my morning by scanning the fields of the Honey Pot for any owls that might be coursing over the fields in search of prey.  No luck on the owl front so I headed down the road to 'That's a Plenty a Farm' and started listening and looking for the bird.  After just a few minutes I heard it call just a couple times but I could not relocate it at that point.  A few other birders (Mary, Scott and Mike) arrived and we all started looking for it.  It called a few more times but still would not show itself.  After quite a bit of time Mike got a brief look at the bird and then the bird started to show itself a bit more and started calling more regularly before it flew across the road into a small green patch were it stayed largely out of view and silent for quite some time, offering just fleeting glimpses.  After a patient and quiet wait in the cold, the bird finally showed well (if briefly) before disappearing again.  I managed to get a few photos and some recordings of the call but it required quite a bit of patience.  Although I have seen MacGillivray's Warblers out west on many occasions this is the first time I have seen one on the east coast.  Obviously this was a new species for me in Hampshire County, becoming species #293 for me in the county (it also became the 35th species of warbler for me in the county...more on that (plus additional info on MacGillivray's Warblers in the east) at the following link: MacGillivray's Warbler additional details).  Besides the star attraction at the Honey Pot other notables included a White crowned Sparrow and a Chipping Sparrow (both getting late) in among my first American Tree Sparrows of the season.  Full eBird list at the following link: Honey Pot

White eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 13, 2017

White eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 13, 2017

White eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 13, 2017

Red throated Loon, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 13, 2017

After getting a text from Keenan I decided to try my luck across the river with a few other rarities that showed up in the last few days including a Red throated Loon at the Oxbow and a White eyed Vireo at the nearby Arcadia Sanctuary.  I got the loon as soon as I pulled up next to the metal bridge although trying to get decent shots of the bird was somewhat difficult due to the distance and the bird constantly diving for food.  After getting a few others on the loon I stopped over to Arcadia where I joined a few others in looking for the vireo.  It was seen prior to my arrival but had been offering just fleeting glimpses.  After quite a bit of time the bird popped up and fed well above the tangles it had been in and allowed decent views (and a few photos).  You know it is a good day when a White eyed Vireo in the county in November is the second best bird of the day!  Full list with additional photos at the following link: Arcadia