Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's' subspecies today to end a fairly productive November

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2025

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Myrtle', Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, Nov 30, 2025

Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead and Mallard, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 30, 2025

Common Loon, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 29, 2025

Hooded Mergansers, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 29, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 29, 2025

Red breasted Nuthatch, Quabbin gate 8, Pelham, MA, Nov 28, 2025

Eastern Phoebe, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Nov 27, 2025

Bald Eagle, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 26, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 25, 2025

Common Yellowthroat, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 24, 2025

White crowned Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 24, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Hadley, MA, Nov 23, 2025

A long and rather cold November has come to an end.  A slightly above average total for the month in Hampshire County with a total of 117  species (my third highest ever total for November here).  The very end of the month certainly felt more like winter than fall with cold temps and some flurries.  The highlight by far for me was catching up with an 'Audubon's' subspecies Yellow rumped Warbler that Ted found this morning in Hadley (much more on that bird can be found at the following link: Audubon's Warbler)

This subspecies should be elevated back to full species status at some point.  It is very rare in the area with just one other documented record in western Massachusetts (Greenfield in 1988) and no other records in the county.

With my commitments at home I have stayed fairly close to home most of the time to end the month, concentrating on the south Quabbin area which has gotten me a fair assortment of waterfowl.  There are a number of other lingering species around the area plus increasing numbers of multiple irruptive species.  The forecast looks to feature more winter like conditions as we enter December with a snow storm forecast for Tuesday into Wednesday.