A couple nights of decent migration brings in the birds

Black throated Blue Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2026

Blue Jay, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2026

Baltimore Oriole, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2026

White throated Sparrow, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 5, 2026

American Redstart, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 5, 2026

Bald Eagles, Quabbin Park, MA, May 5, 2026

The last couple nights have featured the best migration of the spring so far with loads of birds arriving including some rarities.  Yesterday I was guiding for a birder from India and we had a very productive morning. I birded a bit before I picked her up and then we started at the rail trail where we had a number of lifers for her and a few new species for me for the year here.  It was certainly obvious an influx of species had occurred overnight.  After about an hour and half along the rail trail we decided to head a bit south to Mitch's Way to look for more migrants and a Hooded Warbler.  We successful found more migrant species and heard the Hooded Warbler.  With the Hooded Warbler and an earlier Canada Warbler I ticked off two more species on my way to a warbler big year in the US.

Black and White Warbler, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

American Redstart, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

Northern Parula, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 5, 2026

As an indication of the influx I had three new warbler species at the water feature for the day.  

Black and White Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2026

Wilson's Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2026

Veery, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2026

Blue winged Warbler with black forehead, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2026

Brewster's Warbler, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2026

Gray Catbird, Rail Trail, Amherst, MA, May 6, 2026

Eastern Towhee, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, May 6, 2026

Blue winged Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, May 6, 2026

Prairie Warbler, Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA, May 6, 2026

Raccoon, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 6, 2026

Today was not as nice as yesterday with mainly overcast and breezy conditions until midday when rain got added to the mix for the rest of the day.  Although a bit too windy at times I still got out to cover a few areas and caught up with a few good ones today including the continued Hooded Warbler (still not photogenic, the Brewster's Warbler, an unusually plumaged Blue winged Warbler, two new species of warbler in the county for the year (Tennessee Warbler and Wilson's Warbler) and a total of six new species for me in the county for the year.  The main areas I hit for the morning before the rain included Mitch's Way, rail trail in Amherst and Herman Covey WMA.

Great start to October with a possible Yellow rumped Warbler hybrid plus lots of late migrants

Yellow rumped Warbler (possible hybrid or aberrant individual with yellow throat, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Black throated Blue Warbler with unusual plumage, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Orange crowned Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Blackburnian Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Golden crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Blue headed Vireo, Belchertown, MA, Oct 2, 2025

Red tailed Hawk, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 1, 2025

Eastern Phoebe, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Oct 1, 2025

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2025

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Oct 1, 2025

Despite a cool down the last couple days and breezy conditions I have had some interesting birds as I have concentrated on warblers to start off the month and have found 16 species of warblers so far including two very unusual individuals.  Both individuals were in the same general area of each other among a mixed flock in Belchertown.  The first was a Yellow rumped Warbler with a yellow throat that is either a hybrid of the Audubon's and Myrtle subspecies or an aberrant plumaged individual.  The jury is still out on what to actual call the bird...no matter what it is it was certainly exciting to run across (and actually get photos of!).  The other interesting bird was a male Black throated Blue Warbler with a white throat and additional white plumage on the flank.  The last couple nights (especially September 30th into October 1st) were big migration nights and the influx of late season passerine migrants has been impressive with loads of Golden crowned and Ruby crowned Kinglets as well as multiple species of sparrows at every stop.  Raptors have also been moving too with some great looks at multiple species.  We are headed toward another warm up through the weekend and then we will see another cold front come through by mid next week.  

September ends on a warm note

Swamp Sparrow, Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Sep 30, 2025

Green Heron, Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Sep 30, 2025

Black throated Blue Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 30, 2025

White throated Sparrow, Ware, MA, Sep 30, 2025

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Golden crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Blue headed Vireo, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Black Bear, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

Spotted Apatelodes Caterpillar, Home, Belchertown, MA, Sep 29, 2025

The month of September has now come to an end and it ended on a sunny and warm note (high of 80) The last few mornings of the month have found me out looking for migrants and finding many plus a fair number of mammals (including several Black Bears).  I continued to concentrate on warblers and found a few late ones as well as some around in atypical numbers for the date.  I have also found a number of non warbler species including a few late ones (including a flyover Barn Swallow at the house yesterday and a couple Tree Swallows elsewhere today).  The numbers of later season migrant passerines such as both species of kinglets as well as multiple species of sparrows (especially White throated Sparrows) have also increased the last couple mornings.  Sadly September brings to a close the peak of warbler migration but the incoming month of October does bring an increase in sparrow numbers as well as increasing variety of waterfowl.  The chance of vagrant species also continues to rise as fall migration continues to press on.  I ended the month with 161 species in Hampshire County which is about an average number of species for me for the month.

Great migration conditions overnight brings in birds

Northern House Wren, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Cape May Warbler, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Gray Catbird, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Cedar Waxwing, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Blackpoll Warbler, Ware, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Hermit Thrush, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Wood Thrush, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Ovenbird, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Reed Conservation Area, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Common Merganser, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Black throated Blue Warbler, Quabbin Gate 5, Belchertown, MA, Sep 11, 2024

Last might featured the biggest night of migration yet for the fall season with an estimated 1.7 million plus birds flying over Hampshire County (info from Birdcast).  It was a very cool morning to start (mid 40's) and the first day I needed a winter hat.  It eventually warmed up to the 80's by the end of the day.  I walked in a variety of areas and had a total of nearly 80 species with some decent mixed flocks and good numbers of a few species.  My back finally started feeling better today (thanks to time and meds) so I was out a bit longer enjoying the weather.