A big warm up and multiple nights of good migration conditions

Purple Martin and Tree Swallows, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Purple Martin, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Northern Cardinal with nest material, Bachelor Brook Conservation Area, South Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Mourning Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Gray cheeked Thrush, Belchertown, MA, May 19, 2026

Raccoon swimming, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 19, 2026

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2026

Lawrence's Warbler, Hardwick, MA, May 18, 2026

Gray Catbird, Ware, MA, May 18, 2026

Butterfly species, Quabbin Park, MA, May 18, 2026

Blue gray Gnatcatcher constructing nest, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2026

Rainbow Scarab, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2026

Solitary Sandpiper, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Tree Swallow with nest material, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, May 17, 2026

Bay breasted Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Worm eating Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Blackpoll Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2026

Hooded Merganser eggs in duck box #2, Home, Belchertown, MA, May 17, 2026

We have had multiple nights of great migration conditions thanks to southerly winds that also ushered in record setting temps in the 90's.  As expected I have been out as much as I can each morning before returning to take the Wilson for his required walk.  Even with some species still moving through to points to the north breeding activity around here is in full swing with the first waterfowl young out and about and many species collecting nesting material and building nests.  I have added several new species for the year in the county as well as some rarities.  The highlights included Purple Martin, Gray cheeked Thrush, Yellow breasted Chat, two new species of warbler for the year as part of my warbler big year in the US and a Lawrence's Warbler.  Migration has now peaked at this point and now we begin the downhill slide of another spring migration.  

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.

Big influx of Blackpoll Warblers the last couple mornings (plus others)

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Ovenbird, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Morning Glory with honeybee, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Wilson sleeping, Belchertown, MA, Sep 27, 2025

Cape May Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Blackpoll Warbler, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Eastern Wood Pewee, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Northern Parula, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Wood Duck, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Great Egret, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2025

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 26, 2025

After a couple of days with some rain the last two mornings have returned us to sunny and somewhat warm conditions.  Although the winds were not perfect for migration the birds certainly pushed in with the most impressive arrivals being large numbers of Blackpoll Warblers.  I had one spot that held over 30 in less than a mile of walking this morning and multiple spots over the last two mornings have held double digit counts of the species.  Other warblers have also put on a good showing with Northern Parula and Cape May Warblers topping the list.  Other migrants have been around too with increasing numbers of both species of kinglets, continued numbers of Red breasted Nuthatches as well as others.  I have concentrated on warblers mainly so have not checked any of the flooded fields along the river where others have turned up a few shorebirds (nothing I have not yet had for the year so happy I didn't make the drive over and take away from my warbler time!).  I did make some quick checks at Winsor Dam as well as Lake Wallace and didn't find anything unusual.   I expect the next big push to come Sunday night after the passage of a cold front.  Until that happens we have a few days of above normal temps with highs in the upper 70's to 80's until the end of the month.