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.

Snowy Egret this morning plus several other waders

Snowy Egret, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Snowy Egret, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Snowy Egret and Great Blue Heron, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron and Great Egret, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Great Egret and Great Blue Heron, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Green Heron, Lower Mill Pond, Easthampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Belted Kingfisher, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 9, 2025

White tailed Deer fawn, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 9, 2025

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Golden crowned Kinglet, Quabbin Gate 8, Pelham, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Great Egret, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Green Heron, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Green Herons, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2025

Wood Ducks, Lake Wallace, Belchertown, MA, Aug 8, 2025

It has been a good few days for various wader species in the area with the highlight by far being a Snowy Egret that Theresa found yesterday and I was able to relocate early this morning.  I was up early and out the door to make a trip over to Lower Mill Pond in Easthampton.  I was there before sunrise and was rewarded with a flyby Black crowned Night Heron, which I was never able to relocate on the ground (almost certainly the same individual Theresa also found yesterday).  As I waited for the sun to rise a Great Egret flew in to join the Great Blue Herons and Green Herons already present.  The Great Egret was immediately followed by the Snowy Egret (five waders in perhaps 15 minutes...not bad at all in the valley!).  I got a number of digiscoped shots in the morning light.  I also checked Arcadia and the Holyoke Dam before heading back toward home with a stop off at Lake Wallace.  Yesterday I had my first Great Egret since spring time and also had my highest count so far this year of Green Herons at Lake Wallace with an impressive 31 individuals.   

I also spent some time yesterday exploring at Gate 8 at Quabbin in the quest to track down Red Crossbills and Golden crowned Kinglets for the month and I happily was quite successful with both species present as well as other species. 

In the last few weeks I have a total of eight species of waders with the most unusual among them being White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Least Bittern and the Snowy Egret.  I also had American Bittern in the spring and missed on a Little Blue Heron that showed up when I was unable to chase it...so a very good year for waders so far.

Hermit Thrush, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 7, 2025

Red winged Blackbird, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 7, 2025

Baltimore Oriole and American Robin, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 7, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Black capped Chickadee, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 6, 2025

 

Northern Flicker, Home, Belchertown, MA, Aug 6, 2025

The camera at the water feature has captured quite a few species in the last.....days with a few new ones of the year. I have attached just a small sample of the many photos captured.

At least half a dozen Pine Warblers continue at Winsor Dam plus other sightings from the last several days

Pine Warblers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 20, 2024

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 20, 2024

American Robins, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 20, 2024

Pine Warblers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 20, 2024

Red tailed Hawk, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 19, 2024

Eastern Bluebird, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 19, 2024

Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures, Moody Bridge Rd, Hadley, MA, Feb 19, 2024

Song Sparrow, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, Feb 18, 2024

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 17, 2024

Pine Siskin, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 17, 2024

Golden crowned Kinglet, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Feb 17, 2024

Wilson after a haircut, Home, Belchertown, MA, Feb 16, 2024

I have spent the last several days when I was free mainly keeping a close tab on the continued group of overwintering Pine Warblers at Winsor Dam and although the numbers have varied from day to day, there are at least a half a dozen individuals that continue through today.  Lots more details and photos at the above link in regards to the warblers.  Besides the warblers I have found a number of other notable species both at the dam and at other locations plus the species one would expect here in February, although the waterfowl numbers continue to be low.  Hopefully the numbers will pick up as February ends and March begins.  

Fresh shavings in duck box #1, Home, Belchertown, MA, Feb 16, 2024

Hairy Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker, Home, Belchertown, MA, Feb 18, 2024

Black capped Chickadee with leg bands, Home, Belchertown, MA, Feb 17, 2024

Eastern Bluebirds, Home, Belchertown, MA, Feb 17, 2024

I also got around to checking all the duck boxes at the house to prep them for the upcoming nesting season.  The camera I set up on the suet feeder captured a number of species including a continued banded Black capped Chickadee.