Foggy morning in Hadley and the latest update on Hurricane Matthew

Common Yellowthroat, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 8, 2016

Savannah Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 8, 2016

Palm Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 8, 2016

Lincoln's Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 8, 2016

Chipping Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 8, 2016

Hermit Thrush, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 8, 2016

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 8, 2016

I spent a foggy morning at the Honey Pot and although I didn't find anything too unusual there were lots of sparrows around as well as some warblers (among other stuff).  It actually looked like the fog might burn off not long after the sun came up but then the fog just got thicker and thicker and was still not burned off when I left around 9:30.  I also hung up a hummingbird feeder at 'That's a Plenty Farm' (with the owners permission) that hopefully will keep a vagrant hummer that shows up there...hopefully. Full list from the morning here:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31946338

Black and White Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 8, 2016

Black and White Warbler, Belchertown Land Trust trail, Belchertown, MA, Oct 8, 2016

A walk with Wilson along the land trust trail in Belchertown turned up a somewhat late Black and White Warbler among the other more expected species.  I was pleasantly surprised that I got some decent shots of the bird with my new phone through my binoculars. I have actually managed to find ten species of warbler in the last two days which I'm quite happy with.

As expected the reports of hurricane related birds from down in the southeast continue to increase today with the landfall of Hurricane Matthew in South Carolina.  I have not been able to come across much from that area as of now but the latest Florida reports include a well photographed Black capped Petrel on a lake near Gainesville today (providing a second county record there) and a possible Caribbean Martin in the keys.  I'm sure something else unusual will show up in the carolinas and I will post when I hear about anything else.

Another morning visit to Arcadia and the Honey Pot and the latest on Hurricane Matthew

Savannah Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Field Sparrow, Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 7, 2016

White crowned Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Northern Harrier, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Song Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Swamp Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2016

Bobolink, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 7, 2016

I birded a bit after getting out of work this morning and although it once again started out a bit cool (40's) and foggy it eventually turned sunny and warmed up into the mid 70's...very nice for early October to be sure.  I started off at Arcadia and the best bird by far was a Connecticut Warbler along the trolley line and in the same spot I also had a couple Northern Parula.  Still decent sparrow numbers and diversity but the total numbers were down from a few days ago.  My next stop over at the Honey Pot also produced good numbers and diversity of sparrow but nothing too unusual.  A total of ten species of sparrows and five species of warbler for the morning.  Full lists with lots more photos attached below.

Arcadia:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31930640

Honey Pot:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31930642

Hurricane Matthew projected path, Oct 7, 2016 (NHC)

Hurricane Matthew continues its trek up along the Florida coast after striking the Bahamas as a category 4 storm and likely causing some major damage.  I hope everyone (bird, animal and human) in the path makes it through without any major difficulty.  As far as hurricane related birds so far the best report I have heard so far was a Mangrove Swallow spotted in Florida (Curry Hammock SP in the keys) by a couple very experienced birdes.  I'm certain additional unusual birds will be reported from the southeast over the coming days as the storm works up to South Carolina and then goes out to sea and continues to weaken.