Western Cattle Egret and four species of warblers this morning

Western Cattle Egret, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

With temps that eventually made it to the upper 50's and sunny and calm conditions and a few late warbler species in the area lately I decided to try my luck at tracking as many warbler species as I could this morning...a sorta big warbler day in mid November.  I had my spots I wanted to hit and had good luck at each for both warblers and other stuff.

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

I started at the UMASS campus pond before the sun came up in the hopes that at least one of the Common Yellowthroats present there at the beginning of the month continued until today but no luck.  The area near where I had two yellowthroats before featured two students on a see saw raising money by see sawing for 24 hours...the activity and noise made tracking down warblers there impossible.  Next I headed down along the river in Hadley to find at least one Yellow rumped Warbler and found at least three...hopefully these will continue into the rapidly approaching winter season.

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

American Black Duck, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

White throated Sparrow, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 16, 2023

My next stop was down to Mount Holyoke College to try to find the continued Wilson's Warbler.  I got there a little before 7:30 and it was still fairly cold.  I made a quick walk around the area and didn't have any luck initially but I thought I heard but could not confirm it so I kept walking around.  As I was standing in the small garden a yellow blur went by and landed in some weeds and then popped up low in a tree.  The Wilson's Warbler had made an appearance and was seen feeding very actively.  With two warbler species down I left the college and headed north to try to find a Nashville Warbler.

Western Cattle Egret, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Nov 16, 2023

As I was on my way from Mount Holyoke College up to Great Pond I made a brief detour down to the East Meadows see if a reported Western Cattle Egret was still around and I found it right away (thanks Joe) as it chilled on a fence post near a small barn (the new name of Western Cattle Egret is the result of a split giving the world Western Cattle Egret and Eastern Cattle Egret).

Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Song Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

House Finch, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

White crowned Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Field Sparrow, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Golden crowned Kinglet, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Green winged Teal, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Once I arrived at Great Pond I was able to locate the continued Nashville Warbler fairly quickly and got some much better photos.  I then spent the next hour plus in a fruitless attempt to find a Palm Warbler in the area.  Although I failed on finding a Palm Warbler I did find some good stuff including 60+ Green winged Teal, three Great Blue Herons, a couple Field Sparrows and a White crowned Sparrow.

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Chipping Sparrow, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

House Finch, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

Red tailed Hawk, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

White throated Sparrow, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 16, 2023

I then made the drive back east with my destination being Winsor Dam to look for some of the Pine Warblers that have been hanging in the area.  It took over an hour of wandering around before I finally came across the flock the Pine Warblers were in.  I counted at least half a dozen individuals with a variety of plumages from bright yellow to gray.  Probably the largest group I have had of Pine Warblers this late in the season.  During my search for the warblers I had a variety of species including two late Chipping Sparrows among the large flock that contained the Pine Warblers.

By the end of the morning I had found four species of warblers, a new species for me for the year in the county with the Western Cattle Egret and several other lingering species among a total of 60 species.  Much more on the warblers for the morning at the following link.

Tufted Duck in Hampden County to end out the second week of November (plus several other late species)

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 14, 2023

Tufted Duck (really!), Whiting Street Reservoir, Holyoke, MA, Nov 14, 2023

Mute Swan, Whiting Street Reservoir, Holyoke, MA, Nov 14, 2023

Golden crowned Kinglet, Hadley, MA, Nov 14, 2023

Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Hadley, MA, Nov 14, 2023

Great Blue Heron, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 14, 2023

To finish out the second week of November I decided to finally head out of Hampshire County to see the continuing Tufted Duck at the Whiting Street Reservoir in Holyoke in Hampden County.  I arrived just as it was getting bright enough to see and I walked up to the dam and started scanning through the fog.  I found a number of waterfowl species and found the Tufted Duck in the same general area as some Ring necked Ducks.  The bird was on the far shore so getting any photos was tough to say the least.  The small tuft was hardly ever visible so had to use some other field marks to make the ID.  As I waited for the fog to lift a bit a Peregrine Falcon came in and scattered a lot of the waterfowl present.  Some settled further south on the reservoir but I didn't feel like walking around the whole reservoir to try to get better looks.  I saw the Peregrine Falcon feeding on something and hopefully it was not the Tufted Duck!  I previously saw Tufted Ducks in Germany and Iceland during a trip to Europe in 2019 but never before in the US so it was nice to see this one today (even if it was a crappy view).   I then worked my way along the river with several stops including a stop down to check on the Wilson's Warbler in South Hadley, which I found after a little looking and set a new late record for me for the species in Hampshire County.  As I continued to work north and then east I found a host of other species and spent most of my time trying to track down late species (especially warblers) without too much luck.  Hopefully a brief warm up coming for the end of the week will make some lingering species more cooperative.

Field Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Nov 13, 2023

Nashville Warbler, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 13, 2023

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 13, 2023

Gray Catbird, Great Pond, Hatfield, MA, Nov 13, 2023

Pine Warblers, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2023

Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 13, 2023

Yesterday was the coldest morning of the rapidly approaching winter with lows around 20, thankfully it was sunny with calm conditions so it was not too bad.  I had to be in Hadley mid morning to pick up my new car so I decided to spend my morning in the area.  I started off at Paradise Pond at Smith College to check in on the trio of Pink footed Geese that have been in the area for weeks now.  The three birds were flying out with a group of Canada Geese when I arrived so no photos.  I waited around a bit in the hopes they would return without any luck (they did reappear for others a little later in the morning).  I check a few nearby spots in the direction they were heading but only found Canada Geese.  I then decided to head up to Great Pond to try to relocate the very late Nashville Warbler Scott found there a couple days ago.  Once I arrived I quickly found a Ruby crowned Kinglet and then the Nashville Warbler as well as a Gray Catbird...a nice selection of late species for sure.  It took much longer to get any photos of the warbler with some success eventually.  This sighting set a new late date for me for the species in the county (more on the warblers for the day at the following link).  I eventually worked my way back toward home and made a stop at Winsor Dam mainly looking for waterfowl (and finding almost none).  I did find at least three Pine Warblers among the juncos and bluebirds feeding in the grass and thickets.

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Hadley, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Pine Warbler, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Chipping Sparrow, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Black Vultures, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 12, 2023

Turkey Vulture, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 12, 2023

After work on Sunday morning I tried unsuccessfully to find the Pink footed Geese at Smith College and then moved on to tracking down warblers.  My first stop along the river in Hadley where I have overwintering Yellow rumped Warblers in the past produced at least half a dozen of the species.  I then moved down to Mount Holyoke College to see if the Wilson's Warbler was still around.  I eventually found it and tied my latest date ever for the species in the county.  As I was rapidly running out of energy I made my last stop of the morning Winsor Dam where I found a couple Chipping Sparrows as well as at least a couple Pine Warblers.  This gave me three species of warblers for the day...very respectable for the date.  I had to be over in Hadley in the afternoon so I took advantage and made a stop at Hickory Ridge Conservation Area and turned up at least five Black Vultures and three Turkey Vultures.  

Dark eyed Junco, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 10, 2023

Long tailed Ducks, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, Nov 10, 2023

Golden crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Nov 10, 2023

Wilson resting after a walk, Home, Nov 10, 2023

Saturday I had to work so only a little birding before heading in and I didn't find anything notable.  On my in between days of work on Friday I tried once again to find some waterfowl at Winsor Dam and found at least some including three Long tailed Ducks and a Red breasted Mergansers.  Thursday was another workday and it was cold and rainy for most of the day and an early stop at the dam on my way in didn't produce too much.

Eastern Phoebe, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 8, 2023

Turkey Vulture, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 8, 2023

Cedar Waxwing, Hadley Malls Hadley, MA, Nov 8, 2023

Peregrine Falcon, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 8, 2023

I had the day off to begin the second week of the month and it was breezy and cold which made tracking down any passerines tough.  I made a few stops in Amherst and Hadley and my best stuff included a few Turkey Vultures and a continued Eastern Phoebe.

Several lingering species during the first week of the month

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023

Eastern Towhee, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Nov 1, 2023

Field Sparrow, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Nov 1, 2023

Purple Finch, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Nov 1, 2023

Wilson enjoying the first snow, Nov 1, 2023

The first week of November has come to an end and although it started off cold with lows down in the 20's and highs in the 40's it eventually warmed a bit by the end of the period.  I was fighting the tail end of a cold to start the new month plus I had multiple busy days at work so did not get out birding as much as I would have liked.  Nonetheless I got out some and found a number of lingering species including a very late Wilson's Warbler.  I only got out a little on the 1st to take Wilson for a walk before the arrival of some rain and snow but did find a few good species including a late Eastern Towhee.  Wilson was certainly happy to see at least a little snow.

Swamp Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 2, 2023

Song Sparrow, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 2, 2023

Turkey Vulture, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 2, 2023

Red tailed Hawk, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 2, 2023

Fox Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 2, 2023

Field Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 2, 2023

Eastern Phoebe, Hickory Ridge Conservation Area, Amherst, MA, Nov 2, 2023

Ruby crowned Kinglet, Belchertown, MA, Nov 2, 2023

Blue headed Vireo, Belchertown, MA, Nov 2, 2023

A chilly morning started off the second day of the month and I made a number of stops and the highlights included a Eastern Phoebe, a Blue headed Vireo, another late Eastern Towhee, a Clay colored Sparrow and a number of Turkey Vultures.  Although quite chilly the brilliant sun took the edge off.

Common Yellowthroat, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 4, 2023

Song Sparrow, UMASS, Amherst, MA, Nov 4, 2023

White throated Sparrow, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 4, 2023

Work on Friday kept birding to a minimum as it was just too dark to go far in the morning before heading in.  Once I was free from work on Saturday morning I made my first attempt to locate the Wilson's Warbler that has been hanging out at the botanic garden at Mount Holyoke College.  I had no luck finding the warbler but the cool temps and the early morning visit probably kept the bird less active.  I had some better luck finding late warblers at UMASS with at least two (possibly three) Common Yellowthroats around the campus pond.

Northern Harrier, Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River, Hadley, MA, Nov 5, 2023

I had a little more light in the morning on Sunday thanks to the return to standard time and I took advantage by spending some time at Silvio Conte NWR-Fort River and turned up three Northern Harriers (including one vocalizing a bit) and an Eastern Meadowlark plus the collection of starlings at the location mimicking a number of species.

Wilson's Warbler, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023

American Robin, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023

White throated Sparrow, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023

Cedar Waxwings, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, Nov 6, 2023

After getting out of work on Monday morning I tried again for the Wilson's Warbler in South Hadley and this time I had more success after about 45 minutes of looking.  It was great to see the bird still around and looking quite content.  I made a few other stops on my home and added a few more notable species including several Turkey Vultures, a continued Eastern Meadowlark and a Palm Warbler.

Pine Siskin, Rail trail, Ware, MA, Nov 7, 2023

To end out the week I started along the rail trail in Ware and despite the breezy conditions and no sun (and a little rain at the end) I found a continued late Eastern Towhee and some other expected species.  I made a few other brief stops and struck out on finding anything unusual.  Eventually the day got sunny (at least at times) and the temps topped off in the mid 60's...not a bad way to end the first week of November.  Still waiting the big arrival of waterfowl.