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We're out here in New England again, for our usual summer trip visiting family and friends - much of it based here in rural Western Massachusetts at Am's folks place (where she grew up), with various adventures elsewhere, more of which to follow. Birding sessions are very much opportunistic and as-and-when, as ever here, but despite that - and the time of year, limited habitat, etc. - it's never dull.
Nor are Chestnut-sided Warblers, even at this point in their annual cycle. Breeding males in fresh plumage are stunning birds, but after an intense season raising a family they're all pretty skanky by now; fresh juveniles, however, look very smart indeed (and entirely different) - all bold eye-rings, stonking wing-bars and bright green upperparts.
They're very much one of the default wood warblers around here at this time of year, and are generally loud, quite tame and receptive a sneaky pish. (Much) more from the trip to come over the coming days.
