Saturday, May 30, 2009

Seventeen warblers are still around

It was a slower day today with the high pressure system and the time of year. Seventy-three new birds with 27 recaptures were netted in 6.5 hours. Seventeen warblers were seen or heard on site including Yellow, Chestnut-sided (several singing), Magnolia, Black-throated Green (singing), Bay-breasted, Blackpoll (singing), Black-and-white, American Redstart, Prothonotary (singing), Ovenbird, Connecticut, Mourning, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded (chipping), Wilson’s, Canada, and Yellow-breasted Chat (singing).

Highlights were a late White-throated Sparrow and a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Everyone said “Is that a White-throat?” Yes, it sure was! Several of the Yellow Warblers captured today had a large amount of fat. They are likely on their way north. The birds that stay here to breed are devoid of fat or energy reserves. Yellow Warblers reach up into northern Canada and Alaska—of course the ones here are not most likely going to Alaska or I would go with them!

Top 7 species:
Wilson’s Warbler – 9
Yellow Warbler – 6
Traill’s Flycatcher – 6
Canada Warbler – 4
Mourning Warbler – 4
Common Yellowthroat – 4
Red-eyed Vireo – 4

Take a look at this guy---I know I had a picture of a Mourning Warbler here before, but did you know that the black would extend to the throat if the gray edges of the feathers on its throat would have wore off like it had on the breast showing the black chevron? Yep, each breast and throat feathers are black underneath with the terminal edged with gray. Birds are amazing!

Enjoy the day! (P.S. doesn't this bird have the same expression as the famous mad bluebird picture?!)

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