MI - Warblers in Spring Part III

Kentucky Warbler - Tawas Point SP, Michigan. May 18th, 2019.

Originally found by Scott Surner on May 15th and looking somewhat bedraggled by May 18th. 

Despite having fabulous views of Kirtland's Warblers the previous evening, we returned on Sunday morning for a second helping and to enjoy some of the other species that we'd seen all-too-briefly the day before. These included Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush and Nashville Warbler. We worked hard for Upland Sandpipers but couldn't find any before moving onto Hartwick Pines State Park for fantastic views of Evening and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Winter Wren. And there was even a Barred Owl calling the classic 'who-cooks-for-you' in the middle of the morning. The afternoon was dedicated to Bobolinks around Mio and the early evening to marshland birds where we heard lots of Soras and Virginia Rails but couldn't work-up any magic with Yellow Rail.

Winter Wren - Hartwick Pines SP, near Grayling, Michigan. May 17th, 2019. 

Evening Grosbeaks - Hartwick Pines SP, near Grayling, Michigan. May 17th, 2019. 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Oak Openings, Ohio. May 14th, 2019. 

We rounded off a brilliant spring trip with time spent at another migration hotspot, Tawas Point State Park. It was alive with migrant warblers and vireos, not least of which was a lingering Kentucky Warbler found on May 15th be fellow Pioneer Valley birder Scott Surner. We also enjoyed more Golden-winged and Orange-crowned Warblers, and what could only be described as a 'flock' of Philadelphia Vireos on the very last morning of the trip. I dare say that had we been given more time, Tawas Point would have kept on giving to us. John and I rounded up a stunning tour with 31 species of wood-warbler recorded. A big miss this year was Mourning Warbler but then the views that we had of Connecticut Warbler at Magee Marsh seemed like an appropriate trade off and there were no complaints forthcoming from us!

Blackpoll Warbler - Tawas Point SP, Michigan. May 18th, 2019. 

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Tawas Point SP, Michigan. May 19th, 2019.

Philadelphia Vireo - Tawas Point SP, Michigan. May 19th, 2019.

MA - late afternoon rush - 09/06

After my post concerning a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in our yard this morning, I wasn't expecting the need for a second post today. But late this afternoon there was a very nice 'surge' of migrants, again our in yard on Main Road, Gill, these being highlighted to by two Philadelphia Vireos as well as a couple of Red-eyed Vireos and a singing Warbling Vireo. The Philly Vireos were both typically active behaving much like kinglets with frequent hovering. One was rather drab with most of the yellow on the throat and upper breast and the other very bright with a stronger yellow suffusion on the whole of underparts. Two rather sluggish Red-eyed Vireos provided a nice, close comparison.

Philadelphia Vireos - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. September 6th, 2013.

Canon Powershot G10.



Flycatcher activity improved from the morning with a couple of Least Flycatchers, the continuing Willow/Alder Flycatcher, a juvenile Eastern Phoebe and an Eastern Wood Pewee. Warblers included 3 American Redstarts and a surprise male Black-throated Blue Warbler, a species which we've seen just a couple of times in the yard to date, and a smart Chestnut-sided Warbler. Veery and Hermit Thrush also appeared simultaneously. Earlier in the afternoon, a reasonably large wave of about 65 Common Grackles 'swept' through the yard, only staying for about five minutes.

Eastern Wood Pewee - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. September 6th, 2013.

Canon Powershot G10.



American Redstart - Gill yard, Franklin Co., MA. September 6th, 2013.

Canon Powershot G10.