Sunday, September 3, 2006
One more round with the warblers?
Northern Waterthrush
It was eerily quiet yesterday morning at Pheasant Branch Conservancy - is fall warbler migration already drawing to a close? There were only a few Magnolia Warblers, American Redstarts, Black-and-white Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, one each for Northern Waterthrush and Black-throated Green Warbler. The peak day seemed to be last Tuesday with 17 warbler species, but I have a feeling there's still a second wave on the way.
Palm Warbler
We have yet to see Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, but it does seem like we've already observed peak activity for other warblers. Last year there were high numbers of warblers through the first week of September, in fact 20 warbler species on the 8th and 10-species days through mid month. Still, it's impossible to lament having tallied 21 warbler species over the course of the past two weeks:
Chestnut-sided Warbler - Lots.
Magnolia Warbler - Lots.
Cape May Warbler - Just one.
Blackburnian Warbler - Several.
Black-throated Blue Warbler - Two.
Black-throated Green Warbler - A few.
Blackpoll Warbler - Just one.
Bay-breasted Warbler - A couple.
Tennessee Warbler - Lots.
Nashville Warbler - Several.
Blue-winged Warbler - Just one.
Golden-winged Warbler - Several.
Northern Parula - A couple.
Black-and-white Warbler - Lots.
American Redstart - Way many.
Common Yellowthroat - Several.
Mourning Warbler - Just one.
Northern Waterthrush - A few.
Ovenbird - Three.
Canada Warbler - Four.
Wilson's Warbler - Several.
Nashville Warbler
I'm leading a field trip for the Madison Audubon Society on Wednesday, September 6th and this will be one of our last opportunities to view these feathered gems until next spring!
Warbler Walk at Pheasant Branch - Mike McDowell
"Come see early fall migrants with an emphasis on warblers, vireos and flycatchers at Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the dead-end street by Parisi Park (where Park Lawn St. and Park St. meet). Rain or shine."
All images © 2006 Mike McDowell