Warbler Wane

Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens

Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

NDG, May 16

-‘Just’ 28 species in 2 hours (2 warblers)

-I know the warbler pulse is still fully underway - I just didn't spot many this morning

-12 degrees and sunny, felt cool…last of the cool

-The trees have almost fully leafed out

-The little bugs that fly into eye holes are have started back up

-Single ('solitary') Blue-headed Vireo on the way in was my first of the year

-One singing Eastern Phoebe

-A flyover Red-winged Blackbird was my first confirmed record for the site (Species #85)

-No warblers for most of the outing, until I heard a Yellow-rumped Warbler on the way out

-A block from home, in a small church park area, several Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1 male and 2 females) and a Black-throated Blue Warbler were a nice way to cap off the walk. The Grosbeaks flew off in a hurry, whereas the warbler lingered high in the treetop, snatching at insects. I called Rose-breasted Grosbeaks ‘Cutthroat Finches.’