The first few days of the week were ones to savor. After several days of strong southerlies driving birds north without stopping, which also made the shorebirding equally challenging, as we spat sand out of our mouths during our midday trips to the shore, the weather changed, and so did the birds...
Monday dawned dull gray, and thundery. Between bouts of rain, fork lightning, and burst of thunder we walked the woods in High Island and took in the bounty of warblers on offer, many of which hung around for Tuesday too. Over 30 warblers were recorded at the High Island sanctuaries during this dizzy spell for migration junkies like me. I managed to rack up 26 warbler species personally during these few treasured days of the spring, and I was not even chasing! Celebrity species included a number of sky-backed male Cerulean Warblers (and at least two less appreciated females!), a fantastic male Prairie Warbler, a number of "flame-faced" Warblers (i.e. Blackburnian), Yellow-throated Warblers, and the crowning jewel for many present (although not for me as I was ecstatic at the Prairie!), several male Golden-winged Warblers with their chickadee-like face patterns. The latter part of the week has been somewhat frustrating in comparison, and a steep comedown from these heady days, when High Island showed off its best birds to many....we await a rumored front approaching soon for the next wave of migration action to hit soon...
1 comment:
Great capture Sam.
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