Warblers Now Arriving

There was a nice front sweeping through last night and it finally brought in some new warblers to Mead Garden. I was looking for the Northern Waterthrush when I noticed something else way back in the underbrush. It is hard to see but it is a Worm-eating Warbler. It never would come out from that spot. Must have had plenty of food back there. It was hanging out with an American Redstart and a Common Yellowthroat.



An Ovenbird was trying to hide in the shadows and only allowed me a rear-view before it vanished across the paths.



As we were about to wind things down, several folks found a Black-throated Blue Warbler. Just then, the maintenance crew decided to start mowing, again, and scared off the birds in the tree. I was able to relocate it a few minutes later.



Finally some new species flowing South. Of course, the real fun is still a couple weeks away.

New Birds at Wekiva

Birds continue their southern run and we had a few new birds for the season out at Wekiva today.

I was bringing in a Veery when I heard some noise over at net 10. I strode over to see a Chickadee in the net about midway down. I was hanging the bag containing the Verry when it up an bolted straight back out again! Dang.

Don't fear, though, as our day ended with a return visit.

The Veerys were increasing in numbers. I was very pleased with this shot. Make it look so soft and fluffy.



The first real surprise of the day was our first of the season Worm-eating Warbler. I think we may have had only 1 last year but it could have been zero.



That was good enough but the best was yet to come. The guys making a net run showed up all excited and announcing they had retreived an Acadian Flycatcher. Excellent! However, when it was brought out of the bag it looked a bit more suspicious to me.

More like a Traill's Flycatcher. Different feather coloration than an Acadian. Different shape to me, too.

We took measurements to eliminate certain species but I kept seeing that open mouth every other time I turned around. Very yellow-orange. Not pinkish. That screamed Alder (one of the two types of Traill's) in the back of my head.

We took a ton of photos from every possible angle and I sent some off to be double-checked. The reply came back: Probable Alder. Definitely not Acadian. Alder it stall be.



Had a growing count for the day but that missed Chickadee still bugged me hours later. I ran the net lanes one more time to determine if we should stay open or go home. I figured it was time to go. On the way back I was told there was a bird waiting for me to take a picture of.



Ain't he cute? Caught in the same net as the bird I lost earlier. I will pretend it is the exact same one.

We had one more surprise before we left. A pair of Eastern Kingbirds flew into the tree above net 9 right next to the banding table before continuing on their journey.



That's what I call a good day.