Warbler Mania!

I awoke to cloudy skies, cool temps (44) and foggy conditions.  Not very good weather for birding!  I started the day with a guided bird walk at Tower Hill Botanic Garden from 7-9AM.  We had pretty good luck in spite of the weather.  Highlights included:  Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, and Yellow-Rumped Warbler.  I didn't get many photos because of the poor conditions.

 Baltimore Oriole

 Eastern Bluebird

 American Robin

I happened to know the leader of the walk from our mutual membership in the Mass Butterfly Club, and when she mentioned she was planning to head up to Plum Island after the walk and invited me to join her, I happily agreed.

The sun began to peek through the clouds as we drove north.  Temps climbed into the 50s and later even into the 60s, although it always felt cool on the coast.  Soon we were witnessing numbers of beautiful warblers in relatively short, scrubby trees across from the salt pannes in Parker River NWR.  We had close, beautiful views of Northern Parulas, Yellow Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, Common Yellowthroat and Black-Throated Blue Warblers!

Here are the photo highlights of our visit to Plum Island, a truly wonderful one!  Warblers without warbler neck syndrome (from leaning back to look in treetops).  Close views!   Some of these birds were just a few feet away, and if they flew into another tree, another warbler moved in and took its place.  I have never had an experience like this with warblers.  It was a real treat.

 Eastern Kingbird

 Willet (I think)

 Common Yellowthroat

(the "bandit"

 Northern Parula

again (prettier tree)

 Black-Throated Blue Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Yellow Warbler

 Barn Swallow

 White-Crowned Sparrow

 Great Crested Flycatcher

Veery

Black-and-White Warbler

 Killdeer

Glossy Ibis

Piping Plover

(life bird!)

Purple Martin

Funny--the top of this collection of gourd nesting boxes was decorated with wooden Purple Martins that fooled me when I first saw them (when we arrived).  It wasn't until we were leaving, and stopped here again, that I saw a real Purple Martin!

I wrote a version of this blog post earlier, and when I attempted to add my bird species list for the day, I deleted all of the above.  So this is version #2, and I am happily exhausted from my day.  It was a most wonderful birding outing!  Thanks again to Wendy!

Species list:

1. American Crow
2. American Goldfinch
3. American Redstart
4. American Robin
5. Baltimore Oriole
6. Barn Swallow
7. Black-and-White Warbler
8. Black-Capped Chickadee
9. Black-Throated Blue Warbler
10. Black-Throated Green Warbler
11. Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
12. Blue-Headed Vireo
13. Blue Jay
14. Canada Goose
15. Chipping Sparrow
16. Common Grackle
17. Common Yellowthroat
18. Double-Crested Cormorant
19. Downy Woodpecker
20. Eastern Bluebird
21. Eastern Kingbird
22. Eastern Phoebe
23. Eastern Towhee
24. Gadwall
25. Glossy Ibis
26. Gray Catbird
27. Great Crested Flycatcher
28. Great Black-backed Gull
29. Greater Yellowlegs
30. Killdeer
31. Magnolia Warbler
32. Mallard
33. Marsh Wren
34. Merlin
35. Mourning Dove
36. Mute Swan
37. Northern Cardinal
38. Northern Mockingbird
39. Northern Parula
40. Osprey
41. Ovenbird
42. Piping Plover
43. Purple Finch
44. Purple Martin
45. Red-Bellied Woodpecker
46. Red-Eyed Vireo
47. Red-Tailed Hawk
48. Red-Winged Blackbird
49. Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (song only)
50. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
51. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
52. Scarlet Tanager
53. Snowy Egret
54. Song Sparrow
55. Tree Swallow
56. Tufted Titmouse
57. Veery
58. Vesper Sparrow
59. Warbling Vireo
60. White-Breasted Nuthatch
61. White-Crowned Sparrow
62. White-Throated Sparrow
63. Wild Turkey
64. Willet
65. Yellow Warbler
66. Yellow-Rumped Warbler