Mark Chao decided to accept the challenge of finding me my first
breeding male Bay-breasted Warbler at Sapsucker Woods this morning.
As he had found one on his last five visits, he was feeling
confident. However, after we first wandered the trails near the
Woodleton Boardwalk, where he had been seeing them recently, his
confidence started to slide. Birds were few and far between, with a
singing WINTER WREN and a lone EASTERN WOOD-PEEWEE being among the
few highlights. There were also a couple of singing BLUE-WINGED
WARBLERS along the powerlines.
We made our way over Sapsucker Woods Rd and onto the Wilson Trail,
and there continued to be few warblers singing. We did, however, have
nice looks at a couple of VEERIES. Things started to pick up as we
moved along the northern stretch of the Wilson Trail, with nice looks
at a singing CANADA WARBLER, and then, in complete accordance with my
luck, a surprising female BAY-BREASTED WARBLER! Over the past weeks,
Mark had only ever seen males in the woods, and it was just like me
to go and find the only female. By the time we got to the end/start
of the trail, we hadn't found much else apart from some redstarts
with very confusing songs.
At this point, it was about 7.30am and we decided it might be
worthwhile to backtrack and do another take of the woods to see if
the action picks up with the warming conditions. This time, Mark
remembered to turn on his magnetic super-powers (he must've
accidentally hit the 'off' switch earlier in the morning). Almost
immediately, in a single little spruce not far from the start of the
trail, we found a female CAPE MAY WARBLER, a female MAGNOLIA WARBLER,
several Yellow-rumped Warblers, a male BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, and my
long-awaited male BAY-BREASTED WARBLER!! Mark also saw a YELLOW-
BELLIED FLYCATCHER. What a tree!
The bird activity in general had really picked up by this stage, and
in addition to species already mentioned we heard/saw NORTHERN
PARULA, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and TENNESSEE
WARBLER. We also saw a SWAINSON'S THRUSH foraging along with a Veery
in the woods on the western side of the pond. Finally, there was a
BLUE-HEADED VIREO with a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers along
the Podell Boardwalk.
Thanks Mark for a great morning of birding in Sapsucker Woods. You
achieved what a long line of people have tried and failed!
Chris Wiley
Ithaca
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html
2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
--
