This was a comment I heard by an experienced and disappointed birder about the lack of warbler species this May at Col. Sam Smith Park. In most years, a glorious array of warbler species can be seen here at this time of year as they head north to their breeding grounds. Not this year, at least so far. In my own daily outings, there are many species which I usually see but have not this year: Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler and Mourning Warbler.
I had a brief and distant glance at a Black-throated Blue Warbler this morning.
MYSTERY BIRD
I include many photos of these little birds. I will identify them at the end of the post.
Other birds:
MYSTERY BIRD
The spike-like bill indicates a merganser. Usually mergansers show a crest but not always. The dusky appearance, dark head and chest indicate that these are female Hooded Mergansers. My grandfather wrote this about them: The females are very demurely dressed, with tan-coloured crests on a dark body, the crests usually depressed: notably inconspicuous birds.
MAILBOX
NATURE POETRY
My lilac trees are old and tall;
I cannot reach their bloom at all.
They send their perfume over trees
And roofs and streets, to find the bees. – Louise Driscoll (1875–1957)
Miles Hearn