May 17 - Garret Mountain

A new species, of recent days regulars, is a Great Egret that was on the pond this morning.

Later a Peregrine Falcon flew through the park. Least Flycatcher and Phoebe were seen again after a short spell where I did not see them daily. And a new thrush was in the park today, in the form of Gray-Cheeked. Of all the other thrushes, I always remark how confiding the Gray-Cheeked is. The other thrushes seem to flush farther and quicker than this cold colored bird . In fact, many times the bird just moves a meter or two, and rarely getting more than a few feet of altitude.
credit: martinreid.com

The 14 species of warbler were: Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-Sided, Magnolia, BT Blue, Yellow-Rumped, BT Green, Blackpoll, B & W, Redstart, Ovenvird, N. Waterthrush, a nice look at Mourning Warbler (which happens to be a species I missed last year because I was out of town during their main migration period), Common Yellowthroat, and Canada.

A pair of Lincoln's Sparrows put in an appearance below the white birches, near the Basketball Courts. A lone Swamp Sparrow was seen, and both Orioles gave me wonderful hues to enjoy.

May 14 - Garret Mountain

After a few days off it was nice to renew my morning ritual. Birding just an hour or two, especially here in May, before going to work is a great way to cut some stress out of your life.

To the birds...Flycatchers were light today with just Great-Crested Fly, as were the thrushes -- but sometimes that is simply a function of where you birded in the park. With all of the "micro-habitats" present here, if you bird just half of the park you can miss lots of species.

Warbler show for the day, starring: Northern Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May makes a return, BT Blue, Yellow-Rump, BT Green, Blackburnian, Bay-Breasted, B & W, Redstart, Ovenbird, Yellowthroat for 14 species.

Chestnut-Sided Warbler:
credit: www.ownbyphotography.com

May 11 - Garret Mountain

This morning brought a few new arrivals. One of these species was Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.
credit: www.wildphotosphotography.com


Continuing species were: Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, Vireos of Blue-Headed, Warbling & Red-Eyed, Swallows of Tree, Barn, and Rough-Winged, RC Kinglet, Gnatcatcher, and the now regular thrushes of Swainson's, Wood & Veery.

Todays warblers were: Nashville, Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-Sided, Maggie, BT Blue, Rumps, BT Green, Blackburnian, Bay-Breasted, Blackpoll, B & W, Redstart, Worm-Eating, Ovenbird, N. Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded, and Canada.
credit: www.bobsteelephoto.com


Scarlet Tanagers, White-Throated and Chipping sparrows, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, and Baltimore Oriole continue as well.

May 10 - Garret Mountain

After a day's respite from this magical place I returned and had another fantastic day. The sandpipers of Solitary and Spotted were each seen, along with some flyover Common Loons looking sharp in their breeding plumage. Once again, both nuthatches were seen, along with Blue Gray Gnatcatchers. The thrush species remain the same from recent days, and here are the warblers:

Nashville, Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-Sided, Magnolia, BT Blue, Yellow-Rumped, BT Green, Blackburnian, Palm, Bay-Breasted, Blackpoll, B & W, Redstart, Worm-Eating, Ovenbird, N. Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded & newly arriving Canada for a smashing total of 20 species today !

Here is a Worm-Eating warbler.
credit: henrydomke.com

Both Orioles were enjoyed, along with RB Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, and smart looking Americna Goldfinches.

I'll be back tomorrow morning too !

May 8 - Garret Mountain

Well, a fourth straight day here is something that is not warranted too often in my experience. Usually winds and/or weather interrupt the good birding for at least a day or two between banner days here, but this Spring is turning out to be an exception.

Flycatchers seen are Least, Great-Crested & Kingbird. BH, Warbling & RE Vireos continue. The same thrushes as yesterday.

The warbler activity was once again excellent with these species seen today:
Nashville, Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, BT Blue, Rumps, BT Green, Blackburnian, Prairie, newly arriving Bay-Breasted and Blackpolls, B & W, Redstart, Worm-Eating, Ovenbird, Yellowthroat and Hooded, for a total of 19 species.
Another smashing morning at this unbelievable migrant trap!

May 7 - Garret Mountain

A third straight morning here with the continuing nice weather brought with it some new arrivals for my eyes.

Solitary Sandpiper was represented with 4 individuals on Barbour's Pond
credit: www.bobsteelephoto.com

Least Flycatcher was found to complement the now daily Phoebes. The continuing Blue-Headed & Warbling vireos were joined by both the Red-Eyed, and Yellow-Throated Vireos today. Once again both Nuthatches were enjoyed. Thrushes are returning with Swainson's, Wood, Robin and Veery being seen. Mimics of Catbird, Mockingbird, and Brown Thrasher were calling continuosly.


Warblers are the stars of Garret and todays list contained: Nashville, Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-Sided, Magnolia, Cape May, BT Blue, Yellow-Rumped, BT Green, B & W, Redstart, Ovenbird, N. Waterthrush and Common Yellowthroat for a total of 14 species.
Both Orioles were seen again too.
Baltimore Oriole credit: John Kormendy

May 6 - Garret Mountain

Hoping to parlay my luck from yesterday, I again stopped here on my way to work. This being the 4th day after the last big weather front I did not expect much, but there were many birds about.

One of the best surprises came about with three Cape May Warblers
credit: Mike McDowell

Along with them were 3 Indigo Buntings and a pair of Blackburnian Warblers - all being seen in one tree. Talk about eye-candy !!


Other warblers enjoyed this morning were: Nashville, Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-Sided, Magnolia, Black-Throated Blue, Yellow-Rumped, Black-Thorated Green, American Redstart, Palm, Black-and-White, Worm-Eating, Ovenbird, and Common Yellowthroat.


The other species seen included Scarlet Tanager (above), Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks, the vireos of Blue-Headed, Warbling, and Red-Eyed, Purple Martin, and Red-Breasted Nuthatch.

Back for more tomorrow !