Peak of Migration 5-14-24
Migration is at Peak!
Some birds are stopping in to give us a closer look and a listen.
Swainson's Thrush are here, and singing through the day. Another thrush is this Veery, and it has been around for several days.
Nashville Warblers were bathing together.
A Magnolia Warbler foraged in the Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium). It was looking for small caterpillars under the leaves.
A nice little flock of Tennessee Warblers braved the bubbler together. The females are more yellow overall.
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet stopped by and it's a bit on the late side, possibly a female.
On 5-10-24, there were at least two, maybe more Bay-breasted Warblers. Oh, yes! I watched one devour a cicada on the pin oak in front.
Finally had a Black-throated Green Warbler check out the bubbler that day, too.
A female Baltimore Oriole was a nice find that day. Its plumage helped it blend so perfectly in the stream bed!
Finally, a Magnolia Warbler came to bathe! As often happens, I was so focused on this bird that I nearly missed the approach of ...
THE FIRETHROAT! A Blackburnian Warbler, which always takes my breath away!
First year Chestnut-sided Warblers are coming through. These are both first spring females, but the second one looks like it has barely begun getting new, colorful feathers. This is what they look like in winter in Costa Rica. The change is really dramatic in the males, as you can see below.
And now...
My Haikubox had been picking up the song of the Blackpoll Warbler, and I finally saw this mostly black and white bird. This bird needs to be seen in spring, because their fall migration route typically takes them further east.
On 10-4-2013, this young female Blackpoll Warbler became the third record for Missouri by coming down to look at the bubbler! This little bird was featured in my very first blog post, and it was the only photo that I managed to get before other birds chased it off.
Now, an update on the nesters.
Eastern Bluebirds wasted no time getting another brood started! We were going to clean out the old nest only to find the female had begun laying eggs. The bumper crop of insects available may have contributed to their eagerness.
Eastern Phoebes have been busy feeding their fledglings, too. This little one had eyes bigger than his tummy! I've seen the female collecting more moss and mud from the swampy thicket to reinforce the nest.
The cicadas are in full emergence here, just as they were 13 years ago. What a bounty! They start their scream-like song very early now and it goes on all day. While the chipmunk gorges on them at its table, I'm catching up on things inside and taking a little break.
Happy Migration!