Vireos, warblers and cuckoos, oh, my! 5-27-25

May 27, 2025  •  Leave a Comment

5-17-25 Copper Iris5-17-25 Copper Iris
Copper Iris (Iris fulva) in bloom on 5-17-25 surrounded by Christmas Fern, Cliff Goldenrod and a volunteer Painted Fern with Virginia Creeper on the opposite bank of the stream bed.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds pollinate this native iris.

 

We've had high peak nights with total numbers of birds in the millions for this spring migration. Though most of the migrants have passed through the area, stragglers may still show up. Since 2011, my average species count by the end of May is 104. That's where our count is today. However, it has become increasingly difficult to hear the birds with all the human made "Noise". Surely, you all know what I mean. I really feel for the birds! At least I can go inside, wear ear plugs and headphones and then put a pillow over my head! Heavens, let's understand that we are internally programmed to hear birds and to coexist with Nature. 

 

On that note, I did have one memorable morning of peace when birds were here, the stars aligned and conditions were just right for them to visit the bubbler area. Thursday, May 15, 2025, was that day. This total immersion began with vireos splash-bathing, warblers sparring and cuckoos calling to enrich the whole experience and connect me, viscerally and spiritually, to these rhythms of Nature.

 

5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo

A Blue-headed Vireo perched on one of  "Wally's cedars" and skimmed the bubbler pond.

  5-15-25 Red-eyed Vireo5-15-25 Red-eyed Vireo

5-15-25 Red-eyed Vireo5-15-25 Red-eyed Vireo 5-15-25 Red-eyed Vireo5-15-25 Red-eyed Vireo

This Red-eyed Vireo checked out several approaches, and chose the basin to make its splashy entrance!
 

5-15-25 Chestnut-sided Warbler5-15-25 Chestnut-sided Warbler 5-15-25 Chestnut-sided Warbler5-15-25 Chestnut-sided Warbler

A Chestnut-sided Warbler cautiously made its way to the water.

 

5-15-25 Bay-breasted Warbler5-15-25 Bay-breasted Warbler

Oh, be still my beating heart! A Bay-breasted Warbler! It turned and explored the whole area.

  5-15-25 Bay-breasted Warbler5-15-25 Bay-breasted Warbler 5-15-25 Bay-breasted Warbler5-15-25 Bay-breasted Warbler 5-15-25 Bay-breasted Warbler5-15-25 Bay-breasted Warbler

This warbler is a must-see for birders in the spring. It moved to the large bubbler rock and then...

  5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers

A second male dropped in! This is only the second time I've seen two males together. They danced, they sparred, they shook those tail feathers for over five minutes. All the while, a pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoos were calling back and forth, one to my left and one to my right, just above the scene. Our Haikubox picked up both on this recording:

Two Yellow-billed Cuckoos calling
 

  5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers 5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers

5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers 5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers5-15-25 Two Bay-breasted Warblers 5-15-25  Bay-breasted Warbler5-15-25 Bay-breasted Warbler

Unrivaled beauty, to be sure. Then, the Blue-headed Vireo returned and became more adventurous. 

 

5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo 5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo 5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo 5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo between two American Robins5-15-25 Blue-headed Vireo between two American Robins Its last trick was to dive in between two American Robins. Amazing skills these birds have to calculate, dive and survive, all the while seeming to have such a good time.

 

Oh, what a beautiful morning it had been, but then Noise began and I moved inside. There were still a few surprises in store. With more than 5 million birds reported over our area the night before, almost anything was still possible.

 

5-15-25 Wilson's Warbler female5-15-25 Wilson's Warbler female

A female Wilson's Warbler checked in.

  5-15-25 American Redstart first spring male5-15-25 American Redstart first spring male

It was joined by a first spring male American Redstart.

 

5-15-25 Blackburnian Warbler5-15-25 Blackburnian Warbler

Another stunner, a Blackburnian Warbler, aka "The Firethroat" stopped in to bathe. Tina and I had seen one a few days before in the stream bed and then the sugar maple.

  5-15-25 Bay-breasted and Blackburnian Warblers5-15-25 Bay-breasted and Blackburnian Warblers

5-15-25 Tennessee, Bay-breasted and Blackburnian Warblers5-15-25 Tennessee, Bay-breasted and Blackburnian Warblers

It was briefly joined by one of the Bay-breasted Warblers before a Tennessee jumped in. Sometimes, it's like watching a corn popper the way the birds move about each other. Over the next week, more birds came in.
 

5-18-25 Wilson's Warbler5-18-25 Wilson's Warbler 5-19-25 Blackburnian Warbler female5-19-25 Blackburnian Warbler female

May 19, 2025 was another busy day with a Wilson's Warbler and a female Blackburnian Warbler.

 

5-19-25 Philadelphia Vireo5-19-25 Philadelphia Vireo 5-19-25 Black-throated Green Warbler5-19-25 Black-throated Green Warbler

A Philadelphia Vireo was seen splash-bathing in the vernal wetland while a Black-throated Green Warbler went to the basin.

  5-23-25 Bay-breasted Warbler female5-23-25 Bay-breasted Warbler female

A female Bay-breasted showed up on May 23, 2025.  It is often confused with the female Blackpoll, which was here earlier. 

 

5-10-25 Blackpoll Warbler female and 5-23-25 Bay-breasted Warbler female5-10-25 Blackpoll Warbler female and 5-23-25 Bay-breasted Warbler female

Blackpoll above, Bay-breasted below are shown in this final photo. Time to look for stragglers on this cloudy day. A female Summer Tanager was seen last night and a very vocal Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was confirmed this morning. 

Good birding to all!

 

 

 

 


Comments

No comments posted.
Loading...

Archive
January February March April May June July August September October (1) November December
January (2) February (1) March (1) April (2) May (3) June (2) July August September October November December