Autumnal Equinox

Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 7:04 PM 

Northern Hemisphere- Central Time

This has been a stretch of very hot weather. A cold front came through last night and with it more birds which we'll see in the next few days. Knowledgeable birders tell me that this week is the peak of fall migration! It's time to share what we've seen since the last post.

9-14-26 American Redstart

American Redstarts continue to approach the bubbler. This male is distinctly different from the gray and yellow female seen in the trio below. (Redstarts are also warblers.)

  9-14-26 Black-throated Green Warbler 9-14-26 Magnolia Warbler

Black-throated Green and Magnolia Warblers have come down to be observed. Black-throated Green Warblers love to get in the water, but the Magnolias always seem a bit unsure. They look, yet hesitate. 

9-15-26 Magnolia Warbler in cover of Hydrangea

9-15-26 Magnolia Warbler

These birds linger to watch, and this one got pretty close to the bubble before a squirrel spooked it!

  9-14-26 Black-and-white Warbler female

9-14-26 Black-and-white Warbler female

9-14-26 Black-and-white Warbler
A female Black-and-white Warbler caught a moth, then worked its way to the bubbler. The male, with its black throat, came later. 

9-14-26 Black-throated Green, Nashville Warblers and American Redstart

Often. warblers will jump in together to check out the water. From left, Black-throated Green and Nashville Warblers look on as a female American Redstart sashays about.

9-14-26 Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warblers are very confident in their approach, perhaps because they're a bit larger in size.

  9-14-26 Golden-winged Warbler female B#74

Two female Golden-winged Warblers appeared together one day. 

9-14-26 Nashville and two Golden-winged Warblers

They flanked the Nashville Warbler to bathe and drink.

  9-14-26 Golden-winged Warbler female

9-15-26 Golden-winged Warbler female

9-15-26 Golden-winged Warbler female
 

The Golden-winged Warbler is one of the most endangered birds known and studied. It's always a thrill to see one, and especially two!

9-14-26 FOY #98 Yellow-throated Vireo B#75 9-14-26 FOY #98 Yellow-throated Vireo B#75 9-14-26 FOY #98 Yellow-throated Vireo B#75

Now, here's a bird I've only photographed a few times at the bubbler in 23 years, a Yellow-throated Vireo. Like all the vireos, they love to splash-bathe. It was species #99 for the year and #75 at the bubbler.

9-15-26 Philadelphia Vireo
This Philadelphia Vireo worked from a higher perch to skim the water in the basin.

  9-15-26 Eastern Wood-Pewee 9-15-26 Eastern Wood-Pewee

An Eastern Wood-Pewee decided it was hot enough to brave the bubbler, too. It's a flycatcher that nests here and was #76 at the bubbler this year.

9-16-26 Tennessee and Nashville Warblers

"Hey!" A Nashville gets no respect from this female Tennessee Warbler. These birds commonly migrate together. 

 
9-16-26 FOY #100 Scarlet Tanager female B#77

9-17-26 Scarlet Tanager female studies the bubble

9-17-26 Scarlet Tanager female

9-17-26 Scarlet Tanager female and Nashville Warbler
Another FOY (first of year) bird was this female Scarlet Tanager for #100 for the yard and #77 at the bubbler. It sure seemed to study the water as it gurgled forth.

Early yesterday morning, I heard a pair of Great Horned Owls as they called to each other. That makes species #101 for the year so far.

Last night was rather stormy and we had 1.5" of rain here. BirdCast says that there were 2 million plus birds overhead and undoubtedly some were forced to drop in. But which ones?