Connecticut Warbler (click to see the larger version)
Montrose is one of the best places to see Connecticut Warblers anywhere. I was fortunate enough to see and photograph the bird at right on my May 21 Big Day.
Connecticut Warbler, May 21, 2014
Tag Archives: Warblers
Hooded Warbler and Bell’s Vireo, May 12, 2014
There seemed to be more warblers at Montrose today than on previous days. I didn’t count what I heard or saw but that was my general impression. Best was a singing male Hooded Warbler in the grove just east of the meadow. I also had a couple Cape May Warblers, my first of the year.
The Bell’s Vireo was in the peripheral plantings near the water feature. Unfortunately the bird wasn’t singing so it may be difficult to relocate.
May 10, 2014
I spent a few hours at Montrose this morning. It wasn’t as active as May 8 but I still ended up with 86 species, and I had almost 20(!) birds today that I didn’t see on Thursday. Here are my highlights:
Mute Swan – 3 flew in from the south and landed in the lake just off the beach
Northern Shoveler – 3 flying north over the lake
White-winged Scoter – 1 in the lake off the fishhook pier
Red-breasted Merganser – 11
Great Egret – 11, including a group of 8, all flying south
Northern Harrier – 1 immature flying south high over the point
Ruddy Turnstone – 2 on the beach
Laughing Gull – 1 adult flying south over the fishhook pier
Common Tern – 3
Red-headed Woodpecker – 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1 female
Yellow-throated Vireo – 1
Philadelphia Vireo – 1
All 5 swallows, with most of the Cliffs and Banks moving south
Marsh Wren – 1
Northern Mockingbird – 1
Blue-winged Warbler – 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler – 1 male
Blackburnian Warbler – 1
Mourning Warbler – 1
Scarlet Tanager – 1 male, flew in off the lake and landed in the dunes
Lark Sparrow – 1, flew in off the lake and landed in the dunes
Dickcissel – 1 singing male
There seemed to be a fair amount of turnover between today and Thursday, with fewer White-crowned Sparrows, Catharus thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, Eastern Kingbirds, and Least Flycatchers today. Warblers are still scant.
Olive-sided Flycatcher, August 30, 2013
Olive-sided Flycatcher (click to see the larger version)
I walked around Montrose for a little while this morning. I didn’t see any unusual shorebirds (a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen on 8/29) but there was activity around the water feature and Magic Hedge. Best was an Olive-sided Flycatcher that moved between the water feature and adjacent Honey Locusts. I also had a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a couple Swainson’s Thrushes feeding on mulberries in the Magic Hedge, Tennessee Warbler, and American Redstart.
August 19, 2013
I walked around Montrose this morning for a little while. Shorebirds continue to be almost non-existent but I did have a few migrant passerines, including an Orchard Oriole, Least Flycatcher, and Mourning, Black-and-white, and Tennessee Warblers. I’m not sure what’s going on with shorebirds. This is the peak time of the year for them but we’ve had hardly any.
June 11, 2013
Well, spring migration isn’t over just yet, but it’s really close. There might be one last pulse of migrants with the south winds and warmer weather forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday. This morning I had singing Wilson’s and Magnolia Warblers, a female American Redstart, and a Great Crested Flycatcher. I also heard what were probably Alder and Willow Flycatchers calling. I usually keep birding Montrose for the first 10 or 15 days in June for late migrants and stragglers. Who knows, maybe a Fork-tailed Flycatcher or Brown-chested Martin will show up.