May 11, 2009
Warblers, warblers, warblers. Try telling anyone at the Magee Marsh 
boardwalk today that there is life beyond warblers and they would simply not 
believe you. More than a few birders skipped work today to hang out on the 
boardwalk and surround themselves with the object of their affections: 
wood-warblers. The boardwalk proved once again that it is indeed the hottest 
venues in the northern US for warbler watching, and today they even 
performed with generous consideration, preferring to give us convenient eye 
level views, and save us the trouble of warbler neck. Warbler diversity was 
good, really good, although some would argue that a “mere” 25 species 
just does not cut it. Although others would say that is a heck of a total, 
and can only be criticized by old stalwarts of Magee, who remember 30-plus 
warbler days of the past, that will also surely come later this spring 
season. However, whichever way you spin this, 25 species of warbler is an 
impressive total, which many birders from other tip-top warbler sites would 
view with more than a little jealousy.  The problem with sites like Magee is 
they set such impossibly high standards for themselves over the years. 

The amazing thing about the days warbler tally was that of these 25 or so 
species almost all of them were gettable for everyone, and most people left 
with a 20-plus warbler species list for the day with not too much effort. 
This should have been named the “Get Up Close and Personal with Warblers 
workshop”, as many, many of the species today chose to dangle invitingly 
in front of the birders gathered on the boardwalk. In fact there were just 
so many warblers trying to outcompete each other in the confiding stakes, 
that when the shout went up for a highly-prized early spring Mourning 
Warbler it took many of us two hours just to reach the spot, as we just 
could not pass up the many chances that warblers gave us along the way to 
ogle them. Bay-breasteds hung out and gleaned insects from just above the 
heads of many people throughout the day, Black-throated Greens continued to 
hold the title for the biggest show-off on the boardwalk and soon became a 
photographers favorite, while some Blackburnians abandoned their usual 
treetop habits and chose to come and chill out with the rest of the crowd 
over the boardwalk. However, the Mourning Warbler and Blue-winged Warbler 
were a little less helpful, the latter only fleetingly appearing as a 
treetop diversion from the warbler events below. 

The Top Trump warbler of the day was undoubtedly the Mourning Warbler, 
dressed in his “funeral attire”, that had the crowd diverted from their 
usual haunts to the back side of the boardwalk by the magic 25 marker 
desperate to get a glimpse of him as at this point in the season many of the 
birders are looking for their very first of the year, just a few having been 
recorded up until now. An Orange-crowned in the same area was of course a  
little less flashy in appearance, although was quite the performer and so 
drew an admiring crowd anyhow.

Other warbler “totty” in these “Erien” woods included a number of 
“flamefaces” (male Blackburnians), multiple Cape Mays, and the now usual 
confiding Black-throated Blues. Less expected though were a number of Canada 
Warblers that bucked their furtive trend of recent days, and “put out” 
regularly throughout the day. A pair of lemonheads (Prothonotary Warblers) 
continued to show considerable interest in a knot hole near the start of the 
western end of the boardwalk and hopefully will become a summer stayer. 
Magnolia Warblers did not even raise an eyebrow today as they were in such 
good supply, much to the dismay of many a Maggie admirer from overseas! Also 
of note were a number of Wilson’s Warblers working the underbrush, one 
particular well-marked yarmulke-capped male providing a teasing distraction 
for the Mourning crowd, during the intermissions from that stop-start show.

All of the above was experienced at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory 
free-guided walks along the boardwalks, although there was also some time 
for a little anti-warbler activity too during our afternoon schedule. A 
visit to Veler Road produced more views of at least three wacky Wilson’s 
Phalaropes, including one top-notch female in full breeding regalia. 
However, these continuing birds were outshone by a statuesque American 
Woodcock that froze by the roadside along there, too. (A footnote should be 
mentioned that during last night’s Black Swamp Bird Observatory-organized 
“Woodcock Extravaganza” three or more woodcocks performed with some 
style: On several occasions a male bird was watched calling from the ground 
on an open trail, then shooting up skyward to heady heights above (the 
whinnying sound of the wings providing a good system for tracking it, before 
he skydived down suddenly and hit the deck just a short distance from us and 
a certain helpful spotlight. A magic experience on a magic walk, (more are 
planned from 8:45pm May 13 & May 16 this week: MEET AT THE BLACK SWAMP BIRD 
OBSERVATORY PARKING LOT). On top of all of this thrush numbers received a 
bounce today, with all the usual suspects around in good numbers. One of the 
highlights was being able to watch the “ID-pair” of Swainson’s and 
Gray-cheeked scuffling around in the leaf litter within yards of each other, 
making an ID very straightforward indeed with this great direct side-by-side 
comparison. Not to be outdone, Veerys also chose to hop around at close 
quarters too.

In summary, spring migration at hot spots like Magee Marsh are honey pots 
that attract migrant junkies to make annual pilgrimages and migrations of 
their own. While birders like these come to seek migrants of all shapes and 
sizes, the undoubted banner birds are the warblers, which lead to an 
addiction to migration all of their own. Birders after birding royalty were 
well pleased, as the top warblers performed with distinction, and it is not 
an exaggeration to say that any birder who wanted to could have safely left 
with all 25 species on offer today under their belt with just a little 
dedication and a little crazy pursuit in this endeavor. Long may this 
continue, as we still have a notable period of migration to come, with some 
true warbler legends having not yet put in an appearance at Magee for the 
season, so we eagerly await their arrival in the coming days…

Sam Woods/Tropical Birding
Black Swamp Bird Observatory Voluntary Bird Guide in Residence 
Lost in Birding (www.samwoodsbirding.blogspot.com)

 

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