Chestnut-sided at Tifft and Gray-cheeked at Point Gratoit
Published: May 29, 2013
Tags: Life List Happenings, Gray-cheeked Thrush, American Redstart, Bay-breasted Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Cedar Waxwing, Osprey, White-crowned Sparrow, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
An early morning walk through Tifft was a little more productive warbler-wise than it has been of late. The weather system that came through was the cause of a little "fallout" of warblers and other migrants. We had nice looks at a Chestnut-sided Warbler, some high views of a Bay-breasted Warbler, and some fair views of a couple of Magnolia Warblers. We got more than one good view of both Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos too.
I had a very nice performance put on by an Osprey out front as he dove and fished around the main pond and a small group of Cedar Waxwings were along the path near Mosquito Junction. We had a fly-over as we were leaving by a larger group of a dozen or more. We saw a few lingering White-crowned Sparrows too.
Flycatchers were everywhere and we were able to ID a couple of Willows and an Eastern Wood-pewee. A couple escaped our scrutiny, flying off before we were sure - but later, some folks reported having seen 2 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. That species would be a life list bird for me and I hope to get that one soon!
During the dinner hour, I went down to Dunkirk where I was invited to bird Point Gratoit with Gale VerHague (
Photos by November Gale). At that park, she, Nick Z, and I found a life bird (for me), a Gray-cheeked Thrush! He gave us extended, great views. Along with a few flycatchers (one which was a Yellow-bellied - a life list addition for me - thanks to Jim Pawlicki for help on the ID of this guy!), we also found several warblers, which included: my FOY Wilson's Warbler, several American Redstarts, a Magnolia, Chestnut-sided (this guy was very photogenic!), Tennessee, Nashville, Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped, Common Yellowthroat, and Yellow. Nick had seen a Prothonotary Warbler earlier that morning but we were unable to find it.
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Osprey
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Chestnut-sided Warbler (Tifft)
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Cedar Waxwing
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Cedar Waxwing
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Alder/Willow Flycatcher (thanks, Jim Pawlicki!)
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Willow Flycatcher
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American Redstart - a nesting female
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The redstart was watching us closely as we unknowingly came by her nest
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Another nesting female, a Yellow Warbler
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Holdin' up traffic!
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A Gray-cheeked Thrush - a life list addition!
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Gray-cheeked Thrush - it sang almost non-stop!
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Yellow-rumped Warbler
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Chestnut-sided Warbler
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Chestnut-sided Warbler
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Chestnut-sided Warbler
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Wilson's Warbler
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Wilson's Warbler
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Red-eyed Vireo
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Red-eyed Vireo
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Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (a lifer - thanks, Jim Pawlicki!)
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Yellow-bellied Flycatcher