Chirps and Cheeps

A Photo Journal of My Birding Adventures & Observations

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  Fourteen Warbler Species on Our BOS May Count

Published: May 20, 2013
Tags: Life List Happenings, Blackburnian Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Black-throated Green Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, BOS, Buffalo Ornithological Society

Yesterday was the May Count for the Buffalo Ornithological Society (BOS).  The BOS encourages its members to participate in the counts and I felt compelled to help out when asked.  I was a little hesitant when I found out the start time was 6 AM and it took an hour to get to where we needed to be! I joined Doug Happ, Jim and Karen Landau, and 2 others on the count for Section 18, down in Cattaraugus County.  The weather was great and, after a cup of coffee on the way down at 5 AM, I was ready to go by 6!

The day was very full of wonderful bird songs, some of which I think I'll remember. I had two lifers: a Blackburnian Warbler and a Prairie Warbler (we saw 4 each of those!) - and several FOY's.  The Prairie Warbler's song was especially cool and I'm sure I'm going to remember that one; it reminded me of a spaceship taking off. I saw all but the Mourning Warbler, which I won't add to my life list, even though I was within just a few feet of it, listening to its song - knowing it was in the bush just in front of me!  In addition to these 3, the other warblers we saw included: Tennessee, Magnolia, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Black-throated Green, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, and Yellow.

At one place we stopped, there were 3 male Indigo Buntings all flitting around from tree to tree! And at another, we had the opportunity to stop and enjoy the marvelous and complex song of a Winter Wren.  If you've never heard it, you should take a listen here: Winter Wren Song on Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Whoever would think that 11 hours of work could be so much fun?!

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Chestnut-sided Warbler

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Chestnut-sided Warbler

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Chestnut-sided Warbler kissing a tree (not really!)

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Prairie Warbler (a lifer)

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Prairie Warbler - a lifer!

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Prairie Warbler

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Blue-winged Warbler

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Blue-winged Warbler

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Common Yellowthroat; aptly named; we counted 35 of these guys today!

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Bobolink

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Indigo Bunting

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Indigo Bunting

Reply from: Norm on 5/20/2013 7:35 AM
 This is better than my bird books. I look at your pictures and go yup, saw one of those, and now I know what it is.
Reply from: Tim on 5/20/2013 10:00 PM
 Awesome Sue! You have been a busy bee.Wish I had the time to get out as often. That sparrow at reinsteins is great.
Reply from: Sue on 5/21/2013 8:56 PM
 Thank you, Tim and Norm!
Reply from: Larry on 6/3/2013 8:48 PM
 14 warbler species-that's great! You've got a lot of nice photos there-I like the Bobolink and Blue-winged Warbler most. Congratulations on your lifers too!
Reply from: Sue on 6/4/2013 6:35 AM
 Thanks, Larry!


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