Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion

In my recent post, Underutilized Area Houses An Array Of Spring Migrants I wrote about birding lately at a secluded location while achieving great views of a variety of species. This past week I returned to this area several times to bird in seclusion which resulted in great birding and many more first of year species.

IMG 9126 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Large quantities of White-crowned Sparrows, a first of years species for me, were observed this past week.**

As was the case last week Eastern Towhees, Brown Thrashers, and Gray Catbirds were among the most abundant species. Several first of year sparrow species were observed including White-crowned and Lincoln’s. As I scanned the open fields and forest edges with my binoculars the sight of these birds strewn across the ground could be seen while the sounds of leaves rustling under their feet as they foraged could be heard. It truly was impressive.

IMG 1396 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Several thrushes were observed including Veery**

Thrushes were also abundant with Hermit, Gray-cheeked, Wood, and Veery all recorded. When it comes to thrushes, Veery seem to be the least concerned about people and incredible views from a few feet are often obtainable if you move slowly.

IMG 1481 2 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **The Ovenbird can easily be mistaken for a thrush as they are similar in appearance and are typically observed on the forest floor. Despite these similarities, Ovenbirds are a warbler.**

Several first of year warblers were observed with Black-throated Green, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat, and Ovenbird all seen. Other warblers present were Pine, Palm, Yellow-rumped, and many Yellow.

IMG 8713 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **This past week I saw an increased number of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks**

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles were noticed in higher numbers this week as were flycatchers with several Least Flycatchers observed.

IMG 9679 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **This cute baby Raccoon and its siblings emerged from a broken-off tree.**

While working my way along a trail I heard a familiar sound. With my brain focussed on birds, I couldn’t place the call I was hearing. I then realized the sound was not a bird but in fact raccoons. As I looked around I saw several cute baby raccoons spilling out of a broken-off tree as their mom wandered down into the ravine.

IMG 9564 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Eastern Chipmunk**

Eastern Chipmunks could be seen scurrying along the forest floor and across fallen logs while their chip and chuck calls could be heard throughout the property.

IMG 9009 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Male Yellow Warbler singing**

I still haven’t seen an impressive number of warblers in this area as I have with some of the other species mentioned. Geographically and in terms of habitat this area has plenty to offer warblers so it may be a case of these birds running a bit late this year. Whether this will happen or not at this location remains to be seen. Every aspect of this spring has been unusual so far including the weather and lack of winds with a southerly component so I am still optimistic large quantities of warblers will appear and I will certainly be returning next week to find out.

IMG 9818 2 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak**

The element of seclusion added to the experience as it was just me and the birds. It’s not that I’m antisocial or don’t like people, birding in seclusion is my way to distress, let go of any unwanted emotions, and reset my brain. While some may meditate or turn to other self-care activities, I go birding. Given the uncertainty of everything going on in the world right now and the advice to continue with physical distancing, I have been avoiding any location I feel will be too busy. This includes all of the locations I would typically visit at this time of year. Being able to relax and unwind in nature has been something I am grateful for.

IMG 8904 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **Unlike many other warblers that are typically observed high overhead, the Palm Warbler prefers to spend most of its time on the ground.**

I have uploaded a new video to YouTube from my visit to this area last week titled A Great Day Birding At A Secluded Area where you can see many of the aforementioned species in action. If you enjoy my videos, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

IMG 8953 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **This area of seclusion has been full of Eastern Towhees over the past several weeks. Pictured here is a male.**

I want to thank everyone who has been using the Amazon links I provide in some of my blog posts to purchase products. This is one way you can support my photography which allows me to devote more time to writing blogs and working on videos for my YouTube channel. For those of you not familiar with the Amazon affiliate program and how it works when products are purchased from Amazon through a link I provide, Amazon pays me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please note, I only provide links to products I have purchased with my own money, have used myself, and am happy with based on their performance and durability.

IMG 8369 - Enjoying Spring Migration While Birding In Seclusion — **I am still seeing good numbers of Ruby-crowned Kinglets in our area leading me to believe that migration may be a little bit behind this year.**

If you have the opportunity, find your own secluded area and get out and enjoy nature. I think with more consistent weather, warmer temperatures, and a south wind we could see a big movement of birds, in particular, warblers to our area. With parks and conservation areas opening up remember to take the necessary precautions and continue to physical distance. With a little forethought, we can all enjoy the great outdoors while not setting society back or making our sacrifices over the past two months for nothing.

Good birding,
Paul

Subscribe To My Blog

Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint
In The Forest City

bbw - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **Blackburnian Warblers are my favourite when it comes to warblers. I eagerly await their appearance each spring**.

During the month of May, I focused most of my efforts on observing and photographing warblers throughout the Forest City. Opting not to visit Point Pelee National Park this year, I was quite satisfied with the 21 warbler species I observed, all within a ten minute drive of my house. Two highlights for me were a couple of life birds, the Canada Warbler and Cerulean Warbler.

chestnut - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **The Chestnut-sided Warbler returns to our area in mid-May each year. These birds will remain in the area throughout the breeding season**.

My most productive locations were the Westminster Ponds ESA and Greenway Park, both located in the city’s south end. The cool start to the month resulted in a lack of leaf cover, which made for optimal views and photographs. I found early mornings to be the most productive and used the weather, most notably the wind, to my advantage.

btg 1 - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **Black-throated Green Warblers were one of the most abundant warblers I observed this May in the Forest City**.

Warblers feed on insects, so naturally I positioned myself in areas where insects were abundant. How do I find areas rich with insects? I use the wind. A stiff breeze will blow insects from open areas into wooded or other sheltered areas that are protected from the wind. These protected areas will then be full of insects and consequently warblers. For example, at Westminster Ponds ESA I would search for warblers along the edges of the ponds opposite the direction of the wind. If the wind was north, I would bird on the south side of the pond and vice versa. The morning winds would push the insects across the open ponds into the trees and shrubs along the bank. It was areas like these where I found the highest concentrations of warblers. Early in the month when there was a lack of leaf cover and shelter in the canopy, strong winds helped keep the insects and thus warblers, at eye level.

btb 1 - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **The Black-throated Blue Warbler breeds further to our north and therefore only passes through our area in spring and fall**.

As expected Yellow-rumped Warblers, Yellow Warblers and Palm Warblers were the first to arrive at the start of the month. These three species always arrive in early May. Magnolia Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers and Black-throated Green Warblers soon followed. As the month of May progressed, the late arriving warblers began to appear, including the previously mentioned Canada Warblers and Wilson’s Warblers.

np 1 - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **It may not have warbler attached to its name, but the Northern Parula is one of 21 species of warbler I observed in London this spring**.

Some warbler species lack the word warbler from their names and can be forgotten as warblers. Ovenbirds, American Redstarts and Northern Parulas are all warbler species that were readily observed during May.

bww - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **Black-and-white-Warbler**

Black and White Warblers are regularly observed clinging to tree trunks. If careful attention is not paid, these birds can be mistaken for nuthatches due to this characteristic and the similar colour in plumage.

black 2 - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **Blackburnian Warbler**

My favourite warbler, the Blackburnian Warbler, is regularly viewed from underneath as it forages high in the canopy. Fortunately, due to the high winds I achieved eye level views of this stunning bird.

wilsons - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **The male Wilson’s Warbler is easily identified by his black cap. Wilson’s Warblers migrate later in May than many other warblers**.

While many of these warblers just pass through our area on their way to their breeding grounds further north, some remain and nest in our area. Female Yellow Warblers can currently be observed incubating eggs throughout many of my favourite birding areas.

as - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **American Redstarts, like the male pictured here, spend the breeding season in our area and are one of the many warblers we can enjoy until the fall when they migrate south.**

Next time you are out birding, keep an eye out for some of the warblers that breed across our area. Now that the leaves are fully and emerged and these species are nesting, they are certainly more challenging to locate but great views can still be achieved. If you do come across a nest, remember to respect the birds and give them some space.

fas - Warbler Migration Does Not Disappoint <br> In The Forest City — **Female American Redstart**

While the peak warbler migration may have passed, some late migrating warblers will still be making their way through our area. If you get the chance, head out on a cool, windy morning and position yourself where the insects will be most abundant. Keep a close eye for movement at eye level, as well as higher up in the canopy. You may just be rewarded with some great views of these beautiful warblers.

Good birding,
Paul

Warbler Migration Heats Up In The Forest City

Each spring many birders, myself included, anxiously await the return of warblers to our area. These small songbirds are some of the most colourful birds to grace our area, yet are also some of the most challenging to identify. The first of May is a date I watch for on my calendar, as this is when we can expect to see warblers return to Southwestern Ontario in good numbers.

yw - Warbler Migration Heats Up In The Forest City — **Yellow Warblers can be seen and heard throughout many of London’s parks and ESAs**.

While birding in several locations over the past week, I saw a significant increase in the number of warblers present each day I was out. Three species continue to be the most abundant: Yellow, Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers. I have been observing good numbers of these birds throughout the city, with numbers steadily increasing.

yrw - Warbler Migration Heats Up In The Forest City — **This Yellow-rumped Warbler clearly displays the yellow rump for which they are named. The black mask indicates that this bird is a male**.

Other warbler species I have observed include: Magnolia, Pine, and Black and White. Sightings of Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, and Northern Parula have also been reported from within the city.

Palm Warbler - Warbler Migration Heats Up In The Forest City — **Palm Warbler**

City parks and ESAs are where I focused my efforts this past week, concentrating on the edges of wooded areas containing small trees and shrubs. Mornings are always when I have the most success locating warblers. Since warblers migrate at night, early morning is when these birds are most active; feeding heavily as they replenish energy spent the previous night.

yellow warbnler - Warbler Migration Heats Up In The Forest City — **Yellow Warbler**

I have been paying close attention to the daily reports from the 2016 Festival of Birds at Point Pelee National Park. So far, 25 warbler species have been reported from within the park, which is low compared to previous years. The lack of clear nights and south winds could be contributing to these low numbers. Fortunately, this means many more warblers will be making their way through the city in the coming weeks.

Watermark - Warbler Migration Heats Up In The Forest City — **The absence of a black mask indicates that this Yellow-rumped Warbler is a female**.

When searching for warblers be sure you position yourself out of the wind. These sheltered areas are where insects will be most abundant, therefore attracting the highest concentration of warblers. When you come across an area rich with warblers, stay in that location; large concentrations of birds are often found within small areas. Some of our ESAs are hundreds of hectares in size, but many of the areas where I locate the largest number of warblers are often only 20 yards in length and 10 yards wide. Once you locate a high concentration of warblers, find an open area with pockets of light shining in. This will make for unobstructed views and optimal photos.

olia - Warbler Migration Heats Up In The Forest City — **By avoiding sudden movements this Magnolia Warbler did not perceive me as a threat and continued to sing from a thicket**.

When I locate a warbler, but cannot manage a clear view or unobstructed photograph, I stand still and study its behaviour. By not making any sudden movements, the bird doesn’t view me as a threat and becomes accustomed to my presence. I can then see its direction of travel, anticipate its movements, and put myself in a position to get a clear view and photograph. This technique does not require a lot of patience, and I am often rewarded within a few minutes. So often I see others chasing birds around, only to stress and scare them off.

Yellows - Warbler Migration Heats Up In The Forest City — **No only do male Yellow Warblers display rusty breast streaks, they are more vividly coloured than the females**.

The coming weeks will present opportune times for warbler viewing in our area. Pay close attention to the weather forecast; look for clear skies and south winds overnight. The mornings following these conditions can be the best ones to head out. Grab your binoculars, field guide, camera, and make your way to your favourite natural area. The warblers will be waiting for you.

Good birding,
Paul

Good Birding Report: London, Ontario
April 21 – 29, 2016

yrw - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **The Yellow-rumped Warbler is the first of the warblers to return to our area each spring**.

Late April and early May is my absolute favourite time of year to get out birding. It is an exciting time of year as spring migration starts to pick up, and we birders see an incredible number of first of year species. Each time I venture out, I know there is the possibility to see a bird that I have not seen since last fall. This is what motivates me, and can often keep me out in the field for hours at a time. This past week did not disappoint, as I observed many first of year species, and of course many of the ones I had previously observed this year.

pw - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **Late April and early May is when many migratory birds return to our area including the Palm Warbler**.

The week started out with my first warbler of the year. It came as no surprise it was a Yellow-rumped. These birds have the shortest migration distance to reach our area of any warbler and are always the first to return each spring. Other warblers observed this past week included: Pine, Yellow, and Palm. All in all it was a pretty good week for warblers given it is still the end of April. Expect the number and variety of warblers to increase substantially over the coming weeks. The lack of leaf cover currently on the trees makes finding and photographing these small, fast moving birds less of challenge.

tree - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **I have been observing Tree Swallows in our area for several weeks now, including this pair I photographed today** .

Other than Tree Swallows, I had not observed any other swallows to date until this week. I am happy to report that Northern Rough-winged, Bank, and Barn Swallows have all returned to the Forest City. It is especially great to see Bank and Barn Swallows as these birds are currently listed as at risk in Ontario. The quick aerial maneuvers of any swallow are a treat to watch as they capture insects on the fly.

rws - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **Northern Rough-winged Swallow in flight**.

Other first of year species for me this week were the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Blue-headed Vireo. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers can be a tricky bird to locate, but fortunately their nasally zee call will help give away their location. If you hear their call, look up as these birds typically forage on insects high overhead. Blue-headed Vireos are the first of the vireos to return each year and can be found in the same deciduous habitats as warblers and gnatcatchers.

gc - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **For me listening for the call of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is the easiest way to locate this bird**.

Watermark - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **Among the vireos, the Blue-headed Vireo is the first to appear in late April**.

A few first of year shorebirds were also observed this past week with the Spotted Sandpiper and Greater Yellowlegs added to my list. While many shorebirds tend to be found along the beaches of the Great Lakes during migration, others are equally at home along small ponds and rivers. Pay close attention to muddy or sandy shorelines along any body of water if you wish to find these birds.

spot - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **The Spotted Sandpiper, a small shorebird, can be found along riverbanks and pond edges throughout our area**.

I am still waiting to see my first Baltimore Oriole and Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year. I have heard several reports of them in our immediate area, but they have eluded me so far. If you haven’t already, make sure both your oriole and hummingbird feeders are out, and the nectar is fresh. These birds will show up in good numbers any day now. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, another spring favourite of birders and non-birders alike, have been reported in our area, but I have not laid eyes on one yet. Grosbeaks are particularly fond of both black oil sunflower and safflower seed, so keep your feeders full. Like orioles and hummingbirds, grosbeak numbers will increase any day now.

Saturday looks like a beautiful day to get out birding and there are many great places within the city to bird. Remember a few things before you head out. Most of these returning birds consume insects, so look for them where food is abundant. I have the greatest success locating these birds in protected areas out of the wind, where there is the highest concentration of insects. Birds are most active first thing in the morning, making this the best time to head out.

palm - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **Palm Warbler**

Birds typically migrate at night, with many of these migrants actively feeding at first light to replenish spent energy after their long journey. With this in mind, carefully plan your route before heading out. If you have the option to, start at the east end of the trail and walk west. This will put the sun at your back, illuminating the birds and avoiding silhouettes. This makes observation and identification much easier, and provides the best light for photographs.

We are in for some great birding action over the coming weeks. If you get the opportunity, head to your favourite park, ESA, or other natural area, and take in the beautiful sights and sounds of spring migration.

Good birding,
Paul