RRBO - 05 May 2007

I walked the grounds of the UM-Dearborn Natural Area this morning between 0700 and 0900 Hrs and was treated to a number of warbler sightings: A Northern Waterthrush singing loudly at the north end of the lake, several Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and numerous White-throated Sparrows. The lake held a pair of Wood Duck and a Green Heron. Along the White Oak Trail the only birds spotted were a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds. A walk through the Rose Garden yielded Black-throated Green, Yellow, Black-and-White, Yellow-rumped and Nashville Warblers, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and several more White-throats. As I walked the Lakeside Trail toward the exit I found a small break in the alders and saw a nice flock of birds on the other side of the lake that held: Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, Black-and-White, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Nashville, and Palm Warblers. Several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were also visible. Chimney Swifts flew overhead. I was lucky enough to get a close-up view of a Black-throated Blue Warbler and even got a shot through the undergrowth.