Chilly Morning for Warbling - 31 Aug 2023

Skies were clear but temps were in the low 50's this morning when I stopped by Elizabeth Park to look for more warblers. 

At 8:30 am the trails were still dark even though the Sun was shining to the east. A pair of Black-throated Blue Warblers were singing their "Beer-Beer-Beer-Biiii" song and even showed just a few feet above me, but it was too dark to focus on them. But, I followed them to the trail near the maintenance shed and listened for more warblers.

I was not disappointed. An impressive flock of Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Tennessee, Nashville, and Black-throated Green Warblers were moving through and foraging among the Wild Grape that were blanketed in morning sunshine. I stood in the same location for almost 45 minutes trying to capture the birds when they popped into view for microseconds at a time.  This morning I was shooting with the Sony 200-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 + 1.4TC.

Nashville Warbler.

Least Flycatcher.

Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Magnolia Warbler.

Blackburnian Warbler.

Molting Bay-breasted Warbler.

Nashville Warbler w/ a blood lust...

Tennessee Warblers were plentiful.

Finally, a semi-cooperative Wilson's Warbler.

Magnolia Warbler.

Chestnut-sided Warblers; from sought-after to pest in just a few short days.

A Black-throated Green Warbler finally gave me good looks, and would give me the closest views of the morning.

Based on how drab this one looks I'm calling it a Cape May Warbler. I see a hint of yellow in the cheeks and a complete eye-ring. 

A lovely Bay-breasted Warbler.

Elizabeth Park (Trenton), Wayne, Michigan, USAug 31, 2023 

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cool, 50F. Birds were higher this morning.
35 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  12
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  6
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Purple Martin (Progne subis)  4
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  4
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  4
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  4
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  12
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  4
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)  4
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  4
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)  2
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  3
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)  6
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)  4
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  6
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)  1
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)  2
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  3
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S148673573

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)