Warblers Starting to Pick Up at Elizabeth Park - 14 May 2026

As I walked the trails at Elizabeth Park this morning skies were clear but winds were a bit breezy and temperature hovered around 50ºF. Warbler activity was again a bit slow, but starting to pick up. 

A Least Flycatcher announced its presence with loud "Che-BEK" calls, and I managed to find it high above me and back off the trail. 

He's a happy little guy!

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, American Robins and Wood Thrush were singing loud, so it was difficult to pick up the faint calls of Nashville Warbler, American Redstart and Black-throated Green Warblers. After trying unsuccessfully to photograph a Veery and a pair of Swainson's Thrush at the north end of the woodlot I spotted a Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding on fresh-bloomed Honeysuckle. The Sony a1 MK II did a wonderful job of tracking it as it hovered and dove for blossoms.

I'd walk the perimeter of the woodlot looking for warblers but had to settle for heard-only Northern Parula and Black-and-White Warbler. A Canada Warbler was heard a couple times but I could not locate it off the main trail. 

Gray Catbirds were everywhere. Pairs of birds kept singing and frolicking in the low-light understory of the woodlot.

I finally came upon an American Redstart that was foraging low enough for some photos. Despite the low-light and backlight conditions I took advantage of the opportunity.

Once it flew off I finally managed a quick capture of a Swainson's Thrush near a stump pile.

While chasing a female American Redstart this Eastern Chipmunk appeared next to the mulch piles in the maintenance yard. I photographed it at both ISO 16,000 (top) and ISO 400 (bottom) to compare image quality.

Merlin's Bird of the Day was Great-crested Flycatcher so I was happy to finally see one after hearing it all morning belting out its loud "WHEEEP".

Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

As I made my way out a Chestnut-sided Warbler appeared overhead and offered a few images.

I'd head home to do some spring planting.

Elizabeth Park (Trenton), Wayne, Michigan, US
May 14, 2026 8:22 AM - 9:43 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.989 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 50F, breezy 5-10 mph
43 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  20
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  10
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  7
Veery (Catharus fuscescens)  2
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)  2
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  5
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  2
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  2
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  1
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)  2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  2
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  2
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S338744045

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

I'd get home in time to see a pair of Eastern Bluebirds actively nesting, singing and foraging in bluebird box out back of the house! Yay, first pair in about 10 years!

Brownton Abbey, 26340 Higgins Way - 42.1338x-83.2941, Wayne, Michigan, US
May 14, 2026 11:30 AM - 11:40 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 55F
21 species

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  1
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  2     Male and female actively nesting in 3rd bluebird box left of the Screech Owl box in the back field.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  1
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)  1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S338808466

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