Finally, Some Warblers - 28 Aug 2026

Last night's Lunar Eclipse and Northern Lights could not convince me to stay up. I was interested in getting out to do some birding and hopefully see my first fall warblers.  This morning under clear skies and a warm 65ºF I finally succeeded.

I arrived at Elizabeth Park shortly after 8 am and headed toward the center of the woodlot. Eastern Wood-Pewee was heard along with Blue Jay and White-breasted Nuthatch. I wandered toward the north end of the woodlot and heard the "Quark" of a distant Red-headed Woodpecker, so I went to investigate.

The oaks at the edge of the woodlot started moving w/ warblers. Cape May Warbler was my first warbler of the fall. Too far away to photograph, though. Luckily, a Black-throated Green Warbler appeared overhead and gave me a chance to put the 200-600mm lens to work.

This Blackburnian Warbler appeared overhead and challenged my patience. The bird would not stop moving, so tracking through the leaves was exhausting.

I'd also see Bay-breasted Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler but no opportunity to photograph them. The Red-headed Woodpecker continued to call across the street so I went to look for it. Luckily, it flew out of the backlit (dead) trees and flew to a perch visible in the morning sky.

I'd make an entire loop of the island but fail to see any more birds. I did run into an old work friend (Greg D) and enjoyed catching up. A half-hour later I left the park, stopping only to photograph this Black Squirrel enjoying a hickory nut. 

Elizabeth Park (Trenton), Wayne, Michigan, US
Aug 28, 2026 8:28 AM - 9:43 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.138 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, calm, 69F. Greg Drewno!
34 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  140
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  3
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  1
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)  2
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  2
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  6
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  4
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  1
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  2
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)  1
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  1
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)  1
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)  2
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S387636435

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