Warblers are Everywhere!

This Black-and-White-Warbler was banded Saturday at Birdcraft Sanctuary. Photo by Jill Mahar

May 14, 2014 – This has been an amazing week for bird migration, especially for warblers, which for some are the prize of spring migration.

Last Friday, we had 17 species of warblers at Birdcraft Sanctuary. On Saturday, we topped that, with 20 species: Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black & White Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbles, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Cape May Warbler.

A Cape May Warbler appeared at our Pomfret Center yesterday. Andy Rzeznikiewicz, our Pomfret sanctuary manager who led yesterday’s bird walk, said it was only the third time a Cape May had been seen there.

This morning, Andy led a walk at Trail Wood, in Hampton. Here’s what he said about it:

“We had one of the best bird watches ever this morning. 54 species in 2 hours! Highlights include:  Black-billed cuckoo, Blackburnian warbler, Parula warblers, Black-throated Blue warblers, Hooded warblers, Blackpoll warbler, Canada warbler, Magnolia warblers, Palm warbler, Northern waterthrush, and a surprising fly over of a Purple martin!  The people on the walk all had great views.”

The New London Day wrote a story about this month’s amazing migration, quoting Andrew Griswold, our EcoTravel director, and Frank Gallo, director of our Coastal Center at Milford Point.

The fun is still happening! We encourage you to get out and bird!