Birding Buffalo Calf, Part IV: Arrivals and Departures
April showers bring May flowers—and May Warblers!
Like the Vireos, Warblers are small treetop birds better identified by voice than vision. And today’s elusive Tennessee Warbler was a first for me! At first it was only a voice in the woods. But, as He loves to do, the Lord answered a specific prayer and brought an excellent view. It was exactly what was needed for this species. I was able to see it from the right angle and make a positive identification. Then after about half a minute in the open it darted away never to be seen or heard again. It was great. There are some other potential firsts which we have only heard and not seen including the Chestnut-sided Warbler(?), but maybe that will make another story for another time. Every day can hold a surprise in the Wave of Warblers.
All in all, it appears that the Raven, Barred Owl and Field Sparrow are year-round residents—as well as the good old woodpeckers of course.
Departures: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Slate-colored Junco (last seen April 13). And now, the . . .
Arrivals to date:
February 15 | American Robin | Buffalo Calf |
March, April | Carolina Wren | Buffalo Calf |
Hooded Merganser | Buffalo Calf | |
Canada Goose | Buffalo Calf | |
Louisiana Waterthrush | Buffalo Calf | |
Eastern Phoebe | Buffalo Calf | |
Chipping Sparrow | Buffalo Calf | |
(Red-winged Blackbird) | Big Flint | |
Mid April | Song Sparrow | Buffalo Calf |
Northern Cardinal | Buffalo Calf | |
Eastern Towhee | Buffalo Calf | |
Turkey Vulture | Buffalo Calf | |
Red-shouldered Hawk | Buffalo Calf | |
Broad-winged Hawk | Buffalo Calf | |
Common Yellowthroat | Buffalo Calf | |
Turkeys (calling) | Buffalo Calf | |
April 19 | Ovenbird | Buffalo Calf |
April 20 | American Goldfinch | Buffalo Calf |
April 22 | American Redstart | Buffalo Calf |
Scarlet Tanager | Buffalo Calf | |
April 25 | Ruby-throated Hum. | Buffalo Calf |
Wood Thrush | Buffalo Calf | |
Chestnut-sided Warbler? | Buffalo Calf | |
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher? | Buffalo Calf | |
Blue-headed Vireo | Buffalo Calf | |
Yellow-throated Vireo | Buffalo Calf | |
April 26 | Red-eyed Vireo | Buffalo Calf |
Great Crested Flycatcher | Buffalo Calf | |
April 27 | Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Buffalo Calf |
(Young bluebirds hatch!) | (Buffalo Calf) | |
(Whip-poor-will) | Big Flint | |
April 30 | (White-eyed Vireo) | Fort New Salem |
May 1 | (Prairie Warbler) | Big Flint |
May 2 | Baltimore Oriole | Buffalo Calf |
Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Buffalo Calf | |
May 5 | Gray Catbird | Buffalo Calf |
Acadian Flycatcher | Buffalo Calf | |
May 8 | (Northern Parula Warbler?) | Big Flint |
Indigo Bunting | Buffalo Calf | |
May 9 | Blue-winged Warbler | Buffalo Calf |
Black-throated Blue W. | Buffalo Calf | |
Yellow-rumped Warbler? | Buffalo Calf | |
Kentucky Warbler? | Buffalo Calf | |
Tennessee Warbler | Buffalo Calf |
Hmmm… Our dark-eyed juncos *arrived* April 13th, our yellow-bellied sapsuckers haven’t arrived yet… I think you may have inspired me to write a post on our blog about the birds we’ve seen. Thanks!
The first picture reminds me of Psalm 84:3 – “Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself…”
. N E W S . F L A S H . !
Bay-breasted Warbler
Seen this afternoon, forest edges near barn
Another first! My cup overflows.
They are so cute!
That is great, David. Are you all in Western Canada? Do you have Snow Buntings?
What a list! It’s nice to know you’ve seen the Merganser again; and I didn’t know there were so many different kind of warblers around. Wow.
Donald, we live in eastern Canada (Sherbrooke, Quebec), and have never seen a snow bunting, but there was one spotted about 20 miles north of us this year, according to ebird.org. Have you seen any?
I hope you will forgive me for taking so long in writing that post I promised. 🙂
That’s fine. I didn’t consider it a promise at all. The Lord will provide the right time.
The only snow bunting the Lord ever brought across my path was a stray one at the feeder in Virginia of all places. It was a beautiful, unmistakable sighting that day many years ago, a real gift from the Lord.
We didn’t have to canvas cold tundra to look for it, just stand still and watch it from the kitchen window.
Keep beholding the fowls of the air!
U P D A T E
The Kentucky Warbler was confirmed with a sighting this morning. Those outstanding black “sideburns” made it a memorable sight.
One new addition: the Eastern Pewee, with a call that reminded me of Big Bear Camplands. 🙂
By the way there was a Junco we saw west of us where the mountains are slightly higher. It evidences how close Salem is to the “tail” of the next coldest climate zone which reaches down the Appalachians. I don’t think I would have noticed that if you hadn’t mentioned it David. Very interesting!
It is certainly summertime now.
Okay, now you have my curiosity up!! I grew up on Buffalo Calf Rd outside of Salem, WV (Doddridge Co). I’m REALLY curious now what part of Salem you’re in! I attended Greenbrier Grade School (which is now the logging company building) and DCHS. But I’m in N. Idaho now with my husband & HS’d children. Feel free to email me privately or send me a FB friend request. We may have LOTS of friends in common there! God bless.