Weekly Report - 2017-09-29 - Black-throated Blue Warblers!

It was a rather autumnal feeling on the trail for my weekly Friday walk! The lighting was dark, the temperatures were cool, and the morning dew stuck to my boots as a flurry of bird activity broke the morning silence. Countless songbirds were zipping high overhead as they were completing their nocturnal migration, many of which went unidentified. What I found on the ground was quite exciting!

There were much of the usual residents on the trail. Some of which, such as Gray Catbird, will only be here a short time more before they make their migration south for warmer climates. Ruby-crowned Kinglet was observed in the trees along the parking lot near the trailhead. The most exciting find of the week was undoubted a pair of Black-throated Blue Warblers foraging along the path to Deer Meadow Lane! I first observed the female as she was picking out berries from Mile-a-Minute plants. Then, the male few in down the trail and the two began to playfully chase one another as they fed in the first morning light. It was exciting to see such behavior, and this was a notable sighting: a fourth record for the property, and the second record of this species in fall. The first and only other time time this bird was observed in fall on the trail was on September 23rd, 2013. Oddly enough, the first two records of this species were in May and September of 2013, and the other two records were in May and September of 2017.

Also of note, one Cooper's Hawk was observed flying over during the Trailblazers Butterfly Bonanza!

Observed this Week on the Trail (22 species):

Canada Goose

Turkey Vulture

Cooper's Hawk

Mourning Dove

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Blue Jay

American Crow

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse