BIRDQUEST2004

They come in 54 varieties in North America and twice a year warblers migrate through our area.  Some years, in great numbers, all at once, other years in dribs and drabs.  One thing for sure they are fun to watch and photograph.  This year wasn’t the best year for photographing them, spring came early and with that so did the leaves on the trees.

Every spring birders and photographers alike try to find as many different species as they can.  Mud Lake near the filtration plant on Cassels Street, Ottawa is a particularly good spot. The woods and the dike area can be very productive during May and early June for warblers.

Most warblers are between  4.5″ (Northern Parula) – 6″ (Northern Waterthrush),  the exception being fairly large at 7.5″ (Yellow-breasted Chat).  They are colorful and quick and aren’t easy to get in the camera lens or binocular.

Enjoy.  The warblers in the photos below are:  Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Wilson’s, Prothonotary, Pine, Palm, Northern Waterthrush, Nashville, Magnolia, Golden-winged, Common Yellowthroat, Chestnut-sided, Cerulean, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Black and White and American Redstart.

I wonder how our early migrants are coping, with the lovely weather we had today. 

After a month of above average temperatures and 3 record breaking days,  we woke up to 4 inches of snow.  I picked a great day to go golfing.

On a recent trip along Chaffey’s Locks Road and Opinicon Road looking for early migrants netted a few birds Red-shouldered Hawk, Bluebirds, Eastern Towhee,Tree Swallows, Pine Warblers, Field, Swamp and Song Sparrows, a few Wild Turkeys, Ring-necked Ducks. 

A very co-operative Eastern Towhee allowed us to photograph him, really putting on a show.  We didn’t see a female but he just didn’t want to leave this spot.

Our northern Towhees have a red eyes but the further south you go, the eye turns a straw color.