After the starker colours of winter, the explosion of shades and hues, tones and contrasts of the spring warblers fresh summer plumes is a feast for the eyes. As usual, I spent many hours in early May standing in a small wood lot peering up at the tops of Catalpa, Spruce and Maple and down into the thickets of Dogwood and Honeysuckle. I met again the fellow bird enthusiasts who I only meet at this one park at this one time of the year. Together, we understand what draws us all here to stand and watch for a few brief days as the warblers arrive.
Blackburnian Warbler
Will These Warblers Stay and Nest in Mississauga?
All of the birds in this note were photographed on the same day, May 16. That’s why some of the photos are more “record shots” than good closeups. There is usually one day during migration when a wave of warblers floods across the park–being there on that day is magical but the actual date is unpredictable!
American Redstart
American Redstart
Only a few of the spring warblers actually stay to nest in Mississauga. That’s what makes these brief annual glimpses so particularly rewarding. If I miss seeing a Blackburnian or a Bay-Breasted, I may well be waiting an entire year to try again.
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-throated Green
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
The Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers and Yellow Warblers nest here in my park beside the Lake.
Chestnut-sided
Chestnut-sided
American Redstarts, Black and White Warblers, Blackburnians, Black-throated Greens and Blues, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Magnolias, and Nashvilles could nest here. A lagardly Northern Parula might. But others prefer the more northern parts of the country.
Magnolia Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
On the other hand, I’m not likely to find nesting Cape May, Palm, Wilson or Yellow-rumped Warblers
Cape May Warbler
Palm Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
I hadn’t realized till now though how many of these small gems might be nesting locally. I’ll have to try to find some of them during the summers ahead!
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Do you have a favourite warbler you wait to see each spring? Please share your views with a comment.