Two days after I saw twelve types of butterflies near by on my early September afternoon stroll, the weather had changed. Cold, cloudy and calm equalled only 3 Monarchs and 2 Cabbage Whites. I know the other butterflies were around me hidden in the foliage waiting for warmth and sunshine but they weren’t visible to cheer me. Then, halfway through my quiet cold walk, though, a burst of migrating warblers criss-crossed my path.
Brilliant Yellow Goldenrod? Look for Nashville Warblers
There were at least two Nashville Warblers in the loose group of small birds moving through the Meadows. I tend to notice the vivid yellow chests on Nashvilles first, then slowly see the grey-ish heads and bright eye ring. The don’t have any white on the outside of the wings, unlike Parulas. Around here, they also love to hunt through the Canada Goldenrod. They tug at the plants making them bounce and every so often pop up to take a look around before diving out of view again.
Yellow-rumped Warblers Enjoy Eating Everything
I think the reason I see large numbers of Yellow-rump Warblers is that they seem to be happy hunting for food almost every where. The ones I saw today worked through the shrubs, darted around the saplings, hopped along the almost bare clay pans, and checked out the goldenrod and asters.
Common Yellowthroats Uncommonly Difficult to See
Common Yellowthroats, on the other hand, often prefer to work quickly and thoroughly through the shrubs and scrub without showing themselves much. I can catch glimpses of them but have trouble getting a clear photo that doesn’t just show a foot, or an eye, or a half a tail. In a way, that challenge makes them even more fun to watch, though. So when this one took a brief break en route from Grey Dogwood patch to Riverbank Grape and Buckthorn tangle it seemed a bit too easy to get a photo.
One of Mr. Peterson’s Confusing Fall Warblers
Another warbler was interested in working through the ground level plants. When it paused on a branch, it would wag its tail enthusiastically. So my first guess was Palm Warbler. There was no little chestnut cap though. AllAboutBirds had a very similar photo of a “western” Palm Warbler. I have no idea whether my bird prefers cowboy boots and honkytonk, or clam diggers and ceilidhs, but it was fun to watch.
The Warbler with the Little Yellow Hat
OK yes this is way out of focus!
For just a few seconds, I also got a glimpse of a young Chestnut-sided Warbler. In the spring, it does have some nice chestnut stripes along the side. The fall young ones, though, just have the cute little yellow cap of the spring warblers.
Not Every Warbler Is a Warbler, Especially the Vireos
I should have guessed this last little Tweety wasn’t a warbler. It was hunting vireo style: perch, look, dart and catch, perch again. It also was a vireo I haven’t had much luck photographing, a Philadelphia Vireo.
So despite the lack of butterflies, I had an excellent walk with lots of wings to watch! Hopefully something good will pop up or join me on my next ramble too.
This Black Swallowtail doesn’t have wings yet, but maybe it will next spring if we meet again!
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Do you prefer to only look for one type of plant or creature while walking or do you just enjoy whatever is sprouting, hopping, flying or swimming nearby? Please share your views with a comment.