Is it a Wrap?

Early last week it appeared the excitement of migration through Dane county came to a screeching halt on May 15th. 

Black-throated Blue Warbler (male), Gallistel Woods, UW Arboretum, 14May2018

Our last push of impressive migrant numbers and diversity occurred the day prior. 

Chestnut-sided Warbler (at my feet), Pheasant Branch Conservancy, May 2018

Storms early that morning forced many migrants down. 

Philadelphia Vireo, Graber Pond, Dane Co, WI 14May2018

Wilson's Warbler, Graber Pond, Dane Co, WI 14May2018

Thrushes dominated the day at densities I don't recall seeing before in Dane county. 

Veery, Wingra Woods, UW Arboretum 14May2018

Gray-cheeked Thrush, Gardner Marsh, UW Arboretum, 14May2018

Swainson's Thrush, UW Arboretum, 14May2018

Spring migration 2018: It felt somewhat delayed, then came on fast and furious. It will certainly go down as one for the record books of my gray matter. 

Chestnut-sided Warbler (at my feet), Pheasant Branch Conservancy, May 2018

On the waning side of its climax, warblers continued at my feet, but with far less frequency. As temperatures climbed, birds moved to food sources high in the tree canopy. 

American Redstart, the iconic warbler of waning migration, Graber Pond, Dane Co, 14May2018

The serendipity of Black-throated Blue warblers was certainly with me this spring which contributed to its overall superior rating as far as migrations go. 

Black-throated Blue Warbler (male), Gallistel Woods, UW Arboretum, 14May2018

Throughout the first half of May, I was fortunate to encounter several of these captivating blue warblers at various locations. Frautschi Point delivered my FOY. The UW Arboretum offered stunning looks of both sexes over multiple days. And as we passsed migration's peak, I saw the last male I will likely see for the season at Graber Pond (May 15th). All in all, it simply does not get much better than a Black-throated Blue Warbler quietly sneaking up in serious face-melting proximity during a quiet afternoon stroll in Gallistel Woods. 

It appears the birding fairies knew before I did that there would likely be no additional Black-throated Blue magic for me in the coming months. Unfortunately my travel plans to visit the Black-throated Blue Warbler breeding grounds in the eastern U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) have been thwarted by my mother's unexpected hospitalization. This is keeping my part-time Yooper parents in the Lower Rio Grande Valley at least until mid summer which means my time in the U. P. will be limited this summer. Oh how I already miss the remote shores of southern Lake Superior...

Hooded Warbler (female), Wingra Woods, UW Arboretum May 2018

As migration wanes, there is still plenty of birding candy to behold. The Hooded Warblers present in Wingra and Gallistel Woods at the UW Arboretum are likely to breed there. Even with lulls in migration and the slowness of the afternoon, these birds are typically active getting about their business of trying to perpetuate their genes. 

I have also been following the progress of a Ruby-throated hummingbird nest  in the same woods where the Hooded Warblers appear to have taken up residence. You can hear the Hooded Warbler singing in the background of this video showing the bird building her nest. 

Ruby-throated hummingbird adding soft lining to her nest, UW Arboretum, Madison, Dane Co, 14May2018

And of course new blooming ephemerals continue to reveal themselves almost daily. 

Bird's Foot Violet, Mazomanie Wildlife Area, Dane Co, WI 17May2018

And as more plants are flowering and temperatures rise, butterfly diversity and numbers are also increasing. 

Juvenal's Duskywing, Mazomanie Wildlife Area, Dane Co, WI 17May2018

By Wednesday of last week I was certain migration was a wrap. Stick a fork in it. Finished in an abrupt and cruel fashion.

Sadly I had turned my attention to all the things I had been neglecting during my month of birding fever, my garden, home, etc.

But could it be so? Was migration really over?

What about the cuckoos? And the myriad of empidonax flycatchers? And Olive-sided flycatchers? So few have been reported this year...Surely there must be more.

Black-billed Cuckoo, Graber Pond, Dane Co, WI 21May2018

Today's verdict on the question of whether migration is a wrap is a resounding "HELL NO!"

Migration may be waning, but indeed there is still more!

Bay-breasted Warbler, Graber Pond, Dane Co, WI 21May2018

Olive-sided Flycatcher, Graber Pond, Dane Co, WI 21May2018

Migration Rushes

Woohoo! Much has transpired in the two weeks since I last posted. The great ephemeral rushes of migration are upon us. Birding is now in high gear. Between birding, work (gets in the way of birding), sleep (I'm deprived) and eating (popcorn, almonds and crackers on the fly) who has time to nestle into the box to process photos and document the fantastic rush of 2018's spring migration?

A confiding Hooded Warbler oblivious to my presence at UW Arboretum, Madison, Dane Co, 13May2018

As I embark to settle down to write. I can predict I will likely nod off into in-completion (yes it happened, finally finishing this 4 days later than intended). But here I go, the words have been kicking around in my brain for at least a week...

Blue-winged Warbler, Cherokee Marsh-South Unit, on a glorious day of birding after morning rain showers
4May2018

April in her notorious bipolar fashion had us desperately hanging on to her paucity of migrants as her end grew close. Warblers had been sparse in numbers and diversity. However only as manic April could do, she dutifully delivered on her final day with our first decent push of warblers numbering about a dozen species.

Spotted Sandpiper, Sub-zero Pkwy Ponds, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

We exploded from a steady trickle of of succulent shorebirds,

Dunlin, Sub-zero Pkwy Ponds, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

Wilson's Phalarope, Sub-zero Pkwy Ponds, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

swallows,

Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Goose Lake Conservation Area, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

and Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers...

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Goose Lake Conservation Area, Dane Co, WI 29April2018

to recurrent orgasms of birds and more birds, sparrows, warblers, shorebirds, and tanagers. The undulating waves of one bird rush after another have been exhilarating...

Smith's Longspur, Dane Co, WI 3May2018

It has left me breathless on occasion, often trembling from excitement and always desiring more!

Tennessee Warbler, Cherokee Marsh South Unit, Dane Co, WI 4May2018

Each day yields fresh delights...

Black-and-white Warbler, UW Arboretum, Dane Co, WI 8May2018

In the common and cryptic...

Eastern Whip-poor-will, "the gorge", Dane Co, WI 5May2018

Barred Owl, UW Lakeshore Preserve, Madison, WI 7May2018

The bold and beautiful...

Summer Tanager (Dane lifer), Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Dane Co, 5May2018
One of two birds on my Dane life wish list for 2018

And the soul-soothing blues.

Black-throated Blue, Seen with my friend Shawn at Frautschi Point, UW-Lakeshore, Dane Co, WI 7May2018

Eastern Bluebird, Frautschi Pt, UW Lakeshore, Madison, WI 7May2018

I continue to fall in love with discovery, in love with finding a sense of place and harnessing the healing power of the quiet gorge, the nourishing seeps, the hidden springs and kindness of strangers, all yielding their gifts in incremental fashion with each return.

Swainson's Thrush, "the gorge" 4May2018

Solitude and beauty carry my spirit far from the crowded birding corridor where I am shunned like a modern day Hester Prynne, brandished with the scarlet letter "C" or "S" or perhaps,"FB..."

Golden-winged Warbler, "the gorge," Dane Co, WI 4May2018

The weight of human cruelty is no match for the power of a curious Golden-winged Warbler...

Golden-winged Warbler, "the gorge," Dane Co, WI 4May2018

Or a bluff decorated in sprays of white blooms...

"The gorge" 5May2018

Along "the gorge", hepatica and bloodroot have yielded to Dutchman's breeches which have now gone into senescence as well. The shooting stars are queued up for their spring debut. Bishop's Cap has just begun to bloom. Virginia Bluebell and Trout Lily have peaked in their poignant glory. Soon their blooms will also fade. All of it is so preciously ephemeral. Look up. Look down. The sensory overload at this time of year is immense. The forest floor is a constant changing menagerie of blooms rapidly transforming with the mere passing of a few days.

Wild Ginger, "the gorge," Dane Co, WI 5May2018

Truly there are so many birds and blooms, yet so little time. My attention and interests continue to be pulled in a multitude of directions. "The gorge" is beckoning me to return. However the bird activity at "the gorge" has been no match for the incredible deluge of warblers visiting the University of Wisconsin Arboretum.

Magnolia Warbler, UW Arboretum, 10May2018

My addiction to the forest sprites keeps me returning to the "Arb" for the time being. What's not to love in a place with scores of delightful birds and birders who welcome me with warm regard? With its vast landscape and hidden woodland benches, I can perfectly balance social versus solitary birding, choosing when to join my birder friends in a frenzied quest for warblers versus quietly strolling the wooded paths where the surprise of an intimate bird encounter is often lurking.

Northern Parula, UW Arboretum, Dane Co, 10May2018

The birding in Gallistel and Wingra Woods as well as at the north end of Gardner Marsh has been incredible over the past week.

In recent days I was wowed by a confiding Hooded Warbler at my feet...

Hooded Warbler, just walking right on by, busily foraging and singing within a few feet of me. 13May2018

...the delight of an unexpected Kentucky Warbler in my birding patch

Challenging light trying to capture this very vocal skulker
UW Arboretum, Dane Co, WI 13May2018

...an abundance of tantalizing warblers feeding low near the ground during our recent bout of chillier temperatures.

Black-throated Green Warbler, UW Arboretum, Dane Co, WI 8May2018

...gobs of Blackpoll Warblers concentrating at the north end of Gardner Marsh

Blackpoll Warbler, UW Arboretum, Dane Co, WI 10May2018

...and knockout views of several Scarlet Tanagers.

Scarlet Tanager, UW Arboretum, 10May2018

The past few days have also brought an influx of female warblers. Just today I saw my first fair lady Black-throated Blue Warbler as well a female Bay-breasted Warbler. These subtle beauties have joined the recently arrived female Tennessee, Nashville, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Blackpoll and Chestnut-sided Warblers along with female American Redstarts, a harbinger of migration's conclusion.

Bay-breasted Warbler, Cherokee Marsh South Unit, Dane Co, WI 10May2018

Soon this lovely madness will fade. Until then I will continue to relish one of the more memorable spring migrations I've experienced in recent years!

Prothonotary Warbler, Cherokee Marsh South Unit, Dane Co, Wi 10May2018
One of several I've seen this migration at various locations.