The first few Yellow-rumped Warblers are beginning to trickle into Pheasant Branch Conservancy and this morning I thought I even heard a Pine Warbler, though I was unable to locate the responsible songster. The first yellow-rumps are always a welcomed sight – the first of all warblers to return – but they’ll be so plentiful in a few weeks that they sometimes make birding more challenging. We’ve observed them at the conservancy by the thousands – one becomes unsure where to glass next without landing upon yet another Yellow-rumped Warbler! This once prompted my friend Jesse to remark, "If anyone on wisbirdn reports seeing a Yellow-rumped Warbler today anywhere other than Pheasant Branch, they’re lying - they’re all here." It's an amazing sight to witness - thousands of them sallying for insects, chipping and singing.
Yellow-rumped Warbler image © 2007 Mike McDowell