Nashville Warbler
Cooler Canadian air flowed into Wisconsin overnight, and with it came the warblers. This morning at Pheasant Branch I encountered a few Nashville Warblers, Tennessee Warblers, lots of Chestnut-sided Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers, just one Magnolia Warbler, American Redstarts, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and more. Last night I checked NexRad before going to bed and the birds were already on the wing.
The mixed-flocks were incredibly active. It was so calm and quiet; I could hear their rapidly flapping wings and even a few snapping bills as they caught insects in midair. Some leaves are already changing color and falling. In the rush of an active flock, warblers flutter downward to catch flying insects. The birds, the leaves and the smell of decaying vegetation – fall is certainly in the air.
Nashville Warbler © 2007 Mike McDowell