American Redstart
Some southbound warblers continue to sing during late August. Depending on the species or individual, a warbler's song during fall migration isn't always recognizable. Most male American Redstarts I've encountered this month are singing pretty much the same song they do during spring, they're just less emphatic. Some warblers will sing familiar fragments, like Tennessee and Canada Warblers do, but others may produce jumbled or diminutive notes that are completely unrecognizable to even the best birders.
Black Swallowtail
Most warblers have given up on singing altogether. But all continue to vocalize call notes that can help reveal their identity, like the unique smacking note of a Magnolia Warbler or the loud alert of a waterthrush. Sometimes these single syllables can offer enough of a clue to help make the correct identification, or at least let you know there's something worth stopping for before continuing on down a trail. Though more challenging than spring migration, fall warbler watching (and listening) can be just as enjoyable.
Evening Primrose
Yesterday Dottie Johnson and I found nine warbler species along the Pheasant Branch Conservancy creek corridor: Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, and Wilson's Warbler. They're on the move!
Great Blue Lobelia
Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Aug 28, 2011 7:30 AM - 10:00 AM
52 species
Wood Duck
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Waterthrush
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
All images © 2011 Mike McDowell