5.23.2013
Worm-eating Warblers in Madison!
Absolutely amazing! There are two Worm-eating Warblers present on the Grady Tract at the UW Arboretum. Apparently, one of them was observed there by Sumner Matteson on May 14th, so it's possible these birds are on territory. Don't they like Baxter's Hollow any more? It's been years since I've seen (or heard) one there.
I visited the Grady Tract today to try to get a photograph of one of the warblers, but the lighting wasn't very good and the most vocal and obvious of the two spent its time foraging and singing way up in the canopy. At one point the bird came down mid-story, but it was too far away for a close-up portrait. Instead, I opted to capture a video of it singing:
And who said warbler migration is over? While waiting for the Worm-eating Warbler, I heard Cerulean Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Canada Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, and Blackpoll Warbler. It isn't over yet!
All images © 2013 Mike McDowell