Ha!

Connecticut Warbler

Marshal Park, Dane County, WI

May 19th, 2023 3:30 PM

"Saw bird silhouette briefly as it hopped among sticks. ID based on song. Found this species exactly one year ago this date in same general area and within 50 ft of where I found it today. Came to this park today specifically looking for CONW given history of finding this bird last year at this time. Same bird??? Sweet to find it again second year in a row."

Actually, Dottie and I found a CONW there the previous day.

Actually, we let several other birders know about it.

Actually, it likely got reported to Telegram and another RBAs.

Actually, it's a pretty small parcel of habitat.

Actually, within the parcel there's only so much CONW ideal habitat.

Actually, the window for Dane County CONWs is the 18th through 25th of May.

Actually, a CONW was there the 18th, 19th, and 20th.

Actually, what incredible hubris.

True story:

Dottie and I went to Marshall Park on the 18th specifically to look for CONW given the habitat and the migration window, though we had never found one there before. As we entered the wooded area, we noted there wasn't quite as much birdsong as there had been at Pheasant Branch earlier in the morning. Dottie said "Huh. Not as many warblers here compared to the creek corridor." I replied "True, but it only takes the one bird." Immediately after I said that a CONW blurted out its song ~20 feet away from us. We then called and texted a few other birders to let them know of the sighting.

I keep calendars like this for certain species: CONW, BTBW, HOWA, KEWA, etc. This is my CONW one for the Middleton area, which gives one a good visual of the migration window through our neck of the woods:

Same bird from one year to the next? Maybe! 

But probably not.

All images © 2023 Mike McDowell