Neotropical Migration at Magee Marsh 2017 -- The Warblers

[Magee Marsh, OH. May 2017]

It is this blogger's welcome duty to report on the spectacle of neotropical migration at the fabled Warbler Hotspot that graces the Southern shores of Lake Erie and is better known to the birding populace as Magee Marsh.

Compared to 2016, this year's migration season was both erratic and below par  -- with uncooperative winds resulting in a thin volume of arrivals until mid-May when things finally picked up. This, coupled with the leaf out, made photographic observation frustratingly difficult but not entirely impossible.

Yet, in the hallowed tradition of this blog -- in dutiful (and delightful!) practice since 2012 -- we are pleased to faithfully present whatever meagre photographic pickings were obtained this season at Magee:

1. American Redstart
2. Blackpoll
3. Black-and-White Warbler
4. Bay-breasted Warbler
5. Black-throated Blue Warbler
6. Black-throated Green Warbler
7. Blackburnian Warbler
8. Cape May Warbler
9. Chestnut-sided Warbler
10. Canada Warbler
11. Common Yellowthroat
12. Magnolia Warbler
13. Myrtle Warbler
14. Northern Parula
15. Nashville Warbler
16. Prothonotary Warbler
17. Palm Warbler
18. Tennessee Warbler
19. Wilson's Warbler
20. Yellow Warbler

We start with the males (or females if no males of that species were sighted) followed by the females:

American Redstart: a striking songbird; yet, despite its name, there is actually no red in this warbler.

Blackpoll: Our long distance champion:

Black-and-White Warbler: This is one of our earlier migrants and by mid-May, it appeared that the males had gone through leaving the rearguard migration action to the females:

Bay-breasted Warbler: With dominant tones of chestnut, black and buffy cream, this is our most unusually colored warbler:

Black-throated Blue Warbler: Seen high in the canopy this season:

Black-throated Green Warbler: Many onlookers were questioning the green in the name -- a feature that's not obvious unless a full view of the back is obtained (second image):

Blackburnian Warbler: Not rare, but of rare beauty:

Cape May Warbler: The luscious shots of the males obtained in 2016 contrast with the lone sighting of a female this year (so drab, this blogger mistook her for a Pine Siskin!):

Chestnut-sided Warbler: The "Pennsylvania Warbler":

Canada Warbler: this is a late migrant and one of the main attractions at Magee:

Common Yellowthroat: For all their abundance, these warblers are not easily seen at Magee:

Magnolia Warbler: Our gaudiest warbler, the Magnolia is "over the top":

Myrtle Warbler: An early migrant at this venue:

Northern Parula:

Nashville Warbler:

Prothonotary Warbler: This is one of the few breeding warblers at this venue:

Palm Warbler: completely transformed into its breeding best:

Tennessee Warbler: oft mistaken for a vireo:

Wilson's Warbler: surprisingly well represented this season:

Yellow Warbler:

And now for the girl warblers:

American Redstart:

Blackpoll:

Black-and-white:

Bay-breasted:

Blackburnian:

Mangolia:

Northern Parula:

North American birding would be infinitely poorer without the arrival of our neotropical migrants. This feathered blessing is ours to enjoy every summer and few places afford the appreciation of the full richness of the bounty of migration like Magee Marsh.

Songbirds of the Sonoran Desert

[SEAZ, December 2016]

The Sonoran Desert covers a massive area of some 100,000 sq. miles and spans the arid regions of Arizona, New Mexico, California, Baja California and Sonora. It is renowned as the only place in the world that hosts the mighty saguaro cactus; yet, it also harbors a unique ecosystem that supports 350 species of birds as well as many other creatures such as mammals, reptiles and amphibians. 

And, in this vast desert, it is in Southeastern Arizona that the apex of biodiversity is attained thanks to the famous "Sky Islands" of the region. As the vast plains of Saguaro transition to montane coniferous forests (reaching elevations of 8,000 ft and above), a remarkable transformation also occurs in the birdlife -- a fact that we shall endeavor to illustrate in this post by profiling a selection of songbirds and other species recently encountered in the Tucson and Phoenix areas:

• Phainopepla
• Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
• Lesser Goldfinch
• House Finch
• Northern Cardinal
• Say's and Black Phoebe
• Bewick's Wren
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Pygmy Nuthatch
• Mexican Jay
• Western Bluebird
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• Mexican Creeper

We start with the "Shining Robe" or (in Greek) Phainopepla:

The Phainopepla is a "silky flycatcher" and the only member of its family found in the US. And, while it is not unusual for some birds to raise two broods a year, the Phainopepla accomplishes this feat in two different habitats (desert and woodlands) and in two different social modes (monogamous and colonial breeding). Surely, something that no other bird in the US that can match! This outstanding male with the resplendent black plumage and striking red eye was observed at Rio Rillito Park in Tucson.

Also observed at this venue was this energetic songbird -- a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (female):

In a couple of months, the males of these Gnatcatchers will develop a black cap that will make them instantly recognizable.

In the dry river bed, Lesser Goldfinch fed among the dry grasses:

Moving to Mt. Lemmon, a couple of bright songbirds were encountered -- a House Finch:

and a Northern Cardinal:

This is the Cardinal's Western limit.

Next, a couple of Phoebes: Say's and Black:

Thomas Say was Chief Zoologist in Major Long's expedition to the Rockies in 1819 and described many species new to science such as the Phoebe that bears his name but also Orange-crowned Warbler, Western Kingbird, Lazuli Bunting and Band-tailed Pigeon. These small tyrant flycatchers were observed at Proctor Rd and Gilbert Water Ranch respectively.

Also from the Water Ranch, a wintering Ruby-crowned Kinglet:

And, near Florida Canyon, a Loggerhead Shrike:

Other than perhaps Cactus Wren, our other wrens are splendid songsters and Bewick's Wren (seen at Molino Basin) is no exception:

Further up in the snow covered reaches of Mt. Lemmon, Pygmy Nuthatch was spied at Rose Canyon:

At Madera Canyon, on the other hand, observations were made of:

Mexican Jay:

Western Bluebird:

White-breasted Nuthatch:

And, Mexican Creeper:

While deserts don't typically come to mind when thinking about ideal habitat for birds, yet, the Sonoran Desert and its Sky Islands offer the perfect counterexample. And, the intrepid birder who ventures out to hotspots such as Mt. Lemmon, Madera Canyon and Florida Canyon will be rewarded with avian delights such as Phainopepla, Say's Phoebe and Mexican Jay.