Welcoming in May!

Wednesday 29 May 2024 69 °F

MAY 2:

Still catching up, now at least I’m under a month behind — but as always — May brings in the most birding and this year was no exception so it will take me a while to truly catch up.

On May 2 after a brutal spring season of studying, performing, and getting sick a lot, I finally got out to see what sort of neotropical migrant activity had moved into the area.

My day started over with a flyover GREAT BLUE HERON:

EASTERN PHOEBE:

SONG SPARROW:

PALM WARBLER:

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW:

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS by far dominated the warbler/migrant passerine scene today, as expected for very early may:

Though there were other gems to be found, such as this NASHVILLE, my first of the year:

This beautiful NORTHERN FLICKER posed nicely for me in the morning light:

COMMON GRACKLE — I have to remember to take photos of these birds as unfortunately their population is actually in a sharp decline, believe it or not:

RED-TAILED HAWK:

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, a species that is expanding its population northwards:

Another Song Sparrow:

KILLDEER:

And this NORTHERN PARULA, my first of the year, will be my bird of the day, with runner-up to the Nashville Warbler. It was a nice appetizer of May birding — now stay tuned for the main course!