Since this conservation area is close to the lakefront, featuring modest bluffs, I figured there might be some warbler activity. Upon arrival this morning the first thing I hear is a Yellow warbler calling. A single warbler was in a bushy tree next to the walkway but before I could even hoist my camera to eye level it flew away deeper into the park. I heard it a couple of times after that but I couldn't see it anymore.
The principle warbler visiting the park was the Yellow-rumped warbler, of which there were countless individuals. They were mostly hanging around a cluster of pine trees near the side trail close to the bluff edge. Since the insects were more plentiful on the shadowed side of those trees the warblers were mostly in gloom that can't be penetrated by my old camera. I waited long enough to capture a few warblers that came into better light. I remaining absolutely motionless, therefore letting warblers forage past me rather than engaging in unsavoury pursuit, like I was desperate, or something. There must have been fifty of them.
Walking the narrow dirt trail through the tiny wooded area revealed two delights: a singing warbling vireo (FOY) and a Brown thrasher (FOY). The woods were also full of White-throated sparrows. The thrasher was too shy to approach so I didn't get a shot of it, but I did want to make sure that it wasn't a Wood thrush, which would have made my day. I had forgotten how small a thrasher really is. That happens every year. There was also a Red-bellied woodpecker but too high up to photograph. Also saw a couple of N. Flicker. As usual, the place was busy with RWBB and grackles.
A new sparrow call got my attention. I'm not good with audio data. Turned out to be a small group pf White-crowned sparrows, mostly too high to photograph well.
Warbling vireo
White-crowned sparrow
Common Purple Grackle
Northern Flicker
Yellow-rumped warbler (formerly Myrtle warbler).
