March with the warmer temperatures and the longer days, I start getting excited about breeding season and spring migration. I know once the ponds start to melt that it won’t be long before the birds start their migration back to their breeding grounds.
Some warblers such as the Blue-winged and Yellow-rumped warblers are considered early migrants arriving in late March early April. Yellow warblers are considered mid spring migrant arriving late April to early May. The Golden-winged warbler arrives mid to late march making it a late migrant. The Wilson’s warbler arrives late May to early June making it a very late migrant.
Below is a Yellow-rumped warbler considered an early migrant. From this perch he darted down with precision, snatching freshly hatched insects rising from the water’s surface before returning to rest.
A Yellow Warbler broke briefly from his song and territorial patrols, gliding down from a nearby bush to sip from the stream.
A Black-throated Green Warbler pauses on a perch, scans his surroundings with watchful ease. Moments later he descends to the pond, to bath in the babbling waters rushing over the rocks.
Insects moving along the branches of the thicket lured a Wilson’s Warbler from cover. He slipped out from the safety of the dense brush, drawn into the open by the promise of a quick meal.
