almost summer but not quite

Relatively slow morning on Saturday at the MNC, one addition to the patch list was a Willow Flycatcher giving off 'whit' notes. Overall the area by the stream has been quite nice for flycatchers in general. Otherwise only notable migrant was a Prairie Warbler. At Blue Mash I added FOY Eastern Flycatcher and Lesser Yellowlegs. Several Yellow Warblers gave nice views, several Prairies were heard as well. Well, seems like things are winding down now until fall. Time for a trip to Montezuma where things should be a little more interesting even at this time of year.
We are on 108 species for the year and 118 for the patch.

A day in May

Nice day at the MNC. Highlights were two Blue-winged Teal that stuck to the same corner of the lake as where they were found last week. Other additions to the patch year list were Bald Eagle (I assume it was a migrant), Great-Horned Owl (heard twice), Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Northern-Rough Winged Swallow, Northern Waterthrush, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Prairie Warbler and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak that kindly came to the feeders. Total tally for the year: 107, total patch list @ 117. Time to turn up something more unusual. I have plenty of suggestions but would not want to jinx it.

Blue-winged Teal pair

Bazinga! Now you see me now you don't

Great morning at Meadowside: Although warbler activity was not that great, I bagged a tally of 61 species in the end - not too shabby! And I guess I missed a few species especially warblers because many songs were heard, but to get visual confirmation seemed impossible at times. Quite frustrating and I thought I could hear them call Bazinga, Bazinga. The highlights of the morning were 9 species of warblers, Blackburnian and Hooded (heard only) the best among them. This was the best day I ever had in terms of Orioles, both Orchards and Baltimores were around, at one point even side by side in the same tree. Altogether 2 Warbling Vireos were had, one by the Nature Center, the other one along the road by Lake Needwood. At Lake Frank I ran into another birder who kindly pointed out 2 Blue-winged Teals - Nice and Thanks! Another great bird was found at the Lake Frank entrance off Timothy road: a Swainson's Thrush was giving great fews.
So in summary, we added to the patch list: Blue-winged Teal, Green Heron, Killdeer, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift, Eastern Wood Pee-wee, Acadian Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson's Thrus, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Blackburnian Warbler, Scarlet Tanage, Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole - total tally 109, year patch list @ 98.