[TN-Bird] Connecticut & Mourning Warblers, plus King Rail; 5/19/07

5/19/07
Carroll & Henry Co.
This morning was definitely a case of quality over quantity. After getting off 
work, I made a loop through the Obion River bottoms south of McKenzie (Carroll 
Co.) over to extreme southern Henry Co just east of McKenzie. I have a couple 
of areas that look ideal for Connecticut or Mourning Warblers, though I didn't 
know if the limited time I can get to them would be enough to pay off; it was!

On the way to the Obion River bottoms, I had Lark Sparrows in two locations 
along Kelley Rd; one of which was singing. Though resident breeding species 
were quite vocal today, singing migrants were non-existent. I did not hear a 
single boreal warbler singing today, not even a TN or Blackpoll. And I only saw 
two warblers all morning (or is it Mourning?), but this is where the quality 
makes up for the quantity.

There is a nice stretch of shady, wet forest with thick undergrowth habitat in 
the Obion River bottom, so my strategy was to play a Connecticut song, wait a 
few minutes, then play another, and do the same with Mourning, and wait hoping 
for some kind of response. This strategy paid off when I saw a bird fly into 
the edge a minute or so after playing a Mourning song. The bird never 
vocalized, but I had the most relaxed views I've ever had at a Mourning (at eye 
level from the car), as a gorgeous male was in view for about 2-3 minutes. 
After checking on its unseen brethren for a bit, it foraged through a couple of 
shrubs and then was gone. Of course, I didn't have my camera in the car. BTW, I 
know playback is a touchy subject, and rightfully so. This area is very lightly 
birded (pretty much just me), and I only use playback sparingly, even for these 
non-breeders.

Other birds today in this bottom were the usual singing Swainson's Warbler 
(same spot always), and though I didn't see or hear a Willow Flycatcher, I did 
hear both Least Bittern and King Rail. I've had Least here numerous times (1st 
this year), but this is my 1st local record of King Rail, and my 1st away from 
Reelfoot and the Mississippi. The Bittern called several times, but the King 
Rail only grunted once. 

I next drove to the area in southern Henry Co that has been the most productive 
for Swainson's Warbler, as this area has some nice bog habitat that has always 
looked ideal for Connecticut to me. I've had Mourning here one time a couple of 
springs ago. I used the same strategy, playing a Connecticut song then waiting. 
I had about given up after several minutes, when I saw a bird fly up to a low 
branch. At 1st I was partially blocked, but I could see the bird WALKING down 
the branch. I got about 5 seconds of clear looks at a male Connecticut. It 
never sang back, but did chip a few times. It eventually flew back to the 
ground, at which time I called it a day. 

This is my 1st time seeing both of these scarce Oporornis Warblers on the same 
day, and only my 2nd sighting of Connecticut ever, though I've heard a handful 
sing. Most of my Mourning Warblers have been fall birds, this was my 1st good 
look at a nice bright male. :")  I had really hoped that by being able to get 
to these good areas semi-regularly, for a change this spring, I could have a 
good chance at picking these birds up without making a trip to Radnor, and it 
was quite rewarding. I would have never thought in a million years that on a 
day I saw a total of two warblers, they would be Connecticut and Mourning! This 
accounts for all 37 of TN's regularly occurring warblers that I've had in west 
TN this spring, another 1st for me.

Good Birding!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd

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