[va-bird] Mourning Warbler, Beaverdam Park, Gloucester - 5/22

VA-Birders:

This morning at Beaverdam Park in Gloucester I observed three migrants that I have never seen before in the park, two of which were life birds for me. They were: MOURNING WARBLER (lifer), CANADA WARBLER, and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (lifer). All of the warbler species that I saw elsewhere (full list below) were represented in a short stretch of trail (~200 meters) we have begun calling "Warbler Alley" - apparently we have the name right. The male Mourning Warbler was smack in the middle of this section, working about to the edges occasionally and singing actively for a good 20 minutes (I was so close at one point I managed to record him with the voice memo on my cell phone!). He popped up out of the low brushy cover once and posed in view briefly, showing off his black hood. Most of the time he was low in cover and unobservable. I will somewhat embarrassingly admit that I actually starting tracking the bird because I thought the churry song was a thrush with which I was unfamiliar.

I only went to the park this morning because I saw a waterthrush out on a log yesterday morning during a dog walk (no binoculars). I thought it was too late for Louisiana, so I figured I'd give it a go. Lucky me - I actually saw 4 Northern Waterthrushes, three of which popped into view for excellent looks at close range. None of them were very yellow underneath, but all were clearly more streaked on the throat and breast than LA. Unfortunately, none broke out in song.

The north winds are going to die down a bit tonight, but the temperature is supposed to drop rather low again - maybe the birds will hold here or be joined/replaced by even more migrants. For anyone interested in trying their luck here in the morning, a small group of birders will be at the parking lot at 0700 to head to the "Alley."

NOTABLES:

Mourning Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
Northern Waterthrush - 4
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 3
Common Yellowthroat - 6
Blackpoll Warbler - 15+ (these are everywhere here, including outside my window as I type this - I haven't gone anywhere in the last week without hearing them)
Yellow Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Northern Parula - 1

Wood Duck - 2
Hooded Merganser - 1 (lone female, looking rather confused and inactive)

Spotted Sandpiper - 20+ (everywhere)

Great Crested Flycatcher - 3
Acadian Flycatcher - 2
Eastern Pee-wee - 2

Blue Grosbeak - 1

Summer Tanager - 2 (pair)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 (heard)

Wood Thrush - 2

Ruby-throated Hummer - 2 (in the woods)


REST:
Great Blue Heron - 3
Double-crested Cormorant - 1
Mute Swan - 13 (some with devil-spawn)
Canada Goose, Mallard, and other assorted screwed-up mixes - lots
Northern Cardinal - 2
Brown Thrasher - 1
Eastern Bluebird - 4
Indigo Bunting - 3
Chipping Sparrow - 2
Carolina Wren - 2
Carolina Chickadee - 3
American Crow - 4
Red-eyed Vireo - 5+
White-eyed Vireo - 2
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2 (pair)
Tufted Titmouse - 3
Blue Jay - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Downy WP - 1
Pileated WP - 1


Dave Hewitt
Gloucester, VA

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