Since Rob's had such good luck, I returned to the spot where I first saw the male Prairie Warbler last Saturday on the Herndon Chapter's Spring Bird Count. I heard him singing before I got anywhere near him. He gave a clear rendition of his song about four or five times before I located him. For those not familiar with this stretch of the greenbelt... Rob has given good directions, but to get a chance at seeing the bird, you might want to leave the paved path. There's a small cattail marsh that some birders may be aware of, and it was in that vicinity that I first saw the bird last week. Today, he was closer to an area dominated by a variety of saplings as well as cedars probably between 10-15 feet tall. If you do get off the path, just know there's lots of poison ivy and also lots of ditches that are full of water right now. I can hear quite easily the bird's song... my problem is detecting the location from which the song is coming. I still managed to catch sight of him in a tall (locust?) tree. He sings so persistently! It was noon, and his singing was almost constant. Of course, it is a cool, overcast day, but I also found him last week on count day around 11 a.m. on a much brighter, much hotter day. If he could attract a mate, I don't see any reason that they could not set up a nest in this habitat. During my lunch break stop today, I also saw several Indigo Buntings and Field Sparrows and heard a Yellow-breasted Chat. I also saw an American Robin and two Northern Cardinals chasing a Blue Jay. I suppose the jay got too close to either a robin or a cardinal nest, or perhaps both nests. The two male cardinals were really hot on the Blue Jay's trail. Bryan Stevens, Hampton, TN -----Original Message----- From: Robert Biller <xyon42@xxxxxxxxx> To: Bristol-birds <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Fri, May 6, 2011 7:48 am Subject: [Bristol-Birds] Prairie Warbler still present - Elizabethton Greenbelt On my way to work this AM, I stopped by the Elizabethton Greenbelt trail to see if the Prairie Warbler was still there. While I never saw him, I did hear him sing about 6-7 times while I was there. Some better instructions to location: Go to the end of Cherokee Park Drive. There are two ways you can go on the trail. Take the trail at the end of the Cul-de-Sac (towards the Sewer Station). Walk around the bend and listen for it on the left. The river on the right can be a little loud but anywhere down the straight stretch (with scrub habitat on left) the bird can be heard. Also present this AM were: Common Yellowthroat Red-eyed Vireo Indigo Buntings Northern Cardinals Canada Geese Mallards ( a male and female Mallard was mobbing another male in flight) Rob Biller Elizabethton, TN