Missbirders,
This morning I visited Bagley Bottoms to get audio recordings of the Least
Bitterns and anything else that might crop up. Little did I suspect that
when I got out of the car at 5:45am there would be a MOURNING WARBLER
singing loudly next to the entrance gate. I managed to get the audio
equipment set up and record the bird from only a few feet away. Through the
headphones though I heard this faint Mourning song in between the songs
coming through loud and clear on the monitor. I pulled off the headphones
for a second and realized a *second* Mourning Warbler was singing behind me
on the other side of County Road 244. They counter-sang for two or three
minutes and then the second bird went silent except for a few call notes
for the remainder of my stay. The first bird also went quiet for 10-15
minutes around the time Cullen Brown arrived, but then began singing
strongly again and giving pretty good looks. Other notable birds around the
entrance were a CANADA WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, and MAGNOLIA WARBLER.
Inside Bagley Bottoms I spent most of my time camped out at a Least Bittern
spot to get recordings, but had a WILSON'S WARBLER foraging in the willows
along the impoundment. I had to head back at 7:30 for work, but left Cullen
out there to turn up more good stuff. There are hints that he did, in fact.
But I'll let him report.
On the way back along County Road 215 I spotted a Loggerhead Shrike on the
wire on the west side of the road (near mailbox 468). This is a rare bird
for Lafayette County these days. My first in the county and Jason Hoeksema
reports that his only shrike in the county was at the Sardis Refuge in
2010. I'm sure Gene Knight and others have some older records, but
certainly a tough bird to come by in the hills these days.
Bottom line: Migration isn't over! The whacky birding storm of 2020
continues. So keep birding your local patches.
Good birding folks,
JR
