The past 2 days have been (to myself at least), spectacular at Polywog Ponds.
Before I get into the Birds: full disclosure - mosquitoes are at least a 6 on
scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being I am out of here.
On a positive note, a huge thanks to Clay Taylor for taking his mower to
sections of the trails that were not cut by the City folks - priceless!
Birds: On both 05/06 and 05/07 at Polywog, I had 12 species of Warblers. Total
Warbler species count for the 2 days combined was 14.
Warbler species observed: Wilson's, American Redstart, Chestnut-sided,
Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Northern
Waterthrush, Tennessee, Blue-winged, Magnolia, Canada, Northern Parula, Yellow,
Common Yellowthroat.
I deeply enjoyed watching and listening to a male American Redstart today as I
followed it along my favorite trail . The black on this handsome gent was
"midnight black", seen in perfect light. This fine Warbler could not stop
singing his short jazzy burst, which practically had me doing a solo Watusi.
Many other priceless looks; but now we come to my favorite Warbler from these 2
excellent days - if not for the entire Spring. Along the aforementioned trail,
into my field of view entered a bolt of blue that instantly made me think
"Cerulean". In all honesty, it does not take much to make me think/wish
Cerulean. But in this case, the stunning blue was worn by a male Northern
Parula. Like most Warbler-seekers that have lived on the West coast of Florida
and/or the East coast of Texas, I have been fortunate enough to stumble on
dozens and dozens of males from this species. This Northern Parula male had the
widest necklace I have ever seen on one of these guys; and never in all of my
years have I seen light hit the deep, sky-blue base color of the wing - set
off majestically by the pristine snow-white wing bars, quite like this. Try as
I might, words just can not do proper justice...
Ironically, maybe 10 minutes prior to this Parula, I was certain that a
Blue-headed Vireo that I saw would be the Bird of my day. This Vireo's head
color was so rich that it struck me as purple - bringing to my mind the
ultra-talented rock band, 'Deep Purple'. Then, upon seeing the sharp yellow on
this guy's flanks, I thought of the Blue-and-Gold banquet, from my days as a
Cub Scout...
Other way cool stuff: Franklin's Gulls (156 over the 2 days), Indigo and
Painted Buntings, Baltimore, Orchard, and Hooded Orioles, Rose-breasted and
Blue Grosbeaks, Summer Tanager, more Red-eyed Vireos today (05/07) than I had
seen in the rest of 2020 Spring days combined, a flock of 10 Eastern Kingbirds,
Dickcissel, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbird.
Just a few of the locals: Swainson's and Red-tailed Hawks, Crested Caracara,
Green Kingfisher, Green Jay, Long-billed Thrasher, Least Grebe, Great Kiskadee,
White-tipped Dove, Black-crested Titmouse, and Olive Sparrow.
I am in awe over Polywog Ponds, migrating Birds, and Mother Nature/Earth...
Wander outside, stay safe, smile as much as you can...
Dane Ferrell
Getting outdoors, but trying to be smart about it...
Corpus Christi, TX
