On Saturday morning, May 1, 2021, I saw a first-of-the-year (FOY) male Scarlet
Tanager on my property in Birchwood (Hamilton County). That afternoon an
Orange-crowned Warbler was observed, and its song was also heard at the
Volkswagen Wetlands in Chattanooga (Hamilton County). This was a Life Bird for
me! On May 2 at the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park in Birchwood (Meigs County),
I met Joy Adams and her husband Mike. Joy and I located an American Redstart
warbler from Blythe Ferry Road several yards east of the CRMP entrance on
private property, another FOY for me. Because there was so much migrant
activity in recent days, Joy and I happened to arrive at the CRMP entrance at
almost the same time today, May 3, to look for more FOY or, hopefully, life
birds. With Joy’s help on songs, we were able to identify the presence of some
Swainson’s Thrushes. I had a good enough look at one to note another FOY
species, but Joy was unable to get a photo of the thrush. I almost convinced
myself to declare a Yellow Warbler life bird, but I just didn’t see the entire
bird at one time and will hope to see one another day. Joy had seen a Northern
Parula warbler and posted a great photo of it online after I left the CRMP on
May 2. However, she graciously agreed to help me find the Northern Parula for
another FOY bird for me where she had seen the warbler the day before. We were
rewarded by seeing two of these warblers after noon today. This was also a FOY
for me today. Much later in this afternoon, I saw a pair of FOY Red-eyed Vireos
at the edge of the CRMP property with the help of Linda Parks.
I saw a FOY Rose-breasted Grosbeak (RBGR) on April 22. On a few days after that
I did not do any formal birding, but today marked the tenth birding day this
spring that I saw one or more of this spectacular species. From my dining room,
I can see several of my bird feeders. While eating breakfast this morning, I
saw 3 RBGR, all males. At a late lunch beginning just before 2 P.M., I saw two
male RBGR and one female, and at dinner after 6 P.M. today I saw three males
and a female. The grosbeaks were always eating sunflower seeds or peanuts or
both.
Charles Murray
Birchwood, TN
