Sorry - I hit one of the keys that sent this while I was in the middle of
my thoughts. In case you care, here is the rest of the story...
Like most people, we finally had some new arrivals yesterday and it seems
that we are catching up on the slow start to spring. I have only been
birding on my land the last few weeks since we got back into the country,
but finally found 70 species around the house. I heard the first Tennessee
warbler singing repeatedly yesterday. This is a sign for me that we are at
the peak of the warbler migration.
I had one Tennessee show up quite early and also heard one singing last
week, but only a few times and not always a complete song. I have long
been saying that when this species is present in numbers and calling a lot,
this tells me that the warblers have peaked. Had several magnolias
yesterday, plus a total of 6 warblers as new for the year, but still no
Wilson's. Did have a Canada warbler in the marsh below our house which was
a highlight, but only 16 warblers for the day which isn't bad but missed
several that I would have expected.
I usually find 70 to 75 species at the peak of May migration here, so this
is a good sign that more birds are arriving. Like a lot of people, I have
had a number of new arrivals, but others that I would expect to be here
have not been sighted so far. Only one red-eyed vireo and no great-crested
flycatcher and still waiting for a few warblers and other flycatchers.
With the reports of so many warbler species out of the Milwaukee area over
the past week, it seems that they have finally moved north. I noted the
sightings at High Cliff and Green Bay that indicate the same advance of
birds.
I expect that the birds will be moving again with the next warm front after
this set back, but I also think that it may be a short migration around
here unless things stall out again. This is definitely an unusual spring,
but every year is different.
Bill Volkert
Northern Kettle Moraine
Fond du Lac Co.
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