Farewell May, 200 Species, and An Unexpected Dickcissel

 

Last day of May - four Prothonotary Warblers!

One of my milestones that I hoped to meet when I started this Big Year thing was to get 200 species by the end of May. As the final weekend of May approached, I was sitting at 198 species. There were (and are still) lots of great birds showing up at Murphy-Hanrehan, where I went last weekend. Cerulean Warbler, both cuckoos, Mourning Warbler, Virginia Rail, and a handful of others that I still need. It's a longer bike ride though and kind of a pain with construction. Plus, Thursday was "leg day" at the gym, so my legs were somewhat gelatinous. I decided to head over to my main (much closer) hotspot, Louisville Swamp. Somebody reported a Cerulean Warbler there also, and I was hoping to snag an Olive-sided Flycatcher as well, with all of the nice structure along the wetland bluff.

My bike ride over was rather eventful, in a good way! I didn't leave as early as I wanted because I needed to air up the tires a bit, and I couldn't find the pump. After about a 20-minute delay I found it hanging in an obvious spot (of course). I aired them up and left. Before I even left the neighborhood though, a ringing, emphatic "sweet Sweet Sweet SWEET SWEET" song caught my ear - Prothonotary Warbler! I already got this species a few weeks ago, but quite a surprise to get one in my neighborhood in a maple tree in a neighbor's yard. These wetland denizens don't really get away from bottomland forest much, so, pretty cool. I took it as a good sign, and wondered if I would have heard it if I'd left "on time". It wasn't there anymore when rode back by later, and I haven't heard it since. 

About halfway over to Louisville another song caught my ear from a small hayfield - Dickcissel! Right on time - this species usually shows up right around the last few days of May. I wasn't expecting this one though - there really wasn't much habitat there. Maybe this means that there will be a ton of them around this year? Or maybe just a migrant doing a quick stop like the one I had in my yard last year. 

Yellow Warblers are still all over the place - squabbling about territories

Anyways, the rest of the ride was nothing super unusual, but fun - Horned Larks in the agricultural fields and Red-winged Blackbirds in the meadows. A Vesper Sparrow calling from its' usual spot near a farmstead. A Northern Harrier came out of nowhere and grabbed a mouse from the ditch. The ride went by quickly and I jumped off my bike and got right on the trail, eager to find the Cerulean, which would be species #200 - if I could find it. 

Lots of Trumpeter Swans in the wetlands - likely nest failures, unfortunately. 

The directions for the Cerulean Warbler were somewhat lacking - just "by the water". That didn't really narrow it down much. No problem though, I like a challenge, and I had a route I wanted to take anyways beforehand. I'd pay special attention while I was along the wetland itself. 

This same spot was charcoal a few weeks ago after a prescribed burn. Now it is lush and green. 

The birding was great, although definitely can tell that migration is near it's end for the northbound push. Birds were acting very "nesty" - carrying material, etc. I could hear some fledglings hiding in the brush, and goslings followed around their parents on the water. The typical breeding birds were all there - Indigo Buntings, Gray Catbirds, Great Crested Flycatchers, and many, many, Yellow Warblers. I did snag a couple of migrants still - a late White-crowned Sparrow lingering by the marsh overlook, and a Northern Parula singing from the wetland edge. Neither of these species breed there. 

Indigo Bunting

After a pleasant walk I was not able to find a Cerulean, which was a little disappointing. The closest I came to getting my 200th species there was a distant Eastern Wood-Pewee doing a great Olive-sided Flycatcher impression at a distance. Oh well. I saw three more Prothonotary Warblers there, which was fun. They are a beautiful bird - never gets old seeing them. I spent some time watching a particularly cooperative male next to the trail, then decided to head back for lunch. 

Not sure what these are, but neat looking

I got back on my bike and kind of slowly rode by a brushy area at the entrance - it looks good for a Bell's Vireo. No luck there either. It was a fun trip though, so I couldn't be too disappointed. When I hit the steep bluff on the way back home, I took a breather and hopped off the bike. Right after doing that, a "pip-pip-pip" call made me snap my head around to the other side of the road. There, perched in the top of a dead tree (like the pewee earlier), was an Olive-sided Flycatcher. 200! It didn't stay long, but I was thrilled and powered my way back home in triumph, despite missing Cerulean Warbler. Another time. 

So, I met my first milestone, I got 200 species on the last day of May. Things are going to get tougher now trying to get the last 50 species. I do, however, have one more trip to do where I can pick up a good handful of birds - back to Murphy-Hanrehan. I could potentially get 5 or maybe even more green year birds. After that though, it will be slow through the summer doldrums, although there will be a few here and there that I might get to pick up from time to time. It's still doable to get 250, but...going to be tough. I'll have fun trying though. Until next time! 

Later!