Erwin Record, TN – May 22, 2014
By Bryan Stevens – Staff Writer
All good things must come to an end.
I saw a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak at my feeders on the morning of Friday, May 11. I haven’t seen any of these birds at the feeders since that date.
I had Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at my feeders for a record-breaking 17 consecutive days this spring. The birds first showed up on April 25. In the past, I felt fortunate if the birds lingered for even a couple of days.
Now, I will remain hopeful for visits during the fall migration.
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Among my favorite returning birds each spring are the warblers. I have enjoyed some incredible sightings of several different warblers in May, including one I haven’t seen in several years.
While birding with David Thometz at Erwin Fishery Park on May 6, I spotted a male Blackpoll Warbler.
This little bird was a life bird for David. It was also the first time I have seen a Blackpoll Warbler in Unicoi County. My only other sightings of a Blackpoll Warbler took place at Winged Deer Park in Johnson City and Sycamore Shoals State Park in Elizabethton.
The Blackpoll Warbler was foraging in some low shrubs, and then moved to some taller trees. In addition, we observed a flock of about 15 Cedar Waxwings and a Gray Catbird. The Blackpoll Warbler, which nests as far north as the boreal forest of Canada, is a long-distance migrant, returning to South America each fall to spend the winter months. The spring migration is mostly an overland route. In fall, however, these warblers gather in the northeastern United States and then make an incredible journey over the Atlantic Ocean to northern South America. As a result, the Blackpoll Warbler is an extremely rare migrant in the fall in Northeast Tennessee.
In the wetland area adjacent to the Erwin Fishery Park pond, we saw two Spotted Sandpipers and two Solitary Sandpipers.
The next day, I returned for a few minutes to have a quick look around Erwin Fishery Park. As I started to leave, I saw movement in some shrubs. I focused my binoculars and saw a male Blackpoll Warbler. Was it the same individual from the previous day or a different bird making a migration stop? I do know that reports of Blackpoll Warblers have seemed more common this spring.
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Gil Derouen and Reece Jamerson were with me when we observed a male Prothonotary Warbler in the pasture adjacent to Austin Springs on Boone Lake in Washington County on May 8. The Prothonotary Warbler is a unique member of its family in being the only warbler in the eastern United States to nest in cavities. They will also use nest boxes provided by human hosts.
The Prothonotary Warbler’s common name drew inspiration from officials in the Catholic Church who carried out religious and legal duties and sometimes wore golden robes. The Prothonotary Warbler is also known as “golden swamp warbler” in some regions of the country. I like both names, but “Golden Swamp Warbler” is probably more descriptive of this bird.
The bird’s scientific species name, citrea, is a reference to this warbler’s golden-lemon coloration.
In addition, we saw an American Kestrel and two Spotted Sandpipers at Austin Springs. We also watched a Tufted Titmouse carrying nesting material into a nest box.
Later that day we stopped at Paddlecreek Pond near Bristol in Sullivan County. We observed one Semipalmated Sandpiper, two Least Sandpipers, two Solitary Sandpipers and a Spotted Sandpiper. On a fence post next to the road along the pond, we saw and heard a Grasshopper Sparrow. Other birds present included Killdeer, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow and Eastern Kingbird.
At Winged Deer Park in Johnson City, we added to our trip list with a Scarlet Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Indigo Bunting, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Baltimore Oriole.
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I spent some time after getting home from work on May 10 in the yard. I was rewarded with a fascinating observation of a Kentucky Warbler in the overgrown tangles near the remains of the old springhouse. The bird was foraging, snapping up the occasional flying gnat-like insect.
Then, only a short while later, I kept an eye on a stand of willow trees near the creek. I had been watching only a brief time when I observed a male Magnolia Warbler. I’d forgotten how splendid these warblers look in springtime. This bird was busy foraging, too, and didn’t do any singing, although a nearby Gray Catbird sang enough to best both these warblers.
Other warblers are present in the woodlands around my home, but I often know of their presence only from their songs. Some of the resident warblers include Black-and-white Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Ovenbird and Chestnut-sided Warbler.
The Kentucky Warbler is one of the few warblers named for a state. The others are the Tennessee Warbler and the closely related Connecticut Warbler.
The Kentucky Warbler spends much of its time close to the ground, although in the spring the males will seek elevated perches in the forest canopy to sing their loud, ringing songs.
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Lisa Botts on Bishop Circle in Elizabethton is waiting for her Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. In an e-mail, she informed me that she has both a hummingbird feeder and flowers awaiting the arrival of these tiny birds. So far, however, she has had no luck.
I advise patience and, if that doesn’t produce results, she could possibly add more flowers and perhaps even a second feeder. The initial migratory push of hummingbirds is now past, but some hummingbirds always remain in Northeast Tennessee.
