Warblers! Parade through the Puddles

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Early to mid-May is a warbler frenzy, both for the warblers migrating through the area and for the photographer who wants to catch these little jewels on camera. So what do you do when you are at Presque Isle for less than 24 hours, the light is horrible, the leaves are out, and it’s threatening to rain? The first day yielded few visible warblers, so I went to my secret spot which had a couple of inviting mud puddles, sat down at the edge of the trail at a respectful distance, and prepared for the show!

Because of the distance and the poor light, you will have to enjoy the variety of the warblers rather than the sharpness of the photos!

First was a beautiful male Yellow Warbler, making quite a splash!

Yellow Warbler             Yellow Warbler

Next was a female Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler             Yellow-rumped & Magnolia

Then a gorgeous Magnolia got in on the act!

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler             Magnolia Warbler

A handsome male Black-throated Blue walked up and back to the puddle, then decided he’d better not take the risk, and he flew away.

Black-throated Blue

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, a male and female Bay-Breasted Warbler came separately to the water.

Bay-breasted Warbler             Bay-breasted Warbler

Male and female American Redstarts and a Chestnut-sided Warbler also joined the parade!

Redstart & Chestnut-sided            Redstart

Then came a Blackpoll Warbler.

Blackpoll            Blackpoll

Another Chestnut-sided Warbler and a female Cape May!

Chestnut-sided             Cape May Warbler

A Tennessee and a Wilson’s Warbler!  Unbelievable!

Tennesee Warbler              Wilson's Warbler

Besides warblers, Catbirds, a Brown Thrasher, a Robin, and two Barn Swallows came for a drink and to gather nesting material. Mud, leaves, and rootlets make for strong nests for some birds.

Robin Barn Swallow            Barn Swallow

Even though it was not the parade of pictures that I had hoped for, it was certainly a wonderful experience to sit and observe what can happen in an hour at a mud puddle!

Lauren Shaffer

Lauren Shaffer wrote 146 posts

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Comments

  • brighamstephen

    What a great spot. Patience and planning pay off again.

  • Lucy Sallstrom

    Beautiful pics Laurie. You are amazing. Can;t wait to share our birding pics from Galapagos and Ecuador in the Andes mountains.

    • Lauren Shaffer

      Thanks, Lucy! The Galapagos and Ecuador are at the top of my bucket list for birding! Looking forward to seeing your photos!

  • Laura

    so glad you got to see “our” warblers. Thanks again for helping me with identification,

    • Lauren Shaffer

      Laura, you are so blessed to live so close to Presque Isle! You’re welcome! Hope I run into you again at PI!

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