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Tuesday, September 18, 2018

End Of Fall Migration?

Best Fall bird migration ever. My friend Paul was a week long guest from British Columbia, joined at week's end by Carolee. Paul and I photographed 21 species of Warblers in our garden over the week, including the first Townsend's photo-documented in the state and a Lawrence's on the same day. And we drank a LOT of craft beer, splitting each can between us, but still potentially affecting some of the end of the day photos. 

Golden-winged Warbler

Lawrence's Warbler 


This gives us 29 Warbler species I.D.'d in our 30 years in Oakwood. Splitting (or not splitting?) hairs, my friend Brian (aka Brain) will not concede our hybrid Lawrence's Warbler as a count species, so we are now tied with him for the yard total of 28 Warbler species (possibly high statewide?). As he and Jutta have left Minnesota for a permanent RV and winter Texan lifestyle, I only need one more Warbler to be able to retire, hang up the bins, and lay down in the dirt of the garden dirt undefeated - not that it is a competition. An afterthought, if that Lawrence's had shown up in Brian's yard, he damned straight would have counted it. ever photographed in the state (avoiding western forest-fire smoke?). Brian, now Coach Brian, feels that our next best hope is a Prothonotary Warbler: so when Spring comes we will be glue-eyed to the trees and water seeking one very bright yellow Warbler.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I'll post more photos eventutally; if only because it is a convenient way to retrieve migration bird dates.

Y'all be well - Gunnar