Sparrow Wings & Warbler Sings

I'm participating in a Spring Census count. Each team keeps a list of species for a particular town between the period of April 25th and May 17th. I like this idea a lot

for three reasons:

1) You don't have to count each bird, just keep track of the species.
2) I get to do it right in my own town which saves gas and I'm able to use my familiarity with the area to my advantage.
3) It's Spring! Great weather and lots of colorful birds. What could be better?

I visited several of my favorite local spots. I saw quite a few Savannah Sparrows at Wangunk Meadows along with Greater Yellowlegs, Bald Eagles, and FOY-Baltimore Orioles, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush.

I finally was able to get close enough to a Wood Duck to get a decent photo. there was a pair in a corn field next to route 17. Usually they fly away before I even get a chance to see them or they're half a mile away. Mrs. Wood Duck seems a little camera shy.

- I was able to find some other FOY birds in other locations around town as well. I climbed to the top of Great Hill to find my first of the year Black and White Warbler. At some powerlines on Old Marlboro Turnpike I found Prairie Warbler and Eastern Towhee. I was happy to see that the Prairie Warblers showed up this year since the power company cut down a lot of the cedars since last spring. In the nearby reservoir there were plenty of Blue-grey Gnatcatchers making their tiny squeaking sounds as they moved stealthily from tree to tree.

- Here is of bird species that I, and another birder named Joe saw over the weekend. Any guesses on what our species total will be by May 17th?

-Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, Hooded Merganser,Red-shouldered hawk,Red-tailed hawk,Wild Turkey, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper,Rock Pigeon,Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker,Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee,Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, house Wren, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, American Robin, European Starling, Eastern Towhee, Black and White Warbler, Yellow Warbler,Yellow-rumped Warbler,Pine Warbler, American Redstart (heard)Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow ,White-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle,Brown-headed Cowbird, Cardinal, House Finch, American Goldfinch,House Sparrow, Wilson's Snipe ,Bald Eagle ,Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Palm Warbler, Northern Waterthrush Black-throated Blue Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Mockingbird, Double-crested Cormorants, and Prairie Warbler.

Here is a short video of a Yellow Warbler singing. You can hear a second warbler singing in the background. I suppose they are trying to establish their property rights.

What new migrants have you seen this week?