September 2017 – Jeremy Meyer Photography

In general the fall warbler migration has been pretty slow around the Milwaukee area. I’ve stopped at all the main parks along Lake Michigan, only to find very few warblers. I had pretty much given up on this falls warbler migration. The weather had been terrible, with northeast winds almost daily since the beginning of September, but all that changed last weekend. On Monday, 9/18, I left work early and went down to Lake Park, to try my luck. I had 13 warbler species in the afternoon, finally some action! On Wednesday, 9/20, I again left work early and went to Lake Park. I had 14 warbler species in the late morning and afternoon. I came back here again, on Friday 9/22, and spent the late afternoon there. I only had 10 warbler species that day, but it was really fun, because the birds were feeding on the ground until sunset. With the weather pattern continuing to be the same, I decided to come back at sunrise on Saturday and see if everything would continue to stick around. It sure did! I had 12 warbler species in just the few hours I was there. I also missed on two others, so really 14 were seen. I also came back this morning to see if I could find any others that may have escaped me for the week. This morning started out a little slow, but that’s because there was a Red-tailed Hawk, sitting in a tree on the golf course, eating a red squirrel. The hawk was extremely tame, especially since it was an adult. It hung out on the golf course for quite sometime, keeping the songbirds a little more quiet than usual. I didn’t stay very long this morning, but still had 10 warbler species. It was getting very hot and it’s football Sunday.

The weather will continue for the next couple days, and I think the birds will too. If you are interested in stopping at Lake Park in the next few days, it may be worth your while. Most of the warbler action is on the golf course, with at least 14 species being present all week long. Just follow the birds around the groups of trees, and watch out for golfers. There is also a pair of Black-throated Blue warblers, by the wooden bridge. For the week, I ended up with 18 warbler species, by far the best of this fall. Here is a list of warblers seen, this past week.

Black-throated Blue Warbler- 2
Ovenbird – 2
Northern Waterthrush – 1
Black-and-white Warbler – 2
Tennessee Warbler – 8
Nashville Warbler – 3
Common Yellowthroat – 2
American Redstart – 13
Northern Parula – 1
Magnolia Warbler – 5
Blackpoll Warbler – 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 6
Wilson’s Warbler – 1
Black-throated Green – 2
Pine Warbler – 3
Cape May Warbler – 3
Bay-breasted Warbler – 2
Palm Warbler (western) – 6

Hooded Warblers have been nesting at Whitnall Park for several years. They had been my nemesis warbler, but not this year. I’ve seen them before, but nothing more than document photos or quick glimpses. When I got a text on May 11th, that a male Hooded Warbler had returned and was singing away, I went to check it out. Little did I know how much fun the next two months would be. I was already at Whitnall Park that morning, photographing a Prothonotary Warbler, among many others. I arrived at the location and could immediately hear him singing. I walked towards the song until it was quite close and set up. I waited and eventually saw him flying around, eating insects, and singing. I watched him for about an hour that day.

On the 25th of May, I came back to the area and again found him singing loudly. This time however, I also found a female, possibly his mate. I photographed the two of them for a little bit and got out of there.

I stopped back a few more times, in the coming weeks, and was surprised to find two more singing males. I could only see the one, most likely the original, as the other two were in some really thick brush. I didn’t see the female during this span. I was hoping she was still there and on a nest.

I came out on 24th of June, and the male was again singing, but out by the parking lot. After walking about the forest a bit, I could hear Acadian Flycatchers singing. While photographing them, I literally stumbled across the Hooded Warbler nest. I was taking pictures of the flycatchers and I kept hearing “chink”, which I didn’t realize was the Hooded Warblers’ warning sound. I turned around and saw the female. She had a moth in her mouth and was scolding me. I quickly got out of there and circled back around to watch where she would go. I saw her go down into a little patch of brush and there it was. I was so excited, I couldn’t believe I finally found it! I was quite surprised at the location, as it was barely hidden. At the same time, I walked by it daily, as did many other people who commonly use the park, and never saw it until then. I guess it was hidden just perfectly. I took a few photos and left, knowing I would have more days to watch them.

I stopped by three days later and was shocked at how big the birds were already. Just a few days ago, they barely had their eyes open. Now for the bad news. As I was taking pictures of the babies resting, I noticed how the two of them took up the entire nest. I thought to myself, “something doesn’t seem right.” Then both parents came to the nest, with food. The babies were the same size of them already. Right away I pulled out my phone and searched “cowbird babies”. Sure enough, they were both Cowbirds. I was so bummed.

I again came back three days later, which was June 30th, and they had already fledged the nest. Again I was shocked. So I started walking back to the truck and could hear the male Hooded Warbler singing, closer to the parking lot. As I got closer, I started hearing the “chink” sound, so I knew I must be close to the fledglings. I started looking around and sitting in the tree less than ten feet from me was a little Cowbird. It was right on the path. I slowly started backing away, until I was at a safe distance, and waited. The female would catch spiders, moths, and bugs, then bring them to the little one. I only saw the one and she never went anywhere else, so I’m guessing that only one made it. Hopefully next year, I will get to see a successful Hooded Warbler nest.