Fall Warbler Migration 2019

This fall warbler migration was one of my best ones ever! I tallied 26 species with 21 coming on one amazing day, 9/14 at Warnimont Park. Most days I was between 10-16 species, which I find to be a little above average for fall. Most years, I would say 8-12 species is a good day. I usually focus on the parks along the Lake Michigan in fall. I find that the bluffs and surrounding areas are loaded with birds versus the inland parks. My highlights this fall were 6 different Mourning Warblers, including my first ever adult female, several stunning male Golden-winged Warblers, and quite a few different Canada Warblers, which are my favorite.

Photographing fall warblers can be quite tough. The leaves create almost no gaps in the branches and everything is toned green. Lighting is also very harsh, with the sun casting dark shadows, under the foliage. It’s certainly not like the spring migration! All that aside, fall warblers are extremely fun. You get to see so many different plumage variations of each. I have quite a few photos of each warbler, showing the different fall plumages. All of the photos below are labelled accordingly, so you will know what each is. I will list the warblers seen this fall below, which you can click on, for expanded galleries. Not all warblers seen, were photographed. Enjoy!

• American Redstart
• Bay-breasted Warbler
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Blackburnian Warbler
• Blackpoll Warbler
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Blue-winged Warbler
• Canada Warbler
• Cape May Warbler
• Chestnut-sided Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat
• Golden-winged Warbler
• Magnolia Warbler
• Mourning Warbler
• Nashville Warbler
• Northern Parula
• Northern Waterthrush
• Orange-crowned Warbler
• Ovenbird
• Palm Warbler
• Pine Warbler
• Tennessee Warbler
• Wilson’s Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Yellow Warbler