Blackpoll warbler in song. Martinique Beach, Nova Scotia. 7/6/2017.
As mentioned with my singing Bay-Breast*d warbler post, this was my other warbler goal for the Maritime trip to Nova Scotia.
Time did not allow me to hunt for a Blackpoll in the more likely places in Cape Breton National Park, so I knew from my pre-trip research my final chance would be in the Halifax area. Based on scouring eBird I thought Martinique Beach, about an hour's drive east of Halifax was my best bet. I got up very early one morning, wife still asleep, and snuck away. It was around 0500. It was a gorgeous sunny morning, without much wind, not a common weather condition for that area. Arriving at Martinique Beach, there were perhaps another car or two, and I had the area pretty much to myself.
I listened carefully for a singing Blackpoll in the conifers near the beach area as I drove the road slowly. I got out several times and walked listening. Nothing. Remembering at least one eBird report mentioning islands along the beach I figured that was probably where I would find my Blackpoll. However how to get there? I had taken the road to the end and there were no more conifers just grassy areas and beach.
I ventured out to the beach and looked further east along the beach. About a mile away I saw some risings of land that were conifer studded. I knew those were the islands but could I reach them by walking, and I was on the clock? I was due back at the hotel by 0930 to join my wife for a day in Halifax, and I was looking at mile to a mile and a half hike both ways with gear, and an hour's drive back. I decided to march on. The next hurdle crossed was learning that I could in fact walk to those 'islands' by hiking along the beach. There was no water to cross after all, but there was an area of beach that was densely packed with boulders, and rocks that I had to negotiate. There was marsh habitat. I thought I heard a Ne1son's sparrow sing, but no time to deviate from plan and investigate. The conifers were getting nearer. Finally up the rising and listening and around a turn. I then heard what I thought was my target. Bins up and there he was, a singing Blackpoll!
I wish I had a half a day to explore the area further but honoring my commitment to be back on time was important. I made it back by 0940. Those windswept islands off Martinique Beach are spruce tree, and mosquito laden, and the climate is cooler, and moister than the adjacent mainland. The conifers were not tall due to the harsh conditions. This is an excellent place to observe Blackpoll warblers on breeding grounds.
Tags: Blackpoll warbler singing Blackpoll warbler warbler in song Maritime Blackpoll Nova Scotia Martinique Beach 7/6/2017 2017easternwarblerbucketlistset warbler and conifer
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Kennesaw Mountain 10/14/2016.
This low contrast specimen is likely a first fall bird. This is a rare find in the fall in Georgia as most leave the US in New England and fly south over the Atlantic Ocean to their wintering grounds in South America. Yes that is quite a long flight!
It is easy to confuse this fall bird with other similar warblers, including dull fall Bay-breasted warblers, and dull Pine warblers. Fall Tennessee warblers sometimes have wing bars, and those might be confused as well. That would be a fun and likely useful collage to construct with those four together. I won't go into the differences here.
My target for photography this date was the Bay-breasted warbler which is an expected migrant at this location at that time. Once I saw a Bay-breasted in my binoculars, I put them aside for the camera. There were 3 maybe four birds foraging together in some oaks. It wasn't until I looked at my images that I realized one of the birds was this Blackpoll. Another was a dull Bay-breasted, adding to the pleasure of the day!
Tags: blackpoll warbler first fall blackpoll warbler confusing fall warblers km 10/14/2016
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Centennial Olympic Park. Atlanta, GA. 10/21/2015.
ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25497599
This boreal forest breeder has a markedly different fall migration route. Most birds are believed to exit the continental United States in the Northeast and fly directly over the Atlantic Ocean until prevailing winds move them over the South America mainland where they winter. So it is a rarity to see a fall blackpoll in Atlanta. In fact as I understand it this bird is the first confirmed fall sighting of it's species in the Atlanta area since 4 years ago.
This is likely a male in view of the heavy side streaking. The fall male plumage is markedly different than the spring male plumage.
When I first found this bird I was conflicted as to it's ID. Dull fall Bay-breast3d warblers closely resemble fall Blackpolls, hence the term "baypoll" warbler. Not seeing any bay or buff on the sides I was looking at the feet, and they didn't appear yellow enough to call the bird a Blackpoll, but I was troubled by the generous side and chest streaking. Thankfully a more experienced birder arrived, and viewed my images, and we were able to re-locate the bird as well. What I learned is fall Blackpolls may have yellow only on the soles. On other views of this bird images clearly show yellowish soles. Did you know that the foot of a bird is actually what we might call the leg? The foot is the part of 'the leg' that has no feathering. Birds have contact with the surface with their toes but not their foot. The posterior aspect of the foot is yellowish on this bird, as is the underside of the toes. You also would never see this type of chest/side streaking on a bay-breast3d warbler.
A spring male from Magee Marsh this past spring is in the first comment box.
Tags: baypoll warbler blackpoll warbler fall blackpoll warbler fall male blackpoll warbler centennial olympic park 10/21/2015 atlanta, georgia eBird rarity
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Adult spring female. Magee Marsh, Ohio. 5/18/2015.
Tags: magee marsh 5/18/2015 blackpoll warbler adult female blackpoll warbler
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Magee Marsh, Ohio. 5/18/2015.
Adult spring male.
Tags: blackpoll warbler magee marsh 5/18/2015 slightly sharpened post
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