Stoney Creek (Wintergreen) 9/27/11

The sun finally came out this afternoon after a week of clouds, fog, and rain. Not sure how long it will last, but I have been chomping at the bit waiting for some good weather. It turned out that the birds were also eager to be out in the sunshine. I did not expect to see much here in Stoney Creek in the middle of the afternoon, but it turned out to be one of those good "Boy, was I wrong!" days.

I had only gone about 100 yards down my street on the way to the Allen Creek Nature Preserve when I encountered a Cape May Warbler that did not care one bit about my taking some close-up photos of him.

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

After crossing the dam at the south end of Sawmill Creek pond #4, I saw that there was no one on the Tuckahoe golf course at the time, so I walked along the cart path. The vegetation along the creek that borders the small pine forest was alive with avian activity.

Eastern Bluebirds

Catbird

Red-eyed Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

A Swainson's Thrush in the brush played hide-n'-seek with me, but I was able to get a few photo of it.

Swainson's Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

Swainson's Thrush

But it was the warblers that really got my attention.

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

American Redstart

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

There wasn't much at the edge of the nature preserve, so I headed back. When I got to the dam at Sawmill Creek pond #6, there were more warblers: another Magnolia, and a male and a female Wilson's!

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Male Wilson's Warbler

Male Wilson's Warbler

Male Wilson's Warbler

Female Wilson's Warbler

Female Wilson's Warbler

Female Wilson's Warbler

This afternoon's list (22 species):