ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL

After what I thought was the last bit of the front passed through last Sunday afternoon, I decided to head over to Ring Park to see if any interesting migrants had dropped in.  Even though it rained on me nearly the entire trip, it started off nicely with a yellow-throated vireo singing and an ovenbird foraging through leaf litter directly underneath it.  A couple northern parula were singing a short distance down the path.  Then I hit the mother lode about halfway to Glen Springs.  About 25 feet in front of me at eye level was what I almost passed off as a prothonotary warbler, but a closer glanced revealed white wing bars and a black eye stripe...a blue-winged warbler!  This species is a very special treat during spring migration in Alachua County.  It also marked the third straight season I have seen a blue-winged at Ring Park, but the first in spring migration.

Once I got over my excitement, I noticed a pair of adult carolina wrens with four new fledglings flitting to and fro in the understory.  A male common yellowthroat was nearby, scolding away.  Then I heard some more birds overhead and glanced up to see quite a few small passerines flying from tree to tree.  By the time all the excitement and died down and the birds moved away, I had spotted pine, yellow-throated, black and white, and black-throated blue warblers.  A couple american redstarts, another ovenbird, a northern parula, and a red-eyed vireo were also present.  Not believing my luck, I continued down the trail and was lucky to run into a dashing worm-eating warbler a couple feet above my head, gleaning the undersides of some dead leaves.  10 warblers.  The highest number I have seen at Ring Park, and a pretty good number in Alachua during spring migration as it is not nearly as prolific with migrants as is fall migration.

Male Black-throated Blue Warbler

I was somewhat surprised I hadn't observed any thrushes and commented about it to a local bird expert who told me not to fret because thrushes are fairly uncommon to rare during spring migration in the county.  Only a  few sightings of the expected thrush species had been reported and recorded over the years.  I was somewhat surprised, given the amount of decent habitat available and excellent birders located in the county.  Apparently, my luck was about to change significantly.

Perhaps a day or two after the thrush discussion, I had headed out to Loblolly Woods Nature Park in town on my lunch break to see if any interesting warblers were hanging around.  Immediately after heading off on the main trail and headed down Hogtown Creek, a thrush-sized bird flew onto the ground close to me.  After getting my bins on the bird, I noticed it was a thrush.  It was a uniform dull brown on the upper sides, dark spotting on the breast, and lacked an eye ring and buffy facial coloration...a gray-cheeked thrush!

The following day I decided to take another evening stroll to Ring Park before night fell just to see if anything was present.  It was much quieter than Sunday evening as no fronts were passing through.  However, an ovenbird and male black-throated blue warbler were nice sights early on.  As it was getting darker, I saw a thrush-sized bird fly close by.  Again I got my bins on the bird and noted a uniform reddish brown on the upper sides, noticeable eye ring, some buffy coloration on the breast and not the face, and light colored, non-extensive spotting...a veery!  Below is a horrible, blurry photo of the veery, which hung around foraging for a few minutes.  The top photo doesn't truly show the overall reddish brown plumage coloration, but it was unmistakable. 

Veery

Veery

On a side note, the Monday following the front passing through saw a nice little gathering in my yard in the morning.  A ruby-throated hummingbird, a couple of baltimore orioles, a small flock of cedar waxwings, a northern parula, and several cape may and blackpoll warblers made for a fantastic morning in the backyard.  The cape may and blackpoll warblers were definite firsts for our yard.

Well it's been a nice spring migration here in Alachua so far, and I hope it continues.  If any other interesting spring migrants pass through, I'll be sure to write about it here.  Until then...