Quick walk and check on migration at Carondelet Park

Immediately stepping into the park, I was greeted with enthusiasm by hoades of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Brown Creepers, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and a blue-sky sunny day that had quite a nip of cold to it as well as a breeze that would sneak up on me quite slap happily. Two Tiger Swallowtails flew past, as did a Angle wing butterfly of some kind. The Great Horned Owl babes were being attacked by a first year Red-tailed Hawk and defended fiercely by their Ma. Brown Thrashers lurked everywhere, pairing off, building nests. Rusty Blackbirds, to my utter delight, were still present in big numbers. Hermit Thrush were here and there, Dark-eyed Juncos still kept a small presence and a small group of Tree Swallows inspected the little lake and seemed to find it lacking, flying off. A few Purple Martins and Chimney Swifts and Barn Swallows flew about. The numerous resident birds, Titmice, Cardinals, Nuthatch, Blue Jays and others were busy with nests, included a pair of Red-tailed Hawks and Cooper's Hawks. A Snowy Egret, a Great Blue Heron and a Great Egret all came by to inspect the little lake and left - too many dogwalkers and people fishing around it. Still, the day was rather quiet at the park, without many new migrants species. Will migration be a little late this year? I think I feel that way on certain days, as I run like a child to the park each day, eager to play, looking for my friends, and upon discovering they are not there, come back home pouting, hee, hee. Such a spoiled child, to have Blue-gray Gnatcatchers coming out my ears and to be sulking that the day did not include a new warbler species for the year. In contrast to being like a child, I'm also a bit like a protective mother during migration - until I've seen all the migrants coming through in decent numbers, I worry about them and how they are faring this year, frantically looking for them. (Oh, and the Bald Cypress are leafing out!)

Posted on April 14, 2022 06:35 PM by wildreturn