April 27, 2006 [LINK]

Warblers on Bell's Lane

If you think this is a warbler, you flunk Birding 101. It is actually a male American goldfinch, in full breeding plumage, just outside our window. That Pine siskin showed up at this very spot again today. Behind the Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad this morning, I saw:

• Ruby-crowned kinglet (*)
• Cedar waxwing
• Purple finches
• Goldfinches

(* -- Late lingering; I thought they had all headed north by now.) I had much better luck in the evening, as I saw two warbler species for the first time this season while strolling along Bell's Lane.

• Yellow warbler (M, FOS), chasing:
• Yellow-rumped warblers (M, F)
• Prairie warbler (FOS)!!!
• White-crowned sparrows (*)
• E. phoebe
• E. bluebird (M)
• House finches (M, F)
• Cedar waxwings
• Towhee
• Red-winged blackbirds (M, F), everywhere

!!! According to my records, that was the first Prairie warbler I have seen in six whole years! That's hard to believe... Oh, and there were three Mallards in our swimming pool.