Other than a surprise, passing thunderstorm Saturday morning, it was a beautiful/warm/dry equinox weekend at Presque Isle State Park. The interesting warbler activity continued, including fairly unusual multiple sightings of Yellow Warbler. (Based on yearly records, most Yellow Warblers would have departed Presque Isle in August, with just one or two northern breeders typically recorded passing through in late September.) There’s lots of “yellow-ish” birds in fall with non-breeding or juvenile plumage, making identification tricky, but here’s a ‘control sample’ of female (juvenile?) Yellow Warbler at the tree line at outer Gull Point Sunday afternoon:
Spotted at least several Yellow Warbler at Leo’s Landing, all dingier juveniles, like this one foraging in blooming goldenrod:
Another juvenile Yellow Warbler at Leo’s Landing:
Here’s a shady Wilson’s Warbler (note the dark cap):
Another common yellow bird, a female or juvenile American Goldfinch:
Backlit Palm Warbler. Not ‘super yellow,’ but has a yellow-ish rump and lower underside:
Two ‘not the best shots but still fun to see’ of Nashville Warbler. Note the gray head, bold white eyering, yellow underside, & hint of russet cap:
Except where noted, following shots are all juvenile Yellow Warbler:
The yellow warbler must have felt at home midst the yellow golden rod!
The goldenrod is very popular with both insects and birds; and really probably the insects are what’s popular with the birds