A Pleasant Surprise This Morning

I got out around 9:00 this morning not expecting to see much. A strong south wind blew all night, and I figured the warblers and other migrants would all be gone. Boy was I wrong! The first bird I saw was a Yellow-breasted Chat in the thickets of yaupon holly and southern bayberry. Later down in the woods, I saw my first Bay-breasted Warbler of the season. There were quite a few birds out today. If this north wind continues tomorrow, I'm going birding right after church for a couple of hours.

I saw eight species of warblers today: Blue-winged, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, American Redstart, Hooded and Yellow-breasted Chat. Other migrants included Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Veery and Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Birds seen today 5/3/08 (38 species): Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift ,Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow

'08 Property Birds as of 5/3/08: 113

'04 Property Birds as of 5/3/04: 103