Checklist S56185314
Sharing links
Main details
Location
Swan Creek WMA
Location
Swan Creek WMA
Totals
Observations
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 7
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 12
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 1
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Empidonax sp.
Number observed: 3 -
Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 12
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 17
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 7
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 10
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Number observed: 7
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 12
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 9
Media
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 5
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 3
Details
Thee birds together foraging in the willow thicket near the boat ramp. Rufous crown, yellow throat and streaked flanks and breast. A little late in the season for these, but there are often a few hanging around through May.
Media
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 8
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Number observed: 11
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Number observed: 7
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Number observed: 31
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Number observed: 1
Details
A large, plump warbler with a gray hood and a wide, bright white eyering. The hood appeared to be overall dull gray without any lightening on the throat. (I think that makes this bird a male.) Olive upperparts and dull, yellow underparts. No wing bars or streaks. Short tail. Light colored legs, seemed to be pinkish, but that might have been the light.
Bird was on the ground the entire time of the observation. It walked in and out of low, concealing vegetation. It was constantly feeding on what appeared to be small flies that covered the ground throughout the area. It didn't call or sing. Too focused on eating to even notice me frozen still on the trail. Observed the bird raising and lowering its tail as it foraged. It never cocked it upright like a Common Yellowthroat, just lowered and raised it in line with its body.
Habitat was an overgrown trail (roughly 8 feet wide) near the west side boat ramp with thick brush on either side of the trail. (If you’re standing on the end of the boat ramp and facing the water it’s the trail to the right.) On the south side the brush borders the creek and the ground is mostly wet. On the north side the brush borders and mostly fills a thick deciduous woods. The CONW was observed on the ground next to a recently fallen tree about a hundred yards down the trail. The fallen tree had cleared out a small open area next to the overgrown trail.
I was watching three different species of warblers on the ground (Redstarts, Prothonotaries and Yellows) feeding on small insects (flies). After about 10 minutes watching these birds foraging I caught a motion in the clear area near the fallen tree. Brought up my binoculars up right on to a CONW foraging on the same insects as the other warblers.
Observation time was about 13:15 CDT. Had the CONW in view off and on for about 15-20 seconds. Was never more than 18-20 feet from it. Lost it when it moved into thicker vegetation. Tried pishing a few minutes after loosing sight of the bird and that failed as expected. Played a CONW song twice. That also failed to bring out the warbler. (It did attract two very curious Prothonotaries.)
The timing is right for CONWs to be moving through our area. I always suspect, although rare for us, they're here in larger numbers than sight records indicate. They're just too well hidden most of the time.
I can only credit this sighting to sheer luck that I happened to be facing in the right direction at the time the CONW moved into view. (As an added note, I don’t recall ever seeing so many ticks as my pants legs picked up on this trail. Likewise, four Cottonmouths in 100 yards was also impressive, but Cottonmouths are at least cool. Can’t say the same for ticks!)
Note: Heard from a fellow birder (Charles Grisham) that he looked for the CONW this morning (5/13/2019). He heard a CONW sing, but was unable to see it through the thick brush. The singing bird was about 50 feet from the spot where I observed a CONW yesterday. This is probably the same bird.
Note: Fellow birder Sue Moske also went out today (5/13/2019) to find the CONW. She heard a CONW sing and call several times, but was unable to see it through the thick brush. She found it at the same spot as the two previous sightings. This is most likely the same bird. Her eBird report is at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56233773.