Field Trip Recap: Warblers Abound at Plum Island

By Peter Alden

Memorial Day Sunday at Plum Island

Lillian Stokes and I escorted ten folk on a trip to Plum Island. Recent rains had filled the salt pannes with water. No mud for northbound shorebirds, but nice views of a male Gadwall, Great Egrets and a Willet. We spent most of our time on the shaded boardwalks in and around Hellcat Swamp.

Highlights were superb views of a male Blackburnian Warbler with its orange throat, a male Black-throated Blue Warbler, two scarce Bay-breasted Warblers, several American Redstarts, a singing male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, plus an Orchard Oriole.

Unexpected was viewing two adult Yellow-crowned Night-Herons roosting. These are usually noted in the southeastern states only especially at Sanibel Island in Florida (where the Stokes spent many winters).

Blackburnian Warbler

The warblers were so great that we almost missed overhead seeing a Bald Eagle and an Osprey!

Rose-breasted Grosbeak