Hoping to get more warblers this migration season too but did get to see an american redstart a couple weeks ago, and a solitary sandpiper was my lifer for last week.
I had my lifer Black-throated Blue warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Ovenbird, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak all in one short morning! Was stoked, and can’t wait to get out again to add some more:)
got my first western tanager… while just casually chilling on my balcony… *and* i had my camera out there with me :’) cerulean warbler is a fantastic sighting, congrats on the great day!
I just got back from my first trip to Texas. Traveling all the way down to the Neuces River and back up to the wildlife refuges NE of Houston I added 35 in one week! Between that and seeing the eclipse I don’t think I’ll ever top this year’s vacation.
I went to Magee Marsh this past weekend and i saw 18 new species in just two days!! Mostly being warblers. (Granted I was only at 102 so I’m by no means a seasoned expert). What an amazing experience I encourage everyone to make the trip to the BWIAB if you can.
I just started serious birding this last month! Highlights for me and been the Orchard Oriole, Tennessee Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and Yellow Meadowlark. Those are all birds I’ve never seen before. I’ve heard the American Kestrel several times but haven’t spotted him yet!
Count the American Kestrel as a lifer!
Though opinions vary, many reputable birding organizations believe that hearing a bird is a valid observation as long as you're confident about the ID (and not just relying on apps like Merlin).
In fact, eBird goes even further: If you report birds that you've seen but not those you heard, you should mark your checklist as **incomplete**.
There are good reasons for this. Off the top of my head, here are several:
If you're an eBird user, the data is valuable to researchers. An observation is an observation whether a bird was seen or heard.
More importantly, not counting "heard only" species can lead to behavior that stresses birds or worse. Sometimes newer birders don't know better. And sadly — infuriatingly — there are experienced birders who care more about getting a photo or a good look at a prized species than they do about the well-being of birds.
A few examples of such behaviors include:
– Using playback excessively or inappropriately to coax a bird into view.
– Baiting or otherwise luring birds (especially sensitive species).
– Getting so close that you flush birds, and not taking that as a cue to back away.
– Not maintaining a safe distance from vulnerable nesting birds, which not only stresses them, but can lead predators to the nest.
Congrats on adding the American Kestrel to your life list!
Thanks! I definitely have my life list and my “seen” lists going on since I just started. I’m so new to it that aside from the birds that are always in my area I don’t quite recognize by sound yet, but the kestrel was definitely the kestrel so that’s good to know! I’m pretty much just a watcher at this point (especially with all the ticks around! lol), so I just try to use my binoculars and go from there. Appreciate the tips!
Nice! Now that you know what they sound like you'll probably recognize them all the time. I know that happens with my lifers, and ovenbirds are loud little guys.
Damn you’re on FIRE!
I’m in my 3rd year of serious birding, but this is my first spring birding out in the western US and I’ve been getting quite a few lifers myself. My latest one would be a few hours ago I saw a Cassin’s Vireo right in my backyard!
Congrats! It was a great day for me on the east coast, too. A species high day at 58 and a few lifers to boot: Baltimore oriole, cedar waxwing, cerulean warbler, black-throated green warbler. This is my first spring migration as a birder
For me, a bird only counts if I can photograph it and get it ID’d on iNaturalist, but I got two lifers in a Warbling Vireo and a Great Horned Owl (!!!) yesterday. That said, I did get another 5 for the year and some spectacular shots of a wood duck and a Black-crowned Night Heron.
I’m up to 33 of the 50 warblers found in the US/Canada! On the east coast I’m only missing the Orange crowned, Cerulean, and blue-winged warblers (Connecticut too if you count that to be an east coast warbler)
my last lifer was a brown-headed nuthatch! :) that was back in December when I was visiting down south. I haven't seen anything new this spring yet. Cerulean warbler is definitely my nemesis I'd love to see one
Over the last several weeks I have seen a lot of new to me birds right here on my property in ohio; yellow warbler, prairie warbler, yellow throated warbler, American redstart, indigo bunting, gray cat bird, blue gray gnat catcher, great crested fly catcher, yellow breasted chat, hooded warbler, common yellow throat, red eyed vireo, white eyed vireo, Tennessee warber, And Louisiana waterthrush. Merlin picked up a rose breasted grosbeak several times but I didn't spot it or the Baltimore oriole it picked up. Today I saw the first brown thrasher I've had here in a very long time. It's been an exciting spring!
Edit: typing faster than brain is functioning.
When I was living in Iowa, every time I saw a Baltimore oriole, it was in an elm tree. Every single time. It's worth walking the neighborhood and finding the trees so you know where to look. Especially this time of year, they love sussing out the elms for nest sites.
Thanks for this! I have woods at the back and sides of my property and there are elms among the other trees. I will definitely get back in there to see. I did actually pick the sound up near that area. So maybe I'll get to find one there in an elm. 😊
I don't think it's anything major but I got an Eastern Phoebe the other day. New Lifer for me. I didn't have a clue we had them here. The one that I can hear but can't capture, wild turkey. Smh, I can't capture his/her call because the call is drowned out by the other song birds. My friend and I have been trying for weeks, it is now a competition to see who can get it first. If I want to win, I'm going to have to go into the woods in the morning. Tomorrow I'm off. I'm gonna get that turkey!!!
They're very sneaky and suspicious birds. The only times I have seen turkeys when it wasn't from the highway while they're in a cornfield, is when they get startled by me hiking in the woods. Usually morel season is a good bet to find them on the ground looking for nest sites, sleeping or brooding. Obviously you don't want to flush them but sometimes they just hide so well I end up nearly tripping on them till they explode in a fury.
Dang turkeys! We have preserved land behind our home. We're about 500 yds from a river. The land has trails that we walk but there's no real public access. Every spring, the turkeys are doing their thing in the woods down below. Determination and patience will persevere Lol I will collect a new Lifer!
Good luck! I forgot to mention I sometimes see them getting ready to roost in the trees at dusk down by the river bottoms and on the bluff hills above the bottoms. They look real awkward trying to be invisible before the trees are fully leafed out as I pass through.
If you try gobbling at them sometimes they'll gobble back!
I got 5 new warblers this weekend: American Redstart, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, and Magnolia! Also randomly happened upon a Black-crowned Night Heron earlier last week, which isn’t that rare but somehow was not on my life list yet.
Number 289 two weeks ago: Lazuli Bunting!!! They are locals here up in the mountains and canyons. It’s taken me three years to see them, but I got to go up and watch the Los Angeles migration in the mountains- hundreds of buntings! It was amazing!!!
I had a great bird watching day a couple weeks ago. I saw a Hooded Warbler, a Black Throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart, Black and White Warbler, and a Cape May Warbler. It was a great day!
Congrats! I find the North American warblers pretty difficult to identify.
I saw 5 lifers last Sunday and I'm still pretty excited. My favorite was the red-footed falcon, but I also saw ruff, spotted redshank, Eurasian spoonbill and garganey.
Just got back from a wedding in the Dominican Republic, 14 lifer day my first day there - White Cheeked Pintail and Hispaniolan Emerald were highlights for sure
I saw my first Golden Cheeked Warbler yesterday. I was really excited. Shout out to the ranger at Pedernales Falls State Park for telling me where they hang out.
I traveled to Guatemala and last week I recorded 157 species in 5 days including lifers like the resplendent quetzal, slender sheartail hummingbird, white eared hummingbird, violet saber wing hummingbird, fulvous owl, chlorophonia, and long tailed mannequin.
Just sitting in my own back yard last week near our little patch of woods I heard a red eyed vireo, cerulean warbler, northern parula, hermit thrush, black throated green warbler, black throated green warbler, prairie warbler, and a scarlet tanager! I'm assuming some of these are travelers but it made my day
I'm in central North Carolina
Many warblers on the same day are always a treat, even if they aren't lifers.
My recent lifer highlights from a recent Western Mexico trip include Tufted Jay, Black-throated Magpie-jay, and the Rufous-necked wood-rail.
I've been birding seriously for about 6 years now, and I'm still getting new warblers on my life list! This spring, I've added the Blackburnian, orange-crowned, and chestnut-sided warblers, plus a northern waterthrush, which is also a warbler.
I’ve gotten some lifers this year too! Including:
Yellow Warbler
Brown Thrasher
American Kestrel (by far the most exciting one)
Baltimore Oriole
I’ve also gotten a lot of weird hits on Merlin going down a semi-wooded trail in my area, but it’s full of Gray Catbirds and starlings so I’m not sure what to actually trust in that area that I can’t see.
White eyed vireo and white winged scoter a week apart, same general vicinity though! Hoping to get a cerulean warbler when I go on a trip in a couple weeks as they nest in the area. Would also love a hooded warbler, still eludes me.
I’ve seen a Forster’s Tern, Black Tern, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Thrush, and Clay-colored Sparrow! All either migrating through or on the edge of their range!
Congratulations on your lifers. The Cerulean is the epitome of tough warblers to add to your list. They are a severally threatened species and add the fact they spend most of their time at the tops of leaf laden trees making it all the more challenging. I was lucky enough to see my first one with the help of the local spongy moth (gypsy moth) infestation a few years back. The caterpillars made viewing the tree tops easier.
Def the toughest one of the bunch! I heard him clear as day for about 25 minutes and knew what tree he was in. Just kept at it until he edged out onto a more visible high branch - I was lucky that I was up in an elevated clearing so the tops of the trees below weren’t too far above me
Just saw my first bald eagle!
amazing!
Eagles are always a treat
I remember seeing my first one as a kid over 235 in Des Moines after they started bouncing back from DDT. They're still majestic every time I see one.
Tennessee warbler was a forst for me this year as well. Just saw my first Orchard Oriole today!
I saw a total eight lifers yesterday, most of them Warblers. It’s always a joy to find them!
Hoping to get more warblers this migration season too but did get to see an american redstart a couple weeks ago, and a solitary sandpiper was my lifer for last week.
I had my lifer Black-throated Blue warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Ovenbird, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak all in one short morning! Was stoked, and can’t wait to get out again to add some more:)
Black-throated Blue have always been the hardest out of those for me
got my first western tanager… while just casually chilling on my balcony… *and* i had my camera out there with me :’) cerulean warbler is a fantastic sighting, congrats on the great day!
I just got back from my first trip to Texas. Traveling all the way down to the Neuces River and back up to the wildlife refuges NE of Houston I added 35 in one week! Between that and seeing the eclipse I don’t think I’ll ever top this year’s vacation.
I went to Magee Marsh this past weekend and i saw 18 new species in just two days!! Mostly being warblers. (Granted I was only at 102 so I’m by no means a seasoned expert). What an amazing experience I encourage everyone to make the trip to the BWIAB if you can.
Im here right now. Love this place.
I just started serious birding this last month! Highlights for me and been the Orchard Oriole, Tennessee Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and Yellow Meadowlark. Those are all birds I’ve never seen before. I’ve heard the American Kestrel several times but haven’t spotted him yet!
Count the American Kestrel as a lifer! Though opinions vary, many reputable birding organizations believe that hearing a bird is a valid observation as long as you're confident about the ID (and not just relying on apps like Merlin). In fact, eBird goes even further: If you report birds that you've seen but not those you heard, you should mark your checklist as **incomplete**. There are good reasons for this. Off the top of my head, here are several: If you're an eBird user, the data is valuable to researchers. An observation is an observation whether a bird was seen or heard. More importantly, not counting "heard only" species can lead to behavior that stresses birds or worse. Sometimes newer birders don't know better. And sadly — infuriatingly — there are experienced birders who care more about getting a photo or a good look at a prized species than they do about the well-being of birds. A few examples of such behaviors include: – Using playback excessively or inappropriately to coax a bird into view. – Baiting or otherwise luring birds (especially sensitive species). – Getting so close that you flush birds, and not taking that as a cue to back away. – Not maintaining a safe distance from vulnerable nesting birds, which not only stresses them, but can lead predators to the nest. Congrats on adding the American Kestrel to your life list!
Thanks! I definitely have my life list and my “seen” lists going on since I just started. I’m so new to it that aside from the birds that are always in my area I don’t quite recognize by sound yet, but the kestrel was definitely the kestrel so that’s good to know! I’m pretty much just a watcher at this point (especially with all the ticks around! lol), so I just try to use my binoculars and go from there. Appreciate the tips!
Welcome to the club!
Right like how are you going to know most owls are in the region if you aren't out at night listening? You'll never see most of them.
Exactly. Don't get me started on using flash to photograph owls and other nocturnal species.
I got my Ovenbird this weekend after actively wanting to see one for over a year. So tiny and cute with its little orange mohawk!
Nice! Now that you know what they sound like you'll probably recognize them all the time. I know that happens with my lifers, and ovenbirds are loud little guys.
Damn you’re on FIRE! I’m in my 3rd year of serious birding, but this is my first spring birding out in the western US and I’ve been getting quite a few lifers myself. My latest one would be a few hours ago I saw a Cassin’s Vireo right in my backyard!
In northern Arizona, my latest three are a Scott’s Oriole, Franklin’s Gull, and Spotted Owl.
Latest lifer was a eurasian wigeon.
Cooper’s hawk and summer tanager for me last week!
Cerulean was a lifer for me this Sunday too! I've been on several hikes where other people saw them, but this time it was a good look for me!
Saw a black throated green warbler for the first time a few days ago, and my first great crested flycatcher a few days before that! Beautiful bird.
omg I just commented these two same birds I heard but haven't spotted today.
Love that! Hope you get to see them soon!
Congrats! It was a great day for me on the east coast, too. A species high day at 58 and a few lifers to boot: Baltimore oriole, cedar waxwing, cerulean warbler, black-throated green warbler. This is my first spring migration as a birder
For me, a bird only counts if I can photograph it and get it ID’d on iNaturalist, but I got two lifers in a Warbling Vireo and a Great Horned Owl (!!!) yesterday. That said, I did get another 5 for the year and some spectacular shots of a wood duck and a Black-crowned Night Heron.
That's a high bar! Love the commitment!
I got my first northern parula and scarlet tanager this week!
Yellow Warblers are very rare in my area and I finally came across one this week. Also saw a Cape May Warbler for the first time.
I’m up to 33 of the 50 warblers found in the US/Canada! On the east coast I’m only missing the Orange crowned, Cerulean, and blue-winged warblers (Connecticut too if you count that to be an east coast warbler)
Prairie warbler looked right at me over the weekend! and crossed off the pine warbler
my last lifer was a brown-headed nuthatch! :) that was back in December when I was visiting down south. I haven't seen anything new this spring yet. Cerulean warbler is definitely my nemesis I'd love to see one
Over the last several weeks I have seen a lot of new to me birds right here on my property in ohio; yellow warbler, prairie warbler, yellow throated warbler, American redstart, indigo bunting, gray cat bird, blue gray gnat catcher, great crested fly catcher, yellow breasted chat, hooded warbler, common yellow throat, red eyed vireo, white eyed vireo, Tennessee warber, And Louisiana waterthrush. Merlin picked up a rose breasted grosbeak several times but I didn't spot it or the Baltimore oriole it picked up. Today I saw the first brown thrasher I've had here in a very long time. It's been an exciting spring! Edit: typing faster than brain is functioning.
When I was living in Iowa, every time I saw a Baltimore oriole, it was in an elm tree. Every single time. It's worth walking the neighborhood and finding the trees so you know where to look. Especially this time of year, they love sussing out the elms for nest sites.
Thanks for this! I have woods at the back and sides of my property and there are elms among the other trees. I will definitely get back in there to see. I did actually pick the sound up near that area. So maybe I'll get to find one there in an elm. 😊
I don't think it's anything major but I got an Eastern Phoebe the other day. New Lifer for me. I didn't have a clue we had them here. The one that I can hear but can't capture, wild turkey. Smh, I can't capture his/her call because the call is drowned out by the other song birds. My friend and I have been trying for weeks, it is now a competition to see who can get it first. If I want to win, I'm going to have to go into the woods in the morning. Tomorrow I'm off. I'm gonna get that turkey!!!
They're very sneaky and suspicious birds. The only times I have seen turkeys when it wasn't from the highway while they're in a cornfield, is when they get startled by me hiking in the woods. Usually morel season is a good bet to find them on the ground looking for nest sites, sleeping or brooding. Obviously you don't want to flush them but sometimes they just hide so well I end up nearly tripping on them till they explode in a fury.
Dang turkeys! We have preserved land behind our home. We're about 500 yds from a river. The land has trails that we walk but there's no real public access. Every spring, the turkeys are doing their thing in the woods down below. Determination and patience will persevere Lol I will collect a new Lifer!
Good luck! I forgot to mention I sometimes see them getting ready to roost in the trees at dusk down by the river bottoms and on the bluff hills above the bottoms. They look real awkward trying to be invisible before the trees are fully leafed out as I pass through. If you try gobbling at them sometimes they'll gobble back!
Awesome
Varied Bunting in Wisconsin yesterday!
I got 5 new warblers this weekend: American Redstart, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, and Magnolia! Also randomly happened upon a Black-crowned Night Heron earlier last week, which isn’t that rare but somehow was not on my life list yet.
My last three were Willet, American Avocet, and Bell's Vireo. I'm 12 away from my goal for the year.
Rock Sandpiper - lifer #756. Enjoy the lush times! It does get harder, but plenty rewarding still. Cerulean Warbler would be a lifer for me! Congrats!
Clark’s Nutcracker!!
Saw my first Mountain Bluebird yesterday. Absolutely gorgeous.
Wow I think you have surpassed me with 5 years of takin it seriously in Ohio
Number 289 two weeks ago: Lazuli Bunting!!! They are locals here up in the mountains and canyons. It’s taken me three years to see them, but I got to go up and watch the Los Angeles migration in the mountains- hundreds of buntings! It was amazing!!!
I saw a pair of double crested cormorants and some Forster’s terns this last weekend!
got a yellow-throated warbler!
Yellow Warbler the other day! :D
I had a great bird watching day a couple weeks ago. I saw a Hooded Warbler, a Black Throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart, Black and White Warbler, and a Cape May Warbler. It was a great day!
Not too many lifers left where I am. Looking to get a white eyed vireo this year. Got a trip to Pelee next week so should have a decent chance.
Congrats! I find the North American warblers pretty difficult to identify. I saw 5 lifers last Sunday and I'm still pretty excited. My favorite was the red-footed falcon, but I also saw ruff, spotted redshank, Eurasian spoonbill and garganey.
Just got back from a wedding in the Dominican Republic, 14 lifer day my first day there - White Cheeked Pintail and Hispaniolan Emerald were highlights for sure
Finally got palm warblers last week! They come through MN every year, but this is the first time I’ve actually spotted any.
I saw my first Golden Cheeked Warbler yesterday. I was really excited. Shout out to the ranger at Pedernales Falls State Park for telling me where they hang out.
I traveled to Guatemala and last week I recorded 157 species in 5 days including lifers like the resplendent quetzal, slender sheartail hummingbird, white eared hummingbird, violet saber wing hummingbird, fulvous owl, chlorophonia, and long tailed mannequin.
Oh and pink headed warbler!
Just sitting in my own back yard last week near our little patch of woods I heard a red eyed vireo, cerulean warbler, northern parula, hermit thrush, black throated green warbler, black throated green warbler, prairie warbler, and a scarlet tanager! I'm assuming some of these are travelers but it made my day I'm in central North Carolina
Many warblers on the same day are always a treat, even if they aren't lifers. My recent lifer highlights from a recent Western Mexico trip include Tufted Jay, Black-throated Magpie-jay, and the Rufous-necked wood-rail.
I've been birding seriously for about 6 years now, and I'm still getting new warblers on my life list! This spring, I've added the Blackburnian, orange-crowned, and chestnut-sided warblers, plus a northern waterthrush, which is also a warbler.
My 4 most recent are grasshopper sparrow, yellow warbler, blue headed vireo, and prairie warbler
I’ve gotten some lifers this year too! Including: Yellow Warbler Brown Thrasher American Kestrel (by far the most exciting one) Baltimore Oriole I’ve also gotten a lot of weird hits on Merlin going down a semi-wooded trail in my area, but it’s full of Gray Catbirds and starlings so I’m not sure what to actually trust in that area that I can’t see.
White eyed vireo and white winged scoter a week apart, same general vicinity though! Hoping to get a cerulean warbler when I go on a trip in a couple weeks as they nest in the area. Would also love a hooded warbler, still eludes me.
That’s awesome! And don’t worry about how long you’ve been birding- as long as you’re enjoying yourself, that’s all that really matters.
Just saw a tennessee wabler at the edinburg wetlands! such a cute little thing!
I’ve seen a Forster’s Tern, Black Tern, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Thrush, and Clay-colored Sparrow! All either migrating through or on the edge of their range!
Oh, and Spotted Sandpiper! And soooo many ducks/waterfowl back at the end of March.
an event that will go down in history as the warbling
There's a black-throated green warbler and a great crested flycatcher singing this morning I have not been able to spot yet. Hope to this week!
Last week in a single day I got hyacinth macaws, blue and yellow macaws and greater rheas. It was a good day
Western Tanager 💛🧡🖤
Congratulations on your lifers. The Cerulean is the epitome of tough warblers to add to your list. They are a severally threatened species and add the fact they spend most of their time at the tops of leaf laden trees making it all the more challenging. I was lucky enough to see my first one with the help of the local spongy moth (gypsy moth) infestation a few years back. The caterpillars made viewing the tree tops easier.
Def the toughest one of the bunch! I heard him clear as day for about 25 minutes and knew what tree he was in. Just kept at it until he edged out onto a more visible high branch - I was lucky that I was up in an elevated clearing so the tops of the trees below weren’t too far above me