This morning I was up early to head out birding with Sue McDonnell, our plan was to scout out the north shore highlands field trip on the boreal bird festival. While I was waiting at the end of my drive way I added to land birds, a yellow-bellied flycatcher calling and a migrating Philadelphia vireo. We didn't come by much until we paused at the Mink Lake road. We found a pair of Philadelphia vireos and several warblers along with some yellow-bellied flycatchers as well. The warblers included a female bay-breasted, some Canada's, a blackpoll, some ovenbirds, N. waterthrush, yellow-rump's, Nashville's, magnolias, chestnut-sideds', black & white's, blackburnians, black-throated greens, and redstarts. We thought we were doing awesome until we reached the Kimball Lake Camp Grounds and the action was at least tripled. The whole area was filled, overflowing with birds, mostly warblers. There were hundreds including: Tennessee warbler - dozens, and dozens Nashville warbler - hundreds Orange-crowned warbler - one N. Parula - several Chestnut-sided warbler - extremely abundant Magnolia warbler - many, many Cape May warbler - many dozens Blackburnian warbler - several Black-throated Green warbler - ton's Yellow-rumped warbler - dozens Palm warbler - one Blackpoll warbler - several dozen Bay-breasted warbler - about half a dozen mostly males Black & White warbler - several A. Redstart - overflowing Connecticut warbler - 3 heard and saw N. Waterthrush - two Ovenbird - many, many Canada warbler - several Wilson's warbler - half a dozen, heard and saw up close
We also saw several other species including mourning warbler and C. yellowthroat elsewhere. On the way home I sighted an olive-sided flycatcher perched upon the power line just down from my house and only a couple hundred yards (if that) from being a yard bird. What a spectacular day! Josh Watson Grand Marais --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.684 / Virus Database: 446 - Release Date: 5/13/04
