Monday, May 18, 2020

A Magnolia Warbler drops in for a visit...

I caught sight of this fella yesterday morning while I was eating breakfast outside. He was scouring the branches of the tall Rose of Sharon bushes right next to our table looking for (and finding) juicy green caterpillars. This is the first time I've ever had a Magnolia Warbler drop in for breakfast, and I must admit I quite liked it...
 
Good Morning, sweet bird!
If you look closely in the photo below, you can see a green caterpillar wriggling around in his bill. He worked through all five of the tall bushes gleaning caterpillars as he went. Then he flew up to the maple tree I was sitting under and found tasty treats there too.

Thank you, Mr. Mag, but you keep the caterpillar. My oatmeal and blueberries are enough for me! 
Magnolia Warblers are not summer residents in our area. They are just passing through during spring migration on their way north to their nesting grounds. Eat up, fella! You'll need your energy to make it to your summer home. Maybe I'll see you on your return visit this autumn during fall migration as you wing your way south to your wintering grounds.



...right above me!
Magnolia Warbler field marks are so clear. Even the underside of his tail feathers is a giveaway...half white, half black.
You don't even need to see his facial markings to identify him.


You can come for breakfast anytime, you sweet Magnolia Warbler, you! 
...chalk up another new yard bird for our new house.  I love living by woods! 

9 comments:

  1. Thank goodness Mike DEwine didn't quarantine the warblers! Great post, keep it up.
    Curg

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  2. Hi Kelly, good to see you posting again! Yeah, we're in the midst of Spring Migration here, too. I've managed to snag some shots of various small warblers, plus some Solitary Sandpipers who sometimes hang out at the duck ponds on their way to the breeding grounds up in the Tundra. And of course the usual returning Summer residents. Things are really popping here in the avian world!

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  3. Wow these are stunning photos Kelly.

    We are putting wild flower beds in the yard in the hopes of attracting more warblers.

    Guy

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  4. Such fun. Thank you for sharing. I have been enjoying the birds, the short term visitors and summer residents as well. This morning I had 2 indigo buntings stop for a visit. Yesterday a Scarlet Tanager came to my feeders. A first! We have a robin's nest at the corner of the house. It is so much fun to watch.

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  5. Glad you caught it as it was passing through Kelly. A lovely bird.

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  6. Beautiful warbler, and wonderful post!

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  7. It's been so long since a post from you, and I miss them. Each one brightened my day.

    I hope you're doing well, and just enjoying other things.

    Sarah

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