Monday was a beautiful spring day, perfect for birding at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. The weather was sunny but cool, and probably as a result, the birds weren’t active until a bit later than we expected.

Yellow-rumped Warblers were the first and most plentiful of the migrants we spotted. They were traveling in a pack, as they usually do.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The rump after which this bird is named

We saw Hermit Thrushes and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and heard, but didn’t see, a Black-throated Blue Warbler. A Pileated Woodpecker put in an appearance, too.

Pileated Woodpecker

As mid-day approached, bird activity increased. A Palm Warbler posed for us.

Palm Warbler

The bird returned to the business of foraging for food, snatching and whacking its caterpillar prey against the branch, then quickly gulping it down.  Yum!

Palm Warbler with lunch, a caterpillar

Black-and-white Warblers appeared, and a Blue-headed Vireo was busy hunting for lunch, moving from branch to branch, tree to tree. A Black-throated Green Warbler peered out from the shelter of a Hemlock tree.

Black-throated Green Warbler

Then he returned to his search for food.

Black-throated Green Warbler

With wind and rain predicted for the next few days, there could be some interesting fall-outs of migrants. There aren’t many leaves on the trees yet, so viewing opportunities are maximized. Could be a good birding weekend ahead!