Warblers - Yellow-Rumped, Palm, Yellow, and Common Yellowthroat

This blog post is going to be about some of the warblers I saw in 2021 and the areas where I saw them. Many of these posts will also reference times when I saw the Warbler first in 2020 and will include some photos from 2020. 

This post in particular will be about the Yellow-Rumped Warbler, the Palm Warbler, the Yellow Warbler, and the Common Yellowthroat. 

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Back in 2020, this bird was what sparked an interest in birding for me. Birders call these type of birds a "spark bird", and for me this bird in particular elevated my interest in birding into what now could be described as an obsession. My first time seeing them was on an unseasonably cold and snowy evening back in April at Stu Visser Parks. I had noticed on my Audubon app that birders were seeing Yellow-Rumped Warblers in high numbers at Stu Visser Trails, so I raced out of the house right after dinner to see if I could locate these birds for myself. When I arrived, I was blown away by the number of “butter butts” (Yellow-Rumped Warbler's nickname) flying around in the snowy conditions and the beautiful spring plumage it was displaying. I ended up leaving Stu Visser that night excited to experience these warblers again and to learn more about them and the other birds that can be found in our area. 

Flash forward to today: I have seen countless Yellow-Rumps in several different states (Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, and Oregon) and in varying degrees of plumage and subspecies (Myrtle in the eastern US and Audubon in the western US).  Even though these warblers are the most common warblers around during migration*, every time I see these warblers they bring a smile to my face.  This year, I saw Yellow-Rumps most often at Stu Visser Trails in Holland and at Holland State Park but other notable place included down in Georgia on Jekyll Island and on Mackinac Island.

*One of the main reasons why this bird is common is due to the bird being a generalist when it comes to habitat and food. Most warblers are insectivores with specific habitat requirements but Yellow-Rumps can be found in various habitats and eat many different types of food (see photos below for examples of the food they eat). 

May 2, 2021 at Grand River Park

July 14, 2021 at Mackinac Island near Arch Rock (eating an insect and beginning to wear out of breeding plumage)
April 10, 2021 at Stu Visser Trails
May 2, 2021 at Grand River Park

May 2, 2021 at Grand River Park
October 16, 2021 at Holland State Park (eating juniper berries and in non-breeding plumage) 



March 2, 2021 at Jekyll Island Campground Bird Sanctuary (eating suet and beginning transition into breeding plumage)  

September 25, 2020 at Arcadia March (photo credit to Molly)

Palm Warbler

Palm Warblers typically are the next migrant returning to Michigan in late April. These birds often forage on the ground and can be identified from a distance when perched as the birds frequently bob their tails back and forth (a unique behavior to this warbler). Palm Warblers were first seen in 2021 in March on Jekyll and Cumberland Islands in Georgia; I later saw them at Stu Visser Trails in Holland. One unique spot where I saw them last year in the fall was on the Arcadia Marsh boardwalk with a bunch of Yellow-Rumped Warblers. 

May 4, 2021 at Stu Visser Trails

May 4, 2021 at Stu Visser Trails
May 4, 2021 at Stu Visser Trails

May 6, 2021 at Stu Visser Trails

September 28, 2020 at Arcadia March (in non-breeding plummage)
Yellow Warbler

This beautiful bird is an insectivore found often in willows and alder along wetlands and field edges. Best photos of this bird were taken at Stu Visser Trails, but I also had noticeable sightings of them last year at Allegan (County) State Game Area, Warren Woods (Berrien County), Camp Newaygo wetland trail (Newaygo County), Ludington State Park Lost Lake Trail (Mason County) and East Grand River Park (Ottawa County). 

May 6, 2021 at Stu Visser Trails

May 6, 2021 at Stu Visser Trails

 Yellow Warbler nest on May 26, 2021 near Holland State Park

Common Yellowthroat

These masked bandits skulk in thick underbrush near wetland areas. These elusive birds have been difficult for me to photograph as they are often scurrying around quickly and never show themselves without tangle and branches in front of them. These birds were notably seen at Stu Visser Trails, Upper Macatawa Natural area, and several locales in Washington and Oregon. One of my favorite memories of a Common Yellowthroat was when my dad and I went for an early morning walk on June 26, 2020 at Upper Macatawa Natural Area and I was able to show him a Common Yellowthroat for the first time.  

July 17, 2021 at Upper Macatawa Natural Area

May 11, 2021 at Stu Visser Trails

May 11, 2021 at Stu Visser Trails
June 26, 2020 at Upper Macatawa Natural Area


Comments

  1. CoreyFebruary 21, 2022 at 12:29 PM

    Wow, so many kinds of yellow-colored warblers! I do love the yellowthroats' masks. And the YEWAs are so bright! Have you seen both subspecies of the palms?

    I'm still waiting on my spark bird.... Is there a dating app that can match me with my ideal spark bird?

    ReplyDelete

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