Saturday was the Fall Big Day for birding, organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and I did my part. Yellow-rumped warblers ruled in the stops I made in Mercer County, and in tribute I’ve posted a photo of one of them atop this post.
I started the day at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm, where I spent a good chunk of the hour-and-a-quarter visit trying to get a fix on ruby-crowned kinglets that were zipping about the old AT&T Building One site. I was relieved to get a couple of in-focus shots of those cute little devils, who are in continuous motion.
Nearby, a couple of Eastern phoebes presented themselves in the trees. One obligingly came into the open on a drooping branch, giving me an opportunity to squeeze off a couple of shots.
Other birds I put in the “usual suspects” cateogry revealed themselves at the Pole Farm, including a female Northern harrier hunting far across one of the main fields but not a yellow-rumped warbler. That was about to change.
Later in the morning, I walked the trails at John A. Roebling Park in Abbott Marshlands. I met my friend Jim there, and he had seen several yellow-rumped warblers by the parking lot. We were hoping to see a few ducks in the marsh or on the Spring Lake, but none were to be found, not even a mallard.
But we did see plenty of yellow-rumped warblers on our walk, which featured a bald eagle flyover and Northern flickers a gaggle of robins in the trees on the back island.
Jim drove off from the parking lot, and I stuck around for a few extra minutes, hoping to catch some of the warbler action he had seen just before I’d arrived.
That was a good move. Not only did I see a few yellow-rumped warblers, but I also unknowingly managed a few shots of Cape May warbler. This one was my favorite shot of the day.
Late in the afternoon, I headed back to Mercer Meadows on the Reed-Bryan Farm side of the park. Savannah and swamp sparrows filled the fields, and I soon spotted a yellow-rumped warbler.
On my way back up the trail to my car, I took a break and sat on a bench, hoping some of the sparrows would come to me. They did not, but my friend Jim wandered down the trail. We spent some time watching sparrows — Savannah, song, swamp and one Lincoln’s — fly in front of us.
Jim also spotted a palm warbler, and I was happy to get this shot of it.
The Reed-Bryan nightcap was a great way to end the day. Although I didn’t accumulate any staggering species totals, I was happpy to contribute to the Fall count and get a few good shots of birds that lighten my spirits. 🦅