Blackburnian & Cape May Warblers in May ’22

I love these two warblers! Ha, who am I kidding, I love all warblers! Blackburnian Warbler is probably my second favorite though. Blackburnians were plentiful this spring and I had 22 of them on 5/11 at Warnimont Park. These can be found almost anywhere, but especially like flowering trees and evergreens. These warblers are harder for many to track down, because the song is high pitched. The main song is a rapid zip zip zip zip zip zip zip zip titititi tseeeeee, with the final note much higher pitched, so high that many people simply cannot hear it. A less common song, teetsa teetsa teetsa teetsa, is heard mostly when males encounter each other. Cape May Warblers were scarce this spring. In fact, I don’t think I saw a male in breeding plumage! I had a first-spring male, that was still getting his colors and all the rest were female. Quite unbelievable really! They are usually quite common and easy to find along the entrance to Warnimont Park, along Sheridan Drive in the evergreen trees. Also, at Lake Park in the evergreens on the golf course. Then later in the spring, you can find them in any of the flowering trees. I’m not sure what the deal was this spring though, they must’ve been pushed a different direction with the winds on their big migration night. The most I had for one day was 3 on 5/11, and every other day I was out was one or zero. Photos below are from the last few weeks in the Milwaukee area. Enjoy!

Blackburnian Warbler

Cape May Warbler