Cape May Warbler

Here is a Vincent Cagno shot of yesterday's Cape May Warbler at Hunter's Garden. The bird was high at treetop level where it was hawking insects with other warblers -- mostly Yellow-rumps but also including a few others (and, judging by the prevalence of its dinky high-pitched trills, there was likely more than one in the feeding flock). Given the distance and the fact that the birds were seen mostly in silhouette, actively flitting around in the highest leaves and branches, photography was a difficult at best. The best part of this shot is that it shows Mr. Setophaga Tigrina with prey in its beak (looks like an ant to me). You can see that it -- the bird not the ant -- is yellow with heavy breast streaking and a yellow face; if you look had you can see the darker round face patch -- actually orangey or chestnut depending on whose color scheme you follow. What you can't see is the yellow rump and white on the wings (but which we got glimpses of from down below). Cape May has always been an erratic species which depends on outbreaks of spruce budworm on its breeding grounds. In recent years, possibly due to the use of insecticide to control these outbreaks, this specialized warbler has been declining seriously and itt's been a decade since I have seen one on Eastern Long Island. 

Yesterday was also Great Crested Flycatcher day. There were several in the woods around the Manorville Hills and Hunter's Garden and the bird arrived at our East Quogue/Weesuck Creek address as well. It was making the rounds today giving its typical and unmistakeable screep and whee-eep sounds all over the place. Hole nesters like the Great Crested and our two tits (Chickadee and Titmouse) benefit from the presence of four woodpeckers (and a fifth in the winter) and lots of standing dead wood into which a plethora of holes can be drilled. Yes, that's what woodpeckers do for fun, for love, for bravado and for dinner. Helping other species is not their intention but it all works out in the larger scheme of things.

Eric Salzman