Twenty-four birders spent the morning exploring Bell Slough WMA hoping to find migrating fall warblers. The morning started out quite cool, but sunny.
We first skirted the edge of the large field that serves as a waterfowl resting area. The trees along the edge were in full sunlight and that is where we found a mixed flock foraging. Warblers seen were Blue-winged, Nashville, Pine, Black-and-white, three American Redstarts, two Northern Parulas, two Common Yellowthroats, plus two Summer Tanagers and a small flock of Cedar Waxwings.
Other good birds were five White-eyed Vireos, two Yellow-throated Vireos, a House Wren, and a Least Flycatcher. Out in the field were Indigo Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks, along with two Great Blue Herons, plus a Turkey Vulture and a Red-shouldered Hawk circling the area.
As we walked the trail to the photo blind, we heard and saw five Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, five Yellow-billed Cuckoos, two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a FOS Ruby-crowned Kinglet, six Carolina Wrens, and a Pileated Woodpecker. On the trail to the quarry, we spotted more cuckoos and Black-and-white Warblers, plus two female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. We ended the lovely morning with a total of 35 species. –Karen Holliday