September Warblers and Other Passerines

The month of September was one full of changing birds and seasons.  Hawk migration took full swing as well as the start of warbler migration.  After my first spring and summer seasons of observing warblers, I was keen to realize that their fall plumages are less magnificent. However, they are just as fun to watch and their abilities to catch insects still amazes me!

Warblers

The following four pics are a Black-throated Blue male taken at Schmidt's Woods in Secaucus, NJ.  This guy let me follow right along with him as he was hunting.  These were taken in early September and his colors were still striking.  

This Black-throated Blue was at the Ramble in Central Park, Manhattan a few days ago.  You can tell that the blue is really starting to fade into a gray around the nape and crown.

These last five Yellow-rumped Warblers are a small group that has been at Indian Pond in Teaneck, NJ for the past few weeks.  Each of the few times I have been down there I have observed them hunting like crazy.  They are surely getting ready for a long journey South.

These previous two pics are what the male Yellow-rumps look like when they first fly here in spring.  They were taken at Jamaica Bay, Queens.

This is what the female Yellow-rumped looks like during springtime.  Taken at Allendale Celery Farm, Allendale, NJ.

I'm pretty sure this was a female Common Yellowthroat.  Taken along Disposal Road at William W. DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst, NJ.

Male 1st-winter Common Yellowthroat at Indian Pond.

Male Common Yellowthroat losing the white/black border area of his face mask.  The white part has turned gray as well as most of the black part.  Taken at Dekorte.

Louisiana Waterthrush at Schmidt's Woods.  The throat appears to be white and without streaks, whereas the Northern Waterthrush has fine streaks. *changed to Northern Waterthrush thanks to online eBird data inquiry, it definitely needed a second look!  Some of the better diagnostic features, like leg color and flank color, are not visible in this picture.  Stripe color is too hard to tell on the upper picture as well.  At this point, I guess, bill length should be used.  The Louisiana has the little bit longer and tiny bit more robust bill.  Even the Northern seen below has some oddities, such as its color.  It had a yellow tinge, unlike the more whitish tinge seen above (which is more common, I think).  Looks like I needed waterthrush 101 classes.  ; ) 

Previous two pics are of a Northern Waterthrush at Indian Pond.  There were a couple of them there for maybe a week or two.  I also saw a Sora at the pond that stayed very briefly.  

Worm-eating Warbler at NJ Botanical Gardens, Ringwood, NJ.

Worm-eating at Schmidt's Woods.  Looks like I need to figure out how to use my Better Beamer. ; )

This was a Yellow Warbler taken at Indian Pond.  There are some unusual streaks of red on the face down to the scapulars.  Yellows are now vacant at the pond.

Female American Redstarts at Schmidt's Woods.

 

Looks like a 1st-summer female American Redstart.  Taken at DeKorte.

I still haven't been able to get good shots of the Black-and-white Warbler.  These were taken at Schmidt's Woods.

Magnolia Warbler at Garret Mountain, Clifton, NJ.

Magnolia in May at the Ramble.  Most of the dark breast stripes and the dark face colors turn gray in fall.

Prairie Warbler at DeKorte.

One warbler that I haven't attempted to identify yet.  Fall warblers can cause such a headache!

Looks like a Canada Warbler.  Might be a Northern Parula.  My guess is a Canada.  Taken at Garret Mountain.

Canada Warbler at Schmidt's Woods.  Not the best image, but identifiable.

Other Passerines

Blue-headed Vireo at Garret Mountain.  The blue on the head is turning more pale.  

Philadelphia Vireo at Garret Mountain?  There was some reported sightings so it is possible.

Red-eyed Vireo hiding behind leaves at Garret Mountain.

Blurry image of a Yellow-throated Vireo at Schmidt's Woods.

Wasp nest?  Taken near the alleged Philly Vireo.

Red-breasted Nuthatch at Garret Mountain.  This guy spent a couple minutes on this tree attempting to cache a pine seed.

Swainson's Thrush at Schmidt's Woods.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Indian Pond.  This little guy might winter near and around Indian Pond as they are winter residents to NJ.  I have also recently seen a Dark-eyed Junco at State Line Lookout in Alpine, NJ.  Juncos are winter residents as well.  

House Finch at DeKorte.

American Goldfinch male at Teaneck Creek Conservancy, Teaneck, NJ.  This pic was actually taken in late August (all the other pics in this post, besides the spring warbler ones, were taken in September as the post is titled).  At Indian Pond I have recently noticed that the males are starting to get much duller.

Looking forward to October warblers, raptors and other migrants!  I plan on spending a lot of time at DeKorte and around Bergen County.  Also, I am going to Sandy Hook this weekend!  My first time at "the hook".