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Henslow's Sparrow, Swainson's and Cerulean Warblers



It was a mighty fine birding morning this morning in Henderson County and at 
Chimney Rock Park.  I stopped at our best Grasshopper Sparrow field in 
Henderson County to check to see if they were in, didn't find the Grasshoppers 
yet, but there was a Henslow's Sparrow singing constantly from the field.  I 
tried and tried to find it, but it just wouldn't come up out of the grass.  I 
was sure it was a Henslow's as it was that constant slur-cup, slur-cup with no 
variation whatsoever, but I ran home to play my tape and check it just in 
case.  I even brought the tape out to compare it with the bird, which was 
still singing when I got back, and it was identical.  By the way, I did not 
play the tape loud enough for the bird to hear, just me.  I don't like doing 
that.  Even then, I called another ace birder-by-ear, Bob Olthoff, to come 
check it out.  He got there about an hour later and also positively identified 
it as a Henslow's. I would have called Wayne F too, but he was out of town 
today. These birds are mighty scarce in these parts (mountains).

The field is off Butler Farm Road across from the Horticultural Research 
Station which is on Fanning Bridge Road out by the airport.  It is a very 
extensive hayfield and the bird was across from a stake on the left side of 
the road.  Sometimes it was closer to the road, and sometimes closer to the 
ridge line, but I never saw it fly up.  If you go check it out, PLEASE DO NOT 
walk in the field as this is private property and PLEASE DO NOT play a tape.  
If the bird is singing you will hear it.

Then I made a quick trip to Chimney Rock Park which is ideal at this time of 
year (last week in April) and quickly got a Swainson's Warbler singing right 
next to the road on a branch above a rhododentron thicket.  Didn't even have 
to pish at this one.  It was at the second big bend in the road going up, 
where there is a rocky edge on the left.  Again, please don't play a tape for 
this bird.  We want to keep them coming to CRP.  It it is singing you will 
probably find it.

At the top the Cerulean Warbler was singing from the top of a tree at just 
about eye level as you look down the cliff from the wooden platform behind the 
restrooms.  Along the Forest Stroll trail there were also plenty of Wormies, 
Redstarts, BT Greens, and at least one Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  Didn't get to 
do the whole trail as work beckoned me away.  Alas!
Marilyn

Marilyn Westphal
Environmental Quality Institute
University of North Carolina-Asheville
One University Heights
Asheville, NC  28804
828/251-6823
mjwestphal@unca.edu