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Henslow's Sparrow, Swainson's and Cerulean Warblers
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Henslow's Sparrow, Swainson's and Cerulean Warblers
- From: mjwestphal <mjwestphal@unca.edu>
- Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 13:54:28 -0400
- Delivered-to: pardo@metalab.unc.edu
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
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