A Windfall of Warblers

Every spring tiny birds called warblers migrate north from their wintering grounds in the south.  Many are just passing through as they proceed even further north.  

I started thinking of them as a "windfall" because they are treasures that appear suddenly and often in large numbers due to strong winds bringing them down from the skies.  It was with that in mind that I wrote the following poem last year:

A WINDFALL OF WARBLERS

May’s warmth rolls back the blanket of white

and lays a carpet of green.

Warblers, blown north, spill jewel-like into the woods

quick to take flight for even more northern skies.

A windfall of warblers - a treasure - spent in a flash.

(from the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

With the difficulties of moving around freely to bird-watch this spring, I was doubtful whether I would see many (or even any) in my neighbourhood.  I was therefore ecstatic to catch sight of nine species and to photograph eight of them.  

Nashville Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

And lastly, below, is the type that I wasn't quick enough to photograph so I am inserting a photo I took last year of the same species.

Yellow-rumped Warbler