During our late afternoon respite from the rains, I stopped at Westwood Hills Nature Center to see if the storms had stalled any migrants. I encountered a loose flock of migrants northwest of the parking lot, centered near the small pond crossed by arched wooden bridge. Highlight for me was a beautiful male *Canada Warbler*--who was singing--first time I have heard its song (FOY). Also in this flock were 5 other warbler species, and *Least* and calling *Willow Flycatchers *(FOY). On the NW side of the lake there was an Olive-sided Flycatcher, perched uncharacteristically low--which made it seem gigantic to me. On the NE side of the lake there was a *Yellow-throated Vireo* doing its rough chatter after its self-questioning song. If you plan on doing the whole lake loop, be advised that the northside is flooded and I needed to go barefoot to make this part of the loop. My eBird list at end of this message.
Looking up, Alex Cruz Ramsey Co, MN *Westwood Hills Nature Center, Hennepin, US-MN* May 24, 2012 5:40 PM - 7:10 PM 3.0 mile(s) Comments: Birding during a break in the overnight and day rains (about 2.5" overnight. 30 species (+1 other taxa) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 1 Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1 Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 1 Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) 3 FOY. Calling "hwit!". Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) 1 Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) 2 Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 3 American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2 Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 5 Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) 2 swallow sp. (Hirundinidae sp.) 10 Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 5 House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 2 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 5 Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 1 Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 1 Heard only. Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) 1 Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 5 American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1 Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 10 Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) 1 Beautiful male foraging low on paved trail near small pond with curved bridge--northwest of parking lot to park. Male sang often. FOY. Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) 1 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 5 Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 10 Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 3 Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 2 Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 6 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 5 ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
