Colliers Mills WMA 4/27--Solitary Sandpiper, Warbling Vireo

Solitary Sandpiper, Colliers Mills Lake

It seemed to me time to get Warbling Vireo for the year.  For years, all I've had to do in spring is standing the parking lot of Colliers Mills and find one in the big tree by the lake. Not today. I was surprised, disconcerted. But at least I found my year Solitary Sandpiper at the north end of the lake. Not a place I usually see them. Unlike the 4 Wood Ducks, it didn't seem to mind my presence. 

I reversed my route today, going into the woods along Hawkin Road first, primarily to find birds in the early morning, but also to get out of the fierce wind. In a tree full of birdy activity, I got a quick glance at a very plain bird that was immediately gone--and then I heard the song and knew I had my Warbling Vireo. Again, not a place I usually see them. Pete had mnemonic for the Warbling Vireo's song which went something like, "If I sees you I will squeeze you 'til you squeak." I used to tell him I needed a mnemonic to remember the mnemonic. 

Pond on Hawkin Road

Continuing up Hawkin Road I came to the pond on the west side of the road where I flushed 3 Wilson's Snipe and a fourth bird which turned out to be another Solitary Sandpiper. Making the left about quarter mile up the road toward the Borden's Mill Branch Pond I stopped by the mountain laurel and with a great deal of encouragement was able to get a Hooded Warbler to sing--the usual place where I get my county Hooded. At the pond itself I found another Solitary Sandpiper. This broke the eBird filter of 2. It's not like I had an oxymoronic flock of Solitary Sandpipers. They're solitary and at least a half mile away from each other. 

Borden's Mill Branch Pond

Once I got onto the berm the wind was gusting over 30 mph, so my hopes for new birds were dashed--I couldn't wait to get out of the wind, as the birds already had. In all, I managed to stay on my feet long enough to tally 44 species. 

Canada Goose  11
Wood Duck  4
Mallard  5
Mourning Dove  2
Killdeer  2
Wilson's Snipe  3     
Solitary Sandpiper  3     
Laughing Gull  49     Flyovers: 9, 21, 6, 13
Great Blue Heron  1
Turkey Vulture  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Eastern Phoebe  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  2
White-eyed Vireo  6
Warbling Vireo  1
Blue Jay  5
American Crow  1
Carolina Chickadee  1
Tufted Titmouse  6
Tree Swallow  4
Barn Swallow  5
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  7
Carolina Wren  1
Gray Catbird  7
Northern Mockingbird  1
Eastern Bluebird  2
American Robin  4
American Goldfinch  2
Chipping Sparrow  7
Song Sparrow  2
Eastern Towhee  12
Red-winged Blackbird  15
Brown-headed Cowbird  6
Ovenbird  8
Black-and-white Warbler  4
Common Yellowthroat  6
Hooded Warbler  1    
Pine Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
Prairie Warbler  2
Northern Cardinal  5