A Black–throated Blue Warbler found working among the forest floor debris suddenly brought order to the day. I was doing the census at the bird observatory and the Yellow-rumped Warblers outnumbered other warblers ten to one. But lots of first-of-the-year sightings had started to make my head spin: Northern Waterthrush, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Ovenbird for starters.
An Orchard Oriole singing high in a White Oak had stopped me in my tracks. It reminded me how 35 years ago I’d seen two mystery birds in our Toronto neighbourhood, one was calling loudly “Whit-t-tu Whit-t-tu Whit-t-tu Wha-chew” I had no idea what they could be but retained that powerful song in my mind, and then twenty or so years later concluded that they were probably Orchard Orioles. That last note “Wha Chew” is distinctive. Now I see them every year, they’re not common, but they’re not rare either.
Several Black and White Warblers, a single Nashville Warbler and a brilliant Magnolia Warbler kept me busy, and then I found myself in a wave of warblers picking and flitting all around. Among them at first one, then two more, Black–throated Blue Warblers. The thing about male Black–throated Blue warblers is their crisp, almost military plumage: snow white, coal black and evening sky blue, with a precise square wing flash to add authority. It was that precision that brought order to the day and made it my Bird of the Day.
A little while later I found a female Scarlet Tanageron the edge of a maple woodlot. She’s a stout olive-green bird, and knowing tanagers to stick together, I wondered if a male could be anywhere close. It took just a moment for me to find him in his explosive scarlet uniform. At this time of year he’s always a treat, glowing red hot like the fanned coals of a campfire. I have added a not very good picture of a Scarlet Tanager from last year, the colour is really all you need.
There were lots more that made me stop and stare: two Eastern Kingbirds were chattering and fly-catching over the river and a young Bald Eagle was inspected closely by a territorially minded Red-tailed Hawk.
My first warbler sighting when we started birding was a Black-throated Blue, and ever since, I’ve had soft spot for them. We watched one have a “bath” for about five minutes last year in Pelee, it was a real treat to be able to watch one on the ground and not so high up or moving too around too much.