I was in Riverside the morning of May 13. It seemed like spring warbler migration should have been in full swing by that date. I found myself thinking about the Prothonotary Warbler I saw two years ago on May 10 right off the paved trail in Riverside. I thought it would be nice to see that bird again.

At first, the walk started with other birds. A family of Canada Geese was swimming by.

I encountered an Eastern Wood-Pewee. I have been hearing but not seeing them since.

The morning was good for water snakes.

I’m not exactly sure when I heard the Prothonotary Warbler, but he was singing and singing somewhere along the paved path and I couldn’t locate him. Then he flew over the river to Riverside Lawn. I wondered if I might find him there. I knew it was a long shot, but that’s birding.

A White-crowned Sparrow was foraging along the shortcut from the paved path toward the library. We have seen a lot of them this spring.

I saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak high up in a tree.

In Riverside Lawn, I got brief backlit looks at a Northern Waterthrush.

Then I managed to find an American Redstart. It’s either a female or a first-year male, hard to tell with this one, although I’m leaning toward the first-year male.

Then I managed to find a Bay-breasted Warbler.

And a Song Sparrow…

I sat down on a big log that the trail has accommodated long enough to have carvings on it. After a moment or two, I heard the Prothonotary Warbler singing. He wasn’t far away. I got up and walked slowly in the direction of his song. Then he began to emerge through the leaf cover.

I couldn’t help myself. I wish I had recorded his song, but I was too busy capturing his image.

I was able to record an American Redstart and one of those noisy Tennessee Warblers that I never managed to see. Here’s a little sample.

After I let go of the Prothonotary Warbler, I spotted a Swainson’s Thrush that was somehow not too bothered by my attention.

The last bird I managed to photograph was a young-looking Red-bellied Woodpecker.

It occurred to me only a week later as things were slowing down so abruptly, that maybe I had jinxed the whole thing by getting my one wish – to see another Prothonotary Warbler – and thereby forfeiting my chance to see any more warblers. But I’m afraid that won’t stop me from my next bout of wishful thinking. Not everything happens for a “reason.”

Oh, I have seen a few warblers since then, but hardly any more species to add to my very feeble list of spring migrants. I’ll be considering a visit to the Magic Hedge if this happens again next year.

Of course it’s not all about warblers. There are other birds and creatures showing up, and I will be back with more.