The long-awaited spring warbler migration got off to a rocky start, with a brief burst of activity while prevailing winds were still trying to make up their minds, and suddenly after a cold spell when the warm air seemed to be back in earnest, the warblers took advantage of the southerly winds and got closer to their destinations without visiting us.

I am here with two mid-May days of heightened activity, and there are one or two more posts coming from this migration, but it’s been rather frustrating unless one managed to visit well-known hotspots. I have to wonder if even those places experienced a bit of downturn.

On May 16, the Oak Park Migration Bird Walkers were at Thatcher Woods. We saw some warblers there.

As we walked down the steps off the trail that runs along the back of Trailside Museum, we were greeted by a very friendly male American Redstart.

There were several other American Redstarts in various plumages.

The birds were now high in the treetops which made photographing them more challenging. We briefly saw a Black-throated Green Warbler.

There’s no mistaking a Blackburnian Warbler.

A Chestnut-sided Warbler was also spotted by someone else after I kept hearing him sing.

We had a few Magnolia Warblers for good measure.

Beyond warblers, we found a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher with its back to us.

Three days later I was at the Chicago Portage, where I was pleased to see a Great Egret if only briefly. Large waders are infrequent here.

Baltimore Orioles have moved in for the summer. That’s a female on the left.

I found a nearby Red-eyed Vireo.

I had heard Scarlet Tanagers were in town, so I was glad to see a pair.

I found an Orange-crowned Warbler.

I couldn’t resist photographing a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. They are already getting impossible to see in all the leaves, and that will continue most of the summer.

I then found the very engaged Canada Warbler who is also featured at the top of the post. He was singing and showing off his lucky worm.

I saw a Nashville Warbler that day too.

Shortly before I left, I took a quick photo of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. These birds are also harder to see now, so it was nice to catch his color in good light.

I’m going to spread out a little and visit some places I haven’t been to in a while. I went to McGinnis Slough yesterday and I plan to visit what is now called Goose Lake Conservation Area in McHenry County tomorrow as the number of Yellow-headed Blackbirds reported is substantial and there are other birds there too I don’t get to see often. We are experiencing beautiful, cooler weather before a warm up and accompanying rain, so I may as well explore while I can.