Day 152: May 31st – Ironwood Road

Warm, sunny, calm

       Not far from the site of the newly sighted Mississippi kites I’ve been writing about over the last several days is a 1 ½ land blacktopped deadend road known as Ironwood Road.  Although there is a good deal of great habitat including a pristine swamp along the roadside, the premiere birding at this site is at the very end where there is a gravel cul-de-sac.  The road ends at a power line right-of-way and it is here where some of the most reliable birding for the Golden-winged warbler can be found.

       Ive had this warbler here earlier this year, but the bird was quite reclusive and I could not get a decent photograph of him for the year.  But, golden or no, this site is very productive in regards to a number of other birds, so it is always worth the trip.

       When we first arrived, we heard the song of the Blue-winged warbler.  Though too distant to get a decent photo, we knew that very often where the blue-wing is, the golden may also be found.  Not so today.  But all was not lost.  Among the birds we found along the powerline were the Cedar waxwing…..

a very shy female Common yellowthroat who would only peak out from beneath the heavy brush which provided her with cover……

and a pair of snapping turtles lying in the middle of the trail, excavating pits for their soon to be deposited eggs. 

       A couple of ubiquitous Yellow warblers and many Redstarts were also present, but once again we were to be denied out Golden-winged warbler.

       When we went back to the Visitors’ Center of Sterling Forest to get still more looks at the rare Mississippi kite, we were treated to a very close Eastern phoebe which was perched just feet away from the deck of the center.  

       When we think of the many beautiful birds we’ve seen the last couple of days along with the kite, we really can’t feel denied by not having the Golden.  That will wait for another day.