Easter Morning at Tinicum

Happy Easter!  Spring migration was underway at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum this morning.

While Yellow-rumped Warblers far outnumbered all the other migrants combined, the highlights included a gorgeous male Hooded Warbler (above) and a Blue-winged Warbler that worked the top of an oak tree singing for the better part of three hours. Nearby Frank Windfelder found a Cerulean Warbler which is an excellnet record for Philadlephia, but sadly the morning walk group was unable to relocate it.

Other migrant warblers included a Northern Waterthrush, several Northern Parula and a handful of several Palms. Hermit Thrushes were seen in large numbers feeding in the understory of the woods and two male and a female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (above) posed nicely in the canopy.

Ubiquitous Yellow Warblers, singing up a storm, were among the returning refuge breeders as were sightings of Ovenbird, Gray Catbirds, Wood Thrush and a half dozen pairs of Brown Thrashers. While an American Robin was already sitting on eggs, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (above) was gathering material from a cattail head to build its nest.

The Bald Eagle nest on Oak Island is becoming harder to see as the trees leaf out, but the adults were very visible flying around the impoundment chasing away any Osprey (above) that ventured to fish!