Some Warblers, Swainson's Thrushes, and a Late Merlin ~ May 14, 2026

I started the day at the Kirkridge area and finally found a Cerulean Warbler there among Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Black-and-white and Bay-breasted Warbler, American Redstart, and Scarlet Tanager.

I did a quick walk at Bear Swamp to look for thrushes. I was hoping for Gray-cheeked Thrush, but the only birds I had there were Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, and an Ovenbird carring nesting material.

An Ovenbird with nesting material.

I drove all the way to the east end of National Park Drive and parked there. Again I was hoping for Gray-cheeked Thrush, so I walked a section of the woods that was favorable for them. I did find a bunch of thrushes, but they all had eye rings. I officially counted 7 Swainson's Thrushes, but there were probably more like nine.

Swainson's Thrush

While in the woods, I also heard Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Ovenbird, Black-and-white and Tennessee Warbler, American Redstart, and Northern Parula.

I then walked back the divided road and along some of the back fields. Along the way, I saw Eastern Bluebird, American Goldfinch, Field and Chipping Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, and a few Indigo Buntings, but the highlight there was a Prairie Warbler feeding in the brushy edge of the one field.

Prairie Warbler

Other notables found along the road on the way in and out included Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and warblers that included Hooded, Blue-winged, Worm-eating, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Common Yellowthroat.

On the way back, I walked a short section of the Plainfield Township Recreation Trail by Knitters Hill Road. Birds found there included Barn Swallow, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Yellow Warbler, and a calling Willow Flycatcher.

Willow Flycatcher

The Tatamy Exit retention pond held 4 Semipalmated Plovers, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 19 Least Sandpipers, and 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows.

I counted 25 continuing Snow Geese at Green Pond. A Great Blue Heron and a Green Heron were also there. Birds in the ponds along the paved path included 9 Spotted Sandpipers, 10 Least Sandpipers, Eastern Kingbird, and one Bank Swallow among Tree, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, but the surprise of the day was a late Merlin that came in and targeted the Least Sandpipers but came up empty.

Merlin

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