Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Yellow-throated Warbler and Northern Parula (!)

Karen Johnson called to report that Yellow-throated Warblers have arrived at Belleplain State Forest this morning, singing in the pines near Lake Nummy. The Yellow-throated's are right on time, but the male Northern Parula Tony Leukering found yesterday at Villas WMA is early, the earliest spring arrival record I can find in print.

The earliest Northern Parula record in Sibley's Birds of Cape May is April 2, and the earliest all-time in the E-bird database is April 11. There are 5 NJ Christmas Bird Count records for Northern Parula, but given the birding activity at Villas and the spring date, this bird undoubtedly just arrived.

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