It was another slow week of migration. This week, high pressure dominated, and a northerly to easterly flow continued essentially unabated from Saturday through Thursday.  Winds were at least light enough at night that some birds fought the unfavorable conditions and “new” birds arrived almost every day, just never in large numbers. But it remains slim pickings, especially at migrant traps this week. Even on Thursday morning (more calm winds overnight allowed a few more birds to proceed) – my best day of the spring so far – numbers at Florida Lake were still very low for the date. The quality more than made up for it, however!

My observations of note over the past six days included:

• 10 species of warblers in one place for the first time this spring – finally – but led by only 14 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 8 Black-and-white Warblers, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 5/7 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

• 1-2 continuing Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, private property in Durham, 5/9 (with Jeannette).

• 1 continuing Louisiana Waterthrush, Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/11.

• 1 PROTHONOTARY WARBLER among 15 species of warblers, Florida Lake Park, 5/12, led by ~25 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 9+ Black-and-white Warblers. The PROW was my 169^th all-time species at the park!  I first found it along the base of the long dike at the north edge of the pond, as it belted out a song within about 8-10 feet from me. Foraging in low shrubs along the pond edge, in perfect light, I was of course without my camera. I did get some identifiable video and a recording of the song with my phone, before taking off in a sprint to the parking lot. I returned with my camera and eventually refound the bird when it sang again from the small wooded island in the lake (photo above), just as Noah Gibb arrived. It then flew right past me as it disappeared into the woods. It reappeared a short while later on the island and was seen by several more people. I am still kicking myself, however, for leaving the camera in the car when it was so close.  Such a stunning bird deserves a better photo.

And my list of personal “first of years” this week also included the following:

• 1 Veery, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 5/7 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
• 1 Nashville Warbler, Florida Lake Park, 5/7 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
• 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler, Florida Lake Park, 5/7 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
• 1 Lincoln’s Sparrow, Florida Lake Park, 5/7 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
• 1 Northern Waterthrush, Florida Lake Park, 5/7 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
• 1 Baltimore Oriole, our yard in Pownal, 5/7.
• 1 Yellow Warbler, Wharton Point, Brunswick, 5/8.
• 4 Common Terns, Wharton Point, 5/8.
• 1 Great-crested Flycatcher, Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch, 5/8.
• 4 Warbling Vireos, Green Point WMA, Dresden, 5/9 (with Jeannette).
• 3 Least Flycatchers, Green Point WMA, 5/9 (with Jeannette).
• 1 Eastern Kingbird, Green Point WMA, 5/9 (with Jeannette).
• 1 Spotted Sandpiper, Green Point WMA, 5/9 (with Jeannette).
• 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, private property in Durham, 5/9 (with Jeannette).
• 2 Blackburnian Warblers, Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch, 5/10.
• 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler, Morgan Meadow WMA, 5/11.
• 1 Magnolia Warbler, Florida Lake Park, 5/12.
• 1 Wilson’s Warbler, Florida Lake Park, 5/12 (with Noah Gibb).