The Warblers of Winter

On Saturday I did a little half day of birding with Ken in the Hamilton-Oakville area.  Highlights of the day were the many first of the year birds such as White-throated Sparrow, Carolina Wren, various ducks and Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers at Sedgewick Park in Oakville.

I snapped a few shots of the warblers in Sedgewick Park which are attracted to the area by the presence of the sewage treatment facility which keeps the water warm year round and produces a small crop of insects for these warblers to feed on.  The warblers would run along the edge of the concrete gleaning insects from the wall, oblivious to people walking by, some with barking dogs. I guess when it comes to survival, food comes first, concealment second.

Being an insect-dependant warbler in Ontario in January is no easy task, and the Yellow-rumped Warbler was looking a little haggard.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The Palm Warbler on the other hand appeared to be doing much better, running along quite actively, pumping its tail all the while.

Palm Warbler with a small fly of some sort, mmm sewage fly!

Ducks were also in good order and I got several first of the year species.

Gadwall