Date: 7/23/25 9:26 am From: Bob Goss via groups.io <bamajacket...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Cerulean Warblers at Monte Sano SP in July
Just a warning. The MSSP entrance is gated and an employee doesn't show up to open it until 6:00 AM (and sometimes a bit later). That means you aren't likely to get inside at sunrise this time of year. Good luck and good birding!
The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.
Isaac Asimov
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 09:32:18 PM CDT, Scott Gravette <inadu4...> wrote:
Over the years Bob Goss has found good numbers of apparently South-bound migrant Cerulean Warblers at the overlook at Monte Sano State Park at Huntsville in mid to late July. He's reported as many as 10 in a morning. Last year I met him there one July morning and we had 4 or 5 Ceruleans along with good numbers of Black-throated Green Warblers. Bob and I have discussed where the Ceruleans might be coming from. There are small numbers of breeding Ceruleans nearby to MSSP at Chapman Mt. and up in the Paint Rock Valley, but, given the numbers that can be found at MSSP in July, we think it is likely that most of these birds are funneling down the Cumberland Plateau from breeding areas in Tennesse and Kentucky.You tend to think that warbler migration doesn't begin in earnest until mid to late August, but there's a lot of southward movement of several species starting as early as July. With the heat and humidity, it's just not a very comfortable time to be in the woods in July, and on some days you don't see diddly in the way of migrants.If you go to Monte Sano in July, the area around the overlook is best for migrating warblers. Get there around dawn and listen/look for the titmice/chickadee flocks as the warblers will be mixed in. A majority of the Ceruleans will be the female/immature plumage. Scott GravetteHartselle, AL
