Date: 7/23/25 9:37 am From: Katherine Clemo via groups.io <kclemo54...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Cerulean Warblers at Monte Sano SP in July
I LOVE that quote, Bob.
Katherine
On Wed, Jul 23, 2025, 12:26 PM Bob Goss via groups.io <bamajacket= <yahoo.com...> wrote:
> 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 Gravette > Hartselle, AL > > > >
