April 19, 2020 - Florida - Warblers

Obviously, this is not a warbler. This is an update to last week’s Pictures of the Week. I posted a photo of a Snowshoe Hare track and said we rarely see the hare itself, but we know it’s around because we see its tracks. Also, it’s usually out at night. Of course, the very next day, this Snowshoe Hare appeared in our yard during the day. These hares grow a white coat for winter and then grow a brown coat for summer. This one is transitioning from its winter coat to its summer coat. As you can see, the mottled brown and white coat helps the hare blend into the background at this time of year.

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Many warblers leave the United States in winter and head for Central and South America. Some, however, stay in the southern states and I get to see them when we go to Florida in January and February. This Palm Warbler was foraging among the rocks on St. George Island.

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Here’s another Palm Warbler hopping around on the grass near the house we rented.

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My birding friend, John Murphy, helped locate this Prairie Warbler at Alligator Point. This is a very uncommon bird in Minnesota during the summer, so I was glad to see and photograph it.

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Yellow-rumped Warblers are the most common warbler to be found in Florida when we are there. You can see how this bird got its name! This photo was taken at Sikes Cut on St. George Island.

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Yellow-throated Warblers are year-round residents in northern Florida. They aren’t common during the time we are there so I’m always happy to see one and be able to photograph it. This photo was taken in Apalachicola.

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