Gray Catbird and contopus flycatchers seem to be the last of this year’s migrants here on the Turrialba Volcano slope. I have been keeping careful records for some 10 years now and I find that as the month of May arrives northern migrant sightings are very scarce.
Common but beautiful: the male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula); photo by John Beer, taken in nearby Santa Rosa de Turrialba
Not so common, but still easily found here: A male Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) photographed by Larry Waddell a little higher up the mountain slope at Calle Vargas
The following table shows latest departure dates for San Antonio’s commonest northern migrants since 2009, compared with this year’s departures. My data are too sparse to be meaningful for the many other migrants that visit our area.
- Barn Swallow May 10 April 28, 2017
- Olive-sided Flycatcher May 1 April 25, 2017
- Western Wood-Pewee May 9 May 6, 2017
- Swainson’s Thrush April 18 April 1, 2017
- Yellow-throated Vireo April 23 April 13, 2017
- Philadelphia Vireo April 15 March 24, 2017
- Red-eyed Vireo May 9 March 25, 2017
- Golden-winged Warbler April 18 April 8, 2017
- Black-and-white Warbler April 19 March 24, 2017
- Tennessee Warbler May 5 April 21, 2017
- Yellow Warbler May 12 April 26, 2017
- Mourning Warbler April 24 April 15, 2017
- Chestnut-sided Warbler April 19 April 17, 2017
- Black-throated Green Warbler April 26 April 15, 2017
- Wilson’s Warbler April 11 April 17, 2017*
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak April 10 March 12, 2017
- Summer Tanager April 23 April 9, 2017
- Baltimore Oriole April 25 April 21, 2017
- = New late date
Today is May 8. Let’s see if anything else shows up in the coming weeks.
Birds for Beer 