Brief trip to Minnesota and Wisconsin produces three new warbler species for the year (and lots of other stuff)

Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Kirtland's Warbler with leg bands, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Kirtland's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Jack Pine habitat, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Golden winged Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Golden winged Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Nashville Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Mourning Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Brewster's Warbler, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

American Redstart, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

Northern Waterthrush, Marinette County, WI, Jul 10, 2026

I flew out of Hartford late morning on Thursday the 9th into Minneapolis to begin a roughly two week vacation away with multiple stops before heading back home. The main part of the trip would be Alaska (covered in a later post) with the bookends being Minnesota/Wisconsin at the beginning and Oregon at the end (also covered in a later post). The first part of the trip I would be on my own with the goal being to track down at least two and possibly three species of warblers I had not yet seen for the year in the continental US (Kirtland’s Warbler, Golden winged Warbler and Connecticut Warbler)…much more on that at the following post: Minnesota and Wisconsin warblers.  I arrived in the early afternoon and after a little snafu with picking up the rental car I started the long (about 5 1/2 hour) drive to my Airbnb in northeast Wisconsin near the Michigan border. I eventually made it to the lodging around 7:30, had a quick dinner, a shower and went off to bed to try to get some sleep. However the place I rented was a basement location and the noise from above was super annoying and sleep was in short supply. 

With little sleep I headed out before dawn to drive to a spot to the south about 40 minutes away to try to find my first target…the Kirtland’s Warbler. I would have a much better chance to catch up with a Kirtland’s Warbler in their core breeding range in the lower peninsula of Michigan but I really didn’t want another three plus hour drive each way to get there. After lots of messages with a few people ‘in the know’ as far as possible locations for the species I had what I hoped would be a productive plan to find one. The species came close to extinction just a few decades ago and after lots of effort to provide suitable habitat (they need Jack Pines at a height of five to fifteen or so for breeding locations) and control of Brown headed Cowbirds the species has rebounded and has now been taken off the endangered species list. Wisconsin is at the periphery of the range and the area I would be checking has just a few nesting pairs and the locations are kept secret to protect the species. I arrived in one spot before sunrise and was immediately entertained by some Common Nighthawks calling and diving and making the unique booming sound as they drop from height and pull up just before hitting the ground. As I was enjoying the nighthawks I heard a Kirtland’s Warbler singing…target one down for the day. I then spent the next hour or so trying to get looks, photos and recordings. I had at least two males and a female present in a roughly 60 acre pine lot with the perfect height trees present. One of the males had color bands and I’ll see what I can find out about the history of the individual. I also had a number of other warbler species present with Nashville Warblers being the most prevalent (a theme that continued all day). I moved around the area a bit over the next few hours and found another pair of a Kirtland’s Warblers as well as great selection of other species (warblers and others). With the Kirtland’s Warbler in the bag my next target was Golden winged Warbler. I checked a few good looking spots before eventually seeing one and by end of the morning I had seen several including adults carrying food and fledglings being fed. I even had a Brewster’s Warbler hybrid feeding typical looking Golden winged Warbler fledglings. Besides warblers I had a bunch of other species I was able to add for the day and I had a total of 75 species. 

Canada Jay, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Blackburnian Warbler, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Ruffed Grouse, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Mourning Warbler, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Magnolia Warbler, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Boreal forest, Sax Zim Bog, MN, Jul 11, 2026

Without knowing how I would fare on Friday I kept my options open for Saturday. If I had failed to find a Kirtland’s Warbler I planned to perhaps make a trip into Michigan but thankfully I did not have to do that. Instead I decided to get up even earlier on Saturday and make the long drive back to Minnesota with the destination being the famous Sax Zim bog area a few hours north of Minneapolis. The area is very well known as a destination in the winter for those looking for owls and other northern birds but the summer also holds the chance of finding some interesting species with the chief among those being Connecticut Warblers. The downside of heading there is it is another long drive and to get there early enough to have a chance of getting birds while they are still singing meant another very early morning. Even getting up early I still did not get there until around 7AM (it’s a nearly five hour drive so tough to get there at first light!). The area had the feel and sound of the boreal north with both Red Crossbills and White winged Crossbills, Pine Siskins and Canada Jays. Not long after I arrived I heard a Connecticut Warbler sing in the distance and despite lots of effort on my part I never got eyes on the bird and I only heard it sing one more time and it was even more distant. Although I would have loved to have gotten a look I was very happy to finally hear this warbler sing on its breeding grounds. I have actually never heard the song in real life until that morning as the fall birds that come through are not singing and only call. I then tried a few other areas to try to find another Connecticut Warbler before I returned to the original area before heading toward the airport just after noon. I had no luck with finding any others or seeing or hearing the original one again. Nonetheless the warbler became warbler species #51 And was the last one I needed to find for the year in the continental US. This was also one of two warbler species this year that was heard only although I hope to track down some this fall at home.  I hit another milestone by topping my best ever year total for species in the US with White winged Crossbill breaking my previous best total of 449 set way back in 2011. This is all thanks to multiple trips to various parts of the US at various seasons.  It was a great morning in the area with multiple new species for the year with sunny weather every day with progressively warmer temps that topped off in the low 90’s.  I finished the day with 82 species, including 13 species of warblers.

During my short time in the area I found a total of 110 species and added two new states to my travel list.  In Minnesota I had 79 species and in Wisconsin I had 84 species (obviously some overall of species).

Full eBird trip report here:  Minnesota and Wisconsin trip report

Abaco in the Bahamas Jan 16-20 produces great birds including Kirtland's Warblers

Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

I took a trip down to Abaco in the Bahamas on January 16 and spent the next four days there mainly looking for a few resident warblers as well as overwintering migrants (with the most unusual overwintering species being Kirtland's Warbler).  This was my third time in the Bahamas with my first being a short visit to Nassau on a cruise in 2003 and the next being a trip to Grand Bahama in February 2017 (posts from that trip...part 1 and part 2).  I happily found all my targets and had a great time...more details below.  To see more on warblers check out the attached link: Warblers on Abaco.

Prairie Warbler, Murphy town, Abaco, Jan 16, 2024

The forecast for the day I was leaving changed at the last minute and the snow moved in earlier than predicted just a half day before which resulted in some delays in Hartford on my way to Atlanta and then onto Marsh Harbor. Thankfully I picked a flight that had a couple hour layover so I still made the second leg of the journey with a few minutes to spare. After a few more weather delays in Atlanta (thanks to a frozen door on the jetway and the need to get the plane deiced) I made it to Abaco. I picked up my rental, headed to the supermarket and then onto my Airbnb. I wanted to stay south of Marsh Harbor but a cancellation a few weeks ago at my original lodging I had to settle for a spot in town. I birded a little in the neighborhood and turned up a few overwintering species. Although a bit breezy it was at least warm with temps in the 70’s.

Bahama Yellowthroat, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Olive capped Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Cuban Pewee, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Pine lands at dawn, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

The Toyota POS, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Atala Hairstreak, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Cuban Parrots (Bahama subspecies), Crossing Rocks, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Western Spindalis (Bahamas Green-backed), Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Yellow throated Warbler, Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Thick billed Vireo, Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Black faced Grassquit, Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

My plans for the first full day on the island was to get up well before dawn and drive almost an hour south to Abaco National Park. As I headed out the door a little before five it was obvious it had rained hard at some point overnight. The drive south on the wet roads with puddles was less than relaxing and I had to deal with a little additional rain from time to time. I did add a Chuck Wills Widow on the way (my first new Bahamas species for the trip). I arrived at the entrance to the park a bit before six and waited for it to get light enough to see to start my walk for a few miles south on the dirt road. If I had a better vehicle with more clearance it would have been easier to get further south but I was stuck with what I had for a vehicle. One of the first birds I heard for the morning were a couple of Bahama Yellowthroats. I got some recordings and a few looks but no chance for any photos (I did get much better looks and some photos a bit later in the morning). I spent the next three hours walking the road and only had to deal with a few passing showers as I turned up about twenty species, including several Cuban Parrots (Bahama subspecies) and nine species of warblers. I made brief visit to the very end of the island at Sandy Point, which was quite windy and fairly barren of bird life. I then spent the next four plus hours slowly working my way back north to my lodging with multiple stops along the way. I added several species for the day along the way (including two new species for my Bahamas list with West Indian Woodpecker and Western Cattle Egret) and finished the day with 39 species.

Bahama Woodstar, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Red legged Thrush, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Bahama Yellowthroat, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Cuban Emerald, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Bananaquit, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Ovenbird, Robert's Nursery, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Yellow throated Vireo, Robert's Nursery, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

American Redstart, Robert's Nursery, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Common Ground Doves, Columbus Cay Eco Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Northern Waterthrush, Columbus Cay Eco Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Lincoln's Sparrow, Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Black faced Grassquit, Murphy Town, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Magnificent Frigatebird, Murphy Town, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

La Sagra's Flycatcher, Murphy Town, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

For my second full day on the island I decided to head north all the way to Treasure Cay and see what the north end of the island had to offer. The morning started off overcast and breezy and eventually some drizzle started up. I was able to get in a few walks before a more steady rain began and added two new species to my Bahamas list with Tricolored Heron and Eastern Phoebe. As the rain continued to fall I made a few more stops but did not venture far from the car. These stops were also productive with some shorebirds and waterfowl. By around 9:30 the rain stopped and I was able to take some longer walks in the area of Treasure Cay. Among the highlights was the first life bird of the trip with distant views of a couple Bahama Swallows (life bird #1994). I also added a few more species to my Bahama list including a rare Lincoln’s Sparrow plus Yellow throated Vireo, Willet and Baltimore Oriole. I made it back to my lodging in the early afternoon and the sun actually stayed out for a good part of the rest of the day. Overall I found a total of 52 species for day. 

Dawn over Pinelands, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Bahama Swallow, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

West Indian Woodpecker, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Loggerhead Kingbird, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Bahama Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Olive capped Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Western Spindalis (Bahamas Green-backed), Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

My plans for the last full day on Abaco was to make the drive back down to Abaco National Park before dawn and then walk south to the end to get out of the pine lands and into an area that might host an overwintering Kirtland’s Warbler. It would be a long shot chance for sure that would require at least a ten mile hike one way. I was out the door early on a very humid morning that featured some low fog in spots that made the journey more adventurous. I got a caution light on the car when I was perhaps 2/3 of the way but after stopping and trying to figure it out I started the car back up and the light went out. I almost turned back at that point but decided to press on. I made it to the park a little after six and drove in perhaps two miles over rough dirt roads and then stopped and started the hike down with all my gear and lots of water (which was still not enough). I walked steadily down with not much stopping along the way to look for birds with most tallied along the way as heard only. The best bird by far on the way down was a distantly calling Key West Quail Dove, which became species 1995 for me. I eventually made it out of the pine lands after a little over four hours of walking and about ten miles distance. I then walked another hour or so in the blazing sun in the area I hoped would have a Kirtland’s Warbler. I made it to within sight of the lighthouse and then turned back with no luck. I knew I still had to retrace all my steps back to the car and I didn’t want to arrive back too late in case the car had issues getting me back north to my lodging. As I started my walk back I heard a loud chip that sounded unlike others I have heard and after a few moments I got fleeting looks at a Kirtland’s Warbler! I then spent the next 15 minutes or so trying to get some photos and recordings and at that point I noticed there were two Kirtland’s Warblers and not just one. Although I had the species way back when on their breeding grounds in Michigan when I made a day long drive to get them when I was in Ohio I had never gotten photos of them before. I then made the long slog back to the car where I arrived tired, thirsty and with some blisters after walking over 23 miles total…almost a marathon but worth the pain and effort for sure. The chances of coming across an overwintering Kirtland’s Warbler in the vast habitat was quite small so I felt incredibly lucky. I made a couple more brief stops on my way home and added some species for the trip as well as new Bahama species for me…getting me to 99 species ever in the Bahamas and a total of 41 species for the day.

I had a few hours available on my last morning before making the short flight to Miami. I decided to not push my luck with the crappy car by driving anywhere so I walked around the neighborhood. Nothing out of the ordinary but I did add my 100th species to my Bahama list with a couple of Limpkins.

During my short time in the Bahamas I found a total of 74 species with two of the those being life birds for me (Bahama Swallow and Key West Quail Dove). I had 18 new species I was able to add to my Bahama list, bringing that total to a nice and even 100 species.

All photos from trip at the following link.