Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)

Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) Singing

Prior to participating in the morning bird walk at Allens Pond Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary, Doug and I stopped at Gooseberry Neck to see what, if any migrants were coming through.  We missed the predawn waves, although for the one half-hour that we stopped at the parking lot at Gooseberry, we identified 27 species of birds.  In fact, I saw and photographed along with some other folks what was to me the best species of the day:  Bay-breasted Warbler.  I have previously seen Bay-breasted Warbler in West Virginia, during my visits at the new River birding and nature Festival.

This Warbler was very cooperative and allowed us to approach without just flying away.  Bay-breasted Warblers stop here on their migration from South America and the Caribbean to their breeding grounds in Canada, the Great Lakes region and northern New England.  They feed on insects and especially the spruce budworm.  In fact, the population of Bay-breasted warblers increases when there is an outbreak of the spruce budworm.

Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)

Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)

Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)