A Magical Time, Birding on Grand Isle April 2021

As soon as we stepped out of the car, we noticed a scarlet tanager. Its bright red body accentuated with black wings and the solid red head making the bird unmistakable. There were several in the nearby bush and as we watched green colored females appeared.

A fallout had occurred!

In the same bush a beautiful, hooded warbler appeared and posed for a picture.

As we started walking into Lafitte Words summer tanagers appeared,

the birds were everywhere.

Connie and Gary were with us and the moved ahead as we stopped to take more photos.

An American redstart hopped from branch to branch before stopping long enough for us to take pictures.

Every stepped flushed more birds, a Tennessee Warbler

, next a Nashville warbler

, and a blue winged warbler,

you almost had to watch you step as hooded warblers were everywhere and you if might accidently step on one, (a very slight exaggeration). The trees and the ground were alight with warblers!

We caught up to them by a bench and after they talked of a conversation with a birder friend of theirs, we spotted a cerulean warbler

and next a black and white warbler

, one we had seen at High island. Both seemed unconcerned with us as they were busy feeding. It had been a long flight across the Gulf of Mexico, and they were trying to replenish their energy before continuing their migration.

Gary mentioned that he had never seen so many warblers and Connie and Gary have lived on Grand Isle for twenty-two years.

Later we returned to the same spot in the forest with our friends Barb and Dan and the bird fest was repeated. They have started their own life list and lots of the warblers were new to them. As Barb and Renita spotted the birds, they would point them out to us so Dan and I could take photo, (now Renita and Barb both want their own dslr cameras).

Besides the other warblers we did spot an ovenbird 

, and the joke became, did you see the Hooded warbler, as there were so many, (it was a new life list bird for them and a first for Dan to image).

Water was everywhere and we had to wade through shallow puddles. Surprisingly, there were no mosquitos as it had been arid for quite a while. Three days later a hatch occurred, and you needed mosquito lotion to keep from being eaten alive!

Tired from carrying the heavy camera lens were returned to Connie and Gary’s house for another excellent meal. Of course, Connie had baked a pecan and maple syrup pie along with a sugar free lemon pie for dessert. She makes the best pies we have ever eaten.

What a first day birding, a plethora of warblers, and fresh pie! Clear skies

Ps the Bird Festival had been canceled this year, cue to covid but the birders didn't care nor did the local birders! Most have had their shots.