Early Spring Migrants at SPI, 3/18/19

After some strong southerly winds followed by a spring norther, I figured it was time to check out the early spring migrants at South Padre Island.  A couple of Protonotary Warblers had been reported and I don't see them every year.  It took a while but eventually I got some shots of one and saw three on the day.  Two were at Sheepshead and another at the vacant lot on Oleander.

Another early spring migrant is the Louisiana Waterthrush.  This one was at the Convention Center.

Black-and-white Warblers winter in the Valley, start heading north in March and continue till late May.  And the first ones head south in early July.  So we basically have at least a few in the RGV every month except June.

Hooded Warbler was a new one for my year list.

Nashville and Orange-crowned Warblers along with Northern Parulas enjoyed the blooming bottlebrush.

Yellow-throated Warblers winter locally and pass through early.

Most of these early spring migrants nest in the southern United States.  Yellow-throated Vireos along with the above Yellow-throated Warbler nest along streams in the Hill Country just 200 miles to the north.

So twelve species of warbler is about the most I've seen in a day so early in the spring.  Spring is off to a good start.