We have a pretty good season of warbling

Thanks in large part to my eagle-eyed brother Phil, things are looking up warbler-wise. And I use the term “looking up” with full knowledge of its double meaning. Phil, my wife Fran and I are all developing cases of warbler neck from staring into the treetops for long periods. The only plus to this activity, aside from spotting the flitting little chirps, is causing complete strangers to study the sky for UFOs.

This is John James Audubon’s take on the Great-crested Flycatcher. I could have used a photo of some kind of warbler but, frankly, I don’t want to give the hyperactive little twerps any more space.

So far this month, we’ve added these gems to the 2015 Big Year list: Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Connecticut Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Worm-eating Warbler and Kentucky Warbler. It has probably been the best year we’ve had for warblers here in Missouri and Kansas .

Phil and his wife Susan are headed for Door County, Wisconsin, this week, so we’re hoping for even more warblers to join the list. Door County is a hot spot. I’ve been there when the trees were dripping warblers, and it was this time of year.

Our outings this month have yielded some other good finds, so now we’re only 19 species away from last year’s total, which was 179. Included among the particularly exciting birds are Great-crested Flycatcher, Evening Grosbeak, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Wilson’s Snipe and Brown Creeper.

Brother Phil says he’s becoming dangerously addicted to warbler hunting, and I understand his enthusiasm. Getting your feet soaked from wet grass on a chilly May morning when you should be snug in bed instead of being sucked dry by wood ticks and mosquitoes the size of your left butt cheek while trying to get a bead on a bird the size of a walnut that seems to have made avoiding your eyes its life’s purpose and whose song sounds like every other warbler on earth, making it impossible to identify without shooting it is really fun.

Can’t wait for next year.