Painful Miss

I've had a couple short, solid outings these last couple days. I just have to keep reminding myself of that fact. I had 7 year birds yesterday, including Ovenbird, Magnolia Warbler, Least Flycatcher, Veery, Red-eyed Vireo, and Cape May Warbler  - which is one of my favorites - at Elsen's Hill. I also had a long overdue first Eastern Screech Owl for the county while there, too. A cool looking first year male Summer Tanager at Herrick Lake in DuPage was also a nice year bird.

But right now, those things are overshadowed by missing the Black-throated Gray Warbler up in Elgin. I was there yesterday, searching during the only stretch where the bird did not consistently show. I got up early and finished an assignment quickly this morning to give myself a little time to look for it again. Eric reported the bird again this morning so I got my hopes up a little, and then missed again. The problem is that the bird is 40 minutes away from me, which is just close enough for me to talk myself into chasing it, and just far enough for it to take a rather significant chunk out of my day. That lost time would feel much more worth it if I would have actually seen the bird. Oh well, guess you can't get them all!

Anyway, here are a few pics from the past two days:

Cape May Warbler

Elsen's Hill, DuPage Co, IL

May 5, 2014

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Elsen's Hill, DuPage Co, IL

May 5, 2014

Veery

Elsen's Hill, DuPage Co, IL

May 5, 2014

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Elsen's Hill, DuPage Co, IL

May 5, 2014

Palm Warbler

Herrick Lake, DuPage Co, IL

May 5, 2014

Cape May Warbler

Judson, Kane Co, IL

May 5, 2014

Blue-winged Warbler

Judson, Kane Co, IL

May 5, 2014

Yellow-throated Vireo

Judson, Kane Co, IL

May 6, 2014

 May this rare little warbler will stick around, but I'm not getting my hopes up for it again.

ABA 2014: 260

Illinois 2014: 238

Kane, IL: 134
DuPage, IL: 124