Birdwalk Highlights for 4/19: Florida Lake Park, Freeport.

That was fun. It's definitely spring now. After a slow start - and far from the fallout we had hoped for with some overnight rainfall - the edge came alive and we found ourselves surrounded by migrants, led by 35+ PALM WARBLERS, 30+ YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and 20+ RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS.

The walk in was quiet, but we did pick up our first BLUE-HEADED VIREO of the year, and the first of 4+ GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and at least 6 total EASTERN PHOEBES. We came across a singing PURPLE FINCH and a territorial male EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and the first of a total of about 6 NORTHERN FLICKERS on the move overhead. A total of 12 SONG SPARROWS were mostly feeding along the dike trail, a good number of this park.

Out on the water, we spied 5 GREEN-WINGED TEAL and had pretty good looks at 3 PIED-BILLED GREBES. Two pairs of WOOD DUCKS and 1-2 pairs of HOODED MERGANSERS were seen, along with a dozen distant RING-NECKED DUCKS. A pair of BELTED KINGFISHERS and an OSPREY were looking for fish, while a single BALD EAGLE departed.

The swallow show is building, with about 30-40 TREE SWALLOWS being joined today by at least 3 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, 1-2 BARN SWALLOWS, and a rather early and surprising BANK SWALLOW.

And finally, the slow stroll out added a few things, including a single SWAMP SPARROW, close looks at four WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS virtually feeding at our feet, and a brief song from a recently-arrived PINE WARBLER to top things off.