Oct. 24, 2025: Spotted just after sunrise by Salt Pond, this Palm Warbler, flicking its tail and glowing in early light, paused briefly during migration, likely heading south toward wintering grounds in the Southeast.

Just after sunrise, this Palm Warbler perched briefly on a metal guard rail in the unpaved parking lot by Salt Pond. The bird’s warm brown upperparts, pale yellow wash on the underparts, and distinctive light eyebrow stripe glowed in the soft early light. It frequently flicked its tail, one of the most characteristic behaviors of this species.

Palm Warblers do not typically breed on Cape Cod; their breeding range lies much farther north, mainly in boreal bogs and forested wetlands across Canada and parts of northern New England. This individual is most likely a southbound migrant pausing to feed on small insects along the edge of the pond before continuing its journey.

By late October, most Palm Warblers are en route to their wintering grounds in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. It’s likely this bird will soon resume its migration, following the coastline or cutting across the peninsula toward more sheltered habitats as it works its way southward.