[SBB] Tennessee and Blackpoll warblers continue at Sunnyvale Baylands

[Mike Rogers <[[email protected]]>]

All,

I arrived at Sunnyvale Baylands Park before 8:00am this morning, hoping 
that an early start would prove fruitful. It took only about 15 minutes 
to refind the BLACKPOLL WARBLER at its favored spot in the double row of 
cottonwoods. A BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD was at the east end of these 
trees. Mike Feighner had arrived before me and informed me that 3 to 4 
Orange-crowned Warblers were over in the willow along the dirt path 
northwest of the playground (the same tree where Dave Weber had the 
Tennessee Warbler with OCWAs and Bushtits early yesterday morning), so I 
headed over there. I found 2 OCWAs with Yellow Warblers east of the 
playground, but these soon flew back to the eucalyptus trees west of the 
playground. I then birded the willows and eucalyptus west of the 
playground, watching the warblers streaming through the willows up into 
the eucalyptus. Bill Bousman and Peggy Don joined me and soon (8:53am) I 
heard a different warbler flight note and tracked the culprit to an 
exposed branch near the top of the smallest (mostly leafless) eucalyptus 
farthest from the playground. It was the TENNESSEE WARBLER! The 
underparts were white from the midbreast down through the undertail 
coverts, with the upper berast and chin being washed with yellow. The 
dark eyeline was prominent and set off a pale yellowish supercilium. The 
crown had a gray tone and the bill was sharply pointed. The bird was 
mostly facing us, so I did not get a look at the back, but what I could 
see of the wings was a quite greenish olive. Unfortunately, within about 
15 to 20 seconds, the bird continued on its way in the direction it had 
been heading before (northwest). It dropped down behind the willow, but 
appeared to be turning right to the "Baylands Grove" near the circular 
wall. We headed over there and found lots of YELLOW WARBLERS, WESTERN 
TANAGERS, and other migrants, but did not refind the Tennessee Warbler. 
For those looking for this bird, it looks the most like Sibley's "Adult 
female breeding" illustration, which at this time of year suggests it is 
an adult (as concluded by Dave Weber yesterday as well).

Shortly before 10:00am, I refound the BLACKPOLL WARBLER in its usual 
spot and at least one BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (obligingly calling now) 
and then headed over to the area west of the playground for one last 
check of that area. I refound the group of 4 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and 
a LINCOLN'S SPARROW in the brush south of the willow near the westmost 
small eucalyptus, but could only find YELLOW WARBLERS and a big BUSHTIT 
flock with them.

The Tennessee Warbler, like the Orange-crowned Warbler, is a member of 
the genus Vermivora and both these birds may favor the brushy willows 
and flowering eucalyptus west of the playground to the cottonwoods along 
the Meadowlark Trail where the Blackpoll has been seen. On Monday, Mike 
Mammoser found the TEWA in the double row of cottonwoods, but in the 
trees closest to the area west of the playground.

Birds seen today included an immature COOPER'S HAWK, an adult 
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, an immature RED-TAILED HAWK, 2 VAUX'S SWIFTS, at 
least one BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (at two locations along the double 
row of cottonwoods, most reliably at the east end), 2+ "WESTERN" 
FLYCATCHERS, 1 HOUSE WREN, 2 WARBLING VIREOS, the TENNESSEE WARBLER, 4+ 
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 30+ YELLOW WARBLERS, 2 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, 5+ 
WESTERN TANAGERS, and 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

Mike Rogers
Sunnyvale


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