Re: [SBB] Tennessee and Blackpoll warblers continue at Sunnyvale Baylands

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Birders,

A few other birds of interest I saw after everyone left were an AMERICAN KESTREL, a SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD, a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and my first returning WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWs (2).

Peggy Don


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: 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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