Warbler! Warbler!
Temp in the 50s, mostly sunny, moderate west wind, diminishing as the day went on.
Nothing of note in Sweeper Cove or creek. We headed up to Clam Lagoon. The marsh edge revealed four Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and the peninsula harbored seven Western Sandpipers.
The breaches had a flock of 20 Sanderlings which we also ran into later along the southern part of the seawall.
The Horned Grebe total climbed to eleven, with eight at the seawall and three at Candlestick Bridge. The waterfowl on Lake Shirley changes from day-to-day around a core flock of fifty-or-so Greater Scaup. Today’s guests were the Tufted Ducks and two Eurasian Wigeon.
While Lake Ronnie had the usual mallards, a shoveler, two pintail, a few mergansers, and a scaup.
Four Black Scoter at Candlestick Bridge were new for the trip.
We came back around and Frank walked part-way out the peninsula to see if the shorebird numbers had changed (increased!). The same seven westerns were resting there, so he came back and we decided to go to Haven Lake.
We first went down to what we call the “Boy Scout Cabins” on the access road to the southern end of the lake. There are some willows there that we keep expecting to host a vagrant passerine someday.
Frank walked over to the edge of the creek across from the willows, saw something flit and yelled “Warbler, warbler!” He knew it was an old-world warbler of some sort and ran back to the car to grab the camera. NOTE: He ALWAYS grabs the camera when he steps outside the car. Why not this time? Who knows…)
Thankfully, the bird did not disappear, but kept wandering throughout the stand of willows, occasionally fluttering up to catch a flying insect or two. Frank was able to get some photos and we both had nice looks at the bird. Barb tried playing the songs of various warblers and it responded to one of them. She thought it was the Arctic or Wood warbler call.
We returned to the car, pulled out the field guides, and after looking at the photos, the only thing that looked like our bird was Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix). The closest breeding grounds for this species are over 2500 miles away! And they winter in Africa!
According to Rare Birds of North America (2014) Howell and Russell, the only other records for this species in North America are Shemya, Oct 9, 1978 and Oct 8, 2010 and the Pribilofs, Oct 7, 2004. So this is the fourth North American record!
Wood Warbler, Adak, Sept 19, 2014.
Wood Warbler, Adak, Sept 19, 2014.
Wood Warbler, Adak, Sept 19, 2014.
Wood Warbler, Adak, Sept 19, 2014.
This is why we come here.