When I saw the warbler on Tuesday January 10 it fed at its leisure for at
least two minutes from the hanging suet feeder, and made several sorties
into the overhang, nabbing small flying insects. The two or three Anna's
Hummingbirds in the vicinity would not dare approach the nearby hummingbird
feeder while the warbler was present.
Jeff Hayes
Portland
On Jan 10, 2017 6:44 PM, "Jack Williamson" <jack.williamson.jr@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
The eBird range map for this species shows far more occurrences in the
Northwest than I was aware of. Which might explain why I only
encountered a total of maybe 20 people during my first three visits to the
site. Inclement weather is likely the another reason for the relatively
low turnout at this otherwise very accessible location that is surrounded
by a lot of friendly and inquisitive neighbors.
The most surprising past observation was by Greg Gillson while offshore
during a pelagic trip out of Newport in 2011.
There was a debate about whether suet cakes should be placed on the ground
in the vicinity where the bird was presumably first observed. My first
thought was, why not! Someone else said doing so would put the warbler at
risk to be taken by a cat. I thought that suggestion was nonsense,
especially after finding a lot of feeders in the neighborhood, one
Certified Backyard (bird) Habitat, and watching the warbler feed directly
below a hanging suet feeder but never using that feeder or any of the
others in the area. Well, that was before today.
What I am at a loss to explain is why someone who hates to be wrong is
wrong so much of the time :-)
I hope you enjoy the post.
http://www.jack-n-jill.net/blog/2017/1/black-throated-blue-warbler
Jack Williamson
West Linn, Oregon
