Hi Tim and all,
That's a very tantalizing observation! Supposing it was not some type of
American wood-warbler, but one of the Asian *Phylloscopus* warblers, I
think the call note alone rules out Arctic Warbler, which is supposed to
have an almost dipper-like "dzri" call (plus at least one wing bar). Dusky
Warbler has a sharp "teck" call (Sibley likens it to Lincoln's Sparrow),
which might sound a little more like a Mac. I have seen or heard neither -
wish I had time to zip back down to the South Coast!
Hope someone can relocate the bird! Ah, the joys of fall migration!
Hendrik
On Mon, Oct 5, 2015 at 6:57 PM, Tim Rodenkirk <timrodenkirk@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I was headed north out of Bookings around noon today and decided to stop
off at Lone Ranch wayside for lunch. After a quick bite I headed down to
the creek for a look. I walked along the creek in the trees to the mouth.
At the mouth I heard an unfamiliar warbler chip, kind of Mac-like but not
as sharp and well, definitely not a Mac. Actually, describing it is a bit
difficult, just something I was not familiar with. In some vegetation and
tree roots overhanging the creek I found the warbler. It was a dull
grayish-olive green above and I first thought Orange-crowned just cause of
the color but it was feeding right on the creek and the call was to sharp
for an Orange-crowned so I kept on it. It turned over feeding and it was a
murky pale whitish-yellow below. The color extended all the way from the
breast to the undertail coverts. Then the bird turned over and instead of
having a split eye-ring it had a long white supercilium? It then promptly
disappeared. I listened for a while then heard the chip up creek. I was
able to locate it low along the creek again flitting around in the
overhanging roots right above the creek. I did not notice any wing bars
although it could have had a very pale one nor was there a white wing patch
like on BTB Warbler females. Also, the undertail coverts were the same
color as the rest of the bird below. I remember having a discussion about
1st fall female BTB Warblers and that they lacked a white wing spot but the
feeding behavior seemed wrong for that species- this bird was low and acted
like a waterthrush although it didn't bob its tail like one and was
unstreaked below.
So, I guess if I was to pick a more "common" species I would call this a
1st fall Black-throated Blue. However, it had a long straight white
supercilium, almost like a Bewick's Wren. Also the undertail coverts were
not a pure white, they looked like a continuation of the color above- the
murky whitish-yellow. So, maybe it is something less common like an
Arctic/Asian Warbler species? Arctic sure came to mind but I have no
experience with any such warblers so I really hesitate to go anywhere with
this.
I had to leave after I saw it the second time and it had disappeared
again- I am hoping that someone may have time to look for it mañana? I
suspect it is a "good" species whatever it may be? I won't have time to go
back as I will be busy- bummer I found a bird that appears to be something
I have not seen before but cannot ID!
Merry migration!
Tim R
Coos Bay
