I am not sure anyone is going to end up looking for the mystery warbler (if
we were closer to Portland there would be a line at the parking area, on
the south coast many "good" birds never even get chased like say, Smith's
Longspur) but I think I can eliminate a few species:
The call was wrong for Arctic Warbler (not buzzy like a dipper) nor were
their wing bars that I noticed.
Dusky Warbler is not yellow below and the bird I saw was drab grayish
olive-green above-neither sound right for a Dusky.
Tennessee Warbler would not have such a prominent supercilium, should have
white undertail coverts, and I don't remember them having drab
olive-colored upperparts- more a brighter green.
That leaves me with first fall female BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. The
first fall female is all drab yellow below (including the undertail
coverts), has the grayish-olive color above, no wing bar (not sure if it is
sometimes or all the time), and a prominent supercilium. What bothered me
most about the bird in question was its feeding behavior. I have seen
several BT Blues in Oregon and they have all been higher up in the canopy-
at least head height and higher. However, I looked at the older warbler
book and read that they normally nest within three feet of the ground and
forage low- all news to me. Perhaps the feeding I saw low wasn't all that
unusual for Black-throated Blues?
Anyhow, I think by process of elimination it has to be a Black-throated
Blue. A great bird for Curry nonetheless with only a few previous
records. Also, as I remember, early October is traditionally the best time
to find this species in Oregon. Seems like it all adds up. Thanks everyone
for your helpful comments!
Terry Wahl called me today, here is his report from the family ranch near
Cape Blanco:
WESTERN SCRUB-JAY at the barn where the Dickcissels were seen originally
(10/1) on same day (they are not regular on the south coast north of Ophir)
2- PALM WARBLERS on 10/4 when everyone else reported them- he said they are
still around
one DICKCISSEL reappeared today so at least the one is still around
Knute Andersson had a LARK SPARROW at his place SW of Langlois on 10/4
(yesterday).
Merry migration!
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos Bay
