Yesterday I got a call from my mother who lives about 2 blocks east of me here
in Albany, that she had a strongly patterned warbler that landed on her window
sill. Her description strongly suggested Yellow-throated Warbler, although
her description also fit a Blackburnian Warbler. It was too late in the day to
check it out in person, but I headed over this morning.
In our conversation she mentioned that it was traveling with a typical winter
mixed flock (Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch
etc.). I staked out her backyard and feeder this morning for about 1.5 hours
and found nothing but a hoard of House Sparrows and Mourning Doves.
Upon my return home (remember only about 2 blocks away), I heard a flock of
Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers and WB Nuthataches and decided to check it out.
After a few minutes of searching I found the Warbler moving high through the
leafless tree's. Yellow-throated Warbler is a life bird (and new yard bird!),
but the bird had a short yellow throat, much smaller than most field guides
show (hence why my mother didn't want to commit to that ID), but all the field
marks add up and seen well as the bird sat very still in the tree. I got some
distant but recognizable pictures.
Ironcially, as I watched the warbler a Common Redpoll dropped out of the sky
and landed next to the warbler, creating an interesting combination of birds
that nest both north and south of the region at the same time (wish I could
have gotten a picture).
The bird appears to be following a Chickadee flock that is roaming the
neighborhood, meaning it has no reliable spot... for now.
Also had a few hundred Snow Geese pass over head.
Good Birding!
Will Raup
Albany, NY
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