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Post by paulos on Jan 3, 2019 14:15:10 GMT -8
It was still there around 11:30 today. A few of us also noticed the weird light pollen (or growth?) on its bill.
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Post by Gord on Jan 3, 2019 14:29:04 GMT -8
Paul, pleased to see you got it. 10aciousfaith (Damion), don't give up! I think it will be there for awhile yet. The biggest threat will be a cold snap that might make it tough for the bird to survive. That looks to be a pollen build up on the bill. I hope that doesn't adversely affect the poor guy. He needs to find a nice branch and wipe it off! |
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Post by birderbert on Jan 3, 2019 17:15:38 GMT -8
I checked out my HD video of the CMWA in which his beak can clearly be seen opening & closing as he drinks the nectar. For those of you worried that the build-up might affect his feeding!  |
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Post by oldfulica on Jan 3, 2019 18:16:19 GMT -8
An interesting fact about the Cape May Warbler from the Cornell Lab; "The tongue of the Cape May Warbler is unique among warblers. It is curled and semitubular, and is used to collect nectar during winter."
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Post by Gord on Jan 4, 2019 11:05:34 GMT -8
The little guy continues today and I’m pleased to say his beak is clean! The monsoon yesterday may have helped  |
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Post by nickinthegarden on Jan 4, 2019 15:17:28 GMT -8
I checked out the warbler around noon and the pollen and nectar on the beak has disappeared for now. With all the wind and rain the last two days the Mahonia bushes have lost a lot of leaves and blossoms and it made it easier to spot. I drove around the park perimeter and could not find any more clumps of Mahonia for it to feed on, so no idea where it will go when those blossoms are gone.
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Post by Gord on Jan 4, 2019 16:33:15 GMT -8
Nick, I was wondering the same thing. Surely there's something in someone's backyard that will provide some nectar to supplement the insects. This will be vital if things get cold and the insects go into hiding. Len generously provided a hummingbird feeder that it may take to. The light was nice today and when I dropped by it was about a minute and it landed next to me after chasing an Anna's Hummingbird away from it's flowers that it's protecting.  Cape May Warbler by Gord G, on Flickr It was nice to see some old faces and meet a few new ones. Just as I was about to go it moved by again feeding on insects and provided a new view. Quite an active bird and the call note ear-catchingly different. Several times it also caught an insect in the air.  Cape May Warbler by Gord G, on Flickr |
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Post by nickinthegarden on Jan 5, 2019 12:02:57 GMT -8
Like some others I just could not stay away from this warbler this morning. It was actively feeding and continued to chase the Anna's Hummingbird away when it spotted it coming in to feed at the Mahonia. The beak remained cleaned and it was seen to eat some insects also.  Cape May Warbler by Nick, on Flickr |
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Post by Jamie on Jan 5, 2019 17:09:37 GMT -8
Still there this afternoon! I got to enjoy great views of it as it flitted around the yellow bushes drinking nectar and catching insects. Another lifer (#253) followed after the Great Egret. My first lifer of 2019, and hopefully not the only...
The lighting was pretty good for pictures, and it came out to the open and was quite close several times! This one is my favorite:
 Enjoying a drink of nectar from one of the yellow flowers.  |
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Post by Randy on Jan 5, 2019 17:53:16 GMT -8
Great photos Jamie! Glad you got to see it - too bad I missed you guys by about 15 minutes! Today I swung by on the way home from my office - this time I was prepared with my binoculars and camera! I only had about 10 minutes but got some great looks and a couple decent photos. Here's my favourite photo:  |
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Post by nickinthegarden on Jan 5, 2019 20:50:03 GMT -8
Impressive just how many great images people have gotten. I felt like a birding guide today, sharing information and views of the bird from the back of my camera and letting them know about this website. When such a willing and easily accessible subject is available it does not hurt to beat the drum and promote the product. I had over heard a few disgruntled walkers who were annoyed by all the people hanging around that it was important that some understanding be shared. I had gotten more than my share of images and I was happy to enlighten the public about the "crazy birdwatchers".
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Post by Gord on Jan 6, 2019 18:56:12 GMT -8
Jamie good new bird for you and good photos in not ideal lighting conditions. Randy, likewise. Too bad we missed you!
Nick, I enjoyed your article in CBC about the bird too.
I've been told the bird was seen there again today.
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Post by nickinthegarden on Jan 7, 2019 14:13:41 GMT -8
I came across an article in the Abbotsford News where they interviewed Gord regarding our misplaced warbler, well done Gord, lots of good information and kudos to Ben for his photo and Bert his video.
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Post by Gord on Jan 7, 2019 18:04:09 GMT -8
Thanks, Nick. Pleased to see Ben not only went out to work on the story firsthand but he got a photo too! We might have a new birder getting the bug!  Bert, that video is deserving of being highlighted. Again, well done on capturing it. Link to the article www.abbynews.com/news/rare-bird-settling-in-abbotsford/ |
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Post by oldfulica on Jan 8, 2019 11:21:16 GMT -8
Cape May Warbler continues Jan.8 as of 10AM.
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