Philadelphia Vireo Island 22

[Chris]

During my walk this afternoon I was watching a small flock of Chickadees and Kinglets. All of a sudden I noticed a bigger bird higher up in a tree. It had a yellow breast. Immediately I thought warbler, but after getting good looks at the bird I determined it was a Vireo! I knew that it wasn't a Red-eyed but either a Warbling or Philadephia. I sent a text out to Gord just in case he was in the park and as luck would have it he was. We both determined that it was a Philly as it had a shorter tail and yellow breast! I took a few pictures of the bird but they are not great which I will post later. Gord also took some pictures as well. New bird for me and I can't believe I saw it in November!

The bird was seen in the south west end of the equestrian area within a flock of Kinglets and Chickadees.

[Chris]

I had a few things to do before I could post the pictures. My pictures aren't great but it does show some of the fieldmarks of a Philly Vireo. Gord will have the better ones! I relocated this guy twice as I lost him among the leaves a few times. He was high up in the trees as well for the most part.

This picture you can notice the yellow belly. Warbing Vireo will have bright yellow sides and whitish bely which this one does not have.

I should also mention that this bird was first seen around 3:30. It wasn't confirmed until just after four this afternoon.



This picture you can see the eyeline. It has a bug in its mouth as well.

[Gord]

Chris, excellent little bird! Seems some of the fun from the OK (Parula with chickadees) has spilled over to here!

After getting the call from Chris (good timing or what!?) I headed over to meet him. After shooing the Northern Mockingbird out of the way, I found Chris looking upwards. It had disappeared for a bit but we found it again. After the initial thought that "that really does not look like a Warbling Vireo" we hummed and hawwed over it and tried to get some pictures. By the end, we were confident it was a Philadelphia Vireo. Second for the checklist area and from the same area!

I did not fare very well with photos either, but enough to see what it is.



The sun low in the sky plus my camera that brought out the warm tones a bit much exaggerated the yellow to a degree, but this it was quite extensively yellow from throat to belly. The white over the eye narrows right behind it as opposed to a Warbling Vireo that typically widens. The dark lores also is also visible.













The structure was certainly a little different from a Warbling Vireo. Mind you, might be a little bold to say as there were none to comppare it against and the fact the last Warbling Vireo I saw was a couple months ago! Would be great if this bird sticks around for others to get a look. It was hanging out with a flock of chickadees who dont range around too far so might be refound. This was in the far west end of the park near the horse paddocks in the row of populars.

[Dave]

The area was well birded this morning by several locals and coast birders, but no Philadelphia Vireo to report.

[murraybrown]

Excellent find Chris! Good eyes.

[butterfly]

Super sighting Chris and Gord. Great photos to go with it!

[Wetlander]

Nice find, Guys!

[Gord]

Jason and I prowled around a little today with no luck. Several flocks of chickadees, kinglets and creepers were looked through.

[Chris]

Thanks for the comments! Gord deserves a lot of credit for helping me ID the bird along with taking the great pictures which show the field marks of a Philly. A sighting like this often makes me wonder what goes through that isn't seen. If I didn't stop at that area I would have never seen it!

It's dissapointing that no one else saw it. It was a clear sky that night so maybe it went further south.