Warbler ID

[JeffOver]

Hi all,
I went up Little Mountain Thursday evening and found a warbler that seemed to be with the chickadees a bit. From the brief glimpses I got, it seemed to be only black and white. That left me with two options--Black-throated Gray and Black-and-White (I know it wasn't the Blackpoll because of the face). According to the guide, the black-throated gray is way more probable. However, this warbler was quite high up in the canopy, whereas the two times I have seen black-throated gray they have been eye level or lower. Do black-throated gray forage high in the trees, or could this be a Black-and-White? At one point I did think it acted a bit like a brown creeper along a branch (diagnostic of a Black-and-White), but I might have just remembered reading that from a guide. Have Black-and-white warblers been seen out this way before? Any advice would be appreciated.
--Jeff
P.S.--A little late, but I saw a couple of juncos in my neighbour's front yard on Epp Drive last Sunday--first ones I've seen in the valley this season.

[Dave]

Good birds, Jeff

I have often seen Black-throated Gray hanging out high in the trees (often with Chick-a-dees!). Never rule out other possibilities though.

Dave

[Gord]

I, too, have seen them up high as well. But, these little things (something slightly different) often alert one to the presence of something new/rare in the area.

I have no experience with black and white warblers to share. Too bad you didnt get a closer look. Ive never heard of them in our area but have been spotted on the coast almost every fall and winter. Seem to show up later after other warblers are gone it seems. I bet we get them though here as well, but there's so much area for the birsds to be over in Vancouver. They get crammed into smaller areas and are easier to find. That, and the fact there is probably 8 to 1 ratio of birders there to here makes it seem more birds are seen there.