I was watching a small of flock of Townsend?s Warblers from my back porch on
Sunday when I realized 1 male had no black on the cheek. The upper parts
were gray and not green as in a Townsend?s but but there was obvious
streaking below. I watched it for about 4 minutes but the group started to
move off and I was without shoes. Our backyard will never be mistaken for a
putting green and it?s impossible to walk around unshod. The other warblers
seemed to be straight Townsend?s.
I?ve never before seen a Hermit Warbler or a hybrid here on Whidbey .
There are an usually high number of Townsend?s present this year.
Steve Ellis
sellis at coup.wednet.edu
Coupeville, Wa