ML44502601

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Tags

Field notes/sketch

Observation details

CBRC submission: Species: Dusky Warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus Location: Antonelli Pond, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Date: 16 October 2008 Age and sex: Probably Hatch Year Molt status: None apparent Number of individuals: One Other observers: Ryan Terrill and John Sterling Original observer: Myself Circumstances: I was collecting insects around the Homeless Garden after class, and decided to check the willows around the near (for me) side of Antonelli Pond. I started pishing as soon as I got into the willows, and immediately a flock of Yellow-rumped Warbler came in. I heard a bird calling from the low branches over the water, and in very bad light, that was completely unfamiliar to me. It came into pishing rather quickly and I got a brief look at it in bad light, but I got a full profile view of the face and I immediately recognized it as being a Phylloscopus Warbler, but I wasn't able to get a good enough look to identify it. I lost it briefly (moment of panic), before I refound it a minute later on the other side of the trail in great light and realized it was a Dusky Warbler. The bird was calling continuously during this time, and I was able to keep track of it for the next hour or so. Ryan Terrill arrived after about fifteen minutes and was able to see the bird rather quickly, as it was still in the same area where I found it and calling. Soon after that I heard the bird give a series of calls, fading off. I suspect that this was as it flew away, probably to the other side of the pond. Other people started arriving at this point, and despite much searching we were unable to refind the bird, until around 5 pm when John Sterling glimpsed it on the other side of the pond and watched it fly to the west (original) side of the pond. I was gone by this point, but as far as I know, no one was able to re-find the bird for the rest of the day. I returned the next morning with a large group (~40) people, and we were able to re-find the bird after a few hours, and almost everyone present was able to get good to decent looks at the bird. Matt Brady obtained a few photos in low light. Ryan and I both sketched the bird soon after seeing it, and photos of these sketches are attached. On both days we watched the bird at close range (1-4 meters) in good light as it foraged low in a "shrubbery." No Herrings were seen. Description: A small brown bird, drab brown overall. Very short-winged, and somewhat thick-billed for its size, somewhat recalling a vireo. Appeared somewhat long-legged and lanky in the field. The tail was short-ish, and we were able to see what appeared to be pointed tips to the rects, indicating a probable hatch year bird. Uppersides warm brown, and undersides overall paler brown, with a slight yellowish tint. The sides of the chest and flanks were slightly darker brown than the rest of the undersides. The wings were plain brown, without and hint of wingbars, the same color as the uppersides. The primary projection was short, extending half way down the length of the undertail coverts, and about one third the length of the longest tertial. The legs were somewhat pale, although they had a dark hint to the anterior side, and were not strikingly pale. The undertail coverts were slightly buffier than the rest of the undersides. A broad blackish eyeline extended from the lores, through the eye, and towards the nape, although it ended about half way there (to the nape). A broad pale brownish supercilium extended from the supraloral over the eye and ended at the same place as the eyeline. It was slightly pinched behind the eye, but overall about the same width overall. The auriculars were indistinctly streaked, but were about the same color as the rest of the uppersides. The eye was black, and the bill had a pale fleshy base to the lower mandible (which I neglected to illustrate in my sketch). Call a simple check note, not doubled, recalling a muted Fox Sparrow (Sooty), although at times recalling a less harsh Yellowthroat or softer Myrtle Warbler. It was rather easy to pick out after I familiarized myself with the call, and this was the easiest way to refind the bird, as more people arrived and it became harder to find. Discussion: When I initially saw this bird, I was able to watch for an extended period of time, in good light at close range. I was able to eliminate most other Phylloscopus warblers that have or could occur (Arctic, Yellow-browed, Wood, Greenish, Pallas’s) by this bird’s overall brown color and lack of wingbars. Willow Warbler shows a greenish overall color and longer primary projection. Yellow-streaked I believe can be separated by its call, broader supercilium, and more yellow color bellow. From Radde’s Warbler by that species paler, thicker legs, broader supercilium, more yellow undersides, diffusely marked supraloral, and call (doubled, “wetter,” slightly nasal). This is the first Dusky Warbler I have seen. Just a quick comment on my sketch; I made this sketch after the first time I saw the bird, and I was able to study it at greater length the second time. The main difference I noted this second time that I misrepresented in my sketch was that the bill was thinner and more sharply pointed than I illustrated. Also, just a couple errors in the sketch: The head came out a bit to small, and the legs were to short.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P5100

ISO

400

Focal length

7.5 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/2.7

Shutter speed

2/103 sec

Dimensions

4000 pixels x 3000 pixels

Original file size

2.41 MB