ML617548968

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

First seen here: 33.67925° N, 117.79862° W in a jacaranda. I noticed that it was an unusually large looking passerine with extensive bright yellow on the front side. Yellow-throated Vireo came to mind, but I was very cautious as White-eyes have fooled me into hallucinating basically every conceivable rare, yellowish, warbler-sized bird. A quick binocular view confirmed that it indeed was a YTVI - it had the thick bill of a vireo, but yellow, rather than white spectacles, contrasting against the olive-green-yellow head. The throat and bib were a brighter banana-yellow; the wings slate gray with a hue of blue, and with two white wingbars; tail medium-length and mostly dark on the underside with thin pale fringing - this pattern helps discern it from the many warblers in the area. The belly and flanks were a pale whitish. I kept this bird and its friend, a WAVI, in my peripheral vision as I texted others about it. However, after a bit I realized I was no longer looking at this bird, but a second WAVI. I searched the area intensively, then decided to try the Chinese Elms and sycamores by the pavilion - I've seen birds transit there from the small wooden bridge area, and given the activity there earlier and the fact that this bird was foraging in the leaves hanging right over edge of the lake, I figured I would give it a try. Amazingly it was actually there, foraging actively and even vocalizing a bit. I spent another hour tracking it, losing and refinding it several times, before other birders finally relieved me at 10:50. I left shortly thereafter for my belated breakfast... Has been hanging out in Chinese Elms and sycamores here (the aforementioned pavilion location):33.67755° N, 117.79801° W. If this bird is not at the lake when you arrive, it may be worth searching trees to the east along barranca.

Technical information

Original file size

2.85 MB