Mourning Warbler @ Evergreen Cemetery, Portland

[Richard Garrigus]

I instinctually made my way back to the now-famous brush-pile, in part out of hope for something of interest within the (relative) dearth of activity, then back down to the other likely spot for the KEWA, the fallen pair of trees. When something popped up into view on a small sapling near the upturned roots, I expected the KEWA, but quickly realized I was seeing Mourning Warbler. It flew down into the horsetails and moments later flew out and scaled a sapling pine, where I was able to pick up the black breast band where the blue hood and the deep yellow underparts meet. It flew further back and disappeared into the patch of young alders, seeming to move back toward the utility cut. I motioned some other birders who had appeared at the beginning of the service road and so had many sets of eyes but it did not re-appear. First sighting was at ~7:45am. 

In this kinda lackluster migration, there are still some pleasant surprises.

Richard Garrigus