Pine Warbler...when did it arrive in the tree?

[Paula Hansley]

I went to Center Green Dr. a little over a week ago and observed the Bay-breasted Warbler in the pine at the same time as Peter Gent and Peter Burke were there.  On Saturday, I came back with Bill Kaempfer and John Vanderpoel's trip to look at the warbler.  We joined a group from the WBC led by Steve Frye that was already there.  

I distinctly remember looking at a warbler with a yellow face and chin, which was foraging near the end of a branch on the south side of the tree.  Two people who were standing by me and also looking at the yellowish warbler said to me, "are there two birds in the tree?"  One also said, "is that a goldfinch?"  I said "no, it has a warbler bill".  At that time, most of the birders were on the east side of the pine looking at the Bay-breasted Warbler and mentioning various field marks.  I don't think they could have been looking at "our warbler" because too many branches were in the way.

I think that both the Pine and Bay-breasted Warblers were present at that time.  I also remember one photographer's picture from that week showing the yellow chin and yellow face.  In most photos, the bird looked like a Bay-breasted.

Paula Hansley

Louisville