This afternoon, Rob and I encountered a warbler of a singular set of field marks which matched none we'd ever seen before. It was feeding along branches in a large oak beside a stream. At first glance it suggested magnolia or Canada, but no way could we make a total match. Luckily, we had ample time and view to follow it and study its marks:
brilliant yellow throat, down to the breast extended mask, with black stripe through the eye, and reaching down the sides of the throat white stripe above the eye white half-ring below the eye white patch behind the mask black stripes extending down white flanks white wing bars clearly visible against gray uppers We have checked the marks against 3 sources: Sibley, Stokes Field Guide to Warblers, and Warblers of the Great Lakes Region. The only match we find is the yellow-throated warbler. I would appreciate someone else checking to confirm, if possible. Directions: From hwy 110 (Mendota Heights-Sunfish Lake- W. St. Paul intersect area), go south on Delaware. Take the immediate right-hand turn west on Dodge (Road, Trail, I forget the term); it will dead-end in a turn-around with a sign labeled "Rachel Lilly Nature Preserve, Thomas Irvine Dodd Nature Center". Follow the grassy trail parallel to 110, as it curves along the treeline. At the bottom of the hill it will turn to cross a wooden bridge over a stream. The bird was feeding in the large oaks to the left of the trail after it crosses the stream. Map link:http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=44.881782,-93.108337&spn=0.003573,0.010042&t=h&z=17 Linda Whyte
