Brewsters and Connecticut Warblers at Wakefield

Mike Collins (collins@ram.nrl.navy.mil)
Thu, 10 Sep 1998 11:10:11 -0400


I arrived at Wakefield Park at about 7:30 this
morning. Things were a bit slow for about an hour. 
I saw lots of hummers and Nashville Warblers and a 
few Tennessee Warblers. I was about to leave but 
decided to go stand in the shade near the place I 
had seen a Connecticut Warbler on Tuesday. A few 
minutes later, I was treated to a Rose-breasted 
Grosbeak feeding at eye level 20 feet away. Best 
look I've ever had of one. 

Then the excitement began. A Connecticut Warbler 
popped up just to the right of where the grosbeak 
had been. It was the best look I've had of one with 
the exception of a singing male in Canada. I got a 
great look at the bold, complete eye ring and the 
complete hood. However, I was puzzled that the hood 
appeared more grayish than brownish. The bird I
saw on Tuesday had a brownish hood. It may have 
been a different bird, but it could have just been
the effect of different lighting.  

A few minutes later, things got even more exciting. 
I saw a Golden-winged Warbler fly in and watched it
feeding. But then something seemed wrong. I finally
got a good look at its head and realized it was a 
Brewster's Warbler, the first I have ever seen. I was 
able to watch it foraging for about five minutes and 
got a great look at the golden wing, Blue-winged-like 
stripe through the eye, and absence of dark on the 
chin.  

Mike Collins
Annandale, Virginia
collins@ram.nrl.navy.mil