Unusual Vireo at LBJ Grove
KurtCapt87@aol.com
Fri, 25 Dec 1998 17:05:32 EST
Folks,
Today, 25 Dec 98, at approx. 1430 Cher and I dropped by the LBJ Grove in
Virgina (nr the Pentagon, access from GW parkway) to look for Black-crowned
Night-herons. While walking through the conifers (VA pines) near the granite
monument, we came across a mixed flock of passerines. The flock consisted of
mainly GC Kinglets - 7 or so which I brought into view with pishing. A Pine
Warbler was mixed in, clearly bigger than the Kinglets with an obvious yellow
coloration to the breast and upper belly (first fall male). Cher pointed out
another bird that just arrived, no yellow coloration to the breast but bigger
than the Kinglets, which were 1-2 feet away. Viewing was by bins (10X42
Optolyth) from about 15-30 feet at a 45-80 degree angle with the horizon.
Good unobstructed viewing was obtained 4 times, each about 10 -15 seconds, at
all times looking northward. The area was 66% lighted and what shading was
present was mottled with sufficient light penetration in and through the long-
leaved pine needles to make viewing possible with no strain. The
characteristics of the bird were as follows:
The size of the bird was intermediate between the GC Kinglets and the Pine
Warbler, the latter birds were present in the same field of view approx 0.5 to
2.0 feet away during the course of the observation. The overall coloration to
the back, wings, head and nape were gray; I took a close look at the back and
noted a very slight olive cast to it. There was a very slight contrast in
color between the back and to the nape and top of the head - these latter
regions did not have the olive cast and from some angles these areas looked
slightly brownish-gray. The wings had two wing bars, the top being shorter
than the bottom, the bottom being the most plain to see. The wing bars were
not bright or obvious like on the Pine Warbler but instead were somewhat
faint. The region about the eyes and in front of the bill were white and
"spectacle-shaped", but the demarcation in color between the gray of the
head/cheek and the white of the spectacle was not sharp. The bill was thin
like a warbler, but somewhat blunt at the tip. It was not thick like a
Warbling, Blue-headed, or Red-eyed Vireo. The breast was white, with a gray
duskiness or faint diffuse streaking on the upper breast extending to the
wingpits. No streaking or coloration were noted on the flanks. The undertail
was whiteish, outlined in black. The bird did not vocalize, at least
obviously to me, though the Pine Warbler occasionally called a Tsup! note that
clearly was warbler-like during the encounter.
I rule out Kinglet because of coloration, size, and bill shape. No warbler
has a spectacle pattern on the face around the eyes and across the bridge
above the bill as well as the lack of color and contrast to the back, nape and
head. The lack of streaking on the breast/flanks likewise rules out most
warblers this time of year. Orange-crown is unlikely because of the wing-
bars, overall coloration, and lack of obvious color contrast to the head, nape
and back and the under tail pattern not matching at all. I rule out Blue-
headed Vireo due to the coloration (wrong color, lack of obvious contrast of
head to back, no bright yellow flank color), bill shape, spectacle pattern
(not strongly demarcated), and size (Blue-headed is as big as a Pine Warbler).
Cassin's Vireo is a possibility to consider, though there should still be some
yellow color on the flanks, a well-defined spectacle, and probably more
contrast in color between the back, nape and head; the wing bars are bright
and well-defined in that species. Both White-eyed and Yellow-throated are
unlikely as the coloration around the eyes is not consistent with the LBJ
bird, as well as the size, bill shape, breast color, back color, etc.. I do
not consider Plumbeous as a serious possibility, though the gray of the LBJ
bird was somewhat lighter in hue than my memory of the Plumbeous I have
encountered. I also do not seriously consider Hutton's - such a bird is
likely very rare if not very accidental in the Mississippi valley and probably
unheard of in the east. I think Gray Vireo is out of the question, it just
doesn't migrate much except to southern CA, AZ.
Bell's Vireo is all that remains and the characteristics of the LBJ bird are
consistant with that species.
My previous experience with Bell's is in Arizona (Florida wash, Huachucas) 2
years ago. Also Plumbeous in that area. My experience with Cassin's was this
spring at Butterbredt Springs, CA. My experience with Hutton's is in Orange
County, CA two years ago. My experience with Gray Vireo was this spring in
the San Diego area (Laguna Hills). I am experienced with all the regular east
coast vireos in the metro area: Red-eyed, Warbling (BBS at Dyke Marsh),
Yellow-throated, Philadelphia, and White-eyed.
Bell's Vireo is a known breeder in western Ohio, though I do not believe there
has been a successful record there in the last 5 years. The bird does breed
in Illinois and likely breeds in Indiana. I believe it has been recorded in
the Fall in Mass. I hypothesize the recent cold front pushed it over.
I hope someone goes out and finds this bird. It may be a Virgina state
record.
Kurt Gaskill, kurtcapt87@aol.com