Exiting a cold house into the almost-steamy morning today, I was greeted with an interesting-looking bird and ... very fogged-up binoculars. Luckily the bird was willing to hang around until the optics warmed up, and I was able to see that it was a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. Not a new bird for the park, but the first one I've gotten in fall. Though in the end I saw it well enough to have no doubt on the ID, it appeared surprisingly drab, with yellow quite a bit less intense than any field guide shows. Quite possible it was a trick of the morning's low light (and my foggy optics).
Jason Waanders
NW DC
jwaandersATstarpower.net |