Wayward Palm Warbler Stirs Imagination

Palm Warbler spotted in Emeryville

My brief sighting the other day of a wayward, male non-breeding Palm Warbler lasted a mere 10 seconds, and the thrill was quickly gone as our special guest bird soon vanished from sight.

Nearby White-crowned Sparrow

Sounds exotic, I know, but let's not get too worked up over this little Western sub-species donning his nondescript plumage at this time of year. I wonder: does he have a friend? Is he looking for a mate, or is it too early? Was he blown off-course, like the one little soul ID'd as a "vagrant" in Iceland?

Bewick's Wren making an appearance

Who knows the answers to the eternal mysteries of birds. I certainly don't. Notwithstanding, I very much looked forward to spotting the ballyhooed bird, supremely handsome in olive green vestment, with a bit o' yellow undertones and a Bewick's Wren sort of white stripe over the alert eye.

"Brown" Palm Warbler in breeding plumage (photo by D. Gordon E. Robertson)

You must be wondering what the big deal is. Which is this: The Bird of the Month in the Bay Area could easily be mistaken for "just" an "ordinary" bird!

(Whatever that is!)

Palm Warbler in spring migration (photo by Tony Clements)

Well, such is the plight of the pitifully mundane male non-breeders of the world, solitary outcasts, one and all!

Palm Warbler (photo by Wolfgang Wander)

Including this little guy who seems to be bereft of ilk or companion, all alone in the big, harsh world. I wonder – does he get lonely being a solitary bird?

Western Palm Warbler (photo by http://www.birdphotos.com)

He seems right at home, though, and happy as a lark in the surprising environs.

White-breasted Nuthatch peckin' for pickins

This insect-loving bird is completely inured to our presence – absent that notable tendency of fear and loathing wild animals have towards civilized humans. (And vice versa.)

Anna's Hummingbird taking a break from flitting about

So, never before having seen this particular bird, I'm game to have a chance to pad my Life List, even if it's "just" the little ol' male non-breeding Palm Warbler.

Fattened up Steller's Jay

And now I can say with pride (and no hint of prejudice) that I have had the privilege of actually spotting a Palm Warbler! Hell, I might not ever spot another in my life, unless I can get to where they're more commonly seen at the right time of year. No easy feat.

Some kind of Thrush in hiding

Over the past couple of weeks, online reports surfaced of several visitations of rarely sighted birds in the East Bay; of particular note, a much sought after Summer Tanager was repeatedly spotted hanging out in the urban / nature ecotone of rugged, birding hot spot of Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve in the Berkeley Hills; and a Palm Warbler has been kicking up a fuss among birders in the decidedly urban setting of Doyle Hollis Park in Emeryville.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

A failed attempt to make the acquaintance of the Tanager a few weeks ago resulted in my renewed determination to spot a – unique bird! (Timing is everything.) So the other day, after reading several e-bird reports, I braved early morning traffic and headed cross town to the bayside burg of high-tech / shopping mecca of Emeryville, California . . . to see what – or who – I could see.

California Towhee peeking out

My imagination was running wild after viewing online photos of the bird, stoking my curiosity with excitable images of a colorful, tropical-looking bird. A rarely seen bird, indeed, so went my narrative.

Varied Thrush sighting always exciting

After all, a bird called "Palm Warbler" naturally would lead one to believe it's from somewhere in Central America, or at least hailing from semi-tropical Florida. It turns out Florida is indeed a winter hot spot, where they feed under the palm trees. and not in them, a feature that sets this Warbler apart from most other warblers who tend to be tree top foragers. (Betcha didn't know that one before you looked it up on the net.)

Bewick's Wren in a rare moment of repose

A breeding bird renowned for his brown skullcap and bright yellow under and overtones, Palm Warblers number a dozen million or more, thriving mainly in the East and Southeast, and preferring to breed, primarily, in Canada's boreal forests. The West Coast is non-breeding territory, with Palm Warblers distributed up and down the Pacific Coast in "very small numbers" (audubon.org).

Robin red-breast upon gulping down a worm

This wonderful little bird is also highly vulnerable to climate-altering, earth-raping industries (peat harvesting, tar sands oil development, and logging), and according to allaboutbirds.org, is one of the most frequently killed species at lighted towers across the United States.

Looks like a Red-tailed Hawk patrolling the skies

Nothing I can do about that, I don't reckon, but I can at least devote part of my busy morning to seeking the bird out, paying homage, connecting with his avian spirit.

Anna's Hummingbird

The bird of my imagination – a high-toned breeding male – was not the bird I would see today, but I consider myself lucky to have spotted the lonesome "mundane" non-breeding male frequenting Doyle Hollis Park during the past couple of weeks.

Flock of Robins in trees

On arrival, of course there's not a single parking spot to be had at the 1.5 acre park sandwiched between 61st, 62nd, and Hollis and Doyle Streets, in a busy part of Emeryville, California, home to Pixar and Peet's.

What kind of Thrush (?) munching down some berries

I soon manage to find a spot a block away, in a "First Friday" street sweeping zone. Of course, it was the first Friday.

Townsend's Warbler alighting

Eff it – for this bird, heck yeah! – I'll take my chances. I park in a no parking zone, and set off in my quest to see a warbler I've never seen before.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The little oasis is the result of an urban renewal project, a bio-diverse landscaped rectangle that has proven effective at attracting birds, amphibians, and humans, who come during lunch time for a small respite from the harsh demands of their job, who come to stroll slowly and to observe and appreciate the diversity of life thriving in this tiny rehabbed patch of earth in the middle of a busy urban scene.

Doyle Hollis Park satellite image, Emeryville CA
(Photo courtesy of City of Emeryville)

Within seconds of my arrival, I spot White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, American Crows, Pigeons, Robins, and Anna's Hummingbirds.

White-crowned Sparrow reveals himself

But where's my Palm Warbler?

I was lucky to see the wayward Palm Warbler

Given the existence of vast acres of wild land and open space in the Bay Area, with all manner of habitat to seek gainful survival strategies, it's a (minor) wonder and (small) miracle that this little ground-hopping, tail-wagging cuss, not so frequently sighted in these parts, has taken up temporary residence in Doyle Hollis Park. Why?

Inquisitive Dark-eyed Junco

In such a small slice of urban park situated amidst concrete buildings and asphalt streets? The pickins must be good, else he'd surely be headed up to the sylvan / riparian hills bordering the East Bay cities of Richmond, Kensington, Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward, San Leandro, and Fremont.

American Goldfinch brightens the day

I'm scanning red tentacled bushes bare of leaves, glancing up into tree tops, eyeballs peeled for the elusive Palm Warbler, all to no avail, too distracted by my worrying about getting a ticket. A brief glimpse of a Bewick's Wren briefly fools me, and the usual suspects flit here and there: a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a California Towhee, the inevitable two or three Dark-eyed Juncos, but no Palm Warbler.

Sweet little Chickadee seeking cover

Next thing I know, a woman with a baby in tow, slung in a papoose and binos dangling around her neck, shouts over to me. It's obvious I'm searching for the Warbler, and it's doubly obvious she's already had the pleasure of spotting him. "Hey, come over quick!" I hurry the ten yards to where's she's standing and pointing out, without much fanfare, the prized specimen. "There! See it!"

Turkey crossing the street after looking both ways

Sure enough, there's the Palm Warbler hopping around on the ground, unfazed by our presence. I hastily snap a couple of (not great) photos and film a very short movie (again not great), sacrificing valuable naked eye contact yes, but ultimately gratified to be able to document this historic sighting (for me).

Spotted Towhee swoops down to investigate

But before I know it, the bird quickly hops into thick ground cover, never to emerge or be seen again. At least not for the next five minutes. At least not again for me.

Anna's Hummingbird perched on wire

Unfortunately, being parked in a First Friday NO PARKING Street Sweeping zone, I can't stick around and take my chances any longer, despite my longing for a more sustained glimpse of the Palm Warbler. Back at the car I'm relieved to see it was all worth the while.

Lesser Goldfinch feeding in tangle of brush

I was lucky to be able to capture even just .03 seconds of the elusive little guy!

FLEETING GLIMPSE (.03 SEC) OF PALM WARBLER