Greetings birders - 
 
In quick response to Kevin Hall's mystery warbler images:
 
 http://4mallko.smugmug.com/gallery/6107357_NjP7N#383831225_bFUXv
 
I'm still in the Nashville Warbler camp with this bird, based solely on the single distant frontal photo of the bird facing left. I briefly brought the photo into Photoshop and utilized different light/dark and brightness/contrast settings to get a better grip on true head color/pattern. To me, the bird has a pale gray hood with enough definition along the malar to contrast with an apparent yellow throat. Overall small/compact shape of the bird speaks Nash to me. I feel that the brown coloration at the center of the chest is moreso feather/photo anomoly than an actual field mark (i.e. a consistent brown hood). 
 
I was obviously not present to witness the behavior of this bird, but my guess is that after the photos were taken the bird proceeded to flit upward into the canopy/mid-level of the surrounding trees. If the bird dropped straight to the forest understory and proceeded to work the ground, that's another story. There is a major difference in behavior between Nashville and Connecticut Warblers - of which both can be seen this time of year - albeit Connecticut very rarely due to its secretive skulking nature. Nashville is a fan of 2nd growth trees and canopy, while Connecticut much prefers to hang out amid detritus and in the company of slugs, on the forest floor. While many ground-level warblers WILL flush to higher levels in times of warning, they most often and more preferably will amble away at ankle-height as quickly as possible if disturbed. 
 
It would be interesting to hear Kevin's notes on the behavior of this bird, even brief behavioral notes would be helpful. 
 
***Also, this type of ID discussion would be PERFECT for the Ohio Ornithological Society's "Ohio Birds Forum", http://www.ohiobirds.org/forum/index.php
as the rare bird listerve is already really busy in accommodating all sorts of field reports***
 
best of birding -
Jen
 
Jen Brumfield
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Sharon Center, OH
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