Got a call from a friend last evening?who said she saw a bird coming to her chipped sunflower feeder that she had never seen before. She looked through her field guides and said the only one she saw matching the bird was a Black-throated Blue Warbler. Not being a heavy-duty birder she wondered if this was possible, but she didn't know what else it could be. I said Ronnie and I will be there in the morning.
Got there about 8:45 and it wasn't long before a beautiful?male?Black-throated Blue appeared. He made numerous appearances and magically turned an early winter day into?Spring. Got some half?decent photos. She lives in Mahoning County on Duck Creek Road in Patmos.?I think this may be a late record for Ohio if none has been seen past Dec.5 since 2001. Need to check that out.????
Interestingly she also had Eastern Bluebirds coming to her chipped sunflower which is something we have never seen. She says they even bring their fledgelings and feed them chipped sunflower. This has been going on for years, so it's not unusual to her, but it is to us.
Other non-everyday birds seen there were Pine Siskin and?a very nice first winter Chipping Sparrow. Thanks to?our friend Gayle for her heads-up observation and?giving us the opportunity to see and record this very late warbler. Photos of the warbler and the bluebird may be viewed at the link below.?

Good birding all,
Shari Jackson and Ronnie Macko
?


http://s397.photobucket.com/albums/pp53/RoniMacko/Black%20Throated%20Blue%20Warbler%20Dec%2008/


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