Just a note to add to the Black-throated Blue Warbler thread.

The latest (or by Gregorian Calendar standards the earliest) record in the
literature is on a Christmas Bird Count published (quoted below) in the
Audubon Field Notes 20(2),:220-233. The record was made on the Killdeer
Plains W.A. CBC.

If true, this observation would be one of the most incredible warbler
records ever made in Ohio (for any species at any time of the year).
Unfortunately at this point in time, it is unprovable one way or the other.
The naysayers may discount this record out-of-hand as being too far out,
regardless of the details, The want-to-believe birders believe the details
(although sight unseen) were creditable and know that statistically all
things are possible given enough observations and time. After all the birds
are always out there - the birders are not!

So in the spirit of Fox News, "I report, you decide" on the following
excerpt from my work on Ohio Christmas Bird Counts:

Black-throated Blue Warbler

The 23 individuals of this taxon were recorded at Killdeer Plains W.A. in
1966. The following notes were published in *Audubon Field Notes*: "a sheet
of details submitted by " … "accurately describing in detail both male and
female plumages. *This observation sounds incredible*. Ohio must double
check this report before accepting it. National Xmas count record
[1965-1966] only 5 [individuals]; species rare in winter even in central
Florida!—Ed. (including emphasis)".

Note: no Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers were reported on this count. After
giving due consideration to this record, it was changed to Myrtle Warblers,
the above details not withstanding.

 Roger Troutman


On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 6:08 PM, <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> 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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