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Posted by Jim King, Miami-Dade County Parks on 19:17:57 09/03/11
Two Prothonotary warblers (male & female) was observed at Arch Creek Park feeding in a Strangler fig and through the under-story. The highlight was to observe the male feeding on the same branch as a male Black-throated Blue Warbler, both displaying bright and contrasting colors. The male Blackburnian Warbler was observed again today along with Worm-eating, Yellow-throated, American Redstart, Prairie, Black & White Warblers. Also present were Ovenbirds scattered throughout the park. A Swainson.s Hawk was seen circle high over the park moving south. The best bird of the morning (along with the Prothonotary warblers), was a Warbling Vireo observed up-close for 10-15 minutes feeding low in a Strangler fig. The vireo was slightly smaller than a Red-eyed Vireo (also present), with the upper part of the body a drab gray and lacking a darker crown and dark eye-strip like a Red-eyed; more with a lighter gray head and faint white eye brow. Vireo had no wing bars, underneath was white except for faint yellow on the flanks to the tail coverts (not more yellow on breast and flanks like a Philadelphia vireo). The bird's feeding behavior was very vireo-like with deliberate movements as it scanned its surroundings for food and occasionally would hover
looking for insects under leaves. Tennessee warbler's feeding behavior is allot more active and vocal as they move through the canopy. Also the bill was not as thin like a Tennessee Warbler, but a little smaller than a Red-eyed vireo. I think these birds are probably over-looked because of their over-all gray drabness and blending well in the tree canopy.
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