I went to a couple of out-of-the-way places today, including Sturgeon Point. I'm still struggling with this weird cold/virus thing and my energy level is at an all-time low. I'm torn: I really want to see some migrants while they're coming through but I don't want to infect anyone either! Argh!
I don't usually see many people, if any, at Sturgeon Point, so I figured this was a fine place to bird. As I was walking around, I saw what I thought was an Orange-crowned Warbler - that's a nice bird that I don't often see in the spring. It sure looked good for it but I was having trouble re-finding it after it flew deeper into the woods. I hate when that happens! Just then, I got a phone call from my birder friend, Shelley Seidman, who said that she had just seen a Worm-eating Warbler at a spot close to the Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo. What an odd location for that rare warbler to show up! I continued my search for the Orange-crowned Warbler a little while longer and then decided to call it quits and try for the rarity.
After an hour plus drive, I met up with Jason VanEtten and Joe Fell where Shelley told me she had seen the warbler. Joe kindly offered to help us find the rare bird as he had seen it just a little while earlier. Well, it was NOT easy to find this guy! We all three searched for nearly an hour and I was just about to give up, thinking it had flown the coop, when I saw a bit of movement out of the corner of my eye. There it was! Yay! And it was right near where Joe thought it should be.
We all enjoyed watching this southern visitor for awhile. He was giving great views now. I don't know where he was hiding before this, but I was very glad he was being most cooperative! Thank you for finding him, Shelley!!!