Birds I'm Watching: Palm Warbler at Sonoma County Airport (March 3, 2011)

I ventured out to the Sonoma County Airport today because someone reported there was a Palm Warbler hanging around in the trees along one of the roads adjacent to the airport, Ordinance Rd. I had little trouble finding the bird. He spent his time flying between a big oak tree and a stand of shrubs alongside one of the airport buildings where he flitted about looking for insects in the foliage and on the ground, flicking his tail like a wagtail much of the time.

What is he doing in Santa Rosa? I have no idea.  This is a warbler that normally stays east of the Rockies, but one or two do appear to stray out this way from time to time, according to the books. Anyway, I'm glad I got to see him--a finely streaked, pretty bird mostly of white and cream with a little yellow under the tail and at the throat. The white patches underneath at the tip of the tail are distinctive. That's my 204th species sighted in Sonoma County, No. 330 for my life list.

For more information about bird watching in Sonoma County, see my Website Sonoma County Bird Watching Spots.