Nuthatch Memories, and PALM WARBLER x2

The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a high altitude bird, occasionally moving into lower altitudes during winter. This year has been more exceptional than usual, with quite a lot of records. Something about the recent conditions must have encouraged them. It was certainly something being on my daily commute and hearing that unfamiliar yrrnk yrrnk call from the pines, where I've previously had White-breasted Nuthatches, the common species here.

I could not be sure if there was just one, or two birds present, with the scarce looks. However, on another note, later in the day I noted a small brown bird along the dirt slopes nearby. A normal brown bird, probably a sparrow...until the tail flicking begun. At this point, the brown bird is no longer normal.

Tail-flicking is not hugely common in birds, and it's feature can be a good means of quick recognition in some cases. It recalled a situation in Alberta where I came across a similar tail-flicking brown migrant bird, which turned out to be a transient Palm Warbler. While pondering that thought, I had a Nashville warbler pop up in the willows nearby.

Said tail-wagging bird was clearly not too pleased at being overshadowed, so it flew towards me and hopped into a tumbleweed.

And then it hit me, very clearly. Wait, it is a palm warbler! And not one, but two showed up, side-by-side. Although this was uncommon in Alberta, palm warbler is a vagrant in California. In other words, the difference between possibly expected, and not expected at all!

What a find! Interestingly palm warbler is not often seen in palm trees; this name was applied to the finder of the species who indeed collected the first specimen from a palm tree. John Acorn thought the name "bog warbler" would be more fitting, matching the swamps and marshes that the species calls home normally. Hah, an idea for later!