Chestnut-sided Warbler in the Long Valley

Observers: Colin Woolley
Email: logsaysned@hotmail.com
Verification: MONO
Remote Name: 65.241.2.253
Date: 05/31/2008
Time: 03:15 PM -0400

Sighting

With my binocs pinned on a Western Meadowlark carrying nesting material, I was surprised to see an adult male Chestnut-sided Warbler pop up into my field of view. He was in full breeding plumage, field marks observed included a bright yellow crown, black eyeline and lores joined with black moustache, rufous/chestnut sides and flanks and whitish, unmarked belly. He was about 20m away. What most surprised me was his location, he was foraging on a saltbush at the transition between sagebrush and moist Juncus/saltgrass meadow. This was about 1.5 miles north of Crowley Res., miles from any trees. (I never did find that WEME nest)