I have spent at least a little time (and sometimes a lot of time) the few weeks keeping tabs on the continued and unprecedented Pine Warblers overwintering at Winsor Dam. It has been a real treat to have multiple Pine Warblers around for the winter so close to home. Despite cold temps and occasional snow and mainly windy conditions I have found at least some Pine Warblers on any visit where I spend time looking. At times I find some not long after arriving at the dam and other times it takes hours to finally track them down but honestly in February what the hell else would I be doing anyway as I somewhat patiently wait for the end of winter (and another trip away to the warm tropics!). The numbers I have found on each visit since my last update on the February 8th have varied from two to a high of at least six today (more on each day at the bottom of the post). The diet of the birds seems to include a number of items including insects on warmer days, berries of various types and pine seeds of various species (mainly Eastern White Pine). Today was the first time I have heard any calling since fall and one even sang a bit on my second visit today. The biggest surprise for the day was finding another Pine Warbler near the house as I was driving to take Wilson for a walk. I was driving by a cemetery on Route 181 and saw a yellow bird drop out of the trees and land on the embankment at eye level, I slowed down almost to a stop and had views of a bright male Pine Warbler. As I was driving on a busy road I had to be satisfied with quick looks. I quickly turned around and parked but no luck relocating the bird. A subsequent return trip to area after walking Wilson was equally unproductive in finding the bird again. Really crazy considering this species has only been recorded a handful of times in the county in the winter ever (almost always at feeders) and now there are several within a few miles of the house and not at feeders.
As mentioned above the numbers have varied from visit to visit with the totals by visit broken down below since the 8th.
9th- five individuals
10th- five individuals
11th -five individuals
12th -three individuals
14th -two individuals on both visits (with a total of three by looking at plumages from both visits)
16th -three individuals
17th -three individuals
19th- six individuals on first visit and three individuals on second visit
No visits on the 13th or 15th due to work and didn't look for them on the 18th
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