This day in history - Last year's snow amount

Just to put it in perspective... On Jan. 30, 2015, we had a snow storm giving us 7" of snow, and it was our 5th school snow day off, of the season. This brought us up to a total of 64" of snow thus far.  We were just getting into a very weak El Nino cycle back then. Now, in 2016, El Nino is strong and we are having a much warmer, and less snowy year. Geez...what a difference a year will make;-)

Tiny snow shower

Snow Total thus far: 20.5"
We got 1" of heavy, wet snow overnight.

Pond Ice

Drew checks out the ice. View looking toward the north.

Caesar Pond has nice, thick ice, but it is bumpy as all get-out! We have had many windy days, and as the last batch of snow was getting blown around, it compacted unevenly. This left the ice difficult to walk on, and impossible to skate on. We'll have to wait for more, dare I say it...rain to smooth things over. Or, better yet, a big dump of snow!

Too warm in Maine...blame it on El Nino

You know it's too warm in Maine when...winter temperatures soar into the mid 30's up to the mid 40's. Yowzer, we're going to be sweating like crazy up here! The snow will melt, the pond ice will get slushy and water-covered on top, and the woodsy animals will think that spring has sprung!

Bangor Police Dept. tips for surviving big winter storms (with a bit of wit!)

Snow accumulation of 18-24 inches along and east of I-95,
and 24-30 inches west of I-95.
The city of Washington, DC is expected to receive around 24 inches.

I found this tip sheet fun to read about surviving big winter storms like the folks in DC are experiencing this weekend. Wow, what a doozy of a storm they are getting. Us...nary a drop of precip...

Bangor police post winter tips for those in path of upcoming storm

Meilin Tompkins, WCSH 5:30 a.m. EST January 22, 2016

(NEWS CENTER) -- The Bangor Police Department is always taking to Facebook to protect and serve the community of Maine.

However, in the wake of this large storm about to hit the Mid-Atlantic, the Bangor Police Department have shifted their thoughts to those in the path of what some officials call the "biggest storm to date." "Listen, this storm is going to miss us. This is not typical and we want to share a little advice of how to make it through an epic "snow event" unscathed. We want you to come back next year. Here are a few tips."
1. Don't panic. It's just frozen rain. It does go away so don't try to move too much at one time.
2. Don't shovel too early and don't wait too long. Pace yourself. Go out every few hours and move a little at a time. It can hurt your back, arms and legs. You always wonder why we all walk funny. It is not because of the clam chowder.
3. Heart attacks in big snow storms are rather common. Help out your neighbor who is older, out of shape or that has known health problems. Helping them move some snow (better yet, let your offspring do it) is better than calling EMS while you are doing CPR. Seriously.
4. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT buy all the bread on the shelves. As a lifelong Mainer, I recommend cereal. No better reason has ever been invented to eat Golden Crisp, Honeycomb or Captain Crunch (don't get the peanut butter flavored. That stuff sucks). You will need milk and of course a bowl and spoon. You probably already have that in the house. I have lived for several weeks on only Rice Crispies and Snickers.
5. Get some batteries and flashlights that work. Nothing is worse than going through the junk drawer and finding only 1 D battery when you need two. LED flashlights are awesome, cheap and last and last. You might need one to find the cereal.
6. Charge your Cellphone. If you have a generator, you need gas. You look stupid trying to start a generator with no gas in it. Don't ask me how I know. Do not run the generator inside a basement or garage. Yes, people do that. Usually only one time.
7. Toilets flush without electricity. If you fill your tub with water, you can use it for all kinds of things, including flushing the toilet. Also, to wash cereal bowls.
8. Fill your car up with gas. If you get stuck somewhere and have to run the car, make sure you clean out around the tail pipe and do not fall asleep with the car running. We need you to come back next summer to buy more lobster and lobster traps. Pine cones are free.
Most of all, take care of each other. Be nice and invite neighbors to hole up at one location. Hide expensive things, but help them. (that's the cop talking).
You will be fine. We drink lots of coffee and complain when we get hit like this storm. It works ok. It makes us grouchy but that's why you come here in the summer. To hear stories from grumpy Mainers who sell lobster traps. Now, you will have some of your own to share with us when you get back.
Be safe and well, and if you have any Cap'n Crunch left after the storm it keeps very well. Bring it up this summer.
The men and women of the Bangor Police Department are rooting for you. You got this.
And of course they end their post with the infamous phrase, "We will be here!"

More snow and snow total

Snow total thus far: 19.25" of snow
Snow today: We got 2" of snow over many hours today.

More snow and snow total

Snow Total thus far: 17.25"
Snow for today: We got 5.25 inches of fluffy snow today.

You're know you're getting old when...

You have to crank up the heat, so to speak! We used to keep the house cooler, at around 62F, in our younger years. But now, we're really not comfortable until we get a fire going in the wood stove and allow the house to reach 67F. Of course, once in awhile the indoor temp. soars to 70F and we are all sweating...and, our female greyhound starts panting out of control;-) There is a fine line between too cold and too hot in the wintertime!

As I write this, it is 14F outside and there is a skating party on the pond. I could have gone over to photograph the skaters in the dark, but decided to stay warm in the house...hmmm...gotta get my winter motivation going!

Snow

We got 8" of fresh powder overnight. It is gorgeous outside!

Snow Total thus far this winter: 12" of snow.

Gray Seal Pupping Cam - Matinicus Seal Island

Wow! It is pupping time for the Gray Seal population. Matinicus Seal Island is the place to be if you are a gray seal! Check out the WEB CAM! Awesome:-0

Map location of the Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge, near Matinicus.
Click on the picture for a larger view.

Matinicus Seal Island - Click on picture for a larger view.

Here is the information from the Web Cam site:

During the shortest days of the year, hundreds of gray seals clamber onto Seal Island for an extraordinary mass breeding event. At this second largest of just four U.S. colonies, the seals come ashore for just a few weeks to give birth and feed their pups. The 300 pound females have one pup per year, with the peak of births in mid January. At birth, the compelling pups are dressed in a suit of thick, white fur (lanugo) which they begin molting at about three weeks of age.

Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge is a 65 acre sanctuary managed in collaboration with the Audubon Seabird Restoration Program (Project Puffin), which operates a summer field station here. The program has successfully restored Maine’s largest colonies of Atlantic Puffins and Common and Arctic Terns. From May through August, the seabirds can be viewed on live cameras operated by explore.org.

For over 200 years Seal Island was also a summer campsite for fishermen harvesting herring, cod, lobster. Excessive seabird hunting for food and feathers led to the loss of the puffin colony here. From the 1940s to 1960s the Navy used the island as a bombing target. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the island in 1972. The island is closed to public landing because of the unexploded ordnance and unique wildlife. Today, seals face new threats including entanglement in fishing gear, chemical and plastic pollution and illegal hunting. They are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

Yellow-throated Warbler Update & Binocular Purchase

No warbler today. Drew videotaped the stump area from 7:40 am - 9 am, and not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (that he could see...) Then, Misty came over from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm to keep watch, and in that time only a small flock of chickadees flew in to feed. No warbler...no other birds. This is day three with very low visitation by birds in general to our feeders. Where have the birds gone? I'll have to canvas the neighborhood to see who else is putting feed out.

On another bird-related note: I have been chatting with so many birders of late, that I got all excited and we went out and bought some nice binoculars. Now, we are ready to view some owls at the old Brunswick Naval Air Station landing strips.

And soon, we'll make reservations to do a bit of birding on Machias Seal Island in mid-summer! I am getting so excited for all the new adventures we are planning...and, it is all due to having met so many nice birders who have peaked our interest! Thank you all so much...

Ice Fishing began on Caesar Pond

Some guys were out drilling their fishing holes this afternoon!

Yellow-throated Warbler Daily Update (rare bird in Maine)

Well, today was a bust at seeing the warbler. I wasn't home in the morning, due to appointments, but I did spend 2.5 hours outside with my camera, in search of the warbler. He was a no-show... This makes 13/32 visitors who have not been successful in seeing "our" warbler.

However, I did meet a nice assortment of birders who I stood outside with at various times. The following birders graced our yard, from 11:30 am - 4:15 pm today (and I must say that our Yellow-throated Warbler Visitor's Log is beginning to look like a "Who's Who" of the birding world in Maine:)
Steve and Debby Muire?, Louis and Cathy Bevier, Rob O'Connell, Fletch Missud, and Wendell Blood, and Judith Scher. 

Thanks to Rob for pointing out the famous people in the Visitor's Log! By the way, I found this information about Louis Bevier :

Bird identification, systematics, and conservation, especially of wilderness areas, are core interests. He has worked as a tour guide for Field Guides, as an editor for The Birds of North America series, and as Associate Editor for the journal North American Birds. He is Chair of the Maine Bird Records Committee.

I got to listen to these birders chat about birds and they also gave me (a total novice to the bird watching world) a few tips on observing birds. Thanks everyone! I really enjoyed your visits.

Yellow-throated Warbler Video by Josh Fecteau

Yellow-throated Warbler video courtesy of Josh Fecteau - Jan. 8, 2016

Here is the short video that Josh Fecteau took yesterday. It definitely shows the warbler snagging something yummy to eat at the base of our foundation, next to the downspout.

Ralph Eldridge sent me a short e-mail this morning:

Good morning, Laurie.
Warmth is always a factor but the warmer areas of the foundation are likely providing some insects and bugs, too.

So, we'll keep an eye out for the warbler at the base of the house as well as the trees, etc.

Yellow-throated Warbler Daily Update (rare bird in Maine) & News

Warbler Visitation News:
Well, we had a very satisfied "customer" over to view the warbler today. Josh Fecteau came up from Kennebunkport and visited twice today. His first visit was between 7:52am-9:30am, and did not yield a sighting. However, he got very lucky from 12:43pm - 1:22pm. He said, "The warbler was present my entire visit." (Drew mentioned that Josh spent time standing at the well and then moved over to the pallets to get a different angle.) 

Photos courtesy of Josh Fecteau

Here is Josh's entry on ebird: 

"continuing rare bird | present for my entire visit, spending almost the entire time in the sun up against the foundation of the house (see photos); made a few trips to feed on the ground at the base of the "suet tree", but quickly returned to the sunny spot; the bird was not super active as has been previously reported; either s/he was taking a breather or s/he is suffering some ill effects of the recent cold temperatures." 

Visit Josh's website, New England Natural History & Wildcrafting. 

Laurie's Update and Way Cool News:

Animated gif by Drew Haines. Click on it for a larger view.

Here is an animated gif that Drew created of the warbler. The photos are from the first set that I shot through the kitchen window on Dec. 30th. Fun!

Read All About It: Jeff and Allison Wells wrote a news article on our Yellow-throated Warbler in the Boothbay Record today. Check it out! 

And, it seems that there are more of these Yellow-throated warblers in Maine than we know of, as seen by the comment left at the bottom of the article. I wonder how many people have seen one or more of these birds at their feeders. With a warming climate, maybe Yellow-throated warblers are becoming more common of late. I know that I was surprised to see tufted titmice when I arrived in Maine 15 years ago. I had to go out and buy an updated bird book to realize that they were now common in Maine.

A Birder's Words of Advice:  Ralph Eldridge's birding tips (he is my new mentor;-)

It looks like another bit of the pattern which I experienced is playing out for you as well. Fast visits to the suet, often followed by foraging nearby. Also, intervals between visits that tend to range from 15 to 30 minutes, but can be an hour plus.

Those quick, snatch and go visits are awfully easy to miss, giving the impression that the bird isn't around. I found that my warbler made lots more visits than sighting success would seem to indicate. 

I saw that missed sightings were invariably because:
(a) the birders weren't observant enough to catch the lightning feeder visits;
(b) the birders had tunnel vision and focused only on the feeder;
(c) the birders came at the least productive times;
(d) the birders figured it was an easy "tick" and gave up way too soon; or
(e) all of the above.
There's bound to be good and poor days, but overall it looks like you're having a bit of fun with the experience and that's great. 

Best regards,
Ralph.

First skaters on the pond

The first ice skaters were on the pond today.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Hmmm...there are more birds than just the Yellow-throated warbler who frequent our feeders. The white-breasted nuthatch is one of our regulars, and since I was not successful in seeing the warbler, I snapped a few photos of this pretty bird! I like the glow of the light at sunset.

Yellow-throated Warbler Update (rare bird in Maine)- The early birders see the bird!

Well...today was not the day to see the warbler, for most people. However, Craig Kasselheim was our sunrise visitor, and he kept an eye on the feeder area from 6:55 am - 7:20 am. As he was pulling out of the driveway, he took one more look at the feeder station and saw the warbler! Yay! Here is what Craig had to say,

 I stayed at the well head from 6:55 - 7:40 before giving up and heading to the car. As I waited I noted 2 Downy's, 1 Hairy, 1 Pileated, and about 17 Mourning Doves (I think they roost in your neighbor's evergreen?).
I got in my car, very frigid!, noted the time, and began to pull out. I took one final look back at your feeding station and the bird was there! My look was all of 3 seconds, but it was a frontal view.
So, here are my log corrections! 6:55 - 7:40 YES! instead of no. Thanks again for your openness to the birding community. And it was nice to meet you, however briefly.

8:45 am Someone who did not sign in on the log book said:

The YTWA was present briefly at 8:45 am this morning (1/7)  coming briefly to the suet feeder and then moving rapidly through the branches of the tree - high up.  I think it was probably there earlier ( 8:15) again ever so briefly - moving too quickly to really get on it. It was very cold at that time - about 10 F. . . Brrr! It had to keep moving!

Unfortunately, the rest of the day's visitors were not successful. Drew said that a car full of 4 people showed up at around 9am - 9:25 am, among them was Doug Hitchcox (staff naturalist with the Maine Audubon Society). Bill Bunn did not see the warbler on his short visit of 12:25? - 1:30. Joe and Diane Scott visited from 1:45 - 2:15 - no sighting, and lastly Misty Monroe stayed from 2:44 - 4:05 with no sighting. I left school at contract time, in order to get home in time for enough daylight to photograph the warbler. No luck...But, I had the privilege of hanging out with Misty from around 3:20 -4:05, and at least we got to chat about birds... 

Our new suet feeder & Yellow-throated Warbler Daily Update

The Nuttery NT075 Oval Suet Cake Feeder

We received our new suet feeder a few days ago, and Drew put it up yesterday. It is supposed to be squirrel-proof and only lets in the smaller tweety birds. Thus far, Drew has only seen a chickadee, a downy woodpecker, and a hairy woodpecker feeding from it. The downy woodpecker is the only bird who dared to enter the cage. The warbler doesn't seem to notice this feeder and prefers the feeder tacked to the tree.

Warbler Update: No photos today, and only two visitors. Lucas and Tracy Rousseau visited this afternoon and saw the warbler at 3:20 pm. Drew said that they must have only been at our house for a few minutes before seeing the warbler. Drew did not see the warbler at all, but then again, he wasn't looking for it as he was busy with other things. I can tell you one thing...I am going to leave school at the normal contractual time so that I can try to view the bird tomorrow. I feel so cheated as I rarely get home before dusk.

Ice-In on Caesar Pond

Ice-In on the pond was today.

Yellow-throated Warbler Daily Update (rare bird in Maine)

The warbler is still hanging around, and there were several groups of birders keeping a lookout for him.

8:35 am - 9:35 am - Margaret Viens saw the warbler. Here is what she reported on e-bird (Click the link to see more of her photos):

Photos by Margaret Viens
Click on photo set for a larger view.

Yellow throat bordered by black cheek extending down sides, gray, black and white streaked warbler, long bill, white supercilium, yellow supraloral; continuing bird at suet feeder, He first appeared about 9:00 on the small sapling next to the suet, then fed at suet quickly, going next over to the grass next to the house and the gutters,1-2 minutes total time. It disappeared over the chain link fence to the back yard. Then reappeared again about 20 minutes later and repeated the process on the sapling and suet; again only for 1-2 minutes. We waited so Peggy could get a better look this time and the bird cooperated. 

8:40 am - Peggy Blair saw the warbler.

10:15 am - Drew said, 

"I was looking out the kitchen window and saw the warbler getting a piece of suet. It then flew directly towards the window and veered off to the side, at the last second, presumably to land and eat the goodies."

2:15 pm - Julie Krasne said, 

"Present for only a couple of minutes around 2:20 PM. Arrived while a group of Chickadees, Titmice, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers were at the feeders. Visited suet for a few seconds, then dropped down to the ground, then flew toward and possibly underneath the brown shed."

Happy birding, everyone!

Yellow-throated Warbler Activity (rare bird in Maine)

I just got home from work, and Drew mentioned that there was lots of birding activity today. We were very pleased to see that Don Smith had come back for another viewing attempt, as he hadn't been able to see the warbler last week. Here is what he had to say today:

Good morning! I stopped in this morning around 8:30, waited just a few minutes, maybe 10 or 15 and he came in with a flock of chickadees, nuthatches and titmice. Beautiful bird! Thank you!
Don Smith 

9:30 - 10:30 - Jeff and Allison Wells came bird watching and they saw the warbler. They are big time ornithologists who are involved with The Boreal Songbird Initiative (BSI) which is a non-profit organization dedicated to outreach and education about the importance of the North American Boreal Forest to birds, other wildlife, and the global environment. Allison is an author and environmentalist, and is the senior director of public affairs for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. And, here is the bio of Dr. Jeff Wells:

Jeff Wells, Ph.D. Science and Policy Director.  Dr. Wells is the Science and Policy Director for the Boreal Songbird Initiative. He is also a scientific advisor to the International Boreal Conservation Campaign.  Dr. Wells has previously worked as a conservation ornithologist at Cornell University’s Laboratory of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY. From 1996-2003 Dr. Wells was with the National Audubon Society, first as Bird Conservation Director for the New York State office, then as the National Director of Bird Conservation. Dr. Wells has earned a reputation as one of the nation's leading bird experts and conservation biologists. He is now dedicated to understanding and protecting the land where North America's birds are born and raised, the boreal forest of Canada and Alaska.  Dr. Wells received his Ph.D. and Master's degrees in avian ecology from Cornell University. He has authored or co-authored dozens of scientific papers, reports, and popular articles on birds and bird conservation. He is also the author of the books Boreal Birds of North America: A Hemispheric View of Their Conservation Links and Significance and Birder's Conservation Handbook: 100 North American Birds at Risk.

Wowee! I wish I'd been home to talk with them. It would have been an honor to meet them.

10:30 - 12:30 - Peter Vickery and a few other people kept an eye out, but the warbler did not show. He said that there were repeated visits by chickadees, titmice, etc., but no warbler.

10:45 - 1:05 and then again from 1:50 - 3:20 - Richard Garrigus saw the warbler on his second visit, and photographed it.

ACTIVITY NOTE: One of the birders, with the scope, told Drew that he watched the warbler fly over to the eve of Neighbor Ernie's house, and then it went into an old phoebe's nest. He then saw the warbler fly across the street toward the pond where it may have been finding shelter in the shrubs.

Ralph Eldridge said, 

It's likely checking out any and every house and building in the neighbourhood, Laurie. The eaves, gables, foundations​, under shingles; they all harbour insects that we never suspect and your little friend is expert in finding them.People often forget to look up.

I must say that this rare bird sighting has become such an incredible education for me. I have so many observations to make, and so much to study and learn... 

Back to Tractor Supply for more suet

We are going to stock up on suet, so that even if the weather turns bad, we'll have plenty for the birds (and, of course for our special avian guest;-) Tractor Supply has a sale on suet until Feb 21st. We bought 11 blocks of sunflower suet and 11 blocks of suet with meal worms.

Yellow-throated Warbler is back at the feeder (rare bird in Maine)

Final update of the day: 7 people visited, and 7 people successfully saw the warbler. Yay! Now, if I could only find the time to photograph the warbler again, myself! So much work...so little time... Warning: Oh, by the way...make sure you are careful when walking on the yard. It is getting slick where the snow has been trampled down. I wore my yak trax out there to stay safe this evening. It is beginning to ice up. P.S. Don't forget to sign the visitor's log located on top of the cement well;-)

Update: 2:25 pm Dwight and Bernice Sommers arrived to try to catch a glimpse of the warbler. And at 2:45 pm Barb Brennenean arrived. All three folks saw the warbler at 2:52 pm.
Dwight said:

Three of us did see the warbler at 2:52. There was a downy at the suet at that time and the yellow throated flew onto the ground below. He didn't end up feeding but flew into the evergreen. Thanks for allowing us to come and enjoy your special visitor in our town!

Awesome...and this was while we were allowing our Greyhounds to play with their buddies (which makes a total ruckus as they romp and rumble;-) I was so worried that this would make bird watching impossible...

Update: 1:30 pm Janet returned in the hope of seeing the warbler. She saw it at around 1:50 pm. It was foraging around at the base of the bird feeder tree for several minutes, possibly picking up bits and pieces of suet that have dropped to the ground. Then, it flew over toward Neighbor Ernie's honeysuckle shrub. Janet said:

Thanks again, Laurie for opening your yard! I waited and in about 10 more minutes the warbler came back, repeated the same behavior. So I got two good "visits" with that bird.

Update: 12:47 pm Laurie - I happened to glance out the window and saw the warbler clinging to the tree waiting for a hairy woodpecker to finish its suet meal. Then, it flew off. This warm weather seems to suit our little warbler quite nicely, thank you Mama Nature.

Update: 11 am Jody Hartman and Nick Aschauer arrived and saw the warbler at 11:45 am. 

The bird flew in and foraged on the ground to the south of the feeder tree for a few minutes and flew off.

Update: 9am Rob Speirs came over and saw the warbler:

Photos by Rob Speirs

9:18AM the YTWA made a brief appearance.  Foraged on suet and inspected crevices in tree bark...2 minutes tops. Wasn't there more than 15 minutes.....took my chair and sat by the concrete pillar to minimize silhouette and movement.  Heard the Chickadees, nuthatches, et al, and then in came the warbler.  Great looks and able to get excellent photos. ....thanks to Laurie and Drew
Rob Speirs Cumberland

Update: 6:56 am Laurie - I saw the warbler sitting on the branch next to the suet feeder. Before I could get the camera focused (it was somewhat dark out), he had gotten a bit of suet and flown off. Maybe he prefers the quiet of the early morning, before any of the other birds or wildlife have arrived.

Ralph Eldridge has more good points to make, and is very helpful to me. Gee... who knew that birding had so many complexities! Ralph says,

It looks like things are developing much the way that they did for me. That's great.As I mentioned, most visits to the suet are apt to be "grab & go", not leisurely lunches.Those early visits are likely routine. I also suspect that those 2pm visits are misleading. I suspect that your warbler is dashing in a few times at & after sunset, fueling up to weather the night.
The Warbler's day probably unfolds something like this: an early breakfast at a reliable restaurant, a day inspecting the neighbourhood for epicurean treats, supplemented with occasional feeder snacks, and rounded off with a hearty, fatty supper. Through all of our speculation runs a vein of "necessity".  The bird's visits undoubtedly are synced to its foraging success.
There's your next mystery: Where does he forage most regularly or predictably?It looks like you've identified one spot and I'm sure that more will develop.
One question: can you identify him by shape and flight pattern? Once I got those my sighting rate jumped. I had been missing quite a few of those fast visits because of back lighting and busy feeders.

Yellow-throated Warbler is still here (rare bird in Maine)

We haven't seen the warbler flying around or eating today, but we probably just missed its activity. As Drew walked by the stack of pallets (roadside to the suet feeders) he saw the warbler in one of the slots. It got startled and flew off. Hopefully, it will return. This occurred at 4pm.

Click on the picture for a larger view.

I wish I could create a nice, heated spa area for our little bird, as it should be in south Florida by now! Our temps are dropping into more normal January highs and lows, as you can see. Let's hope he can keep warm enough overnight.

Yellow-throated Warbler visitation patterns (rare bird in Maine)

I am looking for visitation patterns of the warbler to our feeder.  I don't usually have this much time to keep an eye on it, so luckily I have a vacation day.
•7:30 am - The first birds of the day visited the feeder - a flock of mourning doves.
•8:35 am - The warbler flew in with a flock of chickadees, but they all flew off immediately and did not feed as there were squirrels galore at our feeders.
•10:25 am - A small flock of chickadees flew in again, but I did not see the warbler. However, along with the chickadees, came slate-colored juncos, blue jays, titmice, doves, a few downy woodpeckers, and squirrels. A couple of chickadees fed at the seed feeder, and then flew away. All the other birds stayed for about 10 minutes.
•10:50 am - Neighbor dog, Zoe, is in prime squirrel chasing mode which does not bode well for birds visiting the feeder right now. But, she went home when asked.
•11:35 am - Flock of chickadees, titmice, a few goldfinches arrived. No warbler that I could see.
•1:30 pm - Chickadees, mourning doves, a few titmice, and woodpeckers arrived and stayed for a few minutes to feed. No warbler. 
•2 pm - It has gotten very cloudy and dark. Rob Speirs and Janet Galle showed up. At 3pm, the Elizabeth McGrath showed up with more family members.
•3:45 pm - No show, warbler... We hardly saw any birds from 2 pm to 3:30 pm. We saw some nuthatches, downy and hairy woodpeckers, crows and a raven in the air. Rob played some chickadee sounds from his phone app, but to no avail. I was so bummed that we did not see the warbler this afternoon. But, I was glad that the Elizabeth had seen it yesterday, and was able to corroborate the existence of the bird;-) I'll keep you posted if I see it tomorrow.