A Haggard Vireo of Happiness

Went to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (San Diego, CA) quickly before work this morning and got to see the unseasonal and homely White-eyed Vireo. I tracked it down after I saw a bird bomb out of the Eucalyptus grove and fly north into the Myoporum next to "The Wall", where it briefly made itself visible. If you are reading this, other birder who was present, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

State bird. Stoked.

Prothonotary!

I was lucky enough to blunder into a skulking Prothonotary Warbler at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery today while birding with Frank Meyer; please excuse the horrible photos but PROWAR is a damn rare bird here in California, particularly in spring.

While superficially similar to Yellow Warbler in these photos (it's not a particularly bright male...first year bird?), the long, pointed bill and sharply contrasting blue-gray wings set it apart...unfortunately, I was unable to get a clear shot showing the white undertail coverts. Several of us were lucky enough to get some much better views, albeit briefly....it was a sneaky little bastard.

You can see the blue-gray wings through the veg a bit better in this one. Stoked.