Winter's Gold: Overwintering Cape May Warbler in the Flowering Mahonia

Photo Submission

Submitted By

Hui Sim

Abbotsford, BC, Canada

Description

A stunning statement of yellows and blacks, this handsome male Cape May Warbler captivated crowds at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford. This newcomer to southwestern British Columbia spent the first few weeks of his winter break here, starting on the first day of 2019 — odd behavior for a boreal songbird who normally winters in the Caribbean, and–except for a small handful that shows up in northeastern BC–is rarely seen west of Alberta during the breeding season. However, he adapted quite nicely, with tasty yellow mahonia–flowering rather mysteriously in the dead of winter–and nectar, plus plenty of grubs and insects nearby! Photographed on January 13, 2019.