White-eyed Vireo at Evangola SP
Published: December 07, 2019
Tags: Rarities, white-eyed vireo, red-headed woodpecker, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, northern flicker, bufflehead
I’m not sure what led me down to bird at Evangola SP on this cloudy 30°F day, but whatever it was, I’m glad I went! After enjoying a lingering family group of Red-headed Woodpeckers and getting a pleasant walk in, I stopped up at the pond in the campground area to spish for any sparrows that might be there. (If you haven’t heard the term, spishing is a silly noise birders make that sometimes evokes a curious bird to pop up on a perch to see what going on.). No sparrows popped up, but to my great surprise, a beautiful White-eyed Vireo popped-up. Apparently, it had been feeding on the multifloral rose hips before I got there.
The northern range of the White-eyed Vireo is just south of New York State but on occasion, one will stray northward - usually in spring or fall migration. To see one in December was quite a fun surprise! The cute vireo stayed around for a few days (I saw it again on the 13th) and several people got to enjoy him or her.