Daily Archives: February 20, 2026

Winter surprise

Yellow-rumped Warbler: Marginal Way, Ogunquit, Maine, USA, February 2026 — I have to admit that the last bird I expected to see along the Marginal Way cliff path, above the crashing sea and snow- and ice-covered rocks, was a Yellow-rumped Warbler! I know they arrive early in southern Maine, but February? As it turns out, consulting Gemini AI, there is a small population of Yellow-rumpeds regularly over-wintering along the immediate coast of York County. They can, apparently (unlike most warblers), digest the waxy coatings of bayberry, and eke out an existence here when the other warblers have long gone south. This I did not know. 🙂 Until yesterday. This bird certainly looks healthy. Sony a7CR. Tamron 150-500 at 500mm (cropped to something like 800mm equivalent field of view). Program mode with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.