Rare warbler sighting thrills birders and photographers in Abbotsford

It should be wintering somewhere in theWest Indies with its bird brothers and bird sisters.

But instead of spending time in Turks and Caicos or Barbados, a tiny yellow Cape May warbler has somehow ended upin Abbotsford, B.C.

• Vancouver Island birdwatchers aflutter over unusual arrival

"We don't see this here," said bird photographer Nick Balachanoff. "To my understanding, it's the first identified Cape May warbler in the Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley."

The Cape May was spotted a few days ago by birder Neal Doan in Mill Lake Park. Doan put out the word to the local birdingcommunity, alertingBalachanoff, who was able to capture a number of beautiful photos.

Although other warbler species are common in the area, no one knows how this particular bird wound up in Abbotsford.

Cape May warblers do range as far west as Alberta andnortheastern B.C. during the summer. A few have been spotted in the Okanagan, butnormally they fly south for the winter.

Balachanoff says the bird has beenfeeding on the nectar of the winter flowering mahonia bushes while chasing away the resident Anna's hummingbirds.His photos even show aring of pollen and nectar that's built up around the little bird's beak.

"I countmyself fortunate to get those photos," he said. "It's just a great little thing, especially against the dullness of January."