In October 2018, I saw my first Prothonotary Warbler in Kennebunkport after five years of trying. It was a fleeting, but diagnostic glimpse of one of the most beautiful birds in the world, and one rarely seen north of New Jersey.

A couple days ago, a Prothonotary, who had clearly over shot his migration was being seen in Hinkley Park in South Portland, Maine . . . a mile from our Condo.

Unfortunately we’ve been sheltering in place at our house in Wiscasset, an hour north of the Prothonotary.

This evening we drove down to the condo and I rushed over to Hinkley Park. As I was walking in at 5:30 pm, it was freezing cold and passed several groups of birders who all told me the bird was gone.

So I walked to the Park’s lower pond and noticed a bunch of Eastern Phoebes and Palm Warblers feeding by a fallen log. As I shivered I watched the birds feeding in my binocular and after about 10 seconds a bright yellow bird flew through by field of view . . . the Prothonotary Warbler!!!!

I watched him for 15 minutes and got my first ever photo of this spectacular bird. What a thill!!!!