Common Yellowthroats were majority of the day's birds. We also had our first Black-throated Blue Warbler of the season and other bird.
See the latest Lake Lotus blog to view our latest report.
Getting antsy awaiting peak of migration!
Showing posts with label Alder Flycatcher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alder Flycatcher. Show all posts
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Ferndale Preserve
Had a trip with the Orange Audubon today and we started south of Clermont. That scheduled trip was fairly quite so we added a bit more birding by following Gallus to his usual haunt out at the Ferndale Preserve.
There were mainly Tufted Titmice and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and the occasional flock of Swifts and Swallows but it was also getting late in the day and HOT.
By the time we made it out to an open area a female American Kestrel took wing and circle off into the distance.
It took quite a while to get any more bird sightings. Tapes were used to call up a nice Northern Waterthrush which was joined by a couple of warblers but nothing too exciting.
Out of the blue, an Eastern Kingbird dropped in at the top of a nearby tree.
While the group was trying to make sure there were no other warblers hiding in a tree, I walked around the next tree ahead and noticed a bird flying out to grab insects. Had to be a flycatcher by the way it flew out and returned to the same spot at the top of the tree.
Indeed. But what species?
My first thought was an Acadian Flycatcher. Further study when I got the pictures home was that it wasn't since it wasn't green enough. Which leads us to wonder if it was a Traill's version.
If so, it would most likely be an Alder Flycatcher in our area. That is what I think I am calling this bird after consultations and research.
If anyone feels it is something else, please let me know! Wish it would have come down lower for better photos.
Ferndale should be a fun spot to band in the future, especially after they get new landscape improvements finished which are now just beginning.
There were mainly Tufted Titmice and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and the occasional flock of Swifts and Swallows but it was also getting late in the day and HOT.
By the time we made it out to an open area a female American Kestrel took wing and circle off into the distance.
It took quite a while to get any more bird sightings. Tapes were used to call up a nice Northern Waterthrush which was joined by a couple of warblers but nothing too exciting.
Out of the blue, an Eastern Kingbird dropped in at the top of a nearby tree.
While the group was trying to make sure there were no other warblers hiding in a tree, I walked around the next tree ahead and noticed a bird flying out to grab insects. Had to be a flycatcher by the way it flew out and returned to the same spot at the top of the tree.
Indeed. But what species?
My first thought was an Acadian Flycatcher. Further study when I got the pictures home was that it wasn't since it wasn't green enough. Which leads us to wonder if it was a Traill's version.
If so, it would most likely be an Alder Flycatcher in our area. That is what I think I am calling this bird after consultations and research.
If anyone feels it is something else, please let me know! Wish it would have come down lower for better photos.
Ferndale should be a fun spot to band in the future, especially after they get new landscape improvements finished which are now just beginning.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
New Birds at Wekiva
Birds continue their southern run and we had a few new birds for the season out at Wekiva today.
I was bringing in a Veery when I heard some noise over at net 10. I strode over to see a Chickadee in the net about midway down. I was hanging the bag containing the Verry when it up an bolted straight back out again! Dang.
Don't fear, though, as our day ended with a return visit.
The Veerys were increasing in numbers. I was very pleased with this shot. Make it look so soft and fluffy.
The first real surprise of the day was our first of the season Worm-eating Warbler. I think we may have had only 1 last year but it could have been zero.
That was good enough but the best was yet to come. The guys making a net run showed up all excited and announcing they had retreived an Acadian Flycatcher. Excellent! However, when it was brought out of the bag it looked a bit more suspicious to me.
More like a Traill's Flycatcher. Different feather coloration than an Acadian. Different shape to me, too.
We took measurements to eliminate certain species but I kept seeing that open mouth every other time I turned around. Very yellow-orange. Not pinkish. That screamed Alder (one of the two types of Traill's) in the back of my head.
We took a ton of photos from every possible angle and I sent some off to be double-checked. The reply came back: Probable Alder. Definitely not Acadian. Alder it stall be.
Had a growing count for the day but that missed Chickadee still bugged me hours later. I ran the net lanes one more time to determine if we should stay open or go home. I figured it was time to go. On the way back I was told there was a bird waiting for me to take a picture of.
Ain't he cute? Caught in the same net as the bird I lost earlier. I will pretend it is the exact same one.
We had one more surprise before we left. A pair of Eastern Kingbirds flew into the tree above net 9 right next to the banding table before continuing on their journey.
That's what I call a good day.
I was bringing in a Veery when I heard some noise over at net 10. I strode over to see a Chickadee in the net about midway down. I was hanging the bag containing the Verry when it up an bolted straight back out again! Dang.
Don't fear, though, as our day ended with a return visit.
The Veerys were increasing in numbers. I was very pleased with this shot. Make it look so soft and fluffy.
The first real surprise of the day was our first of the season Worm-eating Warbler. I think we may have had only 1 last year but it could have been zero.
That was good enough but the best was yet to come. The guys making a net run showed up all excited and announcing they had retreived an Acadian Flycatcher. Excellent! However, when it was brought out of the bag it looked a bit more suspicious to me.
More like a Traill's Flycatcher. Different feather coloration than an Acadian. Different shape to me, too.
We took measurements to eliminate certain species but I kept seeing that open mouth every other time I turned around. Very yellow-orange. Not pinkish. That screamed Alder (one of the two types of Traill's) in the back of my head.
We took a ton of photos from every possible angle and I sent some off to be double-checked. The reply came back: Probable Alder. Definitely not Acadian. Alder it stall be.
Had a growing count for the day but that missed Chickadee still bugged me hours later. I ran the net lanes one more time to determine if we should stay open or go home. I figured it was time to go. On the way back I was told there was a bird waiting for me to take a picture of.
Ain't he cute? Caught in the same net as the bird I lost earlier. I will pretend it is the exact same one.
We had one more surprise before we left. A pair of Eastern Kingbirds flew into the tree above net 9 right next to the banding table before continuing on their journey.
That's what I call a good day.
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