Sometimes you almost don't want to see a late empidonax flycatcher. In
Newfoundland where only the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is common we lack
extensive field experience with the other species. On Monday Paul Linegar and I
were birding the Southern Shore when Paul found a empidonax flycatcher at
Renews. It was in the most unlikely of places for a vagrant bird - in the black
spruce and larch trees backing on the main shorebird beach. We spent nearly two
hours trying to get views of the bird in the thick tangled stand of 'trees'.
Getting views was tough and a photo seemed an impossibility but I got lucky and
managed 15 shots in a matter of five seconds shooting through a myriad of
branches with the bird back lit. Pure miracle the bird is in some kind of
focus.
We think it is a Least Flycatcher because of the squat little size of the
bird, bold eye ring, bold white edges to the tertials, short bill with mostly
yellow lower mandible and short primary projection. The back was grayish with a
slight greenish tinge. The breast was white-ish with a pale gray 'vest'. It
wagged or flipped its tail constantly. It didn't call much but Paul heard it
give a few 'whit whit' notes.
Other birding during the day turned up a late Blue Grosbeak at Bear Cove. We concentrated on the Renews to Cappahayden area during the morning and early afternoon. Lots of junco activity. one Tree Sparrow and a Lincoln's. A movement of White-winged Crossbills plus one Common Redpoll. No warblers or other vagrants until lucking into the Yellow-throated Warbler near Anne Hughes' house just before dropping PL at home thanks to seeing Mark Maftei standing on the side of the road with binoculars.
Bruce
ReplyDeleteLooks like a Least Flycatcher to me. Dusky Flycacher is built like a Willow or Alder Flycatcher -- but they do give "whit" call notes. Damn late for a Least, but I once saw one in Bronte (Ontario) on November 2, 1973.
Alan
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. Least Fly is rare at any time in eastern Newfoundland. It is very occasionally seen during migration in September. There is one previous late record of Oct 31 several years back. And another unidentified empidonax from early December. The bird yesterday looked very alive and alert as if it had arrived recently and was not a lingering waif.
BM