ML161345411

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

**rare; first hotspot record, my first in Bristol Co., and my 250th species for the Neck! I first spotted it flying low over the water as it passed over a group of eiders (!). Immediate impression was of a waxwing-sized bird that was flying like a flycatcher and since it was entirely olive in color with no obvious wingbeats—and seemed like a larger flycatcher flying really fast (fast than an Empid or smaller Contopus)—I immediately suspected it was an Olive-sided. I stayed on it in the scope until it passed well inside the outer rocks at which point I could clearly see extensive dark breast sides and a pale throat that connected to a pale midline that reached to the belly. I then went for my camera as it dropped behind the sandy tip to my East but I got on it as it passed over the phrags. I think the photos are diagnostic with: 1) very long shape showing, with long wings and shortish tail; 2) long pointed wings of Contopus; 3) very olive overall including breast sides; 4) hint of taillights in banking shot (which shows underside of bird). I lost it in the phragmites patch while taking flight photos but presume it continued straight off island.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

1250

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1250 sec

Dimensions

2517 pixels x 1680 pixels

Original file size

2.14 MB