ML32953081

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

***RARE. First of the year in Mass since January. Fairly quick flyover that I truly could not have expected. Yard #185. Kingbird with palish yellow belly and quick flicking wingbeats. Fairly visible moustachial stripe but white outer tail feathers not visible in photos. Could be effect of photo, molt, wear, or just that they were tucked in, though probably just the product of a backlit shot. One of my most exciting personal finds to date, and over my house to boot. This record is especially interesting since there are only (3?) confirmed records of WEKI in MA in August, and they are all from the very end of the month, so this is indeed a very early sighting; per eBird there are no July records and only 2 June records in addition. Just about the last thing I could count on to whizz over my roof. Note: intersting discussion is whether Cassin's can be completely ruled out; given the extremely early date and significance of the bird perhaps it could be Cassin's which may range earlier; the photos seem to show less contrast between throat and breast that a Cassin's should show but there is a very defined moustache. That may or may not mean anything, since Western show this as well.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D

Lens

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L

ISO

500

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/1000 sec

Dimensions

520 pixels x 347 pixels

Original file size

69.85 KB