ML38182731

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

*****MEGA; FIRST STATE RECORD, and only the 3rd record (?) for the Northeast. Found by young birder Preston Lust (15 yo) at approximately 1:16 pm (he called me at this time, while he still had the bird in view). After a lot of discussion with Preston, we decided to cut our club trip short and head over to Sherwood. We arrived just a few minutes after Tina Green and AJ Hand. Within 5 minutes of walking the airfield, I (JT) spotted the bird as it flew up with 2 Savannah Sparrows. The bird called 3 times (the only time the bird ever called during the entire day, with the exception of when Preston and Terry Lust first had it) and I could clearly see the extensive white on the tail. I got everyone on the bird as it dropped down into the spartina. After several minutes, the bird popped into view, clinching the ID of the bird. The bird stayed out in the open, not moving for about 5 minutes before it ducked out of view, and later took off and flew about 20 ft to the right. The bird repeated this behavior; Staying out in the open, ducking into the grass, and then flying short distances around the airfield, throughout the duration of the day. Field marks: Pink legs, bicolored bill (black on top, pink on the bottom), scaly back, dark crown, overall tan color, extensive white on the outer tail feathers as well as the underside of the tail, dark eye, call (modulated, almost multi syllable), orange cheek, white eye ring, "necklace," and very little streaking on breast.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM +1.4x

ISO

1000

Focal length

435 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/2500 sec

Dimensions

3407 pixels x 2414 pixels

Original file size

4.84 MB