ML41317451

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

very backlit

Observation details

Watched the 3 trees on the left (east) side of the road beyond P3 on the auto loop. After approximately 2 hr, noticed a fly-catching bird sallying forth from the tree at the right-turn junction of the road to the south. As we approached the tree, we noted that the bird was a Blk Phoebe.....however, we also noted a larger bird at the tree....a yellow-bellied Tyrannus Kingbird. We were soon joined by several other birders who also viewed the bird at about 15-20M through binoculars and scopes. The bird was backlit in the tree for about 15 minutes, then flew up to a communication wire for 5-10 minutes, then flew off. The bird had yellow belly, fading into a gray upper breast; the head and back are also a dark gray, much darker in appearance than either a Western or Tropical/Couch's. The bill was smaller than a Tropical. Because of the dark gray of the upper bird, its white throat contrasted more than that of the lighter upper gray on a Western. One image of the bird depicts the white tip of the Cassin's and a faint hint of green on the back. While we observed the bird, it captured, and ate, a large winged insect. The bird vocalized several times, particularly often as it was attempting to subdue the insect. A few of the birders concurred that the vocalization was that of a Cassin's.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

500

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

621 pixels x 800 pixels

Original file size

160.21 KB