ML44337941

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

The bird flew across the road about 150 feet in front of my car. The color and size really stood out. When I drove up to the ditch line to scan and came across this bird perched just 50 feet away I shifted into high gear. I reached back for the camera and the bird flew away from me. I attempted to jump out of the car while the seat belt was still buckled and about broke my neck. The bird was moving northwest down the ditch line stopping every 20 to 30 feet. I ran as far as I could and waited for the bird to stop again. The first shot I took was too dark and you could not even see the bird. I advanced a little farther and adjusted the light gauge and got a few shots. Fortunately they show all you need to see. The good news is that they show the diagnostic tail pattern of an Ash-throated Flycatcher! The bird continued this stop and go flight but I never saw the bird feed. It would just stop look around and it continue to the levee of a spoil pit and then I lost sight of the bird. I drove to the far side of the treatment plant and searched from there but then had to leave for a work appointment. The bad news is that Anthony Whitted and I searched around the area for a couple of hours this afternoon without finding the bird. I think it may be the second of this species reported for TN and the first photo documented record. Note diagnostic tail pattern in photo here: http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/image/88893399

Technical information

Model

iPhone 6

Lens

iPhone 6 back camera 4.15mm f/2.2

ISO

200

Focal length

4.2 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/2.2

Shutter speed

1/30 sec

Dimensions

3264 pixels x 2448 pixels

Original file size

1.66 MB