ML505465041

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

***Rare; continuing bird found by Simon Priestnall yesterday. Apparently moved around quite a bit but seemed to generally stick the the general area of the Laird-Norton trail today. During my observation period it was near the Barrier Beach trail end of Laird-Norton and eventually flew south over the trees towards the beach. Loosely associating with a few bluebirds and 1-2 robins along the boardwalk, perching at varying levels in bare deciduous trees and making routine dips down to the understory to forage on winterberries. At one point in perched very high in a maple overhead for an extended period of time. Often gave snappy wing flicks when perched. To my eye appeared somewhere between the size of a robin and a bluebird (closer to a bluebird) and honestly more thrushlike than photographs of TOSOs generally suggest. This was an overall gray bird with slight variations between warm/cool tones throughout the plumage, and the prominent white eyering, thin white wing bars, and orangey color showing at the base of the exposed remiges stood out. The tail didn't appear quite as long as I had expected but was notably narrow when folded, sometimes giving the impression of even being tapered towards the tip. The bill was small, dark, and somewhat bluebird-like. I believe the distinct white tips to the greater covs would indicate a HY bird? When the bird eventually picked up, rose above the treetops, and flew off to the south its flight was fast, flappy, and zigzagging back and forth. The buffy wing stripe became apparent in flight, spanning the length of the underwing and appearing somewhat translucent. Never called during the time that I observed it but others reported it as having been vocal earlier.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

ISO

500

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/640 sec

Dimensions

2362 pixels x 1459 pixels

Original file size

506.77 KB