ML619382227

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

A continuing individual, found here earlier in the day by Rob Fowler. It took some waiting but I eventually saw it in one of the Sitka Spruces (if that tree identification is wrong, direct all complaints to Owen) along the northern edge of Mount Trashmore. We saw it there a few more times after. My binocular views of the bird were obscured by leaves, backlit, at an awkward angle, and generally quite poor. What I could tell was that this was an Empidonax flycatcher that did not appear to be significantly different in size or structure from the nearby Western Flycatchers. I only saw a few plumage details through my camera viewfinder: the bird was quite drab throughout, lacking the prominent yellowish hues of a WEFL; it didn't seem to have a very prominent eyering; and there was sort of a vest on the underparts, a pale (whitish?) area down the center boarded by grayish areas. We thought that this bird was being frequently chased by the very active and vocal Western Flycatchers. It was tough, and maybe impossible, to pick up on the more subtle Empidonax flycatcher characteristics (bill shape and color, primary projection, tail movement). The bird did not vocalize, even in response to playback, but Rob did hear some Hammond's-identifying calls when he found it.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D

Lens

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

ISO

640

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/400 sec

Dimensions

1199 pixels x 799 pixels

Original file size

619.18 KB