ML619504159

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Compelling Eastern Wood-Pewee candidate. As I was making my way to the overlook area to check out some perched empids, I heard a single rising "pee-a-WEE" call that I think literally stopped me in my tracks. I immediately took out my phone and started recording, but I didn't hear it again over the next several minutes and I couldn't locate any pewee, so I stopped. I moved to a slightly more open area and decided to try some playback. Within seconds of playing EAWP calls, a single pewee fly in and landed about 20' directly over my head (first group of photos) - flicking it's wings and alternating 180° on its perch a couple times. I noted the bird looked fairly pale from below, I took some photos and started recording...but it didn't call again. It stayed frustratingly silent despite a couple more attempts at playback so I left my phone on record while I scrambled up the hillside to get a better look at its wings (second group of photos). The wing panel looked pretty contrasty and the top wing bar appeared to be the same brightness as the bottom one to my eyes. The lower mandible was perhaps 40% dark from the tip - so in the overlap zone - but I've seen pictures of accepted EAWPs with darker bills. At some point while looking down at my camera the bird must've flown and I was unable to find it again. Also, I left my phone on record until it got too dark to bird but I did not hear it again. So frustrating. [Update: I looked first thing the next morning, but couldn't relocate the bird.] Photos.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

ISO

2500

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

1606 pixels x 1071 pixels

Original file size

409.75 KB