ML619657841

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

I understand that reporting a Gray Flycatcher at this location and in late may would flag the bird as rare; I have provided a very detailed report of my observation, and have taken time to consult a more experienced birder about the ID: I saw this bird hunting from low branches by the stream. The habitat of Brooks Orchard trail is good for Gray, trail very open grassland with spaced out oak and pine species as well as grassland bushes, it is not a dense forest until the start of Roy Rodger’s trail. The flycatcher was perching from low limbs, and flying out over grass, then landing back at another low perch. The flycatcher was very pale gray overall, especially the face, with not much coloration difference between the head and the back. While perched, the flycatcher did perform tail flicking. It dipped the tail down, then made an even bigger flick back up. Repetition of tail flicking is probably the biggest indicator of Gray Flycatcher. It was hard to observe primary projection with nothing to compare it with, but the bird did strike me as having a medium sized-longer tail. The bird bathed in the stream and flew to a dead bush to preen and dry off rapidly. After preening, the bird flew away from stream and started perching for short amounts of time in higher branches of oaks and dead trees. The underside of the bird is very light gray with faint yellow on the lower belly. The white eye ring was present but there was no tear drop shape at all. The bird remained silent throughout my entire observation. Once the flycatcher got higher in the trees, tail flicking activity decreased. I followed the bird as it rapidly moved through the trees, and lost it when it flew into a clump of pines yards from the trail. Overall, the bird was seen very well, but unfortunately, no calls were heard. Plumage is right for Gray, as well as tail flicking behavior. The habitat is okay for Gray, it is very open and arid but there is no sage. The bird hunted from low perches, which Gray flycatchers are known to do. The time of year, however, makes Gray Flycatcher unlikely, although weird things do happen. There is no history of Grays at this exact location (although this is an under birded place), Late May Grays aren’t impossible, as it is not far away from peak migration of flycatchers. No call from the bird made it difficult to rule out Dusky or Hammonds. Habitat is good for Dusky, as well as the long tailed impression. Plumage fits better with Gray, but very pale dusky’s exist. Time of year is slightly better for Dusky for this location, which makes the statistics for Dusky higher than for Gray. However, tail flicking is too repetitive for Dusky. Hammonds flycatcher was also a possibility, and there is also history of Hammond’s at Loafer creek, (Ebird reports are all earlier in the season, however). Plumage can work, tail seems a bit too long, and tail flicking isn’t characteristic of Hammond’s. The open habitat also fits Hammond’s less. Gray remains the most likely. I will attach bad digiscope pics for evidence. Edit: I first reported this bird under empidonax sp, and after a few weeks, I received feedback from a long time birder Dan Williams. He supported my initial ID as Gray Flycatcher, adding that the longer bill and round head shown in the pictures were also indicators of Gray. He also assessed the time of year and location and came to the conclusion that it does not rule out Gray. The longer bill, round head combined with very pale plumage and tail flicking activity collectively confirmed the bird as a Gray Flycatcher. Very exciting find!!! If anyone reading this report has a different opinion on the bird's ID, please contact me!

Technical information

Model

iPhone 12

Lens

iPhone 12 back dual wide camera 4.2mm f/1.6

ISO

32

Focal length

4.2 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/1.6

Shutter speed

1/801 sec

Dimensions

4032 pixels x 3024 pixels

Original file size

1.51 MB