ML620675766
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Observation details
**Rare breeder in the Eastern half of NY, though certainly becoming more prevalent as a migrant that will stick in the right habitats. Continuing male first found this year in early May by Scott Baldinger and Gary Zylkuski and returning for its second year of hopeful breeding. Well attended bird whose tabs have been closely monitored by the wonderful Sullivan Co. birding scene. First heard singing “Sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet” at its usual haunt in the N section of the beaver pond on the Stop Sign Trail, approximately here: 41.53804° N, 74.50924° W. When I arrived the bird would sing once every 15 minutes or so, and I walked the length of the beaver pond to see if better vantage points existed (but as I would learn, best viewing is at the N end). After much walking, I came back to the N end where I found Scott Baldinger and we began chatting up conversation. His tips were excellent and it was lovely talking to him in depth for the first time. While he was there, the bird got much closer to us and sang much more frequently, but it never came out. After he left, I kept waiting hoping magic would strike and it eventually did. Out of nowhere, the bird stopped singing and started aggressively chipping, and I could hear it coming closer until it flew right out in the tree about 5ft from me. I was startled and shocked beyond belief, but remained emotionless to ensure the bird didn’t flush. Stunning bird; vivid lemon yellow plumage with jet black eyes and a long black beak; olive green upper back and blue-gray wings and tail. Once it landed, it was nearly within touching distance, and it began singing and foraging, catching and devouring a caterpillar at one point. Styayed at the trail’s edge for a minute before flying back to a clearing and singing some more, remaining quite active and proving how hard it is to track down in the dense vegetation here. At last this is my first breeding plumage male PROW (after many females!), and the fact it came close enough to make out every single feather was more than I could ask ever for. Even with a broken camera I got some decent shots! Photos and audio
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