Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
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- Playback
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Observation details
Plain faced catharus lacking an eyering. Back, wings, tail, and head uniform brown with a hint of light rust. Gray-white below, flesh-colored legs, and flesh-colored base to lower mandible. The diffuse spotting (really, more of a smudging) on the upper breast was more pronounced than I was expecting. Gave a series of “veer” notes, which were recorded. Poor, very dark photos obtained. Early morning, we located the Veery and its nest—most likely populated with four unfertilized eggs—using coordinates and details provided by Colin Dillingham. After walking out along the northern edge of the Feather River, we stopped adjacent to the alder thicket referenced in Colin’s eBird list. This is essentially where the riparian corridor along this part of the river comes directly out to within a few feet of the trail. We quickly ascertained that one could not enter the thicket here—directly across from Colin’s coordinates—due to what looked to be a deep channel of water and very thick underbrush. We backtracked a bit and found an area of grass adjacent to the riparian corridor that had been trampled, with a clear entry point into the swamp (not just for birders, but for animals, as shortly before our arrival a deer used this entry into the thicket). After donning rubber boots (necessary), we proceeded through the tangle of branches on the ground at the edge of the swamp and waded through a bit of mud and water. We veered toward the left, to the east and toward the river for about twenty yards, always taking the “easiest” route into the alder thicket. We encountered a fallen tree that is not on the ground—more or less at eye level—and a more open area visible beyond. We went no further than the fallen tree; the nest is in this general area. We would have never found the right place without Colin's coordinates and details (many thanks!). The Veery gave numerous “veer” calls and moved around a lot, often hidden but sometimes out in the open, generally about 12-15 feet off the ground. After a few minutes, we realized that we were standing right next to the nest. We backed off, watched the bird come down near the nest, and then called it a morning, having obtained recordings and feeling that it would be difficult to spend much more time there without stressing the bird unduly. Being early—we first heard the bird at about 6:00am—meant that the mosquitoes weren’t too active, but it did make photography difficult, as it is a bit dark in the thicket. Note that the coordinates mentioned in an eBird list from June 26 plot the nest on the south/west side of the river, which is incorrect.
Technical information
- Recorder
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 460.78 KB