We continue to get western flycatchers in the state this spring, and today provided a Western Kingbird. This bird was associating with 8 Eastern Kingbirds in the sumac trees, behind the archery targets. They were all eating midges out of the spiderwebs, just like the tanagers were the other week. They moved around some, but for the most part stuck around in the same general area. As of this writing 2:10pm, it is still being seen. There was also a beautiful male Scarlet Tanager, who was very cooperative atop the sumacs as well. A first year male Orchard Oriole also made an appearance. Photos of the kingbird were taken this morning. Enjoy!
This bird was found early Sunday morning but was lost right away. It was relocated on Monday morning and again disappeared. Again, it was relocated and seen for several hours until it disappeared for a while. I was not able to get there until about 5pm and there were at least 8 others searching for it. I eventually found it in the “chapel garden crypts”. When I first saw it, I watched it fly about 5′ to four different places on the grass, presumably chasing insects. I watched this bird for the next 45 minutes or so and it generally worked this one area the entire time. It even flew into the chapel area and sat on the pegs of the wall. It was grabbing insects right of the chapel wall. At one point it was almost dinner for a Cooper’s Hawk. It was feeding down in the grass of the garden area and the hawk came flying in from the south. The hawk was within a few feet of it until they got to the black steel fence, in which the phoebe went through it and the hawk had to go up and over. That quick change of direction for the hawk, allowed enough time for the phoebe to escape. Wow, what an intense 15 seconds! If the fence wasn’t there, I’m almost positive it would have been dinner. Nature at its finest! As of 7pm 5/23, it was still being seen. I’ve included a map of the cemetery as a guide, if someone decides to search for it. It appears to be moving all over the cemetery. It has been seen at the garden crypts, #17, #36, #40 and today by #14 and #19 area. Good luck if you try for it! Photos below are from 5/2/22. Enjoy!
Wow, what a morning!!! Scissor-tailed Flycatcher had been seen there the past several days, but an Ash-throated Flycatcher was photographed last night and confirmed to be one. I met a friend around sunrise, and we began searching for the Ash-throated Flycatcher. We split up to cover more ground. I ended walking along the beach to the golf clubhouse and didn’t find it. I started heading back and got a text she had it, back by the lighthouse. I ran over there and were joined by others in searching the tree line. It had gone down to the beach side, which was blocked somewhat by the wind. That’s where I would’ve been too! For the next 45 or so minutes it was feeding south along the beach. This was a life bird for me!
After watching the Ash-throated Flycatcher for a while, I drove over to the golf clubhouse parking lot and walked down to the beach. I looked to my left and a friend was taking pictures of something. I looked through my binoculars, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher! I walked to the north a little and it was perched on some rocks and sticks on the beach. Just incredible! I watched him for 20 or so minutes and decided it was time to go to work. Have to do that once in a while. Photos below are from this morning. Enjoy!
On Friday 11/26/21, a Small-billed Elaenia was discovered near Waukegan Municipal Beach, IL. The exact location can be found at these coordinates, 42.3620817, -87.8185852. It doesn’t show up on eBird as an alert, so people might not know about it, that don’t live in Illinois or belong to certain groups. I think it was originally posted to a Facebook group “what’s this bird?”
The Small-billed Elaenia is a tyrant flycatcher of South America. If confirmed, it would be only the 4th record in North America. Remarkably, another was found in 2012, not too far from here, at Douglass Park in Chicago! More information about this species can be found at the following link, Small-billed Elaenia – eBird
I decided to try for the Elaenia on Tuesday, 11/30. The bird was seen in 8 o’clock hour, so I figured I would have good chance to see it. I arrived just before 10am, and there were at least 10 others looking for it as well. It was over an hour before it finally “popped” up, just after 11:15. Everyone that was present, was rewarded with fairly good looks at it. After this it was in and out of view for the next couple hours. This bird was in a mixed group of yew shrubs and cedar trees, behind a chain link fence. The yew shrubs are very thick and it’s really easy to lose sight of it in there. It was eating the red berries of the yew shrubs, and occasionally a few insects that were flying around the shrubs. A very cool bird to see and an enjoyable day talking to people from all over. Pictures below are from the several hours spent there on Tuesday. Good luck if you try for it! Enjoy!
I finally decided to try my luck with the reported Hammond’s Flycatcher today. It was first seen and reported on Sunday afternoon 12/9/18. Hoping it was still there, a friend and I made the two hour plus trip out there. When we pulled up, we saw a group of 5, all looking in the same area. As soon as they saw us, they were waving to hurry up and get over there! We grabbed our things and rushed down to the western end house. There it was, sitting in a tree 25′ away! Wow, what a beautiful bird!!! We watched it for about 50 minutes and the entire time, it fed, mostly on flies. It grabbed them off the siding on the house, from the grass and off the balcony railings. It flew about the yard, usually staying within 35′ of the road. My understanding is this is the first recorded sighting for Wisconsin. It was a perfect sunny day for a road trip and it was even better to get such awesome views for an extended time. Here are a few images of the bird from today.
