At about 1230pm at the NW corner of the SSW pond, in a tree where I have seen Least Flycatchers in the spring several times, I had what I assumed at first was this year’s FOY (for me) of same (knowing others already have reported one at SSW). However, from a rather close distance and with 10x binocs in good light, what I actually saw had a quite yellow front side (throat, belly, underside) and a yellow-olive back side and the eye ring was also yellowish. It was definitely a smallish flycatcher; no vocalizations. I think therefore that it was a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. Sorry for not posting sooner but I wanted to review images of Least to see if they tend to occasionally show more yellow than the plain buff I am used to seeing. I can’t find any evidence they do, but stand to be corrected.
I was pleased to also find 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHes calling (‘chick’) but not singing from either side of the trail just where it bends at the Fuller boardwalk. These were not my FOYs, but I’ve not seen them in this marshy area before. One hopped up for good looks while the other hid behind the huge willow tree there. At home this afternoon, I did get my FOY NASHVILLE WARBLER (nice to get one for the home team as the first of year) as well as my SOYY (second of year yard) YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER(s). Then Martha came out and while we were looking at our first of year Female (no less, and unaccompanied) ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, she also spotted a yellow breasted tail pumper in a hemlock which indeed was a PALM WARBLER. Our resident YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER has discovered to his delight that the metal eave trough just above the bedroom window makes a resounding and satisfying racket when pecked vigorously at 530 am. for 15 mins at least. ChrisP -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
