I went to Gray Cloud Island Dunes this morning. I've been there twice this week since going with Julian Sellers and his group of 11 on Saturday. Partly to see if I can id birds on my own and partly to test the Olympus WS-100 recorder that I bought yesterday. The recorder seems to be ok. It does record higher frequencies than the old recorder. I did get the grasshopper sparrow but not close enough to get a clean audio (too much background noise). That's to be expected with this kind of inexpensive recorder.
The help I need is this: I saw a bird that looked oriole size - completely black head with the black extending down through the throat area (top and bottom of the head). The black head ended cleanly giving a black hood appearance. The entire bottom of the bird was bright yellow. That's all I can describe for sure. I think the wings were black but I can't be sure. I've seen the first year male orchard oriole in the area and it is not him. the unknown bird sort of looked like the adult orchard oriole if instead of the brick red body it was bright yellow. Is it possible that at some stage of development the orchard oriole male could look like this. He was in a cottonwood tree near the rr tracks for those who know the area. I made a recording of some unknown song after he flew up into the tree and out of view if anyone cares to listen. I can't even guarantee that it is the mystery bird but it's all I have. I even went back this afternoon to see if I could see it again but no luck. Larry Sirvio
