All summer we have had many willow flycatchers (voice, appearance) in the
area and more recently near our water source, but this morning we had a
clearly different visitor: empid size, pronounced elongated eye ring
("Egyptian eye") which may have been slightly yellowish, definite buff-tan
wingbars, strong crest effect, very pale sulfur colored belly and lower
breast shading into a tan throat. The back was, at least in part, slightly
olive and looked as though it was just coming into adult plumage (more fluffy
gray on the sides). The bill appeared to be less contrasty top/bottom than
our adult willows. Naturally it wasn't saying anything.

Are we safe in assuming that this was a late juvenile Pacific-slope
flycatcher, or have there started to be enough migrants that there are too
many other possibilities?

Incidentally, the immature GC kinglets I inquired about earlier are just
starting to develop their golden crowns.

Thanks for any suggestions.

George Stout
Gig Harbor WA (actually Key Peninsula)

PS: I saw a male and probably two female purple martins yesterday while
kayaking in Vaughn Bay on the W side of Key Peninsula. No idea if they are
nesting in the area, but will keep an eye out. Not many starlings this far
out though they are common on Purdy Spit.