This afternoon I spotted a flycatcher out my classroom window. It was
sitting on the railing outside a portable classroom. Very dark head, pure
black bill, rusty (tawny?) wash on the underparts, no visible eye ring,
larger than a sparrow, smaller than a robin. Spotted it at 4:30, it was
still there when I left at 6:00. I saw it pump its tail once for sure. It
made relatively long sallies forth to snatch insects. Lots of craneflies
around right now.

I have only seen Say's Phoebes on a few occasions, mostly at Gingko S.P. I
thought this bird, sitting under the eaves staying dry seemed very familiar,
since they nest under eaves there, and seem very comfortable out in the open
around buildings. That's not at all like the abundant Willow Flycatchers and
Western Wood Pewees in the nearby forested wetland.

I'm nervous about this, because the Pierce County checklist I use notes five
or fewer sightings of this species.

Any thoughts?


Michael B. Brown
Puyallup, Washington
H-253-841-4281
W-253-841-8733
C-253-208-9588
borealis at borealis.seanet.com

"...I am glad I shall never be young without
wild country to be young in." -Aldo Leopold

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