A belated report--my son and I ventured out to Cypress Island on July 6-7. On the 7th, (the rainy Sunday), we hiked up to Reed Lake. On the trail down to the lake, vigorous scolding greeted us from a Big-leaf Maple. It was an Olive-sided Flycatcher. As I turned to look at its mate down the trail, the scolder attacked me, dive-bombing by my ear, bill clicking all the way, like a machine gun attacking. He (she) repeated this behavior several times while we stood almost in disbelief. The attack was always launched when we were not watching the bird. It was quite scary, with the bill clicking being disturbingly loud when inches from our ears!

We talked to the DNR ranger based at Reed Lake. She said this behavior had been going on for about a month, and that she was afraid to walk down to the lake because of it!

I checked in the O-S Flycatcher BNA account (No 502), and aggressive defense of the nest area by both sexes is mentioned, and bill-clicking during agonistic behavior is mentioned, but the dramatic attack of humans we experienced is not specifically mentioned.

I wonder if others have experienced this behavior?

Dan Logen
Stanwood