Subject: Grant County Scissor Tailed Flycatcher
Date: May 15 14:46:59 2003
From: Rob Conway - robin_birder at hotmail.com


Tweets,

As a passenger on the long drive from Bellevue to Ephrata this morning I was
able to do a lot of birdwatching along the way. The driver was amused as I
called out and logged birds until I screamed "STOP THE CAR AND TURN AROUND"
when I spotted a Scissor Tailed Flycatcher on a utility wire between George
and Ephrata in Grant County, WA. The bird was spotted at about 8:45 AM near
mile post 4 on Highway 283 on the right side of the road (headed toward
Ephrata) near a farm house with a big row of poplar trees and a number of
sheep in a pen between the house and the road. I observed the bird for
about 10 minutes with binoculars during which time it hawked at least 4
flying insects.

My notes: a definite Tyrannidae flycatcher. I called out kingbird at first
glance from 100 or so yards away. Extremely long black tail with white
outer feathers. Pale grey head and flanks, white underparts with quite pink
flanks. Wings very dark grey to black. Tail feathers have extremely clean
edges - no wear indicating caging. Estimate at 12" long. No calls. Hawked
insects from utility wire. No mistaking this bird - have seen dozens in
Oklahoma and Texas.

I never expected to see this bird in Washington!

Rob Conway
Newcastle, WA and Calgary, Alberta

robin_birder at hotmail.com

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