Subject: [Tweeters] CORDILLERAN type FLYCATCHER Graysmarsh 6/6
Date: Jun 7 10:28:40 2006
From: Scott Atkinson - scottratkinson at hotmail.com


Tweeters:

I had a day off yesterday and decided to head over to Sequim. I checked the
usual spots and although I did not find any unusual species, I did find an
apparent CORDILLERAN type FLYCATCHER, if one accepts the notion that these
should have been split in the first place. The word apparent reflects the
apparent lack of consensus regarding what we should do with our former
Western Flycatcher, and uncertainty regarding hybrids.

The bird was in open, mature Doug-Fir forest of south Grays, continuously
vocal and apparently on territory. This is dry habitat and other breeders
in the area include W. Wood-Pewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher and House Wren.
While much of the time the bird gave the typical notes and song for
Pacific-slope, it gave the distinct two-syllable (not upslurred single) call
also, although not as often as the upslurred single note, and twice also
gave the louder "seet" note of Cordilleran. As I was scoping off the bluff
trail, the bird was vocal at close range for a good half-hour before I left.
I decided to get a look at plumage characters also: the bird had dull
greenish upperparts, the greenish more standing out than in many Westerns
seen over the years (although the bird posing each time in open sunlight at
the ends of branches surely helped here); it also seemed to be on the long
side for a Western, especially having a long tail. I also noted that it
perched always in the open, rather than landing on shady undersides or close
to tree trunks, and this reminded much of Cordillerans encountered in s.e.
WA, AZ, and most recently at Big Bend. Seems that while it is only a
generalization, Pac-slope types usually prefer a closed canopy,
under-the-foliage, or close-to-the-trunk perch.

I was all set to call the bird a Pac-slope/Cordilleran cross, but noted
studying the internet today that several reports say that Cordillerans do
both the two-note AND the upslurred single note we all associate with
Pacific-slope. Still, it is clear that there is ongoing debate, and of
course many feel that there should be no split. I just thought it was
noteworthy because I don;t recall a prior w. WA report of a Cordilleran
type.

Also of note, I found the stake-out ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD on Bell Hill (thanks
'ol Bob!), there were three on May count here--this species is local in
Clallam. I had a Red-eyed Vireo at the Riverside Center yesterday also.
Although I missed on all of them, there have been a number of good bird
reports out in the Sequim area lately beyond those posted to Tweeters
recently (White Pelican 3, Hooded Oriole in PA); there was a report of a
male Baltimore Oriole near the Sequim Regional Airport a few days back, and
an E. Kingbird was at Carrie Blake Park June 5.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com