Hi Tweets,

I just wanted to give the quick story behind the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher photo in Birding magazine in case anyone saw the photo and was a bit curious what that was all about.

On 30 August 2009, Craig and Judy Corder and I chased the Dennys' Black-tailed Gull at the Walla Walla River Delta. Unsuccessful in that regard, we headed for some migrant traps, birding first at Windust Park in Franklin County. Empids were all over the place, and we got on one particular bright flycatcher that we decided was a Least Flycatcher. Luckily, I got a number of photos of this bird, and at first nobody questioned the ID when I had the photos on flickr.

However, a number of weeks later, Charlie Wright was looking at the photos again, and suggested that he felt quite sure this was actually a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher! A flurry of emails ensued, and a lot of research on my own part to get up to speed, having had zero experience with Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. The consensus between all the pro opinions was that this bird did in fact have [nearly] every appearance of being a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

The record is awaiting the vote of the WBRC next year, but the consensus at this point seems to be that Washington has had its first Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Kudos to Charlie for making the ID and everyone else who offered an opinion!

The photos are still on my website here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nightjar/3886565220/

I'd also be interested in any conflicting/agreeing opinions others may have as they take a look at this bird.

Michael Woodruff
Spokane, WA

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