And my Gray Flycatcher at Ridgefield?Monday was highly probable but ?not 100% certain because? no good look at the bill and only one tail dip before it disappeared.? And no Empids were seen after the word went out.? To me the even pale gray (look at Sibley since NG overstates differences) stands out compared to Dusky/ Hammonds, ?but with this group there is a whole checklist of visuals ?to go through before certainty prevails. ?



Randy Hill

Ridgefield



----- Original Message -----


From: "David Hutchinson" <flora.fauna at live.com>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2011 9:39:10 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] Gray Flycatcher Retraction

Over a week ago, I reported seeing a Gray Flycatcher in Discovery Park. Brad Waggoner kindly asked for supporting details.What followed was a delightful interchange of notions and facts about what Gray and Dusky Flycatchers look like in the field. Gray appearance and wing bars, indistinct eye-ring, flicked its tail steadily, called "whit", hunted actively from low brush, faint yellow lower mandible, dark upper was my report. But, tellingly, there was no defined dark tip to the bill. So, in the process, I learned a great deal more about empidonax flycatchers, while my poor little ego took a cold bath. I guess it is either retire gracefully or head off to the Burke to look at study skins!! Meanwhile, please cancel that sighting, David

--
David Hutchinson, Owner
Flora & Fauna: Nature Books
Discovery Gardens: Native Plants
3212 W.Government Way
Seattle,WA.98199
http://www.ffbooks.net/
206-623-4727



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