Dear Tweeters,
Today, 25 May 2015, two Least Flycatchers vouchsafed themselves unto me.?
The first one was singing in a downpour on Cockreham Island. Ever since an agribusiness bought up most of the island and planted blueberries, the birding has been pretty poor there, compared to what it used to be. I was glad to add another species to the Cockreham Island list--it is hard to do that in a berry patch. The flycatcher was singing in some woods just east of the last remaining dairy on the island. I didn't bother trying to get a look--it was singing in a soaking-wet patch of woods, with more water streaming down.
Later in the day, I visited the Fir Island Game Range. "The" Least Flycatcher was singing in the same place as last year. This is by the boat-launch parking area, in woods near the pump station. I tried to view the bird, but never could spot it.
There were quite a few shorebirds--Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, a late Dunlin, both Yellowlegs, and both Dowitchers.?
Now for my goose question. Twice in the past few days, I have seen flocks of Canada Geese flying over me, with just one tiny Branta with them. I don't know if the tiny one was a very late Cackler or one of the small races of the Canada Goose. The first time I noticed this was near Cockreham Island a few days ago; I saw the same thing today at the Game Range. Question--what's the most likely ID of this goose?
Yours truly,
Gary Bletsch