FreeLists / bristol-birds / [bristol-birds] Olive-sided Flycatcher, Buffalo Mtn.

["larry mcdaniel" <mcdaniel_1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Monday morning, about 10 AM, 8/19/02, I saw what was almost surely an 
Olive-sided Flycatcher at Huckleberry Knob on Buffalo Mtn. in Johnson City, TN. 

It was perched on a dead Virginia Pine, (I think). What stood out was the large 
dark bill. Then after long and careful observation I was able to see white 
tufts at the sides of the rump while the bird was preening. The proportion of 
wing length to tail length looked right for the species. It had steaking on the 
sides of it's chest. It was flycatching. I could't see an eyering. It had faint 
wingbars. No tail movement. 

A few minutes after watching the bird I heard a pip pip pip call several times. 
It was from high up and farther away. I couldn't spot the bird while I was 
hearing the call. It sounded like the call notes of an Olive-sided. 

My only doubt about the I.D. was based on the tail length and shape seeming to 
be too long and thin. After consulting five different field guides I noticed 
several of the pictures had good matches for tail shape. I also suspected that 
it was too early to be likely to have Olive-sided, but Rick Knight's book The 
Birds of Northeast Tennessee shows them arriving earlier than this. I think 
I've convinced myself. 

To get to Huckleberry Knob park at the trail head in the picnic area of Buffalo 
Mtn. Park. The park is just south of Johnson City. Follow the trail signs about 
1/4 mile to overlook. This is the same place I thought I saw a Peregrine Falcon 
the day before.

Larry McDaniel
Johnson City, TN   



   

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