FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Mourning Warbler, Empidonax flycatchers (Greene Co., TN)

["Donald Miller" <pandion@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

August 25, 2006

On my way to work this morning, I stopped briefly on West Barton Ridge Road 
here in Greeneville and was delighted to find a Mourning Warbler.  The bird, a 
first-fall specimen, perched high along the edge of a little thicket and gave 
me a point-blank look for a few seconds before flying into another tangle.

Yesterday, August 24, I found two Empidonax flycatchers along Brown's Bridge 
Road, near Tusculum in Greene County.  

The first Empid was rather large and appeared to show little eye-ring, although 
my look was only brief.  I have no doubt that it was an Acadian, an Alder, or a 
Willow, but since the bird didn't vocalize, I would not hazard a guess.

The second bird gave me several long looks over a period of about 15-20 
minutes.  It was quite small, with a strong green wash on the back, a very 
short tail, a very large head, a well-formed eye-ring, and much yellow on the 
underparts.  I suspect Yellow-bellied rather than Least, but since it did not 
vocalize, I am uncertain as to which.  

Don Miller
Greeneville, Greene Co., TN

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