[TN-Bird] Orchard Oriole Puzzle

From: "Tommy Curtis" <tcbirdwatch@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "TN-Bird Post" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 09:05:33 -0500
Our heart rates increased tremendously this morning when an Oriole with a 
bright yellow body and solid black head appeared in the trees bordering our 
yard.  Experiences in Arizona birding made us immediately think "Scotts" or 
"Audubon".  But after looking at the wing pattern and color and knowing these 
two birds would be well out of range we decided it was an Orchard Oriole male 
that has gotten the solid black head of the adult but without the chestnut body 
color.  It's the first time we've ever seen this stage in an Orchard Oriole and 
wonder if it is rare.
The last few days have brought some exciting birds into the yard.  A single 
Louisiana Waterthrush has appeared the last four days and one day there were 
two of them together.  Our breeding Common Yellowthroats have made an 
appearance each day and the Wood Thrushes have been singing like crazy but 
we've only seen one.  This morning two gorgeous Scarlet Tanagers stopped to 
feed.  Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos have been singing and feeding.  A 
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher made a foray this morning.  

Last week we had the most mature Worm-eating Warbler we've seen to date and a 
female Hooded Warbler brought a baby and fed it while we watched with delight.  
But no warblers this week.  

I hesitate to mention this because I'm sure there will be doubters but we also 
had a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Sunday morning just before leaving for church.  
We're not experts on this bird but the color was vivid and the eye ring was so 
prominent that it made us unable to call it anything else.  We didn't have the 
camera outside and by the time we could get it the bird was gone.

Tommy & Virginia Curtis
Smithville, TN
DeKalb County
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[TN-Bird] Orchard Oriole Puzzle

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