All,
An adult male scissor-tailed flycatcher was seen this afternoon on
Arlington Road just a quarter mile south of Rt. 646 - Townsend Road - in
lower Northampton County, Eastern Shore. The bird was catching insects
from its perch on the telephone wire on the west side of the highway
when Ned Brinkley and I arrived around 4:30 and it lingered for 15
minutes or more while we watched and took pictures. It allowed close
approach and afforded splendid views of it perched and in the air,
returning a number of times to a spot just over our heads. It eventually
moved into some pines behind a small house on the east side of Arlington
Road where we could no longer see it.
For those who may try to see this bird, from Rt. 13 turn west onto
Townsend Road - Rt. 646 (at the Citgo gas station) and go about a mile
and a half to Arlington Road - Rt 645 - and turn left. The bird was
about a quarter mile south of this intersection. Alternatively, coming
from the south you could turn onto the road that leads into Kiptopeke
State Park, I believe it's Rt 704 and then turn right onto Arlington
Road and the spot where the bird was seen would be about eight tenths of
a mile north.
Thanks to the Mr. Dixon who first noticed the bird and to his neighbor,
Sherry Yaros who got the word out.
Tom Saunders
Cape Charles
