At approximately 0.4 mi after passing the first gate at the Hedgerow Lane
entrance to Craney Island, there was a flycatcher of the genus Myiarchus in
a small grouping of trees (majority appeared to be a legume such as Black
Locust) and shrubs on the north side of the road. This is approximately 0.1
mi prior to the landfill entrance. The flycatcher was perched low, from
about ground height, at times, to about eye level. The lower breast and
belly was yellow, while the upper breast was gray. The head and back were
brownish, with grayish-brown on the nape. Two thin, white wingbars were
seen. Rufous was present on the wings (in the area of the primaries) and
the underside of the tail. I did not have a camera or field guide with me
at the time, so I observed the bird for a short period. Then I left to
retrieve a field guide and camera. After returning, locating the bird took
a few minutes. Unfortunately, it flew across the road to a weedy field and
disappeared towards the back of the field. While flying, it called a few
times. The call note was a quiet "pip" or "thwp" with a somewhat wooden
quality, but I fear this is a poor description of the call. I first spotted
the bird at about 9:20 this morning.
Pretty much, the bird looked like a Great-crested Flycatcher to me, but I
don't recall noticing the light-colored bill base. Of course, I did not
think to look for this until reviewing the field guide. The bird could have
been a Ash-throated Flycatcher or any other one of the possibilities.
A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was also present in the same area as the flycatcher.
The pool at the west end of the south impoundment is shrinking.
Green-winged Teal were the only duck present there. A few Killdeer and a
few flyover Least Sandpipers (IDed by call) were the only shorebird-type
birds observed. An Osprey and a Snowy Egret were at the west side of
Craney. The Ruddy Ducks were sitting in a flock off the west side. I was
happy to see that both Horned Grebes and Bufflehead are back, but no terns
were seen or heard.
Elisa Enders
Portsmouth, VA
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