[va-richmond-general] mystery bird @ 42nd Street

    A nice stroll through James River Park at 42nd Street produced some nice 
birds and displays, including:

a Windfall of Waxwings (dozens)
lots of Catbirds
Spotted Sandpipers
ducklings and goslings
2 male BALTIMORE ORIOLES literally duking it out with each other. These guys 
were NOT happy - the feathers were flying this morning! They were literally 
claw to claw by the dilapidated little shelter to the right of the stairs. I 
saw them (or two other males) fighting again in the meadow near the visitor's 
center.
an Eastern Wood-Pewee (first of the year for me)
a lone Northern Rough-winged Swallow perched in a tree near the visitor's 
center.
a Veery, and 11 warbler species: Black and White (male and female), 
Black-throated Blue (females only), a plethora of Parulas, Redstarts (all 
males), Prothonotary, Northern Waterthrush (2 - on singing), Common 
Yellowthroat (male and female), Blackpoll (male only), Magnolia, Yellow-rumped 
(only 2), and Yellow-throated. Someone else had Black-throated Green.

MYSTERY BIRD (!!!)
Down near the other shelter, closer to the bridge (to the left of the stairs) 
in a lone Sycamore tree about 10 yards or so form the shore there was a bird I 
have been unable to identify. I listened to him and watched him for quite a 
while and listened to tapes but can't quite figure him out. He was flying 
around in the tree, though not performing flycatching behavior. He was about as 
big as a Red-eyed Vireo, had a white belly, and his back was very drab - sort 
of an olive gray, maybe. His song somewhat resembled that of an Alder 
Flycatcher, but not quite. He was slightly more musical than the typical Alder, 
though not a whole lot.  It sounded like an Alder with an extra syllable or two 
at the beginning - almost like a stuttering Alder. I couldn't get too close 
because the river was in the way. I didn't notice any wing bars, though I 
suppose it's possible he had some. He stayed in this tree for a very long time, 
just moving to different parts of it. The Sycamore is on a little island with a 
few other trees on each side, but it's the only Sycamore, not too far from the 
little shelter that overlooks the river and the Nickel Bridge (to the right of 
the shelter as your facing the river). Between the shore and the tree there are 
several large rocks, a fallen rotted hollow tree about 4 feet high or so, and a 
few other trees. IF you look out over the water, the tree stands out. Any ideas 
on what this bird might be?

Michael Shapiro
northside
sc.tanager@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx


PS - forgot to add my name to the Bryan Park note about the Maggie and the 
juvie MoDo's.
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