Hi all, Got the wires crossed regarding the date for the NABA count
(tomorrow) but found some very interesting things in spite of it. It
certainly appears that there has been a really good movement of Least
Flycatcher. The first bird was found after nearly a mile walk sans
recorder, on the west end of a ditch in Golden meadows subdivision. Located
another (probably two) a few miles south on private property on Stillwater
Dr later in morning. Went back to the truck to get recorder, then returned
and was successful. It was hot early on and 97 degrees by the time that I
found the third bird just north of Marie Hamel Park in Caddo. I was ready
this time, although the cicadas were nearly deafening by then.
Interestingly and just before the last bird was recorded, a White-eyed
Vireo was heard nearby giving full/complex song which included some nearly
identical Least Flycatcher-like "wit' calls. I say this affectionately but
Barn Swallow were also somewhat of an auditory nuisance the entire day with
slightly distant birds giving quite LEFL-like "vit" calls.
Other interesting birds nearby were a female Black-and-White Warbler in a
wood patch near the truck when leaving around 1 p.m, then 4 Black-bellied
Whistling Duck photo'd at 11:25 at Jimmie Davis bridge and E 70th street-
just prior to the Marie Hamel survey. Being spotty local breeders now,
these should probably be removed from the "rarities" designation within
eBird
For those interested, below are some checklists and Xeno-canto recordings
of the 2nd and 3rd birds found today. I'm currently super-backlogged with
earlier recordings to edit ( a hundred+) but will get around to the
breeding Willow Flycatcher and Bell's Vireo recorded at Yates in late June
as soon as possible. As usual, some noise and narrative in the recordings
below-
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24381070
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24381438
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24382011
2nd LEFL of day-
http://www.xeno-canto.org/263757
http://www.xeno-canto.org/263759
3rd LEFL of day-
http://www.xeno-canto.org/263761
http://www.xeno-canto.org/263762
Butterflying was unsurprisingly super slow in the extreme heat. Much of my
area along the river had also been recently flooded, which undoubtedly was
also a major contributing factor to their scarcity. Good luck to y'all that
are going to be out there tomorrow! The upland areas will likely fare
better.
Good birding and butterflying,
Terry
