kevin_gevaert 的最愛

Mega rarity found yesterday by Steve Charbonneau. A potential 1st record for Ontario.

We re-located the bird close to where Steve originally found it yesterday, along South Point Trail near the second bench (42.25669, -81.85286). Throughout the next two hours it remained in the same general area, sometimes disappearing for 5-10 minutes at a time and then reappearing along the trail. It was loosely associating with a Yellow Warbler. When we left, the flycatcher was a few hundred meters northeast of where we had originally observed it, around 42.25823, -81.85109, still along South Point Trail. It was quite active this morning and appeared to look healthy and alert. As far as I am aware, it hasn't been relocated since, but the poor weather that rolled in certainly isn't helping matters.

A tricky ID and both Western Flycatcher and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher have been floated as possibilities. In my opinion, this is a Western Flycatcher for the following reasons:

• Single large gap in the primary tips when at rest, as opposed to even-width primary tips typical of YBFL.
• Relatively drab wing panel, compared to the more contrasty black and white wing panel shown by YBFL.
• Peaked crown. The bird was missing a couple of feathers in the crown but still appeared to have a much more peaked crown, much more so than any YBFL that I have seen.
• While eyering shape is variable, this bird had a classic tear-dropped shape eye ring much wider behind the eye than in front.

-Bird appeared rather long-tailed, something that I noted both in the field and in photos.

I welcome any further opinions! Not an easy ID.....

Ongoing checking of this endangered species population. In flower on Aug 12, and not again until Aug 25. Looks to have a few more buds that may open in the next week or two. On the 25th, there were about 125 plants noted, probably a few more that were missed. Lots of doubles and even a triple. And this time there were more with a nice touch of magenta.

Bird was at a private residence for a few days, with significant logistical challenges for accessing by the likely crowds of birders wanting to see it. The consensus with the landowner was to not put the word out.