26 replies to this topic

[guy_incognito]

Am in Chicago for a few days. Unfortunately the migrant warbler action is minimal, but picked up a few lifers nonetheless.

Let's start with the best bird of the day, and completely unexpected.

1.


2. A common bird, but not where I live, so it is a lifer.



3. I am pretty sure this is the same bird I heard calling at one point, but if anyone can confirm from sight alone that would be awesome.

Spoiler

1. Buff-breasted Sandpiper
2. Purple Martin
3. Alder Flycatcher

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

Top two confirmed, pass on the third. Awesome birds, congratulations! I'm super jealous on the sandpiper.

[Ryn]

I think you're golden on all three. I agree with Limpkin, would love to add the sandpiper to the LL.

[psweet]

Confirm on the first two. All I can say about the third is that Alder is migrating through, and there's some data from banding stations that suggests that Alder are more common in migration than Willow.

[guy_incognito]

Thanks all. There are tons of flycatchers around, including Yellow-bellied, Least, Alder, and Willow.

Went back today and picked up some more birds. These first two should be pretty straightforward.

4.

5.

Spoiler

1. female Blackburnian Warbler
2. Mourning Warbler

[Kryptos18]

Lucky. I still need a Mourning!

[guy_incognito]

6. These are two different birds, but pretty sure they are the same species

Spoiler

6. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

[Kryptos18]

Those two look like Yellow-bellieds.

[guy_incognito]

Here are 3 more flycatchers that I am unsure of. I know I heard Least, just not 100% sure I got a picture of the bird I was hearing. Any help with ID on these is appreciated.

7.

8.

9.

[Kryptos18]

All "Traill's" unfortunately.

[Carolina]

Wow! Great shots & great birds. Congrats!

[psweet]

I think #7 is a Least -- I see a mostly dark lower mandible, and they're the only eastern Empie that normally shows that.

[Kryptos18]

I think it's just the angle - primary projection is way too long for Least, and it's not showing much of an eyering.

[JimBob]

Agree with Trail's. . .

[guy_incognito]

Thanks all for the input. Guess the Least will stay on the flycatcher most wanted list.

[guy_incognito]

Here is one more silent empid

10.

If this can't be identified as a Least, I will have one more chance tomorrow AM.

[Kryptos18]

The short primary projection looks promising, but there isn't much of an eyering. Any other shots?

[guy_incognito]

Yeah, I thought the PP was promising, but the eyering wasn't so prominent. Different pics from the web definitely do show some variability, some with similar eyerings, some with shorter PPs, some with similar or longer PPs.

This is the only other picture I got of this flycatcher. Similar angle, but perhaps it may help.

[guy_incognito]

Here is one more attempt at an empid:

[Kryptos18]

With that eyering, almost has to be a Least!