flycatcher day

Today was flycatcher day in East Quogue. Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood-pewee and, best of all, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER were all active at the head of the marsh. The Olive-sided -- which I like to call by its alternate name, Boreal Pewee (for that's what it is) -- was working the tops of some of the dead trees left behind by Sandy and with considerable success. This is the northernmost of the series of pewees that extend through the tropics into North America. It is larger than our Wood-pewee, strongly crested and has a very marked 'vest' effect on its breast; I could also see traces of the white tufts on the rump and, just to make sure we knew who we were dealing with, it actually sang once -- something like the traditional 'hip-three-beers'.

Among the other birds active in this area were eye-striped vireos, at least one of which was quite yellow underneath. Red-eyed Vireos are not that yellow. Fall Warbling Vireos might be somewhat yellow underneath; the other possibility would be Philadelphia Vireo but the birds were too far away and too active for me to be sure.

Robins, Catbirds and Mockingbirds were feeding on Tupelo berries as well as pokeberries. Other active birds included Hairy, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, House and Carolina Wrens, B-c Chickadees and Tufted Titmice, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and American Goldfinch.

Eric Salzman