bats and an empid

Last night's barbecue was enlivened by the presence of bats -- fair-sized creatures hurtling over the open areas in front of the house -- as well as a few late-season fireflies. Another feature of the evening was the katydidding of the season's first katydids (at least the first ones that I've heard).

Today's premiere avian appearance was a tail-flicking 'Traill's" Flycatcher working the Phragmites for insects on the far side of the pond. 'Traill's' is, of course, the old name for an amalgam of two Empidonax flycatchers: Willow and Alder, best differentiated by their song. Since none of the flycatchers seem to be singing at this point, the ID is much more difficult. This bird had a strikingly peaked head, yellow lower bill, very faint eye ring, strong wing bars and a medium primary extension. Although the plumage was mostly plain brown, there was a kind of discoloration on the back (between the wings) which appeared to be olivey or even slightly reddish, depending on the light. All these features plus the habitat plus the likelihood that the bird was a local, suggests a Willow Flycatcher, a bird that breeds in bushy vegetation near the water on the barrier beach.

Some of the other, more familiar midsummer visitors were in evidence. Strangled calls from the bay mean that Royal Terns are about. A young spotless Spotted Sandpiper and a dink-a-dink Northern Waterthrush popped up from the pond edge. Tufted Titmice everywhere. 

Eric Salzman