Great Crested Flycatcher Island 22 Oct 29

[Gord]

Not sure if this will work but just saw an Ash-throated *Nov 1 edit(Great Crested)* Flycatcher at Island 22 at the 'triangle' which is in the southwestern part of the park. It was high up some of the time feeding. Will post pics later.

[Chris]

Thanks Gord for getting the quick word out. Awesome sighting as well. Second record of the year for our area, Kevin Jones had one in May.

I made it out there late in the afternoon and was able to see it. It was in one of the bigger trees and then flew into another big tree on the west side of the triangle. I tried to get closer but doing so I took my off the bird and never did relocate it. A new species for me. Also, saw a Pileated Woodpecker a flock of 31 swans, at least one Tundra calling. Lots of Cackling and Canada Geese were in the pond by the entrance.

Here is a map on how to get there. If you start at the boat launch, walk directly south until you get to the fence and then walk west along the fence.



It's the only area along the south side of the fence where the vegetation on both sides is pretty close to you.

This is the west side of the triangle looking east.

[Gord]

A couple of pictures.





Quite a thrilling find when it's not expected! Congrats on the new bird there, Chris.

I hope it sticks around if there's other people interested in seeing it.

For more information on the species' occurrence in our area, click the link. Kevin had one earlier this year, again on Whorley Road, and has not been added to the list yet. The one from today is the sixth record for the species.

www.fraservalleybirding.com/Species/Bird%20Accounts/Ash-throated%20Flycatcher.htm

[Wetlander]

Well Done, Guys!

[Randy]

Very cool find Gord. I'm definitely jealous. I was telling Chris that if I wasn't off to Saskatoon again today and through the weekend I would head out there to try to find this, which would also be a lifer for me!

[Chris]

Checked this morning but I didn't see it.

[birder1942]

Good find, Gord. I've only ever seen one in Abbotsford, the year I did an Abbotsford big year. Had a huge flock of Canada Geese flying over Matsqui Prairie this afternoon and there were two Snow Geese with them. John Vooys

[dcecile]

This bird is not an Ash-throated Flycatcher.  It has all of the classic traits of a Great Crested Flycatcher ( a much rarer bird and I believe only 2-3 people have ever seen this species in the province!).  I was directed to this page yesterday after viewing the photo on the BC Bird Alert Page and discovered that I had to join in order to post a message.  I wish I had been able to get the message out sooner but it takes time to go through the registration process.

In a nutshell, the flycatcher is too large and the bill is too large for Ash-throated, the latter being a rather slender-looking bird.  Upon closer examination you will find that the pale based bill is characteristic of Great Crested as is the brighter lemon-yellow belly, extensive rufous in the tail feathers.  I would encourage people to re-find this bird and study it and get more photos.  I'm glad the finder of the bird took pictures and posted them!  I would dearly like to see this bird in the field rather than on my computer screen...

Cheers,
Don Cecile
Vernon,BC

[Gord]

Don welcome and thanks.

More pictures and thoughts on ID are in the identification section for those interested.

bcbirding.proboards.com/thread/7059/ash-throated-great-crested-flycatcher

[ed]

John Vooys and I saw this Flycatcher just west of the horse corral and followed it across the road to the picnic area just West of the boat launch. It stayed consistently in the upper areas of large cottonwood trees. It was making constant foraging flights, and interestingly followed 2 Downy Woodpeckers and a flock of Chickadees from tree to tree.
The lighting was bad and someone with a powerful lens could possible get pictures to complement Gords awesome pictures. It was fun to watch but from our vantage very difficult to ID. Good luck!

[ed]

Seen again today Nov 1, in the area just west of the horse corrals and in the picnic area just west of the boat launch.

[Chris]

That's awesome Ed and John. Nice work relocating it.

[Gord]

Glad it was found!! Good work Ed and John. Almost for certain it will be sticking around and should be there tomorrow morning. Hope to get out to take a good look in a few minutes here.

[Gord]

The bird. Of showed well but at bit of a distance at the end just now to a small group of local birders. I looked at it with an objective eye and with the knowledge I've gained from discissions and reading on the two species and agree it is a Great Crested Flycatcher. It is actively month and chris reports it in the dog park at the moment. I believe this bird for sure will be there in the morning! I'm sure to see some birders there tomorrow.

[Gord]

Wow, gotta love auto-correct on mobile devices! I will leave the above post for entertainment value.

Good to share the bird with Jason, Chris and Dave. Glad Dave was close by Island 22 when I texted him as it was quite convenient for him.

As the above message sort of suggests, the bird actively MOVES around the park in the upper canopy of the cottonwoods. There are not a lot of leaves left on the trees so the bird, once found, is easy to follow. There were a couple Black-capped Chickadees near the bird most of the time we saw it. Not sure if they've made friends or not but if so, will help in finding the bird as the chickadees call all the time.

We split up to find the bird and may be an effective way to track it down for people looking for it tomorrow and the park is quite large and in the time we watched it, it made a circle from near the 'Triangle' where it was relocated this evening around into the dog park.

Good luck to anyone who tries for this guy tomorrow. The weather, I hope, cooperates.