Fork-tailed Flycatcher (MA) - YES!
GREGORY.B.MILLER@bge.com
Mon, 24 Aug 1998 11:06:44 -0400
Howdy all!
Cha-ching!!! The immature Fork-tailed Flycatcher remains at Plum Island
in Northeastern Massachusetts (must be close to 2 wks now...this bird is
normally a 1- or 2-day wonder...this has to be one of the longest
appearances of this species in North America...was the Virginia bird there
for 3 wks or so?...I can't remember).
I flew into Manchester, NH (was cheaper and easier to get in and out of
than Boston) Saturday afternoon at 4:45pm and arrived at Parker River NWR
about 6:30pm. Within 20 minutes I located the bird right in the Hellcat
Parking area! I got excellent scope views of this very accomodating bird
off-and-on all day yesterday, too. It alternated between its favorite
perches (the beaver lodge and the Birches on the South side of the Hellcat
parking lot).
Other interesting birds present at Parker River NWR included good
numbers of White-rumped Sandpipers, a few American Golden-Plovers, and a
few migrant warblers (Prothonotary, Wilson's, Black-and-white, Am
Redstart). I searched for the reported Curlew Sandpiper at Plum Island,
but w/o success. It was only seen a short time Saturday morning and was
not refound on Sunday.
Also noteable is an adult, breeding plumage Red-necked Stint, currently
being seen at the beach in Duxbury, Massachusetts. It was found Friday
morning (8/21) and was seen both Saturday and Sunday (I did not go after
this bird, but some of you may be interested). The Spotted Redshank at
South Beach has not been seen since last week...
Greg Miller
Lusby, MD