Bob Augustine just called to alert me, and MDOsprey, about this bird that was
seen near Waynesboro, PA, just north of Hagerstown, MD. It could easily
pass through Maryland. See below, from the PA listserve:
Subject: Fork-Tailed Flycatcher-Franklin County
From: "Dale L. Gearhart" <gear AT INNERNET.NET>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 11:17:28 -0400
PA Birders, I received a call last evening from a very reliable birder (Denny
Bingaman) in Franklin County telling me he saw a Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
along the Honodel Road south of Waynesboro. After questioning him about it's
appearance, etc. he mentioned that the head was black on the top which cause a
red flag to show up for me. After much discussion and his looking at a field
guide again it had to be a Fork-Tailed Flycatcher and he agreed. This person is a
photographer and unfortunately did not have his camera with on his way home
from work. He was attracted to this bird because he thought it was carrying
nesting material that was dangling from his body in flight. When it landed on a
power line he got a very good look at it. From the power line it flew southward
and has not been seen since. Bob Keener and I went looking for it this
morning with no luck. I will go looking again for this bird and if it is sighted I
will post it. Since Denny is a good birder I feel confident it was a
Fork-Tailed Flycatcher. I believe only one has been sighted in PA in 1875 thanks to the
new PA Annotated Bird List just published by Frank & Barbara Haas and I
received today. Any question should be emailed to me at the address below. Dale L.
Gearhart P.O. Box 155 Shady Grove, PA 17256 dlgearhart01 AT comcast.net (717)
597-3979
Paul O'Brien
Rockville, Mont. Co., MD |