From: "Bill Hubick" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 9:54 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Recent Photos--Correction


> Hi Everyone,
>
> I need to retract the Least Flycatcher from the 9/7 list in Charles Co.
The individual was actually an Acadian. When that flock approached, my
initial impression of the flycatcher's "whit!"-type notes was that it was a
Least, and this impression distracted me from details such as overall
structure, shape of the eye ring, tail shape, etc. Confirmation bias is a
powerful thing--the brain often sees what it expects to see after those
first impressions. Now I look at the photo and think, "Yes, that's an
Acadian!" Thanks to Matt Hafner and Dave Ziolkowski for the good catch and
excellent notes on the bird's plumage details.


 Bill and all,

It's nice that some folks can sort empies out without hearing them. I had
two of them feeding in the yard yesterday - very unusual for here - and I
had no clue. No vocalizations at all. I was thinking of just throwing all
the empie names (including the western versions) in a hat and drawing one
out and that's what the the birds would be.

But then everybody would have been stirred up if I drew out a Pacific Slope
or something and posted it.

Jerry Tarbell
Empied in Carroll County