June 2003 Field Journal 6.14/15 Yuba Pass
SANDHILL CRANE 3 at Marble Hot Springs Road (Jun 14)
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER CO-ON at Basset's (Jun 14)
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER CO-ON at Yuba Pass (Jun 14)
GRAY FLYCATCHER CO-ON at Yuba Pass (Jun 14)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER "Audubon's" at Basset's (Jun 14)
EVENING GROSBEAK Courtship at Basset's (Jun 14)Description of Gray Flycatcher:
On the 14th of June, I found an Empidonax flycatcher on nest at the Sierra Crest south of Hwy 49. The nest was within two feet of the ground in a large, broad-leafed, dense shrub such as one would find on any sunny exposure in the area with few to no conifers. Unfortunately, my knowledge of Sierra Nevada flora is not very good, as one can infer from the previous description.The short primary projection was immediately obvious and I immediately assumed that the bird was the expected Dusky Flycatcher. However, having the bird on nest afforded extended observations of the perched bird and I came to question my original identification. The bird was extremely pale, showing now hint of green whatsoever and extremely long-tailed with the tips of the primaries just reaching beyond the undertail coverts. The tail showed prominent whitish edges to the outer rectrices. The head was quite flat and showed no hint of crest, relaxed or otherwise. The bird was opening its mouth in an apparent attempt to regulate its body temperature and very clearly showed an entire yellow lower mandible to its longish bill. I did not detect any dark tip to the lower mandible. Bill width was difficult to ascertain. The bird did exhibit a significant pale loral region. The bird did not flick its tail. The bird did not vocalize.
Based on this description, I came to the conclusion that the bird was a Gray Flycatcher, far less expected than Dusky Flycatcher at roughly 7000'. Regardless of whether the identification is correct, I am curious to know what high altitude records there are for Gray Flycatcher in Sierra County. The '96 Checklist of Birds for the Sierra Valley and Yuba Pass Area indicates that Gray Flycatcher is typically found in "Jeffrey and pinyon pines, junipers; east slope" and "sagebrush and other desert shrubs; mountain mahogany". Gaines' Birds of Yosemite indicates that the bird might be found up to 8000' on the east slope (with one bizarre record from 11,000'). While this sighting does technically qualify as east slope (it was a good 10-20' east of the Sierra crest :-), the elevation and habitat does give me pause. In short, is Gray Flycatcher, nesting or otherwise, known in Sierra county anywhere near the Sierra crest?
58 species seen:
White-faced Ibis (8)
Turkey Vulture (3)
Canada Goose (8)
Cinnamon Teal (8)
Red-tailed Hawk (3)
Golden Eagle (7)
Mountain Quail (3)
American Coot (8)
Sandhill Crane (8)
Killdeer (8)
American Avocet (8)
Willet (8)
Calliope Hummingbird (3)
Hairy Woodpecker (3)
White-headed Woodpecker (1)
Black-backed Woodpecker (3)
Northern Flicker (3)
Pileated Woodpecker (5)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (3)
Western Wood-Pewee (1)
Hammond's Flycatcher (3)
Gray Flycatcher (3)
Dusky Flycatcher (3)
Warbling Vireo (1)
Steller's Jay (4)
Common Raven (1)
Horned Lark (7)
Tree Swallow (1)
Cliff Swallow (8)
Mountain Chickadee (3)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (3)
Brown Creeper (5)
Marsh Wren (8)
Hermit Thrush (3)
American Robin (3)
Sage Thrasher (8)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (1)
Hermit Warbler (1)
Wilson's Warbler (1)
Western Tanager (1)
Green-tailed Towhee (6)
Spotted Towhee (6)
Chipping Sparrow (3)
Brewer's Sparrow (6)
Savannah Sparrow (8)
Fox Sparrow (3)
Song Sparrow (1, 1)
Lincoln's Sparrow (3)
White-crowned Sparrow (3)
Dark-eyed Junco (3)
Black-headed Grosbeak (4)
Red-winged Blackbird (8)
Western Meadowlark (8)
Yellow-headed Blackbird (8)
Brewer's Blackbird (8)
Brown-headed Cowbird (8)
Cassin's Finch (2)
Evening Grosbeak (1)Locations:
1) Basset's (Jun 14)
2) Hwy 49 (Jun 14)
3) Yuba Pass (Jun 14)
4) Herrington's (Jun 14)
5) Hwy 49 (Jun 14)
6) Mountain Quail Road (Jun 14)
7) Portola Road (Jun 14)
8) Marble Hot Springs Road (Jun 14)
Home
You can contact me via email.