Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in NYS
Published: October 17, 2018
Tags: Life List Happenings, scissor-tailed flycatcher, western kingbird
I had been debating on going to see the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, a very rare visitor to NYS, for close to a week. Against all odds, reports were coming in that the bird was still being seen each day; I had been expecting it to leave the day after it was found! Well, thanks to the gentle prodding from my good friend, Celeste, I finally got out there in time to see this southern vagrant before those northerly winds took it back home.
It didn't take us long to find the bird once the 4+ hour trip got us to Krumkill Road (yes, Krumkill!) in Albany County. We found the very long-tailed flycatcher perched nicely on a white fence just a little further down the road from where it was originally found. The bird was very cooperative and fanned that beautiful tail for us a few times, we saw it flycatching and eating its prey, and we watched it flit from the fence to a tree top and back again several times. All in all, it was a wonderful experience that I'm so glad I went for. It was a thrill to add this long hoped-for bird to my life list and Celeste got to add it to her state list.
In the meantime, back near home, a Western Kingbird had been found. I didn't think there would be enough daylight left by the time I got there to be able to see it but, as luck would have it, I ended up making it in just enough time. The western flycatcher was out in a field, kind of hunkered-down due to the cold winds and the first snow fall of the season. I'm sure he was regretting whatever mishap brought him to the cold Northeast! I spent a few minutes watching him sit there, grabbed a few record photos, and finally went home after a very long - but very fulfilling day!
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with an insect Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with his prey Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Record shot of a cold Western Kingbird found by Josh Ketry
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