American Redstart et al. on Rush
June 17th, 2009 by Chris McCreedy
Date of sighting: 17 June 2009
My first day in the field on lovely Rush Creek. I found a second-year male American Redstart gleaning silently in the yellow willows. He had a splotch of black on his chest like a geek with a leaky pen. A nesting pair of Warbling Vireos (rarer on Rush than Willow Flycatchers) chased him away. Ironically, this is the third AMRE I have found within a 100m radius section of Rush.
Once, a male AMRE sang there for around two weeks or something obscene like that.
Most intriguing were two counter-singing Swainson’s Thrushes – I have never heard a SWTH sing on Rush, let alone counter-singing. The two each gave their full range of calls, lots of song, the high singular note, and the low singular note that sounds almost like a ground squirrel.
Willow Flycatchers were building nests today – the ninth straight season that Willow Flycatchers have nested on Rush Creek. One pair has been here since 2003 (Nellie and Phil). The second nest’s male (Yossarian) has been here since 2005. I have not re-sighted that nest’s female yet.
Also, a Spotted Towhee nest and two Yellow Warbler nests. None parasitized by cowbirds so far.
This post was submitted by Chris McCreedy.
