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English and Scientific names: |
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) |
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Number of individuals: |
One |
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Locality: LOUISIANA: |
Iberville |
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Specific Locality: |
farmstead along Levee Road, nr. North Farm of Sherburne WMA, ca. 5 mi. N of Ramah |
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Date(s) when observed: |
10 October 2007 |
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Time(s) of day when
observed: |
Observed at 7:15 AM,
then again between 7:40 and 7:55 AM |
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Reporting observer and address: |
Justin Bosler Baton Rouge, LA |
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Other observers accompanying reporter who
also identified the bird(s): |
Devin Bosler and Michael Seymour |
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Other
observers who independently identified the bird(s): |
Dave Patton |
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Light
conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount
of light): |
Poor initial lighting
conditions with the sun rising in the eastern sky. First observation the bird
was significantly silhouetted; however, better conditions followed with the
climbing sun. The phoebe's choice of perches (in areas shaded by equipment)
also offered quality, unbacklit views. |
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Optical equipment: |
Zeiss Victory FL 8x42 binocular x 2 Nikon Fieldscope ED w/
45-60x optical zoom |
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Distance to
bird(s): |
roughly 75-85 meters at
closest point |
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Duration of
observation: |
First observation
lasted approximately 1 minute. Second observation was 15 minutes. |
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Habitat: |
Farmyard with lots of old farm equipment bordered by several large trees and an early successional wooded corridor along a borrow pit stretching the length of the East Protection Levee. |
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Behavior of bird: |
The phoebe was actively sallying for insects from various pieces of farm equipment at variable heights off the ground. It remained in the farmyard throughout our observation. |
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Description: |
An overall dark, attenuated flycatcher with dark gray-brown head and upperparts with head and wings several shades darker than the mantle. Auriculars and loral area being darkest on the head. The throat was a light sooty-gray extending into a sooty-brown breast that blended into a rusty-salmon belly and undertail coverts. Tail was blackish with a slight notch. Relatively long and slender bill was black. Other soft part colors not noted. |
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Voice: |
No voice was heard. |
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Similar
species: |
There are no similar flycatcher species that are all dark above and below in lighted conditions. |
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Photographs
or tape recordings obtained? |
Photographs were obtained by Dave Patton on 9 October 2007. |
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Previous
experience with this species: |
Very familiar with this species from field work and birding in the Western U.S. |
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Identification aids: |
No identification aids used. |
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This description is written from: |
Primarily from memory. |
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Are
you positive of your identification? If not, explain: |
100% positive |
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Reporter: |
Justin Bosler
|
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Date and time: |
18 October 2007, 8:50 PM |