Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Alder Flycatchers of the Vermilon River. A Post to WBW

Alder Flycatcher
I had posted these two photos as unknowns in my Warbler post of last week, and requested some ID help. Hilke came up with the ID suggesting they were Alder Flycatchers from their eye ring and prominent carriage, and I expect the wash on their lower chests. Well lo and behold, when I was hiking this week who came to pose for me almost perfectly, I might add, but another of these guys!!
Alder Flycatcher.

Alder Flycatcher.

Alder Flycatcher.

100% blow up.

These photos confirm Hilke's ID. So way to go, Hilke. These birds are illusive and I can attest to that. The common ID is the white eye ring, the triangular head, and the orange lower mandible, as well as the wing bars, although all the websites pointed out the difficulty with identification, and the fact that little is known about the flycatcher group. These guys get their name from from their preference to live in alder groves, where they feed on insects and berries. In this case they're living in the dogwood and pin cherry brush that borders the feeder creek that joins the the Long Lake wetland to the east track wetland. 

By the way the 100% blow up shows the quality of the Sigma 150-500mm. lens. You won't do much better than that.
A Post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/
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50 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 19, 2011 at 4:58 AM

    Ah- such charming pictures!

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  2. Lois EvensenJuly 19, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    A very pretty fellow.

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  3. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    Thanks Ladyfi.

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  4. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    He is Lois!!

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  5. TexWisGirlJuly 19, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    i have the hardest time determining different flycatcher breeds. these are really lovely, charming photos!

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  6. theconstantwalkerJuly 19, 2011 at 12:04 PM

    A beautiful bird to see Gary you have so much to share from your local area... and I'm so pleased you do.

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  7. Johnny NutcaseJuly 19, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    I'm a fan of Alders. Flycatchers are so hard to identify a lot times, makes me crazy! Nice shots!

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  8. mickJuly 19, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    Beautiful birds and good that you have an ID for them now. btw I have the same lens for my Pentax and am very happy with it.

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  9. LouiseJuly 19, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    What a cute little critter. So bright-eyed. Thanks for the glorious pictures.

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  10. Hilke BrederJuly 19, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    Great images, Gary. I see the Sigma 150 - 500 is performing very well for you!

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  11. jooJuly 19, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    Lovely bird to watch!

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  12. eileeninmdJuly 19, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    Great shots of the flycatcher.

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  13. SpringmanJuly 19, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    Hey Gary! Nice shots of the flycatchers and yes those poses are excellent. Sigmas Bigma 150-500 is a sweet lens, you've proved that. I know I juggled between it and the classic 400mmL that I finally bought for my Canon setup. It sure would be nice to have that extra 100mm of length and the advantage of working it back wider toward the 150mm end would be great. I'm sure you get shots that I can't with the prime. Stellar work Gary!

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  14. Stewart MJuly 20, 2011 at 2:49 AM

    Hi there - its nice to have an on-line ID service!

    Cheers - Stewart M

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  15. Tatjana ParkachevaJuly 20, 2011 at 3:38 AM

    Very good photos.

    Regards!

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  16. ArijaJuly 20, 2011 at 4:17 AM

    Isn't it great when someone rises to the occasion and identifies a bird for us? I always appreciate a bit of help.
    They are great little birds.

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  17. Esther GarviJuly 20, 2011 at 4:37 AM

    Charming little birds!!

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  18. Crafty Green PoetJuly 20, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    if only all birds would pose so thoughtfully for the photographer! Lovely photos,

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  19. ksdoolittleJuly 20, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    Just beautiful. They pass through my property during migration in the spring and usually I get a picture or two, but this spring was so miserable, if they showed up, I wasn't outside to greet them. Their vocalizations usually give them away. Aren't they the ones that say, "Reveal, reveal"?

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  20. Bob BushellJuly 20, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Beautiful shots.

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  21. AnonymousJuly 20, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    Wonderful shots of this lovely little bird!

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  22. VictoriaJuly 20, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    Lovely series of images and an illustration of one of the best things about posting to WBW... getting help with ID for birds we don't know. As you might have noticed in my post (thanks for stopping by), when I originally posted I didn't have an ID for the White Wagtail I'd seen in Sweden. A fellow blogger dropped by and gave the ID after I'd seen a very similar bird in the video he posted to WBW and asked him for an assist. :-)

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  23. jeanlivingsimpleJuly 20, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    Gary, Hats off to Hilke for ID'ing this cool bird and to you for getting these great captures!!!
    Give Boomer a pat on the head from me.:)

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  24. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:45 AM

    Thanks ladyfi.

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  25. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:45 AM

    He is Lois.

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  26. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:45 AM

    They are hard Texwisgirl.

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  27. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    Thanks Andrew!!

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  28. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:47 AM

    They are johnny.

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  29. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:47 AM

    In all around value the lens is great mick.

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  30. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:48 AM

    Thanks Louise.

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  31. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:48 AM

    Thanks for the ID Hilke.

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  32. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:49 AM

    Thanks joo.

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  33. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:49 AM

    Thanks eileen.

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  34. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:51 AM

    The trouble with buying brand excluding the camera is the premium you pay for it, Springman.

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  35. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:51 AM

    Hi Stewart.

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  36. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:51 AM

    Thanks TP.

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  37. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:52 AM

    It sure is Arija.

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  38. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:52 AM

    Thanks Ishtar.

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  39. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    You're right CGP.

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  40. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    The last part I don't know; one of the websites has vocalizations, Karen.

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  41. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    Thanks Bob.

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  42. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:55 AM

    Thanks BRC.

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  43. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:55 AM

    It is Victoria.

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  44. UnknownJuly 21, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    I gave him a pat Jean.

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  45. NatureFootstepJuly 21, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    that´s a flycatcher I didn´t know.

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  46. SondraJuly 21, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    THAT's the wonderful thing about having these great birders at our disposal...to call upon when needed...Awesome photos---its a beauty!!

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  47. UnknownJuly 22, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    Never heard of this one. What a Beauty & what lovely shots!

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  48. UnknownAugust 1, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Thanks Nicole.

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  49. UnknownAugust 1, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    That's right Sondra.

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  50. UnknownAugust 1, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Yup it is NF.

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