December 7 - Vermilion

Today, I decided to go on a "chase".  There has been a relatively rare bird for Washington State, the Vermilion Flycatcher, frequenting a short stretch of neighborhood habitat along 98^th Ave. NW in Stanwood.  A number of birders have had the opportunity to see this species, which is common in its usual haunts from Baja California, through southern Arizona to south Texas, and south to South America.

A birder reported to the Washington Birders’ email Chat Group (“Tweeters”) that a local resident had become so angry with all the non-locals in the area, turning around in his driveway, etc., that “he retrieved a shotgun from his car, aimed it upwards, and discharged it repeatedly, both from the street and the dike, while yelling at everyone still on the street.”  She felt quite threatened.  I find this boorish, bullying behavior unacceptable, so forwarded her email to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s office, and they were following up as of Friday.  Also, today, Tom Mansfield and others met the brother of the threatening guy firing his gun; Tom notes that "the brother lives with the shooter and thinks, after spending more than a half hour with us in the cold looking for the flycatcher, that his brother is a little more understanding now; admittedly, still a little excitable."

In any event, I arrived at the area where the bird had been seen,

98th Avenue NW, Stanwood

and was the only birder there, parking off the road about a half-mile around the corner from the ‘neighborhood’, and walking back.  A Black Phoebe was actively feeding.

Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans

After a bit, birding talents Wayne Weber, Mike Nelson and Tom Mansfield also showed up, and a few other “road-hunters” did some drive-by birding. Around 11 a.m., Mike got a quick view of the Flycatcher, but we others missed seeing it.

The site is near the Stanwood Water Treatment Plant and the sough of the Stillaguamish River, so there were a fair number of waterfowl and raptors to be seen, along with the passerines.

Adult Bald Eagle

The Flycatcher didn’t show again by 1 p.m., so I went for lunch to the nearby Dos Reales restaurant.  My Spanish skills are lousy, but my appreciation for Mexican food is pretty good.  These are nice folks, the place was busy, and the plate of chorizo con huevos, rice and beans was huge.  It quite filled me up on a cold day.

I was back out a little before 2 p.m., and saw the Flycatcher just as I walked to the corner of 98^th and Leque Road.

A brief view of the Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus before it flew over the fence

I sent an email report to Tweeters, so that others might get a chance to see it.  Shortly after I saw the Flycatcher, an immature Cooper’s Hawk arrived at the site.

Immature Cooper's Hawk

Searching for brunch

One of the residents has a feeder out that attracts many White-crowned Sparrows and House Sparrows

Adult White-crowned Sparrow

and the hawk – being a predator on smaller avian species – was obviously drawn to the vicinity.  The young “Coop” was very actively hunting, and the sparrows burrowed into the depths of the Himalaya Blackberry brambles for safety.

Finally, the raptor hunted away to the north, without obtaining his evening meal at the 98^th Avenue Deli.  Mike returned, as did the lead biologist at BearSmartWA - Nadine Drisseq, who was right there with her camera as the Vermilion returned to the corner, and provided us with some great views, before flying to the south along a row of blackberry brambles.

Vermilion Flycatcher

A rare bird on a rare sunny day!

I enjoyed the 'chase', and meeting the several other birders. 

Morning eBird Checklist Here
Afternoon eBird Checklist Here