Monday, July 2, 2012

Sulphur Bellied Flycatcher

Dear blogger friends,  today is the last of the Ramsey canyon adventure.  But I'm sure we'll be visiting again soon considering this is a hummingbird magnet....and is VERY VERY cool compared to the Madera Canyon craziness.   But I think this post sums up why I bird.  Today I discovered a new bird to add to my list.  It's a lifer and I hope I've captured the magic of this event.  This is what Las Aventuras is all about.  Today I present to you all the Sulphur Bellied Flycatcher!
A rare bird to find in the US but one of the signature birds of Ramsey Canyon.  It's one of the very few places you can spot this fascinating bird.  AND it's as unique as the Elegant Trogon.  So today we have found ourselves with a jewel of a post.  I would click on the pics to make them bigger. The ears picked up on something and then my eyes caught yellow splashes up in the large Sycamore trees. I had noticed some weird flight pattern going on.   We stopped to watch and as we did I was shocked by what these adults were doing from their nest. 
Every two minutes, the parents would enter this nest high up.  As they did, they would feed their kiddos and then "shoot" like a cannonball out of the hole.  Drop down.   And fly off.  The photography was tricky so I observed their flight patterns several times to track and guess how and when they'd shoot out of the nest.
The most distinguishing characteristics of this flycatcher are the heavy streaking of its plumage, and its pale yellow belly. The bird also shows a rusty brown tail, and a black eyestripe. Its call sounds like noises made by children's or pet's 'squeaky-toys'.  And this is the important part of identifying the bird on a trail.....listening for a squeaky toy.  That's what caught my attention in the first place and helped me close in on the activity.
In and out they went.....
....in a very graceful pattern......

.....and then they'd "shoot" out of their "canon" and drop down.....
.....and fly to a tree while the other parent went to check them out.  A minute would pass and the younglings would call out and the parents would return....repeating the routine.
Our Wisconsin adventures begin tomorrow:)

16 comments:

  1. Very cool sighting of the flycatcher. Your photos are awesome and I like your tip on photographing the flycatcher. Never been to Wisconsin so I will enjoy the trip. Great photos, have a happy 4th of July.

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  2. Another lifer, I congratulate you.

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  3. Great photos of a wonderful bird Chris. Nothing quite matches the excitement of seeing a new species of bird :) The magic of the moment is so obvious in your words and pictures.

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  4. Such an interesting bird! You did a fantastic job of capturing it's routine!

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  5. Very nice find Chris, they look a bit more dapper than our Spotted Flycatchers! ...........back out in the rain and wind for me!

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  6. What an acrobatic little bird.

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  7. I can totally see why you 'bird', they are so delightful to watch. This little Sulphur Bellied Flycatcher and family are a hive of activity and such fun to watch. I know i get such pleasure out of my wild birds also, just love it when I look up and see a Kookaburra sitting on the fence looking at me !!

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  8. Nice routine... it allowed you to be prepared for the next shot and for us to admire your work and your patience.

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  9. Awesome captures! How fun to have observed them.

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  10. Wow, great shots, what interesting flight habits.

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  11. Wonderful! I'm almost as giddy as you are. I have never seen one of these before.

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  12. Ciekawe są obyczaje tych ślicznych ptaków. Zdjęcia są wspaniałe. Pozdrawiam.
    There are interesting habits of these beautiful birds. The pictures are wonderful. Yours.

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  13. Terrific photos of the Flycatcher, Chris. What a neat bird! I know you were thrilled to capture this one... I'm enjoying your trip to Wisconsin...
    Betsy

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  14. Congratulations on this find! It is a beautifully graceful bird. What unique parenting. Were your ears burning today?

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  15. Awesome! They and the Elegant Trogons are the top of my 'must-see' list. You totally nailed em' too. Nice work!

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  16. Wow, gorgeous shots of the beautiful bird.

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Thanks for stopping by!