 Vermilion
Flycatcher is a rare vagrant in Monterey County; records are split between
spring overshoots and fall vagrants. Four of six records (through 2004)
have been in mid-October, 3 apparently imm. females and one young male.
This latter bird was at Moonglow Dairy, Moss Landing, on 10 Oct 2004 and
is shown in the photos right & below (4 shots in total at various angles;
© D. Roberson). As is illustrated by this collection, it appeared
very much like a female from the back but had varying amounts of red appearing
on the belly, breast, and crown. Vermilion Flycatcher is a small phoebe-like
flycatcher in its upright posture and expressive tail. This one was on
a fenceline with Say's Phoebe and was decidedly smaller. |
|
The other October vagrants have been female-plumaged, and only one
was photographed: the two prints (below) were taken in Charles & Dianne
DeWeese's backyard in Del Rey Oaks on 13 Oct 1992 (photos © D. Roberson).
One description of this bird reads:
| Small upright flycatcher (perhaps Willow Flycatcher size; nothing to
compare nearby) with short black bill, dark brownish upperparts, and white
underparts, strongly washed with pink on flanks & belly. Throat clean
white but breast has fine streaking above pink wash. Head darker than rest
of brown upperparts; fairly short expressive tail also darker brown. Tertials
edged tan-brown, but no wingbars. Borrowed print film from DeWeeses for
photos; q.v. — D. Roberson (written 13 Oct 1992). |
|
 The
remaining records have been of overshooting spring males in late May or
June. Doug George found the first modern record along the Big Sur R. on
14 June 1989, perched over the river on cottonwoods between the main parking
lot and the campground. This was before the establishment of the Big Sur
Ornithology Lab, so this was one of the first major rarities to be found
at Big Sur R. mouth. It was successfully chased by several during its one-day
stay (photo right © Robert F. Tintle). |
