Monday, December 5, 2011

Dec 4-10: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Victoria

Report from Steven Roias:

"I spotted the Gnatcatcher at 09:30 on Saturday (Dec 04) at the Cook street entrance to Beacon Hill park. It was foraging erratically at the tree tops usually alone, but was accompanied by a loose flock of Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets. After half an hour or so, the Gnatcatcher and Kinglets moved on towards James Bay. I never did check for the bird again."

Dec 10 UPDATE: Still present in the AM-- in the same area (in between the tennis courts and the maintenance yard). Later on at 1030, it was near the totem pole, then around 1130 it was in the SE corner of the park.
--You can also track some of the previous sighting locations HERE.

7 comments:

  1. The gnatcatcher was found by yours truly at 12:45 on December 6th in the birch and evergreen trees directly in front of the entrance to the maintenance yard, which is adjacent to the northern extremities of 'Lover's Lane'. Drive into Beacon Hill Park from Dallas Road past the world's tallest totem pole, past the orange fencing surrounding part of 'Lover's Lane' to the wooden fence line and park. Walk east to the yard entrance and look in the area. It was with a large feeding flock and seemed to be loosely associated with the bushtits. The photograph taken is unrecognizable due to backlighting.

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  2. Thank you warbler; if you or anyone else manages to get a pic, please send it on over! Cheers.

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  3. It was seen again at 9:15 on the 8th in the tall oak near the SE corner of the tennis courts. I'll see how my pics turned out.

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  4. Seen again on December 9th: Follow sightings at this link; http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=200650782633065804711.0004b374069b042550fc2&msa=0&ll=48.411236,-123.3602&spn=0.003639,0.008969

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  5. The image on the 'What's New' album is taken from the Internet to advertise the sighting and not of the actual bird. Thanks for the praise on the New Zealand trip report and yes that is the famous pelagic birding town on the South Island.

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  6. Cheers, had some great times down there (I lived in Dunedin for 11 months).

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