elaenia in south texas

[Cin-Ty]

elaenia found today by Dan Jones in south Texas

pics are here
http://spinaturecenter.com/blog/

[Brian S]

Cin-Ty

It is probably not necessarily a good or sensible thing that a Brit would add his 'tuppenny-worth' on this bird, but in my defence I have been looking carefully at Elaenias in Brazil and at Tring in preparation for some illustrations.

I have not read anything on what Americans think it might be, but feel it fits into the White-crested albiceps and Small-billed parvirostris camp. To separate these two is difficult, but there is something about it which strongly reminds me of the Small-billeds I have seen and photographed in Brazil. On at least one image there appears to be a good grey wash on the breast - though this is variable - leaving a slightly paler chin/throat, the edges of the secondaries are nicely yellowish (but then so can White-crested).

Circumstantially, I think that Small-billed sometimes 'erupts' northwards, so could the appearance in Texas be linked with anything like this? Have any been seen further north of their range recently?

Brian S

[Alex Lees]

there are now two threads on this bird, my ten cents/pence is posted here (http://surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4936#post4936).

[AndyB]

Congratulations antshrike! Not every weekend you find a first for your country. Let's hope it overwinters...

More photos on Dan's blog here (http://antshrike.blogspot.com/)

[antshrike]

Sorry to be so late to reply. Yup, it's been pretty exciting down here. The opinion of those in the know leans toward White-crested Elaenia. There's a big controversy now about whether the bird should be netted to positively ID it. There are such great photos of the bird now that just about every feather can be examined and measured. there are even sound recordings. There are also those who think it should be netted, have its guts ripped out and then stuff it with cotten and stick it in a drawer. It may be a moot point as the bird has not been seen this morning.

Now on to the next one. The search never ends for us crazy birders!

[Brian S]

A few years ago, I went to a local birding spot hoping to see a Richard's Pipit. As I got closer to the bird, I realised that the bird I was watching was in fact a Blyth's Pipit (subtly different and much, much rarer in the UK). Over the next few days it was seen really closely, photographed, recorded and agreed to be a Blyth's. However, much to my chagrin after a week it was decided that it needed to be trapped, so a site was baited, the bird trapped, measured and ringed (banded) - amazingly identified as Blyth's - and released. The pipit flew to a bush, where it sat and preened for a while only for a local Kestrel to come and take it.

Though it was at the time the first accepted in the UK since about 1880 (other previous records have since been accepted), I still have doubts that there was a necessity to trap it - like the Elaenia in Texas.

Brian S

[Limeybirder]

With the amazing camera and sound recording technology we have at our disposal these days, I don't see it neccessary that they catch this bird. I am sure there are ornithologists in the regions where the elaenia is typically found have skin collections and/or banding data. Maybe not, I don't know but it seems that catching it might prevent many other birders from seeing this remarkable vagrant. Although the last I heard was that it hadn't been found the last 2 days. I hope the behaviour of some of the twitchers on that last night wasn't the cause of this birds sudden departure.

Is there still a policy of taking vagrant birds in this country? I have heard of rarities (either regionally rare or nationally rare) being taken (shot) by those with permits. I know that a Red-throated Loon was taken here in Leon County (1st county record) many years ago as was the states first and only Black-throated Sparrow. Does this still go on? Hope not.

[Vermfly]

I think collecting a bird this rare when people will be flying to come see it and is not only unreasonable and unnecessary but borders on the criminal. Current technology and careful observation will allow the identity to be deduced in good time.

[AndyB]

See Alan's blog for a bird he just found in the Falklands (where it's a rare vagrant) - maybe there's been a bit of a dispersal of this species recently:
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/falklandbirder/6375/White+Crested+Elaenia+-+Rare+Vagrant.html