The Nutting’s Flycatcher is back!

Just after 8:00 this morning, after about 15 minutes of birding, I was walking down the road at Mosquito Flats in Bill Williams River NWR, planning out my post to the listserv about the continued absence of the Nutting’s Flycatcher.  Of course it was at that moment that I heard that singular “WHEEP!”  I didn’t think I had missed it so much, but that sound brought a huge smile to my face. It’s back!

The flycatcher is behaving much the same way it did last year.  It called infrequently and was difficult to pin down, but once I located it foraging next to the road, it gave me some great looks.  Photos and sound recordings below from this morning.

“Miss me?”
Eating a mantid.  Check out the cinnamon secondaries!
Short, stout bill, bright yellow belly, cinnamon secondaries, and a greenish back are all good field marks.
The Bill Williams River NWR is about halfway between Parker and Lake Havasu City.  You can get to the flycatcher from Highway 95.  Take Planet Ranch Rd east from the highway (between the refuge headquarters and the Bill Williams bridge) and drive to mile marker 2, where cliffs rise on the east side of the road and riparian vegetation borders the left side.  Also check out the map.

About Lauren Harter

I live in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where I work as a field biologist and spend as much of the rest of my time as possible looking at (and listening to!) birds.
This entry was posted in Bill Williams, Identification, La Paz County, LCRV, Sound Recordings, Vagrants. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to The Nutting’s Flycatcher is back!

  1. Fantastic! Great find once again Lauren.

  2. Yes!!! Awesome Lauren. This time I will make a chase for it. Hopefully next weekend; I pray the bird stays put until then. Thanks for posting this!

  3. Noah Gaines says:

    That is so great! I somehow never managed to see the bird last year. Keep us updated please.

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