Willow Flycatcher at Amargosa

Observers: Justin Hite
Email: jmh58@cornell.edu
Remote Name: 64.63.203.232
Date: 05/16/2005
Time: 09:44 PM -0400

Sighting

Saw it while looking for a Song Sparrow nest. It was in the young willows and burnt tamarisk calling 'whit' again and again. Also got great looks at a singing Crissal Thrasher. The BNA account for CRTH says that they are "spectacular birds in many ways","decidedly elusive", and according to Joseph Grinnell "difficult to shoot". This one was behaving almost like a Mockingbird, singing on top of an Atriplex for several minutes while I stood less than 50 m away. Beautiful bird.