Re: Mississippi Kite at Furnace Creek Ranch

Observers: Matt Brady, Ryan Terril, David Vander Pluym, et. al.
Email: podoces@yahoo.com
Remote Name: 128.114.177.11
Date: 05/31/2005
Time: 08:52 PM -0400

Sighting

In addition to the afore-mentioned Mississippi Kite (which was extremely elusive, in stark contrast to Justin's experiences with it), we had a few other birds of note in Death Valley. At Furnace, two American Crows at the Stables were rare for the Valley. Four Vermillion Flycatchers (1 red male, 1 female, 2 immatures) were hawking bugs from the fence along the edge of the new sewage ponds. A large Myiarchus Flycatcher was briefly seen along the southern perimiter by Tom Wurster and Liga Azuins, while a White-winged Dove in the eastern Date Palm Grove and a female Purple Martin were also only seen by them. David and crew had an interesting Oporornis Warbler at Furnace Creek Inn, possibly a Mourning by call. Apparently it was even more elusive than members of this genus normally are. At Stovepipe Wells there was 1 Redhead, 1 Greater Scaup, 1 Great Egret, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 2 Gadwalls, and a bunch of baby Avocets. At one point the two Herons were standing out in the desert, which was an exceptionally odd sight. David reported a family of Long-eared Owls at Mesquite Springs, and Tom Wurster had an Indigo Bunting at Scotty's Castle. I didn't catch the age or sex of that bird, but I think it was a male. Good birding, Matt Brady Santa Cruz