Observers: Tom & Jo Heindel
Email: tjheindelataoldotcom
Remote Name: 198.81.26.15
Date: 04/20/04
Time: 01:41 PM
Almost every spring there are reports of Willow Flycatcher far earlier than they are expected. Dusky and Gray Flycatchers arrive the first week of April, followed by Pacific-slope the next week, and Hammond's after mid April. Willow is not expected to arrive until after 10 May. This is based on over a century of data and includes the fact that Jon Dunn, who has spent more hours in the field than all of us combined, has never seen a Willow Flycatcher in CA before 10 May. This doesn't mean that one can never see one earlier but it does mean that detailed feather by feather description would be necessary before consideration as a scientific record. The good news about Grays is that they tip their tail downwards first...all other Empidonax tip their tail upwards first.