[Birdtalk] River Lane blue-gray gnatcatchers

[L. D. Giddings]

I observed three blue-gray gnatcatchers this morning at about 10:30 a.m.
on River Lane near the end of the road and the river's mouth. On
spotting the first bird I thought I was seeing things, and then I
thought that perhaps it was an aberrant ruby-crowned kinglet. But while
watching it a kinglet settled on a branch about 12" distant from it,
providing a very nice opportunity for comparison and a bit of self
reassurance as well. While I watched the one bird, a second was calling
incessantly, immediately across the river, while a third called from the
brush behind me. This is about two months later than most normal records
for the species. Anyone out there with late date information?

Other than the gnatcatchers, nothing unusual was observed except for the
presence of a lone mountain chickadee keeping company with a small flock
of black-capped chickadees.

Lu Giddings