Yesterday morning I was walking the field between the hotel and
Foamhenge and spotted a bird perched up in a bare tree sticking out of
a patch of red-cedars. I was hoping for a shrike, but thought it was
probably a mockingbird. But as I got closer, I realized it wasn't
either of those. It was perched upright, with its tail--which was
long, but not as skinny as a mockingbird's--pointed straight down. Its
plumage was a much deeper gray, and it appeared to have some
silvery-white "scales" on the wings or sides of the back. I got a
little closer and it looked like it's head was small, with a little
bill and a strong eyering like some flycatchers or Ruby-crowned
Kinglet (or thrush, of course; I even briefly thought it may have been
a robin). When I got too close, it dove into the bushes (flight was
very direct) and vanished. No amount of pishing, screech-owl
recordings, or just walking around where it landed could get it back
out, and it was time to leave for work.
This was the first time in a long time that I had no idea what I had
seen. When I was finally able to check a field guide (Sibley), I
looked through the whole book and the bird that was most consistent
with what I saw was Townsend's Solitaire. I read the entry in Dunne's
book, and it also seemed convincing, particularly the mention of the
bird's structure, trogonlike posture, obvious eyering, and association
with junipers.
I went back twice today with a camera and couldn't relocate the bird.
And there is the chance that something weird escaped from the nearby
zoo. But as far as North American birds go, Townsend's Solitaire looks
like the best guess.
Opinions?
Wes Teets
Buchanan, VA
