Piratics on the High Plains

News broke on Friday that a Piratic Flycatcher (an ultra rare vagrant from Central America) had been found at Scott State Park in western Kansas. We wished we could chase it on Saturday, but had already had our "big day" at Quivira planned for several months. We decided to check after church on Sunday, and if it was still being seen, entertain chasing this first state record.

The bird was still being seen late Sunday morning so Anthony, Andrew, Bryant, Myron and my dad headed out that afternoon. We entertained ourselves along the way with county listing from the road, trying to rack up as many county "ticks" as we could, (I'm over 1,500 now!). By the time we were in Lane county the bird life had a distinctly western feel, with dozens of Lark Buntings skylarking along the road.

Scott State Park

We arrived at the park a little before six o'clock in the evening. We headed straight up to the flycatcher spot, where several people were strolling around rather aimlessly; a bad sign. We asked them and learned that the bird had not been seen since the last report we had heard at about 11:30 that morning, AARGH. We stayed in the area and re-found the Western Wood-pewee (a very good bird in it's own right) that had been found the day before.

Western Wood-pewee: Photo by Andrew

After standing hopefully near the low water bridge for a while -and reaching the conclusion that the flycatcher was nowhere around- we decided to make a few circuits around the park. We soon found this oriole, which we first thought was a Bullock's. Since we're back I've noticed that the eyeline was incomplete and that it had a bit of orange in the scapulars and lesser coverts, both pointing towards a Baltimore X Bullock's hybrid. So much for that Kansas lifer.

Not quite a Bullock's Oriole: Photo by Andrew

Anthony, Andrew and Bryant, birding hard

We waited for the flycatcher until about dusk, when we went to a nearby canyon to listen for Common Poorwills. We got very cold and did not hear any poorwills, although we did hear a few Rock Wrens. As we were leaving the park, Myron suddenly screeched to a halt. I was in the back seat and couldn't see what was going on, but gathered that there was a poorwill in the road. It flew across the road before circling back and landing in front of us again, casually flopping up and catching a bug every once in a while. We bailed out and crawled up to it, trying to get good pictures. It let us get within a few yards, but before we could get any really good shots, a honking vehicle came along and scared it (and us) off the road. The driver was no doubt slightly mystified by the sight of four guys belly-crawling down the road in the glare of our vehicle's headlights.

Common Poorwill: Photo by Andrew

The Piratic Flycatcher hasn't been seen since the last report Sunday morning, but Andrew Burnett, a birder from south-east Kansas, was successful in finding it on Saturday. He has some great shots on his Flickr album.

All in all, it was a great day birding despite the elusive flycatcher. Maybe the next big one will show up closer to home.

Joseph