A Day of Gray

The skies were quite gray this afternoon, at least in my neighbourhood.  But it was sunny this morning and into early afternoon.

Gray was the word of the day, as a Gray Kingbird was discovered near St. Clair National Wildlife Area by Paul Pratt and Paula O'Rourke.  It was just before high noon.

I was in the midst of making sandwiches for lunch when I received the word on the Discord alert.  Since St. Clair NWA is not too far away (35 min drive on a good day), I had to try for it.  

So much for that lunch!  Brings me back to another rare flycatcher nearby, when a Vermilion Flycatcher was found just north of Wallaceburg.  I was at work and had just sat down to eat lunch when I got the word.  Off I went!  Another abandoned lunch.

I arrived on the site less than a hour after the initial sighting.  I saw the subject bird perched on a hydro wire in the described location.  It was even singing/calling.  Somewhat phoebe-like to my ears, but quite light and musical.

This is my initial sighting from distance.  

I stayed put, and bird came a bit closer.

I only watched it for a few minutes, then it took off quickly in a northerly direction over the adjacent field.  I observed it until it was well out of sight.

I stayed a few more minutes, talking to Paul, and did not see it.  However, just after I left, it came back.  Thankfully, since many birders were on their way to see this rarity.

I had to leave anyway, as I had a pre-arranged commitment at home.

This is Chatham-Kent's first record to my knowledge, and one of only a handful of records for the province.

I did see one at Point Pelee on August 4, 2001 at De Laurier.  That was an interesting day, as I had went into work that morning.  There was nothing to do that day, so I went home and checked Ontbirds (no text alerts in those days!).  A Gray Kingbird was being seen at De Laurier, so I made a beeline there and saw the bird.

Maybe things are picking up.  Some other birders who had gone for today's kingbird found a Little Blue Heron along the Thames River west of Chatham on their way home!

What will tomorrow bring?