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Scissor-tailed flycatcher



We live on a 100 acre farm that has a mix of pasture (40 acres) and
woods (60 acres) in southern Union Co. NC, 5 miles north of the SC
border.  There is a 3/4 mile road that leads up to our house.
Thursday evening at 6 PM my son was driving up the road (traveling east)
when he spotted a bird he is convinced was a scissor-tailed flycatcher.
He is 32 years old and grew up birding with not only our family but also
(when he was young) with Whittier Audubon (CA) and some bird counts with
Mecklenberg Audubon.  He described the following:  the bird was sitting
on the electric wire, it flew when he passed by.  He drives a VW bus.
The bird flew along beside him for most of the way up the hill then
headed for the woods.  He clearly saw a long tail, a light gray breast,
and  red markings under the wings.

I did not post this yesterday hoping to see the bird to verify the
sighting.  I have seen a scissor-tailed flycatcher out west, but did not
think there was any possibility of seeing one in NC.   I have not seen
any other postings of such a sighting this year. (I think there was a
sighting last year in SC.)  Has anyone else seen one?

As a long-time birder, I remain skeptical that the bird really was a
scissor-tail but cannot think of any alternative.  Any suggestions for
alternatives?

Anne Olsen

--
Anne L. Olsen
aolsen@wingate.edu