nesting flycatchers

A pair of flycatchers nested in this box last spring and are looking it over again now.

another look

full flaps

Beautiful bird! Thanks for sharing!

Marilyn

Great flying pic!

kikisdad; Do you know which flycatcher that is? I have the vermillion here. That second picture is so cute...He wants to know what in the heck are you looking ?

I would 'venture' a guess as an Ash-throated flycatcher, but size and voice would be a factor. Can you give an approximate size and if you hear is vocalize, what it sounds like?

We have brown-crested flycatchers that nest in a palm tree in the neighbor's yard. I was so happy last spring when I watched them bring their 3 fledglings to the telephone wire over our backyard, then spend about 1/2 hour catching wasps that were buzzing around the ponds. They would catch them, take them to the wire, smack them around alittle (remove stinger, kill wasp) then feed them to the kids. Fun to watch and great to get rid of those dang wasps!

Susie

All these yellow birds look the same to me.
Birdlady, I don't know about wasps, but I found out that bees don't like Pam. I now spray it on my hummingbird feeder and they will not land on it.

kikisdad ...

Some nice shots you pulled off there!

The Western Kingbird and the Great Crested Flycatcher, both .. winter-over in the southern part of Florida.
However, the Great Cresteds' markings seem to fill-the-bill a bit more; especially with the view of the undersides in your (3rd) 'full flaps' shot .. (the reddish tail, etc)

- Magpye

I have a crested flycatcher. Only see it about once or twice a year. Stays in the brush it seems. Nice looking bird, I was very excited to see something different. I only assume it is the same one coming back each year. really have no clue.

The great crested was our "pretty sure" ID on this pair. They are around again on and off but not nesting as yet. If they do I'll try to get some close-ups for a positive ID. Right now I'm trying to predator proof the bluebird box before that pair start nesting again. They're perpetual honeymooners those bluebirds. This is from last April.

I am going to get a piece of iron pipe and mount the house atop it so I can then put a baffle type predator guard on it. The squirrels were a nuisance last time although the bluebirds managed to fledge 3 young successfully

betterbloom... what made you decide to try spraying pam on your hummingbird feeder? (Glad it works, but it's kinda like... "who was the first person to eat an oyster"?

Answer to the oyster question: someone who was really hungry!

Brenda

would you give some info on your box that the flycatchers use? I know I have one or more flycatcher around the yard. Sometimes it sits on the tomato cage and swoops down to the ground for something in the garden.

Great photos, good info!

Bsavage: There is a hummingbird ranch near you (I think), in Cave Creek, that has a web site. I found the info on there.
www.hummingbirdworld.com

bb, The "Cave Creek Ranch" is in Portal, AZ -- which is in Southeastern AZ. Southeastern Arizona is crammed full of birding (and "hummingbirding" = lol) hotspots. The Tucson people have it better than the Phoenix people! (Cave Creek is part of the massive Phoenix metropolis.)

Magpied: Have you been to the Cave Creek Ranch? I'd like to take a drive out there one of these days.

I have never seen a flycatcher - what a wonderful education these posts are! Thanks for posting.

bb, Alas, I have not been to southeastern Arizona. I've wanted to go to SE Az for only 20+ years! When you say "out there", do you mean Phoenix or SE Az? (The town of Cave Creek is in the Phoenix metropolis--which is not in SE Arizona.) My birding/photographer friend recently bought a second home in SE Az (Miller Canyon) but my health is so bad I'm afraid I'll never make it. There are many places to see in SE Az -- Ramsey Canyon (Chiricahua Mtns.), Madera Canyon, Patagonia, Sonoita--just a few off the top o' my head... They all have motels and/or B&B's nearby. Birdlady Susie might chirp in with some suggestions. ;-) It depends on what you want to see!

I'd like to see birds, of course(LOL) So I take it SE Az is mostly mountains ? Phoenix sounds interesting and then I could also do some shopping after sight seeing. Oh course I'd have to hit a few nurseries while I'm there. I'll go back to the website on Cave Creek hummingbird ranch and see if they're open in the spring. Phoenix is only about 2 hours from here so I might be able to do this one day. Since I have cats, it's hard to get away for much longer than that.

they are really neat birds. I had them nest at the old place. We call them whooper birds. Something DH can relate to lol. That's what they sound like, well more like weep but it is one DH can ID by voice

hereis the re-mounted bluebird house

another view

construction steps for re-mount:

buy two flanges and a 5' piece of 1" black iron pipe

cut the baffle from 26 gauge galvanized sheet steel. I bought a 3' by 9' piece and made several baffles

finished predator guard baffle

nubs were screwed to pipe to make the baffle mount

assembled pole ready to fasten house on top and lower flange to top of the 4x4 post

OK. We built it but will they come?? HERE birdie,Birdie...

Thats very nice!

An excellent set-up you've got there! That's the dandiest lookin' baffle too ..

- Magpye

found pic on mine nest in 2005

These guys are really cute!

Thats a good shot DonnaB. What time of year did they nest in your area?