"Mr.P" (Phainopepla) Update. So Very Sad

[MEGHAN]

I myself had the opportunity to photograph this beautiful bird and I feel honoured to have had this chance.
Thank you to the residents of the quiet streets in Brampton he called home.
Your open door policy to all of us who came to your neighbourhood will always be remembered.
Thanks you for allowing everyone to share in this rare joy.
Meghan




Posted on Ontbirds.


Subject: [Ontbirds] Phainopepla update Friday, Dec. 11, 16:00
From: dian bogie <owletdb>
Date: 11 Dec 2009 6:54pm

Good Evening Fellow Birders:
46 km/h winds; temp. -8 C; wind chill -18 C; my neighbour Sue and I
coincidentally meet, over backyard fences, before the sun sets; hoping that Mr.
P. will pop up as he has done for so many days in the past. Alas, he does not
and we both murmur to each other, that our worst suspicions, have become
reality. Optimistically, we hope that he has found a better, warmer, food laden
area to settle but realistically, we suspect that he has succumbed to the
horrible weather we've experienced, the past few days.We know that we've done
everything within our capabilities to provide Mr. P. with a great food source,
close to his shelter but I guess that it wasn't enough.
We also know, that Mr. P. has thrilled everyone who has seen him; scoped him;
bino'd him; videod him; heard him; listed him and chronicled his behaviour. What
 a splendid bird, whose colour, shape and size morphed so beautifully, as the
light and shadows changed. We have been privileged to have had, this far-flung
visitor, grace our metropolis.
I don't think that I will be posting again, about Mr. P. So with the grace of
Ont. Birds, I wish to thank, our great neighbours for their benevolence and
hospitality; Sue C; Shirley R; Rachel; Sue V. Their gracious invitations to
their backyards never wavered, regardless of weather conditions,  even when
their lawns got a little trampled.
I thank Sam B.; Barry C,; Jim L.; Moira; for their thoughtful, valuable
contributions.
I thank each and every one of you who have emailed me individually, and I just
hope that I've been able to respond to everyone. If I haven't', I apologize, I
did my best.
I thank everyone who has made the trip, long or short and hopefully had a good
experience.
I thank so many of you who made such great comments in the log book, even if you
 didn't get to see Mr. P.
I thank everyone for their suggestions and please know that they were carefully
considered.
I hope that I haven't missed anyone, for you've all been awesome, and once again
 if I've erred I apologize, I'm not accustomed to this.
Thank you Glenn Coady for your confidence in my very, first,through the window,
poor photos, authenticating this wonderful find!
 FOREVER GRATEFUL TO: MR.P. / PHAINOPEPLA, for this incredible experience.
Dian B.

[Ann Brokelman]

I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. P and what a wonderful thrill it was.  Dian and her friends were the best of hosts.  
Thank you Dian.
An awesome experience.

Ann

[Murray]

As a fairly new birder in the last few years I am lucky to have many highlights as many of the birds are new to me!
Definitely MR. P was one of the absolute most pleasureable moments in my new hobby! What an incredibly beautiful bird.
But I must second Ann when I thank Dian & her neighbors for making this bird such a rewarding experience!!!
I don't know if there is an award for Birder of the Year but if there is I think Dian should be the runaway winner!!!
Thanks again Dian!!!!

Murray Shields

[Raven11:11]

Just read your post, my question,  what was this guy doing so far North??

[BIGFRANK]

Not speaking in any official capcity,but its been suggested that with the proximity to the Pearson International Airport that it may possibly have been somewhere in landing gear machinery/area and come out when gear went down to land,thus making good its escape.
 No matter it was a fantastic bird to see,enjoyed by hundreds and short of trapping it,all was done to help it survive.

[norman]

Hello, Old Bean:

I delved into my "Birds and More Birds" bookcase as soon as I heard the news, so here goes ...

The Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Ontario, Second Edition, Ross D. James (Although others, most notably the late, extremely great Jon C. Barlow, former Curator of Ornithology, were involved in the first edition, but are not credited with contributing what was the groundwork for the second, and last, edition -- the politics of academia? Odd, that.) which was published 17/06/1991 (! -- no further editions followed) as a ROM Publications In Life Sciences declared:


  "Vagrant; one photographic record ... Elgin County, 27 December 1975 to 17 January, 1976 ... and the same bird (?) seen at London, 29 February to March 1976". The Brampton individual, as far as I know from the available literature, is/was (note that the first confirmed individual, if -- as seems likely --  was the same bird that wandered into London and stayed until March ... it's possible that the Brampton bird is on the move ...) the second proven appearance of this species in this province.

There is mention in one guide or another, and it is an established fact, that some individuals of this species, which summers in parts of California, but is abundant in Mexico and perhaps farther south (Silky Flycatchers are tropical in distribution; phainopeplas are the only species in North America, although there may be sightings of other Silkies in the southern U.S. -- I'll let someone else chime in on that if they have information), have a tendency to wander widely after breeding, and are formally described as "vagrant" in eastern North America.

I don't jump in a vehicle and chase birds around much these days (but I've got stories ...), but I regret not doing so in this case, for a few reasons; seeing a new species is always quite wonderful, particularly this one, and the un-Torontonian behaviour of those accommodating Brampton folks -- equally uplifting in this cold, grey lump of a city.

I'm quite the gas-bag tonight, no? Time to get ready for tomorrow and other things, so I trust this satisfies your curiosity. For now ... and stay curious!

-- nb

[Raven11:11]

If I had only caught this in nov I would have surely dropped by.  Unbelievable.

[GStuart]

While Brampton is close to the airport, the Phainopepla did arrive at more or less the same time that an Ash-throated Flycatcher showed up at Pelee and a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher smacked into a window in Oakville.  Possibly coincidence, but also possibly favorable winds.  I'm glad that I don't sit on the OBRC.

[norman]

I think this scenario can be treated with something approaching incredulity. Perhaps as a Rod Serling screenplay it would, ahem, "fly,", but it's a bit of a stretch ....

--nb (No offense intended).