Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd
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Lake Aquitaine and "mystery bird" - Wed. Feb. 22nd

Bird Brain · 9 · 1830
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Bird Brain

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on: February 22, 2012, 01:22:37 PM
Hi everyone.  This morning at 10am, bumped into Bob (rcflier) so we walked around Lake Aquitaine 2x until 12pm.  Sighted the following:

Blue Jays
Canada Geese
Cardinals
Chickadees
Crows
Gulls, mainly Ring-billed
House Sparrows
Mallards
Mockingbird x 2
Robins

Bob sighted the "mystery bird" - small and grey, every birder's bane!   :shock:
Description:  Small, approx. 5", light grey, very distinct forked tail, slight head tuft - or was that just the 54 km/hr. wind gusts?!, single white bar on wings, dark beak.  Any ideas on this one?

Lake Aquitaine:  SE corner of Glen Erin Dr./Aquitaine Ave., behind the Meadowvale Community Centre.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".

newfoundlander61

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Reply #1 on: February 22, 2012, 01:47:11 PM
Have a look at some images of a Tufted Titmouse on google ans see if its your bird. Size matches as well as Head Tuft.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

thouc

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Reply #2 on: February 22, 2012, 02:39:12 PM
Could it have been an Am. Goldfinch? They are pretty dull looking in winter and have wing bar and forked tail, no tuft though.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Reuven_M

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Reply #3 on: February 22, 2012, 02:48:14 PM
A goldfinch is the only thing I can think of
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Bird Brain

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Reply #4 on: February 23, 2012, 09:04:56 AM
Hi guys.  Thanks for the suggestions!  

Reuven and thouc ... I've sighted lots of female Goldfinches before and this wasn't a match.

Paul ... took a look at Google Images and seems to be a great match for Tufted Titmouse but I still can't say Yes 100%.  Wouldn't be able to check this one off on a bird count sheet either.  

Unfortunately, I don't have a camera.   :|
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".

cloaca

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Reply #5 on: February 23, 2012, 11:53:27 AM
Tufted Titmouse lacks two of the five characters you noted: a distinctly forked tail and white wing bar.

There are some really drab goldfinches out there:  http://www.ratherbephotog.com/birds/fin ... AMGO02.jpg
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

thouc

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Reply #6 on: February 23, 2012, 01:11:50 PM
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet could possibly fit the description if the bird was really small. Pretty rare in the winter, but not impossible.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

rcflier

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Reply #7 on: February 23, 2012, 02:29:49 PM
I would like to suggest an Olive Sided Flycatcher.  The tail features of the flycatcher are definitely what we saw in this specimen.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Bob

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Reply #8 on: February 23, 2012, 03:39:31 PM
Hi Bob,

Unfortunately it wouldn't be a flycatcher at this time of year as there are no flies for it to eat.

Sorry I don't have a suggestion for you.

Happy Birding!
Walter
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

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