I finally got the opportunity to chase the Tropical Kingbird that was being reported near the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. It was Saturday, November 10th, the day before Jill's birthday. After five hours of unsuccessful efforts to locate it, I gave up and was driving out of the parking lot when I decided to check with another birder who was walking back to his car - and the rest, as they say, is history!
Much to my surprise there were two Tropical Kingbirds in the area. While I was photographing what I thought was the only one, another flew through and knocked the first from its perch! I just happened to be on the right bird at the right time and was able to capture the action.
I arrived at the Hatfield Marine Science Center at high tide shortly after sunrise. The temperature was in the high 30's, the skies were heavily overcast, and the wind was blowing out of the east at 10-12 mph. I was quickly chilled to the bone - I had not come adequately dressed. Thankfully the winds subsided and the skies cleared as the morning progressed. Even though I did not find was I was looking for during the first five hours of walking the grounds, I did get great looks at a flock of Brant on the bay, and a Common Loon and Horned Grebe that were hanging out between the docks.






The Tropical Kingbird is an extremely common and widespread bird of the American tropics, the northern part of it's range usually does not extend beyond south Texas and southern Arizona.
(Online - The Cornell Lab of Ornithology - http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tropical_Kingbird/id)
|
(1)
January (1)
(5)
February (5)
(5)
March (5)
(5)
April (5)
(2)
May (2)
(6)
June (6)
(3)
July (3)
(5)
August (5)
(5)
September (5)
(4)
October (4)
(5)
November (5)
(5)
December (5)
|
(1)
January (1)
(4)
February (4)
(1)
March (1)
(5)
April (5)
(2)
May (2)
(3)
June (3)
(4)
July (4)
(4)
August (4)
(3)
September (3)
(2)
October (2)
(2)
November (2)
(3)
December (3)
|
(1)
January (1)
(3)
February (3)
(2)
March (2)
(2)
April (2)
(3)
May (3)
(3)
June (3)
(3)
July (3)
(3)
August (3)
(2)
September (2)
(2)
October (2)
(2)
November (2)
December
|
(1)
January (1)
February
(2)
March (2)
(1)
April (1)
(4)
May (4)
(3)
June (3)
(3)
July (3)
(1)
August (1)
September
October
(1)
November (1)
December
|
(1)
January (1)
(1)
February (1)
March
April
(3)
May (3)
(3)
June (3)
(1)
July (1)
August
(1)
September (1)
October
November
December
|
January
February
(1)
March (1)
April
May
(1)
June (1)
(1)
July (1)
August
September
(1)
October (1)
(1)
November (1)
(1)
December (1)
|
January
February
March
April
(2)
May (2)
June
(1)
July (1)
August
September
October
(2)
November (2)
December
|
January
February
March
April
(1)
May (1)
June
(1)
July (1)
August
September
(2)
October (2)
(1)
November (1)
December
|
(1)
January (1)
February
March
April
May
June
(1)
July (1)
August
September
October
November
December
|
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
|
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
|
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
|
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
|
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
|