English and Scientific names:	Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
Number of individuals:	1 AHY
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Plaquemines
Specific Locality:	16096 Hwy. 23 S, Becnel Citrus Farm, Alliance
Date(s) when observed:	18 February 2008
Time(s) of day when observed:	4:10-5:30 PM CST
Reporting observer and address:	Justin Bosler Baton Rouge, LA
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	Devin Bosler
Other observers accompanying reporter who independently identified the bird(s):	Dave Patton, Mac Myers, and James Beck, plus m.ob.
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	Excellent afternoon light with the sun on our backs for the duration of the observation.
Optical equipment:	Zeiss Victory FL 8x42 binocular (good condition) and Nikon Fieldscope 60ED w/ 45x optical zoom (fair condition)
Distance to bird(s):	Within 5-8 meters at closest point.
Duration of observation:	Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes
Habitat:	Open residential yard with tall sweet pecans, live oaks, and bald cypresses adjacent to citrus orchard. The phoebe, however, was frequenting the equipment yard adjacent to the Becnel home often perching on and sallying from man-made structures or farm equipment.
Behavior of bird:	The bird was actively flycatching around the equipment yard and used many different perches, but favored a couple more than others (e.g. blue tractor and green shed). Perch choice was usually low within 5-10 ft of the ground, but it did venture higher to a telephone pole on occasion. Sallies were usually short distance and often focused on prey below perch height. Often returned to same perch after sallies.
Description:	An overall dark, attenuated flycatcher with dark gray-brown head and upperparts; head and wings being decidedly darker than mantle. Broad grayish bars evident on greater and median upperwing coverts. Also contrastingly darker were the auriculars and loral area. The pale sooty-gray throat extended to the dark sooty-brown breast, which blended into the tawny belly and undertail coverts. The tail was relatively long and blackish with a slight notch and pale edges. The relatively long, slender bill was blackish. Legs were dark gray-brown.
Voice:	The typical call; a slightly downslurred, plaintive whistle “feee-ee”.
Similar species:	Eastern Phoebe ruled out by underpart coloration (=generally whitish with dusky feathers on breast and very pale yellow wash on belly and flanks). Adult and imm. female Vermilion Flycatcher ruled out by white supercilliaries and throat, and overall pale underparts with dark brown streaking on breast and yellowish to reddish wash on belly and flanks. Tail also shorter and lacking noticeable notch.
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	Digiscoped photos were obtained by Justin Bosler, and they are attached.
Previous experience with this species:	Extensive experience with this species throughout its breeding range in the West, and 3 prior sightings during fall 2007 in sc. and sw. LA.
Identification aids:	None
This description is written from:	notes made during the observation, memory.
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes, 100% positive.
Reporter:	Justin Bosler
Date and time:	10 March 2008 11:10 PM