I also thought that the bird in West Rutland Masch looked different than the 
Arlington bird , but thought that we were far away and were looking at the 
bird from an off angle to the sun so I wasn't sure about the male/female or 
breeding /non-breeding ID . But the Arlington bird was clearly a breeding 
plumage male. Later today if I have time I'm going to try to get some images 
of the rutland bird to try and answer these questions.

Good Birding
Peter Manship
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Mead" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:27 AM
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in West Rutland Marsh


Hello all,

First, let me say thank you to Peter Manship for his posting this afternoon 
of
this bird. When I saw his subject heading, I immediately opened it, read it 
and
then made the decision to drive down there and try for it. I arrived on 
Marble
St. (which is along the east side of the marsh) at 7:00 p.m. I got my first 
look
at this lifer at 7:09 p.m. I was able to observe it until 7:28 p.m. It was
hawking insects and/or perching on shrub and tree branches. It offered many
great looks for myself and seven other birders. I did take several pictures 
of
this bird but many of them did not come out very well. I looked at the 
pictures
that Peter Manship had posted on 5-10-09 and compared them to the ones
that I had taken this evening. I believe that the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 
that
I saw this evening may be a different bird than the one that he had taken
pictures of in Arlington. The most apparent difference between the two is 
the
coloration of the flanks. The Arlington bird has obvious pinkish colored 
flanks.
The West Rutland bird has little to no pinkisk color on its' flanks. A 
couple of
other birders (that were at the West Rutland location this evening) were
speculating that tonight's bird may be a female. Let me be clear; (they were
only speculating). I am pretty sure the one that Peter had taken pictures of 
is
a male.

Anyway, if others want to try to find this bird, see Sue Elliott's posting 
from
tonight for directions. The small trail that she is referring to is closer 
to station
#7 than station #6. I pushed a couple of old branches into the ground on
either side of that trail to help people find it.

I was very happy to get this bird tonight. I felt like I was given a second
chance and am glad that I took it. I had spent four hours Sunday afternoon 
in
Arlington hoping to get a look at that one but did not. . .


I also stopped in Brandon (on my way home) to try for Whip-poor-will and was
able to hear two of them. I was at the intersection of Long Swamp Rd. and
Short Swamp Rd. I heard one at 8:45 p.m. and the other at 8:52 p.m. I also
heard several American Woodcock's peenting and displaying.

Enjoy Birds,

Jim Mead