Unusual coastal visitor – Townsend’s Solitaire

[All photographs copyright, Gary Nunn 2013] – Amid a strong showing of spring migrants this morning at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery I found this fairly cooperative Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi happily feeding in a fruiting tree. I was more surprised when it reappeared later hovering under a dripping faucet trying to obtain some water! It did not allow too close an approach and quickly sailed off on its large wings and long tail, almost cuckoo like, into a larger pine tree. I was quite shocked by how surprisingly large this species looked when you get close enough. Usually I see this bird flying by at a distance, or I am peering up at it in the top of a mountain top fir tree. Never the best views! So it was great to study one in detail quietly perched in front of me! Townsend’s Solitaire is a quite rare spring migrant along the coast of San Diego County, with perhaps one or two records each year.