Western Flycatcher

 This bright yellow Western Flycatcher was wayyyy out of range near Scottsville, found on Nov 11, for Virginia's second record and first to be photographed. Staying low to the ground while foraging, it was fairly cooperative, allowing everyone who was patient to see it. The distinctive eye-ring is flattened on top and pointed behind the eye. Photo by Deborah Humphries.

Brian Taber

Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied and Red-naped sapsuckers are closely related and look similar and even hybridize, though their ranges don't overlap much. Red-naped is mostly found west of the Great Plains and Yellow-bellied east and also into northwest Canada. Some Yellow-bellieds have red on their napes and some Red-napeds lack that feature, adding to the confusion. 

The two main differences pointed out in most field guides are:

that the red on the throat of Red-naped can touch the white on the face, while on Yellow-bellied the red is separated by a complete black line and...

that the white on the back of Red-naped is organized into two rather neat columns, making it appear darker overall unlike the more "messy" white pattern of Yellow-bellied.

The bird pictured here, which I photographed in James City County, feeding on holly berries, on Oct  23, 2023 seems to show the two features of Red-naped above and also has a reddish tint on the nape, though a little hard to see in the photos. The blurry photo of the left side also shows the lack of the black border to red throat on that side.

I'm awaiting comments from some experts and will add them here. If anyone else has comments, please send to taberzz@aol.com.  Brian Taber

Ash-throated Flycatcher

 An unusual pattern during fall migration is that Ash-throated Flycatchers, normally found far to the west, show up along the east coast with fairly good regularity in late October and November. This one was found at Kiptopeke State Park by CVWO Hawkwatcher Sage Church on November 2. Initially playing hide-and-seek, it eventually sat in the sun long enough for the Eastern Shore Bird Club's field trip participants to all see it well. Another was found the next day in Virginia Beach and one was found in Hopewell on Nov 5...and...2 were near Charlottesville on Nov 7...then...near Scottsville, Eastern Shore again...and Chesapeake...wow!

Brian Taber