1st Round

2nd Round

10/6/09
Weisse – Reject, specific identification not established

11/22/09
Cliff Weisse--Reject, specific identification not established

I still feel the report does not include enough detail to confirm the identification. It also does not address the possibility of hybridization with Eastern Phoebe. For a species with so few reports in the state I feel we need more than what is included in this report.

010-11-2009
Dave Trochlell--Reject, specific identification not established

This report is very intriguing, but is unfortunately also very sketchy. In fact, there's really not enough of a description of the bird for me to feel confidence in the identification.

11-30-2009
Dave Trochlell--Reject, specific identification not established

The description is not convincing enough for me.

18 October 2009
Hardy--Reject, specific identification not established

This is an important record, but lacks the detail necessary for acceptance. I think the reporter quite likely observed a Black Phoebe, but there is no detail other than the dark/light pattern on the breast. The size is noted as "large", but in relation to what cannot be determined, so the overall size of this bird is undocumented.

6 December 2009
Hardy--Reject, specific identification not established

Same comments as first round.

010-19-2009
Sturts--Reject, specific identification not established

It could have been a Black Phoebe but there is not enough information provided to accept this as a first state record. There is no photograph or 2nd observer and similar species are not eliminated.

11-21-2009
Sturts --Reject, specific identification not established

I agree with Jay and Chuck that this is probably a Black Phoebe. However, it does not meet the criteria needed for a 1st state record.

10-29-09
Carlisle--Accept

I'm uncomfortable with the lack of details other than chest pattern (and would have especially liked to see something about behavior like the tail-pumping). But the only flycatcher remotely similar in chest pattern would be an Olive-sided which shouldn't show such an obvious white belly/central chest from the angle drawn. Thus, I can't think of what else it could have been.

11-28-09
Carlisle--Reject, specific identification not established

Although I'm not sure what else it could have been & Chuck's voting comments suggest a careful/reliable observer, I now agree that not enough detail was noted - especially for a potential 1st state record.

11/09/2009
Darren Clark--Reject, specific identification not established

Although the description and sketch point out the pattern where black meets white on the chest pretty accurately, there is no description of head color wing color etc.. Maybe he thought it was obvious, but I'm not comfortable with the report as it stands for Black Phoebe. 

12-26-2009
Darren Clark--Reject, specific identification not established

Same comments as previous.

11-19-2009
Chuck Trost--Accept

I knew Edson well. He was a very careful observer, a good scientist, and a gifted artisat. I'm convinced that this was indeed a Black Phoebe because of its color, shape, and behavior.

12-27-2009
Chuck Trost--Accept

While this probably will go down, I'm sticking with my first vote for all the reasons stated.