1st Round

2nd Round

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

12/10/09
Cliff Weisse--Accept

Upon review of larger versions of the original photos I can make out a pale head with dark wings and a pale mantle. These points eliminate the only other possible species, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, and confirm the identification of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

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

Although these two images are almost certainly those of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, I thought they should have been accompanied by good written description.

These silhouette images surely document either a Scissor-tailed or a Fork-tailed Flycatcher (is there another Tyrannus flycatcher with a long, forked tail?), but I'm not experienced enough to distinguish these species from a silhouette view, having seen only one FTFL (in Idaho) and fewer than 100 or so STFLs in TX, FL, and ID.

For now, I'm going to vote to reject this record, but will opt to accept it if someone else can build a convincing case for STFL.

12-10-2009
Dave Trochlell--Accept

Seeing the enhanced images of the bird convinced me that it's a STFL.

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

The distant photos show a long-tailed flycatcher in silhouette, but without coloring being discernible, Fork-tailed Flycatcher cannot be eliminated. Too bad there was no written report.

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

Same comments as first round.

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

The photos are too far away to differentiate between the Fork-tailed and the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
There is no description.

12-10-2009
Sturts --Accept

I'm changing my vote to accept this record.
The better quality photos that were recently sent to the committee now show features (light head-dark wings)that elminate the Fork-tailed Flycatcher.

10-29-09
Carlisle--Accept

photos conclusive

11-29-09
Carlisle--Accept

I'm OK with accepting this record based on the photos alone (I believe that the first picture shows enough pale coloration to rule out Fork-tailed) but can we simply ask for more details?

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

All I can make out from the small photographs is a silhouette of either a fork-tailed (unlikely, but possible) or a scissor-tailed flycatcher. The smallest written description could have cleared this up.

12-26-2009
Darren Clark--Accept

The newer photographs do seem to show a bird with a lighter head. This seems to support Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

11-19-2009
Chuck Trost--Accept

Although there is no description, the two pictures leave little doubt about the ID. This, plus Al Larson's word are enough to convince me.

12-27-2009
Chuck Trost--Accept

I'm sticking with my guns - this does not look like a fork-tailed flycatcher to me.