This afternoon I saw a female flycatcher
in Blue Gum Swamp, Winmalee (80km west of Sydney) that may have been a Satin Flycatcher. It flew down and
splashed in the creek several times and then preened itself on an overhanging
branch where I was able to get good views of its back and crown. The crown was
definitely darker and had a bluish sheen like a Satin Bowerbird. The back of
the head appeared to have a slight bump. I have seen this feature on male Satins
when they occasionally pass through the lower Blue Mountains in spring. Both photographs of female Satins also show this slight
bump in Graeme Chapman’s article in Wingspan Vol. 13 No 2 June 2003. This
bird also appeared to be slightly larger than female Leadens
that are common in the valley in spring & summer. Male Satin Flycatchers are
rarely seen in Blue Gum Swamp, and when recorded have been passing through.
I last recorded Leadens
in the valley on 10/3/05,
when a pair successfully fledged two young from a late nesting.
Neil Kirby
