This Ash-throated Flycatcher spent the second half of December in a suburban neighborhood northeast of Lititz, PA. As is the case with any late-fall or wintering vagrant flycatcher in this region of the country, this bird had to be very opportunistic in order to survive. It was found hawking for insects very close to nearby houses, feeding on bugs it caught on windowsills, gutters, porch furniture... anything was fair game. It helped that December 2006 was unusually mild. At the time of these photographs, it was still looking healthy and active.

 

The bird was not reliably reported after January 4, 2007. If it did indeed leave the area, it made it out before the first true Arctic blast of the season, which came about five days later.

 

This was the third confirmed record for Pennsylvania.