Date: 4/27/25 2:08 pm From: dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> Subject: [NEBirds] Search for tricolored blackbird in Pawnee County at Burchard Lake
At Buchard Lake in Pawnee County this afternoon, i saw a dead ringer for a tricolored Blackbird, but I understand how highly unlikely it would be. However, this blackbird had a thin red epaulet above, bordered by a BRIGHT WHITE narrow band below. I only saw the right side of the bird, as it was perched. Is it possible it is a RWBL that is aberrant/leucistic just in the yellow band? I could not have seen the white- below-red-above clearer, but the bird flew as I tried to grab my camera. It was perched in a tree between a small parked tractor and the lake edge (40.1668644,-96.3024057), approximately 35 m from me, and I viewed it with 10x50 Swarovski binoculars. I have isolated the ebird record for review purposes. The bird did not reappear in the time I had available, and I had to move on, but I would LOVE for other birders to search for it. I expect the ebird reviewer will reject it without a photo, and I understand, but I wanted to flag it so someone local can look for it. Odder things have happened. I had a red-flanked bluetail show up in Laramie a half mile from my house several years ago, so anything is possible! Please post if you refind this bird, or if you have any ide3as! Thanks.
Diane T from Laramie, WY
