In general I advise folks to use other ID cues first before tail dropping.
It’s tough until you’ve seen a for-sure Gray Flycatcher tail dropping because many other empids, especially Dusky, do a lot of tail flicking that could be interpreted as tail dropping. There are many Dusky features that vary enough to overlap with Gray pretty frequently which makes separating those two especially tough.
In the case of Willow vs Gray though I would hope that the very brown body (vs gray) and very wide pale bill (vs narrow with a dark tip) would help.
Based on photos in eBird there was definitely a Gray Flycatcher at Blacks Creek. Nice to have good documentation this year!
Trained binoculars on a group of half dozen birds flitting through backyard cottonwoods. Turned out to be Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Then, off to the side, another bird caught my attention: a Cassin’s Vireo. A few Red-breasted Nuthatches are busy gathering sunflower seeds from the feeder. As well, two 1st-yr White-crowned Sparrows came in. Lastly, an adult Bald Eagle did a fly-over, the yard, at treetop level.
I have seen a similar down up tail wag, although erratic and unreliable, with willow flycatchers here in Gem County and Valley County. I had to study my photos at home and get a good look at the color to make the distinction as they were not vocalizing. Great topic.
Pond same as yesterday big foot rd.can be seen from rd.5 Bairds 2west sands they are getting it prepared for planting next year don’t know when it will be covered over also tons of juvie starling interest ing colors worth seeing brewers blk.bird -cowbirds lots raven cross the road big flock 15 killdeer
This a.m 8 :30 checked all ponds south of dry lake only ducks decided to check what I referred to as the muck field bingo they have done some work which created a sizable pond their was western peeps yellow legs solitary & pectoral sands this is on big foot w.of rim road past pond on right just past gravel pile
