Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Tweeters List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Tuesday, June 18 at 11:12 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Raso Lark,©BirdQuest

18 Jun Ridgefield NWR - June 16, 2013 ["A & S Hill" ] 18 Jun Ruffed Grouse on the attack [Mark Oberle ] 18 Jun RE: RFI: White-headed Woodpecker in Chelan Co [Stefan Schlick ] 18 Jun Re: Wenas CG- no birds-unidentified flower [Joseph Higbee ] 18 Jun Hummingbird Question [BJ White ] 18 Jun Re: Sapsucker Nests [Gary Bletsch ] 18 Jun RFI: White-headed Woodpecker in Chelan Co [Stefan Schlick ] 18 Jun Virginia Rail chicks @ Fill [Joe Sweeney ] 18 Jun Sapsucker Nests [] 18 Jun Wenas CG- no birds-unidentified flower [Joseph Higbee ] 18 Jun Fantastic NatGeo article on the hunting/capture of migratory birds around the Mediterranean [Jonathan Bent ] 17 Jun Leadbetter Point [Daniel R Froehlich ] 17 Jun Leadbetter & Scissortail [Daniel R Froehlich ] 17 Jun Mountain nesting Great Blue Herons in the Olympics [B Boekelheide ] 17 Jun Battle Ground Yard Bird surprise [Jim Danzenbaker ] 17 Jun Three Crabs Shorebirds [Brad Waggoner ] 17 Jun Franklin's Gull in Oroville [Barbara Webster ] 17 Jun SCISSOR-tailed flycatcher [Daniel Froehlich ] 17 Jun Fork-tailed flycatcher [Daniel Froehlich ] 17 Jun Bones Vannoy [Vincent Lucas ] 17 Jun Possible Gray Catbird on Sucia Island? [Lynne Givler ] 17 Jun Re: A bird in the mirror..... [Bill Anderson ] 17 Jun A bird in the mirror..... [] 17 Jun do you remember snowball the dancing cockatoo? [Devorah the Ornithologist ] 16 Jun More on BTGO and Sequim in General [Blair Bernson ] 16 Jun some Upper Skagit birds [Gary Bletsch ] 16 Jun Birds and Beer ["Craig Merkel" ] 16 Jun Left Washington for a day or two. [Tim Brennan ] 16 Jun Re: Rail family at Montlake Fill - photos on Flickr [Alexandra MacKenzie ] 16 Jun Active American Kestrel nest/Swauk Prairie [Hank Karen ] 16 Jun Red-breasted Sapsucker being fed/Juanita [Hank Karen ] 16 Jun Crossbills in Wedgwood [Joe Sweeney ] 16 Jun Red-eyed Vireo, LHG-Bellevue [] 16 Jun Purple Martins at Shilshole ["helen.gilbert AT juno.com" ] 16 Jun Red-eyed Vireo, Bank Swallows in Thurston Co. [Gary Wiles ] 16 Jun Lapland Longspur at Point Roberts, WA ["Wayne Weber" ] 16 Jun Barn Owl-Magnuson Park [kenneth trease ] 16 Jun Bar Tailed Godwit [Blair Bernson ] 16 Jun Rail family at Montlake Fill [] 16 Jun Carpooling to WOS? ["Teresa Michelsen" ] 16 Jun Wilson Creek mostly [] 16 Jun Hummingbird with short beak [BJ White ] 16 Jun Hummingbird with short beak [BJ White ] 16 Jun Lyle (Klickitat County) [Lyn Topinka ] 15 Jun Almost Another Anchor Aplodontia! [jeff gibson ] 16 Jun East Cascades Foothills and Robinson Canyon [Jim Owens ] 15 Jun The good (SAGE THRASHER, AM. REDSTART), the sad and the ugly of central Skagit County birding today [Scott Atkinson ] 15 Jun Re: Issaquah Screech [Larry Schwitters ] 15 Jun Issaquah Screech [Larry Schwitters ] 15 Jun Red-eyed Vireo [wong ] 15 Jun Walla Walla County - west end ["Mike & MerryLynn" ] 15 Jun Black Swift at Snoqualmie Falls [Larry Schwitters ] 15 Jun Nestling - Out on a Limb [Larry Hubbell ] 15 Jun BirdNote - last week, and the week of June 16, 2013 [Ellen Blackstone ] 15 Jun Umtanum report: a woodpecker-y day [Warren Clemans ] 15 Jun Bar-tailed Godwit still at 3 Crabs [B Boekelheide ] 15 Jun Anderson Lake State Park - Least Flycatcher? [Joe ] 15 Jun Black-headed Grosbeak vocalizing/Umtanum Creek [Hank Karen ] 14 Jun McLane Crk-Olympia: Pileated, Wilson's Warbler [ray holden ] 14 Jun What do birders know? ["Rob Sandelin" ] 14 Jun CNWR Snowy Egret ["Doug Schonewald" ] 14 Jun CNWR Snowy Egret [Doug Schonewald ] 14 Jun head/tail bird identified [] 14 Jun VARC Image of the Month [Derek Matthews ] 14 Jun re: Cliff Swallows [Dianna Moore ] 14 Jun Dropping Anchor [jeff gibson ] 13 Jun Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co., WA) 2013-06-13 [Matt Bartels ] 13 Jun 1201 Third Peregrines [Dianna Moore ] 14 Jun Bird ID needed [] 13 Jun women birders [] 13 Jun RFI Bethel Ridge Black-Backed Woodpecker. [Chris Warlow ] 13 Jun The Yellow Rails of Klamath Marsh NWR (Mitch Blanton) [Mitch Blanton ] 13 Jun RE: Cliff Swallows in greater Seattle? [Ingrid Taylar ] 12 Jun EAKI, Stevens Pass, FR5400: CAFI, NOGO, WITU ["Pete Fahey" ] 12 Jun UWRA trip to the Umtanum - 6-11-2013 [Denis DeSilvis ] 12 Jun Nighthawks and Black Swifts [Gary Bletsch ] Subject: Ridgefield NWR - June 16, 2013 From: "A & S Hill" <60stops2home AT kalama.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:54:01 -0700 Hello Tweeters, We've been busy with company, so here's a slightly late report of our nice day at Ridgefield NWR on Sunday, June 16, 2013. Before I begin, let me just drop a little hint - WEAR BUG SPRAY if you're getting out of your vehicle. We remembered the sunscreen, though. We saw and/ or heard at least 29 species along the Auto Tour and ran across a fellow flickrite (Hi George) on the Kiwa Trail. There were many bird calls we didn't recognize, so the species count is only for those identified. A few photos were snapped by me and my husband: Savannah Sparrow (badly backlit) http://flic.kr/p/eP5Leo Tree Swallow youngster http://flic.kr/p/eNTjCa Willow Flycatcher on the Kiwa Trail http://flic.kr/p/ePSgcs Cinnamon Teal male and female http://flic.kr/p/ePFmUH swimming with Blue-winged Teal male and female (life bird) http://flic.kr/p/ePSQBo Pied-billed Grebe parents with five chicks (first time seeing chicks for me!) http://flic.kr/p/eNTmu6 Amy and Steve Hill Kalama, Washington 628 feet up in Cowlitz County 60stops2home at kalama dot com artlessfun at yahoo dot com _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Ruffed Grouse on the attack From: Mark Oberle <oberle AT mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:37:51 -0700 I did my second BBS route (White Chuck) last week in the Cascades. At stop 19 (48 deg. 04.864'N, 121 deg 23.612' W) I got out of the car at a gravel road cut where USFS had mined gravel for the road bed. It was maybe 30 feet to the nearest vegetation. I had the car door open and heard a faint, low pitched noise "whaaaoo" that almost sounded like my creaky car door. Then I felt a tapping on my boot. It was a Ruffed Grouse. It made that noise and periodic tapping during the 3 minute BBS stop. Then I walked away from the car and it followed me for 15 feet. I got back in the car after snapping the photo. Then I drove off. The bird followed me down the USFS road for maybe 150 feet, clearly feeling proud of itself for having driven the giant out of its territory. Mark Oberle Seattle, WA oberle AT mindspring.com _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: RE: RFI: White-headed Woodpecker in Chelan Co From: Stefan Schlick <greenfant AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:12:40 -0400 I got lots of responses with details! Looks like the Fish Hatchery and the Sleeping Lady Resort are still active sites for White-headed Woodpecker and birds were seen there recently. Thanks a million! Tweeters is great! Stefan SchlickHillsboro, OR From: greenfant AT hotmail.com To: tweeters AT u.washington.edu Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:50:20 -0400 Subject: [Tweeters] RFI: White-headed Woodpecker in Chelan Co Does anybody have any tips for a reliable location for White-headed Woodpecker near Leavenworth? Are they still occurring at/near the Fish Hatchery? Thanks, Stefan SchlickHillsboro, OR _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Re: Wenas CG- no birds-unidentified flower From: Joseph Higbee <jvhigbee AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:22:26 -0700 Thank you, Tweeters! Several replies and lots of good information. The plant in question is: “Eriogonum heracleoides var. leucophaeum” or common name “bractless parsnip-flower wild buckwheat” I will be posting more plants and flowers as I try to learn something new. If anyone notices a mistake in passing, such as when looking at current bird photos, I would be pleased to be corrected. Joseph Higbee Spanaway, WA Mailto: jvhigbee AT hotmail.com_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Hummingbird Question From: BJ White <bjhats AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:59:33 -0700 (PDT) I have posted some pictures to my website (without making them public) in the hopes one of you could help me identify whether or not this little hummingbird will be OK. She still shows up at my feeder but her tongue continues to grow and now has a bend in it but she maneuvers it into the feeder. I don't suppose there is anything I can do besides keeping the feeder clean and full, but maybe someone could let me know if this is a common thing or if it might break and the bird will still survive?� Thank you for whatever information you could share. Here is the page with pictures of the bird.�http://www.seattlepetlodge.com/hummingbird _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Re: Sapsucker Nests From: Gary Bletsch <garybletsch AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:25:43 -0700 (PDT) Dear David and Tweeters, � I found a Red-breasted Sapsucker nest�this past�Saturday, 17 June 2013, at the Marblemount Boat Launch. The nest is near the bend in the trail, just before the right fork goes to a bench, and the left goes along the main route. Right now, it's hard to miss, what with the young constantly crying for food, and the adults coming every few minutes. I can't say anything about the effects of "honkin' big lenses" being pointed at them for extended periods, but the sapsucker nests I've visited repeatedly over the years never showed any deleterious effects that I could detect. � I suspect that a walk in the woods anywhere in the Upper Skagit this time of year would yield several of theses nests. At other times of year, the sapsuckers can be quiet, but they're easy now. On the other hand, it's been over a month since I've detected a Downy Woodpecker, for some odd reason. � Yours truly, Gary Bletsch Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA garybletsch AT yahoo.com "Nun," sagte ich, "wenn ich ein Taugenichts bin, so ist's gut, so will ich in die Welt gehen, und mein Glueck machen." Und eigentlich war mir das recht lieb, denn es war mir kurz vorher selber eingefallen, auf Reisen zu gehen, da ich die Goldammer, welche im Herbst und Winter immer betruebt an unserm Fenster sang: "Bauer, miet' mich, Bauer, miet' mich!" nun in der schoenen Fruehlingszeit wieder ganz stolz und lustig vom Baume rufen hoerte: "Bauer, behalt' deinen Dienst!" >________________________________ > From: "cgluckman AT aol.com" >To: tweeters AT u.washington.edu >Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 12:43 PM >Subject: [Tweeters] Sapsucker Nests > > > >In my travels over H 20 into the Winthrop area I happened upon a Red-naped and a Red-headed Sapsucker nest in two different locations, probably with young. Both sets were removing mouthfuls of wood chips every hour or so. Anyone with �a serious interest contact me off site and I might be convinced to tell you where they were. Since both were located in public areas with reasonably high traffic, I would also be interested in info about viewing sensitivity. Thanks.� > > >David Gluckman >811 22nd St. >Pt. Townsend, WA 98368 >360 379-0360 >_______________________________________________ >Tweeters mailing list >Tweeters AT u.washington.edu >http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: RFI: White-headed Woodpecker in Chelan Co From: Stefan Schlick <greenfant AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:50:20 -0400 Does anybody have any tips for a reliable location for White-headed Woodpecker near Leavenworth? Are they still occurring at/near the Fish Hatchery? Thanks, Stefan SchlickHillsboro, OR _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Virginia Rail chicks @ Fill From: Joe Sweeney <sweeneyfit AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:34:22 -0700 Tuesday morning, 8:20am to 9:15am, just west of the wooden bridge at Montlake Fill, I saw at least one adult VIRGINIA RAIL and at least 6 chicks (possibly as many as 8) a few times, each time very briefly, mainly when they were crossing the road. First, I saw them sprint to the west side of Canal Road (to the northwest corner of Wahkiakum Lane and Canal Road. 20 minutes later they zipped across Wahkiakum Lane to the southwest corner, and that's where I last saw them. They were heard more often than they were seen. With the vehicle traffic, runners, walkers, cyclists, dogs (one not on a leash until I asked the owner to please leash her dog), there are plenty of challenges for the rails, and for the birders who wish to see them. Fortunately, the parents seem to have really taught their young to be cautious. The chicks are amazingly cute. With some patience, and some luck, you might see them. I had a really difficult time photographing the rails, but if you wish to see one photo of an adult, with a chick (all black) partially visible in background, click on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweeneyfit/9077590997/in/photostream/ Joe Sweeney NE Seattle sweeneyfit at mac dot com _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Sapsucker Nests From: cgluckman AT aol.com Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:43:37 -0400 (EDT) In my travels over H 20 into the Winthrop area I happened upon a Red-naped and a Red-headed Sapsucker nest in two different locations, probably with young. Both sets were removing mouthfuls of wood chips every hour or so. Anyone with a serious interest contact me off site and I might be convinced to tell you where they were. Since both were located in public areas with reasonably high traffic, I would also be interested in info about viewing sensitivity. Thanks. David Gluckman 811 22nd St. Pt. Townsend, WA 98368 360 379-0360_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Wenas CG- no birds-unidentified flower From: Joseph Higbee <jvhigbee AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:52:30 -0700 Wandered over to Wenas yesterday. No bird activity to speak of so I photographed flowers. (Actually I intended to, anyway) I have one that I’m trying to ID if any weedwatchers would care to help me out. http://upload.pbase.com/update_image/150864015 I did spend some time at the Hardy Canyon entrance trying to see and photograph catbirds. There were three but they stayed high and hard to see. Joseph Higbee Spanaway, WA Mailto: jvhigbee AT hotmail.com_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Fantastic NatGeo article on the hunting/capture of migratory birds around the Mediterranean From: Jonathan Bent <bent.jonathan AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:34:02 -0700 Hi folks, My wife and I have recently moved to Washington from Southern California, so this is my first post on Tweeters; sorry for the serious topic! I came across this riveting and disturbing article by Jonathan Franzen in the July 2013 National Geographic about the capture, hunting, and general mistreatment of migratory birds in Northern Africa and Europe. The article highlights Egyptian and Albanian cases, in particular--though the problem is considerably more widespread--and points to sociocultural and political impetuses that motivate individuals to hunt the birds in shockingly inhumane ways. Perhaps worst of all, it seems that tools designed by birders--namely playback apps--have recently made it even easier for hunters to lure in migrating birds. I thought the Tweeters group would find the article interesting, but I must warn that there are some disturbing photos/videos/descriptions of the birds being taken. There are certainly glimmers of hope, but this strikes me as a largely sad story, and an activism case in very nascent stages. It sounds like there is a tremendously long way to go, and much international collaboration to happen, before the situation turns around. Surprisingly, there isn't much of a mention in the article of how interested persons can get involved in advocacy for this issue--I wonder if any of you know? http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/songbird-migration/franzen-text I also noticed some overarching themes about birders getting involved in disadvantaged/politically divided areas in common with a Daily Show piece by Wyatt Cenac... This is, at least, a bit more light-hearted, but not the most flattering portrayal of us dedicated birders! http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-january-24-2011/bird-like-me Best, Jonathan Bent Whidbey Island (for now; Seattle soon)_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Leadbetter Point From: Daniel R Froehlich <danielfroehlich AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:51:53 -0700 Just to clarify for questions from some: Leadbetter Point is the northern tip of the Long Beach Peninsula stretching N from the Columbia mouth in Pacific County. Grassy "Island" is not an island as it's connected to the tip of the point by a narrow strip of heavily vegetated dunes. The walk out there is north from the Leadbetter Point parking lot (Willapa NWR just north of the State Park) at the end of Route 103. It's a rough hike through salt marsh without much of a trail; not recommended for the inexperienced or faint of heart. I walked a total of about 16 miles, including the plover survey. I think you could take a boat directly to Grassy Island--but there's a wide swath of mud flats so timing with tides is important. Dan_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Leadbetter & Scissortail From: Daniel R Froehlich <danielfroehlich AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:39:03 -0700 What a moment! Went out today to help the Feds and WDFW with a Leadbetter Point Snowy Plover Survey. I wanted to spend the rest of the day out at the tip of Leadbetter to look for vagrant songbirds--"mirror migration" eastern warblers hit N California in early June, so why not mid June in WA? or flycatchers--they migrate fairly late. Then it turned out that a front was moving in this afternoon--could be happy circumstances! Things looked propitious: wind from the S, turning SE. But after 3 hours of wandering around the tip I'd found only typical residents, and even they were sparse. Squawking adult Hairy Woodpeckers caught my attention and I saw something black in thick veg at the base of a tree some 30m away. Porcupine? Bear? So I took a break, had a bite, waited, and waited; and waited. Nothing. Oh well, good scientists reject one pet hypothesis a day--I guess vagrants in mid June was mine. I packed up my water bottle, slung up the pack. At that moment, the tree started moving. A lot. One bear charged up the tree; another dropped onto the ground and started huffing. Was that yet another, a third? Oh crap, a sow with yearlings? And at that very instant, a strange call caught my attention and large birds began darting through the canopy. Collared Doves? No, Kingbirds? and whoa, a kingbird with a sense of humor--look at that forked tail, hahaha. OK, where the hell did that sow go? Why is the camera strap all tangled with the backpack, dangit! Geez, that fork, no sense of humor--or accidental molt, for that matter--can make a tail that long and that forked! All that white on the tail sides, that looks familiar, yea and the pale head too. Damn camera strap--arrgh! Ok, now I'm kinda between the treed bear and the ones on the ground--that's not good is it? Would you look at that tail--it's soo long! And whoa, under the wings, all that red--that reminds me of Texas and mesquite flats near Brownwood, sow-where, camera-untangle, Holy Smokes, that's nothing if not *Tyrannus forficatus... *phttz *zzppk-k-k-k *&%#*! <--that's my brain short-circuiting. I released the shutter a few times and that was that. 45 seconds: 3 bears, a Western Kingbird and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. And then they were all gone--with a few identifiable pixels on my flashcard. The tyrannids were moving fast and far--I couldn't find them again though I looked for an hour. At that point, the front from the SE moved in and drenched everything. I suspect the Tyrannids were riding the prow of the front like spectacular galleon figures, as flycatchers and other aerial foragers--swallows and swifts--often do; within 10 minutes of the freak tyrannids there were 20 Barn Swallows low over the beach. If that's the case, the likelihood is great that they kept on going--maybe riding the front's bow-wave over to Tokeland/Grayland/Westport. For those that want to try for the Scissortail at Leadbetter--it's a long slog to Grassy Island, that's the patch of tall woods on the NE tip of the peninsula, 5 hours roundtrip from the parking lot. The birds visited me in the middle of the biggest stand of tall conifer woods--not at all where I'd have expected. You'll get eaten alive, not by bears, but by mosquitoes--they're noticeably thick this year. Good luck! Of note too, one of the WDFW plover surveyors found a freshly dead Rock Wren under a log toward the exposed outer tip where there are no shrubs or trees--or rocks for that matter. Long post, I know, but I had to share that freak fight-or-flight fancy. I'll see if any other songbirds show up tomorrow morning, prob Fort Canby. Good birding, Dan Froehlich Poulsbo, WA_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Mountain nesting Great Blue Herons in the Olympics From: B Boekelheide <bboek AT olympus.net> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:43:05 -0700 Hello, Tweeters, In mid-May, Charlie Miller, a resident of Port Angeles, was hiking on the Heather Park trail in Olympic National Park. This trail climbs up a steep north-facing slope above the ONP Hurricane Ridge entrance station, in a dense forest of big second-growth Douglas-firs, hemlocks, and occasional cedars and silver firs. At about a mile up the trail, at approximately 2800 feet elevation, Charlie heard some strange screeching in the forest by a small creek that becomes a tributary of Ennis Creek. Looking more closely, he discovered that the sounds were coming from a couple big nests high up in some Doug-firs. Not sure what was in the nests, Charlie contacted Hank Warren, retired chief naturalist of ONP. Charlie, Hank, and Hank's wife Raedell, returned to the site and discovered that the nests had Great Blue Herons with half-grown chicks in them. This afternoon, 6/17, I got to join Hank and Charlie at the site. There are at least 3 nests -- one nest with 2 large mostly-feathered chicks, and two nests with 1 mostly-feathered chick each. Two of the nests are in one tall Douglas-fir, at least 100 feet above the ground. The other nest is in another tall Doug-fir about 50 m away, also about 100 feet above the ground. While we were there, the biggest chicks were trampolining, jumping up and down on the limbs flapping their wings. The smaller chicks just stood in the nests. The parents were away, other than one adult that returned to the nest for a feeding, causing raucous begging by the chicks. The dense forest near the nest sites is on a very steep hillside. We didn't want to disturb the chicks, so we didn't go underneath the nest trees to look for debris and spilled food -- maybe after they fledge. Looking at maps, these nests are about six miles from the closest salt water and at about 2800 ft elevation. The nearest standing water is at Lake Dawn, about 1 mile downhill as the heron flies, but it's a small lake mostly surrounded by homes. Could it possibly provide adequate food for growing heron chicks? Other than that, there are likely a few very small ponds around Port Angeles that may be planted with trout or carp, but again, I wonder if they provide enough food for chicks. The small creek that flows near the nesting trees is a marginal food source -- it's in a dense forest and likely has some amphibians but few fish. Our guess is the adults are flying long distances to salt water to find food. I see from the WA Breeding Bird Atlas that GBH have been known to nest in Cascade river valleys up to middle elevations, like at Ross Lake (1600 ft elevation). But these ONP nests seem really out there, far away from water in a dense montane forest. There are no other nesting herons nearby in Clallam Co (at least that we know about!). The closest nesting colony is probably at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria BC. It makes me wonder if this is what nesting herons must now do to avoid Bald Eagle harassment closer to salt water. How many others are out there in similar situations? Bob Boekelheide Dungeness_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Battle Ground Yard Bird surprise From: Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:30:48 -0700 Tweeters, If you're only interested in sightings of wild birds, please ignore this message. I was out this evening in the yard delivering pulled up weeds to my local weed pile and was very surprised to look down and see a female GOLDEN PHEASANT walking along in one of the pathetic looking flower beds that is my back yard. I had to do an internet search to make sure of the identification since, well, who studies the identification of female pheasants? By the way, it flew up and is now roosting in a tree just beyond the back yard - in full view! Surprises. Keep your eyes, ummmm, don't know how to finish this one...... Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-723-0345 jdanzenbaker AT gmail.com_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Three Crabs Shorebirds From: Brad Waggoner <wagtail AT sounddsl.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:13:01 -0700 Hi All, I checked on the shorebirds near the Three Crabs today. The BAR-TAILED GODWIT was again present, along with one continuing RED KNOT. Two other shorebirds of interest was a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER(in partial/faded alternate) mixing in with the dozen or so Black-bellied Plovers, and a lone female WILSON'S PHALAROPE. Also rounding out this very interesting mix of summer shorebirds included one Greater Yellowlegs, one MARBLED GODWIT, two Western Sandpipers, three Dunlin, and two Short-billed Dowitchers. That's a pretty dang good mix for mid-June in Washington. I stopped by Anderson Lake SP on my way home and the LEAST FLYCATCHER was calling away.What a great bird for Jefferson County! Also of interest was a HETO Warbler (Hermit X Townsend's hybrid). Forthe most part it looked like a perfectly good male Hermit Warbler, but there was a fair amount of yellow wash below the black bib. Cheers and good birding, Brad Waggoner Bainbridge Island, Washington mailto:wagtail AT sounddsl.com_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Franklin's Gull in Oroville From: Barbara Webster <barb5.webster AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:06:22 -0700 >> Hi Tweeters, >> >> Paul and I have been birding in Okanogan County with David and Penny Koyama. Today at 5 PM Penny identified a breeding plumage Franklin's gull (Code 5 for Okanogan County) at Osoyoos Lake Park in Oroville. We all got great looks at the gull and photos. It was on the south side of the park near the dock with several Ring-billed Gulls and a couple of California gulls. >> >> Good birding, >> Barbara Webster Seattle, WA >> >> Sent from my iPad _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: SCISSOR-tailed flycatcher From: Daniel Froehlich <danielfroehlich AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:19:17 -0700 I meant Scissortailed!! Sorry too excited... Dan Sent from iPhone _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Fork-tailed flycatcher From: Daniel Froehlich <danielfroehlich AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:11:53 -0700 Just had a fork-tailed flycatcher on Grassy Island at Ledbetter Point! More anon... Dan Froehlich Poulsbo, WA Sent from iPhone_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Bones Vannoy From: Vincent Lucas <vincentlucas5 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:11:48 -0700 On June 9th, Bob Schmidt and I were birding Bethel Ridge, along FR 1500 in Wenachee National Forest, Yakima Co. At about 3500+ feet, way off the road, I came upon this sign nailed to a large tree, probably a Ponderosa Pine. So does anyone know who Bones Vannoy was and how this sign got there? As for birds, it was rather disappointing to us as we didn't find our targets i.e. Flammulated Owl, Three-toed or Black-backed Woodpecker, Dusky Flycatcher, Cassin's Finch, etc. Still we did see a few nice birds like Clark's Nutcracker, Mountain Chickadee, Hairy Woodpecker and some others. The first part of our trip in Clark, Klickitat and Yakima Counties was much more successful. Anyway, here's a link to the Bones Vannoy sign . . . . Vince http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/9072097350_a5eac09218_o.jpg -- Vincent Lucas Sequim, WA vincentlucas5 AT gmail.com_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Possible Gray Catbird on Sucia Island? From: Lynne Givler <lynne.givler AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:43:07 -0700 My husband and I were moored at Fox Cove on Sucia Island on June 12 and 13 where we saw and heard what sure seemed like a gray catbird. We first heard a wide array of vocalizations including what seemed to be mimicking. We both briefly saw the bird as it flew from a tree into some shrubs. We both noticed a long tail and my husband noticed a dark cap. We later listened to vocalizations on our National Geographic app and heard the actual bird again in the morning. It sure seemed to match up. I've read that catbirds have occasionally nested in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Anyone out there have any background on this?_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Re: A bird in the mirror..... From: Bill Anderson <billandersonbic AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:06:37 -0700 (PDT) Are you sure that wasn't a golden-crowned kinglet instead of a ruby-crowned?� I thought I saw a white band by the eye, and the golden crown has a red/orange "top knot" with a gold border which it raises when it is excited. � Bill Anderson; Edmonds, WA. USA ________________________________ From: "jacknolan62 AT comcast.net" To: tweeters AT u.washington.edu Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 9:46 AM Subject: [Tweeters] A bird in the mirror..... These windows attract a fair number of these characters. �This one seems threatened, but I've seen a towyhee that seemed to be flirting. �It's very funny. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B53RG2aM8iIMZmI1OFJuZlY3cVE/edit?usp=sharing �Nothing in the books shows the golden border to the ruby crown. �Maybe it's a state of agitation that one doesn't normally see?? _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: A bird in the mirror..... From: jacknolan62 AT comcast.net Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:46:16 +0000 (UTC) These windows attract a fair number of these characters. This one seems threatened, but I've seen a towyhee that seemed to be flirting. It's very funny. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B53RG2aM8iIMZmI1OFJuZlY3cVE/edit?usp=sharing Nothing in the books shows the golden border to the ruby crown. Maybe it's a state of agitation that one doesn't normally see?? _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: do you remember snowball the dancing cockatoo? From: Devorah the Ornithologist <birdologist AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:01:39 +0100 hi everyone, some of you may remember the video made of a dancing cockatoo that went viral a few years ago. the subject of this video, snowball, became an overnight sensation, and also was the subject of at least four published neurobiology research papers that study the link between movement and sound. now a book has been published about snowball, a book that i tell you about in this review: http://gu.com/p/3gf6n/tw cheers, -- GrrlScientist Devorah Bennu, PhD birdologist AT gmail.com http://gplus.to/grrlscientist http://www.grrlscientist.net/ http://twitter.com/GrrlScientist http://www.guardian.co.uk/grrlscientist http://www.scilogs.com/maniraptora/ The most valuable service you can perform is to think independently_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: More on BTGO and Sequim in General From: Blair Bernson <blair AT washingtonadvisorygroup.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:39:06 -0700 I had a chance to review photos and notes from visit to 3 Crabs/Sequim which I posted about earlier. Firs - thanks to Dow Lambert who was at the site when we arrived and had the Bar Tailed Godwit earlier and helped find it on furthest sand spit. He had seen it closer earlier and it moved when all the birds were flushed by Bald Eagle. Sure enough it happened again in reverse and returned to the nearest spit where in great light we had great views. Still too far for good photos but ID quality ok. I am good with the two Red Knots reported as confirmed but I have withdrawn ID of Semipalmated Sandpiper. 50/50 at best after looking at photos (poor). Plain/drab peep without any red and relatively short straight bill but could have been something else. A highlight in the area were the numerous Purple Martins flying and perching nearby. Dow helps maintain the nests about 60 yards offshore and the efforts are certainly productive. Numerous Brant, Bald Eagles, Black Bellied Plovers, Great Blue Herons and Caspian Terns were also nearby. Later Samantha and I visited the nearby Lavender and Peony farms and in addition to those spectacular places in and of themselves, we had numerous hummingbirds, swallows, some swifts, many goldfinches, and a fly over from an immature bald eagle that literally came within 20 feet of us. It truly is a huge bird with enormous wings. Actually pretty scary as it approached. Very fun day. -- Blair Bernson Edmonds _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: some Upper Skagit birds From: Gary Bletsch <garybletsch AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:46:41 -0700 (PDT) Dear Tweeters, � Today (16 June 2013) I decided to follow up on Scott Atkinson's birds upriver, and was not disappointed. The American Redstart was singing at the Sauk River boat launch, and there was an Eastern Kingbird at Barnaby Slough. I did not see any road-kills, so did not have to deal with that part of Scott's itinerary, thankfully. � At Hamilton, a Sora was calling early in the morning; I'm not sure I've ever found one there before. � I played a Catbird tape for quite a while at several spots, but could� not scratch one out. � Gary Bletsch Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA garybletsch AT yahoo.com "Nun," sagte ich, "wenn ich ein Taugenichts bin, so ist's gut, so will ich in die Welt gehen, und mein Glueck machen." Und eigentlich war mir das recht lieb, denn es war mir kurz vorher selber eingefallen, auf Reisen zu gehen, da ich die Goldammer, welche im Herbst und Winter immer betruebt an unserm Fenster sang: "Bauer, miet' mich, Bauer, miet' mich!" nun in der schoenen Fruehlingszeit wieder ganz stolz und lustig vom Baume rufen hoerte: "Bauer, behalt' deinen Dienst!" _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Birds and Beer From: "Craig Merkel" <quetsal48 AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:27:57 -0700 Hi Tweeters, Just a reminder that the second Birds and Beer will be held at the Fish Tail Brew Pub at 515 Jefferson St. Olympia WA 98501 at 4:30 on this Monday. Expecting you all to be there. Be there or be square. _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Left Washington for a day or two. From: Tim Brennan <tsbrennan AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:22:41 -0700 Hi tweets! Father's Day surprise trip was to the Oregon coast this weekend. It was hard at first when I crossed the border... realizing that the birds I was going to see wouldn't "count", maybe, but just in general, I really love our state. Is there enough time to really see all of it? I tried to pretend that Oregon was just like another county in Washington... But walking to the lighthouse at Cape Meares I heard my first Wrentit and knew I was on the other side of the river. I didn't get to see one until Sunday morning. Very cute birds, kinda funky calls, and hysterical that they won't make the trip over the river. My buddy Pete messaged me to point out that these birds typically stay within 500 yards of the nest where they hatched. Wow...maybe I'm not the only one who loves home! Amazing that these birds and I ever crossed paths! The Garibaldi area was great. It was fun especially to see Common Murres in the thousands and often quite close. Happy birding! Tim Brennan Almost back in Renton _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Re: Rail family at Montlake Fill - photos on Flickr From: Alexandra MacKenzie <mizmak AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:42:33 -0700 I was lucky enough to join in the fun of viewing the V.Rail family at the Fill this morning (viewed from around 8:30am to a bit after 9), and I had my camera along, so am happy to share photos at Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mizmak/sets/72157634169909882/ Photos are available for sharing/downloading. (First, click on a photo to bring up the full-screen view, then right-click on photo. You should get a message about rights, with various sizes listed - just click on any size and you'll get a new screen with downloading options.) Please enjoy them! -Alex (Alexandra) MacKenzie mizmak AT gmail.com Seattle On 6/16/13, aldavis AT q.com wrote: > > > A very active, very visible family of Virginia Rails gave us quite a thrill > this morning at the Montlake Fill, at the wooden footbridge over the s > lough. There were two parents and seven babies in all--and we watched them > skating around the lily pads on the s lough, then dashing across the road > several times. The highlight was watching one baby struggle for several > hilarious minutes as it tried to swallow a worm twice its size. They were in > easy view for over an hour. Q uite a show. > > > > Amy Davis > > Seattle > _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Active American Kestrel nest/Swauk Prairie From: Hank Karen <karenhank AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:25:11 -0700 (PDT) Three days ago (6/13/13) Karen and I happened upon an active American Kestrel nest in a snag east of West Ballard Hill Road a little west of its intersection with Swauk Prairie Road.� So the nest is across West Ballard Hill Road from Swauk Cemetery.� The two adult kestrels were hunting above the grasslands south of the snag and then would return to feed the young ones in the cavity.� The lighting was very�difficult so I only managed one photo. � http://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/9038813834/ � Hank Heiberg Lake Joy Carnation, WA karenhankatyahoodotcom_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Red-breasted Sapsucker being fed/Juanita From: Hank Karen <karenhank AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:49:17 -0700 (PDT) Video: � http://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/with/9061583269/ � Photo: � http://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/9063923660/ � Hank Heiberg Lake Joy Carnation, WA karenhankatyahoodotcom_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Crossbills in Wedgwood From: Joe Sweeney <sweeneyfit AT mac.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:01:17 -0700 Late this morning, Sunday, 5 RED CROSSBILLS (3 males and 2 females) bathed in our front yard bird bath for a few minutes. This is only the second time we've seen crossbills on our property. Last time was April 1 of this year, also at the bird bath. Joe Sweeney NE Seattle sweeneyfit at mac dot com _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Red-eyed Vireo, LHG-Bellevue From: Pterodroma AT aol.com Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:33:54 -0400 (EDT) What I'd like to think is a likely territorial RED-EYED VIREO was found this morning in the Lake Hills Greenbelt (LHG), Bellevue and maybe one I've overlooked in recent days by virtue of just not being dialed in to catch it's call. Look and listen for it at the Lake Hills Blvd crosswalk, northwest across the lawn 100 feet or so along the west edge and bramble border high in the alders and other deciduous trees. Very vocal and very insistent in singing, singing for several minutes then quiet for one or two then singing again, a pattern which continued throughout. Moves around a lot through that area and alder strip which gets into a pretty boggy area the more north you go but where the vireo seems to like it best. I first heard the suspect song when coming east along the trail through the Larsen Lake SE side hemlock/cedar grove but when I tried to access it from there to confirm the ID, I got bogged (again), up to my calves and lost both shoes and socks (again!), but found access obviously so much easier from the sidewalk & lawn along LH Blvd. ...Duh! ...concrete sidewalk, dry lawn, what a concept; I wonder who thought that up :-)) A frustrating bird, and it took me a good 20 minutes to chase the vireo down for visual confirmation due to the thick foliage and the bird moving about a lot in the upper tier, but always singing, and just had to be patient for it to finally show itself in an open spot. If the Red-eyed Vireo is singing, it's loud, distinctive, and should be easily hearable off to the NW from the LH Blvd crosswalk. I think this may be a first record for Bellevue's Lake Hills Greenbelt. Richard Rowlett Bellevue (Eastgate), WA _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Purple Martins at Shilshole From: "helen.gilbert AT juno.com" <helen.gilbert@juno.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:07:22 GMT Hi -- For Purple Martin lovers -- there's a lively colony inhabiting the gourds at the pocket park at Shilshole Bay in the 6200 block of Seavaiew Ave NW across across from Paseo's Cuban sandwich stand. Helen Gilbert Seattle _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Red-eyed Vireo, Bank Swallows in Thurston Co. From: Gary Wiles <wilesharkey AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:40:03 -0700 (PDT) Tweeters, � I spent a couple of hours this morning searching for rarities in southern Thurston County.� I was able to find the Bank Swallows at the quarry on the north side of Rainier that Paul Hicks reported last Monday.� I then spent some time at the intersection of Churchill Rd and H-507 about a mile east of Tenino and heard a loud and persistently calling Red-eyed Vireo in the forest on the northeast corner of the intersection.� I never did see the bird, partly because of all the road traffic, but it was still great to hear its song. � Gary Wiles Olympia, WA wilesharkey AT yahoo.com_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Lapland Longspur at Point Roberts, WA From: "Wayne Weber" <contopus AT telus.net> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:04:13 -0700 Birders, This morning, Richard Swanston reported a female LAPLAND LONGSPUR at Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts, WA, and got good photos of the bird. I'm not sure what time he found it, but the bird may still be in the vicinity. This is a highly out-of-season record for this species. At this time of year, Lapland Longspurs should be in Alaska or in Arctic Canada! Wayne C. Weber Delta, BC contopus AT telus.net _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Barn Owl-Magnuson Park From: kenneth trease <kennethtrease AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:16:27 -0700 (PDT) This morning I found a roosting Barn Owl along one of the wetlands trails in Magnuson Park. �The Robins and Crows were constantly harassing him/her. �The owl was about 75-100 feet in on the left side along the trail which enters exactly opposite the exit road from the boat ramp. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cavuken/ Good birding,� Ken Trease Spokane, Wa (just visiting Seattle)_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Bar Tailed Godwit From: Blair Bernson <blair AT washingtonadvisorygroup.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:42:00 -0700 Still present at 3 Crabs as of 11:45.  Also Red Knots, SPSP Purple Martins Bald Eagles and BBPL Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Rail family at Montlake Fill From: aldavis AT q.com Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:29:23 -0400 (EDT) A very active, very visible family of Virginia Rails gave us quite a thrill this morning at the Montlake Fill, at the wooden footbridge over the s lough. There were two parents and seven babies in all--and we watched them skating around the lily pads on the s lough, then dashing across the road several times. The highlight was watching one baby struggle for several hilarious minutes as it tried to swallow a worm twice its size. They were in easy view for over an hour. Q uite a show. Amy Davis Seattle _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Carpooling to WOS? From: "Teresa Michelsen" <teresa AT avocetconsulting.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:21:14 -0700 Is anyone interested in carpooling to and from the WOS conference from the Olympia area? It’s a bit of a drive for me solo. I am happy to lend my Prius and/or gas money, and good company to the drive :) Was thinking of leaving Thursday afternoon. Please reply privately – thanks! Teresa Michelsen Olympia, WA _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Wilson Creek mostly From: wheelermombi AT comcast.net Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:11:25 +0000 (UTC) Good morning Tweeters, Dave and Sherry Hayden, Gary Wiles, and I birded in the Wilson Creek area on Saturday. We spotted a little over 80 species in all, finding many of our target birds plus a few surprises. Here's a rundown: Miscellaneous in the general vicinity prior to arriving at Wilson Creek: Redhead, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Bufflehead, Northern Shoveler, Avocet, Black-necked Stilt (seen at several wetland stops), White Pelican, Lark Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Marsh Wren, Rock Wren, Great Egret Kannawai Rd: Barn Owl (in a cavity on the cliffs), Loggerhead Shrike, American Coot, Grasshopper Sparrow (remained in the open singing for several minutes) 23 RD NE near the lake/marsh: Spotted Sandpiper, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Ruddy Duck, Lazuli Bunting 22 RD NE: Bald Eagle, Pied-billed Grebe, A. Bittern, A. Wigeon, Common Yellowthroat, Prairie Falcon, Northern Harrier (no Tri-colored Blackbirds) Soap Lake: A colony of Bank Swallows, White-throated Swifts, approximately 50 breeding plumage Eared Grebes (the most that I had ever seen in one location and very unexpected) Lake Lenore: Several more Eared Grebes, but mostly paired off, unlike at Soap Lake, 14 Common Goldeneye, including 7 chicks Miscellaneous: Horned Lark, Mt. Bluebird, lots of Western Kingbirds, Eastern Kingbird, Western Wood-Pewee, Say's Phoebe, Evening Grosbeak, Red-winged Crossbills, A. Kestril, Swainson's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, Ring-necked Pheasant, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cedar Waxwing, Western Meadowlark, California Quail, Common Nighthawk, Bullock's Oriole, and a family of Burrowing Owls with at least 4 very small chicks (at an undisclosed location on the way to Wilson Creek), plus many of the usual suspects. Good birding, Lonnie Somer Kent wheelermombi AT comcast.net _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Hummingbird with short beak From: BJ White <bjhats AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:06:27 -0700 (PDT) > > > >�I have many hummingbirds that come to my feeder. This year one of the young birds has a problem. Her tongue has always appeared to be a little extended beyond the end of her beak. Now her tongue is well beyond the end of her beak perhaps over an inch and shows a kink in it where she bends it in order to get into the feeder. Is there any hope that this bird will be able to survive with this condition and has anyone else come across this before? Thank you. > > >Betsey White >West Seattle >bj hats at yahoo dot com > >_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Hummingbird with short beak From: BJ White <bjhats AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:01:58 -0700 (PDT) �I have many hummingbirds that come to my feeder here in West Seattle. This year one of the young birds has a problem. Her tongue has always appeared to be a little extended beyond the end of her beak. Now her tongue is well beyond the end of her beak perhaps over an inch and shows a kink in it where she bends it in order to get into the feeder. Is there any hope that this bird will be able to survive with this condition and has anyone else come across this before? Thank you. _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Lyle (Klickitat County) From: Lyn Topinka <pointers AT pacifier.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 08:37:04 -0700 hi ... Gene and I went to the Lyle-Balch Cemetery yesterday ... quite a few Western Bluebirds busy collecting bugs ... and we even saw one fledgling ... very cute ... Ash-throated Flycatchers and Western Wood-Pewees all over the place ... very calm at Balch Lake ... we could hear more than we could see ... the sandbar at the mouth of the Klickitat had about 50 gulls (GW and one with black-tips) and 2 Caspian Terns ... scope needed for them ... Lyn Vancouver, Washington Lyn Topinka http://EnglishRiverWebsite.com http://ColumbiaRiverImages.com http://RidgefieldBirds.com _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Almost Another Anchor Aplodontia! From: jeff gibson <gibsondesign AT msn.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:11:04 -0700 Getting down to the last few days of our ownership of the Anchor Pub, I've been inspired, by a spate of late night vandalisms at the place , to spend the last nights sleeping on the couch down there along with our mutt Max, who is a wonderfull biological alarm system (good ears and a loud warning bark). So it goes. Early this morning Max took me for a walk down to nearby Forgotten Creek, just two blocks down the street . Walking up the little trail there, we were passing a bare spot of bank, when an Aplodontia ran about 20 ft. across the slope and dissapeared down it's hole. Cool! Despite several earlier posts about Aplodontia (AKA Mountain Beaver) sightings at the Anchor over the past few years, I'd never really seen a live one down here myself. The first one, actually inside the place, was murdered by a bartender before I could get down there to deal with it. The second one, just outside the door was filmed by drunken musicians - all I saw was the video. So this morning's Aplodontia was only the 3rd one I've ever seen running around. The last one I saw was in 1972 in Schmitz park, while playing hooky from West Seattle High School.Playing hooky can be very educational. Forgotten Creek is worth remembering largely due to the efforts of Bob Jackson ( and his wife Jean Murphy) who has championed the restoration of this small ravine by leading volunteer efforts to build trails, remove english ivy and other invasive plants , and replanting with natives. A work in progress (as dealing with isolated urban habitat always is) the place gets more interesting to the naturalist each year. Bob has been at it for more than 10 years. I give Bob and Jean credit for my Aplodontia sighting this morning since the bare slope I spotted the critter on was recently cleared of ivy.Bob and Jean are good friends and really supported the Anchor at critical junctures. Forgotten creek, although just a small area, is a pretty good bird spot. A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers are often around ( a number of very perforated alder trunks are evidence of that) ,and you might see Pacific Wrens or Brown Creepers in this little remnant of woods. Right now the Salmonberry Bird (AKA Swainsons Thrush) is singing there - lots of salmonberries along the creek. Everettites might check it out, and also volunteer oportunities - google, or whatever, Friends of Forgotten Creek for more info. I said "almost" another Anchor Aplodontia in my efforts to be accurate in my Anchor nature posts. But really, Forgotten Creek is part of the Anchor too, in my mind. Sometimes it's the spirit of a thing that counts. Jeff Gibson on the couch AT The Anchor Pub 1001 Hewitt Ave Everett Wa _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: East Cascades Foothills and Robinson Canyon From: Jim Owens <jimo AT brainerd.org> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 01:29:06 -0400 Tweets, On Saturday, June 15, Jeanelle Richardson and I led a Seattle Audubon Society field trip to the eastern side of the Cascades. Nine very capable and collegial participants joined our trip, adding immense visual and aural firepower to our efforts to explore some hotspots near Cle Elum and Ellensburg. The weather was warm and relatively wind-free, and though the height of breeding season has passed, we were still able to come up with approximately 84 species in a full day of birding. We started our day at Bullfrog Pond, where we worked the ponds, Cle Elum River and dry forests and found Rufous Hummingbird, Downy and Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Western Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Northern Rough-winged, Tree and Violet-green Swallows, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch, House and Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Swainson's and Hermit Thrushes, American Robins, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwings, MacGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Spotted Towhee, Chipping, Song and White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, a Cassin's Finch, Red Crossbills, Pine Siskins, American Goldfinch and Evening Grosbeaks. We next drove to the Northern Pacific Ponds, where we picked up a family of Mallards, a pair of Cinnamon Teal, several Barrow's Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, a large family of Common Mergansers, California Quail, the resident Osprey, a vocalizing Virginia Rail, two Common Nighthawks, a Black-chinned Hummingbird, a mystery Empidonax, Cassin's and Warbling Vireos, a family of Pygmy Nuthatches in a snag near the road, House and Pacific Wrens, several Gray Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Nashville, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers, several Bullock's Orioles and Purple Finch. A quick drive along Swauk Prairie Road delivered Vesper and Savannah Sparrows, Western Meadowlarks, Tree Swallows nesting in roadside boxes, and Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures in the distance. At the bottom of Reecer Creek Road, we found 23 species, including a Killdeer and Wilson's Snipe on a stick seen on Smithson Road, American Kestrel, Western Wood-Pewee, a surprise Eastern Kingbird, Lazuli Buntings, and a Bullock's Oriole. After several scouting trips to lower Umptanum Road, Jeanelle and I had almost given up hope of finding a Yellow-breasted Chat in the riparian jungle alongside the road where chats have been seen in past years, but today the group's luck was good and we briefly saw and mostly heard a Yellow-breasted Chat opposite the rock quarry at the bottom end of the canyon. A friendly Rock Wren serenaded us from a nearby telephone wire and we got good looks at a Bullock's Oriole and other birds before heading up Umptanum Road to Old Durr Road, where during a brief stop we found several brilliant Mountain Bluebirds and a Brewer's Sparrow. Our last stop was Robinson Canyon, which was somewhat quiet on a warm afternoon but still gave us 26 species. We walked up the road beyond the gate to the L.T. Murray Wildlife Recreation Area and part of the trail up the canyon and saw a Golden Eagle perched on a cliff on the skyline above the canyon, three Common Nighthawks, a Rufous Hummingbird, Gray and Pacific-slope Flycatchers, many Warbling Vireos, two surprise Bushtits that flew in front of David and Karen Adair, the House Wren that guards the gate into Robinson Canyon, a MacGillivray's Warbler and several Yellow Warblers, Lazuli Buntings, Bullock's Orioles and a Purple Finch. Great company, good weather and challenging birding made this trip enjoyable for all. Jim Owens Mercer Island _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: The good (SAGE THRASHER, AM. REDSTART), the sad and the ugly of central Skagit County birding today From: Scott Atkinson <scottratkinson AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:04:47 -0700 Tweeters: What an odd day--the common thread was near-misses, or outright automobile collisions, with birds. Imagine my surprise when at about 5:30 a.m., I almost hit a SAGE THRASHER (!) right along Rt 530 near Martin Rd. (right by the southbound sign with mileages to Darrington, Arlington, etc.). When I turned the car around, the bird afforded a brief view before it flew off in a westerly direction, through the cut-over area, in the direction of Concrete, not to be seen again. There is a previous Dave Beaudette May 29 entry (the first for Skagit County, many years back) from Martin Rd nearby, but mid-June seems late for sure. Also odd for this stop were six ROOSEVELT ELK; I have not seen this species anywhere in the area previously, or for that matter anywhere in the county...The last animal made it interesting (and consonant with other encounters over the morning) by darting too close in front of the vehicle as I headed into town, luckily at a slow clip. Sadly, about a half-hour later, I hit a female MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER not far from Rockport along Rt 20, this even though I almost halted outright to avoid impact. Pitiful it was when I noted the male staying very close by, calling relentlessly, afterward. And the scene wasn't better later when, headed for County Line, I came across a real mashed RUFFED GROUSE that someone had just hit, near Milemarker 111. Two downy young were cheeping so close that they were almost on the road as well. They dropped into cover when I came to look, at least both were fliers. And finally, territorial Am. Robins along this same stretch cut it too close for comfort at least a couple times, but I slowed and they thought better of their initial flight plans. On a happier note, an intact family of RUFFED GROUSE were seen right along the entry road into Barnaby Slough. I came around a corner on foot and surprised them, the 7 downy young quickly dispersed while the hen put on quite a show; one young bird flew while the others scrambled for cover. As I stood motionless, the hen came at me within five feet (!), puffing herself up as large as possible while making a hissing sound and clapping her beak as menacingly as possible, until the cheeping youngsters were out of sight. There was also an EASTERN KINGBIRD in the dead trees along the slough itself (west end). If you travel into this area, best to bring some insect repellent, the mosquitos are annoying enough, in the shaded spots especially. At the Sauk River boat launch (along the west side of the river, right by the Sauk River bridge about midway between Darrington and Rockport), an AM. REDSTART was on territory, singing endlessly. Notably, none were present (yet at least) at County Line (Skagit Co side), n.e. of Marblemount. No sign of the Gray Catbird near the Marblemount boat launch either, but a pair of LAZULIS were at the entrance road. Many years ago, I had a singing Gray Catbird at the boat launch side of the Cascade River Bridge, also along river and in June. I don't believe we've yet reached double-digit records/reports for this species in the county, but over the next three weeks observers in the area should be alert. As Ryan noted, LAZULI BUNTINGS seem to be everywhere this year. I counted 16 at Corkindale Creek, my highest count ever for Skagit Co. There was also a lone BANK SWALLOW here (they were infrequent today), but no kingbirds or Least Fly. RED-EYED VIREOS were heard at every single stop I made, as were WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, which both have to be at migration peak arrival now. A pair of low-elevation VARIED THRUSH were heard singing at the south end of Martin Rd., and three NASHVILLE WARBLERS could be heard singing at different spots high on the hillsides above the Rockport Quarry. WARBLING VIREOS seem very common this year; I had a double-digit count going near the base of the Bacon Creek Rd, just off Rt 20, in the late morning. Scott Atkinson Lake Stevens mail to: scottratkinson AT hotmail.com _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Re: Issaquah Screech From: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters AT me.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:45:36 -0700 Owl is gone and we didn't do it. Larry On Jun 15, 2013, at 5:29 PM, Larry Schwitters wrote: > If anyone "needs" a good look at a screech owl I've got one right beside my house. Maybe someone can also tell me why it appears to have dark eyes > > Larry Schwitters > Issaquah_______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters AT u.washington.edu > http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Issaquah Screech From: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters AT me.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:29:48 -0700 If anyone "needs" a good look at a screech owl I've got one right beside my house. Maybe someone can also tell me why it appears to have dark eyes Larry Schwitters Issaquah_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Red-eyed Vireo From: wong <chupaflor AT igc.org> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:24:53 -0700 Hi Tweets, This morning, while searching at Discovery Park for a couple of more birds to add to our King County year list, we heard the song of the RED-EYED VIREO. It was very persistent in its vocalization. As we looped back toward our car about an hour later, we heard it again fairly close to the same spot. This time we caught a brief glimpse of it. Nice to be able to add that one to the list. Today we only sought two target birds for this park: Townsend's Warbler (seen and heard in many other spots this year, but outside of the county) and Barred Owl. Got both of these on the same trail. The Red-eyed might have been reported earlier, but I thought it'd be worth sharing. Very vocal, it was flitting around various trees just south of the North Parking lot. (west end) happy birding, isadora wong seattle, wa chupaflor AT igc.org _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Walla Walla County - west end From: "Mike & MerryLynn" <m.denny AT charter.net> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 14:50:06 -0700 Hello all, At the Walla Walla River delta this morning we had a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT singing - If they nest out there it will be a first - we usually only see one or two of these birds during fall migration. Had one June 4 at Bennington Lake for our first ever June record. Water level has been high but going down - no shorebirds there but did have a GREATER YELLOWLEGS at 2Rivers and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Tyson pond - along with American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts and one Wilson's Phalarope. At 2Rivers were 13 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 1 CLARK'S GREBE and 4 Western Grebes. Counted 8 Forster's Terns today. And a Yellow-rumped Warbler singing in a cottonwood - weird place for this bird in June! Ate lunch here listening to Flicker, Bullock's Oriole, Tree Swallow and Kestrel young all begging. American White Pelicans were all over Badger Island where they nest - and flocks of these birds were flying west out of Walla Walla at 6:30 this morning - have seen them flying all over the valley. In Wallula Gap the White-throated Swifts and swallows were numerous - and both Canyon and Rock Wrens were singing. Birded the mountains yesterday with friends and found both species of Bluebirds feeding young in nest boxes - seems late but we did have a hard freeze in May and this may be their second try. Red-naped Sapsuckers also feeding young. Very birdy with lots of warblers, flycatchers and tanagers. Had a Turkey Vulture over Lewis Peak - uncommon in WWCo. Good birding, MerryLynn ******************************************************* Mike & MerryLynn Denny Birding the beautiful Walla Walla Valley "If you haven't birded, you haven't lived"_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Black Swift at Snoqualmie Falls From: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters AT me.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 14:24:18 -0700 Scott Dodson got video of a Black Swift as it flew into its nest/roost site last night at 9:27. He's got it on YouTube. Larry Schwitters Issaquah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4B0AFvIHkg_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Nestling - Out on a Limb From: Larry Hubbell <ldhubbell AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:48:13 -0700 Tweeters, This weeks photographic story covers some basics you may already know, but it also has a question or two that may challenge you. For example in the fourth photo from the end, Does anyone have a clue about what is on the birds beak? http://unionbaywatch.blogspot.com/2013/06/nestling-out-on-limb.html I hope you enjoy the story. Larry Hubbell ldhubbell at comcast dot net_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: BirdNote - last week, and the week of June 16, 2013 From: Ellen Blackstone <ellen AT 123imagine.net> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:03:03 -0700 Hey, Tweets, Last week, BirdNote aired: * Burning Montezuma's Aviaries http://bit.ly/122DHqP * The Arctic Plain in June - With Gerrit Vyn http://bit.ly/156Y3RJ * Voices and Vocabularies - Robin's Evening Song http://bit.ly/ZSpxvK * Voices and Vocabularies - Exquisite Thrush Songs http://bit.ly/14CGE6L * Cuckoos - Tent Caterpillar Birds http://bit.ly/11PvPgz * Where Are the Yellow-billed Cuckoos? http://bit.ly/ZSpJvh * Cowbirds and Yellow Warblers http://bit.ly/1bHpLIx View the photos and links for next week's shows: http://bit.ly/11o6zuD ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BirdNote/38299689818 ... or Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BirdNoteRadio ======================================================================= BirdNote is available by podcast: -- http://feeds.feedburner.com/birdnote/OYfP -- http://tinyurl.com/http-ax-itunes-apple-com-us And on StitcherRadio: http://stitcher.com/s/profile.php?fid=18715 You can listen to the mp3, see a photo, read the transcript, and find related resources on the website. http://www.birdnote.org All episodes are in the archive. Search: http://birdnote.org/archive Thanks for listening! Ellen Blackstone, BirdNote_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Umtanum report: a woodpecker-y day From: Warren Clemans <wumpusbear AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:43:42 -0700 Hi Tweets-- I spent a fantastic day yesterday hiking up Umtanum Creek. I went in hopes of seeing my first Yellow-breasted Chats and saw plenty. In fact I don't think I was ever out of earshot of them. They're truly hilarious birds. Photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63285381 AT N00/9051423346/ The highlight of the day for me was the number of Lewis's Woodpeckers that I saw. They were everywhere, from high on the canyon walls to the tops of trees or perched on shrubs. I spent almost an hour watching a pair bring bugs to their nest. Unfortunately I couldn't see the nest hole from the trail (and didn't want to disturb the birds by bushwhacking), but it was definitely a nest. Sample photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63285381 AT N00/9051430078/ Lazuli Buntings were everywhere. As was reported last week, there weren't many warblers about (I saw one Nashville) but maybe that's because the buntings were drowning out every other sound. Photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63285381 AT N00/9051425834/ I was easily able to locate the prairie falcon nest about 2 miles in. The chicks weren't very active by the time I got there in the early afternoon. Here's what they looked like: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63285381 AT N00/9051430718/ Finally, here's a kestrel that was kind enough to land just off the trail and pose for me: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63285381 AT N00/9051433770/ Other highlights included gobs of Western Wood-Pewees, black-headed grosbeaks, a common merganser with chicks in the Yakima, 8 or 10 turkey vultures looking for lunch, a couple of downy woodpeckers, bullock's oriole, and a taunting olive-sided flycatcher (him: "quick, three beers"; me: "that sounds great, thanks"; him: "just kidding!"). Oh, and no rattlesnakes. Additional photos, including a bunch of Lewis's Woodpecker shots, are in this flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63285381 AT N00/sets/72157634143388880/ Happy birding, Warren_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Bar-tailed Godwit still at 3 Crabs From: B Boekelheide <bboek AT olympus.net> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:47:48 -0700 A Bar-tailed Godwit is still at 3 Crabs, observed and photographed by Michael Barry yesterday afternoon, 6/14/13. It looks very similar to the one first seen by Ryan Shaw on 6/2, but who knows if it's the same bird. It's hanging out with the other shorebirds along the mudflats west of the old restaurant site. Michael also reports a Long-billed Curlew and a Semipalmated Sandpiper in the shorebird flock as well, along with the usual BB Plovers, dowitchers, etc. We usually have 1st year BB Plovers and a few others remaining here during the nesting season, but it seems unusual for such a diverse group to still be here in mid-June. Bob Boekelheide Dungeness_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Anderson Lake State Park - Least Flycatcher? From: Joe <jfbaier3 AT aol.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:41:29 -0400 (EDT) Yesterday afternoon I heard what I am almost certain is a Least Flycatcher singing loudly and persistently at Anderson Lake State Park in Jefferson County. However, I was not able to find the bird visually in the thick stand of trees it seemed to be in. I know this is an unusual bird here, but I don't know how unusual. Has anyone heard this song at Anderson this year, or had any previous experience with a Least Flycatcher in this area. Finally, is there any other creature here that might produce something very like the loud, rapid, repetitive "che-bek" song of a Least Flycatcher? Thanks for any help! Joe Baier Port Ludlow, WA jfbaier3 AT aol.com _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Black-headed Grosbeak vocalizing/Umtanum Creek From: Hank Karen <karenhank AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 07:20:49 -0700 (PDT) Video: � http://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/9038998726/ � Video: � http://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/9039336034/ � Photo: � http://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/9036674147/ � � Hank Heiberg Lake Joy Carnation, WA karenhankatyahoodotcom_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: McLane Crk-Olympia: Pileated, Wilson's Warbler From: ray holden <rayleeholden AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:25:03 -0700 (PDT) There is a wilson's warbler singing in the parking area. �He is defending territory in the center of the traffic circle on the outbound side in the undergrowth. �Not showing himself often but singing very loudly and if you wait him out you will get a very close view. �It's amazing how much noise a 3" bird can make. �Pretty bird. �If you are looking for Woody Woodpecker (pileated) there are two and this is their second year. �Maybe they winter over I don't know. �They are also elusive because McLane Creek is very densely wooded and if what ever you are hearing isn't right on a trail you will probably not see it. This morning Woody was drumming on your left facing the pond from the bridge where the observation piers are. �After all the hunting I've done, this morning (Friday) �he actually came out and tapped on the standing snag in the pond where the redwing males often perch. �Again not easy to see but there are two and if you hear a woodpecker banging away it's probably one of them. Just follow the noise and hope. �There were also lots of common yellow throats singing in the rushes. They mostly stay hidden but once in awhile one will pop up. �Unfortunately all the ducks have disappeared. �There once were two male and two female wood ducks. �One of the females produced 10 chicks then they all just disappeared (adults and kids) along with a pair of mallards. � � Ray Holden Olympia, WA Life is for the birds. _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: What do birders know? From: "Rob Sandelin" <nwnature1 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:19:38 -0700 What Do the Birders Know? By BRIAN KIMBERLING, OPINION, The New York Times, April 21,2013 A BIRD-WATCHER is a kind of pious predator. To see a new bird is to capture it, metaphorically, and a rare bird or an F.O.Y. (First of the Year, for the uninitiated) is a kind of trophy. A list of birds seen on a given day is also a form of prayer, a thanksgiving for being alive at a certain time and place. Posting that list online is a 21st-century form of a votive offering. It's unclear what deity presides. There was prestige in knowing birds in ancient Rome, and there is prestige today. There are also competitive insect enthusiasts and tree connoisseurs and fungus aficionados, but they lack the cultural stature and sheer numbers of bird-watchers. There are 5.8 million bird-watchers in the United States, slightly more than the number of Americans in book clubs or residents of Wisconsin. That's a huge army of primitive hunter-mystics decked out in sturdy hiking boots and nylon rain gear, consulting their smartphones to identify or imitate a particular quarry. There is nothing especially new about them except for their gear. Two hundred years ago the heartland teemed with second sons of wealthy European families who could have stayed home dissipating in traditional style, but chose to go to the New World and find a new animal instead. Reporting your sightings to the Audubon Society is decidedly less glamorous than dispatching a new specimen to a museum in Paris or London, but it's a kindred enterprise. Today's birders are not exploring new territory geographically, as the early naturalists did; rather, they are contouring the frontiers of climate change . It's April, and the kitchen-window bird observer is limbering up, too. Are the birds nesting early, nesting late? (Do they know something we don't?) The reporting such observers do is crucial. And what are today's birds telling us? The Audubon Society estimates that nearly 60 percent of 305 bird species found in North America in winter are shifting northward and to higher elevations in response to climate change. For comparison, imagine the inhabitants of 30 states - using state residence as a proxy for species of American human - becoming disgruntled with forest fires and drought and severe weather events, and seeking out suitable new habitat. The Audubon Society's estimates rest largely on data supplied by volunteers in citizen-science projects like the Christmas Bird Count (first proposed in 1900, nine years after the first known use of the word "bird-watcher," to set the hobby apart from the more traditional Christmas pastime of shooting birds). The birds in question have shifted an average of 35 miles north over a period of about 40 years - seemingly insignificant in human terms, but a major move ecologically. Such documentation, drawing on databases and the practices of citizen science, is descended from folk wisdom, where birds are ascribed a certain predictive power. Folk wisdom holds that they nest high in anticipation of warm weather (not true) or fly low when they expect to get wet (true). Folk wisdom has deep roots. "Auspice" and "augury" share a Latin origin with "avian." An augur was a priest in ancient Rome who studied birds to determine the will of the gods (Cicero was one). When an elected official is inaugurated today, he or she is etymologically promoted to bird-watcher in chief. Mr. President, your binoculars. There are no accidental hawks or eagles in the "Iliad" or the "Odyssey," either. This says more about humans than about birds. They remind us of time, hence the venerable history of the cuckoo clock. As James Baldwin noted, the whisper beneath the word "time" is death. The ancient wisdom of fretting obsessively over bird behavior has obtained the vindication of modern science. Hawks and eagles do not appear by accident. When, where and whether they appear is, absolutely, a portent. The spotted owl is a bioindicator, a species that can be used to monitor the condition of an ecosystem. In other words, bioindicator is just modern parlance for omen. And so the practice of bird-watching, no matter how geared up and teched out, cannot escape its ancient roots; or, rather, it has come back around. Birds are not moving north in anticipation of climate change; rather, they are moving in response to it. Still, they are becoming predictive in a manner not founded in superstition but well-documented in reported behavior. We can't escape trying to see the future through birds. Too many canaries were deployed to detect gas leaks in coal mines, too many ravens launched from ships to find land - bird anxiety is an essential component of the human predicament. There is no telling what kinds of perverse ecological arrangements we will create for birds in the future, or what new technologies will be introduced to bird-watching. Google Glass, for example, has implications, and binoculars that double as digital or online field guides can't be far away. We have reached an era when our instincts, anxieties and gadgets collide; our classical relationship with birds is reinforced and our understanding is enhanced. Unfortunately, we may need to start moving north. The author of the forthcoming novel "Snapper." _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: CNWR Snowy Egret From: "Doug Schonewald" <dschone8 AT donobi.net> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:28:23 -0700 The Snowy Egret is still present and has been seen in Marsh Unit 1, ponds 2 & 3 (far west ponds) per Gordon Warrick. Good luck. Cheers Doug Schonewald Moses Lake, WA _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: CNWR Snowy Egret From: Doug Schonewald <dschone8 AT donobi.net> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:28:23 -0700 The Snowy Egret is still present and has been seen in Marsh Unit 1, ponds 2 & 3 (far west ponds) per Gordon Warrick. Good luck. Cheers Doug Schonewald Moses Lake, WA _______________________________________________ Inland-nw-birders mailing list Inland-nw-birders AT uidaho.edu https://lists.uidaho.edu/mailman/listinfo/inland-nw-birders Subject: head/tail bird identified From: cgluckman AT aol.com Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:48:58 -0400 (EDT) Thanks to all of you who responded. A majority IDed the bird as an American Robin which seems to fit. A common bird in an uncommon setting is a good excuse for the rest of you. David Gluckman 811 22nd St. Pt. Townsend, WA 98368 360 379-0360_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: VARC Image of the Month From: Derek Matthews <Derek.Matthews AT spectrum-canada.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:03:40 +0000 Hi Birders and Banders, We've just uploaded the image of the month for June - should probably be entitled 'guess the bird' - please click on the links below to view this stunning super-macro image: http://www.birdvancouver.com/image_month_jun13.html Happy late spring/early summer birding and banding! Derek Derek Matthews Vancouver Avian Research Centre Vancouver, BC, Canada www.birdvancouver.com_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: re: Cliff Swallows From: Dianna Moore <dlmoor2 AT coastaccess.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:14:12 -0700 Hey Tweets and particularly Ed Newbold.....Some members of Grays Harbor Audubon participated in a field trip on Sunday, June 2nd to the GHNWR for a look at the spring/summer birds. We found (probably) hundreds of Cliff Swallows in nests and in the process of building new nests under the eaves of the last airplane hanger along the asphalt road leading out to the Sandpiper Trail/boardwalk. The requirements for nesting Cliff Swallows would be an open field with some standing fresh water and lots of mud, bugs, and a building nearby with deep overhangs. Are there regional airports in the area? Check them out. Good luck! Dianna Moore Ocean Shores_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Dropping Anchor From: jeff gibson <gibsondesign AT msn.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:42:14 -0700 Readers of my posts from the Anchor Pub might wonder if the place is real or just a figment of my imagination. Well, it's both, and this weekend is your last chance to find out about the real part. Yes, after 4 and a half years, my wife and I have enjoyed as much of the place as we can stand, and even if we remain confused at times, we are moving on to being confused on a higher level and about more important things. The Anchor has been a lot of fun, and we learned a lot. But anchor's are made to be dropped, are they not? Sometime's, matey, you have to cut the rope, or drop the chain, too. Yup, this weekend is your chance to see the Aplodontia-chewed baseboard featured in my post "Aplodontia Attacks Anchor Pub!" a few years back. You could also look out of the Large Grey Array, the window optics used by members of our Center for Faith-based Astronomy (our motto: 'just because you can't see it don't mean it's not there' ). You could also talk to our director of Non - human Wildlife, and our Center for Sensitive Birders, namely me. I'll be here Friday, Saturday and Sunday, after 5pm. If I'm not , the bartender can page me - I'm working nearby. Always interesting to meet a tweeter in person. Although I personally look, sound, and smell better online, at least you can find out that I'm not really a precocious 15 year old girl who drinks and has a birding problem. I would like to thank the Tweeters who have come into the Anchor over the past few years - we appreciated your business. A Bar is something you put a drink on, but a Pub is a bit more; a group of folks talking to each other in an atmosphere inspired and nurtured by the owners. So the Anchor will continue on, in some form. The next owner may not know nothing about Aplodontia's. Sitting at the bar last night, old Clam (son of clam) Clemson, was responding to rumors that the Anchor was gonna be a sports bar. He's lived through all the incarnations of the place. " Oh yeah, just what Everett needs, another sports bar! Hell, the only birds you're gonna hear about down here now is Seahawks, Ravens, Cardinals and Orioles!" "Well Clam" I said, " maybe another nature freak will buy the place". "It has happened before, I guess" he lamented. Jeff GibsonThe Anchor Pub1001 Hewitt Ave Everett Wa. P.S. : the hours on our website are all screwed up. These last few days we're open Friday 3pm to 2am, Sat 4pm to 2am, and Sunday 5pm to the legal limit. Sunday is the last day! We'll have food all weekend, and for those who don't use Beer App's, we also serve water, and stuff like that. , _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co., WA) 2013-06-13 From: Matt Bartels <mattxyz AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:46:59 -0700 Tweets - Brian Bell & I led today's Marymoor walk in place of Michael Hobbs and had a good day. 11 participants joined for the day. Early on, the rains kicked up -- never too hard, but it took us by surprise and kept many of us soggy for the day. By the end of the walk, we had some blue skies and even an occasional shadow appearing. Birds were showing signs of being well into summer season -- singing was down from previous weeks and the bird number [influenced by the weather too] were lower. We saw several young birds --baby Mallards, baby Wood Ducks, baby Common Mergansers, young Pine Siskins and young Great Blue Herons. Notable sightings: Great Blue Heron - it seemed that several of the nests in the heronry were empty -- some young herons still on the nest, but fewer than before, showing signs of [hopefully] fledging. Purple Martin - a pair was at the gourds at the lake viewing platform - female on the crossbar, male in a gourd -- first time they've been there for us this year. Tree Swallows were still in one of the other adjacent gourds. Hammond's Flycatcher - one heard and seen by some over at the Rowing Club -- seems late to have them around unless there's a nesting possibility in the area. Bullock's Oriole - a pair in the heronry cottonwoods - probably a nest up there now. Lazuli Bunting - one male out early by the soccer fields plenty of singing Black-headed Grosbeaks, Willow Flycatchers, Swainson's Thrush, and a smattering of Yellow Warblers & Warbling Vireos made up the main summer suite of birds. notable misses for the day would include : Hairy Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon, Black Swift [looked like a perfect day for them], only 2 Canada Geese. 59 species for the day, with nothing new for the year. Earlier this week though, Eastern and Western Kingbirds were seen at the park, adding to the year total. Matt Bartels Seattle, WA _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: 1201 Third Peregrines From: Dianna Moore <dlmoor2 AT coastaccess.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:23:34 -0700 Hey Tweets...I was watching the downtown peregrines at around 9pm...only two visible and one was trying to fly up to the ledge on the inner side of their perch...failed and fell back, then ran/flew under the camera view out of sight. Parent flew in with part of a pigeon at approx. 9:09pm and fed two eyasses, then left with the remainder of the pigeon. No third youngster as yet. Dianna Moore Ocean Shores_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Bird ID needed From: cgluckman AT aol.com Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:19:02 -0400 (EDT) I was in Pipestone Canyon near Winthrop today and saw a bird sitting on a nest about 10 feet off the ground with a partial head showing from one angle and tail from the other. The tail seems to have white coverts but appeared larger than a junco and smaller than a robin. The nest was about a foot in diameter. (all sizes are estimates only).The images are the first two located at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37079820 AT N07/ Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. David Gluckman 811 22nd St. Pt. Townsend, WA 98368 360 379-0360_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: women birders From: Pterodroma AT aol.com Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:13:03 -0400 (EDT) Outstanding and thought provoking blog from ABA online now! One of the best ever and well worthy of your time in addition to a no less equally if not more so spectacular thread of comment/discussion, many coming from well respected names (men and women) whom many of you will recognize. I wonder how folks, women in particular, perceive their place in the birding hierarchy of Washington State, past and present. SEE: http://blog.aba.org/2013/06/open-mic-the-field-glass-ceiling-women-mcdonald. html Richard Rowlett Bellevue (Eastgate), WA_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: RFI Bethel Ridge Black-Backed Woodpecker. From: Chris Warlow <christopherwarlow AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:07:31 -0700 I was wondering if one of you all could give me details on how to find a black-backed woodpecker in the Bethel Ridge Rd area. I'm heading up there on Sunday and it would be a lifer for me. Last year a trip up there gave me two lifers, American Three-Toed Woodpecker and Flamulated Owl. Thank you, Chris Warlow Christopherwarlow at yahoo dot com Olympia _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: The Yellow Rails of Klamath Marsh NWR (Mitch Blanton) From: Mitch Blanton <mitchblanton AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:42:37 -0700 On a recent road trip, I had hopes of hearing yellow rail. John Rakestraw's book, "Birding Oregon", mentions 3 possible locales, all closely north of Klamath Falls. My first stop was at the office of the Klamath Marsh NWR where I met Faye Weekley who proved to be very knowledgeable regarding yellow rail. I was astonished to learn that their surveys result in an estimate of 300 pair on just their refuge. Access to the refuge is closed to the public, but the marsh is bisected by a state hiway, Silver Lake Rd=OR 76. That night, I returned at dark and parked at several pullouts between MP 5 and 7. There were no other cars using the causeway and the silence was disturbed only by the sound of winnowing snipe. At full dark, 10pm, a chorus of the clicking of yellow rails commenced. Hooray! It was also interesting to hear about the research conducted there last year. Some of the marsh is subject to " haying" and the staff wanted to determine when the rails leave in the Fall so that the cut could take place afterwards. They put harnesses/transmitters on 19 yellow rails. This was accomplished by thrashing into the marsh at night, clicking stones, and netting the rails as they came in to defend their territory. The harnesses are designed to fall off in 4 months. Monitoring of the transmitters was done by airplane. They learned that the rails leave in September, but at this point they have no idea where their migration takes them._______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: RE: Cliff Swallows in greater Seattle? From: Ingrid Taylar <ingrid AT wildlifeconservationstamp.org> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:55:47 -0700 Ed, I saw a handful of Cliff Swallows at the Ballard Locks last week � not too many, perhaps 10-12 in sum. They were swooping into an area under the south-facing cement overhang at the spillway, which makes it impossible to see nests, if there are any. I think the only view would be from below, on the water. I walked around various cement structures in the area to see if they might also be nesting somewhere else. So far, those are the only ones I've seen. Best, Ingrid Taylar Interbay - Seattle, WA_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: EAKI, Stevens Pass, FR5400: CAFI, NOGO, WITU From: "Pete Fahey" <peterfahey AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:55:44 -0700 Hi Birders: Now that I'm working, I have to cram birding into a much shorter time, so I'm a bit late with this report. Yesterday, 6/11, I ran over to Marymoor to twitch the Eastern Kingbird, then headed off to Stevens Pass. I'm not sure of the protocol at closed ski resorts, but there were no signs, and no one flagged me down, so I just drove out some of the service roads. I had several Yellow-rumped Warblers, Juncos, Robins, and out by the area where they store the sno-cats and grooming equipment, I saw two male Cassin's Finch. Down on the Chelan side of the hill, there was a Common Raven dining on a road-killed Red-tailed Hawk! At Scenic, I backtracked on Old Cascade Highway to where it dead-ends 1.2 miles from WA 20. There was a Hooded Merganser female on the little pond, Yellow Warbler, Willow and Hammonds flycatchers, and at the bridge, I was surprised by a Northern Goshawk flying over. Blue-gray back, with a dark cap, and white eye line. The belly was white with dark speckling. Banded tail with noticeable white tufts. Today, 6/12 I drove out FR5400 over Stampede pass. About 1.5 miles into King County, I rousted a Sooty Grouse from the road. This was at a point, where I pulled over, and the view to the right was over the valley where I could see the big hairpin turn the BNSF takes before getting to the Stampede Tunnel. About another mile or so down the road, where it enters the forest, I saw two young male WILD TURKEYs walking along the road. I don't know the status of these birds in King County, but these guys acted just alert and wary enough to be wild, and I was about 8 miles from the nearest civilization. Are these countable (as countable as any introduced species?) Further along, across from Sunday Creek, I had a singing Olive-Sided Flycatcher. A couple of nice days in the mountains. Pete Fahey Snoqualmie, WA _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: UWRA trip to the Umtanum - 6-11-2013 From: Denis DeSilvis <avnacrs4birds AT outlook.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:40:45 -0700 Tweeters, I think something like 15 of us were on the UW Retirement Association (retired faculty and staff from the UW) birder trip to the Umtanum on Tuesday, bailing out of the damp, cool weather west of the Cascades and into the comfortable, but windy (15-25mph) east side. We hit both ends of Umtanum Creek � Canyon Road and Umtanum Road � gathering good birds, dust, and fun along the way. Compared with a scouting trip I made last week, birdsong was almost non-existent in places, most likely because of the wind. However, we did find 55 species with excellent views of some, and just two that were heard only. (And the cookies were great, too.) The Canyon Road side was pretty windy, but as boots hit the ground, we heard the parking-lot YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT singing from shrubbery at the end of the picnic tables. (We got excellent views of what was likely this bird when we stopped back for lunch.) A COMMON MERGANSER flew past us, upriver, and a fully adult BALD EAGLE was fishing just to the upstream side of the footbridge, near where we spotted a SONG SPARROW. And then things were pretty quiet, with not much seen, until one of our group was making a video and found a GREAT HORNED OWL in the cottonwoods just past the trudge-through-the-overhanging-foliage part of the trail just after the railroad �underpass.� Almost everyone managed to get a view of this adult bird before it flew up Umtanum Creek. After that, we found BARN, TREE, and CLIFF SWALLOWS, BUSHTITS (!), TURKEY VULTURES, a very cooperative singing LAZULI BUNTING, an even more cooperative singing HOUSE WREN, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and for me, a d�j� vu view (or is that d�j� view?) of a PRAIRIE FALCON being dive-bombed by an AMERICAN KESTREL. We hit the area around the first big aspen grove and set up scopes to see the three juvenile Prairie Falcons at their cliff house, together with what was likely the adult female, who appeared to be cleaning house (shoving debris over the edge of the cliff). A House Wren we spotted last week entering, but not leaving, a nest-hole in an aspen was ferrying food to the nest this week. Further up, we were treated to a female Lazuli Bunting on a rock in the creek eating a butterfly. On the way back to the footbridge, we picked up WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS and a GREAT BLUE HERON, and heard a CANYON WREN in the distance. After lunch and resting up watching the aforementioned chat, we headed to the Umtanum road, where we tallied the usual suspects: BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, MOUNTAIN and WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, AMERICAN ROBIN, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, NORTHERN FLICKER, WESTERN TANAGER, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (seen here, but not at the other end of the creek). Fortuitously, we stopped along the road to try to get a view of a singing BREWER�S SPARROW, and found a very vocal, highly visible SAGE THRASHER singing from its named shrub. It was quite likely one of the longest and best views of this species I�ve had in several years. At the Umtanum DNR parking lot, we garnered MALLARD, and COMMON RAVEN. Further in, we were treated to views of post-bathing RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER as well as BULLOCK�S ORIOLE. We left the creek and drove to the well-established LEWIS�S WOODPECKER site further along toward the Wenas area, and found two nesting pairs. At that spot, we also had about a half-dozen RED-CROSSBILLS, and an AMERICAN CROW. By now, it was getting to be mid-afternoon, so we headed back toward Ellensburg, spotting a KILLDEER with at least three very small Killdarlings, a WESTERN KINGBIRD, and a pair of CALIFORNIA QUAIL. Heading back over Snoqualmie summit, we counted ourselves lucky we had good birding and weather (despite the wind), and a convivial group. And as we headed down toward Issaquah, the rain washed most of the dust off our vehicles � what more could you ask for? May all your birds be identified, Denis DeSilvis Roy, WA Mailto: avnacrs4birds AT outlook.com _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters Subject: Nighthawks and Black Swifts From: Gary Bletsch <garybletsch AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:08:47 -0700 (PDT) Dear Tweeters, � The past two nights, June 11 and 12, Common Nighthawks and Black Swifts have been flying over my house between Lyman and Hamilton (Skagit County). Last night there were four nighthawks and four swifts; tonight it was 14 swifts and one nighthawk. � Each time, the Black Swifts were heading east in the evening, no doubt heading for some upriver cliff to spend the night. � Yours truly, Gary Bletsch Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA garybletsch AT yahoo.com "Nun," sagte ich, "wenn ich ein Taugenichts bin, so ist's gut, so will ich in die Welt gehen, und mein Glueck machen." Und eigentlich war mir das recht lieb, denn es war mir kurz vorher selber eingefallen, auf Reisen zu gehen, da ich die Goldammer, welche im Herbst und Winter immer betruebt an unserm Fenster sang: "Bauer, miet' mich, Bauer, miet' mich!" nun in der schoenen Fruehlingszeit wieder ganz stolz und lustig vom Baume rufen hoerte: "Bauer, behalt' deinen Dienst!" _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters AT u.washington.edu http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters