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The Tweeters List

Updated on Wednesday, November 22 at 11:01 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Hi Tweeters,

I went early to try for the Kingbird in hopes of
getting to hear it call.  It worked but just barely,
just as I was leaving, I heard it call.  It was way up
on top of one of the two very tall Doug firs near the
Burke Gilman trail.

Glad to see it is sticking around.

There was also a Western Grebe near the dock and a
small
"gaggle" of grebes of the Pied-billed variety in the
vicinity.  

Kathy
Roosting in S King County 


 

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Last June, I got an e-mail from a couple in Port Orchard who said they
had three Northern Cardinals in their yard.  These must be the same
people mentioned by Ken Brown.  (They sent photos, but I couldn't open
them on my computer, so I can't confirm the identification.)  I told
them that these birds almost certainly were escaped cage birds, but
encouraged them to report them to the WBRC, so the sighting would be
part of the official record.  I wouldn't expect their report to be
accepted, but, as Doug Schonewald says, it can be revisited if a pattern
of vagrancy ever starts to emerge.
 
It doesn't sound like these people ever made a report.  I will forward
all of these Tweeters posts to them, in case they would like to send one
in now.
 
Rachel Lawson
BirdBox System Administrator
Seattle
RachelWL AT msn.com
 
 
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HI:
 Some good news:

 http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2006/11/madagascar_pochard_redisc.html
-- 
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
A.K.A.:Birdbooker 
\"Rallidae all the way!\"

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The two cardinals mentioned in _Oregon Birds: general reference_
from Cottage Grove were unequivocal escapes.  I spent my formative
birding years in Cottage Grove and the Mt David cardinals were
legendary, we even new which house they came from....

If there are, indeed, photos, I presume someone "official" has
confirmed their identity.  If not someone should, original
questionable or not.  The number reported is problematic.

House Finches, Purple Finches, Western Tanagers, Black-headed
Grosbeaks, even Pileated Woodpeckers have all be reported as
cardinals by well intentioned novices....

-- 
Mike Patterson               
Astoria, OR                    
celata AT pacifier.com  
 
I'm not jealous or 
Why I've never Seen Black-throated Blue Warbler in Oregon
http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/004174.html
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In a message dated 11/21/2006 6:42:39 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
dschone8 AT donobi.net writes:

long-winded about a subject that I find  fascinating.


Forget about the "long-winded," and focus on the  "fascinating." It really is 
a truly fascinating subject, and one that I've  pondered for a long time.
 
I grew up with cardinals and I'm always tempted to  'smuggle' a few back to 
Washington every time I visit my hometown in south  Louisiana. 
If I could have cardinals, Blue Jays, and mockingbirds in my  Bellingham 
backyard, I would be one happy camper. There's something special  about your 
"first birds," no matter what they might be.
 
Joe Meche
Bellingham_______________________________________________
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Tweets,

	Kenneth poses an interesting question. Northern Cardinal would be a review
species in Washington State. In addition to the list of review species
(those already documented in the state) the review list would contain all
birds that have never been seen in Washington.
	Northern Cardinals are indeed historically quite sedentary, straying only
short distances from normal breeding areas. Even though Northern Cardinals
breed in Southern Arizona (up and to the Phoenix area I believe), across
southern New Mexico to Texas and then northward through Oklahoma, Nebraska,
South and North Dakota only a handful of records exist from neighboring
states such as Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. I believe there is a single
record from Oregon, and as far as I am aware none in Idaho (unless the ones
Kenneth are referring to will be voted upon in the near future). Northern
Cardinal tends to stay put, or move short distances even in winter.
	Painted Bunting is another story. A true migrant, Painted Buntings vacate
breeding grounds and move southward during winter. Large portions of Texas
and Oklahoma host good numbers of Painted Buntings during breeding season.
Not all leave, but most do, with breeding densities of 10-30 birds in a
given area reduced to the occasional bird. This migration pattern is the
very thing that makes a Painted Bunting showing up in northern states in
fall, winter, or early spring a possibility. In fact, the Painted Bunting is
known as a widely ranging vagrant, showing up in places like Ontario, New
York, Montana, and Oregon.
	Some studies indicate that this propensity to wind up going in the wrong
direction (i.e. northward instead of southward) is a genetic short-circuit
that instinctually guides the bird the wrong direction. I believe this is
called 'Mirror Effect' or some such thing.
	Can a bird legitimately end up in an unusual place? Of course, a Manx
Shearwater observed and well photographed in Central Montana last year is a
testament to that possibility. There are many instances of this across the
country. However, those voting on records within a state (and no I am not
one of them, just a bookkeeper) must weigh the likelihood of any given bird
arriving at a specific location without human assistance.
	With the Manx Shearwater this was easy, it didn't ride a car or a boat, no
one keeps a shearwater as a cage bird, so it had to have arrived under its
own power, even though there is no documented cases of vagrancy for the
species.
	Painted Buntings show good propensity for vagrancy, but they are also
possible cage birds (illegally I might add) so one must look at the time of
the year and compare other vagrancy records and the times to determine
whether they think the bird arrived under its own power.
	Northern Cardinals show little propensity to stray great distances, are
also possible cage birds (illegally again) and seem to show up at odd times.
Also, as Kenneth noted they often show up in pairs or threes, not a likely
vagrant pattern.
	Oregon has had three Northern Cardinal sightings. I doubt anyone questioned
the ID, but the likelihood that the birds arrived on their own is much
smaller than many species, and so the birds were not added to the state list
due to origin questions.
	Washington has had several sightings of Northern Cardinal as well and I
expect that origin will be the continuing question here as well.
	However, the records will remain archived in both states, and should
Northern Cardinals move northward or westward in the next few years, or
begin to show a sudden migration urge, those records will be resurrected and
re-reviewed I am certain.
	Many thanks to Ken for a stimulating question, and thanks for allowing me
to be so long-winded about a subject that I find fascinating.

Cheers

Doug Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA
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Just to weigh in on the Brown Pelican sightings, I was scoping  
Admiralty Inlet from Marrowstone Point on Saturday, November 18th,  
and saw one floating on the water on the east side of the inlet in  
the vicinity of the Keystone Ferry.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds



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Hi Tweets,
 
James Davis (former ED of Portland Audubon) is in the process of
updating his book, "Seasonal Guide to the Natural Year: OR, WA, BC"
published in 1996.  He is looking for updated information on the Vaux's
Swift roosts of the Northwest and he needs more information on the
roosts of Washington State.  Does anyone know if the colonies in the
"old US Customs House in Sumas" or "near the tiny town of Klickitat" are
still active?  Are there any others besides the elementary school in
Monroe?
 
Thank you,
Adam Sedgley
adams AT seattleaudubon.org
 




________________________________

From: James Davis [mailto:jackalope AT hevanet.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 4:18 PM
To: info
Subject: vaux's swift roosts


Hi there,
I'm James Davis, former education director of Portland Audubon and
author of the wildlife watching guide "Seasonal Guide to the Natural
Year: OR, WA, BC" which was published in 1996. You probably sold it back
then. It has been out of print since 1999 and I am now rewriting it for
re-publication by Timber Press in Portland.
One of my chapters is on Vaux's swifts and the roosts they form in the
fall with 100's to 1000's of them going into a chimney at sunset to
roost for the night. We have the well-known roost at Chapman School that
is said to be the biggest in the world. There are two others I know of
in Oregon.
 
I am trying to find out if there are any known swift roosts in
Washington at the present time. For many years there was a well-know
roost in the chimney of the old US Customs House in Sumas, and it was in
my book. Is it still active? I have not been able to find out if the
Customs House even still exists let alone what's up with the birds. Do
you, or anyone you can contact, know anything about this roost? I would
love to know.
 
I have also heard over the years of various sites that have been used
near the tiny town of Klickitat, near the Klickitat Wildlife Area. I
have not been able to contact any one who has information about that
roost at present. Again, if you can give me any information about that
roost or someone who would know about that roost, I would greatly
appreciate it.
 
 
Thanks, James
James L. Davis
1523 NE 57th
Portland, OR  97213
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What is the status for Cardinals in Washington?  I have assumed they are 
sedentary, staying close
to or in their range.  Roberson's 1980 book does not mention them and 
Sibley's shows several
close wanderings, both from the western population and the northeastern pop. 
  I talked to a
couple in Burley, that had 3, 2 males and a female in July and August this 
year.  I assume they
were undoubtedly escapees.  They have pictures.  Seems no more unlikely than 
a Painted
Bunting in a large population center.

Ken Brown
Port Orchard, Wa.
kennethwbrown AT hotmail.com

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I guess everyone has at least one of these stories, so here's mine.  
   
 One of the first Merlins I ever saw pierced the center of a swirling flock of 
Rock Pigeons, killing one on impact. The amazing part was that after the pigeon 
hit the ground, the Merlin landed on it, then picked it up a flew off with it! 
And no, I have no idea how that's possible. 

   
  -Rolan

Paul Hicks  wrote:
  Tweets,
Oct '05 I watched an immature Sharpie make three passes at a Pileated Wdpkr. 
A braver soul than I! I'm guessing better judgment came with maturity, if 
he/she ever lived that long!
--Paul Hicks
Tenino
phicks AT accessgrace.org

---- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Kozma" 
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:00:26 -0800
When I was a kid, my Dad had tumbling pigeons, slightly smaller versions of 
a
Rock Dove that actually did backward somersaults in the air. Anyway, we 
would
let them fly around the yard and they would always return to the coop. Well, 
a
Sharp-shinned Hawk came through the yard one day and chased a pigeon, 
overtook
it in mid air, grabbed it with its feed then glided down to the front of the
house and landed in the middle of our road with the pigeon. I rushed to the
front of the house and the Sharpie took off. The pigeon recovered with a few
puncture marks, but the none the worse for wear, if not a little shaken up. 
If
I hadn't been there, it most likely would have dispatched the pigeon with a
bite to the neck and then consumed what it could. Seems like Sharpies like 
to
consume their prey where they catch it, unlike other raptors that will carry
their prey to a safer perch. Hence the reason why I find the remains of
completely plucked birds on the lawn. Therefore, they will and can probably
take larger birds that they are unable to carry.

Jeff Kozma
Yakima
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Dennis Paulson/Dick Logan
To: Tweeters
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 5:02 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] large prey for Sharp-shinned Hawk

This forwarded from Dick Logan of Olympia, who's not on tweeters. A robin
seems at the large end of prey for a Sharp-shinned Hawk, so I suspect it was 
a
female sharpie.

From: Dbirdy61 AT comcast.net
Date: November 18, 2006 9:24:14 PM PST
To: dennispaulson AT comcast.net (Dennis Paulson)
Cc: Mark_logan_seattle AT yahoo.com (Mark Logan)

Hi Dennis
We had an interesting incident this afternoon I thought you might be
interested in. We were raking leaves in the back about three when a robin
started singing in the Doug fir about 15 feet away between us and the house.
Suddenly there was an explosion of feathers and a Sharp-shinned Hawk fell 
out
of the tree on top of the robin. It stood on the body looking at us for a
minute or so and then began to fly away from us and toward the house. The 
robin
was so heavy that the poor hawk could neither gain enough elevation to get 
over
the house or turn sharply to the left and consequently ran into the house. 
The
hawk and robin once again fell to the ground. Then the hawk jumped up and 
flew
off. I went over to see how the robin was doing but alas it was dead. Left 
the
robin there and went into house but the sharpie never came back. So much for
that lunch idea.
Cheers
Dick Logan

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Rolan Nelson
Fircrest, WA 
rnbuffle AT yahoo.com
 
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OK - I admit it - this is simple bragging.

There's a White-throated Sparrow under my millet feeder outside my kitchen 
window right now.  It's with a lot of juncos.   Earlier this morning there 
was a Spotted Towhee and three Golden-crowned Sparrows under the same 
feeder.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== http://www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
== birdmarymoor AT verizon.net

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so 
certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts" - Bertrand 
Russell 

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Tweets,
Oct '05 I watched an immature Sharpie make three passes at a Pileated Wdpkr. 
A braver soul than I! I'm guessing better judgment came with maturity, if 
he/she ever lived that long!
--Paul Hicks
Tenino
phicks AT accessgrace.org

---- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Kozma" 
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:00:26 -0800
When I was a kid, my Dad had tumbling pigeons, slightly smaller versions of 
a
Rock Dove that actually did backward somersaults in the air. Anyway, we 
would
let them fly around the yard and they would always return to the coop. Well, 
a
Sharp-shinned Hawk came through the yard one day and chased a pigeon, 
overtook
it in mid air, grabbed it with its feed then glided down to the front of the
house and landed in the middle of our road with the pigeon. I rushed to the
front of the house and the Sharpie took off. The pigeon recovered with a few
puncture marks, but the none the worse for wear, if not a little shaken up. 
If
I hadn't been there, it most likely would have dispatched the pigeon with a
bite to the neck and then consumed what it could. Seems like Sharpies like 
to
consume their prey where they catch it, unlike other raptors that will carry
their prey to a safer perch. Hence the reason why I find the remains of
completely plucked birds on the lawn. Therefore, they will and can probably
take larger birds that they are unable to carry.

Jeff Kozma
Yakima
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dennis Paulson/Dick Logan
  To: Tweeters
  Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 5:02 PM
  Subject: [Tweeters] large prey for Sharp-shinned Hawk

 This forwarded from Dick Logan of Olympia, who's not on tweeters. A robin
seems at the large end of prey for a Sharp-shinned Hawk, so I suspect it was 
a
female sharpie.

    From: Dbirdy61 AT comcast.net
    Date: November 18, 2006 9:24:14 PM PST
    To: dennispaulson AT comcast.net (Dennis Paulson)
    Cc: Mark_logan_seattle AT yahoo.com (Mark Logan)

    Hi Dennis
 We had an interesting incident this afternoon I thought you might be
interested in. We were raking leaves in the back about three when a robin
started singing in the Doug fir about 15 feet away between us and the house.
Suddenly there was an explosion of feathers and a Sharp-shinned Hawk fell 
out
of the tree on top of the robin. It stood on the body looking at us for a
minute or so and then began to fly away from us and toward the house. The 
robin
was so heavy that the poor hawk could neither gain enough elevation to get 
over
the house or turn sharply to the left and consequently ran into the house. 
The
hawk and robin once again fell to the ground. Then the hawk jumped up and 
flew
off. I went over to see how the robin was doing but alas it was dead. Left 
the
robin there and went into house but the sharpie never came back. So much for
that lunch idea.
    Cheers
    Dick Logan

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Hey Tweets,
Had to drive an errand down to Tacoma over lunch today
(Tues 21st).  On the way back north on I-5, right
around Fife, I saw a Merlin streaking over the
freeway. 
 
Then as I rounded the corner and started up the hill
towards the county line, there was a Rough-legged Hawk
hovering above the median.  My first west-side Roughie
of the winter!!  Nice looks as I drove past!

Guy

Guy McWethy
Renton, WA
mailto: lguy_mcw AT yahoo.com


 

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Please disregard the contact info in my last email.  For reservations,
please call 206-543-9681 or send email to burked AT u.washington.edu

Thanks,
Adam

--------------------------

Tweets,

Our own Paul Bannick had a great story written on him in this months
(November) issue of Sunset Magazine.  Check it out at
http://www.sunset.com/sunset/travel/article/0,20633,1552559,00.html

For those of you who, like me, tried to go to one of Paul's last two
shows at the Burke (which sold out) he is having another one on Thursday
Feb 22nd at 7pm at the Burke Museum.  I would recommend making
reservations.

www.paulbannick.com

Cheers,
Adam Sedgley
adams AT seattleaudubon.org
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Tweeters,

Ten of us arrived at Magnuson Park behind Bldg. 11 around 7:30 a.m., and within 
10 minutes the much reported Tropical Kingbird was flycatching from shrubs and 
small trees near the north end of area, but on the park side of Sand Pt. Way. 
The bird may have just come out of roost at that time, as it appeared to pop up 
from deep within a shrub. 


Good kingbirding,
 Bob

Bob Sundstrom
ixoreus AT scattercreek.com
Tenino, Washington_______________________________________________
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Hi, Tweeters,

            Sorry, in my previous message I forgot to say we live in
northeast Seattle.  Time was about 10:30 am.  Charlotte Byers
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Hello, Tweeters,

            We had what was most likely an immature Cooper's hawk visit our
backyard today.  The bird had two tags, on the right leg a large blue and
white tag with 5B and on the left leg a smaller aluminum tag with numbers
that may have been 3625 (the bird was very close to us).  If anyone cares,
we also have some photos which we could email.  This was a great yard bird
for us!  Charlotte and Bill Byers
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Tweets,

Our own Paul Bannick had a great story written on him in this months
(November) issue of Sunset Magazine.  Check it out at
http://www.sunset.com/sunset/travel/article/0,20633,1552559,00.html

For those of you who, like me, tried to go to one of Paul's last two
shows at the Burke (which sold out) he is having another one on Thursday
Feb 22nd at 7pm at the Burke Museum.  I would recommend making
reservations at 206-543-5235.

www.paulbannick.com

Cheers,
Adam Sedgley
adams AT seattleaudubon.org
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Hi Tweets,

I headed down to the Ballard Locks yesterday morning before the rains moved 
back in. The largest lock was drained for maintenance and about 100 crows and 
35 gulls were busy cleaning up all of the fish, crabs, and other assorted life 
that had been left high and dry. While I was watching all of this activity, a 
Great Blue Heron did a very close flyby and I managed to snap a few photos as 
he passed. They can be viewed here: 
http://leaningcedarstudio.com/_gii/Herons%20II.htm 


Kevin Mack
Edmonds, WA_______________________________________________
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I guess I will join in.

Along time ago while living up on the Issaquah plateau, we had a Kestrel that 
hunted the property. 


A sparrow had got stuck in our grain room and had beat its head into the window 
trying to get out. I saved the sparrow and while it was reviving I placed it up 
on the lowest part of the roof to let it go. 

A kestrel came down in a flash and snatched the bird from the ledge.

A few weeks later, I was going into the house for dinner when I noticed a robin 
landing under a small fir tree in the yard. At almost the same moment a Kestrel 
swooped out of the sky and knocked the robin to the ground, holding it till it 
stopped struggling. I stood there stunned as the robin was actually larger then 
the kestrel. I left the hawk to eat its meal in the shade of the tree. 


Dawn Bailey
Eatonville, WA
dawnsdog at rainierconnect.com

"Life isn't a succession of urgent nows, but a listless trickle of why should 
I's?" 

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Hello Tweets,

Today we spent 4.5 hours birding from Brady Loop Rd. to Ocean Shores. The day 
began very calm and nice in the Brady area,then conditions turned quite windy 
at the Hoquiam STP. By the time we reached Ocean Shores a major "front" moved 
over the area with very heavy gale force winds and driving rain and as a result 
our birding was very limited. The storm soon passed and skies cleared 
considerably by late afternoon. We encountered many of the same species than 
our last visit to Ocean Shores,but a few additional species were noted 
including an adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE just offshore of the Ocean Shores 
Jetty. Up to 26 BROWN PELICANS were also noted flying by and in and around the 
Ocean Shores Jetty too,as they all braved the heavy winds. Offshore viewing was 
quite good condition wise,but bird wise very few species were noted except for 
a single Red-throated Loon and 2 "Black"Brant. An additional "Black"Brant was 
noted walking in and around the base of the Ocean Shores Jetty and at times 
allowed very close approach for photographs. Good amounts of heavy 
debris(including large driftwood logs)continued along the upper beach next to 
the jetty,where 2 deceased Western Grebes and 1 Horned Grebe were discovered. 
Also in the "wreck" of heavy debris were a resting flock of 20 SEMIPALMATED 
PLOVERS and 2 Western Sandpipers. A flock of "rockbirds" foraging loosely at 
the base of the jetty consisted of 2 Surfbirds and 12 Black Turnstones,but NO 
Rock Sandpipers! 


A visit to the Ocean Shores STP produced a nice gathering of Dunlin along the 
edges of the north pond wit 30+ Western Sandpipers mixed in. Thousands of 
swirling Dunlin were observed as we looked eastwards over the vast Oyhut 
Wildlife Area. A Wilson's Snipe was also present at the Ocean Shores STP,as was 
a lone Long-billed Dowitcher at the southwest pond with good numbers of 
Northern Shovelers. Another Wilson's Snipe posed for us along the edge of a 
road just north of the Ocean Shores STP during a period of extremely high 
winds. When conditions improved the bird decided to fly off,but we were 
fortunate to get some nice photos of it! Our brief visit to the base of Damon 
Point(mainly to use the restrooms)produced 2 more Semipalmated Plovers for the 
day,as well as a roosting flock of gulls including 35+ Herring Gulls. A tight 
flock of 25 Am.Coots were also present along the shoreline braving the choppy 
waters. 


We didn't bother doing any walking behind the Ocean Shores STP or at Damon 
Point,but we did check a few other locations. The Pacific Loon was again 
present at the Cabana Pond,as were a single Common Loon,Red-necked Grebe and 
Eared Grebe along with a small assortment of waterfowl. At the Ocean Shores 
Golf Course along Pt.Brown Ave. we easily located the lingering immature SNOW 
GOOSE in the company of 10 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. A mixed flock of Canada 
and Cackling Geese were separated nearby and consisted of 6 "Dusky"Canada 
Geese,2 "Aleutian"Cackling Geese and 2 "Taverner's"-type Cackling Geese. 


Our visit to the Hoquiam STP hosted such highlights as a single female 
Canvasback,4 Eared Grebes,1 Red-necked Grebe and a single Bonaparte's Gull. A 
single "Dusky"Canada Goose was present amongst a small flock of Canada Geese in 
the grassy area at the extreme east end of the Bowerman basin Airport. A single 
Greater Yellowlegs was also present at this same location foraging in a shallow 
flooded area,before flying off to an unknown area. Just east of the Hoquiam STP 
and north of "K"Street was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK observed hunting over an 
open,abandoned area. A flock of 75+ Pine Siskins were active feeding in several 
alder trees along the Airport Rd. just east of the Hoquiam STP. 


We drove the perimeter of Brady Loop Rd. during the early part of our day and 
encountered just a few highlights beginning with a nice gathering of swans in a 
partially flooded corn stubble field just east of the intersection of Brady 
Loop Rd. and Foster Rd. This flock produced 32 Trumpeter Swans and 12 Tundra 
Swans and were our largest swan flock of the season so far in this immediate 
area. Other notable species in the immediate Brady Loop Rd. area consisted of 
the following species: 1 adult Cooper's Hawk,2 Am. Kestrels and 1 Greater 
Yellowlegs. 




Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 AT msn.com


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courtesy of NPR, a cute story *until* it happens to you :)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6504117

00 caren
http://www.parkgallery.org
george davis creek, north fork

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When I was a kid, my Dad had tumbling pigeons, slightly smaller versions of a 
Rock Dove that actually did backward somersaults in the air. Anyway, we would 
let them fly around the yard and they would always return to the coop. Well, a 
Sharp-shinned Hawk came through the yard one day and chased a pigeon, overtook 
it in mid air, grabbed it with its feed then glided down to the front of the 
house and landed in the middle of our road with the pigeon. I rushed to the 
front of the house and the Sharpie took off. The pigeon recovered with a few 
puncture marks, but the none the worse for wear, if not a little shaken up. If 
I hadn't been there, it most likely would have dispatched the pigeon with a 
bite to the neck and then consumed what it could. Seems like Sharpies like to 
consume their prey where they catch it, unlike other raptors that will carry 
their prey to a safer perch. Hence the reason why I find the remains of 
completely plucked birds on the lawn. Therefore, they will and can probably 
take larger birds that they are unable to carry. 


Jeff Kozma
Yakima
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dennis Paulson 
  To: Tweeters 
  Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 5:02 PM
  Subject: [Tweeters] large prey for Sharp-shinned Hawk


 This forwarded from Dick Logan of Olympia, who's not on tweeters. A robin 
seems at the large end of prey for a Sharp-shinned Hawk, so I suspect it was a 
female sharpie. 




  Begin forwarded message:


    From: Dbirdy61 AT comcast.net
    Date: November 18, 2006 9:24:14 PM PST
    To: dennispaulson AT comcast.net (Dennis Paulson)
    Cc: Mark_logan_seattle AT yahoo.com (Mark Logan)


    Hi Dennis

 We had an interesting incident this afternoon I thought you might be 
interested in. We were raking leaves in the back about three when a robin 
started singing in the Doug fir about 15 feet away between us and the house. 
Suddenly there was an explosion of feathers and a Sharp-shinned Hawk fell out 
of the tree on top of the robin. It stood on the body looking at us for a 
minute or so and then began to fly away from us and toward the house. The robin 
was so heavy that the poor hawk could neither gain enough elevation to get over 
the house or turn sharply to the left and consequently ran into the house. The 
hawk and robin once again fell to the ground. Then the hawk jumped up and flew 
off. I went over to see how the robin was doing but alas it was dead. Left the 
robin there and went into house but the sharpie never came back. So much for 
that lunch idea. 


    Cheers

    Dick

    Dick Logan


  -----

  Dennis Paulson

  1724 NE 98 St.

  Seattle, WA 98115

  206-528-1382

  dennispaulson AT comcast.net





------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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Yesterday (11/19) Netta Smith and I watched an immature BROWN PELICAN  
flying south well offshore from Point Roberts, WA. Quite an exciting  
sighting when all you're thinking about is Long-tailed Ducks and  
Ancient Murrelets and other northern birds. It was more or less  
heading toward Saturna Island, BC, but was still in US (Whatcom Co.)  
waters.

Today (11/20) we saw a female LONG-TAILED DUCK at the south end of  
Harrison Lake, BC (at Harrison Hot Springs). Perhaps not surprising  
for a lake, that although well inland, has resident harbor seals, and  
perhaps a late fall migrant.

For those people who haven't visited that area, it's it's worth a  
visit at this time of year. There are swans (mostly Tundra but some  
Trumpeter) everywhere, and we counted/estimated about 300 Bald Eagles  
in sight from one viewpoint along the west side of the Harrison River  
north of hwy 7. There are thousands of dead chum salmon (and guess  
what that smells like!) and, at this time of year, still many live  
ones, many right at your feet when you get to the river. Perhaps the  
neatest thing about it is its scenic beauty. Even today, when there  
was lots of fog, the mountains on either side of Harrison Lake were  
spectacular, and the views up the Harrison River equally so. To see  
eagles and swans and many, many ducks and gulls all around while  
looking at snowy mountains is a special treat. A scope is a necessity  
to identify the full range of bird species here. If you're a salmon  
aficionado, go down to Kilby Provincial Park and walk along the  
river. We've seen dead and almost-dead individuals of four of the  
region's salmon species (all but pink) at and on the shore, and you  
can examine them closely, if odoriferously. You can also see a lot  
along Nicomen Slough, between the Harrison River Bridge and Mission  
on hwy 7.
-----
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382
dennispaulson AT comcast.net
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Photographer Debra Paulsen showed me a picture this weekend of a bird 
photographed October 9 on Vashon and asked for help with identification. I'm 
terrible with photographs and thought it might be a flycatcher of somesort. 
With help from Gary Shugart, the bird appears to be a Townsend's Solitaire. All 
but one of Vashon's solitaire records fall in April. We have one winter visit. 
This is the first fall migrant that has been noticed. 


Ed Swan
Vashon Island

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Hi Tweets,

At 1:30 today off of the Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry I had nice looks at 
a Leach's Storm-Petrel. Perhaps this is the same individual reported 
previously near Edmonds. I spotted it just off the bow of the boat so I 
quickly grabbed my binoculars and watched it for a few minutes as it flew 
slowly northward in the direction of West Point. At the time the ferry boat 
was traveling west and it was on an approximate line between West Point and 
Alki Point. Although I guess I would have preferred the bird be a few more 
miles to the west in Kitsap County, it was still nice to see it flying over 
the waves of Puget Sound.

Add me to the list of observers of late Ospreys. On Sunday, I had one 
flyover at the south end of Bainbridge Island.

Cheers and good birding with hopefully with dry optics,
Brad


Brad Waggoner
Bainbridge Island, WA
mailto:wagtail AT sounddsl.com 


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Tweets,

	Moses Lakes CBC is scheduled for Saturday, December 16th. We are always
looking for participants of any skill level. If you are interested in
participating in this count please email me by replying to this post. I will
send you an itinerary of CBC times and events.

Cheers

Doug Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA
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On behalf of Dana Ward - compiler

The Tri-Cities CBC is being held Saturday,December 30. In recent years this 
inland count has annually exceded 100 species and included such species as 
Turkey Vulture, Barred Owl, Black-and-White Warbler, Red Crossbill and Glacous 
Gull. As usual, the count is followed by a potluck meal at the post-count 
tabulation. 

Please contact me if you are interested in participating in the Tri-Cities CBC 
and I will email all pertinent information. We would greatly appreciate your 
help. 


Dennis Rockwell
Kennewick, WA
dennrockwell AT surfbest.net
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Mark Oberle pointed out to me that Laurelhurst is one of the four  
sites of crows found with West Nile Virus this year in King County,  
and he has not seen large flocks of crows at the arboretum recently.  
It's only speculation that WNV might be causing a decline in local  
crows, but it's something to keep in mind. The Christmas count totals  
this year will be interesting.
-----
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382
dennispaulson AT comcast.net
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This forwarded from Dick Logan of Olympia, who's not on tweeters. A  
robin seems at the large end of prey for a Sharp-shinned Hawk, so I  
suspect it was a female sharpie.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Dbirdy61 AT comcast.net
> Date: November 18, 2006 9:24:14 PM PST
> To: dennispaulson AT comcast.net (Dennis Paulson)
> Cc: Mark_logan_seattle AT yahoo.com (Mark Logan)
>
> Hi Dennis
>
> We had an interesting incident this afternoon I thought you might  
> be interested in. We were raking leaves in the back about three  
> when a robin started singing in the Doug fir about 15 feet away  
> between us and the house. Suddenly there was an explosion of  
> feathers and a Sharp-shinned Hawk fell out of the tree on top of  
> the robin. It stood on the body looking at us for a minute or so  
> and then began to fly away from us and toward the house. The robin  
> was so heavy that the poor hawk could neither gain enough elevation  
> to get over the house or turn sharply to the left and consequently  
> ran into the house. The hawk and robin once again fell to the  
> ground. Then the hawk jumped up and flew off. I went over to see  
> how the robin was doing but alas it was dead. Left the robin there  
> and went into house but the sharpie never came back. So much for  
> that lunch idea.
>
> Cheers
>
> Dick
>
> Dick Logan

-----
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382
dennispaulson AT comcast.net
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On behalf of Dana Ward - compiler

The Tri-Cities CBC is being held Saturday,December 30. In recent years this 
inland count has annually exceded 100 species and included such species as 
Turkey Vulture, Barred Owl, Black-and-White Warbler, Red Crossbill and Glacous 
Gull. As usual, the count is followed by a potluck meal at the post-count 
tabulation. 

Please contact me if you are interested in participating in the Tri-Cities CBC 
and I will email all pertinent information. We would greatly appreciate your 
help. 


Dennis Rockwell
Kennewick, WA
dennrockwell AT surfbest.net

My daughter and I today saw the Osprey at Vance Creek County Park this 
afternoon. As reported my Ruth and Patrick Sullivan a few days ago, this too is 
the latest that I have seen an Osprey around this area. It was viewed from the 
restroom parking lot. As we watched, it hovered over the pond several times. 

   
 Also, at the far west end of Wenzel Slough Rd., there are a large number of 
gulls present. I didn't have the time to sort them out too much today, but I 
did notice at least two Bonaparte's Gulls. 

   
  Tim O'Brien
  Elma, WA
  mailto: kertim7179 AT yahoo.com
   

 
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At about 11 a.m. on Nov. 17 in Port Angeles, while biking along outer Ediz 
Hook, three Brown Pelicans flew over me heading west above the rock revetments. 
Don't think I've ever seen them here this late, and just noted other sightings 
in Tweeters about then farther east in Puget Sound. I biked out there again 
today, and no pelicans, but six Bonapartes Gulls working just off the outer 
shoreline. 


Bruce Moorhead
Port Angeles, WA
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Tweeters:

This is a posting for Barbara Hayden of Seattle. She observed the Tropical 
Kingbird this morning between 9 and 9:30 am at Magnusen Park in the Blackberry 
bushes along the Burke Gilman trail just SW of building 11. 


Ann MarieWood
Mountlake Terrace, WA
annmariewood AT comcast.net 
425-697-2961

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This is Wayne Weber with the Vancouver Natural History Society's
Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, November 19, sponsored in part by
Wild Birds  Unlimited, with stores in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
This message was updated at 9 AM on November 20.

The RBA telephone number is (604) 737-3074.


Out-of-town RARE BIRD ALERTS for a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
at Nakusp in the BC Interior, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at
Okanagan Landing near Vernon, a TROPICAL KINGBIRD in Seattle,
and a FALCATED DUCK near Eugene, Oregon.


Sightings for Sunday, November 19

In Seattle, Washington, a TROPICAL KINGBIRD was seen for the fourth
day in a row at Building #11 in Magnussen Park on Lake Washington
For further details on this bird, check the TWEETERS E-mail group.

A SNOWY OWL was seen for the second day in a row on the
marina breakwater at Blaine, WA.

A BROWN PELICAN was briefly seen flying eastward along
the West Vancouver shoreline toward the Lions Gate bridge.

Two AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at the Serpentine River
mouth in Surrey, about 200 m east from the railway trestle, at
a locality where 1-3 Avocets have wintered in previous years.
This locality can be accessed from Mud Bay Park, off
Colebrook Road in Surrey.

In the Boundary Bay area of Delta, a GYRFALCON was seen along
Hornby Drive near 112th Street, and a BARN SWALLOW nearby.  At the
foot of 72nd Street, a PALM WARBLER was seen along with 20 Yellow-
rumped Warblers.

The year-long drought of PINE SISKINS has ended, with a flock of 200
seen in the 17300 block of 27A Avenue in south Surrey.


Sightings for Saturday, November 18

At Lighthouse Marine Park on Point Roberts, WA, a BROWN
PELICAN was seen flying past in mid-morning. Also there
were a ROCK SANDPIPER with 20 BLACK TURNSTONES, 150
LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 4 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, 2
COMMON MURRES, 5 BRANDT'S CORMORANTS, and
2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS.

The GYRFALCON was seen between 88th and 96th Streets in Delta,
along the rough road which parallels the railway tracks S of Highway 10.
Other notable sightings were 12 late WESTERN SANDPIPERS near
the foot of 96th, and 8 BRANT in an odd location at the foot of
104th Street.

A PALM WARBLER was seen with at least 4 YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS at the foot of 72nd Street in Delta, and 4 SHORT-
EARED OWLS were seen nearby.

At Burnaby Mountain Park in Burnaby, where Pine Grosbeaks have
been seen for several days, at least 35 were present, as was a MERLIN.

A SNOWY OWL, 3 MARBLED GODWITS, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE
were seen along Marine Drive in Blaine, WA.

A SNOW GOOSE was seen in an unusual location with many CANADA
GEESE in cranberry fields along Allard Crescent east of 208th Street in
Langley.

At Iona Island in Richmond, a blue-phase SNOW GOOSE was seen with
other SNOW GEESE, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen nearby on Sea Island.

At Okanagan Landing near Vernon in the BC Interior, an adult
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen for the second day in a row.

A very late TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was seen in the Tsawwassen
area of Delta.


Sightings for Friday, November 17

A PINE GROSBEAK was seen in the 13800 block of 18A Avenue in
South Surrey.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen with about 1800 BRANT
off the pumphouse at the north end of Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta.

An AMERICAN DIPPER was seen along Lynn Creek near Arborlynn Drive
In North Vancouver.

At Nakusp in the BC Interior, the BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER found
on November 14 was seen again.

An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found at Okanagan
Landing near Vernon in the BC Interior. Another one is currently
being seen near Coulee City in eastern Washington.


Sightings for Thursday, November 16

Three PINE GROSBEAKS, two males and a female, were seen briefly
in the 14900 block of 24A Avenue in South Surrey.

At the Alaksen National Wildlife Area in Delta, next door to the Reifel Bird
Sanctuary, 3 more PINE GROSBEAKS were seen near the parking
area at the Canadian Wildlife Service offices.

Along 208th Street in Langley near the Yorkson Creek crossing, a
BARN OWL, a SHORT-EARED OWL, a drake EURASIAN WIGEON,
and a hybrid  MALLARD X NORTHERN PINTAIL were seen.

In Seattle, WA, a TROPICAL KINGBIRD was found in Magnussen Park
near Building #11, just off Sandpoint Way.


Sightings for Wednesday, November 15

A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen for the second day in
a row at Nakusp, BC.


Sightings for Tuesday, November 14

A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen and photographed with
a feeding flock of chickadees and kinglets in the town of Nakusp,
BC.  This appears to be the first record for the BC Interior.

Although it's some distance from BC, a FALCATED DUCK
which was found today at the Coburg exit (exit 199) of Interstate
Highway 5 just north of Eugene, OR may be of interest. This will be the
fourth winter in a row for this bird, which has already been accepted as a
wild bird by the Oregon Bird Records Committee. It is being seen in
two ponds next to a Good Sam RV Park, just off the freeway.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-
HERONS and 6 SANDHILL CRANES were seen.  In the trees along the
Reifel entrance road, not far from the parking lot, a BARRED OWL and
a GREAT HORNED OWL were seen not far from each other.

A BARN OWL was seen at 8:30 PM hunting near the intersection of
Highway 10 and 152nd Street in Surrey.


Sightings for Monday, November 13

An AMERICAN DIPPER was seen along the shoreline in the
western part of the Maplewood Conservation Area in North
Vancouver, and was quite unusual for that locality.

A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was seen near the Wildlife Rescue
Association facilities on the south side of Burnaby Lake in
Burnaby.

A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was seen in Lions Bay, and killed
a small songbird which could not be identified.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen on the lawn at
Jericho Park in Vancouver.


Sightings for Sunday, November 12

Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on the Roberts Bank coal port
jetty in Delta, and a MARBLED GODWIT was seen near the base
of the jetty. Also seen in the vicinity were 3 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS,
a PEREGRINE FALCON, and 14 BLACK TURNSTONES, as well as
2 SHORT-EARED OWLS along 27B Avenue.


Sightings for Saturday, November 11

10 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen along the gravel road on the south
side of the Tsawwassen ferry jetty in Delta. Also here were 14
BLACK TURNSTONES and 2 EURASIAN WIGEON.

At Blackie Spit Park in Surrey were another 5 EURASIAN WIGEON
and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK.

Six YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and
2 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen in Delta along the Boundary Bay
dyke west of the foot of 72nd Street. Farther east on the dyke, about
where 80th would be if it reached the dyke, were 2 SAVANNAH
SPARROWS,  50 AMERICAN PIPITS, and another NORTHERN SHRIKE.

A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was reported from Deer Lake in
Burnaby.


No sightings reported for Friday, November 10


Sightings for Thursday, November 9

At the foot of 104th Street on Boundary Bay in Delta, a GYRFALCON
was reported, as were 2 SNOW BUNTINGS and an estimated 70,000
DUNLIN.

At Brunswick Point, near the west end of River Road in Delta, were
2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, and
20 AMERICAN PIPITS.

At Lighthouse Marine Park in Point Roberts, Washington, were
4 MARBLED MURRELETS, 70 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and
100 BRANDT'S CORMORANTS.

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, 4 BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS and 150 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen.

Four LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen along the Stanley Park seawall
in Vancouver, east of Siwash Rock.


If you have any questions about birds or birding in the Vancouver
area, please call Peter at 604-736-0991, Viveka at 604-531-3401,
or Larry at 604-465-1402. Thank you for calling the Vancouver
Rare Bird Alert, and good birding.

For further information about birding in the Vancouver area, log
onto the Vancouver Natural History Society's website at
www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/




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Greetings All:
Ryan Shaw, Tracey Norris, and I birded from Brady Loop to Ocean Shores
today. The weather started out miserably, with soaking rain and very strong
winds, but contrary to the forecast the clouds broke quite early and we
enjoyed a calm and almost warm afternoon of birding.

The first highlight was a 2W Glaucous Gull at the Hoquiam STP, along with 5
Eared Grebes and many Bonaparte's Gulls.

I had an enjoyable time with a varied goose flock at the Ocean Shores Golf
Course. A juvenile Snow Goose and 10 Greater White-fronted Geese were
distinctive enough. The two Dusky Canadas also posed little challenge. From
there it got a little grayer. Two parvipes (Canada) and a good number of
taverneri were in the mix, and four minima. Five birds I could not decide
between minima and taverneri, despite great comparison views. In addition,
there were two birds that appeared to have all the characteristics of
leucopareia.

At the Ocean Shores STP, two Red Phalaropes flew by as a couple of HY
Peregrines harassed the tens of thousands of Dunlin present. We walked back
behind the communications tower in the game range, and while scoping the
Dunlin we heard a Pacific Golden-Plover. The bird flew over and showed off
about every field mark that would be visible on a flying bird.

As we returned to the car, two Palm Warblers appeared in a bush bordering
the sewage ponds. We later located another Palm Warbler at the traditional
Silver King Hotel scotch broom lot.

Cheers,
Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington 

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I am putting together a slide show for a class on Bird Behavior and want to
talk about robins. I would be forever grateful for some robin pictures,
especially those that show mannerisms like crouching, bill pointing, or
groups.
 
Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer
The Environmental Science School
HYPERLINK
"http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm"http://www.nonprofitpages.com/ni
ca/SVE.htm
><((((º>`·..·`·..·`·...><((((º>...·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`
·..·`·...><((((º>·.. ><((((º>
·`·..·`·...·..·`><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>.·`·..·`·...><((((º>..·`·..·`·..
.><((((º>·.. ·`·..·`·....·`·..·`·...><((((º>

 



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Brown Pelicans have apparently re-established their former breeding colonies 
at 3 locations in southern California but I haven't found anything to 
suggest they nest in British Columbia. That would be quite a leap.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington
Reply to: mcallisters4 AT comcast.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary K." 
To: "'tweeters'" 
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 3:02 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Brown Pelicans again


> After seeing reports of them on Tweeters, I went on line and learned that
> the birds that breed north of us (in B.C.) are starting to head south for
> their wintering grounds, so I guess that's what we're seeing.  BNA on line
> says they're south by Dec-Jan, so it fits.  I thought they headed south
> earlier, was very surprised to see that pelican yesterday.  Fun to see 'em
> this time of year!
>
> Mary
>
> Mary E. Klein
> Bremerton WA
> Cellobird -AT- Comcast.net
>
>
> -- 
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> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.0.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.7/538 - Release Date: 11/18/2006
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters AT u.washington.edu
> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
> 


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Hello Ian and to all Tweeters,

Since you mention about the sapsucker variation article in the latest ABA 
Birding,I bring to you attention that posting our 3 photos of a Yellow-bellied 
Sapsucker on March 2004 

on our website got viewed 1826 times even higher than the Redwing in 2004-2005 
with 859 times to date.So the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker must be high in demand 


You forgot to mention the article Cameron D.Cox wrote about the Book Review on 
two major shorebird books. 

The review is between Dennis Paulson "Shorebirds of North Amerca" with 361 
pages and "The Shorebird Guide" by Michael O'Brien, Richard Crossley and Kevin 
Karlson with 477 pages. This review is four pages and went to a lot of details 
about plumages and was well written up. In my mind it is well worth having both 
books! 


Cheers, Ruth Sullivan





----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: 
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 4:43 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Birding magazine: Nov/Dec 2006


> HI:
> The latest issue of Birding magazine has these articles that might be of 
interest: 

> 
> 1) No place like home: molt in the Calliope Hummingbird. By Donna Dittman and 
Dennis K. Demcheck. 

> 
> 2) Variation in Red-naped and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. By Steve Mlodinow, 
Jessie H. Barry, and Cameron D. Cox. 

> 
> see: http://www.americanbirding.org/pubs/birding/archives/ for details. 
> -- 
> Ian Paulsen
> Bainbridge Island, WA USA
> A.K.A.:Birdbooker 
> \"Rallidae all the way!\"
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters AT u.washington.edu
> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>_______________________________________________
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Hi Jesse and Tweets

This morning, about 10:40, we saw the TROPICAL KINGBIRD in its previously 
reported location near Building 11 at Magnuson Park. I originally arrived 
about 7:45, ran into Perri who told the where the bird had been hanging out, 
but did  not see the bird. After a trip to Discovery Park, finding nothing 
but lots of rain, I returned to Magnuson. Two other birders, Curtis and 
Bobbi, were there and while telling them what Perri had told me Curtis said 
"there it is". It was in the shrubs along Sand Point Way. The bird quickly 
flew. We scoured the line of shrubs, but it wasn't until Bobbi went over to 
the Burke-Gilman Trail and had the bird fly out that we found it. It flew 
back over the road and perched on a bare twig in the shrubs. At that time it 
was a very wet looking bird, but was definitely the kingbird. We got 
adequate views, ti flew showing bright yellow underparts and perched a short 
ways to the north. From there it left and flew up into one of the Douglas 
Firs just to the north of the line of shrubs.

If you haven't been out, you can either enter at the NE 74th St entrance and 
immediately turn left and park near Building 11. Or, alternatively, you can 
drive a ways further north watching for the wide spot on the road (near the 
open gate) near Building 11. You can park there and get access to the area 
the bird has been frequenting (be careful if backing out as Sand Point Way 
can be busy).

Brian H. Bell
Birding & Natural History Guide
Woodinville WA
bellasoc at isomedia dot com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jesse Ellis" 
To: 
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 3:13 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] No TROPICAL KINGBIRD; hybrid? wigeon


> Today Anya Illes and I checked Magnusen Park for the Tropical Kingbird, 
> with no success.  BBeing unfamiliar with the area we confined our search 
> to around Building 11, and had naught of interest but about 60 KILLDEER 
> and a single Cooper's Hawk.
>
> Yesterday I walked around Green Lake.  About 40-50 Wigeon were feeding on 
> the grass on the west side of the lake.  Among them was a single bird that 
> keyed out as Eurasian Wigeon in all respects except for the fact that it 
> had that splash of green trailing the eye.  Not as strong as in an 
> American, but enough to suggest that this bird is not wholly a Eurasian 
> Wigeon.
>
> On that note, my father will be in town for thanksgiving and I'd like to 
> show him Eurasian Wigeon (preferably a pure one!).  If people could report 
> to me off list where in the immediate Seattle area they seen them THIS 
> year, that would be really great.  Thanks in advance for all the responses 
> I'm sure I'll get!
>
> Jesse Ellis
> Seattle
> -- 
> Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. candidate
> Neurobiology and Behavior
> jme29 AT cornell.edu
> 111 Mudd Hall
> Cornell University
> Ithaca, 14853
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters AT u.washington.edu
> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
> 


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Due to the heavy rain falling all morning, I only had one other person
join me for my monthly nature walk through Point Defiance Park in Tacoma
today. We were rewarded on our four-plus mile walk with some impressive
views of Bald Eagles and a quick glimpse of a Merlin. Other species seen
inside the park included two woodpecker species - Pileated Woodpecker
and Northern Flicker - and a number of other species that were heard but
not seen.

Later in the morning, just before winds moved into the area, I saw two
Evening Grosbeaks mixed in roaming flocks of European Starling and
American Robins.

Happy birding!

Rob McNair-Huff ---------- Tacoma, WA
Author of Washington Disasters (Globe Pequot, 2006), Birding Washington
(Falcon Publishing, 2004)
and Insider's Guide to the Olympic Peninsula (Globe Pequot, 2001)
Mac Net Journal ---------- http://www.macnetjournal.com

Support your local Audubon chapter
www.tahomaaudubon.org

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Darcy,
    They are very unusual in Port Angeles Harbor but are regular each summer 
as far north as La Push. This year they have been seen rather frequently in 
the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound. They do not breed on the US 
Pacific Coast but come up in numbers after breeding in Mexico. Global 
warming is pushing them further north each year apparently.
    Dave Jackson saw 20 on Thursday at Ediz Hook and we had one adult on top 
of a barge of wood chips down near the Nippon Paper Company at the base of 
Ediz Hook yesterday on an Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society Field Trip.
    It is only the second year I have seen a Brown Pelican in Port Angeles 
Harbor.
Bob Norton
norton36 AT olypen.com
Joyce (near Port Angeles), WA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Darcy Stumbaugh" 
To: 
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 12:25 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Brown Pelican Ediz Hook Port Angeles


>I haven't been birding here long enough to know if it's unusual, but I
> haven't seen them here before so you can tell me if it's common; saw a
> Brown pelican in Port Angeles at the end of Ediz Hook yesterday, from
> the PA-Vic ferry.  Just one adult, hanging out with some gulls.
>
> -Darcy Stumbaugh, Sequim
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters AT u.washington.edu
> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
> 


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Hi Tweeters,

As I was looking at the Tropical Kingbird at about 10:00 Saturday 
morning, it flew northwest across Sand Point Way and landed in a 
large deciduous tree on top of the hill north of the apartments or 
condos that can be seen from the little park.  It might have flown 
west from there.  That is in the area of the Sand Point Country Club.

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA



                  * Denny Granstrand *
                      * Yakima, WA *
             * dgranstrand AT charter.net *
* Denny's bird photos can be seen online at: *
            http://granstrand.net/gallery/ 


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HI:
 The latest issue of Birding magazine has these articles that might be of 
interest: 


1) No place like home: molt in the Calliope Hummingbird. By Donna Dittman and 
Dennis K. Demcheck. 


2) Variation in Red-naped and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. By Steve Mlodinow, 
Jessie H. Barry, and Cameron D. Cox. 


see: http://www.americanbirding.org/pubs/birding/archives/ for details. 
-- 
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
A.K.A.:Birdbooker 
\"Rallidae all the way!\"

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Hello Tweeters!

Tahoma Audubon's CBC in Tacoma/Pierce County will be held on Saturday, 
December 16, 2006. We welcome anyone that would like to bird with us in the 
South Sound, and we have same interesting and varied habitats to cover & 
enjoy (water, prairie, urban, parks.)

If you are interested, contact me directly at zest4parus AT hotmail.com
or
253-942-9233.

Let me know if you are interested in a particular one of our 8 Areas, or 
would like to help out where we might need extra coverage!

Happy Birding,
Faye McAdams Hands
Tacoma, WA
zest4parus AT hotmail.com

_________________________________________________________________
Get FREE company branded e-mail accounts and business Web site from 
Microsoft Office Live 
http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0050001411mrt/direct/01/

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan 
To: Ruth Taylor 
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Flora & Fauna Books - new location


Hello Ruth,


Thank you so very much to post the exact location of Flaura &Fauna.I went only 
once to old location,as I was desperate to find out which subspecies of the 
Bean Goose we found in December 2002.We found a large book called " The 
Handbook of BIRD Identification" for Europe and the Western Palearctic by Mark 
Beaman and Steve Madge.It shows exact the bird we found the 
middendorffii(called the TAIGA Bean Goose in most books),which is described as 
the most rarest subspecies in of Bean Goose and is from Siberia. 

I remember that it took me for ever finding a parking lot,driving around and 
around. From then on I ordered the books I wanted by phone. It is good to 
know,that the store is in a better location and this to make it a day to browse 
around,and find also places to eat lunch. 


Cheers Ruth Sullivan




--- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ruth Taylor" 
To: 
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 12:15 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Flora & Fauna Books - new location


> Hi All:
> 
> Just a reminder that Flora & Fauna Books has relocated to 3121 Government
> Way, near Discovery Park. I stopped by yesterday afternoon to see the new
> store & buy part of my Christmas present to myself. Where else can you find
> an entire book store about natural history? Unlike the location in downtown
> Seattle, parking is free. There's also espresso & related goodies nearby, so
> it would be a perfect place to stop after birding in Discovery Park.  The
> usual disclaimer - I have no financial interest in F&F Books.
> 
> And - slightly off-topic - if you can afford it, please consider patronizing
> independent booksellers in general. While they don't have the huge
> inventories of the chain stores, the quality of the selection is usually
> much higher, often focused toward specific topics, and service is more
> personal, IMHO.
> 
> 
>    Ruth Taylor
>    rutht AT seanet.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters AT u.washington.edu
> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
> _______________________________________________
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HI:
 Pure Eurasian Wigeon can have a green eye-stripe like that of an American
Wigeon. Check the flanks for what color they are: pure gray vs. a mixture
of gray and pinkish.

-- 

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"
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Today Anya Illes and I checked Magnusen Park for the Tropical 
Kingbird, with no success.  BBeing unfamiliar with the area we 
confined our search to around Building 11, and had naught of interest 
but about 60 KILLDEER and a single Cooper's Hawk.

Yesterday I walked around Green Lake.  About 40-50 Wigeon were 
feeding on the grass on the west side of the lake.  Among them was a 
single bird that keyed out as Eurasian Wigeon in all respects except 
for the fact that it had that splash of green trailing the eye.  Not 
as strong as in an American, but enough to suggest that this bird is 
not wholly a Eurasian Wigeon.

On that note, my father will be in town for thanksgiving and I'd like 
to show him Eurasian Wigeon (preferably a pure one!).  If people 
could report to me off list where in the immediate Seattle area they 
seen them THIS year, that would be really great.  Thanks in advance 
for all the responses I'm sure I'll get!

Jesse Ellis
Seattle
-- 
Jesse Ellis, Ph. D. candidate
Neurobiology and Behavior
jme29 AT cornell.edu
111 Mudd Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, 14853
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After seeing reports of them on Tweeters, I went on line and learned that
the birds that breed north of us (in B.C.) are starting to head south for
their wintering grounds, so I guess that's what we're seeing.  BNA on line
says they're south by Dec-Jan, so it fits.  I thought they headed south
earlier, was very surprised to see that pelican yesterday.  Fun to see 'em
this time of year!

Mary

Mary E. Klein
Bremerton WA
Cellobird -AT- Comcast.net


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Scoping the water between the two bridges from my yard, there were the usual
suspects--grebes, scoters, cormorants.  In addition, there was a Peregrine
Falcon perched atop one of the utility towers at the West Bremerton end of
the Warren Ave Bridge!

Mary

Mary E. Klein
Bremerton WA
Cellobird -AT- Comcast.net

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Taking advantage of sunny, brisk, late autumn day, Kim
Thorburn and I birded loop through northern Whitman
County, out to Sprague Lake, and return through
Reardan. Since the bulk of fall migration is over, we
were hoping for migrant stragglers or rare winter
visitors.

After searching through thousands of Starlings and
small number of Red-winged Blackbirds in the barnyards
near Philleo Lake, we came up empty on trying to
relocate the Rusty Blackbird. On Philleo Lake itself,
there were substantial numbers of Tundra Swans.

As we drove up to the summit of Steptoe Butte, we
enjoyed leisurely views of a pair of GRAY-CROWNED ROSY
FINCHES that we were feeding along the shoulder of the
road.  Apparently, the large flocks of Rosy Finches
that had been present a couple of weeks earlier have
pushed onward. 

Until we were exiting the park, we didn't see much
else at Steptoe. However, we found our best species of
the day along the park entrance road. This road is
bordered by a large strip of teasel and other weeds.

 When our vehicle flushed a group of six finches from
the roadside weedy ditch, I was pretty certain that
they were Redpolls. After we stopped, it took a little
while to refind the birds. Finally, I spied a couple
of COMMON REDPOLLS that were perched on the teasel
stalks.  Everytime a vehicle would pass the little
flock would flush, deliver their distinctive call
notes, and drop back into the weed patch.

These delightful birds gave Kim an ABA lifer and
Whitman County lifer to me. The Redpolls certainly
brightened up our day!

Our search for Eurasian Collared Doves failed to turn
up any Whitman County records, but the little town of
Ewan seemed to hold good promise. The brushy alley in
front of grain elevators had plenty of birds. Aside
from the usual Mourning Doves, House Sparrows, and
House Finches, there were a few White-crowned and Song
Sparrows too. 

On Rock Lake, we saw a HORNED GREBE but not much else.
Sheep Lake held some Tundra Swans and the usual
contingent of Canada Geese. At Lamont, there was a
nice looking ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. 

While the northern end of Sprague Lake was virtually
birdless, large numbers of Canada Geese and Common
Mergansers were present on the southern (Adams County)
side. An adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was in the
midst of the Canadas. Nearby on Danekas Road, we had
terrific views of a perched PRAIRIE FALCON and a
couple of NORTHERN SHRIKES.

By the time we reached Reardan around 4:00 PM, the
light was rapidly waning. We noted a Great Horned Owl
and more Tundra Swans but nothing else that was
terribly unusual. 


Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA


 

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We saw a Northern Rough-winged Swallow today (11/19) at the causeway out to
Bateman Island in Richland.
 
According to the annotated checklist of Birds of the Tri-Cities, the prior
late date was 9/15.  Also in our database was note of Bob Sundstrom seeing
one on 11/24/03 at Wanapum State Park near Vantage.
 
Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland WA