From ldhubbell at comcast.net Mon May 1 09:47:25 2023 From: ldhubbell at comcast.net (Hubbell) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Union Bay Watch } Boundaries - CORA Message-ID: <344837A8-7106-47D7-BA0C-EF9DD4F3135B@comcast.net> Tweeters, This post focuses on young ravens preparing for their first flights. https://unionbaywatch.blogspot.com/.html I hope you enjoy it! Larry Hubbell ldhubbell @ comcast dot net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldhubbell at comcast.net Mon May 1 10:08:28 2023 From: ldhubbell at comcast.net (Hubbell) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Second Try - Union Bay Watch - CORA Message-ID: Tweeters, (Sorry. My first link did not function properly. Fingers crossed. Trying once more.) This post focuses on young ravens preparing for their first flights. https://unionbaywatch.blogspot.com/2023/04/given-preponderance-of-crows-in-seattle.html I hope you enjoy it! Larry Hubbell ldhubbell @ comcast dot net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From leschwitters at me.com Mon May 1 11:34:54 2023 From: leschwitters at me.com (Larry Schwitters) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Vaux's Happening Message-ID: Good numbers of Vaux?s Swifts showed up for the first time this year at our Puget Sound roosts last night. Riverside Church 1702 BLM 613 Selleck. 773 Monroe Wagner 313 Larry Schwitters Issaquah From tvulture at gmx.com Mon May 1 16:24:04 2023 From: tvulture at gmx.com (Diann MacRae) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Mar/Apr 2023 TUVU report Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimullrich at gmail.com Mon May 1 16:42:04 2023 From: jimullrich at gmail.com (jimullrich) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Grays Harbor Shorebird survey 4.30.2023 References: Message-ID: <44468A35-2BF2-4349-94F8-B1102489AE3C@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hank.heiberg at gmail.com Mon May 1 17:50:47 2023 From: hank.heiberg at gmail.com (Hank Heiberg) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Nesting Wood Ducks In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Yesterday we observed two Wood Ducks at a nesting cavity. Here is a slide show of what we saw. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/52861543922/in/dateposted/ Hank & Karen Heiberg Issaquah, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From loblollyboy at gmail.com Mon May 1 01:24:23 2023 From: loblollyboy at gmail.com (Michael Price) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Kestrels, etc. (Was: Re: Samish Flats - today) Message-ID: Hey Tweets Doug Simondsen writes: "We see [kestrels] less often on days when lots of birders are out, so I suspect they are averse to disturbance." Back in the 70's, American Kestrels nested in parks in downtown Toronto. I used to live across the street from the Art Gallery of Ontario's Grange Park. Many mature elms, horse-chestnuts, silver maples. I have a wonderful memory of standing below a mature horse-chestnut tree while *seven* young kestrels emerged from their nest-cavity and lined up along the branch. They had no problem with human proximity. But I don't think the behavioral discrepancy is an artefact due to any kind of observer bias. There's other species which show a similar east/west behavioral difference. A famous example is the Purple Martin: colonial nesters in the east (a learned behavior), solitary in the west. Another, in south-western Ontario, Long-Eared Owls can be found nesting in almost any city park where there?s a stand of pine, while in Washington and BC, these owls seem solitary and very hard to find. I don't know why. Could American Kestrels show similar behavioral dichotomy depending on which side of the North American Cordillera they find themselves? And, if so, why such a difference? Well, one possibility is simply that eastern populations of continental species have had longer to work out cohabitation with humans (ie- the Iroquois people and Purple Martins), both indigenous and colonial, whereas the anglo-european colonization of the Pacific coast was maybe too recent for western bird populations to have worked out similar arrangements (is so, why did Pacific coast American Robins---robins, originally a forest thrush---urbanise so quickly, whereas martins didn't?). Speaking of kestrels, may I, for those who may not have heard of it, plug an extraordinary film above them called 'Kestrel's Eye'? Ninety minutes of no documentary voice-over, no dialogue, no score, not much happens but the daily life of a family of Common/Eurasian Kestrels living in the belfry of an old Swedish village stone church. If you're like me, you'll spend the first few minutes wondering why the hell you're bothering to watch, and rest of the film wondering why you can't look away. And the kestrel's hunting-grounds are very familiar-looking: a saltwater marsh in Skan?r-Falsterbo in southwest Sweden looks pretty much the same as the ones on the Samish Flats. Wonderfully peaceful---the film's like visual yoga---and utterly, utterly absorbing as it shows the lives of the adult kestrels above as they raise and fledge their young; and the human lives below: wedding, funeral, workmen, gardeners, passers-by: you hear and see only what the kestrels do. A quietly brilliant film. best -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ednewbold1 at yahoo.com Mon May 1 20:59:53 2023 From: ednewbold1 at yahoo.com (Ed Newbold) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] 5 Warbler day at Butyl Creek References: <154370216.2140434.1682999993501.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <154370216.2140434.1682999993501@mail.yahoo.com> Hi all, Not fallout conditions at Butyl Creek today but a steady trickle as we estimated 22 Warblers of 5 Species, Wilsons 11, Orange-crowned 7, Yellow-rumped 2, MacGillivray's 1 and Nashville 1. It's hard to know how many Warblers are repeat-bathers and how many are new birds. We had no non-Warbler migrants today, however, unless anyone would count 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets.? We've only had Lincoln's Sparrow as a non-Warbler migrant since the 28th of April when we began watching the creek after a trip. I am very anxious about what this migration will end up looking like, but then, I'm always anxious. Butyl Creek is our recirculating creek on Beacon Hill in the residential zone of mid-Beacon Hill. Ed Newbold (and Delia Scholes)? ednewbold1@yahoo.com? . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Tue May 2 13:13:50 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Goshawk female Message-ID: Female NG, naked eye, Anacortes. The bird appeared to be light grey in full sunlight, so probably was mature. The hawk was low, into the very tops of some lone evergreens. Then the hawk went circling and flapping and climbing to about two- thousand feet altitude. And went circling. We observed for about five minutes. This is the at least second sighting with my neighbor, while talking, in his yard. You?ve seen goshawks, your friends have observed goshawks and your neighbors have observed the goshawk. Twelve noon, with bright sun, winds at about 10 mph. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From davearm at uw.edu Tue May 2 13:38:36 2023 From: davearm at uw.edu (davearm@uw.edu) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Curlews in Mutiny Bay Message-ID: A small flock of 14 long-billed curlews was working the rocky intertidal at the north end of Mutiny Bay this morning during an ebbing tide. David armstrong Sent from my iPhone From gavinmbrady at yahoo.com Tue May 2 15:59:33 2023 From: gavinmbrady at yahoo.com (gavin brady) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Western scrub jay in Mountlake Terrace References: <1676495782.3181687.1683068373760.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1676495782.3181687.1683068373760@mail.yahoo.com> Western scrub jay hanging around in the Melody Hill neighborhood of Mountlake Terrace, near the corner of 64th Ave W and 224th St SW. Very vocal.? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bcholtcodevlin at gmail.com Wed May 3 08:15:27 2023 From: bcholtcodevlin at gmail.com (Beverly Choltco-Devlin) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Kent Ponds GRNRA - Access? Message-ID: Hi all, I have been wondering how people are accessing the Kent Ponds/GRNRA. The last time I went, the road to the west side entrance was closed to vehicles due to the new park construction. The small parking area access path to the southeast off 64th is always full when I go. The northeast gates are closed as maintenance roads. Any help would be greatly appreciated for the best way to get to the west side of the ponds. I don't mind walking a bit, but I just need a place to park legally. I haven't been there since COVID began and spent a half hour driving around to find a place to alight. Thanks, Beverly -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Wed May 3 09:21:10 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Fir Island and Samish Flats (SEO) In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230503092110.Horde.W8bLGFqiI0CrVWeSzAzgSMZ@webmail.jimbetz.com> Hi all, I did another of my "survey trips" yesterday. Reports ... Fir Island - drove most of the roads on Fir Island. Very few birds of any kind. Wiley Slough remains totally closed to the public. *Sigh*. Looks like it will be so until November ... ??? I did not see any trucks coming and going and when I rolled my window down and listened I could not hear any heavy equipment working in the distance (I was sitting near the gate where the "Closed" signs are). I got out of the car and went up and stood on the dike at the Jensen Access. No shorebirds except a few Dunlins. No raptors (I often see Harriers and Eagles here). There were several Song Sparrows in the bushes and on the fence - and when I played their song (Merlin) they moved back and forth around me trying to find the rival/mate. It was fun and they didn't mind. Tulips - drove past Roozengarde - lots of tulips, not many people (weekday). It looks like they will start clipping the blossoms soon. Next year! Samish Flats - sat at the East 90 for over an hour. Only one other birder showed up for the whole time. One Bald, one Harrier, and a very active day for Short-Eared Owls ... they were "every where" and one decided it was a good day to have his portrait taken and took up station less than 20 feet from me in three different spots. I got some great shots. There were a few song sparrows (3 or 4?). One was an 'acceptable' in flight, and a lot of perched shots. I even got a picture of it "blinking" ... didn't see it until I was reviewing the photos at home. When this happens the bird looks like it is some kind of escapee from the zombie apocalypse. https://ebird.org/checklist/S135886391 Is there a more correct term than "blinking"? There were several SEOs working the wetlands. Went on for at least a half hour - then they all of a sudden weren't there. Not long after they stopped a family(?) of rabbits started playing - racing this way and that and generally "frolicking" - on the track between that large patch of green bushes and the ditch that runs East from the East 90. I was hoping I might catch a hawk or eagle going after them but it didn't happen (this time). While driving to/from the East 90 I saw 3 RTHs - all sitting on the wires along a road - always with a ditch below. Good day to be out! - Jim From deedeeknit at yahoo.com Wed May 3 12:43:37 2023 From: deedeeknit at yahoo.com (Dee Dee) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Lazuli Bunting Monday May1 References: <0C1767E5-574E-4AB1-B126-1989CAEA9E46.ref@yahoo.com> Message-ID: <0C1767E5-574E-4AB1-B126-1989CAEA9E46@yahoo.com> ?Monday, May 1st, around 10:30 am I was treated to a brief (5 minutes max) but exciting look at a gorgeous male Lazuli Bunting feeding on the ground under my bird feeders. My first-time-ever sighting of this species, and the cherry on top was having it be in my yard with my camera right at hand. Got a few pictures (submitted already to e-bird) before it went on its way. What a lovely surprise to interrupt my morning chores! Danene Warnock Edmonds From kenbrownpls at comcast.net Wed May 3 19:49:11 2023 From: kenbrownpls at comcast.net (Kenneth Brown) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually - Wednesday Walk Message-ID: <1470059834.211808.1683168551604@connect.xfinity.com> Hi Tweeters Today was another gorgeous day at the Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR. In the absence of our accustomed leader (Shep the Beneficent) 25 or so of us muddled on, consoled by the lovely weather and several FOY birds. We started off at the orchard where Bushtits were feeding young in their cozy sock, spotting Yellow Warblers and Western Tanagers, then reversed our usual route and followed the east side of the loop trail, hoping to get the Great-horned Owl we had last week, to no avail. Black-throated Gray and Wilson's Warblers, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo and Cedar Waxwings (the last two were heard only) made that loss less painful. A Bullock's Oriole was seen by a few in the Big leaf Maples by the Twin Barns. Ducks were lower in number, and shorebirds almost non-existent (with the exception of 17 Whimbrel and 1 lonely Greater Yellow-legs) along the dike and out along the McCallister Creek boardwalk. The list follows: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US May 3, 2023 8:04 AM - 2:55 PM Protocol: Traveling 5.03 mile(s) 75 species (+3 other taxa) Greater White-fronted Goose 5 Cackling Goose 50 Canada Goose 30 5 goslings Wood Duck 2 Cinnamon Teal 2 Northern Shoveler 60 Gadwall 8 American Wigeon 30 Mallard 13 Northern Pintail 20 Canvasback 1 Ring-necked Duck 3 Surf Scoter 1 Bufflehead 100 Common Goldeneye 4 Hooded Merganser 2 Common Merganser 5 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4 Mourning Dove 4 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Rufous Hummingbird 6 2 female Virginia Rail 1 Heard only. American Coot 50 Whimbrel 17 3 on mud, flock of 14 more flew in, seen and counted by at least 5 birders. Greater Yellowlegs 1 shorebird sp. 50 One flock, all uniform in size and coloring, looked to be plover sized. Gone before identified. Short-billed Gull 36 Counted individually. Ring-billed Gull 40 Glaucous-winged Gull 2 Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 15 Larus sp. 50 Caspian Tern 6 Brandt's Cormorant 3 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Great Blue Heron 10 Turkey Vulture 2 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 25 Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 2 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 Warbling Vireo 4 Heard only. Steller's Jay 1 American Crow 12 Common Raven 5 Black-capped Chickadee 15 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 8 Purple Martin 2 Tree Swallow 75 Violet-green Swallow 5 Barn Swallow 100 Cliff Swallow 40 Bushtit 3 Brown Creeper 3 Marsh Wren 15 Bewick's Wren 4 European Starling 8 American Robin 25 Cedar Waxwing 4 Purple Finch 6 American Goldfinch 8 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow 3 Savannah Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 25 Spotted Towhee 3 Bullock's Oriole 1 Red-winged Blackbird 40 Brown-headed Cowbird 6 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 8 Yellow Warbler 20 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 (2 Myrtle) Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 Wilson's Warbler 2 Western Tanager 3 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S135975939 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Thu May 4 07:21:50 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] follow-up on the feeding jays/crows question Message-ID: The other night at my webinar talk about birds and climate change we got off on another topic during the Q&A: the potential problems of feeding jays and crows, especially in spring/summer. I want to add a link here I didn't get a chance to the other night. The short story is that jays and crows are well-known nest predators, taking eggs and chicks, especially of cup-nesters. This may be one reason why we have so few cup-nesters in suburban areas. There are many studies about this, most focused on endangered species but some on more common birds. I summarized them at this blog post: The maddening truth: Feeding crows and jays harms other birds There is a myth out there that I've heard several times -- that, by feeding them lots of peanuts, we divert them from nest predation. I see the logic, but it seems very doubtful to me. The research suggests otherwise, and my own observation is that feeding them attracts a resident population to that area. I suspect they likely seek a balanced diet, so will still go after eggs and chicks. They seem to cache, not eat, most of the peanuts, saving them for later. Questions were asked about sunflowers and other types of feed. I don't know those answers. In my experience, peanuts are the main attractor of corvids. I don't use peanuts and see jays and crows rarely at my feeders. I also curtail all but hummingbird feeders in summer after the sparrows leave. good birding, -- Steve Hampton Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com Thu May 4 12:46:03 2023 From: jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Barrow's Goldeneye - Wllapa Bay Message-ID: <621CC749-D42B-4602-8C61-CC3BE14D4BC2@gmail.com> A male Barrow?s Goldeneye is with a small flock of Buffleheads on Willapa Bay, about half-way down the peninsula. I had not previously seen the species. on the bay. It is a surprise yard bird for me. Jeff Gilligan From raphael.fennimore at gmail.com Thu May 4 13:43:09 2023 From: raphael.fennimore at gmail.com (Raphael Fennimore) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?Seven_Swainson=E2=80=99s_Hawks=2C_Kent?= Message-ID: <18C51BD7-B413-4BBF-8B56-358CAD69966C@gmail.com> Hi Tweetsies, I just observed **6 Swainson?s Hawks** together over Kent Ponds (King County), circling then heading north. A seventh Swainson?s followed just a couple minutes after! Eyes to the skies for the prize(s)!! Raphael From birdmarymoor at frontier.com Thu May 4 14:04:46 2023 From: birdmarymoor at frontier.com (birdmarymoor) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2023-05-04 References: <2014048840.2321448.1683234286918.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <2014048840.2321448.1683234286918@mail.yahoo.com> Tweets - Typically, the first week in May is the peak for diversity at Marymoor, leading to our largest list of the year.? But this is not a normal year.? It was rather cold this morning, with a fairly dark overcast for most of it, and rain seemed to be threatening (though the night's rain ended before 5 a.m.).? It was NOT very birdy, and while we had a good number of First of Spring birds (FOS), we had a very large list of Misses.? Numbers seemed very low too, for the most part. Highlights: ? ? Canada Goose - Still nesting on both Osprey platforms, as well as on the new (but not used) Bald Eagle nest visible from the Lake Platform ? ? Ring-necked Duck - Two males in the slough; I'm surprised they are still here ? ? Mourning Dove - One flew by where we park (FOS) just before we headed to the Rowing Club ? ? Vaux's Swift - 2-4 over the slough below the weir after we walked the main loop (FOS) ? ? Least (???) Sandpiper - Two flew above tree-height downslough.? Looked good for Least, but can't say for sure ? ? Cooper's Hawk - One, our first in more than two months ? ? Warbling Vireo - Several singing, but our only looks were at the Rowing Club (FOS) ? ? Swainson's Thrush - Heard calling pre-dawn, but none singing and none seen.? Still early for them. ? ? CHIPPING SPARROW - One from the Viewing Mound in the area just cleared of blackberries (FOS) ? ? Bullock's Oriole - First-year male(s?) along the slough.? Several sightings.? Singing ? ? Yellow Warbler - Several singing males (FOS), some even seen well (a quality not present in quite a few species today) ? ? Black-headed Grosbeak - 2-3 males, and maybe heard some singing (FOS) A late scan of the lake revealed two RED-NECKED GREBE (FOS), about where we'd had two mystery birds from the lake platform, and a fairly large flock of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, which may have been one of the two mystery flocks of ducks seen flying lakeward earlier.?? ???? Misses included Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Rock Pigeon, Killdeer, Glaucous-winged Gull, Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher Cliff Swallow, Brown Creeper (might have heard), Pine Siskin, Lincoln's Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler (might have glimpsed one), Wilson's Warbler (!), and Western Tanager.? All of those species have been present in half or more of previous years for this week.? That's a long list of Misses! Despite 7 new species for the year, we managed just 59 species for the day, plus the Sandpiper sp.? I'm hoping next week will bring some flycatchers, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Nashville and Black-throated Gray Warblers, and Western Tanager... = Michael Hobbs? From marvbreece at q.com Thu May 4 14:53:39 2023 From: marvbreece at q.com (MARVIN BREECE) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Kent Valley birding 5.4.23 Message-ID: <62S9QBOSUJU4.A4494WBCT2Z42@luweb03oc> This morning at 204th & Frager Rd in Kent there was a pair of CINNAMON TEAL and a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL. At M Street in Auburn there was also a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER. About 100 MINIMA CACKLING GEESE remain at M St. Also at M St were 6 swallow species. No Purple Martin. Yesterday morning there was a SAY's PHOEBE at 204th & Frager, but it did not stay long. Marv Breece Tukwila, WA marvbreece@q.com ....that the elected might never form to themselves an interest separate from the electors ... - Thomas Paine, from Common Sense -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Thu May 4 20:08:57 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] East 90 - Predictable, uncommon, and a surprise In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230504200857.Horde.eHJhTjFFeKvjLD23wnacozV@webmail.jimbetz.com> Hi, Went back to the East 90 this afternoon. I got there earlier and the place was pretty much dead except for a couple of GBH and a half dozen or so RWB. As it neared 5:30 started to see more action. Got to see a GBH catch and consume a vole, a Bald Eagle eating some kind of 'dark carcass - probably winged' but didn't have a good enough view to precisely identify the prey, and a RWB mobbing a Harrier. Then the SEOWs started showing up - I didn't get to stay long enough to see what time they disappeared but it was probably soon after I left. One thing that was interesting was that the GBH left as the Bald Eagle was arriving and returned as soon as the Bald Eagle left. Coincidence? Didn't feel that way to me. The eagle perched on top of the pole on the inside of the East 90 turn and consumed its dinner that it brought with it. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that it was probably a scoter or other such black sea bird. It was too big to be an RWB - possibly a crow but I've never heard of an eagle preying on crows/ravens. Nice late afternoon/evening. BTW - I highly recommend the Cajun Stew (seafood) at the Longhorn in Edison! Oh yes, when leaving the Longhorn to come home I chose to go back by the East 90. Dead/nothing except one GBH. BUT - there was a small flock of Snow Geese in the field just East of the Samish River bridge! My LOS for snows last year was May 6th. - Jim From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Fri May 5 04:07:57 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] NPR: Lonely pet parrots find friendship through video chats, a new study finds Message-ID: <6AC7E672-7BF5-4954-9384-609DF63ED500@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vickibiltz at gmail.com Fri May 5 17:21:34 2023 From: vickibiltz at gmail.com (Vicki) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Black-Headed Grosbeak pair Message-ID: Hello, among the 20 Band-Tailed pigeons today, I saw my first pair of Black-Headed Grosbeaks, one near the sunflower tray, and one on the large suet feeder. It seems my pigeons wiped out my sunflowers and I had to quickly refill for my hungry guests! Still 4 Lesser Goldfinch, and 2 American Goldfinch as well as a pair of Purple Finches making quick trips to the sunflower chips. All the regulars are in attendance as well. Happy Birding, Vicki Biltz Buckley, WA vickibiltz@gmail.com -- vickibiltz@gmail.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/saw-whets_new/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From leschwitters at me.com Fri May 5 17:49:18 2023 From: leschwitters at me.com (Larry Schwitters) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Vaux's Happening Message-ID: <6332AB1D-146D-47FD-840F-702E763731E7@me.com> The Monroe Wagner Vaux?s Swift roost has sheltered 4 thousandish of the wee birds for more than 24 hours straight. Larry Schwitters Issaquah From dantonijohn at yahoo.com Fri May 5 19:18:02 2023 From: dantonijohn at yahoo.com (john dantoni) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Waxwings and western tanager References: <1819699668.2622974.1683339482646.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1819699668.2622974.1683339482646@mail.yahoo.com> Hi Tweeters,? The waxwings are coming through and the second Western tanager was noted.? ?Last year I bought Acopian bird savers because a tanager ran into my window.? ?They birds savers have been great since I hung them up.? Best, John Dantoni Malaga WA? Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From georn1 at hotmail.com Fri May 5 21:09:50 2023 From: georn1 at hotmail.com (bill shelmerdine) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Possible Black Vulture N of Forks Message-ID: Today about 1130 we were driving south on Highway 101 north of Forks WA and observed 3 Vultures circling and rising just above the tree line. Two were obvious Turkey Vultures (TuVu) but one appeared distinctly smaller with very broad wings and a short tail giving a distinctive flight shape. When flapping, it seemed to have shallow, rapid wing strokes different than the deeper wing strokes of the adjacent TuVu?s. I had one brief view of the underwing as it circled. It looked pretty uniformly black (not two toned with darker underwing coverts), I did not see any pale at the primaries but since we were driving, it all happened pretty fast. Sadly, views were too brief for confirmation. We pulled over ASAP and circled back when traffic allowed. But by then only one TuVu was visible and it dropped into the forest just before the rain settled in. A couple more passes through the area produced no further sightings. We stuck around a bit but with the rain, all bird activity had ceased. The location was just south of Beaver and the southern part of the Lake Pleasant Community. About 1/4 to 1/2 mile south of the ball fields. Anyone traveling through this area or around the NW Olympic Peninsula might do well to carefully check through any vultures encountered. There were still quite a few TuVu?s moving through the past couple of days. Cheers? Bill Shelmerdine Sent from my iPhone From stevechampton at gmail.com Sat May 6 08:52:00 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Lesser Goldfinch in Port Townsend Message-ID: This morning I had a Lesser Goldfinch in Port Townsend, which represents a first record for Jefferson Co. Audio and poor digibin pics here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S136293572 Not really unexpected, this species has been expanding north and northeast in recent years. It is established in such places now as Puyallup and Missoula. I see there was one at Pt No Point a week ago. good birding, -- Steve Hampton Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rjm284 at gmail.com Sat May 6 12:43:28 2023 From: rjm284 at gmail.com (Ryan Merrill) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit White-tailed Kite Message-ID: The White-tailed Kite found earlier this morning and reported to eBird by Shruti JP Mehta and Raghav Mehta is putting on a show catching voles at the East 90 on the Samish Flats. https://ebird.org/checklist/S136305574 Good birding, Ryan Merrill -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Sat May 6 12:56:52 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Black Vulture Message-ID: If Bill S. Thinks he observed a Black Vulture then he did observe a Black Vulture. However, I think he should have stated ? the bird was not a Raven. We birders should observe every Turkey Vulture. The B. Vulture does excite me. Nelson Briefer ? Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rjm284 at gmail.com Sat May 6 13:31:25 2023 From: rjm284 at gmail.com (Ryan Merrill) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit White-tailed Kite In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: As a follow up the kite took off about ten minutes ago and I just lost track of it ascending into the clouds a few miles to the northeast, northeast of Edison. On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 12:43 Ryan Merrill wrote: > The White-tailed Kite found earlier this morning and reported to eBird by > Shruti JP Mehta and Raghav Mehta is putting on a show catching voles at the > East 90 on the Samish Flats. > > https://ebird.org/checklist/S136305574 > > Good birding, > Ryan Merrill > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From downess at charter.net Sat May 6 16:40:44 2023 From: downess at charter.net (downess@charter.net) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Two spots open for Yakima County WOS Trip May 20-21 Message-ID: <011501d98074$2e199350$8a4cb9f0$@charter.net> Tweeters, Two spots have opened up on our Yakima WOS weekend fieldtrip May 20-21. Details are below. If wanting to go, contact myself. Yakima County Weekend. May 20-21. The birding will start on Saturday at White Pass and spend the rest of Saturday covering the varied habitats of the east slope of the cascades where an amazing variety of birds, including up to 10 species of woodpecker can be encountered! We'll finish Saturday covering the Wenas Creek drainage before ending in Yakima. Sunday will have an early start to beat the heat and will head into the lower Yakima Valley covering areas like Toppenish NWR, Sunnyside Wildlife Area and Fort Simcoe. The Lower Yakima Valley is often alive with birds of the marsh during May. The trip will end in early afternoon to allow time for people to travel home and beat at least some of the heat. The weekend trip should be a great exposure to the breeding birds of Yakima County and at least 120 species are expected over the weekend, likely more. Participants should be prepared with lunch, water and snacks both days as we'll be birding on the run. A scope will be helpful if you have it. Drivers should have the Discover Pass and ideally a Northwest Forest Pass. Weather can vary from needing layers at White Pass to bug spray and sunscreen in the Lower Valley. Expect to meet both days in Yakima at dawn or just before. Scott Downes downess@charter.net Yakima WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From thefedderns at gmail.com Sat May 6 23:51:19 2023 From: thefedderns at gmail.com (Hans-Joachim Feddern) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] More Turkey Vultures Message-ID: At 3:30 PM today, Saturday May 6th, we saw first two - and within minutes another two Turkey Vultures flapping and sailing north over Dune Peninsula Park, Point Ruston, Tacoma. When last seen, they were heading across the water towards Vashon Island. Hans -- *Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA thefedderns@gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From thefedderns at gmail.com Sat May 6 23:59:44 2023 From: thefedderns at gmail.com (Hans-Joachim Feddern) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Odd Duck Message-ID: For some time now, we have had an odd duck at Lake Lorene/Treasure Island Park here in Twin Lakes, Federal Way. On first look it appears to be a drake Mallard, but when looked at with binoculars, the fine checkered sides and belly become noticeable. Also the head is green, except for some interesting facial markings, somewhat like a Baikal Teal. Overall it appear to be a Mallard/Gadwall hybrid except for these facial markings. Good Birding! Hans -- *Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA thefedderns@gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From masonflint at outlook.com Sun May 7 10:49:08 2023 From: masonflint at outlook.com (Mason Flint) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Lapland Longspur at Hoquiam STP Message-ID: While guiding a Naturalist Journeys birding tour, we found a nice breeding plumage male Lapland Longspur yesterday mid-day at the STP. It was between the seawall and the big pond near the row of concrete blocks. Mason Flint Bellevue -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ksnyder75 at gmail.com Sun May 7 19:52:03 2023 From: ksnyder75 at gmail.com (Kathleen Snyder) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?Washington=E2=80=99s_Endangered_Grouse_-_Thu?= =?utf-8?q?rsday_May_11th_7pm_via_Zoom?= Message-ID: If you can?t get to a grouse lek this spring, you can still enjoy learning all about grouse behavior with Mike Schroeder, PhD with WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife. Mike has been studying Columbian Sharp-tailed and Greater Sage-grouse for decades and will cover the biology and management of these two endangered species. This free program from Black Hills Audubon requires registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvcOmtqjsjGtZSv5CsYyeLPUBKYF2520ID -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From avnacrs4birds at outlook.com Sun May 7 20:38:57 2023 From: avnacrs4birds at outlook.com (Denis DeSilvis) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] JBLM Area Access and other info Message-ID: Tweeters, While birding at some of the JBLM training areas last Saturday, we talked with a staff member who drove up beside us. He said that changes were coming starting this July, when some of the training areas that have been closed will be opening for recreational activities, such as wildlife viewing, on an aperiodic basis. Subsequently, my birding partner, who had just gotten an area access pass within the past two weeks mentioned that his pass was only good until this July. I was stunned: My pass is good until next February. He was told that starting in July, passes would be issued online only (not from the Range Control Office). Apparently, passes will be obtained via a 3rd party vendor. And here's the kicker: It will cost you! It may cost retired military folks, such as myself, something like $25 per year (length of time not noted for sure); and who knows what it will cost the general public. From my point of view, this is another way of restricting access, which historically has been free and (relatively speaking) open - you just needed to obtain the proper pass and follow the procedures for using the open training areas. More to come, I'm sure. We did have a pretty good birding day. Highlights are as follows: LOTS of Yellow Warblers singing - we could hear them at almost every place we visited or along all the 20+ miles of roads we traveled. Other warblers included Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, Black-throated Gray, MacGillivray's, and Common Yellowthroat. Purple Martins were occupying snag holes in a few areas, including several in the burned-out snags across from Observation Post (OP) 10. Chipping Sparrows were seemingly as prevalent as the Yellow Warblers. Raptors included American Kestrel (likely nesting near the area we spotted them), Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, and Cooper's Hawk. We found about a dozen Ring-necked Ducks, two pairs of Wood Ducks, and some Mallards at Chambers Lake. We were going to check out the prairie area near the Coyote Bridge (over Muck Creek) for Northern Bobwhite, but an ongoing event (not military) had blocked our access there. Western Meadowlarks were singing from many areas on the artillery impact area (91st Division Prairie). May all your birds be identified, Denis Denis DeSilvis Avnacrs 4 birds at outlook dot com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From RichardAWalker at outlook.com Mon May 8 12:13:34 2023 From: RichardAWalker at outlook.com (Richard Walker) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Sage Thrasher Message-ID: The Sage Thrasher first spotted yesterday, is still at KGY Point (North Point) in Olympia as of about 10:30 this morning. It was actively feeding between the upper parking lot and the rocks/fence next to the radio station, not shy at all. Richard Walker Sent from Outlook -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cmborre1 at gmail.com Mon May 8 20:30:24 2023 From: cmborre1 at gmail.com (Cara Borre) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Open spot on this Saturday's Westport Seabirds trip Message-ID: Tweets, There is one available spot now open on this Saturday's pelagic. Contact information is available at westportseabirds.com if you'd like to join us on this trip. Hope to sea you out there! Cara Borre Gig Harbor -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cohenellenr at yahoo.com Tue May 9 08:06:59 2023 From: cohenellenr at yahoo.com (Ellen Cohen) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] bird evolution References: <1569631594.296672.1683644819863.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1569631594.296672.1683644819863@mail.yahoo.com> https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/3994113-all-birds-are-shrinking-but-small-birds-are-shrinking-fastest/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Tue May 9 08:29:10 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] VOX: A frightening virus is killing a massive number of wild birds Message-ID: <2B031BCF-05C2-4DCE-96CE-FC130D14787C@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Tue May 9 14:39:43 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bird flu is decimating wildlife - Vox Message-ID: <24AD1DEA-B63A-4EFF-B9EF-A9EEC8F3717F@gmail.com> https://www.vox.com/science/23709615/avian-influenza-h5n1-wild-birds Sent from my iPhone From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Wed May 10 05:09:35 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight | American Scientist Message-ID: <72486AA6-AB66-4017-965F-F8B1D7FB7371@gmail.com> https://www.americanscientist.org/article/avian-migration-the-ultimate-red-eye-flight Sent from my iPhone From stevechampton at gmail.com Wed May 10 07:05:56 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight | American Scientist In-Reply-To: <72486AA6-AB66-4017-965F-F8B1D7FB7371@gmail.com> References: <72486AA6-AB66-4017-965F-F8B1D7FB7371@gmail.com> Message-ID: Wow -- Really great article that summarizes a number of issues around migrating bird biology. Healthcare professionals will really appreciate it. Thinking about birds and climate change, the article touches on photoperiod (daylength), which seems to limit the ability of long-distance migrants to adapt to climate change. Non-migratory birds, on the other hand, are not limited by this. BirdCast says last night was pretty good, so I'm out the door now to watch these tired-not-so-tired migrants fatten up again for another red-eye flight tonight! good birding, On Wed, May 10, 2023 at 5:10?AM Dan Reiff wrote: > > > https://www.americanscientist.org/article/avian-migration-the-ultimate-red-eye-flight > > > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From zinke.pilchuck at gmail.com Wed May 10 11:07:08 2023 From: zinke.pilchuck at gmail.com (Brian Zinke) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Global Big Day Field Trips Message-ID: Hi Tweets, The weather is looking great for Global Big Day this Saturday! We're hosting a few field trips Saturday morning at Osprey Park (Sultan), Ebey Waterfront Trail (Marysville), and Barnum Point (Camano Island) and still have room in each if you'd like to get out this weekend. These field trips are part of our Birdathon, so we're asking for a donation of any amount to attend. For more information, please visit: https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org/birdathon-field-trip-registration Thanks! Brian -- [image: Logo] Brian Zinke Executive Director phone: (425) 232-6811 email: director@pilchuckaudubon.org Pilchuck Audubon Society 1429 Avenue D, PMB 198, Snohomish, WA 98290 [image: Facebook icon] [image: Twitter icon] [image: Instagram icon] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdmarymoor at gmail.com Wed May 10 13:23:40 2023 From: birdmarymoor at gmail.com (Michael Hobbs) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Especially birdy in West Seattle today Message-ID: Tweets - Besides the local resident birds, there have been a notable number of migrants at our tiny West Seattle house this morning. Just counting within about 100 feet of my office window, I've had at least 4 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and have heard them singing often; at least three WESTERN TANAGERS, also singing; a minimum of two each of WILSON'S and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. The Orange-crowns were singing early in the morning, but have since either moved on or shut up. Pretty sure I heard some Wilson's song too, early on, but they are still around in the maple across the alley. I'm at 19 species for my yard list today! = Michael Hobbs -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From byers345 at comcast.net Wed May 10 17:24:07 2023 From: byers345 at comcast.net (byers345@comcast.net) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Book recommendation--slightly off topic Message-ID: <002b01d9839e$e76a8710$b63f9530$@comcast.net> Hi Tweeters, I recently finished a book that I found quite charming: A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life ande Epic Journey of the World's Smartest Birds of Prey by Jonathan Meiburg. The birds in question are caracaras. It starts and ends with the Striated Caracara, which I imagine most of us have not seen. But along with talking about caracaras, Meiburg also discusses people who have been interested in caracaras over the years, like Charles Darwin, William Henry Hudson, an Argentinian-American, who lived much of his life in England, many people who have done research on caracaras, etc. He also mentions the Crested Caracara that appeared in Washington State a few years back. One of my favorite parts of the book was a detailed description of a long trip Meiburg took up the Rewa River in Guyana to see Red-throated and Black Caracaras. So my apologies if Ian Paulsen has already reviewed this book. I enjoyed it and you might too! Charlotte Byers, Edmonds -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From missouribirdman at yahoo.com Wed May 10 17:27:23 2023 From: missouribirdman at yahoo.com (Christian Hagenlocher) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] 5/6 King County Big Day Trip Report (long read) References: <9925D993-28A0-4E33-B00D-539E786F7C5B.ref@yahoo.com> Message-ID: <9925D993-28A0-4E33-B00D-539E786F7C5B@yahoo.com> Trip Report King County Big Day Saturday May 6, 2023 This past Saturday Matt Dufort, Adrian Lee, Raphael Fennimore, and myself (Christian Hagenlocher) met at Marymoor Park shortly after 3am to embark on a King County Big Day. Weather conditions looked dreary for the day, with early morning showers dampening our optimism that we would break the incredible King County Big Day record of 137 species, set in 2018 with a team of talented birders, including Adrian, Matt, and Spencer Hildie and Scott Ramos. While setting a record wasn?t the goal, that number was the silent benchmark in the back of our mind?s as we purposefully moved through the county, adapting our strategies on the fly to hit as many hotspots with a variety of habitats, hoping for close to 130 species. Marymoor Park was slow birding, with heard-only Killdeer, American Robin, and a Great Blue Heron all before 4am. Although we quietly listened for owls, we didn?t hear or see any, despite our hope of encountering a Western-Screech Owl or Barn Owl. We quickly moved on, picking up some heard-only Virginia Rail and Sora at a marsh, missing our attempts to find owls elsewhere before the dawn chorus began. Shortly after 4:30 am as the sky grew lighter our numbers began picking up as we could detect more species as they started to sing. Tree Swallows and American Robins were both quite vocal, joined by Song Sparrows as the ambient light increased. In the interest of time, we kept moving. Driving up to Stossel Creek, Matt spotted a Ruffed Grouse in the road, which flushed to a nearby branch for great views. This species is not always an easy pickup in King without some effort, so we were glad to see a second bird soon after further down the trail. As we made our way higher in elevation, it was nice to hear singing Varied Thrush. A tooting Northern Pygmy-Owl was our first owl of the day. We were pleased to encounter a small flock of warblers which included MacGillivray's, Black?throated Gray, Townsend?s, and Wilson?s. We also had a newly-arrived Hammond?s Flycatcher singing, which was a first-of-year (FOY) for some of us. On our drive down the mountain we had a Barred Owl conveniently perched along the power lines, actively hunting the roadside on our way to the Stillwater Unit of Snoqualmie Wildlife Area. In the next hour and a half we picked up over 50 species, including a single Common Loon flying overhead. Two Dusky Flycatchers were briefly seen by some and heard by all of us, which was a fun addition to our day?s growing total. It was a treat to get a good look at a wet Sharp-shinned Hawk perched along the trail, and pick up several other raptors who, like us, were hoping things would dry out as the sun got higher in the sky. Birding the Snoqualmie Valley from Duvall heading south yielded good waterfowl diversity, including Cinnamon Teal, and Northern Pintail among others. With some close attention, we picked out six different species of swallows, which were forced to feed low over the fields and ponds due to the low weather ceiling and storms moving in. We knew shorebird numbers haven?t been great this year, and struggled to find species outside the norm, but were happy to find a Solitary Sandpiper for the day along W. Snoqualmie River Rd, along with a good assortment of raptors, and our first Vaux?s swifts for the day. We found good numbers of American Pipit as well. Despite our stop at Sikes Lake not being long, it was nice to pick up different sparrow species as we watched a trio of Northern Harriers hunting the marshlands. Turkey Vultures took to the skies around 10:30 am, and we carefully checked all soaring raptors with the expectation of finding a migrating Swainson?s Hawk. Five Common Loons flew over together, flying below the clouds towards the sound. With increasing numbers of Vaux?s swift, we scanned for Black Swift, which would have been a great pickup, but today wasn?t the day. A brief stop at Tote Bridge netted us two American Dippers in the river, as we worked our way south towards Piano Ranch, where Matt spotted a Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Adrian heard Lesser Goldfinch further north, before we all found them at the expected bend in the road near the ranch. Do keep an ear out for these goldfinches as they seem to be more prolific in King county this year! Our next major stop was M Street Marsh and Emerald Downs, where we picked up Spotted Sandpiper and our last few freshwater duck species, and a surprise Merlin hunting over the stables on the opening race day for the season. We didn?t stay long due to the traffic, and better birds beckoning further north in the Kent Valley! We kept our eyes to the sky in the afternoon as we worked our way through multiple area hotspots, adding only a handful of new species. By this time we?d broken 100 and needed to head towards Puget Sound in order to finish off the easier birds before dark. Raphael?s keen eye pulled out a beautiful dark Swainson?s Hawk soaring overhead at our last stop in the valley before heading to Saltwater State Park. The rain arrived as we scoped Puget Sound, checking off a lingering Common Goldeneye, all three grebe species, and all three cormorant species to our day list. Several quick stops on our way north to Alki produced Harlequin Ducks and Surf Scoters. We were bolstered by the boom of new birds to our day list, but the record still seemed unlikely. Nevertheless, we kept birding. Arriving at Union Bay Natural Area, our pace had slowed down as the morning?s caffeine had worn off, and the drizzle dampened our spirits. The birds we knew we had left were unlikely, but with an observant band of birders we knew we were up for the task. Scoping through dozens of Lesser Scaup on Lake Washington produced one Greater Scaup (good pick, Matt!) a FOY Long-billed Dowitcher flyover surprised us all as it headed north (great ear Adrian with the call note!) and both Cedar Waxwing (Matt) Green Heron (me) and Western Wood-Pewee all helped boost our morale. We left the fill after sunset, and decided giving Discovery Park our last effort could be worth it. Could we break the record? We were close? We made our way directly to West Point, hoping to detect the California Quail we had seen there earlier in the week. Raphael had some insight to where he thought it was roosting, and high-fives were exchanged when we did find it in our flashlights! While it was dark, the crepuscular glow was enough to scope the sound, which was nearly devoid of any birds, except for a flock of Brant resting off the point. A flock of Sanderling on the beach was another fabulous flashlight find! Leaving West Point, we had great looks at a Barn Owl hunting along the road which was a spectacular finish to the day. We didn?t hear any Great Horned Owls or Saw-whets, but it wasn?t for lack of trying! Overall, it was a great adventure, the first time birding together for this committed group! We all ended this marathon day very tired, and more appreciative of one another as birders and teammates. Matt?s expert planning, Adrian?s keen ears and enthusiasm, Raphael?s knowledge and insight of some great spots, and my own attempt at eBirding everything all played a role in such a spectacular and special day birding. I can certainly say I?m more knowledgeable about King County and forward to having time to continue exploring and birding here! We ended the day with a total of 140 species. A very big day indeed! If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Good birding, Christian Hagenlocher Seattle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kenbrownpls at comcast.net Wed May 10 19:43:46 2023 From: kenbrownpls at comcast.net (Kenneth Brown) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] It's Wednesday, this must be Nisqually. Message-ID: <1184945349.471162.1683773026550@connect.xfinity.com> On this warm, sunny day about 30 of us gathered for the weekly walk. We followed our default route beginning with the orchard where the busy Bushtit parents are still feeding young, as yet unseen but able make their sock bulge and move seemingly on its own. Mourning Doves and Band-tailed pigeons were also observed along with the first of several Rufous Hummingbirds. Several species of ducks were seen in the flooded fields, but their numbers are decreasing still. FOY Swainson's Thrushes and a Sora were heard on the boardwalk along the west side of the pond. We dipped on the Bullock's Oriole seen last week. Yellow Warblers seemed to be anywhere there was a tree. At the twin barns overlook, several participants announced their displeasure over the lack of string cheese and apple slices usually provided by the still absent Shep (the Benevolent). Out on the dike we were treated with two Yellow-headed Blackbirds. A Virginia Rail and lone Greater Yellowlegs were heard. Along the McCallister Creek boardwalk a large number of Caspian Terns accompanied the usual gulls, and Whimbrels were scattered over the exposed mud. 56 Bald Eagles were counted from the Puget Sound viewing platform alone, which might have accounted for the absence of most waterfowl. The complete list follows. Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US May 10, 2023 8:19 AM - 3:18 PM Protocol: Traveling 5.31 mile(s) 67 species (+1 other taxa) Canada Goose 60 12 goslings Wood Duck 5 Northern Shoveler 12 American Wigeon 8 Mallard 12 Northern Pintail 3 Green-winged Teal 2 Surf Scoter 2 Bufflehead 16 Common Goldeneye 5 Hooded Merganser 10 6 ducklings Pied-billed Grebe 2 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2 Band-tailed Pigeon 4 Mourning Dove 3 Rufous Hummingbird 6 Virginia Rail 1 Sora 1 American Coot 15 Whimbrel 18 Counted individually by several birders. Greater Yellowlegs 1 Short-billed Gull 2 Ring-billed Gull 12 California Gull 2 Glaucous-winged Gull 2 Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 25 Caspian Tern 80 Brandt's Cormorant 4 Double-crested Cormorant 40 Great Blue Heron 25 Osprey 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 Bald Eagle 65 Whole lotta beach eagles. Red-tailed Hawk 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Northern Flicker 4 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 2 Warbling Vireo 1 American Crow 8 Common Raven 4 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Purple Martin 8 Tree Swallow 150 Violet-green Swallow 50 Barn Swallow 100 Cliff Swallow 50 Bushtit 12 Marsh Wren 15 Bewick's Wren 8 European Starling 25 Swainson's Thrush 2 American Robin 30 Purple Finch 7 American Goldfinch 6 White-crowned Sparrow 4 Golden-crowned Sparrow 4 Savannah Sparrow 6 Song Sparrow 25 Spotted Towhee 2 Yellow-headed Blackbird 2 Red-winged Blackbird 50 Brown-headed Cowbird 30 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 10 Yellow Warbler 30 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8 Wilson's Warbler 5 Western Tanager 5 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S136985447 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From 1northraven at gmail.com Wed May 10 20:04:55 2023 From: 1northraven at gmail.com (J Christian Kessler) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Book recommendation--slightly off topic In-Reply-To: <002b01d9839e$e76a8710$b63f9530$@comcast.net> References: <002b01d9839e$e76a8710$b63f9530$@comcast.net> Message-ID: again off topic, but my kids gave this book for Christmas and I strongly agree with everything Charlotte says. a really good read. Chris Kessler Seattle On Wed, May 10, 2023 at 5:24?PM wrote: > Hi Tweeters, > > I recently finished a book that I found quite charming: *A > Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life ande Epic Journey of the World?s > Smartest Birds of Prey* by Jonathan Meiburg. The birds in question are > caracaras. It starts and ends with the Striated Caracara, which I imagine > most of us have not seen. But along with talking about caracaras, Meiburg > also discusses people who have been interested in caracaras over the years, > like Charles Darwin, William Henry Hudson, an Argentinian-American, who > lived much of his life in England, many people who have done research on > caracaras, etc. He also mentions the Crested Caracara that appeared in > Washington State a few years back. One of my favorite parts of the book > was a detailed description of a long trip Meiburg took up the Rewa River in > Guyana to see Red-throated and Black Caracaras. > > So my apologies if Ian Paulsen has already reviewed this > book. I enjoyed it and you might too! Charlotte Byers, Edmonds > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- "moderation in everything, including moderation" Rustin Thompson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tvulture at gmx.com Thu May 11 08:29:45 2023 From: tvulture at gmx.com (Diann MacRae) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Caracara book Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Thu May 11 11:36:50 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?Goshawk_=E2=80=94_understanding_the?= Message-ID: Goshawk class at Sound View?- park and ride on N. Whidbey. Wednesday, 17 at 11 am. One hour class. Location? Troxell Road and Route 20. About one mile South of Deception Pass State Park traffic light. There is a convenience store and a coffee shack. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com Thu May 11 12:14:33 2023 From: jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Long-billed Curlews and Glaucous Gull (Pacific County) Message-ID: <2AACAEBD-2581-412C-82E6-DE68A03367F6@gmail.com> 4 Long-billed Curlews were with many hundreds of other shorebirds near high tide this morning at Ledbetter State Park. Yesterday, there was a first year Glaucous Gull (not a bleached worn Glaucous-winged Gull) on the ocean beach north of Surfside Estates. Jeff Gilligan From birdmarymoor at frontier.com Thu May 11 14:31:10 2023 From: birdmarymoor at frontier.com (birdmarymoor) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, WA) 2023-05-11 References: <910360086.671908.1683840670423.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <910360086.671908.1683840670423@mail.yahoo.com> Tweets - Gorgeous weather today.? With sunrise at 5:38 a.m., I followed my usual guidelines which meant a 5:30 start.? It definitely felt like we started too early though; the birds were slow to wake up.? And at that, the activity levels never rose very high.? It was strangely quiet. Highlights: ? ? CINNAMON TEAL - Mason picked one out of a flyby flock of teal from the Lake Platform at 5:15 a.m.? First of Year (FOY) ? ? Green-winged Teal - We've rarely had GWTE as late as this in the spring, so that flock was doubly notable ? ? Osprey - Very active, very numerous.? They continue to build a new nest in the NE, and have retaken the nest platform near the mansion ? ? Pileated Woodpecker - Heard 5+ times, each in a different direction.? Never did see one. ? ? OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - One at the Rowing Club just inside the gate.? Silent.? (FOY) ? ? CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY - Two flew high past the mansion.? Our first May sighting ever, and (FOY) for the survey ? ? Swainson's Thrush - Still not singing, but we did have good looks at one just past the first footbridge ? ? Black-throated Gray Warbler - One singing next to the Olive-sided Flycatcher.? (FOY) ? ? Black-headed Grosbeak - Numerous, singing, active ? ? Lazuli Bunting - One near Viewing Mound.? (FOY) for us. YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERS were singing but allowed very few looks.? We didn't get good looks at WESTERN TANAGER until the Rowing Club.? A few ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were singing but invisible during the walk.? A possible Nashville Warbler was glimpsed only by one birder, at the south end of the East Meadow. The OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was our only flycatcher.? We are still awaiting our first Empidonax sp.? We had two MUSKRAT off the Rowing Club dock; no sightings of them last year.? We also heard credible reports of BLACK BEAR at the Rowing Club and BOBCAT in the off-leash area.?? SAD NEWS is that LONESOME GEORGE II was reportedly run-over and killed yesterday.? Our only Ring-necked Pheasant had been at the park since November 2018.? Misses today included Killdeer, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Cliff Swallow, Cedar Waxwing, House Finch, Pine Siskin, and Bullock's Oriole. RED-TAILED HAWK and BARN SWALLOW would also have been on the list of Misses, but I found them when trying unsuccessfully to confirm the possible Nashville Warbler after the walk. Today's total was a surprisingly low 61 species.? = Michael Hobbs From stevechampton at gmail.com Fri May 12 05:46:23 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] spring migration during heat waves Message-ID: BirdCast is showing a pretty massive movement last night, two to three x average. See https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-WA-033 I expect this to continue thru the weekend. Birds seem to really move during high pressure systems, especially spring migrants in a hurry. I assume it's just good flying conditions. Nearly all the rarities I've ever found during spring migration were on the mornings of heat wave days. I recommend riparian corridors and coastal promontories, but even your backyard may be enjoyable! good birding! -- Steve Hampton Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Fri May 12 12:49:34 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Goshawk Female Message-ID: Female NG, as observed from diner table. The hawk was circling and rising. Then I observed from the deck. The NG went to about 300 feet altitude. Then out the front door, bird was still drifting and rising and heading toward the Anacortes Forest. 12: 30. Bright sun. I may be working into the timing pattern of this raptor. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Fri May 12 13:14:57 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Possible Gyr Falcon- gray Message-ID: I hesitate to mention Mabey raptors. I contacted some one on this list and stated that I will not mention this sighting. However, what I observed does put this raptor into the Maybe spectrum. May 11? about 1:30. On south Ershig road, maybe call it Bow area, I drove under a large raptor, about Red- tailed hawk size. The hawk was a grey in ventral areas and was flapping. I did not notice the length of the tail. Therefor, the tail must not have been accipiter long. Therefor , I am thinking a grey RT hawk. That was a five second look. Then about a few miles later from Church Road, a large grey raptor flying off my window at about 100 feet elevation. The wing beats were of a Gry Falcon. The tail was not accipiter long. The sighting was broadside. The shape of the wings were Gyr Falcon. On both sightings I pulled over a few minutes later hoping to catch the raptor in the sky. The second sighting was also about five seconds. I do have experiences with Gry Falcons in flight. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From asmalllife at gmail.com Fri May 12 14:05:50 2023 From: asmalllife at gmail.com (Michelle Landis) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Possible Gyr Falcon- gray In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: It's called a Gyrfalcon. Michelle Landis Coupeville On Fri, May 12, 2023, 1:15 PM Nelson Briefer wrote: > I hesitate to mention Mabey raptors. I contacted some one on this list and > stated that I will not mention this sighting. However, what I observed does > put this raptor into the Maybe spectrum. May 11? about 1:30. On south > Ershig road, maybe call it Bow area, I drove under a large raptor, about > Red- tailed hawk size. The hawk was a grey in ventral areas and was > flapping. I did not notice the length of the tail. Therefor, the tail must > not have been accipiter long. Therefor , I am thinking a grey RT hawk. That > was a five second look. Then about a few miles later from Church Road, a > large grey raptor flying off my window at about 100 feet elevation. The > wing beats were of a Gry Falcon. The tail was not accipiter long. The > sighting was broadside. The shape of the wings were Gyr Falcon. On both > sightings I pulled over a few minutes later hoping to catch the raptor in > the sky. The second sighting was also about five seconds. I do have > experiences with Gry Falcons in flight. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From florafaunabooks at hotmail.com Fri May 12 17:55:48 2023 From: florafaunabooks at hotmail.com (David Hutchinson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Raven Hatch Message-ID: This afternoon at the Arboretum was a Raven Assembly of five birds perched together. At least one adult and three young, could not age fifth bird. And at Discovery, there is still an active Raven nest. No hatch results from nest,but latter overflown by Bald Eagle adults and vigorously repelled Raven adults. Any other active localities in the city? David -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tsbrennan at hotmail.com Fri May 12 18:08:05 2023 From: tsbrennan at hotmail.com (Tim Brennan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Cowlitz birding 5/12 Message-ID: Heya Tweets! Kevin Black and I did some birding in the Toutle area of Cowlitz County today, and I continued up to a few areas just below Mount Saint Helens - lots of good birds were had! Seaquest State Park had a singing Hutton's Vireo when I arrived - the first of 5-6 we came across during the day, which is always a nice surprise. Osprey, Marsh Wren, and Western Tanagers (everywhere, all day) were also found. Canal Road - we stepped out of the car, actually still on sightly, and heard a Northern Pygmy Owl. It was heard throughout the morning there, and joined by a second. Other highlights were Sora, Tree Swallows nesting in the boxes along Canal Road, a late pair of American Wigeon, an early-ish Swainson's Thrush, and Band-tailed Pigeons. We then took the road to Signal Peak, botching the directions at one point, missing the peak, but not really missing any birds. Hermit Warblers were up there singing like Hermit Warblers, but. . . having been burned by birds singing like Hermit Warblers before, I was pretty happy that we got some great views and pictures of a pure Hermit. From all accounts, this is a good place to find pure ones, and we heard many others. Canada Jay, House Wren, MacGillivray's Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Evening Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Northern Pygmy-Owl and Sooty Grouse were other highlights. Somewhere early in the day I got my 150th life bird in Cowlitz, and Kevin was at 149 as we started heading down. An American Dipper under the bridge at Harry Gardner Park got him number 150 before he had to head home! I continued up to Coldwater Lake, eventually finding the Barrow's Goldeneyes that go there for . . . summer camp, I'm sure. Across the road at Hummocks Trail, I had a fun first - I actually got to see a booming Sooty Grouse! It was tucked under a tree, and almost entirely shaded, but I was able to get a few pictures. A Townsend's Solitaire was the other nice highlight on that trail. Happy Birding! -Tim Brennan Renton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Fri May 12 22:00:16 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Book to suggest Message-ID: The Year of the Butterfly? George Ordish, an economic entomologist. Copyright 1975. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vickibiltz at gmail.com Sat May 13 09:47:48 2023 From: vickibiltz at gmail.com (Vicki) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Lazuli Bunting Pair in my back garden Message-ID: Hello, Earlier today I heard the call nite of an Evening Grosbeak, so I quit my weeding and sat on our back deck. After retrieving my camera, I was just shooting randomly hoping for a decent shot of the Lesser Goldfinches, when a brilliant small blue head popped out of the lower portion of a birch and landed on some dandelions that had gone to seed. Next to him, but tucked in the shade was the female, who I didn?t get a photo of. Shortly after they flew into the wooded edge of our back garden, male following the skittish female, and disappeared into the thicket. We have a 1,000 gallon pond, with a 12? or longer stream, and right next door, our neighbors have a 3,000 gallon pond with three waterfalls. I had seen a male Lazuli my first spring in this location, about 8? years ago, and hadn?t seen them since. Now I?m wondering just what?s gone on in my garden that I?ve not seen?!!! I?ll try and keep you posted if they continue here. And if the evening grosbeak's show up in force. I?m losing hope on the grosbeaks however. Happy Birding, Vicki Biltz Buckley, WA 98321 vickibiltz@ gmail.com -- vickibiltz@gmail.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/saw-whets_new/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tvulture at gmx.com Sat May 13 10:57:55 2023 From: tvulture at gmx.com (Diann MacRae) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Raven Hatch In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimullrich at gmail.com Sat May 13 12:11:35 2023 From: jimullrich at gmail.com (jimullrich) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Leavenworth Spring Birdfest 5/18-22 Message-ID: <331B1C2C-796D-4FB3-8CF2-458D9E865B4D@gmail.com> Hello fellow Tweets: Mark your calendars for next weeks Leavenworth Spring Bird Festival. Visit for details, talks, walks: www.wenatcheeriverinstitute.org Yours for the Birds n? the Bees Jim Ullrich Sent from my iPhone From weedsrus1 at gmail.com Sat May 13 15:23:19 2023 From: weedsrus1 at gmail.com (Nancy Morrison) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pied-billed Grebe behavior Message-ID: I watched two Pied-billed Grebe doing an interesting courtship behavior, but I am confused because one bird was already nesting with another bird. I loaded the video onto YouTube with the hopes that someone can explain what is happening. Thank you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQFc912nfeI&t=1s Nancy Morrison -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From 1northraven at gmail.com Sat May 13 15:49:41 2023 From: 1northraven at gmail.com (J Christian Kessler) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pied-billed Grebe behavior In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: reminds me of watching people in a bar on Friday night ... desire & indecision Chris Kessler, Seattle On Sat, May 13, 2023 at 3:24?PM Nancy Morrison wrote: > I watched two Pied-billed Grebe doing an interesting courtship behavior, > but I am confused because one bird was already nesting with another bird. I > loaded the video onto YouTube with the hopes that someone can explain what > is happening. > > Thank you. > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQFc912nfeI&t=1s > > Nancy Morrison > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- "moderation in everything, including moderation" Rustin Thompson -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tsbrennan at hotmail.com Sat May 13 17:32:37 2023 From: tsbrennan at hotmail.com (Tim Brennan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wahkiakum County birds (Western Bluebird, Yellow-breasted Chat) Message-ID: Hey Tweets! I spent today birding Wahkiakum County with Kyleen Austin, and then solo - Good birds were had! Sone of the highlights: At Kyleen's place on Puget Island: Great Horned Owl, Purple Martins (her first for the property - four of them investigating boxes). Wahkiakum High School - hundred-acre wood trail: Yellow-breasted Chats are back in the area where they've nested before. We also had Mourning Doves, MacGillivray's Warbler, and Hermit Thrush, which aren't easy in the county. Julia Butler Hanson: Black Phoebe, Bullock's Oriole, and Cinnamon Teal at the Headquarters Pond. Beaver Creek Road: Western Bluebird - pair in one of the first big clearcuts. Evening Grosbeak, and a nice FOY Western Wood Pewee. There were likely a half-dozen Hermit Warblers up there, one of which was well seen. Nelson Creek x Risk Road: Sora, Barn Owl, House Wren A long tromp out to the mouth of Crooked Creek also pulled up 8 Whimbrels. and a bazillion American White Pelicans. I went back through these to add species coded 3 or higher - I was surprised at how many highly coded birds were out there today! Everything but the owls and the pewee are 3 (or 4, in the case of the bluebirds and chats). Just a great day! I am likely to leave Wahkiakum with the life list at 149, so I have to come back. Don't mind at all. Cheers! Tim Brennan Renton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From constancesidles at gmail.com Sat May 13 22:16:45 2023 From: constancesidles at gmail.com (Constance Sidles) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pied-billed Grebe behavior In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <584F48FA-B3C7-4746-96F3-A9D197C490D8@gmail.com> Dear Nancy, Lucky you, to be on hand to film courtship behavior that is seldom seen, much less recorded. I believe what's going on in your video is actually a fight between two rival maless while the female (not in video) looks on. Eventually, one of the males believes it has been defeated, and it leaves. Here is what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says about this behavior: During aggressive encounters on territorial boundaries, both intruder and defender, usually males, perform Circle Display. Birds initially are several meters apart. Both hold head high, horizontal and slightly back; crown feathers are ?normal? or slightly raised. Black throat area distended. Sometimes white breast partly exposed. Folded wings raised above back. Holding paddling feet out to sides, birds make 180? turns, back and forth, pausing momentarily at end of each turn, sides toward one another. Turning not necessarily synchronized. Possible difference in tail posture, either sticking straight up or up at an angle, and its meaning, need more research. One or both birds may partly open bill, showing tongue. Birds perform head-flicks and wing-quivering (rapidly vibrate slightly open wings,) Circle Display ends when birds gradually drift away from territories; eventually one or both perform swimming-shake. Alternatively, both birds may draw closer until breasts touch, at which point turning ceases. A ?staring contest? follows, lasting up to 6 min. Birds may back off and end interaction, back off and repeat all previous behavior, or start fighting. Prolonged breast contact and staring not reported for any other grebe.... Circle Display during Pied-billed Grebe territorial disputes is similar to that during courtship (see Sexual behavior, below). From MJM. Neighboring birds' territorial Circle Display may be interrupted with Bluff Diving, a series of in-place dives and resurfacing by 1 bird ( medialink <>). Both birds stretch necks up, hold head horizontal, raise crown feathers, distend throat, and slightly raise folded wings. One sticks tail up, the other suddenly sleeks body feathers and dives head-forward in a Bluff Dive (see Locomotion, above). ?Surface? bird maintains position and immediately flattens crown feathers when rival submerges, but does not contract black throat area. May cock head sideways as if looking down, perhaps to watch submerged bird. Submerged bird surfaces after a few seconds in slow, deliberate fashion, in almost same spot where it dived, its crown feathers flat, neck retracted, black throat area distended, and bill pointed at ?surface? bird. Sometimes resurfacing bird at first sticks only head and neck out of water. As soon as submerged bird reappears, ?surface? bird, looking at surfacing bird, raises its crown feathers. This series of events not seen to lead to fighting. Birds gradually retreat from each other, away from territories, or out into open water, where excitement subsides. *************** P.S. Much of this information about Pied-billed Grebes was supplied by our very own Martin Muller, a world-class birder and an expert on Pied-billed Grebes. - Connie > On May 13, 2023, at 3:23 PM, Nancy Morrison wrote: > > I watched two Pied-billed Grebe doing an interesting courtship behavior, but I am confused because one bird was already nesting with another bird. I loaded the video onto YouTube with the hopes that someone can explain what is happening. > > Thank you. > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQFc912nfeI&t=1s > > Nancy Morrison > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bradliljequist at msn.com Sun May 14 12:28:39 2023 From: bradliljequist at msn.com (BRAD Liljequist) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] A couple notes on warblerness of migration Message-ID: Being in the city it is hard to know just how many warblers/tropical migrants are moving through. These notes are by song, not sight. I was on SW San Juan Island, s of False Bay, and Orange Crowned Warblers were seemingly everywhere (by song, I hardly saw any). Maybe 4-5 per mile along roads, along with a mix of Pacific Slope Flycatchers, Wilson's, Purple Finches, and onesies of other things like Olive sided flycatchers and Black headed Grosbeaks. Yesterday, hiking to the top of Cougar Mt from SR900 (the trail s of Talus, always superb birding in migration), maybe the most migrants I've ever experienced there. Probably 25-30 Wilson's along the 2.5 miles from bottom to top, along with numbers of BH Grosbeaks, Pacific Slope Flycatchers, three black throated greys, Western Tanagers Warbling Vireos. This is a wonderful short hike, with lovely native understory and overstory. I find Cougar in general to be excellent birding. Merlin has revolutionized my birding - I actually saw only 2-3 of these birds! And loving Birdcast - I get cynical about technology, but sometimes it really puts out! I have yet to see or hear a Yellow Warbler this year which seems strange. Brad Liljequist Phinney Ridge, Seattle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From falcophile at comcast.net Sun May 14 14:27:48 2023 From: falcophile at comcast.net (ED DEAL) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] RFI Sisir Karumanchi Message-ID: <857879707.131563.1684099668994@connect.xfinity.com> Tweets, Mr. Karumanchi posted a photo on ebird on 30 APR 2023 of an adult male Cooper's Hawk with a legible purple ID band. Seek help contacting Mr. Karumanchi to find out the location for the photo. Cheers, Ed Deal Seattle Cooper's Hawk Project Urban Raptor Conservancy falcophile AT comcast DOT net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From martinmuller at msn.com Sun May 14 16:41:23 2023 From: martinmuller at msn.com (Martin Muller) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] [Nancy Morrison & Constance Sidles] Pied-billed Grebe bahavior In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Nancy, Thanks for sharing your excellent video of the Pied-billed Grebes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQFc912nfeI&t=1s ). Connie, Thanks for quoting the Cornell (Birds of the World) information on this. I?m slow in responding because I am on digest mode for Tweeters. Several people alerted me to the video privately, as well. I?ve looked at the video several times (probably a dozen by now). Back when I watched Pied-bills nest under semi-colonial circumstances on Green Lake (late-80s to early-90s) this Circle Display was most often seen between neighboring males on the border of their territories. This particular duo shows some behavior I had not seen in Circle Display before. The repeated Swimming Shakes (when they rear up and shake their whole body with the body feathers fluffed up) and the short head-backwards movements, which to me looks reminiscent of when they are oiling their feathers and use their head to rub oil onto their back and wing feathers. Both the head-rub and the Swimming Shake are part of self maintenance behavior (bathing, preening, etc.). Usually when that kind of behavior is stylized and used during displays, it has an appeasing function. Bathing and preening are not associated with fighting. So in my mind these signals are used to mediate the aggressive signals they are sending, including distended throat, fluffed out neck, slightly raised wings, being in close proximity (even brushing their tails up against the opponent during turns (?he started it, he touched me!?)), staring & pointing the bill (= weapon) at one another. The birds are conflicted (they are each at the edge of their defended territory), and so they are sending mixed signals. A very similar display can be performed during early courtship, between a male and a female (usually only in new pairs). However, in this case the birds are very similar in size, and their bills are almost exactly the same size. Female Pied-billed Grebes have on average 10% smaller bodies than males and especially the depth (height) of the bill is less. If you freeze the video during instances when the bills are in the same plane/orientation, they appear almost exactly the same size (although the position of the surrounding feathers can make them appear different sizes). Just like Connie said, my money is on territorial display too. I would urge you to upload this video to the Macaulay Library (https://www.macaulaylibrary.org). Out of the 185 videos of Pied-billed Grebes, only one shows Circle Display. Your extended, high quality video, would be a valuable addition. Make sure to add Territorial Circle Display in the description. I?m going to watch it one more time?. Martin Muller, Seattle martinmuller@msn.com > > From: Nancy Morrison > > Subject: [Tweeters] Pied-billed Grebe behavior > Date: May 13, 2023 at 3:23:19 PM PDT > To: tweeters@u.washington.edu > > > I watched two Pied-billed Grebe doing an interesting courtship behavior, but I am confused because one bird was already nesting with another bird. I loaded the video onto YouTube with the hopes that someone can explain what is happening. > > Thank you. > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQFc912nfeI&t=1s > > Nancy Morrison > > > > > > > > From: Constance Sidles > > Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Pied-billed Grebe behavior > Date: May 13, 2023 at 10:16:45 PM PDT > To: Nancy Morrison > > Cc: Tweeters > > > > Dear Nancy, Lucky you, to be on hand to film courtship behavior that is seldom seen, much less recorded. > > I believe what's going on in your video is actually a fight between two rival maless while the female (not in video) looks on. Eventually, one of the males believes it has been defeated, and it leaves. > > Here is what the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says about this behavior: > > During aggressive encounters on territorial boundaries, both intruder and defender, usually males, perform Circle Display. Birds initially are several meters apart. Both hold head high, horizontal and slightly back; crown feathers are ?normal? or slightly raised. Black throat area distended. Sometimes white breast partly exposed. Folded wings raised above back. Holding paddling feet out to sides, birds make 180? turns, back and forth, pausing momentarily at end of each turn, sides toward one another. Turning not necessarily synchronized. Possible difference in tail posture, either sticking straight up or up at an angle, and its meaning, need more research. One or both birds may partly open bill, showing tongue. Birds perform head-flicks and wing-quivering (rapidly vibrate slightly open wings,) > Circle Display ends when birds gradually drift away from territories; eventually one or both perform swimming-shake. Alternatively, both birds may draw closer until breasts touch, at which point turning ceases. A ?staring contest? follows, lasting up to 6 min. Birds may back off and end interaction, back off and repeat all previous behavior, or start fighting. Prolonged breast contact and staring not reported for any other grebe.... > Circle Display during Pied-billed Grebe territorial disputes is similar to that during courtship (see Sexual behavior, below). > From MJM. Neighboring birds' territorial Circle Display may be interrupted with Bluff Diving, a series of in-place dives and resurfacing by 1 bird ( medialink <>). Both birds stretch necks up, hold head horizontal, raise crown feathers, distend throat, and slightly raise folded wings. One sticks tail up, the other suddenly sleeks body feathers and dives head-forward in a Bluff Dive (see Locomotion, above). ?Surface? bird maintains position and immediately flattens crown feathers when rival submerges, but does not contract black throat area. May cock head sideways as if looking down, perhaps to watch submerged bird. Submerged bird surfaces after a few seconds in slow, deliberate fashion, in almost same spot where it dived, its crown feathers flat, neck retracted, black throat area distended, and bill pointed at ?surface? bird. Sometimes resurfacing bird at first sticks only head and neck out of water. As soon as submerged bird reappears, ?surface? bird, looking at surfacing bird, raises its crown feathers. This series of events not seen to lead to fighting. Birds gradually retreat from each other, away from territories, or out into open water, where excitement subsides. > *************** > P.S. Much of this information about Pied-billed Grebes was supplied by our very own Martin Muller, a world-class birder and an expert on Pied-billed Grebes. - Connie > > >> On May 13, 2023, at 3:23 PM, Nancy Morrison > wrote: >> >> I watched two Pied-billed Grebe doing an interesting courtship behavior, but I am confused because one bird was already nesting with another bird. I loaded the video onto YouTube with the hopes that someone can explain what is happening. >> >> Thank you. >> >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQFc912nfeI&t=1s >> >> Nancy Morrison >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@mailman11.u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From marcus at rainierconnect.com Sun May 14 20:31:13 2023 From: marcus at rainierconnect.com (Marcus Roening) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] WF Ibis I-90 & Winchester Wasteway rest area ponds Message-ID: Hi Tweets, Returning from our cross country Birdathon to Othello and stopped at the Winchester I-90 waste water ponds. Best seen from the frontage road on the south side of I-90. This was the best we?ve seen the ponds in several years. 2 WF Ibis All 4 teal RN & Wilson?s Phalaropes LB Dowitcher I had a link to eBird list that somehow bounced this message earlier. Good birding, Marcus Roening Tacoma WA Sent from my iPhone -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Mon May 15 01:15:02 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] U.P. researchers work all night long capturing owls in nets Message-ID: <19CC96FE-298A-4790-9559-EA1BCF8055E5@gmail.com> Tweeters: Saw-whet expert and friend, Jamie Acker continues to contribute to our understanding of the movements and population dynamics of this, one of my favorite species of owls. I respect and admire his dedication and contributions to this body of research. The following article describes similar data collection efforts by researchers in a different part of the United States: https://www.freep.com/in-depth/news/local/michigan/2023/05/05/upper-peninsula-researchers-track-owls-banding/70176627007/ Sent from my iPhone From cchristy at crumplenet.com Mon May 15 06:28:43 2023 From: cchristy at crumplenet.com (Caroline Christy) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow-headed blackbird @ the Fill Message-ID: There was a lovely male yellow-headed blackbird at the Fill (Union Bay Natural Area), Seattle on Saturday morning. Perched in a tree top by the osprey platform for clear views for at least 5 minutes. Sorry for the late notice?original email didn?t go through From stevechampton at gmail.com Mon May 15 07:16:00 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Raptor migration: Golden Eagle over Port Townsend Message-ID: Adding to the Swainson's Hawks over Seattle, and Swainson's and Broad-wings at Neah Bay, yesterday at 1pm two Golden Eagles glided over Port Townsend -- along with many Turkey Vultures and a few Red-tailed Hawks -- heading toward Fort Warden. From there, they typically cross to Whidbey. Pic of one at https://ebird.org/checklist/S137768373 With this high pressure system, migrating conditions are optimal. Look up midday for soaring raptors and check each one. good birding, -- Steve Hampton Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From re_hill at q.com Mon May 15 07:41:42 2023 From: re_hill at q.com (Randy) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Snowy Egret at Ridgefield NWR Message-ID: <004c01d9873b$5dd83150$198893f0$@q.com> Tom Tinsley just reported a Snowy Egret below the plankhouse on Carty Unit at Ridgefield NWR. Randy Hill Ridgefield -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tsbrennan at hotmail.com Mon May 15 13:36:52 2023 From: tsbrennan at hotmail.com (Tim Brennan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow warbler songs Message-ID: Heya tweets! While out birding last weekend, something started to bug me, and the more I paid attention to it, the MORE it bugged me. ? Yellow Warblers tell us they are so so so sweet. . . but I felt like I was hearing them tell me in two different ways. Not in a wide variety of ways, although I'm sure that there was some variety. On a closer listen to some recordings, I feel like I'm hearing the "typical" (for me) sweetsweetsweeti'msososweet! which is kind of rapid, seven-ish syllables, and ends on a high note. And then I get this other Yellow Warbler song which I had only identified as "sassy" in the past. A few notes shorter, not quite as rapid, and ending on a down note. Curious, I accidentally did a search for "yellow warbler subspecies" and found that there are like. . . 37 recognized subspecies. Hopping around on xeno-canto, I was unable to find the sassy subspecies. I listened to a few different subspecies, and never really came across what I was hearing. Visuals on birds giving both songs, but I wouldn't have had a clue as to what other subspecies would be around, what field marks to look for, etc. etc. I'm going to have to listen this spring up in the Seattle area, and see what kind of mix of songs I'm getting up here - the weekend birds were down in Cowlitz and especially in Wahkiakum. So much sass. I'd love to at least hear from anyone who has noticed the two "types" of calls, and especially if there is any understanding of what subspecies are found locally. Some White-crowned Sparrow discussions made me realize just how much of a mix they have down there (pugetensis and gambelii), relative to up here in puget sound, where gambeliis are such a small fraction of what I hear singing. I figured maybe (?) there was something similar going on with the YEWAs. Cheers! Tim Brennan Renton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From amk17 at earthlink.net Tue May 16 07:47:19 2023 From: amk17 at earthlink.net (Anna) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow warbler at last Message-ID: <10BE3FC9-32D0-428E-98AB-FA40E814C79D@earthlink.net> Singing yellow warbler in my yard this morning is a treat. Seattle AKopitov Sent from my iPhone with all the auto correct quirks. From jgretten at gmail.com Tue May 16 07:56:44 2023 From: jgretten at gmail.com (jgretten) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Found foot to tripod Message-ID: <646399ad.a70a0220.7278f.af3a@mx.google.com> I found a screw in foot to a tripod last week at Bowerman Basin by the first bench, if anyone has lost one.John GrettenbergerOlympia, WASent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hayncarl at gmail.com Tue May 16 11:59:58 2023 From: hayncarl at gmail.com (Carl Haynie) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] LARK SPARROW at Magnuson Park Message-ID: Hi Tweets, I?m currently watching a LARK SPARROW along the main gravelly and straight trail here, feeding at edge of trail: (47.6789385, -122.2562004) It gets spooked by passersby but comes right back. Carl Haynie Sammamish -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Tue May 16 20:01:36 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Brown Pelican incursion at Port Townsend Message-ID: I'm just the messenger here. Today there were three reports of Brown Pelicans around Port Townsend, spanning morning to afternoon, involving anywhere from one to 12 birds. Presumably they are here. I see there was a report of one of their attendants, a Heermann's Gull, from Port Angeles. I was birding small country roads south of town, which were positively teeming with Wilson's Warblers, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. There were also fair numbers of Orange-crowned and Black-thr Gray Warblers, Western Tanagers, and Swainson's Thrushes, and one to a few of Warbling and Cassin's Vireos, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, and a MacGillivray's Warbler. Nearly everything in song. good birding, -- Steve Hampton Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cariddellwa at gmail.com Wed May 17 09:38:02 2023 From: cariddellwa at gmail.com (Carol Riddell) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - April 2023 Message-ID: <71C1B391-7C84-4DF8-9F82-64C0E5140767@gmail.com> Hi Tweets, As of the end of April, the Edmonds 2023 year list is at 144 species. New species for the month are listed chronologically rather than taxonomically so you can see how migration began unfolding in Edmonds. Caspian Tern (code 2), 3 at waterfront, 4-2-23. Brown-headed Cowbird (code 2), 4 at west end Puget Drive, 4-8-23. Osprey (code 2), 1 at Hwy 99 nest site and 1 at marsh (possibly same bird), 4-10-23. Eurasian Collared-Dove (code 3), 1 at Edmonds marsh, 4-14-23. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (code 3), 1 at Edmonds Lake Ballinger, 4-15-23. Cliff Swallow (code 3), 1 at Edmonds Lake Ballinger, 4-16-23. Black-throated Gray Warbler (code 2), 3 in Edmonds Lake Ballinger neighborhood, 4-17-23. Red Crossbill (code 3), 1 at Interurban Trail, 4-18-23. Say?s Phoebe (code 4), 1 at Edmonds Lake Ballinger, 4-21-23. Purple Martin (code 3), 1 at waterfront, 4-21-23. Whimbrel (code 3), 2 at waterfront, 4-22-23. Least Sandpiper (code 1), 6 at Edmonds marsh, 4-23-23. Wilson?s Warbler (code 2), 1 at Yost Park, 4-23-23. Hammond?s Flycatcher (code 2), 1 at Yost Park, 4-24-23. Common Yellowthroat (code 3), 1 at marsh, 4-24-23. Chipping Sparrow (code 4), 1 at marsh, 4-24-23. Western Sandpiper (code 1), 3 at Edmonds marsh, 4-25-23. American Pipit (code 3), at Edmonds marsh, 4-25-23. American Kestrel (code 4), 1 at Edmonds marsh, 4-26-23. Pacific-slope Flycatcher (code 2), 2 at Southwest County Park, 4-26-23. Mourning Dove (code 3), 1 at west end Puget Drive, 4-29-23. Olive-sided Flycatcher (code 3), 1 at Pine Ridge Park, 4-30-23. Other activity: Townsend?s Solitaire (code 3) appeared in central Edmonds yards on 3-26 and 3-30/23. One bird continued well into April and then there was another report from a north Edmonds yard on 4-18-23. A Western Meadowlark (code 3) was at Marina Beach, 4-19/21-23. There are now three Osprey nests in Edmonds: Hwy 99 cell tower near 228th, cell tower near Five Corners, and cell tower near Westgate Elementary School. We declined to add Northern Harrier (code 3) to the list. One was ticked on an eBird checklist, by a birder who is unknown to us, in an unusual area with no description of any field marks and no photo. We continue to decline to add Herring Gull (code 4) to this year?s list. eBird reports from the waterfront omit descriptions of field marks or photos. Given how many mistakes are made with gulls, and how infrequently Herring Gull appears here, we will wait for an evidence-based report. As always, I appreciate it when birders get in touch with me to share sightings, photos, or audio. It helps us build our collective year list. If you would like a copy of our 2023 city checklist, please request it from checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. (It reflects a species total of 280, including the Nazca Booby.) If eBirders will use the details field for unusual Edmonds birds (code 3 or rarer), it will help us build the city year list. Photographs or recordings are also helpful. The 2023 checklist is posted in the bird information box at the Visitor Station at the base of the public pier and is up to date through April. Good birding, Carol Riddell Edmonds, WA Abundance codes: (1) Common, (2) Uncommon, (3) Harder to find, usually seen annually, (4) Rare, 5+ records, (5) Fewer than 5 records From judyem at olypen.com Wed May 17 12:00:54 2023 From: judyem at olypen.com (judyem@olypen.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Mini Vaux Happening- Port Angeles Message-ID: For years I was blessed with nesting Vaux swifts in an unused chimney. The last couple years, no joy. But the last few days I've been thrilled to hear the thrumming of wings again in the chimney. I'll be watching and hoping for a successful nesting this year. Judy Mullally judyem at olypen dot com Port Angeles WA From rwlawson5593 at outlook.com Wed May 17 17:20:23 2023 From: rwlawson5593 at outlook.com (Rachel Lawson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] California Quail in Magnolia, Seattle Message-ID: Just now, we heard the familiar but unexpected call of a California Quail coming from high in a big tree in our Magnolia yard. We ran it by Merlin to see if we were imagining things, but Merlin concurred. Then when we played the call, the quail flew out of the tree onto our roof, where it strutted back and forth calling repeatedly. It is still up there calling. As far as I know, California Quail were extirpated from Discovery Park many years ago. It's hard to believe a wild bird is wandering round the neighborhood. It's certainly possible someone nearby is keeping quail as aviary birds. Does anyone know? A link to a photo is below. Rachel Lawson Seatttle rwlawson5593@outlook.com https://adobe.ly/42K35bJ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dougsantoni at gmail.com Wed May 17 17:28:00 2023 From: dougsantoni at gmail.com (Doug Santoni) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] California Quail in Magnolia, Seattle In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8102581E-8D2A-4BB8-9ADF-E1EDBF173AF5@gmail.com> Rachel ? I live in the Madison Park area of Seattle, adjacent to the Washington Park Arboretum, and had a California Quail in my yard on May 15, 2016. I had not seen one in the area prior to that, nor have I seen once since. I, too, was quite surprised by the unexpected sighting. I?d love to see California Quail stage a comeback in Seattle (as Ravens seem to have done, at least to a limited degree). Fingers crossed... Doug Santoni Seattle > On May 17, 2023, at 5:20 PM, Rachel Lawson wrote: > > Just now, we heard the familiar but unexpected call of a California Quail coming from high in a big tree in our Magnolia yard. We ran it by Merlin to see if we were imagining things, but Merlin concurred. Then when we played the call, the quail flew out of the tree onto our roof, where it strutted back and forth calling repeatedly. It is still up there calling. > > As far as I know, California Quail were extirpated from Discovery Park many years ago. It's hard to believe a wild bird is wandering round the neighborhood. It's certainly possible someone nearby is keeping quail as aviary birds. Does anyone know? > > A link to a photo is below. > > Rachel Lawson > Seatttle > rwlawson5593@outlook.com > > https://adobe.ly/42K35bJ > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ednewbold1 at yahoo.com Wed May 17 18:44:46 2023 From: ednewbold1 at yahoo.com (Ed Newbold) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Delia and I share "our finest hour"--watching birds shower on Butyl Creek this May; the 2.5 min Movie References: <628252595.3054921.1684374286180.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <628252595.3054921.1684374286180@mail.yahoo.com> Hi All, The music for this year's bathing-Warbler movie out of Butyl Creek, Beacon Hill, Seattle is the old Blondie hit "Picture this." Other than the line, "I will give you my finest hour, the one I spent watching you shower," the song seems devoid of bathing-Warbler references, and goes on about it being freezing cold and December, which is a big turn off for migrating Warblers.? But I love the song and the shower reference is good as all the birds are into showering and not just bathing, they create their own spray with a wing-fluttering movement, and the alternative was "Splish Splash I was taking a bath" by Bobby Darin. Maybe next year. The Warbling Vireo is shown intensely interested in figuring out how it will take a bath, but its bath, which is a rapid down-and-back dive, is not shown. According to what little I've heard about Bird systematics, Vireos and Flycatchers arose in South America while Warblers and the rest arose in North America. The South American birds won't sit and bathe, which I explain by pointing out the existence of Morlitz Crocodiles (Crocodiles can discern any animal activity even in turbid waters, using water-pressure-sensitive receptors on their skin, as was discovered by a woman Prof from Florida state) of all sizes throughout South America. Of course I have no idea if that explanation is remotely true or not. Here's the link: Ed Newbold | Our finest hour, the one we spent watching them shower? Thanks all, Only four Warblers today, MacG, Wilson's, O-c and Yellow, plus Swainson's Thrush and Western Tanager. Cheers, Ed Newbold (and Delia Scholes, who took some of the videos)? residential Beacon Hill, Seattle, WA ednewbold1@yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ednewbold1 at yahoo.com Wed May 17 18:58:02 2023 From: ednewbold1 at yahoo.com (Ed Newbold) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Warbler Movie, here's the live link, sorry. References: <104715950.3058143.1684375082322.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <104715950.3058143.1684375082322@mail.yahoo.com> Hi all, I'm pretty confused but it seems like the link I just sent was dead. Hopefully this is not. Ed Newbold | Our finest hour, the one we spent watching them shower? --Ed -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sbuck at uw.edu Wed May 17 19:50:31 2023 From: sbuck at uw.edu (Steven L. Buck) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] California Quail in Magnolia, Seattle In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <214ABA06-16A1-4C35-B1FB-D7A54CBFC83F@uw.edu> We didn?t see an actual bird but Merlin made multiple IDs of California Quail along the Capehart trail in Discovery Park (Magnolia,Seattle) on Saturday 5/14. Could have been a single bird. Steve On May 17, 2023, at 5:20 PM, Rachel Lawson wrote: ? Just now, we heard the familiar but unexpected call of a California Quail coming from high in a big tree in our Magnolia yard. We ran it by Merlin to see if we were imagining things, but Merlin concurred. Then when we played the call, the quail ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender You have not previously corresponded with this sender. See https://itconnect.uw.edu/email-tags for additional information. Please contact the UW-IT Service Center, help@uw.edu 206.221.5000, for assistance. ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd Just now, we heard the familiar but unexpected call of a California Quail coming from high in a big tree in our Magnolia yard. We ran it by Merlin to see if we were imagining things, but Merlin concurred. Then when we played the call, the quail flew out of the tree onto our roof, where it strutted back and forth calling repeatedly. It is still up there calling. As far as I know, California Quail were extirpated from Discovery Park many years ago. It's hard to believe a wild bird is wandering round the neighborhood. It's certainly possible someone nearby is keeping quail as aviary birds. Does anyone know? A link to a photo is below. Rachel Lawson Seatttle rwlawson5593@outlook.com https://adobe.ly/42K35bJ _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kenbrownpls at comcast.net Wed May 17 20:13:57 2023 From: kenbrownpls at comcast.net (Kenneth Brown) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday at Nisqually. Message-ID: <153209873.237395.1684379637810@connect.xfinity.com> It felt like summer today at Nisqually, though the calendar and the attending species say it's late spring. 28 or so of us again followed our default route, in the orchard where the diligent Bushtits still feed their apparently ravenous young, we failed to find Western Tanagers but saw instead a Townsend's Warbler, Rufous and an Anna's Hummingbirds, and a lone Mourning Dove. The flooded field(s) west of the Twin Barns access road yielded most of the duck species seen today, including Green, Cinnamon, and Blue-winged Teal (FOY). Also a FOY was a Wilson's Phalarope, hanging with three Long-billed Dowitchers. We had a good day for flycatchers, Willow Flycatchers were seen, Western Wood-peewees and Olive-sided, as well as a Pacific-slope Flycatcher were heard. The exposed mud of low tide yielded no shorebirds excepting 11 Whimbrel, and smaller numbers of Gulls and Cormorants. The comprehensive checklist follows: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US May 17, 2023 7:57 AM - 3:52 PM Protocol: Traveling 5.58 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Mammals seen: Coyote, Eastern Gray squirrel, Long-tailed Weasel, Mink with kit, Cotton-tailed Rabbit. 76 species (+2 other taxa) Canada Goose 150 Wood Duck 12 Blue-winged Teal 4 Cinnamon Teal 6 Northern Shoveler 12 American Wigeon 6 Mallard 40 Northern Pintail 6 Green-winged Teal 2 Ring-necked Duck 1 Lesser Scaup 1 Bufflehead 2 Hooded Merganser 6 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2 Mourning Dove 1 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Rufous Hummingbird 6 Virginia Rail 1 Sora 2 American Coot 20 Killdeer 1 Whimbrel 11 Long-billed Dowitcher 3 Wilson's Phalarope 1 Ring-billed Gull 25 California Gull 15 Glaucous-winged Gull 5 Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10 Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 25 Caspian Tern 10 Double-crested Cormorant 20 Great Blue Heron 18 Turkey Vulture 1 Bald Eagle 36 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 4 Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 Western Wood-Pewee 6 Willow Flycatcher 2 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 Warbling Vireo 4 California Scrub-Jay 1 American Crow 15 Common Raven 2 Black-capped Chickadee 3 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5 Purple Martin 10 Tree Swallow 30 Violet-green Swallow 15 Bank Swallow 4 Barn Swallow 80 Cliff Swallow 20 Bushtit 2 Brown Creeper 1 Marsh Wren 6 Bewick's Wren 6 European Starling 50 Swainson's Thrush 18 American Robin 40 Purple Finch 5 American Goldfinch 12 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Savannah Sparrow 8 Song Sparrow 25 Spotted Towhee 4 Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 Red-winged Blackbird 60 Brown-headed Cowbird 30 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 10 Yellow Warbler 36 Townsend's Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 1 Black-headed Grosbeak 8 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S138179475 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dennispaulson at comcast.net Thu May 18 11:07:30 2023 From: dennispaulson at comcast.net (Dennis Paulson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: Bird Songs and Mental Health... References: Message-ID: <03CF718E-653D-45F6-A022-CF5B1C683DDB@comcast.net> We all knew this already, but it?s supported by scientific research! > Begin forwarded message: > > https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/interactive/2023/birds-song-nature-mental-health-benefits/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F3a0cd51%2F64664c9046cd7852d92f298c%2F5ef1786f9bbc0f3a786fed80%2F7%2F72%2F64664c9046cd7852d92f298c -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimullrich at gmail.com Thu May 18 15:25:52 2023 From: jimullrich at gmail.com (jimullrich) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=9823_Leavenworth_Spring_Bird_Fest_5/1?= =?utf-8?q?8-22?= Message-ID: <5F1302BD-A31F-42AB-83DF-E8936EB29C16@gmail.com> Howdy Tweets: Perfect weather here in beautiful Leavenworth for this weekends Spring Bird Festival. For Details, Visit: www.wenatcheeriverinstitute.org Special guests Swarovski, KOWA and Vortex Optiks are here as well, for your test viewing of the latest binoculars, scopes and accessories. Jim Ullrich Sent from my iPhone From stef at whidbey.com Thu May 18 15:34:48 2023 From: stef at whidbey.com (Stephanie Neis) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=9823_Leavenworth_Spring_Bird_Fest_5/1?= =?utf-8?q?8-22?= In-Reply-To: <5F1302BD-A31F-42AB-83DF-E8936EB29C16@gmail.com> References: <5F1302BD-A31F-42AB-83DF-E8936EB29C16@gmail.com> Message-ID: Also happening this weekend is the first time Wings over Whidbey Bird Festival in Coupeville WA. Put on by Whidbey Audubon. For more info go to: https://www.whidbeyaudubonsociety.org/wings-over-whidbey-festival Stef Neis Whid Audubon Program & Events Chair Sent from my iPad > On May 18, 2023, at 3:30 PM, jimullrich wrote: > > ?Howdy Tweets: > Perfect weather here in beautiful Leavenworth for this weekends Spring Bird Festival. For Details, > Visit: www.wenatcheeriverinstitute.org > Special guests Swarovski, KOWA and Vortex Optiks are here as well, for your test viewing of the latest binoculars, scopes and accessories. > Jim Ullrich > > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdmarymoor at frontier.com Thu May 18 16:29:07 2023 From: birdmarymoor at frontier.com (birdmarymoor) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2023-05-18 References: <1332664903.576054.1684452547443.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1332664903.576054.1684452547443@mail.yahoo.com> Tweets - It was a very pleasant day at the park today, and certainly not quiet; birds were singing.? They often weren't very visible but you can't have everything.? Weather was just about perfect except for the smoke-filtered orange sunrise.? But there were few surprises. Highlights: ????Wood Duck - Female with about 10 ducklings at the Rowing Club ? ? Ring-necked Duck - Pair seen from the Lake Platform.? Our 2nd latest Spring sighting ever. ? ? Killdeer - First in about a month for the survey ? ? Western Screech-Owl - Baby seen at the nest hole predawn ? ? Five Woodpecker Day ? ? Western Wood-Pewee - Heard several, but all unseen.? First of Year (FOY) ? ? Tree Swallow - Pair copulating at Pea Patch ? ? Swainson's Thrush - Singing for the first time this year ? ? Cedar Waxwing - Flock of 25+ across the slough.? Had one sighting in February, so this was just First of Spring (FOS) ? ? Purple Finch - Watched a copulatory dance between two birds on the path.? Ended with apparent (though brief) copulation.? Both were female-appearing birds ???? In terms of species, the only surprise was the RING-NECKED DUCKS.? Everything else we saw is pretty much expected at this time of year. Misses today included Green Heron, Cliff Swallow, Pine Siskin, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.?? For the day, 62 species. = Michael Hobbs From cjbirdmanclark at gmail.com Thu May 18 16:44:30 2023 From: cjbirdmanclark at gmail.com (Christopher Clark) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Puyallup River Levee (Orting) Birding Today Message-ID: Hello everyone, Today I did some birding along the Puyallup River levee in Orting. Along the Puyallup and Carbon Rivers is extensive riparian habitat that's a haven for many bird species. I started at the parking lot along Calistoga St W and walked down to the levee access road that connects to Orville Rd E. Boy, the weather was mild, and the birding was fantastic! Highlights included Bullock's Oriole and Lazuli Bunting. I ended up with 53 species for the day, which I believe is the first time I've ever hit 50+ species at a single location in Pierce County! By far the most common birds were American Robin and Song Sparrow. They were literally everywhere! Close behind were Black-headed Grosbeak and Yellow Warbler, both heard in good numbers. One of the first birds I heard was Western Wood-pewee, my FOY (first of the year). There are some wetlands along the trail that held several Red-winged Blackbirds. A Lazuli Bunting was heard singing somewhere in the open space behind the trees, as well as my FOY Willow Flycatcher. Also seen was a female Hooded Merganser. A little ways further on I had great views of a silent Warbling Vireo. A calling American Kestrel flew over the river. As I continued SE along the levee, I made sure to check for American Redstarts. They nested in this area for a few years, but I don't think they were found last year. There wasn't any indication they were there today either, sadly. With such extensive habitat, I hope they may still breed in the general area. Once I reached the access road that connects to Orville Rd, I walked down it to check for birds that prefer open areas. Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows were heard. Lazuli Buntings were easy to find, and after much patience, I was able to get some nice photos of one. Lots of American Goldfinches were present, but I never saw or heard any Lessers. Red-tailed Hawk and Common Raven, among other birds, were also picked up here. As I started heading back, I realized that I was close to breaking the 50 species barrier. A calling Western Tanager helped me to get closer. A singing Brown Creeper I believe was the magic bird that helped me hit 50 species. Soon afterwards, I was alerted to the presence of Bullock's Orioles (FOY)! Though I didn't see or hear any earlier, I ended up counting 3 individuals on my walk back. This species is rather tough to find in Pierce County, though it's probably more common than is reported. Spotted Sandpiper and Cliff Swallow were also added on the walk back. Sadly I didn't hear any Red-eyed Vireos like I had hoped. Maybe it's still a touch early? Other animals seen included Red-legged Frog and American Bullfrog, as well as Northern Alligator Lizard. eBird checklist is linked below: https://ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S138302700 Christopher Clark Puyallup, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Thu May 18 17:06:07 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Goshawk lecture Message-ID: Thurs. May 25 at 1: 30 at Hart Lake Anacortes, for one hour. Stop calling a goshawk an accipiter. Get out of your comfort zone. Cheers, Nelson Briefer, Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Thu May 18 20:43:03 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Turkey vulture Message-ID: Turkey Vulture over Anacortes going North, at 8:20 PM. Nelson Briefer-Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tinablade5051 at gmail.com Thu May 18 21:20:37 2023 From: tinablade5051 at gmail.com (Tina Blade) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bird songs good for mental health In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <031a01d98a09$446a82b0$cd3f8810$@gmail.com> As if there was any doubt? https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/why-birds-and-their-songs-are-good-for-our-mental-health/?utm_source=marketingcloud &utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Evening%20Brief%2005-18-23_5_18_2023&utm_term=Active%20subscriber&fbclid=IwAR2XPxZWfHAt3q5DNqILuuwow1Mvt7qoD_NCLFOQUpaRwKayWw_ulPfkxL4 Tina Blade Duvall, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tsbrennan at hotmail.com Fri May 19 05:28:43 2023 From: tsbrennan at hotmail.com (Tim Brennan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Southwest Washington Birding blog updated Message-ID: Heya Tweets, I've updated the blog with two posts. The Wahkiakum post has some butterfly pics that are either pine whites or marginal whites - I'd love to have a butterfly person take a look. Cheers, Tim Brennan Renton https://southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com/2023/05/may-12th-cowlitz-with-kevin.html [https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBavqVEhuwIdsSUGNuxiGRiC6LQs5EpCA18K_un05JlhgEq5qPprjdSWyfUKTCGtzuG3J-fcF-WK7uiQtrzK7YjCbs64ENEw85z47LsHFNFOFK0yvO44K105QIdAgLsTeYia1uy-_riWpK58TTYLibLof8_PE388u8VHCfObNy7g5yiJ3C8STFFnLNg/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/DSC_0128%20(1).JPG] May 12th - Cowlitz County, Toutle to Saint Helens THIS whether the Big Days happen or not, is half of the fun Boy, I look at a May day during these years, and my brain always turns to the id... southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com https://southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com/2023/05/may-13th-mid-spring-wahkiakum-trip.html [https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z8OzKQySgrLEXYX5hZSKh6E75dpjPT0UhvFVivvKDbnK2Kw1qknqjG2fpDVEuo6tkaocl1ExkLJYfPTJWkBTA3SkICWZHzYnxgkC0sa84O7pHhe9qgPCTa_i1TViIl7Aa_ITcigtxS-v67GJMOUeA467pWOVVQfpXjBCQtWEe9bd-zs-9J035OIkyw/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/IMG_20230513_062732%20(3).jpg] May 13th - Mid-spring Wahkiakum Trip Eirinikos Grove Gaston is ready for the day! I'll be honest. . . I didn't sleep well at Kyleen's place! But this was no fault of the accommo... southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From georn1 at hotmail.com Fri May 19 10:35:18 2023 From: georn1 at hotmail.com (bill shelmerdine) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Westport Seabirds May 13 Trip Report - Manx Shearwater etc. Message-ID: Last Saturdays Westport Seabirds trip featured beautiful weather, sunny with a NW breeze and a nice relief to the heatwave on shore. It was a fun trip with a great group of people. The action started early with an impressive show of birds feeding at the harbor mouth. With so much activity in this area, tallying numbers was a real challenge (both on the way out and on the way in!). Most impressive were the numbers of Common Tern, with more than 2,000 circling and diving around the harbor entrance. A light-phased adult Parasitic Jeager put on a good show here with aerobatic pursuit of the feeding terns. A few Black-legged Kittiwakes (3) were picked out close to the boat on the way out. With the Hake (Whiting) fleet fishing well to the north, and shrimp season not yet open, there were no commercial fishing boats around to attract or concentrate birds on the other shelf. Skipper Phil chose a NW track which helped make for a smooth ride on the return trip. Our route stayed north of Grays Canyon out to the deep water beyond the edge of the shelf. Most of the spring regulars were found in the deeper water of the outer shelf, though Jaegers were a bit hard to come by and Northern Fulmar proved elusive for the day. A close flyby Short-tailed Shearwater was a treat, while a few other more distant birds had to remain as Sooty/Short-tailed. As usual, Sooty Shearwaters were distributed throughout, while numbers of Pink-footed Shearwaters seemed on the low side, mostly on the outer shelf. Small groups were found around some of the many Humpback Whales encountered. The deep-water chum stop produced good looks and many photo opportunities for several species including Black-footed Albatross, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels, Sabines Gull and a fly-by Tufted Puffin in fine breeding plumage. Highlights on the return trip included a close fly-by Manx Shearwater where we slowed to count rafts of Common Tern several miles offshore and N of the harbor entrance. The return trip also produced good views of Cassin?s Auklet (finally), and our only Pomarine Jeager of the day. Once again, we encountered concentrations of birds outside the harbor entrance. The large number of mixed species and especially the rafts of resting and feeding Common Terns were nothing short of fantastic and a bit overwhelming to count. The most abundant species here Included Common Tern, Brandts Cormorant, and Pacific Loon; most in striking breeding plumage. Four Gray Whale feeding just beyond the South Jetty added to the fun. Marine mammals for the trip included Humpback (21) and Gray Whales; Harbor Porpoise; Harbor and Northern Fur Seal; and California and Northern Seal-Lion. Final numbers have been entered into eBird and will be posted on the Westport Seabirds webpage. Phil and Chris Anderson provided expert boat handling and customer service; spotters for the trip were Bill Shelmerdine, Bill Tweit, and Cara Borre. Thanks to the crew and participants that made this a truly fun trip. Bill Shelmerdine Westport Seabirds -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From avnacrs4birds at outlook.com Fri May 19 13:42:44 2023 From: avnacrs4birds at outlook.com (Denis DeSilvis) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 5-18-2023 Message-ID: Tweeters, A bit of haze (from fires in British Columbia most likely), but a pleasant (54degF-72degF) walk around the JBLM Eagle's Pride GC for the 18 of us. We had several outstanding sightings as noted below: BULLOCK'S ORIOLE - Possible returning pair found at the area near the Maintenance Pond. A nice first start to the day. HERMIT WARBLER - Superb view of one of the four we found today. This one was in the usual spot we've had this species on the cut-through from the 4th hold (Green Course) to the Dupont housing area. GREAT-HORNED OWL - Jon A spotted an adult and at least one fuzzy, but short-distance-flying, young in the forested area alongside the 14th hole. Great views. BROWN CREEPER - Spotted one enter a crack in the bark of a Douglas-fir. Nest was apparent and low-down: about 4-feet off the ground. PIED-BILLED GREBE - On nest at Hodge Lake; a typical breeding area we've seen over the past 10 years. EVENING GROSBEAK - We haven't seen this species in a few years, and 9 of them were a nice treat. PILEATED WOODPECKER - Another species we've not had recently, and we heard at least one sounding off from three different spots during the walk. Of the usual five woodpecker species around here, we only missed Hairy Woodpecker today. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - At last, they're here. WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE - As above, they're baaaacckk! CASSIN'S VIREO - Jeez! The hits keep coming. WARBLERS - Besides the Hermit, we found ORANGE-CROWNED, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, YELLOW-RUMPED, YELLOW, WILSON'S, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. An Eagle's Pride GC worker showed two of us photos of a bird he saw recently and couldn't identify. It was an excellent photo of a RUFFED GROUSE! Because of the habitat around the golf course, we've been anticipating finding this species for many years. Now that we're sure it's a possibility of finding one, we'll be even more watchful. The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM. Starting point is Bldg # 1514, Driving Range Tee, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. Upcoming walks include the following: * June 15 * July 20 * August 17 Anyone is welcome to join us! >From the eBirdPNW report: 61 species Wood Duck 4 Mallard 11 8 young plus adult female at 9th hole pond; two adults at Hodge Lake. Pied-billed Grebe 2 Band-tailed Pigeon 10 Mourning Dove 2 Anna's Hummingbird 3 Rufous Hummingbird 2 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 4 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Great Horned Owl 2 Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 3 Olive-sided Flycatcher 4 Western Wood-Pewee 8 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 5 Hutton's Vireo 5 Cassin's Vireo 3 Warbling Vireo 4 Steller's Jay 3 American Crow 1 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 11 Purple Martin 2 Tree Swallow 20 Violet-green Swallow 20 Barn Swallow 45 Golden-crowned Kinglet 18 Red-breasted Nuthatch 9 Brown Creeper 1 House Wren 9 Bewick's Wren 2 European Starling 2 Swainson's Thrush 9 American Robin 110 Cedar Waxwing 7 Evening Grosbeak 9 House Finch 10 Purple Finch 5 Red Crossbill 4 American Goldfinch 5 Chipping Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed Junco 20 White-crowned Sparrow 36 Song Sparrow 15 Spotted Towhee 10 Bullock's Oriole 2 Red-winged Blackbird 8 Brown-headed Cowbird 12 Orange-crowned Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 1 Yellow Warbler 16 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Black-throated Gray Warbler 4 Hermit Warbler 4 Wilson's Warbler 4 Western Tanager 15 Black-headed Grosbeak 16 View this checklist online at https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS138413009&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ce6156d221bc44f7c3eca08db58a7a4b9%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638201249298019109%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GvtvdUjp4Q59TpIq7Z5EDbKn1W%2B90YgOdoZpha3e4AA%3D&reserved=0 May all your birds be identified, Denis Denis DeSilvis Avnacrs 4 birds at outlook dot com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From FRANJOY236 at msn.com Sat May 20 11:45:15 2023 From: FRANJOY236 at msn.com (Fran Joy) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wiley slough? Message-ID: When will Wiley reopen? Thx, Fran Joy Seattle Get Outlook for iOS -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pdickins at gmail.com Sat May 20 12:45:31 2023 From: pdickins at gmail.com (Philip Dickinson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wiley slough? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <18781813-0E66-454C-AB71-A2903039AA17@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jfgatchet at gmail.com Sat May 20 23:08:51 2023 From: jfgatchet at gmail.com (John Gatchet) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Rose-breasted Grosbeak Message-ID: An adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in my yard at 5:40 pm today. The bird was seen again by Randy Hill and Bob Flores coming to my feeder close to Gardiner Beach Road later in the evening. We last saw it fly from the feeder and across Gardiner Beach Road for the last sighting of the day. This was a new yard bird and a pleasant surprise. John F. Gatchet 832 Gardiner Beach Road Sequim, WA 98382 Sent from my iPhone From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Sun May 21 07:10:25 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Yes, it IS possible to buy a better birding camera In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230521071025.Horde.t5Ait84qbPEyG5qWmYPlMVA@webmail.jimbetz.com> Hello all, Several months ago I asked "what camera do you recommend?" and several of you responded. I found that I just wasn't able to make a decision - even though I also consulted my nephew who used to be a Nikon Tech Rep. So I went dormant on the topic. But the desire to get better pictures, especially of birds in flight, was always there in the back of my mind. I have made a decision and will make a purchase very soon. There was something I did that was key to making that decision. My nephew recommended I consider renting a camera and lens - or two. Since he was going to be here (lives in NYC) we used that opportunity ... and rented both a Nikon D500 and a Canon EOS R7. Both were with manufacturer zoom lenses in the 100-400 range. At this point it is important that I remind you that I own a Panasonic Lumix DZ-1000 ... which I still consider an excellent "entry level camera". It is a mirrorless "bridge camera" that does not have interchangeable lenses but has a 25-400 zoom. Sooooo, the R7 with the 100-400 lens is a clear winner. It has an -amazing- auto focus system that really works. Set up for "Sports and Animals" it finds the bird and focuses on it and follows it with razor sharp accuracy. Even when the bird is flying across in front of you. All I have to do is to keep the bird in the frame and hold the shutter down and the camera does the rest. In fact one of 'problems' I'm dealing with is that I have far more images of BIF than I can use and have to select the one I want to keep/use based upon the timing of the action (wings up/down/folded/etc. or head up/left/right/etc.). Is every picture "perfect"? Of course not. But by far the majority of them are "as good as this camera can do" ... which is very good. If you take the time to look up my eBird checklists for the last 3 days you will find some examples of Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, an Osprey, Oystercatchers, Harlequin Ducks, Red-tailed Hawk, etc. Many of them are BIF (birds in flight) which was one of the primary things I was disappointed in with the Lumix. But the better sensor and better optics of the R7 are a big plus. Yes, there are probably even better cameras out there that will do an even better job. But perhaps not so much if you include my priorities? I want (need?) handheld and ease of carry (low weight). It's my birding camera. Yes, even better pictures are available with a longer lens on a tripod with a gimbal mount while shooting from a blind that you hide out in for several hours ... but I'm not that kind of bird photographer. Yes, this comes with a significant price tag compared to the Lumix ... but having seen the results possible that was an easy decision. I will still keep and use my Lumix - for stuff like landscapes and grab style portraits. But the R7 will quickly become my 'only' birding camera. - Jim P.S. BTW, with the Canon 100-400 zoom this camera is about as good as 4x or 6x binoculars would be. It's not the reach of our 8x nor even close to our 12x ... but it still does a useful job of being a "spotting scope". Plus if you like what you see you just have to push to capture. *G* From whitney.n.k at gmail.com Sun May 21 07:23:31 2023 From: whitney.n.k at gmail.com (whitney.n.k@gmail.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Least flycatcher Snohomish county Message-ID: Hi, Tweets. Sunday morning at 7:20 am there is a Least Flycatcher singing along Lowell Snohomish River Road just west of Hwy 9 just before Field?s Riffle. Have audio recording if you?re interested. Cheers, Whitney N-K From jfgatchet at gmail.com Sun May 21 08:22:04 2023 From: jfgatchet at gmail.com (John Gatchet) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Rose-breasted Grosbeak Message-ID: I have seen the Red-breasted Grosbeak three times this morning between 6:50 am and 8:00 am. It has been singing which is enjoyable. A number of birders have seen it. Birders are welcome, but park at the boat ramp parking lot. John F. Gatchet 832 Gardiner Beach Rd. Sequim, WA 98382 Sent from my iPhone From baro at pdx.edu Sun May 21 09:05:23 2023 From: baro at pdx.edu (Robert O'Brien) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Yes, it IS possible to buy a better birding camera In-Reply-To: <20230521071025.Horde.t5Ait84qbPEyG5qWmYPlMVA@webmail.jimbetz.com> References: <20230521071025.Horde.t5Ait84qbPEyG5qWmYPlMVA@webmail.jimbetz.com> Message-ID: Thanks to Jim for a very helpful birding camera review. I'm still using an older Canon EOS 7D Mark II which is a very good camera, but maybe not "great"? I'd say its weak point is autofocus, especially when the subject is in a,say, a twiggy environment where the twigs confuse the AF system. I'm guessing from the review that this is less-of, or not, a problem? This is always a major problem with bird photography. But a more general question I've always had is why to buy a zoom lens for a 'birding' camera. For a general purpose camera a zoom lens has the obvious advantages. But for a bird camera, would not a 400mm lens, lacking lots of useless moving parts, be better. Would you ever want to use the 100mm for a bird? This would be when you're too close to the bird? That has always been a puzzler for me, why so many 'serious' birder photographers buy zoom lenses. Grateful for any and all answers to both questions. Bob OBrien Portland On Sun, May 21, 2023 at 7:39?AM wrote: > Hello all, > > Several months ago I asked "what camera do you recommend?" and > several of you responded. I found that I just wasn't able to > make a decision - even though I also consulted my nephew who > used to be a Nikon Tech Rep. So I went dormant on the topic. > But the desire to get better pictures, especially of birds in > flight, was always there in the back of my mind. > I have made a decision and will make a purchase very soon. > > There was something I did that was key to making that decision. > My nephew recommended I consider renting a camera and lens - or > two. Since he was going to be here (lives in NYC) we used that > opportunity ... and rented both a Nikon D500 and a Canon EOS R7. > Both were with manufacturer zoom lenses in the 100-400 range. > At this point it is important that I remind you that I own a > Panasonic Lumix DZ-1000 ... which I still consider an excellent > "entry level camera". It is a mirrorless "bridge camera" that > does not have interchangeable lenses but has a 25-400 zoom. > > Sooooo, the R7 with the 100-400 lens is a clear winner. It has > an -amazing- auto focus system that really works. Set up for > "Sports and Animals" it finds the bird and focuses on it and > follows it with razor sharp accuracy. Even when the bird is > flying across in front of you. All I have to do is to keep the > bird in the frame and hold the shutter down and the camera does > the rest. In fact one of 'problems' I'm dealing with is that I > have far more images of BIF than I can use and have to select > the one I want to keep/use based upon the timing of the action > (wings up/down/folded/etc. or head up/left/right/etc.). > Is every picture "perfect"? Of course not. But by far the > majority of them are "as good as this camera can do" ... which is > very good. If you take the time to look up my eBird checklists > for the last 3 days you will find some examples of Great Blue > Herons, Bald Eagles, an Osprey, Oystercatchers, Harlequin Ducks, > Red-tailed Hawk, etc. Many of them are BIF (birds in flight) > which was one of the primary things I was disappointed in > with the Lumix. But the better sensor and better optics of > the R7 are a big plus. > > Yes, there are probably even better cameras out there that > will do an even better job. But perhaps not so much if you > include my priorities? I want (need?) handheld and ease of > carry (low weight). It's my birding camera. Yes, even > better pictures are available with a longer lens on a tripod > with a gimbal mount while shooting from a blind that you hide > out in for several hours ... but I'm not that kind of bird > photographer. > > Yes, this comes with a significant price tag compared to the > Lumix ... but having seen the results possible that was an > easy decision. I will still keep and use my Lumix - for > stuff like landscapes and grab style portraits. But the R7 > will quickly become my 'only' birding camera. > - Jim > > P.S. BTW, with the Canon 100-400 zoom this camera is about as > good as 4x or 6x binoculars would be. It's not the reach > of our 8x nor even close to our 12x ... but it still > does a useful job of being a "spotting scope". Plus if > you like what you see you just have to push to capture. *G* > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gdmoffitt at gmail.com Sun May 21 09:14:58 2023 From: gdmoffitt at gmail.com (Glen Moffitt) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wiley Slough completion date In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Per the WDFW website the latest update indicates the project still on schedule to be completed in November 2023. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dennispaulson at comcast.net Sun May 21 09:42:32 2023 From: dennispaulson at comcast.net (Dennis Paulson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Yes, it IS possible to buy a better birding camera In-Reply-To: References: <20230521071025.Horde.t5Ait84qbPEyG5qWmYPlMVA@webmail.jimbetz.com> Message-ID: <408E9D7F-0271-4EB7-B627-6D22510DE392@comcast.net> As I often get questions like this, I?ll respond to Bob about zoom lenses. I always prefer them, because even though I?m a bird photographer, I photograph many other things in nature, and I love the versatility of a zoom lens. Even restricting the discussion to birds, I can zoom out to get more of the bird?s habitat if I wish, zoom out to get several birds at once, and zoom out when a bird is about to fly, and I?m not sure which direction it will go. On occasion, a bird is too close for 400 mm! I have used 100-400 mm lenses for years on several cameras, including Canon 7D Mk II. Now Netta and I are using mirrorless cameras in which the smaller sensor size effectively multiplies the lens length by 2x. So this gives you the equivalent of a 200-800 mm lens on a relatively light, easy to carry camera system. And like all SLRs, there are plenty of interchangeable lenses for any type of photos you wish to take. Right now I?m using an OM Systems OM-1, a camera that is like an upgraded Olympus (OM took over Olympus), with the less expensive ($1300) Olympus 100-400 mm lens. They also make a very expensive ($7500) PRO 150-400 mm lens, but I can?t imagine it takes photos that are 5.8x better! As to the other question, twigs and leaves will always confuse cameras. Note that Jim was talking about birds in flight mostly, and a lot of new cameras now have settings that actually recognize the subject as a bird. As long as you can hold on it in flight, the bird will be enclosed in a box, and if you keep that box on the bird, it will stay in focus; the shutter speed has to be high to stop the motion. As Jim said, with cameras with high-speed shutters, you can get a lot of photos per second, with multiple wing and body positions. It has made bird photography ever so much more fun! Dennis Paulson Seattle > On May 21, 2023, at 9:05 AM, Robert O'Brien wrote: > > Thanks to Jim for a very helpful birding camera review. I'm still using an older Canon EOS 7D Mark II which is a very good camera, but maybe not "great"? > I'd say its weak point is autofocus, especially when the subject is in a,say, a twiggy environment where the twigs confuse the AF system. > I'm guessing from the review that this is less-of, or not, a problem? This is always a major problem with bird photography. > > But a more general question I've always had is why to buy a zoom lens for a 'birding' camera. For a general purpose camera a zoom lens has the obvious advantages. But for a bird camera, would not a 400mm lens, lacking lots of useless moving parts, be better. Would you ever want to use the 100mm for a bird? This would be when you're too close to the bird? That has always been a puzzler for me, why so many 'serious' birder photographers buy zoom lenses. > Grateful for any and all answers to both questions. > Bob OBrien Portland From manu at uw.supermil.ch Sun May 21 09:50:27 2023 From: manu at uw.supermil.ch (Manu Wallner) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Yes, it IS possible to buy a better birding camera In-Reply-To: <4ADB0820-3D25-419C-A76F-34F6F311F812@supermil.ch> References: <20230521071025.Horde.t5Ait84qbPEyG5qWmYPlMVA@webmail.jimbetz.com> <4ADB0820-3D25-419C-A76F-34F6F311F812@supermil.ch> Message-ID: <1b881768-8b9f-4521-aba8-74d0b3a15234@app.fastmail.com> Regarding auto focus, in my experience the newer cameras that have bird detection make it better but don?t fully take care of the problem. Twigs, brush, leaves that obscure part of the bird can again confuse the detection algorithm, especially in low light situations. In these environments it is still advisable to keep a spot AF point as close to the bird as possible, which can aid the AF system in snapping onto the bird - whereas in most other situations using wide AF is completely fine to pick out the bird from the background, and stay locked onto it, even in flight. Whether the ?eye? auto focus works also depends on the type of bird. My experience here is limited to Sony, but my understanding from various reviews is that Canon/Nikon cameras have similar limitations. Regarding whether to use a zoom lens, I use a Sony 200-600. This lens has a very short zoom throw, i.e. a quarter turn is enough to go from one end of the range to the other. That makes it convenient to zoom out all the way to locate and track a fast moving bird, and then quickly zoom in to take the shot, for example right when the bird hops out onto a branch or into the light. I have had very good results with this technique in various challenging environments and with very fast birds. If you do also take photos of animals other than birds, often a shorter zoom length is required. On Sun, May 21, 2023, at 09:48, Manu Wallner wrote: > Regarding auto focus, in my experience the newer cameras that have bird detection make it better but don?t fully take care of the problem. Twigs, brush, leaves that obscure part of the bird can again confuse the detection algorithm, especially in low light situations. In these environments it is still advisable to keep a spot AF point as close to the bird as possible, which can aid the AF system in snapping onto the bird - whereas in most other situations using wide AF is completely fine to pick out the bird from the background, and stay locked onto it, even in flight. Whether the ?eye? auto focus works also depends on the type of bird. My experience here is limited to Sony, but my understanding from various reviews is that Canon/Nikon cameras have similar limitations. > > Regarding whether to use a zoom lens, I use a Sony 200-600. This lens has a very short zoom throw, i.e. a quarter turn is enough to go from one end of the range to the other. That makes it convenient to zoom out all the way to locate and track a fast moving bird, and then quickly zoom in to take the shot, for example right when the bird hops out onto a branch or into the light. I have had very good results with this technique in various challenging environments and with very fast birds. If you do also take photos of animals other than birds, often a shorter zoom length is required. > >> On May 21, 2023, at 09:05, Robert O'Brien wrote: >> >> Thanks to Jim for a very helpful birding camera review. I'm still using an older Canon EOS 7D Mark II which is a very good camera, but maybe not "great"? >> I'd say its weak point is autofocus, especially when the subject is in a,say, a twiggy environment where the twigs confuse the AF system. >> I'm guessing from the review that this is less-of, or not, a problem? This is always a major problem with bird photography. >> >> But a more general question I've always had is why to buy a zoom lens for a 'birding' camera. For a general purpose camera a zoom lens has the obvious advantages. But for a bird camera, would not a 400mm lens, lacking lots of useless moving parts, be better. Would you ever want to use the 100mm for a bird? This would be when you're too close to the bird? That has always been a puzzler for me, why so many 'serious' birder photographers buy zoom lenses. >> Grateful for any and all answers to both questions. >> Bob OBrien Portland >> >> >> On Sun, May 21, 2023 at 7:39?AM wrote: >>> Hello all, >>> >>> Several months ago I asked "what camera do you recommend?" and >>> several of you responded. I found that I just wasn't able to >>> make a decision - even though I also consulted my nephew who >>> used to be a Nikon Tech Rep. So I went dormant on the topic. >>> But the desire to get better pictures, especially of birds in >>> flight, was always there in the back of my mind. >>> I have made a decision and will make a purchase very soon. >>> >>> There was something I did that was key to making that decision. >>> My nephew recommended I consider renting a camera and lens - or >>> two. Since he was going to be here (lives in NYC) we used that >>> opportunity ... and rented both a Nikon D500 and a Canon EOS R7. >>> Both were with manufacturer zoom lenses in the 100-400 range. >>> At this point it is important that I remind you that I own a >>> Panasonic Lumix DZ-1000 ... which I still consider an excellent >>> "entry level camera". It is a mirrorless "bridge camera" that >>> does not have interchangeable lenses but has a 25-400 zoom. >>> >>> Sooooo, the R7 with the 100-400 lens is a clear winner. It has >>> an -amazing- auto focus system that really works. Set up for >>> "Sports and Animals" it finds the bird and focuses on it and >>> follows it with razor sharp accuracy. Even when the bird is >>> flying across in front of you. All I have to do is to keep the >>> bird in the frame and hold the shutter down and the camera does >>> the rest. In fact one of 'problems' I'm dealing with is that I >>> have far more images of BIF than I can use and have to select >>> the one I want to keep/use based upon the timing of the action >>> (wings up/down/folded/etc. or head up/left/right/etc.). >>> Is every picture "perfect"? Of course not. But by far the >>> majority of them are "as good as this camera can do" ... which is >>> very good. If you take the time to look up my eBird checklists >>> for the last 3 days you will find some examples of Great Blue >>> Herons, Bald Eagles, an Osprey, Oystercatchers, Harlequin Ducks, >>> Red-tailed Hawk, etc. Many of them are BIF (birds in flight) >>> which was one of the primary things I was disappointed in >>> with the Lumix. But the better sensor and better optics of >>> the R7 are a big plus. >>> >>> Yes, there are probably even better cameras out there that >>> will do an even better job. But perhaps not so much if you >>> include my priorities? I want (need?) handheld and ease of >>> carry (low weight). It's my birding camera. Yes, even >>> better pictures are available with a longer lens on a tripod >>> with a gimbal mount while shooting from a blind that you hide >>> out in for several hours ... but I'm not that kind of bird >>> photographer. >>> >>> Yes, this comes with a significant price tag compared to the >>> Lumix ... but having seen the results possible that was an >>> easy decision. I will still keep and use my Lumix - for >>> stuff like landscapes and grab style portraits. But the R7 >>> will quickly become my 'only' birding camera. >>> - Jim >>> >>> P.S. BTW, with the Canon 100-400 zoom this camera is about as >>> good as 4x or 6x binoculars would be. It's not the reach >>> of our 8x nor even close to our 12x ... but it still >>> does a useful job of being a "spotting scope". Plus if >>> you like what you see you just have to push to capture. *G* >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Tweeters mailing list >>> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Sun May 21 09:58:08 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Migrant bird trap Message-ID: Is there any indication that Mount Erie in Anacortes might be a migrant bird trap? cheers- Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. Of course I am referring to a bird that has not been verified, or even reported. NB. Thanks. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From peggy_busby at yahoo.com Sun May 21 12:49:36 2023 From: peggy_busby at yahoo.com (Peggy Mundy) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Yes, it IS possible to buy a better birding camera In-Reply-To: References: <20230521071025.Horde.t5Ait84qbPEyG5qWmYPlMVA@webmail.jimbetz.com> Message-ID: <1516144919.563901.1684698576643@mail.yahoo.com> Zooms vs Primes One factor is cost.? Zoom lenses are almost always less expensive than long primes.? For example, I have a Nikon 200-500mm lens which currently sells for $1,060.? I have considered the?AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR, it sells for $3,300.? The lens I would love to have is Nikon's?AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR, but it sells for $11,200!! Another factor is versatility.? Although it is nice to have maximum reach when birding, there are times where you really don't need it all.? I use my set up for birds and wildlife and yes, often I don't need all 500mm, so it is nice to have that versatility?without having to change lenses--or pack extra lenses when traveling. It really depends what your needs and priorities are.? There is no right or wrong choice. Peggy MundyBothell, WA peggy_busby@yahoo.com@scenebypeggy on Instagram On Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 09:05:48 a.m. PDT, Robert O'Brien wrote: Thanks to Jim for a very helpful birding camera review.? I'm still using an older Canon EOS 7D Mark II which is a very good camera, but maybe not "great"?I'd say its?weak point is autofocus, especially when the subject is in a,say, a twiggy environment where the twigs confuse the AF system.I'm guessing from the review that this is less-of, or not, a problem?? This is always a major problem with bird photography. But a more general question I've always had is why to buy a zoom lens for a 'birding' camera.? For a general purpose camera a zoom lens has the obvious advantages.? But for a bird camera, would not a 400mm lens, lacking lots of useless moving parts, be better.? Would you ever want to use the 100mm for a bird?? This would be when? you're too close to the bird?? That has always been a puzzler for me, why so many 'serious'?birder photographers buy zoom lenses.Grateful?for any and all answers?to both questions.Bob OBrien? Portland On Sun, May 21, 2023 at 7:39?AM wrote: Hello all, ? ?Several months ago I asked "what camera do you recommend?" and several of you responded.? I found that I just wasn't able to make a decision - even though I also consulted my nephew who used to be a Nikon Tech Rep.? So I went dormant on the topic. But the desire to get better pictures, especially of birds in flight, was always there in the back of my mind. ? ?I have made a decision and will make a purchase very soon. ? ?There was something I did that was key to making that decision. My nephew recommended I consider renting a camera and lens - or two.? Since he was going to be here (lives in NYC) we used that opportunity ... and rented both a Nikon D500 and a Canon EOS R7. Both were with manufacturer zoom lenses in the 100-400 range. At this point it is important that I remind you that I own a Panasonic Lumix DZ-1000 ... which I still consider an excellent "entry level camera".? It is a mirrorless "bridge camera" that does not have interchangeable lenses but has a 25-400 zoom. ? ?Sooooo, the R7 with the 100-400 lens is a clear winner.? It has an -amazing- auto focus system that really works.? Set up for "Sports and Animals" it finds the bird and focuses on it and follows it with razor sharp accuracy.? Even when the bird is flying across in front of you.? All I have to do is to keep the bird in the frame and hold the shutter down and the camera does the rest.? In fact one of 'problems' I'm dealing with is that I have far more images of BIF than I can use and have to select the one I want to keep/use based upon the timing of the action (wings up/down/folded/etc. or head up/left/right/etc.). ? ?Is every picture "perfect"?? Of course not.? But by far the majority of them are "as good as this camera can do" ... which is very good.? If you take the time to look up my eBird checklists for the last 3 days you will find some examples of Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, an Osprey, Oystercatchers, Harlequin Ducks, Red-tailed Hawk, etc.? Many of them are BIF (birds in flight) which was one of the primary things I was disappointed in with the Lumix.? But the better sensor and better optics of the R7 are a big plus. ? ?Yes, there are probably even better cameras out there that will do an even better job.? But perhaps not so much if you include my priorities?? I want (need?) handheld and ease of carry (low weight).? It's my birding camera.? Yes, even better pictures are available with a longer lens on a tripod with a gimbal mount while shooting from a blind that you hide out in for several hours ... but I'm not that kind of bird photographer. ? ?Yes, this comes with a significant price tag compared to the Lumix ... but having seen the results possible that was an easy decision.? I will still keep and use my Lumix - for stuff like landscapes and grab style portraits.? But the R7 will quickly become my 'only' birding camera. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jim P.S. BTW, with the Canon 100-400 zoom this camera is about as ? ? ? good as 4x or 6x binoculars would be.? It's not the reach ? ? ? of our 8x? ? ? nor even close to our 12x ... but it still ? ? ? does a useful job of being a "spotting scope".? Plus if ? ? ? you like what you see you just have to push to capture.? *G* _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Sun May 21 13:29:21 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit and Samish Flats - birding report. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230521132921.Horde.u3zkWB7NHJbLQy6mPUKWuz5@webmail.jimbetz.com> May all your tweets be birds! I've been out on the Samish and Skagit Flats and also to Fir Island several times since my last report. This one is different - because it is more about what I'm not seeing than what I am: Bald Eagles - pretty much everywhere there is a nest near ... and no where else. Usually within a 1/2 mile or so of the nest. Harriers - still there but no where near as many. Short Eared Owls - I see just one or two every other time I go to the Samish Flats (and especially the East 90). Great Blue Herons - still around, but again not as many. Maybe because half of them are on the nests on March Point? *G* Did you catch that great video of one defending its egg from an eagle on youtube? Snow Geese and Swans - none (any more) - my binoculars don't reach all the way to Wrangell Island. I think it's something about the curvature of the Earth? LOTS of Passerines - mostly sparrows and finches but also some Grosbeaks and an occasional Pipit. Robins and Towhees! Doves - common, even the occasional Ring-Necked. Raptors - RTH everywhere but not numerous, a few other hawks, an occasional Peregrine and/or Kestrel. Waterfowl and Shorebirds - a few Mallards still (resident?) and Kildeer, not much else. Have not been out at the prime times of the tides. Gulls - lots of gulls in good condition. RWB and Starlings - everywhere but not in great numbers. Woodpeckers - others keep reporting them, but I haven't been where they are (up in the forests). Turkey Vultures - we see them almost every day and often more than once a day. Just this morning there were 5 sitting in the trees on the bottom of the hill. Our backyard fountain (bubbler, not spray) continues to be very popular with the birds. I see lots of finches and sparrows, robins, grosbeaks, doves, and even our resident Anna's ... every day from early to late. They get right into the flow (2" bubbles about 1" tall) and have a good time drinking and fluttering. I saw a pair of Flickers that were 'trading places' between the fence and the fountain - *NICE* - and learned that they like to turn their head sideways and drink thru the side of their bill. - Jim From jaybham52 at gmail.com Sun May 21 15:13:02 2023 From: jaybham52 at gmail.com (Jay E) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] More on cameras and lenses Message-ID: I have been reading the thread on cameras and lenses with interest. The comparison of the Nikon D500 vs. the Canon R7 isn't really fair, since the Nikon is a DSLR and the Canon is mirrorless. But the mirrorless cameras from Sony, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, etc., all have firmware to help with autofocus on moving objects and eye detection for animals. None are perfect and I still believe it's up to the photographer to make the picture. And there's some luck in being in the right place at the right time with the right camera settings, with good lighting and wind. I have a Nikon Z7ii and use a 500mm PF Nikon f/5.6 lens for almost all birding and wildlife. They've been around the world with me and perform very well. Big prime lenses are usually big, heavy and expensive. I rented a few before going with my 500mm, which was about 1/3 the price and 1/3 the weight of the big lenses that are f/4 I also carry a 70-200mm zoom with a 1.4 teleconverter for bigger beasts like whales, bears, etc. For long trips I also carry my Nikon D850 as a backup, or occasionally have the zoom on it while the Z7ii has the 500mm. Just another set of opinions to add to the mix. Regards - Jay Bellingham, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From zollejd at gmail.com Mon May 22 09:40:31 2023 From: zollejd at gmail.com (Jason Zolle) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Townsend's vs. Hermit vs. hybrid warblers by song Message-ID: Hi tweets, I am wondering if anyone is aware of any resources or has any useful information they can share related to distinguishing Townsend's and Hermit Warblers by song (1) from each other and (2) from hybrids. To the first, I have read the relevant sections of The Warbler Guide, looked at many sonograms, listened to numerous recordings, and while I feel like I have a handle on identifying some songs by ear, I still am not nearly as comfortable as I would like here, and would love some suggestions to improve. To the second, we birded Saturday north of Packwood in an apparent hybrid area and the majority of TOWA/HEWA songs we heard had me throwing up my hands in confusion. I suspect that may have been because many were abnormal songs of hybrids -- of the 8 birds we called in for visual identification, 4 were phenotypically pure Townsend's and 4 were hybrids (3 of those 4 being almost pure Hermit). I found a 1995 British Columbia birding article online that cites a 1983 article (which I cannot find) to the effect of "hybrids in Oregon sing like Hermit Warblers, and hybrids in Washington sing like Townsend's Warblers." That seems a bit simplistic and I am hoping to get more information if possible on what to listen for (or look for in a spectogram) so I can more confidently identify these birds by ear without feeling the need to call each one in for a visual inspection. I also am wondering if anyone knows whether pure Townsend's sing abnormal songs in a hybrid zone, perhaps because they are learning from their dad's hybrid neighbors. I have thought that Merlin sound ID, which of course isn't perfect but often does a good job at seeing things in spectograms that are not readily apparent to the ear, would have been helpful in this task, but particularly in the hybrid zone it seemed to be equally confused, often showing both Hermit and Townsend's simultaneously or switching between the two. (And if it did show one bird only, that bird was almost always Hermit, which was a bummer because not a single bird we saw visually appeared as a pure Hermit). This leads me to think that maybe the songs do have elements of both that the AI is picking up on. I just would love to know exactly what it is seeing in the spectograms to make the call. Thank you! Jason Olympia, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jean.trent at gmail.com Mon May 22 09:40:49 2023 From: jean.trent at gmail.com (Jean Trent) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Birds and urban forests Message-ID: Please read Seattletimes articles about Urban bird habitat and register your opinion to your Council members by the Tuesday May 23 Council vote. Seattle?s proposed tree ordinance is the legislative equivalent of a chain saw -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From paul.bannick at gmail.com Mon May 22 09:52:19 2023 From: paul.bannick at gmail.com (Paul Bannick) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Birds and urban forests In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Jean, Thanks so much for sending this out. Can you include the link? I have been disturbed to see how many snags (standing dead trees) have been cut down in our city parks over the past few years. This does so much damage to bird (and wildlife ) habitat and is particularly destructive to our cavity nest species such as owls and woodpeckers. Paul On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 9:41 AM Jean Trent wrote: > Please read Seattletimes articles about Urban bird habitat and register > your opinion to your Council members by the Tuesday May 23 Council vote. > Seattle?s proposed tree ordinance is the legislative equivalent of a chain > saw > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- Sent from Gmail Mobile -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dougsantoni at gmail.com Mon May 22 09:53:53 2023 From: dougsantoni at gmail.com (Doug Santoni) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Birds and urban forests In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <065BFA11-4BF6-48AB-A559-A633A896CC0B@gmail.com> Here is the link to the editorial in the Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/seattles-proposed-tree-ordinance-is-the-legislative-equivalent-of-a-chain-saw/ > On May 22, 2023, at 9:52 AM, Paul Bannick wrote: > > Hi Jean, > Thanks so much for sending this out. Can you include the link? > I have been disturbed to see how many snags (standing dead trees) have been cut down in our city parks over the past few years. This does so much damage to bird (and wildlife ) habitat and is particularly destructive to our cavity nest species such as owls and woodpeckers. > Paul > > On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 9:41 AM Jean Trent > wrote: >> Please read Seattletimes articles about Urban bird habitat and register your opinion to your Council members by the Tuesday May 23 Council vote. >> Seattle?s proposed tree ordinance is the legislative equivalent of a chain saw >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- > Sent from Gmail Mobile > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pat.mary.taylor at gmail.com Mon May 22 10:37:08 2023 From: pat.mary.taylor at gmail.com (Patricia Taylor) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Townsend's vs. Hermit vs. hybrid warblers by song In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <28E12FA2-EF7B-4D3B-A33A-10B1F5A1F307@gmail.com> Hi Jason I can only state that I have heard 3 hybrids singing personally and 2 sang identical Hermit songs the third much like but not identical to Townsend?s. Keith Taylor Victoria BC Sent from my iPad > On May 22, 2023, at 9:41 AM, Jason Zolle wrote: > > ? > Hi tweets, > > I am wondering if anyone is aware of any resources or has any useful information they can share related to distinguishing Townsend's and Hermit Warblers by song (1) from each other and (2) from hybrids. > > To the first, I have read the relevant sections of The Warbler Guide, looked at many sonograms, listened to numerous recordings, and while I feel like I have a handle on identifying some songs by ear, I still am not nearly as comfortable as I would like here, and would love some suggestions to improve. > > To the second, we birded Saturday north of Packwood in an apparent hybrid area and the majority of TOWA/HEWA songs we heard had me throwing up my hands in confusion. I suspect that may have been because many were abnormal songs of hybrids -- of the 8 birds we called in for visual identification, 4 were phenotypically pure Townsend's and 4 were hybrids (3 of those 4 being almost pure Hermit). I found a 1995 British Columbia birding article online that cites a 1983 article (which I cannot find) to the effect of "hybrids in Oregon sing like Hermit Warblers, and hybrids in Washington sing like Townsend's Warblers." That seems a bit simplistic and I am hoping to get more information if possible on what to listen for (or look for in a spectogram) so I can more confidently identify these birds by ear without feeling the need to call each one in for a visual inspection. I also am wondering if anyone knows whether pure Townsend's sing abnormal songs in a hybrid zone, perhaps because they are learning from their dad's hybrid neighbors. > > I have thought that Merlin sound ID, which of course isn't perfect but often does a good job at seeing things in spectograms that are not readily apparent to the ear, would have been helpful in this task, but particularly in the hybrid zone it seemed to be equally confused, often showing both Hermit and Townsend's simultaneously or switching between the two. (And if it did show one bird only, that bird was almost always Hermit, which was a bummer because not a single bird we saw visually appeared as a pure Hermit). This leads me to think that maybe the songs do have elements of both that the AI is picking up on. I just would love to know exactly what it is seeing in the spectograms to make the call. > > Thank you! > Jason > Olympia, WA > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From ericallencarlson at yahoo.com Mon May 22 11:03:27 2023 From: ericallencarlson at yahoo.com (Eric Carlson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Warblers in West Seattle References: Message-ID: Had Wilson?s, Hermit, MacGillivrays, and Townsend?s Warblers in my yard in West Seattle this weekend. (Native plants and a birdbath with moving water) Cheers! Sent from my iPhone From birdmarymoor at gmail.com Mon May 22 11:22:59 2023 From: birdmarymoor at gmail.com (Michael Hobbs) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Townsend's vs. Hermit vs. hybrid warblers by song In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: In my experience, in the portion of Washington that has Townsend's, Hermit, and hybrids, they will all sing and respond to any variation of their collective songs. If you play a typical Townsend's song at a Hermit that was singing a typical Hermit song, the Hermit Warbler will come in and sing a Townsend's song back at you. And vice versa. Black-throated Grays will also get into the mix, singing songs closer to Townsend's/Hermit in the Hermit zone. So I would never try to use voice to distinguish TOWA, HEWA, and TOxHE in the Hermit Warbler range in Washington. = Michael Hobbs On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 9:41?AM Jason Zolle wrote: > Hi tweets, > > I am wondering if anyone is aware of any resources or has any useful > information they can share related to distinguishing Townsend's and Hermit > Warblers by song (1) from each other and (2) from hybrids. > > To the first, I have read the relevant sections of The Warbler Guide, > looked at many sonograms, listened to numerous recordings, and while I feel > like I have a handle on identifying some songs by ear, I still am not > nearly as comfortable as I would like here, and would love some suggestions > to improve. > > To the second, we birded Saturday north of Packwood in an apparent hybrid > area and the majority of TOWA/HEWA songs we heard had me throwing up my > hands in confusion. I suspect that may have been because many were > abnormal songs of hybrids -- of the 8 birds we called in for visual > identification, 4 were phenotypically pure Townsend's and 4 were hybrids (3 > of those 4 being almost pure Hermit). I found a 1995 British Columbia > birding article online that cites a 1983 article (which I cannot find) to > the effect of "hybrids in Oregon sing like Hermit Warblers, and hybrids in > Washington sing like Townsend's Warblers." That seems a bit simplistic and > I am hoping to get more information if possible on what to listen for (or > look for in a spectogram) so I can more confidently identify these birds by > ear without feeling the need to call each one in for a visual inspection. > I also am wondering if anyone knows whether pure Townsend's sing abnormal > songs in a hybrid zone, perhaps because they are learning from their dad's > hybrid neighbors. > > I have thought that Merlin sound ID, which of course isn't perfect but > often does a good job at seeing things in spectograms that are not readily > apparent to the ear, would have been helpful in this task, but particularly > in the hybrid zone it seemed to be equally confused, often showing both > Hermit and Townsend's simultaneously or switching between the two. (And if > it did show one bird only, that bird was almost always Hermit, which was a > bummer because not a single bird we saw visually appeared as a pure > Hermit). This leads me to think that maybe the songs do have elements of > both that the AI is picking up on. I just would love to know exactly what > it is seeing in the spectograms to make the call. > > Thank you! > Jason > Olympia, WA > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From esellingson at gmail.com Mon May 22 11:24:29 2023 From: esellingson at gmail.com (Eric Ellingson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Close-ups of breeding plumage Double-crested Cormorants (Blaine) Message-ID: The Double-crested Cormorants on the Blaine Marina breakwater are looking spectacular, as far as a cormorant can be. Clearly defined white double crests, bright cobalt blue of their inner mouth, and a few strange poses. The one shot with the tail, wings and head up I saw only two doing. They'd get into this position and kind of rock about. For those not familiar with this area, a few hundred birds and a hundred nests line the rocky breakwater. The Pacific Loons keep looking better too. There were still a few hundred off Semiahmoo Spit a few days ago. Maybe my best views yet. Photos posted here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ -- Eric Ellingson 360-820-6396 | esellingson@gmail.com https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dgrainger at birdsbydave.com Mon May 22 12:26:31 2023 From: dgrainger at birdsbydave.com (dgrainger@birdsbydave.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] additional comments on subject Better Birder Camera Message-ID: <7879321988624eed0879487e8ddd4eaf@birdsbydave.com> Comparing a very old Nikon D500 with a newer Canon is absolutely not the right thing to do. That D-500 is several generations old! It was introduced in 2016. You should have compared the Nikon D-850 which is the best DSLR Nikon built... Lacking an optical view finder, I have zero plans to go mirrorless. I shoot a LOT of fast moving birds with a lot of foliage and other clutter around; the D-850 is an amazing piece of equipment. I also use either Nikkor 200-500 or Nikkor 28-300 for birding. See some results on birdsbydave.com From tsbrennan at hotmail.com Mon May 22 12:35:40 2023 From: tsbrennan at hotmail.com (Tim Brennan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Townsend's and Hermit Warbler songs Message-ID: Hello! I would totally agree with everything above. I think it's great to get familiar with "typical" songs. They have been a great way to get zeroed in on birds of interest, but then it's just actually looking. I've watched some pretty pure-looking Townsend's Warblers singing a not all that bad Hermit Warbler song, or maybe it was vice versa? Usually, the birds will look at least mostly like they sound, if that makes sense. ? So yep. I love? birding by ear, but am kind of done calling these birds down to a species by song when both are present. -Tim Brennan Renton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Mon May 22 14:13:16 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Townsend's vs. Hermit vs. hybrid warblers by song In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Agreed. Nearly all the warblers at Mt Walker in Jefferson County are Townsend's or hybrids. Pure Hermit is rare and would need good pics to demonstrate. Merlin sound identification commonly calls Townsend's, hybrids, and even Black-thr Gray as "Hermit Warbler." It's definitely an area where visual confirmation is needed. On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 11:23?AM Michael Hobbs wrote: > In my experience, in the portion of Washington that has Townsend's, > Hermit, and hybrids, they will all sing and respond to any variation of > their collective songs. If you play a typical Townsend's song at a Hermit > that was singing a typical Hermit song, the Hermit Warbler will come in and > sing a Townsend's song back at you. And vice versa. Black-throated Grays > will also get into the mix, singing songs closer to Townsend's/Hermit in > the Hermit zone. > > So I would never try to use voice to distinguish TOWA, HEWA, and TOxHE in > the Hermit Warbler range in Washington. > > = Michael Hobbs > > On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 9:41?AM Jason Zolle wrote: > >> Hi tweets, >> >> I am wondering if anyone is aware of any resources or has any useful >> information they can share related to distinguishing Townsend's and Hermit >> Warblers by song (1) from each other and (2) from hybrids. >> >> To the first, I have read the relevant sections of The Warbler Guide, >> looked at many sonograms, listened to numerous recordings, and while I feel >> like I have a handle on identifying some songs by ear, I still am not >> nearly as comfortable as I would like here, and would love some suggestions >> to improve. >> >> To the second, we birded Saturday north of Packwood in an apparent hybrid >> area and the majority of TOWA/HEWA songs we heard had me throwing up my >> hands in confusion. I suspect that may have been because many were >> abnormal songs of hybrids -- of the 8 birds we called in for visual >> identification, 4 were phenotypically pure Townsend's and 4 were hybrids (3 >> of those 4 being almost pure Hermit). I found a 1995 British Columbia >> birding article online that cites a 1983 article (which I cannot find) to >> the effect of "hybrids in Oregon sing like Hermit Warblers, and hybrids in >> Washington sing like Townsend's Warblers." That seems a bit simplistic and >> I am hoping to get more information if possible on what to listen for (or >> look for in a spectogram) so I can more confidently identify these birds by >> ear without feeling the need to call each one in for a visual inspection. >> I also am wondering if anyone knows whether pure Townsend's sing abnormal >> songs in a hybrid zone, perhaps because they are learning from their dad's >> hybrid neighbors. >> >> I have thought that Merlin sound ID, which of course isn't perfect but >> often does a good job at seeing things in spectograms that are not readily >> apparent to the ear, would have been helpful in this task, but particularly >> in the hybrid zone it seemed to be equally confused, often showing both >> Hermit and Townsend's simultaneously or switching between the two. (And if >> it did show one bird only, that bird was almost always Hermit, which was a >> bummer because not a single bird we saw visually appeared as a pure >> Hermit). This leads me to think that maybe the songs do have elements of >> both that the AI is picking up on. I just would love to know exactly what >> it is seeing in the spectograms to make the call. >> >> Thank you! >> Jason >> Olympia, WA >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From danerika at gmail.com Mon May 22 14:17:53 2023 From: danerika at gmail.com (dan&erika) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hermit Warbler? "photo-bombs" sapsucker Message-ID: Tweets--To make a long story short, I was recording a drumming Red-breasted Sapsucker with the Merlin App at the Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail in southern Mason Co. on Saturday. I have never seen a Hermit Warbler in Washington, despite four years' searching. To my surprise, Merlin announced the presence of a Hermit Warbler. I could not hear it, but the warbler call was clearly evident on the sonogram. My friends with better hearing than mine say they can hear the call. I wonder if I can count the bird if I can SEE the call ?. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/575007691 dan -- Dan or Erika Tallman Olympia, Washington danerika@gmail.com ".... the best shod travel with wet feet...Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ....??H. D. Thoreau -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gdmoffitt at gmail.com Mon May 22 14:42:05 2023 From: gdmoffitt at gmail.com (Glen Moffitt) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit and Samish Flats - birding report In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Regards the Great Blue Herons, several of us have noticed that that at the Everett Marina rookery the population of GBH?s this year is markedly smaller, maybe by 1/3 or half. ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sun, 21 May 2023 13:29:21 -0700 From: jimbetz@jimbetz.com To: tweeters@u.washington.edu Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit and Samish Flats - birding report. Message-ID: <20230521132921.Horde.u3zkWB7NHJbLQy6mPUKWuz5@webmail.jimbetz.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed; DelSp=Yes May all your tweets be birds! I've been out on the Samish and Skagit Flats and also to Fir Island several times since my last report. This one is different - because it is more about what I'm not seeing than what I am: Bald Eagles - pretty much everywhere there is a nest near ... and no where else. Usually within a 1/2 mile or so of the nest. Harriers - still there but no where near as many. Short Eared Owls - I see just one or two every other time I go to the Samish Flats (and especially the East 90). Great Blue Herons - still around, but again not as many. Maybe because half of them are on the nests on March Point? *G* Did you catch that great video of one defending its egg from an eagle on youtube? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pdickins at gmail.com Mon May 22 16:40:54 2023 From: pdickins at gmail.com (Philip Dickinson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit and Samish Flats - birding report In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Yes, I have notice that, too, and have commented on it on at least one ebird checklist. Even more disconcerting us the fact that no herons are nesting at an established heronry at Riverview Wildlife Refuge in Snohomish. Phil Dickinson Sent from my iPhone > On May 22, 2023, at 2:42 PM, Glen Moffitt wrote: > > ? > Regards the Great Blue Herons, several of us have noticed that that at the Everett Marina rookery the population of GBH?s this year is markedly smaller, maybe by 1/3 or half. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 21 May 2023 13:29:21 -0700 > From: jimbetz@jimbetz.com > To: tweeters@u.washington.edu > Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit and Samish Flats - birding report. > Message-ID: > <20230521132921.Horde.u3zkWB7NHJbLQy6mPUKWuz5@webmail.jimbetz.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed; DelSp=Yes > > May all your tweets be birds! > > I've been out on the Samish and Skagit Flats and also to Fir Island > several times since my last report. This one is different - because > it is more about what I'm not seeing than what I am: > > Bald Eagles - pretty much everywhere there is a nest near ... and > no where else. Usually within a 1/2 mile or so of > the nest. > Harriers - still there but no where near as many. > Short Eared Owls - I see just one or two every other time I go to > the Samish Flats (and especially the East 90). > Great Blue Herons - still around, but again not as many. Maybe > because half of them are on the nests on > March Point? *G* Did you catch that great > video of one defending its egg from an eagle > on youtube? > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gorgebirds at juno.com Mon May 22 19:19:36 2023 From: gorgebirds at juno.com (Wilson Cady) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hermit Warbler? "photo-bombs" sapsucker Message-ID: <20230522.191936.9056.0@webmail04.vgs.untd.com> I wouldn't count a bird that I didn't see or hear as Merlin only suggests what might be around but it is up to you to actually identify it. Think of Merlin the same as if another person said that they think they heard whatever bird, you still need to verify it. Wilson Cady Columbia River Gorge, WA ---------- Original Message ---------- From: "dan&erika" To: Tweets Subject: [Tweeters] Hermit Warbler? "photo-bombs" sapsucker Date: Mon, 22 May 2023 14:17:53 -0700 Tweets--To make a long story short, I was recording a drumming Red-breasted Sapsucker with the Merlin App at the Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail in southern Mason Co. on Saturday. I have never seen a Hermit Warbler in Washington, despite four years' searching. To my surprise, Merlin announced the presence of a Hermit Warbler. I could not hear it, but the warbler call was clearly evident on the sonogram. My friends with better hearing than mine say they can hear the call. I wonder if I can count the bird if I can SEE the call 🙂. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/575007691 dan -- Dan or Erika Tallman Olympia, Washington danerika@gmail.com ".... the best shod travel with wet feet...Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ....”—H. D. Thoreau -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From plkoyama at comcast.net Mon May 22 19:56:29 2023 From: plkoyama at comcast.net (Penny L Koyama) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hermit Warbler? "photo-bombs" sapsucker In-Reply-To: <20230522.191936.9056.0@webmail04.vgs.untd.com> References: <20230522.191936.9056.0@webmail04.vgs.untd.com> Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pdickins at gmail.com Mon May 22 20:11:10 2023 From: pdickins at gmail.com (Philip Dickinson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hermit Warbler? "photo-bombs" sapsucker In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4E343729-FFB0-481C-AF9E-0B4C7BDE0476@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From alanroedell at gmail.com Mon May 22 23:18:17 2023 From: alanroedell at gmail.com (Alan Roedell) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Close-ups of breeding plumage Double-crested Cormorants (Blaine) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Wow! Breathtaking photos. Thanks for posting them. alanroedell@gmail.com On Mon, May 22, 2023, 11:25 AM Eric Ellingson wrote: > The Double-crested Cormorants on the Blaine Marina breakwater are looking > spectacular, as far as a cormorant can be. > Clearly defined white double crests, bright cobalt blue of their inner > mouth, and a few strange poses. The one shot with the tail, wings and head > up I saw only two doing. They'd get into this position and kind of rock > about. > For those not familiar with this area, a few hundred birds and a hundred > nests line the rocky breakwater. > > The Pacific Loons keep looking better too. There were still a few hundred > off Semiahmoo Spit a few days ago. Maybe my best views yet. > > Photos posted here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ > > -- > > Eric Ellingson > > 360-820-6396 | esellingson@gmail.com > https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kmsteele at mac.com Tue May 23 07:17:09 2023 From: kmsteele at mac.com (Katherine Steele) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Dead COHA Message-ID: <4ADA86B7-6B38-45F6-8507-629EA69A8334@mac.com> We have a dead Coopers Hawk under our feeders which are near a known 2022 nest site. I recall someone tracking them last year who may be interested. I will check for banding and report it to dBird. Katherine From baro at pdx.edu Tue May 23 08:51:58 2023 From: baro at pdx.edu (Robert O'Brien) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Townsend's vs. Hermit vs. hybrid warblers by song In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: So, one question that arises from this interesting discussion, is why are they separate species? Consider Audubon's/Myrtle Warbler. Perhaps just because no one has gotten around to lumping them? Has any DNA work been done? Not that it would be necessary. Bob OBrien Portland On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 3:05?PM Steve Hampton wrote: > Agreed. Nearly all the warblers at Mt Walker in Jefferson County are > Townsend's or hybrids. Pure Hermit is rare and would need good pics to > demonstrate. Merlin sound identification commonly calls Townsend's, > hybrids, and even Black-thr Gray as "Hermit Warbler." It's definitely an > area where visual confirmation is needed. > > > > On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 11:23?AM Michael Hobbs > wrote: > >> In my experience, in the portion of Washington that has Townsend's, >> Hermit, and hybrids, they will all sing and respond to any variation of >> their collective songs. If you play a typical Townsend's song at a Hermit >> that was singing a typical Hermit song, the Hermit Warbler will come in and >> sing a Townsend's song back at you. And vice versa. Black-throated Grays >> will also get into the mix, singing songs closer to Townsend's/Hermit in >> the Hermit zone. >> >> So I would never try to use voice to distinguish TOWA, HEWA, and TOxHE in >> the Hermit Warbler range in Washington. >> >> = Michael Hobbs >> >> On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 9:41?AM Jason Zolle wrote: >> >>> Hi tweets, >>> >>> I am wondering if anyone is aware of any resources or has any useful >>> information they can share related to distinguishing Townsend's and Hermit >>> Warblers by song (1) from each other and (2) from hybrids. >>> >>> To the first, I have read the relevant sections of The Warbler Guide, >>> looked at many sonograms, listened to numerous recordings, and while I feel >>> like I have a handle on identifying some songs by ear, I still am not >>> nearly as comfortable as I would like here, and would love some suggestions >>> to improve. >>> >>> To the second, we birded Saturday north of Packwood in an apparent >>> hybrid area and the majority of TOWA/HEWA songs we heard had me throwing up >>> my hands in confusion. I suspect that may have been because many were >>> abnormal songs of hybrids -- of the 8 birds we called in for visual >>> identification, 4 were phenotypically pure Townsend's and 4 were hybrids (3 >>> of those 4 being almost pure Hermit). I found a 1995 British Columbia >>> birding article online that cites a 1983 article (which I cannot find) to >>> the effect of "hybrids in Oregon sing like Hermit Warblers, and hybrids in >>> Washington sing like Townsend's Warblers." That seems a bit simplistic and >>> I am hoping to get more information if possible on what to listen for (or >>> look for in a spectogram) so I can more confidently identify these birds by >>> ear without feeling the need to call each one in for a visual inspection. >>> I also am wondering if anyone knows whether pure Townsend's sing abnormal >>> songs in a hybrid zone, perhaps because they are learning from their dad's >>> hybrid neighbors. >>> >>> I have thought that Merlin sound ID, which of course isn't perfect but >>> often does a good job at seeing things in spectograms that are not readily >>> apparent to the ear, would have been helpful in this task, but particularly >>> in the hybrid zone it seemed to be equally confused, often showing both >>> Hermit and Townsend's simultaneously or switching between the two. (And if >>> it did show one bird only, that bird was almost always Hermit, which was a >>> bummer because not a single bird we saw visually appeared as a pure >>> Hermit). This leads me to think that maybe the songs do have elements of >>> both that the AI is picking up on. I just would love to know exactly what >>> it is seeing in the spectograms to make the call. >>> >>> Thank you! >>> Jason >>> Olympia, WA >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Tweeters mailing list >>> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > > > -- > ?Steve Hampton? > Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mollycvetovac at gmail.com Tue May 23 09:34:44 2023 From: mollycvetovac at gmail.com (Molly Cvetovac) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Dead COHA In-Reply-To: <4ADA86B7-6B38-45F6-8507-629EA69A8334@mac.com> References: <4ADA86B7-6B38-45F6-8507-629EA69A8334@mac.com> Message-ID: Sorry to hear :( You can report to Urban Raptor Conservancy at https://urbanraptor.org/contact/ On Tue, May 23, 2023 at 7:17 AM Katherine Steele wrote: > We have a dead Coopers Hawk under our feeders which are near a known 2022 > nest site. I recall someone tracking them last year who may be > interested. I will check for banding and report it to dBird. > > Katherine > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- Molly Cvetovac Pronouns: She/They www.wildlifewanderingsphotography.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Tue May 23 10:40:56 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Better Camera - an update In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230523104056.Horde.-7azfb5Ac4D2GzwtJrghKes@webmail.jimbetz.com> Chirp, Chirp = Hi again, So we went out around Bowman's Head yesterday. I had my old Lumix, and my nephews had the R7 and D500. We started just after 4 and finished just before 7 - so 3 hours. What a beautiful place! I'd been there before ... about 50 years ago ... still pretty much the same - and being a Monday not very many people on the trail. The advantage of being retired! We got lucky and there was a Bald Eagle sitting on one of the trees on that 'hump' you go over at the end of the parking lot. Right at eye level and under 30 feet away. We also saw an Oystercatcher out in that grassy area along the Pass ... and a beaver (on the way back in the pond to the left of the trail as you're leaving the parking lot for the Lighthouse Point trail). In all 3 situations the subject was still so a birds-in-flight kind of capture wasn't necessary. The D500 and the R7 out-performed the Lumix ... significantly. In terms of the quality of the image, accuracy and speed of the auto-focus, and "keeper percentage". The sensors in the D500 and R7 are essentially the same. For me the R7 wins between the two due to its far superior ability to acquire focus for a moving subject - both in how fast it acquires and how well it stays with the bird when it is flying. I need to mention that I have used the R7 every day since it arrived except yesterday and I used the D500 for a full birding session. The other thing about the R7 is the weight! The D500 is at least twice as heavy ... and the software in it is not as good (especially for b-i-f but also for stationary subjects). The "hit rate" for the Lumix was 'typical'. A week ago I would have been -very- happy with the pics I got of the Eagle and Oystercatcher. Having used the R7 for several days ... I'm more 'critical' of what the Lumix isn't doing. ;-) Overall Bowman's Head was a good experience ... but not particularly "birdy". There were Robins and White-Crowned Sparrows everywhere, some TUVUs that were -very- far away (yesterday), and an occasional RWB ... with a few starlings thrown in. Oh yes, some crows/ravens that were making a lot of noise but we never saw them. Speaking of noise - there was a Bald Eagle calling from the tree tops near the parking lot both when we arrived and when we left ... so probable nest somewhere up there but we didn't see anything there. Oh yes, and 3 Canada Geese that seem to be nesting in the large grassy area (same places and sitting down both when we left and when we came back 3 hours later). - Jim From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Tue May 23 14:40:50 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] additional comments on ... In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230523144050.Horde.5T1H6ICKn8f29tIfXZoegyX@webmail.jimbetz.com> Dave, I specifically chose the D500 and the R7 for just the reasons you consider comparing them to be "unfair". They are similarly priced and they have an equivalent sensor. So the optics and the software in the auto-focus becomes the major differences ... and the "human factors" (ease of use, especially weight). Plus a birding friend uses a D500 and swears by it - so I essentially had to try it for myself. For me - the R7 is better than the D500 ... a large part of that choice is based upon how heavy they are/aren't. Even the R7 is heavy compared to my Lumix ... but it out performs the Lumix in so many ways that it was easy for me to choose to purchase an R7. I don't know yet if I'll keep or sell the Lumix. There are some things it does such as when it is at focal lengths less than 100 that make it an excellent camers. But for birding I'm going to be using the R7 that arrived today. I stand by my opinion ... but it's just that ... my Opinion. - Jim > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 22 May 2023 12:26:31 -0700 > From: dgrainger@birdsbydave.com > To: Tweeters > Subject: [Tweeters] additional comments on subject Better Birder > Camera > Message-ID: <7879321988624eed0879487e8ddd4eaf@birdsbydave.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed > > Comparing a very old Nikon D500 with a newer Canon is absolutely not the > right thing to do. That D-500 is several generations old! It was > introduced in 2016. You should have compared the Nikon D-850 which is > the best DSLR Nikon built... Lacking an optical view finder, I have zero > plans to go mirrorless. > > I shoot a LOT of fast moving birds with a lot of foliage and other > clutter around; the D-850 is an amazing piece of equipment. I also use > either Nikkor 200-500 or Nikkor 28-300 for birding. See some results > on birdsbydave.com From habarnes at earthlink.net Tue May 23 21:32:49 2023 From: habarnes at earthlink.net (Hilary Barnes) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Birds and urban forests: please complete the Bellevue Tree Code survey Message-ID: <850d563e-6940-f942-74ee-25574e4583a0@earthlink.net> Concerned citizens may also want to speak up to protect our tree canopy. Please take the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BellevueTreeCode You don't have to be a citizen of Bellevue or a homeowner to weigh in on this. * This survey will help inform new rules that are put in place in the City of Bellevue. * Please take time to read the questions carefully. * You will see questions about significant and landmark tree protections, replacement requirements, minimum tree density, and more. * Trees4Livability is advocating for maximum protection for significant and landmark trees. We want to flood City Hall with responses to the Tree Code Survey. Please forward the survey to others with an interest saving Bellevue's significant and landmark trees. Hilary Barnes habarnes@earthlink.net From zinke.pilchuck at gmail.com Wed May 24 09:01:01 2023 From: zinke.pilchuck at gmail.com (Brian Zinke) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Washington Bird Photography Contest Message-ID: Hi Tweets, Our chapter holds a Washington bird photography contest as part of our Birdathon fundraiser and we encourage all who are interested to participate. The deadline for photo submissions is May 31. We have categories for Adult and Youth, and *we really hope you'll support/encourage any youth birders/photographers* that you may know to submit their photos. For complete contest rules and how to submit, please visit: https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org/s/2023-Photography-Contest-Rules.pdf Thanks! Brian -- [image: Logo] Brian Zinke Executive Director phone: (425) 232-6811 email: director@pilchuckaudubon.org Pilchuck Audubon Society 1429 Avenue D, PMB 198, Snohomish, WA 98290 [image: Facebook icon] [image: Twitter icon] [image: Instagram icon] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tom.good at noaa.gov Wed May 24 13:11:53 2023 From: tom.good at noaa.gov (Thomas Good - NOAA Federal) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Caspian tern congregations Message-ID: Looking for reports of locations of sizable numbers of Caspian terns around the Salish Sea, especially any roof occupancy. -- Thomas P. Good Research Biologist NOAA Fisheries - Ecosystem Science Program Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle, WA 98112 206-860-3469 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Wed May 24 18:10:46 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] How Vancouver's geese affect Canada's river systems Message-ID: https://phys.org/news/2023-05-vancouver-geese-affect-canada-river.html Sent from my iPhone From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Wed May 24 18:12:09 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Use of pesticides and herbicides found to be biggest cause of bird decline in Europe Message-ID: <7372A2A8-86B3-4C2E-BDC6-B626C70E1FF9@gmail.com> https://phys.org/news/2023-05-pesticides-herbicides-biggest-bird-decline.html Sent from my iPhone From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Wed May 24 18:14:18 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:54 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Vaccine authorized for emergency use in California condors amid bird flu outbreak Message-ID: <82E8C91B-E106-40EA-9877-3596D28F77A5@gmail.com> https://phys.org/news/2023-05-vaccine-authorized-emergency-california-condors.html Sent from my iPhone From meetings at wos.org Wed May 24 21:07:43 2023 From: meetings at wos.org (meetings@wos.org) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?WOS_Monthly_Meeting=2C_Monday=2C_June_5=2C_7?= =?utf-8?q?=3A30_pm_=E2=80=93_WOS_Member_Photo_Night?= Message-ID: <20230525040743.36144.qmail@s401.sureserver.com> On Monday June 5, 2022, the Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) invites you to our final Monthly Meeting of this season.??The program will be our ever-popular "WOS Members? Photo Night.???Attendees can anticipate a full evening's worth of photos and insights from new and old favorite birding locations.?? We thank our Member presenters in advance, for sharing their photographic and story-telling skills, and invite all to join us and enjoy the program! When:??Monday, June 5, 7:30 pm Where:??Via Zoom (Sign-in begins at 7:15 pm) When joining the meeting, we ask that you mute your device and make certain that your camera is turned off. For login information, go to http://wos.org/about-wos/monthly-meetings/.??While there, if you are not yet a member, I hope you will consider becoming one. Thanks to the generosity of our presenters, previously recorded programs are available at the following link to the WOS YouTube Channel:??https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC657f_RhriAUIwS_P1m5_nQ/videos Vicki King, WOS Program Coordinator From kenbrownpls at comcast.net Thu May 25 07:06:48 2023 From: kenbrownpls at comcast.net (Kenneth Brown) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday @ Nisqually. Message-ID: <1577075034.416562.1685023608594@connect.xfinity.com> Not quite summer, not quite spring. No unexpected species, no glaring absences. Another boring day at Nisqually? Not at all. We were briefed this morning that a section of the dike along the Nisqually River would be closed to entry for most of the day for hazard tree removal. (This informal, informative, friendly outreach by the Refuge staff is their consistent approach.) At peak attendance 32 of us ambled along in bovine bliss. A personal aside: We as a group have to do better at keeping the entrance road clear of us pedestrians. Someone could get hurt. Lecture finished, the checklist follows. Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US May 24, 2023 7:53 AM - 4:10 PM Protocol: Traveling 5.47 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Mammals: Harbor Seals, Coyote, Black-tailed deer, E. Gray squirrel. 71 species (+3 other taxa) Canada Goose 91 Wood Duck 25 Blue-winged Teal 6 Cinnamon Teal 3 Northern Shoveler 6 Gadwall 4 American Wigeon 4 Mallard 60 Northern Pintail 1 Hooded Merganser 6 Band-tailed Pigeon 4 Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 Mourning Dove 2 Rufous Hummingbird 6 hummingbird sp. 2 Sora 1 American Coot 2 Killdeer 1 Whimbrel 6 Wilson's Snipe 2 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 1 Ring-billed Gull 25 California Gull 35 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 30 Caspian Tern 80 Brandt's Cormorant 4 Double-crested Cormorant 40 Great Blue Heron 45 Accipiter sp. 1 Bald Eagle 40 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Western Wood-Pewee 8 Willow Flycatcher 10 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 2 Warbling Vireo 3 Steller's Jay 1 American Crow 6 Common Raven 2 Black-capped Chickadee 8 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Purple Martin 2 Tree Swallow 30 Violet-green Swallow 10 Bank Swallow 3 Barn Swallow 60 Cliff Swallow 20 Bushtit 6 Brown Creeper 4 Pacific Wren 1 Marsh Wren 12 Bewick's Wren 6 European Starling 18 Swainson's Thrush 28 Counted individually by group member tasked to tally this species. American Robin 40 Cedar Waxwing 50 Purple Finch 6 American Goldfinch 36 Savannah Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 33 Spotted Towhee 3 Bullock's Oriole 3 Red-winged Blackbird 50 Brown-headed Cowbird 25 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 12 Yellow Warbler 40 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Western Tanager 1 Black-headed Grosbeak 12 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S139145750 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Thu May 25 08:51:54 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Samish Flats - Evening of May 24 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230525085154.Horde.xt-jqN_HVkby3o3dNag-1b8@webmail.jimbetz.com> Chirp, Went to the East 90 yesterday. Left house at 6:00 (15 mins away) and got back after 7:30. Zip Zero! No Harrier, SEOW, GBH, RTH, or any other large birds. One duck of some kind flew in and landed - but no other ducks and no Dunlins or other shorebirds. A few RWB (10?), a few sparrows (6?), and a few starlings and that was it. A farmer was running his tractor in the field just South of the corner and there were a few crows/ravens (too far) catching insects stirred up by the discing. Nice light but I didn't even take the camera out of the case ... :-( Yes, I was scanning the distance with binoculars. At least I had the place to myself ... no wonder. - Jim From melocq22 at msn.com Thu May 25 09:01:26 2023 From: melocq22 at msn.com (Carmelo Quetell) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] What Is American Birding? Message-ID: Hey All, I've been sitting with these thoughts for over three years, and I think I've found my finest words on the matter. Given that today is the three-year anniversary of events that led me to realize this runs much deeper than I had originally thought, I wanted to take a moment to share them with you all. A couple requests: [https://static.licdn.com/aero-v1/sc/h/c45fy346jw096z9pbphyyhdz7] Carmelo Quetell on LinkedIn: What Is American Birding? On this day, three years ago, white supremacy in the United States of America would rear its ugly head, yet again, in two separate incidents. These incidents? www.linkedin.com 1. If this resonates with you, please share this file as far and wide as you can. I share it with anyone in the hopes of generating positive change. Share it on whatever social media platform you see fit (LinkedIn, Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). Tag people and organizations you feel could benefit from seeing it. Ask questions. Do your dirt time with it. 2. If these words activate negative feelings and emotions in you, ask questions and do your dirt time with them. Ask where those feelings and emotions come from. Feel them in your body. Ask yourself what it is you're grateful for, and what it is you're wanting to protect. May we all move this story forward, as far as we can, with the little bit of geologic time we have in this life. With Love & Gratitude, Carmelo Quetell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cjbirdmanclark at gmail.com Thu May 25 15:51:07 2023 From: cjbirdmanclark at gmail.com (Christopher Clark) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Puyallup River (Orting) Birding 5/25/2023 Message-ID: Hello everyone, I had another enjoyable morning birding along the Puyallup River in Orting. This week I parked in the parking area off of Calistoga St W again, but instead of heading left after the gate, today I went right, going under the Calistoga St bridge and turning around shortly before the middle and elementary schools. Birding was pretty nice, though more quiet than last week. Warbling Vireos were more noticeable though, and Willow Flycatchers were present in better numbers. Merlin sound ID picked up a Red-eyed Vireo briefly, though I wasn't able to verify it or pick it up again. Merlin also picked up something interesting - amongst all the Black-headed Grosbeaks, one particular song was consistently picked up as a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (I took 4 or 5 separate recordings)! HOWEVER, after some time I was able to get a visual of the bird in question, at least briefly, and it looked like a typical male Black-headed Grosbeak. Merlin is a fantastic app but of course it's always possible for it to confuse such similar songs, though I wonder why it chose that particular song from that particular bird? I suppose a hybrid is also possible, or simply a slightly variant song. On my way back I walked down to the river bank where a couple of Black-capped Chickadees were quite vocal, and a Killdeer didn't seem too happy to see me. Overall it was an enjoyable day, with 34 confirmed species, and I hope to return soon. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite local hotspots. Happy birding everyone! Ebird checklist below: https://ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S139241351 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdmarymoor at frontier.com Thu May 25 16:39:49 2023 From: birdmarymoor at frontier.com (birdmarymoor) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2023-05-25 References: <187653767.1480324.1685057989727.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <187653767.1480324.1685057989727@mail.yahoo.com> Tweets - A gorgeous day at Marymoor this morning.? There was a little bit of ground fog that lasted for the first 45 minutes of the walk, but other than that the weather was perfect.? Sunny, never too hot.? 49-65 degrees.? There was quite a bit of bird activity, but species diversity is extremely low. We had just 55 species today.? That's six fewer species than the lowest total in the preceding 10 years, and is 10+ species below the preceding 10-year average!?? Still, there were some things to see. Highlights: ? ? CACKLING GOOSE - One seen very well in a close fly-by with 4-5 Canadas.? At least 3 weeks later than the previous latest spring record! ????Bald Eagle - Lots of activity, probably at least 7 birds, including 4 juveniles in one tree at the lake.? This year's young??? ? ? Spotted Sandpiper - 3+ below the weir.? First of Year (FOY) ? ? Pileated Woodpecker - Adult feeding baby(s) in a snag in the Big Cottonwood Forest.? Just the 3rd year we've noted nesting in the park ? ? Willow Flycatcher - Several heard singing, and at least three seen.? (FOY) ? ? Western Kingbird - One atop a tall cottonwood west of the Dog Meadow.? (FOY for the survey) ? ? Bullock's Oriole - Female possibly building a nest in the heronry.? Later we saw our first full-adult male of the year ? ? Lazuli Bunting - Two females and 1 or 2 males, East Meadow and near the Viewing Mound Misses today included Common Merganser, Rock Pigeon, Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Cliff Swallow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler. There are also 5-10 species that have usually (at least 12 of the last 20 years) been seen at Marymoor which have not been reported this year.? And there's another 5+ that have been reported on eBird, but have not been seen on our surveys this year.? Also, swallow and swift numbers seem very, very low.? Kind of worrying. As I said, for the day just 55 species. = Michael Hobbs ???? From plkoyama at comcast.net Thu May 25 17:26:31 2023 From: plkoyama at comcast.net (PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Ferry County Birding Message-ID: <108666638.421738.1685060791037@connect.xfinity.com> Tweets, David and I were in Ferry County on Mon 5/22- Tue 5/23, arriving at Mud Lake via Okanogan Co around 3, in periodic light rain. We were basically following Matt Yawney's eBird postings a couple of days earlier, on what was apparently a "lightening round" of birding, but at a slower, more elderly pace! We found the Code 4 Eared Grebes he saw, but a pair, rather than a single bird. We also had a Code 4 Wilson's Phalarope, twirling amongst the Redheads, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Ducks, and other waterfowl.A few warbler species were seen in the trees down the road. Nothing else special that day, but the next (sunny) morning on FR 53/Scatter Creek Rd, we had 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadees (Code 4) pulled in by tape with a crowd of Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees. (We also had a Code 1 Canada Jay there, a species that has eluded us for years.) In March, we had birded Swawilla Basin Rd, located almost down to the Keller Ferry, thinking it might be great in spring migration, and it was. We had 3 Rock Wrens (Code 3) and 3 Yellow-breasted Chats (Code 3) all in different locations. It made me think of the late Bob Sundstrom's saying that getting your first of a bird species is like getting the first olive out of a tightly packed jar--the others just tumble out. At one stop, I heard a chat and David saw a Bullocks Oriole in the shrub. I insisted that the bird was a chat, so played a tape, which confirmed my birding-by-ear when the chat quickly popped up. Just after, both birds started singing, which was a real birdsong mess! This was a very productive road with lots of Chipping Sparrows, a couple of Gray Jays, Lazuli Buntings, Western Tanagers, tiny Calliope Hummers, and more. It was a great day and a half for us in what has been a tough county over the years. It helped that we stayed in the serviceable Northern Inn (good beds) rather than going back and forth from Colville as we have in the past. A great breakfast place with delicious sandwiches-to-go is Sitka Coffee Roasters. And David, a Starbucks freak, even loved his latte there! Penny Koyama, Bothell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ednewbold1 at yahoo.com Thu May 25 20:48:33 2023 From: ednewbold1 at yahoo.com (Ed Newbold) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] I bet there are Poorwills at South Prairie; and a link to slightly improved move References: <696873972.2226200.1685072913644.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <696873972.2226200.1685072913644@mail.yahoo.com> Hi all, A guy I know a little bit at a company I do business with told me last year about kicking up a Poorwill near South Prairie a few years ago. This guy is not a birder but a person can get a sense of someone's observational skills and they are good. Yesterday he informed me he heard their calls in the same area (he mimicked them well), which is private property about 2 miles west of South Prairie heading down 162, north of 162. I don't expect anyone to jump on this, but to me it was very intriguing. Also, I fixed up ending scenes fromthe movie about the May migration at Butyl Creek and here's the new link.? I'm of course hoping that it will go viral, all that is necessary is that people misinterpret what it's about. The link: (38) I will give you my finest hour, the one I spent watching you shower - YouTube Thanks all, Ed Newbold -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dkreft052 at gmail.com Fri May 26 08:07:36 2023 From: dkreft052 at gmail.com (David Kreft) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Ferry County Birding In-Reply-To: <108666638.421738.1685060791037@connect.xfinity.com> References: <108666638.421738.1685060791037@connect.xfinity.com> Message-ID: The Northern Inn in Republic is a great option if you?re headed to Ferry County or the Okanogan Highlands. The owner is a new birder! Dave Kreft Kettle Falls Sent from my iPhone > On May 25, 2023, at 5:27 PM, PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA wrote: > > ? > Tweets, > David and I were in Ferry County on Mon 5/22- Tue 5/23, arriving at Mud Lake via Okanogan Co around 3, in periodic light rain. We were basically following Matt Yawney's eBird postings a couple of days earlier, on what was apparently a "lightening round" of birding, but at a slower, more elderly pace! We found the Code 4 Eared Grebes he saw, but a pair, rather than a single bird. We also had a Code 4 Wilson's Phalarope, twirling amongst the Redheads, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Ducks, and other waterfowl.A few warbler species were seen in the trees down the road. > > Nothing else special that day, but the next (sunny) morning on FR 53/Scatter Creek Rd, we had 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadees (Code 4) pulled in by tape with a crowd of Black-capped and Mountain Chickadees. (We also had a Code 1 Canada Jay there, a species that has eluded us for years.) In March, we had birded Swawilla Basin Rd, located almost down to the Keller Ferry, thinking it might be great in spring migration, and it was. We had 3 Rock Wrens (Code 3) and 3 Yellow-breasted Chats (Code 3) all in different locations. It made me think of the late Bob Sundstrom's saying that getting your first of a bird species is like getting the first olive out of a tightly packed jar--the others just tumble out. At one stop, I heard a chat and David saw a Bullocks Oriole in the shrub. I insisted that the bird was a chat, so played a tape, which confirmed my birding-by-ear when the chat quickly popped up. Just after, both birds started singing, which was a real birdsong mess! This was a very productive road with lots of Chipping Sparrows, a couple of Gray Jays, Lazuli Buntings, Western Tanagers, tiny Calliope Hummers, and more. It was a great day and a half for us in what has been a tough county over the years. > > It helped that we stayed in the serviceable Northern Inn (good beds) rather than going back and forth from Colville as we have in the past. A great breakfast place with delicious sandwiches-to-go is Sitka Coffee Roasters. And David, a Starbucks freak, even loved his latte there! > Penny Koyama, Bothell > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From cohenellenr at yahoo.com Fri May 26 10:11:39 2023 From: cohenellenr at yahoo.com (Ellen Cohen) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Why we bird References: <1750668650.2407495.1685121099767.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1750668650.2407495.1685121099767@mail.yahoo.com> An excellent piece by my acquaintance Chris Cooper https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/26/opinion/birds-freedom.html?unlocked_article_code=vXPRSZy-WDdjA__B1ehsHgvO0xdQar94ytH4_yWAyWrc-L5GVQbvSwueCOGIhYuUs0oC3zyPb9SHE-T8JK5bO3I4ccPqHWChAIKZWHyToUMwfow5TAnmlrJmSyoIKdipHJiA1MWGi18LrZNz8VnMWd2X9hM1p1G4FAgLyTFFFelJtBP4lKc6LW_7Fho97jCk_4V19GRWIMKxx7G_pxkDUo1m1khnK-T1NSmg7e9tnESH0nS5BmgvmtiD_aR5cEJf_NJ303rYxQqOvNCuUNdC-S6ahRhLtFSGZonI3M47oHLok1R5IgrK439zVpnw0860_VUj72PnEg&smid=url-share -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From valhikes at gmail.com Fri May 26 11:23:39 2023 From: valhikes at gmail.com (Valerie Anderson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Blue-winged Teal Message-ID: Hi Tweets, We live by a small pond that attracts a nice variety of waterfowl. The usual gang that comes up from the water to browse under our feeders includes Mallards and lots of Wood Ducks. This morning, as I gazed out the kitchen window, there was a male Blue-winged Teal! This was definitely a first "yard bird" for me! Valerie Anderson Olympia -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Sat May 27 07:32:21 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Goshawk lecture Message-ID: Dear birders and hawkwatchers? and there is a world of difference. Wed. 31 at 1 pm. At the sand bluff overlooking Swantown Lake in Oak Harbor. To my detractors? I will stop reporting upon Goshawks when you start reporting upon them. I will just give a yearly breakdown of my sightings. Cheers? Nelson Briefer ? Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From isseki.ryotoku at gmail.com Sat May 27 09:32:30 2023 From: isseki.ryotoku at gmail.com (Stephen T Bird) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Rarity Map Message-ID: Hi Tweeters, To my recollection someone in WA made a nice ?live? map that imports eBird rare bird reports to make them easier to visualize. They?d done a great job with lots of adjustable features. Does anyone have that link? Thanks all, Stephen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Sat May 27 12:40:18 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Goshawk Talk In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230527124018.Horde.QI9cGObHBoFkHTwV-5SyJym@webmail.jimbetz.com> Nelson, I tried to find where you are talking about. I found Swantown Lake but can't figure out what you mean by "the sand bluff overlooking" because it seems like the land is pretty flat on all sides. Can you describe how to get there more completely? - Jim in Burlington > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 27 May 2023 07:32:21 -0700 > From: Nelson Briefer > To: TWEETERS tweeters > Subject: [Tweeters] Goshawk lecture > Message-ID: > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Dear birders and hawkwatchers? and there is a world of difference. Wed. 31 > at 1 pm. At the sand bluff overlooking Swantown Lake in Oak Harbor. To my > detractors? I will stop reporting upon Goshawks when you start reporting > upon them. I will just give a yearly breakdown of my sightings. Cheers? > Nelson Briefer ? Anacortes. From puajunhong at gmail.com Sat May 27 15:46:33 2023 From: puajunhong at gmail.com (Jun Hong Pua) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Rarity Map In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: This one? http://birdingwashington.info/dashboard/wa/ ------------------------------ Follow me on Instagram: @naturejunco for bird, wildlife and other nature photography. @landscapejunco for nightscape and other landscape photography. @cosplayjunco for cosplay and other portrait photography. On Sat, May 27, 2023 at 9:32?AM Stephen T Bird wrote: > Hi Tweeters, > > To my recollection someone in WA made a nice ?live? map that imports eBird > rare bird reports to make them easier to visualize. They?d done a great job > with lots of adjustable features. Does anyone have that link? > > > Thanks all, > Stephen > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kerry.tremain at gmail.com Sat May 27 18:05:56 2023 From: kerry.tremain at gmail.com (Kerry Tremain) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hawk tagged Message-ID: <80142412-77AF-499B-81DA-274E2D891158@gmail.com> ?At 10 am on 5/27 ?I observed a Red-tailed hawk standing on the side of the road heading into La Connor from Hwy 20. It had two distinctive blue patches on its wings. Steve Hampton tells someone, he knows not who, is making hawks with patagial bands and that I should report it here and to the bird banding lab, but I?m not familiar with this outfit. Kerry Tremain Sent from my iPhone From zoramon at mac.com Sat May 27 18:28:24 2023 From: zoramon at mac.com (Zora Monster) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hawk tagged In-Reply-To: <80142412-77AF-499B-81DA-274E2D891158@gmail.com> References: <80142412-77AF-499B-81DA-274E2D891158@gmail.com> Message-ID: <35E5BC45-A3C9-42D0-A2CB-42DDED88BD9D@mac.com> That hawk was tagged at SeaTac airport and relocated. You can report it here: wingtaggedhawks@portseattle.org. Zora Dermer Seattle Sent from my iPhone > On May 27, 2023, at 6:07 PM, Kerry Tremain wrote: > > ?At 10 am on 5/27 ?I observed a Red-tailed hawk standing on the side of the road heading into La Connor from Hwy 20. It had two distinctive blue patches on its wings. Steve Hampton tells someone, he knows not who, is making hawks with patagial bands and that I should report it here and to the bird banding lab, but I?m not familiar with this outfit. > Kerry Tremain > > > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From michaelfleming0607 at gmail.com Sat May 27 22:31:38 2023 From: michaelfleming0607 at gmail.com (Michael Fleming) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Goshawk lecture In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: OMG -- Nelson Briefer is back on Tweeters after being removed a while back..!! On Sat, May 27, 2023 at 7:32?AM Nelson Briefer wrote: > Dear birders and hawkwatchers? and there is a world of difference. Wed. 31 > at 1 pm. At the sand bluff overlooking Swantown Lake in Oak Harbor. To my > detractors? I will stop reporting upon Goshawks when you start reporting > upon them. I will just give a yearly breakdown of my sightings. Cheers? > Nelson Briefer ? Anacortes. _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > - -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tvulture at gmx.com Sun May 28 08:59:01 2023 From: tvulture at gmx.com (Diann MacRae) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hawk tagged In-Reply-To: <80142412-77AF-499B-81DA-274E2D891158@gmail.com> References: <80142412-77AF-499B-81DA-274E2D891158@gmail.com> Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdbooker at zipcon.net Sun May 28 17:18:19 2023 From: birdbooker at zipcon.net (Ian Paulsen) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The Birdbooker Report Message-ID: <45edf3a-917f-85a0-b41b-e5c5e5787799@zipcon.net> HI ALL: I posted about 4 bird and 5 non-bird books at my blog here: https://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/2023/05/new-titles.html sincerely Ian Paulsen Bainbridge Island, WA, USA Visit my BIRDBOOKER REPORT blog here: https://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/ From baro at pdx.edu Sun May 28 18:09:58 2023 From: baro at pdx.edu (Robert O'Brien) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hawk tagged In-Reply-To: References: <80142412-77AF-499B-81DA-274E2D891158@gmail.com> Message-ID: A few years back, on a Raptor Route near Sandy OR, I observed and photographed a tagged Redtail. Turns out it had been originally tagged (naturally) at PDX but then had been first detected about 100 miles SE. But it returned. I detected it 2 years later, about 10 miles due east of PDX, along the Columbia. That's one reason. Without the tags I would never have recognized it. Seems this one observation is reason enough for tagging.. I'm sure there are many more. Carole Hallett would know. Bob OBrien Portland On Sun, May 28, 2023 at 10:41?AM Diann MacRae wrote: > Why patagial tags in this day and age? > > Diann MacRae > Olympic Vulture Study > 22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E. > Bothell, WA 98021 > tvulture@gmx.com > > > *Sent:* Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 6:05 PM > *From:* "Kerry Tremain" > *To:* tweeters@u.washington.edu > *Subject:* [Tweeters] Hawk tagged > ?At 10 am on 5/27 ?I observed a Red-tailed hawk standing on the side of > the road heading into La Connor from Hwy 20. It had two distinctive blue > patches on its wings. Steve Hampton tells someone, he knows not who, is > making hawks with patagial bands and that I should report it here and to > the bird banding lab, but I?m not familiar with this outfit. > Kerry Tremain > > > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From baro at pdx.edu Sun May 28 18:26:56 2023 From: baro at pdx.edu (Robert O'Brien) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hawk tagged In-Reply-To: References: <80142412-77AF-499B-81DA-274E2D891158@gmail.com> Message-ID: Here is the photo https://www.freelists.org/archives/obol/12-2019/jpgH5kDxaV80D.jpg Bob OBrien On Sun, May 28, 2023 at 6:09?PM Robert O'Brien wrote: > A few years back, on a Raptor Route near Sandy OR, I observed and > photographed a tagged Redtail. Turns out it had been originally tagged > (naturally) at PDX but then had been first detected about 100 miles SE. > But it returned. I detected it 2 years later, about 10 miles due east of > PDX, along the Columbia. That's one reason. Without the tags I would > never have recognized it. Seems this one observation is reason enough for > tagging.. I'm sure there are many more. Carole Hallett would know. > Bob OBrien Portland > > On Sun, May 28, 2023 at 10:41?AM Diann MacRae wrote: > >> Why patagial tags in this day and age? >> >> Diann MacRae >> Olympic Vulture Study >> 22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E. >> Bothell, WA 98021 >> tvulture@gmx.com >> >> >> *Sent:* Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 6:05 PM >> *From:* "Kerry Tremain" >> *To:* tweeters@u.washington.edu >> *Subject:* [Tweeters] Hawk tagged >> ?At 10 am on 5/27 ?I observed a Red-tailed hawk standing on the side of >> the road heading into La Connor from Hwy 20. It had two distinctive blue >> patches on its wings. Steve Hampton tells someone, he knows not who, is >> making hawks with patagial bands and that I should report it here and to >> the bird banding lab, but I?m not familiar with this outfit. >> Kerry Tremain >> >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hank.heiberg at gmail.com Mon May 29 06:47:57 2023 From: hank.heiberg at gmail.com (Hank Heiberg) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Kittitas County & Beyond In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: We recently returned from a very enjoyable 3 day birding trip to Kittitas, Grant & Yakima Counties. Here is a link to the eBird trip report. https://ebird.org/tripreport/133427 Click on ?show all details? to see where a species was seen. Here is a link to the photo album for the trip https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/albums/72177720308640074 which includes the following video of an American Avocet feeding in Soap Lake, Grant County. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/52928691581/in/dateposted/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com Mon May 29 13:12:23 2023 From: jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] large Am. White Pelican flock - Willapa Bay Message-ID: <26753473-9A3E-4422-92AF-20E8A71ADB01@gmail.com> Two nearby flocks totaling about 86 birds flew north just off my deck on Willapa Bay a few minutes ago heading north up the peninsula. I see what is presumably the Columbia River flock occasionally, but this is probably the most I have seen at one time. A delightful sight. Jeff Gilligan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Mon May 29 15:49:35 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Washington, D.C. Passes Bird-Friendly Building Act - American Bird Conservancy Message-ID: <1BBA923B-B735-4636-AB31-3E29B7838FAF@gmail.com> https://abcbirds.org/news/dc-bird-friendly-building-act/ Sent from my iPhone From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Mon May 29 15:59:43 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] New Seabird Restoration Project Highlights Connections Between Culture and Conservation - American Bird Conservancy Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Mon May 29 16:00:53 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Supreme Court Decision on Clean Water Act Is a Major Loss for Birds and People - American Bird Conservancy Message-ID: https://abcbirds.org/news/supreme-court-clean-water-act-ruling/ Sent from my iPhone From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Mon May 29 16:04:36 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Avian Deception More Widespread Than Previously Thought | TS Digest | The Scientist Message-ID: https://www.the-scientist.com/notebook/avian-deception-more-widespread-than-previously-thought-70498 Sent from my iPhone From benedict.t at comcast.net Mon May 29 19:47:15 2023 From: benedict.t at comcast.net (Tom Benedict) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Low Flying Canada Goose Flock - Migrants? Message-ID: We live in a part of Burien, WA which overlooks Puget Sound. Last Saturday, May 27, 2023, I heard a large number of honking geese coming from the west, so I looked up to see what they might be. We typically see geese flocks flying quite high but these were below out elevation (around 300 FASL. Once I spotted them I could see that they were Canada Geese and the flock was around 80 birds in a V formation headed north. Would these have been migratory geese? Seems a little late for them to still be headed to nesting grounds. However, the size of the flock seems exceptionally large, at least around here, for a local population. Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA From jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com Tue May 30 20:03:44 2023 From: jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bar-tailed Godwits - Willapa Bay Message-ID: <735D5BE7-66F2-458B-8EDE-8E9CC9954650@gmail.com> I was just surprised to look at the little remaining mud/gravel islands off my yard on the Long Beach Peninsula to see a flock of apparently first summer Bar-tailed Godwits. i saw them when I was putting something in my car. I got my car binoculars on them, and after looking at them for a few minutes went toward the house for a camera, but they lifted off and flew low along the bay to the north. Some were partially red below, but most were without red. Several small mud/gravel islands form on the changing tide at my little bight, which often attracts shorebirds. The last shorebird other than Killdeer that I had seen from the yard was a Greater Yellowlegs on May 23. I am very familiar with Bar-tailed Godwits from Oregon, Washington (Tokeland and Illwaco), Alaska, Asia and Australia. I do not remember the year, but the late Harry Nehls once found an even a larger flock of Bar-tailed Godwits near the parking lot at Ledbetter State Park in early June. Jeff Gilligan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com Tue May 30 20:23:22 2023 From: jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bar-tailed Godwits - Willapa Bay. (there were nine in the flock) In-Reply-To: <735D5BE7-66F2-458B-8EDE-8E9CC9954650@gmail.com> References: <735D5BE7-66F2-458B-8EDE-8E9CC9954650@gmail.com> Message-ID: I forgot to mention how many there were. There were nine. I suspect that they had been near the south end of the bay earlier. Ledbetter may be a place to look for them tomorrow. > On May 30, 2023, at 8:03 PM, Jeff Gilligan wrote: > > I was just surprised to look at the little remaining mud/gravel islands off my yard on the Long Beach Peninsula to see a flock of apparently first summer Bar-tailed Godwits. i saw them when I was putting something in my car. I got my car binoculars on them, and after looking at them for a few minutes went toward the house for a camera, but they lifted off and flew low along the bay to the north. Some were partially red below, but most were without red. Several small mud/gravel islands form on the changing tide at my little bight, which often attracts shorebirds. > > The last shorebird other than Killdeer that I had seen from the yard was a Greater Yellowlegs on May 23. > > I am very familiar with Bar-tailed Godwits from Oregon, Washington (Tokeland and Illwaco), Alaska, Asia and Australia. > > I do not remember the year, but the late Harry Nehls once found an even a larger flock of Bar-tailed Godwits near the parking lot at Ledbetter State Park in early June. > > > Jeff Gilligan > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hank.heiberg at gmail.com Tue May 30 20:43:08 2023 From: hank.heiberg at gmail.com (Hank Heiberg) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Chukars at Stillwater (Snoqualmie Valley) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Here is a video of one of the four Chukars that we saw at Stillwater (north of Carnation) today. If you turn up your audio, you will hear the Chukar vocalizing. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/52939095489/in/dateposted/ Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/52939324185/in/dateposted/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/52938935041/in/dateposted/ Hank & Karen Heiberg Issaquah, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mj.cygnus at gmail.com Wed May 31 11:11:17 2023 From: mj.cygnus at gmail.com (Martha Jordan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Feeder demands and behavior Message-ID: Since the band tailed pigeons were mobbing my feeders the past several weeks and then depositing their droppings on my cars as they flew out, I decided to take the feeders down. Also using my feeders were a number of smaller birds: black capped chickadee, rufous sided towhee, evening grosbeak, juncos, etc. On many occasions when the feeders were emptied by the pigeons, one or two would fly from the feeder and hang on the window frame of the house to let me know they were displeased and to get me to come out and rectify the egregious oversight. The feeders are down. And today the little guys are coming around and sitting on the pole looking forlorn. And then a plucky junco flies over to the window and hangs on to the sill, fluttering and looking in. He did this for about 20 seconds, and then did it again. It is now hanging out on the feeder pole......waiting. Their pleas have been heard. I will fill the feeders again. And amazing how the little guys learned from their bigger feeder friends. And how intelligent birds really are. Does anyone else see this behavior? Martha Jordan Everett, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kiroboto at gmail.com Wed May 31 12:16:24 2023 From: kiroboto at gmail.com (kiroboto@gmail.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Feeder demands and behavior In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: A certain Scrub Jay bangs on my patio door when he wants food. It is so loud I hear it from the other room. I admit I give him a piece of walnut because if I don?t, he tears holes in the screen door. > On May 31, 2023, at 12:04, tweeters-request@mailman11.u.washington.edu wrote: > > Date: Wed, 31 May 2023 11:11:17 -0700 > From: Martha Jordan > > To: Tweeters > > Subject: [Tweeters] Feeder demands and behavior > Message-ID: > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Since the band tailed pigeons were mobbing my feeders the past several > weeks and then depositing their droppings on my cars as they flew out, I > decided to take the feeders down. Also using my feeders were a number of > smaller birds: black capped chickadee, rufous sided towhee, evening > grosbeak, juncos, etc. On many occasions when the feeders were emptied > by the pigeons, one or two would fly from the feeder and hang on the window > frame of the house to let me know they were displeased and to get me to > come out and rectify the egregious oversight. > The feeders are down. And today the little guys are coming around and > sitting on the pole looking forlorn. And then a plucky junco flies over to > the window and hangs on to the sill, fluttering and looking in. He did this > for about 20 seconds, and then did it again. It is now hanging out on the > feeder pole......waiting. > Their pleas have been heard. I will fill the feeders again. > And amazing how the little guys learned from their bigger feeder > friends. And how intelligent birds really are. > Does anyone else see this behavior? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tsbrennan at hotmail.com Wed May 31 14:06:07 2023 From: tsbrennan at hotmail.com (Tim Brennan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Memorial Day weekend - Southwest Washington birding Message-ID: Hey Tweets! I was able to get down Sun-Tuesday to continue this attempt to see 150 species in Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum Counties this year. I picked up 35 new year birds for Skamania, most of them coming on the Whistle Punk Trail north of Carson. There's a beautiful mix of habitats there, and I picked up 8 species of warblers (Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, Wilson's, Hermit, Black-throated Gray, MacGillivray's Warblers and Common Yellowthroat - Townsend's was almost certainly there as well, but I never got a good view), and 5 flycatchers (Hammond's, Olive-sided, Pacific-slope, and Willow, as well as Western Wood-pewee). Wind Mountain was also a nice hike, and the slopes down from the trail contributed to some really nice views of Hermit, MacGillivray's and Nashville Warblers. Other Skamania highlights included Sooty Grouse (Wind Mountain, and later near Silver Star), Bushtit (tough to find - on the entry road to Beacon Rock State Park), and Yellow-breasted Chat (Marble Road). I spent a little time in Cowlitz, where I got Yellow-breasted Chat on the powerlines that cross the Yale Bridge Road. I did some Clark birding along the corridor from Yacolt uphill, picking up American Dippers (at every single bridge, it seemed), House Wren, and Olive-sided Flycatcher. The Grouse Vista Trail was a fun hike, as it leads from Clark County into Skamania County. It does go to the summit of Silver Star Mountain, and there were plenty of hikers doing the whole thing, but I was content turning back a little ways into Skamania when it started to get a little steeper and snowier. Plenty of Sooty Grouse along the way, and again - Hermit Warblers galore, including one point when I was viewing 5 of them, all looking pretty pure, in a single tree! Hermit Thrushes singing the whole way, of course. The Skamania day has been blogged here: https://southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com/2023/05/may-2728th-whistle-punk-and-wind.html [https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieROggMSySEFAOtbRyDEwbXXwVKOeHdEZYPwfMWdbd4cMiOSft-jNjnRac0FKkK-z6bdJkMqY4NHrb8IZO1M5kiGsSjj400okXSr-gA9AmM27aWuowGX5dk2yfck9Zckq2OuhXVYp1wYsRg3I6NJDI9p_ZaZyFXwPEI6jph-IR1Qheu7Y54Hwdg2-l6w/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/IMG_20230528_074129%20(2).jpg] May 27/28th - Whistle Punk and Wind Mountain (Skamania County) Whistle Punk Trailhead What a neat spot. I had seen lots of good sightings from this trail, near Wind River Road, and not far from the Pacif... southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com Other days will follow. Cheers, Tim Brennan Renton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Wed May 31 17:09:17 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Deer bird Message-ID: A mother deer and her fawn were on the bushy roadside, then they cut into the brush and kicked up small birds and on the back of the mama was a riding cowbird. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From marvbreece at q.com Wed May 31 17:37:13 2023 From: marvbreece at q.com (MARVIN BREECE) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] M St Wilson's Phalarope Message-ID: This afternoon there was a single WILSON'S PHALAROPE at M Street, in Auburn,King County. Video: https://flic.kr/p/2oEix32 Marv Breece Tukwila, WA marvbreece@q.com ....that the elected might never form to themselves an interest separate from the electors ... - Thomas Paine, from Common Sense -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Wed May 31 17:39:38 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?Very_impressive=3A_=E2=80=9CBird_brains_can_?= =?utf-8?q?flick_switch_to_perceive_Earth=27s_magnetic_field=E2=80=AF?= =?utf-8?b?4oCc?= Message-ID: https://phys.org/news/2023-05-bird-brains-flick-earth-magnetic.html Sent from my iPhone From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Wed May 31 17:41:37 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] How forest fragmentation affects birds depends on their wings Message-ID: <6C849BCB-D32D-4ED8-843A-94517599091E@gmail.com> https://phys.org/news/2023-05-forest-fragmentation-affects-birds-wings.html Sent from my iPhone From panmail at mailfence.com Wed May 31 18:13:28 2023 From: panmail at mailfence.com (pan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:55 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] King Cty. Manx Shearwater/s Message-ID: <1518372620.215678.1685582008080@ichabod.co-bxl> Hi, Tweets, A state-level rarity has been visiting Puget Sound off Seattle, one to two being reported a few times since May 26, mostly fairly early morning, but some into early afternoon.? I got to see a Manx Shearwater pass south early this morning from West Point in Seattle's Discovery Park.? The winds and weather pattern during these sightings looks to continue into tomorrow, should you want to make an attempt from some headland or boat.? Good luck, Alan Grenon Seattle -- Sent with https://mailfence.com Secure and private email -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: