Date: 5/16/26 12:27 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wood Duck ...
... and 3 or 4 ducklings spotted in that ditch that you cross when
driving into Hayton from
Fir Island Road. Cute! Rather quickly moving away from right by
the road - so a
long/quick view that devolved too quickly to get a pic but still
was great. - Jim
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Date: 5/15/26 6:13 pm From: Hank Heiberg via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Common Merganser Ducklings
Today, a rather rainy day, we birded at Lake Sammamish State Park. The rain kept the crowds away. The only other people we saw out in the rain were a few people fishing. Fewer people contributed to better birding.
The highlight of the day was a female Common Merganser with its ducklings.
Date: 5/15/26 1:07 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Peregrine?
Hi,
Anyone have a location that is -likely- for seeing Peregrine? I live
in Skagit County so
near me would be better. I want to photograph them so if that is a
consideration of
your recommendation it's appreciated. Should I wait for a different
time of year?
- TIA ... Jim
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Date: 5/15/26 11:46 am From: J Christian Kessler via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bullock's Oriole
hust a few minutes ago - about 10:00 - a male Bullock's Oriole in breeding
plumage landed for maybe a minute on our front deck, then flew north
towards the neighbors yard! no time for a photo, but my wife and I both
saw it clearly from 30 ft. away.
the trees he was close to are a non-native cedar and a maple
habitat okay, but wrong side of the mountains!
Chris Kessler
up slope from north Lake Washington
--
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass … it’s about learning how
to dance in the rain.”
Deborah Tuck
Date: 5/15/26 9:57 am From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday at Nisqually
A late spring day started out rainy and cool. To some of us "Homies", the change in weather was welcome after a few days of sunshine and unseasonable warmth. A smaller than usual crowd assembled on the deck, some regulars deterred by the rain, some absent having left early for the Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) Conference, held so far across the state that it's in Lewiston, Idaho this year. The surface of the pond was disturbed not only by the rain, but also by the movements of a pair each of Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, Wood Duck and Mallards. A couple Marsh Wrens chittered in the reeds.
High up in a snag near the entrance to the Visitors Center, a Northern Flicker was
spewing out wood chips, working to enlarge the entrance hole and cavity of it's new residence. The resident male Rufous Hummingbird was holding his territory at the entrance to the play area. Yellow Warblers sang in the trees and several (first of the year) Cedar Waxwings perched in the bare top of a pear tree in the orchard. A pair of Band-tailed Pigeons claimed the top of a neighboring tree, another pair flew over head, followed shortly by Mourning Doves. American Robins, Song Sparrows, and a couple Spotted Towhees hopped along the path and foraged in the leaf litter. More Cedar Waxwings were seen along the entrance road, but it was generally pretty quiet, the rain dampening more than just us birders.
Activity picked up once we passed the 90° turn in the service road. Atop a Willow between the parking lot and the road, a male Anna's Hummingbird again stood guard over his domain. The low clouds kept the insects and therefore the swallows down low, just a few feet over the water of the flooded fields. They all were there, Barn, Tree, Violet-green, Cliff, Bank, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows. It was difficult to follow them with binoculars as they swooped and swerved. The Bank Swallows in particular seemed to fly in tight formation in small groups, their bright white bellies a sharp contrast to their plain, dark uppers. Slightly above the swallows were Vaux's Swifts, another first of the year, also pushed down by the weather, their short, narrow tails and rapid wing flutter distinctive.
Alongside the boardwalk on the west side of the loop trail, a Virginia Rail played peek-a-boo with us, disappearing behind the near-side grass then emerging again as we tried to get everyone "on it." A Muskrat went about its business, the top of its head and its trailing wake, all that was visible. More Marsh Wrens called and flitted busily in the in the near-shore reeds. A couple of female Hooded Mergansers swam in the north end of the pond. Red-winged Blackbirds sang from both reeds and nearby trees. A previously found Robin's nest was again empty, possibly abandoned. We made a side trip back out to the service road to check the north end of the flooded field. Most of the ducks have left, only a pair of the recently numerous American Wigeon remain. A single Northern Shoveler slid between tufts of grass, a few more flew north over the far side. Mallards and a few Wood Ducks stuck around, joined by some Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal that have come in as consolation. Our attention was drawn to violent splashing in the water nearby. A hostile Pied-billed grebe charged a female Hooded Merganser, apparently to drive her away from the Grebe's nest. The retreating Merganser was followed by some offspring of her own. As they emerged from the grass into more open water, their number kept growing to a dozen or more. Mallard ducklings started to mix with the young Mergansers but were quickly driven away by mother Merganser. Turning to return to the loop trail, Matt spotted a male California Quail, a rare sight on the Refuge, on the side of the road south of us.
Back on the trail, the Anna's Hummingbird we found last week was still on the nest. Farther along, a Rufous Hummingbird was also on it's nest. There was no outward sign of activity at the American Goldfinch nest in the same tree, nor at the nearby Red-breasted Sapsucker's cavity. Further north along the trail, the young have already fledged from another two Hummingbird nests we've been watching. Two of the fledglings were hanging out in the neighborhood.
We searched the field next to the Twin Barns, unsuccessfully, for the White-faced Ibis(s) that have been seen here for over two weeks. Maybe they're just out of sight. A Pied-billed Grebe shared the flooded field with a few Mallards and little else. More Swallows carved the air in pursuit of a meal. The rain had tapered off.
Scoping the Cottonwood near the Nisqually River, the Eagle's nest can still be picked out from the covering foliage, if you know its there. We waited for the wind to blow back the leaves, but still did not catch sight of the gray, fuzzy Eaglet we saw last week. Walking west, we heard the unique sound of Purple Martin. When we left the shelter of the Willows on the south side of the dike, we felt the, till then, unappreciated increase in the wind coming out of the south. Not really cold, but cool enough to chill. More Swallows and Swifts flew overhead. A solo American Coot, a few Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal, Mallards and Canada Geese occupied the freshwater marsh. Virginia Rail and Sora were calling from the Cattail swamp. Near the start of the Estuary boardwalk, a small flock of Hudsonian Whimbrel flushed, flying northerly.
The tide was low, a lot of exposed mud surrounded the boardwalk as we reached the Creek overlook covered platform. The center of the platform was splattered with mud, fallen from the Cliff Swallow nests being constructed under the roof. More Whimbrel were scattered around us. Two adult Eagles were in the nest to the south and across McAllister Creek. A large cluster of Double-crested Cormorants lined the east shore. A few Ring-billed gulls dotted the mud. A couple, of hominids, not part of our group, shared the platform with us. As they stepped out of the shelter to go north, a huge (probably female) Bald Eagle swooped in low from the north, it seemed just barely over their heads. As it flared it wings to land on the roof of the shelter, something (we decided it was mud from it's talons) fell, striking the cheek of the woman. She was startled, but cheerfully decided she'd been specially blessed by the Eagle.
Looking across the water to Luhr Beach from the viewing platform at the end of the boardwalk, the white gourds were populated by Purple Martins. A couple of Common Loons surfaced in Nisqually Reach. Brandt's Cormorant roosted on the Chanell marker between us and Ketron Island. White smudges of Gulls, too distant to identify, clustered along the shore near the mouth of the Nisqually River. Brown-headed Cowbirds lined the boardwalk railing and a Common Raven croaked and soared over the ridgeline west of the creek as we returned to the dike. The rain returned but lighter than before.
An American Kestrel perched in a snag across the surge plain. Yellow Warblers, Black-capped Chickadees and a Western Flycatcher caught our notice as we walked to the Nisqually River overlook. A Band-tailed Pigeon hung out in the top of a Cottonwood, a Belted Kingfisher perched on a broken trunk suspended over the river. We walked the east side of the loop back to the Visitors Center to complete our day. I've run out of words, see the following checklist.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
May 13, 2026 8:00 AM - 4:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.38 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk began on a rainy 52º F morning with a 3-5 knot south breeze, the rain slacked off around noon with the wind increasing to 10-12 knots. The rain re-started at 3 p.m., and we ended the walk at 57º F. A High 13.4-foot tide at 3:05 a.m. ebbed to a +-1.2-foot low water at 10:05 a.m.; flooding toward a +10.8-foot high at 4:15 p.m. Non-birds seen included Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, a couple of muskrats, and Harbor Seals in the estuary of McAllister Creek.
71 species (+7 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 1 Near the cattail marsh; believed to be the injured Tav that's continuing since the hunting season.
Canada Goose 65
Wood Duck 9
Blue-winged Teal 7
Cinnamon Teal 18
Northern Shoveler 5
Gadwall 3
American Wigeon 3
Mallard 45
Mallard (Domestic type) 1 Appeared to be a Mallard X Domestic drake in the flooded field.
Green-winged Teal (American) 2
Bufflehead 1 McAllister Creek
Hooded Merganser 18 Hen with 15 (!) 2-day-old ducklings
California Quail 1 Cock bird on service road west of the Visitors' Center
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 3
Band-tailed Pigeon 20
Mourning Dove 6
Vaux's Swift 10
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Rufous Hummingbird 4
Virginia Rail 5
Sora 4
American Coot 1
Killdeer 2
Hudsonian Whimbrel 15
Ring-billed Gull 75
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 4
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 32
Larus sp. 85
Caspian Tern 12
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Common Loon 2 Nisqually Reach
Brandt's Cormorant 6 Nisqually Reach Channel Marker
Double-crested Cormorant 95
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 28
Accipitrine hawk sp. (former Accipiter sp.) 1
Bald Eagle 28
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope) 5
Western Warbling Vireo 1
Steller's Jay (Coastal) 1 Timber west of McAllister Creek
American Crow 6
Common Raven 1 Timber west of McAllister Creek
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Bank Swallow 22 * Flagged for high count; filter does not appear to account for numbers regularly seen at Nisqually NWR
Tree Swallow 45
Violet-green Swallow 10
Purple Martin 19
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 60
Cliff Swallow 28
Bushtit (Pacific) 4
Brown Creeper 2
Marsh Wren 20
Bewick's Wren 4
European Starling 45
Swainson's Thrush (Russet-backed) 14
American Robin 36
Cedar Waxwing 45
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 45
Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 Near Twin Barns
Savannah Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 37
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 4
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Brown-headed Cowbird 38
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1
Common Yellowthroat 17
Northern Yellow Warbler 35
Wilson's Warbler 4
Date: 5/14/26 2:57 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Western Flycatcher on Harstine Island
Saw my first WEFL today here at the far southern tip of Harstine Island in south Puget Sound. Diagnostic white eye ring, two white wing pars and olive greens wash helped me identify it. Haven’t heard its song yet though.
Date: 5/14/26 2:44 pm From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-05-14
Hi Tweets -
After we finished the walk today, Michael headed directly to the WOS conference, so I’ll be doing the write-up.
Today we had a beautiful May day at Marymoor. This is traditionally one of the weeks with the highest number to species recorded at Marymoor over the years, so we were open to anything showing up. We didn’t record a particularly high total species count in the end, but there were some nice surprises for the 4 of us who joined in for the walk.
Highlights:
Great Egret - one flew over our heads while at the weir. Then later it returned and perched near the heron rookery for quite a while for nice views. This in only our 3rd or 4th Marymoor record, and the first since 2020.
Great Blue Heron - many young on the nests, and one or two fledged and in the slough, looking awkward as they learn to fish.
Western Wood-Pewee - heard a few and saw one - first of year (FOY)
Willow Flycatcher - one heard only, around dawn. FOY
empid sp. - one that got away along the slough that looked enticing
Swainson’s Thrush - many calling and some in full song, before dawn. Once the sun rose, only heard one or two calling during the walk
Bullock’s Oriole - one first year bird for another FOY
Wilson’s Warbler - particularly numerous today - we seemed to be able to hear one singing at almost any point in the walk.
Black-headed Grosbeak - competed with Wilson’s Warbler for one of the most numerous singers today.
Lazuli Bunting - a couple around, but not particularly cooperative
ducklings - several clutches of Mallards swimming around
Misses today were numerous, including most ducks, Green Heron, Downy & Hairy Woodpecker
For the day, about 57 species - with 4 FOY birds, I think that brings us to 107 for the walk year list
Date: 5/14/26 2:11 pm From: Benjamin Menzies via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Low Tide Birding
-a best spot may depend on where you live and how far you're willing to drive. From Seattle or Olympia, the Nisqually delta / Billy Frank NWR is my favorite. From there, whatever other delta or park is nearby.
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2026 12:00 PM
To: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: Tweeters Digest, Vol 261, Issue 14
Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to
<tweeters...>
Date: 5/13/26 10:20 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Scope replacement.
My scope and tripod were recently stolen. A very kind and generous friend has loaned me a scope to use temporarily, so I am not under immediate pressure to replace them, but I don't want to push it. Before I plunk down retail price for a new mid price-range scope, I am interested in checking whether a good condition, used, higher end scope might be a reasonably priced possibility. Do any of you good people know of a market place/ site where used birding optics are offered? _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 5/13/26 11:58 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] How 'Seabird Sue' Blends Art and Science to Attract Birds Back to Lost Habitat
Date: 5/13/26 9:32 am From: Thomas Good - NOAA Federal via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] CATE in Dumas Bay (Tweeters list - 10 May)
Can anyone confirm a CATE colony at the Port of Tacoma alluded to in
Hans-Joachim's post? I am trying to document current CATE breeding sites in
the Salish Sea.
Tom Good
On Mon, May 11, 2026 at 12:01 PM via Tweeters <tweeters...>
wrote:
> Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to
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> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Dumas Bay Caspian Terns (Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters)
> 2. Birders push back on hantavirus fears tied to Argentine city
> (Dan Reiff via Tweeters)
> 3. Hawk Watch, the Movie Thursday, May 14th 7 pm Olympia
> (Kathleen Snyder via Tweeters)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 10 May 2026 20:11:15 -0700
> From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Dumas Bay Caspian Terns
> Message-ID:
> <CAEo0Ymq_8=
> 1+<RyzqOene2aoUimF2KBWtKaLWY33m3WKSEObP9g...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> This afternoon at low tide there were at least 27 Caspian Terns at Dumas
> Bay Sanctuary, Federal Way. Several were actively fishing while most were
> loafing on the tidal flats. Of course a couple of people had to walk along
> the waterline and disturb them and had them move further down the flats.
> Some of them were actively flying to and from Commencement Bay. I believe
> somebody mentioned a small breeding colony at the Port of Tacoma.
>
> Good Birding !
>
> Hans
>
> --
> *Hans Feddern*
> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> <thefedderns...>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 10 May 2026 20:42:54 -0700
> From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Birders push back on hantavirus fears tied to
> Argentine city
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 11 May 2026 08:00:00 -0700
> From: Kathleen Snyder via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Hawk Watch, the Movie Thursday, May 14th 7 pm
> Olympia
> Message-ID:
> <CAB0+1m8Cetc-VjZjVY=
> <9hdyfocpip8UqQSEYWDzUVu5UGz9Mgw...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> We are proud to offer a viewing of the documentary, Hawk Watch. This movie
> follows a group of devoted birders in Southern California during spring
> migration as they collect information to protect Swainson's Hawks. As
> thousands of raptors begin to pass overhead, the spectacle of nature itself
> becomes their well-earned reward. The directors of the film, Alicia
> Wszelaki and Matthew Nothelfer, will be with us virtually to introduce the
> film and answer questions afterwards.
>
> You can join us at Temple Beth Hatfiloh for social time starting at 6:30
> pm, 201 8th Ave SE Olympia. We will then view the movie on a big screen.
> Or you can watch from home via Zoom. Registration for Zoom is below. This
> is a free program from South Sound Bird Alliance.
>
> https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/E3HGBN4DQqOEOpwGsu5bKA > -------------- next part --------------
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> Subject: Digest Footer
>
> _______________________________________________
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> ------------------------------
>
> End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 261, Issue 11
> *****************************************
>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thomas P. Good
Research Biologist
NOAA Fisheries - Ecosystem Science Program
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
2725 Montlake Boulevard East
Seattle, WA 98112
206-860-3469
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: 5/12/26 3:02 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Merlin Sound ID Mix Ups
I’m not surprised to hear that Merlin confused Orca vocalizations with Peregrine Falcon (PEFA). This falcon has become quite rare in Edmonds in the last few years but Merlin identifies it as a suggested bird quite frequently. It always pays to save the recording and play it back to confirm that species. Most of the time it is a screeching sound from a car or some other human noise artifact that causes it to suggest PEFA. I had wondered what Merlin was confusing Black Scoter with. I haven’t heard it in an inappropriate location for a couple of years. It used to come up regularly on Sound ID in Yost Park. Yost is a forested park, a mix of conifer and deciduous trees surrounding a ravine through which Shell Creek runs. That one always puzzled me but maybe a confusion with House Finch explains it. Sound ID is a great tool, as long as we remember to confirm or reject odd calls, but it is often good for a laugh.
Date: 5/12/26 11:14 am From: Toby Ross via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Presentation: Conservation in the Heart of Costa Rica
Join us for a special online presentation introducing the Cerulea
Environmental Association, a new Costa Rican nonprofit organization
dedicated to protecting one of the country’s most biodiverse regions.
Founded by Costa Rican conservation biologists, researchers, and educators
— including expert guide Jose Pablo Castillo, who has led many Alight Tours
birding trips — the organization is working to conserve critical habitats
in the heart of Costa Rica.
These remarkable forests provide wintering habitat for Cerulean Warblers
alongside rare amphibians, endemic plants, and hundreds of bird species.
Learn how community-driven conservation is helping safeguard these
ecosystems while supporting research, education, and sustainable
stewardship.
Whether you are passionate about birds, tropical ecology, conservation, or
travel, we hope you can join us for this engaging and inspiring evening.
Date: 5/11/26 1:08 pm From: Kersti Muul via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] The epitome of Merlin mis-ID
Just now my partner is working on one of his killer whale presentations and he is playing one of Jpod's calls; the S3 call.
Merlin has decided it's a peregrine....four times!
This is my first experience with Melin doing a cross- species ID attempt. Usually it ignores the sounds of squirrels and chipmunks and marmots, and so on.
This really tops the junco-chipping sparrow- orange crowned warbler debacle. Some of us are also having a house finch-black scoter mis-ID. Happened to us in New Mexico as well as White center.
Ah, Merlin!
Speaking of Peregines, did some surveys this weekend. West Seattle Bridge pair has 3 eggs ...almost time to hatch.
Date: 5/11/26 8:07 am From: Kathleen Snyder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hawk Watch, the Movie Thursday, May 14th 7 pm Olympia
We are proud to offer a viewing of the documentary, Hawk Watch. This movie follows a group of devoted birders in Southern California during spring migration as they collect information to protect Swainson's Hawks. As thousands of raptors begin to pass overhead, the spectacle of nature itself becomes their well-earned reward. The directors of the film, Alicia Wszelaki and Matthew Nothelfer, will be with us virtually to introduce the film and answer questions afterwards.
You can join us at Temple Beth Hatfiloh for social time starting at 6:30 pm, 201 8th Ave SE Olympia. We will then view the movie on a big screen. Or you can watch from home via Zoom. Registration for Zoom is below. This is a free program from South Sound Bird Alliance.
Date: 5/10/26 8:19 pm From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Dumas Bay Caspian Terns
This afternoon at low tide there were at least 27 Caspian Terns at Dumas Bay Sanctuary, Federal Way. Several were actively fishing while most were loafing on the tidal flats. Of course a couple of people had to walk along the waterline and disturb them and had them move further down the flats. Some of them were actively flying to and from Commencement Bay. I believe somebody mentioned a small breeding colony at the Port of Tacoma.
Good Birding !
Hans
-- *Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA <thefedderns...>
Date: 5/9/26 4:04 pm From: Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] 2025/2026 HARRIS’S SPARROW 12.16.25 - 5.4.26
It seems the Kent Valley HARRIS’S SPARROW may have departed to points north
for nesting. I assume that the bird is in fact gone, and also assume that
there was but 1 Harris’s Sparrow in the Kent Valley for the winter. The
bird was here for 140 days. It arrived in December already in formative
plumage (aka 1st winter plumage per Sibley Guide), having already passed
thru natal down and juvenile plumages. Late in its stay here it molted into
first alternate (breeding) plumage.
Here is a video of what the bird looked like on 12.16.25:
Date: 5/8/26 1:59 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Fruit Feeders?
When we lived in California, we had Oriole feeders for the Hooded and
Bullock's Orioles. When we put out oranges, they consistently chose the
nectar, grape jelly and live worms (who wouldn't?) over the oranges. So we
stopped.
The reason I would be very careful about putting fruit out in the PNW, is
due their possible attraction to rodents. We have so few fruit eaters
here, as Dennis said, and it's not worth the risk unless you are willing to
take down whatever is left at the end of the day. The fruit in suet and
serviceberry, elderberry and other trees has been my choice. I now have 8
serviceberry trees in the front and the backyard. Somebody stop me! lol
I do wonder, as the weather gets warmer and I read about the whopper of an
El Nino we are expecting this year and next, if we will find that some of
these tropical migrants will soon be seen more often up here.
*Ann*
Ann Pultz Kramer
Stanwood, WA
"*Use what talents you possess; the wood would be very silent if no birds
sang there except those that sang best**."*
*Henry Van Dyke*
On Wed, May 6, 2026 at 3:20 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Like Hans, I have seen a lot of birds coming to cut oranges, even at
> Malheur NWR in southern Oregon, where they attracted Western Tanagers. And
> I know people in the East attract Baltimore Orioles that way.
>
> Unfortunately, our common fruit-eaters such as robins and waxwings don’t
> seem to be attracted to feeders, fruit or not. I suspect you wouldn’t get a
> lot of visitors here, but why not try it? In the tropics, of course, they
> use bananas as well, and those are really attractive to a whole host of
> fruit-eaters.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> On May 6, 2026, at 2:33 PM, Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Jim,
> I don't know about here but at the birding areas at South Padre Island
> (SPI), Texas they use oranges cut in half. It attracts warblers, orioles,
> tanagers etc.
>
> Hans
>
> On Wed, May 6, 2026 at 1:39 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> We live in Skagit County. On our recent trip to Ecuador all of the
>> birding
>> lodges we stayed at and birding locations ("reserves") put out fruit
>> feeders
>> that were very popular with a wide range of species. We've only used
>> seed and suet feeders.
>>
>> ===> Have you tried any kind of fruit feeders here in Western
>> Washington?
>> Worked? Problems/challenges? What fruits work best? What
>> fruits don't work at all? Are there other types of feed
>> that work
>> well (breads?)? Do you get different species due to using
>> fruit?
>> - Jim
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
>
> --
> *Hans Feddern*
> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> <thefedderns...>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
> _______________________________________________
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> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 5/8/26 1:49 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Dee Dee,
Your habitat sounds a lot like mine with feeders and native
plants, birdbaths, etc. One-third of our acre we have left native, with
downed trees and stick piles. We also use squirrel proof feeders and have
gone through a good share of trouble to place the feeders and use baffles
where the squirrels cannot either climb up or jump down. We have been
successful except for one of them. I just read that Safflower seeds are
not liked by blackbirds and a few other larger birds, so we filled it with
safflower. That is where the blackbird frequents. By the way, if any find
themselves with excessive squirrel or even rodent problems, there are seeds
that animals don't like. Safflower and nyger (thistle) as well as hot
pepper seeds ( as well as hot pepper suet) can be useful to deter animals.
So, it seems to me that this Red-Winged Blackbird will be here for at least
the Spring. He makes regular visits, now not only in the sunny afternoons,
but in the mornings, He doesn't seem to stay and sing as he did, but just
comes in to feed and then leaves. It will be interesting to see how this
Blackbird saga continues!!! I'm planning to grow a few varieties of
sunflowers and wondering now if that will bring in a flock of blackbirds.
Hmmmm.
Ann
On Sun, May 3, 2026 at 12:29 PM Dee Dee via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Coming late to the party, contributing my experience with red-winged
> blackbirds (RWBB) in our mixed small-to-medium lot-sizes suburban
> neighborhood. Interesting hear what others experience in the broader region.
> My setting and backstory: Our lot is approximately one-third acre, a block
> inland from Puget Sound (the Sound) shoreline. Approximately 0.2 miles away
> is a small, creek-fed wetland, just onshore from the Sound, bordered by a
> mix of evergreen and deciduous trees. Been here 15 years and always had a
> birdbath, suet feeder and up to two sunflower-chip plus dried mealworms
> seed feeders. Several heavily-bearing native evergreen huckleberry bushes
> and 9 assorted blueberry bushes which 8 years ago were given over to the
> critters and birds, when we also gave up on our extensive organic veggie
> garden. Instead, we then planted several rows of seed-bearing sunflowers
> for about 4 years…unfortunately age and cost of watering restricts such the
> last few years.
>
>
> In first years, I sometimes heard RWBB but distant, down by the wetland,
> but no regular visitors. After a few years, saw them at times in the yard,
> mostly on the feeders during hard, snowy winters, or infrequently, males
> vocalizing on nearby utility lines. When the sunflower garden was in seed,
> we no surprise, frequently saw them in larger numbers, and year-round
> coming to the feeders even if no sunflowers in seed. Don’t recall ever
> seeing more than about 10 at one time, but their frequency finally forced
> me to add bird-size-control cages to seed feeders to keep within seed
> budget. They still can glean spillage with the other ground feeders, or go
> to the suet. Since adding the restrictive feeder cages, we still see them
> on occasion, year-round, just not in as great of numbers. I don’t have the
> knowledge to speculate on which are locals and which are migrants, but we
> see both male and female, though the majority are males, especially
> first-year. I love to hear and see these beautiful birds and am grateful
> that they persist in our local environment and occasional visits to my
> yard.
>
>
> Dee Warnock
>
> Edmonds
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 5/8/26 1:38 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Just like us humans, isn't it?
On Fri, May 1, 2026 at 1:45 PM Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> On May 1, 2026 at 12:40:59, Jim Betz via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> so
>> if a
>> particular individual (such as the well-known Short-eared Owl at the
>> East 90)
>> allows me close, long views ... I tend to expect that same behavior from
>> other SEOWs and even from some random Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a
>> pole along the road I'm driving. But that's a "fallacy" because some
>> individual birds have "non-standard behaviors".
>>
>>
> Agreed completely. Back in California there was one place where a family
> of rock wrens moved in, and got very comfortable with having people around
> — it was not unusual for one to wander in and run under my chair looking
> for bugs. But most Rock wrens are not that amiable and friendly (“hey, can
> you back up? I can’t focus that close!” — rarely a bird photography problem)
>
> We can understand humans generally act given ways when looked at as a
> region, or society — but within that, individuals vary widely, and so do
> birds. That’s part of the fun of figuring them out.
>
> Where I live, I’m surrounded by a few acres of mostly undeveloped mostly
> pine and alder forest. Downhill a ways is a stream, so there’s water, but
> somewhere between here and there is some kind of regular water source,
> because in my ongoing Merlin monitoring, I’ve gotten hits on things like
> Great Blue Heron and Wood Duck. I’ve tried exploring a bit but have never
> found exactly where those sounds are coming from, but I know they’re too
> close to be the downhill stream. (I’ve also gotten flyover hits like
> Ring-Necked ducks headed somewhere).
>
> We are terrible habitat for Red-Winged blackbird, but a few times a year,
> I get Merlin hits. It’s most common in the spring, and it’s rarely more
> than a day in a row, but it seems to me it’s a bird moving from an old
> location to a new one. My guess would be a young male, not yet breeding
> time, shifting territories, and I’d guess the one that we’re talking about
> might be the same kind of thing, and which happened to find a place it
> liked to hang out a few days.
>
> One of the most amusing “this is not what you’re supposed to be doing”
> behaviors I’ve run into is a single American Robin (we have plenty, need
> some?) that for three years running because a daily feeder bird. Robins,
> you will exclaim, do not visit bird feeders (unless maybe if you feed
> mealworms) but here is this one that’s settled in with the finches and the
> mourning doves eating the peanut and sunflower chips in the ground feeder.
> Why? It won’t tell me, but I guess it decided really easy calories was
> their jam.
>
> It’s notable only because it’s an individual behavior that’s way out of
> norm for the species — but that’s what also makes it fun to notice, and a
> great reminder to be on the lookout for these fun and weird oddities.
>
>
>> Just enjoy what you get to experience and let the "general behaviors"
>> guide you to be more likely get the situations you'd like? And then
>> pay attention and get the experiences you want!
>>
>
> Amen
>
> chuq
>
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
> Silverdale, Washington
> Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
>
> Email me at: <chuqvr...>
> Mastodon: @<chuqvr...>
>
> Stay Updated with what I'm doing: https://www.chuq.me/6fps/ > My latest e-book: https://www.chuq.me/ebooks >
> I have opinions
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 5/8/26 1:37 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Hi Jim,
I appreciate your words. I've been a wildlife photographer for over ten
years. My work is often visible on Skagit materials but I haven't updated
my website for 8 years or so and find myself too preoccupied
with other things currently. In my hours and hours of photographing,
sitting a whole day and watching, which I love to do, I have also
experienced the variations you speak of in behavior and can quickly read
the comfort of a bird or animal with my presence, or any noticeable
variations in behavior. When I teach ethical photography classes, it is
one of the primary focuses of what I'm teaching; how to read animal
behavior and not only go for the shot. I don't expect you would know any of
that about me but I thought I would clarify that.
My question about the RWBB in my backyard was not because I wasn't enjoying
it. Sorry if that's what you picked up. I love their various sounds and
calls. When I used to go on field trips in California, I commented how
they sound like a musical instrument, especially when you get a flock
singing at once. It's a joy to have that in my yard again. I was actually
concerned for this bird. I am tender-hearted about birds, and sometimes,
if I'm a bit too expressive of that, I tend to hear comments about "that's
nature" or "the cycle of life", etc. so I don't put out very often any of
my feelings about a bird's welfare. That's what prompted my questions. As
most of us do, I assume, I love all creatures and consider them sentient
beings who feel not only physical comfort or discomfort but perhaps some
emotions similar to ours. Certainly fear, comfort, and perhaps a form of
affection we might call love. So my initial questions were related to
concern for the bird being well away from a suitable habitat.
Here's another example of this. Currently today I've found a breeding adult
returning to a grassy spot in my backyard in between feedings, and just
sitting there, as opposed to a tree branch. I wondered if he was sick. But
he is flying back and forth to the nectar feeder. It's curious to see a
hummingbird who is able to fly returning to the grass time and time
again. His georgette is shining brilliantly in the sun so he probably is
evident to predators. Although I do find that these types of events
eventually work themselves out, the initial concern for his wellness and
curiosity about his choices.
*Ann*
Ann Pultz Kramer
Stanwood, WA
"*Use what talents you possess; the wood would be very silent if no birds
sang there except those that sang best**."*
*Henry Van Dyke*
On Fri, May 1, 2026 at 12:41 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Ann,
>
> We all - myself included - tend to rely too heavily upon 'expert
> knowledge'
> as it applies to a species ... and then we turn around and easily accept
> individual behaviors as "normal".
>
> For example, I'm a birding photographer and have gained considerable
> knowledge about bird behavior as it relates to my getting images ... so
> if a
> particular individual (such as the well-known Short-eared Owl at the
> East 90)
> allows me close, long views ... I tend to expect that same behavior from
> other SEOWs and even from some random Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a
> pole along the road I'm driving. But that's a "fallacy" because some
> individual birds have "non-standard behaviors".
>
> The difficulty/trick is to just accept that whatever you are seeing is
> well within the range of expected behavior. The basics still apply - birds
> are motivated by food, sex, territory, and threats.
> On our recent trip to Ecuador literally -every place- we went had
> dozens of hummers. Each time there was a different mix of species
> but the general behavior was essentially the same. Then, after I had
> taken a hundred or so shots that time I started to 'slow down and
> watch/experience what was happening'. Then I would set up my
> camera for a particular place/behavior and just wait for the shot to
> happen - worked like a charm. Next day/next stop ... I was right back
> shooting the first 100 shots before I stopped to watch and observe.
>
> Just enjoy what you get to experience and let the "general behaviors"
> guide you to be more likely get the situations you'd like? And then
> pay attention and get the experiences you want!
> - Jim in Skagit
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 5/8/26 1:07 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Thanks Roger and David. It does look as though this young Red-Winged BB is
going to be making continuous trips to my feeders. I understand what you
are saying, David, about them being bullies. I also have Starlings who
frequent my backyard in the Spring, mostly for the dried worms we throw on
the ground in Spring. So far, they only come in the Spring and bring their
fledglings with them. They don't stay very long and I'm kind of hoping
that will be the case with the BB. One RWBB is nice, but a flock I would
not welcome.
*Ann*
Ann Pultz Kramer
Stanwood, WA
"*Use what talents you possess; the wood would be very silent if no birds
sang there except those that sang best**."*
*Henry Van Dyke*
On Fri, May 1, 2026 at 1:31 PM David Kreft <dkreft052...> wrote:
> I’ve had RWBB at my feeder since late January here in NE WA. Happens every
> year even with snow and freezing temps. They’re pigs and bullies to the
> smaller birds.
>
> Dave
> Kettle Falls, WA
>
> On Fri, May 1, 2026 at 1:21 PM Roger Moyer via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> I've been feeding birds over the winter. This spring I had a male
>> Red-winged Blackbird coming to the feeder. So they do occasionally come to
>> feeders. I'm about 3/8th of a mile from some swampy ground.
>>
>> Roger Moyer
>> Chehalis, WA
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
>> of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
>> *Sent:* Thursday, April 30, 2026 4:42 PM
>> *To:* Ann Kramer <lens4birds...>
>> *Cc:* TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
>>
>> Ann, that’s one I can’t answer other than to say that birds have wings
>> and can turn up anywhere. I think most Red-winged Blackbirds would be in
>> open country if not breeding, but they wander. We have had one or two fly
>> over our house in a wooded neighborhood in Seattle, but I’ve never seen one
>> otherwise anywhere nearer than Lake Washington. They emphatically wouldn’t
>> occur with tanagers, grosbeaks and most warblers!
>>
>> So yeah, it’s unusual, and it seems unlikely he would commute daily
>> between a wetland and your yard at that distance. Is he coming to a feeder?
>> If a good enough source of food, that might attract him, and blackbirds can
>> fly some distance between food and night-time roosts, although I don’t know
>> if they would fly that far on a daily basis. And they really are flocking
>> birds during the off season, so being by himself is definitely unusual.
>>
>> But I presume if he made it there from a marsh where he was hatched,
>> presumably he can fly far enough to find another one. But his presence only
>> during sunny weather is beyond me to try to explain!
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> On Apr 30, 2026, at 3:25 PM, Ann Kramer <lens4birds...> wrote:
>>
>> Thank you for the clarification, Dennis, between a juvenile and one year
>> old.
>>
>> To be more clear on my question, is it common for a marsh bird to wander
>> into a sub rural community during migration and is it likely to find its
>> way to a more suitable habitat eventually on his own?
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 9:12 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Ann, I think it’s too early for juveniles (birds hatched this year), so
>> maybe it’s a one-year-old male. Many but perhaps not all of them breed.
>>
>> Dennis Paulson
>> Seattle
>>
>> On Apr 29, 2026, at 5:06 PM, Ann Kramer via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>> Tweets,
>> I have a question about a juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird who has made my
>> backyard his home for the past week. I thought he had left a few days ago
>> but since then realized he frequents my backyard only when the sun is out.
>> So he's back again today. I suspect he might be spending time near one of
>> the marshy areas less than a mile from here. I'm still pretty new to this
>> area and am used to Western Tanagers, Warblers and Evening Grosbeaks
>> passing through in the Spring, but not marsh birds.
>>
>> I have an acre, tons of native trees in the back third, lots of natives
>> in the front yard. But this is by no means a marsh. As the Wetlands I
>> used to frequent when I lived in California was lousy with thousands of
>> RWBB's, I love listening to his call but I'm concerned he is lost. There
>> was another adult male with him the first few days, but he seems to have
>> left now. Should I be concerned or should I trust he will find his way to
>> his destination even without the company of his elder?
>>
>>
>>
>> *Ann*
>>
>> Ann Kramer, Wildlife and Nature Photographer
>>
>> www.annkramer.smugmug.com
>>
>>
>>
>> *“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
>> ― John Muir*
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
Date: 5/8/26 12:32 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 5/6/2026
Dear Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us enjoyed a really nice day of Spring birding at the
Refuge. It was breezy and cool with temperatures in the 50's to 60's degree
Fahrenheit. We had a Low -0'10" Tide at 3:20pm. Sadly, the White-faced
Ibis foraging in the flooded field adjacent to the Twin Barns Overlook
could not be relocated and has likely migrated north and/or east. It was a
real treat to see White-faced Ibis last Wednesday and have them foraging
for longer than 1 week. Along with the Ibis we observed significant
decreases in the numbers of wintering/migrating geese, ducks, shorebirds,
gulls, sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers. However the highlights made up
for these expected changes, including First of Year (FOY) sightings of
WILSON'S WARBLER, BANK SWALLOW, VAUX'S SWIFT, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, a
likely YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and a heard-only NASHVILLE WARBLER. We also
noted excellent numbers of YELLOW WARBLER and nesting BARN, CLIFF, and TREE
SWALLOWS. Numerous hummingbird nests were present, including both RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. We observed numerous calling SORA with
several seen clearly. 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS were in the freshwater marsh
along with very nice sightings of WOOD DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER, CINNAMON
TEAL and BLUE-WINGED TEAL. A BALD EAGLE chick can be seen in the large
Cottonwood Tree on the left bank of the Nisqually River north of the
Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike on the east side of the surge plain.
For the day we observed 85 species. With FOY Vaux's Swift, Bank Swallow,
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Nashville Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, and
Black-headed Grosbeak, we have now seen 134 species thus far for 2026.
Others seen included Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Muskrat, Townsend's
Chipmunk, Harbor Seal, Red-eared Slider and Red Admiral Butterfly. See our
eBird Report pasted below for additional details and embedded photos.
Next week I'll be away scouting for the WOS Conference in
Clarkston/Lewiston and Ken, Pete, Jim, Rob, Ed and Jon will lead in my
absence. I'll return May 20th. Until then, happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
May 6, 2026 6:22 AM - 4:49 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.437 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with temperatures in the
50’s to 60’s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low -0’10” Tide at 3:20pm. Others seen
Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Muskrat, Eastern
Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal, Townsend’s Chipmunk, Red-eared Slider, Pacific
Chorus Frog, Red Admiral Butterfly.
85 species (+4 other taxa)
Cackling Goose 1 Fly over with Canada Geese.
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 40
Wood Duck 8
Blue-winged Teal 4 Flooded field adjacent to Twin Barns and freshwater
Marsh
Cinnamon Teal (Northern) 12 Visitor Center Pond, flooded fields,
freshwater marsh.
Northern Shoveler 25
Gadwall 4
American Wigeon 150 Large flock Nisqually Reach
Mallard 30
Northern Pintail 2
Green-winged Teal (American) 30 Mudflats on high tide.
Ring-necked Duck 4
Bufflehead 20 McAllister Creek
Hooded Merganser 6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern) 10
Mourning Dove 2
Vaux's Swift 1
Anna's Hummingbird 2 Occupied nest on the inside of the Twin Barns
Loop Trail, on the west side of the loop approximately 50-75 feet north of
the access road cut through, on a relatively small tree/small branch with
leaf coverage to protect from rain, above eye level and approximately 30-40
feet from the boards.
Rufous Hummingbird 8 Four nests observed. All on the west side of the
Twin Barns Loop Trail. One with young that is built at eye level over the
water just north of the Twin Bench Overlook south of the Twin Barns
cut-off. This nest is in a Willow Tree 15-20 feet from the boards. An
occupied nest is very close to the Anna’s Hummingbird nest, on the inside
of the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail, approximately 75 feet north
of the access road cut through above eye level on an Alder Tree branch.
Another occupied nest is on a Maple Tree Branch high above the twin bench
overlook south of the Twin Barns cut-off.
Virginia Rail 6 Heard only. Freshwater marsh.
Sora 10 Heard and seen. Visitor Center Pond, flooded fields,
freshwater marsh. At least three individuals seen and multiple calls from
different regions of Refuge.
American Coot (Red-shielded) 6
Killdeer 2
Hudsonian Whimbrel 12 Mudflats adjacent to Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk
Trail.
Wilson's Snipe 1 Freshwater marsh in the morning.
Greater Yellowlegs 1 McAllister Creek
Dunlin 10
Least Sandpiper 5
Western Sandpiper 40
Short-billed Gull 5
Ring-billed Gull 60
Glaucous-winged Gull 3
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 3
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 20
gull sp. 30
Caspian Tern 23
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Brandt's Cormorant 6 Nisqually River Channel Marker.
Double-crested Cormorant 25
American Bittern 2 Freshwater marsh. Two birds different locations of
marsh.
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 35
Turkey Vulture (Northern) 1
Bald Eagle 30 Occupied nest in Douglas Fir 3/4 way up slope on West
Bank of McAllister Creek south of McAllister Creek/Medicine Creek Viewing
Platform. Occupied nest with young in tall Cottonwood Tree West Bank of
Nisqually River north of Nisqually Estuary Trail/dike on east side of surge
plain.
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Snag with cavity nest along the west side of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail. On the outside of the trail just north of the
Twin Bench Overlook south of the Twin Barns cut-off approximately 25 feet
high in a section of debarked snag.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Northern Flicker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope) 2 Heard only.
Hutton's Vireo 1 Heard only
Western Warbling Vireo 1 Heard only
American Crow 4
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Bank Swallow 6 Counted individually, probably more. Small brown-gray
backed swallow with white throat and neck tie. Frequently flying adjacent
to other Bank Swallows or ‘in formation’. Foraging over flooded fields and
freshwater marsh adjacent to Barn/Tree/Cliff and Northern Rough-winged
Swallow.
Tree Swallow 40
Violet-green Swallow 3
Purple Martin 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow (American) 75 Visitor Center and Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail.
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group) 50 Visitor Center,
McAllister/Medicine Creek Viewing Platform, and bridge over McAllister at
I5 south bound on ramp.
Bushtit (Pacific) 6 Eye level in a Doug Fir branch adjacent to the
green gate opposite the entrance to the Education Center Parking Lot.
Brown Creeper 1
Marsh Wren 20 Nests in Visitor Center Pond and Freshwater Marsh.
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 4
European Starling 100 Numerous cavity nests in snags on surge plain
and around Twin Barns.
Swainson's Thrush 7
Hermit Thrush 1 Heard and seen by other birders.
American Robin (migratorius Group) 30
Purple Finch (Western) 2
American Goldfinch 10 Nest in large Maple Tree high above twin bench
overlook west side of Twin Barns Loop Trail south of Twin Barns cut-off.
Golden-crowned Sparrow 4
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 5
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 31
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 3
Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 Reported by Laurie from the Nisqually
Estuary Trail in the Freshwater Marsh.
Bullock's Oriole 1 Heard only in the Twin Barns picnic area in the
early morning.
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 50
Brown-headed Cowbird 12
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1
Nashville Warbler (ridgwayi) 2 Heard only by several birders. Alerted
by song differing from surrounding YEWA, WIWA and OCWA. Picked up on
Merlin. I don’t recall the species being directly seen.
Common Yellowthroat 25
Northern Yellow Warbler 49
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Wilson's Warbler 3
Black-headed Grosbeak 1
Date: 5/8/26 12:24 pm From: Susan Madsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fruit Feeders
I also tried fruit feeders after seeing them on an AZ birding trip one spring. As for Carol, no luck at all on half orange. However, western tanagers and BH grosbeak loved small pots of raspberry and blackberry jelly.
I also hang 1/2 apples in my outdoor x-mas tree each winter. Varied thrushes enjoy that.
Date: 5/8/26 12:19 pm From: Jim Ullrich via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Leavenworth Spring Birdfest 05/14-17
Hello Tweets:
Plenty of time to plan and come visit Leavenworth and participate in their
Spring Birding Festival 05/14-17. Visit: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org for details. Swarovski Optiks will be there to offer repair help and show
off the newest Balance ATC scope.
Yours for the Birds n’ the Bees
Jim Ullrich
Date: 5/7/26 1:36 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fruit Feeders
Fruit feeders are used in the Western Hemisphere tropics because they successfully entice birds that are fruit eaters. They have some success in southern border and Gulf of Mexico states where there are some resident and migrant fruit eaters. In our area we use seeds and suet (and dried mealworms) because that is what works with our bird population. Our birds that eat such fruits as elderflower berries, blackberries, blueberries, and evergreen huckleberries, are only doing so in season and would not be coming to a feeder for a half orange or a banana. If one lives in an area in which Bullock’s Orioles pass through on migration, one might get a few hits on a half orange but it would be for a very limited period of time. I tried the half orange approach once many years ago during migration. I was targeting a Bullock’s Oriole but so few are ever noted in the Edmonds area that it was not successful. There were no hits of any kind on the half orange.
Date: 5/7/26 1:33 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-05-07
Tweets - Broken clouds today made for some hazy light, and there were a few mosquitoes. Otherwise, it was a fine morning to be out. In some ways it was quite a birdy day, but in other ways, it felt quite flat. Part of this is the Week 18 to Week 19 transition. Week 18 (April 30-May 6) has had a cumulative 155 species, while Week 19 (May 7-13) has had only 133. That 22-species decrease is mostly the final exit of almost all "winter" birds. So our Week 19 trips always seem to have far fewer species than our Week 18 trips. Most of the time, though, new arrivals are so numerous as to make the dip in species count less important. Today, though, we only had two new species for the survey for 2026.
Highlights: Mallard - The first ducklings of the season were out below the weir Western Warbling Vireo - At least 8, and quite possibly more, with lots of singing and quite a few sightings Swainson's Thrush - Right on schedule, but only heard pre-dawn (as if often the case the first week or two of presence). No songs yet either. First of Year (FOY) American Goldfinch - Several sightings of these bright yellow gems Orange-crowned Warbler - One glimpsed, but a total of about 5 singing Northern Yellow Warbler - One or two seen, but numbers seemed low Yellow-rumped Warbler - Only one or two heard-only; the rush of them seems over Wilson's Warbler - Lots of singing, and several views Black-headed Grosbeak - Some singing, but only a couple of very poor looks Lazuli Bunting - At least two males near the Compost Piles. (FOY) for the survey, though they were seen by others earlier in the week
Misses today included Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Cliff Swallow, Cedar Waxwing, Pine Siskin, and Bullock's Oriole.
Birds that we were hoping to see, but didn't, included Blue-winged Teal (possible throughout May), shorebirds such as Solitary Sandpiper & Greater Yellowlegs, Common Loon (often present late-April to mid-May), Turkey Vulture, flycatchers (at least four pass-through species were quite reasonably possible), Cassin's Vireo, Chipping Sparrow, and warblers such as Nashville, MacGillivray's, Black-throated Gray, and Townsend's. While none of these were really expected, it was the complete absence of ANY pass-through migrants that made the day seem flat.
We did manage 57 species, seven fewer than last week. Adding Swainson's Thrush and Lazuli Bunting, I believe the survey stands at 103 species for the year.
Date: 5/6/26 3:28 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Fruit Feeders?
Like Hans, I have seen a lot of birds coming to cut oranges, even at Malheur NWR in southern Oregon, where they attracted Western Tanagers. And I know people in the East attract Baltimore Orioles that way.
Unfortunately, our common fruit-eaters such as robins and waxwings don’t seem to be attracted to feeders, fruit or not. I suspect you wouldn’t get a lot of visitors here, but why not try it? In the tropics, of course, they use bananas as well, and those are really attractive to a whole host of fruit-eaters.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On May 6, 2026, at 2:33 PM, Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Jim,
> I don't know about here but at the birding areas at South Padre Island (SPI), Texas they use oranges cut in half. It attracts warblers, orioles, tanagers etc.
>
> Hans
>
> On Wed, May 6, 2026 at 1:39 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
> Hi,
> We live in Skagit County. On our recent trip to Ecuador all of the
> birding
> lodges we stayed at and birding locations ("reserves") put out fruit feeders
> that were very popular with a wide range of species. We've only used
> seed and suet feeders.
>
> ===> Have you tried any kind of fruit feeders here in Western Washington?
> Worked? Problems/challenges? What fruits work best? What
> fruits don't work at all? Are there other types of feed
> that work
> well (breads?)? Do you get different species due to using
> fruit?
> - Jim
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters> >
>
> --
> Hans Feddern
> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> <thefedderns...> <mailto:<thefedderns...> > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 5/6/26 2:53 pm From: HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Fruit Feeders?
Have seen fruit feeders in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Trinidad, and Arizona. They will attract things like orioles, probably tanagers, and some others. Probably work here but for a much more m limited number of birds. Some places used jams and jellies rather than fruits.
Probably make some bugs really happy, including butterflies.
Hal Michael
Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
<ucd880...>
> On 05/06/2026 1:39 PM PDT Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi,
> We live in Skagit County. On our recent trip to Ecuador all of the
> birding
> lodges we stayed at and birding locations ("reserves") put out fruit feeders
> that were very popular with a wide range of species. We've only used
> seed and suet feeders.
>
> ===> Have you tried any kind of fruit feeders here in Western Washington?
> Worked? Problems/challenges? What fruits work best? What
> fruits don't work at all? Are there other types of feed
> that work
> well (breads?)? Do you get different species due to using
> fruit?
> - Jim
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 5/6/26 2:44 pm From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Fruit Feeders?
Jim,
I don't know about here but at the birding areas at South Padre Island
(SPI), Texas they use oranges cut in half. It attracts warblers, orioles,
tanagers etc.
Hans
On Wed, May 6, 2026 at 1:39 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi,
> We live in Skagit County. On our recent trip to Ecuador all of the
> birding
> lodges we stayed at and birding locations ("reserves") put out fruit
> feeders
> that were very popular with a wide range of species. We've only used
> seed and suet feeders.
>
> ===> Have you tried any kind of fruit feeders here in Western
> Washington?
> Worked? Problems/challenges? What fruits work best? What
> fruits don't work at all? Are there other types of feed
> that work
> well (breads?)? Do you get different species due to using
> fruit?
> - Jim
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
--
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
Date: 5/6/26 1:47 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fruit Feeders?
Hi,
We live in Skagit County. On our recent trip to Ecuador all of the
birding
lodges we stayed at and birding locations ("reserves") put out fruit feeders
that were very popular with a wide range of species. We've only used
seed and suet feeders.
===> Have you tried any kind of fruit feeders here in Western Washington?
Worked? Problems/challenges? What fruits work best? What
fruits don't work at all? Are there other types of feed
that work
well (breads?)? Do you get different species due to using
fruit?
- Jim
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Date: 5/5/26 5:16 pm From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] April 31st birding trip - Pacific County
Hey Tweets!
I made another trip down to Pacific County on Friday, picking up a lot of new arrivals. Best birds of the day: Western Screech-Owl, Red-necked Phalarope, and Purple Martin.
Date: 5/5/26 4:50 pm From: Diann MacRae via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] April TUVU report
Hi, Tweets
Such bright sunny weather! Just the day for soaring turkey vultures. A few are FOY birds and all are sightings from Tweeters, not ebird. Thanks everyone for the great reports. They are truly back for the summer and ready for nesting . . . etc.
MARCH
22 -- Two soaring above Fall City, King County.
27+ -- Multiple turkey vultures in Methow through the end of the month on, Okanogan County.
29 -- FOY, two near Lake Joy, near Carnation, King County
31 -- One soaring above Preston, King County
APRIL
01 -- Five turkey vultures sitting in the snag by the Winthrop fish hatchery, Okanogan County.
04 -- 14 soaring over the trees for 15-20 minutes, then gone, Lake Joy area; two soaring above Evans Creek, Redmond, King County.
05 -- Six turkey vultures in a kettle, then a single one over Ellensburg, Kittitas County.
05 -- (OT) - A swirl of 18 turkey vultures over Little Cat mountain, then drifting south near Tuscon.
08 -- One at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR on a bright, clear day in the upper 30's F, Thurston County.
09 -- Two soaring between Cle Elum/Ellensburg (Bristol), WA10; one west of Cle Elum soaring over I-90; one soaring with a bald eagle over Lake Keechelus at MP55 on I-90, Kittitas County; one flying fairly low over fields along Beaver Valley Road just south of Chimacum at 2pm, Jefferson County; four turkey vultures circling over Sugarloaf Mountain on Fidalgo Island, Chelan County.
13 -- Several over the Stillwater Wildlife Area north of Carnation, King County.
15 -- 13 turkey vultures sunning(drying out from the rain) themselves near Lake Cortez, Malaga, Chelan County.
17 -- FOY, three soaring over downtown North Bend by Twedes Cafe at 3pm, King County; one at MP61, I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass (a mile west of the wildlife bridge over I-90).
18 -- FOY, One turkey vulture soaring over the ridgeline to the west of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR in light rain, 38*F.
19 -- Two turkey ultures over the Tamanowas Rock Santuary Trail at 11:00, one riding thermals with a bald eagle, another solo down the ridge, Jefferson County.
23 -- One at W.Nelson Siding Road, I-90, Kittitas Co; one at Daroga SP along Hwy 97, Douglas Co; one, five miles north of Tonasket, Hwy 97, Okanogan County.
24 -- One south of Oroville, Hwy 97, Okanogan Co; one just south of Malott, Hwy 97, Okanigan Co; one just north of Blewett Pass, Kittitas/Chelan Counties; Two adult turkey vultures at I-5/rte.530 exit to Arlington and 1 immature at Angel of the Wings Casino, 45 min. later, Snohomish County.
27 -- Two at Tumwater Valley Municipal Golf Course, Olympia, Thurston County.
28 -- Six soaring over the Kataluna Horse Rescue in Fall City at 11:50, King County; One between Raymond and South Bend, five at MP 19/Hwy 101, one at MP18/Hwy 101, and one at Sandridge Road/Hwy 101 about a mile from Seaview, Pacific County.
29 -- One at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, sunny ca. 60*; one at the very south end of the Long Beach Peninsula heading north (about a quarter mile north of North Head), Pacific County.
30 -- Two at Montesano, Hwy 8; three just east of Aberdeen, US 12, both in Grays Harbor, County; one at Nahcotta, Pacific County.
Date: 5/5/26 3:43 pm From: Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] King County Chat
This morning there was a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT along S 204th Street in Kent. This is west of the intersection with Frager Rd. The bird sang from both sides of 204th at the west end of the old horse track. Actually, this is King County to the north and Tukwila to the south. Video: https://flic.kr/p/2sbpdys
Date: 5/5/26 3:29 pm From: Karen P via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] New Zealand Birding
Hi Chris, I spent all of February and March in New Zealand this year with birding as my primary focus. I'd be happy to share tips as well as my ebird trip reports. I've written a great deal about Aotearoa's bird conservation efforts and inspiring conservation culture on my Substack wonderwildnature.substack.com if you'd like to check it out. It is a remarkable country and their culture of conservation is unlike anything I've ever experienced. I came back extremely inspired about what is possible when people share an intense love for their landscapes and wild creatures. -- Karen Povey <karenpovey1...> Conservation Writer and Photographer Board of Directors, Washington's National Park Fund <http://www.wnpf.org/> Read my WonderWild Nature Blog Here! <https://wonderwildnature.substack.com/?r=21pveo&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist> IG: @wonderwild.nature <https://www.instagram.com/wonderwild.nature/>
Date: 5/4/26 6:35 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] New Zealand Birding
Chris,
That's essentially the same time of year that we went. We were on a
fully
guided birding tour. Contact me directly for more info. jim betz at
jim betz dot com
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Date: 5/4/26 5:33 pm From: Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Good day!
Hi Tweets
Morning bird songs had my attention as soon as I woke up. I heard my first Black-Headed Grosbeak, right on time in early May. Then I heard a Wilson's warbler and purple martins overhead. Just now a Western Tanager, singing and fly catching close by in a big cherry tree. What a delight.
Joan Miller West Seattle jemskink at gmail dot com
Date: 5/4/26 12:36 pm From: BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Lots of migrants on Cougar Mt.
Continues to be a great underappreciated birding location - went up via Bear Ridge/West Tibbetts Creek Trails to Harvey Manning Trailhead. Always such a lovely hike, terrific lush understory, a handful of old growth Doug Firs along the way as well as nice views along Tibbetts ravine edge. Around 15 each Pacific Slope Flycatchers and Wilson's Warblers, a few Black Throated Grey Warblers, and threeish Black headed Grosbeaks, along with the locals (almost all by ear). Four Baldies soaring at the summit. This hike is about 1300' vertical, but is overall surprisingly low gradient, except for a middle section of about a half mile.
Date: 5/4/26 12:26 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-04-30
Tweets - I didn't get a chance to write a Tweeters report for last Thursday, as I was racing down to scout for the upcoming WOS conference in Asotin.
Thursday, it was sunny, and mostly not too hot. Windless too. And we were just before Beltane, the spring cross quarter, which in some ways marks the actual start of summer. It was amazingly not super-birdy, yet we ended up finding a good list of birds.
Highlights: Cinnamon Teal - Three males, seen a couple of times. First of Year (FOY) for the survey Green-winged Teal - Two, probably our last until fall Killdeer - Adults with chicks, on the grass/gravel parking area Green Heron - One flying down the slough fairly high (thanks, Karen). (FOY) Barred Owl - Matt got serenaded along the boardwalk, pre-dawn Pileated Woodpecker - Observed what appeared to be a nest exchange in a dead cottonwood a little before the start of the boardwalk Hutton's Vireo - One singing, south of the windmill White-throated Sparrow - One SINGING in the middle of the Dog Meadow. 3rd latest spring sighting ever, and only the 4th time we've heard one sing at the park NASHVILLE WARBLER - One seen through the willows from the boardwalk (FOY) Wilson's Warbler - One singing, unseen, at the Rowing Club (FOY) Western Tanager - One high atop a fir ENE of the mansion (FOY) Black-headed Grosbeak - One seen singing (FOY)
Misses included Hooded Merganser, Vaux's Swift, Pied-billed Grebe, Cooper's Hawk, Hairy Woodpecker, Western Warbling Vireo, Barn Swallow, and Pine Siskin
For the day, 64 species (best yet for the year). Adding six new species, we're at 101 for the survey this year.
Date: 5/3/26 8:41 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] 50+ Caspian Terns at Eagle Harbor
I was on Bainbrdige Island on Friday. After boarding the ferry to return to Seattle I scanned the north shore of Eagle Harbor and noticed what I think were Caspian Terns flitting about. I looked closer and found that there were at least 50 in a small flock on the beach. The shore was at about the limit of my binocs, so I can’t be sure they were CATE. Anybody else notice them?
Date: 5/3/26 5:34 pm From: Ellen Cohen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Columbia birds
On 60 minutes tonight (Sunday, May 3rd):
BIRDS OF WAR – In the mountains of western Colombia, correspondent Anderson Cooper travels off-the-beaten track, searching for rare species of birds you can’t find anywhere else in the world. He reports on how decades of armed conflict in Colombia preserved the birds’ habitat, and how birds might help heal old wounds in this beautiful but still bitterly divided country. Andy Court is the producer
Date: 5/3/26 1:17 pm From: Diann MacRae via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] TUVU report for April
Hi, Tweets - I'm just finishing up the April report but if you have something else interesting to report, I'll be glad to add it before I send it out tomorrow. Thanks for the great reports!
Date: 5/3/26 12:45 pm From: Dee Dee via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Coming late to the party, contributing my experience with red-winged blackbirds (RWBB) in our mixed small-to-medium lot-sizes suburban neighborhood. Interesting hear what others experience in the broader region.
My setting and backstory: Our lot is approximately one-third acre, a block inland from Puget Sound (the Sound) shoreline. Approximately 0.2 miles away is a small, creek-fed wetland, just onshore from the Sound, bordered by a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees. Been here 15 years and always had a birdbath, suet feeder and up to two sunflower-chip plus dried mealworms seed feeders. Several heavily-bearing native evergreen huckleberry bushes and 9 assorted blueberry bushes which 8 years ago were given over to the critters and birds, when we also gave up on our extensive organic veggie garden. Instead, we then planted several rows of seed-bearing sunflowers for about 4 years…unfortunately age and cost of watering restricts such the last few years.
In first years, I sometimes heard RWBB but distant, down by the wetland, but no regular visitors. After a few years, saw them at times in the yard, mostly on the feeders during hard, snowy winters, or infrequently, males vocalizing on nearby utility lines. When the sunflower garden was in seed, we no surprise, frequently saw them in larger numbers, and year-round coming to the feeders even if no sunflowers in seed. Don’t recall ever seeing more than about 10 at one time, but their frequency finally forced me to add bird-size-control cages to seed feeders to keep within seed budget. They still can glean spillage with the other ground feeders, or go to the suet. Since adding the restrictive feeder cages, we still see them on occasion, year-round, just not in as great of numbers. I don’t have the knowledge to speculate on which are locals and which are migrants, but we see both male and female, though the majority are males, especially first-year. I love to hear and see these beautiful birds and am grateful that they persist in our local environment and occasional visits to my yard.
Date: 5/3/26 7:56 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Grays Harbor and Pacific counties
Netta Smith and I spent Friday and Saturday at the outer coast, with a few real highlights:
The Brandt’s Cormorants are back at their nests at the opening to the Westport Marina, for any who didn’t know about them. Pointblank range for photo ops. And the gulls and pelicans are ridiculously tame on the crabbing dock on the way out to the cormorants.
The beach from the Point Brown jetty north was covered with Sanderlings and Semipalmated Plovers, the most of the latter species I have ever seen in one day. The ocean access at Ocean Shores was alive with their activity, running back and forth and flying up in little flocks as people scared them. We stood still, and they sometimes came very close. There were very few other species present, but we did see a few Dunlins and Short-billed Dowitchers and Marbled Godwits.
Between that access and a prominent Gray Whale carcass to the north was an absolutely gorgeous snow-white first-year Glaucous Gull, can’t miss if it it remains on the beach. It was sad but also interesting to see all the first-year Glaucous-winged Gulls trying to get a piece of whale meat.
Yesterday afternoon as the tide came in, Bottle Beach had fewer birds than I have ever seen there at this time of year, but still fair numbers of birds and most of species were there, including Red Knots. Least and Western Sandpipers were feeding right below us in the channel you cross on the way to the beach, wonderful to see the comparison and to see all the aggression, with sandpipers juiced on hormones chasing and fighting with each other. There were two Long-billed Dowitchers and a Greater Yellowlegs there as well, the first Long-billed I had ever seen at Bottle Beach. They aren’t dowitcher sp out on the beach, they’re all Short-billed.
Tokeland was not so great, never saw anything roosting in the marina, and most birds were at a distance. Perhaps that will change. There was a Red-necked Phalarope feeding right off the end of the dock. This is the time of year to be out there for shorebirds, and good luck!
Date: 5/1/26 1:52 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
On May 1, 2026 at 12:40:59, Jim Betz via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> so
> if a
> particular individual (such as the well-known Short-eared Owl at the
> East 90)
> allows me close, long views ... I tend to expect that same behavior from
> other SEOWs and even from some random Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a
> pole along the road I'm driving. But that's a "fallacy" because some
> individual birds have "non-standard behaviors".
>
>
Agreed completely. Back in California there was one place where a family of
rock wrens moved in, and got very comfortable with having people around —
it was not unusual for one to wander in and run under my chair looking for
bugs. But most Rock wrens are not that amiable and friendly (“hey, can you
back up? I can’t focus that close!” — rarely a bird photography problem)
We can understand humans generally act given ways when looked at as a
region, or society — but within that, individuals vary widely, and so do
birds. That’s part of the fun of figuring them out.
Where I live, I’m surrounded by a few acres of mostly undeveloped mostly
pine and alder forest. Downhill a ways is a stream, so there’s water, but
somewhere between here and there is some kind of regular water source,
because in my ongoing Merlin monitoring, I’ve gotten hits on things like
Great Blue Heron and Wood Duck. I’ve tried exploring a bit but have never
found exactly where those sounds are coming from, but I know they’re too
close to be the downhill stream. (I’ve also gotten flyover hits like
Ring-Necked ducks headed somewhere).
We are terrible habitat for Red-Winged blackbird, but a few times a year, I
get Merlin hits. It’s most common in the spring, and it’s rarely more than
a day in a row, but it seems to me it’s a bird moving from an old location
to a new one. My guess would be a young male, not yet breeding time,
shifting territories, and I’d guess the one that we’re talking about might
be the same kind of thing, and which happened to find a place it liked to
hang out a few days.
One of the most amusing “this is not what you’re supposed to be doing”
behaviors I’ve run into is a single American Robin (we have plenty, need
some?) that for three years running because a daily feeder bird. Robins,
you will exclaim, do not visit bird feeders (unless maybe if you feed
mealworms) but here is this one that’s settled in with the finches and the
mourning doves eating the peanut and sunflower chips in the ground feeder.
Why? It won’t tell me, but I guess it decided really easy calories was
their jam.
It’s notable only because it’s an individual behavior that’s way out of
norm for the species — but that’s what also makes it fun to notice, and a
great reminder to be on the lookout for these fun and weird oddities.
> Just enjoy what you get to experience and let the "general behaviors"
> guide you to be more likely get the situations you'd like? And then
> pay attention and get the experiences you want!
>
Amen
chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 5/1/26 1:43 pm From: David Kreft via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
I’ve had RWBB at my feeder since late January here in NE WA. Happens every
year even with snow and freezing temps. They’re pigs and bullies to the
smaller birds.
Dave
Kettle Falls, WA
On Fri, May 1, 2026 at 1:21 PM Roger Moyer via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I've been feeding birds over the winter. This spring I had a male
> Red-winged Blackbird coming to the feeder. So they do occasionally come to
> feeders. I'm about 3/8th of a mile from some swampy ground.
>
> Roger Moyer
> Chehalis, WA
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Sent:* Thursday, April 30, 2026 4:42 PM
> *To:* Ann Kramer <lens4birds...>
> *Cc:* TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
>
> Ann, that’s one I can’t answer other than to say that birds have wings and
> can turn up anywhere. I think most Red-winged Blackbirds would be in open
> country if not breeding, but they wander. We have had one or two fly over
> our house in a wooded neighborhood in Seattle, but I’ve never seen one
> otherwise anywhere nearer than Lake Washington. They emphatically wouldn’t
> occur with tanagers, grosbeaks and most warblers!
>
> So yeah, it’s unusual, and it seems unlikely he would commute daily
> between a wetland and your yard at that distance. Is he coming to a feeder?
> If a good enough source of food, that might attract him, and blackbirds can
> fly some distance between food and night-time roosts, although I don’t know
> if they would fly that far on a daily basis. And they really are flocking
> birds during the off season, so being by himself is definitely unusual.
>
> But I presume if he made it there from a marsh where he was hatched,
> presumably he can fly far enough to find another one. But his presence only
> during sunny weather is beyond me to try to explain!
>
> Dennis
>
> On Apr 30, 2026, at 3:25 PM, Ann Kramer <lens4birds...> wrote:
>
> Thank you for the clarification, Dennis, between a juvenile and one year
> old.
>
> To be more clear on my question, is it common for a marsh bird to wander
> into a sub rural community during migration and is it likely to find its
> way to a more suitable habitat eventually on his own?
>
> On Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 9:12 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
> wrote:
>
> Ann, I think it’s too early for juveniles (birds hatched this year), so
> maybe it’s a one-year-old male. Many but perhaps not all of them breed.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> On Apr 29, 2026, at 5:06 PM, Ann Kramer via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Tweets,
> I have a question about a juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird who has made my
> backyard his home for the past week. I thought he had left a few days ago
> but since then realized he frequents my backyard only when the sun is out.
> So he's back again today. I suspect he might be spending time near one of
> the marshy areas less than a mile from here. I'm still pretty new to this
> area and am used to Western Tanagers, Warblers and Evening Grosbeaks
> passing through in the Spring, but not marsh birds.
>
> I have an acre, tons of native trees in the back third, lots of natives in
> the front yard. But this is by no means a marsh. As the Wetlands I used
> to frequent when I lived in California was lousy with thousands of RWBB's,
> I love listening to his call but I'm concerned he is lost. There was
> another adult male with him the first few days, but he seems to have left
> now. Should I be concerned or should I trust he will find his way to his
> destination even without the company of his elder?
>
>
>
> *Ann*
>
> Ann Kramer, Wildlife and Nature Photographer
>
> www.annkramer.smugmug.com
>
>
>
> *“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
> ― John Muir*
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 5/1/26 1:30 pm From: Roger Moyer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
I've been feeding birds over the winter. This spring I had a male Red-winged Blackbird coming to the feeder. So they do occasionally come to feeders. I'm about 3/8th of a mile from some swampy ground.
Roger Moyer
Chehalis, WA
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2026 4:42 PM
To: Ann Kramer <lens4birds...>
Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Ann, that’s one I can’t answer other than to say that birds have wings and can turn up anywhere. I think most Red-winged Blackbirds would be in open country if not breeding, but they wander. We have had one or two fly over our house in a wooded neighborhood in Seattle, but I’ve never seen one otherwise anywhere nearer than Lake Washington. They emphatically wouldn’t occur with tanagers, grosbeaks and most warblers!
So yeah, it’s unusual, and it seems unlikely he would commute daily between a wetland and your yard at that distance. Is he coming to a feeder? If a good enough source of food, that might attract him, and blackbirds can fly some distance between food and night-time roosts, although I don’t know if they would fly that far on a daily basis. And they really are flocking birds during the off season, so being by himself is definitely unusual.
But I presume if he made it there from a marsh where he was hatched, presumably he can fly far enough to find another one. But his presence only during sunny weather is beyond me to try to explain!
Dennis
On Apr 30, 2026, at 3:25 PM, Ann Kramer <lens4birds...> wrote:
Thank you for the clarification, Dennis, between a juvenile and one year old.
To be more clear on my question, is it common for a marsh bird to wander into a sub rural community during migration and is it likely to find its way to a more suitable habitat eventually on his own?
On Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 9:12 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...><mailto:<dennispaulson...>> wrote:
Ann, I think it’s too early for juveniles (birds hatched this year), so maybe it’s a one-year-old male. Many but perhaps not all of them breed.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
On Apr 29, 2026, at 5:06 PM, Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
Tweets,
I have a question about a juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird who has made my backyard his home for the past week. I thought he had left a few days ago but since then realized he frequents my backyard only when the sun is out. So he's back again today. I suspect he might be spending time near one of the marshy areas less than a mile from here. I'm still pretty new to this area and am used to Western Tanagers, Warblers and Evening Grosbeaks passing through in the Spring, but not marsh birds.
I have an acre, tons of native trees in the back third, lots of natives in the front yard. But this is by no means a marsh. As the Wetlands I used to frequent when I lived in California was lousy with thousands of RWBB's, I love listening to his call but I'm concerned he is lost. There was another adult male with him the first few days, but he seems to have left now. Should I be concerned or should I trust he will find his way to his destination even without the company of his elder?
Date: 5/1/26 12:51 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Ann,
We all - myself included - tend to rely too heavily upon 'expert
knowledge'
as it applies to a species ... and then we turn around and easily accept
individual behaviors as "normal".
For example, I'm a birding photographer and have gained considerable
knowledge about bird behavior as it relates to my getting images ... so
if a
particular individual (such as the well-known Short-eared Owl at the
East 90)
allows me close, long views ... I tend to expect that same behavior from
other SEOWs and even from some random Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a
pole along the road I'm driving. But that's a "fallacy" because some
individual birds have "non-standard behaviors".
The difficulty/trick is to just accept that whatever you are seeing is
well within the range of expected behavior. The basics still apply - birds
are motivated by food, sex, territory, and threats.
On our recent trip to Ecuador literally -every place- we went had
dozens of hummers. Each time there was a different mix of species
but the general behavior was essentially the same. Then, after I had
taken a hundred or so shots that time I started to 'slow down and
watch/experience what was happening'. Then I would set up my
camera for a particular place/behavior and just wait for the shot to
happen - worked like a charm. Next day/next stop ... I was right back
shooting the first 100 shots before I stopped to watch and observe.
Just enjoy what you get to experience and let the "general behaviors"
guide you to be more likely get the situations you'd like? And then
pay attention and get the experiences you want!
- Jim in Skagit
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 5/1/26 7:07 am From: AMK17 via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] FOS Seattle migrants
This morning, first Wilson's warblers fly catching in the yard.
Unfortunately bird habitat in neighborhood affected by development as neighbor cleared lot and removed all trees and shrubs. While my yard remains in tact, the removal of cover, nesting and foraging habitat has affected birds. Clearing also removed hummingbird , junco and Robin nests -active nests.
Date: 4/30/26 5:12 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Thank you Dennis. I thought it was unusual when he lingered day after
day. I was less puzzled when I saw the adult Red-Winged, but I haven't
seen the adult for over 5 days now.
He is getting sunflower chips daily and I've seen him pluck a bit at the
suet feeder, so he is coming in for food and probably water. I had hoped
he was restoring himself from migration and then would move on. It's over
a week now so I am puzzled. There are some bits of open field within a
mile from here. Mostly it is a forested area in front and behind me
with some streams. There are some larger fields a mile or so from me by
the Stanwood Water Filtration area.
I'm hoping he will feel rested and restored and can find a better spot
soon.
On a happier note, I saw the first Black-Headed Grosbeak of the season
today!
On Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 4:42 PM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
wrote:
> Ann, that’s one I can’t answer other than to say that birds have wings and
> can turn up anywhere. I think most Red-winged Blackbirds would be in open
> country if not breeding, but they wander. We have had one or two fly over
> our house in a wooded neighborhood in Seattle, but I’ve never seen one
> otherwise anywhere nearer than Lake Washington. They emphatically wouldn’t
> occur with tanagers, grosbeaks and most warblers!
>
> So yeah, it’s unusual, and it seems unlikely he would commute daily
> between a wetland and your yard at that distance. Is he coming to a feeder?
> If a good enough source of food, that might attract him, and blackbirds can
> fly some distance between food and night-time roosts, although I don’t know
> if they would fly that far on a daily basis. And they really are flocking
> birds during the off season, so being by himself is definitely unusual.
>
> But I presume if he made it there from a marsh where he was hatched,
> presumably he can fly far enough to find another one. But his presence only
> during sunny weather is beyond me to try to explain!
>
> Dennis
>
> On Apr 30, 2026, at 3:25 PM, Ann Kramer <lens4birds...> wrote:
>
> Thank you for the clarification, Dennis, between a juvenile and one year
> old.
>
> To be more clear on my question, is it common for a marsh bird to wander
> into a sub rural community during migration and is it likely to find its
> way to a more suitable habitat eventually on his own?
>
> On Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 9:12 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
> wrote:
>
>> Ann, I think it’s too early for juveniles (birds hatched this year), so
>> maybe it’s a one-year-old male. Many but perhaps not all of them breed.
>>
>> Dennis Paulson
>> Seattle
>>
>> On Apr 29, 2026, at 5:06 PM, Ann Kramer via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>> Tweets,
>> I have a question about a juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird who has made my
>> backyard his home for the past week. I thought he had left a few days ago
>> but since then realized he frequents my backyard only when the sun is out.
>> So he's back again today. I suspect he might be spending time near one of
>> the marshy areas less than a mile from here. I'm still pretty new to this
>> area and am used to Western Tanagers, Warblers and Evening Grosbeaks
>> passing through in the Spring, but not marsh birds.
>>
>> I have an acre, tons of native trees in the back third, lots of natives
>> in the front yard. But this is by no means a marsh. As the Wetlands I
>> used to frequent when I lived in California was lousy with thousands of
>> RWBB's, I love listening to his call but I'm concerned he is lost. There
>> was another adult male with him the first few days, but he seems to have
>> left now. Should I be concerned or should I trust he will find his way to
>> his destination even without the company of his elder?
>>
>>
>>
>> *Ann*
>>
>> Ann Kramer, Wildlife and Nature Photographer
>>
>> www.annkramer.smugmug.com
>>
>>
>>
>> *“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
>> ― John Muir*
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>>
>>
>
Date: 4/30/26 4:53 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Ann, that’s one I can’t answer other than to say that birds have wings and can turn up anywhere. I think most Red-winged Blackbirds would be in open country if not breeding, but they wander. We have had one or two fly over our house in a wooded neighborhood in Seattle, but I’ve never seen one otherwise anywhere nearer than Lake Washington. They emphatically wouldn’t occur with tanagers, grosbeaks and most warblers!
So yeah, it’s unusual, and it seems unlikely he would commute daily between a wetland and your yard at that distance. Is he coming to a feeder? If a good enough source of food, that might attract him, and blackbirds can fly some distance between food and night-time roosts, although I don’t know if they would fly that far on a daily basis. And they really are flocking birds during the off season, so being by himself is definitely unusual.
But I presume if he made it there from a marsh where he was hatched, presumably he can fly far enough to find another one. But his presence only during sunny weather is beyond me to try to explain!
Dennis
> On Apr 30, 2026, at 3:25 PM, Ann Kramer <lens4birds...> wrote:
>
> Thank you for the clarification, Dennis, between a juvenile and one year old.
>
> To be more clear on my question, is it common for a marsh bird to wander into a sub rural community during migration and is it likely to find its way to a more suitable habitat eventually on his own?
>
> On Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 9:12 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> <mailto:<dennispaulson...>> wrote:
>> Ann, I think it’s too early for juveniles (birds hatched this year), so maybe it’s a one-year-old male. Many but perhaps not all of them breed.
>>
>> Dennis Paulson
>> Seattle
>>
>>> On Apr 29, 2026, at 5:06 PM, Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Tweets,
>>> I have a question about a juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird who has made my backyard his home for the past week. I thought he had left a few days ago but since then realized he frequents my backyard only when the sun is out. So he's back again today. I suspect he might be spending time near one of the marshy areas less than a mile from here. I'm still pretty new to this area and am used to Western Tanagers, Warblers and Evening Grosbeaks passing through in the Spring, but not marsh birds.
>>>
>>> I have an acre, tons of native trees in the back third, lots of natives in the front yard. But this is by no means a marsh. As the Wetlands I used to frequent when I lived in California was lousy with thousands of RWBB's, I love listening to his call but I'm concerned he is lost. There was another adult male with him the first few days, but he seems to have left now. Should I be concerned or should I trust he will find his way to his destination even without the company of his elder?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Ann
>>>
>>> Ann Kramer, Wildlife and Nature Photographer
>>>
>>> www.annkramer.smugmug.com <http://www.annkramer.smugmug.com/> >>>
>>>
>>> “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
>>>
>>> ― John Muir
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> >>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
Date: 4/30/26 3:33 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Thank you for the clarification, Dennis, between a juvenile and one year
old.
To be more clear on my question, is it common for a marsh bird to wander
into a sub rural community during migration and is it likely to find its
way to a more suitable habitat eventually on his own?
On Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 9:12 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
wrote:
> Ann, I think it’s too early for juveniles (birds hatched this year), so
> maybe it’s a one-year-old male. Many but perhaps not all of them breed.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> On Apr 29, 2026, at 5:06 PM, Ann Kramer via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Tweets,
> I have a question about a juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird who has made my
> backyard his home for the past week. I thought he had left a few days ago
> but since then realized he frequents my backyard only when the sun is out.
> So he's back again today. I suspect he might be spending time near one of
> the marshy areas less than a mile from here. I'm still pretty new to this
> area and am used to Western Tanagers, Warblers and Evening Grosbeaks
> passing through in the Spring, but not marsh birds.
>
> I have an acre, tons of native trees in the back third, lots of natives in
> the front yard. But this is by no means a marsh. As the Wetlands I used
> to frequent when I lived in California was lousy with thousands of RWBB's,
> I love listening to his call but I'm concerned he is lost. There was
> another adult male with him the first few days, but he seems to have left
> now. Should I be concerned or should I trust he will find his way to his
> destination even without the company of his elder?
>
>
>
> *Ann*
>
> Ann Kramer, Wildlife and Nature Photographer
>
> www.annkramer.smugmug.com
>
>
>
> *“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
> ― John Muir*
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
>
Date: 4/30/26 12:27 pm From: Jim Ullrich via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge Birding Festival
This weekend 5/1-3 In Hoquiam and at the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge is our 26th Annual Wildlife & Nature Birding Festival. Check in is at the Hoquiam Middle School just east of the refuge. Come on out and join us for fun, education, and nature. Visit: www.shorebirdfestival.com
Date: 4/30/26 9:23 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Ann, I think it’s too early for juveniles (birds hatched this year), so maybe it’s a one-year-old male. Many but perhaps not all of them breed.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Apr 29, 2026, at 5:06 PM, Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Tweets,
> I have a question about a juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird who has made my backyard his home for the past week. I thought he had left a few days ago but since then realized he frequents my backyard only when the sun is out. So he's back again today. I suspect he might be spending time near one of the marshy areas less than a mile from here. I'm still pretty new to this area and am used to Western Tanagers, Warblers and Evening Grosbeaks passing through in the Spring, but not marsh birds.
>
> I have an acre, tons of native trees in the back third, lots of natives in the front yard. But this is by no means a marsh. As the Wetlands I used to frequent when I lived in California was lousy with thousands of RWBB's, I love listening to his call but I'm concerned he is lost. There was another adult male with him the first few days, but he seems to have left now. Should I be concerned or should I trust he will find his way to his destination even without the company of his elder?
>
>
>
> Ann
>
> Ann Kramer, Wildlife and Nature Photographer
>
> www.annkramer.smugmug.com <http://www.annkramer.smugmug.com/> >
>
> “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
>
> ― John Muir
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/30/26 7:18 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 4/29/2026
Dear Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us had an exciting Spring Day at the Refuge with sunny
skies and temperatures in the 50's to 60's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a
Low 0'6" Tide at 11:29am and a High 11'10" Tide at 5:59pm. Highlights
included continuing WHITE-FACED IBIS (2) at the Twin Barns Overlook,
upwards of 12 First of Year sightings including BLUE-WINGED TEAL/NORTHERN
YELLOW WARBLER/and AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, several RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (3)
nests along the northwest section of the Twin Barns Loop Trail between the
twin bench overlook just south of the Twin Barns cut-off and the cut-off,
the return of BULLOCK'S ORIOLE to the Twin Barns Picnic area and just south
in the cottonwood trees between the access road and the Twin Barns Loop
Trail, and nice numbers of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (9) and HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL
(19) using the mud flats north of the Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike along
the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
In the morning, our group split in two: Ken Brown led some of the group on
our routine walk through the Orchard and I led the other portion on a
twitch to the Twin Barns Overlook Platform to relocate two WHITE-FACED IBIS
that were continuing in the flooded field adjacent to the Twin Barns. It's
been over twenty years since this species was last reported at the Refuge,
so it's very exciting to have them back comfortably feeding and roosting in
the flooded fields for a nice view. FOY BULLOCKS ORIOLE, two male and one
female, were heard and seen in the Twin Barns Picnic Area and the tall
Cottonwood Trees between the Access Road and Twin Barns Loop Trail where
this species nested last year. Our two groups reunited along the Access
Road adjacent to the west side parking lot after our twitch. Upwards of 14
FOY AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN were observed flying south up the
McAllister/Medicine Creek. Numerous SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL were heard and
seen in the flooded fields, Visitor Center Pond, and the freshwater marsh.
The Visitor Center Pond and Twin Barns Loop Trail was great for observing
FOY BLUE-WINGED TEAL, CINNAMON TEAL, and PIED-BILL GREBE. The Riparian
Forest around the Twin Barns Loop Trail is a great breeding area for BARN
SWALLOW, TREE SWALLOW, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. The section between the Twin Barns cut-off and south
to the twin bench overlook just south of the cut-off is very active with
several nests. The large Maple Tree at the cut-off has a knot hole that a
NORTHERN ROUGH-WING SWALLOW is re-exploring.
The Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike was great for observing
waterfowl/shorebirds, including migrating GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE/BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER/and HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL. AMERICAN BITTERN was
reported by some of our group who made it out on the dike earlier in the
morning. The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail allowed very close viewing
of breeding plumage LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED GULL,
RING-BILLED GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED/WESTERN GULL, CASPIAN TERN, and COMMON
LOON. Several CLIFF SWALLOWS are building mud-hut nests at the McAllister
Creek/Medicine Creek Viewing Platform.
We located a BARRED OWL at the Nisqually River Overlook thanks to several
agitated AMERICAN ROBINS. FOY WESTERN FLYCATCHER (pacific-slope variety)
was heard along east side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail. Numerous sightings
of many expected warblers including ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, COMMON
YELLOW-THROAT, NORTHERN YELLOW WARBLER, and both Audubon's and Myrtle
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.
For the day we observed over 95 species with upwards of 12 FOY. We have
observed 128 species thus far this year. See our eBird Report pasted below
for additional details and photos.
Others seen included the Columbia Black-tailed Deer, Long-tailed Weasel,
Townsend's Chipmunk, Townsend's Vole, Muskrat, Painted Turtle, and Garter
Snake.
Until next week, happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Apr 29, 2026 9:44 AM - 5:36 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.722 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Actual time approximately
700minutes. Actual distance approximately 7 miles. Sunny skies with
temperatures in the 50’s to 60’s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low 0’6” Tide at
11:29am and a High 11’10” Tide at 5:59pm. Mammals seen Eastern
Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Townsend’s Chipmunk,
Long-tailed Weasel, Townsend’s Vole, Muskrat, and Harbor Seal. Others seen
include Painted Turtle, American Bullfrog, Red Admiral Butterfly, and
Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.
96 species (+7 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Western) 27 Freshwater marsh.
Cackling Goose 30
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 2 Injured bird continues along the dike or
Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 35
Wood Duck 8
Blue-winged Teal 6 Counted individually. Two in Visitor Center Pond,
two in flooded field south of Twin Barns, and two adjacent to Twin Barns.
Cinnamon Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 50
Gadwall 10
American Wigeon 100
Mallard 45
Northern Pintail 20
Green-winged Teal 80
Ring-necked Duck 16
Greater Scaup 20
Lesser Scaup 1
Surf Scoter 8
Bufflehead 40
Common Goldeneye 15
Hooded Merganser 8
Common Merganser 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern) 14
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Mourning Dove 2
Anna's Hummingbird 2
Rufous Hummingbird 14 Three nests along the Northwest Section of Twin
Barns Loop Trail, south of cut-off to Twin Barns to the double bench
overlook immediately south.
Virginia Rail 7
Sora 5
American Coot (Red-shielded) 7
Black-bellied Plover 9 Small flock flew into mudflats west of Leschi
Slough, group of 9 individuals.
Hudsonian Whimbrel 19 Possible more. Nineteen individuals counted on
the ground, additional birds flying around vicinity. Mudflats North and
East of McAllister Creek/Medicine Creek Viewing Platform.
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Dunlin 4
Least Sandpiper 100
Western Sandpiper 40
Short-billed Gull 100
Ring-billed Gull 25
California Gull 4
Glaucous-winged Gull 3
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 6
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 40
Larus sp. 100
Caspian Tern 8
Pied-billed Grebe 5
Common Loon 2
Brandt's Cormorant 1
Double-crested Cormorant 50
White-faced Ibis 2 Previously reported rare migrant stopping over at
Refuge. Photos and video. Best seen from Twin Barns Overlook. Medium sized
red to bronzed colored wading waterbird with red eye, long decurved bill,
and red legs. Faint rim of white around facial skin.
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 25
American White Pelican 14 Surprise! Distinctive. Large white arial
waterbird with white and black wings and large yellow bill. Flying south up
McAllister Creek.
Turkey Vulture (Northern) 1
Bald Eagle 20 Two occupied nests. One in tall Cottonwood Tree West
Bank of Nisqually River, 1/4mile north of Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike.
The second in Doug Fir on the West Bank of McAllister Creek just south of
McAllister Creek/Medicine Creek Viewing Platform of the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail.
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 2
Barred Owl 1 Adjacent to Nisqually River Overlook.
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Building cavity/nest in large snag on the
outside of the Twin Barns Loop Trail just north of the north double bench
overlook just south of the Twin Barns cut-off.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 3
Northern Flicker 2
Peregrine Falcon 2
Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope) 1
Hutton's Vireo (Pacific) 1
Western Warbling Vireo 1
Steller's Jay 2
California Scrub-Jay 1
American Crow 8
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 12
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 7
Tree Swallow 30
Violet-green Swallow 2
Purple Martin 9 Luhr Beach.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 7 McAllister Creek and Large Old Maple
Tree at Twin Barns Cut-off from Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Barn Swallow (American) 50
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group) 40 Building mud hut nests at Visitor
Center and McAllister Creek/Medicine Observation Platform.
Bushtit (Pacific) 3
Brown Creeper 4
Marsh Wren 21
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 12
European Starling 20
Swainson's Thrush 2 Heard only.
American Robin (migratorius Group) 40
Purple Finch (Western) 3
American Goldfinch 4
White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) 2
Golden-crowned Sparrow 30
White-throated Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 2
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 35
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Spotted Towhee 4
Bullock's Oriole 2 Two males and possible one female in area of Twin
Barns Picnic Table área and along Access Road and Twin Barns Loop Trail
just south of Twin Barns Picnic Área. Oriole chatter and call heard.
Confirmed sighting of immature and mature male birds. Hanging out in the
tall Cottonwood Trees between the Access Road and Twin Barns Loop Trail
just south of Twin Barns where birds had nested last year.
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 50
Brown-headed Cowbird 7
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) 1
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 6
Common Yellowthroat 15
Northern Yellow Warbler 15 Probably more. Counted individually, heard
and seen.
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 30
Date: 4/29/26 5:37 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fay Bainbridge Osprey (and happy spring!)
There is a nest (easily visible from the beach parking lot) at Fay
Bainbridge park that has hosted both Bald Eagles and Osprey. I’ve been
watching it on and off the last couple of years, and last year there were
eagles there for a while and then it went empty (no idea if it was
occupied by the Osprey later, I wasn’t checking). This year there has been
AN eagle near or on the nest tree on and off, but I never saw a pair there
and as of three weeks ago, it wasn’t sitting on eggs, so not successful
again this year.
But a couple of days ago, I saw a report that the Osprey’s showed up for a
fight, and kicked the eagle off the nest. I went out there this afternoon
to see if I could see anything, and sure enough, I could BARELY see the
very top of the head of a bird sitting in the nest — watching it for a
while I finally got a good enough look to see it was an Osprey, so this is
now, it seems, and Osprey nest, and she seems to already be on an egg. I’ll
be keeping an eye on it to see how it goes, but it seems it’s occupied, and
it’s both very easy to find but pretty well protected from mayhem (short of
flying a drone), so it’s a nice place to take people interested in
(hopefully) watching these birds raise the next generation.
In more general spring bird news, I had my first sighting of a beautiful
male Western tanager visiting the feeder today, and Merlin caught a call of
a Black-headed Grosbeak, but I haven’t gotten sight of it yet. Both are
regulars here and confirmed breeding in recent years. We also have Flickers
visiting the suet for the first time in a couple of years (and making a
racket) so they seem to be setting up a nest nearby (and are confirmed past
breeders). We also have Pileateds and they visit the suet infrequently, but
while I’m hearing them regularly, they’re generally a bit distant, although
we had very near drumming about a week ago (they are also confirmed
breeders on the property, but we haven’t seen chicks in a couple of years).
Unfortunately, a female Hairy woodpecker that was a daily visitor for 3-4
years and a presumed breeder hasn’t been seen in about 3 months, so she’s
moved on. The Western Flycatchers arrived a couple of weeks ago, and we
have Pacific Wrens making lots of noise in at least three locations, and at
least three pairs of Purple Finches visiting the feeders. All of our
expected spring residents have now made an appearance except the Swainson’s
Thrush, and I expect they’ll arrive in the next couple of weeks.
Unexpected but likely migrant was a quick visit by a Golden-crowned
sparrow, seen/heard once and then they moved on. We occasionally get
-crowned in small numbers irregularly, but they’re not regular visitors
here, so it’s a bit notable.
Happy spring!
chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 4/29/26 5:18 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Tweets,
I have a question about a juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird who has made my
backyard his home for the past week. I thought he had left a few days ago
but since then realized he frequents my backyard only when the sun is out.
So he's back again today. I suspect he might be spending time near one of
the marshy areas less than a mile from here. I'm still pretty new to this
area and am used to Western Tanagers, Warblers and Evening Grosbeaks
passing through in the Spring, but not marsh birds.
I have an acre, tons of native trees in the back third, lots of natives in
the front yard. But this is by no means a marsh. As the Wetlands I used
to frequent when I lived in California was lousy with thousands of RWBB's,
I love listening to his call but I'm concerned he is lost. There was
another adult male with him the first few days, but he seems to have left
now. Should I be concerned or should I trust he will find his way to his
destination even without the company of his elder?
*Ann*
Ann Kramer, Wildlife and Nature Photographer
www.annkramer.smugmug.com
*“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
― John Muir*
Date: 4/29/26 11:08 am From: Becky Galloway via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Merlin pair at NE 70th and 35th NE
Just watched a Merlin pair flying and calling in the cluster of tall pines across the street from Wedgwood Family Dentistry at 7030 35th NE. They’ve been there at least an hour from 10a-11am
Date: 4/28/26 10:15 pm From: Karen Fardal via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Sony lens cap at Yesler swamp
There has been a lens cap at the start of the boardwalk since last Thursday, this morning it was on a sign just to the left of the boardwalk as you go in from the parking lot. Hope the owner will be reunited with it!
Date: 4/28/26 6:58 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] REMINDER: WOS Monthly Meeting, May 4, 2026 (in-person and online)
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, May 4, 2026, Dennis Paulson will present, "Madagascar, A Place Like Nowhere Else." Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island, situated off East Africa in the Indian Ocean. Isolated since it drifted away from India 88 million years ago, a very large percentage of its plants and animals are endemic, occurring nowhere else—95% of reptiles, 92% of mammals, 89% of plants, and 41% of birds. Its environments range from lush montane rain forests to arid coastal scrub, each with its own flora and fauna.
Dennis Paulson, founding member of WOS, has impacted everything to do with birds in Washington State for decades. Dennis has served as a curator at both the UW Burke Museum and the University of Puget Sound Slater Museum of Natural History. He is in addition recognized as a world authority on dragonflies. His many publications include A Guide to Bird Finding in Washington, Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest and over 90 scientific papers. Dennis has traveled to all continents to study and photograph nature, and has taught and mentored university, Master Birder students and adult learners for over 50 years. He continues to enjoy the thrill of seeing a new species and interacting with fellow naturalists.
This meeting will take place both in-person and online via Zoom.
The IN-PERSON meeting will take place at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture (free parking), 3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle, WA 98195. Doors open at 6:45PM; Program starts at 7:30PM
VIA ZOOM - Please go to the WOS Monthly Meetings page: https://wos.org/monthly-meetings/ for instructions on participation and to get the Zoom link. When joining the meeting, we ask that you mute your device and make certain that your camera is turned off.
This meeting is open to all as WOS invites everyone in the wider birding community to attend. Thanks to the generosity of our presenters, recordings of past programs are available at the following link to the WOS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@washingtonornithologicalso7839/videos
If you are not yet a member of WOS, we hope you will consider becoming one at https://wos.org
Most Bird Fest activities are free and open to the public, with some experiences offered on a pay-what-you-can basis to keep the festival accessible to all.
Date: 4/28/26 9:15 am From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wiley Slough in Skagit - and Reifel is Open ...
Hi,
I went to Wiley yesterday - it was my first time there in over 2
months. My report is
"pretty much status quo". I got to see several GBH, Osprey, Belted
Kingfishers,
Canada Geese, lots of Marsh Wrens (heard more than saw) and RWB, lots of
Green-winged Teal and a few Mallards. NO Bald Eagles (I did not walk far
enough out to see if last year's nest is active), a fair number of
Greater Yellowlegs,
a few "peeps", and one Killdeer. Noticeably absent were -any- sparrows
or robins.
Has anyone heard anything about the eagles at Wylie this year?
BTW, the Westham bridge is back in service so a trip to Reifel is a
high probability
for me in the near future.
- Jim in Skagit
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Date: 4/27/26 7:02 pm From: Patty Cheek via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Costa Rica Trip May 19-31
Hi, Everyone,
A person had to cancel due to health issues for our trip to Costa Rica. We need a female to join our trip. Here's the info.
Get the word out. Great opportunity. Consider joining our birding tour to Costa Rica. Due to an unfortunate cancellation for health reasons, there is one opening for a female double occupancy room. Our group is limited to 12 participants, currently all from Whidbey, and will be accompanied by our guide, Roger Melendez, and a professional driver.
Trip Cost: $3,125 per person (double occupancy)
This includes the guide, all accommodations, meals, park entrances, and a full-time vehicle with a driver. It does not include gratuities for the guide and driver.
Travel Details:
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Costa Rica. Please ensure your flight arrives in time for our welcome dinner on May 19; many participants find that arriving on the 18th works best. The trip concludes with a farewell dinner on May 30.
Best regards,
Jo (425-205-1052)
Vivian Stembridge (206-947-9011)
Patty Cheek (425-246-1766)
Date: 4/27/26 12:55 pm From: Hilary Bolles via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Seeking carpool for May WOS conference
It would be great to ride with any Seattle people to Lewiston for the WOS conference. Happy to help drive and cover expenses. Flexible about returning Sunday eve or Monday morning the 18th. Please reply offline to hilaryb at comcast dot net _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/27/26 12:21 pm From: Jay via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Osprey are back
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:45:47 -0700 From: JACK NOLAN via Tweeters <tweeters...> To: <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Osprey are back Message-ID: <4956B8D5-BDD2-48F0-8FE7-73EC0CA803BC...> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I heard and saw an Osprey yesterday. I assume it?s the pair that nest over by Shorecrest High.
Sure sign summer is just around the corner.
Jack Nolan Shoreline, WA.
These two are nesting and breeding at Squalicum Park in Bellingham
Date: 4/26/26 6:13 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - March 2026
Hi Tweeters,
We ended March with 117 species on our Edmonds 2026 year list. The added species in taxonomic order are:
Wood Duck (code 3), 1 at Pine Ridge Park, 3-15-26.
Ruddy Duck (code 3), 2 at the waterfront, 3-17-26.
Rufous Hummingbird (code 2), 1 at Edmonds marsh and 1 at Southwest County Park, 3-22-26.
American Kestrel (code 4), 1 at Mathay-Ballinger Park, 3-18-26.
Tree Swallow (code 3), 6 in Edmonds Lake Ballinger neighborhood, 3-19-26.
Violet-green Swallow (code 1), 10 in Edmonds Lake Ballinger neighborhood, 3-19-26.
Other birds of interest: The adult male Lesser Goldfinch (code 5) appeared at its customary feeders on 3-18, 22, and 26. He has been using these feeders intermittently for a year and a half. The puzzle is where he hangs out the rest of the time. Presumably he remains somewhere in the Edmonds area but we have received no other reports of this bird. We usually have at least one Turkey Vulture (code 3) sighting in March but this year either Edmonds’ skies were devoid of that species or it eluded detection.
Declined: American Herring Gull (code 4), 2 separate undocumented reports in Edmonds marsh. Over all years there have been a total of 24 eBird reports of this species in the marsh, starting in January 2024. None was documented. These all seem to coincide with increased use of Merlin’s Sound ID for building checklists. It frequently lists this species as a possibility at the marsh but without an independent sighting to verify that possibility, it is worthless. I have begun to doubt Sound ID’s usefulness for gulls. It certainly does not distinguish between pure species and hybrids and possibly will never be able to. But I have to wonder about the persistence of its suggestion for American Herring Gull where that species is rarely seen.
By way of explanation, we start additions to our year list based on birders letting me know about sightings. We then review eBird reports to see if we can add further species based on information included in checklists. With rarer birds, code 3 or rarer, we look for something more than a checklist tick. Those of us who use eBird know that we occasionally make data entry errors, so those have to be ruled out for our purposes. We then look for evidence such as a description of critical field marks, photos, or recordings. If none of those is included, we then decline to add the species at this time. This has no effect on an eBirder’s personal records.
As always, I appreciate it when birders get in touch with me to share sightings, photos, or recordings. It helps us build our collective year list. If you would like a copy of our 2026 Edmonds city checklist, please request it from this email address: checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. The 2026 checklist, with March sightings on it, is in the bird information box at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station at the base of the public pier.
Good birding,
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
cariddellwa at gmail dot com
Abundance codes: (1) Common, (2) Uncommon, (3) Harder to find, usually seen annually, (4) Rare, 5+ records, (5) Fewer than 5 records
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Date: 4/25/26 5:22 pm From: Jim Ullrich via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] 05/01-3 Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival
Howdy Tweets:
Grays Harbor Shorebird & Nature Festival is next weekend 05/1-03 at the
Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge.
Festival Headquarters is out of Hoquiam Middle School just east of the
Refuge, and follow the signage to stop in.
Yours for the Birds n’ the Bees
Date: 4/25/26 2:11 pm From: Debbie Mcleod via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Ospreys and a book
I recommend Bird School as well. I got it from KCLS.
The scientific detail was challenging for me at times. But I persevered, and was so glad I did.
I became an Adam Nicolson fan after reading his 2001 book Sea Room.
"For his 21st birthday, Nicolson's father gave him some islands among the Scottish Outer Hebrides ... he has produced a vivid, meticulously researched paean to his "heartland," examining its geology, its flora and fauna, and its history."
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Date: 4/25/26 1:54 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] White-faced Ibis continues at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR
Hi Tweets,
The White-faced Ibis continues at the Refuge foraging in the flooded field adjacent and south of Twin Barns. The Visitor Center Pond Overlook has a BWTE hybrid with either CITE or Northern Shoveler or other. I’ll post photos in my eBird report - BWTE with red eye, red cheek, green nape and large black bill.
Happy birding,
Shep
Shep Thorp, VMD
Family Guy, Emergency Veterinarian, Birder
Browns Point, Tacoma
253-370-3742
Date: 4/24/26 6:38 pm From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Six Eagles at Seahurst Park
Hi Tom,
We had 6 bald eagles at the Montlake Fill today -- two adults flying with 4
juveniles who probably all fledged from the same nest in Laurelhurst in
different years. So great to see them!
Ronda
On Thu, Apr 23, 2026 at 8:59 PM Tom Benedict via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I live near in Burien, WA. We see Bald Eagles regularly. They nest in the
> area and perform their mating displays overhead. It’s an extraordinary
> experience and fortunately no longer an unusual experience around here.
> However, today, I saw no less than six immature BAEA at the north end of
> Seahurst Park. A couple of them were very large and all had a range dark
> brown and mottled buff feathers. None had any white on heads or tails. Four
> of them were sitting in a snag overlooking the north beach. I have never
> seen this many BAEA at a time around here. I wonder if fishing is good
> right now?
>
> Also noticed a single porpoise offshore associated with a modest raft of
> Buffleheads.
>
> Tom Benedict
> Seahurst, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/24/26 3:24 pm From: Tom and Carol Stoner via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Ospreys and a book
Today at 2:00 I watched 2 Ospreys soaring over the West Seattle Bridge.
The book is "Bird School: A Beginner in the Woods" (2025) by Adam Nicolson. His book is set in England, but cites research from all over the world, including the Pacific Northwest. He's talks about finding and observing birds, scientific studies on various issues, as well as birds in literature and philosophy. Very readable with surprising, to me at least, observations and conclusions. I found it in the Seattle Public Library.
Date: 4/23/26 9:08 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Six Eagles at Seahurst Park
I live near in Burien, WA. We see Bald Eagles regularly. They nest in the area and perform their mating displays overhead. It’s an extraordinary experience and fortunately no longer an unusual experience around here. However, today, I saw no less than six immature BAEA at the north end of Seahurst Park. A couple of them were very large and all had a range dark brown and mottled buff feathers. None had any white on heads or tails. Four of them were sitting in a snag overlooking the north beach. I have never seen this many BAEA at a time around here. I wonder if fishing is good right now?
Also noticed a single porpoise offshore associated with a modest raft of Buffleheads.
Date: 4/23/26 9:05 pm From: BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Woodland Park Wonders including Chipping Sparrows
It was funny, last weekend Merlin popped up a Chipping Sparrow, and I smugly felt like I'd heard enough of them in Woodland Park over the last several years that I felt it was an accurate ID. We were on the move enough that I didn't have time to see it and so that was that. So it was interesting to see the flow of posts on the topic over the last week, including the note about four different sightings around Green Lake.
I had time at the end of the day today to go looking - I wanted to hear and see a Chipping Sparrow so I could report in. I heard what I thought was a Chipping Sparrow, but Merlin lit up with the trill as both Chipping and Junco! It also alternated between the two. I spent quite some time looking for it, but I never could see the bugger.
I got distracted by Black Throated Grey Warbler calls, and after a few minutes managed to get some great views of a couple. After a fly through by the Pileated Pair (which incidentally seem to be nesting mid park), a bird buzzed by close - sounded like a Junco. It landed 15 feet away on a branch, and lo and behold - a Chipper!!!
Woodland Park is a nice place to find these guys. They've been very present the last few years. I do feel like the bird diversity is improving in the park, I think helped by the maturing canopy and the native restoration underway.
Date: 4/23/26 5:22 pm From: Ron Post via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] green lake today
Along with the regular buffleheads i have been observing in the middle of Green Lake in Seattle. just now saw a common loon swimming along behind them. Ron Post <ronpost4...>
Date: 4/23/26 4:51 pm From: Peter Hodum via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Seabirds Live! event with author Eric Wagner: Wednesday 13 May
What can one of the world’s largest gatherings of rhinoceros auklets tell
us about the health of the Salish Sea? Get the inside scoop on the remote
and often enigmatic seabirds of Protection and Destruction Islands. Author
Eric Wagner will be on stage with seabird biologist Peter Hodum for a live
conversation on May 13 at the University of Washington Tacoma. The free
event will feature original photos and audio, along with a discussion of
Eric’s new book, "Seabirds as Sentinels: Auklets, Puffins, Shearwaters and
the View from Destruction Island."
Learn what seabirds are telling us about changing ocean conditions and the
health of the Salish Sea. Find out the best technique for dodging a flying
rhinoceros auklet. Take a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at seabird
research in Washington state.
This live event combines gorgeous photographs and audio recordings with an
on-stage conversation between two leading experts on seabird ecology,
author and scientist Eric Wagner and seabird biologist Peter Hodum of the
University of Puget Sound. As part of the event, Wagner will be talking
about and signing his new book, Seabirds as Sentinels. Puget Sound
Institute managing editor and nature sound recordist Jeff Rice will join
the discussion as host and moderator.
May 13 from 7 – 8 PM
Doors open at 6:30 PM for light refreshments
University of Washington Tacoma
Carwein Auditorium (Keystone 102)
1754 Commerce Street, Tacoma WA, 98402
Date: 4/23/26 4:16 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-04-23
Tweets - It was darkly overcast and cool this morning, with temps in the 40's. It was not the magical spring morning one might hope for, but it wasn't too bad either.
Highlights: Common Goldeneye - One (maybe two) females. Just our 10th COGO sighting ever for late-April and May Hooded Merganser - At least two, and shockingly only our second since late February Band-tailed Pigeon - Our second time this spring, but they should become regular starting next week, through at least July Vaux's Swift - A few amongst the horde of Tree/Violet-green Swallows. First of Spring (FOS), and on the earlier side for first sighting Great Blue Heron - Young big enough to be visible on some of the nests Five Woodpecker Day - All seen Merlin - At least one, probably two. Fourth week in a row Western Warbling Vireo - One heard singing, but not seen, at the Rowing Club. (FOS), and tied for the earliest ever !!! Tree & Violet-green Swallows - Large numbers overhead just about everywhere Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Several over the slough below the weir, late American Robin - Adult sitting on a nest at the very south end of the Dog Meadow Brown-headed Cowbird - (FOS) and a very late return. They're typically around all of April. Many today, though Northern Yellow Warbler - One heard singing, but unseen, east from the SE part of the East Meadow (FOS). 2nd earliest return ever, and that by only one day !!! Yellow-rumped Warbler - Many, many, many, and all I was able to see well were "Audubon's", and virtually all male
Misses today included American Coot, Wilson's Snipe, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher (may have heard late), Cliff Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Pine Siskin, and "Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Despite that rather lengthy list of Misses, we did manage 61 species today.
Date: 4/23/26 3:57 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday at Nisqually
Another wet Wednesday, and relatively small turnout.( total 17) The south end of the pond hosted Hooded Mergansers and a couple Mallards. Red-winged Blackbirds and Marsh Wrens serenaded us as we chatted and watched the rain dimple the pond, slow to get started. After consulting the Tide tables we realized that peak high tide would occur shortly after we started and then fall for the rest of the walk. If we wanted to see shorebirds closer in, we'd need to get out to the dike earlier than usual. We decided to skip the play area, orchard, and entrance road and take the west side of the loop trail, after checking the flooded field west of the service road.
Our reliable Anna's Hummingbird was once again on his territorial throne between the parking lot and the service road. The air above the field ponds was alive with Swallows, Tree, Violet-green, Barn, Cliff, and an occasional Rough-winged, all putting on a show, swooping and swerving just a few feet above the water. The usual species of ducks were attending but individual numbers are decreasing. A couple of Cinnamon Teal stood out.
Virginia Rail called from the reeds along the pond side of the boardwalk, a Muskrat made a brief appearance. A pied-billed Grebe lazed in the middle of the pond, several Wood Ducks swam in the north end. It was disappointing to discover that the Robin's nest we've been watching is gone, whether from high winds last weekend or a predator wasn't clear but the latter seems more likely. Excavation of the Red-breasted Sapsucker cavity we've been watching is proceeding nicely. Two black tail feathers protruded from the hole, wiggling back and forth, then yellow undertail coverts appeared as the bird shimmied it's backend out of the entrance hole and spewed wood chips, evidence of it's industry. We watched more than one cycle. (see Jon's short video embedded in the checklist) Both Rufous Hummingbird nests were again occupied by diligent females. Soon their chicks should hatch and we'll be watching feeding activity.
It seemed like Yellow-rumped Warblers were everywhere there was a tree. The bright yellow-throated Audubon's variety and white-throated Myrtle, were mixed together, today the numbers tilted in favor of Myrtle. American Goldfinch sang and called from the tops of the trees near the maple grove. Golden-crowned, and White-crowned Sparrows gleaned the leaflitter along with one White-throated Sparrow and a few Spotted Towhees. A couple of Eurasian Wigeons were among the other waterfowl seen from the platform at the twin barns as well as more low-flying Swallows. Common Ravens could be heard croaking to the east.
The white head of a Bald Eagle was barely discernable from the dike with a 60x scope, peering through the leaves obscuring the nest in the distant Cottonwood. Green-winged Teal were the predominant species out on the surge plain. Farther west were three Greater White-fronted Geese with some first of the year Caspian Terns, their black crowns matching the black heads of Bonaparte's Gulls mixed in with Short-billed Gulls. A flock of Western and Least Sandpipers were up and down, fairly close in on the saltwater side of the dike, as was a separate flock of Dunlin, most with the black bellies of their breeding plumage. Virginia Rails and Sora were frequently calling from the freshwater side.
Many of the remaining birders turned back at the start of the estuary boardwalk, as usual, but this time Janel called back some of those who continued on, to see an American Bittern we had missed earlier. An Eagle looked snug in it's nest in a fir tree west of McAllister Creek. Bufflehead shared the water with a few Wigeon and Common Goldeneye, their numbers noticeably down from previous weeks. A few Great Blue Herons and Greater Yellowlegs walked the shoreline, and small flocks of Least Sandpiper landed near the boardwalk, foraged briefly and moved again. Three Spotted Sandpipers flew in on the far shore. At the end of the boardwalk, we could see Purple Martins on the "gourd" houses in front of the Nature Center at Luhr Beach. Out on the reach, some Lesser Scaup were visible though distant. A flock of Brant geese were off to the east and a few Brandt's Cormorants on the channel marker.
Somewhere along the line it had stopped raining, the return to the dike was dry, warming, and uneventful. At the maple grove again, at least three Ravens were loud and talkative. They seemed to be sorting out their relationship. They accompanied us to the Nisqually River overlook which was otherwise quiet. South along the east half of the loop were more Yellow-rumped Warblers, brown Creeper, and a few Chickadees. Most of the final few toured the silent play area and orchard skipped in the morning and found a few ducks in the flooded field south of the service road to complete our walk.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Apr 22, 2026 7:57 AM - 4:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.38 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk on a rainy 49º F morning a 5 to 10-knot south breeze. A High 12.0-foot tide at 8:50 a.m. ebbed to a -1.9-foot low water at 4:21 p.m. Non-birds seen included Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Townsend's Chipmunk, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, a muskrat near the Twin Barns, and numerous Harbor Seals hauled out in the estuary of McAllister Creek.
80 species (+8 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Western) 3
Brant (Black) 44
Cackling Goose (minima) 235
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 3
Canada Goose 48
Domestic goose sp. x Canada Goose (hybrid) 1 Superficially resembled a Canada Goose, except for larger white facial patch, pink-yellowish bill, and orangish legs.
Wood Duck 12
Cinnamon Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 75
Gadwall 6
Eurasian Wigeon 2
American Wigeon 165
Mallard 50
Northern Pintail 75
Green-winged Teal 595
Ring-necked Duck 7
Lesser Scaup 16 Nisqually Reach
Bufflehead 45
Common Goldeneye 9
Hooded Merganser 9
Common Merganser 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 3
Band-tailed Pigeon 10
Mourning Dove 2
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Rufous Hummingbird 5
Virginia Rail 5
Sora 6
American Coot 24
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Greater Yellowlegs 17
Dunlin 85
Least Sandpiper 145
Western Sandpiper 125
Bonaparte's Gull 40
Short-billed Gull 125
Ring-billed Gull 4
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 5
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 15
Caspian Tern 9
Pied-billed Grebe 5
Horned Grebe 1
Brandt's Cormorant 6
Double-crested Cormorant 3
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 14
Bald Eagle 26
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 2
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Vocalizing from timber west of McAllister Creek
Northern Flicker 4
Peregrine Falcon 1
Hutton's Vireo (Pacific) 1
American Crow 6
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 9
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1
Tree Swallow 165
Violet-green Swallow 40
Purple Martin 12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 55
Cliff Swallow 45
Bushtit (Pacific) 2
Brown Creeper 2
Marsh Wren 25
Bewick's Wren 9
European Starling 15
American Robin 20
Purple Finch (Western) 2
American Goldfinch 4
White-crowned Sparrow 4
White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) 3
Golden-crowned Sparrow 22
White-throated Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 26
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 4
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Orange-crowned Warbler 4
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 5
Common Yellowthroat 11
Yellow-rumped Warbler 115
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 23
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 13
Date: 4/22/26 8:51 pm From: Adrian Wolf via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] FOY BTYW and COYE
Several First of Year singing black-throated gray warblers and one common yellowthroat along northern trails at Ueland Tree Farm. Western flycatcher too.
Date: 4/22/26 6:37 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Monthly Meeting, May 4, 2026 (in-person and online)
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, May 4, 2026, Dennis Paulson will present, "Madagascar, A Place Like Nowhere Else." Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island, situated off East Africa in the Indian Ocean. Isolated since it drifted away from India 88 million years ago, a very large percentage of its plants and animals are endemic, occurring nowhere else—95% of reptiles, 92% of mammals, 89% of plants, and 41% of birds. Its environments range from lush montane rain forests to arid coastal scrub, each with its own flora and fauna.
Dennis Paulson, founding member of WOS, has impacted everything to do with birds in Washington State for decades. Dennis has served as a curator at both the UW Burke Museum and the University of Puget Sound Slater Museum of Natural History. He is in addition recognized as a world authority on dragonflies. His many publications include A Guide to Bird Finding in Washington, Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest and over 90 scientific papers. Dennis has traveled to all continents to study and photograph nature, and has taught and mentored university, Master Birder students and adult learners for over 50 years. He continues to enjoy the thrill of seeing a new species and interacting with fellow naturalists.
This meeting will take place both in-person and online via Zoom.
The IN-PERSON meeting will take place at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture (free parking), 3501 NE 41st Street, Seattle, WA 98195. Doors open at 6:45PM; Program starts at 7:30PM
VIA ZOOM - Please go to the WOS Monthly Meetings page: https://wos.org/monthly-meetings/ for instructions on participation and to get the Zoom link. When joining the meeting, we ask that you mute your device and make certain that your camera is turned off.
This meeting is open to all as WOS invites everyone in the wider birding community to attend. Thanks to the generosity of our presenters, recordings of past programs are available at the following link to the WOS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@washingtonornithologicalso7839/videos
If you are not yet a member of WOS, we hope you will consider becoming one at https://wos.org
I went down to Pacific County for Thursday and Friday of last week. Outside of some of the usual arrivals, there were a few nice highlights.
Soras - One just across the county line on Highway 6, and a couple more the next day at Potter's Slough.
Grouse! - Ruffed - also just across the county line, and Sooty off of Trap Creek Lane, up a little side hill where I also had a pair of Western Bluebirds.
American White Pelican and Sandhill Crane - both flyovers at Potter Slough.
Weather was beautiful! Not much to complain about ... although I keep missing a Long-billed Curlew that seems to be at home out in Tokeland. Sure would be nice if they were bigger. Maybe that's why I'm not seeing them? Lol. The year list is at 147, and it has continued to be a nice vehicle for getting me into the little corners of the county.
Date: 4/22/26 2:45 pm From: Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Kent Valley Birdwatching 4.22.26
The weather was cold, wet and windy this morning along 204th St in Kent/King County. The birdwatching, however, was pretty good; especially for sparrows. Here are some of the birds I saw this morning:
Wood Duck - pair in the infield Whimbrel - 7 vocal birds in the infield Western Kingbird American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Harris's Sparrow
Date: 4/22/26 10:45 am From: Paul Bannick via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Peter Torr?
Does anyone know Peter Torr from Bellevue? If so, can you let me know I am trying to follow-up with him if he could contact me at this email or at the phone number listed below?
-- Now Available: *Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers*
Paul Bannick Photography www.paulbannick.com 206-940-7835
Date: 4/22/26 7:17 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE: Camera traps film predators descending on cave filled with 40, 000 bats. What happens next is staggering
Date: 4/21/26 2:43 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Merlin discussion
On Apr 21, 2026 at 11:02:07 AM, Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
> As to no hint of the certainty of an ID, that is incorrect, as well. It
> now has a system of varying colored 'dots' accompanying a bird ID on my
> list, but unlikely to be present will receive a red dot.
>
Ah! I had not realized that and that explains why the Merlin orange/red
dots don't always match up with eBird -- I expect Merlin doesn't have the
local granularity that eBird gets from the hotspots here.
thanks!
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 4/21/26 2:35 pm From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Merlin
Hey Tweets!
My poor flip phone doesn't have Merlin, and it's probably all for the best. I'm perfectly capable of hearing a Dark-eyed Junco sound exactly like a Chipping Sparrow all on my own! Just cutting out the middle man here. :D And I've been on a field trip with one of the Merlin developers... we saw a Cassin's Finch, singing Cassin's Finchy things. Then the same bird did that vireo thing that Cassin's Finches do... and the developer in question confidently called it a Cassin's Vireo. 🙂 It just comes down to knowing what the most common birds are, as well as what the most commonly confused birds are. That latter data point seems like a fine thing to code into that software, honestly. Imagine Merlin being able to say "Chipping Sparrow, unless I just got fooled again... in which case, yeah, Junco." Does it do that??
I think someone cast doubt on the assumption that Merlin has led to a worsening of the data. I wonder as well! It's certainly allowed us to be wrong in more high-tech ways, at any rate. Much more fun when it's an app yelling "I KNOW WHAT I HEARD!" instead of always just us. ;)
Date: 4/21/26 1:32 pm From: Jim Forrester via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Merlin discussion
I read with interest both Bill's & Chuq's thoughts on this, and for the most part am in agreement, but I can't agree with Bill's answer to the question "First, why do we expect Merlin to be any better than a reasonably skilled human observer? It is trained by humans, so it seems unlikely that it would do better". Well, that argument doesn't stand up. Humans "train" tools all the time, just so that they *can* perform better than the human. Merlin doesn't "think" like a human, it thinks like a large language model. While it is handicapped by having a single sense (hearing), it is being constantly augmented by new and correctly identified songs being added to its repository. While humans may not be able to discern CHSP and DEJU, different wavelength patterns in the two songs will probably at some point mean that Merlin *will* be able to correctly determine the bird - the LLM just needs enough data!
Also, Chuq brings up the issue of Merlin's all-or-nothing approach to bird identification. I've plugged BirdNET before and will again now, because it tells you what its confidence level is. I have no idea what Merlin's threshold is, but somewhere around "highly likely". I've actually written suggestions to the Merlin team to build in the certainty level of identifications into the app, but I am but a leaf in the storm... :-)
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
John Munari
Seattle, King Co., Washington
munari2000 [at] gmail [dot] com
On Sat, Feb 14, 2026 at 3:06 PM J Christian Kessler via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> my reaction to some of of the place names people use.I usually figure it
> out, but WTH.
> I agree people posting should include the English name somewhere, and not
> all do. Solving other people hasn't worked in my lifetime, or history.
>
> Chris Kessler
>
> On Sat, Feb 14, 2026 at 2:44 PM Odette James via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> I've been birding 47 years and I've never used the 4 letter codes. They
>> annoyed me the first time I saw them and they still annoy me. Whenever I
>> see a message that uses one of the codes without including the name of the
>> bird, my reaction is "WTH is that!" After a short time of annoyance, I
>> figure it out, but WTH.
>>
>> Odette James, Lakeshore Retirement Community, with a gorgeous view of the
>> Cedar River Delta (and all the storm debris now stranded on it)
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
>
> --
> “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass … it’s about learning
> how to dance in the rain.”
> Deborah Tuck
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/21/26 11:15 am From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Merlin discussion
Whoops, sorry for the typo, Chuq !
On Tue, Apr 21, 2026 at 11:02 AM Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
> An interesting Merlin discussion. As it happens I have extensive Merlin experience
> in the last few months and some detailed discussions with others on OBOL.
> I've been using it regularly around my rural property and, whatever its
> limitations, it's great. Likely 10x more sensitive than my ageing ears,
> even with hearing aids. An birding around here for 50 years, I know what
> birds are around.
>
> As to Bill's comments and more or less the same in part as Chug's:
>
> *Merlin has undoubtedly helped increase the number of new or novice
> birders, but is there any evidence that it has changed the ratio of
> novice:skilled birders? I’ve not seen such evidence, and my subjective
> assessment is that the wave of new birders has been simultaneous with a
> significant increase in the number of proficient birders. If the ratio
> has been relatively constant over the span of eBird years, then Merlin has
> not increased the magnitude of error in the database.*
>
> *I*n fact, Errors in Merlin submissions have recently led to a
> significant change in the CURRENT version. There is a continuation of
> improvements, some seem to download automatically, others not. But the
> current version has this major changel Merlin has learned the 'expected'
> birds for many areas, mine for instance. It has compiled such a list (I
> think I have at my place SE of Portland, 109 allowed species) If it
> encounters a bird at my place that is not on this list, it simply refuses
> to identify it altogether and just continues recording. If I turn off
> the location option in Merlin, it refuses to identify any sound. It
> will still record, and you can see bird sounds go by on the screen, but
> none will be identified.
> As to no hint of the certainty of an ID, that is incorrect, as well. It
> now has a system of varying colored 'dots' accompanying a bird ID on my
> list, but unlikely to be present will receive a red dot. Migrants out of
> migration times, for instane. A bird normally expected will receive a
> different colored dot to indicate that. Etc. I was able to learn the
> meaning of these 'dots' simply by Googling them.
>
> One further point, as I stated above, I'm referring here to the *Current
> Version*, which I recently downloaded. Merlin is not so much a 'tool'
> but a work in progress. Cornell is working very hard to keep the
> improvements coming and I personally believe that many of its problems of
> today will be gone tomorrow, or pretty soon. But as a tool, it is quite
> amazing as it stands, and will only get better. Although there are bumps
> on the road, I think Cornell is doing an outstanding job with it.
>
> As to the statement that it is created by humans and therefore has errors
> as do humans. That was once undoubtedly true, and is still true. (Take
> the refusal to identify birds not on the locality list, Seems better to
> identify them (for the user) but simply not to submit them to eBird).
> But, in the current world of AI, that general statement of human error, for
> better or worse, is no longer true. Humans are involved, but AI will be
> doing all the 'work' if it isn't already doing so. Sure, AI makes mistakes
> as well, it is also a 'tool' of continuing improvement.
>
> I could continue, but, as they say, *Nuf said, *at least for now.
>
> Bob OBrien Portland
>
> On Mon, Apr 20, 2026 at 9:40 PM Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> On Apr 20, 2026 at 13:33:08, Bill Tweit via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Everybody seems to agree that Merlin is simply a tool, but then
>>> discussions range well beyond that in terms of expectations and
>>> limitations. Merlin’s inability to accurately discriminate between CHSP
>>> and DEJU is a great opportunity to examine some of our expectations about
>>> Merlin, and determine whether they are realistic. First, why do we expect
>>> Merlin to be any better than a reasonably skilled human observer?
>>>
>> Bottom line, please do not expect Merlin to be perfect, even in North
>>> America where it is quite good.
>>>
>>
>> I don’t, but this is my biggest issue with Merlin. If I’m out birding
>> with an expert ear birder, they will head and ID many birds I’ll never
>> catch — but they can also explain what’s going on and note when they aren’t
>> sure of an ID.
>>
>> Merlin issues every ID as if it’s perfect. “I hear a bird!” — and it’s
>> this. I expect all of us on this list know to take that with a grain or
>> three of salt, but we are not typical Merlin users. I looked at Merlin this
>> afternoon at a random time and it told me there were 74,000 current users.
>> I just checked again (at 9PM Washington time) and there are 18,000 users.
>>
>> Most of those users are newer/casual users. Statistically speaking, none
>> of them are on this list, or a member of an audbon/alliance chapter, or go
>> out on group outings with trained leaders that can help guide them. Merlin
>> is their guide.
>>
>> And Merlin presents its results as correct and infallible (and yes, I’m
>> reflecting back to my comments a few days ago on the need for a confidence
>> factor on these IDs. If Merlin did that, it’d resolve pretty much all
>> discussion on its accuracy and reliability).
>>
>>
>> Second, why do we think that use of Merlin has increased the level of
>>> error in the eBird data?
>>>
>>
>> My take is that it hasn’t. Or, with a bit more nuance, I think tools like
>> Merlin have actually reduced the percentage of errors recorded, but has
>> also encouraged many more people to submit records, so I expect the total
>> number of errors is up but the percentage of records that are incorrect has
>> gone down. I have no data on this, but in my time working with and teaching
>> newer birders, I’ve seen the trajectory from enthusiastically and
>> energetically wrong to more thoughtful and skeptical many times (and god
>> help me, I remember when I was a new baby birder and every freaking bird I
>> saw was both rare and wrong. That others were willing to drag me into
>> competence is one reason I’ve been willing to do the same in my pay forward
>> times)
>>
>> And, let’s not forget that Merlin was built to assist with several
>>> objectives, only one of which is helping birders in the field. It has
>>> another, very significant, purpose: to increase awareness of birds among
>>> the general population. Most of the Merlin users I encounter now are
>>> people who take some joy in finding out what birds are present in their
>>> yard, or on the favorite walking routes, or while they are camping, …
>>> They aren’t contributing sightings to eBird, they just want to know more
>>> about the world around them.
>>>
>>
>> And it’s amazing at that — and anything that helps people find that spark
>> that begins the journey into being bird people I’m all for. I just wish
>> Merlin was willing to say “That’s a Robin” and “This might be a Chipping
>> Sparrow, but I’m not positive because Juncos sound similar. What are you
>> seeing?”
>>
>> My wish here is for Merlin to grow from presenting itself as the
>> infallible expert into being that AND a mentor and teacher, by putting in
>> some context when appropriate and leading people into being more skeptical
>> and looking for more data (like a sighting) to verify the ID. Imagine if
>> Merlin admitted it wasn’t sure and added a button “I saw it1” that people
>> could click. They become part of the teaching that improved Merlin down the
>> road…
>>
>> But I think it’s important that Merlin add that skepticism into how it
>> presents itself, because of those 74,000 concurrent users this afternoon,
>> almost all of them have no contact with the people (like those here on this
>> list) that can do the mentoring and teaching to help them become more
>> skeptical and thoughtful about Merlin’s results. Merlin needs to be
>> responsible to set those expectations more realistically for the users that
>> don’t yet know not to implicitly trust it.
>>
>> So, let’s be realistic about Merlin.
>>>
>> I’d say everyone on this list is, but my worry is about those new/novice
>> users who are presented with a tool that gives no indication it might be
>> wrong at time, and therefore has no reason to assume it’s sometimes giving
>> them bad results. And an easy way to tweak Merlin is to add that confidence
>> factor into the IDs, as tools like Haiku already have.
>>
>> Chuq
>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------------
>>
>> Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
>> Silverdale, Washington
>> Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
>>
>> Email me at: <chuqvr...>
>> Mastodon: @<chuqvr...>
>>
>> Stay Updated with what I'm doing: https://www.chuq.me/6fps/ >> My latest e-book: https://www.chuq.me/ebooks >>
>> I have opinions
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
Date: 4/21/26 11:10 am From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Merlin discussion
An interesting Merlin discussion. As it happens I have extensive
Merlin experience
in the last few months and some detailed discussions with others on OBOL.
I've been using it regularly around my rural property and, whatever its
limitations, it's great. Likely 10x more sensitive than my ageing ears,
even with hearing aids. An birding around here for 50 years, I know what
birds are around.
As to Bill's comments and more or less the same in part as Chug's:
*Merlin has undoubtedly helped increase the number of new or novice
birders, but is there any evidence that it has changed the ratio of
novice:skilled birders? I’ve not seen such evidence, and my subjective
assessment is that the wave of new birders has been simultaneous with a
significant increase in the number of proficient birders. If the ratio
has been relatively constant over the span of eBird years, then Merlin has
not increased the magnitude of error in the database.*
*I*n fact, Errors in Merlin submissions have recently led to a significant
change in the CURRENT version. There is a continuation of improvements,
some seem to download automatically, others not. But the current version
has this major changel Merlin has learned the 'expected' birds for many
areas, mine for instance. It has compiled such a list (I think I have at
my place SE of Portland, 109 allowed species) If it encounters a bird at
my place that is not on this list, it simply refuses to identify it
altogether and just continues recording. If I turn off the location
option in Merlin, it refuses to identify any sound. It will still record,
and you can see bird sounds go by on the screen, but none will be
identified.
As to no hint of the certainty of an ID, that is incorrect, as well. It
now has a system of varying colored 'dots' accompanying a bird ID on my
list, but unlikely to be present will receive a red dot. Migrants out of
migration times, for instane. A bird normally expected will receive a
different colored dot to indicate that. Etc. I was able to learn the
meaning of these 'dots' simply by Googling them.
One further point, as I stated above, I'm referring here to the *Current
Version*, which I recently downloaded. Merlin is not so much a 'tool' but
a work in progress. Cornell is working very hard to keep the improvements
coming and I personally believe that many of its problems of today will be
gone tomorrow, or pretty soon. But as a tool, it is quite amazing as it
stands, and will only get better. Although there are bumps on the road, I
think Cornell is doing an outstanding job with it.
As to the statement that it is created by humans and therefore has errors
as do humans. That was once undoubtedly true, and is still true. (Take
the refusal to identify birds not on the locality list, Seems better to
identify them (for the user) but simply not to submit them to eBird).
But, in the current world of AI, that general statement of human error, for
better or worse, is no longer true. Humans are involved, but AI will be
doing all the 'work' if it isn't already doing so. Sure, AI makes mistakes
as well, it is also a 'tool' of continuing improvement.
I could continue, but, as they say, *Nuf said, *at least for now.
Bob OBrien Portland
On Mon, Apr 20, 2026 at 9:40 PM Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> On Apr 20, 2026 at 13:33:08, Bill Tweit via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
>> Everybody seems to agree that Merlin is simply a tool, but then
>> discussions range well beyond that in terms of expectations and
>> limitations. Merlin’s inability to accurately discriminate between CHSP
>> and DEJU is a great opportunity to examine some of our expectations about
>> Merlin, and determine whether they are realistic. First, why do we expect
>> Merlin to be any better than a reasonably skilled human observer?
>>
> Bottom line, please do not expect Merlin to be perfect, even in North
>> America where it is quite good.
>>
>
> I don’t, but this is my biggest issue with Merlin. If I’m out birding with
> an expert ear birder, they will head and ID many birds I’ll never catch —
> but they can also explain what’s going on and note when they aren’t sure of
> an ID.
>
> Merlin issues every ID as if it’s perfect. “I hear a bird!” — and it’s
> this. I expect all of us on this list know to take that with a grain or
> three of salt, but we are not typical Merlin users. I looked at Merlin this
> afternoon at a random time and it told me there were 74,000 current users.
> I just checked again (at 9PM Washington time) and there are 18,000 users.
>
> Most of those users are newer/casual users. Statistically speaking, none
> of them are on this list, or a member of an audbon/alliance chapter, or go
> out on group outings with trained leaders that can help guide them. Merlin
> is their guide.
>
> And Merlin presents its results as correct and infallible (and yes, I’m
> reflecting back to my comments a few days ago on the need for a confidence
> factor on these IDs. If Merlin did that, it’d resolve pretty much all
> discussion on its accuracy and reliability).
>
>
> Second, why do we think that use of Merlin has increased the level of
>> error in the eBird data?
>>
>
> My take is that it hasn’t. Or, with a bit more nuance, I think tools like
> Merlin have actually reduced the percentage of errors recorded, but has
> also encouraged many more people to submit records, so I expect the total
> number of errors is up but the percentage of records that are incorrect has
> gone down. I have no data on this, but in my time working with and teaching
> newer birders, I’ve seen the trajectory from enthusiastically and
> energetically wrong to more thoughtful and skeptical many times (and god
> help me, I remember when I was a new baby birder and every freaking bird I
> saw was both rare and wrong. That others were willing to drag me into
> competence is one reason I’ve been willing to do the same in my pay forward
> times)
>
> And, let’s not forget that Merlin was built to assist with several
>> objectives, only one of which is helping birders in the field. It has
>> another, very significant, purpose: to increase awareness of birds among
>> the general population. Most of the Merlin users I encounter now are
>> people who take some joy in finding out what birds are present in their
>> yard, or on the favorite walking routes, or while they are camping, …
>> They aren’t contributing sightings to eBird, they just want to know more
>> about the world around them.
>>
>
> And it’s amazing at that — and anything that helps people find that spark
> that begins the journey into being bird people I’m all for. I just wish
> Merlin was willing to say “That’s a Robin” and “This might be a Chipping
> Sparrow, but I’m not positive because Juncos sound similar. What are you
> seeing?”
>
> My wish here is for Merlin to grow from presenting itself as the
> infallible expert into being that AND a mentor and teacher, by putting in
> some context when appropriate and leading people into being more skeptical
> and looking for more data (like a sighting) to verify the ID. Imagine if
> Merlin admitted it wasn’t sure and added a button “I saw it1” that people
> could click. They become part of the teaching that improved Merlin down the
> road…
>
> But I think it’s important that Merlin add that skepticism into how it
> presents itself, because of those 74,000 concurrent users this afternoon,
> almost all of them have no contact with the people (like those here on this
> list) that can do the mentoring and teaching to help them become more
> skeptical and thoughtful about Merlin’s results. Merlin needs to be
> responsible to set those expectations more realistically for the users that
> don’t yet know not to implicitly trust it.
>
> So, let’s be realistic about Merlin.
>>
> I’d say everyone on this list is, but my worry is about those new/novice
> users who are presented with a tool that gives no indication it might be
> wrong at time, and therefore has no reason to assume it’s sometimes giving
> them bad results. And an easy way to tweak Merlin is to add that confidence
> factor into the IDs, as tools like Haiku already have.
>
> Chuq
>
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
> Silverdale, Washington
> Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
>
> Email me at: <chuqvr...>
> Mastodon: @<chuqvr...>
>
> Stay Updated with what I'm doing: https://www.chuq.me/6fps/ > My latest e-book: https://www.chuq.me/ebooks >
> I have opinions
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/21/26 9:23 am From: Paul Bannick via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Borneo/Malaysia Guide
Hello Tweeters,
I am considering doing some photography in Borneo and/or Malaysia. Can anyone recommend a good guide or resource? I am less interested in a birding only guide and more interested in someone who is willing to adjust for a photographer.
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Paul
-- Now Available: *Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers*
Paul Bannick Photography www.paulbannick.com 206-940-7835
Date: 4/20/26 9:51 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Merlin discussion
On Apr 20, 2026 at 13:33:08, Bill Tweit via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Everybody seems to agree that Merlin is simply a tool, but then
> discussions range well beyond that in terms of expectations and
> limitations. Merlin’s inability to accurately discriminate between CHSP
> and DEJU is a great opportunity to examine some of our expectations about
> Merlin, and determine whether they are realistic. First, why do we expect
> Merlin to be any better than a reasonably skilled human observer?
>
Bottom line, please do not expect Merlin to be perfect, even in North
> America where it is quite good.
>
I don’t, but this is my biggest issue with Merlin. If I’m out birding with
an expert ear birder, they will head and ID many birds I’ll never catch —
but they can also explain what’s going on and note when they aren’t sure of
an ID.
Merlin issues every ID as if it’s perfect. “I hear a bird!” — and it’s
this. I expect all of us on this list know to take that with a grain or
three of salt, but we are not typical Merlin users. I looked at Merlin this
afternoon at a random time and it told me there were 74,000 current users.
I just checked again (at 9PM Washington time) and there are 18,000 users.
Most of those users are newer/casual users. Statistically speaking, none of
them are on this list, or a member of an audbon/alliance chapter, or go out
on group outings with trained leaders that can help guide them. Merlin is
their guide.
And Merlin presents its results as correct and infallible (and yes, I’m
reflecting back to my comments a few days ago on the need for a confidence
factor on these IDs. If Merlin did that, it’d resolve pretty much all
discussion on its accuracy and reliability).
Second, why do we think that use of Merlin has increased the level of error
> in the eBird data?
>
My take is that it hasn’t. Or, with a bit more nuance, I think tools like
Merlin have actually reduced the percentage of errors recorded, but has
also encouraged many more people to submit records, so I expect the total
number of errors is up but the percentage of records that are incorrect has
gone down. I have no data on this, but in my time working with and teaching
newer birders, I’ve seen the trajectory from enthusiastically and
energetically wrong to more thoughtful and skeptical many times (and god
help me, I remember when I was a new baby birder and every freaking bird I
saw was both rare and wrong. That others were willing to drag me into
competence is one reason I’ve been willing to do the same in my pay forward
times)
And, let’s not forget that Merlin was built to assist with several
> objectives, only one of which is helping birders in the field. It has
> another, very significant, purpose: to increase awareness of birds among
> the general population. Most of the Merlin users I encounter now are
> people who take some joy in finding out what birds are present in their
> yard, or on the favorite walking routes, or while they are camping, …
> They aren’t contributing sightings to eBird, they just want to know more
> about the world around them.
>
And it’s amazing at that — and anything that helps people find that spark
that begins the journey into being bird people I’m all for. I just wish
Merlin was willing to say “That’s a Robin” and “This might be a Chipping
Sparrow, but I’m not positive because Juncos sound similar. What are you
seeing?”
My wish here is for Merlin to grow from presenting itself as the infallible
expert into being that AND a mentor and teacher, by putting in some context
when appropriate and leading people into being more skeptical and looking
for more data (like a sighting) to verify the ID. Imagine if Merlin
admitted it wasn’t sure and added a button “I saw it1” that people could
click. They become part of the teaching that improved Merlin down the road…
But I think it’s important that Merlin add that skepticism into how it
presents itself, because of those 74,000 concurrent users this afternoon,
almost all of them have no contact with the people (like those here on this
list) that can do the mentoring and teaching to help them become more
skeptical and thoughtful about Merlin’s results. Merlin needs to be
responsible to set those expectations more realistically for the users that
don’t yet know not to implicitly trust it.
So, let’s be realistic about Merlin.
>
I’d say everyone on this list is, but my worry is about those new/novice
users who are presented with a tool that gives no indication it might be
wrong at time, and therefore has no reason to assume it’s sometimes giving
them bad results. And an easy way to tweak Merlin is to add that confidence
factor into the IDs, as tools like Haiku already have.
Chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 4/20/26 5:39 pm From: Ted Ryan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
Dennis,
I am curious about what you said here:
"I understood that the main reason for developing Merlin was so that people could learn bird sounds more readily, but it seems that it is used primarily for adding to eBird lists."
All we can see is those potential false ID's. What isn't recorded is all the people Merlin has helped. That isn't recorded anywhere. So, how can we know to what degree it is helping people versus used primarily for reporting?
Cheers,
Ted Port Orchard
>> >> Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:09:33 -0700 >> From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> >> To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...> >> Cc: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...> >> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow >> Message-ID: <CE8B6616-2B8E-4B02-AA3E-2AF9B0C1387F...> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 >> >> I?ll add to what Carol said. I have been seeing this rash of Chipping Sparrow reports by sound, and indeed it seems that Merlin does confuse juncos and Chipping Sparrows with some frequency. And of course this isn?t the only error that Merlin makes. I understood that the main reason for developing Merlin was so that people could learn bird sounds more readily, but it seems that it is used primarily for adding to eBird lists. >> >> If Merlin makes errors only 5-10% of the time, and I think that may not be far off, think of that number of errors times the number of eBird checklists being submitted every day?potentially hundreds and hundreds of erroneous records in Cornell?s database just in our state. >> >> It seems appropriate that any time Merlin reports an unexpected bird, if at all possible that bird should be confirmed with your own eyes or your own knowledge of bird vocalizations. >> >> Dennis Paulson >> Seattle >> >> >
Date: 4/20/26 4:10 pm From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Carpooling to the WOS Conference
As many know, the Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is holding its Annual Conference (https://wos.org/annual-conference/2026-hells-gate-annual-conference-lewiston-id/) May 14 - 17. In the past, Tweeters has been a handy mode of communications for connecting folks who might wish to arrange to carpool to and from the conference. One such message (see below) was posted yesterday but — due to a technical issue — was “scrubbed” and so did not appear in the Tweeters Digest.
"If you are going to the fabulous WOS conference next month, I would love to carpool and share expenses. Leaving anytime Thursday and birding on the way would be ideal. Returning to Seattle Sunday evening or Monday morning. Please reply offline to hilaryb at comcast dot net."
Date: 4/20/26 3:29 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
Debbie, it sounds to me as if you saw a Chipping Sparrow!
We have had Chipping Sparrows in our yard only three times since we started keeping records in 1991: 31 May 2014, 5-6 May 2016, and 26 Aug 2016, the last a juvenile. Presumably all these were migrants, no indication so far of them breeding in our Maple Leaf neighborhood.
Dennis Paulson Seattle dennispaulson at comcast dot net
> On Apr 20, 2026, at 3:08 PM, Debbie Mcleod via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote: > > I too have stood beneath a branch watching a Junco sing - as the Merlin app kept flashing "Chipping Sparrow" on my phone. > And fairly often, as I sit on my covered porch with Merlin running as I drink my morning coffee, I see that Chipping Sparrow pop up - and I just ignore it. > But not long ago, when I glanced out my window at my feeder (within just a few feet) I had a quite clear but all too brief view of a bird. I could definitely confirm a streaky brown bird , sparrow size and shape, plain breast. Plus a perfectly defined little chestnut cap. No chance to get a photo. > I spend some time looking at eBird records and reviewing photos of similar birds in various field guides. I would sure love to add Chipping Sparrow to my yard list! But I don't want to cheat. > Suggestions? > Debbie in Redmond > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/20/26 3:27 pm From: Doug Santoni via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Re-Posting of Message re Carpool
Tweeters — The following message was posted yesterday in individual form, but — due to a technical issue — did not get posted to the Daily Digest. Perhaps you can assist Hilary B who is looking to carpool to and from the WOS Conference:
If you are going to the fabulous WOS conference next month, I would love to carpool and share expenses. Leaving anytime Thursday and birding on the way would be ideal. Returning to Seattle Sunday evening or Monday morning.
Please reply offline to hilaryb at Comcast dot net
Date: 4/20/26 3:26 pm From: Debbie Mcleod via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
I too have stood beneath a branch watching a Junco sing - as the Merlin app kept flashing "Chipping Sparrow" on my phone. And fairly often, as I sit on my covered porch with Merlin running as I drink my morning coffee, I see that Chipping Sparrow pop up - and I just ignore it. But not long ago, when I glanced out my window at my feeder (within just a few feet) I had a quite clear but all too brief view of a bird. I could definitely confirm a streaky brown bird , sparrow size and shape, plain breast. Plus a perfectly defined little chestnut cap. No chance to get a photo. I spend some time looking at eBird records and reviewing photos of similar birds in various field guides. I would sure love to add Chipping Sparrow to my yard list! But I don't want to cheat. Suggestions? Debbie in Redmond
Date: 4/20/26 3:21 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Merlin discussion
Bill, thanks. That was a wonderful account summarizing Merlin and its value.
My most fervent and constant hope for all that AI gives us is that it won’t reduce our ability to think very much. Published accounts show that it is indeed doing just that in some areas, and let’s try not to have that happen in birding. Just as I’m sure you did, I had to exercise a lot of brain cells to learn how to identify birds from sight and sound, and when an app does the work for me, I’m not exercising those neurons!
And to add something about birds, we still have at least one beautiful male (Audubon’s) Yellow-rumped Warbler coming to our feeders, after all the other migrants (Orange-crowned and Townsend’s Warblers, Golden-crowned, White-crowned and Fox Sparrows) have deserted us. I hope more are on the way.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Apr 20, 2026, at 1:33 PM, Bill Tweit via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> The Chipping Sparrow/Dark-eyed Junco discussion has been quite informative; I’d like to offer some thoughts about some aspects of Merlin that have come up in the conversation.
>
> Everybody seems to agree that Merlin is simply a tool, but then discussions range well beyond that in terms of expectations and limitations. Merlin’s inability to accurately discriminate between CHSP and DEJU is a great opportunity to examine some of our expectations about Merlin, and determine whether they are realistic. First, why do we expect Merlin to be any better than a reasonably skilled human observer? It is trained by humans, so it seems unlikely that it would do better. And reasonably skilled human observers, a category I consider myself to be in, routinely experience difficulty separating those two species, for very good reason. Junco songs are notoriously diverse, the range of trill diversity has already been discussed well. They also buzz, and on one occasion I actually encountered a male junco singing a perfect Clay-colored Sparrow song. Dashed my hopes when I saw it. Bottom line, please do not expect Merlin to be perfect, even in North America where it is quite good. Expectations should be even lower in other parts of the globe, but it does have utility in most areas.
>
> Second, why do we think that use of Merlin has increased the level of error in the eBird data? There has always been a certain level of error in the data, and I’ve not seen any evidence that Merlin has either increased or decreased that level. As a reviewer, I have seen “identified by the field trip leader” as documentation for many years, which is just as flimsy documentation as “identified by Merlin”. In both cases, a reviewer will almost always request the observer to include actual details that will meet eBird standards for acceptable documentation. And, in most cases, a reviewer will see it as an opportunity to provide some coaching to contributors on providing defensible documentation. If the observer chooses not to provide documentation, then it will not be included in the public database, which is where error matters. If it is a sighting that doesn’t require documentation, it will be included in the public database, which is well-understood to have some low levels of error that requires the use of statistical tools that are good at detecting signal amidst some noise, or what we call misidentifications.
>
> Merlin has undoubtedly helped increase the number of new or novice birders, but is there any evidence that it has changed the ratio of novice:skilled birders? I’ve not seen such evidence, and my subjective assessment is that the wave of new birders has been simultaneous with a significant increase in the number of proficient birders. If the ratio has been relatively constant over the span of eBird years, then Merlin has not increased the magnitude of error in the database.
>
> And, let’s not forget that Merlin was built to assist with several objectives, only one of which is helping birders in the field. It has another, very significant, purpose: to increase awareness of birds among the general population. Most of the Merlin users I encounter now are people who take some joy in finding out what birds are present in their yard, or on the favorite walking routes, or while they are camping, … They aren’t contributing sightings to eBird, they just want to know more about the world around them. It definitely increases environmental awareness, an entirely separate purpose than helping birders. And an immensely valuable function. Does it matter to them if Merlin is imperfect in some ways? Not really. They are just excited and appreciative to put a name on a mysterious singer, or know that there are at least 15 species of birds on their morning route. A third purpose is to make birding more accessible for people with disabilities, and I have had several chances to speak with people who always enjoyed birds, but found that increasing physical limitations was making it harder for them to still find pleasure in it. They demonstrated how they use Merlin to restore some of their ability to find and experience birds. I don’t know of any statistics on the proportions of Merlin users who fall into each category, but in my everyday, non-birding world, I am consistently surprised by the number of people who are not birders but are fans of Merlin. Without hard data, I wouldn’t want to make any assumptions about levels of birder vs non-birder use.
>
> So, let’s be realistic about Merlin. It’s a great tool, but it is just a tool. Learn it’s limitations in your area, and enjoy it’s strengths. Kudos to Carol R. for reminding folks that junco/Chippy confusion is one of those limitations, and offering some tips on how to address it. Don’t expect Merlin to be super human. And remember, it wasn’t designed just for eBirders. And, as everyone has said, please, please, please confirm your detections of unusual birds with more tools than just Merlin.
>
> Bill Tweit
>
> Olympia, WA
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/20/26 1:50 pm From: Michael Price via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
Hey Tweets
Bob Boekelheide writes: <<Even though CHSPs often have a faster, more mechanical trill than juncos>>
Up near the Manson Lakes in north-central BC, the territorial male juncos' more musical trill was initially easily distinguishable from the Chipping Sparrow's dry, mechanical trill at the beginning of nesting, but the closer to the young fledging, the drier the junco's trills became. By the time the young fledged and everyone moved down off the clear-cut mountainsides into the valley preparatory to southward migration, the juncos' trills became not only as dry as the Chippies' but started breaking up into two or three segments suggesting Clay-colored Sparrow, presumably as hormone levels dropped. This process was repeated on all three of our designated study clearcuts and adjacent old growth. The period covered was mid-May to mid-July
So if Merlin is having a tough time now with juncos and chippies, just wait until mid-summer.
best wishes, m
Michael Price Vancouver BC Canada <loblollyboy...>
Date: 4/20/26 1:44 pm From: Bill Tweit via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] The Merlin discussion
The Chipping Sparrow/Dark-eyed Junco discussion has been quite informative;
I’d like to offer some thoughts about some aspects of Merlin that have come
up in the conversation.
Everybody seems to agree that Merlin is simply a tool, but then discussions
range well beyond that in terms of expectations and limitations. Merlin’s
inability to accurately discriminate between CHSP and DEJU is a great
opportunity to examine some of our expectations about Merlin, and determine
whether they are realistic. First, why do we expect Merlin to be any
better than a reasonably skilled human observer? It is trained by humans,
so it seems unlikely that it would do better. And reasonably skilled
human observers, a category I consider myself to be in, routinely
experience difficulty separating those two species, for very good reason.
Junco songs are notoriously diverse, the range of trill diversity has
already been discussed well. They also buzz, and on one occasion I
actually encountered a male junco singing a perfect Clay-colored Sparrow
song. Dashed my hopes when I saw it. Bottom line, please do not expect
Merlin to be perfect, even in North America where it is quite good.
Expectations should be even lower in other parts of the globe, but it does
have utility in most areas.
Second, why do we think that use of Merlin has increased the level of error
in the eBird data? There has always been a certain level of error in the
data, and I’ve not seen any evidence that Merlin has either increased or
decreased that level. As a reviewer, I have seen “identified by the field
trip leader” as documentation for many years, which is just as flimsy
documentation as “identified by Merlin”. In both cases, a reviewer will
almost always request the observer to include actual details that will meet
eBird standards for acceptable documentation. And, in most cases, a
reviewer will see it as an opportunity to provide some coaching to
contributors on providing defensible documentation. If the observer
chooses not to provide documentation, then it will not be included in the
public database, which is where error matters. If it is a sighting that
doesn’t require documentation, it will be included in the public database,
which is well-understood to have some low levels of error that requires the
use of statistical tools that are good at detecting signal amidst some
noise, or what we call misidentifications.
Merlin has undoubtedly helped increase the number of new or novice birders,
but is there any evidence that it has changed the ratio of novice:skilled
birders? I’ve not seen such evidence, and my subjective assessment is
that the wave of new birders has been simultaneous with a significant
increase in the number of proficient birders. If the ratio has been
relatively constant over the span of eBird years, then Merlin has not
increased the magnitude of error in the database.
And, let’s not forget that Merlin was built to assist with several
objectives, only one of which is helping birders in the field. It has
another, very significant, purpose: to increase awareness of birds among
the general population. Most of the Merlin users I encounter now are
people who take some joy in finding out what birds are present in their
yard, or on the favorite walking routes, or while they are camping, …
They aren’t contributing sightings to eBird, they just want to know more
about the world around them. It definitely increases environmental
awareness, an entirely separate purpose than helping birders. And an
immensely valuable function. Does it matter to them if Merlin is imperfect
in some ways? Not really. They are just excited and appreciative to put
a name on a mysterious singer, or know that there are at least 15 species
of birds on their morning route. A third purpose is to make birding more
accessible for people with disabilities, and I have had several chances to
speak with people who always enjoyed birds, but found that increasing
physical limitations was making it harder for them to still find pleasure
in it. They demonstrated how they use Merlin to restore some of their
ability to find and experience birds. I don’t know of any statistics on
the proportions of Merlin users who fall into each category, but in my
everyday, non-birding world, I am consistently surprised by the number of
people who are not birders but are fans of Merlin. Without hard data, I
wouldn’t want to make any assumptions about levels of birder vs non-birder
use.
So, let’s be realistic about Merlin. It’s a great tool, but it is just a
tool. Learn it’s limitations in your area, and enjoy it’s strengths.
Kudos to Carol R. for reminding folks that junco/Chippy confusion is one of
those limitations, and offering some tips on how to address it. Don’t
expect Merlin to be super human. And remember, it wasn’t designed just for
eBirders. And, as everyone has said, please, please, please confirm your
detections of unusual birds with more tools than just Merlin.
Date: 4/20/26 1:04 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Merlin?
Hi,
I use Merlin's SoundID to alert me of the -possible- presence of
birds I'm not seeing. I
have some hearing loss in the high frequencies and so Merlin helps me to
"BOLO" -
especially in areas where there are dense stands of brush/younger
trees/blackberries/etc.
When I'm out with experienced birders who don't have any hearing loss
... I am happy to
get their help!
On the other hand, Merlin's PhotoID is pretty much flawless ... I use
it to ID birds I've
gotten a picture of and it is -rarely- wrong/questionable - even when
the pose (angle of
view) of the bird is considerably different from the example pictures
Merlin displays.
And even when the birds in question are deep in the jungle/understory in
Ecuador!
Date: 4/20/26 10:42 am From: AMK17 via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
This has been an interesting conversation about the range of the chipping sparrow. Merlin has id'd chipping sparrows for the past week in my backyard here in Phinney/Seattle just above Green Lake but I did not report on eBird because I have yet to visually confirm. I also keep getting white-throated sparrow and have not reported this either even though these do come through my yard seasonally (I do usually see them but not this season).
I think my lesson is that I'll keep waiting for visual confirmation for both species and remember to take my binoculars with me when gardening so as not to miss a new bird (and pay more attention).
Thanks for the all of the new information on the range for chipping sparrow - I had no idea they nested at Green Lake.
Cheers,
AKopitov
Seattle
AMK17
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Boekelheide via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Apr 20, 2026 10:03 AM
To: Tweeters Tweeters <tweeters...>
Cc: <cariddellwa...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
Hello Tweeters,
To add to the Chipping Sparrow discussion, data from the Wednesday morning bird walks at Railroad Bridge Park in Sequim do show that Chipping Sparrows have increased in the lowlands of eastern Clallam County over the last 10 years. The bird walks have occurred every Wednesday for 24+ years since 2001, trying to keep track of changes in local birds. RR Bridge Park is about 5 miles inland from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, at an elevation of about 200 ft.
Like Roniq describes, we do not rely on Merlin for identification during the walks — all our CHSP IDs have been confirmed by visual sightings. Merlin clearly has a problem separating singing Chipping Sparrows from singing juncos (as do we!). Even though CHSPs often have a faster, more mechanical trill than juncos, they always need visual confirmation.
Between 2001 and 2009, we recorded no CHSPs on the walks. The very first sighting on the walks occurred in Aug 2010, with two birds. There were no other sightings until 2015, when there were two birds in May. No sightings in 2016.
Between 2017 and 2019, CHSPs occurred infrequently each year during the nesting season. It is possible they may have nested somewhere nearby.
Then, between 2020 and 2025, CHSPs became regular nesting birds, observed each year between April and July. We have seen them carrying food and feeding fledged chicks. The one exception is 2023, when we spotted them in April and May but not later in the nesting season, so maybe they failed early that year.
They do not nest in the riparian forest by the Dungeness River, for which RR Bridge Park is so renowned. Instead, CHSPs occur in “backyard habitats” at both the west and east ends of the park, where there is a mix of conifers and deciduous trees in neighboring backyards traversed near the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Similar sightings of CHSPs in the last few years around other areas of Sequim and Port Angeles suggest their recent increase in the lowlands is fairly widespread, similar to what you’re seeing on the east side of Puget Sound. Prior to the last decade, we considered CHSPs to be a montane nesting species in the Olympics.
Curiously, in his 1949 book Birds of the Olympic Peninsula, E.A. Kitchin described Chipping Sparrows as “plentifully scattered from sea-level to sub-alpine habitats.” Undoubtedly there’s more to the story — we witness these birds over such a short window of years that we become biased with our impressions about when they’re here and where they go. How will they change over the next several decades? Life is too short.
Bob Boekelheide
Dungeness
On Apr 18, 2026, at 8:12 PM, Roniq Bartanen <roniq...> (mailto:<roniq...>)> wrote:
Hi Roniq Bartanen here, I lead a monthly bird outing at Green Lake as a longtime volunteer for Birds Connect Seattle and have for many years!
Yesterday our group of 20 bird enthusiasts saw 4 different Chipping Sparrows, visually without sound help from Merlin. All were seen in different parts of the park. Two of them were together on the ground out in the open, one gathering nesting material a short distance from the other.
Two others were singing and seen out in the open at eye level in two separate parts of the park, far away from the others.
I've seen Chipping Sparrows at Green Lake every year since 2020, in the months of May, June, July and August. I've also seen them in the NE Seattle (Ravenna) Neighborhood numerous times, once collecting nesting material near Picardo pea patch and flying in to a residential yard in June 2022.
In 2024 and 2025 I had numerous sightings of them at parks/nature areas such as Union Bay Natural Area, Ravenna Park, Marymoor Park, Maple Leaf Reservoir Park and my own small condo garden in Maple Leaf in May 2025. All were seen, as I don't have the Merlin app on my phone.
July 2024, I had long lovely looks at a juvenile Chipping Sparrow at Juanita Bay foraging on the ground.
Needless to say, I feel like sightings of this Sparrow in Western Washington, have been increasing. Wonder if anyone else feels the same?
All this data I've shared is from my own eBird and sightings, not sound I.D.
I'm interested if anyone is doing a study on Chipping Sparrow range in WA? In my opinion due to my history of sightings, I feel it's becoming less rare to see them in western WA, and I couldn't be more delighted 🙂.
Date: 4/20/26 10:11 am From: Bob Boekelheide via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
Hello Tweeters,
To add to the Chipping Sparrow discussion, data from the Wednesday morning bird walks at Railroad Bridge Park in Sequim do show that Chipping Sparrows have increased in the lowlands of eastern Clallam County over the last 10 years. The bird walks have occurred every Wednesday for 24+ years since 2001, trying to keep track of changes in local birds. RR Bridge Park is about 5 miles inland from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, at an elevation of about 200 ft.
Like Roniq describes, we do not rely on Merlin for identification during the walks — all our CHSP IDs have been confirmed by visual sightings. Merlin clearly has a problem separating singing Chipping Sparrows from singing juncos (as do we!). Even though CHSPs often have a faster, more mechanical trill than juncos, they always need visual confirmation.
Between 2001 and 2009, we recorded no CHSPs on the walks. The very first sighting on the walks occurred in Aug 2010, with two birds. There were no other sightings until 2015, when there were two birds in May. No sightings in 2016.
Between 2017 and 2019, CHSPs occurred infrequently each year during the nesting season. It is possible they may have nested somewhere nearby.
Then, between 2020 and 2025, CHSPs became regular nesting birds, observed each year between April and July. We have seen them carrying food and feeding fledged chicks. The one exception is 2023, when we spotted them in April and May but not later in the nesting season, so maybe they failed early that year.
They do not nest in the riparian forest by the Dungeness River, for which RR Bridge Park is so renowned. Instead, CHSPs occur in “backyard habitats” at both the west and east ends of the park, where there is a mix of conifers and deciduous trees in neighboring backyards traversed near the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Similar sightings of CHSPs in the last few years around other areas of Sequim and Port Angeles suggest their recent increase in the lowlands is fairly widespread, similar to what you’re seeing on the east side of Puget Sound. Prior to the last decade, we considered CHSPs to be a montane nesting species in the Olympics.
Curiously, in his 1949 book Birds of the Olympic Peninsula, E.A. Kitchin described Chipping Sparrows as “plentifully scattered from sea-level to sub-alpine habitats.” Undoubtedly there’s more to the story — we witness these birds over such a short window of years that we become biased with our impressions about when they’re here and where they go. How will they change over the next several decades? Life is too short.
Bob Boekelheide
Dungeness
> On Apr 18, 2026, at 8:12 PM, Roniq Bartanen <roniq...> <mailto:<roniq...>> wrote:
>
> Hi Roniq Bartanen here, I lead a monthly bird outing at Green Lake as a longtime volunteer for Birds Connect Seattle and have for many years!
>
> Yesterday our group of 20 bird enthusiasts saw 4 different Chipping Sparrows, visually without sound help from Merlin. All were seen in different parts of the park. Two of them were together on the ground out in the open, one gathering nesting material a short distance from the other.
>
> Two others were singing and seen out in the open at eye level in two separate parts of the park, far away from the others.
>
> I've seen Chipping Sparrows at Green Lake every year since 2020, in the months of May, June, July and August. I've also seen them in the NE Seattle (Ravenna) Neighborhood numerous times, once collecting nesting material near Picardo pea patch and flying in to a residential yard in June 2022.
>
> In 2024 and 2025 I had numerous sightings of them at parks/nature areas such as Union Bay Natural Area, Ravenna Park, Marymoor Park, Maple Leaf Reservoir Park and my own small condo garden in Maple Leaf in May 2025. All were seen, as I don't have the Merlin app on my phone.
>
> July 2024, I had long lovely looks at a juvenile Chipping Sparrow at Juanita Bay foraging on the ground.
>
> Needless to say, I feel like sightings of this Sparrow in Western Washington, have been increasing. Wonder if anyone else feels the same?
>
> All this data I've shared is from my own eBird and sightings, not sound I.D.
>
> I'm interested if anyone is doing a study on Chipping Sparrow range in WA? In my opinion due to my history of sightings, I feel it's becoming less rare to see them in western WA, and I couldn't be more delighted 🙂.
>
> Happy Birding,
> Roniq Bartanen (She/Her)
> www.shebirds.com <http://www.shebirds.com/> >
Date: 4/20/26 7:48 am From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Vaux swift and N House Wren nearPort Angeles
This morning I smiled and rejoiced as I heard the thrumming of wings of a Vaux swift in my chimney. I've had nests most years for some time and am hoping for a repeat. Yesterday I was surprised by an early Northern House wren seen and heard singing lustily in the woods along our driveway. We had a pair nest in a box about 10 years ago, but none seen or heard since except on hikes in the foothills. Given their aggressive nature I have mixed feelings of glad greetings and concerns for proliferation and its effect on my local Pacific and Bewick's wrens.
Date: 4/19/26 1:52 pm From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
I've had both experiences.
That is, I've had several sightings of Chipping Sparrows in Seattle, and I also had Merlin say that a singing Junco was a Chipping Sparrow at the Kukutali Preserve in Skagit County. In that case, I saw the Junco singing while Merlin was telling me it was the Chipping Sparrow.
In Seattle, on June 25, 2013, my husband and I saw two Chipping Sparrow parents feeding a recent fledgling on Pike Street between 31st and 32nd Ave (in Seattle). I got pictures.
Date: 4/19/26 1:00 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Eagle's Pride walk
The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC bird walk falls on the third Thursday of each month. We meet at 8:00am March - October, and sanely, 9:00am November - February. The route, chosen by a sailor, takes us to as many watering holes as is feasible.
This monthly walk suffered from the absence of it's founding father, Denis DeSilvis, but we muddled through anyway. The weather was wonderful, cold and clear in the early morning but warmer later on. Eighteen birders attended, most repeat customers but a couple first timers.
Denis will be proud, we had a few first of the year species, Cassin's Vireo, Nashville, and Townsend's Warbler stand out, but also House Wren, and Turkey Vulture. See the checklist at the end of this report for the complete tally.
Next months walk will be May 20, again at 8:00am. We will meet at the Driving Range building. Take I-5 Exit 116, (Mounts Road). The entrance to the Golf Course is the first right turn on the NW side of I-5. At the bottom of the entrance ramp, take an immediate left to take the road leading to the driving range building.
Eagles Pride GC, Pierce, Washington, US
Apr 16, 2026 7:52 AM - 12:02 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.656 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Monthly bird walk. It was 38º F and sunny as 16 birders took to the links. The leaves on the trees are beginning to come out, making the visibility a bit less, so many of the ‘sightings’ were from hearing the birds’ vocalizations. We had several first-of-the-year birds, including HOUSE WREN, NASHVILLE WARBLER, and CASSIN’S VIREO. ORANGE-CROWNED and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were seen and heard throughout the walk. The only mammals sighted were Douglas squirrel and Eastern gray squirrel. We finished the walk at noon, when it was a pleasant 50º F with a light southerly breeze.
45 species (+4 other taxa)
Date: 4/19/26 12:33 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Ecuador!
Hi all,
We've just returned from Ecuador. We went with Naturalist Journeys -
but the entire
tour was conducted by a local guide and driver (6 guests, guide, and
driver in a 10-person
van). We were met at the airport by a pre-arranged taxi and taken
directly to our
hotel - the tour itself started after a day of rest in Quito ... which
we used to go to the
botannical gardens and also took one of those city bus hop-on/hop-off tours.
Then it was off to Zura Loma, our highest lodge at 11,000 feet. The
tour was
entirely on the West side of the Andes and all of the locations were
great, not at
all buggy, not humid, not hot, not cold, one afternoon of rain and LOTS
of un-paved
land and a half mountain roads. The mountains are STEEP and the terrain was
jungle. We worked our way West, dropping in elevation each move, ending
up at
about 3500 feet before turning back towards Quito and increasing in
elevation as
we went.
We would HIGHLY recommend the West Side of Ecuador as a location!
Best viewwed on the largest screen you have = computer, tablet OK,
phone not so much.
Click on first pic, then use arrows to navigate, and click a 2nd time on
a pic to zoom in.
- Jim and Loretta
P.S. Our flights were Seattle to Atlanta (5 hrs), Atlanta to Quito ...
and reverse coming back. We had
two other guest from Arizona, one from Toronto, and one from San
Jose, Ca. Guide and driver
both spoke English as did most of the lodge operators. We found
the people to be warm and
friendly and helpful - everywhere ... and saw no evidence of the
recent news "drug crackdown".
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/19/26 7:51 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
Thanks for all the info, Roniq. You may have explained this phenomenon, and if Merlin could talk, it would be thanking you profusely.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Apr 18, 2026, at 8:12 PM, Roniq Bartanen <roniq...> wrote:
>
> Hi Roniq Bartanen here, I lead a monthly bird outing at Green Lake as a longtime volunteer for Birds Connect Seattle and have for many years!
>
> Yesterday our group of 20 bird enthusiasts saw 4 different Chipping Sparrows, visually without sound help from Merlin. All were seen in different parts of the park. Two of them were together on the ground out in the open, one gathering nesting material a short distance from the other.
>
> Two others were singing and seen out in the open at eye level in two separate parts of the park, far away from the others.
>
> I've seen Chipping Sparrows at Green Lake every year since 2020, in the months of May, June, July and August. I've also seen them in the NE Seattle (Ravenna) Neighborhood numerous times, once collecting nesting material near Picardo pea patch and flying in to a residential yard in June 2022.
>
> In 2024 and 2025 I had numerous sightings of them at parks/nature areas such as Union Bay Natural Area, Ravenna Park, Marymoor Park, Maple Leaf Reservoir Park and my own small condo garden in Maple Leaf in May 2025. All were seen, as I don't have the Merlin app on my phone.
>
> July 2024, I had long lovely looks at a juvenile Chipping Sparrow at Juanita Bay foraging on the ground.
>
> Needless to say, I feel like sightings of this Sparrow in Western Washington, have been increasing. Wonder if anyone else feels the same?
>
> All this data I've shared is from my own eBird and sightings, not sound I.D.
>
> I'm interested if anyone is doing a study on Chipping Sparrow range in WA? In my opinion due to my history of sightings, I feel it's becoming less rare to see them in western WA, and I couldn't be more delighted 🙂.
>
> Happy Birding,
> Roniq Bartanen (She/Her)
> www.shebirds.com <http://www.shebirds.com/> >
> Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/she_birds/ <https://www.instagram.com/she_birds/> > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roniq.bartanen <https://www.facebook.com/roniq.bartanen> >
> Ramblings at the Roost: My blog dedicated to birds and birding https://shebirds.com/blog <https://shebirds.com/blog> >
> For occasional content celebrating the culture and joy of mindful, urban and accessible birding as well as info on upcoming bird outings visithttps://shebirds.com/contact <https://shebirds.com/contact>.
>
> Members who create an account gain access to my FREE Global Female Bird Guide Resource List! https://shebirds.com/m/login?r=%2Ffemale-bird-guides <https://shebirds.com/m/login?r=%2Ffemale-bird-guides> > From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> <mailto:<tweeters-bounces...>> on behalf of Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> > Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2026 7:04 PM
> To: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> <mailto:<dennispaulson...>> > Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>>; Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...> <mailto:<cariddellwa...>> > Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
>
> On Apr 18, 2026 at 18:09:33, Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>> I’ll add to what Carol said. I have been seeing this rash of Chipping Sparrow reports by sound, and indeed it seems that Merlin does confuse juncos and Chipping Sparrows with some frequency. And of course this isn’t the only error that Merlin makes. I understood that the main reason for developing Merlin was so that people could learn bird sounds more readily, but it seems that it is used primarily for adding to eBird lists.
>>
>> It seems appropriate that any time Merlin reports an unexpected bird, if at all possible that bird should be confirmed with your own eyes or your own knowledge of bird vocalizations.
>
> I recently ran into this — I started getting repeated hits for a Chipping Sparrow near where the Port Gamble Harris’ Sparrow is hanging out. I ended up not logging it into eBird but adding it to the comments after 20 minutes of trying to get eyes on it. (Hint: that location is full of crowned sparrows and juncos, too).
>
> My general take on Merlin these days after too many hours of diving into it’s reliability and consistency (for reasons that don’t matter here) is that if eBird notes the bird as orange dot or red dot, Merlin is not “good enough” to warrant logging it. Note that Merlin also uses red and orange dots and they do NOT always line up with eBird: I trust eBird here when they differ.
>
> Something I wish Merlin would do is available with the Haiku bird ID system (which I have experimented with and recommend with limitations, but which, being an unattended device, should not be used to add eBird data) — Haiku includes a confidence level (high/medium/low) on its IDs. If Merllin did this, it and eBird could work together to set a policy to accept high confidence IDs but not lower confidence ones — and actually publicize the policy in the apps.
>
> This is a solvable problem if eBird and Merlin choose to.
>
> Haiku, FWIW, uses BIRDnet as its data source, as do some of the other similar systems like Birdweather.
>
> Chuq
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me <http://www.chuq.me/>)
> Silverdale, Washington
> Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
>
> Email me at: <chuqvr...> <mailto:<chuqvr...> > Mastodon: @<chuqvr...> <mailto:<chuqvr...> >
> Stay Updated with what I'm doing: https://www.chuq.me/6fps/ <https://www.chuq.me/6fps/> > My latest e-book: https://www.chuq.me/ebooks <https://www.chuq.me/ebooks> >
> I have opinions
Date: 4/19/26 6:24 am From: Gary Bletsch via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Chippies
Dear Tweeters,
Thanks to Carol Riddell for bringing up an interesting topic.
At Ship Harbor, AKA Anacortes Ferry Terminal, I had an interesting experience that always comes to mind when arises the matter of Chipping Sparrow songs. Here is what I wrote in my field notes for that day, 19 May 2021.
I thought I heard a Chipping Sparrow singing, so I played a recording of a Chipping Sparrow song. The junco came right over to me, then started singing. I think that the birds have the same trouble that I have, when it comes to distinguishing these two songs.
Well, things could be even more interesting, or confusing. Where I now live in Western New York, it is not unusual to find a Chipping Sparrow, a Swamp Sparrow, a Junco, and a Pine Warbler, all singing simultaneously in the same patch, where the habitats meet!
Yours truly,
Gary Bletsch
<garybletsch...>
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/18/26 9:46 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday at Nisqually
April showers bring May flowers, or so I have heard. The morning started with light rain, a cold (38°F) breeze, and a crowd of ~2 dozen birders on the deck. Wood Ducks, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, mallards and a few Canada Geese were in the pond.
A now expected male Rufous Hummingbird again stood watch over his territory at the entrance to the play area. Purple Finch sang from the top of a fruit tree. A new addition to the play area is a much larger-than-life carved wooden dragonfly, child sittable/stand-able, next to the incipient demonstration eagles nest. A pair of Mourning Doves flew overhead.
Cinnamon Teal were again among the ducks in the pond south of the turn in the service road. Almost as expected as his Rufous cousin, a male Anna's Hummingbird surveyed his claim from the top of a small tree between the north parking lot and the service road. Flying low over the flooded field to the west were five Swallow species, Barn, Tree, Violet Green, Rough-winged, and, first of the year, Cliff Swallows.
A pair of Ravens croaked from the top of a fir tree east of the pond as we started on the boardwalk trail on the west side of the loop. Close in, a family of five Virginia Rails played peek-a-boo with us close in the cattail reeds on the edge of the pond. The mama Robin once again sat on her nest, as did both female Rufous Hummingbirds seen last week. A Musk Rat swam a sinuous path northward in the slough, crossing under the boardwalk and then out of sight. A hairy Woodpecker made an appearance, as did a few Chickadees, Common Yellowthroat, and Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Two Eurasian Wigeon could be found among the other duck species from the Twin Barns overlook. A flock of 3 dozen Greater White-fronted Geese flew in a shallow, ragged "V" northward overhead.
The eagle's nest in the Cottonwood along the Nisqually River was again occupied. Viewing it is likely to get iffy over the next couple of weeks as the tree continues to "leaf out." The weather had fluctuated all day, rain, then drizzle, brief periods of sun, clouding up again, and now hail mixed with rain and strong wind as we walked the unsheltered portion of the dike. Three Greater White-fronted Geese shared our experience, if not our discomfort. They only reluctantly stepped aside as we passed on the gravel surface, not intimidated but wary and perhaps annoyed by our presence. A Sora foraging close in on the freshwater side of the dike made the weather no longer a distraction as we had prolonged good views.
An unusual sight from the upper part of the McAllister Creek boardwalk, several Bonaparte's Gulls, some in black-hooded breeding plumage, some in winter plumage. They first roosted on the sand, then moved into the water, mixing with Bufflehead. Again, an Eagle sat in the southerly nest west of the creek. This nest will be visible if young are hatched this spring. Ubiquitous Harbor Seals shared the water with Double-crested Cormorants, a Horned Grebe, and ducks, including Gadwall, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Mergansers. Greater yellowlegs shared the shoreline with a Spotted Sandpiper. From the Gazebo at the north end we saw Brandt's Cormorants on the channel marker, a Pelagic Cormorant in flight, it's white flank patch visible. A flock of Brant Geese got up to the east and settled back down and out of sight. A murmuration of Dunlin flashed back and forth near the mouth of the Nisqually River. As we headed back to the dike, a Turkey Vulture soared over the ridgeline to the west.
An Osprey, another first of the year, glided overhead as we made our way to the Nisqually river overlook. When we arrived, the white bodies and dark green heads of three drake Common Mergansers stood out against the far shore of the river, another drake and a hen sighted downstream. Tree and Violet Green Swallows swooped over the river. A swift flying Merlin, seemingly intent on catching a Swallow, swept low over the river then suddenly changed directions and crossed over our heads and out of sight. Whether it's hunt was successful, we couldn't tell.
We made our way south along the east side of the loop, a brief side trip on the riparian spur, mostly to see the skunk cabbage (just past peak bloom) and then back to the Visitor's Center deck for the final tally. The checklist follows, but you really should click on the link. Wednesday Walk regulars include several excellent photographers who have attached photos that really make the checklist.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Apr 15, 2026 7:59 AM - 4:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.183 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk on a Spring morning with temperatures from 38-47º F and a 3-to-15-knot south breeze. The weather was variable, with light rain to start, then everything from fair skies to rain, hail, and 20+ knot gusts throughout the walk. A High 13.3-foot Tide at 4:42 a.m. ebbed to a +2.1-foot low water at 11:15 a.m. before flooding toward an 11.9-foot high at 5:12 p.m. Non-birds seen included Musk Rat, Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Townsend’s Chipmunk, and numerous Harbor Seals hauled out in the estuary of McAllister Creek, as well as a few cold Pacific Chorus frogs.
85 species (+9 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose 36 A flock of 36 flew over, with 3 birds landing on the north dike for feed and gravel
Brant (Black) 62 At the edge of the mud flats along Nisqually Reach
Cackling Goose (minima) 180
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 42 Continuing injured bird along the north dike
Canada Goose 62 Many paired up
Wood Duck 7
Cinnamon Teal 8
Northern Shoveler 45
Gadwall 58
Eurasian Wigeon 2
American Wigeon 170
Mallard 80
Northern Pintail 11
Green-winged Teal 185
Ring-necked Duck 4
Greater Scaup 18 Nisqually Reach
Surf Scoter 1 Off Luhr Beach
Bufflehead 135
Common Goldeneye 18
Hooded Merganser 5
Common Merganser 5 Four drakes and a hen in the Nisqually River
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 9 At the entrance gate
Band-tailed Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 4
Anna's Hummingbird 1
Rufous Hummingbird 5 Two occupied nests continue along the west side of the loop boardwalk
hummingbird sp. 1
Virginia Rail 8 5 Adults together in visitors' pond along the west side boardwalk
Sora 2 Well-seen bird in the cattail marsh; another vocalizing from nearby
American Coot 75
Killdeer 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West side McAllister Creek
Greater Yellowlegs 24
Dunlin 550
Least Sandpiper 9
Bonaparte's Gull 25
Short-billed Gull 205
Ring-billed Gull 38
California Gull 3
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 2
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 6
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Horned Grebe 2 Beautiful alternate plumage
Brandt's Cormorant 3 Nisqually Reach Channel Marker
Pelagic Cormorant 1 Nisqually Reach; white 'saddles'
Double-crested Cormorant 7
Great Blue Heron 14
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1 First of season
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 18 Adults on nests - south McAllister Creek and cottonwood along the River
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-breasted Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Vocalizing from west of McAllister Creek
Northern Flicker 3
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 3
Merlin 1
American Crow 6
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3
Tree Swallow 65
Violet-green Swallow 26
Tree/Violet-green Swallow 40
Purple Martin 2 Reported by Janel
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 45
Cliff Swallow 8
Bushtit (Pacific) 2
Brown Creeper 5
Pacific Wren 1 Riparian overlook boardwalk
Marsh Wren 22
Bewick's Wren 9
European Starling 80
American Robin 24
Purple Finch (Western) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 7
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 29
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 5
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Brown-headed Cowbird 15
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1
Common Yellowthroat 14
Yellow-rumped Warbler 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 16
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 26
Date: 4/18/26 8:24 pm From: Roniq Bartanen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
Hi Roniq Bartanen here, I lead a monthly bird outing at Green Lake as a longtime volunteer for Birds Connect Seattle and have for many years!
Yesterday our group of 20 bird enthusiasts saw 4 different Chipping Sparrows, visually without sound help from Merlin. All were seen in different parts of the park. Two of them were together on the ground out in the open, one gathering nesting material a short distance from the other.
Two others were singing and seen out in the open at eye level in two separate parts of the park, far away from the others.
I've seen Chipping Sparrows at Green Lake every year since 2020, in the months of May, June, July and August. I've also seen them in the NE Seattle (Ravenna) Neighborhood numerous times, once collecting nesting material near Picardo pea patch and flying in to a residential yard in June 2022.
In 2024 and 2025 I had numerous sightings of them at parks/nature areas such as Union Bay Natural Area, Ravenna Park, Marymoor Park, Maple Leaf Reservoir Park and my own small condo garden in Maple Leaf in May 2025. All were seen, as I don't have the Merlin app on my phone.
July 2024, I had long lovely looks at a juvenile Chipping Sparrow at Juanita Bay foraging on the ground.
Needless to say, I feel like sightings of this Sparrow in Western Washington, have been increasing. Wonder if anyone else feels the same?
All this data I've shared is from my own eBird and sightings, not sound I.D.
I'm interested if anyone is doing a study on Chipping Sparrow range in WA? In my opinion due to my history of sightings, I feel it's becoming less rare to see them in western WA, and I couldn't be more delighted 🙂.
For occasional content celebrating the culture and joy of mindful, urban and accessible birding as well as info on upcoming bird outings visit https://shebirds.com/contact.
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2026 7:04 PM
To: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>; Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
On Apr 18, 2026 at 18:09:33, Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
I’ll add to what Carol said. I have been seeing this rash of Chipping Sparrow reports by sound, and indeed it seems that Merlin does confuse juncos and Chipping Sparrows with some frequency. And of course this isn’t the only error that Merlin makes. I understood that the main reason for developing Merlin was so that people could learn bird sounds more readily, but it seems that it is used primarily for adding to eBird lists.
It seems appropriate that any time Merlin reports an unexpected bird, if at all possible that bird should be confirmed with your own eyes or your own knowledge of bird vocalizations.
I recently ran into this — I started getting repeated hits for a Chipping Sparrow near where the Port Gamble Harris’ Sparrow is hanging out. I ended up not logging it into eBird but adding it to the comments after 20 minutes of trying to get eyes on it. (Hint: that location is full of crowned sparrows and juncos, too).
My general take on Merlin these days after too many hours of diving into it’s reliability and consistency (for reasons that don’t matter here) is that if eBird notes the bird as orange dot or red dot, Merlin is not “good enough” to warrant logging it. Note that Merlin also uses red and orange dots and they do NOT always line up with eBird: I trust eBird here when they differ.
Something I wish Merlin would do is available with the Haiku bird ID system (which I have experimented with and recommend with limitations, but which, being an unattended device, should not be used to add eBird data) — Haiku includes a confidence level (high/medium/low) on its IDs. If Merllin did this, it and eBird could work together to set a policy to accept high confidence IDs but not lower confidence ones — and actually publicize the policy in the apps.
This is a solvable problem if eBird and Merlin choose to.
Haiku, FWIW, uses BIRDnet as its data source, as do some of the other similar systems like Birdweather.
Chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 4/18/26 7:14 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
On Apr 18, 2026 at 18:09:33, Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I’ll add to what Carol said. I have been seeing this rash of Chipping
> Sparrow reports by sound, and indeed it seems that Merlin does confuse
> juncos and Chipping Sparrows with some frequency. And of course this isn’t
> the only error that Merlin makes. I understood that the main reason for
> developing Merlin was so that people could learn bird sounds more readily,
> but it seems that it is used primarily for adding to eBird lists.
>
> It seems appropriate that any time Merlin reports an unexpected bird, if
> at all possible that bird should be confirmed with your own eyes or your
> own knowledge of bird vocalizations.
>
I recently ran into this — I started getting repeated hits for a Chipping
Sparrow near where the Port Gamble Harris’ Sparrow is hanging out. I ended
up not logging it into eBird but adding it to the comments after 20 minutes
of trying to get eyes on it. (Hint: that location is full of crowned
sparrows and juncos, too).
My general take on Merlin these days after too many hours of diving into
it’s reliability and consistency (for reasons that don’t matter here) is
that if eBird notes the bird as orange dot or red dot, Merlin is not “good
enough” to warrant logging it. Note that Merlin also uses red and orange
dots and they do NOT always line up with eBird: I trust eBird here when
they differ.
Something I wish Merlin would do is available with the Haiku bird ID system
(which I have experimented with and recommend with limitations, but which,
being an unattended device, should not be used to add eBird data) — Haiku
includes a confidence level (high/medium/low) on its IDs. If Merllin did
this, it and eBird could work together to set a policy to accept high
confidence IDs but not lower confidence ones — and actually publicize the
policy in the apps.
This is a solvable problem if eBird and Merlin choose to.
Haiku, FWIW, uses BIRDnet as its data source, as do some of the other
similar systems like Birdweather.
Chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 4/18/26 6:18 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
I’ll add to what Carol said. I have been seeing this rash of Chipping Sparrow reports by sound, and indeed it seems that Merlin does confuse juncos and Chipping Sparrows with some frequency. And of course this isn’t the only error that Merlin makes. I understood that the main reason for developing Merlin was so that people could learn bird sounds more readily, but it seems that it is used primarily for adding to eBird lists.
If Merlin makes errors only 5-10% of the time, and I think that may not be far off, think of that number of errors times the number of eBird checklists being submitted every day—potentially hundreds and hundreds of erroneous records in Cornell’s database just in our state.
It seems appropriate that any time Merlin reports an unexpected bird, if at all possible that bird should be confirmed with your own eyes or your own knowledge of bird vocalizations.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Apr 18, 2026, at 1:23 PM, Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> It’s that time of year when Chipping Sparrow shows up on the eBird basic county checklists in Western Washington at the same time that Cornell’s Merlin Sound ID suggests it frequently when it hears Dark-eyed Junco. Chipping Sparrows tend to be more abundant at this time of year in the more eastern parts of the Puget Sound counties and rarely closer to the Sound. I see a lot of Chipping Sparrow ticks in checklists where they are never or very rarely seen. And those ticks are never documented, which suggests the sparrow shows up on a Sound ID list and then it just gets added to a checklist with no confirmation or documentation. If you are an eBirder, please consider leaving an unconfirmed Chipping Sparrow off your checklist or add it with documentation. Birds are never distributed equally throughout a county. We need to consider habitat, food sources, nesting opportunities, and traditional locations for a species, and then use that knowledge to decide whether it is an appropriate addition to a public checklist or just a Sound ID possibility.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> <cariddellwa...>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/18/26 1:40 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Beware the Chipping Sparrow
It’s that time of year when Chipping Sparrow shows up on the eBird basic county checklists in Western Washington at the same time that Cornell’s Merlin Sound ID suggests it frequently when it hears Dark-eyed Junco. Chipping Sparrows tend to be more abundant at this time of year in the more eastern parts of the Puget Sound counties and rarely closer to the Sound. I see a lot of Chipping Sparrow ticks in checklists where they are never or very rarely seen. And those ticks are never documented, which suggests the sparrow shows up on a Sound ID list and then it just gets added to a checklist with no confirmation or documentation. If you are an eBirder, please consider leaving an unconfirmed Chipping Sparrow off your checklist or add it with documentation. Birds are never distributed equally throughout a county. We need to consider habitat, food sources, nesting opportunities, and traditional locations for a species, and then use that knowledge to decide whether it is an appropriate addition to a public checklist or just a Sound ID possibility.
Date: 4/17/26 4:23 pm From: John Riegsecker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Caspian Terns in Port Orchard
My favorite Caspian Tern showed up at Etta Turner Park in Port Orchard today. It is F231 banded 07/07/2011, Valdez Cordova, Alaska. I first saw it May 2, 2024. In 2025 I did not see it until July, 13, 2025.
Date: 4/16/26 6:35 pm From: Kersti Muul via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hot pepper bird food
I use hot pepper seed and suet exclusively. (Hulled sunflower seeds). They work great. There are some roof rats around due to neighbors abundant seeds on ground - but we have a resident great-horned and barred pair that take advantage of that. Plus to hear the GHOW at night is incredible.
The only downside (and this happens more than you would think) the suet crumbles sometimes blow off when snapping the cage shut and find their way to my eyeballs. Same with filling the feeders; the spicy dust blows around. Also, mind your fingers after. Recommend a good hand washing after handling any amount of either.
Date: 4/16/26 6:10 pm From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-04-16
Hi Tweeters -
6 of us joined forces for this week’s Marymoor survey.
Early on, it was cold and rainy - but the rain mostly stopped by about sunrise - it remained cool all morning, but the birds were pretty active once they woke upand it got a little bit warmer.
As with last week, we were watching for spring arrivals and winter departures.
Highlights:
Cackling Goose - Eric has a small flock fly over before 6:30 - pretty late for Marymoor
Wilson’s Snipe - still one around
Great Blue Heron - this week several young birds were heard ‘grum grum-ing’ at the rookery
Barn Owl - one seen right around sunrise
All 5 regular woodpeckers eventually showed up, though Sapsucker managed to hide until the Rowing Club
5 swallow species, including our first Purple Martins of the year, with several inspecting the gourds at the lake platform
Ruby-crowned Kinglets - still a couple around, singing
Varied Thrush - one late, at the mansion area
Misses today included: Common Goldeneye, Cooper’s Hawk, Fox Sparrow and the recently reported Brewer’s Sparrow [not seen on our walk but reported on eBird today]
Date: 4/16/26 5:16 pm From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Native plants
I've been admittedly a little slow to follow up on this, but recently there was a discussion on Tweeters about where to get native plants, etc.
I wanted to say that former WOS volunteer Vicki King, who has moved out of the area, put together a 9-page report entitled:
RESOURCES FOR ADDING NATIVE PLANTS TO YOUR GARDEN
You can read and/or download this document from the WOS website. You get to it via the List of Birding Resources on the Birding Resources menu at wos.org website or by going to this link:
Date: 4/16/26 7:38 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE: How robo-birds are helping save one of the country’s most iconic species
