Date: 3/19/26 1:50 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-03-19
Tweets - It was very rainy until about 9:30 this morning, when we had a bit of clearing. By that time, we were all soaked and a bit discouraged. But there were birds to see today.
Highlights: American Wigeon - One below the weir was first in 4 weeks Rufous Hummingbird - This time everyone got to see the male at the south end of the Dog Meadow Sharp-shinned Hawk - In large cottonwood a bit south of the East Meadow. First of Year (FOY) Cooper's Hawk - One in the Pea Patch Merlin - One flew east of the East Meadow Northern Shrike - One between the East Meadow and the model airplane field Tree Swallow - Many Violet-green Swallow - Hundreds, (FOY) Varied Thrush - One singing immediately south of Fields 7-8-9 in Snag Row White-throated Sparrow - FOUR TOGETHER along slough trail near the south end of the Dog Area Western Meadowlark - At least one, singing, East Meadow
Misses today included Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Marsh Wren, Pine Siskin, and Savannah Sparrow.
For the day, we totalled 59 species. Adding SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, the 2026 survey list is now at 79 species.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 3/19/26 1:11 pm From: Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Are jays prone to skin diseases?
That seems likely to be the explanation. Photos of that condition I found
appear similar to the Jay.
Mike
On Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 7:53 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
wrote:
> Mike, I don’t know if this would be what you saw, but look up
> knemidocoptiasis online.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> > On Mar 19, 2026, at 7:46 AM, Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > I just saw a Stellar's Jay that appeared to have pale and thickened skin
> on its feet. It did not look normal. Any idea what causes this?
> >
> > Mike Wagenbach
> > Seattle
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...>
> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Date: 3/19/26 11:13 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - February 2026
Hi Tweeters,
We ended February with 111 species on our Edmonds year list. The added species are:
Wilson’s Snipe (code 3), 1 at Edmonds marsh (ID photo), 2-5-26.
Lincoln’s Sparrow (code 3), 1 at the waterfront’s Brackett’s Landing North (ID photos), 2-6-26, 2-17-26, and 2-18-26.
Late entry: Ring-billed Gull (code 3) was seen and reported over the Edmonds section of Lake Ballinger, an expected location, on January 1st. I received a timely report of the gull but simply forgot to add it to our January list.
Other birds of interest: The adult male Lesser Goldfinch (code 5) returned to its customary feeder station on 2-15-26 for a brief sighting. A skein of 21 Trumpeter Swans (code 4) was seen flying along the waterfront on 2-27-26. There were multiple reports throughout the month of either 1 or 2 White-throated Sparrows (code 3) at the marsh. Interestingly, there were no yard reports of this species. One Western Meadowlark (code 3) was reported twice at the marsh.
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.
Declined: 5 Eurasian Wigeons (code 3) at Edmonds marsh, a single report in an eBird checklist that contains no American Wigeons (most likely a data entry error); several waterfront reports of multiple Canvasbacks (code 4) by the same eBirder with no documentation; 1 Ruddy Duck (code 3), Edmonds marsh, single report; Greater Yellowlegs (code 3), waterfront 2-23-26, single report; Sanderling (code 3), Edmonds marina, single report; multiple reports of American Herring Gull (code 4), Edmonds marsh and waterfront throughout the month with no details; two separate reports of Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) (code 4) with no details; California Scrub-Jay (code 3),1 at a private home with no details.
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 February 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
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/19/26 9:22 am From: Ed Dominguez via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Are jays prone to skin diseases?
Last year we had a Steller’s Jay in our years that had these mites
infesting its legs. The Jay hung around for many months but the infection
looked ghastly!
Ed Dominguez
On Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 7:53 AM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Mike, I don’t know if this would be what you saw, but look up
> knemidocoptiasis online.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> > On Mar 19, 2026, at 7:46 AM, Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > I just saw a Stellar's Jay that appeared to have pale and thickened skin
> on its feet. It did not look normal. Any idea what causes this?
> >
> > Mike Wagenbach
> > Seattle
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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: 3/19/26 8:02 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Are jays prone to skin diseases?
Mike, I don’t know if this would be what you saw, but look up knemidocoptiasis online.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Mar 19, 2026, at 7:46 AM, Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I just saw a Stellar's Jay that appeared to have pale and thickened skin on its feet. It did not look normal. Any idea what causes this?
>
> Mike Wagenbach
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/17/26 4:47 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] new bird book!
Hello tweets,
I just got a copy of a new bird book, The Bird with Flaming Red Feet, by Maria Mudd Ruth. Some of you may remember her book on Marbled Murrelets (Rare Bird: Pursuing the Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet) or others she has written. This one is very enjoyable, fun to read because of her writing style and superbly educational about one of the iconic birds of the Pacific Northwest, the Pigeon Guillemot.
Date: 3/17/26 7:47 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] I believe this a big deal. This will provide a huge surge of Observation research information regarding migration: “Study reveals new technique to identify individual night-flying birds for the first time”
Date: 3/16/26 8:59 pm From: jonbirder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] The Plateau flattened
Hi again Tweets - The final chapter, I promise. This morning, I decided to get up before my roommate and make a desperate dash up towards Conconully to reinforce my growing suspicion that it's way too late in the non-winter to find Sharp-tailed Grouse in their most viewable habitats. Yup. None there in the waterbirch at Scotch Creek. (Also, no snow for about a thousand feet higher) But...my more realistic goal was to find a Canyon Wren in the rock fall along the first mile of the Riverside Cutoff - that part was easy! The rest of the day we spent looking for birds where they normally winter, but: No Swamp Sparrow at the Monse boat launch; an unsuccessful search for Saw-whet Owls in their usual (winter - duh) trees in Bridgeport SP; a look for whatever along a route through the former Leahy Sage Grouse lek, down Rd. K to Heritage road and south to the Atkins "Lake" area. Lots of Horned Larks, an occasional meadowlark, Red-tailed Hawk, one Roughy but no falcons or owls. (Also not a single vehical encountered in 20 or 30 miles of road!) We really enjoyed the spectacular views going over the top of Badger Mt. and down the southwest slope with the past weekends snowfall showing nicely in the afternoon sun. In summary: A great trip and one we're hoping to do sometime again in the winter - maybe we'll have one next year!! (Although el Nino threatens) Happy birding! - JonSent from my Galaxy_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/16/26 6:24 pm From: Stephen Elston via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Turkey Vultures at Tongue Point
Hi Tweets,
Today at about 1230 I spotted a kettle of Turkey Vultures from the Salt Creek campground west of Port Angeles. These birds were circling to the west of Tongue Point along the Straits of Juan de Fuca. I did not see any of the TUVUs heading north over the water in the time I was there.
I got a picture with my phone camera that shows 11 TUVUs. There appeared to be at least 6 more below the tree line that do not show in the photo.
Happy birding to all, Steve
-- Stephen F Elston, PhD Instructor, Data Science and AI Harvard Division of Continuing Education
I enjoyed Dennis Paulson's message about the Samish Flats on Sunday. Just fyi - the snow geese have been hanging out pretty consistently on Fir Island, including a blue morph goose. On Saturday, there was a huge flock of snow geese on Polson Road, and a smaller flock just east of LaConner.
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/16/26 1:48 pm From: Gary A Kelsberg via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] “The Impossible Thing” book recommendation
A real and (very) rare blood red guillemot egg forms the focus of this historical fiction novel by Belinda Bauer. Set among the seabird colonies on the Yorkshire cliffs alternately in the 1920’s and the present day, it tells the story of egg collectors who seek to acquire the most unusual ones, and the “climmers” who make their living robbing nests. The descriptions of birds on their nesting ledges, their uniquely patterned eggs, and the human activity is historically (and oölogically) accurate. Some of the characters are based on real people, although the story is augmented by the author.
Tweeters might focus on the bird-related details; I found the story and the protagonists compelling, one of the most enjoyable reads in years. The book was long-listed for the Booker Prize.
Gary Kelsberg
kelsberg at yew dot warshington dot ee-dew _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/16/26 11:20 am From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] JBLM Eagles Pride Golf Course Monthly Birdwalk - Thursday, March 19 - 8:00AM Start
Hi Tweeters,
The next Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) birdwalk is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, at 8:00AM.
The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders do the tour d'course the third Thursday of every month. We meet at 8:00AM<outlook-data-detector://2> through October 2026. (Change to 9:00AM in November.)
Starting point is the Driving Range Tee, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. When you turn into the course entrance, take an immediate left onto the road to the driving range - that's where we meet.
Also, to remind folks that haven't been here before, even though Eagle's Pride is a US Army recreation facility, you don't need any ID to attend these birdwalks. Hope you're able to make it!
Current weather forecast is 55degF-60degF start to finish (RealFeel 49-58) with about a 70% chance of rain during the walk. As always, dress for success!
Date: 3/15/26 9:25 pm From: jonbirder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Confrmed - OK Co. is winter free!
Hi Tweets - Well, this was it! After a snow free day on the Timentwa Plateau yesterday, today was the day we finally get up into some of that snow we've been hearing about in the greater Havilla/Chesaw/Molson (urban?) area. The hills looked remarkably brown along both sides of 97, but surely as we ascended...Nope. Fancher Flats was totally snow free but littered with way more baby blacks (Angus) than we've ever seen before!! Seems like all of the 1000 +/- cattle on the flats had just (or were about to) give berth. This was, of course, really good news for the many ravens and magpies in attendance, as well as for at least 3 Golden and 7 Bald eagles we saw about the area. The absence of snow meant that the local Chukar population was well up on the cliff side and could be heard but not seen. From the flats, we headed up Siwash Cr. road knowing full well that no snow means no Sharp-tails. Yup. That's what it means. Also, not much else (BC Chickadees and RB Nuthatches are Edmonds yard birds). Not till well after the turn onto No. Siwash Cr. Rd. and into some pretty mature ponderosa/Engleman forest, did my repeated pygmy owl tooting generate a proper mob scene that included 3 spp. of Nuthatch, Mtn. Chickadee, and Pine Siskins: 4 nice FOY. Back out on Havilla Rd. nothing much there or up at the Sno park (1-inch base) where I heard a distant sapsucker drumming but, with my aging ears, couldn't tell which way to go to chase it down. (30 degrees and quite breezy there). The first farm above the Havilla church had its usual flock of Gray Partridge that flew off into a hidden gully as soon as we arrived, but did provide the last FOY of the day. From there on - to and through Chesaw, Bolster, and Molson, the only real excitement was a couple of flocks of siskins along MaryAnn Cr. in which I could find no redpolls. Also interesting was seeing Says Phoebe and Mtn. Bluebirds repeatedly throughout the Highlands. I guess that means (despite this funny white stuff we hear may have fallen in or near Seattle!?!) it really isn't winter any more, if it ever was. So sad. Well, we'll drive home over the Waterville Plateau tomorrow but don't have a lot of hope for great birds. Maybe a cute owl at Bridgeport SP?? Happy birding! - Jon Houghton, Edmonds Sent from my Galaxy_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/15/26 2:06 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Whoopee!
We drove up to the Samish Flats this morning to see what we could see, and our first stop was on Sam Bell Road at a gigantic flock of waterfowl, many dozens of swans (I forgot to count them) and certainly well over 5,000 ducks, mostly American Wigeons and Northern Pintails but some Mallards as well. I scanned and scanned and scanned in vain for Eurasian Wigeons but never found one, my biggest surprise of the day.
But some swans were right up at the road, and the second-closest one turned out to be the Whooper! We watched it feeding and drinking and took photo after photo of the swans and the entire flock. Then there was activity way down at the west end of the field. A cow had escaped, and someone came out in a little ATV to round it up. Even though it was three or four hundred yards away, it flushed much of the duck flock and most of the swans, including our birds that flew up and landed far out in the field. If we had arrived a half-hour later, there would have been no way to see the Whooper.
And not long afterwards, a Bald Eagle flushed most of the ducks, although not the swans. A live, healthy swan apparently has quite a bit of immunity to eagle predation.
We saw othing particularly unusual for the rest of our drive down through the flats and a hike at Wylie Slough. Couldn’t find the Black Phoebes that others had just seen, and several people were looking in vain for a Swamp Sparrow that had been there. But birds were singing, and there were Tree Swallows all over the place; spring is definitely springing. And apparently the new normal is not to see Snow Geese in that area.
Hi Tweets ,Well, rumors of winter finally arriving east of the mts were not totally accurate. Our Thursday am drive over Stevens was uneventful. It seems the TV hype of awful conditions kept the traffic down to the point where, yeh, it was snowing and slippery but with no traffic ya just keep going and all's well. No snow anywhere after Leavenworth. We went up 97 to Pateros and were amazed at how few birds there were on the Col. R?!? Also, very few birds on the backwatered Methow R. mouth?? We later decided it might be because so many smaller ponds and lakes in the area are not frozen. Only FOYs for the day were BB Magpie and Wild Turkey. Evening in outer Twisp. We woke up Friday morning to about 6 inches of fluffy white and after a real nice breakfast decided to head up through Winthrop to the Chewuck River and see how far we could get. Most birds we saw along the road quickly disappeared into snowy brush but we strongly suspected most were Juncos. Not much else to be seen (other than Robins and Ravens) until, FINALLY, on West Chewuck Rd. heading back towards Winthrop, a couple of large pines held a bunch of Cassin's Finches and Evening Grosbeaks - nice FOY! After a fine dinner(?) at one of the remarkably few restaurants in the greater Wintrop/Twisp axis, as we approached our lodge, a big owl flew up from the road side and perched in a big C-wood - a Great-horned for another FOY!This morn in Twisp was chilly, but sunny. We went down the Methow and up river to Washburn Is. where we were also amazed at the dearth of ducks (lots of coot though). In stead of hoped-for winter sparrows, we found (FOY) Violet-green Swallows and Says Phoebes. At the Monse Boat Launch, a few sparrows about but only Songs would sit up to be seen. Surely, snow, and the associated winter birds, would be up Cameron Lk. Road. Well, a little snow on the southern Timentwa Plateau but none to the north (!?!). Yeah, there were Horned Larks but no Snow Buntings and no Gray Partridge. The several ponds were unfrozen and this is where all the ducks are!! Also, about 40 Sandhill Cranes at the first big pond by the first big farmhouse. Timentwa Rd. ponds were also ducky but NO birds with the cows where historically there have been Snow Buntings, pipets, Gray Partridge etc. I guess with no snow about, they're just all happy out and about. Just north of Timentwa Rd, at the Am. Tree Sparrow place, I managed to briefly coax one up for a quick look and a nice Great Horned popped into view in some thick brush. That's it for now. Heading for the Highlands tomorrow. Maybe there's some winter up there!?! Happy Birding - Jon Houghton, Edmonds Sent from my Galaxy_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/14/26 3:18 pm From: Jim Ullrich via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Othello Sandhill Crane Festival 3/20-22
Hello fellow Tweets
Hope to see everyone at next weekends Othello Sandhill Crane festival
3/20-22 Othello WA
Swarovski, KOWA and Vortex Optiks will all be there to educate, fix if
necessary any of your optiks needs. For classes and field trips visit:
https://othellosandhillcranefestival.org
Yours for the Birds n’ the Bees
Jim Ullrich
7075 Corfu Blvd NE
Bremerton, WA 98311
Date: 3/14/26 9:56 am From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
P.S. About 2001 I photographed a banded Cook Inlet Gull (
https://ebird.org/species/x00050) at a downtown park in Portland.
S/he was hatched on the Kenai Peninsula 25 years earlier. I didn't catch
'their' name though. Bobette? Even S/he may still be around, who knows?
Bob
On Sat, Mar 14, 2026 at 9:28 AM Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
> Hmmm
> Could be Bob has passed on;, but some Bobs are VERY OLD; but still
> around, You can find them anywhere.
> S/he might have been home at some point in the past..
> Check these out. They are short-form urls that you must click on twice to
> open the full site;
> All photos by Bob
> Best regards, Bob
>
> ICGU.html <http://www2.rdrop.com/users/green/icgu/ICGU.html> >
> ICGU2.html <http://www2.rdrop.com/users/green/icgu/ICGU2.html> >
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:57 PM Alan Roedell <alanroedell...>
> wrote:
>
>> Eloquent!
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 7:25 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> AreIs Bob's photos available online somewhere? Seems intriguing.
>>> Best Regards, Bob from Portland
>>> Or, preferably, send Bob down here.
>>>
>>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hey Tweets,
>>>>
>>>> Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing
>>>> to Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because
>>>> his excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in
>>>> Seattle and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68.
>>>> Bob appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and
>>>> the south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired
>>>> lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s?
>>>> Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the
>>>> debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but
>>>> Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was
>>>> the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have
>>>> eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still
>>>> limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds.
>>>> When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new
>>>> birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to
>>>> get to know each other statewide.
>>>>
>>>> It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant
>>>> to give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar
>>>> River mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled
>>>> by gull identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a
>>>> runt Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much
>>>> Jane, for sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that
>>>> of Amar. And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull
>>>> Guide.
>>>>
>>>> Good Birding,
>>>>
>>>> Carol Riddell
>>>> Edmonds, WA
>>>> cariddellwa at gmail dot com
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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: 3/14/26 9:44 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
When we had this discussion a couple of winters ago, it was all about duck hunters dumping duck carcasses in a field there. Could that be the case?
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Mar 14, 2026, at 8:12 AM, Cynthia Simonsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Neil,
>
> I heard similar information years ago. It could also so be afterbirth from lambing or calving. This occurs in two other Samish flat farms. The Bow Cheese farm (although I haven’t seen it in a couple years) and at a farm on Allen West Rd west of the Methodist Church.
>
> Those eagles are amazing at scoping out food, kind of like the birders at the East 90:-)
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:25 PM Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
> I led a trip last Sunday near Edison, WA. We passed a field that had about 50 Bald Eagles in it. They were feeding on a carcass, maybe one or more, in the middle of the field. This field is half ways between Edison and the east 90. Right by the tiger float if you know where that is. It might have been a deer carcass that had been hit on the road and made it to the center of the field. But years ago, I was told that someone who raises sheep dumps the bodies of sheep who don’t make it through lambing. Does anyone know more about this? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of sheep in this area. I have seen quite a few eagles in this area before but I have never heard more on why the carcasses where there. Gary?
> Neil Zimmerman
> Brier, WA
> n3zims @ Comcast.net
>
> Sent from my iPad
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters> > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/14/26 9:36 am From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
Hmmm
Could be Bob has passed on;, but some Bobs are VERY OLD; but still around,
You can find them anywhere.
S/he might have been home at some point in the past..
Check these out. They are short-form urls that you must click on twice to
open the full site;
All photos by Bob
Best regards, Bob
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:57 PM Alan Roedell <alanroedell...> wrote:
> Eloquent!
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 7:25 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> AreIs Bob's photos available online somewhere? Seems intriguing.
>> Best Regards, Bob from Portland
>> Or, preferably, send Bob down here.
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> Hey Tweets,
>>>
>>> Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing to
>>> Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because his
>>> excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in Seattle
>>> and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68. Bob
>>> appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and the
>>> south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired
>>> lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s?
>>> Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the
>>> debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but
>>> Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was
>>> the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have
>>> eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still
>>> limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds.
>>> When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new
>>> birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to
>>> get to know each other statewide.
>>>
>>> It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant to
>>> give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar River
>>> mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled by gull
>>> identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a runt
>>> Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much Jane, for
>>> sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that of Amar.
>>> And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull Guide.
>>>
>>> Good Birding,
>>>
>>> Carol Riddell
>>> Edmonds, WA
>>> cariddellwa at gmail dot com
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>
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>
-------- Original Message -------- On Saturday, 03/14/26 at 08:47 Cynthia Simonsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
> Happy Pi Day! > > For those taking a trip up to the Samish flats… > > The daffodils are blooming! RoozenGarde Bloom map shows which fields have daffodils this year. > > Yesterday: > Chilberg Rd east of LaConner very near the farm at Chilberg Lane had two large flocks of swans. > > Sam Bell Rd east of Hwy 11, Chuckanut Drive, still had 1000’s of trumpeter swans, wigeons, pintails and mallards in the potato fields. The Whooper kindly stood near the road so we had a great view. > > Allen West Rd just east of Thomas Rd has an active eagle nest. > > Joe Leary Slough at D’Arcy Rd had 18 ring necked ducks, 42 wigeons and 4 mallards in view. > > And, there were at least 35 GBH on Padilla Bay at the north end of Padilla Bay Shore Trail- it was low tide. > > Of course bald eagles, red tail hawks, a jillion starlings and brewers blackbirds along whatever route you choose! > > Happy Birding, > Cindy_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/14/26 8:47 am From: Cynthia Simonsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Samish flats
Happy Pi Day!
For those taking a trip up to the Samish flats…
The daffodils are blooming! RoozenGarde Bloom map shows which fields have
daffodils this year.
Yesterday:
Chilberg Rd east of LaConner very near the farm at Chilberg Lane had two
large flocks of swans.
Sam Bell Rd east of Hwy 11, Chuckanut Drive, still had 1000’s of trumpeter
swans, wigeons, pintails and mallards in the potato fields. The Whooper
kindly stood near the road so we had a great view.
Allen West Rd just east of Thomas Rd has an active eagle nest.
Joe Leary Slough at D’Arcy Rd had 18 ring necked ducks, 42 wigeons and 4
mallards in view.
And, there were at least 35 GBH on Padilla Bay at the north end of Padilla
Bay Shore Trail- it was low tide.
Of course bald eagles, red tail hawks, a jillion starlings and brewers
blackbirds along whatever route you choose!
Date: 3/14/26 8:23 am From: Cynthia Simonsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
Neil,
I heard similar information years ago. It could also so be afterbirth from
lambing or calving. This occurs in two other Samish flat farms. The Bow
Cheese farm (although I haven’t seen it in a couple years) and at a farm on
Allen West Rd west of the Methodist Church.
Those eagles are amazing at scoping out food, kind of like the birders at
the East 90:-)
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:25 PM Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I led a trip last Sunday near Edison, WA. We passed a field that had about
> 50 Bald Eagles in it. They were feeding on a carcass, maybe one or more, in
> the middle of the field. This field is half ways between Edison and the
> east 90. Right by the tiger float if you know where that is. It might have
> been a deer carcass that had been hit on the road and made it to the center
> of the field. But years ago, I was told that someone who raises sheep dumps
> the bodies of sheep who don’t make it through lambing. Does anyone know
> more about this? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of sheep in this area. I
> have seen quite a few eagles in this area before but I have never heard
> more on why the carcasses where there. Gary?
> Neil Zimmerman
> Brier, WA
> n3zims @ Comcast.net
>
> Sent from my iPad
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/13/26 8:08 pm From: Nancy Crowell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
The Samish Cheese people raise beef cattle and sometimes put out the carcasses, but not in that field as far as I know. Not sure who might have put something there, but its possible it was something like that.
Nancy
La Conner
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2026 7:24:22 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
I led a trip last Sunday near Edison, WA. We passed a field that had about 50 Bald Eagles in it. They were feeding on a carcass, maybe one or more, in the middle of the field. This field is half ways between Edison and the east 90. Right by the tiger float if you know where that is. It might have been a deer carcass that had been hit on the road and made it to the center of the field. But years ago, I was told that someone who raises sheep dumps the bodies of sheep who dont make it through lambing. Does anyone know more about this? There doesnt seem to be a lot of sheep in this area. I have seen quite a few eagles in this area before but I have never heard more on why the carcasses where there. Gary?
Neil Zimmerman
Brier, WA
n3zims @ Comcast.net
Date: 3/13/26 8:05 pm From: Alan Roedell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
Eloquent!
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 7:25 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> AreIs Bob's photos available online somewhere? Seems intriguing.
> Best Regards, Bob from Portland
> Or, preferably, send Bob down here.
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hey Tweets,
>>
>> Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing to
>> Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because his
>> excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in Seattle
>> and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68. Bob
>> appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and the
>> south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired
>> lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s?
>> Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the
>> debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but
>> Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was
>> the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have
>> eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still
>> limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds.
>> When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new
>> birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to
>> get to know each other statewide.
>>
>> It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant to
>> give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar River
>> mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled by gull
>> identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a runt
>> Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much Jane, for
>> sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that of Amar.
>> And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull Guide.
>>
>> Good Birding,
>>
>> Carol Riddell
>> Edmonds, WA
>> cariddellwa at gmail dot com
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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: 3/13/26 7:35 pm From: Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
I led a trip last Sunday near Edison, WA. We passed a field that had about 50 Bald Eagles in it. They were feeding on a carcass, maybe one or more, in the middle of the field. This field is half ways between Edison and the east 90. Right by the tiger float if you know where that is. It might have been a deer carcass that had been hit on the road and made it to the center of the field. But years ago, I was told that someone who raises sheep dumps the bodies of sheep who don’t make it through lambing. Does anyone know more about this? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of sheep in this area. I have seen quite a few eagles in this area before but I have never heard more on why the carcasses where there. Gary?
Neil Zimmerman
Brier, WA
n3zims @ Comcast.net
Date: 3/13/26 7:35 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
AreIs Bob's photos available online somewhere? Seems intriguing.
Best Regards, Bob from Portland
Or, preferably, send Bob down here.
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hey Tweets,
>
> Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing to
> Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because his
> excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in Seattle
> and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68. Bob
> appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and the
> south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired
> lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s?
> Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the
> debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but
> Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was
> the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have
> eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still
> limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds.
> When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new
> birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to
> get to know each other statewide.
>
> It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant to
> give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar River
> mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled by gull
> identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a runt
> Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much Jane, for
> sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that of Amar.
> And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull Guide.
>
> Good Birding,
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> cariddellwa at gmail dot com
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/13/26 7:19 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
Hey Tweets,
Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing to Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because his excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in Seattle and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68. Bob appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and the south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s? Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds. When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to get to know each other statewide.
It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant to give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar River mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled by gull identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a runt Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much Jane, for sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that of Amar. And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull Guide.
Date: 3/13/26 6:15 pm From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Opinion from Amar Ayyash on the Iceland Gull ID
Hello Tweetsters -- As I reported a few days ago, opinions were very divided about the ID as to subspecies of an Iceland Gull that my husband and I saw at the mouth of the Cedar River on March 1, 2025.
(The headline on this picture page identifying it as Kumlien's was my opinion before I sought help from others via Tweeters.)
Specifically, 8 people thought it was a leucistic Thayer's Gull, 8 thought it was Kumlien's, 4 thought it was the Iceland (glaucoides) subspecies and two thought it was leucistic glaucoides subspecies. Another five people thought it was a different species altogether (Glaucous, American Herring, Ring-billed).
At the suggestion of one of our Tweeter members, I emailed gull expert Amar Ayyash to ask his opinion. I was very pleased when he replied. And here is his reply:
"I don't have a definite answer for you due to the immense overlap in both kumlieni and thayeri, and also, the seasonal effects on their pale plumages.
This could be a "real" Kumlien's Gull or, in March, a very bleached Thayer's Gull. Perhaps not safely identified to subspecies is the best answer, although here on the Great Lakes, or on the Atlantic, it would certainly default to Kumlien's [Iceland] Gull (Larus glaucoides kumlieni). I don't see a leucistic bird, however, and I don't see any need to assume nominate glaucoides is involved."
Amar Ayyash is author of the 518-page book The Gull Guide North America, which was published in 2024 by Princeton University Press. It's an excellent book.
Date: 3/13/26 8:35 am From: mary hrudkaj via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Port Orchard Great-Blue Heron rookery (or were those pterodactyls?)
Yesterday morning while driving toward the round-about at Bay and Bethel in Port Orchard, a group of 10-12 Great-Blue Herons took flight from their 45 plus strong rookery above the gas station. The group did a lower level flight around the round-about circle then returned to their nests. For a moment it was like watching a group of Pterodactyls flying around and back to the rookery. At least with GBH's one doesn't have to worry about being plucked up and taken back to feed the kids.
The rookery has been there for several decades now and has grown quite large. Back on March 5 I took time to count nests and came up with 45. Just about everyone had an adult standing on a nest making them easy to find. Both times I was there it was near to high tide. Makes one wonder how they all manage to feed their young when it's time. Considering all the military and other wastes, etc that have collected in Sinclair Inlet over the decades by the shipyard, it's amazing the flock is so healthy.
With the trees being leafless right now, it's easy to see the nests. There is parking across Bethel Rd in a little used mini-mall like business area.
Time to go throw some food down on the snow for my home birds.
Date: 3/12/26 2:07 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-03-12
Tweets - The night's high winds pretty much let up by 6:00 a.m., and we had no precipitation and temps comfortably in the mid-40's. What we didn't have was light. Thick, thick overcast kept the park almost too dark to bird at all for much of the morning. And, with a few exceptions, the birds seemed to have stayed in bed. Sensible of them.
AMERICAN CROWS and AMERICAN ROBINS were plentiful, as were NORTHERN FLICKERS. Besides those, we had a big up-tick in the number of PURPLE FINCH, who were seen and also heard well - calls, vireo-like songs, AND the typical repeated burbly songs. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were also numerous and singing.
Other that that, it was tough birding, and we had to search hard for virtually everything we managed to find.
I did think I heard RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD immediately south of the Dog Meadow, and after visiting the Rowing Club, I trekked back to that spot and found a displaying male. First of Year (FOY). That was are only new bird for the year; there were a dozen or two swallows flying high overhead, but they seemed to be all TREE SWALLOWS. No Violet-green Swallows for us yet.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Northern Shrike, Violet-green Swallow, and Pine Siskin.
For the day, we eked out 53 species. Adding RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, we're at 77 species for the survey this year.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 3/12/26 1:46 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE: “At first, we were puzzled.” Scientists track 69 ravens through Yellowstone – and make remarkable discovery
Date: 3/11/26 9:32 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Identification of the Owl in the Antique Store in NY?
Hello Sharon,
Yes, it is and was identified as an Eastern screech owl.
To see several articles about it, Google: Owl in the Antique Store in NY?
Thanks for posting this article.
Dan Reiff
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 11, 2026, at 6:58 PM, Sharon Howard via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello All — if any of you saw the news story of the sleeping owl next to the cooky jar in the antique store in New York earlier this week, the species was not identified. Was it an Eastern Screech Owl or ?? Nice story and very cute little owl.
> Thanks,
> Sharon
> South Sunset Hill
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 3/11/26 8:17 pm From: Diann MacRae via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] TUVU winter report 2026
Hi, Tweets
This is a little late but spring is not quite here for our nesting and visiting turkey vultures. I didn't find while looking round e-bird any pockets of overwintering groups although I'm sure there were a few here and there. As far as ones heading north, quite a few - mostly singles - heading up the Oregon coast and the I-5 corridor. They do start drifting back north in late January and through February.
JANUARY
19 -- One adult turkey vulture soaring in from the east at Mt. Tabor Park, Portland, Multnomah Couny, Oregon.
27 -- Two at Anderson Road, Swale, Clackamas County, Oegon.
FEBRUARY
03 -- One adult at Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia.
08 -- Six turkey vultures at Saanich-Viaduct Flats, B.C.
08 -- Seven (two groups of 3 and 4 seen at the same time) from 831 West Tenth, Port Angeles, Clallam County (photo).
09 -- One at False Bay, San Juan Island (and County); one at Tacoma, Pierce County (photo).
09 -- A single seen feeding on roadkil along Irondale Road in Port Hadlock, Jefferson County, at 08:15 (this is the first report of the year I've received).
11 -- Three seen soaring with an immature bald eagle at Scatter Creek, Thurston County.
15 -- One flying low heading west near Black Diamond Road, Clallam County (photos).
15 -- Three turkey vultures seen from Siwash Observation Point, Nanaimo, B.C.
17 -- Three adults in flight over Beaver Valley Road, Chimacum, Jeffeson County (photos); one at Pender Island, B.C.; two over Lopez Island, San Juan County.
Looking forward to another good year of turkey vultures and other raptors and avian visitors. Comments are always welcome on reports; e-bird sightings aren't always descriptive.
Date: 3/11/26 7:46 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for March 11th, 2026
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 18 of us endured a wet and windy Wednesday at the Refuge with
temperatures in the 40's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit and a High 10'11" Tide
at 10:50am. Highlights included RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in the Orchard, high
count of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW moving through the Refuge in large numbers,
WILSON'S SNIPE in the flooded field west of the west end parking lot, both
NORTHWEST SALAMANDER and RED-LEGGED FROG egg clusters at the bridge cut-off
to the Twin Barns from the Twin Barn Loop Trail, two TRUMPETER SWANS in the
fresh water marsh, several WESTERN SANDPIPERS in a large flock of DUNLIN on
the mudflats west of Leschi Slough, first cycle Thayer's variety of ICELAND
GULL roosting on the mudflats, and many GREATER SCAUP off Luhr Beach in the
Nisqually Reach along with HORNED GREBE and COMMON LOON.
For the day we observed 66 species, with First Of Year Iceland Gull and
Greater Scaup, we now have seen 98 species this year. Check out our eBird
report with additional details pasted below.
Until next week when we hope for dryer weather and meet again at 8am at the
Visitor Center Pond Overlook. Happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Mar 11, 2026 7:32 AM - 2:22 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.048 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with rain and temperatures
in the 40’s to 50’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 10’11” Tide at 10:50am.
Others seen Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Northwest Salamander egg cluster,
Red-legged Frog egg cluster, Pacific Chorus Frog, Eastern Gray Squirrel,
and Harbor Seal.
66 species (+6 other taxa)
Brant (Black) 46 Nisqually Reach, mouth of Leschi Slough.
Cackling Goose (minima) 60
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 1 Injured bird along Nisqually Estuary
Trail.
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 28
Trumpeter Swan 2 Seen in freshwater marsh.
Northern Shoveler 150
Gadwall 30
American Wigeon 1000
Mallard 75
Northern Pintail 200
Green-winged Teal (American) 600
Ring-necked Duck 4 Visitor Center Pond.
Greater Scaup 30 Nisqually Reach.
Surf Scoter 80
Bufflehead 100
Common Goldeneye 50
Hooded Merganser 6
Common Merganser (North American) 4
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 30
Rufous Hummingbird 1 Orchard.
American Coot (Red-shielded) 150
Killdeer 1 McAllister Creek Access Road.
Wilson's Snipe 1 Flooded field west of west parking lot.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West Bank of McAllister Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs 15
Dunlin 1100
Western Sandpiper 4 Seen at 1/4 mile using spotting scopes foraging on
mud flats along side Dunlin. Small peep sized shorebird that is lighter,
with lighter throat, and more crouched posture then Dunlin. Previously
reported.
Short-billed Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 50
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 20
Iceland Gull (Thayer's) 1 Observed roosting on mud flats 100-200 yards
north from Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike. Small pink legged gull first
cycle with black bill, brown wing tips with Buffy edges, small bill with no
gonydeal angle, and more fine details on mantle pattern.
Larus sp. 50
Horned Grebe 20
Common Loon 4
Brandt's Cormorant 6 Nisqually Channel marker.
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 30
Northern Harrier 2 1 male, 1 female.
Bald Eagle 25
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Northern Flicker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
American Kestrel (Northern) 1 Male
American Crow 150
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 6
Violet-green Swallow 300
Barn Swallow (American) 1
Bushtit (Pacific) 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 1
Marsh Wren 10
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 3
European Starling 25
American Robin (migratorius Group) 110
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 45
White-throated Sparrow 2 Seen in the afternoon along the Nisqually
Estuary Trail north of Twin Barns.
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 17
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 6
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 50
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) 1 Trees, bramble south of
Nisqually Estuary Trail and north of Twin Barns.
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 10
Date: 3/11/26 7:04 pm From: Sharon Howard via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Identification of the Owl in the Antique Store in NY?
Hello All — if any of you saw the news story of the sleeping owl next to the cooky jar in the antique store in New York earlier this week, the species was not identified. Was it an Eastern Screech Owl or ?? Nice story and very cute little owl.
Thanks,
Sharon
South Sunset Hill _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/11/26 4:58 pm From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
Thank you both. I hope to make another trip up to the Skagit before they
leave.
On Wed, Mar 11, 2026 at 4:43 PM Nancy Crowell <nkcrowell...> wrote:
> There are tons of swans here.
>
> Nancy
> La Conner
>
> Nancy
> "Images for the imagination."
> www.crowellphotography.com
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 11, 2026 9:10:45 AM
> *To:* <jimbetz...> <jimbetz...>
> *Cc:* via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
>
> Hi Jim,
>
> Are you still seeing Trumpeter Swans or have most of them left?
>
> I was there last week and I did not see any early departures then.
>
> Thanks,
> Ronda
>
> On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:30 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> ... the bridge is still out so the preserve is still closed. They
> are working 24/7 on the
> bridge repair but there is no predicted completion/resumption of
> vehicle traffic.
> - Jim in Skagit
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Date: 3/11/26 4:52 pm From: Nancy Crowell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
There are tons of swans here.
Nancy
La Conner
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 9:10:45 AM
To: <jimbetz...> <jimbetz...>
Cc: via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
Hi Jim,
Are you still seeing Trumpeter Swans or have most of them left?
I was there last week and I did not see any early departures then.
Thanks,
Ronda
On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:30 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
Did you make it to Okanogan? I am toying with the idea of heading up this weekend.
Let us know how the birding is
Cheers,
Anna
AMK17
-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Houghton via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Mar 9, 2026 4:17 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Winter - Finally??
Hi Tweeters! - Well, according to the forecast, winter may actually happen this week! I'm excited and heading for the Waterville - Okanogan area on Thursday and wondering if anyone else is heading that way or has been there recently? I'm particularly interested in anyone's recent experience in looking for/finding(!!) usual winter treats there such as Snowy Owl (Atkins Lk area}?, Long-eared Owl, Gyrfalcon, Tree Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, crossbills, Chukar, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pygmy Owl, etc. If anyone is going to be over there from Thursday through Monday, let me know <jonbirder...> (mailto:<jonbirder...>) (206) 601-0773 and I'm happy to share info! Happy Birding! - Jon Houghton, Edmonds
Date: 3/11/26 9:18 am From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
Hi Jim,
Are you still seeing Trumpeter Swans or have most of them left?
I was there last week and I did not see any early departures then.
Thanks,
Ronda
On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:30 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
>
> ... the bridge is still out so the preserve is still closed. They
> are working 24/7 on the
> bridge repair but there is no predicted completion/resumption of
> vehicle traffic.
> - Jim in Skagit
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/10/26 10:38 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
... the bridge is still out so the preserve is still closed. They
are working 24/7 on the
bridge repair but there is no predicted completion/resumption of
vehicle traffic.
- Jim in Skagit
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/10/26 6:06 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Contact info needed
Does anyone out there know how to get in contact with Jef Blake who lives in eastern WA and posts to eBird? Likely the Benton County area. I want to know more about the Trumpeter Swan sighting he posts on eBird Rare Bird Alert for Benton County. Thanks. Please pass on my contact info email: mj.cygnus at gmail dot com
Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the researchers compared the brain structures of 29 expert birders with 29 beginners. The two groups were gender-balanced and matched in age.
Scans revealed that the parts of the brain associated with attention and perception were more compact in the expert birders, and these structural changes made them better at identifying birds.
Specifically, the water molecules in these brain regions were able to move more freely, seeming to boost their identification abilities, making them better at detecting less familiar or less local birds.
Learning of any kind (such as a new instrument or language) is great for your brain, but the research argues that birding skills are particularly good because of their complexity.
“What’s interesting about this work is that birdwatching places sustained demands on your perception, attention and memory, so you can never fully run on autopilot,” Prof Martin Sliwinski <https://hhd.psu.edu/contact/martin-sliwinski> told BBC Science Focus. Sliwinski, who was not involved in the study, is the director of the Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State, in the US.
“If cognitively stimulating activities are going to have cognitive benefits, they likely need to stay challenging, which birdwatching does,” he continued.
“Even expert birders can’t rely on automatic responses because environments and cues continually change, often under uncertainty and time pressure.”
What’s more, the researchers think these skills, and the structural changes they cause, could boost cognition into older age. That’s because the older birders in the study had better facial recognition than beginners, indicating improved information recall.
Yet Sliwinski cautioned that there may be some other factors at play, since people “with stronger cognitive abilities and an interest in birds may be more likely to take up birding, persist in it and become experts.”
In other words, it may not be that birdwatching sharpens the brain, but that people with certain cognitive strengths are naturally drawn to it.
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/10/26 12:08 pm From: Sally Alhadeff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Rock Pigeon deterrence
Hello fellow Tweeters.
Has anyone had success deterring Rock Pigeons from entering into outbuildings using ultrasonic sound devices or other technology solution? My parents’ old farm shop in rural Thurston county has been invaded by 7 pigeons.
It’s not practical to enclose the area above the sliding barn door.
Any info or experience would be appreciated.
Date: 3/10/26 11:17 am From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Follow up on the call for ID help on a gull
Hello Tweetsters - Thank you to those who responded to my request for help
identifying a gull my husband and I saw at Cedar River Mouth March 1st.
Twenty-seven people weighed in. I think it's safe to say that we do not
have a consensus on the identification. That's not surprising given the
continuing debate about subspecies vs. hybrids and the difficulties
identifying the subspecies. Birds of the World says "Subspecies ... are
not always separable."
I had other pictures of the bird standing next to other species, which
might have been helpful in identifying it. I should have included those
pictures. Here is a link to them now:
Three subspecies of Iceland Gull are generally recognized today: 1) the
nominate or Iceland subspecies of the Iceland Gull; 2) Kumlien's; 3)
Thayer's.
The three subspecies mainly differ in the darkness and patterning of the
wingtips in adults and older immatures. Iceland subspecies has very pale,
often pure or nearly pure white wingtips. The Kumlien's wingtip tone is
intermediate gray. The Thayer's wingtips darkest of the three: dark gray to
almost black.
There are also geographical differences, with Thayer's the most common in
our area, Iceland rare, and Kumlien's in between. If you look under
"Systematics" and then "Geographic Variation" of the Iceland Gull at Birds
of the World, there is a discussion and links to eBird range maps for each
of the subspecies.
I think I made a mistake in relegating the Iceland subspecies to the
"Other" category rather than listing it as a third option, even though it
is mostly found in Greenland, Iceland and Europe. Within the "Other"
category, I am assuming that when people said "Iceland," they were
referring to the subspecies rather than the species name, unless they said
otherwise. Under that interpretation, there were 4 votes for the Iceland
subspecies (6 if you count "Leucistic Iceland"). So in presenting the
results, I'm counting Iceland subspecies as a third option.
Total votes: 27
Leucistic Thayer's 8 or 30%
Kumlien's 8 or 30% [Includes one vote by email]
Iceland subspecies 4 or 15%
Other 7 or 26%
The 7 Other IDs:
1. Leucistic Iceland - 2 votes
2. Immature Glaucous - 2 votes
3. Thayer's 2nd or third year - 1 vote
4. American Herring Gull - 2nd year - 1 vote
5. Ring-billed - 1 vote
I submitted three pictures to Merlin, which identified all of them as
Iceland Gull. Merlin does not do subspecies. But Merlin does not think it's
a Glaucous, Herring or Ring-billed.
Below are the comments submitted along with the votes. I have removed the
names associated with the comments since I didn't ask permission to publish
the names on the Internet. (Probably another mistake on my part.)
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:00:28 =====
Vote: Kumlien's Gull
Explanation: While hard to eliminate a worn Thayer’s Gull, I see no reason
why this isn’t a Kumlien’s.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:18:14 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: It’s hard to say for sure but I’m fairly certain it’s not a
Kumlien’s type. I think this coloration is safe to rule that out. It
appears to be a leucistic Iceland sized gull though
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:18:46 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: The bill is characteristic of a late second cycle or even
early 3rd cycle L.g. thayeri. The irides has not attained adult
coloration.Pink legs. Heavily bleached out indicating some retention of
previous cycle feathering, Next molt will be either full adult or
sub-adult. Not kumlieni.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:20:03 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: Iceland Gull
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:53:21 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: Was it too big to be an immature Glaucous Gull?
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:56:18 =====
Vote: Kumlien's Gull
Explanation: Definitely some kind of Iceland Gull. Maybe Kumlien's. Mind
you, I am not a gull expert!
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:00:44 =====
Vote: Kumlien's Gull
Explanation: Looks very much like a subadult Iceland Gull to me. Tiny bill,
long wings, not to mention that all coloration elements look good for that
species. And it was good to see it in comparison with both larger and
smaller species.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:01:33 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: This gull looks a lot like the third cycle Iceland nominate in
Amar Ayash's The Gull Guide (Princeton University Press 2024). See page
422, photograph 21. That bird is a third cycle gull. Your gull shows the
bill of a second cycle nominate in photo 16 on the same page. The puzzle
that are many gulls can be frustrating but also such fun. Please post your
further thoughts, as well as a summary of viewer comments to Tweeters.
Thanks!
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:05:41 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: Iceland Gull
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:05:43 =====
Vote: Leucistic Thayer's Gull
Explanation: Bill looks good for Iceland Gull (Thayer's). I don't believe
there are any gulls that are pure white without any markings. Love your
poll.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:08:25 =====
Vote: Leucistic Thayer's Gull
Explanation: I'm not sure there is a right answer but it appears to have
molted some juvenile scaps so I'm thinking it is second cycle and the scaps
are a little darker than what might be found in some pale (per the Gull
Guide by Amar Ayyash) variants of Kumliens. So Leucistic Thayer's seems
right but a Kumliens might also have some leucism.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:36:49 =====
Vote: Kumlien's Gull
Explanation: Bill slightly smaller than Thayer's. Rounder, slgithly smaller
head profile. Light iris. Looks a bit like some photos of second winter
Kumliens. But I'm no expert. there's a nice Gull ID page on FB that would
I'm sure give you some good feedback.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 17:48:08 =====
Vote: Leucistic Thayer's Gull
Explanation: I have seen this bird at the Yellow Freight Building in
Tukwila! It doesn’t scream Kumlien’s to me due to the pure white and lack
of any light brown patterning that would be typical of immature Kumlien’s.
Apparently this is a bird that has been seen and documented returning to
the area over the past few years.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 20:07:29 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: American herring gull, 2nd year. The pink in the bill rules
out Icelandic gull, eliminating your other choices. herring gulls can be
nearly all white as second year gull but will have the dark wing tips,
which you can just see in this photo.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 20:23:04 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: It’s hard to say for sure but I’m fairly certain it’s not a
Kumlien’s type. I think this coloration is safe to rule that out. It
appears to be a leucistic Iceland sized gull though
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 20:58:08 =====
Vote: Leucistic Thayer's Gull
Explanation: I have seen this bird at the Yellow Freight Building in
Tukwila! It doesn’t scream Kumlien’s to me due to the pure white and lack
of any light brown patterning that would be typical of immature Kumlien’s.
Apparently this is a bird that has been seen and documented returning to
the area over the past few years.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 22:16:28 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: Iceland Gull, not sure what subspecies. If I were at home, I'd
get out my big gull book...but I'm in Hawaii!
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 22:41:48 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: My first guess would be ring billed bill with a pigment issue
--but that's almost entirely a guess.
Date: 3/9/26 4:34 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Latest on parking fees at Montlake Fill
That's good news, Connie.
By the way, I saw the first Rufous of the season at the feeder on Saturday.
Ann
On Mon, Mar 9, 2026 at 12:12 PM Constance Sidles via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hey tweets, I just heard of a partial reversal of parking fees at the
> Montlake Fill parking lot. Here is an email from Mark Huppert, interim
> director of the UW's transportation services:
>
> I have reviewed [the comments] on the proposed changes to the parking fee
> at UW's Parking Lot E16 by the Center for Urban Horticulture and Union Bay
> Natural Area.
>
>
>
> During the 30-day comment period which closed last week, 118 of the 120
> public comments we received on our campus parking rate proposal were in
> opposition to the $5/day fee at E16. There were some excellent suggestions
> from community members of how UW can meet the needs of the community while
> also balancing our need for financial sustainability and compliance under
> our transportation management plan. As a result, we will be advancing a
> revised proposal to the Board of Regents that provides 2-hours of free
> parking for E16 to allow continued community and volunteer access to the
> Urban Bay Natural Area, Center for Urban Horticulture, Miller Library, and
> UW Farm. Beyond the 2-hour limit, parking will be $5/day. All vehicles will
> be required to register their license plate at a new kiosk to be placed on
> site at E16 or by using the Pay-By-Phone application. We hope that this
> hybrid registration approach satisfies the technology fears of the many
> retirees who provided public comment as well as your concerns about
> neighborhood parking.
>
>
>
> Thank you for your sharing your concerns and being an active contributor
> in the public process.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mark Huppert
>
> Interim Director| Transportation Services
> UW Facilities
>
> Transportation Services Building
> 1320 NE Campus Parkway | PO Box 355360 | Seattle, WA 98195
> mobile 206-295-9315
>
> *<mhuppert...> <mhuppert...>*
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/9/26 4:25 pm From: Jon Houghton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Winter - Finally??
Hi Tweeters! - Well, according to the forecast, winter may actually happen this week! I'm excited and heading for the Waterville - Okanogan area on Thursday and wondering if anyone else is heading that way or has been there recently? I'm particularly interested in anyone's recent experience in looking for/finding(!!) usual winter treats there such as Snowy Owl (Atkins Lk area}?, Long-eared Owl, Gyrfalcon, Tree Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, crossbills, Chukar, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pygmy Owl, etc. If anyone is going to be over there from Thursday through Monday, let me know <jonbirder...> mailto:<jonbirder...> (206) 601-0773 and I'm happy to share info! Happy Birding! - Jon Houghton, Edmonds _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/9/26 1:29 pm From: Jim Ullrich via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wings Over Water Blaine WA
Howdy Tweets:
Hope to see everyone at this coming weekends Birdy festival “Wings Over
Water” in Blaine WA
Please visit our website for activities, dinners and vendor updates.
https://wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com
Jim Ullrich
Swarovski Optiks
7075 Corfu Blvd NE
Bremerton, WA 98311
Date: 3/9/26 12:20 pm From: Constance Sidles via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Latest on parking fees at Montlake Fill
Hey tweets, I just heard of a partial reversal of parking fees at the Montlake Fill parking lot. Here is an email from Mark Huppert, interim director of the UW's transportation services:
I have reviewed [the comments] on the proposed changes to the parking fee at UW's Parking Lot E16 by the Center for Urban Horticulture and Union Bay Natural Area.
During the 30-day comment period which closed last week, 118 of the 120 public comments we received on our campus parking rate proposal were in opposition to the $5/day fee at E16. There were some excellent suggestions from community members of how UW can meet the needs of the community while also balancing our need for financial sustainability and compliance under our transportation management plan. As a result, we will be advancing a revised proposal to the Board of Regents that provides 2-hours of free parking for E16 to allow continued community and volunteer access to the Urban Bay Natural Area, Center for Urban Horticulture, Miller Library, and UW Farm. Beyond the 2-hour limit, parking will be $5/day. All vehicles will be required to register their license plate at a new kiosk to be placed on site at E16 or by using the Pay-By-Phone application. We hope that this hybrid registration approach satisfies the technology fears of the many retirees who provided public comment as well as your concerns about neighborhood parking.
Thank you for your sharing your concerns and being an active contributor in the public process.
Date: 3/9/26 12:10 pm From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] ID help wanted
Hello Tweetsters - It would be great if I could get opinions from the learned body of Tweeters members about the identification of a gull that my husband Randy and I saw at Cedar River Mouth March 1.
You can see the picture and give your "vote" and comments here:
Date: 3/5/26 4:08 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-03-05
Tweets - The morning started misty-moisty and dark. We had a bit of clearing, and then steady drizzle when we got to the East Meadow. This miraculously disappeared by the time I got to the Rowing Club, so after that I returned to the East Meadow for a sunny return visit. Temps in the high 40's, no wind or fog.
Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - Five below the weir - First since January, but possibly the same birds California Gull - Perhaps 25 mixed in with GWGU, a few Ring-billeds, and many Short-billed Gulls on the grass fields Great Blue Heron - Nest building, and growing numbers - maybe 125 birds today Cooper's Hawk - I had one on my return to the East Meadow Five Woodpecker Day - All but Downy seen very well during the Main Loop. I had one Downy at the Rowing Club. Northern Flickers seemed especially numerous Northern Shrike - North of Fields 7-8-9, and later at the East Meadow. Very sharp-looking bird Tree Swallow - Perhaps 20, in several places. First of Year(FOY) Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Especially numerous, with much-lots-many singing! Varied Thrush - One heard singing west of the slough from the start of the boardwalk. Maybe the same one heard closer at the Rowing Club American Robin - Much singing, including a full pre-dawn chorus when I arrived at 5:40 a.m. White-throated Sparrow - One just south of the heronry along the slough trail "Eastern" Song Sparrow - I spotted this pale bird in the usual west-edge-of-the-East-Meadow spot on my late return Western Meadowlark - At least 2 singing on my late return to the East Meadow Yellow-rumped Warblers - Maybe as many as 10; they've been notably missing recently
We also had great looks at a Muskrat.
Misses today included Cackling Goose, Green-winged Teal, and Pine Siskin.
For the day, 61 species (best so far in 2026). Adding TREE SWALLOW, we're up to 76 species for the survey in 2026.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 3/5/26 1:10 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOY Band-Tailed Pigeon
About 3 weeks ago I observed an ANHU picking dryer lint from the lint holder I have out in the garden. So there’s clearly some nesting activity under way here in Burien. Haven’t discovered the nest though.
Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA
> On Mar 5, 2026, at 12:10, Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> By the way, my Anna’s Hummingbird is still on eggs, no sign of hatchlings yet. I’m seeing lots of photos posted by others of ANHU babies getting fed. Is my little mama behind the curve, or are others still seeing active nests with no hatchlings?
>
Yes, I had my first hearing of Band-tailed Pigeons yesterday morning here in West Seattle! Always a joy to know they’re out there, even when I can’t lay eyes on them.
By the way, my Anna’s Hummingbird is still on eggs, no sign of hatchlings yet. I’m seeing lots of photos posted by others of ANHU babies getting fed. Is my little mama behind the curve, or are others still seeing active nests with no hatchlings?
From: mary hrudkaj via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 2:23 PM
To: Tweeters Tweeters Bird Chat <Tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] FOY Band-Tailed Pigeon
I was surprised to see are freshly returned Band-tailed pigeon on my back deck a few minutes ago. It was right on time as they usually return the first week in March. It was with a small group of Mourning Doves feeding on sunflower seeds.
I was pleasantly surprised on Monday to see a Kestrel on powerlines along Hwy 3 by the Bremerton Airport in the early afternoon. I haven't seen a kestrel in that area in several years now. About a half-mile away was a resident red-tailed hawk that I see fairly regularly around the airport. Last fall I had the joy of watching it soar about 20 above the runway for several hundred fee which caused a small incoming aircraft to detour and come around. Nice to know at least at Bremerton airport birds sometimes do have the right-of-way.
Date: 3/4/26 4:33 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOY Band-Tailed Pigeon
BTPI are one of the most handsome birds we have around here. It’s always a treat to watch them flap around the neighborhood. We’ve had a few for the past month here.
Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA
> On Mar 4, 2026, at 14:23, mary hrudkaj via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I was surprised to see are freshly returned Band-tailed pigeon on my back deck a few minutes ago. It was right on time as they usually return the first week in March. It was with a small group of Mourning Doves feeding on sunflower seeds.
>
> Mary Hrudkaj
> Belfair/Tahuya
Date: 3/4/26 2:34 pm From: mary hrudkaj via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] FOY Band-Tailed Pigeon
I was surprised to see are freshly returned Band-tailed pigeon on my back deck a few minutes ago. It was right on time as they usually return the first week in March. It was with a small group of Mourning Doves feeding on sunflower seeds.
I was pleasantly surprised on Monday to see a Kestrel on powerlines along Hwy 3 by the Bremerton Airport in the early afternoon. I haven't seen a kestrel in that area in several years now. About a half-mile away was a resident red-tailed hawk that I see fairly regularly around the airport. Last fall I had the joy of watching it soar about 20 above the runway for several hundred fee which caused a small incoming aircraft to detour and come around. Nice to know at least at Bremerton airport birds sometimes do have the right-of-way.
Date: 3/2/26 12:29 am From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] American Dipper
After I "dipped" on American Dipper earlier this year at Tumwater Falls, I managed to find one today at South Prairie Creek. You can park at Veterans Park and walk over to the former railroad bridge, now used for the Foothill Trail. You can normally find a dipper under the bridge and they likely nest under it, but today people were skipping rocks there. I did find the Dipper on the other side upstream sitting on a rock. They actually blend in quite well. Looking for a Dipper, you can tell if they are around by their droppings on rocks. I watched this bird for a while . It would walk under water, only to pop up again like a cork and drift downstream like one. Every so often it would dive again. Another nice find was a pair of American Kestrels on the powerline wire across from the Foothill Trail parking lot in East Puyallup.
Good Birding !
Hans -- *Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA <thefedderns...>
Date: 3/1/26 8:19 am From: Sally Alhadeff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Tree Swallows
I was very happy to see and hear the first Tree Swallows of the season flying over the back yard fields just outside Tenino this morning. Won’t be long before they start staking out the bird boxes, although they won’t occupy them for many weeks. My late husband, Bob Sundstrom, installed 50 or so bird boxes on our house and fence lines 20+ years ago. It’s one of the many gifts he left behind. Over the years mostly Tree Swallows have successfully nested in the boxes on the fence lines; the Violet-greens prefer the boxes mounted on the house and outbuildings - they especially like the boxes with the diagonal openings and almost always I find 2 side-by-side nests when cleaning the nest boxes in the fall.
In the past 10 years or so, the occasional house wren will nest along with very reliable chickadees (both types, but mostly Black-capped) and of course, Bewick's Wrens.
No Rufous hummers yet - the males usually arrive sometime in the next week and skulk around the yard for a few days. But soon the resident Anna’s will once again be relegated to 2nd place.
Based on the decline in birds we all know about, I’m more than slightly relieved when the regulars begin to show up again.
Enjoy this gorgeous sunny day.
Date: 2/28/26 6:58 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Regarding the recent research About the huge declines in bird populations: 36. “We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us” – Tales from the Vault: 40 Years / 40 Stories
Date: 2/28/26 11:43 am From: Michelle Landis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birds as messengers
This is woo woo but the older I get, the more I believe in this stuff.
My Mom passed in December. This morning in the GLORIOUS sunshine in FEBRUARY, I heard a very noisy call very close to me. I was strafed by a juvenile Coopers Hawk. Less than ten feet above me, swooped and landed in the closest tree and sat for MINUTES with a rouse. My Mom is with me.
Date: 2/27/26 4:15 pm From: Michael Scuderi via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bird Decline
The recent discussion about bird decline was just mentioned in the latest issue of Science:https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads0871 Not good news but it seems to confirm what a lot of us have been seeing. Mike ScuderiKent, WA _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 2/26/26 6:55 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday at Nisqually
A scrape-the-windshield morning, bright and sunny, but cold. The sunshine brought out 30+ birders for the 8am start. A pair of Hooded Mergansers and a few Mallards lazed in the Visitor's Center pond, a Red-tailed Hawk flew east to west just to the north. As we walked through the south parking lot, a couple Purple Finch were actively moving from tree to tree. A mixed flock of Chickadees, Kinglets, Brown Creeper, and a number of Golden-crowned Sparrows were high up in the Cottonwood trees, a bit unusual, sparrows typically forage on the ground. Perhaps they were enjoying the sun as much as we were.
In the play area a Spotted Towhee turned over the leaf litter looking for breakfast, while a Douglas Squirrel sat erect and rolled his meal in both paws, like a kid eating corn on the cobb. A Mourning Dove shared the orchard with Robins and more Sparrows. The frosted grass in and surrounding the pond west of the entrance road glistened in the sunlight, a dozen or so Northern Pintail an a couple Mallards wove their way between the tall clumps. A pair of Hutton's Vireo hung out in the trees along the road. On the service /maintenance road a Hairy Woodpecker was heard, a Downy Woodpecker was seen in the Cottonwood trees, several Kinglets and another pair of Hutton's Vireos were found.
Three immature Bald Eagles perched separately, but in the same tall Cottonwood, on the south end of the flooded field west of the service road, observing the activity below. The ponds held dozens of American Coots, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintail, Mallards, American Wigeon and a single Ring-necked Duck. Red-winged Blackbirds were scattered throughout the Cattails, American Robins dotted the dry areas. A Great Blue Heron guarded the west side of the field, a few early Tree Swallows swooped over the ponds.
A Pied-billed Grebe sat in the center of the pond as we walked the boardwalk on the west side of the loop trail, Song Sparrows and Marsh Wrens were in the reeds along the waters edge. Tree Swallows again flew overhead. A side trip out to the service road again gave us a nice view of a male Eurasian Wigeon hanging with it's American cousins. When a nearby female Wigeon flew off, it followed close behind her. Spotted Towhees and Golden-crowned and Song Sparrows worked the leaf litter along the road. In the Maple Grove, near the picnic tables a White-throated Sparrow mixed with another flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows.
From the Twin Barns viewing platform we relocated the male Eurasian Wigeon, and searched unsuccessfully for a female Eurasian counterpart. A few Canada Geese were gathered in the middle surrounded by the other Wigeon, Pintail, Shovelers, Green-winged Teal and Mallards. A nice surprise of 10 Wilson' Snipe roosted in three clusters at the north end of the wet field. The trees along the slough east of the platform were occupied by several Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Out on the gravel dike, looking north across the surge plain to the tree line along the Nisqually River, Anders found a pair of Racoons in a bare snag. The one highest in the snag waved it's long ringed tail back and forth, whether to entice or annoy it's unresponsive partner was unclear. A few more Bald Eagles perched in the taller trees. Across the exposed mud were distant ducks, and Dunlin interspersed with Greater Yellowlegs. Closer in were two Northern Flickers, one an intergrade of the Red-shafted and Yellow-shafted sub-species. At the base of the Willows along the south side were more Golden-crowned Sparrows, another White-throated Sparrow, a few Towhees and a Orange-crowned Warbler. Once clear of the Willows the cold wind picked up significantly. The freshwater side held mostly ducks and Coots, the saltwater side, clusters of Gulls, primarily Short-billed and Ring-billed. The Dunlin got up in the air and began to mumurate, at first distant, then closer in, ! sometimes in two flocks, then merging into one and splitting again, turning in unison, dark above and flashing bright white underneath. It never ceases to impress.
It began to cloud up as we headed out the McAllister Creek boardwalk. A young Bald Eagle sat on a log near the walkway , then on the railing, seemingly undisturbed by nearby humans. The creek was occupied by Bufflehead, a few Mallards, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, a few Horned Grebes and an occasional Harbor Seal. Great Blue Herons, several Greater Yellowlegs and a Spotted Sandpiper patrolled the shoreline. Small flocks of Least Sandpipers allowed us brief inspection before moving again. From the Puget Sound viewing platform at the end we saw more Bufflehead, Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, and a flock of Brant (geese). Brandt's Cormorant were on the channel marker, a few Double-crested Cormorants scattered along the creek as we returned.
Back on the dike along the Willows we again found the flock of sparrows, this time including a White-crowned Sparrow. A Northern Harrier hunter the flooded field. At the Nisqually River overlook was a Common Goldeneye, a couple Mallards and several Common Mergansers. A Coyote appeared across and downriver at the first Bend, we watched it for several minutes but it's attention was on something other than us. Turning south along the east side of the loop trail we were rewarded with a close up pair of Hooded Mergansers, and along the Riparian spur both Pacific and Bewick's Wrens. Back at the Visitor Center deck for our tally , five Ring-necked Ducks and a Red-tailed Hawk came to see us off. The Checklist follows.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US Feb 25, 2026 8:02 AM - 4:05 PM Protocol: Traveling 4.112 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Mammals: Black-tailed Deer, Coyote , Harbor Seal, Raccoon, Long-tailed Weasel, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Douglas Squirrel. 65 species (+6 other taxa)
Date: 2/26/26 6:15 pm From: Carlos Andersen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
It seems that there has been a continuous drop in number over many years. Could be habitat loss or chemicals in the environment or ? Neonics have taken a pretty big hit on insects and pollinators and many states have started to pass legislation to limit or ban these chemicals.
Date: 2/26/26 5:22 pm From: Cindy McCormack via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Black-capped Chickadees sounding like Mountain Chickadees
I've noticed that Mountain Chickadees in eastern Oregon (I think near
Sisters, if I remember correctly) sing like Black-capped Chickadees (where
Black-capped Chickadee are rare. Maybe the app is using the sonogram from
an area like this. (?)
Cindy
On Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 8:10 PM Eric Ellingson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone knows much about Black-capped Chickadees sounding
> like Mountain Chickadees. I seem to remember reading somewhere that if the
> BCCH are raised near the MOCH they can pick up a "dialect". The reason I'm
> asking is because two of the Bird Sound Identification apps have given me
> MOCH when I definitely don't see them around in the Blaine, WA area. I'm
> not saying it is improbable, just not expected.
> Merlin has done this before and recently BirdNET gives a 89% confidence
> rating. I have a good sonogram showing the sound. Anyway, ideas? Anyone
> wanting the recording can DM me.
>
> Eric Ellingson
>
> 360-820-6396
> <esellingson...>
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 2/26/26 4:37 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-02-26
Tweets - We were blown away by all the little birds at Marymoor today. Wait, that's not quite right. *We* were at Marymoor Park today, where *all the little birds* were blown away.
Well, it wasn't quite that windy, but it was blowing strong enough that birds were hard to hear and harder to see if they were smaller than a robin. Temps were in the high 40's though, and it was only partly overcast, so not too bad for walking. Just hard to keep your hat on.
Highlights: Cackling Goose - Two with a few Canadas - our first in six weeks Northern Pintail - Drake with Green-winged Teal below the weir - First of Year (FOY) Great Blue Heron - Now at about 100 birds at the nests, with active nest building Cooper's Hawk - One chasing a Red-tailed Hawk Red-breasted Sapsucker - One seen calling in the Big Cottonwood Forest - only our second for the year Merlin - Landed across the slough from the Dog Area. First since Jan. 1 for us California Scrub-Jay - One calling at about 6:40 a.m. from NE of the East Maintenance Facility (FOY) Purple Finch - One singing male was OUR ONLY FINCH White-throated Sparrow - Two at the south end of the Dog Meadow "Eastern" Song Sparrow - Glimpsed in its usual location NW of the East Meadow sheds Western Meadowlark - Several singing north of Fields 7-8-9
Misses today included Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Wilson's Snipe, Ring-billed Gull, Marsh Wren (may have heard), House Finch, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
For the day, at least 52 species. For the year, we're at an even 75 species.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 2/26/26 2:07 pm From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Black-capped Chickadees sounding like Mountain Chickadees
In May 2025, my husband, a friend and I were doing a migration count on the Willard Springs trail at the Conboy National Wildlife Refuge headquarters in Glenwood, Washington.
We heard what we thought was a Black-capped Chickadee, but then when I looked at the singing bird through my binocs, I saw that it could be a Mountain Chickadee. Meanwhile, Merlin was identifying it as a Black-capped.
I was determined to get a good look at it and finally did. It was a Mountain Chickadee, and I was looking squarely at it as it was singing and as Merlin was identifying it as Black-capped.
Date: 2/26/26 9:09 am From: Emily Birchman via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Possible yellow shafted flicker in Kenmore
Hi all, I have never seen a yellow shafted flicker before but today in my backyard I was stunned to see what I believe is one, otherwise perhaps it is a hybrid? I have multiple cell phone photos and am wondering if someone would be so kind as to help me confirm ID if I send them to you :)
Date: 2/26/26 9:08 am From: Emily Birchman via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Possible yellow shafted flicker in Kenmore
Upon examining my Sibley guide and the photos I think it is maybe a hybrid.
It has yellow instead of red on the underside of the tail and wings but its
face looks like a red shafted - it’s got a red malar.
On Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 8:51 AM Emily Birchman <stollea...> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I have never seen a yellow shafted flicker before but today in my backyard
> I was stunned to see what I believe is one, otherwise perhaps it is a
> hybrid? I have multiple cell phone photos and am wondering if someone would
> be so kind as to help me confirm ID if I send them to you :)
>
> Thanks!
> Emily Birchman
> Kenmore WA
>
Date: 2/25/26 5:27 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] REMINDER: WOS Monthly Meeting, March 2, 2026 (on-line only)
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, March 2, 2026, Madison Mayfield will present, "A Different Kind of Life List: A Career Painting, Curating & Taxidermying Birds." What goes on in a natural history museum like the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington (Seattle)? And why have them? Filled with far more than just a lot of "stuffed animals," these collections are time-capsule libraries of biological diversity, and an irreplaceable, verifiable record of Life on Earth.
Madison Mayfield is a museum professional, educator, natural history artist and taxidermist as well as a scientific illustrator. She holds a BS in Conservation Biology and a certificate in Natural History Illustration from the University of Washington. For the past 8 years, she has worked in natural history museums around the world as a preparator, educator, outreach director and now is a collections manager at the Burke. Madison is also a skilled artist and scientific illustrator. We'll learn about the art of taxidermy and why dead birds are more important than ever as Madison takes us along a path from painting birds to sewing up a Cassowary in Australia to banding hummingbirds in Colombia!
This meeting will be conducted virtually, via Zoom (no in-person attendance). Sign-in will begin at 7:15 pm, and the meeting commences at 7:30 pm. 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
Date: 2/25/26 10:15 am From: Gene Beall via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummers sharing feeder
We keep several hummingbird feeders year-round and put heater-lights under them when the temp is going to drop below 30 or so to keep them from freezing. We find that both sexes tolerate other individuals of either sex much more during the winter months, and especially so during the first feedings in the morning and the last feedings just before dark.
On 2/25/26 9:04 AM, Faye McAdams Hands via Tweeters wrote: > Hi Joan & Mark, > I was just reminded of your posts this morning as I saw 2 females on > my deck feeder and 1 male on my feeder by the fence, both in my > backyard. When the male finished his breakfast, he flew over to the > feeder on the deck and chased off the 2 females and then flew off > himself.....screaming something like 'cooperation is > over-rated'......I couldn't quite tell from inside my house. > > This also reminded me of a time 2 years ago, during a snowy January > day, I had 7 females on the deck feeder! (with only 5 ports to drink > from). This portion of the deck is covered, so protected from rain, > snow and much wind. They all sat for quite awhile, all equidistant > apart, and occasionally taking a sip of sustanence. > > Happy Birding, > Faye > > Faye McAdams Hands > > Belfair, WA > zest 4 parus AT hotmail dot com > > Life is Simple -- Eat, Sleep, Bird. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on > behalf of Mark Reinitz via Tweeters <tweeters...> > *Sent:* Tuesday, February 24, 2026 10:55 AM > *To:* Joan Miller <jemskink...> > *Cc:* <tweeters...> <tweeters...> > *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Hummers sharing feeder > Hi. > > My wife and I were just talking about the same thing! There were 2 > females on the feeder this morning. This has happened several times > lately. There were even times when a male sat on a nearby branch > without shooing them away. Not something we’ve seen often. > > Mark Reinitz > Sent from my iPad > >> On Feb 24, 2026, at 10:35 AM, Joan Miller via Tweeters >> <tweeters...> wrote: >> >> >> Hi Tweets >> >> This winter hasn't been that bad, but I have seen many more instances >> of more than one hummingbird at a time at my feeder. They never used >> to tolerate another at the same time. Now I see two and occasionally >> a third using the feeder at once (there are four ports). Always >> females, but once in a while a male will join them. I think it's >> unusual. Maybe this behavior will change in spring and summer. >> >> Anyone else notice this sharing behavior? >> >> Joan Miller >> West Seattle >> jemsink at gmail dot com >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> <Tweeters...> >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > _______________________________________________ > 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: 2/25/26 9:32 am From: Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummers sharing feeder
Hi Faye,
That's so funny. So far, I have not seen the male here really chase off the
females. That surprises me. Yesterday there were 3 females!
Joan
On Wed, Feb 25, 2026 at 9:04 AM Faye McAdams Hands <zest4parus...>
wrote:
> Hi Joan & Mark,
> I was just reminded of your posts this morning as I saw 2 females on my
> deck feeder and 1 male on my feeder by the fence, both in my backyard. When
> the male finished his breakfast, he flew over to the feeder on the deck and
> chased off the 2 females and then flew off himself.....screaming something
> like 'cooperation is over-rated'......I couldn't quite tell from inside my
> house.
>
> This also reminded me of a time 2 years ago, during a snowy January day, I
> had 7 females on the deck feeder! (with only 5 ports to drink from). This
> portion of the deck is covered, so protected from rain, snow and much wind.
> They all sat for quite awhile, all equidistant apart, and occasionally
> taking a sip of sustanence.
>
> Happy Birding,
> Faye
>
> Faye McAdams Hands
> Belfair, WA
> zest 4 parus AT hotmail dot com
>
> Life is Simple -- Eat, Sleep, Bird.
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Mark Reinitz via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, February 24, 2026 10:55 AM
> *To:* Joan Miller <jemskink...>
> *Cc:* <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Hummers sharing feeder
>
> Hi.
>
> My wife and I were just talking about the same thing! There were 2 females
> on the feeder this morning. This has happened several times lately. There
> were even times when a male sat on a nearby branch without shooing them
> away. Not something we’ve seen often.
>
> Mark Reinitz
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Feb 24, 2026, at 10:35 AM, Joan Miller via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Tweets
>
> This winter hasn't been that bad, but I have seen many more instances of
> more than one hummingbird at a time at my feeder. They never used to
> tolerate another at the same time. Now I see two and occasionally a third
> using the feeder at once (there are four ports). Always females, but once
> in a while a male will join them. I think it's unusual. Maybe this behavior
> will change in spring and summer.
>
> Anyone else notice this sharing behavior?
>
> Joan Miller
> West Seattle
> jemsink at gmail dot com
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Date: 2/25/26 9:16 am From: Faye McAdams Hands via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummers sharing feeder
Hi Joan & Mark,
I was just reminded of your posts this morning as I saw 2 females on my deck feeder and 1 male on my feeder by the fence, both in my backyard. When the male finished his breakfast, he flew over to the feeder on the deck and chased off the 2 females and then flew off himself.....screaming something like 'cooperation is over-rated'......I couldn't quite tell from inside my house.
This also reminded me of a time 2 years ago, during a snowy January day, I had 7 females on the deck feeder! (with only 5 ports to drink from). This portion of the deck is covered, so protected from rain, snow and much wind. They all sat for quite awhile, all equidistant apart, and occasionally taking a sip of sustanence.
Happy Birding,
Faye
Faye McAdams Hands
Belfair, WA
zest 4 parus AT hotmail dot com
Life is Simple -- Eat, Sleep, Bird.
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Mark Reinitz via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 10:55 AM
To: Joan Miller <jemskink...>
Cc: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummers sharing feeder
Hi.
My wife and I were just talking about the same thing! There were 2 females on the feeder this morning. This has happened several times lately. There were even times when a male sat on a nearby branch without shooing them away. Not something we’ve seen often.
Mark Reinitz
Sent from my iPad
On Feb 24, 2026, at 10:35 AM, Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Hi Tweets
This winter hasn't been that bad, but I have seen many more instances of more than one hummingbird at a time at my feeder. They never used to tolerate another at the same time. Now I see two and occasionally a third using the feeder at once (there are four ports). Always females, but once in a while a male will join them. I think it's unusual. Maybe this behavior will change in spring and summer.
Date: 2/25/26 8:23 am From: Brian Zinke via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Upcoming classes from Pilchuck Audubon
Hi Tweets,
Pilchuck Audubon has our slate of classes for the year lined up, and the first one starts next week! Learn more and register for classes here: https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org/our-store
Here's our current offerings for the year:
March 4 - Under the Skin with Bird Bones and Skeletons with David Lukas (online)
April 20, 27, May 4, 11 - Avian Engineers: How Birds Build Nests with Connie Sidles (online)
May 7 - Warblers with David Droppers (online)
May 9 - Warblers with David Droppers (field trip)
August 5, 12, 19 - Shorebirds with David Droppers (online)
August 22 - Shorebirds with David Droppers (field trip)
October 7, 14, 21 - Grouse with Connie Sidles (online)
Date: 2/25/26 4:40 am From: David Kreft via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Black-capped Chickadees sounding like Mountain Chickadees
I’ve had this experience in NE WA. Myself and a wildlife biologist friend
(who is very adept at distinguishing flycatcher vocalizations) were both
baffled by what we heard and just “knew” must be a Mountain chickadee, only
to have a Black-capped appear on a branch and show us the truth. Now, I
trust I’m hearing a chickadee…but I try my darndest to verify with visual.
Dave Kreft
Kettle Falls
On Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 8:36 PM Louise via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> When in areas where both species are expected, I have definitely heard
> alarm calls that I would have sworn was mountain chickadee until I set eyes
> on the bird and watched that sound come from a black-capped. Several of
> those experiences have made me very reluctant to categorise them by heard
> only on e-bird.
>
> Louise Rutter
> Kirkland
>
> On Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 8:11 PM Eric Ellingson via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I'm wondering if anyone knows much about Black-capped Chickadees sounding
>> like Mountain Chickadees. I seem to remember reading somewhere that if the
>> BCCH are raised near the MOCH they can pick up a "dialect". The reason I'm
>> asking is because two of the Bird Sound Identification apps have given me
>> MOCH when I definitely don't see them around in the Blaine, WA area. I'm
>> not saying it is improbable, just not expected.
>> Merlin has done this before and recently BirdNET gives a 89% confidence
>> rating. I have a good sonogram showing the sound. Anyway, ideas? Anyone
>> wanting the recording can DM me.
>>
>> Eric Ellingson
>>
>> 360-820-6396
>> <esellingson...>
>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ >> _______________________________________________
>> 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: 2/24/26 8:45 pm From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Black-capped Chickadees sounding like Mountain Chickadees
When in areas where both species are expected, I have definitely heard
alarm calls that I would have sworn was mountain chickadee until I set eyes
on the bird and watched that sound come from a black-capped. Several of
those experiences have made me very reluctant to categorise them by heard
only on e-bird.
Louise Rutter
Kirkland
On Tue, Feb 24, 2026 at 8:11 PM Eric Ellingson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone knows much about Black-capped Chickadees sounding
> like Mountain Chickadees. I seem to remember reading somewhere that if the
> BCCH are raised near the MOCH they can pick up a "dialect". The reason I'm
> asking is because two of the Bird Sound Identification apps have given me
> MOCH when I definitely don't see them around in the Blaine, WA area. I'm
> not saying it is improbable, just not expected.
> Merlin has done this before and recently BirdNET gives a 89% confidence
> rating. I have a good sonogram showing the sound. Anyway, ideas? Anyone
> wanting the recording can DM me.
>
> Eric Ellingson
>
> 360-820-6396
> <esellingson...>
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 2/24/26 8:22 pm From: Eric Ellingson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Black-capped Chickadees sounding like Mountain Chickadees
Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone knows much about Black-capped Chickadees sounding like Mountain Chickadees. I seem to remember reading somewhere that if the BCCH are raised near the MOCH they can pick up a "dialect". The reason I'm asking is because two of the Bird Sound Identification apps have given me MOCH when I definitely don't see them around in the Blaine, WA area. I'm not saying it is improbable, just not expected. Merlin has done this before and recently BirdNET gives a 89% confidence rating. I have a good sonogram showing the sound. Anyway, ideas? Anyone wanting the recording can DM me.
Date: 2/24/26 6:04 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Cooper's Hawks & passerines
From Birds of the World:
"For a nest in New York, an average of 66 medium-sized (e.g., American Robin) prey items is required to raise a young bird to age 6 weeks.”
"Home range of the Cooper's Hawk during the breeding season was estimated at 400–1,800 ha in New York, Michigan, Oregon, and New Mexico."
So a nest with three young, at least in New York, and probably not that different in Seattle, would need around 200 robin-sized birds during that 6-week period. These would be taken from a home range of, say, 1,000 hectares (about 2,500 acres). That doesn’t sound like a huge drain on the population of such birds, one per 12.5 acres.
That being said, I don’t think I want a pair nesting in my back yard. I don’t know about robin-sized birds, but I have photographed four adult Cooper’s Hawks, three females and a male, taking Band-tailed Pigeons in our yard over the years. It seems like pigeons and doves are really favored prey of bird-eating hawks. Lots to eat and not all that smart.
I should add that I also photographed an immature female taking an adult Brown Rat.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast dot net
> On Feb 24, 2026, at 3:54 PM, pan via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Tweets,
>
> I haven't gone back to find the publication/s, but I recall a presentation by a U. W. researcher about part of a long-term marked Song Sparrow project in Seattle, including Discovery Park. This was ongoing in the early 1990's, through the return and establishment of Cooper's Hawks as breeders. He reported that breeding density of Song Sparrows was the same after the hawks, but the demographics of the breeders changed: shorter lives, more turnover. I don't know how other elements of the population changed.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Alan Grenon
> Seattle
> panmail AT mailfence PERIOD com
>
>
> --
> Sent with https://mailfence.com > Secure and private email
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 2/24/26 4:05 pm From: pan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Cooper's Hawks & passerines
Tweets,
I haven't gone back to find the publication/s, but I recall a presentation by a U. W. researcher about part of a long-term marked Song Sparrow project in Seattle, including Discovery Park. This was ongoing in the early 1990's, through the return and establishment of Cooper's Hawks as breeders. He reported that breeding density of Song Sparrows was the same after the hawks, but the demographics of the breeders changed: shorter lives, more turnover. I don't know how other elements of the population changed.
Good birding,
Alan Grenon
Seattle
panmail AT mailfence PERIOD com
Date: 2/24/26 3:21 pm From: Eric Snyder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Anyone tracking new eagle nests?
We saw the beginning of a new Bald Eagle aerie just off the S end of Lk Sammammish last week, and I’ve been curious if there is someone I ought to report this to.
I do not have enough info on the birds to surmise whether a new pair or existing pair just moved due to storm damage, etc. But, they haven’t had a nest in ‘this’ tree until now.
Date: 2/24/26 1:51 pm From: ED DEAL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Cooper's Hawk predation
Tweets,
For more information on this thorny subject, I recommend reading section 3 of Stan Rullman's 2012 UW PhD Dissertation "Effects of Cooper's Hawk Predation and Presence on Songbird Survivorship, Nesting Success, and Community Structure," In short, Stan compared songbird nesting success in sites with active COHA nests and matched sites without a COHA nest. Songbird productivity was slightly depressed close to a COHA nest while further away from the COHA nest, songbird sucess was significantly lower. He attributed this to the COHA excluding corvids and sciurids from their nest area. This is similar to the study of hummingbird nest productivity in SE Arizona. Hummingbird nests close to COHA or AMGO nests were protected from nest predators. Except in the case of Rullman's study, songbirds suffered some predation as "protection money" from corvids and sciurids. Stan's conclusion was that there was a slight reduction in the abundance of robins.
And the hummingbird reference is "Proximity to Active Accipiter Nests Reduces Nest Predation of Black-chinned Hummingbirds" Greeney & Wethington, Wilson J. Ornith., 121(4):809-812.
Date: 2/24/26 11:07 am From: Mark Reinitz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummers sharing feeder
Hi.
My wife and I were just talking about the same thing! There were 2 females on the feeder this morning. This has happened several times lately. There were even times when a male sat on a nearby branch without shooing them away. Not something we’ve seen often.
Mark Reinitz
Sent from my iPad
On Feb 24, 2026, at 10:35 AM, Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Hi Tweets
This winter hasn't been that bad, but I have seen many more instances of more than one hummingbird at a time at my feeder. They never used to tolerate another at the same time. Now I see two and occasionally a third using the feeder at once (there are four ports). Always females, but once in a while a male will join them. I think it's unusual. Maybe this behavior will change in spring and summer.
Date: 2/24/26 10:46 am From: Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hummers sharing feeder
Hi Tweets
This winter hasn't been that bad, but I have seen many more instances of more than one hummingbird at a time at my feeder. They never used to tolerate another at the same time. Now I see two and occasionally a third using the feeder at once (there are four ports). Always females, but once in a while a male will join them. I think it's unusual. Maybe this behavior will change in spring and summer.
Date: 2/24/26 9:27 am From: kathy kuyper via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Predation by crows
I guess we shouldn't leave out Cooper's hawks. I think there was a
A study in Tucson showing an inverse relationship between the number of COHA and white-winged doves. Don't know whether the number of COHA here has had a similar effect on local birds.
There was or is a "Crumb Clean" campaign in Big Basin State Park (CA) and maybe other parks to keep the number of ravens and jays down because of their predation on marbled murrelets.
For the record though, I do agree lack of insects is very important. It still makes me sad to go out in the evening and see nothing circling around outdoor lighting and the two bats I often saw did not show up last year.
Kathy
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 23, 2026, at 5:29 PM, Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns...> wrote:
Thank you Kathy! Point well taken! All members of the crow family - including jays and magpies are well known nest robbers, taken eggs and young of other birds. I have even seen them take small Mallard ducklings. With the noticeable increase in the crow population, there certainly would be an impact on songbirds and other species.
On Mon, Feb 23, 2026 at 5:02 PM kathy kuyper via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
Another possibility for lower small bird numbers is the large number of crows who spread out from the communal roosts to breed in neighborhoods throughout the county. I have seen crows eat or kill nestlings and other birds and carrying nestlings, to their offspring I guess.
Date: 2/23/26 10:45 pm From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Pacific County Contact
Does anyone have a contact email for Alan Richards down in Pacific County? Alan and I have crossed paths a couple of times birding, but his old email does not appear to work. If anyone could pass my email along to him, it would be greatly appreciated.
Date: 2/23/26 5:40 pm From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Predation by crows
Thank you Kathy! Point well taken! All members of the crow family -
including jays and magpies are well known nest robbers, taken eggs and
young of other birds. I have even seen them take small Mallard ducklings.
With the noticeable increase in the crow population, there certainly would
be an impact on songbirds and other species.
Good Birding!
Hans
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Mon, Feb 23, 2026 at 5:02 PM kathy kuyper via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Another possibility for lower small bird numbers is the large number of
> crows who spread out from the communal roosts to breed in neighborhoods
> throughout the county. I have seen crows eat or kill nestlings and other
> birds and carrying nestlings, to their offspring I guess.
>
> Kathy Kuyper
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 2/23/26 5:12 pm From: kathy kuyper via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Predation by crows
Another possibility for lower small bird numbers is the large number of crows who spread out from the communal roosts to breed in neighborhoods throughout the county. I have seen crows eat or kill nestlings and other birds and carrying nestlings, to their offspring I guess.
The "this blog could have been an email" version: I found a Canada Jay! Up on South Bend Palix Road, my 116thth species for the year list in Pacific, and the 150th species on my life list.
But, in the effort to have a well-researched blog, I found out things about cult waffles, long-legged flies and BirdGPT. I also put together some photographic documentation on the efficacy of dive bar popcorn. It's all in the blog, hence the delay.
Date: 2/23/26 9:20 am From: Brian Zinke via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Feb 28 - Stanwood Camano Snow Goose & Birding Festival
Hi Tweets,
The Stanwood Camano Snow Goose & Birding Festival is this Saturday, February 28, from 9:00am-4:00pm at the Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center (27130 102nd Ave NW, Stanwood, WA <https://maps.app.goo.gl/JTQcWDPHK6kXrZEk6>).
- 10:00am - Living with Bald Eagles by Pat Holmes - 11:30am - All About Owls by Brian Zinke - 1:00pm - Washington's White Birds of Winter - Swans and Snow Geese by Martha Jordan - 2:30pm - Lights Out for Birds: How Reducing Nighttime Light Saves Migratory Species by Brian Zinke
*Bus Tours* There will be bus tours to Leque Island and Big Ditch for bird viewing.
There will also be a vendor area and children's activities.
Date: 2/23/26 7:22 am From: Thomas Dorrance via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bali, Indonesia Recommendations
In Bali's far west there's a large national forest where the well regarded
guide, Made Surya, offers tours. We were content in the homestay his mother
operates in Blimbingsari although more lavish accommodations can be found
within his range. After three days of Mr. Surya to ourselves we migrated to
nearby Pemuteran (Taman Sari Resort) for the scuba portion of our trip last
December.
Tom Dorrance
thomasgdorrance at gmail
On Sun, Feb 22, 2026 at 9:16 PM Ian Young via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hello Tweets,
> My wife and I are planning a trip to Indonesia and would love to get any
> recommendations for places to bird, birding guides, and places to stay.
> There is information online but I prefer to get ideas from any Tweets who
> have been there. Anything you can recommend would be greatly appreciated.
> Thank you.
> Happy birding,
> Ian Young
> Seattle
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 2/22/26 9:27 pm From: Ian Young via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bali, Indonesia Recommendations
Hello Tweets,
My wife and I are planning a trip to Indonesia and would love to get any recommendations for places to bird, birding guides, and places to stay.
There is information online but I prefer to get ideas from any Tweets who have been there. Anything you can recommend would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Happy birding,
Ian Young
Seattle
Date: 2/22/26 8:09 pm From: HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
This has probably been going on for decades. Between 1990 and 2015 we lived SE of Lacey. We had 2.5 acres that was originally Old Growth Scot's Broom. Over time, about half an acre was covered into around the house landscaping and orchard, The remained was pasture that had the broom controlled, Lupine encouraged, and some conifers tried to grow. We installed a bunch of nest boxes for the smaller passerines and initially had blueb9rds, tree swallows, violet-green swallows, and very occasionally a house sparrow. We also had barn swallows on the structures, which we encouraged. Over time we lost the bluebirds, barn swallows, Violet0-greens, most of the tree swallows and all the house sparrows, Both chickadees moved into the boxes with chestnut-backed increasing as the landscaping grew.
The feeders hosted the same species of seed-eaters with seemingly little change. The feeders did also support the occasional Accipter. Scrub jays moved in and seemed to be replacing the Stellar's.
It looks like the flying insect eaters took the biggest hit. I would also add that my waterfowl hunting has taken a serious hit with about a 90+% reduction in birds even just flying around the area.
Hal Michael
Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
<ucd880...>
> On 02/22/2026 8:49 AM PST Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> House Sparrows and European Starlings have been declining in Seattle for years. Both were common at our feeders in Maple Leaf after we moved here in 1991, now long gone. The cause isn’t at all clear, although part (all?) of it may be a general tidying up of the city, getting rid of crevices in which they could nest. There is presumably no lack of winter food, with all the feeders around (a census of feeders and the species that visit them all over the area would be of great interest), but perhaps a general decline in insects, which they feed their developing young, is of great significance.
>
> Swallows and swifts disappeared from most parts of the city long ago, presumably because of the loss of flying insects. They may also have been affected by nest-site crevice cleanup.
>
> Birds that seem to be thriving, such as chickadees and nuthatches and woodpeckers, have in common that they nest in cavities (thus immune to crow predation) and get a lot of their insect prey by digging it out of the substrate where it is spending the winter. Flycatchers (aerial insects) and warblers and vireos (leaf-dwelling insects) aren’t doing so well. Neotropical migrants in our yard have declined dramatically over the years.
>
> I find it very interesting that all three of the warbler species that winter in our yard (Yellow-rumped, Townsend’s and Orange-crowned) eat some seeds along with suet and bark butter. They couldn’t winter here if they only fed on insects. The first two also drink nectar from wells in the hummingbird feeders.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
> dennispaulson at comcast dot net
>
>
> > On Feb 22, 2026, at 6:29 AM, Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> wrote:
> > My thought is because of the overall weather this winter, the birds are not concentrated into the usual areas they need to for survival. Here in East Wenatchee, I can count on one hand the number of nights the temperatures have dropped below 20 degF, and also the number of days with more than a trace of snow cover.
> >
> > * Jerry Tangren, East Wenatchee, WA
> >
> > Get Outlook for iOS https://aka.ms/o0ukef > >
> > ---------------------------------------------
> > From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> mailto:<tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> > > Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2026 8:11:21 PM
> > To: Constance Sidles <constancesidles...> mailto:<constancesidles...> > > Cc: Julia H <azureye...> mailto:<azureye...>; tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> > > Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
> >
> > There seems to be a general decline in bird numbers except maybe for gulls and crows. Even my non birder wife has commented on it lately. Numbers of birds on our feeders appear to be lower than in previous years - except for juncos. Interestingly enough, introduced species such as House Sparrow and European Starling numbers are way down and I have yet to see an Eurasian Collared-Dove in the Seattle/Tacoma area this year. Not all of this decrease can be explained with global warming or habitat loss.
> >
> > Good Birding!
> >
> > Hans
> >
> > Hans Feddern
> > Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> > <thefedderns...> mailto:<thefedderns...> > >
> >
> > On Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 4:42 PM Constance Sidles via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > > Hey tweets, I've noticed the same thing that Julia mentiones in her tweet, namely, numbers of birds seem in general to be down at Montlake Fill. This includes land birds as well as waterfowl. I have no explanation. - Connie, Seattle
> > >
> > > > On Feb 21, 2026, at 2:26 PM, Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > This is pure anecdata, but I feel like Union Bay Natural Area has been less "birdy" overall this past winter. Numbers have been down both in terms of species count + raw number of birds the past two months I've led my bird walk, compared to Januaries/Februaries of the prior years, and the usual giant-raft-of-coots-and-wigeons that habitually forms in Lake Washington has been much smaller as well.
> > > >
> > > > Has anyone else noticed this / does anyone have any theories for why this might be?
> > > >
> > > > Good birding,
> > > >
> > > > Julia Hasbrough
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Tweeters mailing list
> > > > <Tweeters...> mailto:<Tweeters...> > > > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweetershttp://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Tweeters mailing list
> > > <Tweeters...> mailto:<Tweeters...> > > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...> mailto:<Tweeters...> > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 2/22/26 4:02 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wind Turbines
Thank you for the link on this topic.
My comment is: the quote in the article at the beginning is:
The issue: Do wind turbines kill birds and bats? *The short answer:* Yes,
wind turbines can kill both bats and birds. But the more important question
is ‘How many do they kill compared with other sources?'
THE REAL QUESTION NEEDS TO BE: Yes, wind turbines can kill both bats and
birds. But the more important question is "How many do they kill IN
ADDITION TO other sources?"
This is not a comparison, it is an addition to. Compared to other
sources, yes, could be similar, BUT it is an addition of kill that would
not be there unless the windmills are there.
Date: 2/22/26 3:01 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: Woodpecker or Nuthatch: Whose Climbing Style Do You Prefer?
Date: 2/22/26 2:40 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Horseback Rides on the Ocean Beaches?
I will be visiting Long Beach, WA next month and family members have requested that we use a local outfitter to go for an hour horseback ride on the beach. I am wondering what the latest thinking is with respect to horseback riding tours on our ocean beaches?
What’s the impact on the marine and bird life by this kind of activity? Most of the posts I’ve read are concerned about manure and recommend riding at rising tide. No mention of disturbing bird flocks or stuff living the sand.
Date: 2/22/26 9:34 am From: rjayrabin via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Ecuador Rainforest Adventure
Earlier this month my wife and daughter and I stayed a week at the Napo Wildlife Center within Yasuni National Park in Amazonian Ecuador. https://napowildlifecenter.com/ It went way beyond our dreams. Absolutely everything about it was superb. Our personal guide, Holger Licuy was amazing (Olger LM on IG). Saw 180 new and beautiful birds, 12 foot caimans, 7 species of monkeys, giant river otters, etc. Deep within the rainforest we felt safe, comfortable, and extremely well cared for. Surrounded by beauty, navigating by canoe. Great room, staff, service. No motorized vehicles, no planes overhead, just the wonderful sounds of the Rainforest. Just wanted to give a big shout out for this wonderful place; adventure of a lifetime for us. -- *Ron Rabin*
Date: 2/22/26 9:09 am From: Deli Kiz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] USA TODAY: Do windmills kill birds? Fact checking clean energy myths.
Simplifications in articles like this is what creates the divide as “pro
energy” or “anti-energy”.
Similar arguments are used with the 4 Lower Snake River Dams (LSRDs)
turning a very important and nuanced discussion about “how do we save wild
chinook salmon and southern resident orca” to you’re either pro-energy or a
hippie who wants everyone to live in caves so the salmon and black fish can
survive.
As Scott points out some details are missing in the article, one being the
conservation status of affected birds. Does that mean we cannot have wind
or solar power? No. It means we need to do better and find solutions with
our ever evolving human intelligence where we can have both without trying
to downplay a very real human survival story.
By the way, the LSRDs, as with majority of dams in the US, were built in
the 60s and 70s using the technology we had back then. Name one other
technology we still use today from the 70s and have industry dig in their
heels that they can’t do better?
Cars? Radio? Planes? Maybe telephones? ☎️
No the only other “technology” that hasnt changed in the US only is rail.
And we are way behind compared to other countries in that too. Lets keep
wind and solar on the side of true “green” energy and unlike dams avoid
having to describe something so damaging to entire ecosystems as “green.”
Let’s aim to do better and find solutions rather than denying that we are
observing an impact on wildlife we can very well prevent with just better
engineering.
Deli K
Coastal PNW
On Sun, Feb 22, 2026 at 9:31 AM Scott Downes via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Regarding bird and bat fatalities at wind farms, unfortunately the article
> makes a very simplistic conclusion, that all birds and bat populations are
> the similar. We know that’s not true. While some fatalities are of more
> common birds (Horned Lark is a very common fatality at wind farms in the
> Columbia Plateau), other species such as Ferruginous Hawk or Golden Eagle
> are in a population status that even one or two fatalities can drastically
> affect the population. Bats are similar, both Hoary and Silver-haired Bats
> are the most common fatalities at Washington facilities and given their low
> fecundity, wind farms were listed as a threat to their populations in the
> Washington State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP).
> https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/swap >
> Unfortunately this piece reads more like they are trying to convince
> readers than provide them with detailed facts, which in the case of wind
> and solar effects on wildlife is a very detailed and nuanced subject. For
> solar they focus on fatalities, yet their size and location, impacting
> wildlife connectivity and habitat impacts are a far larger issue in areas
> such as Washington and Oregon.
>
>
> Scott Downes
> <Downess...>
> Yakima Wa
>
> On Feb 22, 2026, at 3:03 AM, Dan Reiff via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> *Do windmills kill birds? Fact checking clean energy myths.*
> Some objections to wind and solar farms are matters of opinion. Others are
> based on false information. We explain.
>
> Read in USA TODAY: https://apple.news/AtIYzqtHVT8ySvkXOwUmi_Q >
>
> Shared from Apple News <https://www.apple.com/news> >
> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 2/22/26 9:00 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
House Sparrows and European Starlings have been declining in Seattle for years. Both were common at our feeders in Maple Leaf after we moved here in 1991, now long gone. The cause isn’t at all clear, although part (all?) of it may be a general tidying up of the city, getting rid of crevices in which they could nest. There is presumably no lack of winter food, with all the feeders around (a census of feeders and the species that visit them all over the area would be of great interest), but perhaps a general decline in insects, which they feed their developing young, is of great significance.
Swallows and swifts disappeared from most parts of the city long ago, presumably because of the loss of flying insects. They may also have been affected by nest-site crevice cleanup.
Birds that seem to be thriving, such as chickadees and nuthatches and woodpeckers, have in common that they nest in cavities (thus immune to crow predation) and get a lot of their insect prey by digging it out of the substrate where it is spending the winter. Flycatchers (aerial insects) and warblers and vireos (leaf-dwelling insects) aren’t doing so well. Neotropical migrants in our yard have declined dramatically over the years.
I find it very interesting that all three of the warbler species that winter in our yard (Yellow-rumped, Townsend’s and Orange-crowned) eat some seeds along with suet and bark butter. They couldn’t winter here if they only fed on insects. The first two also drink nectar from wells in the hummingbird feeders.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast dot net
> On Feb 22, 2026, at 6:29 AM, Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> My thought is because of the overall weather this winter, the birds are not concentrated into the usual areas they need to for survival. Here in East Wenatchee, I can count on one hand the number of nights the temperatures have dropped below 20 degF, and also the number of days with more than a trace of snow cover.
>
> Jerry Tangren, East Wenatchee, WA
>
> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> > From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2026 8:11:21 PM
> To: Constance Sidles <constancesidles...>
> Cc: Julia H <azureye...>; tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
>
> There seems to be a general decline in bird numbers except maybe for gulls and crows. Even my non birder wife has commented on it lately. Numbers of birds on our feeders appear to be lower than in previous years - except for juncos. Interestingly enough, introduced species such as House Sparrow and European Starling numbers are way down and I have yet to see an Eurasian Collared-Dove in the Seattle/Tacoma area this year. Not all of this decrease can be explained with global warming or habitat loss.
>
> Good Birding!
>
> Hans
>
> Hans Feddern
> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> <thefedderns...> <mailto:<thefedderns...> >
>
> On Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 4:42 PM Constance Sidles via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
> Hey tweets, I've noticed the same thing that Julia mentiones in her tweet, namely, numbers of birds seem in general to be down at Montlake Fill. This includes land birds as well as waterfowl. I have no explanation. - Connie, Seattle
>
> > On Feb 21, 2026, at 2:26 PM, Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
> >
> > This is pure anecdata, but I feel like Union Bay Natural Area has been less "birdy" overall this past winter. Numbers have been down both in terms of species count + raw number of birds the past two months I've led my bird walk, compared to Januaries/Februaries of the prior years, and the usual giant-raft-of-coots-and-wigeons that habitually forms in Lake Washington has been much smaller as well.
> >
> > Has anyone else noticed this / does anyone have any theories for why this might be?
> >
> > Good birding,
> >
> > Julia Hasbrough
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters> >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters> > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 2/22/26 6:42 am From: Scott Downes via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] USA TODAY: Do windmills kill birds? Fact checking clean energy myths.
Date: 2/22/26 6:40 am From: Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
My thought is because of the overall weather this winter, the birds are not concentrated into the usual areas they need to for survival. Here in East Wenatchee, I can count on one hand the number of nights the temperatures have dropped below 20 degF, and also the number of days with more than a trace of snow cover.
*
Jerry Tangren, East Wenatchee, WA
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2026 8:11:21 PM
To: Constance Sidles <constancesidles...>
Cc: Julia H <azureye...>; tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
There seems to be a general decline in bird numbers except maybe for gulls and crows. Even my non birder wife has commented on it lately. Numbers of birds on our feeders appear to be lower than in previous years - except for juncos. Interestingly enough, introduced species such as House Sparrow and European Starling numbers are way down and I have yet to see an Eurasian Collared-Dove in the Seattle/Tacoma area this year. Not all of this decrease can be explained with global warming or habitat loss.
On Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 4:42 PM Constance Sidles via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
Hey tweets, I've noticed the same thing that Julia mentiones in her tweet, namely, numbers of birds seem in general to be down at Montlake Fill. This includes land birds as well as waterfowl. I have no explanation. - Connie, Seattle
> On Feb 21, 2026, at 2:26 PM, Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>
> This is pure anecdata, but I feel like Union Bay Natural Area has been less "birdy" overall this past winter. Numbers have been down both in terms of species count + raw number of birds the past two months I've led my bird walk, compared to Januaries/Februaries of the prior years, and the usual giant-raft-of-coots-and-wigeons that habitually forms in Lake Washington has been much smaller as well.
>
> Has anyone else noticed this / does anyone have any theories for why this might be?
>
> Good birding,
>
> Julia Hasbrough
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...><mailto:<Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 2/22/26 3:24 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] For the article, copy and paste into Google (or other browser search): “Do windmills kill birds? Fact checking clean energy myths.”
Tweeters,
When I or others send an article link, for example from Apple news, and you’re not able to open it, copy and paste the title of the article title onto a browser like Google and search.
This and several other related articles will be found.
I hope that helps those that are not aware of this way of searching for an article.
Dan
Date: 2/22/26 3:14 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] USA TODAY: Do windmills kill birds? Fact checking clean energy myths.
Date: 2/21/26 8:22 pm From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
There seems to be a general decline in bird numbers except maybe for gulls
and crows. Even my non birder wife has commented on it lately. Numbers of
birds on our feeders appear to be lower than in previous years - except for
juncos. Interestingly enough, introduced species such as House Sparrow and
European Starling numbers are way down and I have yet to see an Eurasian
Collared-Dove in the Seattle/Tacoma area this year. Not all of this
decrease can be explained with global warming or habitat loss.
Good Birding!
Hans
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 4:42 PM Constance Sidles via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hey tweets, I've noticed the same thing that Julia mentiones in her tweet,
> namely, numbers of birds seem in general to be down at Montlake Fill. This
> includes land birds as well as waterfowl. I have no explanation. - Connie,
> Seattle
>
> > On Feb 21, 2026, at 2:26 PM, Julia H via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > This is pure anecdata, but I feel like Union Bay Natural Area has been
> less "birdy" overall this past winter. Numbers have been down both in
> terms of species count + raw number of birds the past two months I've led
> my bird walk, compared to Januaries/Februaries of the prior years, and the
> usual giant-raft-of-coots-and-wigeons that habitually forms in Lake
> Washington has been much smaller as well.
> >
> > Has anyone else noticed this / does anyone have any theories for why
> this might be?
> >
> > Good birding,
> >
> > Julia Hasbrough
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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: 2/21/26 4:54 pm From: Constance Sidles via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
Hey tweets, I've noticed the same thing that Julia mentiones in her tweet, namely, numbers of birds seem in general to be down at Montlake Fill. This includes land birds as well as waterfowl. I have no explanation. - Connie, Seattle
> On Feb 21, 2026, at 2:26 PM, Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> This is pure anecdata, but I feel like Union Bay Natural Area has been less "birdy" overall this past winter. Numbers have been down both in terms of species count + raw number of birds the past two months I've led my bird walk, compared to Januaries/Februaries of the prior years, and the usual giant-raft-of-coots-and-wigeons that habitually forms in Lake Washington has been much smaller as well.
>
> Has anyone else noticed this / does anyone have any theories for why this might be?
>
> Good birding,
>
> Julia Hasbrough
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 2/21/26 2:37 pm From: Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Lower bird counts at Union Bay this past winter?
This is pure anecdata, but I feel like Union Bay Natural Area has been less "birdy" overall this past winter. Numbers have been down both in terms of species count + raw number of birds the past two months I've led my bird walk, compared to Januaries/Februaries of the prior years, and the usual giant-raft-of-coots-and-wigeons that habitually forms in Lake Washington has been much smaller as well.
Has anyone else noticed this / does anyone have any theories for why this might be?
Date: 2/20/26 4:20 pm From: Kevin T. Moore via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birds of the World Interactive Phylogeny Explorer
Thanks for the link, Martha, this answers some questions for me!
I had long assumed nightjars (Caprimulgiformes) and owls (Strigiformes) were closely related, and wondered how swifts fit in. Because I’ve always thought of a nightjar as halfway between a swift and an owl. Now I see I was way off. After the branching at 60 million years ago that gave us nightjars, there were four more branches to get to swifts & hummingbirds (Apodiformes). Owls are a branch off the lineage that goes to new world vultures (Cathartiformes) as well as hawks, eagles, and osprey (Accipitriformes).
It’s interesting to see that osprey (Pandionidae) is in Accipitriformes but separated from hawks and eagles by 40 million years.
I’ve also long been curious about the how closely Trogoniformes, Coriciiformes, and Piciformes are related. Now I can see it laid out.
Thank you,Kevin MooreSeattle, WA
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:14:55 -0800
From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...>
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Birds of the World Interactive Phylogeny Explorer
Message-ID:
<CAPbe3Q7DbjYz6BOxVzdk_nhgRg1Z8XnMc0x-ui65YmaiwYkVOw...>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
For those that do not get emails from Cornell Lab: Birds of the World
launches interactive phylogeny explorer illustrating evolutionary
relationships of all 11,000+ bird species. A great place to get
information on all our birds.
Date: 2/20/26 2:25 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 2-19-2026
Tweeters,
A cold morning start both for the 11 of us and for the birds at JBLM's Eagle's Pride GC on Thursday: 37degF-40degF and only 28 species were seen. Perhaps the cold breeze kept down the numbers of chickadee species, but the fact that no Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen or heard was very different for this extensive forested site. This is the second month of the winter that no nuthatches were found: also none in December, which was during a very wet day. Of note were the following species:
AMERICAN ROBIN - 101. This contrasts with only 2 seen last month.
BUFFLEHEAD - 14
MOURNING DOVE - 18 at the usual spot we've found them in the Dupont housing area during the winter.
VARIED THRUSH - 3, the first found this winter.
The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM from March-October and 9:00AM November to February. The starting point is the Driving Range building, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. (Turn left immediately after entering the parking lot to take the road leading to the driving range building.) Upcoming walks include the following:
* February 19
* March 19
* April 16
Everyone is welcome to join us!
From the eBirdPNW report:
28 species
American Wigeon 24 At the 9th hole pond.
Mallard 2
Ring-necked Duck 3
Bufflehead 14
Hooded Merganser 2 At the Maintenance Pond. A male was found there in January.
Mourning Dove 18 In the usual winter site in the Dupont housing area.
Date: 2/20/26 11:42 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - January 2026
Hi Tweeters
There were 108 species that we could confirm in Edmonds in January 2026. To put this the context of recent years, we ended January 2025 with 99 species and January 2024 with 109.
Most expected waterfowl were reported in January. The rarer species were Greater White-fronted Goose (code 3), Cackling Goose (code 3), Trumpeter Swan (code 4), and Long-tailed Duck (code 3).
Among the pigeons and doves, Rock Pigeon and Band-tailed Pigeon were seen in January.
Among the rails and cranes, Virginia Rail (code 2) and American Coot (code 3) were reported in Edmonds marsh.
Shorebird sightings included Killdeer (code 1), Black Turnstone (code 3), and Surfbird (code 3). One Dunlin (code 3) was photographed in the marsh. The expected winter alcids were reported: Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, Pigeon Guillemot, and Common Murre.
Along with the expected species gulls (Bonaparte’s, Short-billed, California, and Glaucous-winged) and hybrid gulls, there was one adult Western Gull (code 4) photographed on the waterfront. A single Heermann’s Gull was reported and confirmed in eBird, likely due to multiple January reports with photographs of this species at Kingston.
The expected and reported grebes were Pied-billed, Horned, Red-necked, and Western.
All three expected loon species (Red-throated, Pacific, Common) were reported at various sites along the Edmonds shoreline. All three cormorant species (Brandt’s, Pelagic, Double-crested) were reported. Among the pelicans and herons, only Great Blue Heron was reported.
Birds of Prey included Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Bald Eagle, and Red-tailed Hawk. Barred Owl (code 2) was reported at Hutt, Pine Ridge, and Yost Parks. Great Horned Owl (code 3) was reported in the neighborhoods of Yost Park and City Park. For the falcons, there were two Merlin (code 2) reports in neighborhoods near Yost and City Parks.
All of the expected woodpeckers were seen in January: Red-breasted Sapsucker (once in Yost Park), Hairy, Downy, and Pileated Woodpeckers, as well as many Northern Flickers.
Hutton’s Vireo was heard several times during the month at Yost Park and once at Edmonds marsh. Steller’s Jay, American Crow, and the rarer Common Raven (code 3) were all reported.
All of the expected smaller passerines were reported: chickadees, kinglets, nuthatch, creeper, and wrens. As expected, American Robin was the most frequently reported thrush in January. Varied and Hermit Thrushes were reported several times at Yost and Pine Ridge Parks and in the vicinity of the marsh. Cedar Waxwings were reported several times around the marsh and waterfront.
January reports of finches included House and Purple Finches, 1 Red Crossbill (code 3), Pine Siskin, and American Goldfinch. The adult male Lesser Goldfinch (code 5) continued intermittently at the feeders where it was first reported in late November 2024. All of the expected sparrows appeared, including White-throated Sparrow (code 3).
Between 1 and 3 Western Meadowlarks (code 3) were seen at the marsh five times and once at the waterfront in January. Red-winged Blackbirds were reported at Pine Ridge and Hickman Parks, the marsh and waterfront, and the Edmonds Lake Ballinger neighborhood. The high count was 35 birds. There were no reports of Brewer’s Blackbird or Brown-headed Cowbird.
Among the warblers, there were reports of Orange-crowned Warbler at the waterfront, marsh, and in birders’ yards in the Pine Ridge and Lake Ballinger neighborhoods. Yellow-rumped Warblers (code 1) were at multiple locations throughout January. Townsend’s Warbler (code 2) was reported at the marsh and in Hickman, Yost, Pine Ridge, and Mathay Ballinger Parks. There were also several yard reports of this warbler.
We declined to add a number of rarer species that lacked any details in eBird checklists: Canvasback (code 4), Wilson’s Snipe (code 3), Ancient Murrelet (code 3), Ring-billed Gull (code 3), American Herring Gull (code 4), and Lincoln’s Sparrow (code 3).
Please be careful with gulls. There continue to be some pretty high numbers of Glaucous-winged Gulls being reported in eBird, one as high as 66 birds. Most of these are probably the much more common Western x Glaucous-winged hybrids. As I have said before, I was once advised by an eBird reviewer that large white-headed gulls seen at a distance are best reported as Western/Glaucous-winged Gulls. These are situations in which it would be nearly impossible to separate Glaucous-winged from hybrid gulls. Ring-billed Gull is a challenging code 3 species in Edmonds, seen annually but sometimes only a single bird. This gull does not favor exposed shorelines such as exist in Edmonds, particularly in winter. The most promising winter location here is the Edmonds side of Lake Ballinger. Early cycle Short-billed and California Gulls get mistaken for Ring-billed Gulls when an observer only notes a ring on the bill. We wait for accurate ID photos or complete descriptions of critical field marks before adding rarer species, such as Ring-billed, Western, American Herring, and Iceland Gulls. Please remember that even though a species may be on eBird’s basic county checklist, that does not suggest even distribution throughout the county or even particularly high numbers. On the eBird Help page, you can click on a link called “How to Document Your Sightings” that provides helpful information on what to add to the details field in a checklist.
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 January 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
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 2/20/26 10:26 am From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birds of the World Interactive Phylogeny Explorer
For those that do not get emails from Cornell Lab: Birds of the World
launches interactive phylogeny explorer illustrating evolutionary
relationships of all 11,000+ bird species. A great place to get
information on all our birds.
Date: 2/19/26 10:02 pm From: Randy Robinson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birder's Dashboard
Early this week, I implemented a security enhancement in Birder's Dashboard. A couple of people have reported problems getting the dashboard to load. I believe that there are some older URLs (web addresses) floating around.
Click or tap on the version of the dashboard you use. This will load the latest version. For the people who have reported the problem, this has fixed it.
I apologize if you have had difficulty with the dashboard the last few days. If you continue to have problems, please let me know.
Date: 2/19/26 8:17 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday at Nisqually
A fine late winter morning, cool, just above freezing, but clear and windless to start. From the Visitor's Center deck we saw Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead, Mallards and watched a Pied-billed Grebe catch and eat it's fishy breakfast. A Red-breasted Sapsucker watched us briefly from a nearby snag before departing. A few Canada Geese have chosen the grass tufts in the center of the pond as their nest site.
American Crows called and passed overhead as we walked to the orchard. A Mourning Dove perched in the top of a bare Pear Tree above an American Robin. Chickadees and Kinglets flitted in the trees at the entrance to the play area. A male Anna's Hummingbird perched in the top of a small cedar tree, his emerald back shining in the morning sun. We spent an unnecessary amount of energy and time debating that age old question "Is this a Cooper's or a Sharp-shinned Hawk? The hawk in question was by itself, back to us in an Alder tree near the Maintenance Compound fence. We reached no consensus.
The flooded fields produced the usual duck species, lots of American Coot, Red-winged Blackbirds, lots of Robins. A Great Blue Heron stood watch on the west edge of the swampy field while a Northern Harrier patrolled from the air. From the west side of the loop trail we saw another Pied-billed Grebe, it's chosen meal, a bullfrog. A Marsh Wren shared the reeds with Song Sparrows. Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhees, Bewick's Wren, and a Downy Woodpecker made appearances along the loop trail. Yellow-rumped Warblers were a happy surprise.
By the time we reached the dike the tide was far out leaving mostly mud to scan. Another Harrier hunted to the north, gulls, mostly Ring-billed, were few, and ducks fewer still. The wind had picked up and several of the group turned around after exposure to the unabated cold breeze. McAllister Creek held Bufflehead, Wigeon, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, and Horned Grebe. A Spotted Sandpiper and several Greater Yellowlegs dotted its banks. From the Puget Sound viewing platform several Brant Geese were mixed with the distant ducks, more Red-breasted Mergansers, a few more Horned Grebes, Surf Scoters and Bufflehead. Brandt's Cormorants were on the channel marker, a few Double-crested Cormorants swam in the water and sat on piling. A small flock of Least Sandpipers flew overhead but did not stick around. Brief flurries of rain were brought in by the gusting storm front as we returned to the dike. More Golden-crowned Sparrows and an Orange-crowned Warbler were in the shelter of the Willows on the south side of the dike.
At the Nisqually River viewing platform we saw several Common Merganser and a female Common Goldeneye. Only after returning to the visitors Center to end the walk and finish our tally did we see a hairy Woodpecker and on the way out an American Kestrel. The complete checklist follows:
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Feb 18, 2026 7:54 AM - 2:28 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.408 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Temp 31° - 44°F, SE wind 0-12 mph. No precipitation until end of walk.
60 species (+7 other taxa)
Brant 8
Cackling Goose 150
Canada Goose 7
Northern Shoveler 150
Gadwall 16
American Wigeon 500
Mallard 125
Northern Pintail 100
Green-winged Teal 150
Ring-necked Duck 4
Surf Scoter 100
Bufflehead 200
Common Goldeneye 40
Hooded Merganser 2
Common Merganser 8
Red-breasted Merganser 30
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 12
Mourning Dove 1
Anna's Hummingbird 2
American Coot 120
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 15
Least Sandpiper 14
Short-billed Gull 40
Ring-billed Gull 25
California Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 12
Larus sp. 75
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Horned Grebe 6
Brandt's Cormorant 9
Double-crested Cormorant 20
Great Blue Heron 12
Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk 1
Northern Harrier 2
Bald Eagle 13
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Continuing female.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1 Male sharing same small tree with Yellow-shafted female.
American Kestrel 1
American Crow 40
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1
Tree Swallow 1 Heard only by Bruce.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8
Golden-crowned Kinglet 30
Brown Creeper 7
Marsh Wren 4
Bewick's Wren 4
European Starling 12
American Robin 21
Purple Finch 2
Fox Sparrow 3
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 35
Song Sparrow 20
Spotted Towhee 6
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 2
Date: 2/19/26 7:14 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-02-19
Tweets - It was about as typical a February day as you could get this morning. Temps ranging from 32-38, cloudy, pretty quiet, few surprises. One of the biggest surprises was the lack of precipitation beyond a few snowflakes (not even Flurries, since we could actually have counted the number of flakes we saw).
Highlights: Horned Grebe - I was able to confirm that the tiny white dots on the lake were, in fact, Horned Grebe Barred Owl - Matt was accosted (but not hit) by one pre-dawn near the "Mysterious Thicket". First of Year (FOY) Pileated Woodpecker - Pair heard and glimpsed, and later seen up close Northern Shrike - East Meadow, seen from the Viewing Mound Varied Thrush - One heard singing across the slough from the Lake Platform. Only our 2nd of the winter! Western Meadowlarks - A dozen on the grass soccer fields
After hearing them often, we found the pair working a short snag near the South Picnic Shelter (due east of the concert stage). We were able to get within a few feet of them as they worked extensively on the trunk. They paid us no attention at all.
We had only nine species singing today, down significantly from last week. There also were just way fewer birds around.
Misses today included Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Cooper's Hawk, Bushtit, and Pine Siskin.
For the day, 52 species. Adding Barred Owl, we're up to 73 species for 2026.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 2/19/26 11:50 am From: Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Kayaking and birding in Port Susan
The weather might not be to most people's taste today, but it's
fast getting toward the time of year when I start thinking more about
kayaking. Sea kayaking during the last 30 years comprises a large fraction
of the time that I've spent looking at or for birds. One of my favorite
places, and certainly the one with the least challenging kayaking, is Port
Susan, just north of Everett. I've only kayaked, so you will have to use
your own judgement about other forms of boating like canoeing or
paddleboarding.
Obligatory warning: Sea water in Washington is almost as cold in summer as
in winter. Port Susan is one of the few places that I kayak without
wearing a wetsuit or drysuit, but that only applies if you stay quite close
to shore at all times (about 50 yards or so, depending on your re-entry
skills). Ideally, you should have a group of at least three boats for
mutual support, although that won’t help much unless everyone has some
basic rescue and towing skills.
Also, at any season of the year you should check the MARINE weather
forecast to be sure the wind will not exceed what you are happy with. The
“Admiralty Inlet” zone is probably the best indicator of conditions in Port
Susan. Keep the multiple hours of sun exposure in mind in summer, too. End
of gloom and doom lecture.
Port Susan is the most interesting Washington sea kayaking venue for
relative beginners (in my arrogant opinion), due to the dramatic tidal
action. It also has some excellent bird life in most seasons of the year. I
have seen dozens of Bald Eagles in early spring (March, IIRC) which were
probably the birds who had gathered on the Skagit River for the late winter
salmon run and were waiting for longer days to disperse to territories in
the North. Spring can also have sizable flocks of shorebirds, which may be
chased around by falcons. Summer is a bit less dramatic, but typically
there will be quite a few Great Blue Herons standing in the shallow water
along the tide line. In the fall/winter this is an active area of
waterfowl hunting, so take that into consideration.
The ideal time to go is on a day when there is a low tide in the late
morning or very near noon, preferably a “minus tide” but definitely below
about +2 feet. If you launch from the aptly named Kayak Point County Park,
at or about an hour after low tide, you will have a short paddle north
before reaching the edge of a large sand-flat filling the head of the bay. On
a good minus tide, I believe the area of exposed flats exceeds five square
miles. Unlike most locations on days of big tides, there is virtually no
current here because it is a dead-end bay, so you don’t need to worry about
that.
The boating goal is to find the “channel” that the river water is coming
out of and paddle up it into the tide flat. The water is quite murky, and
there are lots of areas of very shallow water outside the actual channel,
so you may run aground even in a kayak before you can see the bottom. It’s
an amusing puzzle to find the somewhat twisty route in which you can
actually make progress. The Stillaguamish River “delta” really has only
two distributaries: one south near the village of Warm Beach and one that
runs west just south of the marsh that connects Camano “Island” to the
shore, which is far out of the way when coming from Kayak Point, so you’ll
be looking for the former channel.
Once you work your way a few hundred yards up in to the flats, it’s
interesting to pull your boats up on the highest bit of sand you can find
and sit on them for a while watching birds (bring a thermos of tea, maybe,
although beware that there are no concealed places out here for a
pee-break). If you wait just a little while as the tide rises, soon the
water will catch up and surround you. It’s pretty interesting how fast the
sand-flats disappear once you get about two hours past low tide. Don’t
leave your boats unattended!
If you are really persistent, you will reach a couple of salt marsh islands
that you can see on a satellite photo northwest of Warm Beach. I’ve
usually turned back before I made it that far.
Note on parking: There is an entry fee for Kayak Point Park, and parking
at the beach fills up on weekends when the weather is nice. I have not
been there in the last few years, so I can’t say for sure when it maxes out
on the weekends, but if don’t arrive pretty early (10 AM? 11???) you may
have to unload your boats by the boat ramp then park up the hill. Since
you don’t want to launch before low tide, if you park earlier you may want
to have a picnic lunch or bring a frisbee to play on the lawn while waiting
for the tide. Don’t start paddling before low tide, because the fun here
is mostly watching the sand-flats disappear.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions about this or other areas
for kayak birding. I've been around the San Juans a lot and most of
Washington's other salt water shoreline somewhat.
Date: 2/18/26 7:51 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Winter Trip to Okanogan Highlands and Waterville Plateau 2/13-2/16/2026
Dear Tweets,
Twelve of us had another very nice WOS Winter Trip to the Okanogan Highlands and Waterville Plateau over the President's Day Weekend. As you may know, no snow fell until Monday 2/16 when the Waterville Plateau received several inches. This was super helpful for observing large flocks of HORNED LARK. All chickens and winter specialties were tough to find, but there were good numbers of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and RED CROSSBILLS (2,4). We observed 82 species. I've pasted our eBird Trip Report below for your reference.
On Friday, our going over day, we stopped by Debbie Sutherland's home in Cashmere and got great looks at LESSER GOLDFINCH, MERLIN, and two COOPER'S HAWKS hunting CALIFORNIA QUAIL. Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee had over 1000 AMERICAN WIGEON which were flagged due to their number, but no Eurasian Wigeon. Although we spotted our only BARROW'S GOLDENEYE through the scope on the other side of the River, there was little diversity of ducks on the water. We ascended Badger Mountain and spotted a NORTHERN SHRIKE. The summit was good for numerous RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and RED CROSSBILL. We also observed WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. From Waterville we took SR 2 to L Road SE/Woods Road NE/Heritage Road NE/Road L NE. Along the way we had nice views of a PRAIRIE FALCON just east of Farmer. We unsuccessfully searched for Snowy Owl in the Atkins Lake area. Good news: we had several nice sightings of AMERICAN TREE SPARROW in the bramble lining the different roadways along Heritage Road NE. We also spotted several ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKs and near 10th Road we had two SHORT-EARED OWLs and a ghost or male NORTHERN HARRIER. We spent the late afternoon unsuccessfully looking for Snowy Owl reported three weeks earlier on H Road NE and Road G NE, northeast of Mansfield, but we did manage to observe a breeding pair of GREAT HORNED OWLs.
On Saturday we headed to the Okanogan Highlands. At our first stop along Fancher Road Loop we observed two GOLDEN EAGLEs restoring their nests on the cliff face with sticks. Thanks to a local hunter, this reminded me to scan for a sentinel male CHUKAR keeping watch for its covey. Sure enough, we spotted a single male watching the eagle and us as well. We did not see any Chukar on our scout two weeks previously, and without snow this species is tough to locate in the winter. The cows are calving at the farm so there are plenty of BALD EAGLE, COMMON RAVEN and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE foraging on the afterbirth. South Siwash Creek had no snow so we did not see any Sharp-tailed Grouse, but there were plenty of RED CROSSBILLs, CASSIN'S FINCHs, Chickadees and Nuthatches to enjoy. We also got great looks at a RUFFED GROUSE feeding on Water Birch and a quick look at TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. Where the road turns away from Siwash Creek, just above the area of water birch usually visited by Sharp-tailed Grouse in the winter, a human resident living in a yurt resides on the south side of the road. This resident asked us not to birdwatch near his home. He thinks watching birds is cool, but dislikes people pointing binoculars in the direction of his home. Siwash Creek north was equally good for Crossbills, Cassin's Finch, Chickadees, Nuthatches and HAIRY WOODPECKER. We also spotted three EVENING GROSBEAKS in an ornamental tree next to one of the homes immediately adjacent to the road. The Highlands Sno-Park was good for CLARK'S NUTCRACKER during the day and both GREAT HORNED OWL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL at dusk. On Havillah Road some of our group observed 6 GRAY PARTRIDGE flush as ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK flew from its power pole perch just south of Nealy Road. We could not relocate the Snow Bunting on Windermuth Road, but we likely observed a SHORT-EARED OWL just before dusk. The north side of the Sitzmark Ski Hill on Havillah was good for NORTHERN PYGMY OWL, where on my scout trip we observed a pair breeding. I dropped off seed at the Nealy Road Feeders or Highland Meadows, but the feeders only had DARK-EYED JUNCOs. Mary Ann Creek Road provided a sighting of Khanh Tran and PILEATED WOODPECKER. We also had a wonderful look at two NORTHERN-PYGMY OWLs breeding where Mary Ann Creek meets Fields Road. As we started out on Davies Road, the back half of our caravan observed a few SNOW BUNTINGs. Davies Road offered good additional views of NORTHERN SHRIKE and RUFFED GROUSE. We did not reach Chesaw, nor did we observe any waxwings, redpolls, grosbeaks, white-winged crossbills, three toed woodpeckers or great gray owl.
There was a good amount of snow along Mary Ann Creek Road, so I toyed with the idea of heading back to the highlands first thing Sunday morning but decided instead to stick with my standard route of birding Scotch Creek, Happy Hill Road, Salmon Creek Road and Conconully. Again, there is no snow, so we did not see Sharp-tailed Grouse at Scotch Creek Wildlife area. We observed a GREAT HORNED OWL on Happy Hill Road as well as a dead GRAY PARTRIDGE hit by a car that I will take to the University of Puget Sound Natural History Museum. Salmon Creek Road was good for AMERICAN DIPPER and offered great views of PYGMY NUTHATCH. With additional sightings of RED CROSSBILLs and CASSIN'S FINCHes. Some of the group were able to get on and have decent looks at a low flying adult AMERICAN GOSHAWK. I hate to say it, but things were slow in Conconully. We observed a TOWNSEND's SOLITAIRE in town and located a Hairy Woodpecker on the North Fork Rd. The butte at Riverside Cut-off was spectacular for CANYON WREN, the showiest bird of the trip sang from the talus, came right in for playback, and posed and sang for an extended time. Meanwhile GOLDEN EAGLE, BALD EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK and AMERICAN KESTREL flew overhead. Cameron Lake Road was productive for good observation of HAIRY WOODPECKER, PYGMY NUTHATCH, small numbers of SNOW BUNTING, HORNED LARK and GREAT HORNED OWL. On the south side of Cameron Lake Road, just above SR 97, we had distant scope views of TRUMPETER SWAN, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, BUFFLEHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK all on the south side of Monse Bridge. We did not try to relocate the Swamp Sparrow we observed at the boat launch on the scout trip as we were short on daylight. We finally made it to Bridgeport State Park where we observed NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, GREAT HORNED OWL, NORTHERN FLICKER, and plenty of CALIFORNIA QUAIL. After dinner in Brewster, we did some owling at got some decent looks at LONG-EARED OWL and WESTERN SCREECH both in Okanogan County.
On Monday, our going home day, we finally had snow with a heavy blanket covering the Waterville Plateau. We had distant looks at GREATER SAGE GROUSE that were already displaying despite the heavy snowfall. Following a tip from Nathaneal Swecker, we checked a report of Snowy Owl near Atkins Lake, at Rd 1 NE and Woods Rd NE, but could not relocate it. We had wonderful, up-close views of a PRAIRIE FALCON. Again, the snowfall made for wonderful observation of HORNED LARK. While enjoying a large flock on Rd I SW south of SR 2 we had nice scope views of a non-breeding LAPLAND LONGSPUR.
We observed 82 species for the trip and really missed the snow. Overall, species like Bohemian Waxwing and Redpolls are much harder to find and we did not see them this year. Without the snow, chickens were really tough to get on and Snow Bunting are much less abundant. I did not have time to try and relocate the Harris Sparrow reported on Washburn Island, and as usual, I ran out of daylight to get to several spots like Chesaw, Bolster Road, Hess Lake, Washburn Island, Monse Bridge, Heritage Marker lake Pateros overlook, Lake Pateros Overlooks, Bridgeport Bar, Central Ferry Canyon and the North West section of Waterville Plateau. Aside from that, the birding in the group was really good. We observed some specialties, such as the Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting and Northern Saw-whet Owl. We also observed a Golden Eagle and breeding Northern Pygmy Owl. With the new snow and a recent report of a Snowy Owl, there is still time to see plenty of cool stuff on the Plateau and in the Highlands. Thanks to all the awesome birders that joined this WOS trip, they were great spotters and a lot of fun to bird with.
Date: 2/18/26 1:21 pm From: Rob Faucett via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Missing scope?
From @Washington Hunters:
“Anyone in here loose a spotting scope in the chelan area let me know what kind and we're you might have lost it i found one shed hunting today”
—
Rob Faucett
+1(206) 619-5569
<robfaucett...>
Seattle, WA 98105 _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 2/18/26 11:52 am From: HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders (yes)
My email got all screwed up (hacked, I guess) with everything going straight to trash. Working my way through it. There was no invitation.
Hal Michael
Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
<ucd880...>
> On 02/18/2026 9:17 AM PST Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> I forwarded Mason’s message to Hal (I have his email address), but I have not heard back from him.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
>
> > On Feb 18, 2026, at 2:53 AM, Kim Thorburn via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> wrote:
> > I would be suspicious of phishing. About a year ago, my email was similarly hacked.
> >
> > Kim
> >
> > Kim Marie Thorburn, MD, MPH
> > Spokane, WA
> > (509) 465-3025 home
> > (509) 599-6721 cell-please use for texting
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------
> > From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> mailto:<tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> > > Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 4:06 AM
> > To: <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> > > Subject: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders (yes)
> >
> > Hal is indeed a respected, fully legitimate individual and devoted, long-time naturalist (though a pretty fishy one), who is on the Board of the non-profit, Ecologists without Borders. Please read about him and the organization in any number of web places, such as the organization’s website https://www.ecowb.org/the-team Best wishes.
> >
> > Elaine Chuang
> > Seattle
> > elc at uw dot edu
> >
> >
> >
> > From: Mason Flint via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> > > Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 11:27 AM
> > To: Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> > > Subject: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders?
> >
> > I received an e-vite to a meeting from Hal Michael for what looks like an online meeting for an organization called Ecologists Without Borders.
> >
> > I'm interested but reluctant to click the link because of risk if phishing. I think Hal may be in Tweeters? Has anyone else seen this and know it's legit?
> >
> > Mason Flint
> > Seattle, WA
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...> mailto:<Tweeters...> > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 2/18/26 9:28 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders (yes)
I forwarded Mason’s message to Hal (I have his email address), but I have not heard back from him.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Feb 18, 2026, at 2:53 AM, Kim Thorburn via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I would be suspicious of phishing. About a year ago, my email was similarly hacked.
>
> Kim
>
> Kim Marie Thorburn, MD, MPH
> Spokane, WA
> (509) 465-3025 home
> (509) 599-6721 cell-please use for texting
>
> From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> <mailto:<tweeters-bounces...>> on behalf of Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> > Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 4:06 AM
> To: <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...> <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> > Subject: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders (yes)
>
> Hal is indeed a respected, fully legitimate individual and devoted, long-time naturalist (though a pretty fishy one), who is on the Board of the non-profit, Ecologists without Borders. Please read about him and the organization in any number of web places, such as the organization’s website https://www.ecowb.org/the-team <https://www.ecowb.org/the-team> Best wishes.
>
> Elaine Chuang
> Seattle
> elc at uw dot edu
>
>
>
> From: Mason Flint via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> > Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 11:27 AM
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> > Subject: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders?
>
> I received an e-vite to a meeting from Hal Michael for what looks like an online meeting for an organization called Ecologists Without Borders.
>
> I'm interested but reluctant to click the link because of risk if phishing. I think Hal may be in Tweeters? Has anyone else seen this and know it's legit?
>
> Mason Flint
> Seattle, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters>
Date: 2/18/26 8:30 am From: HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Invitation from Hal Michael
Apparently my email account was hacked by one of those "you're invited" scams.
Two things. The first is that I had nothing to do with it and it is/was a scam.
The second is that Ecologists Without Borders is a real thing. A volunteer organization working on projects around the world to bring environmental sustainability to people and ecosystems. If you are interested in EcoWB check out their website or contact me at the email address below.
Hal Michael Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) <ucd880...>
Date: 2/18/26 3:04 am From: Kim Thorburn via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders (yes)
I would be suspicious of phishing. About a year ago, my email was similarly hacked.
Kim
Kim Marie Thorburn, MD, MPH
Spokane, WA
(509) 465-3025 home
(509) 599-6721 cell-please use for texting
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 4:06 AM
To: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders (yes)
Hal is indeed a respected, fully legitimate individual and devoted, long-time naturalist (though a pretty fishy one), who is on the Board of the non-profit, Ecologists without Borders. Please read about him and the organization in any number of web places, such as the organizations website https://www.ecowb.org/the-team Best wishes.
Elaine Chuang
Seattle
elc at uw dot edu
From: Mason Flint via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 11:27 AM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders?
I received an e-vite to a meeting from Hal Michael for what looks like an online meeting for an organization called Ecologists Without Borders.
I'm interested but reluctant to click the link because of risk if phishing. I think Hal may be in Tweeters? Has anyone else seen this and know it's legit?
Date: 2/17/26 11:17 pm From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders (yes)
Hal is indeed a respected, fully legitimate individual and devoted, long-time naturalist (though a pretty fishy one), who is on the Board of the non-profit, Ecologists without Borders. Please read about him and the organization in any number of web places, such as the organization’s website https://www.ecowb.org/the-team Best wishes.
Elaine Chuang
Seattle
elc at uw dot edu
From: Mason Flint via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 11:27 AM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders?
I received an e-vite to a meeting from Hal Michael for what looks like an online meeting for an organization called Ecologists Without Borders.
I'm interested but reluctant to click the link because of risk if phishing. I think Hal may be in Tweeters? Has anyone else seen this and know it's legit?
Date: 2/17/26 10:59 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Monthly Meeting, March 2, 2026 (on-line only)
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, March 2, 2026, Madison Mayfield will present, "A Different Kind of Life List: A Career Painting, Curating & Taxidermying Birds." What goes on in a natural history museum like the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington (Seattle)? And why have them? Filled with far more than just a lot of "stuffed animals," these collections are time-capsule libraries of biological diversity, and an irreplaceable, verifiable record of Life on Earth.
Madison Mayfield is a museum professional, educator, natural history artist and taxidermist as well as a scientific illustrator. She holds a BS in Conservation Biology and a certificate in Natural History Illustration from the University of Washington. For the past 8 years, she has worked in natural history museums around the world as a preparator, educator, outreach director and now is a collections manager at the Burke. Madison is also a skilled artist and scientific illustrator. We'll learn about the art of taxidermy and why dead birds are more important than ever as Madison takes us along a path from painting birds to sewing up a Cassowary in Australia to banding hummingbirds in Colombia!
This meeting will be conducted virtually, via Zoom (no in-person attendance). Sign-in will begin at 7:15 pm, and the meeting commences at 7:30 pm. 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
Date: 2/17/26 6:07 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] JBLM Eagles Pride Golf Course Monthly Birdwalk - Thursday, February 19 - 9:00AM Start
Hi Tweeters,
The next Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) birdwalk is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, at 9:00AM.
The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders do the tour d'course the third Thursday of every month. We meet at 9:00AM<outlook-data-detector://2> through February 2026. (Change to 8:00AM in March.)
Starting point is the Driving Range Tee, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. When you turn into the course entrance, take an immediate left onto the road to the driving range - that's where we meet.
Also, to remind folks that haven't been here before, even though Eagle's Pride is a US Army recreation facility, you don't need any ID to attend these birdwalks. Hope you're able to make it!
Current weather forecast is 37degF-42degF start to finish (RealFeel 35-43) with a possibility of some snow flurries. As always, dress for success!
Date: 2/17/26 11:37 am From: Mason Flint via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hal Michael - Ecologists without Birders?
I received an e-vite to a meeting from Hal Michael for what looks like an online meeting for an organization called Ecologists Without Borders.
I'm interested but reluctant to click the link because of risk if phishing. I think Hal may be in Tweeters? Has anyone else seen this and know it's legit?
Date: 2/17/26 10:55 am From: Peggy Mundy via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] email
I often find my "tweeters" emails get diverted to the Spam folder for some reason.
Peggy Mundy, Bothell
<peggy_busby...> on Instagram
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 10:29:27 AM PST, Diann MacRae via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Hi again - I received four quick responses to my earlier email. One commented that I may have missed messages from (named) people. I don't know what to do since everything is the same on my computer, i.e. no problem with other messages but the last email I received was a vulture report and absolutely nothing since (until just now). I realize Tweeters is not happy with my vulture reports which I have done the same way for many, many years, but maybe it wasn't to be any more. I have not done anything differently, that is, changed anything. Ok, that's enuf. Thanks for the responses I got, much appreciated. Cheers, Diann
Diann MacRae
Olympic Vulture Study
22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E.
Bothell, WA 98021
<tvulture...>
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<Tweeters...>
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