Date: 11/13/26 7:17 pm From: Marcus Roening via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Not one, but Two TKs show up in T-Town
Hi Tweets,
On Tuesday, a Tropical Kingbird showed up on the banks of the Puyallup
River in Tacoma found by Mike Charest. And then one bird rapidly turned
into two birds, with a penchant for perching on a lone large Agave plant
- somehow fitting. The location is about one block north of
Gog-le-hi-te for those who've birded the tideflats. The birds were
still present on Friday. This is the first county record in eBird.
The actual location is the 'Gull Bathing Spot' on eBird - and yes, there
are usually plenty of gulls to sort through here. Or put in the address
1792 Stewart Street, Tacoma. There are a few parking spots on the right
side of the road on the last curve just as you see the levee for the
river. Access is via the yellow gate to get up on the levee. This is
all on the East Bank of the Puyallup River and the Agave is on the West
Bank. A scope really helps. It is possible to get a couple of sight
lines through the business with dogs on the west side, but the overall
viewing is better from the east side. They have been observed flying
over to the east side on a few occasions.
And if you're in the area, the long staying Rock Wren was seen on
Thursday at Hidden Beach within Titlow Beach Park.
I was in the Skagit area on October 26. We found two large flocks of Snow Geese. One on Fir Island close to Conway, and the other in fields just N of Bow on Chuckanut Dr. Sent from my iPad _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/13/26 4:59 pm From: William Driskell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Reply: Whither the Snow Geese?
Without directed effort, we saw a couple hundred snow geese on Wed at
48.364582, -122.340988 snuggled up against the west side of the train
dike. Also, 100-ish swans in flight. Possible sightings of 7
additional swans aswimming, 4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle
doves and a partridge in a pear tree were not confirmed.
Date: 11/13/26 4:40 pm From: Steve Loitz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Raptors in Seattle: Congratulations to Ed Deal, Nov 2026
Congrats to Ed, a worthy recipient!
Steve Loitz
Ellensburg
On Fri, Nov 13, 2026 at 10:04 AM Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> In 2003. based upon foundational work by The Master, Jack Bettesworth,
> after the demise of that unlucky American Kestrel, the Seattle Cooper's
> Hawk Project (
> https://urbanraptor.org/research/seattle-coopers-hawk-project/) was
> initiated. In 2018, our umbrella organization, the Urban Raptor
> Conservancy (U.R.C.), was founded by Ed Deal, Martin Muller and Patti
> Loesche. Since 2012, Ed and Martin have directed the Cooper's Hawk
> Project, to monitor their changing population density, nesting habits
> (e.g., site fidelity), longevity, fledgling success and dispersal of the
> young hawks, via the use of those all important color-ID bands … compared
> to, "a message in a bottle tossed into the ocean, only useful if later
> found."
>
> Please congratulate Ed on receiving this year’s prestigious Tom Cade Award
> from the Raptor Research Foundation (RRF), here as described on their
> Facebook page (please click on the link to see photos):
> https://www.facebook.com/raptorresearchfoundation/ >
> "Congratulations to Edward Deal, this year's recipient of the Tom Cade
> Award. This is the Raptor Research Foundation's premier conservation award,
> recognizing an individual who has made significant advances in or
> exceptional contributions to the conservation of raptors. The award's scope
> includes all aspects of conservation science and practice pertaining to
> raptors. Ed has banded raptors and conducted fieldwork for nearly 40 years.
> He co-founded the Urban Raptor Conservancy in Seattle in 2018, has been
> involved with the Seattle Peregrine Project for 32 years, and leads the
> Seattle Cooper's Hawk Project. He has provided superb mentorship for many,
> both within and outside the RRF community. Dr. Ursula Valdez, of UW
> Bothell, writes of Ed: 'He has inspired hundreds of people of all ages, and
> his dedication is boundless and infectious: He connects ideas, experiences,
> and people with a deep care for birds of prey.’ Congratulations Ed, and
> thank you for your dedication to raptors, citizen science, and educating
> the next generation of raptor conservationists. To learn more about the Tom
> Cade Conservation Award see here:
> https://raptorresearchfoundation.org/grants.../cade-award >
> Indeed, thank you Ed!
>
> Elaine Chuang, Seattle … in honor of E-2
> elc at uw dot edu
>
>
Date: 11/13/26 12:02 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Clay-colored Sparrow at Edmonds
This morning a Clay-colored Sparrow was found at Brackett’s Landing South, the small park on the south side of the Edmonds ferry terminal. It has been frequenting an area around a large log between the beach and the asphalt path. It is a new Edmonds bird and the fourth record for Snohomish County, if I am correctly reading the eBird species map I made. Look for eBird checklists with photos of this sparrow coming to Birder’s Dashboard for Snohomish County and to your eBird needs alerts, if you have them for this county.
Date: 11/13/26 10:12 am From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Raptors in Seattle: Congratulations to Ed Deal, Nov 2026
In 2003. based upon foundational work by The Master, Jack Bettesworth, after the demise of that unlucky American Kestrel, the Seattle Cooper's Hawk Project (https://urbanraptor.org/research/seattle-coopers-hawk-project/) was initiated. In 2018, our umbrella organization, the Urban Raptor Conservancy (U.R.C.), was founded by Ed Deal, Martin Muller and Patti Loesche. Since 2012, Ed and Martin have directed the Cooper's Hawk Project, to monitor their changing population density, nesting habits (e.g., site fidelity), longevity, fledgling success and dispersal of the young hawks, via the use of those all important color-ID bands … compared to, "a message in a bottle tossed into the ocean, only useful if later found."
Please congratulate Ed on receiving this year’s prestigious Tom Cade Award from the Raptor Research Foundation (RRF), here as described on their Facebook page (please click on the link to see photos): https://www.facebook.com/raptorresearchfoundation/
"Congratulations to Edward Deal, this year's recipient of the Tom Cade Award. This is the Raptor Research Foundation's premier conservation award, recognizing an individual who has made significant advances in or exceptional contributions to the conservation of raptors. The award's scope includes all aspects of conservation science and practice pertaining to raptors. Ed has banded raptors and conducted fieldwork for nearly 40 years. He co-founded the Urban Raptor Conservancy in Seattle in 2018, has been involved with the Seattle Peregrine Project for 32 years, and leads the Seattle Cooper's Hawk Project. He has provided superb mentorship for many, both within and outside the RRF community. Dr. Ursula Valdez, of UW Bothell, writes of Ed: 'He has inspired hundreds of people of all ages, and his dedication is boundless and infectious: He connects ideas, experiences, and people with a deep care for birds of prey.’ Congratulations Ed, and thank you for your dedication to raptors, citizen science, and educating the next generation of raptor conservationists. To learn more about the Tom Cade Conservation Award see here: https://raptorresearchfoundation.org/grants.../cade-award
Date: 11/12/26 8:16 pm From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Whither the Snow Geese?
Hi Jack,
I haven't been up recently but it is hunting season and the geese are smart
-- so they often avoid Fir Island and vicinity this time of year. Did you
look out on the Bay? I often find thousands out on the water, sometimes
closer to Whidbey Island.
If you are in Edison, head out toward Samish Island and there are often
large flocks of snow geese as you make the turn on to Samish Island Rd.
I'm sure others will add more tips.
Ronda
On Thu, Nov 12, 2026 at 7:31 PM Jack Stephens via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Tweeters,
>
> Over the years, I have occasionally had trips in winter to the
> Skagit/Samish flats and failed to find Snow Geese. I know they are
> somewhere around, but just not where I was looking. In the past week that
> has happened to me twice. It is not for lack of trying, my route on the
> first day extended from Boe Road south of Stanwood, up to Fir Island, over
> to La Conner, then up past Bayview to Edison. Today I did the same route in
> reverse. So where should I go on days like this? Any ideas would
> be appreciated.
>
> Jack Stephens
> Edmonds, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/12/26 7:47 pm From: Jack Stephens via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Whither the Snow Geese?
Tweeters,
Over the years, I have occasionally had trips in winter to the Skagit/Samish flats and failed to find Snow Geese. I know they are somewhere around, but just not where I was looking. In the past week that has happened to me twice. It is not for lack of trying, my route on the first day extended from Boe Road south of Stanwood, up to Fir Island, over to La Conner, then up past Bayview to Edison. Today I did the same route in reverse. So where should I go on days like this? Any ideas would be appreciated.
Date: 11/12/26 7:47 pm From: Ellen Cohen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Pelee Island, Canada
A 182.9-metre (600-foot) tower, held up by guy wires and lit at night, is proposed at 1246 Centre Dyke Road on Pelee Island: about the height of a 60-storey building. It is not a cell tower. A U.S.-based trading firm says it would carry its trading data between Chicago and New Jersey. No government has assessed what it would do to the birds and species at risk that depend on the island.
Right in the middle of the mid-Atlantic flyway. The Pelee Island Bird observatory is asking for signatures on a petition to prevent this tower from being built at this site.If interested, there is more info here: https://pibo.ca/en/ _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/12/26 4:12 pm From: Marty Chaney and Jon. Anderson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR Wednesday Walk - 11 November 2026
The weekly Wednesday Walk at Nisqually Refuge began on anovercast, calm & relatively warm (55º F) overcast morning that warmed to abalmy 66ºby the afternoon. Several AmericanCoots, Mallards, a single hen Hooded Merganser, and a couple Pied-billed Grebesgreeted the birders at the Visitors’ Center pond at the 08:00 a.m. start of thewalk, while Song Sparrows and a Pacific Wren called from the pondsidevegetation. Nearly forty birders tookadvantage of the Remembrance Day Holiday - and the break from the rainy weather- to commune with the birds. Missing acouple of our usual walk leaders (Shep and Ken), other Refuge volunteersstepped up to carry on. Followingannouncements of events and introductions, we followed our standard course tothe Refuge’s heritage orchard.
Flights of American Crows flew overhead, with some stopping in thecottonwoods at the east parking lot, on their exodus from their roost at JointBase Lewis-McChord, and flocks of Pine Siskins swarmed into the red alder treesto take advantage of a bountiful alder cone crop. This fall, we have seen Red-breastedNuthatches in the Douglas firs along the entrance road, and today continued thesightings; unusual in previous years.
Near the Educational building, an Anna’s Hummingbird perched,showing off his magenta gorget, and a coy female Hairy Woodpecker teased uswith brief looks. The orchard itself wasrelatively quiet with a few Golden-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhee, andBlack-capped Chickadees. Oregon Juncosare common almost everywhere in the Puget Sound; for some reason, we see few onthe Refuge. Today we saw one near themaintenance yard, and a Red-breasted Sapsucker checked for insects in a peartree near the Land Trust office. Everyone wants to see an owl on the walk, and today a Barred Owl swoopedlow from the planted fir and spruce near the Land Trust building, directly overthe surprised group, and wended its way through the cottonwoods.
Mallards, American Wigeon, Pintail, Green-winged Teal, andB.h. minima Cackling Geese swam in the flooded fields west of the entrance roadand south of the bend in the service road. Sharp-eyed birders spotted a drake Eurasian Wigeon among them. A Red-tailed Hawk perched in a cottonwoodsnag above McAllister Creek. In the fieldwest of the west parking lot, eight Wilson's Snipe hunkered down in the grassbetween the service road and the pond, their heads with long bills were oftenall that was visible. Hundreds ofNorthern Pintails and other dabbling ducks flushed from the flooded field whenan adult Bald Eagle made a pass overhead.
A Cooper’s Hawk perched up near the Refuge office, givingfull-scope views from the parking lot. Then, a string of 28 swans was sighted flying south across theInterstate, and we’d assumed that the birds were the expected TrumpeterSwans. However, the photographers in thegroup verified that the birds were Tundra Swans instead.
Along the wooded section of the boardwalk, a vocal PacificWren announced itself, and Fox Sparrows, a Bewick's Wren, Chickadees, BrownCreepers and both Kinglet species were active. Near the ‘twin benches’ three Downy Woodpeckers and a pair ofRed-breasted Sapsuckers provided great views. Near the Twin Barns, our only warblers for theday were seen, four Yellow-rumped Warblers, and those seen well were theAudubon’s subspecies.
The day had warmed up by the time we got out on the dike,and the breeze picked up a bit. The tidewas ebbing, but the surge plain was still partially flooded, the water holding numbersof American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail and a fewMallards Several more Tundra Swans wereseen, and 14 landed for scope views. Tom saw the Ring-necked Pheasant we’d heardlast week, in the grasses and rushes in the upper surge plain. Surely, a released bird.
Many Red-winged Blackbirds perched up on cattails and in thecrabapples along the dike, a female type Northern Harrier harried the cattails,and a Sora was seen at an opening in the cattail marsh, while a Virginia Railcalled unseen. On the saltwater side, asmall flock of Dunlin mixed with Greater Yellowlegs. Gulls, mostly Ring-billed and Short-billed,were scattered on the water and exposed mud flats.
As we walked out on the estuary boardwalk we were remindedthat it is waterfowl hunting season, and a couple of Nimrods partook of thesport from the State Wildlife Area property on the west bank of McAllisterCreek. Hunting is allowed from theopposite bank and adjacent waters as well as the Deschampsia marsh north of theRefuge, from late October until early February. There were a few Surf Scoters and Double-crested Cormorants in thewater, along with a family of River Otters, and several Harbor Seals huntingfor their meals of starry flounder. A fewgroups of Least Sandpiper and Dunlin foraged along the muddy banks of the Creek. Kyle’ssharp eyes picked out 15 Greater White-fronted Geese resting on the mudflats -barely lighter in colour than the mud, and Matt got the group on a maleNorthern Harrier. A Spotted Sandpiperforaged on the west bank of the creek, a single Red-breasted Merganser flew upthe creek, and a Belted Kingfisher hunted for minnows.
For the protection of Refuge visitors, a gate stops birders’access to the final 200 meters of the boardwalk, as the north terminus of theboards is adjacent to the WDFW lands where hunting is allowed. Viewing from that gate we saw Brandt'sCormorants on a channel marker on Nisqually Reach. Returning south toward the dike, a PeregrineFalcon flushed the gulls and Green-winged Teal. A long discussion was held on the identification of an immatureAccipitrine hunting from a snag in the cattail marsh. Perched on a Sitka Spruce in the surge plain,an American Kestrel was re-sighted for a much better view than we had on theway out.
Our stop at the Nisqually River overlook revealed few birds,as the tide was high, with a Double-crested Cormorant sitting on a root wad,and a few Mallards as the only activity, until we saw four late Swallowsforaging above the river. The birds werehigh and back-lit, but were “white-bellied” with square tails; we could notdetermine whether they were Trees or Violet-greens. Wecontinued south along the east side of the loop trail, seeing few birds untilwe were surprised to find an American Bittern just below the boardwalk! Returning to the Visitors’ Center overlookfor our final tally, a Virginia Rail called from across the pond. See the complete list that follows.
Refuge volunteers lead a walk, welcoming birders of anylevel of experience, every Wednesday. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Visitors’ Center.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, USNov 11, 2026 7:34 AM - 4:26 PMProtocol: Traveling 4.949 miles
Checklist Comments: The Wednesday Walk began overcast and calm at 55º F, with thetemperature rising to 66° F and a south wind at 8-12 knots. A High 14.2-foot Tide at 07:42 this morningebbed to a relatively high +8.1-foot Low water at 1:14 p.m. Others seen included Columbian Black TailedDeer, Harbor Seals and River Otters along McAllister Creek, a Muskrat, dozensof dragonflies, an Orange Sulphur butterfly, and many Pacific chorus frogs.74 species (+7 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) 15 On mud flats in estuary restoration areaCackling Goose (minima) (Branta hutchinsii minima) 800Cackling Goose (Taverner's) (Branta hutchinsiitaverneri) 26Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 37Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) 48Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) 65Gadwall (Mareca strepera) 1Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) 1American Wigeon (Mareca americana) 1650Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 120Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 1350Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 750dabbling duck sp. (Anatidae sp. (dabbling duck sp.)) 500Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) 18Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 9Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 1 in the Visitors' Center pondRed-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 1Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) 1Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (FeralPigeon)) 28Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 2Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 6Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) 2Sora (Porzana carolina) 1American Coot (Fulica americana) 25Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) 12Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 1Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 30Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 80Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 50Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus) 60Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 45Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) 1Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) (Larus occidentalisx glaucescens) 12Western/Glaucous-winged Gull (Larusoccidentalis/glaucescens) 10Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 2 Visitors center pondBrandt's Cormorant (Urile penicillatus) 5 on Nisqually Reach channel markerDouble-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 8American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) 1Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 15Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 1Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) 2Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 3 Female type in cattail marsh; male over salt marshBald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 12 Red-tailed Hawk (Western) (Buteo jamaicensiscalurus/alascensis) 2Barred Owl (Strix varia) 1Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 3Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) 3 One at Land Trust pear tree; 2 west boardsDowny Woodpecker (Pacific) (Dryobates pubescensgairdnerii/turati) 5Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) (Leuconotopicus villosus [harrisiGroup]) 2Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) (Colaptes auratus [caferGroup]) 1American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 1American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 215Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 14Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) 1 HOTree/Violet-green Swallow (Tachycinetabicolor/thalassina) 4 White bellied swallows flying above theriver, seen from the North dike. Tails not forked.Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 9Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 14Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 5Pacific Wren (Nannus pacificus) 4Western Marsh Wren (Cistothorus paludicola) 2Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 4European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 40American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 30Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 2Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 6 Feeding on ash seeds near land trust bldgRed Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) 9Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 185Fox Sparrow (Sooty) (Passerella iliaca [unalaschcensisGroup]) 7Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (Junco hyemalis [oreganusGroup]) 1Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) 22Song Sparrow (Pacific Northwest) (Melospiza melodia [rufinaGroup]) 20Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 1Spotted Towhee (Pacific) (Pipilo maculatus [oregonusGroup]) 7Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) 5Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 180Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 2Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) (Setophaga coronataauduboni) 3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S409881653
Date: 11/12/26 3:46 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-11-12
Tweets - Today was overcast with a bit of fog, and very much colder than yesterday afternoon. As far as birds, it was almost entirely without anything of note.
Highlights: Virginia Rail - Two people caught the barest glimpse of one below the weir. It called about five minutes later, but was never really seen Barred Owl - Matt had one close-up in the East Meadow, very much pre-dawn Red Crossbill - Barely heard a few times Western Meadowlark - About nine on the grass/gravel lot in the NE
We had 1-2 glimpsed ACCIPITRINE hawks, and a late scan of the lake turned up a HORNED GREBE.
Oh, and we saw an AMERICAN BEAVER and a RED-EARED SLIDER (we've had them less than 10 times ever in November)
Misses included Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, definitive Short-billed and Ring-billed Gulls, a definitive Cooper's Hawk, Northern Shrike, Purple Finch, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
For the day, just 50 species plus the Accipitrine hawk(s) and the small unidentified gull(s).
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 11/12/26 2:38 pm From: Beth St George via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Turkey Vulture
Hi Diann, Not sure if you want reports from the San Juan Islands, but I saw one Turkey Vulture over Lopez Village on Lopez Island yesterday. Best, Beth St. George
Date: 11/12/26 1:45 am From: t vulture via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] October 2026 TUVU report
Hi, Tweets - I guess this is just about it for the summer nesting season for our turkey vultures. A few reports from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, but they pretty much dwindled everywhere as October closed down. A nice season for a most interesting bird. I'll do an end of the year report late in December so feel free to send in any reports of lingering groups or individuals. Thanks so much for the great reports this year.
OCTOBER O3 -- One soaring over pond at start of main boardwalk, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston/Pierce counties.
04 -- 247 at 11:09 Freshwater Bay/Elwha, Callam County (Ornis Birding Expeditions:
"Large numbers streaming across the Strait of Juan de Fuca on migration. Scooped one poor soul out of the water, soggy and tired but in OK condition. After giving it a rest in a covered box, we took it close to shore and it flew to a nearby fallen tree, prompting relieved cheers from everyone on board. Godspeed, little friend!"
05 -- Ten at Rooster Rock SP, 09:43, Multnomah County, Oregon; 150 at Race Rocks Lighthouse, noon, B.C.; 40 over Picnic Point, 18:30, Edmonds, Snohomish County; 102 (22 @ 12:11 / 80 @ 12:19) at Heights City Park, Portland, noon-13:00, Multnomah County.
06 -- A kettle of about 100 turkey vultures over downtown Portland in the late afternoon,heading south; a kettle of 30 over Washougal, Clark County.
08 -- 68 at Beach Lake Conservation Area, 11:56, Port Angeles, Clallam County.
09 -- 16 over Lake Ballinger, 11:05, Snohomish County.
10 -- Ten at Delta Ponds, Eugene, at 10:33, Lane County, Oregon.
11 -- 28 flying in formation over Heron Lakes Golf Club at 10:08, Portland; 100-plus migrating across the strait to Freshwater Bay at 11:00.
28 -- One soaring turkey vulture over Gorst, Kitsap County at 10:15.
Have a great holiday season and hope you see lots of good birds.
Eric Antonio Martinez is a great bird guide for the whole southern area of
Mexico. He's one of the best in Mexico. He speaks English and Spanish.
Mirmidons_1987 AT yahoo DOT com.
Georgia Conti
On Wed 11 Nov 2026 at 7:04 p.m. Carla Conway via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi Ron,
>
> I highly recommend Steven Koevoet of Birding with Steven
> <https://www.birdingwithsteven.com/>. He has been birding in the Yucatan
> for decades and is incredibly knowledgeable about the flora, fauna and
> archaeological history of the region. A friend and I took his Rio Lagartos
> and History of the Jungle tours last month and saw over 60 species each
> day, most of them lifers for us.
>
> Happy birding!
>
> Carla
>
> On Wed, Nov 11, 2026 at 4:12 PM rjayrabin via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hi Tweets,
>> Would appreciate any tips on excellent birding guides in the Tulum region
>> of the Yucatan.
>> Many Thanks,
>> Ron Rabin
>> Bellevue
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
I highly recommend Steven Koevoet of Birding with Steven
<https://www.birdingwithsteven.com/>. He has been birding in the Yucatan
for decades and is incredibly knowledgeable about the flora, fauna and
archaeological history of the region. A friend and I took his Rio Lagartos
and History of the Jungle tours last month and saw over 60 species each
day, most of them lifers for us.
Happy birding!
Carla
On Wed, Nov 11, 2026 at 4:12 PM rjayrabin via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi Tweets,
> Would appreciate any tips on excellent birding guides in the Tulum region
> of the Yucatan.
> Many Thanks,
> Ron Rabin
> Bellevue
>
> --
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/10/26 11:07 pm From: Jeff Fleischer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Winter raptor surveys
HI Everyone,
My name is Jeff Fleischer and I am project manager for the Winter Raptor Survey Project sponsored by the East Cascades Bird Alliance based in Bend, OR. In the past, I have posted survey route vacancies to see if any of you might be interested in doing once a month surveys (date of your own choosing) during December through February. November offers an additional opportunity to do a survey but is optional.
This is our 23rd survey season for this project and we have over 500 primary volunteers involved with surveying 660+ routes throughout all of OR, WA, and ID, across the northern tier of CA and UT, throughout the western portion of MT, and along the southern border of BC Canada. Following are the WA routes that I have available for someone to take, the length of the route is in ( ):
Longview West (18)
Chehalis SE (72)
Toledo (62)
Sedro Woolley East (56)
Sedro Woolley North (72)
Orcas Island (34)
San Juan Island (73)
Bridgeport (70)
Almira North (60
Almira South (85)
Republic - Karamin (59)
Chesaw (75)
Rice (53)
Curlew (70)
Chewelah North (43)
Creston (71)
Prosser West (91)
Walla Walla NW (84)
Walla Walla East (53)
White Swan East (73)
If you wish to get involved by taking one of these routes, I would be grateful and will send you additional information to help get you started. These will probably go fast so please contact me as soon as you know which route you wish to take, you might include a second choice if you have one. These surveys are a fun way to get out during the winter months and data collected will help us understand a little more about the winter number and distribution of these great birds. Looking forward to hearing from you, thank you :)
Date: 11/10/26 8:33 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
Dennis,
Several of us in UW Forestry grad school took off one morning (at my behest) and drove over to Avondale Road to see this Vermilion Flycatcher. As I recall, it was spotted by a WDFW (I think from that agency) who was called out by the owner of the property regarding beaver damage. The bio reported it and lots of folks went there, but could only view it from the property owner's fenceline because he didn't want folks on the property.
Thanks for the memory!
May all your birds be identified,
Denis
Denis DeSilvis
avnacrs for birds at outlook.com
May all your birds be identified,
Denis DeSilvis
avnacrs 4 birds at outlook dot com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Tuesday, 10 November 2026 14:26:07
To: Dana Greeley <djgreel1...>
Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
Dana, that bird was the first for Washington, seen from 25 January to 17 March 1988. I saw that bird also, and it is the only one that has been seen in late winter and the only one seen over such a lengthy period. I wonder how many people saw it, as you say long before eBird. Those fortunate people are welcome to respond!
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
On Nov 10, 2026, at 1:49 PM, Dana Greeley via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
In regards to the Vermilion flycatcher.
I recall way back when I used to phone into the rare bird hotline to hear the recorded message telling us nerds what rarities were seen in the area recently.
1 day, on that recorded message, a vermilion flycatcher was reported out in Redmond.
I went and picked up my father, who lived in Bothell at the time.
He taught me to birdwatch and was always better in recognizing the calls, etc.
We drove out to the location, no other cars or people around, and as we got out of the car my dad pointed up to a tree and said, "there it is."
I hadn't even closed my door on the car yet. He took all the 'fun' out of it ; )
At any rate, the point of this story was, this was way before ebird. My dad passed in 2000.
If I had to guess, I'd say this was 1988. And I think it was February... but my memory is a bit fuzzy as to the actual month and year - maybe someone else on here remembers the date better than I?
It was hawking insects and flying back to the same limb. Classic behavior that I've seen down in Arizona. And if I recall correctly, it was a male in vermilion plumage.
Date: 11/10/26 7:19 pm From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
To build off Carol & Dennis’s conversation —
We’ve had 8 prior Vermilion Flycatchers in Washington State -
As Carol mentioned, most have been south of the current bird, though there is one Skagit County record from 1999.
1 from King Co
1 from Skagit Co
1 from Thurston Co
2 prior one from Snohomish County
and 3 from Clark County
All arrived in the window from Oct 23 - Jan 25 [with that first one lingering until Mar 17
Details on the 8 previously accepted records here:
VEFL-1988-1, Redmond, King County, 25 Jan-17 Mar 1988 adult male, photo, Robert Overly, Jeff Skriletz, JoAnne Rosen [p] [WBRC #2 (WA Birds 5:15)] -YES
VEFL-1995-1, Ridgefield NWR, Clark County, 31 Dec 1995-25 Jan 1996 female, photo, Joe Engler [p], Harry Nehls [WBRC #3 (WA Birds 6:24)] -YES
VEFL-1999-1, Fir Island, Skagit County, 23 Oct-10 Nov 1999 adult female, photo, Steve Mlodinow, Robert Kuntz, Dick McNeely [p] [WBRC #5 (WA Birds 8:11)] -YES
VEFL-2002-2, near Florence, Snohomish County, 1 Nov 2002 immature male, Gail Aslanian [WBRC #6 (WA Birds 9:47)] -YES
VEFL-2003-1, Nisqually NWR, Thurston County, 30 Nov 2003 immature male, photo, C. Standridge [p] [WBRC #7 (WA Birds 10:33)] -YES
VEFL-2011-1, Ridgefield NWR, Clark County, 24 Oct-11 Nov 2011, 10,27 Feb 2012 immature, female, photo, Lyn Topinka [p], Gregg Thompson [p], Ryan Shaw [p], Roger Windemuth [p]
[WBRC #10 (Western Birds 47(2): 100)] -YES
VEFL-2013-1, Ridgefield NWR, Clark County, 26 Nov - 6 Dec 2013 immature, photo, Ron Friesz[p], Jack Williamson [p], Brian Pendleton [w, p] [WBRC #11 (Western Birds 50(4): 211)] -YES
VEFL-2018-1, 98th Ave SW, Stanwood, Snohomish County, 3-28 Dec 2018 photo, Maxine Reid [w, p], Tom Mansfield [p], Ryan Merrill [p], Jordan Roderick [p] [WBRC #13 (forthcoming)] -YES
Best,
Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
> On Nov 10, 2026, at 3:11 PM, Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Dennis, plenty of birders have documented the 1988 Redmond Vermilion Flycatcher in eBird. I did not include it in those I listed from the species map that I made because it was south of the current Everett bird. To answer the earlier question posed, I just looked for birds north of Everett.
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern LatitudesDennis Paulson via Tweeters tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Tue Nov 10 14:26:07 PST 2026
> • Previous message: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
> • Next message: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
> • Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
> Dana, that bird was the first for Washington, seen from 25 January to 17 March 1988. I saw that bird also, and it is the only one that has been seen in late winter and the only one seen over such a lengthy period. I wonder how many people saw it, as you say long before eBird. Those fortunate people are welcome to respond!
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/10/26 3:22 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
Dennis, plenty of birders have documented the 1988 Redmond Vermilion Flycatcher in eBird. I did not include it in those I listed from the species map that I made because it was south of the current Everett bird. To answer the earlier question posed, I just looked for birds north of Everett.
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
[Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
Date: 11/10/26 2:47 pm From: Dan McDougall-Treacy via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
Yep. I recall seeing that bird. From the days of the hotline when a caller
needed to know how many species of chickadee are found in Washington in
order to leave a message..
Upon arrival there were a number of automobiles already parked there. My
first chase. There was some idle morbid chat among the assembled about the
possibility of a Cooper's Hawk swooping in and destroying the poor loner.
Dan McDougall-Treacy
On Tue, Nov 10, 2026 at 2:26 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Dana, that bird was the first for Washington, seen from 25 January to 17
> March 1988. I saw that bird also, and it is the only one that has been seen
> in late winter and the only one seen over such a lengthy period. I wonder
> how many people saw it, as you say long before eBird. Those fortunate
> people are welcome to respond!
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> On Nov 10, 2026, at 1:49 PM, Dana Greeley via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> In regards to the Vermilion flycatcher.
> I recall way back when I used to phone into the rare bird hotline to hear
> the recorded message telling us nerds what rarities were seen in the area
> recently.
> 1 day, on that recorded message, a vermilion flycatcher was reported out
> in Redmond.
> I went and picked up my father, who lived in Bothell at the time.
> He taught me to birdwatch and was always better in recognizing the calls,
> etc.
> We drove out to the location, no other cars or people around, and as we
> got out of the car my dad pointed up to a tree and said, "there it is."
> I hadn't even closed my door on the car yet. He took all the 'fun' out of
> it ; )
>
> At any rate, the point of this story was, this was way before ebird. My
> dad passed in 2000.
> If I had to guess, I'd say this was 1988. And I think it was February...
> but my memory is a bit fuzzy as to the actual month and year - maybe
> someone else on here remembers the date better than I?
>
> It was hawking insects and flying back to the same limb. Classic behavior
> that I've seen down in Arizona. And if I recall correctly, it was a male in
> vermilion plumage.
>
> -Dana, Seattle, La Conner
>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
> 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: 11/10/26 2:34 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
Dana, that bird was the first for Washington, seen from 25 January to 17 March 1988. I saw that bird also, and it is the only one that has been seen in late winter and the only one seen over such a lengthy period. I wonder how many people saw it, as you say long before eBird. Those fortunate people are welcome to respond!
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Nov 10, 2026, at 1:49 PM, Dana Greeley via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> In regards to the Vermilion flycatcher.
> I recall way back when I used to phone into the rare bird hotline to hear the recorded message telling us nerds what rarities were seen in the area recently.
> 1 day, on that recorded message, a vermilion flycatcher was reported out in Redmond.
> I went and picked up my father, who lived in Bothell at the time.
> He taught me to birdwatch and was always better in recognizing the calls, etc.
> We drove out to the location, no other cars or people around, and as we got out of the car my dad pointed up to a tree and said, "there it is."
> I hadn't even closed my door on the car yet. He took all the 'fun' out of it ; )
>
> At any rate, the point of this story was, this was way before ebird. My dad passed in 2000.
> If I had to guess, I'd say this was 1988. And I think it was February... but my memory is a bit fuzzy as to the actual month and year - maybe someone else on here remembers the date better than I?
>
> It was hawking insects and flying back to the same limb. Classic behavior that I've seen down in Arizona. And if I recall correctly, it was a male in vermilion plumage.
>
> -Dana, Seattle, La Conner
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/10/26 2:00 pm From: Dana Greeley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
In regards to the Vermilion flycatcher. I recall way back when I used to phone into the rare bird hotline to hear the recorded message telling us nerds what rarities were seen in the area recently. 1 day, on that recorded message, a vermilion flycatcher was reported out in Redmond. I went and picked up my father, who lived in Bothell at the time. He taught me to birdwatch and was always better in recognizing the calls, etc. We drove out to the location, no other cars or people around, and as we got out of the car my dad pointed up to a tree and said, "there it is." I hadn't even closed my door on the car yet. He took all the 'fun' out of it ; )
At any rate, the point of this story was, this was way before ebird. My dad passed in 2000. If I had to guess, I'd say this was 1988. And I think it was February... but my memory is a bit fuzzy as to the actual month and year - maybe someone else on here remembers the date better than I?
It was hawking insects and flying back to the same limb. Classic behavior that I've seen down in Arizona. And if I recall correctly, it was a male in vermilion plumage.
Date: 11/10/26 1:49 pm From: Michael Price via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
Hi tweets
One possible survival strategy for overwintering insectivores is to find north-south ravines on south-facing slopes. These ravines often offer much warmer microclimates crowded with small flying insects even during incursions of very cold Arctic air when ambient air temp is typical of January, but within these sun-trap ravines, the microclimate from later morning to late afternoon can be more like April.
This suggestion is based on the experience offered by Vancouver BC's Anna's Hummingbird which, until its recent population break-out into civic ubiquity, could be found regularly *only* in or near parts of Metro Van with such south-facing mountain- or hillside defiles.
best wishes, m
Michael Price Vancouver BC Canada <loblollyboy...>
Date: 11/10/26 12:17 pm From: Peter Wimberger via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Twisp CBC
Hi All, Here's the announcement for this year's Twisp CBC:
The Twisp Christmas Bird Count will take place on December 15, 2026. Participants will meet at 7am at the deli in Rosauers Grocery store in Twisp. Grab some coffee, sign in and get route information and assignments.
There will be a post-count potluck at the Twisp Valley Grange beginning at 5PM. This will be an alcohol-free event. Bring your own utensils and plates.
For more more information contact Jennifer Molesworth - <jamolesworth...>
Date: 11/10/26 10:27 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Goose ID
Hank’s goose is too large for a Cackling Goose hybrid. This looks to be a Barnacle x Canada Goose hybrid. Search that hybrid in the Macaulay photo library database and there are good photos that support this hybrid ID.
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
Today we saw this unusual goose with a small flock of Canada Geese at Rutherford Slough in Fall City.
Date: 11/10/26 10:10 am From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Dead birds
I just read this today. The numbers are heartbreaking. Mostly Common
Murre and Western Grebes.
If only we had some advance warning that this could happen!!! :/(
On Tue, Nov 10, 2026 at 9:50 AM Ronda Stark via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
I have seen similar hybrids a few times and always suspected the white came
from a domestic goose! Looking at the photo, it seems the right bird is a
Canada Goose and the other two by size/bill length appear to be Cacklers?
Good Birding!
Hans
On Mon, Nov 9, 2026 at 8:47 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I had never even seen that option. Beautiful. Doubling down on a
> perceptive analysis.
>
> On Monday, November 9, 2026, Hank Heiberg <hank.heiberg...> wrote:
>
>> Thank you Bob. How about using the following entry on eBird?
>>
>> https://ebird.org/species/y00765 >>
>> Hank Heiberg
>> Issaquah
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 9, 2026 at 8:10 PM Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
>>
>>> It would be.very easy to dismiss this goose simply as leutistic. You did
>>> not fall for that!
>>>
>>> https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=x00692 >>>
>>> Looks pretty good to me.
>>> Bob obrien, portland
>>>
>>>
>>> On Monday, November 9, 2026, Hank Heiberg via Tweeters <
>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Today we saw this unusual goose with a small flock of Canada Geese at
>>>> Rutherford Slough in Fall City.
>>>>
>>>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/55644136234/in/dateposted/ >>>>
>>>> At first we thought leucistic Canada Goose, but its head, bill and neck
>>>> don't look right for that to us. Any help would be appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> Hank & Karen Heiberg
>>>> Issaquah, WA
>>>> hankdotlastnamegmail
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
--
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
Date: 11/9/26 10:21 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatchers at Northern Latitudes
Someone asked Tweeters if Vermilion Flycatchers have ever ventured as far north as the current Everett bird. One was in Stanwood in December 2018. Another was in White Rock, B.C., in October 2018. Banff, Alberta, had one in April 2026. One was in Whitefish, MT, in April 2026. One was in Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan, in October 2024. Stony Rapids is in the far northern part of the province. So yes, this species can be found occasionally far north of its normal distribution range. It’s easy to answer such questions by making a species map under the Explore tab in eBird. Even if you don’t keep your observations in eBird, it has many useful tools at your disposal that can answer a range of questions. If you need help in learning to use some of these tools, just ask a birding friend who keeps their checklists in eBird for a quick tutorial.
Date: 11/9/26 8:54 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Goose ID?
I had never even seen that option. Beautiful. Doubling down on a perceptive
analysis.
On Monday, November 9, 2026, Hank Heiberg <hank.heiberg...> wrote:
> Thank you Bob. How about using the following entry on eBird?
>
> https://ebird.org/species/y00765 >
> Hank Heiberg
> Issaquah
>
> On Mon, Nov 9, 2026 at 8:10 PM Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
>
>> It would be.very easy to dismiss this goose simply as leutistic. You did
>> not fall for that!
>>
>> https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=x00692 >>
>> Looks pretty good to me.
>> Bob obrien, portland
>>
>>
>> On Monday, November 9, 2026, Hank Heiberg via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> Today we saw this unusual goose with a small flock of Canada Geese at
>>> Rutherford Slough in Fall City.
>>>
>>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/55644136234/in/dateposted/ >>>
>>> At first we thought leucistic Canada Goose, but its head, bill and neck
>>> don't look right for that to us. Any help would be appreciated.
>>>
>>> Hank & Karen Heiberg
>>> Issaquah, WA
>>> hankdotlastnamegmail
>>>
>>
On Mon, Nov 9, 2026 at 8:10 PM Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
> It would be.very easy to dismiss this goose simply as leutistic. You did
> not fall for that!
>
> https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=x00692 >
> Looks pretty good to me.
> Bob obrien, portland
>
>
> On Monday, November 9, 2026, Hank Heiberg via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Today we saw this unusual goose with a small flock of Canada Geese at
>> Rutherford Slough in Fall City.
>>
>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/55644136234/in/dateposted/ >>
>> At first we thought leucistic Canada Goose, but its head, bill and neck
>> don't look right for that to us. Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>> Hank & Karen Heiberg
>> Issaquah, WA
>> hankdotlastnamegmail
>>
>
Date: 11/9/26 8:35 pm From: Madrone Ruggiero via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Fidalgo- Whidbey Island North Winter Raptor Survey
The sighting was on Fidalgo. It was on the south side of the highway in the Summit Park area just east of the intersection of Hwy 20 and Thompson Rd.
Rough-leggeds are not particularly common on Whidbey. Last year we only had two on the survey. One in November on Banta Rd and one in February on Frostad Rd. They are much more common on the Skagit/Samish Flats and Fir Island. The few sightings I had on Whidbey last year were one time sightings where the bird didn't hang around.
-Madrone
On Mon, Nov 9, 2026 at 2:48 PM, Ronda Stark<rondastark18...> wrote: Hello,
I love Rough Legged Hawks and they were very scarce last year at the usual places near east 90. Can you explain where you saw this RLH?
Thank you,Ronda
On Sun, Nov 8, 2026 at 10:28 PM Madrone Ruggiero via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Hi all,Got the November survey done right at the beginning of the month this year and we had 48 raptors of 6 species. I had noticed an uptick in red tails and kestrels on the island in late october and the red tails definitely stuck around for the survey. Bonus was an off route first of season rough-legged hawk on the way up to March point to start the survey. Many of the bald eagles were in pairs and several were on or near established nests. Our survey team had our first owl for the survey with a great horned roosted in a bigleaf maple tree near Dugualla Bay. On a non-raptor note there have been large numbers of Dunlin on Whidbey lately and Dugualla had a flock of over 500 (we were doing the survey so didn't count them so maybe much higher). On Oct 31 I counted over 2000 at Crockett Lake during my last shorebird survey of the year. Survey summaryNovember 3, 2026 5hrs and ~55 survey route milesSurveyors: M. Ruggiero, S. Ellis, M. Ellis.Weather: mostly cloudy, no precip, wind calm-3mph, 51-53 degrees F.Red-tailed Hawk- 23American Kestrel- 1Northern Harrier - 1Bald Eagle (adult)- 21Merlin -1 Great-horned Owl -1
On Monday, November 9, 2026, Hank Heiberg via Tweeters < <tweeters...> wrote:
> Today we saw this unusual goose with a small flock of Canada Geese at > Rutherford Slough in Fall City. > > https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljcouple/55644136234/in/dateposted/ > > At first we thought leucistic Canada Goose, but its head, bill and neck > don't look right for that to us. Any help would be appreciated. > > Hank & Karen Heiberg > Issaquah, WA > hankdotlastnamegmail >
Date: 11/9/26 5:27 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
Last year I was in California during late Spring, and spent some time at
Huntington Beach Park watching two Vermillion Flycatchers tending to their
nestlings. Most of the time, they drew food from the ground and seemed to
be quite adept at pulling worms out, much like a Robin.
On Mon, Nov 9, 2026 at 10:34 AM Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> However, vermillion flycatchers do have an advantage over other species
> because they do feed closer to the ground. In winter, the air close to the
> ground warms more quickly than it does higher up. In other words, the
> availability of insects is higher closer to the ground.
>
> Unfortunately, as Dennis points out the record indicates this may not be
> sufficient even in western WA.
>
> The diversity we enjoy in the avian world is in part a product of
> individuals pushing the envelope, but who says life is fair?
>
> —Jerry Tangren
> East Wenatchee
>
> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> > ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Sent:* Monday, 09 November 2026 10:21:32
> *To:* Shelf Life Community Story Project <info...>
> *Cc:* Louise <louiserutter1000...>; TWEETERS tweeters <
> <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
>
> “What will it eat” is, sadly, of some significance. Flying insects are
> rare to absent at low winter temperatures. That’s why we don’t have
> swallows, swifts, and most flycatchers through the winter.
>
> Except for the first bird found in Washington, which hung around from
> December to March, the other Vermilion Flycatchers have occurred in late
> fall and early winter. Seems to me that there are two alternatives: they
> either turned around and went back south or perished because of lack of
> flying insects, thus their apparent absence later in the winter.
>
> Unlike Black Phoebes, which are always around water and feed commonly on
> fish as well as terrestrial arthropods and even the occasional berry,
> Vermilion is very much adapted to capture flying insects. However, it is
> known to be able to feed on the ground as well. So, as that first bird
> showed, they could in theory persist well into the winter.
>
> So why did all those other birds (seven of them, not including the first
> one or the present one) not be recorded after early or (in one other case)
> mid winter? Had all the birders who wanted to see them done so, thus no
> more interest in documenting their presence? More likely, people continued
> to search for them with no luck.
>
> We do have a lot of questions about those birds that show up primarily in
> late autumn. The Tropical Kingbird is a much better example, small numbers
> appearing in Washington every November but rarely if ever extending beyond
> that. They migrate in the wrong direction, perhaps some directional neurons
> malfunctioning, but do they ever survive our winters?
>
> It would be good to hear from anyone with additional information or ideas.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> On Nov 9, 2026, at 7:50 AM, Shelf Life Community Story Project via
> Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> This is my favorite of all birds. In Oaxaca they call them the Pájaro de
> Suerte (good luck bird). But it sounds like bad luck for this poor thing to
> have wandered so far north. They're used to frigid nights in the desert but
> what will it eat?
> Jill
>
> On Sun, Nov 8, 2026, 4:45 PM Louise via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I'm glad you found it, Dennis! It was a very cooperative bird when I found
> it, right by the slough on the south side of the road, and hard to miss
> when it was flycatching. The weather has got considerably colder over the
> last couple of weeks, though, I do wonder how much longer it will fare well
> there as the insects disappear...
>
> Louise Rutter
> Kirkland
>
> On Sun, Nov 8, 2026 at 3:05 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> We finally found that elusive little bird yesterday at 2:30 pm. Best time
> to visit is probably afternoon, when it gets warmer and more insects are
> flying. It flies up after very tiny ones again and again. Scan all the
> leafless higher branches of trees and shrubs of all heights along 38th St.
> SE. Mostly seen at and near where little slough crosses the road.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> 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 >
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 11/9/26 2:59 pm From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Fidalgo- Whidbey Island North Winter Raptor Survey
Hello,
I love Rough Legged Hawks and they were very scarce last year at the usual
places near east 90. Can you explain where you saw this RLH?
Thank you,
Ronda
On Sun, Nov 8, 2026 at 10:28 PM Madrone Ruggiero via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi all,
> Got the November survey done right at the beginning of the month this year
> and we had 48 raptors of 6 species. I had noticed an uptick in red tails
> and kestrels on the island in late october and the red tails definitely
> stuck around for the survey. Bonus was an off route first of season
> rough-legged hawk on the way up to March point to start the survey. Many of
> the bald eagles were in pairs and several were on or near established
> nests. Our survey team had our first owl for the survey with a great horned
> roosted in a bigleaf maple tree near Dugualla Bay. On a non-raptor note
> there have been large numbers of Dunlin on Whidbey lately and Dugualla had
> a flock of over 500 (we were doing the survey so didn't count them so maybe
> much higher). On Oct 31 I counted over 2000 at Crockett Lake during my last
> shorebird survey of the year.
> Survey summary
> November 3, 2026 5hrs and ~55 survey route miles
> Surveyors: M. Ruggiero, S. Ellis, M. Ellis.
> Weather: mostly cloudy, no precip, wind calm-3mph, 51-53 degrees F.
> Red-tailed Hawk- 23
> American Kestrel- 1
> Northern Harrier - 1
> Bald Eagle (adult)- 21
> Merlin -1
> Great-horned Owl -1
>
>
> -Madrone
> Whidbey Island
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/9/26 10:46 am From: Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
However, vermillion flycatchers do have an advantage over other species because they do feed closer to the ground. In winter, the air close to the ground warms more quickly than it does higher up. In other words, the availability of insects is higher closer to the ground.
Unfortunately, as Dennis points out the record indicates this may not be sufficient even in western WA.
The diversity we enjoy in the avian world is in part a product of individuals pushing the envelope, but who says life is fair?
—Jerry Tangren
East Wenatchee
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Monday, 09 November 2026 10:21:32
To: Shelf Life Community Story Project <info...>
Cc: Louise <louiserutter1000...>; TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
“What will it eat” is, sadly, of some significance. Flying insects are rare to absent at low winter temperatures. That’s why we don’t have swallows, swifts, and most flycatchers through the winter.
Except for the first bird found in Washington, which hung around from December to March, the other Vermilion Flycatchers have occurred in late fall and early winter. Seems to me that there are two alternatives: they either turned around and went back south or perished because of lack of flying insects, thus their apparent absence later in the winter.
Unlike Black Phoebes, which are always around water and feed commonly on fish as well as terrestrial arthropods and even the occasional berry, Vermilion is very much adapted to capture flying insects. However, it is known to be able to feed on the ground as well. So, as that first bird showed, they could in theory persist well into the winter.
So why did all those other birds (seven of them, not including the first one or the present one) not be recorded after early or (in one other case) mid winter? Had all the birders who wanted to see them done so, thus no more interest in documenting their presence? More likely, people continued to search for them with no luck.
We do have a lot of questions about those birds that show up primarily in late autumn. The Tropical Kingbird is a much better example, small numbers appearing in Washington every November but rarely if ever extending beyond that. They migrate in the wrong direction, perhaps some directional neurons malfunctioning, but do they ever survive our winters?
It would be good to hear from anyone with additional information or ideas.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
On Nov 9, 2026, at 7:50 AM, Shelf Life Community Story Project via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
This is my favorite of all birds. In Oaxaca they call them the Pájaro de Suerte (good luck bird). But it sounds like bad luck for this poor thing to have wandered so far north. They're used to frigid nights in the desert but what will it eat?
Jill
On Sun, Nov 8, 2026, 4:45 PM Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
I'm glad you found it, Dennis! It was a very cooperative bird when I found it, right by the slough on the south side of the road, and hard to miss when it was flycatching. The weather has got considerably colder over the last couple of weeks, though, I do wonder how much longer it will fare well there as the insects disappear...
Louise Rutter
Kirkland
On Sun, Nov 8, 2026 at 3:05 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
We finally found that elusive little bird yesterday at 2:30 pm. Best time to visit is probably afternoon, when it gets warmer and more insects are flying. It flies up after very tiny ones again and again. Scan all the leafless higher branches of trees and shrubs of all heights along 38th St. SE. Mostly seen at and near where little slough crosses the road.
Date: 11/9/26 10:32 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
“What will it eat” is, sadly, of some significance. Flying insects are rare to absent at low winter temperatures. That’s why we don’t have swallows, swifts, and most flycatchers through the winter.
Except for the first bird found in Washington, which hung around from December to March, the other Vermilion Flycatchers have occurred in late fall and early winter. Seems to me that there are two alternatives: they either turned around and went back south or perished because of lack of flying insects, thus their apparent absence later in the winter.
Unlike Black Phoebes, which are always around water and feed commonly on fish as well as terrestrial arthropods and even the occasional berry, Vermilion is very much adapted to capture flying insects. However, it is known to be able to feed on the ground as well. So, as that first bird showed, they could in theory persist well into the winter.
So why did all those other birds (seven of them, not including the first one or the present one) not be recorded after early or (in one other case) mid winter? Had all the birders who wanted to see them done so, thus no more interest in documenting their presence? More likely, people continued to search for them with no luck.
We do have a lot of questions about those birds that show up primarily in late autumn. The Tropical Kingbird is a much better example, small numbers appearing in Washington every November but rarely if ever extending beyond that. They migrate in the wrong direction, perhaps some directional neurons malfunctioning, but do they ever survive our winters?
It would be good to hear from anyone with additional information or ideas.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Nov 9, 2026, at 7:50 AM, Shelf Life Community Story Project via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> This is my favorite of all birds. In Oaxaca they call them the Pájaro de Suerte (good luck bird). But it sounds like bad luck for this poor thing to have wandered so far north. They're used to frigid nights in the desert but what will it eat?
> Jill
>
> On Sun, Nov 8, 2026, 4:45 PM Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>> I'm glad you found it, Dennis! It was a very cooperative bird when I found it, right by the slough on the south side of the road, and hard to miss when it was flycatching. The weather has got considerably colder over the last couple of weeks, though, I do wonder how much longer it will fare well there as the insects disappear...
>>
>> Louise Rutter
>> Kirkland
>>
>> On Sun, Nov 8, 2026 at 3:05 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>>> We finally found that elusive little bird yesterday at 2:30 pm. Best time to visit is probably afternoon, when it gets warmer and more insects are flying. It flies up after very tiny ones again and again. Scan all the leafless higher branches of trees and shrubs of all heights along 38th St. SE. Mostly seen at and near where little slough crosses the road.
>>>
>>> Dennis Paulson
>>> Seattle
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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: 11/9/26 9:55 am From: Scott Ramos via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit Bay CBC, help needed
The Skagit Bay CBC will be held Friday, January 1, 2027. The circle encompasses a wide array of habitats including salt water shorelines, river basins, low density housing and farmland, as well as mixed woods and coniferous forest.
Our count circle is divided into 12 sectors with teams of 2-8 people. Sadly, a couple of our sector leaders have had to drop out, so we are in desperate need of new leaders so that we can maintain coverage of all sectors. This is a plea to the Tweeters community to come join us on New Years Day. It's a good day to be out birding because the roads tend to be less congested and is an opportunity to get a jump start on your year birding lists.
If you can help, please get in touch. Scott Ramos, SBCBC compiler <nearpost...>
Date: 11/9/26 8:17 am From: Kathleen Snyder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Writing a Weekly Column on Birds Thursday Nov 12nd 7 pm Olympia
George Walter writes the "Thurston's Birds" column in the online newspaper *The Jolt. *George will share stories about writing a weekly column which is illustrated with photos, primarily from Liam Hutcheson. In addition to his journalism and birding, George has been working on Nisqually watershed issues since 1977 when Billy Frank recruited him to build the environmental side of the Nisqually Indian Tribe's Natural Resources Department.
There are two ways to enjoy this program. You can come to Temple Beth Hatfiloh (201 8th Ave SE, Olympia) to watch the speaker live and enjoy the company of others with social time starting at 6:30 pm OR you can register below to watch from home via Zoom. This is a free program from South Sound Bird Alliance.
Date: 11/9/26 7:59 am From: Shelf Life Community Story Project via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
This is my favorite of all birds. In Oaxaca they call them the Pájaro de
Suerte (good luck bird). But it sounds like bad luck for this poor thing to
have wandered so far north. They're used to frigid nights in the desert but
what will it eat?
Jill
On Sun, Nov 8, 2026, 4:45 PM Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...>
wrote:
> I'm glad you found it, Dennis! It was a very cooperative bird when I found
> it, right by the slough on the south side of the road, and hard to miss
> when it was flycatching. The weather has got considerably colder over the
> last couple of weeks, though, I do wonder how much longer it will fare well
> there as the insects disappear...
>
> Louise Rutter
> Kirkland
>
> On Sun, Nov 8, 2026 at 3:05 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> We finally found that elusive little bird yesterday at 2:30 pm. Best time
>> to visit is probably afternoon, when it gets warmer and more insects are
>> flying. It flies up after very tiny ones again and again. Scan all the
>> leafless higher branches of trees and shrubs of all heights along 38th St.
>> SE. Mostly seen at and near where little slough crosses the road.
>>
>> Dennis Paulson
>> 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: 11/8/26 11:21 pm From: Madrone Ruggiero via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Whidbey Island November Fieldtrips and WAS Saturday Meeting
Date: 11/8/26 10:39 pm From: Madrone Ruggiero via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fidalgo- Whidbey Island North Winter Raptor Survey
Hi all,Got the November survey done right at the beginning of the month this year and we had 48 raptors of 6 species. I had noticed an uptick in red tails and kestrels on the island in late october and the red tails definitely stuck around for the survey. Bonus was an off route first of season rough-legged hawk on the way up to March point to start the survey. Many of the bald eagles were in pairs and several were on or near established nests. Our survey team had our first owl for the survey with a great horned roosted in a bigleaf maple tree near Dugualla Bay. On a non-raptor note there have been large numbers of Dunlin on Whidbey lately and Dugualla had a flock of over 500 (we were doing the survey so didn't count them so maybe much higher). On Oct 31 I counted over 2000 at Crockett Lake during my last shorebird survey of the year. Survey summaryNovember 3, 2026 5hrs and ~55 survey route milesSurveyors: M. Ruggiero, S. Ellis, M. Ellis.Weather: mostly cloudy, no precip, wind calm-3mph, 51-53 degrees F.Red-tailed Hawk- 23American Kestrel- 1Northern Harrier - 1Bald Eagle (adult)- 21Merlin -1 Great-horned Owl -1
Date: 11/8/26 4:56 pm From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
I'm glad you found it, Dennis! It was a very cooperative bird when I found
it, right by the slough on the south side of the road, and hard to miss
when it was flycatching. The weather has got considerably colder over the
last couple of weeks, though, I do wonder how much longer it will fare well
there as the insects disappear...
Louise Rutter
Kirkland
On Sun, Nov 8, 2026 at 3:05 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> We finally found that elusive little bird yesterday at 2:30 pm. Best time
> to visit is probably afternoon, when it gets warmer and more insects are
> flying. It flies up after very tiny ones again and again. Scan all the
> leafless higher branches of trees and shrubs of all heights along 38th St.
> SE. Mostly seen at and near where little slough crosses the road.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/8/26 4:26 pm From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
Hi Dennis,
I see them in Palm Desert but has one ever ventured this far north?
Ronda
On Sun, Nov 8, 2026 at 3:05 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> We finally found that elusive little bird yesterday at 2:30 pm. Best time
> to visit is probably afternoon, when it gets warmer and more insects are
> flying. It flies up after very tiny ones again and again. Scan all the
> leafless higher branches of trees and shrubs of all heights along 38th St.
> SE. Mostly seen at and near where little slough crosses the road.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/8/26 3:15 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher in Snohomish County
We finally found that elusive little bird yesterday at 2:30 pm. Best time to visit is probably afternoon, when it gets warmer and more insects are flying. It flies up after very tiny ones again and again. Scan all the leafless higher branches of trees and shrubs of all heights along 38th St. SE. Mostly seen at and near where little slough crosses the road.
Date: 11/8/26 9:40 am From: Les Strick via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Galapagos Guide Books
I found Wildlife of the Galapagos helpful as a general natural history field guide (including birds). Good variety of info, small enough to take on a trip.
Date: 11/7/26 12:51 pm From: Wyatt Houtz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Folllowup on Seattle Plumbeous Vireo
I also saw it this morning starting around 9am when 30 birders literally
ran to the dead end of 36th. It likes the high treetops along thorton creek
that runs north from meadowbrook pond. I have warblers neck. I did hear it
vocalize once. It's very similar to Cassins Vireo
Still uncertainty whether it's plumbeous vireo. It would be first state
record.
Wyatt
On Sat, Nov 7, 2026 at 12:37 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> The Plumbeous Vireo was relocated at around 10:45 a.m. today on 36th Ave.
> NE, just north of the intersection with NE 110th St. This is on the north
> side of Meadowbrook Pond. It stays high in the canopy of deciduous trees,
> mostly on the east side of 36th and was vocalizing somewhat. Lots of
> birders present so many eyes and ears to locate it. If accepted, this is a
> first state record bird.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/7/26 12:45 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Folllowup on Seattle Plumbeous Vireo
The Plumbeous Vireo was relocated at around 10:45 a.m. today on 36th Ave. NE, just north of the intersection with NE 110th St. This is on the north side of Meadowbrook Pond. It stays high in the canopy of deciduous trees, mostly on the east side of 36th and was vocalizing somewhat. Lots of birders present so many eyes and ears to locate it. If accepted, this is a first state record bird.
Date: 11/7/26 11:18 am From: pan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Plumbeous Vireo
Tweets,
The Plumbeous Vireo continues around Seattle's Meadowbrook Pond. It was found mid-morning today by birders from 36th Ave. north of 110th St. and foraged for awhile in half bare cottonwood trees, among mixed flocks. (I'd started at dawn on 39th where it was first found, but not there [yet] today.) There's still a considerable mob of folks searching, so watch for them. So far, the neighbors seem amused.
Date: 11/7/26 10:05 am From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hwy 20
The pass report is still "No Restrictions" in both directions. If I
remember correctly they go
directly from "No Restrictions" to "Closed for the Season" (without any
"Chains required").
It could close literally "Any Day" and I'm getting pass status
reports 2 or 3 times a day.
I do not see rain/snow action on the pass this morning ... so at
least one more day?
Date: 11/7/26 4:45 am From: Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] M Street Marsh Access
The gate on M Street in Auburn before you reach the M Street Marsh may be
locked or unlocked at any time. To avoid being locked in with your car,
simply park on the street and walk in.
Marv Breece
Tukwila, WA
On Fri, Nov 6, 2026 at 12:22 PM Jim Elder via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Marv Breece's posting about the M Street Marsh reminded me that I meant to
> give this warning for those (like me) unfamiliar with the site.
> I went there last week. It was my first time there. There is a gate across
> M Street. However, when I arrived, the gate was open and there is no sign
> saying not to enter. So in I went. When I came out half an hour later, the
> gate was closed and locked. There is no other exit as far as I can tell. It
> is very hard to get around the gate. So don't drive in even if the gate is
> open. I would be interested to know how people who go there regularly,
> access the site.
>
> Jim Elder
> Seattle, WA
> <deldersonj...>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
--
Marv Breece
Tukwila, WA
*<marvbreece...> <marvbreece...>*
Date: 11/6/26 10:49 pm From: Madrone Ruggiero via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bald Eagle nesting behavior
Here on Whidbey I have seen several pairs recently that were sitting near or on established nests. A couple days ago I saw a eagle flying off out of a field with talons full of grass headed toward a known nest site. Definitely territorial activity and nest building going on here in the North sound.
-MadroneWhidbey Island
On Friday, November 6, 2026 at 08:19:50 PM PST, Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Not really! They could be sitting on eggs by January and are probably doing nest repairs right now. I have seen them ripping dead branches of trees with their talons.
Hans
Hans Feddern
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Fri, Nov 6, 2026 at 7:50 PM via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Today I saw both Bald Eagles on their nest at Ridgefield NWR and my friend recently saw one near Steigerwald NWR flying off with a branch toward Reed Island. Isn’t it too early for them to nest? I thought they didn’t mate until March.
Date: 11/6/26 8:19 pm From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bald Eagle nesting behavior
Not really! They could be sitting on eggs by January and are probably doing
nest repairs right now. I have seen them ripping dead branches of trees
with their talons.
Hans
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Fri, Nov 6, 2026 at 7:50 PM via Tweeters <tweeters...>
wrote:
> Today I saw both Bald Eagles on their nest at Ridgefield NWR and my friend
> recently saw one near Steigerwald NWR flying off with a branch toward Reed
> Island. Isn’t it too early for them to nest? I thought they didn’t mate
> until March.
>
> Regards,
>
> Wendy Duncan
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/6/26 8:00 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bald Eagle nesting behavior
Today I saw both Bald Eagles on their nest at Ridgefield NWR and my friend recently saw one near Steigerwald NWR flying off with a branch toward Reed Island. Isn’t it too early for them to nest? I thought they didn’t mate until March.
Date: 11/6/26 6:26 pm From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Washington Ornithological Society: WOSNews #207 published
Our most recent Newsletter of the Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) has just been published. You can reach WOSNews #207 via this link, https://wos.org/documents/wosnews/wosnews207.pdf#page=1 or visit WOS.ORG and take a look around. Deepest thanks to Alex Sowers, our Newsletter Editor, and to the many contributors who have filled this edition with feathery news! #207 includes WOSNews' analytical, quarterly feature, Washington Field Notes, a historical record of unusual sightings in the state, curated by Ryan Merrill.
Date: 11/6/26 3:33 pm From: Matt Dufort via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Probable Plumbeous Vireo in Seattle
Hello Tweeters,
In the interests of alerting folks here about rare birds being discussed on other platforms. A probable Plumbeous Vireo was seen today at Meadowbrook Pond in Seattle. First found 11/4 by David Johnson and reported on Facebook with uncertain ID, refound today by Ryan Merrill and seen by a number of birders.
I say probable because this species can be very difficult to separate from dull Cassin's Vireos. This individual appears quite gray with very little or no yellow/green coloration, and does seem likely to be Plumbeous. If accepted, it would be a first for Washington.
Updates are being posted on the King County RBA WhatsApp group. Last sighting that I know of was at about 1:10 pm today in the northwest corner of the park, but the bird has also been seen on the east edge and definitely moves around.
Date: 11/6/26 12:57 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-11-05
Tweets - It was a pretty typical day yesterday at the park - Temps in the low 50's. overcast, only occasional gusts of wind, not terribly birdy.
Highlights: American Coot - We were up to at least 27 coots yesterday. They do remain in the (presumably safer) slough, rather than on the lake Sharp-shinned Hawk - Adult in trees west of the Dog Meadow Northern Harrier - One seen flying north just before 7:00 a.m. Bald Eagle - 1-2, as expected Merlin - One over the concert venue, to make a diverse collection of raptors for the day Pacific Wren - Notably numerous - at least 7-8 Pine Siskin - One or two large flocks of ~100 White-throated Sparrow - One with GCSP in the grass east of Dog Central
We had only one CACKLING GOOSE (in with a flock of CANADAs). Over the last seven years we've often had large flocks in October and early November, sometimes numbering in the thousands. Not this so far this year; our max this fall is 60, and our average 16.
Misses yesterday included Killdeer, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Shrike, Cedar Waxwing, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
For the day, 54 species.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 11/6/26 12:29 pm From: Jim Elder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] M Street Marsh Access
Marv Breece's posting about the M Street Marsh reminded me that I meant to give this warning for those (like me) unfamiliar with the site. I went there last week. It was my first time there. There is a gate across M Street. However, when I arrived, the gate was open and there is no sign saying not to enter. So in I went. When I came out half an hour later, the gate was closed and locked. There is no other exit as far as I can tell. It is very hard to get around the gate. So don't drive in even if the gate is open. I would be interested to know how people who go there regularly, access the site.
Friends, We’re traveling to the Galapagos in March on a Roads Scholar tour. I’m looking for recommendations of books on birds, other critters, plants, natural and cultural history. _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/5/26 7:47 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday at Nisqually.
Fall is cheery on a day like this, crisp and cool to start, cloudy but with sun breaks, and not raining. Viewed from the Visitor's Center deck, the pond held a Pied-billed Grebe, Mallards, an American Coot. Marsh Wrens (now- Western Marsh Wrens) darted in and out of sight in the clumps of reeds near the deck, along with a Song Sparrow. Roughly thirty of us birders, most bundled against the cool air, finished our introductions and began our disorganized shamble.
Black-capped and Chestnut backed Chickadees greeted us in the parking lot. A few Crows, the stragglers late leaving their roost, flew east to west overhead. Near the Education Center deck we encountered a mixed flock of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, more Chickadees, Brown Creeper, and both a Hairy and a Downy Woodpecker. A dozen Golden-crowned Sparrows, along with a Spotted Towhee, foraged on the grass at the entrance to the "Kids" play area. Near the maintenance yard, a flock of Pine Siskins animated a partially bare Alder, it's top seeming to quiver with their activity. A Red-breasted Sapsucker checked for insects in it's neat rows of perforated bark on an old fruit tree.
A few Mallards, Pintail, and Green-winged Teal swam in the flooded fields west of the entrance road and south of the bend in the service road. A large flock of Cackling Geese occupied the unflooded ground on either side of the road bisecting the field west of the north parking lot. A dozen Wilson's Snipe hunkered down in the grass between us and the flooded area of the field , their striped crowns and occasionally their bills, all that was visible. A Meadowlark paused briefly on the bisecting road before moving on, a few more Golden-crowned Sparrows picked through the gravel on the side of the service road to the north.
From the boardwalk on the west side of the loop trail, a single male Ring-necked Duck, a few more Mallards, and a Pied-billed Grebe were the only visible occupants of the pond. Marsh Wrens were busy in the reeds. A talkative Pacific Wren announced itself on the bushy side of the trail, and farther along a couple Fox Sparrows, Bewick's Wrens, and more Chickadees and Kinglets. An adult Bald Eagle was on the ground in front of the Twin Barns platform. We initially thought it had prey but soon found it was wadding up grass to take to it's nest.
The day had warmed up by the time we got out on the dike, and the tide was in. The surge plain was partially flooded, the water holding American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail. A few Greater Yellowlegs walked the edges of the remaining dry land. A Northern Harrier cruised low over the upland grass. A flock of 8 Dowitchers flew overhead. Once clear of the Willows on the south side, we could scan the freshwater marsh. A Meadowlark perched up on a dead stick, as did another Harrier. Red-winged Blackbirds perched up on cattails and a Virginia Rail called unseen from their depths. On the saltwater side, a small flock of Dunlin mixed with more Yellowlegs. Gulls, mostly Ring-billed, were scattered on the water and remaining dry land.
McAllister Creek looked more like McAllister Lake as we walked out the boardwalk. Nearing slack tide and with no wind to speak of, the surface of the water was broad, smooth, and undisturbed until the wake from a duck hunter's jon boat sent ripples undulating across the creek. Hunting is allowed from the opposite bank, and the water closest to it, from late October until early February. There were a few Surf Scoters and couple Double-crested Cormorants in the water, along with the charcoal lumps of Harbor Seal heads. A log aground in the shallow near shore water was a resting place for a dozen Least Sandpipers that had no exposed beach to resort to. Duck hunting season also entails a chain-link gate cutting off access to the last 700 feet of the boardwalk, that section being potentially in birdshot range. Scoping from that gate we saw several Common Loons, a lot more Surf Scoters, a couple Horned Grebes, a flock of Bonaparte's Gulls, Brandt's and Double-crested Cormorants. Returning south toward the dike we spotted a Peregrine Falcon perched on a dead Willow, and a bit further on, an American Kestrel. Four Red-breasted Mergansers were in the creek and at the junction with the dike, five Hooded Mergansers.
While still on the dike we scanned another large flock of Cackling Geese, finding one Greater White-fronted goose in their midst. Another visitor to the refuge stopped to ask about local Sharks and showed us a video he had taken from the boardwalk after we left. It was of what Jon identified it as a young sixgill Shark, an unusual sight here. Jon also had a brief distant look at a Eurasian Wigeon. Another helpful visitor pointed out for us a Barred Owl perched in a Maple tree overhanging the portion of Leschi Slough between the Twin Barns and the dike.
The Nisqually River was high and slow moving at the overlook. A Double-crested Cormorant sat on a root wad, a Harbor Seal swam in the nearest bend of the river. We continued south along the east side of the loop trail, seeing few birds and returned to the start for our final tally. See the complete check that follows.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Nov 4, 2026 7:40 AM - 3:58 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.38 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: The Wednesday Walk started with high clouds and 37º F, with the temperature rising to 57° F before clouding up at 4 p.m. with a south wind at 3-8 knots. A Low +2.5-foot Tide at 07:10 a.m. flooded to a +14.0-foot High water at 2:05 p.m. Others seen Columbian Black Tailed Deer, Harbor Seal, Muskrat, many Pacific chorus frogs, and four Sulphur butterflies (Colias sp.). A juvenile sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) was seen from the estuary boardwalk.
74 species (+4 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose 1
Cackling Goose (minima) 2500
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 28
Canada Goose (Greater) 5
Northern Shoveler 24
Gadwall 18
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 2525
Mallard 50
Northern Pintail 1375
Green-winged Teal 1445
Ring-necked Duck 1 Visitors' Center pond
Greater Scaup 3 Nisqually Reach
Surf Scoter 135 About 20 in McAllister Creek; the remainder on Nisqually Reach
Bufflehead 165
Hooded Merganser 5 Cattail Marsh
Red-breasted Merganser 4 McAllister Creek
Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Male vocalizing from west of Twin Barns, near gravel piles
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 46
Anna's Hummingbird 2
Virginia Rail 4 Three vocalizing from Visitors' Center pond, one from cattail marsh
American Coot 7
Killdeer 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 8
Wilson's Snipe 13 Twelve in flooded field west of service road; one in cattail marsh
Greater Yellowlegs 35
Dunlin 300
Least Sandpiper 36
Bonaparte's Gull 22 Nisqually Reach
Short-billed Gull 36
Ring-billed Gull 185
California Gull 4
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 19
Pied-billed Grebe 1 Visitors' Center pond
Horned Grebe 2 East of Luhr Beach
Common Loon 11 One in McAllister Creek, others in Nisqually Reach
Brandt's Cormorant 12 Nisqually Reach channel marker
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Great Blue Heron 14
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Found by Rob C near west parking lot.
Northern Harrier 2
Bald Eagle 10 The pair of adult birds was adding sticks and grasses to the nest near the Twin Barns
Red-tailed Hawk (Western) 1
Barred Owl 1 Large maple near Twin Barns overlook
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Near land trust office
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Northern Flicker 4
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
American Kestrel 1 Tiercel
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Crow 35
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 12
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Bushtit (Pacific) 60 Three large flocks
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10
Golden-crowned Kinglet 15
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 7
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 1
Western Marsh Wren 5
Bewick's Wren 4
European Starling 14
Hermit Thrush 1 Found by Marc near Education Center
American Robin 18
Purple Finch 7 Several feeding on seeds of Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia)
Pine Siskin 215
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
Golden-crowned Sparrow 30
Song Sparrow (Pacific Northwest) 22
Lincoln's Sparrow 2
Spotted Towhee (Pacific) 9
Western Meadowlark 4
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1
Date: 11/5/26 4:19 pm From: Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] M Street birds today
Today was a good day at the M Street Marsh in Auburn.
Several shorebird species: Killdeer Wilson's Snipe - many Long-billed Dowitcher - at least 4 Least Sandpiper - 3 Pectoral Sandpiper (late) - 1 juvenile https://flic.kr/p/2sLgMz2 Dunlin - at least 100; should be some good murmurations this winter
Date: 11/5/26 1:30 pm From: Wyatt Houtz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] West Seattle Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and Tropical Kingbird - Not Yet Today
Carol,
Thanks for sharing the Washington Birder’s Dashboard. I'm curious
what tools local ebirders are using in our area. I ended up building my own
iphone app to try to do similar things as this website, since the ebird
target birds list limited.
Wyatt
On Wed, Nov 4, 2026 at 11:03 AM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> There are no eBird reports yet today for the Rosy-Finch or the Kingbird.
> Hopefully anyone who sees either this morning will quickly enter an eBird
> checklist. That will show up in Washington Birder’s Dashboard when you
> change the default setting to King County. At the Dashboard you can click
> on a checklist to open it and see what details the birder provides. Those
> details can be helpful to finding the bird once you arrive at the location.
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/5/26 1:04 pm From: Mark Borden via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Avian Influenza information for falconers. Vaccine?
Thank you for the information, Chris.
Are you aware of an available AI vaccine for birds? As a falconer I am
hunting ducks and though I have seen no signs of the problem yet, would
love a vaccine.
A trained Falcon hunting ducks is probably at the highest risk, because my
birds can choose from the entire flock, and will definitely pick any bird
which is slower or less coordinated than usual.
I can and do release many ducks, “unharmed”, but by the time I get there,
my Falcons are thoroughly exposed.
When I feed Duck, I freeze it to the lowest temperature, and though I know
that does not kill the virus, freezing (and especially repeated freezing)
does attenuate the virus, which could potentially help.
Are you aware if there is any research testing the effectiveness
/potential
of crossover immunity or protection with the administration of a human
vaccine to birds?
Date: 11/5/26 12:54 pm From: Mark Borden via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Avian influenza vaccine
Hi Chris,
Are you aware of an available AI vaccine for birds? As a falconer I am
hunting ducks and though I have seen no signs of the problem yet, would
love a vaccine.
Are you aware if there is any research testing the effectiveness /potential
of crossover immunity or protection with the administration of a human
vaccine to birds?
Mark Borden MD
Coupeville. WA
On Thu, Nov 5, 2026 at 12:01 PM via Tweeters <tweeters...>
wrote:
> Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to
> <tweeters...>
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
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>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> <tweeters-owner...>
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Tweeters digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Avian Influenza Precaution Reminder
> (Anderson, Christopher D (DFW) via Tweeters)
> 2. Re: West Seattle Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and Tropical
> Kingbird - Not Yet Today (Karen Fardal via Tweeters)
> 3. Join us for the BirdNote Auction (Nick Bayard via Tweeters)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2026 21:13:45 +0000
> From: "Anderson, Christopher D \(DFW\) via Tweeters"
> <tweeters...>
> To: "<tweeters...>" <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Avian Influenza Precaution Reminder
> Message-ID:
> <
> <DM8PR09MB6886362BE4477D767BABF68CB0682...>
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi Tweets,
>
> Hope everyone is getting out and enjoying some of our migrant birdlife
> lately with the cooperative weather we've been having (although - rain
> please)!
>
> Speaking of our wintering waterfowl, I wanted to share a few important
> resources regarding Avian Influenza (AI), including safety protocols and
> reporting procedures. Currently, the state is primarily detecting AI
> exactly where expected: in migratory waterfowl, with a notable presence in
> wintering Cackling Geese in WWA (particularly Pierce Co. north through
> Whatcom).
>
> To help us monitor this situation, please keep the following guidelines in
> mind:
>
>
> * How to Report: If you observe sick, dead, or suspected AI-infected
> wildlife, please use the WDFW sick/dead reporting tool. The link is located
> at the very top of the state's main AI webpage: WDFW Bird Flu Information<
> https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/diseases/bird-flu>. Tons of
> information there and I recommend folks to pay attention to the "Avian
> Influenza Questions Answered" and "Human HPAI Safety" sections, in
> particular.
>
>
> * Broad Wildlife Observations: You can also report general wildlife
> health observations, exotic-invasive occurrences, or state Species of
> Greatest Conservation Need on our broader reporting page. You will find
> various report "topics" there to match the report you desire to enter: WDFW
> Report Observations<https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report-observations>.
>
>
> * Do Not Handle Wildlife: Do not touch, handle, attempt to rescue, or
> transport any birds or animals to a wildlife rehabilitator if they appear
> neurologically affected. Common symptoms include head shaking,
> lethargy/immobility, swimming in circles, loss of coordination, often with
> mucous discharge around the nares, mouth, or eyes. Affected birds often
> pass within 24-72 hours of showing these signs. There is NO CURE - they are
> not candidates for wildlife rehabilitation, and the rehabbers do not want
> these affected animals as it only promotes spread and biosecurity issues
> for their facilities.
>
>
> * Keep Your Distance: Leave the animals be and keep people and pets
> away from areas where sick/dead waterfowl are congregating.
>
>
> * Avoid Artificial Concentration: Please do not feed waterfowl, as
> artificial feeding concentrates birds and facilitates the spread of the
> virus.
>
>
> * Carcass Management: If the animals are on public lands, notify the
> public land manager as well as WDFW. We coordinate directly with land
> managers to safely remove carcasses using full PPE (gloves, N95 masks, and
> eye protection) and double-bagging for landfill disposal.
>
>
> * Let Nature Take Its Course: As reiterated on our website, if the
> birds are not in a location that impacts public health or safety (such as a
> high-traffic common space at a public park), they should be left alone when
> possible if not an issue for people/pets.
>
> Please continue to report these instances. Our Wildlife Health group and
> local district staff closely monitor these map and reporting tools to track
> the virus. We appreciate your reports!
>
> Best,
> Chris
> __________________________________________________
>
> Chris Anderson (he, him, his)
> District Wildlife Biologist
> District 12, King County
> WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - Region 4
> 16018 Mill Creek Blvd.
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/16018+Mill+Creek+Blvd.+%0D%0AMill+Creek,+WA+98012?entry=gmail&source=g> > <x-apple-data-detectors://4/0>
> Mill Creek, WA 98012<x-apple-data-detectors://4/0>
> Desk: 425-341-2054
> <Christopher.Anderson...><mailto:<Christopher.Anderson...> > http://wdfw.wa.gov<http://wdfw.wa.gov/> > __________________________________________________
>
>
>
> -------------- next part --------------
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2026 13:45:23 -0800
> From: Karen Fardal via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...>
> Cc: tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] West Seattle Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and
> Tropical Kingbird - Not Yet Today
> Message-ID: <951A2536-A686-4707-B363-1A8771E5B390...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Kingbird was seen by several observers on the driveway/alley Point Place
> SW off of Alki Blvd that dead ends into the lighthouse grounds. Good to
> look all along that from the street down to the trees by the lighthouse.
>
> Nobody has seen the finch yet today though that I am aware of despite
> hours of collective searching.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Karen Fardal
>
> > On Nov 4, 2026, at 11:02?AM, Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > ?There are no eBird reports yet today for the Rosy-Finch or the
> Kingbird. Hopefully anyone who sees either this morning will quickly enter
> an eBird checklist. That will show up in Washington Birder?s Dashboard when
> you change the default setting to King County. At the Dashboard you can
> click on a checklist to open it and see what details the birder provides.
> Those details can be helpful to finding the bird once you arrive at the
> location.
> >
> > Carol Riddell
> > Edmonds, WA
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2026 14:26:41 -0800
> From: Nick Bayard via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Join us for the BirdNote Auction
> Message-ID:
> <
> CA+<3ygMdp0WKNnFt0QPK0d_xHwROfTjsA4pCGXYydQaf3vmopkQ...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hello all,
>
> Please join us on Thursday at 12pm NOON PST (likely right now if you
> receive the digest version of these emails) for BirdNote's year-end event
> featuring author Helen Macdonald, comedian Joe Zimmerman, and musician
> Madison Cunningham. Here is the link to register and join:
>
> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-greatest-brown-bag-lunch-in-the-history-of-human-civilization-tickets-2000182673219 >
> Many thanks to the Washington Ornithological Society, our friends at Seward
> Park Audubon Center, artist Tony Angell, and many others for donating items
> for this year's auction. We'll be spotlighting the auction during our
> event, but you can bid until 8pm PST on Thursday, 11/5 here:
> https://app.galabid.com/birdnote-bids/items >
> I hope you can join us!
>
> Best,
> Nick Bayard
> BirdNote Executive Director
> -------------- next part --------------
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> ------------------------------
>
> End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 267, Issue 5
> ****************************************
>
Many thanks to the Washington Ornithological Society, our friends at Seward Park Audubon Center, artist Tony Angell, and many others for donating items for this year's auction. We'll be spotlighting the auction during our event, but you can bid until 8pm PST on Thursday, 11/5 here: https://app.galabid.com/birdnote-bids/items
Date: 11/4/26 1:57 pm From: Karen Fardal via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] West Seattle Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and Tropical Kingbird - Not Yet Today
Kingbird was seen by several observers on the driveway/alley Point Place SW off of Alki Blvd that dead ends into the lighthouse grounds. Good to look all along that from the street down to the trees by the lighthouse.
Nobody has seen the finch yet today though that I am aware of despite hours of collective searching.
Good luck!
Karen Fardal
> On Nov 4, 2026, at 11:02 AM, Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> There are no eBird reports yet today for the Rosy-Finch or the Kingbird. Hopefully anyone who sees either this morning will quickly enter an eBird checklist. That will show up in Washington Birder’s Dashboard when you change the default setting to King County. At the Dashboard you can click on a checklist to open it and see what details the birder provides. Those details can be helpful to finding the bird once you arrive at the location.
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/4/26 1:23 pm From: Anderson, Christopher D \(DFW\) via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Avian Influenza Precaution Reminder
Hi Tweets,
Hope everyone is getting out and enjoying some of our migrant birdlife lately with the cooperative weather we've been having (although - rain please)!
Speaking of our wintering waterfowl, I wanted to share a few important resources regarding Avian Influenza (AI), including safety protocols and reporting procedures. Currently, the state is primarily detecting AI exactly where expected: in migratory waterfowl, with a notable presence in wintering Cackling Geese in WWA (particularly Pierce Co. north through Whatcom).
To help us monitor this situation, please keep the following guidelines in mind:
* How to Report: If you observe sick, dead, or suspected AI-infected wildlife, please use the WDFW sick/dead reporting tool. The link is located at the very top of the state's main AI webpage: WDFW Bird Flu Information<https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/diseases/bird-flu>. Tons of information there and I recommend folks to pay attention to the "Avian Influenza Questions Answered" and "Human HPAI Safety" sections, in particular.
* Broad Wildlife Observations: You can also report general wildlife health observations, exotic-invasive occurrences, or state Species of Greatest Conservation Need on our broader reporting page. You will find various report "topics" there to match the report you desire to enter: WDFW Report Observations<https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report-observations>.
* Do Not Handle Wildlife: Do not touch, handle, attempt to rescue, or transport any birds or animals to a wildlife rehabilitator if they appear neurologically affected. Common symptoms include head shaking, lethargy/immobility, swimming in circles, loss of coordination, often with mucous discharge around the nares, mouth, or eyes. Affected birds often pass within 24-72 hours of showing these signs. There is NO CURE - they are not candidates for wildlife rehabilitation, and the rehabbers do not want these affected animals as it only promotes spread and biosecurity issues for their facilities.
* Keep Your Distance: Leave the animals be and keep people and pets away from areas where sick/dead waterfowl are congregating.
* Avoid Artificial Concentration: Please do not feed waterfowl, as artificial feeding concentrates birds and facilitates the spread of the virus.
* Carcass Management: If the animals are on public lands, notify the public land manager as well as WDFW. We coordinate directly with land managers to safely remove carcasses using full PPE (gloves, N95 masks, and eye protection) and double-bagging for landfill disposal.
* Let Nature Take Its Course: As reiterated on our website, if the birds are not in a location that impacts public health or safety (such as a high-traffic common space at a public park), they should be left alone when possible if not an issue for people/pets.
Please continue to report these instances. Our Wildlife Health group and local district staff closely monitor these map and reporting tools to track the virus. We appreciate your reports!
Best,
Chris
__________________________________________________
Chris Anderson (he, him, his)
District Wildlife Biologist
District 12, King County
WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - Region 4
16018 Mill Creek Blvd.<x-apple-data-detectors://4/0>
Mill Creek, WA 98012<x-apple-data-detectors://4/0>
Desk: 425-341-2054
<Christopher.Anderson...><mailto:<Christopher.Anderson...> http://wdfw.wa.gov<http://wdfw.wa.gov/> __________________________________________________
Date: 11/4/26 11:15 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] West Seattle Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and Tropical Kingbird - Not Yet Today
There are no eBird reports yet today for the Rosy-Finch or the Kingbird. Hopefully anyone who sees either this morning will quickly enter an eBird checklist. That will show up in Washington Birder’s Dashboard when you change the default setting to King County. At the Dashboard you can click on a checklist to open it and see what details the birder provides. Those details can be helpful to finding the bird once you arrive at the location.
Date: 11/3/26 7:06 pm From: Greg Pasquariello via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Barred Owls in the Back Yard
Just spent the last 20 minutes conversing with at least 3, maybe more Barred Owls in the yard (Vancouver WA). I know they'vve been cancelled, but I still enjoy finding them, especially in my yard.
I do a killer barred owl call. I led an owling field trip years ago in NJ and had 13 of them calling back to me. The group was mostly new birders and they were appropriately amazed!
Date: 11/3/26 6:37 pm From: Marcus Roening via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Rock Wren enjoying the Tacoma waterfront
Hi Tweets,
Tacoma has had a pretty special visitor for the past 2 weeks - a Rock Wren! As with many wrens, it can be quite engaging and it is a delight to spend some time watching it at close range while it picks through the rocks and crevices along the shoreline. My favorite picture taken to date was one by Sam Hain on 10/16/26 during low tide of the Rock Wren foraging next to Sea Anemone. When you’re used to seeing a bird of the arid canyons of E WA, it definitely causes some cognitive dissonance to see it on the seashore.
The bird was first seen on 10/15/26 and was still present today on 11/3/26. The location is Titlow Beach Park in Tacoma. The bird has been hanging out at Hidden Beach (which shows up on Maps) by the chain link fence at an old boat launch. Sometimes it moves a bit south along the shoreline, but it always seems to come back to the fence. If you park near the waterfront, it is a .7 mile walk North on a nice flat trail along and near the waterfront. You’ll know when you’re there because the fence starts. You can continue around over the RR bridge for a nice loop past the tidal ponds with Eurasian Wigeon.
This is also a great spot at the old Ferry landing to get good looks at all 3 cormorants at relatively close range. And maybe somebody can find us a Little Gull among the several hundred Bonaparte’s Gulls that work the Narrows. :-).
Date: 11/3/26 3:25 pm From: Dee Dee via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Lesser Goldfinch update
Wanted to give an update on this 3rd Fall-Winter of visits to my garden of a male Lesser Goldfinch (LEGO); I am being positive about this coming Winter, hoping to see him as in the past two winters. He may be small, but seeing his bright yellow belly even for 1 minute, really brightens up my day.
The first time I saw him was November 21 in 2024 and last time that first year was 20 February 2025. Did not see him at all until the following fall, reappearing on 29 September 2025, occasional sightings until 29 March 2026. Then, again, no sightings throughout the rest of spring and summer.
So I was thrilled to see a male Lesser Goldfinch again this 15 September 2026.
Including that happy day and through today, 3 November 2026, I have had very short but definite sightings of him 9 times. Photos for all but one of those. Amazingly, a new record, so to speak, of consecutive days of sightings, was 4 in a row, being 24 through 27 October.
Realizing this is not a rare bird per se, except in my local area, I cannot help getting excited each time I see the little guy and wanted to let others who might be interested know to keep their eyes open when in the Edmonds area. I have no idea where he goes when he is not spending 30 seconds or a minute at my feeder!
I have been very busy and have not submitted all of these sightings and the photos to eBird yet, but I’m hoping to get that done sometime in the next days.
Cheers!
Date: 11/3/26 3:05 pm From: Peter Wimberger via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Vermilion Flycatcher continues
Hi Tweets, Just saw the posts about rare birds and Tweeters, with a couple specific mentions of the female Vermilion Flycatcher. She's still there. I stopped by there yesterday afternoon on my way to the Methow. I got lucky and found her pretty quickly. I used eBird sightings to guide my quest and found her flycatching from fence posts on the farm road on the east side of the little slough that runs under 38th St SE. Very bucolic with Mt. Rainier and cows in the background. For rare birds, I find the combination of eBird alerts and the various WhatsApp groups much more convenient than Tweeters, but that's me. I rarely chase, but it's nice when a bird is on the way to somewhere I'm already headed, like the Siberian Accentor that was conveniently just off I-5 some years ago. Have fun out there! And don't forget to Vote! Peter
Date: 11/3/26 12:54 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Northern shrike at Deer Lagoon
Birding now at deer lagoon Whidbey island. Great views of lone northern shrike, 2nd day in a row. Down in marsh area near end of the raised trail on freshwater side. david Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/3/26 5:26 am From: Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
The fact that this discussion is taking place on Tweeters, a place where
anyone can contribute, says it all. Tweeters cannot be all things to all
people, but I believe it has a place. I would miss it very much.
Marv Breece
Tukwila, WA
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Date: Mon, Nov 2, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
To: Scott R <mryakima...>
Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Scott, much appreciation for developing this program; I know many people
love it.
What I’ve been writing about is that it’s a shame that tweeters can’t still
function as it always has, a forum for people to exchange questions and
answers and general thoughts about our feathered friends as well as
sightings of both the common and the rare. All the rare-bird apps don’t
accomplish that, and I think many birders still like to have something like
that available.
I didn’t realize the “plain text” problem was so great, as Carol Riddell
pointed out, and it would be terrific if tweeters would allow photos and
recordings, but even given those limitations, it is fulfilling a need in
many of us in the birding community, and the comments of Bob and me and
others are directed entirely toward the possibility of holding on to
something we had before, but letting a little more of that rare-bird
reporting infuse this very general listserv focused on regional birds.
Of course, what Teri wrote is true, but a lot of birders aren’t focused on
rarities that they can chase, and yet they would still like to hear about
them. Tweeters could still play a role in that, although I don’t know
exactly how, except perhaps by some individuals who have seen a rare bird
telling the story there!
OR, can someone come up with an alternative to tweeters that will furnish
all that some of us are asking for? I know there are Facebook groups that
could do that, but I know some people prefer not to use that means of
communication. Are there alternatives?
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
On Nov 2, 2026, at 12:40 PM, Scott R via Tweeters <tweeters...>
wrote:
Bob, Dennis, Dan, and Tweeters,
This discussion gets at exactly the problem I’ve been working to address
with Chase Report:
Chase Report was developed to make recent rare-bird reports easier to
follow without having to sift through long lists of eBird sightings and
rare bird alerts. It’s free, requires no account or login, and has already
found a substantial following among Washington birders, with over 2500
birders having used it and about 50 users every day even in November. Select
Washington from the state menu.
For example, the Common Ringed Plover was prominently featured throughout
its stay in August. The Snohomish County Vermilion Flycatcher is also
listed, although its “likely present” assessment has become less certain
with no new eBird reports in about four days. That doesn’t necessarily mean
it has left—just that recent confirmation is lacking.
Chase Report brings together recent eBird reports, highlights higher-level
rarities, and groups sightings to help you follow a continuing bird. You
can see when it was last reported and an estimate of whether it is likely
still present, along with links to the underlying reports. Filters help
narrow the display to the birds and areas that interest you.
The app updates automatically every 15 minutes on weekends and every hour
during the week. It also offers rarity alerts through Telegram, so you can
receive notifications without having to remember to check the website.
The goal is to make it easier to spot a significant rarity among all the
locally unusual sightings—and hear about it while there’s still an
opportunity to go.
I share the appreciation for timely reports here on Tweeters. Please keep
those coming! Chase Report provides another way to keep up when a sighting
makes it into eBird but never reaches this list.
Date: 11/2/26 8:19 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
Chase report was an awesome build out Scott. Thank you. I have used it from Day one. Precise directions and coalescing observer data to provide maximum chase success. Better than Dashboard or switching eBird alerts to hourly . Thanks
Eliminates the neighborhood talk and discussions on racism, naming issues etc. Which are all of course still valid and better treated under tweeters or a Facebook discussion page.
First Vermilion Flycatcher for the state anyway. And it was a fun trip
Mark Tomboulian
From: Scott R via Tweeters
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2026 12:40 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
Bob, Dennis, Dan, and Tweeters,
This discussion gets at exactly the problem I’ve been working to address with Chase Report:
Chase Report was developed to make recent rare-bird reports easier to follow without having to sift through long lists of eBird sightings and rare bird alerts. It’s free, requires no account or login, and has already found a substantial following among Washington birders, with over 2500 birders having used it and about 50 users every day even in November. Select Washington from the state menu.
For example, the Common Ringed Plover was prominently featured throughout its stay in August. The Snohomish County Vermilion Flycatcher is also listed, although its “likely present” assessment has become less certain with no new eBird reports in about four days. That doesn’t necessarily mean it has left—just that recent confirmation is lacking.
Chase Report brings together recent eBird reports, highlights higher-level rarities, and groups sightings to help you follow a continuing bird. You can see when it was last reported and an estimate of whether it is likely still present, along with links to the underlying reports. Filters help narrow the display to the birds and areas that interest you.
The app updates automatically every 15 minutes on weekends and every hour during the week. It also offers rarity alerts through Telegram, so you can receive notifications without having to remember to check the website.
The goal is to make it easier to spot a significant rarity among all the locally unusual sightings—and hear about it while there’s still an opportunity to go.
I share the appreciation for timely reports here on Tweeters. Please keep those coming! Chase Report provides another way to keep up when a sighting makes it into eBird but never reaches this list.
Date: 11/2/26 8:13 pm From: Stan Bezimienny via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds . . . . . . Or Not
“ The other issue in Washington is the proliferation of WhatsApp county rare bird groups. Members of them share rare bird information almost instantaneously. Those birders get information even before eBird alerts go out. For those of us who avoid Meta products such as WhatsApp and Facebook, we are left to eBird for rare bird needs. Tweeters and so many other listservs have evolved into forums that offer other opportunities for bird discussions. They are still valuable and fill a need. I don?t think they will ever again become the go to platforms for rare birds.”
Carol R
My sentiment exactly, thank you Carol for articulating it so well. There may be a dozen or so of us avoiding FBook an related products (in King Co? WA? US?) like a plague. Even if this means loosing interesting sightings.
Date: 11/2/26 5:07 pm From: Scott R via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
Dennis and all,
Thank you, Dennis. That means a great deal coming from you. (For anyone who
doesn't know, I built Chase Report. It runs on eBird data but isn't
connected with eBird, the Cornell Lab or the WBRC.)
I agree with you. Chase Report isn't a forum and was never meant to replace
one. It does one narrow job: it watches eBird for rare birds in the state
and tries to say whether each one is still there. What Tweeters does,
people asking questions, telling the story of a bird, and talking about
common birds as much as rare ones, is something no app does. And you're
right that the best way to keep the rarities part of that conversation is
for the people who found them to tell the story here.
For anyone who'd simply like to hear about the real rarities without wading
through a long list, Chase Report has a free Washington alert channel on
Telegram that posts only birds on the WBRC Review List. It's quiet, three
birds since early October:
On Mon, Nov 2, 2026 at 4:03 PM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
wrote:
> Scott, much appreciation for developing this program; I know many people
> love it.
>
> What I’ve been writing about is that it’s a shame that tweeters can’t
> still function as it always has, a forum for people to exchange questions
> and answers and general thoughts about our feathered friends as well as
> sightings of both the common and the rare. All the rare-bird apps don’t
> accomplish that, and I think many birders still like to have something like
> that available.
>
> I didn’t realize the “plain text” problem was so great, as Carol Riddell
> pointed out, and it would be terrific if tweeters would allow photos and
> recordings, but even given those limitations, it is fulfilling a need in
> many of us in the birding community, and the comments of Bob and me and
> others are directed entirely toward the possibility of holding on to
> something we had before, but letting a little more of that rare-bird
> reporting infuse this very general listserv focused on regional birds.
>
> Of course, what Teri wrote is true, but a lot of birders aren’t focused on
> rarities that they can chase, and yet they would still like to hear about
> them. Tweeters could still play a role in that, although I don’t know
> exactly how, except perhaps by some individuals who have seen a rare bird
> telling the story there!
>
> OR, can someone come up with an alternative to tweeters that will furnish
> all that some of us are asking for? I know there are Facebook groups that
> could do that, but I know some people prefer not to use that means of
> communication. Are there alternatives?
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
>
> On Nov 2, 2026, at 12:40 PM, Scott R via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Bob, Dennis, Dan, and Tweeters,
>
> This discussion gets at exactly the problem I’ve been working to address
> with Chase Report:
>
> https://chasereport.com >
> Chase Report was developed to make recent rare-bird reports easier to
> follow without having to sift through long lists of eBird sightings and
> rare bird alerts. It’s free, requires no account or login, and has
> already found a substantial following among Washington birders, with over
> 2500 birders having used it and about 50 users every day even in November. Select
> Washington from the state menu.
>
> For example, the Common Ringed Plover was prominently featured throughout
> its stay in August. The Snohomish County Vermilion Flycatcher is also
> listed, although its “likely present” assessment has become less certain
> with no new eBird reports in about four days. That doesn’t necessarily mean
> it has left—just that recent confirmation is lacking.
>
> Chase Report brings together recent eBird reports, highlights higher-level
> rarities, and groups sightings to help you follow a continuing bird. You
> can see when it was last reported and an estimate of whether it is likely
> still present, along with links to the underlying reports. Filters help
> narrow the display to the birds and areas that interest you.
>
> The app updates automatically every 15 minutes on weekends and every hour
> during the week. It also offers rarity alerts through Telegram, so you can
> receive notifications without having to remember to check the website.
>
> The goal is to make it easier to spot a significant rarity among all the
> locally unusual sightings—and hear about it while there’s still an
> opportunity to go.
>
> I share the appreciation for timely reports here on Tweeters. Please keep
> those coming! Chase Report provides another way to keep up when a sighting
> makes it into eBird but never reaches this list.
>
> Scott Ray
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
>
Date: 11/2/26 3:15 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
Scott, much appreciation for developing this program; I know many people love it.
What I’ve been writing about is that it’s a shame that tweeters can’t still function as it always has, a forum for people to exchange questions and answers and general thoughts about our feathered friends as well as sightings of both the common and the rare. All the rare-bird apps don’t accomplish that, and I think many birders still like to have something like that available.
I didn’t realize the “plain text” problem was so great, as Carol Riddell pointed out, and it would be terrific if tweeters would allow photos and recordings, but even given those limitations, it is fulfilling a need in many of us in the birding community, and the comments of Bob and me and others are directed entirely toward the possibility of holding on to something we had before, but letting a little more of that rare-bird reporting infuse this very general listserv focused on regional birds.
Of course, what Teri wrote is true, but a lot of birders aren’t focused on rarities that they can chase, and yet they would still like to hear about them. Tweeters could still play a role in that, although I don’t know exactly how, except perhaps by some individuals who have seen a rare bird telling the story there!
OR, can someone come up with an alternative to tweeters that will furnish all that some of us are asking for? I know there are Facebook groups that could do that, but I know some people prefer not to use that means of communication. Are there alternatives?
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Nov 2, 2026, at 12:40 PM, Scott R via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Bob, Dennis, Dan, and Tweeters,
>
> This discussion gets at exactly the problem I’ve been working to address with Chase Report:
>
> https://chasereport.com <https://chasereport.com/> > Chase Report was developed to make recent rare-bird reports easier to follow without having to sift through long lists of eBird sightings and rare bird alerts. It’s free, requires no account or login, and has already found a substantial following among Washington birders, with over 2500 birders having used it and about 50 users every day even in November. Select Washington from the state menu.
>
> For example, the Common Ringed Plover was prominently featured throughout its stay in August. The Snohomish County Vermilion Flycatcher is also listed, although its “likely present” assessment has become less certain with no new eBird reports in about four days. That doesn’t necessarily mean it has left—just that recent confirmation is lacking.
>
> Chase Report brings together recent eBird reports, highlights higher-level rarities, and groups sightings to help you follow a continuing bird. You can see when it was last reported and an estimate of whether it is likely still present, along with links to the underlying reports. Filters help narrow the display to the birds and areas that interest you.
>
> The app updates automatically every 15 minutes on weekends and every hour during the week. It also offers rarity alerts through Telegram, so you can receive notifications without having to remember to check the website.
>
> The goal is to make it easier to spot a significant rarity among all the locally unusual sightings—and hear about it while there’s still an opportunity to go.
>
> I share the appreciation for timely reports here on Tweeters. Please keep those coming! Chase Report provides another way to keep up when a sighting makes it into eBird but never reaches this list.
>
> Scott Ray
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/2/26 1:42 pm From: Teri Martine via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Alerts re: rare birds
I find the "rare bird alert" via eBird is a simple way to be informed of rare sightings. I suspect that many use it and that's why there is less use of Tweeters to report rare birds. Teri Martine Seattle _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/2/26 1:33 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Research: Spotted and Barred owls-California study-The Society for Conservation Biology
Tweeters, Research findings. Published in July, 2025.
Date: 11/2/26 12:53 pm From: Michael Paradis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
I will co-sign on the usefulness of chase report. I have been using it for
a few months and find it to be very well done (ty, Scott)
On Mon, Nov 2, 2026 at 12:41 PM Scott R via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Bob, Dennis, Dan, and Tweeters,
>
> This discussion gets at exactly the problem I’ve been working to address
> with Chase Report:
>
> https://chasereport.com >
> Chase Report was developed to make recent rare-bird reports easier to
> follow without having to sift through long lists of eBird sightings and
> rare bird alerts. It’s free, requires no account or login, and has
> already found a substantial following among Washington birders, with over
> 2500 birders having used it and about 50 users every day even in November. Select
> Washington from the state menu.
>
> For example, the Common Ringed Plover was prominently featured throughout
> its stay in August. The Snohomish County Vermilion Flycatcher is also
> listed, although its “likely present” assessment has become less certain
> with no new eBird reports in about four days. That doesn’t necessarily mean
> it has left—just that recent confirmation is lacking.
>
> Chase Report brings together recent eBird reports, highlights higher-level
> rarities, and groups sightings to help you follow a continuing bird. You
> can see when it was last reported and an estimate of whether it is likely
> still present, along with links to the underlying reports. Filters help
> narrow the display to the birds and areas that interest you.
>
> The app updates automatically every 15 minutes on weekends and every hour
> during the week. It also offers rarity alerts through Telegram, so you can
> receive notifications without having to remember to check the website.
>
> The goal is to make it easier to spot a significant rarity among all the
> locally unusual sightings—and hear about it while there’s still an
> opportunity to go.
>
> I share the appreciation for timely reports here on Tweeters. Please keep
> those coming! Chase Report provides another way to keep up when a sighting
> makes it into eBird but never reaches this list.
>
> Scott Ray
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Chase Report was developed to make recent rare-bird reports easier to
follow without having to sift through long lists of eBird sightings and
rare bird alerts. It’s free, requires no account or login, and has already
found a substantial following among Washington birders, with over 2500
birders having used it and about 50 users every day even in November. Select
Washington from the state menu.
For example, the Common Ringed Plover was prominently featured throughout
its stay in August. The Snohomish County Vermilion Flycatcher is also
listed, although its “likely present” assessment has become less certain
with no new eBird reports in about four days. That doesn’t necessarily mean
it has left—just that recent confirmation is lacking.
Chase Report brings together recent eBird reports, highlights higher-level
rarities, and groups sightings to help you follow a continuing bird. You
can see when it was last reported and an estimate of whether it is likely
still present, along with links to the underlying reports. Filters help
narrow the display to the birds and areas that interest you.
The app updates automatically every 15 minutes on weekends and every hour
during the week. It also offers rarity alerts through Telegram, so you can
receive notifications without having to remember to check the website.
The goal is to make it easier to spot a significant rarity among all the
locally unusual sightings—and hear about it while there’s still an
opportunity to go.
I share the appreciation for timely reports here on Tweeters. Please keep
those coming! Chase Report provides another way to keep up when a sighting
makes it into eBird but never reaches this list.
Date: 11/2/26 10:03 am From: Tom and Carol Stoner via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Swans?
I saw a flock of 6 - 8 large birds that, at first glance, I assumed were geese. However, something was off, and I was surprised to id them as swans, probably. I only got a brief look. They were heading SW over Lincoln Park about 9:15 this morning.
Date: 11/2/26 9:52 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds . . . . . . Or Not
I would like to weigh in here and offer my agreement with Chuq’s post. The UW’s Mailman platform is antiquated and no longer serves the needs of this listserv. So many posts have become unreadable because the UW only supports plain text posts now. Many posters continue to post from their phones or tablets, using mail apps that do not support plain text. Therefore, those of us who receive the daily digests or look at the web-based listserv have no idea what you have posted. Just blank messages. I am in the Apple universe and can only post from my desktop Mac. It is my only device that allows me to use plain text and to set it as the default. So my ability to post a message that can be read by all and have its text preserved at the listserv is now limited to when I am at home. Having to rely on every Tweeters subscriber to use plain text is a no go. It just doesn’t work. It is past time to look for a new platform. And, yes, I support and applaud our current administrators but they are working with an outdated system that no longer supports Tweeters very well.
As to rare bird reporting, the evolution of data simply points to eBird. It has taken over listing information. Post-pandemic birders may not even be aware of Tweeters. Managing one’s electronic data in eBird can be about as much as many birders can handle. You don’t have to keep your records in eBird to access it and look at the rare bird alerts. If you want needs alerts to come to your email, you would have to establish an account, go to your My eBird page, and set up the alerts you want to receive emails for. The options are almost endless. Alerts can be set up for year birds or life birds or rare birds. They can be set up for counties or states, They can be sent hourly or daily. For someone like Bob O’Brien, I would suggest setting up a daily needs alert for Washington life birds. That will somewhat limit an inbox deluge and will cover most birds you would be interested in.
The other issue in Washington is the proliferation of WhatsApp county rare bird groups. Members of them share rare bird information almost instantaneously. Those birders get information even before eBird alerts go out. For those of us who avoid Meta products such as WhatsApp and Facebook, we are left to eBird for rare bird needs. Tweeters and so many other listservs have evolved into forums that offer other opportunities for bird discussions. They are still valuable and fill a need. I don’t think they will ever again become the go to platforms for rare birds.
Date: 11/2/26 6:35 am From: Nagi Aboulenein via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
Hello Tweeters,
On the Oregon side, OBOL (of which I am the moderator) has seen a similar decline in postings. Major finds and rarities these days are mostly posted and discussed on the Oregon birding Discord, which is great if you have the time or inclination to browse through many different channels there. Some diligent subscribers to both OBOL and the Oregon Discord channels (thank you!) do try to post about major rarities on OBOL (you know who you are, and thank you!), so that certainly helps. Another OBOL subscriber also posts the daily eBird Oregon-wide rare bird alert on OBOL (also, thanks!).
Maybe some Tweeter can spare 2 minutes a day and just simply forward the Washington RBA to Tweeters? All it takes is hit the “forward” button and send it on to Tweeters if you’re already subscribed to the WA RBA.
Photos would be nice, but only complementary to even just a plain-text daily WA RBA on Tweeters.
Cheers and good birding.
—
Nagi Aboulenein
> On Sunday, Nov 01, 2026 at 23:52, Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> Thank you for your comments, Bob.
> Dan Reiff, PhD
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Nov 1, 2026, at 10:32 PM, Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi Dan. I agree 100% that adding photos would make a big difference. Of course you can upload them to Flickr or the like. but it's just too much hassle.to (http://hassle.to) be worthwhile. As you likely know OBOL has allowed photos for several decades. But before that, it did not, same as Tweeters. I'm sending this only to you because I've harped so much about it in the past to no avail. Bob
> >
> > On Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 7:27 PM Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> (mailto:<dan.owl.reiff...>)> wrote:
> > > Dennis and Bob,
> > > I think and feel the same.
> > > I believe one of the factors that has affected the number and types of Tweeters reports is the administration’s continuing decision to not update Tweeters to allow single photos and single audio recordings.
> > > I continue to be a big fan of Tweeters and am concerned that it may continue to decline, if a few changes are not made.
> > > Also, I do appreciate the other efforts of the admins!
> > > Dan Reiff. PhD
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > > > On Nov 1, 2026, at 2:22 PM, Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Bob, I feel your pain. I’ve been very disappointed that with the barrage of records of rare birds on eBird that few observers share their sightings with tweeters anymore.
> > > >
> > > > I don’t know if tweeterdom has heard of the female Vermilion Flycatcher on Ebey Island in Snohomish County that has been around for a while. We learned about it from eBird, went up there this morning and failed to see it, although one of the Black Phoebes there put on a show for us. The farmlands and scattered copses and hedge rows there look like they could be home for many species of birds.
> > > >
> > > > If you are interested, you can easily find the coordinates by looking at eBird online.
> > > >
> > > > Dennis Paulson
> > > > Seattle
> > > >
> > > > > On Nov 1, 2026, at 2:13 PM, Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> > > > > Much to my dismay I just learned that Common Ringed Plover had been identified and seen by many, at Ocean Shores back in mid August. Who Knew? Who didn't know? Me.
> > > > > Now there is a daily list of Oregon and of Washington (separately) rare birds, but checking that daily would be a chore especially since it draws in a lot of questionable, locally? rare? birds.. I would have thought (hoped?) that a mega like that would have made it on to Tweeters (to which I have long subscribed). i would have chased it immediately, as my shorebird list is my favorite list. So I checked the Tweeters Archives.
> > > > > It was mentioned only once in the many dozens of submissions
> > > > > [Tweeters] Tokeland Common Ringed Plover weekend outlook (https://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/2026-August/009234.html) Scott R via Tweeters
> > > > >
> > > > > So sad, for me anyway
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Bob OBrien Portland _______________________________________________
> > > > > 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: 11/1/26 10:15 pm From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Band-Tailed Pigeons in Burien
I have up to four coming to feeders in my back yard Tom, Today it was only
one.
Hans
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 1:06 PM Tom Benedict via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Over the course of the seasons we have good representation of Band-Tailed
> Pigeons here in the Seahurst neighborhood of Burien, WA. Today I noticed a
> flock of at least 29 whirling and eventually settling in the top branches
> of some cedar and fir trees. It’s always such a treat to see such handsome
> birds.
>
> Tom Benedict
> Seahurst, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/1/26 9:06 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
On Nov 1, 2026 at 19:27:30, Dan Reiff via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I believe one of the factors that has affected the number and types of
> Tweeters reports is the administration’s continuing decision to not update
> Tweeters to allow single photos and single audio recordings.
> I continue to be a big fan of Tweeters and am concerned that it may
> continue to decline, if a few changes are not made.
> Also, I do appreciate the other efforts of the admins!
>
The proliferation of other online (mostly web-based, but now app-based)
systems has reduced the importance and influence of email lists; not saying
they’re not still useful and interesting (they are), but if you look at the
age demographics of the mailing lists, in general you’ll find that they
skew into the older folks (like me), and that the younger generations are
more involved elsewhere.
Back when I was in California, I ran SBB (South Bay Birds) for well over a
decade. It was well established when I took it over; initially I ran it on
a personal server in my back bedroom, then we migrated it (like the vast
majority of California bird emails) to Yahoo Groups. When Yahoo inevitably
blew up Groups, many/most of the groups migrated to a site called groups.io.
(side note: when I started looking at moving to Washington, I spent a solid
two years figuring out how to transfer ownership of SBB to Santa Clara
Valley Bird Alliance, where it lives today, because I’ve seen too many
cases of “oh, the admin is now permanently not available and nobody knows
the password” killing off a list — having an organization that managed the
list and oversees ongoing management and maintenance is a really good idea,
folks).
So if you’re unhappy with Tweeter’s as it is today, maybe it’s time to
consider migrating to a mailing list server with modern tools and and
active enhancement and management. Just a thought
(A couple of disclaimers: I know the owner of groups.io, he happens to be
the guy to built the software that yahoo ultimately bought and turned into
yahoo groups, and I did some minor consulting with him as he developed
groups.io.
Also, if you look way, way back in the archives for the mailman email list
project — which is what tweeters runs on — I was at one point one of the
developers and architects on that beast, and while I still really like it,
it’s not what I’d call a state of the art tool, reliable but stodgy.
At one point I spent some energy trying to convince Audubon California on
the benefits of having a regional organization overseeing the regional
communications, but (obviously) that went nowhere. Oh well. I still think
having someone like Audubon Washington sponsoring the Washington regional
email system seems like a nice PR win for them, and an annual cost of a
list on groups.io is something like $140 (last I looked)….
Just some ramblings some someone who spent a lot of time in the trenches
building and managing email systems over the decades…
Chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Vice President, Kitsap Audubon Society
Date: 11/1/26 8:36 pm From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Twin lakes Pine Siskins and Buffleheads
For the last couple of days a flock of 40 or more Pine Siskins has been feeding in the alders at Treasure Island Park here in Twin Lakes/ Federal Way. Also here at Lake Jeane I saw my first-of-season pair of Buffleheads today. Funny, I was telling my wife yesterday that Buffleheads should show up any day now !
Good Birding!
Hans
*Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA <thefedderns...>
Date: 11/1/26 4:16 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Washington Bird Records Committee recent decisions (Oct 24, 2026 meeting)
Thanks Matt, my apologies and thanks for the correction. And thanks for
clearing up my confusion. So eBird does not use AOS (AOU) lists. I had
no idea, but I guess that makes sense, since eBird is used all over the
world. But for birders in North America that is indeed a source of
confusion. for me, anyhow. Yes, I just started a (bogus, not to be
submitted) eBird checklist and all I saw is Great Egret as an option.
*Sorry if this is a repeat, earlier one(s) were too long and
auto-blocked by the system. Bob OBrien*
On Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 1:03 PM Matt Bartels <mattxyz...> wrote:
> Hi Bob -
> I think you’ve got your checklists mixed up
> The AOU did split the Great Egret, and that is the list we use for WBRC
> taxonomy.
> I believe the Clements folks [the taxonomy used in eBird], are the one
> that delayed a decision on the split for a year to work out details.
> Here’s the AOU supplement with the details:
> https://academic.oup.com/auk/article/143/4/1/8934017?login=false >
> So, on eBird you’ll still see just Great Egret, but for ABA checklists
> [including the WBRC] we now have Great White Egret and American Egret.
>
> Best,
>
> Matt Bartels
> Secretary, WBRC
>
>
>
> On Nov 1, 2026, at 12:32 PM, Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
>
> Actually Great Egret split was postponed for a year allowing
> European/Asian record groups to work out subspecies therein.
> Undoubtedly it will be split next year. Not a big deal.
> Bob OBrien Portland.
>
> On Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM Matt Bartels via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hi all -
>> Last weekend, the Washington Bird Records Committee [WBRC] met for its
>> annual in-person meeting. I’m happy to share-out the results here.
>> Before long, more detailed updates will be posted on the WOS website at:
>> https://wos.org/records/ >>
>>
>> A summary of our results:
>>
>> · 49 reports were accepted as valid new records.
>> · 2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of
>> records previously accepted at earlier meetings.
>> · 18 reports were not accepted.
>> · 1 report was tabled for further review
>>
>> One species was added to the official Washington state list:
>> · Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026
>>
>> Two species were moved off the sight-only list with photographic
>> documentation:
>> · Common Ringed Plover and White-eyed Vireo
>>
>> In addition, a change to our state list came from taxonomic updates by
>> the American Birding Association Checklist Committee this year:
>> · Great Egret was split. Most Washington records were assigned to
>> American Egret but two records were previously accepted to the subspecies
>> now assigned to Great White Egret, the Eurasian species, adding another
>> species to the state list
>>
>> Finally, the state list is updated to incorporate a few name changes
>> that don’t affect the number of species on the list:
>> · Whimbrel was split, with all Washington records assigned to
>> Hudsonian Whimbrel.
>> · Willet was split, with all Washington records assigned to Prairie
>> Willet.
>> · Great Egret was split, as mentioned above, with most of our
>> records assigned to American Egret.
>> · Marsh Wren was split, with all Washington records assigned to
>> Western Marsh Wren.
>> · Yellow Warbler was split, with all Washington records assigned to
>> Yellow Warbler (note that in eBird, this is now called Northern Yellow
>> Warbler).
>> · Painted Redstart is renamed Painted Whitestart.
>>
>> The state checklist is now at 533 species, including 522 species fully
>> accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 11 species
>> which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).
>>
>> Key: Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)
>> [Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]
>>
>>
>> ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>>
>> COHU-2026-3, Costa's Hummingbird – 5-7 May 2026, Egg Lake Road, Friday
>> Harbor, San Juan Island, San Juan County
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/2026,+Egg+Lake+Road,+Friday+Harbor,+San+Juan+Island,+San+Juan+County?entry=gmail&source=g>.
>> Sara Hiebert Burch [w, v] (7-0-0).
>>
>> CRPL-2026-1, Common Ringed Plover – 28 Jul 2026, Moclips river mouth,
>> Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of
>> this species supported by photo documentation.
>>
>> CRPL-2026-2, Common Ringed Plover – 9-16 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot,
>> Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p],
>> Joshua Emm [p], Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> UPSA-2026-1, Upland Sandpiper – 23 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland,
>> Pacific County. Cameron Cox [w] (6-1-0).
>>
>> UPSA-2026-2, Upland Sandpiper – 7 Sep 2026, Cedar River Mouth, Renton,
>> King County. Matt Dalessio [w, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> GRKN-2026-1, Great Knot – 12-17 May 2026, Ellen Sands, south of Tokeland,
>> Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> RNST-2026-1, Red-necked Stint – 8-18 Jul 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland,
>> Pacific County. Bill Shelmerdine [w, p], Jake Bonello [p], Liam Hutcheson
>> [p, v], Kari Kidd [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> TESA-2026-1, Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026, Stanwood STP, Stanwood,
>> Snohomish County. Michael Woodruff [w, p, v], Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes
>> [p], Bruce LaBar [p], Lou Martineau [p], Jordan Roderick [p], Bill Tweit
>> [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
>>
>> TBMU-2025-1, Thick-billed Murre – 28 Dec 2025, Roosevelt Beach, s of
>> Ocean Grove, Grays Harbor County. Phoebe Wilcox [p] (6-0-1). NOTE: Found
>> dead by COASST observers.
>>
>> GUMU-2026-1, Guadalupe Murrelet [2] – 29 Jul 2026, Westport Pelagic,
>> 46.9320433, -125.0405891, Grays Harbor County. Steve Bell [p], Barry
>> McKenzie [p], Ryan Merrill
>> [p], Craig Miller [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> CRAU-2026-1, Crested Auklet – 10 May 2026, off Discovery Park, Seattle
>> and Burien, King and Kitsap Counties. John Puschock [w], Raphael Fennimore
>> [w, p] (6-1-0).
>>
>> LETE-2026-1, Least Tern – 19 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, Walla Walla River
>> Delta, Burbank, Walla Walla County. Jef Blake [p], MerryLynn Denny [p],
>> Zeke VanZante [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> LETE-2026-2, Least Tern – 7 Jul 2026, North Potholes SP, Grant County.
>> Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> VEGU-2026-1, Vega Gull – 26 Jan 2026, Yellow Feight Building, Tukwila,
>> King County. Eric Hope [w, p] (6-1-0).
>>
>> HAPE-2026-1, Hawaiian Petrel – 7 Jun 2026, Westport Pelagic offshore,
>> Grays Harbor County. Jim Danzenbaker [w] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WTSH-2026-1, Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 12 Sep 2026, waters off Carkeek
>> Park and Discovery Park, Seattle, King and Kitsap Counties. Matt D'Alessio
>> [w], Ryan J Merrill [w], Melinda Milner [w], Nathan Wall [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NABO-2026-1, Nazca Booby – 25 Aug - 1 Sep 2026, Smith Island, Island
>> County. Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Tracee Geernaert [p], Kristen
>> Hannon [p], Christopher Hearey [p], Steve Pink [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> RFBO-2026-2, Red-footed Booby – 23 Aug - 2 Sep 2026, Westport Jetty,
>> Westport, Grays Harbor County. Alex Gotz [p], Julian and Lin Ma [p], Mark
>> Oberle [p], Hillary Smith [p], Bill Tweit [p], Charlie Wright [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> LBHE-2026-1, Little Blue Heron – 22-24 Sep 2026, Bateman Island, Benton
>> County. Jef Blake [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> SNEG-2026-2, Snowy Egret – 11 Sep 2026, Klickitat River mouth, Klickitat
>> County. David Wittrock [w] (6-0-1).
>>
>> WTKI-2026-1, White-tailed Kite – 10-12 Apr 2026, Johns River Wildlife
>> Area, Grays Harbor County. Allison Anholt [p], Calvin Bobek [p], Liam
>> Hutcheson [p], Ed Newbold [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat
>> WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
>>
>> WTKI-2026-2, White-tailed Kite – 18-19 Apr 2026, Barlow Point Rd.,
>> Longview, Cowlitz County. Eric Evans [p], Russ Koppendrayer [p], Nikki
>> Perkins [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2
>> as separate records.
>>
>> ALFL-2026-1, Alder Flycatcher – 16-30 Jun 2026, Kalispell Reservation
>> Dike Road, Pend Oreille County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], David Poortinga [a],
>> Ryan J. Merrill [p, a], Brad Waggoner [p], Dan Waggoner [p], Kevin Waggoner
>> [p], Darchelle Worley [p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WEVI-2026-1, White-eyed Vireo – 6 Jun - 25 Jul 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe
>> Hills, Klickitat County. Jef Blake [w, p], Mike & Merry Lynn Denny [w, a],
>> Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Michael Woodruff [w, p, a], Samuel Holman [a],
>> Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Ellen
>> Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by
>> photo documentation.
>>
>> WEVI-2026-2, White-eyed Vireo – 15-19 Jun 2026, Aeneas Valley Rd.,
>> Tonasket, Okanogan County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Calvin Bobek [a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> BRTH-2026-2, Brown Thrasher – 31 May 2026, Beaver Pond Trail, Winthrop,
>> Okanogan County. Kenneth Showalter [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WHWA-2026-1, White Wagtail – 3-5 May 2026, Ocean Shores Blvd., Point
>> Brown Jetty Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Craig
>> Miller [p], Bill Shelmerdine [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WHWA-2026-2, White Wagtail – 2 Jul - 7 Sep 2026, Neah Bay, Clallam
>> County. Mike Andersen [p], Charlotte Byers [p], Jordan Gunn [p]. Roger
>> Hoffman [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> RTPI-2026-1, Red-throated Pipit – 7 May 2026, Vancouver Lake lowlands,
>> Vancouver, Clark County. Cindy McCormack [w] (6-0-1).
>>
>> CCLO-2026-1, Chestnut-collared Longspur – 12 May 2026, Midway Beach,
>> Midway, Pacific County. Miles Heisel [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> GTGR-2026-2, Great-tailed Grackle – 17-24 May 2026, Hwy 17, Mesa,
>> Franklin County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p], Jef Blake [p], John
>> Grettenberger [p], Steven Kahl [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to
>> treat GRGR-2026-2 and GTGR-2025-6 as separate records.
>>
>> GTGR-2026-3, Great-tailed Grackle – 27 May 2026, Kah Tai Lagoon, Port
>> Townsend, Jefferson County. Miranda Maxwell [w, p], Clara Maxwell, Rose
>> Maxwell, Dan Waggoner [p], Steve Hampton [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> OVEN-2026-1, Ovenbird – 25 May 2026, Fletcher Bay Rd., Bainbridge Island,
>> Kitsap County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Janine
>> Schutt [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> GWWA-2026-1, Golden-winged Warbler – 16 Sep 2026, Neah Bay STP, Neah Bay,
>> Clallam County. Bennett Baynham [p], Alex Meilleur (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-2, Northern Parula – 26 May 2026, Queen Anne Playfield,
>> Seattle, King County. Roger Dane [w, a] (6-0-1).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-3, Northern Parula – 30 May 2026, Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue,
>> King County. Mason Maron [w, p], Raphael Fennimore [p], Alex Meilleur [p]
>> (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-4, Northern Parula – 8 Jun - 3 Jul 2026, Yakima Sportsman
>> Park, Yakima, Yakima County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Jef Blake [p, a],
>> Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-5, Northern Parula – 19 Jun 2026, National Forest Development
>> Road 9712, Cle Elum, Kittitas County. Dave Slager [w, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-6, Northern Parula – 26 Jun 2026, Umtanum Creek Trail, upper
>> end, Yakima County. Manuel Silveira [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-7, Northern Parula – 6 Jun 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula,
>> Pacific County. Jeff Gilligan [w] (6-0-1).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-8, Northern Parula – 30 Aug - 5 Sep 2026, Sentinel Bluffs,
>> Mattawa, Grant County. Matt Yawney [p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-9, Northern Parula – 30 Jun 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park,
>> Yakima, Yakima County. Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Additional
>> NOPA found with NOPA-2026-4 on just this date treated as a separate record.
>>
>>
>> MAWA-2026-1, Magnolia Warbler – 19 May 2026, ALE Pumphouse w of
>> Richland, Benton County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> MAWA-2026-2, Magnolia Warbler – 27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage,
>> Kittitas County. Charlotte Byers [w, p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> BLBW-2026-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 17 Sep 2026, Neah Bay town, Neah Bay,
>> Clallam County. Ryan Merrill [w, p], Bennett Baynham [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> BLPW-2026-1, Blackpoll Warbler – 6 Sep 2026, Neah Bay Junkyard, Neah Bay,
>> Clallam County. Jason Vassallo [w], Will Brooks [p], Louis Kreemer [w, p]
>> (7-0-0).
>>
>> SUTA-2026-1, Summer Tanager – 4 Jun 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills,
>> Klickitat County. Mike Coulson [w, p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> SUTA-2026-2, Summer Tanager – 26 Jul 2026, central Vashon Island, King
>> County. Martha Enson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> DICK-2026-1, Dickcissel – 5 Sep 2026, Nooksack River Mouth,
>> Marietta-Alderwood, Whatcom County. Isaiah Nugent [w, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>>
>> RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>>
>> King Eider at Westport – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of
>> a King Eider (formerly treated as KIEI-2026-1) is best treated as a
>> continuing record of KIEI-2025-1. The two records are merged and treated as
>> KIEI-2025-1.
>>
>> Dated and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 1 May 2026, Westport
>> Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Dick Carwright [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>>
>> Lesser Nighthawk – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a
>> Lesser Nighthawk in Kittitas County (formerly treated as LENI-2026-1) is
>> best treated as a returning instance of LENI-2024-1. The two records are
>> merged and treated as LENI-2024-1.
>>
>> Dates and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 22-27 May 2026,
>> Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Dave Swayne [a], Victoria and Jeff
>> Chaussee [p], Garrett Hughes [p], Ed Newbold [p], Darchelle Worley [p]
>> (7-0-0).
>>
>>
>>
>> REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
>>
>> RTHU-2026-1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 9 Jun 20226, Loomis, Long Beach
>> Peninsula, Pacific County (0-7-0).
>> COHU-2026-1, Costa's Hummingbird – 10 Apr 2026, Cashmere, Chelan County
>> (1-6-0).
>> COHU-2026-2, Costa's Hummingbird – 3-4 Jul 2026, Loomis, Long Beach
>> Peninsula, Pacific County (1-6-0).
>> ALHU-2026-1, Allen's Hummingbird – 11 Aug 2026, Phinney Ridge, Seattle,
>> King County (0-7-0).
>> EUWH-2026-1, Eurasian Whimbrel – 4 May 2026, Beach near Willapa NWR,
>> Ocean Park, Pacific County (0-7-0).
>> COMG-2024-1, Common Greenshank – 19 Oct 2024, Tyson Blood Ponds,
>> Burbank, Walla Walla County (0-7-0).
>> ARLO-2026-1, Arctic Loon – 6 Jun 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland,
>> Pacific County (1-6-0).
>> SNEG-2026-1, Snowy Egret (4) – 28 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, HQ trail,
>> Burbank, Walla Walla County (2-5-0).
>> STSE-2026-1, Steller's Sea-Eagle – 12 Jun 2026, Center Road, Lopez
>> Island, San Juan County (0-7-0).
>> YBFL-2026-1, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 6-8 Aug 2026, Coupeville,
>> Whidbey Island, Island County (0-7-0).
>> EAPH-2026-1, Eastern Phoebe – 7 Jul 2026, 12th St. NE, Everett,
>> Snohomish County (0-6-1).
>> BRTH-2026-1, Brown Thrasher – 2 Apr 2026, Cordata Park Trail,
>> Bellingham, Whatcom County (0-7-0).
>> BRTH-2026-3, Brown Thrasher – 5 Jul 2026, Fishing Pond and Park, Dayton,
>> Columbia County (5-2-0).
>> NOWH-2026-1, Northern Wheatear – 21 Aug 2026, 46.766000, -121.705000,
>> Mt. Rainier NP, Lewis County (0-7-0).
>> PSJU-2026-1, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco – 21 Aug 2026, Williams Lake
>> Road, Evans, Stevens County (0-7-0).
>> HOOR-2026-1, Hooded Oriole – 22 Jul 2026, Hayes Way, Shelton, Mason
>> County (0-7-0).
>> COGR-2026-1, Common Grackle – 30 May 2026, Palouse Trail, Ellensburg,
>> Kittitas County (0-6-1).
>> BLPW-2026-2, Blackpoll Warbler – 19 Sep 2026, Hooper, Adams County
>> (5-2-0).
>>
>>
>> REPORTS TABLED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:
>>
>> WISP-2026-1, Wilson's Storm-Petrel – 19 Sep 2026, Westport Pelagic,
>> Grays Canyon, Grays Harbor County.
>>
>>
>> Thanks everyone for documenting the surprising birds of WA - I’ll send
>> another short note once all the checklists and online files are updated at
>> the WOS website.
>>
>>
>> Matt Bartels
>> Secretary, WBRC
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
>
Date: 11/1/26 2:32 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
Bob, I feel your pain. I’ve been very disappointed that with the barrage of records of rare birds on eBird that few observers share their sightings with tweeters anymore.
I don’t know if tweeterdom has heard of the female Vermilion Flycatcher on Ebey Island in Snohomish County that has been around for a while. We learned about it from eBird, went up there this morning and failed to see it, although one of the Black Phoebes there put on a show for us. The farmlands and scattered copses and hedge rows there look like they could be home for many species of birds.
If you are interested, you can easily find the coordinates by looking at eBird online.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Nov 1, 2026, at 2:13 PM, Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Much to my dismay I just learned that Common Ringed Plover had been identified and seen by many, at Ocean Shores back in mid August. Who Knew? Who didn't know? Me.
> Now there is a daily list of Oregon and of Washington (separately) rare birds, but checking that daily would be a chore especially since it draws in a lot of questionable, locally? rare? birds.. I would have thought (hoped?) that a mega like that would have made it on to Tweeters (to which I have long subscribed). i would have chased it immediately, as my shorebird list is my favorite list. So I checked the Tweeters Archives.
> It was mentioned only once in the many dozens of submissions
> [Tweeters] Tokeland Common Ringed Plover weekend outlook <https://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/2026-August/009234.html> <> Scott R via Tweeters
> So sad, for me anyway
>
> Bob OBrien Portland
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/1/26 2:22 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
Much to my dismay I just learned that Common Ringed Plover had been identified and seen by many, at Ocean Shores back in mid August. Who Knew? Who didn't know? Me. Now there is a daily list of Oregon and of Washington (separately) rare birds, but checking that daily would be a chore especially since it draws in a lot of questionable, locally? rare? birds.. I would have thought (hoped?) that a mega like that would have made it on to Tweeters (to which I have long subscribed). i would have chased it immediately, as my shorebird list is my favorite list. So I checked the Tweeters Archives. It was mentioned only once in the many dozens of submissions
Date: 11/1/26 1:15 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Band-Tailed Pigeons in Burien
Over the course of the seasons we have good representation of Band-Tailed Pigeons here in the Seahurst neighborhood of Burien, WA. Today I noticed a flock of at least 29 whirling and eventually settling in the top branches of some cedar and fir trees. It’s always such a treat to see such handsome birds.
Date: 11/1/26 1:11 pm From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Washington Bird Records Committee recent decisions (Oct 24, 2026 meeting)
Hi Bob -
I think you’ve got your checklists mixed up
The AOU did split the Great Egret, and that is the list we use for WBRC taxonomy.
I believe the Clements folks [the taxonomy used in eBird], are the one that delayed a decision on the split for a year to work out details.
Here’s the AOU supplement with the details: https://academic.oup.com/auk/article/143/4/1/8934017?login=false
So, on eBird you’ll still see just Great Egret, but for ABA checklists [including the WBRC] we now have Great White Egret and American Egret.
Best,
Matt Bartels
Secretary, WBRC
> On Nov 1, 2026, at 12:32 PM, Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
>
> Actually Great Egret split was postponed for a year allowing European/Asian record groups to work out subspecies therein.
> Undoubtedly it will be split next year. Not a big deal.
> Bob OBrien Portland.
>
> On Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>> Hi all -
>> Last weekend, the Washington Bird Records Committee [WBRC] met for its annual in-person meeting. I’m happy to share-out the results here.
>> Before long, more detailed updates will be posted on the WOS website at: https://wos.org/records/ >>
>>
>> A summary of our results:
>>
>> · 49 reports were accepted as valid new records.
>> · 2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of records previously accepted at earlier meetings.
>> · 18 reports were not accepted.
>> · 1 report was tabled for further review
>>
>> One species was added to the official Washington state list:
>> · Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026
>>
>> Two species were moved off the sight-only list with photographic documentation:
>> · Common Ringed Plover and White-eyed Vireo
>>
>> In addition, a change to our state list came from taxonomic updates by the American Birding Association Checklist Committee this year:
>> · Great Egret was split. Most Washington records were assigned to American Egret but two records were previously accepted to the subspecies now assigned to Great White Egret, the Eurasian species, adding another species to the state list
>>
>> Finally, the state list is updated to incorporate a few name changes that don’t affect the number of species on the list:
>> · Whimbrel was split, with all Washington records assigned to Hudsonian Whimbrel.
>> · Willet was split, with all Washington records assigned to Prairie Willet.
>> · Great Egret was split, as mentioned above, with most of our records assigned to American Egret.
>> · Marsh Wren was split, with all Washington records assigned to Western Marsh Wren.
>> · Yellow Warbler was split, with all Washington records assigned to Yellow Warbler (note that in eBird, this is now called Northern Yellow Warbler).
>> · Painted Redstart is renamed Painted Whitestart.
>>
>> The state checklist is now at 533 species, including 522 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 11 species which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).
>>
>> Key: Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)
>> [Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]
>>
>>
>> ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>>
>> COHU-2026-3, Costa's Hummingbird – 5-7 May 2026, Egg Lake Road, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, San Juan County <https://www.google.com/maps/search/2026,+Egg+Lake+Road,+Friday+Harbor,+San+Juan+Island,+San+Juan+County?entry=gmail&source=g>. Sara Hiebert Burch [w, v] (7-0-0).
>>
>> CRPL-2026-1, Common Ringed Plover – 28 Jul 2026, Moclips river mouth, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by photo documentation.
>>
>> CRPL-2026-2, Common Ringed Plover – 9-16 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p], Joshua Emm [p], Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> UPSA-2026-1, Upland Sandpiper – 23 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland, Pacific County. Cameron Cox [w] (6-1-0).
>>
>> UPSA-2026-2, Upland Sandpiper – 7 Sep 2026, Cedar River Mouth, Renton, King County. Matt Dalessio [w, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> GRKN-2026-1, Great Knot – 12-17 May 2026, Ellen Sands, south of Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> RNST-2026-1, Red-necked Stint – 8-18 Jul 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific County. Bill Shelmerdine [w, p], Jake Bonello [p], Liam Hutcheson [p, v], Kari Kidd [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> TESA-2026-1, Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026, Stanwood STP, Stanwood, Snohomish County. Michael Woodruff [w, p, v], Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Bruce LaBar [p], Lou Martineau [p], Jordan Roderick [p], Bill Tweit [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
>>
>> TBMU-2025-1, Thick-billed Murre – 28 Dec 2025, Roosevelt Beach, s of Ocean Grove, Grays Harbor County. Phoebe Wilcox [p] (6-0-1). NOTE: Found dead by COASST observers.
>>
>> GUMU-2026-1, Guadalupe Murrelet [2] – 29 Jul 2026, Westport Pelagic, 46.9320433, -125.0405891, Grays Harbor County. Steve Bell [p], Barry McKenzie [p], Ryan Merrill
>> [p], Craig Miller [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> CRAU-2026-1, Crested Auklet – 10 May 2026, off Discovery Park, Seattle and Burien, King and Kitsap Counties. John Puschock [w], Raphael Fennimore [w, p] (6-1-0).
>>
>> LETE-2026-1, Least Tern – 19 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, Walla Walla River Delta, Burbank, Walla Walla County. Jef Blake [p], MerryLynn Denny [p], Zeke VanZante [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> LETE-2026-2, Least Tern – 7 Jul 2026, North Potholes SP, Grant County. Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> VEGU-2026-1, Vega Gull – 26 Jan 2026, Yellow Feight Building, Tukwila, King County. Eric Hope [w, p] (6-1-0).
>>
>> HAPE-2026-1, Hawaiian Petrel – 7 Jun 2026, Westport Pelagic offshore, Grays Harbor County. Jim Danzenbaker [w] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WTSH-2026-1, Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 12 Sep 2026, waters off Carkeek Park and Discovery Park, Seattle, King and Kitsap Counties. Matt D'Alessio [w], Ryan J Merrill [w], Melinda Milner [w], Nathan Wall [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NABO-2026-1, Nazca Booby – 25 Aug - 1 Sep 2026, Smith Island, Island County. Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Tracee Geernaert [p], Kristen Hannon [p], Christopher Hearey [p], Steve Pink [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> RFBO-2026-2, Red-footed Booby – 23 Aug - 2 Sep 2026, Westport Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Alex Gotz [p], Julian and Lin Ma [p], Mark Oberle [p], Hillary Smith [p], Bill Tweit [p], Charlie Wright [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> LBHE-2026-1, Little Blue Heron – 22-24 Sep 2026, Bateman Island, Benton County. Jef Blake [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> SNEG-2026-2, Snowy Egret – 11 Sep 2026, Klickitat River mouth, Klickitat County. David Wittrock [w] (6-0-1).
>>
>> WTKI-2026-1, White-tailed Kite – 10-12 Apr 2026, Johns River Wildlife Area, Grays Harbor County. Allison Anholt [p], Calvin Bobek [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Ed Newbold [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
>>
>> WTKI-2026-2, White-tailed Kite – 18-19 Apr 2026, Barlow Point Rd., Longview, Cowlitz County. Eric Evans [p], Russ Koppendrayer [p], Nikki Perkins [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
>>
>> ALFL-2026-1, Alder Flycatcher – 16-30 Jun 2026, Kalispell Reservation Dike Road, Pend Oreille County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], David Poortinga [a], Ryan J. Merrill [p, a], Brad Waggoner [p], Dan Waggoner [p], Kevin Waggoner [p], Darchelle Worley [p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WEVI-2026-1, White-eyed Vireo – 6 Jun - 25 Jul 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills, Klickitat County. Jef Blake [w, p], Mike & Merry Lynn Denny [w, a], Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Michael Woodruff [w, p, a], Samuel Holman [a], Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Ellen Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by photo documentation.
>>
>> WEVI-2026-2, White-eyed Vireo – 15-19 Jun 2026, Aeneas Valley Rd., Tonasket, Okanogan County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Calvin Bobek [a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> BRTH-2026-2, Brown Thrasher – 31 May 2026, Beaver Pond Trail, Winthrop, Okanogan County. Kenneth Showalter [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WHWA-2026-1, White Wagtail – 3-5 May 2026, Ocean Shores Blvd., Point Brown Jetty Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Craig Miller [p], Bill Shelmerdine [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WHWA-2026-2, White Wagtail – 2 Jul - 7 Sep 2026, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Mike Andersen [p], Charlotte Byers [p], Jordan Gunn [p]. Roger Hoffman [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> RTPI-2026-1, Red-throated Pipit – 7 May 2026, Vancouver Lake lowlands, Vancouver, Clark County. Cindy McCormack [w] (6-0-1).
>>
>> CCLO-2026-1, Chestnut-collared Longspur – 12 May 2026, Midway Beach, Midway, Pacific County. Miles Heisel [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> GTGR-2026-2, Great-tailed Grackle – 17-24 May 2026, Hwy 17, Mesa, Franklin County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p], Jef Blake [p], John Grettenberger [p], Steven Kahl [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat GRGR-2026-2 and GTGR-2025-6 as separate records.
>>
>> GTGR-2026-3, Great-tailed Grackle – 27 May 2026, Kah Tai Lagoon, Port Townsend, Jefferson County. Miranda Maxwell [w, p], Clara Maxwell, Rose Maxwell, Dan Waggoner [p], Steve Hampton [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> OVEN-2026-1, Ovenbird – 25 May 2026, Fletcher Bay Rd., Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Janine Schutt [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> GWWA-2026-1, Golden-winged Warbler – 16 Sep 2026, Neah Bay STP, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Bennett Baynham [p], Alex Meilleur (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-2, Northern Parula – 26 May 2026, Queen Anne Playfield, Seattle, King County. Roger Dane [w, a] (6-0-1).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-3, Northern Parula – 30 May 2026, Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue, King County. Mason Maron [w, p], Raphael Fennimore [p], Alex Meilleur [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-4, Northern Parula – 8 Jun - 3 Jul 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park, Yakima, Yakima County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Jef Blake [p, a], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-5, Northern Parula – 19 Jun 2026, National Forest Development Road 9712, Cle Elum, Kittitas County. Dave Slager [w, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-6, Northern Parula – 26 Jun 2026, Umtanum Creek Trail, upper end, Yakima County. Manuel Silveira [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-7, Northern Parula – 6 Jun 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County. Jeff Gilligan [w] (6-0-1).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-8, Northern Parula – 30 Aug - 5 Sep 2026, Sentinel Bluffs, Mattawa, Grant County. Matt Yawney [p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-9, Northern Parula – 30 Jun 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park, Yakima, Yakima County. Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Additional NOPA found with NOPA-2026-4 on just this date treated as a separate record.
>>
>>
>> MAWA-2026-1, Magnolia Warbler – 19 May 2026, ALE Pumphouse w of Richland, Benton County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> MAWA-2026-2, Magnolia Warbler – 27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Charlotte Byers [w, p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> BLBW-2026-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 17 Sep 2026, Neah Bay town, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Ryan Merrill [w, p], Bennett Baynham [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> BLPW-2026-1, Blackpoll Warbler – 6 Sep 2026, Neah Bay Junkyard, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Jason Vassallo [w], Will Brooks [p], Louis Kreemer [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> SUTA-2026-1, Summer Tanager – 4 Jun 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills, Klickitat County. Mike Coulson [w, p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> SUTA-2026-2, Summer Tanager – 26 Jul 2026, central Vashon Island, King County. Martha Enson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> DICK-2026-1, Dickcissel – 5 Sep 2026, Nooksack River Mouth, Marietta-Alderwood, Whatcom County. Isaiah Nugent [w, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>>
>> RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>>
>> King Eider at Westport – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a King Eider (formerly treated as KIEI-2026-1) is best treated as a continuing record of KIEI-2025-1. The two records are merged and treated as KIEI-2025-1.
>>
>> Dated and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 1 May 2026, Westport Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Dick Carwright [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>>
>> Lesser Nighthawk – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a Lesser Nighthawk in Kittitas County (formerly treated as LENI-2026-1) is best treated as a returning instance of LENI-2024-1. The two records are merged and treated as LENI-2024-1.
>>
>> Dates and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 22-27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Dave Swayne [a], Victoria and Jeff Chaussee [p], Garrett Hughes [p], Ed Newbold [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>>
>>
>> REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
>>
>> RTHU-2026-1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 9 Jun 20226, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (0-7-0).
>> COHU-2026-1, Costa's Hummingbird – 10 Apr 2026, Cashmere, Chelan County (1-6-0).
>> COHU-2026-2, Costa's Hummingbird – 3-4 Jul 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (1-6-0).
>> ALHU-2026-1, Allen's Hummingbird – 11 Aug 2026, Phinney Ridge, Seattle, King County (0-7-0).
>> EUWH-2026-1, Eurasian Whimbrel – 4 May 2026, Beach near Willapa NWR, Ocean Park, Pacific County (0-7-0).
>> COMG-2024-1, Common Greenshank – 19 Oct 2024, Tyson Blood Ponds, Burbank, Walla Walla County (0-7-0).
>> ARLO-2026-1, Arctic Loon – 6 Jun 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific County (1-6-0).
>> SNEG-2026-1, Snowy Egret (4) – 28 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, HQ trail, Burbank, Walla Walla County (2-5-0).
>> STSE-2026-1, Steller's Sea-Eagle – 12 Jun 2026, Center Road, Lopez Island, San Juan County (0-7-0).
>> YBFL-2026-1, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 6-8 Aug 2026, Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Island County (0-7-0).
>> EAPH-2026-1, Eastern Phoebe – 7 Jul 2026, 12th St. NE, Everett, Snohomish County (0-6-1).
>> BRTH-2026-1, Brown Thrasher – 2 Apr 2026, Cordata Park Trail, Bellingham, Whatcom County (0-7-0).
>> BRTH-2026-3, Brown Thrasher – 5 Jul 2026, Fishing Pond and Park, Dayton, Columbia County (5-2-0).
>> NOWH-2026-1, Northern Wheatear – 21 Aug 2026, 46.766000, -121.705000, Mt. Rainier NP, Lewis County (0-7-0).
>> PSJU-2026-1, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco – 21 Aug 2026, Williams Lake Road, Evans, Stevens County (0-7-0).
>> HOOR-2026-1, Hooded Oriole – 22 Jul 2026, Hayes Way, Shelton, Mason County (0-7-0).
>> COGR-2026-1, Common Grackle – 30 May 2026, Palouse Trail, Ellensburg, Kittitas County (0-6-1).
>> BLPW-2026-2, Blackpoll Warbler – 19 Sep 2026, Hooper, Adams County (5-2-0).
>>
>>
>> REPORTS TABLED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:
>>
>> WISP-2026-1, Wilson's Storm-Petrel – 19 Sep 2026, Westport Pelagic, Grays Canyon, Grays Harbor County.
>>
>>
>> Thanks everyone for documenting the surprising birds of WA - I’ll send another short note once all the checklists and online files are updated at the WOS website.
>>
>>
>> Matt Bartels
>> Secretary, WBRC
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/1/26 12:44 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Washington Bird Records Committee recent decisions (Oct 24, 2026 meeting)
Actually Great Egret split was postponed for a year allowing European/Asian
record groups to work out subspecies therein.
Undoubtedly it will be split next year. Not a big deal.
Bob OBrien Portland.
On Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM Matt Bartels via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi all -
> Last weekend, the Washington Bird Records Committee [WBRC] met for its
> annual in-person meeting. I’m happy to share-out the results here.
> Before long, more detailed updates will be posted on the WOS website at:
> https://wos.org/records/ >
>
> A summary of our results:
>
> · 49 reports were accepted as valid new records.
> · 2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of
> records previously accepted at earlier meetings.
> · 18 reports were not accepted.
> · 1 report was tabled for further review
>
> One species was added to the official Washington state list:
> · Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026
>
> Two species were moved off the sight-only list with photographic
> documentation:
> · Common Ringed Plover and White-eyed Vireo
>
> In addition, a change to our state list came from taxonomic updates by
> the American Birding Association Checklist Committee this year:
> · Great Egret was split. Most Washington records were assigned to
> American Egret but two records were previously accepted to the subspecies
> now assigned to Great White Egret, the Eurasian species, adding another
> species to the state list
>
> Finally, the state list is updated to incorporate a few name changes that
> don’t affect the number of species on the list:
> · Whimbrel was split, with all Washington records assigned to
> Hudsonian Whimbrel.
> · Willet was split, with all Washington records assigned to Prairie
> Willet.
> · Great Egret was split, as mentioned above, with most of our records
> assigned to American Egret.
> · Marsh Wren was split, with all Washington records assigned to
> Western Marsh Wren.
> · Yellow Warbler was split, with all Washington records assigned to
> Yellow Warbler (note that in eBird, this is now called Northern Yellow
> Warbler).
> · Painted Redstart is renamed Painted Whitestart.
>
> The state checklist is now at 533 species, including 522 species fully
> accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 11 species
> which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).
>
> Key: Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)
> [Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]
>
>
> ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>
> COHU-2026-3, Costa's Hummingbird – 5-7 May 2026, Egg Lake Road, Friday
> Harbor, San Juan Island, San Juan County
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/2026,+Egg+Lake+Road,+Friday+Harbor,+San+Juan+Island,+San+Juan+County?entry=gmail&source=g>.
> Sara Hiebert Burch [w, v] (7-0-0).
>
> CRPL-2026-1, Common Ringed Plover – 28 Jul 2026, Moclips river mouth,
> Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of
> this species supported by photo documentation.
>
> CRPL-2026-2, Common Ringed Plover – 9-16 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot,
> Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p],
> Joshua Emm [p], Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>
> UPSA-2026-1, Upland Sandpiper – 23 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland,
> Pacific County. Cameron Cox [w] (6-1-0).
>
> UPSA-2026-2, Upland Sandpiper – 7 Sep 2026, Cedar River Mouth, Renton,
> King County. Matt Dalessio [w, a] (7-0-0).
>
> GRKN-2026-1, Great Knot – 12-17 May 2026, Ellen Sands, south of Tokeland,
> Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [p] (7-0-0).
>
> RNST-2026-1, Red-necked Stint – 8-18 Jul 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland,
> Pacific County. Bill Shelmerdine [w, p], Jake Bonello [p], Liam Hutcheson
> [p, v], Kari Kidd [p] (7-0-0).
>
> TESA-2026-1, Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026, Stanwood STP, Stanwood,
> Snohomish County. Michael Woodruff [w, p, v], Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes
> [p], Bruce LaBar [p], Lou Martineau [p], Jordan Roderick [p], Bill Tweit
> [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
>
> TBMU-2025-1, Thick-billed Murre – 28 Dec 2025, Roosevelt Beach, s of Ocean
> Grove, Grays Harbor County. Phoebe Wilcox [p] (6-0-1). NOTE: Found dead by
> COASST observers.
>
> GUMU-2026-1, Guadalupe Murrelet [2] – 29 Jul 2026, Westport Pelagic,
> 46.9320433, -125.0405891, Grays Harbor County. Steve Bell [p], Barry
> McKenzie [p], Ryan Merrill
> [p], Craig Miller [p] (7-0-0).
>
> CRAU-2026-1, Crested Auklet – 10 May 2026, off Discovery Park, Seattle and
> Burien, King and Kitsap Counties. John Puschock [w], Raphael Fennimore [w,
> p] (6-1-0).
>
> LETE-2026-1, Least Tern – 19 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, Walla Walla River
> Delta, Burbank, Walla Walla County. Jef Blake [p], MerryLynn Denny [p],
> Zeke VanZante [p] (7-0-0).
>
> LETE-2026-2, Least Tern – 7 Jul 2026, North Potholes SP, Grant County.
> Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>
> VEGU-2026-1, Vega Gull – 26 Jan 2026, Yellow Feight Building, Tukwila,
> King County. Eric Hope [w, p] (6-1-0).
>
> HAPE-2026-1, Hawaiian Petrel – 7 Jun 2026, Westport Pelagic offshore,
> Grays Harbor County. Jim Danzenbaker [w] (7-0-0).
>
> WTSH-2026-1, Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 12 Sep 2026, waters off Carkeek
> Park and Discovery Park, Seattle, King and Kitsap Counties. Matt D'Alessio
> [w], Ryan J Merrill [w], Melinda Milner [w], Nathan Wall [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> NABO-2026-1, Nazca Booby – 25 Aug - 1 Sep 2026, Smith Island, Island
> County. Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Tracee Geernaert [p], Kristen
> Hannon [p], Christopher Hearey [p], Steve Pink [p] (7-0-0).
>
> RFBO-2026-2, Red-footed Booby – 23 Aug - 2 Sep 2026, Westport Jetty,
> Westport, Grays Harbor County. Alex Gotz [p], Julian and Lin Ma [p], Mark
> Oberle [p], Hillary Smith [p], Bill Tweit [p], Charlie Wright [p] (7-0-0).
>
> LBHE-2026-1, Little Blue Heron – 22-24 Sep 2026, Bateman Island, Benton
> County. Jef Blake [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
>
> SNEG-2026-2, Snowy Egret – 11 Sep 2026, Klickitat River mouth, Klickitat
> County. David Wittrock [w] (6-0-1).
>
> WTKI-2026-1, White-tailed Kite – 10-12 Apr 2026, Johns River Wildlife
> Area, Grays Harbor County. Allison Anholt [p], Calvin Bobek [p], Liam
> Hutcheson [p], Ed Newbold [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat
> WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
>
> WTKI-2026-2, White-tailed Kite – 18-19 Apr 2026, Barlow Point Rd.,
> Longview, Cowlitz County. Eric Evans [p], Russ Koppendrayer [p], Nikki
> Perkins [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2
> as separate records.
>
> ALFL-2026-1, Alder Flycatcher – 16-30 Jun 2026, Kalispell Reservation Dike
> Road, Pend Oreille County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], David Poortinga [a], Ryan
> J. Merrill [p, a], Brad Waggoner [p], Dan Waggoner [p], Kevin Waggoner [p],
> Darchelle Worley [p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> WEVI-2026-1, White-eyed Vireo – 6 Jun - 25 Jul 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe
> Hills, Klickitat County. Jef Blake [w, p], Mike & Merry Lynn Denny [w, a],
> Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Michael Woodruff [w, p, a], Samuel Holman [a],
> Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Ellen
> Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by
> photo documentation.
>
> WEVI-2026-2, White-eyed Vireo – 15-19 Jun 2026, Aeneas Valley Rd.,
> Tonasket, Okanogan County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Calvin Bobek [a] (7-0-0).
>
> BRTH-2026-2, Brown Thrasher – 31 May 2026, Beaver Pond Trail, Winthrop,
> Okanogan County. Kenneth Showalter [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> WHWA-2026-1, White Wagtail – 3-5 May 2026, Ocean Shores Blvd., Point
> Brown Jetty Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Craig
> Miller [p], Bill Shelmerdine [p] (7-0-0).
>
> WHWA-2026-2, White Wagtail – 2 Jul - 7 Sep 2026, Neah Bay, Clallam
> County. Mike Andersen [p], Charlotte Byers [p], Jordan Gunn [p]. Roger
> Hoffman [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>
> RTPI-2026-1, Red-throated Pipit – 7 May 2026, Vancouver Lake lowlands,
> Vancouver, Clark County. Cindy McCormack [w] (6-0-1).
>
> CCLO-2026-1, Chestnut-collared Longspur – 12 May 2026, Midway Beach,
> Midway, Pacific County. Miles Heisel [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> GTGR-2026-2, Great-tailed Grackle – 17-24 May 2026, Hwy 17, Mesa, Franklin
> County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p], Jef Blake [p], John Grettenberger
> [p], Steven Kahl [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat
> GRGR-2026-2 and GTGR-2025-6 as separate records.
>
> GTGR-2026-3, Great-tailed Grackle – 27 May 2026, Kah Tai Lagoon, Port
> Townsend, Jefferson County. Miranda Maxwell [w, p], Clara Maxwell, Rose
> Maxwell, Dan Waggoner [p], Steve Hampton [p] (7-0-0).
>
> OVEN-2026-1, Ovenbird – 25 May 2026, Fletcher Bay Rd., Bainbridge Island,
> Kitsap County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Janine
> Schutt [p] (7-0-0).
>
> GWWA-2026-1, Golden-winged Warbler – 16 Sep 2026, Neah Bay STP, Neah Bay,
> Clallam County. Bennett Baynham [p], Alex Meilleur (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-2, Northern Parula – 26 May 2026, Queen Anne Playfield,
> Seattle, King County. Roger Dane [w, a] (6-0-1).
>
> NOPA-2026-3, Northern Parula – 30 May 2026, Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue,
> King County. Mason Maron [w, p], Raphael Fennimore [p], Alex Meilleur [p]
> (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-4, Northern Parula – 8 Jun - 3 Jul 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park,
> Yakima, Yakima County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Jef Blake [p, a],
> Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-5, Northern Parula – 19 Jun 2026, National Forest Development
> Road 9712, Cle Elum, Kittitas County. Dave Slager [w, a] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-6, Northern Parula – 26 Jun 2026, Umtanum Creek Trail, upper
> end, Yakima County. Manuel Silveira [p] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-7, Northern Parula – 6 Jun 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula,
> Pacific County. Jeff Gilligan [w] (6-0-1).
>
> NOPA-2026-8, Northern Parula – 30 Aug - 5 Sep 2026, Sentinel Bluffs,
> Mattawa, Grant County. Matt Yawney [p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-9, Northern Parula – 30 Jun 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park,
> Yakima, Yakima County. Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Additional
> NOPA found with NOPA-2026-4 on just this date treated as a separate record.
>
>
> MAWA-2026-1, Magnolia Warbler – 19 May 2026, ALE Pumphouse w of Richland,
> Benton County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> MAWA-2026-2, Magnolia Warbler – 27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage,
> Kittitas County. Charlotte Byers [w, p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>
> BLBW-2026-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 17 Sep 2026, Neah Bay town, Neah Bay,
> Clallam County. Ryan Merrill [w, p], Bennett Baynham [p] (7-0-0).
>
> BLPW-2026-1, Blackpoll Warbler – 6 Sep 2026, Neah Bay Junkyard, Neah Bay,
> Clallam County. Jason Vassallo [w], Will Brooks [p], Louis Kreemer [w, p]
> (7-0-0).
>
> SUTA-2026-1, Summer Tanager – 4 Jun 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills,
> Klickitat County. Mike Coulson [w, p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> SUTA-2026-2, Summer Tanager – 26 Jul 2026, central Vashon Island, King
> County. Martha Enson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> DICK-2026-1, Dickcissel – 5 Sep 2026, Nooksack River Mouth,
> Marietta-Alderwood, Whatcom County. Isaiah Nugent [w, a] (7-0-0).
>
>
> RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>
> King Eider at Westport – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of
> a King Eider (formerly treated as KIEI-2026-1) is best treated as a
> continuing record of KIEI-2025-1. The two records are merged and treated as
> KIEI-2025-1.
>
> Dated and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 1 May 2026, Westport
> Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Dick Carwright [p] (7-0-0).
>
>
> Lesser Nighthawk – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a
> Lesser Nighthawk in Kittitas County (formerly treated as LENI-2026-1) is
> best treated as a returning instance of LENI-2024-1. The two records are
> merged and treated as LENI-2024-1.
>
> Dates and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 22-27 May 2026,
> Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Dave Swayne [a], Victoria and Jeff
> Chaussee [p], Garrett Hughes [p], Ed Newbold [p], Darchelle Worley [p]
> (7-0-0).
>
>
>
> REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
>
> RTHU-2026-1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 9 Jun 20226, Loomis, Long Beach
> Peninsula, Pacific County (0-7-0).
> COHU-2026-1, Costa's Hummingbird – 10 Apr 2026, Cashmere, Chelan County
> (1-6-0).
> COHU-2026-2, Costa's Hummingbird – 3-4 Jul 2026, Loomis, Long Beach
> Peninsula, Pacific County (1-6-0).
> ALHU-2026-1, Allen's Hummingbird – 11 Aug 2026, Phinney Ridge, Seattle,
> King County (0-7-0).
> EUWH-2026-1, Eurasian Whimbrel – 4 May 2026, Beach near Willapa NWR,
> Ocean Park, Pacific County (0-7-0).
> COMG-2024-1, Common Greenshank – 19 Oct 2024, Tyson Blood Ponds, Burbank,
> Walla Walla County (0-7-0).
> ARLO-2026-1, Arctic Loon – 6 Jun 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific
> County (1-6-0).
> SNEG-2026-1, Snowy Egret (4) – 28 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, HQ trail,
> Burbank, Walla Walla County (2-5-0).
> STSE-2026-1, Steller's Sea-Eagle – 12 Jun 2026, Center Road, Lopez
> Island, San Juan County (0-7-0).
> YBFL-2026-1, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 6-8 Aug 2026, Coupeville,
> Whidbey Island, Island County (0-7-0).
> EAPH-2026-1, Eastern Phoebe – 7 Jul 2026, 12th St. NE, Everett, Snohomish
> County (0-6-1).
> BRTH-2026-1, Brown Thrasher – 2 Apr 2026, Cordata Park Trail, Bellingham,
> Whatcom County (0-7-0).
> BRTH-2026-3, Brown Thrasher – 5 Jul 2026, Fishing Pond and Park, Dayton,
> Columbia County (5-2-0).
> NOWH-2026-1, Northern Wheatear – 21 Aug 2026, 46.766000, -121.705000, Mt.
> Rainier NP, Lewis County (0-7-0).
> PSJU-2026-1, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco – 21 Aug 2026, Williams Lake
> Road, Evans, Stevens County (0-7-0).
> HOOR-2026-1, Hooded Oriole – 22 Jul 2026, Hayes Way, Shelton, Mason
> County (0-7-0).
> COGR-2026-1, Common Grackle – 30 May 2026, Palouse Trail, Ellensburg,
> Kittitas County (0-6-1).
> BLPW-2026-2, Blackpoll Warbler – 19 Sep 2026, Hooper, Adams County
> (5-2-0).
>
>
> REPORTS TABLED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:
>
> WISP-2026-1, Wilson's Storm-Petrel – 19 Sep 2026, Westport Pelagic, Grays
> Canyon, Grays Harbor County.
>
>
> Thanks everyone for documenting the surprising birds of WA - I’ll send
> another short note once all the checklists and online files are updated at
> the WOS website.
>
>
> Matt Bartels
> Secretary, WBRC
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/1/26 12:18 pm From: Rob Faucett via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Washington Bird Records Committee recent decisions (Oct 24, 2026 meeting)
Thank you Matt et al.
--
Rob Faucett
Seattle, WA
(206) 619-5569
> On Nov 1, 2026, at 12:08, Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hi all -
> Last weekend, the Washington Bird Records Committee [WBRC] met for its annual in-person meeting. I’m happy to share-out the results here.
> Before long, more detailed updates will be posted on the WOS website at: https://wos.org/records/ >
>
> A summary of our results:
>
> · 49 reports were accepted as valid new records.
> · 2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of records previously accepted at earlier meetings.
> · 18 reports were not accepted.
> · 1 report was tabled for further review
>
> One species was added to the official Washington state list:
> · Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026
>
> Two species were moved off the sight-only list with photographic documentation:
> · Common Ringed Plover and White-eyed Vireo
>
> In addition, a change to our state list came from taxonomic updates by the American Birding Association Checklist Committee this year:
> · Great Egret was split. Most Washington records were assigned to American Egret but two records were previously accepted to the subspecies now assigned to Great White Egret, the Eurasian species, adding another species to the state list
>
> Finally, the state list is updated to incorporate a few name changes that don’t affect the number of species on the list:
> · Whimbrel was split, with all Washington records assigned to Hudsonian Whimbrel.
> · Willet was split, with all Washington records assigned to Prairie Willet.
> · Great Egret was split, as mentioned above, with most of our records assigned to American Egret.
> · Marsh Wren was split, with all Washington records assigned to Western Marsh Wren.
> · Yellow Warbler was split, with all Washington records assigned to Yellow Warbler (note that in eBird, this is now called Northern Yellow Warbler).
> · Painted Redstart is renamed Painted Whitestart.
>
> The state checklist is now at 533 species, including 522 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 11 species which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).
>
> Key: Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)
> [Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]
>
>
> ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>
> COHU-2026-3, Costa's Hummingbird – 5-7 May 2026, Egg Lake Road, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, San Juan County. Sara Hiebert Burch [w, v] (7-0-0).
>
> CRPL-2026-1, Common Ringed Plover – 28 Jul 2026, Moclips river mouth, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by photo documentation.
>
> CRPL-2026-2, Common Ringed Plover – 9-16 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p], Joshua Emm [p], Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>
> UPSA-2026-1, Upland Sandpiper – 23 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland, Pacific County. Cameron Cox [w] (6-1-0).
>
> UPSA-2026-2, Upland Sandpiper – 7 Sep 2026, Cedar River Mouth, Renton, King County. Matt Dalessio [w, a] (7-0-0).
>
> GRKN-2026-1, Great Knot – 12-17 May 2026, Ellen Sands, south of Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [p] (7-0-0).
>
> RNST-2026-1, Red-necked Stint – 8-18 Jul 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific County. Bill Shelmerdine [w, p], Jake Bonello [p], Liam Hutcheson [p, v], Kari Kidd [p] (7-0-0).
>
> TESA-2026-1, Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026, Stanwood STP, Stanwood, Snohomish County. Michael Woodruff [w, p, v], Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Bruce LaBar [p], Lou Martineau [p], Jordan Roderick [p], Bill Tweit [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
>
> TBMU-2025-1, Thick-billed Murre – 28 Dec 2025, Roosevelt Beach, s of Ocean Grove, Grays Harbor County. Phoebe Wilcox [p] (6-0-1). NOTE: Found dead by COASST observers.
>
> GUMU-2026-1, Guadalupe Murrelet [2] – 29 Jul 2026, Westport Pelagic, 46.9320433, -125.0405891, Grays Harbor County. Steve Bell [p], Barry McKenzie [p], Ryan Merrill
> [p], Craig Miller [p] (7-0-0).
>
> CRAU-2026-1, Crested Auklet – 10 May 2026, off Discovery Park, Seattle and Burien, King and Kitsap Counties. John Puschock [w], Raphael Fennimore [w, p] (6-1-0).
>
> LETE-2026-1, Least Tern – 19 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, Walla Walla River Delta, Burbank, Walla Walla County. Jef Blake [p], MerryLynn Denny [p], Zeke VanZante [p] (7-0-0).
>
> LETE-2026-2, Least Tern – 7 Jul 2026, North Potholes SP, Grant County. Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>
> VEGU-2026-1, Vega Gull – 26 Jan 2026, Yellow Feight Building, Tukwila, King County. Eric Hope [w, p] (6-1-0).
>
> HAPE-2026-1, Hawaiian Petrel – 7 Jun 2026, Westport Pelagic offshore, Grays Harbor County. Jim Danzenbaker [w] (7-0-0).
>
> WTSH-2026-1, Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 12 Sep 2026, waters off Carkeek Park and Discovery Park, Seattle, King and Kitsap Counties. Matt D'Alessio [w], Ryan J Merrill [w], Melinda Milner [w], Nathan Wall [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> NABO-2026-1, Nazca Booby – 25 Aug - 1 Sep 2026, Smith Island, Island County. Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Tracee Geernaert [p], Kristen Hannon [p], Christopher Hearey [p], Steve Pink [p] (7-0-0).
>
> RFBO-2026-2, Red-footed Booby – 23 Aug - 2 Sep 2026, Westport Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Alex Gotz [p], Julian and Lin Ma [p], Mark Oberle [p], Hillary Smith [p], Bill Tweit [p], Charlie Wright [p] (7-0-0).
>
> LBHE-2026-1, Little Blue Heron – 22-24 Sep 2026, Bateman Island, Benton County. Jef Blake [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
>
> SNEG-2026-2, Snowy Egret – 11 Sep 2026, Klickitat River mouth, Klickitat County. David Wittrock [w] (6-0-1).
>
> WTKI-2026-1, White-tailed Kite – 10-12 Apr 2026, Johns River Wildlife Area, Grays Harbor County. Allison Anholt [p], Calvin Bobek [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Ed Newbold [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
>
> WTKI-2026-2, White-tailed Kite – 18-19 Apr 2026, Barlow Point Rd., Longview, Cowlitz County. Eric Evans [p], Russ Koppendrayer [p], Nikki Perkins [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
>
> ALFL-2026-1, Alder Flycatcher – 16-30 Jun 2026, Kalispell Reservation Dike Road, Pend Oreille County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], David Poortinga [a], Ryan J. Merrill [p, a], Brad Waggoner [p], Dan Waggoner [p], Kevin Waggoner [p], Darchelle Worley [p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> WEVI-2026-1, White-eyed Vireo – 6 Jun - 25 Jul 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills, Klickitat County. Jef Blake [w, p], Mike & Merry Lynn Denny [w, a], Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Michael Woodruff [w, p, a], Samuel Holman [a], Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Ellen Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by photo documentation.
>
> WEVI-2026-2, White-eyed Vireo – 15-19 Jun 2026, Aeneas Valley Rd., Tonasket, Okanogan County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Calvin Bobek [a] (7-0-0).
>
> BRTH-2026-2, Brown Thrasher – 31 May 2026, Beaver Pond Trail, Winthrop, Okanogan County. Kenneth Showalter [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> WHWA-2026-1, White Wagtail – 3-5 May 2026, Ocean Shores Blvd., Point Brown Jetty Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Craig Miller [p], Bill Shelmerdine [p] (7-0-0).
>
> WHWA-2026-2, White Wagtail – 2 Jul - 7 Sep 2026, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Mike Andersen [p], Charlotte Byers [p], Jordan Gunn [p]. Roger Hoffman [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>
> RTPI-2026-1, Red-throated Pipit – 7 May 2026, Vancouver Lake lowlands, Vancouver, Clark County. Cindy McCormack [w] (6-0-1).
>
> CCLO-2026-1, Chestnut-collared Longspur – 12 May 2026, Midway Beach, Midway, Pacific County. Miles Heisel [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> GTGR-2026-2, Great-tailed Grackle – 17-24 May 2026, Hwy 17, Mesa, Franklin County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p], Jef Blake [p], John Grettenberger [p], Steven Kahl [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat GRGR-2026-2 and GTGR-2025-6 as separate records.
>
> GTGR-2026-3, Great-tailed Grackle – 27 May 2026, Kah Tai Lagoon, Port Townsend, Jefferson County. Miranda Maxwell [w, p], Clara Maxwell, Rose Maxwell, Dan Waggoner [p], Steve Hampton [p] (7-0-0).
>
> OVEN-2026-1, Ovenbird – 25 May 2026, Fletcher Bay Rd., Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Janine Schutt [p] (7-0-0).
>
> GWWA-2026-1, Golden-winged Warbler – 16 Sep 2026, Neah Bay STP, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Bennett Baynham [p], Alex Meilleur (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-2, Northern Parula – 26 May 2026, Queen Anne Playfield, Seattle, King County. Roger Dane [w, a] (6-0-1).
>
> NOPA-2026-3, Northern Parula – 30 May 2026, Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue, King County. Mason Maron [w, p], Raphael Fennimore [p], Alex Meilleur [p] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-4, Northern Parula – 8 Jun - 3 Jul 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park, Yakima, Yakima County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Jef Blake [p, a], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-5, Northern Parula – 19 Jun 2026, National Forest Development Road 9712, Cle Elum, Kittitas County. Dave Slager [w, a] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-6, Northern Parula – 26 Jun 2026, Umtanum Creek Trail, upper end, Yakima County. Manuel Silveira [p] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-7, Northern Parula – 6 Jun 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County. Jeff Gilligan [w] (6-0-1).
>
> NOPA-2026-8, Northern Parula – 30 Aug - 5 Sep 2026, Sentinel Bluffs, Mattawa, Grant County. Matt Yawney [p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-9, Northern Parula – 30 Jun 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park, Yakima, Yakima County. Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Additional NOPA found with NOPA-2026-4 on just this date treated as a separate record.
>
>
> MAWA-2026-1, Magnolia Warbler – 19 May 2026, ALE Pumphouse w of Richland, Benton County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> MAWA-2026-2, Magnolia Warbler – 27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Charlotte Byers [w, p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>
> BLBW-2026-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 17 Sep 2026, Neah Bay town, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Ryan Merrill [w, p], Bennett Baynham [p] (7-0-0).
>
> BLPW-2026-1, Blackpoll Warbler – 6 Sep 2026, Neah Bay Junkyard, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Jason Vassallo [w], Will Brooks [p], Louis Kreemer [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> SUTA-2026-1, Summer Tanager – 4 Jun 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills, Klickitat County. Mike Coulson [w, p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> SUTA-2026-2, Summer Tanager – 26 Jul 2026, central Vashon Island, King County. Martha Enson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> DICK-2026-1, Dickcissel – 5 Sep 2026, Nooksack River Mouth, Marietta-Alderwood, Whatcom County. Isaiah Nugent [w, a] (7-0-0).
>
>
> RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>
> King Eider at Westport – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a King Eider (formerly treated as KIEI-2026-1) is best treated as a continuing record of KIEI-2025-1. The two records are merged and treated as KIEI-2025-1.
>
> Dated and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 1 May 2026, Westport Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Dick Carwright [p] (7-0-0).
>
>
> Lesser Nighthawk – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a Lesser Nighthawk in Kittitas County (formerly treated as LENI-2026-1) is best treated as a returning instance of LENI-2024-1. The two records are merged and treated as LENI-2024-1.
>
> Dates and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 22-27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Dave Swayne [a], Victoria and Jeff Chaussee [p], Garrett Hughes [p], Ed Newbold [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>
>
>
> REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
>
> RTHU-2026-1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 9 Jun 20226, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (0-7-0).
> COHU-2026-1, Costa's Hummingbird – 10 Apr 2026, Cashmere, Chelan County (1-6-0).
> COHU-2026-2, Costa's Hummingbird – 3-4 Jul 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (1-6-0).
> ALHU-2026-1, Allen's Hummingbird – 11 Aug 2026, Phinney Ridge, Seattle, King County (0-7-0).
> EUWH-2026-1, Eurasian Whimbrel – 4 May 2026, Beach near Willapa NWR, Ocean Park, Pacific County (0-7-0).
> COMG-2024-1, Common Greenshank – 19 Oct 2024, Tyson Blood Ponds, Burbank, Walla Walla County (0-7-0).
> ARLO-2026-1, Arctic Loon – 6 Jun 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific County (1-6-0).
> SNEG-2026-1, Snowy Egret (4) – 28 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, HQ trail, Burbank, Walla Walla County (2-5-0).
> STSE-2026-1, Steller's Sea-Eagle – 12 Jun 2026, Center Road, Lopez Island, San Juan County (0-7-0).
> YBFL-2026-1, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 6-8 Aug 2026, Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Island County (0-7-0).
> EAPH-2026-1, Eastern Phoebe – 7 Jul 2026, 12th St. NE, Everett, Snohomish County (0-6-1).
> BRTH-2026-1, Brown Thrasher – 2 Apr 2026, Cordata Park Trail, Bellingham, Whatcom County (0-7-0).
> BRTH-2026-3, Brown Thrasher – 5 Jul 2026, Fishing Pond and Park, Dayton, Columbia County (5-2-0).
> NOWH-2026-1, Northern Wheatear – 21 Aug 2026, 46.766000, -121.705000, Mt. Rainier NP, Lewis County (0-7-0).
> PSJU-2026-1, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco – 21 Aug 2026, Williams Lake Road, Evans, Stevens County (0-7-0).
> HOOR-2026-1, Hooded Oriole – 22 Jul 2026, Hayes Way, Shelton, Mason County (0-7-0).
> COGR-2026-1, Common Grackle – 30 May 2026, Palouse Trail, Ellensburg, Kittitas County (0-6-1).
> BLPW-2026-2, Blackpoll Warbler – 19 Sep 2026, Hooper, Adams County (5-2-0).
>
>
> REPORTS TABLED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:
>
> WISP-2026-1, Wilson's Storm-Petrel – 19 Sep 2026, Westport Pelagic, Grays Canyon, Grays Harbor County.
>
>
> Thanks everyone for documenting the surprising birds of WA - I’ll send another short note once all the checklists and online files are updated at the WOS website.
>
>
> Matt Bartels
> Secretary, WBRC
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/1/26 12:16 pm From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Washington Bird Records Committee recent decisions (Oct 24, 2026 meeting)
Hi all -
Last weekend, the Washington Bird Records Committee [WBRC] met for its annual in-person meeting. I’m happy to share-out the results here.
Before long, more detailed updates will be posted on the WOS website at: https://wos.org/records/
A summary of our results:
· 49 reports were accepted as valid new records.
· 2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of records previously accepted at earlier meetings.
· 18 reports were not accepted.
· 1 report was tabled for further review
One species was added to the official Washington state list:
· Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026
Two species were moved off the sight-only list with photographic documentation:
· Common Ringed Plover and White-eyed Vireo
In addition, a change to our state list came from taxonomic updates by the American Birding Association Checklist Committee this year:
· Great Egret was split. Most Washington records were assigned to American Egret but two records were previously accepted to the subspecies now assigned to Great White Egret, the Eurasian species, adding another species to the state list
Finally, the state list is updated to incorporate a few name changes that don’t affect the number of species on the list:
· Whimbrel was split, with all Washington records assigned to Hudsonian Whimbrel.
· Willet was split, with all Washington records assigned to Prairie Willet.
· Great Egret was split, as mentioned above, with most of our records assigned to American Egret.
· Marsh Wren was split, with all Washington records assigned to Western Marsh Wren.
· Yellow Warbler was split, with all Washington records assigned to Yellow Warbler (note that in eBird, this is now called Northern Yellow Warbler).
· Painted Redstart is renamed Painted Whitestart.
The state checklist is now at 533 species, including 522 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 11 species which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).
Key: Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)
[Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]
ACCEPTED RECORDS:
COHU-2026-3, Costa's Hummingbird – 5-7 May 2026, Egg Lake Road, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, San Juan County. Sara Hiebert Burch [w, v] (7-0-0).
CRPL-2026-1, Common Ringed Plover – 28 Jul 2026, Moclips river mouth, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by photo documentation.
CRPL-2026-2, Common Ringed Plover – 9-16 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p], Joshua Emm [p], Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
TESA-2026-1, Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026, Stanwood STP, Stanwood, Snohomish County. Michael Woodruff [w, p, v], Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Bruce LaBar [p], Lou Martineau [p], Jordan Roderick [p], Bill Tweit [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
TBMU-2025-1, Thick-billed Murre – 28 Dec 2025, Roosevelt Beach, s of Ocean Grove, Grays Harbor County. Phoebe Wilcox [p] (6-0-1). NOTE: Found dead by COASST observers.
GUMU-2026-1, Guadalupe Murrelet [2] – 29 Jul 2026, Westport Pelagic, 46.9320433, -125.0405891, Grays Harbor County. Steve Bell [p], Barry McKenzie [p], Ryan Merrill
[p], Craig Miller [p] (7-0-0).
CRAU-2026-1, Crested Auklet – 10 May 2026, off Discovery Park, Seattle and Burien, King and Kitsap Counties. John Puschock [w], Raphael Fennimore [w, p] (6-1-0).
LETE-2026-2, Least Tern – 7 Jul 2026, North Potholes SP, Grant County. Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
VEGU-2026-1, Vega Gull – 26 Jan 2026, Yellow Feight Building, Tukwila, King County. Eric Hope [w, p] (6-1-0).
HAPE-2026-1, Hawaiian Petrel – 7 Jun 2026, Westport Pelagic offshore, Grays Harbor County. Jim Danzenbaker [w] (7-0-0).
WTSH-2026-1, Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 12 Sep 2026, waters off Carkeek Park and Discovery Park, Seattle, King and Kitsap Counties. Matt D'Alessio [w], Ryan J Merrill [w], Melinda Milner [w], Nathan Wall [w, p] (7-0-0).
NABO-2026-1, Nazca Booby – 25 Aug - 1 Sep 2026, Smith Island, Island County. Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Tracee Geernaert [p], Kristen Hannon [p], Christopher Hearey [p], Steve Pink [p] (7-0-0).
RFBO-2026-2, Red-footed Booby – 23 Aug - 2 Sep 2026, Westport Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Alex Gotz [p], Julian and Lin Ma [p], Mark Oberle [p], Hillary Smith [p], Bill Tweit [p], Charlie Wright [p] (7-0-0).
LBHE-2026-1, Little Blue Heron – 22-24 Sep 2026, Bateman Island, Benton County. Jef Blake [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
SNEG-2026-2, Snowy Egret – 11 Sep 2026, Klickitat River mouth, Klickitat County. David Wittrock [w] (6-0-1).
WTKI-2026-1, White-tailed Kite – 10-12 Apr 2026, Johns River Wildlife Area, Grays Harbor County. Allison Anholt [p], Calvin Bobek [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Ed Newbold [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
WTKI-2026-2, White-tailed Kite – 18-19 Apr 2026, Barlow Point Rd., Longview, Cowlitz County. Eric Evans [p], Russ Koppendrayer [p], Nikki Perkins [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
ALFL-2026-1, Alder Flycatcher – 16-30 Jun 2026, Kalispell Reservation Dike Road, Pend Oreille County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], David Poortinga [a], Ryan J. Merrill [p, a], Brad Waggoner [p], Dan Waggoner [p], Kevin Waggoner [p], Darchelle Worley [p, a] (7-0-0).
WEVI-2026-1, White-eyed Vireo – 6 Jun - 25 Jul 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills, Klickitat County. Jef Blake [w, p], Mike & Merry Lynn Denny [w, a], Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Michael Woodruff [w, p, a], Samuel Holman [a], Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Ellen Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by photo documentation.
BRTH-2026-2, Brown Thrasher – 31 May 2026, Beaver Pond Trail, Winthrop, Okanogan County. Kenneth Showalter [w, p] (7-0-0).
WHWA-2026-1, White Wagtail – 3-5 May 2026, Ocean Shores Blvd., Point Brown Jetty Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Craig Miller [p], Bill Shelmerdine [p] (7-0-0).
WHWA-2026-2, White Wagtail – 2 Jul - 7 Sep 2026, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Mike Andersen [p], Charlotte Byers [p], Jordan Gunn [p]. Roger Hoffman [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
RTPI-2026-1, Red-throated Pipit – 7 May 2026, Vancouver Lake lowlands, Vancouver, Clark County. Cindy McCormack [w] (6-0-1).
CCLO-2026-1, Chestnut-collared Longspur – 12 May 2026, Midway Beach, Midway, Pacific County. Miles Heisel [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0).
GTGR-2026-2, Great-tailed Grackle – 17-24 May 2026, Hwy 17, Mesa, Franklin County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p], Jef Blake [p], John Grettenberger [p], Steven Kahl [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat GRGR-2026-2 and GTGR-2025-6 as separate records.
GTGR-2026-3, Great-tailed Grackle – 27 May 2026, Kah Tai Lagoon, Port Townsend, Jefferson County. Miranda Maxwell [w, p], Clara Maxwell, Rose Maxwell, Dan Waggoner [p], Steve Hampton [p] (7-0-0).
OVEN-2026-1, Ovenbird – 25 May 2026, Fletcher Bay Rd., Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Janine Schutt [p] (7-0-0).
GWWA-2026-1, Golden-winged Warbler – 16 Sep 2026, Neah Bay STP, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Bennett Baynham [p], Alex Meilleur (7-0-0).
NOPA-2026-2, Northern Parula – 26 May 2026, Queen Anne Playfield, Seattle, King County. Roger Dane [w, a] (6-0-1).
NOPA-2026-3, Northern Parula – 30 May 2026, Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue, King County. Mason Maron [w, p], Raphael Fennimore [p], Alex Meilleur [p] (7-0-0).
NOPA-2026-4, Northern Parula – 8 Jun - 3 Jul 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park, Yakima, Yakima County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Jef Blake [p, a], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p, a] (7-0-0).
NOPA-2026-5, Northern Parula – 19 Jun 2026, National Forest Development Road 9712, Cle Elum, Kittitas County. Dave Slager [w, a] (7-0-0).
NOPA-2026-6, Northern Parula – 26 Jun 2026, Umtanum Creek Trail, upper end, Yakima County. Manuel Silveira [p] (7-0-0).
NOPA-2026-7, Northern Parula – 6 Jun 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County. Jeff Gilligan [w] (6-0-1).
NOPA-2026-8, Northern Parula – 30 Aug - 5 Sep 2026, Sentinel Bluffs, Mattawa, Grant County. Matt Yawney [p, a] (7-0-0).
NOPA-2026-9, Northern Parula – 30 Jun 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park, Yakima, Yakima County. Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Additional NOPA found with NOPA-2026-4 on just this date treated as a separate record.
MAWA-2026-1, Magnolia Warbler – 19 May 2026, ALE Pumphouse w of Richland, Benton County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p] (7-0-0).
MAWA-2026-2, Magnolia Warbler – 27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Charlotte Byers [w, p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
BLBW-2026-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 17 Sep 2026, Neah Bay town, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Ryan Merrill [w, p], Bennett Baynham [p] (7-0-0).
BLPW-2026-1, Blackpoll Warbler – 6 Sep 2026, Neah Bay Junkyard, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Jason Vassallo [w], Will Brooks [p], Louis Kreemer [w, p] (7-0-0).
SUTA-2026-1, Summer Tanager – 4 Jun 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills, Klickitat County. Mike Coulson [w, p, a] (7-0-0).
SUTA-2026-2, Summer Tanager – 26 Jul 2026, central Vashon Island, King County. Martha Enson [w, p] (7-0-0).
RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
King Eider at Westport – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a King Eider (formerly treated as KIEI-2026-1) is best treated as a continuing record of KIEI-2025-1. The two records are merged and treated as KIEI-2025-1.
Dated and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 1 May 2026, Westport Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Dick Carwright [p] (7-0-0).
Lesser Nighthawk – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a Lesser Nighthawk in Kittitas County (formerly treated as LENI-2026-1) is best treated as a returning instance of LENI-2024-1. The two records are merged and treated as LENI-2024-1.
Dates and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 22-27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Dave Swayne [a], Victoria and Jeff Chaussee [p], Garrett Hughes [p], Ed Newbold [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
RTHU-2026-1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 9 Jun 20226, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (0-7-0).
COHU-2026-1, Costa's Hummingbird – 10 Apr 2026, Cashmere, Chelan County (1-6-0).
COHU-2026-2, Costa's Hummingbird – 3-4 Jul 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (1-6-0).
ALHU-2026-1, Allen's Hummingbird – 11 Aug 2026, Phinney Ridge, Seattle, King County (0-7-0).
EUWH-2026-1, Eurasian Whimbrel – 4 May 2026, Beach near Willapa NWR, Ocean Park, Pacific County (0-7-0).
COMG-2024-1, Common Greenshank – 19 Oct 2024, Tyson Blood Ponds, Burbank, Walla Walla County (0-7-0).
ARLO-2026-1, Arctic Loon – 6 Jun 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific County (1-6-0).
SNEG-2026-1, Snowy Egret (4) – 28 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, HQ trail, Burbank, Walla Walla County (2-5-0).
STSE-2026-1, Steller's Sea-Eagle – 12 Jun 2026, Center Road, Lopez Island, San Juan County (0-7-0).
YBFL-2026-1, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 6-8 Aug 2026, Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Island County (0-7-0).
EAPH-2026-1, Eastern Phoebe – 7 Jul 2026, 12th St. NE, Everett, Snohomish County (0-6-1).
BRTH-2026-1, Brown Thrasher – 2 Apr 2026, Cordata Park Trail, Bellingham, Whatcom County (0-7-0).
BRTH-2026-3, Brown Thrasher – 5 Jul 2026, Fishing Pond and Park, Dayton, Columbia County (5-2-0).
NOWH-2026-1, Northern Wheatear – 21 Aug 2026, 46.766000, -121.705000, Mt. Rainier NP, Lewis County (0-7-0).
PSJU-2026-1, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco – 21 Aug 2026, Williams Lake Road, Evans, Stevens County (0-7-0).
HOOR-2026-1, Hooded Oriole – 22 Jul 2026, Hayes Way, Shelton, Mason County (0-7-0).
COGR-2026-1, Common Grackle – 30 May 2026, Palouse Trail, Ellensburg, Kittitas County (0-6-1).
BLPW-2026-2, Blackpoll Warbler – 19 Sep 2026, Hooper, Adams County (5-2-0).
Thanks everyone for documenting the surprising birds of WA - I’ll send another short note once all the checklists and online files are updated at the WOS website.
Date: 10/31/26 3:25 pm From: alb_pt via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Two pileateds near Anderson Lake, Jefferson County
My buddy and I were biking on the new trail to Anderson Lake from Four Corners in Jefferson County. The trail dead ends for the time being at Anderson Lake’s north end. As we got to the top of the bike path just before the dogleg left down to the end point, we stopped for a snack. There were two pileateds calling out one from a large fir on the west side of the trail and one from the east side, which we saw flying south. Anyway, thought I would mention it.
Date: 10/30/26 6:22 pm From: Jamie Acker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Protection Island / Dungeness NWRs -Clarifying the Record --Lorna Smith
Thank you for this post.
-Jamie
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Darrell Smith via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Friday, 30 October 2026 12:33:24
To: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Protection Island / Dungeness NWRs -Clarifying the Record --Lorna Smith
I am writing this post to clear up certain remaining questions, and certain misinformation that has appeared here regarding proposed legislation transferring ownership of Protection Island and Dungeness National Wildlife Refuges to the Jamestown S'klallam Tribe via the BIA and the reasons the Tribe has given for pursuing the transfer. I am a casual participant on Tweeters, and find that as a birder I am most involved in protecting as much habitat as we can, and standing up for strong laws to protect species.
That is why my colleagues and I have formed the coalition that is supporting the continuation of co-management of Protection Island and Dungeness National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) by U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) and the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe (JST), while opposing the Tribe taking over ownership of our publicly-owned NWRs and breaking up the existing Washington Maritime NWR Complex.
Some of you on this forum will remember the >10-year long hard-fought campaign that many of us carried out to save Protection Island from development in the first place. I was the campaign partner of the indomitable Eleanor Stopps in that effort. Thousands of letters were written by Audubon members and others in support of saving the Island, and we succeeded! The dozens of Protection Island building lots purchased by Audubon members like myself to save them from development were then donated to U.S. Fish and Wildlife in perpetuity to be part of Protection Island NWR.
Today, we find ourselves having to campaign once again to save both Protection Island and Dungeness and keep them in the public domain. We (Audubon members and allies) have formed the ProtectRefuges campaign. You can find our position statement on our website ProtectRefuges.org<http://ProtectRefuges.org>, where you will also find a link to our petition. Email us for information or to get on the mailing list at <ProtectRefuges...><mailto:<ProtectRefuges...> . We also are more than glad to give presentations with Q and A for any groups that might benefit. Our primary position is clear: we welcome the participation of the Tribe as co-managers, an agreement that was just renewed between U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe to jointly manage both Protection Island and Dungeness NWRs.
However, the draft bill prepared by the Tribe that is circulating would remove USFWS from the picture altogether. The public would no longer have ANY role in the decision-making over how these refuges are managed, as confirmed by the tribal Chairman Ron Allen in his June 22, 2026 presentation to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners.
There is a word with strong legal meaning that applies to tribally owned lands. That word is "sovereign," meaning the Tribe and the Tribe alone controls all actions and decisions affecting tribal lands. There is no legally-enforceable public involvement, nor public oversight outside the Jamestown SKlallam Tribe required, once the lands are sovereign lands. Even safe-guards considered in a congressional bill matter little once the transfer is complete.
Why should we be concerned about tribal takeover beyond the incremental dismantling of our public system of federally-owned NWRs? Consider these comments made by JST Chair, Ron Allen at that same meeting on June 22, 2026, before the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners regarding the impetus for taking over the Refuges. Here it is in his own words:
"So to go to your first question, that you raised Greg: [Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner]. What initiated this to start with? So, we have an oyster farm inside of the Refuge......We ran into a buzzsaw with [U.S.] Fish and Wildlife on recertifying [non-native Pacific oyster commercial operations inside the tidelands of Dungeness Refuge] and getting all the permits because we were out of compliance. They raised issues with us which were really not legitimate issues [ such as seabird impacts]. Basically we were clashing with Fish and Wildlife over that particular project, and so we got frustrated with them." And later, "Over the years the Tribe has become really strong conservationists, you know for many different reasons...we're developers too, so don't confuse yourself that we're just conservation-minded."
--So, in fact, it WAS the issue of disagreement between USFW and JST over the Tribe's plan to expand Pacific oyster aquaculture in Dungeness Bay, inside Refuge boundaries, and the Tribes frustration over failure to get approval for that expansion which set this whole idea in motion--a business decision.
And later in the transcript Allen says this about Protection Island: "But we decided that why not just take two of them? [Dungeness and Protection Island] makes it simpler and easier for us? We do have a nexus with Protection Island. Our people would go over there to harvest shellfish. Shellfish was always a big deal for us historically---they would go different places to harvest different vegetation and different purposes that was important to us. So we just felt put the 2 together. It makes more sense for us because we basically wanted to remove [U.S.] Fish and Wildlife and that we can control and manage it --what we think is much more respectful"
And finally, "No, [our frustration is] just U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Yeah, they were coming up with reasons why we can't establish an oyster farm, which has nothing to do with the Refuge itself. They didn't want to see it happen. We did farm oysters and clams [traditionally] that is something we did do, just today in the 21st Century, just bigger. And it's not just for subsistence anymore, its just for commercial purposes."
Also. in an interview with Seattles KUOW regarding the tribe pushing for federal legislation to take over the Dungeness and Protection Island NWRs, published May 7, 2026, Tribal Vice Chair, Loni Greninger stated on this issue:
"If we're able to remove some of that less-local control from us, we are able to care for the land more deeply and I would say, more correctly ....." meaning, I assume, she seconds Chair Allen in his desire to remove federal regulations which stymie their aquaculture expansion plans.
Chairman Allen was not hiding the truth of the Tribe's intent. Rather, he let it be known publicly that the Tribe values conservation but has business to do, and much of their business is the business of aquaculture and fishing. That is why the Tribe has also gone to Representative Randall to sponsor a bill, HR 9621, that would allow the the culling of Salish Sea-wide pinnipeds, a bill currently being considered by Congress. How does that factor into the reality that Protection Island is the largest consistent harbor seal pupping and haul-out location in the Salish Sea? Elephant seals are now frequent visitors, and Biggs Orcas can be seen weekly just offshore. Furthermore, the JST has been pressuring Washington DNR to reverse its 2024 decision to ban fish net pen cultivation so they can get back into that business, one widely condemned for allowing transmission of viruses from the pen-reared fish to wild fish. These are business decisions being made by the Tribe, to benefit the Tribe. In contrast, our USFWS and the refuge system was created to protect habitat, birds and other wildlife, held in trust for the benefit of ALL Americans, period.
Chairman Allen also made additional alarming comments about the plans of other Tribes stating that once this is done (referring to the transfer of Dungeness and Protection NWRs to the JST through the BIA), other WA area Tribes plan to follow suit and take over the remaining 4 NWRs in the Washington Maritime NWR Complex.
Do any of us really want to see the incremental dismantling of our unparalled National Wildlife Refuge system? Many of us fought to protect these places, like Bowerman Basin, one of the single most important shorebird migration stopovers on the entire Pacific coast, now permanently protected as Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge. It was once slated to be part of a port and airport expansion plan until Audubon activists pushed for the Refuge formation. We have 23 other unique and valuable NWRs in WA, 573 NWRs Nationwide.
We hope that you will express your strong support for a system of refuges protecting precious wildlife populations, many of which are endangered, a system not matched in scope anywhere else in the world. We hope you will let your congressional representatives and senators know your views in favor of keeping public ownership of both Protection Island and Dungeness NWRs, integral components of our irreplaceable Washington Maritime NWR Complex for the benefit of extremely sensitive seabird nesting species and other wildlife, and for the entire public who values them. Today, wildlife need our help more than ever, and we all need to work together, Tribes, resources agencies, scientists and the public, in order to meet the looming ecological challenges ahead.
Date: 10/30/26 2:15 pm From: HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Crisis in the Flesh-footed Shearwater Population
Most birds also consume hard objects, generally rocks, for use in the gizzard. This is, of course, where pieces of lead cause issues. We feed our chickens bread as a treat and it is not that far a stretch to think a sheet of styrofoam is "food". As any fisherman can tell you, search image and not an accurate examination is often all that an animal has.
Hal Michael
Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
<ucd880...>
> On 10/29/2026 10:49 PM PDT Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> I wonder if birds have some strange attraction to plastics. My neighbor has free range chickens at this place that come over to our place. I've noticed that, if available, they will eat large amounts of styrofoam. Pecking chunks out of a larger piece and swallowing them.Bob You would think they would realize this was not 'food' but they do not. The neighbors also have Peafowl;. the same. They chunk it down piece by piece.
> Very sad. I wonder if there is a relationship with seabirds?
> Bob OBrien Portland
>
> On Thu, Oct 29, 2026 at 2:54 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> wrote:
>
> > Hi Tweeters,
> >
> > We infrequently see Flesh-footed Shearwaters on Westport Seabirds pelagic trips. I was recently reading an article about the breeding population on Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea off Australia’s east coast. They are called Sable Shearwaters there. That population had been studied by researchers since 2010 and the study is still under way. They are finding increasing loads of stomach plastic that prevent the birds from eating and digesting food. The article can be accessed athttp://nationalgeographic.com . You will have to enter your email address to read it. (If you start getting too many messages from NatGeo just unsubscribe.) You can also search it with the article headline: “These Seabirds Are So Full of Plastic They’re Starving to Death.” The author is Annie Roth.
> >
> > Carol Riddell
> > Edmonds, 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: 10/30/26 12:43 pm From: Darrell Smith via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Protection Island / Dungeness NWRs -Clarifying the Record --Lorna Smith
I am writing this post to clear up certain remaining questions, and certain misinformation that has appeared here regarding proposed legislation transferring ownership of Protection Island and Dungeness National Wildlife Refuges to the Jamestown S'klallam Tribe via the BIA and the reasons the Tribe has given for pursuing the transfer. I am a casual participant on Tweeters, and find that as a birder I am most involved in protecting as much habitat as we can, and standing up for strong laws to protect species.
That is why my colleagues and I have formed the coalition that is supporting the continuation of co-management of Protection Island and Dungeness National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) by U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) and the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe (JST), while opposing the Tribe taking over ownership of our publicly-owned NWRs and breaking up the existing Washington Maritime NWR Complex.
Some of you on this forum will remember the >10-year long hard-fought campaign that many of us carried out to save Protection Island from development in the first place. I was the campaign partner of the indomitable Eleanor Stopps in that effort. Thousands of letters were written by Audubon members and others in support of saving the Island, and we succeeded! The dozens of Protection Island building lots purchased by Audubon members like myself to save them from development were then donated to U.S. Fish and Wildlife in perpetuity to be part of Protection Island NWR.
Today, we find ourselves having to campaign once again to save both Protection Island and Dungeness and keep them in the public domain. We (Audubon members and allies) have formed the ProtectRefuges campaign. You can find our position statement on our website ProtectRefuges.org <http://protectrefuges.org/>, where you will also find a link to our petition. Email us for information or to get on the mailing list at <ProtectRefuges...> <mailto:<ProtectRefuges...> . We also are more than glad to give presentations with Q and A for any groups that might benefit. Our primary position is clear: we welcome the participation of the Tribe as co-managers, an agreement that was just renewed between U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe to jointly manage both Protection Island and Dungeness NWRs.
However, the draft bill prepared by the Tribe that is circulating would remove USFWS from the picture altogether. The public would no longer have ANY role in the decision-making over how these refuges are managed, as confirmed by the tribal Chairman Ron Allen in his June 22, 2026 presentation to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners.
There is a word with strong legal meaning that applies to tribally owned lands. That word is "sovereign," meaning the Tribe and the Tribe alone controls all actions and decisions affecting tribal lands. There is no legally-enforceable public involvement, nor public oversight outside the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe required, once the lands are sovereign lands. Even safe-guards considered in a congressional bill matter little once the transfer is complete.
Why should we be concerned about tribal takeover beyond the incremental dismantling of our public system of federally-owned NWRs? Consider these comments made by JST Chair, Ron Allen at that same meeting on June 22, 2026, before the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners regarding the impetus for taking over the Refuges. Here it is in his own words:
"So to go to your first question, that you raised Greg: [Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner]. What initiated this to start with? So, we have an oyster farm inside of the Refuge......We ran into a buzzsaw with [U.S.] Fish and Wildlife on recertifying [non-native Pacific oyster commercial operations inside the tidelands of Dungeness Refuge] and getting all the permits because we were out of compliance. They raised issues with us which were really not legitimate issues [ such as seabird impacts]. Basically we were clashing with Fish and Wildlife over that particular project, and so we got frustrated with them." And later, "Over the years the Tribe has become really strong conservationists, you know for many different reasons...we're developers too, so don't confuse yourself that we're just conservation-minded."
--So, in fact, it WAS the issue of disagreement between USFW and JST over the Tribe's plan to expand Pacific oyster aquaculture in Dungeness Bay, inside Refuge boundaries, and the Tribes frustration over failure to get approval for that expansion which set this whole idea in motion--a business decision.
And later in the transcript Allen says this about Protection Island: "But we decided that why not just take two of them? [Dungeness and Protection Island] … makes it simpler and easier for us? We do have a nexus with Protection Island. Our people would go over there to harvest shellfish. Shellfish was always a big deal for us historically---they would go different places to harvest different vegetation and different purposes that was important to us. So we just felt put the 2 together. It makes more sense for us because we basically wanted to remove [U.S.] Fish and Wildlife and that we can control and manage it --what we think is much more respectful"
And finally, "No, [our frustration is] just U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Yeah, they were coming up with reasons why we can't establish an oyster farm, which has nothing to do with the Refuge itself. They didn't want to see it happen. We did farm oysters and clams [traditionally] that is something we did do, just today in the 21st Century, just bigger. And it's not just for subsistence anymore, its just for commercial purposes."
Also. in an interview with Seattle’s KUOW regarding the tribe pushing for federal legislation to take over the Dungeness and Protection Island NWRs, published May 7, 2026, Tribal Vice Chair, Loni Greninger stated on this issue:
"If we're able to remove some of that less-local control from us, we are able to care for the land more deeply and I would say, more correctly ....." meaning, I assume, she seconds Chair Allen in his desire to remove federal regulations which stymie their aquaculture expansion plans.
Chairman Allen was not hiding the truth of the Tribe's intent. Rather, he let it be known publicly that the Tribe values conservation but has business to do, and much of their business is the business of aquaculture and fishing. That is why the Tribe has also gone to Representative Randall to sponsor a bill, HR 9621, that would allow the the culling of Salish Sea-wide pinnipeds, a bill currently being considered by Congress. How does that factor into the reality that Protection Island is the largest consistent harbor seal pupping and haul-out location in the Salish Sea? Elephant seals are now frequent visitors, and Biggs Orcas can be seen weekly just offshore. Furthermore, the JST has been pressuring Washington DNR to reverse its 2024 decision to ban fish net pen cultivation so they can get back into that business, one widely condemned for allowing transmission of viruses from the pen-reared fish to wild fish. These are business decisions being made by the Tribe, to benefit the Tribe. In contrast, our USFWS and the refuge system was created to protect habitat, birds and other wildlife, held in trust for the benefit of ALL Americans, period.
Chairman Allen also made additional alarming comments about the plans of other Tribes stating that “once this is done” (referring to the transfer of Dungeness and Protection NWRs to the JST through the BIA), other WA area Tribes plan to follow suit and take over the remaining 4 NWRs in the Washington Maritime NWR Complex.
Do any of us really want to see the incremental dismantling of our unparalled National Wildlife Refuge system? Many of us fought to protect these places, like Bowerman Basin, one of the single most important shorebird migration stopovers on the entire Pacific coast, now permanently protected as Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge. It was once slated to be part of a port and airport expansion plan until Audubon activists pushed for the Refuge formation. We have 23 other unique and valuable NWRs in WA, 573 NWRs Nationwide.
We hope that you will express your strong support for a system of refuges protecting precious wildlife populations, many of which are endangered, a system not matched in scope anywhere else in the world. We hope you will let your congressional representatives and senators know your views in favor of keeping public ownership of both Protection Island and Dungeness NWRs, integral components of our irreplaceable Washington Maritime NWR Complex for the benefit of extremely sensitive seabird nesting species and other wildlife, and for the entire public who values them. Today, wildlife need our help more than ever, and we all need to work together, Tribes, resources agencies, scientists and the public, in order to meet the looming ecological challenges ahead.
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 10/30/26 12:13 pm From: bill shelmerdine via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Grays Harbor CBC Saturday January 2
Greetings All,
I will be coordinating and compiling the Grays Harbor Christmas Count beginning this year. First, I want to thank Dianna Moore for all the years she has put into coordinating and compiling the count. Thank you Dianna!
Next, I would like to invite new and past participants to join us on this years count. Please let me know if you are interested and available in attending the January 2nd count. As many of you may know, the National Audubon CBC site is in the process of being updated. Historic count information is not available at this time. Because of this I do not have a complete list of past participants at this time. As a result, it may take me a while to get word out to all of last years participants, but this seems like a good place to start.
Thank you for your time and let me know if you are available for the January 2nd GH Count. Happy CBC-ing,
Bill Shelmerdine
Grays Harbor CBC Compiler
<georn1...>
Date: 10/30/26 8:40 am From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Today - Oct 29 - was an ...
Hi Jim,
If you have an update on the swans before Sunday, please let us know as we
hope to head up early that morning.
Thank you,
Ronda
On Thu, Oct 29, 2026 at 3:29 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> ... important day on our calendar here in Skagit. We saw our first
> confirmed Trumpeter
> Swans (flying) and there is snow on the tops of the mountains on
> both sides of the Skagit
> Valley running all the way East on both sides as far as we can
> see. We haven't seen the
> recurring "morning move of the swans from Barney Lake to the
> fields" yet but it will
> start happening soon.
> - Jim and Loretta in Skagit
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/29/26 10:57 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Crisis in the Flesh-footed Shearwater Population
I wonder if birds have some strange attraction to plastics. My neighbor has
free range chickens at this place that come over to our place. I've noticed
that, if available, they will eat large amounts of styrofoam. Pecking
chunks out of a larger piece and swallowing them.Bob You would think they
would realize this was not 'food' but they do not. The neighbors also have
Peafowl;. the same. They chunk it down piece by piece.
Very sad. I wonder if there is a relationship with seabirds?
Bob OBrien Portland
On Thu, Oct 29, 2026 at 2:54 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi Tweeters,
>
> We infrequently see Flesh-footed Shearwaters on Westport Seabirds pelagic
> trips. I was recently reading an article about the breeding population on
> Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea off Australia’s east coast. They are
> called Sable Shearwaters there. That population had been studied by
> researchers since 2010 and the study is still under way. They are finding
> increasing loads of stomach plastic that prevent the birds from eating and
> digesting food. The article can be accessed at nationalgeographic.com.
> You will have to enter your email address to read it. (If you start getting
> too many messages from NatGeo just unsubscribe.) You can also search it
> with the article headline: “These Seabirds Are So Full of Plastic They’re
> Starving to Death.” The author is Annie Roth.
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/29/26 7:49 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for Wednesday 10/28/2026
Dear Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us enjoyed a windy Wednesday at the Refuge, with
intermittent dry and wet conditions. Temperatures ranged from the 40's to
50's degrees Fahrenheit. Because there was a High 14'3" Tide at 8:24am, we
skipped the Orchard in the morning to chase the tide out on the Nisqually
Estuary Trail. Highlights included a First Of Year SNOWGOOSE, mixed in
with thousands of CACKLING GOOSE, minima variety, in the flooded fields
south of the Twin Barns. We had great views of Waterfowl and Shorebirds in
the surge plain and on the mudflats during high tide. We also saw a
continuing HUDSONIAN GODWIT near the entrance to the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail. Nice views of COMMON LOON in McAllister Creek. Upwards
of 4 AMERICAN BITTERN: three in the fresh water marsh across from the
entrance to the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail and one in the Visitor
Center Pond. We relocated a previously reported NORTHERN SHRIKE hunting
along the restricted dike south of the green gate at the end of the
Nisqually Estuary Trail. And the AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER continues, hanging
out with 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, observed from the McAllister/Medicine
Creek Viewing Platform.
We observed 76 species for the day. With the FOY Snowgoose, we now have
seen 171 species so far this year. Check out our eBird Report pasted below.
As many of you may know, the last 750 feet of the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail is closed for the Hunting Season and will not re-open until
February 8th. You can still scope the reach fairly well from the gate
closure, but you won't have the benefit of the observation roof at the end
of the trail.
I'll be away for the next couple of months—Peru in November, Islands south
of New Zealand in December—but the walk will continue under the leadership
of Ken Brown, Rob Chrisler, Pete Kilburn, Jim Pruske, and all the regulars
who help with the many fun sightings. Happy Holidays, and happy birding,
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Oct 28, 2026 7:51 AM - 4:26 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.922 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Temperature in the 40’s to 50’s
degrees Fahrenheit with intermittent rain and sun breaks. A High 14’3” Tide
at 8:24am and a Low 7’4” Tide at 1:54p. Others seen Columbian Black Tailed
Deer, Harbor Seal, Puget Sound Garter Snake, and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
76 species (+4 other taxa)
Snow Goose 7
Cackling Goose (minima) 2500
Canada Goose (Greater) 18
Trumpeter Swan 6
Northern Shoveler 1
American Wigeon 1500
Mallard 200
Northern Pintail 1500
Green-winged Teal (American) 1500
Surf Scoter 25
Bufflehead 75
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-breasted Merganser 3 Nisqually Reach
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 8
Mourning Dove 1
Anna's Hummingbird 1
American Coot 2
Black-bellied Plover 8 Seen on surge plain and on mud flats around
McAllister/Medicine Creek observation platform.
American Golden-Plover 1 Previously reported rarity. Observed on
mudflats from McAllister/Medicine Creek Observation Platform. Golden
Plover with long four feather primary projection. Darker cap, smaller bill
than area BBPL. Photo.
Hudsonian Whimbrel 1 Previously reported rarity. Seen from Nisqually
Estuary Trail. Photos.
Long-billed Dowitcher 20
Wilson's Snipe 8
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 30
Dunlin 50
Least Sandpiper 8
Bonaparte's Gull 20 Flying over Shannon Slough.
Short-billed Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 100
California Gull 4
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 10
Larus sp. 100
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Horned Grebe 2
Western Grebe 1
Common Loon 3
Brandt's Cormorant 4
Double-crested Cormorant 20
American Bittern 4
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 26
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 8
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Belted Kingfisher 4
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 4
Northern Flicker 3
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
American Kestrel (Northern) 1
Peregrine Falcon 2
Northern Shrike 1 Seen from the Nisqually Estuary Trail.
American Crow 50
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 15
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3
Bushtit (Pacific) 30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 20
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 8
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 6
Western Marsh Wren 5
Bewick's Wren (Pacific) 4
European Starling 40
Varied Thrush 8 Riparian forest cut off.
Hermit Thrush 1 Seen along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop trail.
American Robin 40
Pine Siskin (Northern) 300
American Goldfinch 1
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 4
Golden-crowned Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 1 Spotted by Janel in the Orchard.
Savannah Sparrow (Common) 2
Song Sparrow (Pacific Northwest) 26
Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Spotted by Jon and Mary on Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Spotted Towhee (Pacific) 6
Western Meadowlark 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Common) 30
Date: 10/29/26 6:53 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Two Willets
I'm sure that it was complex and confusing trying to distribute the 2 new
species into correct ranges when previously they were not distinguished,
i.e. lumped. Quite a few past reports were NOT identified as to species.
the '/' indication.
But what resulted is rather puzzling.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/159695762@N07/55620649913/in/dateposted-public/ No Saltmarsh Willets are accepted in the entire west coast SaltMarshes
(?). And yet, many were accepted as not speciated in our western
Saltmarshes.. (Yet?)
I grew up (if at all) on south San Francisco Bay where Willets are abundant
but do not(? breed, moving inland. That would be the place for study (if
at all}.
In Oregon and Washington Willets are rather uncommon.coastally, also
breeding inland.
So, a really challenging and fun(?) exercise would be to start
identifying them by species, rather than location.
Bob OBrien Portland
On Thu, Oct 29, 2026 at 2:43 PM Diane Yorgason-Quinn via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I was looking at an October list in Ohio, and they showed Prairie Willets
> in Ohio! Photos were included. I wondered about that and was told that
> Prairies are "lankier" such as was shown in the photos. I still have my
> doubts and need to study it some more.
>
> Diane Yorgason-Quinn (of the Willettes birding group)
> <avosetta...>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Sent:* Thursday, October 29, 2026 12:05 PM
> *To:* Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...>; tweeters <
> <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] The Two Willets
>
> Good points! We shouldn’t think about the Willet split in the same
> geographical way as we do the Marsh Wren.
>
> Fortunately, for my list, we had listed Willets during May in the
> Scarborough Marsh in Maine, and eBird changed them to Saltmarsh Willet.
>
> —Jerry Tangren
> East Wenatchee, WA
>
> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> > ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Sent:* Thursday, 29 October 2026 11:09:10
> *To:* tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* [Tweeters] The Two Willets
>
> Hi Tweeters,
>
> I just noticed this morning that eBird has updated checklists and our
> species numbers to reflect the split in Willet to Saltmarsh Willet and
> Prairie Willet. Prairie is the former western subspecies and Saltmarsh is
> the former eastern subspecies. I noticed many Saltmarsh/Prairie Willet in
> my checklists so I made a couple of species maps to see what is going on.
> It is interesting to see extensive documentation of Prairie Willet all
> along the Gulf Coast and the East Coast, at least up through Virginia. One
> of my checklists had a Willet photo on the west coast of Florida and it is
> now in the Prairie Willet category. The range for Saltmarsh Willet is much
> more restrictive than that for Prairie Willet.
>
> The Marsh Wren split to Eastern Marsh Wren and Western Marsh Wren is also
> seen in eBird checklists now but I have not made species maps to see where
> they might overlap.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> cariddellwa at gmail dot com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
>
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> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
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> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/29/26 4:40 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-10-29
Tweets - It was actually a pretty nice day at the park, reasonably warm with virtually no precipitation and even with a bit of sun. Fairly birdy too.
Highlights: Canada Goose - Remarkably, almost none - probably fewer than 5 American Wigeon - Pair from the Lake Platform. Our 2nd sighting of fall, and first in 4 weeks Ring-necked Duck - Male in the slough - First of Fall (FOF) Bufflehead - 10 females and 2 males from the Lake Platform. (FOF) for the survey, though I had one 9 days ago Mourning Dove - One near the Viewing Mound drew attention from a juvenile Cooper's Hawk American Coot - Two !!! Short-billed Gull - About 3 (FOF) Merlin - Close flyby of a very dark "Black"-type Northern Shrike - Brief look at a very tan juvenile. (FOF) for the survey, though I had probably the same bird 9 days ago Varied Thrush - Two or three, including one sharp male White-crowned Sparrow - One singing the pugetensis song; more singing gambelii White-throated Sparrow - Two, again, in the blackberries immediately north of the heronry along the slough trail, with other Zonos Western Meadowlark - A few in the East Meadow
American Coots almost completely abandoned Marymoor in April of 2024. We haven't had more than 5 on any survey since, with most days just 1-3. In 2023, we had several hundred several times. Back in the early 2000's, we sometimes had more than 1000. I blame the rise in Bald Eagle populations, and/or the scourge of Brazilian Elodea, an invasive non-native water plant.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, Anna's Hummingbird, Ring-billed Gull (though we had some distant gulls too far away to ID), Western Grebe, Red-tailed Hawk, Purple Finch, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Yellow-rumped Warbler (though we might have heard them a couple of times).
For the day, 55 species.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 10/29/26 3:40 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Today - Oct 29 - was an ...
... important day on our calendar here in Skagit. We saw our first
confirmed Trumpeter
Swans (flying) and there is snow on the tops of the mountains on
both sides of the Skagit
Valley running all the way East on both sides as far as we can
see. We haven't seen the
recurring "morning move of the swans from Barney Lake to the
fields" yet but it will
start happening soon.
- Jim and Loretta in Skagit
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 10/29/26 3:03 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Crisis in the Flesh-footed Shearwater Population
Hi Tweeters,
We infrequently see Flesh-footed Shearwaters on Westport Seabirds pelagic trips. I was recently reading an article about the breeding population on Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea off Australia’s east coast. They are called Sable Shearwaters there. That population had been studied by researchers since 2010 and the study is still under way. They are finding increasing loads of stomach plastic that prevent the birds from eating and digesting food. The article can be accessed at nationalgeographic.com. You will have to enter your email address to read it. (If you start getting too many messages from NatGeo just unsubscribe.) You can also search it with the article headline: “These Seabirds Are So Full of Plastic They’re Starving to Death.” The author is Annie Roth.
Date: 10/29/26 2:54 pm From: Diane Yorgason-Quinn via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Two Willets
I was looking at an October list in Ohio, and they showed Prairie Willets in Ohio! Photos were included. I wondered about that and was told that Prairies are "lankier" such as was shown in the photos. I still have my doubts and need to study it some more.
Diane Yorgason-Quinn (of the Willettes birding group)
<avosetta...>
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2026 12:05 PM
To: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...>; tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Two Willets
Good points! We shouldnt think about the Willet split in the same geographical way as we do the Marsh Wren.
Fortunately, for my list, we had listed Willets during May in the Scarborough Marsh in Maine, and eBird changed them to Saltmarsh Willet.
Jerry Tangren
East Wenatchee, WA
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Thursday, 29 October 2026 11:09:10
To: tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] The Two Willets
Hi Tweeters,
I just noticed this morning that eBird has updated checklists and our species numbers to reflect the split in Willet to Saltmarsh Willet and Prairie Willet. Prairie is the former western subspecies and Saltmarsh is the former eastern subspecies. I noticed many Saltmarsh/Prairie Willet in my checklists so I made a couple of species maps to see what is going on. It is interesting to see extensive documentation of Prairie Willet all along the Gulf Coast and the East Coast, at least up through Virginia. One of my checklists had a Willet photo on the west coast of Florida and it is now in the Prairie Willet category. The range for Saltmarsh Willet is much more restrictive than that for Prairie Willet.
The Marsh Wren split to Eastern Marsh Wren and Western Marsh Wren is also seen in eBird checklists now but I have not made species maps to see where they might overlap.
Good birding,
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
cariddellwa at gmail dot com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2026 12:10 PM
To: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Cc: Elaine Chuang <elc...>
Subject: [Tweeters] On that HANTA VIRUS OUTBREAK (April - July 2026)
NYTimes.com: "How a Nature Cruise Turned Into a Nightmare. The Hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius set off alarms for a world still traumatized by Covid. For those on board, the danger was much closer."
Date: 10/29/26 12:21 pm From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] On that HANTA VIRUS OUTBREAK (April - July 2026)
NYTimes.com: "How a Nature Cruise Turned Into a Nightmare. The Hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius set off alarms for a world still traumatized by Covid. For those on board, the danger was much closer."
Date: 10/29/26 12:15 pm From: Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Two Willets
Good points! We shouldnt think about the Willet split in the same geographical way as we do the Marsh Wren.
Fortunately, for my list, we had listed Willets during May in the Scarborough Marsh in Maine, and eBird changed them to Saltmarsh Willet.
Jerry Tangren
East Wenatchee, WA
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Thursday, 29 October 2026 11:09:10
To: tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] The Two Willets
Hi Tweeters,
I just noticed this morning that eBird has updated checklists and our species numbers to reflect the split in Willet to Saltmarsh Willet and Prairie Willet. Prairie is the former western subspecies and Saltmarsh is the former eastern subspecies. I noticed many Saltmarsh/Prairie Willet in my checklists so I made a couple of species maps to see what is going on. It is interesting to see extensive documentation of Prairie Willet all along the Gulf Coast and the East Coast, at least up through Virginia. One of my checklists had a Willet photo on the west coast of Florida and it is now in the Prairie Willet category. The range for Saltmarsh Willet is much more restrictive than that for Prairie Willet.
The Marsh Wren split to Eastern Marsh Wren and Western Marsh Wren is also seen in eBird checklists now but I have not made species maps to see where they might overlap.
Good birding,
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
cariddellwa at gmail dot com
Date: 10/29/26 12:05 pm From: alb_pt via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Protection Island Land Transfer and Steve Hampton
Hi folks. I was made aware yesterday that Steve Hampton was here accusing me of racism as it relates to the controversy over the proposed land transfer of Protection Island and Dungeness Spit Wildlife Refuges. In the interest of brevity and keeping on topic on this birding discussion board, I chose to respond to his ridiculous charges on my web site, The Olympic Peninsula Environmental News at www.olyopen.com which I have run since 2007. You can find an in-depth critique of Mr. Hamptons outrageous nonsense and facts to back them up there.
As a young photographer I helped Lorna Campion (now Smith), Eleanor Stopps, Helen Engle and Hazel Wolf, among others at Seattle Audubon document Protection Island back around 1980. I have also worked for the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and produced two films for them. I have a long history in the Pacific Northwest environmental world with a record of supporting Tribal interests at almost every turn. This time, I simply have an issue with this one proposal. You can see why at my web site.
I'm very sorry to see a man as well respected for his birding expertise try and smear others that don't agree with him as racists. It is a truly pathetic tactic.
Date: 10/29/26 11:18 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] The Two Willets
Hi Tweeters,
I just noticed this morning that eBird has updated checklists and our species numbers to reflect the split in Willet to Saltmarsh Willet and Prairie Willet. Prairie is the former western subspecies and Saltmarsh is the former eastern subspecies. I noticed many Saltmarsh/Prairie Willet in my checklists so I made a couple of species maps to see what is going on. It is interesting to see extensive documentation of Prairie Willet all along the Gulf Coast and the East Coast, at least up through Virginia. One of my checklists had a Willet photo on the west coast of Florida and it is now in the Prairie Willet category. The range for Saltmarsh Willet is much more restrictive than that for Prairie Willet.
The Marsh Wren split to Eastern Marsh Wren and Western Marsh Wren is also seen in eBird checklists now but I have not made species maps to see where they might overlap.
Good birding,
Carol Riddell Edmonds, WA cariddellwa at gmail dot com
Date: 10/29/26 11:01 am From: Samara Hoag via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Congrats to Steve Hampton
Congratulations to Steve Hampton for his fascinating and well-documented
account in the American Birding Association magazine Birding Vol 58 No 5
September 2026 titled “The Hantavirus Cruise: Dispatches from the World’s
Most Infamous Birding Trip”.
Steve covers the role of retired oncologist Dr Steve Kornfeld of Bend OR
who took over medical duties when the ship’s doctor was struck down with
the virus. He ended his cruise with a 6-week stay in a Nebraska bio
containment unit. Steve also included the testimony of a Spanish member of
the cruise, also a doctor, who survived this deadly illness.
I am not able to send a link but great articles like this are a good reason
to join the ABA. Thank you Steve.
Date: 10/28/26 9:22 pm From: Philomena O'Neill via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] social birds
Dennis, I have seen this same behavior in our bird bath and recirculating stream. This morning there were nine Robins, seven along the stream and two in the birdbath. Everyone was busy with their ablutions and no pecking was observed.
When they left a flock of Cedar Waxwings came in for their turn.
Philomena
Sent from my iPhone
> On Oct 28, 2026, at 2:31 PM, Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello, tweets.
>
> American Robins are really social birds in the winter. Twice in the last two weeks I’ve had a flock come into the yard. Two or three will be bathing in our pond at once, not that far apart but of course not within pecking distance. As each bird departs, another one will come in, for a flurry of activity for up to 10 minutes. Each bird is present only for a couple of minutes maximum. Then, all of a sudden, they’re gone.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 10/28/26 4:32 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] REMINDER: WOS Monthly Meeting, November 2, 2026 (online only)
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, November 2, Haley Olson, Senior Resource Scientist with Puget Sound Energy’s Avian Protection Program will present, “PSE’s Avian Protection Program: Protecting Birds and Improving Reliability."
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) serves 1.2 million electricity and 900,000 natural gas customers across 10 counties in Washington, a 6,000 square-mile service area. Since early 2000, PSE has endeavored to serve its bird customers as well, moving osprey nests to safer locations, installing protective covers and bird diverters and constructing new avian-friendly power lines. Find out how PSE has been working to reduce outages, bird electrocutions, collisions and fire hazards through the efforts of its Avian Protection Program.
Our speaker, Haley Olson has worked on avian protection for PSE for almost 20 years, striving to reduce negative effects on birds and their habitats related to the electrical utility infrastructure. Through the years, she has collaborated with industry colleagues as well as wildlife rehabilitators and NGO partners in order to benefit birds throughout PSE’s service area. Haley was recently elected Vice Chair of the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee.
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: 10/28/26 2:40 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] social birds
Hello, tweets.
American Robins are really social birds in the winter. Twice in the last two weeks I’ve had a flock come into the yard. Two or three will be bathing in our pond at once, not that far apart but of course not within pecking distance. As each bird departs, another one will come in, for a flurry of activity for up to 10 minutes. Each bird is present only for a couple of minutes maximum. Then, all of a sudden, they’re gone.
Date: 10/28/26 2:26 pm From: t vulture via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] turkey vultures
Hi, Tweets - just a short note in case you have any sightings for October. It's nearing the end of their migration season, so probably the last monthly report. Thanks for all the sightings during the year,
Date: 10/28/26 10:00 am From: William Stafford Noble via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Montlake Fill today
Hi Connie,
Thanks for the updates on the fill. FYI, we saw all four grebes at the
fill on Saturday morning, near the boathouse. Also, I saw one western
grebe on Monday morning on Lake Union, hanging out amongst a small group of
mallards just alongside the houseboat at the end of the pier next to
Gasworks Park. This morning, I saw a grebe (probably a western, but too
far to be sure) fishing midway between the point at Gasworks and the green
ship buoy. I don't remember seeing them on the lake in recent years.
We also had a barred owl land on our patio furniture on Monday evening. I
guess it's a birdy time of year.
Bill
On Tue, Oct 27, 2026 at 11:39 PM Constance Sidles via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hey tweets, Montlake Fill's waterways were really lively today:
>
> • 4 (!) Western Grebes in the water off the crewhouse at Conibear. I
> can't remember ever seeing so many Western Grebes at the Fill at once.
> There have been two grebes present at this location for some days now;
> joined by a third grebe a couple of days ago, and now this. Extraordinary.
>
> • The coots and ducks are back: 2 gigantic rafts were out on the lake
> today, numbering in the thousands, I estimate.
>
> • Wood Ducks are in breeding plumage, and so are at least some of the male
> Mallards. Other male Mallards still have a ways to go. I always feel for
> these males, as they must race to get handsome enough to attract a female
> for the breeding season to come, and yet they must also be aware of their
> vulnerability to predators because of being conspicuous. What a choice.
>
> • Two large flocks of finches were foraging in the conifers at the marina
> today. I tried to make them into crossbills, given reports of a crossbill
> eruption in western WA, but I believe instead they were Pine Siskins - they
> were so high up in the canopy, so active, and generally so silent it was
> hard to be sure.
>
> • It looks like the chafer beetle larvae are at it again. Vast areas of
> turf are chopped up and brown, like some gigantic aerator has been at work.
> The crows are in heaven, turning over divots of grass killed by the beetles
> and finding untold thousands - probably millions - of insects to eat. This,
> at a time of year when other food sources might be more scarce. It makes me
> wonder if this bonanza of food will allow the crow population to burgeon
> even more than it already has.
>
> • Barred Owls have been calling in my neighborhood (I live close to the
> Fill), a truly wild and hauntng chorus to listen to in the middle of the
> night. We live on a beautiful planet. - Connie, Seattle
>
> <constancesidles...>
> <csidles...>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/27/26 11:50 pm From: Constance Sidles via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Montlake Fill today
Hey tweets, Montlake Fill's waterways were really lively today:
• 4 (!) Western Grebes in the water off the crewhouse at Conibear. I can't remember ever seeing so many Western Grebes at the Fill at once. There have been two grebes present at this location for some days now; joined by a third grebe a couple of days ago, and now this. Extraordinary.
• The coots and ducks are back: 2 gigantic rafts were out on the lake today, numbering in the thousands, I estimate.
• Wood Ducks are in breeding plumage, and so are at least some of the male Mallards. Other male Mallards still have a ways to go. I always feel for these males, as they must race to get handsome enough to attract a female for the breeding season to come, and yet they must also be aware of their vulnerability to predators because of being conspicuous. What a choice.
• Two large flocks of finches were foraging in the conifers at the marina today. I tried to make them into crossbills, given reports of a crossbill eruption in western WA, but I believe instead they were Pine Siskins - they were so high up in the canopy, so active, and generally so silent it was hard to be sure.
• It looks like the chafer beetle larvae are at it again. Vast areas of turf are chopped up and brown, like some gigantic aerator has been at work. The crows are in heaven, turning over divots of grass killed by the beetles and finding untold thousands - probably millions - of insects to eat. This, at a time of year when other food sources might be more scarce. It makes me wonder if this bonanza of food will allow the crow population to burgeon even more than it already has.
• Barred Owls have been calling in my neighborhood (I live close to the Fill), a truly wild and hauntng chorus to listen to in the middle of the night. We live on a beautiful planet. - Connie, Seattle
Date: 10/27/26 5:28 pm From: Kris Anderson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Owls by Day in Walla Walla: Bird Alliance of Oregon
Is there anyone from the greater Seattle area who has signed up for this weekend tour at the end of February? I'm looking to see if anyone is interested in carpooling.
Date: 10/27/26 4:49 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Save the date! Kitsap and Port Gamble CBCs
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was started in 1900 as an alternative to the
Christmas “side hunt”
in which teams competed to shoot as many birds as possible. That year,
ornithologist Frank M. Chapman
proposed a new holiday tradition: counting birds rather than hunting them.
It is now the nation’s longest
running community science survey, with more than 80,000 participants.
Kitsap Audubon Society sponsors two CBC circles. Our Kitsap circle count
will be on Saturday,
December 19. Our North Kitsap/Port Gamble circle count will be on Saturday,
January 2. Volunteers of all
ages and skill levels are welcome to join us. If you are interested in
joining a team, please contact Chuq
Von Rospach (<vicepresident...>). If you live within one of
the CBC circles, you can also
count the birds in your own backyard and submit a feeder watch report to us
at this address.
This year, we are adding new sit and watch events aimed specifically at
newer birders and
accessible to all. One will be held at Point No Point in Hansville and the
other watching Liberty Bay in
Poulsbo. Watch the Kingfisher for details on dates and times for these.
Although joining a CBC is always fun, its true purpose is to conduct a
complete survey of all the
birds seen and heard within the circle on the day of the count. Each circle
is broken up into geographical
areas, and within each area there might be multiple field teams who are
assigned to specific locations.
Other areas may have a single field team which travels by car to many
different locations. Some locations
might be more appropriate for younger community scientists or birders doing
their first CBC. Some field
teams may have limited space due to parking limitations or other logistics.
Even if your first choice is not
available, we can find a spot for you to participate.
We use optics (binoculars and spotting scopes) to get closer looks at the
birds we are identifying and
counting. If you have binoculars, please bring them. A spotting scope can
be very useful, especially at
water locations where birds might be more distant.
Finally, being familiar with our local birds can be very helpful. If you
are new to birding, check out a
field guide, a phone app, or look on www.eBird.org to see which species you
might expect to encounter.
Date: 10/27/26 4:47 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Kitsap Audubon November Program: How Birds Fly
Join us for Kitsap Audubon’s November meeting on November 12th
How Birds Fly: The Science and Art of Avian Flight
NEW LOCATION: POULSBO FIRE DEPARTMENT, 911 N.E. Liberty Rd. Poulsbo
Live Speaker - Hybrid - Attend in person or via Zoom (https://bit.ly/4hBqjdL )
Doors/Zoom Room open at 6:00 p.m. Program starts at 6:30 p.m.
Peter Cavanagh will talk about his book How Birds Fly: The Science and Art
of Avian Flight. The book brings the science of avian flight to life in
accessible, common-sense language with almost 400 of his photographs,
illustrations, and diagrams. It includes descriptions of many aspects of
bird flight including evolution, anatomy, aerodynamics, take-off and
landing, in-flight maneuvers and migration. A recent review in The Canadian
Field Naturalist called the book “.…a masterpiece” and “….a wonderful
celebration of birds.”
Peter is a scientist, author, and bird photographer who lives in the San
Juan Islands of Washington State. He is drawn to the study of bird flight
by his experiences as an instrument- rated private pilot, his professional
training in anatomy and biomechanics, and his passion for nature and the
outdoors. His images have been featured in the Audubon Society’s Top 100
Bird Photographs of the Year. Peter has traveled widely to photograph birds
on every continent. His work can be found at www.petercavanagh.us and on
Instagram @petercavanaghbirds
Date: 10/27/26 4:38 pm From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] "Shared Stewardship for Birds" and others ... from Audubon Washington
Your organization, Audubon Washington https://www.audubon.org/washington … puts out a really nice monthly newsletter, and this one below just arrived. There's a nice article about the every-two-years Audubon Council of Washington just held in Bellingham, and other topics including WDFW's Status Review of the Burrowing Owl, and Shared Stewardship for Birds.
Date: 10/27/26 1:57 pm From: Joe Buchanan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Protection Island petition
Tweeters -
Regarding the ramifications of the current discussion on Tweeters about resource or natural area co-management, I suggest that a recent book written by Cal Flyn would be informative. Cal discusses the meaning of wilderness from many cultural and economic perspectives, but there is also a constant theme contrasting modern, largely white perspectives about ownership, management or conservation of parks (etc.), versus perspectives of those who live, or formerly lived, in these special places. Even if you are knowledgeable about such issues, the book is extremely well written, including elements of travel to fascinating landscapes, and provides real-world insights throughout.
Citation: Cal Flyn. 2026. The savage landscape: How we made the wilderness. Viking Press.
Date: 10/27/26 12:36 pm From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] a few more facts
Dennis,
Tweeters readers should know that that blog post contains several outright
lies and conspiracy theories, both relying on the racist trope of lying,
cheating Indians.
1) It hypothesizes that the Tribe has a secret ulterior business motive for
taking over the refuges, implying the Tribe is deliberately deceiving us
when they tell us there will be no commercial activities and that they will
be subject to the same public access and environmental protection
obligations as the USFWS currently is. The post basically attributes to the
Tribe the same characteristics of the worst settler colonists: privatizing
land and exploiting it, the actions that created the Great American Ecocide
of the last few centuries. This is both ironic and offensive because the
tribes were, in fact, treated like wildlife and were victims of that
ecocide; they now work hard to reverse it.
2) The blog claims the Tribes will not be subject to federal laws on
reservation land. Nothing is further from the truth. Tribes - on their
reservations - are subject to the National Env Protection Act (NEPA), the
Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and many others, not to mention all major crimes
(see Major Crimes Act). The author of this blog is well aware that the
Makah fought for decades - doing two EIS's and one EA - just for the right
to apply for a permit to kill one whale, which was explicitly granted them
in their treaty. In the meantime, oil companies put in offshore platforms
like the Deepwater Horizon with a 30-day negative declaration, the kind of
permit you might get for a park bench. Asserting that the Tribe will be
exempt from laws is waving the wild Indians flag.
This racist drivel has no place on Tweeters, though it all too often finds
a home here. Would that we spend our time fighting real threats to our
lands and waters, instead of spreading lies about those with a proven track
record protecting and restoring it.
On Tue, Oct 27, 2026 at 11:58 AM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hello tweets,
>
> I don’t like controversy any more than the next person, but at the very
> least, I think people should know all the facts, so I’m sending this link
> to provide a bit more information.
>
>
> https://olyopen.com/2026/10/27/court-denies-jamestown-appeal-of-oyster-farm-lawsuit/ >
> I think the biggest question perhaps in this discussion of who manages the
> Dungeness and Protection Island refuges is “What is wrong with the current
> co-management of the refuges? Why should it be changed? That co-management
> has worked, and so why is anyone opposing it?”
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/27/26 12:09 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] a few more facts
Hello tweets,
I don’t like controversy any more than the next person, but at the very least, I think people should know all the facts, so I’m sending this link to provide a bit more information.
I think the biggest question perhaps in this discussion of who manages the Dungeness and Protection Island refuges is “What is wrong with the current co-management of the refuges? Why should it be changed? That co-management has worked, and so why is anyone opposing it?”
Date: 10/27/26 10:16 am From: Teresa Michelsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] FW: Protection is the key word: Protection Island and Dungeness NWRs
Elaine,
You asked for perspectives from those in favor of this land transfer and potentially, as you note, the possibility of additional transfers. I grew up in western Washington and after obtaining one of the first environmental science doctorates back in 1988, I returned home and joined many of my fellow colleagues in developing the first land and water cleanup regulations at the Department of Ecology and spent my career working with our partner governments and agencies to try to undo the damage that had been done by industrial use of our waterways and coastlines. I learned many things over this long career, in which I had the privilege of working with Coastal Salish and inland Tribes as partners in cleaning up and restoring areas of the great Salish Sea and the many coastal rivers that feed into it.
At some point along the way, my perspective fundamentally changed, like a seismic shift. I cannot possibly hold the collective memories that tribal nations who have resided here for 10,000 years have. Yet I caught a glimpse of how all of this must look, how our civilization must look, to them. Among many areas, I worked on cleaning up and restoring Port Gamble Bay, working with the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and affiliated Tribes. The protection and nurturing of these waters is not any kind of abstract idea to them, not a job, not an opinion, not weighed and balanced against other things. I won’t try to speak for them, but I _know_ they will be better stewards of this land and sea than anyone in our government or even those of us who care to the bottom of our souls for the environment that surrounds us, no matter how dedicated we as individuals may be.
You can rest assured that their governments will never and have not abandoned their coastal waters to industry or development. In the meantime, our civilization, which has been here for less than 250 years, has caused untold damage to every aspect of the land and water, forests, fish, and birds. In that short time, the landscape has become unrecognizable, never mind global warming and oceanic changes. Tribal nations have worked tirelessly in the face of impossible odds to restore what amounts to very small areas within the Salish Sea. Meanwhile our President is doing his best to undo my life’s work and what several generations of environmental professionals in partnership with tribal nations have managed to accomplish in the scant 30 or so years we’ve had in which to try. No matter how much stewardship we may individually feel, we are not in control of our government, or industry, as recent events have made quite clear.
We should be asking the opposite question. What could or will happen to these areas we love in the hands of a government as capricious and compromised as ours. I lived in Port Townsend for some years also, and I treasure and value Protection Island and participated in seabird surveys, coastal surveys, went to the Salish Sea conference each year until I was unable to travel. While I have few concerns about how the refuge has been managed to date, I have concerns about the unpredictability of our US government. I feel privileged to live in an area with relatively strong environmental values as part of our state and local governments, but that could change anytime. Hard times are coming, and we need to get as much of this land into permanent protection as possible. Back into the hands of the people who managed it successfully for literally millennia and for whom its protection is sacred. I am not worried about what they will do with it.
Date: 10/27/26 10:14 am From: Bill Tweit via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Management of Protection Island and Dungeness NWR
I found the thread on this subject somewhat mystifying for a couple of reasons.
In my experience, I have never seen concerns about single entity control of important resources raised when organizations like Trust for Public Lands, the Nature Conservancy or American Bird Conservancy, or when US presidents through executive orders, announce acquisition of land parcels that are vitally important for conservation of species, or movement corridors, etc. Those announcements tend to be received with relief, even when there has been little or no opportunity for public input.
I've also never seen concerns that the Congressional legislative process effectively excludes public input. Congress does tend to be intolerant of adding provisions for additional public input, outside of the Congressional process, as that tends to shift control over the process into the executive branch. But that isn't silencing the public, it is simply that public input occurs through the Congressional process to maintain Congressional primacy in establishing policy.
Why then, the heightened concern over this proposed action? I ask because single entity control and public process through Congressional action appear to be the fundamental basis of concern of many of the Tweeters posts, and yet, to my knowledge, neither of these has been raised in previous ownership acquisitions. Are there other grounds for concern at this point, given that the legislation is still in pre-draft stage as Steve Hampton notes?
If we, as a birding community, are expecting the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe to meet higher expectations than we hold of other natural resource managers, then I have a problem with that. If we, as a birding community, are interested in tracking the process and providing our thoughts to Congress about policies they should set, then I applaud that. But let's maintain a realistic view, which for myself means a recognition that I won't always agree with all of their actions. Just as I don't always agree with the actions and decisions of other resource managers, whether they are state or federal agencies, or environmental NGOs. Some of the Nature Conservancy management approaches frustrate me, but I still donate money and provide my support to them. Lacking any additional information at this point, I expect similar from Jamestown S'Klallam except that I won't be called on to donate money!
Date: 10/26/26 8:49 pm From: Jeroen Huyghe via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Red Crossbills
There's a significant irruption of Type 2 Red Crossbills this year,
described as "possibly unprecedented for the Puget Sound region" in the
latest Winter Finch Forecast update:
I've also been seeing and hearing Red Crossbills almost daily since August
in the North City area of Shoreline. Spectrograms of my sound recordings
indicate Type 2 birds.
The Finch Research Network has an excellent article on Red Crossbill call
types:
I believe you can also submit links to eBird checklists containing your
recordings to the Finch Research Network for help identifying the call
types.
Jeroen Huyghe
On Mon, Oct 26, 2026 at 2:12 PM Nancy Morrison via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I am just wondering if there is an irruption of Red-Crossbills this year.
> To the best of my knowledge I have never had them in my yard before, but
> this year they have been present in large numbers for the past 3 months.
> Multiple birds (males, females and juveniles) come to my birdbath many
> times a day.
>
> Nancy Morrison
> Lake Forest Park
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/26/26 4:12 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Protection Island Petition
> Honestly, I'm not really worried about anything bad happening to the
> refuges under either management scenario. I don't see a Trump golf course
> at either place. There is no fresh water at either place; that's the main
> reason they were never "developed" (to use a settler colonist word for
> "destruction"). I'm far more worried about our private and public lands
> clearcut and sprayed with herbicides - that's why so many of our birds are
> declining, yet somehow we accept that as part of the deal and sign
> petitions against local leaders of ecological restoration.
>
>
> At the very least, I encourage people to read the Tribe's statements, go
> experience the infrastructure improvements they've already made in the last
> two years, and wait for the written legislation.
>
Thank you, Steve, I was hoping my worm can opening would get a response
like this.
I personally don’t have a strong opinion on this issue; if pressed I’d say
I lean towards thinking it’s a good idea but mildly. That said, since
moving up to Kitsap a few years ago and starting to pay attention to the
issues, I’ve come to generally see the S’Kallam and the Suquamish (the
local Kitsap area tribe) as pretty good stewards and good neighbors
overall, and where we’ve seen this happen in other locations like the
Klamath dam removals I think the results have been to the positive.That
said, not all tribes are good stewards or good neighbors (I have a good
friend elsewhere in Washington stuck in a fight over water rights by a
tribe where it feels like this is a money grab), so every situation has to
be judged individually.
I’ve long had an interest in the First Nations — I’ve been collecting
Northwest First Nations art since the 1990s, and that’s led me down various
paths studying the tribe and cultures over the years and it is fascinating
to me just how different those cultures are from modern western ones, so I
could probably be defined as someone leaning to see them in a positive
light on issues like this.
I would love to hear more detail about why people see this possible deal is
bad, beyond the idea of “losing control” being a bad things. Giving control
to a good partner willing to commit more resources to a thing than we’re
currently committing ourselves can make for good results for all, and right
now, I tend to see this situation as, depending on how the details are
worked out, to be a likely scenario here.
chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Vice President, Kitsap Audubon Society
Date: 10/26/26 3:12 pm From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Protection Island Petition
Elaine,
At the moment, there is no draft legislation available for public review,
so everything anyone says – including all of the linked articles and op-eds
– are based on speculation and promises. Much of it amplifies fears based
on racial stereotypes and directly contradicts the Tribe's public
statements. Even bringing these up in Tweeters (very much white space)
serves to amplify such speculation.
In the absence of any proposed legislation to review, Rainshadow Bird
Alliance in Port Townsend has opted to wait and simply provide biological
information at the moment.
We recently hosted Fawn Wagner, the current manager of Dungeness NWR and
Protection Island NWR. Because the two refuges are co-managed by the USFWS
and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, she is essentially an employee of their
joint operation. Fawn shared about current restoration and research efforts
at the refuges, which include seabird projects (for puffins, Rhinoceros
Auklets, and others), addressing invasive grasses and green crabs, and
fixing long-deferred maintenance. She works closely with Scott Pearson of
WDFW, Peter Hodum of UPS, and other seabird researchers. To those of us who
regularly visit, it’s clear the Tribe has provided a much-needed boost in
energy, leadership, and funding.
The Tribe is also a major restoration partner across the Olympic Peninsula
on a wide variety of salmon, riparian corridor, and forest restoration
projects.
After Fawn’s talk, I spoke with Halsi Hans, the Tribe’s Director of Natural
Resources. I asked her about the Tribe’s oft-repeated promise to continue
managing the refuge lands with the same public access and natural resource
protection obligations as currently, and with no commercial development of
any kind (including new oyster aquaculture). She said that those
commitments will be “baked into the legislation.” At this point, what more
can anyone ask for?
It is also worth noting that, while Protection Island NWR was created by an
act of Congress, Dungeness NWR was created only by an Executive Order, and
thus exists at the pleasure of the president. The Tribe’s proposed
legislation, which would transfer the refuges from the USFWS to the Bureau
of Indian Affairs in trust for the Tribe (both within the Department of the
Interior), would require congressional passage. Thus, Dungeness NWR would
gain far greater protection.
Much of the public debate so far, based primarily on gut reactions and
speculation, falls squarely into the all-too-common American political
discourse of “white people talking about brown people” without asking them
a single question. The glaring similarity between the demographic breakdown
of initial reactions to this proposal and of opinions about honorific bird
names should give everyone pause.
Many of us can't help but compare a hopelessly corrupt federal government
created by exploiting privately-held resources to a local government whose
culture and actions show a deeper commitment to environmental protection
and restoration than the US govt ever has. The irony here is that the
debate concerns one of the few remaining postage stamps of truly protected
land in the Lower 48 (about 6% is truly protected). In a time of national
decline, the Tribe is offering to pick up the baton carried by white
conservationists in the past.
Honestly, I'm not really worried about anything bad happening to the
refuges under either management scenario. I don't see a Trump golf course
at either place. There is no fresh water at either place; that's the main
reason they were never "developed" (to use a settler colonist word for
"destruction"). I'm far more worried about our private and public lands
clearcut and sprayed with herbicides - that's why so many of our birds are
declining, yet somehow we accept that as part of the deal and sign
petitions against local leaders of ecological restoration.
At the very least, I encourage people to read the Tribe's statements, go
experience the infrastructure improvements they've already made in the last
two years, and wait for the written legislation.
Date: 10/26/26 2:39 pm From: Jenny Easterberg via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Protection Island Petition
Absolutely.
No debate that our government has been blatantly ignoring the say of the
public for the majority of issues lately.
The promotion of certain individuals to key positions in the Department of
the Interior, the USDA, Fish and Wildlife (at this point this list goes on
and on) have almost solely contributed to the sell-off and demise of the
Arctic, The Lower Rio Grande Wildlife Refuge, delisting of the gray wolf,
etc,.
But as the saying goes, two heads are better than one, and having multiple
groups working together for the better of our public lands, forests, areas
of ecological sensitivity and wildlife is critical. So is the importance of
public input. With the thousands of petitions I sign and emails I write, at
least there is a record of my stance, and with enough input, a clear will
of the people. That paper trail can ultimately carry more weight in the
long term and can make a difference in the outcome of these issues.
Regarding Dungeness and Protection Island, there is a specific part of this
proposal that severely restricts public input. Silencing the public cannot
become the norm. Even though this seems to be the current trend with
things, we simply can’t let that happen.
On Mon, Oct 26, 2026 at 2:07 PM Chuq Von Rospach <chuqvr...> wrote:
> On Oct 26, 2026 at 13:49:50, Jenny Easterberg via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Agreed. No one group should have sole say in what happens to a place,
>> recreation area, species, etc., and most certainly not when the public is
>> excluded from engagement or commenting; that begins to tread on dangerous
>> ground.
>>
>
> (#openingCanOWorms) The issue I have with this statement is that one group
> DOES have sole say, and that’s the Federal Government, which in the last
> few years has worked to gut environmental regulation, destroy the
> endangered species act, open up sensitive lands in Alaska to drilling,
> destroyed refuge acreage along the southern border for the wall, and that’s
> just the start of it.
>
> So that’s the group we should trust to be a good steward? Not suggesting
> giving the tribes say in this is a perfect solution, but the current
> situation is, to me, already rather dire.
>
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
> Silverdale, Washington
> Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
> Vice President, Kitsap Audubon Society
>
> Email me at: <chuqvr...>
> Mastodon: @<chuqvr...>
>
> Stay Updated with what I'm doing: https://www.chuq.me/6fps/ > My latest e-book: https://www.chuq.me/ebooks >
> I have opinions
>
>
Date: 10/26/26 2:31 pm From: Greg Pasquariello via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Red Crossbills
I've had them in my yard this year in Vancouver WA. I've only lived here for 4 years, but it's the first time they've been here. Been here for a while too, starting in early September. Regards -Greg Pasquariello On Oct 26, 2026, at 2:11 PM, Nancy Morrison via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote: I am just wondering if there is an irruption of Red-Crossbills this year. To the best of my knowledge I have never had them in my yard before, but this year they have been present in large numbers for the past 3 months. Multiple birds (males, females and juveniles) come to my birdbath many times a day. Nancy Morrison Lake Forest Park _______________________________________________ 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: 10/26/26 2:19 pm From: Nancy Morrison via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Red Crossbills
I am just wondering if there is an irruption of Red-Crossbills this year. To the best of my knowledge I have never had them in my yard before, but this year they have been present in large numbers for the past 3 months. Multiple birds (males, females and juveniles) come to my birdbath many times a day.
Date: 10/26/26 2:17 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Protection Island Petition
On Oct 26, 2026 at 13:49:50, Jenny Easterberg via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Agreed. No one group should have sole say in what happens to a place,
> recreation area, species, etc., and most certainly not when the public is
> excluded from engagement or commenting; that begins to tread on dangerous
> ground.
>
(#openingCanOWorms) The issue I have with this statement is that one group
DOES have sole say, and that’s the Federal Government, which in the last
few years has worked to gut environmental regulation, destroy the
endangered species act, open up sensitive lands in Alaska to drilling,
destroyed refuge acreage along the southern border for the wall, and that’s
just the start of it.
So that’s the group we should trust to be a good steward? Not suggesting
giving the tribes say in this is a perfect solution, but the current
situation is, to me, already rather dire.
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Vice President, Kitsap Audubon Society
Date: 10/26/26 1:57 pm From: Jenny Easterberg via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Protection Island Petition
Hello All,
When I click the highlighted "change.org", it takes me to the main page of
change.org.
If you click the search icon at the top, the search bar appears on the main
page where you are able to type in "protection island". A list of current
issues appears and this one is the second one down. Click the arrow tab by
the puffin and it will take you directly to the sign here page.
Hopefully this is helpful.
Because this land transfer requires federal legislation (The Jamestown
S'Klallam Land Transfer Act of 2026), our state representatives and
Senators have a direct say in whether or not this goes through. I have
written to both Cantwell and Murray (as well as called the Capitol
Switchboard (202) 224-3121); Representative Emily Randall is also a contact
I believe.
Agreed. No one group should have sole say in what happens to a place,
recreation area, species, etc., and most certainly not when the public is
excluded from engagement or commenting; that begins to tread on dangerous
ground.
Sincerely,
Jenny
On Mon, Oct 26, 2026 at 1:33 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Elaine/all,
>
> I followed the links ("change.org") ... and did not find where to
> simply "sign the petition". In
> addition, change.org wanted me to give them the right to bombard me with
> additional
> emails ("causes"). Oh yes, there are 2 petitions about this topic on
> change.org ... one for the
> transfer to the tribe and one against.
>
> I did not sign anything and am unlikely to receive additional info
> from change.org.
>
> "KISS" (just let me sign without any fuss). If you are interested -
> I do NOT support this
> transfer and think that the existing partnership should be continued,
> lengthened, and
> strengthened. No single group (public, private, or tribal) should be in
> total control of a
> resource as important as this land.
> - Jim in Skagit
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/26/26 1:43 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Protection Island Petition
Elaine/all,
I followed the links ("change.org") ... and did not find where to
simply "sign the petition". In
addition, change.org wanted me to give them the right to bombard me with
additional
emails ("causes"). Oh yes, there are 2 petitions about this topic on
change.org ... one for the
transfer to the tribe and one against.
I did not sign anything and am unlikely to receive additional info
from change.org.
"KISS" (just let me sign without any fuss). If you are interested -
I do NOT support this
transfer and think that the existing partnership should be continued,
lengthened, and
strengthened. No single group (public, private, or tribal) should be in
total control of a
resource as important as this land.
- Jim in Skagit
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 10/26/26 11:26 am From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Protection is the key word: Protection Island and Dungeness NWRs
Hi Tweets. I'm offering a mix of recent regional history with hopes for wildlife (yes, mostly birds), along with a whiff of apprehension over the proposed Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe Land Transfer Act (soon to be introduced to Congress). In short, this bill if passed would transfer ownership of both the Protection Island and Dungeness National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) from the federal government to the Tribe. Protection Island and Dungeness NWR, both near Sequim WA, are part of our Washington Maritime NWR Complex along the Salish Sea, and have been co-managed by the Tribe and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) since 2024, when a two-year co-management and stewardship agreement was reached. Prior to that, the USFWS directly handled all day-to-day operations, site maintenance, staffing and regulatory enforcement; the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe retained ancestral and cultural ties to the area, but did not hold operational or management authority over these refuges prior to August 2024.
Concerns over the proposed Land Transfer (FYI, Dungeness is 608 acres and Protection Island, 300 acres) that can be found in print include, in general ..."potentially"
- loss of public input, voice
- a shift in conservation priorities, potentially wildlife protection
- the introduction of commercial activities (e.g., oyster aquaculture)
- setting of a precedent for other transfers within the Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex, or affecting our National Wildlife Refuges
Here is some reading for you all during that extra hour we’re all going to get this Sunday.
It would be both educational and welcome to know the perspectives held by those in favor of this Land Transfer. Please reply to help us appreciate that side.
And if you search a tiny bit (say, for Protection Island petition), you can locate such.
Date: 10/25/26 10:08 am From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Sapsucker and Owl
Great shots, Hank! I've never seen a sapsucker like that either, what a
great find. I have seen a barred owl in my yard go after a hairy woodpecker
(it missed), so I would imagine the sapsucker's right to be wary.
Louise Rutter
Kirkalnd
On Sun, Oct 25, 2026 at 8:27 AM Hank Heiberg via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
Date: 10/24/26 4:57 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Germany birding
I am going to Hamburg, Germany Nov 21-Dec1. What is a good birding book for Germany or should I just use the Merlin world guide or ? Mostly I am at a conference, but will have 3-4 days of freedom after that. Likely may go up north Bad Bramstedt to meet a bird/swan person for a field trip and more. Thanks.
Date: 10/24/26 12:26 pm From: Anita Richard via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birding Guides for Donation
My husband and I are moving out of the country. We have a few birding books. All published recently. North American and Hawaii and Costa Rica. Do you know some place/organization that would take them as donations? We need to move them out of storage. I'd appreciate any tips for sharing them.
Thank you,
Anita Richard <nitarich15...> 253-326-7820 +351 910 068 265
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain."
Date: 10/23/26 11:12 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Great Horned Owl in Burien..
Hooting is common here in the Seahurst neighborhood of Burien, WA. Mostly Barred Owls (BAOW), calling ‘Who-Cooks-For-You” and related grunts and cackles at all hours of the night and frequently in the afternoon and evening. This evening, however, a hoot came from one of our tall Douglas Firs that was distinctly different. The tone was similar to BAOW, but the cadence and followup slower, more evenly spaced and deliberate. I suspected Great Horned Owl (GHOW) so I let Merlin listen. Sure enough GHOW popped up immediately. I listened for a few more rounds and even recorded one. Merlin again matched it to GHOW.
It’s been many years since we’ve had GHOW in our yard (or anywhere near). Some years we will get a Western Screech Owl (WSOW) or two, but othwerwise our hooters are BAOW. I read that GHOW are early breeders, finding reestablishing mates and getting settled as early as November. I’ll be listening for more this fall and winter.
Date: 10/23/26 3:29 pm From: Nick Bayard via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birding with WOS & Seward Park Birding
Hello all,
The Washington Ornithological Society was kind enough to offer a custom-built birding trip for up to 8 people in the 2026 BirdNote virtual auction.
And the kind folks at Seward Park Audubon are offering "Coffee, Cocoa, and Cormorants," a birding and conservation education experience for up to 12 people (Cormorants not guaranteed).
The auction also features a birding trip in Portal, AZ, trips to Europe, a South Africa safari, original artwork by Tony Angell and Helen Macdonald, and more. All bids support BirdNote storytelling. Please check it out and share with anyone you think would be interested!
Date: 10/23/26 2:21 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Looking for a Used Scope Upgrade
I would look for a used Zeiss Diascope 85. They've been discontinued, but mine is a really great scope. I've seen them for slightly more than your noted budget but they are worth every penny. Al's Sporting Goods is showing them brand new for $1700 with eyepiece(regular price is around $2900). UsedPhotoPro has one for for sale with eyepiece for around $1200. They are hard to find because they sell almost as fast as they are posted.
Doug
On Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:25:03 -0700, Asher Koch via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Hi everyone,
I'm looking to upgrade from my Vortex Diamondback 16–48×65, which has disappointed me with its lack of sharpness, chromatic aberration, and low-light performance. I'm hoping to find a meaningful optical upgrade for birding in the PNW, especially shorebirds and seawatching in our lovely gray weather.
Ideally, I'm looking for an angled 77–82mm scope with excellent sharpness and contrast. I'm considering the Kowa TSN-773 and Nikon Fieldscope ED82, with a budget of around $700–1,200 for a good used setup, including an eyepiece. Fluorite models like the Kowa TSN-883 are appealing, but the $2,800+ prices I'm finding are beyond my budget at this stage in my birding career. I fully plan to do this for the rest of my life, but I'm trying to pace my insatiable gear thirst! That said, I'd consider stretching my budget for an exceptional deal.
I've mostly been looking on eBay, but good used options seem surprisingly scarce. Where else should I be looking? Any birding forums, used optics dealers, classifieds, or other marketplaces worth checking?
I'd also love to hear from anyone who's used the Kowa 773 or older Nikon ED82, particularly how they compare in real-world sharpness, color fringing, and low-light performance. I'm also open to thoughts on straight scopes or other models I should consider.
Date: 10/23/26 12:32 pm From: Asher Koch via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Looking for a Used Scope Upgrade
Hi everyone,
I'm looking to upgrade from my Vortex Diamondback 16–48×65, which has
disappointed me with its lack of sharpness, chromatic aberration, and
low-light performance. I'm hoping to find a meaningful optical upgrade for
birding in the PNW, especially shorebirds and seawatching in our lovely
gray weather.
Ideally, I'm looking for an *angled 77–82mm scope* with excellent sharpness
and contrast. I'm considering the Kowa TSN-773 and Nikon Fieldscope ED82,
with a budget of around $700–1,200 for a good used setup, including an
eyepiece. Fluorite models like the Kowa TSN-883 are appealing, but the
$2,800+ prices I'm finding are beyond my budget at this stage in my birding
career. I fully plan to do this for the rest of my life, but I'm trying to
pace my insatiable gear thirst! That said, I'd consider stretching my
budget for an exceptional deal.
I've mostly been looking on eBay, but good used options seem surprisingly
scarce. *Where else should I be looking?* Any birding forums, used optics
dealers, classifieds, or other marketplaces worth checking?
I'd also love to hear from anyone who's used the Kowa 773 or older Nikon
ED82, particularly how they compare in real-world sharpness, color
fringing, and low-light performance. I'm also open to thoughts on straight
scopes or other models I should consider.
Date: 10/22/26 2:27 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2027-10-22
Tweets - A fabulous day at Marymoor today. A touch chilly and a touch foggy to start, but we had full sunshine within by about 8:45 a.m. A really beautiful fall day, and pretty birdy. We did not find either the Northern Shrike nor the Bohemian Waxwing that I found on Tuesday afternoon, but we had plenty to make up for that.
Highlights: Wilson's Snipe - At least 5 and maybe several more below the weir Cooper's Hawk - MANY sightings of juveniles; at least 3 birds, and all were severely mobbed by American Crows Red-tailed Haw - One east of the mansion, also mobbed by American Crows NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL - Found being mobbed by a huge crowd of tiny birds, DEEP in the grove SW of the windmill. First of Year (FOY) Four woodpecker day - All the expected ones except sapsucker, all seen American Kestrel - One over the grass soccer fields, driven off by American Crows Varied Thrush - Very sharp-looking male on the ground south of Clise Mansion just after we started. Another heard later American Pipit - Maybe six or more, on the grass and gravel lot SE of the Climbing Rock White-throated Sparrow - 1-2 seen just north of the heronry Western Meadowlark - My count was 13, including at least 1 singing. Near the American Pipits, Killdeer, and European Starlings on the grass/gravel lot
A late scan of the lake turned up two HORNED GREBE, and our First of Fall WESTERN GREBE (FOF).
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, Virginia Rail, Short-billed Gull, California Gull, Northern Shrike, Bushtit, and Purple Finch.
For the day, 58 species. Adding the NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, we're at 125 species for the survey in 2026
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 10/22/26 10:11 am From: Nan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Tropical Kingbird Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington has its first Tropical Kingbird in Two Rivers County Park in Finley. It was first photographed on October 18 and posted on a local wildlife page. On October 21, when the photo was seen by local birders, a search was done and the bird was still present. It spent time flycatching from obvious perches. After several hours it vocalized and was recorded. It continues today, 10/22.
It's that time of year again! Grab your scopes and binoculars, muck boots and field guides, and lets get ready for the *2026 Puget Sound Shorebird Count!* This event is made possible through a long-time partnership between Ecostudies Institute and Point Blue Conservation Science. The Puget Sound Shorebird Count (PSSC) is part of the Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey (PFSS), a long-term wintering shorebird monitoring program led by Point Blue which spans 13 countries across the entire Pacific Flyway. The data collected during these counts contributes to our knowledge of shorebird population dynamics, status, and trends at a flyway scale. Last year, PSSC volunteers counted 29,230 shorebirds and 78 raptors across 23 sites!
This year, the PSSC is planned for *Saturday, November 21st from 8am - 12pm* (exact timing dependent on site). In the event that weather does not cooperate, our backup survey date will be *Saturday, December 5th*. If you are interested in participating this year, please register via the *2026 PSSC Interest Form (link below)* as soon as possible. See below for a list of helpful links to volunteer resources, site details, shorebird ID, etc.
Finally, we are once again putting out a *call for donations to support the 2026 PSSC (link below)*. While we are partially funded by Point Blue, we are still short of what we need to fully fund the coordination and data management for this project. Please contribute if you can or spread the word by sharing Ecostudies Institute's PSSC post on Instagram or Facebook.
Thank you for your support. Please stay tuned for updates and we hope to see you all at the count!
Date: 10/21/26 8:21 am From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] M Street Marsh Sandhill Cranes
Hi Marv,
Thank you for the videos. Are Sandhill Cranes regularly seen at the Marsh
in migration this time of year?
I was at Montlake Fill but I did not get to see them.
Ronda
On Tue, Oct 20, 2026 at 2:46 PM Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...>
wrote:
> This morning there were 18 SANDHILL CRANES at the M Street Marsh in
> Auburn. These are likely the same 18 birds reported yesterday over
> Montlake Fill. While I was exploring farther along M Street, the birds
> left the area. That was about 9:30AM
>
> 3 Videos: https://flic.kr/ps/376fhN >
> --
> Marv Breece
> Tukwila, WA
> *<marvbreece...> <marvbreece...>*
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/20/26 5:07 pm From: Mark Oberle via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] La Paz
Dear Jeff I did a little birding at Cabo San Lucas a year ago. The rainy season had made road access to the mountains between La Paz and Cabo slippery so did not go there.
You can see what was around in October at Cabo via my eBird checklists: S276490408 S276839790 S276913504
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2026 From: Jeff Borsecnik via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>) To: tweeters TWEETERS <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>) Subject: [Tweeters] La Paz Message-ID: <CO6PR04MB8410E8A6D7AAF3726C7DE896AC9B2...> (mailto:<CO6PR04MB8410E8A6D7AAF3726C7DE896AC9B2...>) Any birding tips for La Paz area in December (or nearby South Baja)?Thx!
Mark Oberle Manchester, WA oberle at mindspring.com www.puertoricobirds.com
Date: 10/20/26 4:06 pm From: Cynthia Nielsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Snow geese in Skagit Co
There was a big flock of snow geese on the ground off the north side of Rte 20 near Best Rd this afternoon. First I’ve seen this season.
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 10/20/26 2:58 pm From: Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] M Street Marsh Sandhill Cranes
This morning there were 18 SANDHILL CRANES at the M Street Marsh in Auburn. These are likely the same 18 birds reported yesterday over Montlake Fill. While I was exploring farther along M Street, the birds left the area. That was about 9:30AM
Date: 10/20/26 1:31 pm From: Jerry Tangren via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Another deadly night for migrating birds
Back in 1972, my first introduction to eastern N Amer. birds was helping the Illinois Natural History Survey sort through boxes of birds killed in one night at one tower in central Illinois. Although not an inspiring job, I learned to separate species in fall such as blackpoll from bay-breasted warbler. There was even one yellow rail among the victims.
Jerry Tangren
East Wenatchee, WA
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Tuesday, 20 October 2026 12:39:39
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Another deadly night for migrating birds
1000 dead or injured birds were collected last night near Evanston, Illinois.
Date: 10/19/26 3:26 pm From: Nancy Crowell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] There were 3 or 4 ...
There are thousands and thousands of snowgeese present in Skagit. Not sure why you think they were migrantd flying through. Hunting season started on Saturday, so they are likely spending more time on the water, but I saw a massive flock at hwy 20 and La Conner Whitney about an hour ago.
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Monday, 19 October 2026 15:04:08
To: via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] There were 3 or 4 ...
... flights of Cackling Geese flying N/NW over Wylie Slough today -
all about 80-100 birds.
And a similar sized flight of Canada Geese also going the same
direction.
No sign of any Snow Geese today - so the ones reported on
Friday were "migrants
moving thru Skagit County".
Also seen today at Wiley were Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Belted
Kingfisher, a couple of
Killdeer, several shovelers and Mallards, and lots of Starlings,
Red-winged Blackbirds,
and other such "expected". We saw one muskrat for our only mammal of
the day.
There are 7 stacks of 25 each "sleepers" (large wood timbers about 10
feet long) in the
parking lot and they had done some work near the boat ramp at the other
lot. Don't
really understand what the sleepers were/are there for ... ???
- Jim in Skagit
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Date: 10/19/26 3:12 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] There were 3 or 4 ...
... flights of Cackling Geese flying N/NW over Wylie Slough today -
all about 80-100 birds.
And a similar sized flight of Canada Geese also going the same
direction.
No sign of any Snow Geese today - so the ones reported on
Friday were "migrants
moving thru Skagit County".
Also seen today at Wiley were Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Belted
Kingfisher, a couple of
Killdeer, several shovelers and Mallards, and lots of Starlings,
Red-winged Blackbirds,
and other such "expected". We saw one muskrat for our only mammal of
the day.
There are 7 stacks of 25 each "sleepers" (large wood timbers about 10
feet long) in the
parking lot and they had done some work near the boat ramp at the other
lot. Don't
really understand what the sleepers were/are there for ... ???
- Jim in Skagit
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 10/19/26 12:54 pm From: BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] A couple of Greater White Fronted Phinney flyovers
I keep meaning to post we've been delighted by a couple of flyovers in the last month - and all the recent reports prompted me. One was around 65 birds, the other around 40, both heading south. If I had to guess, around 1,000 feet up.
Brad Liljequist
Phinney Ridge
Seattle, WA, USA, Earth
Date: 10/19/26 12:32 pm From: t vulture via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] extra tuvu's from Sept.2026
Hi, Tweets – this is an addendum to the September 2026 turkey vulture
report so that the October report won’t be so long. PLEASE – send any
new reports for Sept/Oct to my <tvulture...> address. Thank you.
SEPTEMBER
O9/10/17/19 -- One turkey vulture at Larch Mountain, Clark County.
24 -- 92 at Woodland Bottoms, Cowlitz County (known migration location).
25 -- 14 at Larch Mountain; one at Vancouver Lowlands, Clark County.
26 -- 236 at Woodland Bottoms.
27 -- Two at Battle Ground; eleven at Larch Mountain.
28 -- 601 at La Center, Clark County (known migration location).
30 -- 613 at La Center.
October sort of wraps up the serious turkey vulture migration from the
Pacific Northwest, but there are lots of slowpokes and a few that
overwinter In spots. Wish we could find more of those spots!
Date: 10/18/26 9:19 pm From: Larry Schwitters via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Another Greater White-fronted Goose
7 White-Fronts flew into the south end of Lake Sammamish late this morning.
Larry Schwitters
Issaquah
> On Oct 18, 2026, at 2:48 PM, Odette James via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> There was a Greater White-Fronted Goose at the mouth of the Cedar River on Friday. I was observing only between 1 and 2 pm so I don't know how long it was there. When I spotted it, it was swimming in the lake near the float-plane dock. It walked up the float-plane ramp and browsed on the grass west of the new taxiway for most of the hour. It then walked back down the ramp to the lake. Quite a surprise. I've seen that species only a few times in that location over the six years I've been observing from my retirement community (The Lakeshore, an ideal retirement community for a birder who likes waterfowl).
>
> Odette James
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 10/18/26 7:09 pm From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Another Greater White-fronted Goose
What a great image!
Thank you for sharing,
Ronda
On Sun, Oct 18, 2026 at 2:48 PM Odette James via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> There was a Greater White-Fronted Goose at the mouth of the Cedar River on
> Friday. I was observing only between 1 and 2 pm so I don't know how long it
> was there. When I spotted it, it was swimming in the lake near the
> float-plane dock. It walked up the float-plane ramp and browsed on the
> grass west of the new taxiway for most of the hour. It then walked back
> down the ramp to the lake. Quite a surprise. I've seen that species only a
> few times in that location over the six years I've been observing from my
> retirement community (The Lakeshore, an ideal retirement community for a
> birder who likes waterfowl).
>
> Odette James
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/18/26 2:58 pm From: Odette James via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Another Greater White-fronted Goose
There was a Greater White-Fronted Goose at the mouth of the Cedar River on Friday. I was observing only between 1 and 2 pm so I don't know how long it was there. When I spotted it, it was swimming in the lake near the float-plane dock. It walked up the float-plane ramp and browsed on the grass west of the new taxiway for most of the hour. It then walked back down the ramp to the lake. Quite a surprise. I've seen that species only a few times in that location over the six years I've been observing from my retirement community (The Lakeshore, an ideal retirement community for a birder who likes waterfowl).
Odette James
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Date: 10/17/26 7:01 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 10-15-2026
Tweeters,
On a mostly cloudy, cool day (46-56degF), 18 of us hiked around the JBLM Eagle's Pride GC, finding some Fall favorites as well as the usual suspects in this mostly forested area. Some of what we tallied:
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - 60 - located all along the route.
RED CROSSBILL - 117 - also located everywhere along the route.
VARIED THRUSH - 14 - nice first of season visitors.
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW - 4 - a low number, but nice to see.
FOX SPARROW - 1 - first of the season.
AMERICAN WIGEON - 3 - likely more to come as the season progresses.
RING-NECKED DUCK - 17 - all on Hodge Lake.
BELTED KINGFISHER - 1 - the first of the year; possibly a youngster wandering around looking for some place to fish.
Missing: Raptors of any kind.
Mammals: Black-tailed deer (2); Douglas Squirrel (many); Townsend's chipmunk (1); Coyote (young one that we saw from start to finish of the walk).
The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 9:00AM from November-February and 8:00AM March-October. 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:
* November 19 (9am start)
* December 17 (9am start)
* January 21 (9am start)
Everyone is welcome!
From the eBird PNW list:
37 species
American Wigeon 3
Mallard 36
Ring-necked Duck 17
Hooded Merganser 7
Band-tailed Pigeon 6
Anna's Hummingbird 2
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 5
Steller's Jay 20
California Scrub-Jay 2
American Crow 12
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 17
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 20
Bushtit 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 24
Red-breasted Nuthatch 60 RBNU were heard or seen throughout the 3.2-mile walk. The 60 count was likely an undercount rather than overcount. All participants settled on this number.
Brown Creeper 4
Pacific Wren 3
Bewick's Wren 4
European Starling 1
Varied Thrush 14
American Robin 25
Cedar Waxwing 2
House Finch 8
Red Crossbill 117 RECR were everywhere start to finish; counts of 20-30 flew overhead in widely separated areas; and many were found in Douglas-firs along the whole route.
Date: 10/17/26 6:47 pm From: Marty Chaney and Jon. Anderson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] SSBA Field Trip to Potlatch State Park
This morning, six birders enjoyeda beautiful sunny morning visiting Potlatch State Park in Mason County, for theSouth Sound Bird Alliance field trip. Wemet at 09:00 and spent the first hour or so scoping the flat calm waters ofsouthern Hood Canal. There were numbersof Short-billed and Bonaparte’s Gulls foraging; many of which would congregatearound the Steller’s sea lions which were feeding on the salmon. Also scoped were the 'usual' "Olympic" Gull hybrids, Horned, Red-necked, andWestern Grebes, and a few Scoters. Wechecked all of the loons, looking for Pacific or Red-throated, but only foundCommon Loons - several of which cruised quite close-by on the beach.
We were somewhat surprised tosee a few Heerman’s Gulls, and put word out on the Thurston/Mason RBA WhatsApp. This gained us a few local Mason County birders,and we eventually observed at least 22 of these late-staying visitors from thesouth.
The Park Ranger suggested that thetrail above the Campground might have some other birds, so we walked thecampground loops and the lower end of the hiking trail loop. The trees were full of Red-breastedNuthatches, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, and Red Crossbills. A Red-breasted Sapsucker gave us a brief look,but that was the only woodpecker seen. Apair of Steller’s Jays and a few crows were raising Cain near the mouth ofEnati Creek, but we couldn’t find the cause of the ruckus.
In all, it was a fun morningwith good people, and perfect weather. Many thanks to Emma J, who joined us in response to the RBA about theHeerman’s Gulls, for her sharp eyes and young ears; finding us the VariedThrush toward the end of the walk. Weended up with 39 species for the morning; our eBird checklist can be seen at https://ebird.org/checklist/S403164580 Check out the South Sound BirdAlliance’s web page at https://southsoundbirds.org/for upcoming field trips and events.
Cheers,Jon. AndersonOlyWA
Date: 10/17/26 6:47 pm From: Larry Winne via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Maple Leaf Reservoir Park
Tweets - there has been a juvenile Greater White-Fronted Goose hanging around the Reservoir Park in Maple Leaf for the last 4 or 5 days. There are signs posted encouraging people not to feed it, but I don’t know if that request is being followed. It appears to be comfortable there. _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 10/15/26 4:04 pm From: Les Strick via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Guides in Oaxaca
All -
Thank you for the recommendations!
Leslie
On Wed, Oct 14, 2026 at 10:36 PM Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker...>
wrote:
> In my opinion, Eric Martinez is the best birding guide in Oaxaca.
>
> Jim Danzenbakeer
>
> On Wed, Oct 14, 2026 at 11:53 PM Randy Hill via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Four of us returned from a week-long trip last week in Oaxaca. Eric
>> Antonio Martinez was excellent in every way. Food, history, butterflies,
>> plants, barely audible bird sounds. He guides at the Rio Grande Bird
>> Festival as well.
>> -Randy
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 14, 2026, 6:59 PM Douglas Santoni via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> Les —
>>>
>>> I had a very good experience last year with Benito Hernandez:
>>>
>>> Suzanne Barbezat and Benito Hernández
>>> Discover Oaxaca Tours
>>> www.discover-oaxaca.com
>>>
>>> Doug Santoni
>>> Seattle, WA
>>> DougSantoni at gmail dot com
>>>
>>> On Oct 15, 2026, at 12:56 AM, Les Strick via Tweeters <
>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Seeking recommendations for birding guide in Oaxaca. I am looking for
>>> guides based in or near Oaxaca City, or in the surrounding mountain region.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Leslie S
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
>
> --
> Jim Danzenbaker
> Battle Ground, WA
> 360-702-9395 <(360)%20702-9395>
> <jdanzenbaker...>
>
Date: 10/15/26 4:01 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-10-15
Tweets - We were beset with more fog, but less cold, than the forecasts last night. The fog stayed mostly above us, but we weren't out of the gloom until the final few minutes this morning. Things were VERY quiet.
Highlights: Ring-billed Gull - One with flock of mostly-Glaucous-winged Gulls and maybe 3 Californias. First of Fall (FOF) Sharp-shinned Hawk - Adult just south of Dog Area in the Big Cottonwood Forest Cooper's Hawk - Small juvenile at the Viewing Mound, and earlier a glimpse of a presumed Coop being surrounded by 20+ crows at the Pea Patch Downy Woodpecker - One male at the Rowing Club dock was our only woodpecker besides Flicker Merlin - I had one just before the start of the survey, near the Velodrome. We also had a possible Peregrine over the boardwalk Varied Thrush - Pale female along south edge of Dog Meadow (FOF) White-throated Sparrow - Near 2nd Dog Swim Beach Western Meadowlark - Three with ~30 Killdeer on the grass/gravel parking area SE of the Climbing Wall
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, Western Grebe, Red-tailed Hawk, Steller's Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee (probably heard, but...), Bushtit, Savannah Sparrow, and Lincoln's Sparrow. Many of the birds we did get were in small numbers. Our only mammal was Eastern Gray Squirrel. QUIET.
For the day, 52 species.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 10/15/26 9:21 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 10/14/2026
Dear Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us had a very fine Fall day at the Refuge with mild
temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit. There was a High 13'3" Tide at 9:22am
and a high Low 7'4" Tide at 3pm. We walked our usual route. Highlights
included the continued irruption of PINE SISKIN with literally hundreds of
birds swirling around the Orchard, Riparian Forest and Twin Barns. Along
with the Pine Siskin, we have seen good numbers of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
and RED CROSSBILL. The Orchard is full of fruit attracting mixed flocks
including HUTTON'S VIREO, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER,
VARIED THRUSH, and big guys PILEATED WOODPECKER and COMMON RAVEN. We
couldn't relocate the Northern Waterthrush in the slough across from the
Education Center, but we had nice views of a WILSON'S SNIPE. We observed
all 5 expected woodpeckers for the day, including a likely Yellow-shafted
NORTHERN FLICKER seen in the morning from the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook. We also saw all expected falcons with nice looks of AMERICAN
KESTREL and PEREGRINE FALCON. With the falling tide we enjoyed fantastic
observation of continuing AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER just north of the
Nisqually Estuary Trail/Dike just west of Leschi Slough. The HUDSONIAN
WHIMBREL continues to show well from the McAllister/Medicine Creek
Observation Platform. Birders were able to enjoy the return of good
numbers of WESTERN MEADOWLARK, SURF SCOTER, and SHORT-BILLED GULL. The
tail end of our group got to enjoy great looks of BARRED OWL in the
afternoon along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
For the Day we observed 81 species. We have seen 170 species thus far this
year. See our eBird Report pasted below for further details.
Other sightings included Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Pacific Chorus Frog,
Harbor Seal, Puget Sound Garter Snake, American Bullfrog, and many
Darners. Numerous mushrooms are in the Riparian Forest, and there were
many reports of Mink over the weekend.
Until next week when we 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
Oct 14, 2026 7:41 AM - 4:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.079 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with temperatures in the
60’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 13’3” Tide at 9:22am and a Low 7’4” Tide at
3:00pm. Others seen Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Pacific Chorus Frog,
Puget Sound Garter Snake, Harbor Seal, American Bullfrog, and Green Darner.
81 species (+4 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose 3 Heard in flock of Cackling Geese.
Cackling Goose (minima) 300
Northern Shoveler 3
American Wigeon 1200
Mallard 250
Northern Pintail 1200
Green-winged Teal (American) 800
Greater/Lesser Scaup 10
Surf Scoter 80
Red-breasted Merganser 6 Nisqually Reach
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 200
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Virginia Rail 3
Black-bellied Plover 8
American Golden-Plover 1 Previously reported rarity. Photos. Seen
along the north side of the Nisqually Estuary Trail west of Leschi Slough.
Killdeer 3
Hudsonian Whimbrel 1 Previously reported rarity. Photos. Seen from
the McAllister/Medicine Creek Observation Platform.
Long-billed Dowitcher 12
Wilson's Snipe 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 50
Least Sandpiper 300
Western Sandpiper 30
Rhinoceros Auklet 1 Nisqually Reach
Short-billed Gull 15
Ring-billed Gull 300
Western Gull 1
California Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 13
Larus sp. 500
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Horned Grebe 25 Nisqually Reach
Red-throated Loon 1 Spotted by Anders. Nisqually Reach
Common Loon 4
Brandt's Cormorant 7
Double-crested Cormorant 30
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 25
Cooper's Hawk 2
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 11
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Barred Owl 1 Spotted by Mary between the east entrance to the Twin
Barns Loop Trail and the Riparian Forrest Cut-off. Just west of old
Nisqually River dike and south of the boards.
Belted Kingfisher 6
Red-breasted Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Spotted by Jon in Riparian Forrest behind
flagpole from east side parking lot.
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Spotted by Gene at the Visitor
Center Pond overlook. Yellow shafts, red on nape and black malar.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 11
American Kestrel 3
Merlin 2 Spotted by Lisa
Peregrine Falcon 1 Carrying prey over fields south of Twin Barns and
Visitor Pond.
Hutton's Vireo (Pacific) 3
Steller's Jay (Coastal) 2
American Crow 30
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Barn Swallow 2 Spotted by Sheryl, John and Lisa.
Bushtit (Pacific) 12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 8
Pacific Wren 4
Marsh Wren 8
Bewick's Wren 8
European Starling 60
Varied Thrush 4
American Robin 30
Cedar Waxwing 18
Purple Finch (Western) 6
Red Crossbill 10
Pine Siskin 400
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 10
White-throated Sparrow 1 Reported by Steve and Gabe in the Twin Barns
picnic area.
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 8
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 11
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 4
Western Meadowlark 5
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 4
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