Date: 1/13/26 5:48 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] JBLM Eagles Pride Golf Course Monthly Birdwalk - Thursday, January 15 - 9:00AM Start
Hi Tweeters,
The next Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) birdwalk is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, at 9:00AM.
The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders do the tour d'course the third Thursday of every month. We meet at 9:00AM<outlook-data-detector://2> through February 2026. (Change to 8:00AM in March.)
Starting point is the Driving Range Tee, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. When you turn into the course entrance, take an immediate left onto the road to the driving range - that's where we meet.
Also, to remind folks that haven't been here before, even though Eagle's Pride is a US Army recreation facility, you don't need any ID to attend these birdwalks. Hope you're able to make it!
Current weather forecast is 45degF-49degF start to finish (RealFeel 40-46) with some fog. As always, dress for success!
Date: 1/13/26 2:34 pm From: Hubbell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Union Bay Watch } The Monty Mystery
Tweeters,
If you have been following my last two posts you know there have been some changes happening among the Bald Eagles near Montlake Cut. Here is my latest update along with a couple quests for 2026.
Date: 1/13/26 2:13 pm From: Edward Pullen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] How Birds Fly author Peter Cavanagh
I read Dennis's excellent review of the book How Birds Fly by Peter Cavanagh, and remembered how much fun I had talking with him on the podcast. If interested here is a link.
Date: 1/13/26 4:03 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Kite-flying season triggers surge in manja-related bird rescues in Bengaluru
Tweeters,
Bad news and Great news.
Dan Reiff, PhD
Dangers of Manja use for kite flying and…
“Imping”… a specialised feather-implantation technique.“.
Except:
“Colonel Dr Nawaz Sherif, Chief Veterinarian of PFA, said, "Our wildlife hospital has been able to successfully release a large number of manja-affected birds, primarily through Imping, a specialised feather-implantation technique. With imping, a recovery that once took months or even a year can now take just a few days, sometimes less than 24 hours. Over the past few years, more than 1,000 birds have regained their ability to fly and have been released back into the wild."
Date: 1/12/26 6:48 pm From: Alan Roedell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Busting the 5 biggest myths about renewable energy
Thanks Dan, good information. We've had an electric Chevrolet for eight
years.
It's economical and fast! It is the future.
Alan Roedell, Seattle
On Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 5:34 PM Dan Reiff via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Twitter,
> Interesting clarifications.
> DR
>
> *Busting the 5 biggest myths about renewable energy*
> From the scale of danger posed by wind turbines to the actual price of
> installing home solar panels, here are the facts you should know.
>
> Read in National Geographic: https://apple.news/AJI61aF7rQz-XmUBq3O55iA >
>
> Shared from Apple News <https://www.apple.com/news> >
> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 1/12/26 5:42 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Busting the 5 biggest myths about renewable energy
Date: 1/12/26 5:30 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Kaeli Swift presentation at Skagit Audubon Tuesday @ 7:00 PM on Corvid Research
Skagit Audubon will present "Something to Crow About", an in depth look at Crows. Dr. Kaeli Swift, is a self described "terrestrial avian ecologist and science communicator" who has extensively researched Corvid behaviors including ritual funeral behaviors. The Skagit Audubon Zoom meeting is tomorrow night, January 13th, at 7:00 PM. You may register for this Zoom only event through the following link:
Date: 1/12/26 4:23 pm From: Michael Price via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Red-throated Loons (plus Pacific Loons)
Hi tweets
Back when Vancouver BC's Burrard Inlet had lots of seabirds, on any winter-residency day between October and April, the Red-throated Loons would form a U-shaped wolf-pack of up to 20 loons around the mouth of False Creek.
I remember seeing similar aggregations of sometimes up to several thousand Pacific Loons which would gather each winter-residency period at the eastern entrance to Active Pass between Mayne and Galiano Islands, easily visible from the Tsawwassen-to-Schwartz Bay Ferry between Vancouver BC and Victoria. Not a bad place to look for Arctic Loons, I'd think, though best done from a boat rather than a ferry booming through at 15 knots. If you're tempted, here's a discussion of currents in the Pass from westcoastpaddle.com: https://share.google/dkwzS3ITe2YQv4oZf
best wishes, m
Michael Price Vancouver BC Canada <loblollyboy...>
Date: 1/12/26 2:53 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] how birds fly
Hi Dennis,
Thank you so much for that comprehensive and well deserved review of *How
Birds Fly*, by Peter Cavanagh. I saw Peter's name on Tweeters several
months ago regarding a presentation at a library, and contacted him for a
presentation at Skagit Audubon. He generously consented to a Zoom call and
he consented to do a presentation with us for our June 9th member meeting
(which is open to nonmembers as well). I subsequently ordered his book and
was astonished at the detail, both in his photography and the science and
detail he offers about flying. As an intermediate photographer myself, who
has made many trips to Bosque del Apache, he has one of the most
beautifully detailed portraits of a flying Sandhill Crane I've ever seen.
All of his images are superb and I find myself in awe, page after page,
with both the images and the content.
The details of how birds use thermals, the aerodynamics of upstroke, how
they chase prey, formation flying, the aerodynamics of the tail, in flight
maneuvers, and focus on specific bird flight characteristics of specific
species are covered in digestible detail. Peter, by the way, among other
things, is himself a pilot. One could easily get mired in all this
aerodynamic detail but he is able to present it in understandable language
for almost anyone and perfectly accompanied images.
After reading some of the book, I excitedly and briefly presented it at one
of our large membership meetings. Your review is confirmation that my
excitement is warranted, and I am grateful to read it!
By the way, as I said earlier, Peter will be a presenter on How Birds Fly
at our June membership meeting at Skagit Audubon, which will be both in
person and on Zoom. I will post a reminder on Tweeters.
Ann Kramer, Program Chair, SAS
On Mon, Jan 12, 2026 at 11:46 AM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I've just finished looking through a new book, *How Birds Fly*, by Peter
> Cavanagh. Peter is one of us, a resident of Lopez Island. This 336-page
> large format book is without question the best book on birds I have seen in
> a long time, surely one of the best books ever. I wanted to share my
> enthusiasm, so I have written this as a sort of review of the book.
>
> It seems to me that the author has explored all the angles you could
> possibly think of for understanding this wonderful adaptation. Humans have
> long been fascinated with flight, and he spends a lot of time comparing
> birds and airplanes, which is great for all of us who thrill to see any
> flying object. Let's face it; our great interest in birds surely stems in
> part from our envy of their ability to fly!
>
> I can't get over how thorough this book is. We all know about drag and
> lift, right? Read this book to learn so much more about what make flight
> possible. It even treats flightless birds in detail, explaining why and how
> some winged wonders evolved to stay out of the air. Learn about feather
> structure, flocking, migration, and so much more involved in the aerial
> world of birds.
>
> Each of the 13 chapters ends with a page "FROM THE LAB." Each one deals
> with an aspect of research on bird flight, each a superb example of the
> scientific method. "Can aerodynamic forces be measured?" "How do pigeons
> turn in slow flight?" "Are swifts designed for gliding or flapping?" "What
> is the altitude profile of a migration flight?"
>
> He even has a section on researchers who have studied bird flight,
> something rarely included in general books. Also, he includes the latest
> word about the many ways we have tried to copy bird flight. And the photos
> with which the book is so lavishly illustrated are by the author, from
> hummingbirds to albatrosses and all over the world. I especially like
> learning where each photo was taken. Peter Cavanagh is a superb
> photographer and writer.
>
> The profusion of photos, their educational captions, and the many, many
> diagrams will allow you to delve into bird flight widely, with an even
> deeper knowledge from reading the text. Of course, this should be combined
> with doing a lot of birding. Learn about flight, and then go out and
> understand better what you are seeing!
>
> Dennis Paulson
>
> Seattle
>
> dennispaulson at comcast dot net
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 1/12/26 1:06 pm From: BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Varied Thrushes and a Pileated at Woodland Park
Since the focus on varied thrushes I thought I'd mention we saw 2-3 of them in a mixed group (including a Pileated!) on Saturday (on the lower section of the southern loop road) on Saturday and heard their lovely eerie calls at the NE quadrant of the 55th Street underpass (at least a couple) on Sunday, all at Woodland Park in Seattle.
They do ebb and flow over the years but Woodland Park is usually a decent place to see them during the depth of winter.
Brad Liljequist
Phinney Ridge, Seattle, WA, USA, Earth
Date: 1/12/26 12:09 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Varied Thrush
I guess I’ll add to this mystery. We have them in our yard every winter—in Dec 2022 we had 18 as a high count—but none this winter so far. And nary a robin visited our big cotoneaster this fall/winter, perhaps a first ever for that.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast dot net
Date: 1/12/26 11:56 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] how birds fly
I've just finished looking through a new book, How Birds Fly, by Peter Cavanagh. Peter is one of us, a resident of Lopez Island. This 336-page large format book is without question the best book on birds I have seen in a long time, surely one of the best books ever. I wanted to share my enthusiasm, so I have written this as a sort of review of the book.
It seems to me that the author has explored all the angles you could possibly think of for understanding this wonderful adaptation. Humans have long been fascinated with flight, and he spends a lot of time comparing birds and airplanes, which is great for all of us who thrill to see any flying object. Let's face it; our great interest in birds surely stems in part from our envy of their ability to fly!
I can't get over how thorough this book is. We all know about drag and lift, right? Read this book to learn so much more about what make flight possible. It even treats flightless birds in detail, explaining why and how some winged wonders evolved to stay out of the air. Learn about feather structure, flocking, migration, and so much more involved in the aerial world of birds.
Each of the 13 chapters ends with a page "FROM THE LAB." Each one deals with an aspect of research on bird flight, each a superb example of the scientific method. "Can aerodynamic forces be measured?" "How do pigeons turn in slow flight?" "Are swifts designed for gliding or flapping?" "What is the altitude profile of a migration flight?"
He even has a section on researchers who have studied bird flight, something rarely included in general books. Also, he includes the latest word about the many ways we have tried to copy bird flight. And the photos with which the book is so lavishly illustrated are by the author, from hummingbirds to albatrosses and all over the world. I especially like learning where each photo was taken. Peter Cavanagh is a superb photographer and writer.
The profusion of photos, their educational captions, and the many, many diagrams will allow you to delve into bird flight widely, with an even deeper knowledge from reading the text. Of course, this should be combined with doing a lot of birding. Learn about flight, and then go out and understand better what you are seeing!
Date: 1/12/26 6:40 am From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Varied Thrush
Haven't had any in my yard this winter yet. Some years I can have a dozen.
Louise Rutter
Kirkland
On Mon, Jan 12, 2026 at 12:03 AM Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I still have only seen one here in Federsl Way this winter.
>
> Hans
>
> *Hans Feddern*
> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> <thefedderns...>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM Stef Neis via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> We have had a pair here for a few weeks now. Winter 2022 we had a dozen
>> who were enjoying the remaining apples on our trees until a Cooper’s hawk
>> cleaned them out. Since then we only get a pair.
>> Stef Neis
>> Whidbey Island
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Jan 11, 2026, at 6:54 PM, Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Thought I’d share a quick update: here at 500’ above Silverdale I’m now
>> reliably seeing Varied Thrush. There seem to be three individuals hanging
>> about. Typical for a winter here is 4-5 (high is 7), and the group arrived
>> a couple of weeks later than typical but they’re now here. Also, it’s not
>> at all unusual for an individual or two to show up first and scope out the
>> place before the others arrive, so this seems to now be a typical year
>> shifted by a couple of weeks.
>>
>> chuq
>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------------
>>
>> Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
>> Silverdale, Washington
>> Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
>>
>> Email me at: <chuqvr...>
>> Mastodon: @<chuqvr...>
>>
>> Stay Updated with what I'm doing: https://www.chuq.me/6fps/ >> My latest e-book: https://www.chuq.me/ebooks >>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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: 1/12/26 12:14 am From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Varied Thrush
I still have only seen one here in Federsl Way this winter.
Hans
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Sun, Jan 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM Stef Neis via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> We have had a pair here for a few weeks now. Winter 2022 we had a dozen
> who were enjoying the remaining apples on our trees until a Cooper’s hawk
> cleaned them out. Since then we only get a pair.
> Stef Neis
> Whidbey Island
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jan 11, 2026, at 6:54 PM, Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Thought I’d share a quick update: here at 500’ above Silverdale I’m now
> reliably seeing Varied Thrush. There seem to be three individuals hanging
> about. Typical for a winter here is 4-5 (high is 7), and the group arrived
> a couple of weeks later than typical but they’re now here. Also, it’s not
> at all unusual for an individual or two to show up first and scope out the
> place before the others arrive, so this seems to now be a typical year
> shifted by a couple of weeks.
>
> chuq
>
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
> Silverdale, Washington
> Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
>
> Email me at: <chuqvr...>
> Mastodon: @<chuqvr...>
>
> Stay Updated with what I'm doing: https://www.chuq.me/6fps/ > My latest e-book: https://www.chuq.me/ebooks >
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 1/11/26 7:03 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Varied Thrush
Thought I’d share a quick update: here at 500’ above Silverdale I’m now
reliably seeing Varied Thrush. There seem to be three individuals hanging
about. Typical for a winter here is 4-5 (high is 7), and the group arrived
a couple of weeks later than typical but they’re now here. Also, it’s not
at all unusual for an individual or two to show up first and scope out the
place before the others arrive, so this seems to now be a typical year
shifted by a couple of weeks.
chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 1/11/26 4:25 pm From: Ed Dominguez via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Red-throated Loons
Wow, fantastic! Wish I had seen them!
Ed
On Sun, Jan 11, 2026 at 11:09 AM Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I have been leading Birds Connect Seattle field trips to Deception Pass SP
> for years. Yesterday, I and my friend Roniq led a trip to the park. Off of
> West Beach, we saw 5-600 RTLOs. Smelt use the pass during the winter in
> large numbers and loons with other birds gather to feed. We were there
> right after high tide and there was a constant stream of birds. They fly up
> against the current and feed in the water as they ride the current back to
> the west then they fly back and do it again. When they aren’t feeding, the
> surface of the water to the west is covered by the loons. Every year I am
> amazed by the huge number of RTLOs. I have read that places back east have
> numbers that can reach over a hundred thousand. There may be other places
> in WA where this happens. I am sure if there is, someone on Tweeters knows
> about.
> Definitely a spectacle to see.
> Neil Zimmerman,
> Brier, WA
>
> Sent from my iPad
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 1/11/26 4:23 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Red-throated Loons
Like Neil, I have watched this many times, and I have seen nothing like it anywhere else. Small numbers of Red-throated Loons are all over the coastal waters of Washington, but nothing like this. And it is surprising that other loons, which presumably eat these same fish, are a minimal part of this phenomenon.
Point Wilson has always been a good place to see seabirds flying upcurrent and drifting downcurrent, feeding as they go, then repeating the process. Even grebes do this there, and we don’t often think of grebes flying around much.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Jan 11, 2026, at 11:08 AM, Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I have been leading Birds Connect Seattle field trips to Deception Pass SP for years. Yesterday, I and my friend Roniq led a trip to the park. Off of West Beach, we saw 5-600 RTLOs. Smelt use the pass during the winter in large numbers and loons with other birds gather to feed. We were there right after high tide and there was a constant stream of birds. They fly up against the current and feed in the water as they ride the current back to the west then they fly back and do it again. When they aren’t feeding, the surface of the water to the west is covered by the loons. Every year I am amazed by the huge number of RTLOs. I have read that places back east have numbers that can reach over a hundred thousand. There may be other places in WA where this happens. I am sure if there is, someone on Tweeters knows about.
> Definitely a spectacle to see.
> Neil Zimmerman,
> Brier, WA
>
> Sent from my iPad
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 1/11/26 11:19 am From: Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Red-throated Loons
I have been leading Birds Connect Seattle field trips to Deception Pass SP for years. Yesterday, I and my friend Roniq led a trip to the park. Off of West Beach, we saw 5-600 RTLOs. Smelt use the pass during the winter in large numbers and loons with other birds gather to feed. We were there right after high tide and there was a constant stream of birds. They fly up against the current and feed in the water as they ride the current back to the west then they fly back and do it again. When they aren’t feeding, the surface of the water to the west is covered by the loons. Every year I am amazed by the huge number of RTLOs. I have read that places back east have numbers that can reach over a hundred thousand. There may be other places in WA where this happens. I am sure if there is, someone on Tweeters knows about.
Definitely a spectacle to see.
Neil Zimmerman,
Brier, WA
Date: 1/11/26 10:23 am From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Monthly Meeting, January 26, 2026 (on-line only) ... for February
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, January 26, 2026 (please note this is one week earlier due to a scheduling conflict), Chris Templeton Ph.D. will present, "Sound the Alarm: How Chickadees Communicate Sophisticated Information about Predators." Chickadees! We think of them as common, but their vocalization are anything but! Chickadees have one of the most sophisticated means of communicating about predators of all animals. And other songbird species use this information to learn about threats in their environment. Our speaker, Chris Templeton will introduce us to avian bio-acoustics, describe how birds produce their impressive vocalizations and discuss the different types of information they communicate. Chris will highlight some of the bio-acoustics work his research group is conducting, aiming to unravel the types of information encoded in subtle variations of Chickadee alarm calls.
Chris has spent more than 20 years as an ornithologist. He has studied a wide variety of different bird species across the world, focusing on the evolution and ecology of avian behavior. He has a PhD in Biology from the University of Washington, and is a member of the Department of Biology faculty at Western Washington University.
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: 1/10/26 3:56 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Tundra Swan at Union Bay
The injured Tundra Swan is still at the Union Bay Natural Area, Montlake Fill area. It is moving around from place to place which makes it a challenge to keep track of it. If you know where the swan was sited today, please let me know. If you see it tomorrow or after, please let me know ASAP. I am working to assess if this swan can be captured. It does have an injury to its neck/head area which has compromised the bird's ability to preen and perhaps fly. That said, this swan most likely can fly enough to escape capture. However, it may be getting weaker (or not) and we need to keep monitoring it.but is not doing so which causes concern. If you have photos or video of the swan over the past few days and into the future please send them to me via text at: 206-713-3684 I am working closely with WDFW regarding this situation. Thank you. Martha Jordan
Date: 1/8/26 4:02 pm From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-01-08
Tweets -
It was a clear, crisp day at Marymoor Park today. 4 of us filled in for a traveling Michael.
We enjoyed the clear weather, but the day was peppered with long stretches where the birds seemed to disappear. Nevertheless, several good highlights for the relatively new year:
Trumpeter Swans - 14 flew overhead
Barn Owl - 2 before dawn in the East Meadow/Model Airplane Field
Northern Shrike - 1 in the east meadow
Varied Thrush - we speculated the snow in the mountains would bring us one today, and sure enough one obliged
Western Meadowlark - our wintering flock of ~14 made another appearance
Notable misses today included: Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Anna’s Hummingbird, Rock Pigeon, Killdeer, Bushtit, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch.
For the day, we came up with 48 species, about 7 of which look like new Marymoor walk year birds, bringing the year total to about 59.
Date: 1/8/26 12:46 pm From: Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] South Africa advice - thank you
Many thanks to all the Tweeters who responded to my query about birding and safety in South Africa, both publicly and privately. I am so grateful you took the time to help educate me as my husband and I contemplate this Big Trip.
Pretty much everyone who addressed the safety issue said they had had no problems, that staying alert and taking sensible precautions (like not showing around a huge fancy camera and staying away from more sensitive areas) make it likely well have an excellent experience. I was really glad to hear this, and feel very encouraged about going ahead and making the trip.
I also got a bunch of recommendations for excellent guides, so now I have a very useful list to refer to. Im happy to share the list with those interested - just email me (info below).
With much appreciation for this generous group,
Trileigh
Date: 1/8/26 5:37 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 1/7/2026
Dear Tweets,
Happy New Year! Approximately 20 of us enjoyed a wet and wild one at the
Refuge yesterday with cloudy skies, intermittent rain, breezy to windy
conditions and temperatures in the 40's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a
High 15'4" Tide at 8:57am, so a nice tidal push and we did our routine walk
despite a few trail closures from fallen trees. The intrepid birding crew
of the Wednesday Walk joked about how this was the nicest weather they had
seen since my trip to Tanzania, I left the second week of December and
returned last Monday, and I was very impressed that they kept it going
through some stormy conditions.
Highlights included Michael reporting two BARN OWLS returning to the Twin
Barns around 7:18am in the morning. This is wonderful news after the
diagnosis of Avian Influenza in two Barn Owls that recently died in the
Twin Barns over the last 2-3 weeks. I suspect we had several owls
roosting/breeding in the Twin Barns with the departure of our breeding
Great Horned Owls which we have not seen in over a year. Other notable
sightings included reliable looks of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in the Pear
Trees by the Technician or Land Trust Building adjacent to the maintenance
yard, breeding plumage waterfowl with observed copulation in NORTHERN
PINTAIL and MALLARD, two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS hanging out with a large
flock GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS in the picnic area adjacent to the Twin
Barns, good looks of VIRGINIA RAIL walking the bramble line south of the
Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike just before the Leschi Slough aqueduct runs
under the dike, Ken spotted our wintering Yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER
in the surge plaine, as well Matt spotted both LINCOLN SPARROW in the surge
plain and two WESTERN MEADOWLARKS flushed by NORTHERN HARRIER from the
marsh plain along Leschi Slough were it runs parallel to the dike. A
single WESTERN SANDPIPER was observed foraging with a flock of
approximately 100 DUNLIN.
For the day we had 62 species with numerous fun sightings despite the wild
weather. And according to the Wednesday Walk team, it was the best weather
they had seen in a month. See our eBird report pasted below. I'll share
more information about our 2025 round up soon.
Until we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook on Wednesday
next week, happy birding...
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Jan 7, 2026 7:35 AM - 3:17 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.06 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy skies with intermittent
rain, temperatures in the 40’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 15’4” Tide at
8:57am. Others seen include Douglas Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer,
and California Sea Lion.
62 species (+5 other taxa)
Cackling Goose 500
Cackling Goose (minima) 200
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 4
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 50
Northern Shoveler 150
Gadwall 30
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 1500
Mallard 200
Northern Pintail 800
Green-winged Teal (American) 500
Ring-necked Duck 6
Surf Scoter 30
Bufflehead 75
Common Goldeneye 30
Hooded Merganser 3
Common Merganser (North American) 2
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
Anna's Hummingbird 1
Virginia Rail 1
American Coot (Red-shielded) 34
Greater Yellowlegs 24
Dunlin 500
Least Sandpiper 50
Western Sandpiper 1 Seen at 100-500 feet with spotting scope foraging
with Dunlin for 5 minutes. Peep sized shorebird with white throat and dark
legs.
Short-billed Gull 75
Ring-billed Gull 25
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 30
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 3
Brandt's Cormorant 15
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 20
Northern Harrier 2
Bald Eagle 20
Red-tailed Hawk 3
American Barn Owl 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Observed for 5 minutes. Red nape,
brown face, and yellow shafts. Previously reported.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 6
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted x Red-shafted) 0
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Crow 175
Black-capped Chickadee 10
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet 6
Brown Creeper 5
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 3
Marsh Wren 4
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 2
European Starling 150
American Robin 40
Purple Finch (Western) 6
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 3
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 50
White-throated Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 20
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 5
Western Meadowlark 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 30
Date: 1/7/26 3:54 pm From: pan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Sikes Lake, King County, rarities
Tweets,
The Kumlien's Iceland Gull continues today in a small flooded pasture pond on the north side of 100th north of Sikes Lake (west of Carnation, King County), arriving a few minutes before 1 p. m. today. The Glaucous Gull was in that pond much of the morning, starting sometime around/after nine, and sometimes coming right up to the shoulder under the fence. Nearby, I got to see the Rough-legged Hawk drop to catch a rodent, then carry it to a tree to eat. The Ross's Goose continues with a flock of hundreds of Cackling Geese in the fields north of Carnation Farms, though distant. This flock arrived sometime after 8:30 a. m.
New, I found a female Common Yellowthroat in brambles on the south side of 100th just west of the first curve in the road as approached from the west, loosely associating with a flock of mixed sparrows and one Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Also around, a bittern on the edge of the lake, passing swans, kestrels, harriers, Brewer's Blackbirds, and such. I did not see owls, but I didn't stay for evening.
Happy new year.
7 January, 2026,
Alan Grenon
Seattle
panmail AT mailfence PERIOD com
Date: 1/7/26 12:56 pm From: Philomena via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Pacific County Birding - first trip of the year
Fun to read of your trip and bird sightings Tim, thanks for sharing.
Philomena
Sent from my iPad
> On Jan 7, 2026, at 12:33 PM, Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Hey Tweets!
>
> Looking at the weather, it looked like Jan 4-5-6 was going to be giving me rain-beautiful-awful out on the coast, so I made a ran for it. Interesting to see that I can get to Pacific County in about 1:45 (from Renton to the Lewis/Pacific line on Hwy 6), but to get to the far reaches of Leadbetter Spit is nearly 3 and a half hours! This year was supposed to feel closer... and it does... but it's interesting to see that chasing a bird in Leadbetter or McNary could be about the same amount of time.
>
> 89 species for the trip! I was able to get American Dipper on Elk Heights Road at a little pulloff. Continuing in towards Raymond on Sunday afternoon, American Kestrel and Eurasian Collared-Doves were found along Highway 6. I went up to the Willapa River Airport and found three Snow Geese mixed in with the hordes of Cackling and Canada Geese.
>
> Early to bed, early to rise - I used the wee dark hours to do some owling on my way from Raymond to Grayland. An early stop on a backroad got me a Northern Saw-whet Owl, probably a feat that is possible up many many similar backroads if a person enjoys looking for owls. I made 5-6 stops along the way from the airport to the cranberry bogs outside of Grayland, picking up 4 Great Horned Owls at three stops.
>
> Grayland Beach State Park was beautiful - the whole day was. I got a little twilight shorebirding done, with a nice long look at a Snowy Plover, and a nice mix of other shorebirds (Least, Western, Dunlin) feeding on some flooded sand. Down on the shore itself, I caught a Horned Lark. Back in the park, there were typical passerines, and close to a dozen Varied Thrushes.
>
> Tokeland was full of shorebirds behind the Tradewinds Hotel - Black-bellied Plover, Least and Western Sandpipers. I also got my only Northern Pintails of the day here. After a year of birding in Columbia County, it's nice to have the ducks back... and I really don't mean to complain, but... all of them are Buffleheads. Not ALL of them, of course, but... Pacific County almost felt like a marginally better Columbia County, plus 3 billion Buffleheads. Other duck species were tough to come by!
>
> At the Tokeland Marina, I got a flyover of three shorebirds - two Willets and a Marbled Godwit. An Eared Grebe feeding in very close was a nice surprise. Plenty of Common Loons, and a couple Red-throated Loons were out in the water.
>
> The Cedar River was a great stop. I picked up Trumpeter Swans here, and there was a lot of shorebird activity, with high numbers of Long-billed Dowitchers and Greater Yellowlegs visible from the trail, and a lot of distant peeps. I also had a Black Phoebe here. Exciting for the moment, as my checklist has it as a code 5 bird, although I am sure that will change.
>
> Potter Slough was a nice walk, and added Lincoln's Sparrow, Marsh Wrens, Northern Harrier, Western Meadowlarks, and Virginia Rail. Nearby Carruthers Slough had a nice flock of American Wigeon, including at least one Eurasian.
>
> Bay Center gave me a couple more ducks I'd been missing - a single Hooded Merganser, and a single Common Goldeneye. A Merlin also made a pass at some shorebirds, making for some excitement.
>
> Tuesday was awful! 😄 I birded through some rain in Chinook Valley to add a few more birds: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Common Merganser, and Wilson's Snipe. At Cape Disappointment, I had steady rain, and steady winds with gusts in the 20s. Here I added Pelagic Cormorant and Pigeon Guillemot. I poked around on my way up to Long Beach, hoping to look at some feeders, but the weather was just pretty miserable! So I headed back after a bowl of chowder.
>
> The blog at pacificcountybirding.blogspot.com will get updated in the next few days.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Tim Brennan
> Renton
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 1/7/26 12:43 pm From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Pacific County Birding - first trip of the year
Hey Tweets!
Looking at the weather, it looked like Jan 4-5-6 was going to be giving me rain-beautiful-awful out on the coast, so I made a ran for it. Interesting to see that I can get to Pacific County in about 1:45 (from Renton to the Lewis/Pacific line on Hwy 6), but to get to the far reaches of Leadbetter Spit is nearly 3 and a half hours! This year was supposed to feel closer... and it does... but it's interesting to see that chasing a bird in Leadbetter or McNary could be about the same amount of time.
89 species for the trip! I was able to get American Dipper on Elk Heights Road at a little pulloff. Continuing in towards Raymond on Sunday afternoon, American Kestrel and Eurasian Collared-Doves were found along Highway 6. I went up to the Willapa River Airport and found three Snow Geese mixed in with the hordes of Cackling and Canada Geese.
Early to bed, early to rise - I used the wee dark hours to do some owling on my way from Raymond to Grayland. An early stop on a backroad got me a Northern Saw-whet Owl, probably a feat that is possible up many many similar backroads if a person enjoys looking for owls. I made 5-6 stops along the way from the airport to the cranberry bogs outside of Grayland, picking up 4 Great Horned Owls at three stops.
Grayland Beach State Park was beautiful - the whole day was. I got a little twilight shorebirding done, with a nice long look at a Snowy Plover, and a nice mix of other shorebirds (Least, Western, Dunlin) feeding on some flooded sand. Down on the shore itself, I caught a Horned Lark. Back in the park, there were typical passerines, and close to a dozen Varied Thrushes.
Tokeland was full of shorebirds behind the Tradewinds Hotel - Black-bellied Plover, Least and Western Sandpipers. I also got my only Northern Pintails of the day here. After a year of birding in Columbia County, it's nice to have the ducks back... and I really don't mean to complain, but... all of them are Buffleheads. Not ALL of them, of course, but... Pacific County almost felt like a marginally better Columbia County, plus 3 billion Buffleheads. Other duck species were tough to come by!
At the Tokeland Marina, I got a flyover of three shorebirds - two Willets and a Marbled Godwit. An Eared Grebe feeding in very close was a nice surprise. Plenty of Common Loons, and a couple Red-throated Loons were out in the water.
The Cedar River was a great stop. I picked up Trumpeter Swans here, and there was a lot of shorebird activity, with high numbers of Long-billed Dowitchers and Greater Yellowlegs visible from the trail, and a lot of distant peeps. I also had a Black Phoebe here. Exciting for the moment, as my checklist has it as a code 5 bird, although I am sure that will change.
Potter Slough was a nice walk, and added Lincoln's Sparrow, Marsh Wrens, Northern Harrier, Western Meadowlarks, and Virginia Rail. Nearby Carruthers Slough had a nice flock of American Wigeon, including at least one Eurasian.
Bay Center gave me a couple more ducks I'd been missing - a single Hooded Merganser, and a single Common Goldeneye. A Merlin also made a pass at some shorebirds, making for some excitement.
Tuesday was awful! 😄 I birded through some rain in Chinook Valley to add a few more birds: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Common Merganser, and Wilson's Snipe. At Cape Disappointment, I had steady rain, and steady winds with gusts in the 20s. Here I added Pelagic Cormorant and Pigeon Guillemot. I poked around on my way up to Long Beach, hoping to look at some feeders, but the weather was just pretty miserable! So I headed back after a bowl of chowder.
The blog at pacificcountybirding.blogspot.com will get updated in the next few days.
Date: 1/6/26 2:23 pm From: Julie M Crudele via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] South Africa
Trileigh,
When I was in South Africa I met a guide (Richard Anderson, South African) who was trying out the camp we were staying in. We by happenstance traveled together for a few days, and I found him to be a great guy and an avid birder. He has a company, Anderson Expedition, that has a naturalist and birder on staff. You could check them out and see what they have to offer. If/When I go back to subsaharan Africa they will be who I use. https://www.andersonexpeditions.com<https://www.andersonexpeditions.com/guide/fraser-gear/>
I haven't been to South Africa since 2015, but at the time felt perfectly safe in Sodwana Bay, Cape Town and wine country by ourselves (I was with my mom, so we were two women traveling) and in game reserves with guides. Obviously, a lot can change in 10 years, but I think most reputable tour companies will be honest about the safety situation and make suggestions accordingly. Most countries (and cities) aren't a monolith, and a lot of the risk historically for South Africa has been in townships. Some tourists choose to go to them; we did not for both personal safety and ethical reasons.
I hope you have a fabulous time. I still think of some of the birds I saw there and that was before I considered myself a "birder."
Julie
________________________________
> On 01/03/2026 12:00 PM PST via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to
> <tweeters...>
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
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> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Tweeters digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. FOY (Bea Harrison via Tweeters)
> 2. This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club (Marcus Roening via Tweeters)
> 3. space available for Oaxaca birding trip (David Cook via Tweeters)
> 4. OT: South Africa birding (Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters)
> 5. Re: This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club
> (Diane Yorgason-Quinn via Tweeters)
> 6. Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-01-02
> (Michael Hobbs via Tweeters)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 12:16:12 -0800
> From: Bea Harrison via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] FOY
> Message-ID: <48E7BA88-2427-4045-9533-F5A55A125FB5...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Spotted towhee. First one at our feeder in a while. Eastern WA.
> Bea Harrison
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 18:51:42 -0800
> From: Marcus Roening via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club
> Message-ID: <C84E3B4F-AA68-4E71-9EF5-03969AFB5E83...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi Tweets,
>
> Congratulations to our newest 2025 member of the 253 Club, here in Pierce
> County - Area Code 253. By achieving this lofty mile stone, new members are entitled to a beverage of their choice from yours truly!
>
> Ryan Shaw #253 - finding a Short-tailed Shearwater off of Dune during the massive influx of these wonderful tubenoses into Puget Sound waters. Massive extra credit for achieving this goal while living in Texas!
>
> Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park, continues to be the spot to see pelagic birds from land. With a sweeping view to Des Moines to the Northeast, Commencement Bay to the East and Dalco Passage to the Northwest, it is the #1 eBird Hotspot in Pierce County with 229 species seen. Accessed near Point Ruston, this park was created in 2019. Amazingly, this year tallied all 3 Shearwaters: Short-tailed, Sooty and Manx and a shocking trifecta of Storm-Petrels: Fork-tailed, Leach?s & Wilson?s (the latter under WBRC review).
>
> Unfortunately, the 5 Mile Drive that went around the tip of Point Defiance has
> been closed to cars due to severe erosion of the bluffs, but it is still a wonderful place to bike and walk - now without cars.
>
> New Pierce County Big Year Record ? 246 species by Craig Miller
>
> Special Kudos to Craig, for surpassing Will Brook?s Pierce County record of 243 species, with a final Tundra Swan on Lake Tapps in the last week of the year. I can attest to his many hours out in the field and up in the mountains. The most amazing sighting that I personally witnessed with him was of a White-tailed Ptarmigan off of Panorama Point on Mount Rainier. While it is possible to see ptarmigan right off the trail, it is a rare occurrence, often requiring as many as 6 dedicated trips. Craig had carried his scope all the way up the snow field in June with us and found the bird a 1000 feet below us off of Pebble Creek! Certainly not identifiable with binoculars and an amazing find.
>
> For completeness, here are the prior 253 members as divined by a combination of eBird and WA Birder records. And for those below who?d like to share, let me know your 253th bird and any story you?d like to share.
>
> Patrick Sullivan <2007
> Charlie Wright 2011
> Bruce LaBar 2014
> Marcus Roening 2016 - Cassin?s Auklet
> Ed Pullen 2017
> Mike Charest 2017
> Heather Ballash 2021 - Barred Owl
> Tom Mansfield 2021
> Wayne Sladek 2021
> Peter Wimberger 2021
> Heather Voboril 2022
> Will Brooks 2022
> Bryan Hansen 2023 ? Black-legged Kittiwake
> Scott Saunders 2023 ? Tufted Puffin
> Craig Miller 2023 ? Nazca Booby
> Michael Hobbs 2024 ? Marbled Godwit
> Ryan Shaw 2025 ? Short-tailed Shearwater
>
> Good birding to all in the New Year,
>
> Marcus Roening Tacoma WA, The 253 - Pierce County
>
> Marcus Roening
> Tacoma WA
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 18:52:20 -0800
> From: David Cook via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] space available for Oaxaca birding trip
> Message-ID:
> <CAPM-fG8KrgiegUHk_PZsgLzDByREnqsB46C2Cj_PEUtwbrhrgw...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> I am organizing a birding trip to Oaxaca, Mexico in March 2026 and we could
> add 1 or 2 more people to our trip. We will be going to locations north,
> south and east of Oaxaca city, but not touring the entire state of Oaxaca.
> It is likely to last 8-10 days.
> If you are interested in possibly joining us, please contact me at my
> personal email, <41cdcook...> and I can provide you with more details.
>
> Dave Cook
> Seattle
> -------------- next part --------------
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2026 03:24:24 +0000
> From: Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] OT: South Africa birding
> Message-ID:
> <MW4PR04MB734506A07D856F99FBE4D0AFC4B8A...>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>
> Hello Tweets,
>
> A friend has invited us to accompany him to South Africa in September. He?s not a birder, but would be willing for us to take some birding days while there. I believe he?s thinking he'll plan things himself rather than hire a tour guide/company. So, a couple of questions for those who?ve been there in recent years:
>
> The State Department has some pretty unnerving risk alerts for SA, which make me wonder whether it?s actually a good destination in current times, or whether it?d be better to wait until it seems safer. If you?ve been there, either on your own or with a tour company, I?d be interested to hear how safe you felt.
>
> In terms of birding, are there companies or guides you would recommend for outings?
>
> Any other thoughts welcome.
>
> Thanks much,
> Trileigh
>
>
>
> Trileigh Tucker
>
> Gw?alali Valley, West Seattle
>
> NaturalPresenceArts.com<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://naturalpresencearts.com/__;!!K-Hz7m0Vt54!h4Nl4KlPYyud_Edn7hTSOLi6K-a3Dri1bU3yEF0x_cj3F6GSh-YsTfhpgMkd9ERn6A4paQMKTTw0mT0LA6BQNeTmxXlLWJ8$ >
>
> tri@seattleu <dot> edu
>
>
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2026 03:51:51 +0000
> From: Diane Yorgason-Quinn via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>, Marcus Roening
> <marcus...>
> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club
> Message-ID:
> <DS5PPF8C62CDFB056B301FEAFAC763E3CD7C0B8A...>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>
> Wow! Nice list and good news!
>
> Now Dune-rs will have to reach 229!
>
> I hope you'll share this at our celebration meeting on Jan 21 at 5:30 to 7 (darn library's restricted hours)! It's only fitting that the originator of the 253 list and one of the early champions should be there. Maybe with a mug for the drink.
>
> Now about Craig, I still don't know him. Could you talk him into coming?
>
> Diane
> ________________________________
> From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Marcus Roening via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Sent: Friday, January 2, 2026 6:51 PM
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club
>
>
> Hi Tweets,
>
> Congratulations to our newest 2025 member of the 253 Club, here in Pierce
> County - Area Code 253. By achieving this lofty mile stone, new members are entitled to a beverage of their choice from yours truly!
>
> Ryan Shaw #253 - finding a Short-tailed Shearwater off of Dune during the massive influx of these wonderful tubenoses into Puget Sound waters. Massive extra credit for achieving this goal while living in Texas!
>
> Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park, continues to be the spot to see pelagic birds from land. With a sweeping view to Des Moines to the Northeast, Commencement Bay to the East and Dalco Passage to the Northwest, it is the #1 eBird Hotspot in Pierce County with 229 species seen. Accessed near Point Ruston, this park was created in 2019. Amazingly, this year tallied all 3 Shearwaters: Short-tailed, Sooty and Manx and a shocking trifecta of Storm-Petrels: Fork-tailed, Leach?s & Wilson?s (the latter under WBRC review).
>
>
>
> Unfortunately, the 5 Mile Drive that went around the tip of Point Defiance has
> been closed to cars due to severe erosion of the bluffs, but it is still a wonderful place to bike and walk - now without cars.
>
>
>
> New Pierce County Big Year Record ? 246 species by Craig Miller
>
>
>
> Special Kudos to Craig, for surpassing Will Brook?s Pierce County record of 243 species, with a final Tundra Swan on Lake Tapps in the last week of the year. I can attest to his many hours out in the field and up in the mountains. The most amazing sighting that I personally witnessed with him was of a White-tailed Ptarmigan off of Panorama Point on Mount Rainier. While it is possible to see ptarmigan right off the trail, it is a rare occurrence, often requiring as many as 6 dedicated trips. Craig had carried his scope all the way up the snow field in June with us and found the bird a 1000 feet below us off of Pebble Creek! Certainly not identifiable with binoculars and an amazing find.
>
> For completeness, here are the prior 253 members as divined by a combination of eBird and WA Birder records. And for those below who?d like to share, let me know your 253th bird and any story you?d like to share.
>
> Patrick Sullivan <2007
> Charlie Wright 2011
> Bruce LaBar 2014
> Marcus Roening 2016 - Cassin?s Auklet
> Ed Pullen 2017
> Mike Charest 2017
> Heather Ballash 2021 - Barred Owl
>
> Tom Mansfield 2021
> Wayne Sladek 2021
> Peter Wimberger 2021
> Heather Voboril 2022
> Will Brooks 2022
>
> Bryan Hansen 2023 ? Black-legged Kittiwake
>
> Scott Saunders 2023 ? Tufted Puffin
>
> Craig Miller 2023 ? Nazca Booby
>
> Michael Hobbs 2024 ? Marbled Godwit
>
> Ryan Shaw 2025 ? Short-tailed Shearwater
>
> Good birding to all in the New Year,
>
> Marcus Roening Tacoma WA, The 253 - Pierce County
>
>
>
> Marcus Roening
> Tacoma WA
> -------------- next part --------------
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 21:58:21 -0800
> From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-01-02
> Message-ID:
> <CAPO=BqsqCUZkTHW=Aq_r9AJWQRC-rkiM27AadKsLRd+<zKoFPUQ...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Tweets - We started the new year with a remarkably nice day. There was
> early morning fog and chill, but the fog lifted. Temps in the 40's and no
> wind. Water levels are dropping and the birding is picking up; several
> species were singing today.
>
> Highlights:
> Greater White-fronted Goose - Five just below the weir
> Three species of goose, after a few weeks of one species or no geese
> at all
> Anna's Hummingbird - Male back in his spot near the windmill
> Wilson's Snipe - Three giving good looks below the weir
> Horned Grebe - Two, closer than usual to the Viewing Platform
> Downy Woodpecker - Quite a few sightings, good looks
> Merlin - One flew west just north of the Viewing Mound
> White-throated Sparrow - Two? Four?
>
> We had two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS immediately south of the Dog Meadow.
> Then 2+ hours later, and 100 yards away across the river, I had two again
> behind the Rowing Club boathouse. Same birds found twice or four??? Hard
> to decide.
>
> I don't have my cheat sheet with me, so no official list of "Misses"
> (Species seen on 50% or more years during this week, but not today), but I
> can unreliably report Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser,
> Killdeer,.Bushtit, Pine Siskin, and American Goldfinch as the probable list.
>
> Despite that list of Misses, we did have 52 species to start our 2026 list.
>
> = Michael Hobbs
> = <BirdMarymoor...>
> = https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.marymoor.org/birding.htm__;!!K-Hz7m0Vt54!h4Nl4KlPYyud_Edn7hTSOLi6K-a3Dri1bU3yEF0x_cj3F6GSh-YsTfhpgMkd9ERn6A4paQMKTTw0mT0LA6BQNeTm8nIPdfI$ > -------------- next part --------------
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Date: 1/6/26 11:48 am From: DEENA HEG via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow-shafted flicker (Joan Miller via Tweeters)
I have had what I'm pretty sure is an intergrade flicker coming to my suet feeder for the last several years: red nape crescent, red malar, brown face, and very yellow shafts. And this year, a family member showed up with orange shafts.
Date: 1/6/26 11:10 am From: J Christian Kessler via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] a festival in Jackson Wyoming
for anyone so inclined, here's an announcement of a birding festival all
the way over to western Wyoming
Jackson Hole Birding Festival <
<jacksonholebirdingfestival...>
Chris Kessler
--
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass … it’s about learning how
to dance in the rain.”
Deborah Tuck
It is easiest if you use the online forms to send in reports, but other options are provided as well if needed.
The annual list report is a great chance to look at the community and appreciate all the many accomplishments out there.
I believe for 2025 several very high state year lists and I’m sure we have many personal listing personal highs as well - it would be excellent receive that info for the overall report. Regardless of how high or low your totals are, this is a chance to join in the community summary of accomplishments.
You don’t have to enter details for every category listed, just send in info for those important to you.
For 2025, we’ve once again added an option to report lists for your 5MR “5 mile radius” list, for those who track that as an extended yard list. we recommend using the eBird status decisions on local countability of introduced/exotic species.If you are on eBird, almost all the totaling is done for you. Most notably, most western WA counties no longer ‘count’ Ring-necked Pheasant in county life list totals.
Enjoy the new year, and send in the [reports of the] old!
Date: 1/5/26 9:38 pm From: Richard James via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Purple Martins
On 2026-01-05 12:00 p.m., via Tweeters wrote:
> Message: 8 > Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0800 > From: Kathleen Snyder via Tweeters <tweeters...> > Subject: [Tweeters] To California, Brazil, and Back ? GPS tracking of > Vesper Sparrow and Purple Martin. Thursday Jan 8, 7 pm via Zoom > Oregon Vesper Sparrow and Western Purple Martin, two imperiled subspecies > unique to the western U.S.
Kathleen,
For the record, there are well-documented colonies of Western Purple Martin in BC, so not unique to western USA.
"In 2014, a total of 1,060 pairs nested at 74 marine and 6 freshwater sites, an increase of 110 pairs and 12 sites from 2013; the breeding range now extends to Barkley Sound and the Broughton Archipelago in the Coast and Mountains Ecoprovince (Western Purple Martin Foundation 2014)."
Date: 1/5/26 6:52 pm From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yellow-shafted flicker
Intergrade flickers are quite common here (Port Townsend) in winter--
probably 25% of all birds. I also see them regularly (though maybe 5-10% of
total) in summer as part of the breeding population, feeding young, etc.
Usually those are red-shafted in most features but have a red nape mark.
I've only seen pure Yellow-shafted once or twice in the last 5 years, in
winter.
On Mon, Jan 5, 2026 at 6:37 PM Michael Price via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hey tweets,
>
> In the early 90s I was part of a breeding-bird inventory in north-central
> BC, near Manson Creek just W of Williston Lake. It's an area where due to
> openings in the boreal forest caused by *very* extensive clear-cutting,
> eastern avifauna were able to penetrate more and more widely into the
> region*, and one result was that we saw a *lot* of intergrading between
> Red- and Yellow-shafted Flickers, between Oregon and Slate-colored Juncos (
> *cismontanus* was the norm), and Red-breasted X Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
> hybrids.
>
> *that clear-cutting of the boreal forest and consequent westward
> colonisation resulted in a lot of eastern sparrows extremely rare in the
> 1970s have now become not only regular but increasingly common as wintering
> birds along the mid-Pacific flyway: Swamp Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow,
> White-throated Sparrow are now regular wintering species and in good
> numbers when once upon a time their single—even first-time—occurrence would
> have resulted in dropped tools and unfinished meals.
>
> best, m
>
> Michael Price
> Vancouver BC Canada
> <loblollyboy...>
>
> Every answer deepens the mystery.
> -- E.O. Wilson
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 1/5/26 6:47 pm From: Michael Price via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yellow-shafted flicker
Hey tweets,
In the early 90s I was part of a breeding-bird inventory in north-central
BC, near Manson Creek just W of Williston Lake. It's an area where due to
openings in the boreal forest caused by *very* extensive clear-cutting,
eastern avifauna were able to penetrate more and more widely into the
region*, and one result was that we saw a *lot* of intergrading between
Red- and Yellow-shafted Flickers, between Oregon and Slate-colored Juncos (
*cismontanus* was the norm), and Red-breasted X Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
hybrids.
*that clear-cutting of the boreal forest and consequent westward
colonisation resulted in a lot of eastern sparrows extremely rare in the
1970s have now become not only regular but increasingly common as wintering
birds along the mid-Pacific flyway: Swamp Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow,
White-throated Sparrow are now regular wintering species and in good
numbers when once upon a time their single—even first-time—occurrence would
have resulted in dropped tools and unfinished meals.
best, m
Michael Price
Vancouver BC Canada
<loblollyboy...>
Date: 1/5/26 1:52 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Tundra Swan injured
This is an update note on the Tundra Swan in the Union Bay area.
This post is to let those with an interest in the injured Tundra Swan in the Union Bay/Montlake Fill area know that it is being monitored daily. Yes, it is a Tundra Swan and not associated with the small flock of Trumpeter Swans in the same general area. It is injured and is moving to different locations around the Union Bay area. At this time, it is capable of flying, thus making it not possible to capture. It also can feed and do some preening. If any capture attempt was to be made at this time it highly likely will result in further injury or death for this swan. Please do not attempt to go near or try to touch the swan. At this time both Washington Dept of Fish & Wildlife and NWSCA are monitoring the situation and are available to respond should the swan's situation change. If you have photos or video of the swan to help us update us on its health, please send them to: mj.cygnus at gmail.com
Date: 1/5/26 11:38 am From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yellow-shafted flicker
I have seen one.
Jan
Jan Stewart
922 E Spruce Street
Sequim, WA 98382-3518
<jstewart...>
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters Sent: Monday, January 5, 2026 11:16 AM To: Joan Miller <jemskink...> Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yellow-shafted flicker
Joan,
Yellow-shafted flickers breed to the north of us in Alaska and northern Canada, and small numbers travel down to Washington every winter. We seem to have more hybrids than pure yellow-shafted, but the latter are to be watched for.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast dot net
On Jan 5, 2026, at 10:50 AM, Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...> > wrote:
Hello all,
I have a yellow-shafted flicker coming to my suet. It clearly has yellow shafts, black malar and red on nape. I thought to call it an intergrade, but the internet says this is yellow-shafted.
Just mentioning in case anyone has seen these around. I don't think it's that rare here. But I also have our "regular" red-shafteds!
Date: 1/5/26 11:27 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yellow-shafted flicker
Joan,
Yellow-shafted flickers breed to the north of us in Alaska and northern Canada, and small numbers travel down to Washington every winter. We seem to have more hybrids than pure yellow-shafted, but the latter are to be watched for.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast dot net
> On Jan 5, 2026, at 10:50 AM, Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> I have a yellow-shafted flicker coming to my suet. It clearly has yellow shafts, black malar and red on nape. I thought to call it an intergrade, but the internet says this is yellow-shafted.
>
> Just mentioning in case anyone has seen these around. I don't think it's that rare here. But I also have our "regular" red-shafteds!
>
> Joan Miller
> West Seattle
> jemskink at gmail dot com
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 1/5/26 11:02 am From: Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow-shafted flicker
Hello all,
I have a yellow-shafted flicker coming to my suet. It clearly has yellow shafts, black malar and red on nape. I thought to call it an intergrade, but the internet says this is yellow-shafted.
Just mentioning in case anyone has seen these around. I don't think it's that rare here. But I also have our "regular" red-shafteds!
Joan Miller West Seattle jemskink at gmail dot com
Date: 1/5/26 8:12 am From: Kathleen Snyder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] To California, Brazil, and Back – GPS tracking of Vesper Sparrow and Purple Martin. Thursday Jan 8, 7 pm via Zoom
Dr Sarah Rockwell of Klamath Bird Observatory is using lightweight archival GPS tags to track the migratory routes and overwintering locations of both Oregon Vesper Sparrow and Western Purple Martin, two imperiled subspecies unique to the western U.S. The birds have returned with fascinating information, revealing new discoveries about their incredible journeys.
There are two ways to enjoy this program. You can come to Temple Beth Hatfiloh (201 8th Ave. SE, Olympia) to watch the program on the large screen as well as to enjoy the company of others *OR* you can register below to watch from home via Zoom. Social time at the Temple starts at 6:30. This is a free program from South Sound Bird Alliance (formerly Black Hills Audubon).
Date: 1/4/26 3:49 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Swan -Union Bay
Hi all, Yes, I am aware of the Tundra Swan who has moved to Carp Pond from Canoe Island. Yes, it is a Tundra Swan. It is very likely it is sick. That said, it is still too lively to attempt a capture in this tricky, muddy location. Please report your sightings directly to me: text to 206-713-3684 or call me. At this point in time WDFW and I will be monitoring the situation. If you observe the bird over the next day or so, please let me know the location, and what it is doing: sitting, standing, feeding, head tucked, shaking head, bill gaping or any other behavior. If you find it dead, DO NOT TOUCH. WDFW has protocols for picking up dead waterfowl. I am permitted to pick it up and have the gear to do so. Please call me immediately and let me know. Avian influenza is still out in the wild population and this is a precaution. Thank you all for your assistance.
Date: 1/4/26 1:41 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Ross's goose
Note to self: Read carefully! LOL
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 1:29 PM Nancy Crowell <nkcrowell...> wrote:
> 😆. I was wondering!
>
> Nancy
> "Images for the imagination."
> www.crowellphotography.com
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 4, 2026 1:27:56 PM
> *To:* Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns...>
> *Cc:* Louise <louiserutter1000...>; TWEETERS tweeters <
> <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Ross's goose
>
> Eeeeeek!!
> Snow Geese. So sorry!
> On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 1:27 PM Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns...>
> wrote:
>
> 5000 Ross’s geese?
>
> *Hans Feddern*
> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> <thefedderns...>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 12:35 PM Ann Kramer via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hi Louse,
>
> Further north, at Port Susan Bay off Boe road in Stanwood, we saw a flock
> of over 5000.
>
> On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 10:58 AM Louise via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I was planning a Carnation trip this afternoon for hte Roos's goose, but
> I'm not seeing any ebird reports of it yet today. I'm guessing that means
> people are looking but haven't found the flock?
>
> Louise Rutter
> Kirkland
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Sunday, January 4, 2026 1:27:56 PM
To: Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns...>
Cc: Louise <louiserutter1000...>; TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Ross's goose
Eeeeeek!!
Snow Geese. So sorry!
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 1:27 PM Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns...><mailto:<thefedderns...>> wrote:
5000 Ross’s geese?
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 12:35 PM Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
Hi Louse,
Further north, at Port Susan Bay off Boe road in Stanwood, we saw a flock of over 5000.
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 10:58 AM Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
I was planning a Carnation trip this afternoon for hte Roos's goose, but I'm not seeing any ebird reports of it yet today. I'm guessing that means people are looking but haven't found the flock?
Date: 1/4/26 1:38 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Ross's goose
Eeeeeek!!
Snow Geese. So sorry!
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 1:27 PM Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns...>
wrote:
> 5000 Ross’s geese?
>
> *Hans Feddern*
> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> <thefedderns...>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 12:35 PM Ann Kramer via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hi Louse,
>>
>> Further north, at Port Susan Bay off Boe road in Stanwood, we saw a flock
>> of over 5000.
>>
>> On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 10:58 AM Louise via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> I was planning a Carnation trip this afternoon for hte Roos's goose, but
>>> I'm not seeing any ebird reports of it yet today. I'm guessing that means
>>> people are looking but haven't found the flock?
>>>
>>> Louise Rutter
>>> Kirkland
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 12:35 PM Ann Kramer via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi Louse,
>
> Further north, at Port Susan Bay off Boe road in Stanwood, we saw a flock
> of over 5000.
>
> On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 10:58 AM Louise via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> I was planning a Carnation trip this afternoon for hte Roos's goose, but
>> I'm not seeing any ebird reports of it yet today. I'm guessing that means
>> people are looking but haven't found the flock?
>>
>> Louise Rutter
>> Kirkland
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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: 1/4/26 12:46 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Ross's goose
Hi Louse,
Further north, at Port Susan Bay off Boe road in Stanwood, we saw a flock
of over 5000.
On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 10:58 AM Louise via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I was planning a Carnation trip this afternoon for hte Roos's goose, but
> I'm not seeing any ebird reports of it yet today. I'm guessing that means
> people are looking but haven't found the flock?
>
> Louise Rutter
> Kirkland
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 1/4/26 12:39 pm From: Teri Martine via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] South Africa birding
Trileigh, I highly recommend The African Birdwatching Company. Their website lists tours all over southern Africa but the owner/guide, Martin Taylor, lives right by Kruger -- I expect he may be available for shorter excursions or tours, and sometimes uses private lodges right outside Kruger. Teri Martine Seattle _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 1/4/26 11:09 am From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Ross's goose
I was planning a Carnation trip this afternoon for hte Roos's goose, but I'm not seeing any ebird reports of it yet today. I'm guessing that means people are looking but haven't found the flock?
Date: 1/4/26 8:57 am From: Dana Greeley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] OT: South Africa birding
Saw your post below and here's my 2 cents. I was last in S Africa in April of 2018. I flew into Durban, rented a car and drove from Durban up to St. Lucia and back. I birded 3 days with Themba and highly recommend him as an incredibly knowledgeable guide! Here's a link to contact him if you like: https://www.stluciabirding.com/
Before that trip I flew into Cape Town, years earlier, March of 2009. I stayed in the cape town area and though I hiked down table mountain, I didn't go on any guided birding trips.
Both times I had no problems with crime or theft. Both times I was solo for much of the trip. I think the usual advice about not flashing your expensive binoculars and cameras when in the urban grittier places is well advised. AND, though I know of a guy who was robbed in Cape Town, I personally had no problems.
I was more scared of meeting big game or a snake when hiking in the parks by myself. Lots of hippos at night in St. Lucia!
-Dana Seattle/ La Conner djgreel1 at gmail dot com -------------- Message: 4 Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2026 03:24:24 +0000 Subject: [Tweeters] OT: South Africa birding
Hello Tweets,
A friend has invited us to accompany him to South Africa in September. He?s not a birder, but would be willing for us to take some birding days while there. I believe he?s thinking he'll plan things himself rather than hire a tour guide/company. So, a couple of questions for those who?ve been there in recent years:
The State Department has some pretty unnerving risk alerts for SA, which make me wonder whether it?s actually a good destination in current times, or whether it?d be better to wait until it seems safer. If you?ve been there, either on your own or with a tour company, I?d be interested to hear how safe you felt.
In terms of birding, are there companies or guides you would recommend for outings?
Date: 1/4/26 8:30 am From: Tom Mansfield via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] This Year’s Inductee to the 253 Club
Hi Marcus – My 253rd in Pierce was the Emperor Goose that paid a November 2021 visit to Puyallup. It was a full circle moment for me. The first time I went birding by myself was at Marymoor in 2006, a “test run” before I joined Michael Hobbs’ weekly walks. I had no identification skills. Armed with bins and a field guide in my pocket, I was slowly walking the loop when I came upon a friendly couple with bins who asked if I were a birder. Hmmm…I didn’t think of myself that way but I responded I was learning. With that, Ellen and Andy Stepniewski walked me around giving me many lifers – starting with Common Yellowthroat. That was the beginning of an long friendship. When health issues arose and I had to step away from birding pre-pandemic I sort of lost track of Ellen and Andy. But as I drove W. Pioneer that November day, I spotted a couple on the shoulder intently scoping a field. I pulled over and lo and behold, it was Ellen and Andy, over from Yakima. I joined them scoping and within minutes I had the goose and got them on it. Full circle! Tom Mansfield (still birding on rare occasions) in Seattle.
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Marcus Roening via Tweeters
Sent: Friday, January 2, 2026 6:52 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] This Year’s Inductee to the 253 Club
Hi Tweets,
Congratulations to our newest 2025 member of the 253 Club, here in Pierce
County - Area Code 253. By achieving this lofty mile stone, new members are entitled to a beverage of their choice from yours truly!
Ryan Shaw #253 - finding a Short-tailed Shearwater off of Dune during the massive influx of these wonderful tubenoses into Puget Sound waters. Massive extra credit for achieving this goal while living in Texas!
Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park, continues to be the spot to see pelagic birds from land. With a sweeping view to Des Moines to the Northeast, Commencement Bay to the East and Dalco Passage to the Northwest, it is the #1 eBird Hotspot in Pierce County with 229 species seen. Accessed near Point Ruston, this park was created in 2019. Amazingly, this year tallied all 3 Shearwaters: Short-tailed, Sooty and Manx and a shocking trifecta of Storm-Petrels: Fork-tailed, Leach’s & Wilson’s (the latter under WBRC review).
Unfortunately, the 5 Mile Drive that went around the tip of Point Defiance has
been closed to cars due to severe erosion of the bluffs, but it is still a wonderful place to bike and walk - now without cars.
New Pierce County Big Year Record – 246 species by Craig Miller
Special Kudos to Craig, for surpassing Will Brook’s Pierce County record of 243 species, with a final Tundra Swan on Lake Tapps in the last week of the year. I can attest to his many hours out in the field and up in the mountains. The most amazing sighting that I personally witnessed with him was of a White-tailed Ptarmigan off of Panorama Point on Mount Rainier. While it is possible to see ptarmigan right off the trail, it is a rare occurrence, often requiring as many as 6 dedicated trips. Craig had carried his scope all the way up the snow field in June with us and found the bird a 1000 feet below us off of Pebble Creek! Certainly not identifiable with binoculars and an amazing find.
For completeness, here are the prior 253 members as divined by a combination of eBird and WA Birder records. And for those below who’d like to share, let me know your 253th bird and any story you’d like to share.
Patrick Sullivan <2007
Charlie Wright 2011
Bruce LaBar 2014
Marcus Roening 2016 - Cassin’s Auklet
Ed Pullen 2017
Mike Charest 2017
Heather Ballash 2021 - Barred Owl
Tom Mansfield 2021
Wayne Sladek 2021
Peter Wimberger 2021
Heather Voboril 2022
Will Brooks 2022
Bryan Hansen 2023 – Black-legged Kittiwake
Scott Saunders 2023 – Tufted Puffin
Craig Miller 2023 – Nazca Booby
Michael Hobbs 2024 – Marbled Godwit
Ryan Shaw 2025 – Short-tailed Shearwater
Date: 1/3/26 8:53 pm From: Peter Cavanagh via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] South Africa birding
Trileigh:
I have travelled twice with Lawson's Birding, Wildlife and Custom Safaris— once to Krueger National Park and once to Namibia.. Both trips were excellent:
Lawson's Birding, Wildlife and Custom Safaris
P O Box 16849
Nelspruit
1200
South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)13 741 2458
<mavourneen...><mailto:<mavourneen...>
Date: 1/3/26 5:05 pm From: DEENA HEG via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] South Africa
Trileigh, my husband and I went to South Africa last August with friends who live in Cape Town part of the year. We spent 6 days in Kruger National Park with tour guide Khalanga Safaris. They were great and their owner does birding tours in Kruger. The park has fabulous birds. We then spent a week in Cape Town staying with our friends in their flat. Also fabulous birds on the Cape Peninsula and in the botanical garden there. I would not do this without either a tour guide or people like our friends who are familiar with what areas are safe and what areas to avoid. We loved South Africa and would go back again. The birds are amazing.
> On 01/03/2026 12:00 PM PST via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote: > > > Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to > <tweeters...> > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > <tweeters-request...> > > 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. FOY (Bea Harrison via Tweeters) > 2. This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club (Marcus Roening via Tweeters) > 3. space available for Oaxaca birding trip (David Cook via Tweeters) > 4. OT: South Africa birding (Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters) > 5. Re: This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club > (Diane Yorgason-Quinn via Tweeters) > 6. Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-01-02 > (Michael Hobbs via Tweeters) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 12:16:12 -0800 > From: Bea Harrison via Tweeters <tweeters...> > To: <tweeters...> > Subject: [Tweeters] FOY > Message-ID: <48E7BA88-2427-4045-9533-F5A55A125FB5...> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Spotted towhee. First one at our feeder in a while. Eastern WA. > Bea Harrison > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 18:51:42 -0800 > From: Marcus Roening via Tweeters <tweeters...> > To: Tweeters <tweeters...> > Subject: [Tweeters] This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club > Message-ID: <C84E3B4F-AA68-4E71-9EF5-03969AFB5E83...> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Hi Tweets, > > Congratulations to our newest 2025 member of the 253 Club, here in Pierce > County - Area Code 253. By achieving this lofty mile stone, new members are entitled to a beverage of their choice from yours truly! > > Ryan Shaw #253 - finding a Short-tailed Shearwater off of Dune during the massive influx of these wonderful tubenoses into Puget Sound waters. Massive extra credit for achieving this goal while living in Texas! > > Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park, continues to be the spot to see pelagic birds from land. With a sweeping view to Des Moines to the Northeast, Commencement Bay to the East and Dalco Passage to the Northwest, it is the #1 eBird Hotspot in Pierce County with 229 species seen. Accessed near Point Ruston, this park was created in 2019. Amazingly, this year tallied all 3 Shearwaters: Short-tailed, Sooty and Manx and a shocking trifecta of Storm-Petrels: Fork-tailed, Leach?s & Wilson?s (the latter under WBRC review). > > Unfortunately, the 5 Mile Drive that went around the tip of Point Defiance has > been closed to cars due to severe erosion of the bluffs, but it is still a wonderful place to bike and walk - now without cars. > > New Pierce County Big Year Record ? 246 species by Craig Miller > > Special Kudos to Craig, for surpassing Will Brook?s Pierce County record of 243 species, with a final Tundra Swan on Lake Tapps in the last week of the year. I can attest to his many hours out in the field and up in the mountains. The most amazing sighting that I personally witnessed with him was of a White-tailed Ptarmigan off of Panorama Point on Mount Rainier. While it is possible to see ptarmigan right off the trail, it is a rare occurrence, often requiring as many as 6 dedicated trips. Craig had carried his scope all the way up the snow field in June with us and found the bird a 1000 feet below us off of Pebble Creek! Certainly not identifiable with binoculars and an amazing find. > > For completeness, here are the prior 253 members as divined by a combination of eBird and WA Birder records. And for those below who?d like to share, let me know your 253th bird and any story you?d like to share. > > Patrick Sullivan <2007 > Charlie Wright 2011 > Bruce LaBar 2014 > Marcus Roening 2016 - Cassin?s Auklet > Ed Pullen 2017 > Mike Charest 2017 > Heather Ballash 2021 - Barred Owl > Tom Mansfield 2021 > Wayne Sladek 2021 > Peter Wimberger 2021 > Heather Voboril 2022 > Will Brooks 2022 > Bryan Hansen 2023 ? Black-legged Kittiwake > Scott Saunders 2023 ? Tufted Puffin > Craig Miller 2023 ? Nazca Booby > Michael Hobbs 2024 ? Marbled Godwit > Ryan Shaw 2025 ? Short-tailed Shearwater > > Good birding to all in the New Year, > > Marcus Roening Tacoma WA, The 253 - Pierce County > > Marcus Roening > Tacoma WA > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20260102/b8a12b6a/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 18:52:20 -0800 > From: David Cook via Tweeters <tweeters...> > To: tweeters <tweeters...> > Subject: [Tweeters] space available for Oaxaca birding trip > Message-ID: > <CAPM-fG8KrgiegUHk_PZsgLzDByREnqsB46C2Cj_PEUtwbrhrgw...> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I am organizing a birding trip to Oaxaca, Mexico in March 2026 and we could > add 1 or 2 more people to our trip. We will be going to locations north, > south and east of Oaxaca city, but not touring the entire state of Oaxaca. > It is likely to last 8-10 days. > If you are interested in possibly joining us, please contact me at my > personal email, <41cdcook...> and I can provide you with more details. > > Dave Cook > Seattle > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20260102/7cec8fa3/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2026 03:24:24 +0000 > From: Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters <tweeters...> > To: via Tweeters <tweeters...> > Subject: [Tweeters] OT: South Africa birding > Message-ID: > <MW4PR04MB734506A07D856F99FBE4D0AFC4B8A...> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > Hello Tweets, > > A friend has invited us to accompany him to South Africa in September. He?s not a birder, but would be willing for us to take some birding days while there. I believe he?s thinking he'll plan things himself rather than hire a tour guide/company. So, a couple of questions for those who?ve been there in recent years: > > The State Department has some pretty unnerving risk alerts for SA, which make me wonder whether it?s actually a good destination in current times, or whether it?d be better to wait until it seems safer. If you?ve been there, either on your own or with a tour company, I?d be interested to hear how safe you felt. > > In terms of birding, are there companies or guides you would recommend for outings? > > Any other thoughts welcome. > > Thanks much, > Trileigh > > > > Trileigh Tucker > > Gw?alali Valley, West Seattle > > NaturalPresenceArts.com<http://naturalpresencearts.com/> > > tri@seattleu <dot> edu > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20260103/18cbf8d7/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2026 03:51:51 +0000 > From: Diane Yorgason-Quinn via Tweeters <tweeters...> > To: Tweeters <tweeters...>, Marcus Roening > <marcus...> > Subject: Re: [Tweeters] This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club > Message-ID: > <DS5PPF8C62CDFB056B301FEAFAC763E3CD7C0B8A...> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > Wow! Nice list and good news! > > Now Dune-rs will have to reach 229! > > I hope you'll share this at our celebration meeting on Jan 21 at 5:30 to 7 (darn library's restricted hours)! It's only fitting that the originator of the 253 list and one of the early champions should be there. Maybe with a mug for the drink. > > Now about Craig, I still don't know him. Could you talk him into coming? > > Diane > ________________________________ > From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Marcus Roening via Tweeters <tweeters...> > Sent: Friday, January 2, 2026 6:51 PM > To: Tweeters <tweeters...> > Subject: [Tweeters] This Year?s Inductee to the 253 Club > > > Hi Tweets, > > Congratulations to our newest 2025 member of the 253 Club, here in Pierce > County - Area Code 253. By achieving this lofty mile stone, new members are entitled to a beverage of their choice from yours truly! > > Ryan Shaw #253 - finding a Short-tailed Shearwater off of Dune during the massive influx of these wonderful tubenoses into Puget Sound waters. Massive extra credit for achieving this goal while living in Texas! > > Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park, continues to be the spot to see pelagic birds from land. With a sweeping view to Des Moines to the Northeast, Commencement Bay to the East and Dalco Passage to the Northwest, it is the #1 eBird Hotspot in Pierce County with 229 species seen. Accessed near Point Ruston, this park was created in 2019. Amazingly, this year tallied all 3 Shearwaters: Short-tailed, Sooty and Manx and a shocking trifecta of Storm-Petrels: Fork-tailed, Leach?s & Wilson?s (the latter under WBRC review). > > > > Unfortunately, the 5 Mile Drive that went around the tip of Point Defiance has > been closed to cars due to severe erosion of the bluffs, but it is still a wonderful place to bike and walk - now without cars. > > > > New Pierce County Big Year Record ? 246 species by Craig Miller > > > > Special Kudos to Craig, for surpassing Will Brook?s Pierce County record of 243 species, with a final Tundra Swan on Lake Tapps in the last week of the year. I can attest to his many hours out in the field and up in the mountains. The most amazing sighting that I personally witnessed with him was of a White-tailed Ptarmigan off of Panorama Point on Mount Rainier. While it is possible to see ptarmigan right off the trail, it is a rare occurrence, often requiring as many as 6 dedicated trips. Craig had carried his scope all the way up the snow field in June with us and found the bird a 1000 feet below us off of Pebble Creek! Certainly not identifiable with binoculars and an amazing find. > > For completeness, here are the prior 253 members as divined by a combination of eBird and WA Birder records. And for those below who?d like to share, let me know your 253th bird and any story you?d like to share. > > Patrick Sullivan <2007 > Charlie Wright 2011 > Bruce LaBar 2014 > Marcus Roening 2016 - Cassin?s Auklet > Ed Pullen 2017 > Mike Charest 2017 > Heather Ballash 2021 - Barred Owl > > Tom Mansfield 2021 > Wayne Sladek 2021 > Peter Wimberger 2021 > Heather Voboril 2022 > Will Brooks 2022 > > Bryan Hansen 2023 ? Black-legged Kittiwake > > Scott Saunders 2023 ? Tufted Puffin > > Craig Miller 2023 ? Nazca Booby > > Michael Hobbs 2024 ? Marbled Godwit > > Ryan Shaw 2025 ? Short-tailed Shearwater > > Good birding to all in the New Year, > > Marcus Roening Tacoma WA, The 253 - Pierce County > > > > Marcus Roening > Tacoma WA > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20260103/03c0a12a/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 21:58:21 -0800 > From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> > To: Tweeters <tweeters...> > Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-01-02 > Message-ID: > <CAPO=BqsqCUZkTHW=Aq_r9AJWQRC-rkiM27AadKsLRd+<zKoFPUQ...> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Tweets - We started the new year with a remarkably nice day. There was > early morning fog and chill, but the fog lifted. Temps in the 40's and no > wind. Water levels are dropping and the birding is picking up; several > species were singing today. > > Highlights: > Greater White-fronted Goose - Five just below the weir > Three species of goose, after a few weeks of one species or no geese > at all > Anna's Hummingbird - Male back in his spot near the windmill > Wilson's Snipe - Three giving good looks below the weir > Horned Grebe - Two, closer than usual to the Viewing Platform > Downy Woodpecker - Quite a few sightings, good looks > Merlin - One flew west just north of the Viewing Mound > White-throated Sparrow - Two? Four? > > We had two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS immediately south of the Dog Meadow. > Then 2+ hours later, and 100 yards away across the river, I had two again > behind the Rowing Club boathouse. Same birds found twice or four??? Hard > to decide. > > I don't have my cheat sheet with me, so no official list of "Misses" > (Species seen on 50% or more years during this week, but not today), but I > can unreliably report Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, > Killdeer,.Bushtit, Pine Siskin, and American Goldfinch as the probable list. > > Despite that list of Misses, we did have 52 species to start our 2026 list. > > = Michael Hobbs > = <BirdMarymoor...> > = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20260102/c38aed85/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > ------------------------------ > > End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 257, Issue 3 > **************************************** _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
A group of us birding at Juanita Bay Park in Kirkland on December 29 enjoyed observing a Wilson’s snipe bobbing away. We were interested in learning more about bobbing as an evolutionary adaptation. The head appears to stay level while the body bobs. One of our group found references in Birds of the World postulating enhanced visual and depth perception, improved balance, avoidance of predation, and stimulating movement of prey in the mud. Can anyone offer further explanation regarding the above possibilities? Or offer other explanations? Thanks.
Date: 1/2/26 10:09 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-01-02
Tweets - We started the new year with a remarkably nice day. There was early morning fog and chill, but the fog lifted. Temps in the 40's and no wind. Water levels are dropping and the birding is picking up; several species were singing today.
Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - Five just below the weir Three species of goose, after a few weeks of one species or no geese at all Anna's Hummingbird - Male back in his spot near the windmill Wilson's Snipe - Three giving good looks below the weir Horned Grebe - Two, closer than usual to the Viewing Platform Downy Woodpecker - Quite a few sightings, good looks Merlin - One flew west just north of the Viewing Mound White-throated Sparrow - Two? Four?
We had two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS immediately south of the Dog Meadow. Then 2+ hours later, and 100 yards away across the river, I had two again behind the Rowing Club boathouse. Same birds found twice or four??? Hard to decide.
I don't have my cheat sheet with me, so no official list of "Misses" (Species seen on 50% or more years during this week, but not today), but I can unreliably report Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer,.Bushtit, Pine Siskin, and American Goldfinch as the probable list.
Despite that list of Misses, we did have 52 species to start our 2026 list.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 1/2/26 8:02 pm From: Diane Yorgason-Quinn via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] This Year’s Inductee to the 253 Club
Wow! Nice list and good news!
Now Dune-rs will have to reach 229!
I hope you'll share this at our celebration meeting on Jan 21 at 5:30 to 7 (darn library's restricted hours)! It's only fitting that the originator of the 253 list and one of the early champions should be there. Maybe with a mug for the drink.
Now about Craig, I still don't know him. Could you talk him into coming?
Diane
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Marcus Roening via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Friday, January 2, 2026 6:51 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] This Years Inductee to the 253 Club
Hi Tweets,
Congratulations to our newest 2025 member of the 253 Club, here in Pierce
County - Area Code 253. By achieving this lofty mile stone, new members are entitled to a beverage of their choice from yours truly!
Ryan Shaw #253 - finding a Short-tailed Shearwater off of Dune during the massive influx of these wonderful tubenoses into Puget Sound waters. Massive extra credit for achieving this goal while living in Texas!
Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park, continues to be the spot to see pelagic birds from land. With a sweeping view to Des Moines to the Northeast, Commencement Bay to the East and Dalco Passage to the Northwest, it is the #1 eBird Hotspot in Pierce County with 229 species seen. Accessed near Point Ruston, this park was created in 2019. Amazingly, this year tallied all 3 Shearwaters: Short-tailed, Sooty and Manx and a shocking trifecta of Storm-Petrels: Fork-tailed, Leachs & Wilsons (the latter under WBRC review).
Unfortunately, the 5 Mile Drive that went around the tip of Point Defiance has
been closed to cars due to severe erosion of the bluffs, but it is still a wonderful place to bike and walk - now without cars.
New Pierce County Big Year Record 246 species by Craig Miller
Special Kudos to Craig, for surpassing Will Brooks Pierce County record of 243 species, with a final Tundra Swan on Lake Tapps in the last week of the year. I can attest to his many hours out in the field and up in the mountains. The most amazing sighting that I personally witnessed with him was of a White-tailed Ptarmigan off of Panorama Point on Mount Rainier. While it is possible to see ptarmigan right off the trail, it is a rare occurrence, often requiring as many as 6 dedicated trips. Craig had carried his scope all the way up the snow field in June with us and found the bird a 1000 feet below us off of Pebble Creek! Certainly not identifiable with binoculars and an amazing find.
For completeness, here are the prior 253 members as divined by a combination of eBird and WA Birder records. And for those below whod like to share, let me know your 253th bird and any story youd like to share.
Patrick Sullivan <2007
Charlie Wright 2011
Bruce LaBar 2014
Marcus Roening 2016 - Cassins Auklet
Ed Pullen 2017
Mike Charest 2017
Heather Ballash 2021 - Barred Owl
Tom Mansfield 2021
Wayne Sladek 2021
Peter Wimberger 2021
Heather Voboril 2022
Will Brooks 2022
Date: 1/2/26 7:34 pm From: Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] OT: South Africa birding
Hello Tweets,
A friend has invited us to accompany him to South Africa in September. Hes not a birder, but would be willing for us to take some birding days while there. I believe hes thinking he'll plan things himself rather than hire a tour guide/company. So, a couple of questions for those whove been there in recent years:
The State Department has some pretty unnerving risk alerts for SA, which make me wonder whether its actually a good destination in current times, or whether itd be better to wait until it seems safer. If youve been there, either on your own or with a tour company, Id be interested to hear how safe you felt.
In terms of birding, are there companies or guides you would recommend for outings?
Date: 1/2/26 7:02 pm From: David Cook via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] space available for Oaxaca birding trip
I am organizing a birding trip to Oaxaca, Mexico in March 2026 and we could add 1 or 2 more people to our trip. We will be going to locations north, south and east of Oaxaca city, but not touring the entire state of Oaxaca. It is likely to last 8-10 days. If you are interested in possibly joining us, please contact me at my personal email, <41cdcook...> and I can provide you with more details.
Date: 1/2/26 7:02 pm From: Marcus Roening via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] This Year’s Inductee to the 253 Club
Hi Tweets,
Congratulations to our newest 2025 member of the 253 Club, here in Pierce
County - Area Code 253. By achieving this lofty mile stone, new members are entitled to a beverage of their choice from yours truly!
Ryan Shaw #253 - finding a Short-tailed Shearwater off of Dune during the massive influx of these wonderful tubenoses into Puget Sound waters. Massive extra credit for achieving this goal while living in Texas!
Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park, continues to be the spot to see pelagic birds from land. With a sweeping view to Des Moines to the Northeast, Commencement Bay to the East and Dalco Passage to the Northwest, it is the #1 eBird Hotspot in Pierce County with 229 species seen. Accessed near Point Ruston, this park was created in 2019. Amazingly, this year tallied all 3 Shearwaters: Short-tailed, Sooty and Manx and a shocking trifecta of Storm-Petrels: Fork-tailed, Leach’s & Wilson’s (the latter under WBRC review).
Unfortunately, the 5 Mile Drive that went around the tip of Point Defiance has
been closed to cars due to severe erosion of the bluffs, but it is still a wonderful place to bike and walk - now without cars.
New Pierce County Big Year Record – 246 species by Craig Miller
Special Kudos to Craig, for surpassing Will Brook’s Pierce County record of 243 species, with a final Tundra Swan on Lake Tapps in the last week of the year. I can attest to his many hours out in the field and up in the mountains. The most amazing sighting that I personally witnessed with him was of a White-tailed Ptarmigan off of Panorama Point on Mount Rainier. While it is possible to see ptarmigan right off the trail, it is a rare occurrence, often requiring as many as 6 dedicated trips. Craig had carried his scope all the way up the snow field in June with us and found the bird a 1000 feet below us off of Pebble Creek! Certainly not identifiable with binoculars and an amazing find.
For completeness, here are the prior 253 members as divined by a combination of eBird and WA Birder records. And for those below who’d like to share, let me know your 253th bird and any story you’d like to share.
Patrick Sullivan <2007
Charlie Wright 2011
Bruce LaBar 2014
Marcus Roening 2016 - Cassin’s Auklet
Ed Pullen 2017
Mike Charest 2017
Heather Ballash 2021 - Barred Owl
Tom Mansfield 2021
Wayne Sladek 2021
Peter Wimberger 2021
Heather Voboril 2022
Will Brooks 2022
Bryan Hansen 2023 – Black-legged Kittiwake
Scott Saunders 2023 – Tufted Puffin
Craig Miller 2023 – Nazca Booby
Michael Hobbs 2024 – Marbled Godwit
Ryan Shaw 2025 – Short-tailed Shearwater
Date: 1/2/26 11:53 am From: Zora Monster via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Northern Flickers
The one with the black malars is an intergrade if it has red-shafted feathers.
Zora Dermer
Seattle
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Tom and Carol Stoner via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> We haven't had many Flickers so far this year. Now that the colder weather has brought the 25+ Robin flocks to the yard, we had two male red-shafted flickers visit the suet feeder today. One had red malars and the other had black malars. Very striking.
>
> Carol Stoner
> West 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: 1/2/26 10:11 am From: Tom and Carol Stoner via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Northern Flickers
We haven't had many Flickers so far this year. Now that the colder weather has brought the 25+ Robin flocks to the yard, we had two male red-shafted flickers visit the suet feeder today. One had red malars and the other had black malars. Very striking.
Date: 1/1/26 6:40 pm From: Dave Hayden via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] First Bird of the year
tMy first bird of the year was a Bald Eagle, followed by Rock Doves. But my 3rd bird was the TAIGA FLYCATCHER.
Got to Sunset Beach park in Vancouver BC at 9:00 am, walked to the west side of the Aquatic Center, and there were the birders looking at the bird.
Date: 1/1/26 6:34 pm From: Bruce LaBar via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Westport Seabirds 2026 schedule
The schedule is now posted for this year. If interested please google Westport Seabirds for all the information. Bruce LaBar _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 1/1/26 5:25 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually Wednesday in December
The last Wednesday, the last day of 2025, started out cold and crisp. The weather report earlier indicated fog for the first hours but it must have lifted before expected, as the pale blue sky was clear. The covered path to the deck at the Visitors Center was a bit slick with frost and the entrance pond it spans had a a thin skin of ice. The good weather or the calendar may have inspired birders, 30 or so attended the start. A few Mallards and Bufflehead occupied the pond, a Muskrat went about its business, its tail making a snake-like wake. A Marsh Wren and a couple Song Sparrows worked in the reeds just off the deck, a half dozen Ruby-crowned Kinglets flitted in the nearest bushes.
Consulting a Tide Chart, we deviated from our default route to get out to the dike sooner. A quick check of the south half of the fields west of the maintenance road produced a few Red-winged Blackbirds, Mallards, American Wigeon, Northern Shovelers. Northern Pintail, Canada and Cackling Geese, and an occasional American Coot. From the boardwalk west of the pond we saw a pair of Pied-billed Grebes, a few Ring-necked Ducks, and Marsh Wrens in the swamp grass. The blackberry and Willow thicket on the other side of the walkway held Bewick's Wren, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Song and Fox sparrows. The north half of the boardwalk still closed, we moved back on the maintenance road. An adult Tundra Swan stood out against the line of willow on the far side of the field. The field's north half populated with the same species of waterfowl.as the south.
The sky had turned gray and clouded over by the time we reached the dike. Bald Eagles were scattered along the distant trees that line the banks of the Nisqually River. Green-winged Teal and American Wigeon were the dominant ducks on the surge plain, fewer Pintail, Shovelers and Greater Yellowlegs among them. A Northern Harrier hunted the grass closer in, a female American Kestrel perched in the top of a small Spruce tree. A large flock of Dunlin flashed in a brief murmuration. American Robins and Northern Flickers perched up in the small bare Alders, including a female Yellow-shafted Flicker. At the base of the willows on the south side, Golden-crowned Sparrows, a White-crowned and a Lincoln's Sparrow scratched and skittered in the leaf litter. The clouds seemed to descend on us in the space of few minutes and visibility dropped rapidly. We made out the form of a Cygnet (immature Swan), it's white body and gray neck and head barely contrasting with the fog that enveloped it and us.
The fog lightened periodically as we walked the boardwalk along McAllister Creek. We were able to see a few Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoters, Bufflehead and Wigeon on the water. Gulls, mostly Ring-billed, roosted on the exposed mud. A few Greater Yellowlegs patrolled the shore while Great Blue Herons stood guard. A bit south of the north end, a small flock of Least Sandpipers swooped under the boardwalk and landed along side, giving us a close up opportunity for appreciation. It was still too foggy from the gated terminus to see the channel markers, out on the reach, even the piling in front of Luhr Beach, but we did see a few Double-crested Cormorants, and a couple Horned Grebes closer to us in the creek proper. The fog thickened again as re returned to the dike. At the foot of the boardwalk we argued about whether that raptor perched out in the thick fog was a Red-tailed hawk or a Northern Harrier, then it flew to the dike and was harassed by another bird, it was both raptors.
Walking the north part of the loop trail boardwalk we encountered a mixed flock of Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, then were treated to both a Downy and Hairy Woodpecker. At the Nisqually River overlook, the water was still murky, though less muddy than last week. It was once again high, this time because it was near peak high tide, not so much from runoff. No birds and no Sea Lion either. The east side of the loop trail and the riparian side spur were quiet. The play area and the orchard were similarly devoid of bird sightings but in the area around The Land Trust building the ground was hopping with Spotted Towhees, Robins, Golden-crowned and Song Sparrows and a Dark-eyed Junco. A flock of Purple Finches flew into the tops of the bare fruit trees, joined by Chickadees and Kinglets. On our way back to the Visitors Center for the final tally, we scanned the fields again for something new, to no avail. End of walk, end of 2025.
See the checklist below..
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Dec 31, 2025 7:55 AM - 3:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.38 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. The walk began on a clear and calm, 28º F morning with skim ice on the puddles and marshes. The fog settled in from the northwest by 10:00 a.m., significantly lowering the visibility, and the fog remained until the walk ended at 3:30, the temperature having risen to 39º F. We had a +8.79-foot low tide at 8:29 a.m., flooding to a +14.46-foot high water at 1.29 p.m. Mammals seen included eastern grey squirrel, Columbian black-tailed deer, a long-tailed weasel, and harbor seals in McAllister Creek. Of all things, we had Himalayan blackberries in flower near the Environmental Education Center.
60 species (+5 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 555
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 15
Canada Goose 28
Tundra Swan (Whistling) 2 Adult in flooded field west of the Visitors' Center, and an immature bird landed in the estuary restoration area north of the north dike.
Northern Shoveler 70
American Wigeon 650
Mallard 85
Northern Pintail 235
Green-winged Teal 435
Ring-necked Duck 5 Visitors' Center pond
Surf Scoter 26
White-winged Scoter 1 McAllister Creek
Bufflehead 48
Common Goldeneye 20
Hooded Merganser 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1 Entrance Gate
Mourning Dove 1
Virginia Rail 2 Vocalizing from cattail marsh
American Coot 16
Wilson's Snipe 1 Foraging on the saltwater side of the north dike.
Greater Yellowlegs 9
Dunlin 1000 One large flock
Least Sandpiper 11
Ring-billed Gull 18
Western Gull 1 Dark grey mantle, black primaries, no smudging on all white head
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 3
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 14
Pied-billed Grebe 1 Visitors' Center Pond
Horned Grebe 2 McAllister Creek
Double-crested Cormorant 12
Great Blue Heron 8
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 12
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 3
Belted Kingfisher 3
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Northern Flicker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 * Continuing female, red nape, buffy face, yellow flight feathers
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 3
American Kestrel 1 female
Peregrine Falcon 1
California Scrub-Jay 1 Entrance Gate
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 21
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 14
Bushtit 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 19
Golden-crowned Kinglet 15
Brown Creeper 5
Pacific Wren 2
Marsh Wren 13
Bewick's Wren 6
European Starling 16
American Robin 15
Purple Finch (Western) 23
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 5
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1 At Land Trust office
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 44
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 24
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 9
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Date: 1/1/26 3:32 pm From: Dee Dee via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Four-eagle morning to start 2026
My FOY this morning was, not-surprisingly to me, an immature White-crowned Sparrow yardbird. Shortly thereafter, however, breakfast was graced with seeing not the usual one, but two eagles perched very near one another on a couple of the fir tree branches near the Puget Sound shoreline, where one is often seen hanging out…sometimes for hours.
While those two were still on their branches, two more eagles appeared, flying rapidly from north to south and pretty much paralleling the shoreline. A quick look with the glasses reviewed an immature with an adult not far behind. They passed just slightly inland of the trees where the other two eagles were perched and continued south at the same rapid pace. While it is not totally unusual at certain times of year to see two eagles at the same time in this neighborhood, it has not been so usual to see four at the same time in one binoculars view, so I found it a treat.
Date: 1/1/26 1:36 pm From: Stef Neis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOY
I’m going to claim a varied thrush for my FOY bird. He was feeding amongst a group of juncos and obviously drew my eye directly to him! My last of 2025 was a pair of flickers at the suet feeder. And, just like everyone else, lots of juncos, towhees and chickadees about at all times now.
Stef Neis
Whidbey Island
Sent from my iPad
> On Jan 1, 2026, at 1:11 PM, Tom and Carol Stoner via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Robin, then Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Anna's Hummingbird, and a Cooper's Hawk appeared as I was eating my breakfast. :)
> Carol Stoner
> West 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: 1/1/26 12:25 pm From: Jeff Harrell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] First Bird
red-breasted nuthatch on the sunflower feeder, and then later a
ruby-crowned kinglet on one of our hidden away suets I’ve never seen them
on before :)
On Thu, Jan 1, 2026 at 11:54 AM Sue Welsh via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> FOY. Flock of juncos
>
> On Thu, Jan 1, 2026 at 11:25 AM Louise via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> I envy you your Townsend's warblers, Dennis. I always had them regularly
>> at my suet feeder over the winter, but the last two winters, and this one
>> as well so far, they've been missing for some reason.
>>
>> Louise Rutter
>> Kirkland
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 1, 2026 at 10:40 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> My first bird of the year was a Dark-eyed Junco, completely expected as
>>> they are overrunning the yard this winter, far more than we have ever had
>>> before—probably around 20 birds.
>>>
>>> But the next bird was a real surprise, a Golden-crowned Sparrow. We had
>>> two of them in the yard daily from 9/20-10/9, then not a sighting of them
>>> until this morning. There were two adults, while the October birds were an
>>> adult and an immature. It’s hard to imagine these birds are the same birds,
>>> as we would surely have seen them if they had been around during that gap
>>> period. We look forward to seeing if they hang around.
>>>
>>> We also have another welcome visitor to the yard, an Orange-crowned
>>> Warbler that appeared on 12/30, the first wintering one we’ve had since
>>> 2014. The bird is very visible daily, and I can envision its thinking “wow,
>>> why didn’t I know about this feast before?” Our warblers (we also have
>>> Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s) visit our suet and bark butter, and what has
>>> long been surprising to me, they eat bird seed, perhaps only sunflower
>>> chips. Haven’t seen the Orange-crowned do that yet.
>>>
>>> Dennis Paulson
>>> Seattle
>>> dennispaulson at comcast net
>>>
>>> > On Jan 1, 2026, at 9:09 AM, Louise via Tweeters <
>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > My first bird of the year was house finch, a male, and very pretty he
>>> was! An unusual one for me - I don't get them at my feeder a lot. They tend
>>> to show up daily for about a week, the disappear for several months,
>>> >
>>> > Louise Rutter
>>> > Kirkland
>>> > _______________________________________________
>>> > 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: 1/1/26 12:05 pm From: Sue Welsh via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] First Bird
FOY. Flock of juncos
On Thu, Jan 1, 2026 at 11:25 AM Louise via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I envy you your Townsend's warblers, Dennis. I always had them regularly
> at my suet feeder over the winter, but the last two winters, and this one
> as well so far, they've been missing for some reason.
>
> Louise Rutter
> Kirkland
>
> On Thu, Jan 1, 2026 at 10:40 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
> wrote:
>
>> My first bird of the year was a Dark-eyed Junco, completely expected as
>> they are overrunning the yard this winter, far more than we have ever had
>> before—probably around 20 birds.
>>
>> But the next bird was a real surprise, a Golden-crowned Sparrow. We had
>> two of them in the yard daily from 9/20-10/9, then not a sighting of them
>> until this morning. There were two adults, while the October birds were an
>> adult and an immature. It’s hard to imagine these birds are the same birds,
>> as we would surely have seen them if they had been around during that gap
>> period. We look forward to seeing if they hang around.
>>
>> We also have another welcome visitor to the yard, an Orange-crowned
>> Warbler that appeared on 12/30, the first wintering one we’ve had since
>> 2014. The bird is very visible daily, and I can envision its thinking “wow,
>> why didn’t I know about this feast before?” Our warblers (we also have
>> Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s) visit our suet and bark butter, and what has
>> long been surprising to me, they eat bird seed, perhaps only sunflower
>> chips. Haven’t seen the Orange-crowned do that yet.
>>
>> Dennis Paulson
>> Seattle
>> dennispaulson at comcast net
>>
>> > On Jan 1, 2026, at 9:09 AM, Louise via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>> >
>> > My first bird of the year was house finch, a male, and very pretty he
>> was! An unusual one for me - I don't get them at my feeder a lot. They tend
>> to show up daily for about a week, the disappear for several months,
>> >
>> > Louise Rutter
>> > Kirkland
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > 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: 1/1/26 11:36 am From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] First Bird
I envy you your Townsend's warblers, Dennis. I always had them regularly at
my suet feeder over the winter, but the last two winters, and this one as
well so far, they've been missing for some reason.
Louise Rutter
Kirkland
On Thu, Jan 1, 2026 at 10:40 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
wrote:
> My first bird of the year was a Dark-eyed Junco, completely expected as
> they are overrunning the yard this winter, far more than we have ever had
> before—probably around 20 birds.
>
> But the next bird was a real surprise, a Golden-crowned Sparrow. We had
> two of them in the yard daily from 9/20-10/9, then not a sighting of them
> until this morning. There were two adults, while the October birds were an
> adult and an immature. It’s hard to imagine these birds are the same birds,
> as we would surely have seen them if they had been around during that gap
> period. We look forward to seeing if they hang around.
>
> We also have another welcome visitor to the yard, an Orange-crowned
> Warbler that appeared on 12/30, the first wintering one we’ve had since
> 2014. The bird is very visible daily, and I can envision its thinking “wow,
> why didn’t I know about this feast before?” Our warblers (we also have
> Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s) visit our suet and bark butter, and what has
> long been surprising to me, they eat bird seed, perhaps only sunflower
> chips. Haven’t seen the Orange-crowned do that yet.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
> dennispaulson at comcast net
>
> > On Jan 1, 2026, at 9:09 AM, Louise via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > My first bird of the year was house finch, a male, and very pretty he
> was! An unusual one for me - I don't get them at my feeder a lot. They tend
> to show up daily for about a week, the disappear for several months,
> >
> > Louise Rutter
> > Kirkland
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...>
> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Date: 1/1/26 10:50 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] First Bird
My first bird of the year was a Dark-eyed Junco, completely expected as they are overrunning the yard this winter, far more than we have ever had before—probably around 20 birds.
But the next bird was a real surprise, a Golden-crowned Sparrow. We had two of them in the yard daily from 9/20-10/9, then not a sighting of them until this morning. There were two adults, while the October birds were an adult and an immature. It’s hard to imagine these birds are the same birds, as we would surely have seen them if they had been around during that gap period. We look forward to seeing if they hang around.
We also have another welcome visitor to the yard, an Orange-crowned Warbler that appeared on 12/30, the first wintering one we’ve had since 2014. The bird is very visible daily, and I can envision its thinking “wow, why didn’t I know about this feast before?” Our warblers (we also have Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s) visit our suet and bark butter, and what has long been surprising to me, they eat bird seed, perhaps only sunflower chips. Haven’t seen the Orange-crowned do that yet.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast net
> On Jan 1, 2026, at 9:09 AM, Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> My first bird of the year was house finch, a male, and very pretty he was! An unusual one for me - I don't get them at my feeder a lot. They tend to show up daily for about a week, the disappear for several months,
>
> Louise Rutter
> Kirkland
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 1/1/26 10:07 am From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] First Bird
>
> My first bird of the year was house finch, a male, and very pretty he was!
> An unusual one for me - I don't get them at my feeder a lot. They tend to
> show up daily for about a week, the disappear for several months,
>
First bird this year was a Fox Sparrow, who popped out as I put out the
feeders this morning before the rest of the crew arrived. That included the
Juncos, Spotted Towhees, Black-capped and Chestnut chickadees, Red-Breasted
Nuthatches, Anna’s Hummingbirds and Stellar’s Jays.
Chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 1/1/26 9:36 am From: Teresa Michelsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] First Bird
My first bird in Lake Kokanee was an Oregon Junco, as in so many years past :)
Good morning all from Hoodsport!
Teresa Michelsen
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Louise via Tweeters
Sent: Thursday, January 1, 2026 9:09 AM
To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] First Bird
My first bird of the year was house finch, a male, and very pretty he was! An unusual one for me - I don't get them at my feeder a lot. They tend to show up daily for about a week, the disappear for several months,
Date: 1/1/26 9:19 am From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] First Bird
My first bird of the year was house finch, a male, and very pretty he was! An unusual one for me - I don't get them at my feeder a lot. They tend to show up daily for about a week, the disappear for several months,
Date: 1/1/26 9:16 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Annual Christmas owl surveys and song
It’s because there is no L in Horned and Barred and Screech and Saw-whet and Pygmy, and Boreal and Long-eared are too scarce.
May everyone’s new year be full of peace and joy and lots of birds!
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast dot net
> On Dec 31, 2025, at 6:30 PM, Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello Tweeters community,
> Each year, I begin doing owl surveys beginning Christmas day- always a little early in the seasons to find them.
> Well after dark, my wife calls me to check to ask if I have found them.
> Standing in the forest in the darkness, I answer by sadly singing the beginning of my adaptation of a Christmas song:
>
> “ NoooOwl, NoooOwl… NoooOwl, NoooOwl….”
>
> Best regards,
> Dan
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/31/25 6:41 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Annual Christmas owl surveys and song
Hello Tweeters community,
Each year, I begin doing owl surveys beginning Christmas day- always a little early in the seasons to find them.
Well after dark, my wife calls me to check to ask if I have found them.
Standing in the forest in the darkness, I answer by sadly singing the beginning of my adaptation of a Christmas song:
Date: 12/31/25 6:04 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Taiga flycatcher in Vancouver
Sorry, but as usual I just couldn't resist.
===============================================
*Every Bird Has a Story..*
Well, not everyone does, but this one does. For me, anyhow. Taiga
Flycatcher, ( a great NA rarity now in Vancouver BC); formerly called
Red-throated Flycatcher. Now split.
Long ago, I had a business meeting in Hokkaido, Japan. . My wife was
invited..
After the meeting we went to stay at a B&B run by a Japanese Birder.
We arrived in the afternoon for dinner. Next morning I got up just at
first light and walked along the nearby roads looking for birds. No
camera, light was far too dim. Misty, light rain. A ;small thrush flew
across the road and landed. Looked and behaved just like a Hermit Thrush,
but the spots, instead, were rings, like bubbles sorta. Pretty
distinctive. Easy to ID from my Japan field guide Cool. I knew nothing
of its detailed status but it seemed to be somewhat rare.and this was
migration time. Headed North?
Upon returning to the B&B for breakfast I told the 'Keeper' of the B&B of
my sighting, showed the picture in the Field Guide. His English wasn't
great, hut be could understand the picture. He seemed skeptical. Not a
great surprise. So then we asked about further, nearby birding and the host
told us about a nearby small park that would have migrants. We went. We
soon discovered a small flycatcher with a red throat. Easy to ID from the
book. Red-throated Flycatcher, now Taiga. The light was good, the bird
was tame and I got some photos.
We returned to the B&B and I showed him the Field Guide picture of what we
saw, the flycatcher.. Skepticism reigned supreme. No surprises there
either.
Returning to the US I scanned the slides and emailed him a photo. No
response via email. No surprise there either.
5-10 years later I was looking at bird books in the famous Powell's
Bookstore, a very large Bird Book Selection. There was a new book by Mark
Brazil. An Anglo with a lot of experience in Japanese birding. This was a
review of all birds recorded for Japan. In English.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm, I thought . I wonder...................................?
I opened the book to Red-breasted Flycatcher. Yep, I got that right.
There was my record with the correct date, attributed to ..... you know
who. And, of course, no mention of me. No surprise there either.
I bought Brazil's book at Powell's and I have the scanned photo. I'm
satisfied.
Bob OBrien Portland
On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 12:18 PM Jerry Neufeld-Kaiser via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Tweets, I was lucky enough to be visiting friends on BC coast when I heard
> of the mega-rarity in Vancouver: a taiga flycatcher. These birds winter in
> southern Asia and summer in Siberia, and this is apparently only the 2nd
> North American record ever. I was passing through Vancouver, and yes I did
> re-route to the Aquatic Center to find it. I stood with a couple dozen
> hopefuls for an hour or so hoping it would show itself. About 4:10 with
> the light starting to dim, I got a tip from a photographer I'd chatted
> with. (Big thank you to whoever that was!) So another birder and I walked
> a couple blocks to where we'd just been told the bird had been, and after a
> bit, there it was. I had the pleasure of being the one to find it and then
> helping some others get looks at it, for about 10 minutes, as it moved
> steadily down a long fence, flycatching and showing its tail, before it
> flew off. Perfect. Victory is even better when it's snatched from the
> jaws of defeat.
>
> Jerry Neufeld-Kaiser (Whitney's driver)
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/31/25 3:48 pm From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Seattle CBC results [14 Dec 2025]
2025 Seattle Christmas Bird Count
14 December 2025
130 species tallied (count day + count week)
Count day: 119 species
Count week: 11 additional species
Individual birds: 54, 086 [52, 332 in-field, 1,754 at feeders]
Observers: 322 [281 in field + 46 feeder watchers]
Overview
The 2025 Seattle CBC was held on December 14, 2025, organized once again by Birds Connect Seattle. We had warm weather and a nice break from the atmospheric rivers of rain that came soon after. Our species total of 130 was a bit above the 10-year average of 127. Our overall count of 54,086 birds likewise was our second highest number of birds recorded of the past decade of counts, and over 1,000 more than we found in 2024. With 322 observers including 46 at feeders and 281 in the field, we had over 300 participants for only the third time in our 100+ years of Seattle CBCs.
Highlights
The highlight birds of this year’s count included a Seattle CBC first Summer Tanager near Discovery Park, a Short-tailed Shearwater in the Puget Sound (only the third time we’ve had them on the CBC), and our first Green Heron on the count in a decade. Count-week-only highlights included American Bittern, Lesser Goldfinch and Red Crossbill.
Notable misses
We always miss a few, and this year was no exception. Notable misses included: Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose (missed once in the last decade of CBCs), Tundra Swan, Spotted Sandpipe (first time missed in 25 years!), Marbled Murrelet, Great Horned Owl (first miss in a decade), Evening Grosbeak and Western Tanager.
Record high counts
For the modern period (1972-present), high counts were recorded for six species. We set record highs for: Short-tailed Shearwater [1], Pelagic Cormorant [153], Cooper’s Hawk [44], Pileated Woodpecker [26], Pacific Wren [331] and Summer Tanager [1].
Trends
Looking at trends over time, here’s how a few groups fared.
[numbers in brackets indicate the total number seen and the percentage as a ratio of the 10-year average on the count. Species with a record-high count are noted with an *. For example, a note of “[100, 50%]” would indicate that 100 individuals were seen, and that this is just 50% of the norm for the past 10 years (the average # seen from 2014-2024 has been 200).
Ducks & geese
Goose & swan numbers were mixed. On the one hand, we totally missed Snow Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese and Tundra Swans this year. But numbers for the geese and swans that were found came in with above-average numbers: Brant [99, 107%], Cackling Geese [389, 160%], Canada Geese [1782, 148%] and Trumpeter Swans [34, 204%].
Dabbling ducks, in general came in below their 10-year average once again this year. The only dabblers above average were Mallard [2094, 144%] and Northern Pintail [221, 302%]. Species with lower-than-average numbers included Wood Duck [36, 57%], Northern Shoveler [50, 37%], Gadwall [456, 82%], Eurasian Wigeon [5, 54%], American Wigeon [2026, 86%] and Green-winged Teal [37, 35%].
Diving ducks showed totals close to average overall, with a few a bit higher and a few a bit lower. Coming in higher than average: Ring-necked Duck [624, 121%], Greater Scaup [130, 118%] and White-winged Scoter [6, 125%]. Noticeably below-average numbers were reported for Canvasback [67, 46%], Lesser Scaup [78, 42%], Black Scoter [Count Week only], Bufflehead [531, 82%] and Red-breasted Merganser [265, 82%].
Grebes, hummingbirds and coots
For the third year running, Western Grebes [655, 167%] were found in strong numbers. In contrast all other grebes came in below their usual numbers. Most notably Pied-billed Grebe [150, 75%] and Horned Grebe [218, 78%] were well below average and we found Eared Grebe only as a count week bird. Anna’s Hummingbird [823, 148%] were out in force in the good weather, and American Coot [7081, 94%] did about average for the count.
Shorebirds, alcids & gulls
Killdeer [84, 200%] numbers were high, while Surfbird [23, 48%], Sanderling [3, 3%], and Wilson’s Snipe [5, 52%] numbers were below average. As an added bonus, we found Long-billed Dowitcher as a count-week bird, the first time that species has made the Seattle CBC since 1980. Our alcid numbers were decent this year, except for missing murrelets. After only 14 last year, we saw 119 Common Murre [119, 380%] this year. Pigeon Guillemot [47 100%] were right on their average, and Rhinoceros Auklet [62, 152%] were a little high. Bonaparte’s Gulls were out in force [94, 463%], our highest count in over 30 years. We had a late Heerman’s Gull for only our sixth time in the last 40 years. Other gulls were mostly a bit low – notably, both American Herring Gull and Western Gull were only picked up as count week birds and we had only one Iceland Gull [1, 38%].
Loons & cormorants
Loons were found in decent numbers this year, with both Red-throated Loon [33, 210%] and Common Loon [12, 154%] appearing at their best total of the past ten years. The cormorant story was split, much like last year: One species came in very low: Brandt’s Cormorant [57, 34%]. One came in right on average: Double-crested Cormorant [815, 99%]. And one came in at record high levels: Pelagic Cormorant [153*, 221%]
Raptors and owls
With the exception of Cooper’s Hawk [44*, 177%], and Merlin [16, 150%], raptors numbers were a bit low this year: Bald Eagle [99, 89%], Sharp-shinned Hawk [6, 81%], Red-tailed Hawk [26, 68%], and Peregrine Falcon [1, 12%]. Owl numbers were low this year, with only Barred Owl [11, 122%] coming in above average. Besides that, we found just one American Barn Owl [1, 31%], one Northern Saw-whet Owl [1, 37%] and no Great Horned Owls.
Woodpeckers
With the exception of Red-breasted Sapsucker [1, 11%, our lowest # since 1999], woodpeckers were present and found in above-average numbers, including Downy Woodpecker [106. 127%], Hairy Woodpecker [16, 184%], Northern Flicker [453, 126%] and Pileated Woodpecker [26*, 157%].
Chickadees, wrens & kinglets
Our totals for some of the ‘little’ species remained close to their normal totals. Those doing well above average included: Chestnut-backed Chickadee [559, 133%], Brown Creeper [160, 147%] and Pacific Wren [331*, 171%].
Thrush & waxwing
As discussed on Tweeters and elsewhere, the slow arrival of snow and freezing temperatures up high seems to have allowed the Varied Thrush [21, 17%] to remain largely absent down here this year and we tallied our lowest total in over 30 years as a result. Hermit Thrush [15, 98%] and American Robin [3592, 135%] were doing fine, and it was great once again to have a Townsend’s Solitaire on the count, a species we see at about half of our CBCs. After setting a record last year in the count, Cedar Waxwing [67, 33%] were scarce this year.
Finches
A few finch species were largely absent this year, while others seemed present in normal numbers. We missed Evening Grosbeak completely and only added Red Crossbill as a count-week bird. We’ve only had this few Pine Siskin [49, 4%] three times in the last 40 years of the survey. On the other side, House Finch [784, 100%] and American Goldfinch [504, 103%] were right at their normal numbers. A count week Lesser Goldfinch was an added bonus, only our third time we’ve found that species on the Seattle CBC.
Sparrows
The good weather made sparrow-finding easier this year, and many species tallied above-average numbers including Dark-eyed Junco [2438, 126%], White-crowned Sparrow [120, 138%], White-throated Sparrow [9, 159%] and Song Sparrow [1077, 121%]. Only Fox Sparrow [82, 72%] and Lincoln’s Sparrow [4, 39%] came in well below average.
Warblers
Orange-crowned Warblers [7, 119%] and Yellow-rumped Warblers [341, 112%] were a little above average, and Townsend’s Warblers [16, 86%] came in a little low this year. A count week Wilson’s Warbler rounded out our warbler tally for the year.
All in all, it was once again a fun day seeing what can be found when over 300 participants come together in a small circle for a day of birding. Thanks to all the participants who contributed to this year’s count.
We’ll have a full list of the results posted on the Birds Connect Seattle website in the new year
Date: 12/31/25 1:59 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Harris’ Sparrow, Port Gamble
I haven’t seen this mentioned here so I thought I’d pass it along. There’s
a continuing Harris’ Sparrow being seen in Port Gamble. The eBird hotspot
is here: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L296606
The bird seems to be sticking to a fairly small area; if you drive through
town and down towards the kayak place on the water, when you hit the flat
to the right is a jumble of boulders. Beyond that is the hill area back up
towards the town, and the bird is hanging out in that area with White- and
Golden-crowned sparrows.
It’s fairly reliable, when I went down there it came out after about ten
minutes, but also rather furtive. You’ll see an orange traffic cone in the
scrub, it seems to be in and around that area most of the time. It’s an
easy ID once you see it among the sparrows as well (even for me). It looks
like it’ll be sticking for a bit, since I think it’s been seen for almost a
week.
(And if you’re looking for refreshment, strongly recommend Butcher and
Baker, back on the main road across from the main town area, for
coffee/pastry and interesting foods while you’re there)
Also take some time looking around the water near the Kayak place and along
the shore, there have been Black Scoters there along with the more common
and fun birds you might expect. Also, perhaps, Long-Tailed Duck since I had
two a couple of weeks ago
Chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 12/31/25 1:30 pm From: BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Flock of 34 Harlequins at mouth of Sequim Bay last night
Hi all,
I did a bit of a walkabout (ok, well, driveabout) on the Olympic Peninsula Monday Tuesday and had a lovely time (thanks for Steve and Bob for tips). Great to see the building estuary at the mouth of the Elwha.
A favorite, underrated spot is the Port Williams County Park and the walk down Gibson Spit. A highlight: At dusk yesterday I was treated to seeing a flock of 34 Harlequins in the tidal rip that forms between Gibson and Travis Spits. It seemed like the various smaller groups convened there at the end of the day and then one larger group (~20) departed for I'm guessing an offshore overnight float. Lovely to see and wonderful to think about how it was likely constituted by various pairs that nest up the nooks and crannies of the Olympics...
Date: 12/31/25 8:29 am From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] REMINDER: WOS Monthly Meeting, January 5, 2026 (on-line only) ... also please note: Jan 26
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, January 5, 2026, Phil Mitchell will present, "Learning to be a Better Birder in the Age of AI.” Today, with a suite of AI-powered apps such as Merlin and iNaturalist, we are quickly able to identify birds, plants and other animals. Online or in-person courses may enhance our knowledge about sparrows, shorebirds and hawks. But what does it take to actually learn and retain the knowledge that enriches our birding? This talk will be an intro to the science of learning as it applies to becoming a better birder, along with a survey of the related birding apps.
Phil Mitchell has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and is a Seattle resident and avid naturalist. He combines academic research on how best to learn, with his 20+ years’ experience as a software developer to create learning apps. He is the founder and learning expert for the app “Larkwire.” Introduced in 2012, Larkwire helps birders learn sounds, visual ID and bird topography.
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
Please join us!
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to a date conflict, the February 2026 Monthly Meeting will take place one week earlier, on January 26. Please mark your calendars.
Date: 12/30/25 9:41 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Personal Health Information
Hi Tweets,
I know the question was asked with curiosity and concern, and it was answered from a place of very good intent. But I think we all need to keep in mind that health information is personal to the individual and oftentimes very private. We also need to keep in mind that Tweeters is not a closed list serv. Anything posted on it can be viewed by anyone in the world with an internet connection. And there are increasing numbers of bots that harvest personal information from the internet to be used for nefarious purposes including identity theft. Many of us are aging and at some point we will all age out of the birding hobby. When questions are asked about the status of another birder, it is probably best to provide your email address in the post (anyone at email dot com) and ask for an offline reply. I think we also need to all keep in mind that we should not share health information without the consent of the individual or a member of that person’s family.
I wish we didn’t need to be so guarded, but the internet is rife with criminals and Tweeters can have personal information harvested by bad actors or bots. This is particularly so when an individual has a somewhat unique name that can be linked to a particular location. With a name, address, and information that an individual may not be in control of their physical abilities or mental capacities, bad things can happen.
Date: 12/30/25 8:01 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Torpor in Hummers
Thanks for adding some expertise to my speculation Kenneth. I shudda done a little research before posting. Seems that hummingbirds don’t have any special nigh vision powers, but they may be helped by their extra cones and color vision thanks to their expanded UV range.
Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA
> On Dec 30, 2025, at 19:29, Kenneth Brown <kenbrownpls...> wrote:
>
> Many birds can see in the ultraviolet spectrum, I don't think they see infrared light.
>> On 12/30/2025 9:00 AM PST Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I think that hummingbird vision, maybe all bird vision, extends further into the infrared range than human, so even though we see “dark” they see “light”.
>>
>> Tom Benedict
>> Seahurst, WA
>>
>>> On Dec 29, 2025, at 22:42, Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>>> I had similar experiences to you, Bob. I would bring in my feeders at night when it was cold enough to freeze them, then put them out at the first hint of light, and I had hummers leap onto the feeder while it was still in my hand, before I could even hang it.
>>>
>>> Someone here on tweeters (I forget who) told me that in winter, the hummers will even wake from torpor and feed in the dark, so bringing the feeders in at night can be detrimental to them. So I bought one of the feeder heaters (one of the little lamp bulb versions that puts out just enough heat to stop it from freezing) and I always leave them out. This is the type I have - it just clips onto the bottom of the feeder. I only need it for about one week a year on our area, but it was cheap enough.
>>>
>>> Louise
>>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>>> Over decades of birding I've experienced 'torpor' or 'not' twice. This seems an appropriate time to discuss them for possible feedback.
>>>
>>> 1. I had a hummer feeder on my front porch. When I went to refill the feeder I accidentally dropped and broke it. No backup. So I got an olive jar about 2"x 4"deep, filled it with 'the, 'juice' and fashioned a way to attach it. That worked fine. The male Rufous just landed on the edge and sipped away. I sorta forgot about it, but one day, when I returned home, I happened to glance at the jar and noticed an apparently dead male Rufous, bill down in the jar, now empty of juice.. I guess it had to dip further and further down, until it actually fell in. Oh, no. No idea how long it had been in there, but I knew about torpor, so I cupped it in my hand for warmth and went into the house. In 5-10 minutes I felt a 'stirring' 5 or so minutes later, I released it back outside, apparently none the worse for wear.. Great.
>>>
>>> But, conversely. Years ago, we had 3 or 4 nights here, SE of Portland, with a low of 6 degrees F. I had a bona fide feeder back on the porch that I took in during the night so it did not freeze. I got up each morning when it was just barely light to replace the feeder in case any hummers were surviving, which seemed unlikely. When I did this the first morning, a female Anna's immediately flew up from low weeds on the ground 15 feet away, and started partaking. This repeated the following two nights after which it warmed up.
>>> Now, this hummer was undoubtedly in Torpor (or not?) during the night, aided likely by some amount of ground heat to prevent freezing, even in Torpor. So,
>>> 2. How did the hummer know to spend the night on the ground?
>>> 3. How is it that the hummer was 'awake' at barely first light, as though waiting for me to replace the feeder. I don't think they can come out of torpor immediately, can they?
>>> And at 6 degrees I wasn't loitering on my porch, I put the feeder up and the hummer arrived immediately.
>>>
>>> Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Bob OBrien Portland
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/30/25 7:40 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Torpor in Hummers
Many birds can see in the ultraviolet spectrum, I don't think they see infrared light.
> On 12/30/2025 9:00 AM PST Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> I think that hummingbird vision, maybe all bird vision, extends further into the infrared range than human, so even though we see “dark” they see “light”.
>
> Tom Benedict
> Seahurst, WA
>
>
> > On Dec 29, 2025, at 22:42, Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
> > I had similar experiences to you, Bob. I would bring in my feeders at night when it was cold enough to freeze them, then put them out at the first hint of light, and I had hummers leap onto the feeder while it was still in my hand, before I could even hang it.
> >
> > Someone here on tweeters (I forget who) told me that in winter, the hummers will even wake from torpor and feed in the dark, so bringing the feeders in at night can be detrimental to them. So I bought one of the feeder heaters (one of the little lamp bulb versions that puts out just enough heat to stop it from freezing) and I always leave them out. This is the type I have - it just clips onto the bottom of the feeder. I only need it for about one week a year on our area, but it was cheap enough.
> >
> > Louise
> >
> > On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > > Over decades of birding I've experienced 'torpor' or 'not' twice. This seems an appropriate time to discuss them for possible feedback.
> > >
> > > 1. I had a hummer feeder on my front porch. When I went to refill the feeder I accidentally dropped and broke it. No backup. So I got an olive jar about 2"x 4"deep, filled it with 'the, 'juice' and fashioned a way to attach it. That worked fine. The male Rufous just landed on the edge and sipped away. I sorta forgot about it, but one day, when I returned home, I happened to glance at the jar and noticed an apparently dead male Rufous, bill down in the jar, now empty of juice.. I guess it had to dip further and further down, until it actually fell in. Oh, no. No idea how long it had been in there, but I knew about torpor, so I cupped it in my hand for warmth and went into the house. In 5-10 minutes I felt a 'stirring' 5 or so minutes later, I released it back outside, apparently none the worse for wear.. Great.
> > >
> > > But, conversely. Years ago, we had 3 or 4 nights here, SE of Portland, with a low of 6 degrees F. I had a bona fide feeder back on the porch that I took in during the night so it did not freeze. I got up each morning when it was just barely light to replace the feeder in case any hummers were surviving, which seemed unlikely. When I did this the first morning, a female Anna's immediately flew up from low weeds on the ground 15 feet away, and started partaking. This repeated the following two nights after which it warmed up.
> > > Now, this hummer was undoubtedly in Torpor (or not?) during the night, aided likely by some amount of ground heat to prevent freezing, even in Torpor. So,
> > > 2. How did the hummer know to spend the night on the ground?
> > > 3. How is it that the hummer was 'awake' at barely first light, as though waiting for me to replace the feeder. I don't think they can come out of torpor immediately, can they?
> > > And at 6 degrees I wasn't loitering on my porch, I put the feeder up and the hummer arrived immediately.
> > >
> > > Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Bob OBrien Portland
> > >
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/30/25 12:29 pm From: Jerry Neufeld-Kaiser via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Taiga flycatcher in Vancouver
Tweets, I was lucky enough to be visiting friends on BC coast when I heard of the mega-rarity in Vancouver: a taiga flycatcher. These birds winter in southern Asia and summer in Siberia, and this is apparently only the 2nd North American record ever. I was passing through Vancouver, and yes I did re-route to the Aquatic Center to find it. I stood with a couple dozen hopefuls for an hour or so hoping it would show itself. About 4:10 with the light starting to dim, I got a tip from a photographer I'd chatted with. (Big thank you to whoever that was!) So another birder and I walked a couple blocks to where we'd just been told the bird had been, and after a bit, there it was. I had the pleasure of being the one to find it and then helping some others get looks at it, for about 10 minutes, as it moved steadily down a long fence, flycatching and showing its tail, before it flew off. Perfect. Victory is even better when it's snatched from the jaws of defeat.
Date: 12/30/25 9:11 am From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Torpor in Hummers
I think that hummingbird vision, maybe all bird vision, extends further into the infrared range than human, so even though we see “dark” they see “light”.
Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA
> On Dec 29, 2025, at 22:42, Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I had similar experiences to you, Bob. I would bring in my feeders at night when it was cold enough to freeze them, then put them out at the first hint of light, and I had hummers leap onto the feeder while it was still in my hand, before I could even hang it.
>
> Someone here on tweeters (I forget who) told me that in winter, the hummers will even wake from torpor and feed in the dark, so bringing the feeders in at night can be detrimental to them. So I bought one of the feeder heaters (one of the little lamp bulb versions that puts out just enough heat to stop it from freezing) and I always leave them out. This is the type I have - it just clips onto the bottom of the feeder. I only need it for about one week a year on our area, but it was cheap enough.
>
> Louise
>
> On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>> Over decades of birding I've experienced 'torpor' or 'not' twice. This seems an appropriate time to discuss them for possible feedback.
>>
>> 1. I had a hummer feeder on my front porch. When I went to refill the feeder I accidentally dropped and broke it. No backup. So I got an olive jar about 2"x 4"deep, filled it with 'the, 'juice' and fashioned a way to attach it. That worked fine. The male Rufous just landed on the edge and sipped away. I sorta forgot about it, but one day, when I returned home, I happened to glance at the jar and noticed an apparently dead male Rufous, bill down in the jar, now empty of juice.. I guess it had to dip further and further down, until it actually fell in. Oh, no. No idea how long it had been in there, but I knew about torpor, so I cupped it in my hand for warmth and went into the house. In 5-10 minutes I felt a 'stirring' 5 or so minutes later, I released it back outside, apparently none the worse for wear.. Great.
>>
>> But, conversely. Years ago, we had 3 or 4 nights here, SE of Portland, with a low of 6 degrees F. I had a bona fide feeder back on the porch that I took in during the night so it did not freeze. I got up each morning when it was just barely light to replace the feeder in case any hummers were surviving, which seemed unlikely. When I did this the first morning, a female Anna's immediately flew up from low weeds on the ground 15 feet away, and started partaking. This repeated the following two nights after which it warmed up.
>> Now, this hummer was undoubtedly in Torpor (or not?) during the night, aided likely by some amount of ground heat to prevent freezing, even in Torpor. So,
>> 2. How did the hummer know to spend the night on the ground?
>> 3. How is it that the hummer was 'awake' at barely first light, as though waiting for me to replace the feeder. I don't think they can come out of torpor immediately, can they?
>> And at 6 degrees I wasn't loitering on my porch, I put the feeder up and the hummer arrived immediately.
>>
>> Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Bob OBrien Portland
>
Date: 12/30/25 7:24 am From: Joan Durgin via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] RFI Wilson Cady
He has significant health issues starting with a brain injury last year from a fall, he doesn’t read or write but he has a very caring wife taking care of him at home.
He did attend the Vancouver Audubon chapter 50th anniversary celebration early Dec and spoke about memories of him and several others efforts in starting the Vancouver Audubon Chapter all while trying to conserve property east of Washougal that is now the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This group did a bird survey for 365 days in a row on this property that was planned for development.
Joan Durgin
Camas, WA
> On Dec 29, 2025, at 10:34 PM, Vincent Lucas via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Tweets:
>
> Does anyone know what’s going on with Wilson Cady? He hasn’t posted anything on Facebook nor have I seen any of his posts on Tweeters in quite a while. Thanks.
>
> Vincent Lucas
> Port Angeles, WA
>
> Sent from Gmail Mobile ʚϊɞ ʚϊɞ ʚϊɞ
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 12/30/25 6:13 am From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Torpor in Hummers
One study showed Anna's go into torpor for only about 3-5 hrs per night, so
not the whole night. It takes them about 30 minutes to go in and out.
See Figure 2 at Spence and Tingley 2021.
Body size and environment influence both intraspecific and interspecific
variation in daily torpor use across hummingbirds
<https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2435.13782>For those new to the topic, or just waking up (!), when hummingbirds are in
torpor, their heart rate drops nearly 90%, from about 450 beats per minute
down to 50; their body temperature falls from 107°F to as low at 48°F; and
they seem to barely breathe. A hummingbird in torpor sits fluffed with its
eyes closed, looking nearly lifeless.
On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 11:33 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Wow, I had never heard of anyone else who had such an experience.THANKS.
> This was long ago and I do now have heated feeders.
> Maybe going out of torpor at or before dawn is normal, even when it is not
> so cold and even if there are not feeders available. In the wild, that
> is. And I have had these feeders at night in the cold with the porch light
> on. I wondered whether they would feed at night but didn't see it. But, I
> could easily have missed it.
> Bob
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 10:42 PM Louise via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> I had similar experiences to you, Bob. I would bring in my feeders at
>> night when it was cold enough to freeze them, then put them out at the
>> first hint of light, and I had hummers leap onto the feeder while it was
>> still in my hand, before I could even hang it.
>>
>> Someone here on tweeters (I forget who) told me that in winter, the
>> hummers will even wake from torpor and feed in the dark, so bringing the
>> feeders in at night can be detrimental to them. So I bought one of the
>> feeder heaters (one of the little lamp bulb versions that puts out just
>> enough heat to stop it from freezing) and I always leave them out. This is
>> the type I have - it just clips onto the bottom of the feeder. I only need
>> it for about one week a year on our area, but it was cheap enough.
>>
>> Louise
>>
>> On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> Over decades of birding I've experienced 'torpor' or 'not' twice. This
>>> seems an appropriate time to discuss them for possible feedback.
>>>
>>> 1. I had a hummer feeder on my front porch. When I went to refill the
>>> feeder I accidentally dropped and broke it. No backup. So I got an olive
>>> jar about 2"x 4"deep, filled it with 'the, 'juice' and fashioned a way to
>>> attach it. That worked fine. The male Rufous just landed on the edge and
>>> sipped away. I sorta forgot about it, but one day, when I returned home, I
>>> happened to glance at the jar and noticed an apparently dead male Rufous,
>>> bill down in the jar, now empty of juice.. I guess it had to dip further
>>> and further down, until it actually fell in. Oh, no. No idea how long it
>>> had been in there, but I knew about torpor, so I cupped it in my hand for
>>> warmth and went into the house. In 5-10 minutes I felt a 'stirring' 5 or
>>> so minutes later, I released it back outside, apparently none the worse for
>>> wear.. Great.
>>>
>>> But, conversely. Years ago, we had 3 or 4 nights here, SE of Portland,
>>> with a low of 6 degrees F. I had a bona fide feeder back on the porch that
>>> I took in during the night so it did not freeze. I got up each morning
>>> when it was just barely light to replace the feeder in case any hummers
>>> were surviving, which seemed unlikely. When I did this the first morning,
>>> a female Anna's immediately flew up from low weeds on the ground 15 feet
>>> away, and started partaking. This repeated the following two nights after
>>> which it warmed up.
>>> Now, this hummer was undoubtedly in Torpor (or not?) during the night,
>>> aided likely by some amount of ground heat to prevent freezing, even in
>>> Torpor. So,
>>> 2. How did the hummer know to spend the night on the ground?
>>> 3. How is it that the hummer was 'awake' at barely first light, as
>>> though waiting for me to replace the feeder. I don't think they can come
>>> out of torpor immediately, can they?
>>> And at 6 degrees I wasn't loitering on my porch, I put the feeder up and
>>> the hummer arrived immediately.
>>>
>>> Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Bob OBrien Portland
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
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Date: 12/29/25 11:43 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Torpor in Hummers
Wow, I had never heard of anyone else who had such an experience.THANKS.
This was long ago and I do now have heated feeders.
Maybe going out of torpor at or before dawn is normal, even when it is not
so cold and even if there are not feeders available. In the wild, that
is. And I have had these feeders at night in the cold with the porch light
on. I wondered whether they would feed at night but didn't see it. But, I
could easily have missed it.
Bob
On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 10:42 PM Louise via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I had similar experiences to you, Bob. I would bring in my feeders at
> night when it was cold enough to freeze them, then put them out at the
> first hint of light, and I had hummers leap onto the feeder while it was
> still in my hand, before I could even hang it.
>
> Someone here on tweeters (I forget who) told me that in winter, the
> hummers will even wake from torpor and feed in the dark, so bringing the
> feeders in at night can be detrimental to them. So I bought one of the
> feeder heaters (one of the little lamp bulb versions that puts out just
> enough heat to stop it from freezing) and I always leave them out. This is
> the type I have - it just clips onto the bottom of the feeder. I only need
> it for about one week a year on our area, but it was cheap enough.
>
> Louise
>
> On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Over decades of birding I've experienced 'torpor' or 'not' twice. This
>> seems an appropriate time to discuss them for possible feedback.
>>
>> 1. I had a hummer feeder on my front porch. When I went to refill the
>> feeder I accidentally dropped and broke it. No backup. So I got an olive
>> jar about 2"x 4"deep, filled it with 'the, 'juice' and fashioned a way to
>> attach it. That worked fine. The male Rufous just landed on the edge and
>> sipped away. I sorta forgot about it, but one day, when I returned home, I
>> happened to glance at the jar and noticed an apparently dead male Rufous,
>> bill down in the jar, now empty of juice.. I guess it had to dip further
>> and further down, until it actually fell in. Oh, no. No idea how long it
>> had been in there, but I knew about torpor, so I cupped it in my hand for
>> warmth and went into the house. In 5-10 minutes I felt a 'stirring' 5 or
>> so minutes later, I released it back outside, apparently none the worse for
>> wear.. Great.
>>
>> But, conversely. Years ago, we had 3 or 4 nights here, SE of Portland,
>> with a low of 6 degrees F. I had a bona fide feeder back on the porch that
>> I took in during the night so it did not freeze. I got up each morning
>> when it was just barely light to replace the feeder in case any hummers
>> were surviving, which seemed unlikely. When I did this the first morning,
>> a female Anna's immediately flew up from low weeds on the ground 15 feet
>> away, and started partaking. This repeated the following two nights after
>> which it warmed up.
>> Now, this hummer was undoubtedly in Torpor (or not?) during the night,
>> aided likely by some amount of ground heat to prevent freezing, even in
>> Torpor. So,
>> 2. How did the hummer know to spend the night on the ground?
>> 3. How is it that the hummer was 'awake' at barely first light, as
>> though waiting for me to replace the feeder. I don't think they can come
>> out of torpor immediately, can they?
>> And at 6 degrees I wasn't loitering on my porch, I put the feeder up and
>> the hummer arrived immediately.
>>
>> Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Bob OBrien Portland
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
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Date: 12/29/25 10:53 pm From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Torpor in Hummers
I had similar experiences to you, Bob. I would bring in my feeders at night
when it was cold enough to freeze them, then put them out at the first hint
of light, and I had hummers leap onto the feeder while it was still in my
hand, before I could even hang it.
Someone here on tweeters (I forget who) told me that in winter, the hummers
will even wake from torpor and feed in the dark, so bringing the feeders in
at night can be detrimental to them. So I bought one of the feeder heaters
(one of the little lamp bulb versions that puts out just enough heat to
stop it from freezing) and I always leave them out. This is the type I have
- it just clips onto the bottom of the feeder. I only need it for about one
week a year on our area, but it was cheap enough.
Louise
On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Over decades of birding I've experienced 'torpor' or 'not' twice. This
> seems an appropriate time to discuss them for possible feedback.
>
> 1. I had a hummer feeder on my front porch. When I went to refill the
> feeder I accidentally dropped and broke it. No backup. So I got an olive
> jar about 2"x 4"deep, filled it with 'the, 'juice' and fashioned a way to
> attach it. That worked fine. The male Rufous just landed on the edge and
> sipped away. I sorta forgot about it, but one day, when I returned home, I
> happened to glance at the jar and noticed an apparently dead male Rufous,
> bill down in the jar, now empty of juice.. I guess it had to dip further
> and further down, until it actually fell in. Oh, no. No idea how long it
> had been in there, but I knew about torpor, so I cupped it in my hand for
> warmth and went into the house. In 5-10 minutes I felt a 'stirring' 5 or
> so minutes later, I released it back outside, apparently none the worse for
> wear.. Great.
>
> But, conversely. Years ago, we had 3 or 4 nights here, SE of Portland,
> with a low of 6 degrees F. I had a bona fide feeder back on the porch that
> I took in during the night so it did not freeze. I got up each morning
> when it was just barely light to replace the feeder in case any hummers
> were surviving, which seemed unlikely. When I did this the first morning,
> a female Anna's immediately flew up from low weeds on the ground 15 feet
> away, and started partaking. This repeated the following two nights after
> which it warmed up.
> Now, this hummer was undoubtedly in Torpor (or not?) during the night,
> aided likely by some amount of ground heat to prevent freezing, even in
> Torpor. So,
> 2. How did the hummer know to spend the night on the ground?
> 3. How is it that the hummer was 'awake' at barely first light, as though
> waiting for me to replace the feeder. I don't think they can come out of
> torpor immediately, can they?
> And at 6 degrees I wasn't loitering on my porch, I put the feeder up and
> the hummer arrived immediately.
>
> Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Bob OBrien Portland
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/29/25 10:45 pm From: Vincent Lucas via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] RFI Wilson Cady
Tweets:
Does anyone know what’s going on with Wilson Cady? He hasn’t posted
anything on Facebook nor have I seen any of his posts on Tweeters in quite
a while. Thanks.
Date: 12/29/25 8:46 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Samish Flats Eagles Galore
Hi,
It seemed like every other tree in the Samish Flats had a Bald Eagle
in it today!
Many times you could see more than one. Here's a link to just one photo I
took today - taken on the approach to Samish Island. I saw at least,
and perhaps as
many as 30 different Bald Eagles today. A few pairs but mostly alone.
No activity in
any of the nests that I saw.
The East 90 had about 20 photogs ... but no SEOWs and only one
Harrier in the
two hours I was there. I saw -one- SEOW out near where the eagle pic was
taken. LOTS of ducks this year - in the ditches and puddles and
temporary lakes.
Also lots of Trumpeters - even in Pond Sterling (pun intended).
Date: 12/29/25 4:41 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Torpor in Hummers
And a corollary: At 6 degrees night time low for several days it didn't
even get into the 20's during the day, although I don't recall the exact
details as this was decades ago..
On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 4:07 PM Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
> Over decades of birding I've experienced 'torpor' or 'not' twice. This
> seems an appropriate time to discuss them for possible feedback.
>
> 1. I had a hummer feeder on my front porch. When I went to refill the
> feeder I accidentally dropped and broke it. No backup. So I got an olive
> jar about 2"x 4"deep, filled it with 'the, 'juice' and fashioned a way to
> attach it. That worked fine. The male Rufous just landed on the edge and
> sipped away. I sorta forgot about it, but one day, when I returned home, I
> happened to glance at the jar and noticed an apparently dead male Rufous,
> bill down in the jar, now empty of juice.. I guess it had to dip further
> and further down, until it actually fell in. Oh, no. No idea how long it
> had been in there, but I knew about torpor, so I cupped it in my hand for
> warmth and went into the house. In 5-10 minutes I felt a 'stirring' 5 or
> so minutes later, I released it back outside, apparently none the worse for
> wear.. Great.
>
> But, conversely. Years ago, we had 3 or 4 nights here, SE of Portland,
> with a low of 6 degrees F. I had a bona fide feeder back on the porch that
> I took in during the night so it did not freeze. I got up each morning
> when it was just barely light to replace the feeder in case any hummers
> were surviving, which seemed unlikely. When I did this the first morning,
> a female Anna's immediately flew up from low weeds on the ground 15 feet
> away, and started partaking. This repeated the following two nights after
> which it warmed up.
> Now, this hummer was undoubtedly in Torpor (or not?) during the night,
> aided likely by some amount of ground heat to prevent freezing, even in
> Torpor. So,
> 2. How did the hummer know to spend the night on the ground?
> 3. How is it that the hummer was 'awake' at barely first light, as though
> waiting for me to replace the feeder. I don't think they can come out of
> torpor immediately, can they?
> And at 6 degrees I wasn't loitering on my porch, I put the feeder up and
> the hummer arrived immediately.
>
> Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Bob OBrien Portland
>
Date: 12/29/25 4:18 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Torpor in Hummers
Over decades of birding I've experienced 'torpor' or 'not' twice. This seems an appropriate time to discuss them for possible feedback.
1. I had a hummer feeder on my front porch. When I went to refill the feeder I accidentally dropped and broke it. No backup. So I got an olive jar about 2"x 4"deep, filled it with 'the, 'juice' and fashioned a way to attach it. That worked fine. The male Rufous just landed on the edge and sipped away. I sorta forgot about it, but one day, when I returned home, I happened to glance at the jar and noticed an apparently dead male Rufous, bill down in the jar, now empty of juice.. I guess it had to dip further and further down, until it actually fell in. Oh, no. No idea how long it had been in there, but I knew about torpor, so I cupped it in my hand for warmth and went into the house. In 5-10 minutes I felt a 'stirring' 5 or so minutes later, I released it back outside, apparently none the worse for wear.. Great.
But, conversely. Years ago, we had 3 or 4 nights here, SE of Portland, with a low of 6 degrees F. I had a bona fide feeder back on the porch that I took in during the night so it did not freeze. I got up each morning when it was just barely light to replace the feeder in case any hummers were surviving, which seemed unlikely. When I did this the first morning, a female Anna's immediately flew up from low weeds on the ground 15 feet away, and started partaking. This repeated the following two nights after which it warmed up. Now, this hummer was undoubtedly in Torpor (or not?) during the night, aided likely by some amount of ground heat to prevent freezing, even in Torpor. So, 2. How did the hummer know to spend the night on the ground? 3. How is it that the hummer was 'awake' at barely first light, as though waiting for me to replace the feeder. I don't think they can come out of torpor immediately, can they? And at 6 degrees I wasn't loitering on my porch, I put the feeder up and the hummer arrived immediately.
Date: 12/29/25 3:45 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Peaceful coexistence among Annas
Jon and Diane,
I agree with Dennis. I learned this at a workshop years ago in California,
that they will be seen in temporary "truce" at the first drink in the
morning and then just before dusk, for the reasons Dennis pointed out. It
is interesting that it also occurs in the crack of morning, but I suspect
that is because they are refueling after a night without nectar in torpor.
I found this information on AI.
Hummingbirds *don't* usually call a truce; they are intensely territorial,
but in early mornings and late evenings, their behavior shifts because they
need to focus on intense feeding (loading up on calories for the night/day)
and conserve energy, sometimes leading to a temporary "standoff" or less
aggressive sharing if they're too tired or realizing another feeder is
nearby, though guarding usually continues until they must rest. It's about
survival—maximizing energy intake when light is low and resting to avoid
depleting vital reserves, making them prioritize feeding over constant
fighting, though a tough defender might still chase rivals.
*Why the Change in Behavior?*
- *Temporary Lulls:* You might see multiple birds at a feeder for a few
minutes, but often, a dominant bird will start chasing others away again as
they finish feeding.
- *Increased Numbers:* With more hummingbirds around, they sometimes
form loose aggregations, but this doesn't negate their innate
territoriality, according to this Reddit thread
<https://www.reddit.com/r/hummingbirds/comments/13coq89/when_hummingbirds_call_a_truce/> .
-
Essentially, it's less a polite truce and more a strategic shift in focus
to essential energy acquisition before rest or the start of a busy day,
notes this YouTube video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7X8G_ejvM4>
On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 2:44 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Jon and Diane,
>
> I suspect it is because there is no further point in defending a food
> source when it is almost dark, and you won’t be feeding there again on this
> day. Flowers make new nectar during the night, so probably that’s why they
> are so programmed to relax aggression at that time. And hummingbird feeders
> almost always have nectar in them the next morning.
>
> We have seen this many times at our feeders toward the end of the day.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> On Dec 29, 2025, at 2:39 PM, Cooper PhD, Jonathan A via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hi Tweeters - Our hummingbird feeder is normally the scene of hot
> disputes, with a competitive male wasting no time to chase off other
> visitors. The other evening, in the half light, we were surprised to see
> not one but three, then four, Annas perched around the rim, one at each of
> the drinking holes. They took it in turns for one to drink while the other
> three watched, bills up. This went on for several minutes until it got too
> dark for us to see. Why such peaceful co-existence?
> Jon Cooper and Diane Doles
> Madrona
> <jcooper...>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 12/29/25 2:55 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Peaceful coexistence among Annas
Jon and Diane,
I suspect it is because there is no further point in defending a food source when it is almost dark, and you won’t be feeding there again on this day. Flowers make new nectar during the night, so probably that’s why they are so programmed to relax aggression at that time. And hummingbird feeders almost always have nectar in them the next morning.
We have seen this many times at our feeders toward the end of the day.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Dec 29, 2025, at 2:39 PM, Cooper PhD, Jonathan A via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hi Tweeters - Our hummingbird feeder is normally the scene of hot disputes, with a competitive male wasting no time to chase off other visitors. The other evening, in the half light, we were surprised to see not one but three, then four, Annas perched around the rim, one at each of the drinking holes. They took it in turns for one to drink while the other three watched, bills up. This went on for several minutes until it got too dark for us to see. Why such peaceful co-existence?
> Jon Cooper and Diane Doles
> Madrona
> <jcooper...> <mailto:<jcooper...> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters>
Date: 12/29/25 2:49 pm From: Cooper PhD, Jonathan A via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Peaceful coexistence among Annas
Hi Tweeters - Our hummingbird feeder is normally the scene of hot disputes, with a competitive male wasting no time to chase off other visitors. The other evening, in the half light, we were surprised to see not one but three, then four, Annas perched around the rim, one at each of the drinking holes. They took it in turns for one to drink while the other three watched, bills up. This went on for several minutes until it got too dark for us to see. Why such peaceful co-existence?
Jon Cooper and Diane Doles
Madrona
<jcooper...>
Date: 12/29/25 1:07 pm From: Judith A. Howard via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Varied Thrush on South Whidbeey
Noting Carol’s summary of recent varied thrush sightings, this morning I was delighted to see the first of the year for us in the Clinton area on Whidbey Island. Last year I never saw any, but in earlier years we would usually have at least ten, often more. It was a thrill to see one back. Hopefully more are on the way.
Joseph and I are staying in an airbnb in Magnolia, Seattle until we leave for England. This morning, Joseph spotted a woodpecker from the window, so I dug out my binoculars, stepped outside the door, and pished for about five seconds. Immediately, TWELVE species of birds popped up! I have never had such a successful response to pishing.
By the way, the bird-and-word quiz now has 147 birds. Have fun!
Date: 12/28/25 6:08 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: YBLO @ Semiahmoo
Good news from Stephen Chase to follow up my post on Yellow-billed Loons.
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Stephen Chase <schase...>
> Subject: YBLO @ Semiahmoo
> Date: December 28, 2025 at 10:59:17 AM PST
> To: <dennispaulson...>
>
> Hi Dennis,
>
> I'm no longer subscribed to Tweeters, but I lurk on the Archives every now and then. I saw your post regarding the YBLO(s?) at Semiahmoo.
>
> My son Josiah and I covered the Drayton Harbor of Semiahmoo Spit for the White Rock CBC, and around 10:00 had excellent views of the YBLO. We saw one again around 10:40 about 100 yards to the northwest. Like you, I wondered if it may have been a different bird, as it had a noticeably denser-patterned back than the initial sighting. I'm now quite convinced there are two wintering YBLOs in the channel between Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor. There were a number of birders and photographers on both sides of the channel, so if some photos get published to eBird, they might serve well to settle the question.
>
> Anyways, I can confirm that one YBLO was successfully located, photographed, and added to the database for the White Rock CBC.
>
> Feel free to share this publicly on Tweeters if you feel it useful.
>
> Thanks,
> Stephen Chase
Date: 12/28/25 3:07 pm From: Dee Dee via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] FOS Yellow-rump & a Lesser Goldfinch yet again
This morning (Sunday 28 Dec) was a great “out the kitchen window” bird morning for me. Finally had a FOS Yellow-rumped Warbler briefly at the suet feeder just after 9am (a few less-than-stellar photos but good enough for ID purposes). I have missed the bright warblers so far this late Fall-into-Winter season and was happy to see one.
About 10 minutes before noon, glimpsed a male Lesser Goldfinch on seed feeder. It was quickly spooked away with all the various other birds but—Yay!—returned shortly for another typically short visit, but at least I was able to get better pics.
They will be posted to eBird when I get time.
Happy end-of-year birding…and I always look forward to seeing the FOY posts as the New Year begins.
Dee W
Edmonds
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/28/25 1:09 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fall Varied Thrushes in Edmonds
Hi Tweets,
I saw my first Varied Thrush of fall at Edmonds marsh, 10-4-25. I then saw two in Southwest County Park, 11-3-25. One thrush was reported in Yost Park, 11-12-25. There have been six reports in Pine Ridge Park between 11-15 and 12-20-25. Personally, I have yet to see or hear any in that park this fall/early winter. There was a report of one thrush in Hickman Park, 11-30-25. I don’t see any yard reports on an Edmonds eBird species map yet.
Date: 12/27/25 9:07 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bird Brains
On 12/27/2025 8:43 PM, Jim Betz wrote:
> Robert,
>
> Here is the link to the youtube video I posted before ...
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlnioeAtloY >> Message: 3
>> Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:20:48 +0000 (UTC)
>> From: rrowland via Tweeters <tweeters...>
>> To: <tweeters...>,
>> <tweeters-request...>
>> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] bird behavior - Jim in Skagit
>> Message-ID: <583274464.2350370.1766784048892...>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>> Hi Jim,
>> Thanks for your ruminations regarding bird behavior. I especially
>> like that you are considering individuals and their behavior and not
>> grouping species as a whole.Can you post the you tube video
>> link?again, that you referenced?
>> Robert?
Date: 12/27/25 5:33 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow-billed Loon(s?) at Blaine, Semiahmoo
Hello tweets,
Netta and I visited Blane and Semiahmoo Spit today (12/27), as much as anything to see if we could get photos of a Yellow-billed Loon that people had been reporting on eBird as “at close range.” As far as I recalled, it had been seen at Semiahmoo only.
We got to Blaine and were watching birds from the pier at the end of the road, talking to a group who were conducting the White Rock Christmas Bird Count. They had not seen a YBLO from there. As we were talking to them, a loon surfaced with a fish right in front of us, and I photographed it quickly before it dove again. We didn’t see it again.
We drove over to the opposite side, spent quite a bit of time watching the water at the end of the spit, where another group of people had just spotted a YBLO. Finally, the loon surfaced in front of us and quickly dove, but not before I got a few photos. It stayed underwater much longer than the Common Loons, of which there were quite a few in sight, and we only had it close to us that one time. We saw it surface three times, each time surprisingly distant from where it dove, certainly at least several hundred feet.
Now home and looking at our photos, I see the the one I photographed was also a Yellow-billed! It came up and went down so fast that all I could do was snap the photos, and because no Yellow-billed had been seen from there by this diligent group, I just presumed it was one of the Commons among several that were feeding nearby. It could just be the lighting, but I suspect they were two different birds, as the barring on the upperparts looks wider in the Semiahmoo bird. The photos were taken two hours apart, so there was plenty of time for the Blaine bird to have moved across the channel. But I don’t know why it would have.
At least now I understand why we didn’t see the Blaine loon again.
I’m writing this in part because the CBC group hadn’t seen a Yellow-billed, and if anyone on tweeters knows anyone who was on that count, it would be good to let them know.
Point well taken about lack of siskins on your feeder Frank!
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Sat, Dec 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM Stef Neis <stef...> wrote:
> We have had a pair of varied thrush here for about 2 weeks now. They, a
> red-breasted sapsucker and other have been gleaning the last of the King
> apples from our tree here. Now the pair are hanging out with the juncos
> and towhees by the feeder.
> Stef Neis
> Whidbey Island
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Dec 26, 2025, at 11:47 PM, Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Very interesting Chuq! Maybe the lack of snow kept them higher up, but
> with the snowfall now, they are starting to move downhill. We are almost at
> sea level and you are higher up and saw the thrushes earlier! We also get a
> pair of Downy Woodpecker almost daily, Flickers daily and also a female
> Townsend’s Warbler. Also loads of juncos, both chickadees (more
> Chest-nutbackeds)RB Nuthatches and lots of House Finches. I do not have Fox
> Sparrows, but have at least Half a dozen Golden-crowned Sparrows in the
> neighborhood.
>
> Good Birding!
> Hans
>
> *Hans Feddern*
> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> <thefedderns...>
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM Chuq Von Rospach <chuqvr...>
> wrote:
>
>> On Dec 26, 2025 at 22:06:16, Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> I saw my first-of-season Varied Thrush this morning. It was loosely
>>> associating with a flock of 20 + American Robins at the Dumas Bay
>>> Centre/Knudzen Theater here in Federal Way. I was just thinking the other
>>> day that I had not seen anyVaried Trush yet or seen any reported! I am also
>>> wondering if about any Pine Siskin sightings ?
>>>
>>
>> We live at about 500’ elevation above Silverdale on the way towards
>> Seabeck on about 4 acres of mostly pine/cedar/hemlock. We’ve gotten varied
>> thrush here every winter, usually run early-mid December. We saw our first
>> one about ten days ago, and so far this winter we’ve only seen a single
>> bird twice a few days apart. So from my view, they’re kind of around but by
>> now we usually have 5-7 being skittish and trying not to be seen.
>>
>> Our annual fox sparrow showed up about the normal time (we actually have
>> two!). The Robins have gone downhill, although one or two single birds
>> might still be around, we normally lose them in November and don’t see them
>> until they migrate uphill to announce that it’s spring. Overall, our bird
>> population is about normal this winter (but no white-throated —we’ve seen
>> them a couple of times but not every year). On the plus side, we have a
>> female Downy at the feeders every day or two, to go with our Hairy, a few
>> flickers and the local Pileated, so I’m not complaining. Lots of Juncos,
>> chickadees (no chestnut this winter), spotted towhees and red-breasted
>> nuthatches to keep the feeders busy.
>>
>> My wife told me the other day she saw what she believes is a leucistic
>> black-capped at the feeder. I’m now keeping an eye out for it to confirm.
>> Will hopefully get pictures.
>>
>> Chuq
>>
>> ---------------------------------------
>>
>> Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
>> Silverdale, Washington
>> Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
>>
>> Email me at: <chuqvr...>
>> Mastodon: @<chuqvr...>
>>
>> Stay Updated with what I'm doing: https://www.chuq.me/6fps/ >> My latest e-book: https://www.chuq.me/ebooks >>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Date: 12/27/25 12:05 am From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOS Varied Trish
On Dec 26, 2025 at 23:45:11, Hans-Joachim Feddern <thefedderns...>
wrote:
> Very interesting Chuq! Maybe the lack of snow kept them higher up, but
> with the snowfall now, they are starting to move downhill. We are almost at
> sea level and you are higher up and saw the thrushes earlier! We also get a
> pair of Downy Woodpecker almost daily, Flickers daily and also a female
> Townsend’s Warbler. Also loads of juncos, both chickadees (more
> Chest-nutbackeds)RB Nuthatches and lots of House Finches. I do not have Fox
> Sparrows, but have at least Half a dozen Golden-crowned Sparrows in the
> neighborhood.
>
We’re generally good for one or two snowfalls that stick. Often enough that
I did hire a plow service this year (that I discovered this year) and have
considered buying a plow for the truck, but not so often that we’re
actually cut off from the outside world (the plowing is more for the
delivery trucks, and one winter we almost had a FedEx guy for an extended
stay…)
Crowned sparrows are quite unusual here for some reason (same for house
finches; we have purple breed here in summer). Other things we almost never
see are house sparrows and starlings. I had a feeling this place was good
bird habitat when we decided to buy it, and I was right — the yard list is
at a whopping 78 species since 2021, although that includes a few fun weird
things like a flyover ringed-neck duck…And we finally had a red-breasted
sapsucker migrate through, so we are officially a five woodpecker location.
I’ve documented 9-10 species breeding here and likely another maybe 5, so I
can’t complain about this place and how birdy it is…
Chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Very interesting Chuq! Maybe the lack of snow kept them higher up, but with
the snowfall now, they are starting to move downhill. We are almost at sea
level and you are higher up and saw the thrushes earlier! We also get a
pair of Downy Woodpecker almost daily, Flickers daily and also a female
Townsend’s Warbler. Also loads of juncos, both chickadees (more
Chest-nutbackeds)RB Nuthatches and lots of House Finches. I do not have Fox
Sparrows, but have at least Half a dozen Golden-crowned Sparrows in the
neighborhood.
Good Birding!
Hans
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
On Fri, Dec 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM Chuq Von Rospach <chuqvr...> wrote:
> On Dec 26, 2025 at 22:06:16, Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> I saw my first-of-season Varied Thrush this morning. It was loosely
>> associating with a flock of 20 + American Robins at the Dumas Bay
>> Centre/Knudzen Theater here in Federal Way. I was just thinking the other
>> day that I had not seen anyVaried Trush yet or seen any reported! I am also
>> wondering if about any Pine Siskin sightings ?
>>
>
> We live at about 500’ elevation above Silverdale on the way towards
> Seabeck on about 4 acres of mostly pine/cedar/hemlock. We’ve gotten varied
> thrush here every winter, usually run early-mid December. We saw our first
> one about ten days ago, and so far this winter we’ve only seen a single
> bird twice a few days apart. So from my view, they’re kind of around but by
> now we usually have 5-7 being skittish and trying not to be seen.
>
> Our annual fox sparrow showed up about the normal time (we actually have
> two!). The Robins have gone downhill, although one or two single birds
> might still be around, we normally lose them in November and don’t see them
> until they migrate uphill to announce that it’s spring. Overall, our bird
> population is about normal this winter (but no white-throated —we’ve seen
> them a couple of times but not every year). On the plus side, we have a
> female Downy at the feeders every day or two, to go with our Hairy, a few
> flickers and the local Pileated, so I’m not complaining. Lots of Juncos,
> chickadees (no chestnut this winter), spotted towhees and red-breasted
> nuthatches to keep the feeders busy.
>
> My wife told me the other day she saw what she believes is a leucistic
> black-capped at the feeder. I’m now keeping an eye out for it to confirm.
> Will hopefully get pictures.
>
> Chuq
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
> Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
> Silverdale, Washington
> Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
>
> Email me at: <chuqvr...>
> Mastodon: @<chuqvr...>
>
> Stay Updated with what I'm doing: https://www.chuq.me/6fps/ > My latest e-book: https://www.chuq.me/ebooks >
>
>
Date: 12/26/25 11:27 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOS Varied Trish
On Dec 26, 2025 at 22:06:16, Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I saw my first-of-season Varied Thrush this morning. It was loosely
> associating with a flock of 20 + American Robins at the Dumas Bay
> Centre/Knudzen Theater here in Federal Way. I was just thinking the other
> day that I had not seen anyVaried Trush yet or seen any reported! I am also
> wondering if about any Pine Siskin sightings ?
>
We live at about 500’ elevation above Silverdale on the way towards Seabeck
on about 4 acres of mostly pine/cedar/hemlock. We’ve gotten varied thrush
here every winter, usually run early-mid December. We saw our first one
about ten days ago, and so far this winter we’ve only seen a single bird
twice a few days apart. So from my view, they’re kind of around but by now
we usually have 5-7 being skittish and trying not to be seen.
Our annual fox sparrow showed up about the normal time (we actually have
two!). The Robins have gone downhill, although one or two single birds
might still be around, we normally lose them in November and don’t see them
until they migrate uphill to announce that it’s spring. Overall, our bird
population is about normal this winter (but no white-throated —we’ve seen
them a couple of times but not every year). On the plus side, we have a
female Downy at the feeders every day or two, to go with our Hairy, a few
flickers and the local Pileated, so I’m not complaining. Lots of Juncos,
chickadees (no chestnut this winter), spotted towhees and red-breasted
nuthatches to keep the feeders busy.
My wife told me the other day she saw what she believes is a leucistic
black-capped at the feeder. I’m now keeping an eye out for it to confirm.
Will hopefully get pictures.
Chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
I saw my first-of-season Varied Thrush this morning. It was loosely associating with a flock of 20 + American Robins at the Dumas Bay Centre/Knudzen Theater here in Federal Way. I was just thinking the other day that I had not seen anyVaried Trush yet or seen any reported! I am also wondering if about any Pine Siskin sightings ?
Good Birding!
Hans
*Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA <thefedderns...>
Date: 12/26/25 5:34 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Port Townsend Christmas Bird Count 2025 Summary
Steve, thanks for this accounting, very enjoyable to read and contemplate, especially from the warmth of home.-;)
And thanks to Bob Boekelheide as well for the same report from Sequim-Dungeness. That whole shoreline is really a wonderful destination for birds and birders.
We have more juncos in our yard than ever before, and it’s so nice to see large numbers of birds of so many species on our CBCs and in our yards in the midst of the overall declines of bird populations. It’s also rewarding to hear of so many people participating in what is one of the longest-running and most important efforts to keep collecting data on those populations.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Dec 26, 2025, at 5:02 PM, Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Port Townsend Christmas Bird Count 2025 Summary
> sponsored by Rainshadow Bird Alliance
>
> By Steve Hampton
>
> The 49th Port Townsend Christmas Bird Count, held on December 20, 2025, was breezy but dry. Temps hovered around freezing in the starlit dawn sky, and rose into the mid-40s with a solid to hazy overcast. The winds didn’t relax until late, but were limited to exposed sites, mostly on the east side. The boat went forth, with some delay, into some difficult seas.
>
> The count set records in many categories. We ended up with 126 species, edging the all-time high, set two years ago, by one bird. Participation was also a record, with 115 participants, a number that includes 22 feeder watchers at 18 feeders. The previous high was 104 participants, set last year. The field teams put in 183 party hours, significantly higher than the old record of 153, set two years ago. The teams included four young birders, aged 9 to 13, each of whom walked many miles. Lifers were had.
>
> Together, we traveled 89 miles on foot and 221 miles by car. Area A – Port Townsend to Kala Point – had 11 teams in the field, mostly on foot, and accounted for about half the party hours. No turnstone was left unturned.
>
> The count featured some heroic efforts. Ali Kasperzak braved the winds at the Flagler Spit to examine each shorebird and gull, ultimately picking out and photographing our only Herring Gull. Tina Roumi came off the bench from Sequim to fill in for Barry McKenzie (on loan to Sevilla) at Fort Worden; she put in 9.5 hours and logged 75 species, in what appears to be the largest eBird checklist ever for Jefferson County. Finally, kudos to Jim Norris, who stepped up to provide a boat for the offshore survey. Bob Boekelheide reported 4-foot seas in Oak Bay, with spray over the whole deck. To give you an idea of the conditions, this veteran seabird ornithologist reported slight queasiness for the first time in years. He did notch the count’s only Black Scoter.
>
> Brian Ellis again had access to Indian Island. When he texted me “NSTR,” I thought he’d found a rare Asian vagrant - is there a Northern Short-tailed Redstart? Alas, it turned out that the Navy in an acronym-rich environment, and he was merely indicating no heart-stopping rarities.
>
> Statistically, the rarest species on the count was American Pipit, three of which were found on the beach at Kala Point. The only previous count record comes from 1977, on the very first Port Townsend CBC. Other highlights included two Northern Shrikes (one each in Center and Beaver Valleys), the continuing Rough-legged Hawk in Center Valley, the Rock Sandpiper at Flagler, and the seven Western Meadowlarks at Pt Wilson. The feeder watchers again provided the count’s only White-throated Sparrow, as well as 10 to 20% of many backyard species.
>
> In addition to the 126 species, we just missed seven more: Wood Duck, Short-tailed Shearwater, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Barn Owl, American Dipper, Barn Swallow, and Evening Grosbeak. These will go down as “count week” birds, as they were seen within three days of the count in either direction. Several of these are very rare on the count, and the Barn Swallow is a first.
>
> Record high counts were set for a whopping 24 species. These were:
>
> Common Merganser (371 > 224)
> Pied-billed Grebe (36 > 25)
> Red-tailed Hawk (25 > 23)
> Eurasian Collared-Dove (62 > 57)
> Great Horned Owl (3 > 2)
> Anna’s Hummingbird (193 > 171)
> Belted Kingfisher (39 > 38)
> Downy Woodpecker (39 > 24)
> Hairy Woodpecker (39 > 22)
> Northern Flicker (206 > 118)
> Pileated Woodpecker (14 > 9)
> American Kestrel (7 > 6)
> Black-capped Chickadee (381 > 292)
> Red-breasted Nuthatch (174 > 123)
> Brown Creeper (41 > 24)
> Pacific Wren (202 > 112)
> Marsh Wren (18 > 16)
> Bewick’s Wren (51 > 46)
> American Robin (2147 > 1835)
> Dark-eyed Junco (1483 > 1342)
> Golden-crowned Sparrow (400 > 336)
> Spotted Towhee (306 > 237)
> Western Meadowlark (7 > 5)
> House Finch (530 > 448)
>
> The primary metric for analyzing CBC data is birds per party hour. When adjusted for party hours, all of these records disappear except for Hairy Woodpecker! Interestingly, hummingbirds per party hour have been relatively constant since 2016.
>
> There were no record low counts, though 21 Pine Siskins was the 2nd lowest ever, and well below the average of 463. They are likely enjoying the winter elsewhere.
>
> We also capped the day with the Compilation Potluck at the Rosewind Common Room. Thanks to all the area leaders and participants! In 2026, we hope to add more opportunities for new participants!
>
>
> --
> Steve Hampton
> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/26/25 5:13 pm From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Port Townsend Christmas Bird Count 2025 Summary
Port Townsend Christmas Bird Count 2025 Summary
sponsored by Rainshadow Bird Alliance
By Steve Hampton
The 49th Port Townsend Christmas Bird Count, held on December 20, 2025, was
breezy but dry. Temps hovered around freezing in the starlit dawn sky, and
rose into the mid-40s with a solid to hazy overcast. The winds didn’t relax
until late, but were limited to exposed sites, mostly on the east side. The
boat went forth, with some delay, into some difficult seas.
The count set records in many categories. We ended up with 126 species,
edging the all-time high, set two years ago, by one bird. Participation was
also a record, with 115 participants, a number that includes 22 feeder
watchers at 18 feeders. The previous high was 104 participants, set last
year. The field teams put in 183 party hours, significantly higher than the
old record of 153, set two years ago. The teams included four young
birders, aged 9 to 13, each of whom walked many miles. Lifers were had.
Together, we traveled 89 miles on foot and 221 miles by car. Area A – Port
Townsend to Kala Point – had 11 teams in the field, mostly on foot, and
accounted for about half the party hours. No turnstone was left unturned.
The count featured some heroic efforts. Ali Kasperzak braved the winds at
the Flagler Spit to examine each shorebird and gull, ultimately picking out
and photographing our only Herring Gull. Tina Roumi came off the bench from
Sequim to fill in for Barry McKenzie (on loan to Sevilla) at Fort Worden;
she put in 9.5 hours and logged 75 species, in what appears to be the
largest eBird checklist ever for Jefferson County. Finally, kudos to Jim
Norris, who stepped up to provide a boat for the offshore survey. Bob
Boekelheide reported 4-foot seas in Oak Bay, with spray over the whole
deck. To give you an idea of the conditions, this veteran seabird
ornithologist reported slight queasiness for the first time in years. He
did notch the count’s only Black Scoter.
Brian Ellis again had access to Indian Island. When he texted me “NSTR,” I
thought he’d found a rare Asian vagrant - is there a Northern Short-tailed
Redstart? Alas, it turned out that the Navy in an acronym-rich environment,
and he was merely indicating no heart-stopping rarities.
Statistically, the rarest species on the count was American Pipit, three of
which were found on the beach at Kala Point. The only previous count record
comes from 1977, on the very first Port Townsend CBC. Other highlights
included two Northern Shrikes (one each in Center and Beaver Valleys), the
continuing Rough-legged Hawk in Center Valley, the Rock Sandpiper at
Flagler, and the seven Western Meadowlarks at Pt Wilson. The feeder
watchers again provided the count’s only White-throated Sparrow, as well as
10 to 20% of many backyard species.
In addition to the 126 species, we just missed seven more: Wood Duck,
Short-tailed Shearwater, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Barn Owl, American
Dipper, Barn Swallow, and Evening Grosbeak. These will go down as “count
week” birds, as they were seen within three days of the count in either
direction. Several of these are very rare on the count, and the Barn
Swallow is a first.
Record high counts were set for a whopping 24 species. These were:
The primary metric for analyzing CBC data is birds per party hour. When
adjusted for party hours, all of these records disappear except for Hairy
Woodpecker! Interestingly, hummingbirds per party hour have been relatively
constant since 2016.
There were no record low counts, though 21 Pine Siskins was the 2nd lowest
ever, and well below the average of 463. They are likely enjoying the
winter elsewhere.
We also capped the day with the Compilation Potluck at the Rosewind Common
Room. Thanks to all the area leaders and participants! In 2026, we hope to
add more opportunities for new participants!
Date: 12/26/25 3:38 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Nisqually Wednesday in December
Ken, thanks for your lengthy narrative. And kudos to all of you who went out in that kind of weather to look for those birds!
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast dot net
> On Dec 26, 2025, at 12:05 PM, Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> 'Twas the day before Christmas. The newly declared federal holiday meant the Refuge staff had the day off. Many of the usual suspects took a pass on the walk, possibly in anticipation of bad weather or holiday obligations. A small group ( 9 to start, 12 total) gathered this cool and cloudy morning. Birding started slow, a lone Bufflehead on the pond, overhead, American crows flew west, as we entered the play area, a Red-tailed Hawk followed a similar path. Three Common Mergansers flew south. In a bare tree near the Land Trust building, a Red-breasted Sapsucker. tended its neat rows of bark cavities shadowed by an Anna's Hummingbird checking behind, hoping to benefit from the Sapsucker's labor.
>
> In the "Forbidden Pond" west of the entrance road, a drake Eurasian Wigeon was escorted by a half dozen American Wigeon and two Mallards. Golden-crowned Sparrows and a Spotted Towhee worked the leaf litter on the east side of the entrance road, a pair of Downy Woodpecker were busy in a Cottonwood tree near the intersection with the service road. Mallards , Wigeon, and Northern Shovelers slowly meandered the flooded field south of the bend in the service road In the brush west of the north parking lot were Black-capped Chickadees, a Spotted Towhee, and Golden-crowned Kinglets. A Great Blue Heron stood sentry on the road bisecting the field, ignoring the American Robins and Northern Flickers between itself and us. To the south, the pond held more of the same ducks, on the north side a male Red-winged Blackbird watched the same three Tundra Swans seen last week, a few American Coots, and more ducks.
>
> Along the trail on the west side of the pond a couple Pied-billed Grebes and a Marsh Wren first caught our attention, a Virginia Rail called, Song, Golden-crowned and Fox Sparrows were in the brush on the other side, as were Bewick's, and Pacific Wrens. Several Ring-necked Ducks swam in and out of view at the grassy north end of the pond. The trail to the north was still indefinitely blocked, so back to the service road. Canada and Cackling geese held the grassy shore while the ducks, Swans, and Coots occupied the water. Light rain had been falling sporadically, now it began to increase. On the platform by the Twin Barns, while we snacked, a male American Kestrel flew in and landed on top of a owl entrance box, on the barns west side, carrying it's own snack, a small bird, species undetermined, but soon determinedly dismantled.. Some of us worried about the Kestrel's exposure to Avian Influenza, given its diet and proximity to the site of the Barn Owl's demise.
>
> Out on the dike, the rain a bit steadier, a few Bald Eagles dotted the trees along the Nisqually River. The surge plain a mix of water and exposed mud, was populated by ducks, mostly Wigeon and Green-winged Teal, and Gulls, mostly Ring-billed and Short-billed. A Northern Harrier sat on the ground, distant enough that we could not see what held it's attention. A small flock of Bushtits flitted through the short alders on the north side . As expected, once we cleared the shelter of the willows, the wind increased, the rain hit harder. Our group shrunk by half, we moved a bit quicker out to the covered platform at the start of the McAllister Creek boardwalk. The creek was sparsely dotted with Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Surf Scoters and the dark lumps of Harbor Seal heads. A smallish flock of Least Sandpipers flashed through, a few Greater Yellowlegs stalked the shore. From the gated north end a Common Loon was out off Luhr Beach, as were Red-breasted Mergansers, more Bufflehead and Surf Scoters. Brandt's Cormorants held the Channel Marker out on the reach, Double-crested Cormorants, closer in on piling and in the water. The rain had tapered off by the time we turned around to head back to the dike, a blue patch of sky visible far to the south.
>
> Back on the dike, a young Harrier perched on a snag in the freshwater marsh. In the wind shadow of the Willows a number of Golden-crowned Sparrows were accompanied by a White-crowned Sparrow and a White-throated Sparrow. At the Nisqually River overlook, the river high and muddy, though a bit less than last week, a couple Common Merganser drakes swam in the murky water. A California Sea Lion made brief appearances and large wakes on the waters surface, presumable hunting the winter run of Chum Salmon. A Harbor Seal also hunted but warily kept its distance from the much larger animal. South along the east side of the loop trail were Black-capped and Chestnut backed Chickadees, Brown Creepers, Pacific Wrens. By the time we returned to the Visitors Center the sky had mostly cleared and the weather was fine. See the checklist below:
>
>
> Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
> Dec 24, 2025 7:55 AM - 1:52 PM
> Protocol: Traveling
> 2.424 mile(s)
> Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. The walk began on a calm, Overcast, 39º F morning with a south breeze increasing to 3-8 knots and rain showers developing by noon. We finished the walk with clearing skies and temperatures to 45º F. A +14.8-foot high tide at 09:10 a.m. ebbed to a +7.3-foot high at 3:15 p.m. Mammals seen included eastern grey squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, and eastern cottontail. There were Harbor Seals in McAllister Creek, and seals and California Sea Lions hunting chum salmon in the Nisqually River.
>
> Total Time = 8 hrs 22 minutes
> Total Distance = 5.32 miles
> 60 species (+4 other taxa)
>
> Cackling Goose (minima) 830
> Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 4
> Canada Goose 35
> Tundra Swan 3 Pen, cob, and cygnet
> Northern Shoveler 75
> Gadwall 8
> Eurasian Wigeon 1
> American Wigeon 1530
> Mallard 155
> Northern Pintail 145
> Green-winged Teal 450
> Ring-necked Duck 8 Visitors' Center Pond
> Surf Scoter 40 McAllister Creek and Nisqually Reach
> Bufflehead 85
> Common Goldeneye 24 McAllister Creek and Nisqually Reach
> Hooded Merganser 1 McAllister Creek
> Common Merganser 5 Three flying upriver over orchard area; 2 drakes at Nisqually River overlook
> Red-breasted Merganser 9 McAllister Creek and Nisqually Reach
> Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 21 Entrance gate
> Anna's Hummingbird 2 One was getting 'nectar' from sapsucker holes near the Land Trust office
> Virginia Rail 1 Vocalizing from visitors' center pond
> American Coot 9
> Greater Yellowlegs 38
> Least Sandpiper 32 One flock on McAllister Creek
> Short-billed Gull 70
> Ring-billed Gull 35
> Glaucous-winged Gull 2
> Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 5
> Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 25
> Pied-billed Grebe 2 Visitors' center pond
> Common Loon 1 Nisqually Reach
> Brandt's Cormorant 11 Nisqually Reach channel marker
> Double-crested Cormorant 15
> Great Blue Heron 13
> Northern Harrier 2 Adult female & immature
> Bald Eagle 13
> Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 3
> Belted Kingfisher 3
> Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Land Trust pear tree
> Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 4
> Hairy Woodpecker 2
> Northern Flicker 4
> Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 3
> American Kestrel 1 Carrying a small bird as prey to the twin barns
> American Crow 135
> Black-capped Chickadee 20
> Chestnut-backed Chickadee 12
> Bushtit (Pacific) 6
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7
> Golden-crowned Kinglet 15
> Brown Creeper 6
> Pacific Wren 2
> Marsh Wren 7
> Bewick's Wren 2
> European Starling 95
> American Robin 10
> Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 5
> Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1
> White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 1
> Golden-crowned Sparrow 35
> White-throated Sparrow 1 Tan striped
> Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 25
> Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 8
> Red-winged Blackbird 30
>
> View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S290080197 <https://ebird.org/checklist/S290080197> >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/26/25 1:37 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bird Brains - Revisited
Jim,
Thanks for the good thoughts. I always hope that birders spend time watching bird behavior, which indeed can be individual, just as in people. They probably are hardwired to do many of the things they do, but there is plenty of latitude for making their own decisions.
Dennis Paulson Seattle dennispaulson at comcast dot net
> On Dec 26, 2025, at 9:46 AM, Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote: > > Hi again, > > I've been mulling this topic over - pretty much continuously since I was > re-invigorated by the youtube video I posted previously. So what I'm > thinking now is that bird behavior is a curious/fascinating mix of both > instinctual and situational thinking. > > On the instinctual side are things such as migration and courting - but I'm > thinking it is primarily related to those behaviors on a 'grand (global?) scale. > For instance - whether or not a particular species migrates - or doesn't ... etc. > But, there is considerable situational thinking with respect to when the > bird migrates or an individual bird's courting dance. > > We've often heard that most bird behavior is related to 1) availability of food, > 2) sex, and 3) territory. While I agree with that - I also recognize that there is a > lot of situational thinking ... for example, the trumpeter swans leave whereever > they spent the night and come to the fields we look out over ... but they don't > simply 'return to the same field they were at yesterday' - they seem to select > where they will land as they are flying in. Do they "see" the potatoes or do > they "smell" them? There is considerable variation in which field will be used > on any given day. But they also don't go to one particular field (that they were > at yesterday) and pick somewhere else "today" ... and then return to that > prior field a few days later. There is -some- movement in the middle of the > day ... but primarily if they choose a field they are there the entire day. Some > small percentage of birds will leave an individual field in the late morning - and > some move to that same field in the same time frame ... so there are choices > being made and individual birds (or small groups) are choosing to move. > There ae similar behaviors for other bird species - but always with a certain > number of individual birds making their own "situational" choices in any > given day. > > I'm a birding photographer. One thing that is apparent to me is that > individual birds of the same species can have huge differences in terms > of how they tolerate (or don't) humans near them. Some birds will > fly off much sooner than others. Some even seem to pretty much > ignore the presence of humans - witness the Short-eared Owls at the > East 90 which almost seem to not care about the photogs crowding > very close to them to get that 'perfect' shot. Sometimes. > > From where I'm standing - it seems like a huge part of this phenomenon > is our (humans) tendency to try to overlay Human intelligence/behavior > on other species. I often hear people explaining bird behavior based > upon how a human would think/behave ... rather than simply observing > and describing the behavior(s) - and trying to see patterns in the way the > birds they see are behaving that are repeated over and over again. And > then, after considerable different observations have been made ... making > "sense" out of it. > - Jim in Skagit > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/26/25 1:31 pm From: rrowland via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] bird behavior - Jim in Skagit
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your ruminations regarding bird behavior. I especially like that you are considering individuals and their behavior and not grouping species as a whole.Can you post the you tube video link again, that you referenced?
Robert
Hi again,
I've been mulling this topic over - pretty much continuously since I was
re-invigorated by the youtube video I posted previously. So what I'm
thinking now is that bird behavior is a curious/fascinating mix of both
instinctual and situational thinking.
On the instinctual side are things such as migration and courting -
but I'm
thinking it is primarily related to those behaviors on a 'grand
(global?) scale.
For instance - whether or not a particular species migrates - or doesn't
... etc.
But, there is considerable situational thinking with respect to when the
bird migrates or an individual bird's courting dance.
We've often heard that most bird behavior is related to 1)
availability of food,
2) sex, and 3) territory. While I agree with that - I also recognize
that there is a
lot of situational thinking ... for example, the trumpeter swans leave
whereever
they spent the night and come to the fields we look out over ... but
they don't
simply 'return to the same field they were at yesterday' - they seem to
select
where they will land as they are flying in. Do they "see" the potatoes
or do
they "smell" them? There is considerable variation in which field will
be used
on any given day. But they also don't go to one particular field (that
they were
at yesterday) and pick somewhere else "today" ... and then return to that
prior field a few days later. There is -some- movement in the middle of the
day ... but primarily if they choose a field they are there the entire
day. Some
small percentage of birds will leave an individual field in the late
morning - and
some move to that same field in the same time frame ... so there are choices
being made and individual birds (or small groups) are choosing to move.
There ae similar behaviors for other bird species - but always with a
certain
number of individual birds making their own "situational" choices in any
given day.
I'm a birding photographer. One thing that is apparent to me is that
individual birds of the same species can have huge differences in terms
of how they tolerate (or don't) humans near them. Some birds will
fly off much sooner than others. Some even seem to pretty much
ignore the presence of humans - witness the Short-eared Owls at the
East 90 which almost seem to not care about the photogs crowding
very close to them to get that 'perfect' shot. Sometimes.
From where I'm standing - it seems like a huge part of this phenomenon
is our (humans) tendency to try to overlay Human intelligence/behavior
on other species. I often hear people explaining bird behavior based
upon how a human would think/behave ... rather than simply observing
and describing the behavior(s) - and trying to see patterns in the way the
birds they see are behaving that are repeated over and over again. And
then, after considerable different observations have been made ... making
"sense" out of it.
- Jim in Skagit
Date: 12/26/25 1:29 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2025-12-26
Tweets - During predawn and for the first 1.5 hours of the survey, the weather was rather pleasant. We even had some sun. Quite birdy too. After that, we had little bits of precipitation with gray clouds, and increasing wind. Still not terrible, especially for December; with temps either side of 40 degrees this morning. Floodwaters are receding, but the south end of the Dog Area and the boardwalk are still closed.
Highlights: Seven species of ducks in the slough below the weir Anna's Hummingbird - gorgeous male south of the East Meadow; our first Anna's in five weeks (there is no longer a feeder at the park office) Barred Owl - Tony had one pre-dawn in the south end of the park Merlin - One along "snag row" just east of the Pea Patch Bewick's Wren - Many singing Coyote - One in the East Meadow
We had some definite CACKLING GEESE today, but again no positive ID of Canadas. Several distant flyby flocks of both geese and ducks.
Misses today included Canada Goose, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Ring-billed Gull (the morning gull flock stayed far away from us), Cooper's Hawk, Steller's Jay, Brown Creeper, and Pine Siskin.
For the day, 45 species.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 12/26/25 12:17 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually Wednesday in December
'Twas the day before Christmas. The newly declared federal holiday meant the Refuge staff had the day off. Many of the usual suspects took a pass on the walk, possibly in anticipation of bad weather or holiday obligations. A small group ( 9 to start, 12 total) gathered this cool and cloudy morning. Birding started slow, a lone Bufflehead on the pond, overhead, American crows flew west, as we entered the play area, a Red-tailed Hawk followed a similar path. Three Common Mergansers flew south. In a bare tree near the Land Trust building, a Red-breasted Sapsucker. tended its neat rows of bark cavities shadowed by an Anna's Hummingbird checking behind, hoping to benefit from the Sapsucker's labor.
In the "Forbidden Pond" west of the entrance road, a drake Eurasian Wigeon was escorted by a half dozen American Wigeon and two Mallards. Golden-crowned Sparrows and a Spotted Towhee worked the leaf litter on the east side of the entrance road, a pair of Downy Woodpecker were busy in a Cottonwood tree near the intersection with the service road. Mallards , Wigeon, and Northern Shovelers slowly meandered the flooded field south of the bend in the service road In the brush west of the north parking lot were Black-capped Chickadees, a Spotted Towhee, and Golden-crowned Kinglets. A Great Blue Heron stood sentry on the road bisecting the field, ignoring the American Robins and Northern Flickers between itself and us. To the south, the pond held more of the same ducks, on the north side a male Red-winged Blackbird watched the same three Tundra Swans seen last week, a few American Coots, and more ducks.
Along the trail on the west side of the pond a couple Pied-billed Grebes and a Marsh Wren first caught our attention, a Virginia Rail called, Song, Golden-crowned and Fox Sparrows were in the brush on the other side, as were Bewick's, and Pacific Wrens. Several Ring-necked Ducks swam in and out of view at the grassy north end of the pond. The trail to the north was still indefinitely blocked, so back to the service road. Canada and Cackling geese held the grassy shore while the ducks, Swans, and Coots occupied the water. Light rain had been falling sporadically, now it began to increase. On the platform by the Twin Barns, while we snacked, a male American Kestrel flew in and landed on top of a owl entrance box, on the barns west side, carrying it's own snack, a small bird, species undetermined, but soon determinedly dismantled.. Some of us worried about the Kestrel's exposure to Avian Influenza, given its diet and proximity to the site of the Barn Owl's demise.
Out on the dike, the rain a bit steadier, a few Bald Eagles dotted the trees along the Nisqually River. The surge plain a mix of water and exposed mud, was populated by ducks, mostly Wigeon and Green-winged Teal, and Gulls, mostly Ring-billed and Short-billed. A Northern Harrier sat on the ground, distant enough that we could not see what held it's attention. A small flock of Bushtits flitted through the short alders on the north side . As expected, once we cleared the shelter of the willows, the wind increased, the rain hit harder. Our group shrunk by half, we moved a bit quicker out to the covered platform at the start of the McAllister Creek boardwalk. The creek was sparsely dotted with Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Surf Scoters and the dark lumps of Harbor Seal heads. A smallish flock of Least Sandpipers flashed through, a few Greater Yellowlegs stalked the shore. From the gated north end a Common Loon was out off Luhr Beach, as were Red-breasted Mergansers, more Bufflehead and Surf Scoters. Brandt's Cormorants held the Channel Marker out on the reach, Double-crested Cormorants, closer in on piling and in the water. The rain had tapered off by the time we turned around to head back to the dike, a blue patch of sky visible far to the south.
Back on the dike, a young Harrier perched on a snag in the freshwater marsh. In the wind shadow of the Willows a number of Golden-crowned Sparrows were accompanied by a White-crowned Sparrow and a White-throated Sparrow. At the Nisqually River overlook, the river high and muddy, though a bit less than last week, a couple Common Merganser drakes swam in the murky water. A California Sea Lion made brief appearances and large wakes on the waters surface, presumable hunting the winter run of Chum Salmon. A Harbor Seal also hunted but warily kept its distance from the much larger animal. South along the east side of the loop trail were Black-capped and Chestnut backed Chickadees, Brown Creepers, Pacific Wrens. By the time we returned to the Visitors Center the sky had mostly cleared and the weather was fine. See the checklist below:
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Dec 24, 2025 7:55 AM - 1:52 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.424 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. The walk began on a calm, Overcast, 39º F morning with a south breeze increasing to 3-8 knots and rain showers developing by noon. We finished the walk with clearing skies and temperatures to 45º F. A +14.8-foot high tide at 09:10 a.m. ebbed to a +7.3-foot high at 3:15 p.m. Mammals seen included eastern grey squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, and eastern cottontail. There were Harbor Seals in McAllister Creek, and seals and California Sea Lions hunting chum salmon in the Nisqually River.
Total Time = 8 hrs 22 minutes
Total Distance = 5.32 miles
60 species (+4 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 830
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 4
Canada Goose 35
Tundra Swan 3 Pen, cob, and cygnet
Northern Shoveler 75
Gadwall 8
Eurasian Wigeon 1
American Wigeon 1530
Mallard 155
Northern Pintail 145
Green-winged Teal 450
Ring-necked Duck 8 Visitors' Center Pond
Surf Scoter 40 McAllister Creek and Nisqually Reach
Bufflehead 85
Common Goldeneye 24 McAllister Creek and Nisqually Reach
Hooded Merganser 1 McAllister Creek
Common Merganser 5 Three flying upriver over orchard area; 2 drakes at Nisqually River overlook
Red-breasted Merganser 9 McAllister Creek and Nisqually Reach
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 21 Entrance gate
Anna's Hummingbird 2 One was getting 'nectar' from sapsucker holes near the Land Trust office
Virginia Rail 1 Vocalizing from visitors' center pond
American Coot 9
Greater Yellowlegs 38
Least Sandpiper 32 One flock on McAllister Creek
Short-billed Gull 70
Ring-billed Gull 35
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 5
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 25
Pied-billed Grebe 2 Visitors' center pond
Common Loon 1 Nisqually Reach
Brandt's Cormorant 11 Nisqually Reach channel marker
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Blue Heron 13
Northern Harrier 2 Adult female & immature
Bald Eagle 13
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 3
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Land Trust pear tree
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 4
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 4
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 3
American Kestrel 1 Carrying a small bird as prey to the twin barns
American Crow 135
Black-capped Chickadee 20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 12
Bushtit (Pacific) 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7
Golden-crowned Kinglet 15
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren 2
Marsh Wren 7
Bewick's Wren 2
European Starling 95
American Robin 10
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 5
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 35
White-throated Sparrow 1 Tan striped
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 25
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 8
Red-winged Blackbird 30
Date: 12/26/25 9:55 am From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bird Brains - Revisited
Hi again,
I've been mulling this topic over - pretty much continuously since I was
re-invigorated by the youtube video I posted previously. So what I'm
thinking now is that bird behavior is a curious/fascinating mix of both
instinctual and situational thinking.
On the instinctual side are things such as migration and courting -
but I'm
thinking it is primarily related to those behaviors on a 'grand
(global?) scale.
For instance - whether or not a particular species migrates - or doesn't
... etc.
But, there is considerable situational thinking with respect to when the
bird migrates or an individual bird's courting dance.
We've often heard that most bird behavior is related to 1)
availability of food,
2) sex, and 3) territory. While I agree with that - I also recognize
that there is a
lot of situational thinking ... for example, the trumpeter swans leave
whereever
they spent the night and come to the fields we look out over ... but
they don't
simply 'return to the same field they were at yesterday' - they seem to
select
where they will land as they are flying in. Do they "see" the potatoes
or do
they "smell" them? There is considerable variation in which field will
be used
on any given day. But they also don't go to one particular field (that
they were
at yesterday) and pick somewhere else "today" ... and then return to that
prior field a few days later. There is -some- movement in the middle of the
day ... but primarily if they choose a field they are there the entire
day. Some
small percentage of birds will leave an individual field in the late
morning - and
some move to that same field in the same time frame ... so there are choices
being made and individual birds (or small groups) are choosing to move.
There ae similar behaviors for other bird species - but always with a
certain
number of individual birds making their own "situational" choices in any
given day.
I'm a birding photographer. One thing that is apparent to me is that
individual birds of the same species can have huge differences in terms
of how they tolerate (or don't) humans near them. Some birds will
fly off much sooner than others. Some even seem to pretty much
ignore the presence of humans - witness the Short-eared Owls at the
East 90 which almost seem to not care about the photogs crowding
very close to them to get that 'perfect' shot. Sometimes.
From where I'm standing - it seems like a huge part of this phenomenon
is our (humans) tendency to try to overlay Human intelligence/behavior
on other species. I often hear people explaining bird behavior based
upon how a human would think/behave ... rather than simply observing
and describing the behavior(s) - and trying to see patterns in the way the
birds they see are behaving that are repeated over and over again. And
then, after considerable different observations have been made ... making
"sense" out of it.
- Jim in Skagit
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/25/25 6:36 pm From: Bob Boekelheide via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Preliminary Sequim-Dungeness CBC results
Hello Tweeters,
The 50th Sequim-Dungeness CBC, held on Dec 15, 2025, and bookended by atmospheric rivers, turned out calm and dry for most of count day. Overnight rain and winds calmed to broken overcast and unseasonably warm temperatures between dawn and mid-afternoon. The overnight low of 42 degrees F rose to an afternoon high of 63 degrees F, probably the warmest SDCBC ever. A nasty squall in the afternoon brought strong winds and sideways rain, then skies cleared for starry owling in the Olympic foothills after dark.
Our 116 observers and 14 backyard birders tallied 52,410 birds of 147 species, along with five count-week species. The total number of 52,410 birds is lower than the 30-year average of about 62,000 birds, and the lowest since 2012. Conversely, the species total of 147 is four species higher than the 30-year SDCBC average of 143 species, and only seven below the SDCBC all-time record of 154 species set in 2015.
The most abundant species, as usual, was American Wigeon (9830 individuals), followed by Mallard (5092), Dunlin (2874), American Robin (2438), Dark-eyed Junco (2172), Red-winged Blackbird (1984), Bufflehead (1764), Glaucous-winged/Olympic Gull (1756), European Starling (1173), and American Crow (1108). These ten species made up well over half of all the birds we tallied, the heart of the winter avifauna around Sequim and Dungeness.
Nine species set or tied all-time record high counts for the 50-years of the SDCBC: Sora, Long-billed Dowitcher, Mourning Dove, Barn Owl, Barred Owl, Northern Flicker, Pacific Wren, Lapland Longspur, and Orange-crowned Warbler. I’m most impressed by the Mourning Doves, whose flocks have been noticeably visible this winter around Sequim and Dungeness. The high number of Barn Owls is partly due to homeowners installing and monitoring nest boxes, showing that Barn Owl pairs faithfully occupy their nest sites here through the winter.
Other species scoring higher counts included Long-tailed Duck (highest since 2013), Red-necked Grebe (highest since 1993), Sharp-shinned Hawk (highest since 2006), Eurasian Collared-Dove (highest since 2015), Merlin (3rd highest ever), Bewick’s Wren (2nd highest), and Red-winged Blackbird (2nd highest).
Species scoring lower than usual counts included Trumpeter Swan (lowest since 2007), American Coot (3rd lowest), Black Turnstone (lowest since 2012), Ancient Murrelet (lowest since 1996), Pacific Loon (lowest since 2007), Western Grebe (lowest ever, only one bird), Red-tailed Hawk (lowest since 2002), Peregrine Falcon (2nd lowest for the last 30 years), Varied Thrush (lowest since 1995), and European Starling (lowest since 1981).
Count-week species included Snow Goose, Redhead, Red Knot, Iceland (Thayer’s) Gull, and Short-eared Owl. These species were probably out there somewhere on count day, but we missed them.
Noteworthy species included the first Sooty Grouse since 2015 found by our US Forest Service party in the Olympic foothills; three Yellow-billed Loons spotted by the offshore boat party; five Short-tailed Shearwaters that sailed past Dungeness during the afternoon squall; one Turkey Vulture soaring by Bell Hill; two Semipalmated Plovers foraging with other shorebirds in Dungeness Bay; the amazing Lesser Black-backed Gull here for at least its fifth straight winter at Washington Harbor; three Barn Swallows and two American Tree Sparrows found at Jamestown; and five Lapland Longspurs together on Dungeness Spit.
Many many thanks to all our participants, particularly those who traveled long distances to join the count. Thanks to the property owners who allowed counters access, and to Durkee Richards, our wonderful offshore boat skipper. I’m especially thankful to the stalwart counters who covered foothill areas south of Hwy 101, who work extra hard and cover long distances to find birds like grouse, Canada Jays, crossbills, and Evening Grosbeaks.
A full accounting and complete count results will be in the January Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society newsletter. Thank you all!
Date: 12/24/25 2:27 pm From: Dianna Moore via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Grays Harbor CBC
Hello all...just a reminder that the GH CBC will be held on Saturday, Jan 3rd. For those who have already contacted me about participating, Thank You! I could use some help covering the areas but had a computer "glitch" and lost some names and contacts. I haven't heard from those covering Westport (Area 10), and Area 9..which includes Bottle Beach SP and John's River WA. For those who have contacted me, Mentioned in the WOS listing that a post-count party will be held at the Westside Pizza in Aberdeen, at 1420 Sumner Ave (Hwy101 west-bound). If you can't make it send results directly to me at <osdlm1945...> or to my phone at 360-590-1395. I'm hoping the rain will give us a break! Tides are a low of 4.1 at 5:56am and a high of 11.8 (!!!) at 12:02pm for the coast and about 20 min later for Hoquiam and Aberdeen locations. This count will be an important one due to the recent talk about birds just not showing up in "normal" numbers. This is important research that the various citizen science efforts can help to clarify, so please help if you can. Feel free to contact me with any further questions, and Thank You, as always! Dianna Moore
Date: 12/23/25 3:22 pm From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Walla Walla and Columbia County 2025
Hey y'all!
Just officially calling it a wrap on my year in the southeast corner of the state - birding Walla Walla and Columbia Counties<https://wwccountybirding.blogspot.com/2025/12/mission-accomplished.html>. There are reasons that some of those counties down there are underbirded... it's been quite a long haul!! So, December will have me on the Wet Side of the state for a Christmas Bird Count, and then in 2026... Pacific County<https://pacificcountybirding.blogspot.com/>! I'm overdue for picking a single county and focusing on it. Should be a lot of fun!
May the new year bring everyone some amazing new birds!
Date: 12/23/25 8:41 am From: B B via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Discounted Tour to Thailand with Field Guides
I am scheduled to go on a wonderful Birding Tour to Thailand with Field Guides that begins on January 10 and ends on January 31, 2026. I have wanted to go on this tour for many years but some personal issues are most likely going to prevent me from going. It is fully paid - with a single supplement - total over $8500 including early arrival night. It is too late to cancel and receive a refund so I am hoping to find someone who can take my place at a large discount. This is a chance to visit this bird and culture rich country at a bargain price
Here is the link to the tour. https://fieldguides.com/bird-tours/thailand/ Please contact me offsite if you are interested or know of someone who might be. I have flights scheduled from Seattle with Japan Airlines and may be able to transfer to you at a discount as well.
Thank you.
Blair Bernson
birder four one eight four at yahoo dot com
Date: 12/22/25 9:50 pm From: Rachel Lawson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Final version of our bird-and-word quiz
Dear Tweets,
Here is the final version of our very silly bird-and-word quiz. We improved a few images and added a few, and now we are done. We will post an answer key soon. Have fun, and come visit us in Arnside, England!
Date: 12/22/25 5:41 pm From: Judith A. Howard via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Zealandia
I loved Louise’s post about Zealandia and the takahe chick that has just been announced. We visited Zealandia last month and found it to be an utterly magical place. We did not see the takahe, but did hear the morepork, the only native owl in New Zealand, and we also heard two kiwis. Before it became dark on our nighttime walk, we saw a number of tuis, several varieties of shags, a saddleback, and other truly wondrous birds. As the article mentioned, the creation of this eco-sanctuary has led to a bird-life boom in Wellington. For any of you who might be visiting New Zealand, this is a must-see place. Thanks for sharing this, Louise!
Date: 12/21/25 6:15 pm From: Teri Martine via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Noah Stryker's new project
Of interest, forwarding an item from Oregon’s listserv OBOL —
Teri Martine
Seattle
Oregon
Date: 12/20 5:23 PM
From: Jay Withgott <dmarc-noreply...>
Subject: [obol] Noah Strycker's bold new project for 2026
Well, I’ve just learned that Noah Strycker is at it again. As if setting a record for the most birds seen across the planet Earth in a calendar year and then writing a book about it — on top of writing five other books over the years — was not enough … for the year 2026 he has an intriguing new project up his sleeve.
Check out: www.LettersFromNoah.com
Once again our colleague from Creswell will be setting off from Oregon to travel the world, and writing and sketching about the birds, people, and places he encounters. Only this time, you can subscribe to receive snail-mail letters from him as he travels the globe. In our hyper-online era, this strikes me as a welcome throwback to the age of old-timey written correspondence. Like if Alexander von Humboldt had had a digital printer and you were on his mailing list.
I’ll probably sign up and give a gift subscription or two, and just wanted to help get the word out.
Date: 12/21/25 11:29 am From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Monthly Meeting, January 5, 2026 (on-line only) ... note Jan 26 also
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, January 5, 2026, Phil Mitchell will present, "Learning to be a Better Birder in the Age of AI.” Today, with a suite of AI-powered apps such as Merlin and iNaturalist, we are quickly able to identify birds, plants and other animals. Online or in-person courses may enhance our knowledge about sparrows, shorebirds and hawks. But what does it take to actually learn and retain the knowledge that enriches our birding? This talk will be an intro to the science of learning as it applies to becoming a better birder, along with a survey of the related birding apps.
Phil Mitchell has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and is a Seattle resident and avid naturalist. He combines academic research on how best to learn, with his 20+ years’ experience as a software developer to create learning apps. He is the founder and learning expert for the app “Larkwire.” Introduced in 2012, Larkwire helps birders learn sounds, visual ID and bird topography.
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
Please join us!
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to a date conflict, the February 2026 Monthly Meeting will take place one week earlier, on January 26. Please mark your calendars.
Date: 12/21/25 4:32 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] This Chilling Recording Reveals Large Bats Catching, Killing and Eating Birds Midflight
Hello Tweeters,
An interesting and great piece of research.
Please note that the scientist’s description of what was audio recorded may be disturbing to some people.
Date: 12/21/25 4:09 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] This was surprisingly: “This Bat Recorded Itself Catching and Eating a Songbird in Midair” | Scientific American
Date: 12/20/25 8:22 pm From: Jim Elder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Satsop CBC
I tried this yesterday but here is trying again:
Hopefully Liam will answer directly if he hasn't already but my understanding from him is: CORRECTION: CBC is scheduled for December 28, a sunday. Not December 29 which I originally said, which is a Monday
I won't be surprised if large parts of my sector are under water but if anyone has been there recently I would love to know
Jim Elder, Seattle (jimelder at Meteorcomm dot com)
In reply to Roger Moyer who wrote: Message: 2 Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:48:50 +0000 From: Roger Moyer via Tweeters <tweeters...> To: "<tweeters...>" <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Satsop CBC Message-ID: <BY5PR12MB3747C5B9ECC06ECE59A7C7EBFFA9A...>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I'm seeking clairfication on the date for the Satsop CBC. My email from the leader says its on Saturday, December 29. However Saturday is on the 27th. So I'm unsure which date is correct.
Date: 12/20/25 1:44 pm From: Pat Britain via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Winter Hawk Watching Classes coming soon!
For all you raptor enthusiasts, now’s the time to brush up on your raptor identification skills and increase your raptor knowledge. Sue Cottrell will be teaching her 5-week class once again. Her class will teach you about the 15 regularly occurring species of hawks, eagles, harriers, falcons, and vultures that regularly occur in Western Washington. She will cover how to identify them, where to find them, when they are here, why they are here, how they make a living, and what you need to observe them.
There will be two classes, an in-person class at Padilla Bay Interpretive center starts January 6 at 7 pm and includes an all day field trip, cost is $175.
The second class will be via zoom and starts January 7 at 7 pm and cost is $100. Space may be available on a field trip for an additional fee.
Visit Sue’s website, www.raptorstudiesnw.org to find out more about Sue and the classes and how to register. If you have a specific question you can email her at <raptorstudiesnw...>
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Ellen Blackstone via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2025 12:49:34 PM
To: Tweeters Newsgroup <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] bird-and-word quiz
Whew, THIS could be addictive!
Thanks, Rachel.
I am not seeing a Lammergeier on a Cammermeyer.
I will set to work on a visual now.
Cheers, All!
Ellen Blackstone
Edmonds WA
ellenblackstone AT gmail DOT COM
Date: 12/20/25 9:28 am From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bird Brains
My apologies to all for the mistake I made when sending this info to
friends and
family and not deleting Tweeters. Mea culpa.
- Jim in Skagit
On 12/20/2025 8:19 AM, Jim Betz wrote:
> Hi,
> Recently I've been speculating (again) on the topic of "how smart are
> birds" ... and this morning I saw this on youtube and it seems to
> corroborate my general conclusion that "birds are a LOT smarter
> than we've traditionally considered them to be".
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlnioeAtloY
Date: 12/20/25 8:31 am From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bird Brains
Hi,
Recently I've been speculating (again) on the topic of "how smart are
birds" ... and this morning I saw this on youtube and it seems to
corroborate my general conclusion that "birds are a LOT smarter
than we've traditionally considered them to be".
Date: 12/20/25 6:35 am From: JUDITH R TAYLOR via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Request for ID help with "odd-appearing" duck
Friday (19th Dec) at the James T. Slaven Conservation Area (Spokane County) I spotted an odd looking duck being trailed by a male Mallard. The odd one doesn't look like a Mallard, especially the bill - at least, not to me. However, it was quite a distance away - on the far side of the main pond as viewed from the Redwing Trail - so the photos I took are not great, but I hope someone might be able to help me identify this oddity. Is it a partially leucistic Gadwall or something else?
The face (especially in one of the photos) reminds me of Long-tailed Duck, a species that would be out of place in this location. However, they do show up inland now and then.
Date: 12/19/25 8:35 pm From: Dan McDougall-Treacy via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bird-and-Word Quiz
Loved the Bustard on custard
Dan McDougall-Treacy
> On Dec 19, 2025, at 7:26 PM, Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> What fun!
>
> I especially liked that the species appear to be drawn from both nearctic and palearctic realms, with a few others from southern hemisphere.
>
> Grebe on a plebe! Indeed!
>
> Tom Benedict
>
>> On Dec 19, 2025, at 12:55, Rachel Lawson via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>> Hello Tweets,
>>
>> Earlier this week, our dear friend Elaine Chuang, who you all know because of her generous work for our birding community, including keeping Tweeters running, sent us a little bird quiz. Her quiz was based on the children's book The Elf on the Shelf by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell that begins with the question "You've heard of an elf on a shelf, but what about...?", followed by depictions of pairs of words for the reader to guess. Elaine sent us a few bird-related pairs of her own, including pictures of "a finch on a Grinch" and a "coot on a boot". We enjoy wordplay, so we started thinking up more pairs of birds and words and illustrating them with images we created using AI. Well, we got a bit carried away, and now that we have over 100 images, we have decided to share them with you.
>>
>> Please note, this is a silly bird quiz, not an ornithology textbook. The birds are recognizable, but not all have the correct field marks of particular species. Strangely, the program we used has trouble with numbers of toes, and we got tired of correcting it. Please excuse these and other little inaccuracies and biological improbabilities.
>>
>> Here’s the quiz: https://lightroom.adobe.com/shares/0754c7cacc114ca78563978ebaecf6b5 >>
>> Many thanks to Elaine for the original idea, to birding friends Douglas Marshall and Jeff Hopkins and our sister Sue Brooks, and niece Rebekah Brooks for contributing some birds and words, and to Dennis Paulson for his suggestions to improve the images. Maybe later, bird and word lover Blair Bernson will share his elaborations on the wordplay.
>>
>> This quiz is our parting holiday gift to the Tweeters community, as we leave the Pacific Northwest for Northwest England. We will miss you.
>>
>> Rachel Lawson and Joseph Brown
>> Seattle
>> <rwlawson5593...>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/19/25 7:36 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bird-and-Word Quiz
What fun!
I especially liked that the species appear to be drawn from both nearctic and palearctic realms, with a few others from southern hemisphere.
Grebe on a plebe! Indeed!
Tom Benedict
> On Dec 19, 2025, at 12:55, Rachel Lawson via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello Tweets,
>
> Earlier this week, our dear friend Elaine Chuang, who you all know because of her generous work for our birding community, including keeping Tweeters running, sent us a little bird quiz. Her quiz was based on the children's book The Elf on the Shelf by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell that begins with the question "You've heard of an elf on a shelf, but what about...?", followed by depictions of pairs of words for the reader to guess. Elaine sent us a few bird-related pairs of her own, including pictures of "a finch on a Grinch" and a "coot on a boot". We enjoy wordplay, so we started thinking up more pairs of birds and words and illustrating them with images we created using AI. Well, we got a bit carried away, and now that we have over 100 images, we have decided to share them with you.
>
> Please note, this is a silly bird quiz, not an ornithology textbook. The birds are recognizable, but not all have the correct field marks of particular species. Strangely, the program we used has trouble with numbers of toes, and we got tired of correcting it. Please excuse these and other little inaccuracies and biological improbabilities.
>
> Here’s the quiz: https://lightroom.adobe.com/shares/0754c7cacc114ca78563978ebaecf6b5 >
> Many thanks to Elaine for the original idea, to birding friends Douglas Marshall and Jeff Hopkins and our sister Sue Brooks, and niece Rebekah Brooks for contributing some birds and words, and to Dennis Paulson for his suggestions to improve the images. Maybe later, bird and word lover Blair Bernson will share his elaborations on the wordplay.
>
> This quiz is our parting holiday gift to the Tweeters community, as we leave the Pacific Northwest for Northwest England. We will miss you.
>
> Rachel Lawson and Joseph Brown
> Seattle
> <rwlawson5593...>
Date: 12/19/25 6:17 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 12-19-2025
Tweeters,
Five of us waded through the rain-soaked fairways and roughs at the JBLM Eagle's Pride GC on Thursday, with the rain bucketing down most of the time and the temperature not changing much from the 43degF at the start. Many of the golf holes had new water hazards, some even on the greens! Because of the downpour and paucity of bird species, we curtailed our usual route by about half - the first time we've done that since we started this birdwalk in 2013.
Significantly, we had very few forest birds - not even a calling Red-breasted Nuthatch, which was very surprising since this species is a regular. We did, however, garner some waterfowl at Hodge Lake - birds that we didn't have any of at that site last month.
The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 9:00AM from November to February. (Meeting time is 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:
* January 15
* February 19
* March 19
Everyone is welcome to join us.
From the eBirdPNW report:
15 species
Canada Goose 2
Northern Shoveler 2 Hodge Lake.
American Wigeon 8 Four at the 9th hole pond and 4 at Hodge Lake.
Mallard 2 Hodge Lake.
Ring-necked Duck 1 Maintenance pond.
Bufflehead 18 Two at the 9th hole pond, 1 at the maintenance pond, and 15 at Hodge Lake.
Date: 12/19/25 5:30 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bird-and-Word Quiz
Rachel, thanks to you and Joseph for a great gift to a bunch of bird nerds, although I noticed you didn’t put a birder on a girder.
What a wonderful idea you had, and I hope it will stimulate all who see it to think of other examples. That is, if there are any; I think you used the vast majority in your creativeness.
I’m forwarding your message to as many people I can think of who aren’t part of the tweeters assemblage.
Happy holidays to all!
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast dot net
> On Dec 19, 2025, at 12:55 PM, Rachel Lawson via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello Tweets,
>
> Earlier this week, our dear friend Elaine Chuang, who you all know because of her generous work for our birding community, including keeping Tweeters running, sent us a little bird quiz. Her quiz was based on the children's book The Elf on the Shelf by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell that begins with the question "You've heard of an elf on a shelf, but what about...?", followed by depictions of pairs of words for the reader to guess. Elaine sent us a few bird-related pairs of her own, including pictures of "a finch on a Grinch" and a "coot on a boot". We enjoy wordplay, so we started thinking up more pairs of birds and words and illustrating them with images we created using AI. Well, we got a bit carried away, and now that we have over 100 images, we have decided to share them with you.
>
> Please note, this is a silly bird quiz, not an ornithology textbook. The birds are recognizable, but not all have the correct field marks of particular species. Strangely, the program we used has trouble with numbers of toes, and we got tired of correcting it. Please excuse these and other little inaccuracies and biological improbabilities.
>
> Here’s the quiz: https://lightroom.adobe.com/shares/0754c7cacc114ca78563978ebaecf6b5 >
> Many thanks to Elaine for the original idea, to birding friends Douglas Marshall and Jeff Hopkins and our sister Sue Brooks, and niece Rebekah Brooks for contributing some birds and words, and to Dennis Paulson for his suggestions to improve the images. Maybe later, bird and word lover Blair Bernson will share his elaborations on the wordplay.
>
> This quiz is our parting holiday gift to the Tweeters community, as we leave the Pacific Northwest for Northwest England. We will miss you.
>
> Rachel Lawson and Joseph Brown
> Seattle
> <rwlawson5593...>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/19/25 4:01 pm From: Scott Ramos via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Peru trip blog - Lima coast and mountains
Finally, the Peru report is complete. The last installment covers three day trips we made starting from Lima or nearby. The first entailed a long day, driving from sea level to 16,000 feet! We spent the most time in the Santa Eulalia valley where we were changing habitats, and birds, every hour or two, though mostly in arid environments.
The second day, we went to two coastal environments, the Villa Marshes and Pucusana. A short pelagic out of the Pucusana port was a trip highlight, observing tropical Boobies, Pelicans and Cormorants. The last day was spent along the coastal dunes and marshes to the north where we were introduced to seedsnipes, thick-knees and dotterels, as well as Chilean Flamingos.
Peru is a fascinating country with an astounding breadth of habitats. About the size of Alaska, this large country is well worth a lengthy visit or maybe multiple visits!
Date: 12/19/25 1:43 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Follow up to Wednesday Walk
Refuge staff reports that the Barn Owls tested positive for Avian Flu with no other obvious cause of death. The entrance road has been cleared and reopened but the damaged boardwalk section will take quite a bit more time. _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Earlier this week, our dear friend Elaine Chuang, who you all know because of her generous work for our birding community, including keeping Tweeters running, sent us a little bird quiz. Her quiz was based on the children's book The Elf on the Shelf by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell that begins with the question "You've heard of an elf on a shelf, but what about...?", followed by depictions of pairs of words for the reader to guess. Elaine sent us a few bird-related pairs of her own, including pictures of "a finch on a Grinch" and a "coot on a boot". We enjoy wordplay, so we started thinking up more pairs of birds and words and illustrating them with images we created using AI. Well, we got a bit carried away, and now that we have over 100 images, we have decided to share them with you.
Please note, this is a silly bird quiz, not an ornithology textbook. The birds are recognizable, but not all have the correct field marks of particular species. Strangely, the program we used has trouble with numbers of toes, and we got tired of correcting it. Please excuse these and other little inaccuracies and biological improbabilities.
Many thanks to Elaine for the original idea, to birding friends Douglas Marshall and Jeff Hopkins and our sister Sue Brooks, and niece Rebekah Brooks for contributing some birds and words, and to Dennis Paulson for his suggestions to improve the images. Maybe later, bird and word lover Blair Bernson will share his elaborations on the wordplay.
This quiz is our parting holiday gift to the Tweeters community, as we leave the Pacific Northwest for Northwest England. We will miss you.
Rachel Lawson and Joseph Brown
Seattle
<rwlawson5593...>
Date: 12/19/25 12:46 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually Wednesday in December
I arrived early, before the entrance gate was open, intent on getting out to the Twin Barns before sunrise, hoping to catch sight of the Barn Owls as they returned to their roost. As I waited in the dark, an Owl flew right to left across a gap in the roadside brush, illuminated by my headlights. The bird was too big, too gray, to be a Barn or Short-eared Owl. Barred Owl. Maybe this will be a two-owl day. A few minutes later, on a timer, the gate opened. Driving in, the road was littered with small branches, It had been windy overnight. Past the side road to the Maintenance compound, past the orchard and the south entrance to the south parking lot, my headlights showed a wall of green limbs blocking the road. I entered the south lot to find it mostly obstructed by the shattered top of the large Cottonwood that had fallen, taking other trees with it Moving as far toward the smaller tops as possible, I drove over them, the broken wood thumping against my car's undercarriage. I parked in the empty north lot, grabbed my binoculars and rain coat, and hurried up the gravel service road to the Twin Barns platform.
It was still dark, the moon not visible, but Jupiter was a bright beacon in the western sky. I scanned the dim fields and the sky, checked the owl's usual entrance to the barns repeatedly, but no luck. I heard Canada and Cackling Geese, then Mallards and American Wigeon vocalizing. As daylight came on, a flock of Northern Shovelers materialized in the flooded fields, along with three Swans. After 20-30 minutes I surrendered to the necessity to return to the Visitor's Center to meet the birders who would arrive for the weekly walk. Original intent unfulfilled, but time not wasted.
Back at the Visitor's Center, Refuge staff had arrived and already begun cleaning up the south lot to make it usable as a bypass for the blocked section of entrance road. Steve informed us that staff had told him that the previous week, two adult Barn Owls had been discovered dead inside the barn. Samples have been sent off for toxic substance analysis, the birds frozen for possible necropsy later. Sad news to start the walk.
On the pond a Muskrat made a "v" shaped wake as it swam, a couple of Pied-billed Grebes submerged and resurfaced. At the north end of the south lot, a small flock of Purple Finches decorated a bare Alder, Jon reported a Varied Thrush. The crew was making good progress cleaning up the lot. American Crows flew westerly overhead, not always in large numbers but a steady stream. In the play area Golden-crowned Sparrows picked through the leaf litter, the orchard gave up a couple Spotted Towhees and a Red-breasted Sapsucker. Near the Land Trust building, another Sapsucker played peekaboo as it spiraled around a multi-trunked bare tree. Along the entrance road, both the orchard to the east and the pond to the west were quiet and apparently bird free.
Canada Geese, a few Mallards and some American Wigeon occupied the flooded field south of the bend in the service road. Rain showers came and went leaving everyone wet. A Northern Flicker perched in the tall Willow in the center of the pond west of the north parking lot. He was surrounded by Norther Shovelers, More Wigeon, and Green-winged Teal. a few red-winged Blackbirds showed themselves.
Starting on the west side of the boardwalk loop trail, we noted a few Ring-necked Ducks and a lone female Bufflehead on the pond. The brush and trees were more productive with Fox, Song, and Golden-crowned Sparrows, Bewick's Wren, both Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Downy Woodpecker, and Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. At the north end of the pond where a spur road crosses, we found the loop trail roped off. We learned later a large tree had fallen across the trail crushing not only the railing but the decking too
Out on the service road again. More of the same ducks, with a few American Coots. A "Gray Ghost", a male Northern Harrier, flying low, worked the western side of the field, changing direction, dipping behind tall grass then back into view. Three Swans on the far side emulated the Harrier by gliding in front and behind tall clumps of grass. A cloud of ducks lifted up when a Bald Eagle made a pass over, but settled back down after the Eagle moved on.
Another Sapsucker at the Maple grove, then to the Twin Barnes platform. More of the same ducks. The Swans were closer in and in the open, making it easier to identify them as Tundra Swans.. Three Northern Harriers, an adult female, a Ghost and another younger male still morphing into his gray plumage made appearances.
Visible from the dike, two adult Bald Eagles were renovating their old nest in the tall Cottonwood next to the Nisqually River. The tide was out showing a lot of mud, and distant ducks and occasional Greater Yellowlegs. Song and Golden-crowned Sparrows occupied both sides of the dike, Lincoln's Sparrow only on the north side, as were a pair of Meadowlarks. A Merlin chased smaller birds without apparent success. Once out of the wind shadow of the Willows, the wind, while not as strong as last week, felt colder because it was 15° colder, and we were wet. It was not a heavy rain but still penetrating. A flock of female Red-winged Blackbirds flew into a small bare Alder close in on the north side, showing off their vibrant plumage, some with a lot of red on their faces. To the south, a few ducks sheltered in the freshwater marsh, a couple more Coots mixed in.
The boardwalk along McAllister Creek was slick from rain and the algae that accumulates on the outer edges. To the east was exposed mud spotted with a few gulls, and a lot of American Wigeon. To the west the greenish water of the creek showed a few Surf Scoters, Common Golden eye, and Bufflehead. A Horned Grebe popped up, to our pleasure, a Spotted Sandpiper flew swift and low downstream, then across the creek. Harbor Seals patrolled the water, just the tops of their heads above the surface. From the north end we could see more Scoters and Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, a Common Loon and a few more Horned grebes. Only a few Great Blue Herons were posted along the shore as were Double-crested Cormorants. Brandt's Cormorants occupied the channel marker. Returning to the dike we were pelted with ice pellets mixed with rain. We scanned the Wigeon again, searching unsuccessfully for a hidden Eurasion Wigeon.
At the Nisqually River overlook, the water was again running high and muddy, though not as turbulent as last week.. It was devoid of waterfowl but a California Sea Lion was porpoising in the murky water at the bend of the river. Searching for unseen prey? We turned south on the east half of the loop trail, finding Brown Creeper, Chickadees and Kinglets. Heather hung back and found an Orange-crowned Warbler. The spur trail to the riparian area was blocked off , presumably due to storm damage, so we returned to the Visitor's Center deck for our final tally. To the east was a bright full arc rainbow, a happy ending for thee walk.
The full checklist follows:
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Dec 17, 2025 7:45 AM - 12:52 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.395 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Several trees blown down in last night's wind storm; including a significant section of the west side of the boardwalk loop, where 15 feet of the boardwalk was destroyed. The walk began on an Overcast, 40º F morning with a south breeze at 3-8 knots; the breeze increased as we went out on the north dike and estuary boardwalk to 12-15 knots, with rain and ice mixed showers around 2 p.m.; temperatures rose to 46º F. A +13.4-foot high tide at 05:34 a.m. was ebbing toward a “high” low water of +8.6-feet at 10:36 a.m. Mammals seen included a muskrat at the Visitors' Center pond, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, and eastern cottontail. There were Harbor Seals in McAllister Creek, and California Sea Lions in the Nisqually River.
Total time was 7 hours and 35 minutes; total distance travelled was 5.09 miles
63 species (+4 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 650
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 25
Canada Goose 37
Trumpeter Swan 5 Jon observed 5 adults Flying south out of the refuge past the entrance gate. Vocalizing.
Tundra Swan 3 Vocalizing, heard by Heather; observed in flooded field SW of the Twin Barns overlook. yellow dot at the Base of the bill two adults and a immature
Northern Shoveler 135
Gadwall 14
American Wigeon 1035
Mallard 115
Northern Pintail 260
Green-winged Teal 400
Ring-necked Duck 13
Surf Scoter 12
Bufflehead 65
Common Goldeneye 15
Red-breasted Merganser 38
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 29
American Coot 11
Spotted Sandpiper 1 McAllister Creek
Greater Yellowlegs 30
Dunlin 215
Least Sandpiper 48
Short-billed Gull 32
Ring-billed Gull 15
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 4
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 6
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Horned Grebe 4 McAllister Creek and off Luhr Beach
Common Loon 1 Off Luhr Beach
Brandt's Cormorant 12 Nisqually Reach channel marker
Double-crested Cormorant 25
Great Blue Heron 11
Northern Harrier 4
Bald Eagle 11 Two adults carrying sticks to the nest in the cottonwood north of the dike along the Nisqually River.
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 3
Barred Owl 1 Ken observed At entrance gate at first light
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-breasted Sapsucker 4
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Northern Flicker 1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
Merlin 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
California Scrub-Jay 1
American Crow 145
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9
Golden-crowned Kinglet 18
Brown Creeper 3
Pacific Wren 6
Marsh Wren 3
Bewick's Wren 1
European Starling 30
Varied Thrush 1 South Parking lot.
American Robin 26
Purple Finch (Western) 9
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 3
Golden-crowned Sparrow 42
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 28
Lincoln's Sparrow 2
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 4
Western Meadowlark 2
Red-winged Blackbird 16
Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Seen by Mary and by Heather
Date: 12/18/25 8:08 pm From: Alan Roedell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Best of year photos
Great photos! Thanks for all the hard work/pleasure.
I'll keep this to watch again.
Alan Roedell Seattle
On Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 7:40 PM <byers345...> via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello Tweeters,
>
> As usual, Bill and I have traveled all over Washington State this past
> year and taken thousands of pictures. I have chosen what I think are the
> best 50 photos of the thousands to put in an end-of-the year album for
> Tweeters. This album is organized in roughly chronological order. It's
> something to look at when the weather is too nasty to go birding. Happy
> holidays!
>
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/29258421@N07/albums/72177720330981035 >
> Charlotte Byers, Edmonds
> <byers345...>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/18/25 8:06 pm From: Philomena O'Neill via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Best of year photos
Really enjoyed these, thanks for sharing!
Philomena
Sent from my iPhone
> On Dec 18, 2025, at 7:41 PM, <byers345...> via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hello Tweeters,
>
> As usual, Bill and I have traveled all over Washington State this past year and taken thousands of pictures. I have chosen what I think are the best 50 photos of the thousands to put in an end-of-the year album for Tweeters. This album is organized in roughly chronological order. It's something to look at when the weather is too nasty to go birding. Happy holidays!
>
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/29258421@N07/albums/72177720330981035 >
> Charlotte Byers, Edmonds
> <byers345...>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/18/25 7:50 pm From: <byers345...> via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Best of year photos
Hello Tweeters,
As usual, Bill and I have traveled all over Washington State this past year and taken thousands of pictures. I have chosen what I think are the best 50 photos of the thousands to put in an end-of-the year album for Tweeters. This album is organized in roughly chronological order. It's something to look at when the weather is too nasty to go birding. Happy holidays!
Date: 12/18/25 5:59 pm From: Roger Moyer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Satsop CBC
I'm seeking clairfication on the date for the Satsop CBC. My email from the leader says its on Saturday, December 29. However Saturday is on the 27th. So I'm unsure which date is correct.
Date: 12/18/25 3:06 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2025-12-18
Tweets - Marymoor is partially flooded, and we could not get to the southern end at all. Add to that on-and-off precipitation, dark overcast, occasional winds, and it made for a fairly birdless walk this morning. At least it wasn't too cold, with temps right around 45 degrees.
Highlights: Brown Creeper - Faint but complete song at the Rowing Club Pacific Wren - One spontaneously burst into loud song just when we got to the slough Northern Shrike - We had to venture way out to the Model Airplane Field, but we finally managed recognizable views. First sighting in 6 weeks Western Meadowlark - At least 18 near the NE ball fields Coyote - One, when we were looking at the shrike The Rowing Club - Birdiest part of the walk, with six new species for the day, including our only finches. Some good looks at actual birds too
Lowlights: ZERO GEESE Only about 10 dabbling ducks: MALLARDS plus a pair each of GADWALL and AMERICAN WIGEON
Misses included Cackling Goose, Canada Goose, Green-winged Teal, Anna's Hummingbird, American Coot, Steller's Jay, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, and White-crowned Sparrow.
The five of us managed 45 hard-won species by the end.
Happy Solstice everyone. Let's hope we can all dry out.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 12/18/25 10:58 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - November 2025
Hi Tweets,
We ended November with 186 species on the Edmonds year list. New species, in taxonomic order, include:
Trumpeter Swan (code 4), 18 in flight along the waterfront and vocalizing honks, 11-26-25. (There were multiple other eBird reports on different days but none described the swans or in any way distinguished them from Tundra Swans.)
Lesser Scaup (code 3), several on the water near the ferry dock, 11-30-25.
Long-tailed Duck (code 3), one drake in flight on the waterfront, 11-30-25.
American Herring Gull (code 4), one adult at the waterfront (critical field marks described), 11-30-25.
Snowy Owl (code 4), one on the waterfront, seen and photographed by multiple birders, 11-19-25.
Other birds of interest: A pair of Great Horned Owls (code 4), were heard calling during the evening near Olympic View Drive and Cherry Street, 11-23-25. There was one report of a Snohomish County Turkey Vulture in November, but it was near Arlington—none in Edmonds.
As always, I appreciate it when birders get in touch with me to share sightings, photos, or audio. It helps us build our collective year list. If you would like a copy of our 2025 city checklist, please request it from checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. (It reflects a species total of 283) If eBirders will use the details field in their checklists to add critical field mark for unusual Edmonds birds (code 3 or rarer), it will help us build the city year list. Photographs or recordings are also helpful. The 2025 checklist is posted in the bird information box at the Visitor Station at the base of the public pier and is up to date through November.
Date: 12/18/25 9:42 am From: Nancy Crowell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Pumas came back to Patagonia—and met penguins. What happened next surprised scientists.
Thanks Dan! Fascinating.
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 5:29:42 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Pumas came back to Patagoniaand met penguins. What happened next surprised scientists.
Pumas came back to Patagoniaand met penguins. What happened next surprised scientists.
A natural experiment in a national park in Patagonia shows how the return of a large predator can reshape an ecosystem.
Date: 12/17/25 7:56 pm From: Philomena O'Neill via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Pumas came back to Patagonia—and met penguins. What happened next surprised scientists.
Date: 12/17/25 5:39 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Pumas came back to Patagonia—and met penguins. What happened next surprised scientists.
Date: 12/16/25 2:56 pm From: Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Kent Valley Harris's Sparrow
This afternoon there was a HARRIS'S SPARROW along S 204th Street, west of Frager Road, in Kent. Video: https://flic.kr/ps/376fhN
If you look for this bird, be mindful of the high water level in the marsh on S 204th St as well as the high water of the Green River on Frager Rd. Conditions can change very quickly.
-- Marv Breece Tukwila, WA *<marvbreece...> <marvbreece...>*
Date: 12/15/25 6:09 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] JBLM Eagles Pride Golf Course Monthly Birdwalk - Thursday, December 18 - 9:00AM Start
Hi Tweeters,
The next Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) birdwalk is scheduled for Thursday, December 18, at 9:00AM.
The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders do the tour d'course the third Thursday of every month. We meet at 9:00AM<outlook-data-detector://2> through February 2026. (Change to 8:00AM in March.)
Starting point is the Driving Range Tee, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. When you turn into the course entrance, take an immediate left onto the road to the driving range - that's where we meet.
Also, to remind folks that haven't been here before, even though Eagle's Pride is a US Army recreation facility, you don't need any ID to attend these birdwalks. Hope you're able to make it!
Current weather forecast rain, rain, and more rain. I hope we don't need a boat to do the "walk." As always, dress for success!
Date: 12/15/25 1:18 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Best bird books
Jeff, we read it and loved it. I met Roxie Laybourne at the Smithsonian many years ago, and it’s great to learn about all that she accomplished. And the book was so well-written!
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
dennispaulson at comcast dot net
Date: 12/15/25 12:34 pm From: Jeff Borsecnik via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Best bird books
Cool list, thanks! Anyone else read the detective book?
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2025 3:00:58 PM
To: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: Tweeters Digest, Vol 256, Issue 15
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Today's Topics:
1. Best Bird Books of 2025 (Ian Paulsen via Tweeters)
2. NYTimes.com: In Washington, Birds Are Giving ?Yelp Reviews?
of Forest Restoration Work (Ellen Cohen via Tweeters)
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2025 15:46:29 -0800
From: Ellen Cohen via Tweeters <tweeters...>
To: <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] NYTimes.com: In Washington, Birds Are Giving ?Yelp
Reviews? of Forest Restoration Work
Message-ID: <F79B4CC8-5127-45D3-A551-0F0F2DCD79AE...>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription.
In Washington, Birds Are Giving ?Yelp Reviews? of Forest Restoration Work
A collective of land trusts, conservancies and tribes is capturing birdsong with audio gear and A.I. for clues about habitat health.
Date: 12/14/25 3:57 pm From: Ellen Cohen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] NYTimes.com: In Washington, Birds Are Giving ‘Yelp Reviews’ of Forest Restoration Work
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription.
In Washington, Birds Are Giving ‘Yelp Reviews’ of Forest Restoration Work
A collective of land trusts, conservancies and tribes is capturing birdsong with audio gear and A.I. for clues about habitat health.
