Date: 11/1/26 12:44 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Washington Bird Records Committee recent decisions (Oct 24, 2026 meeting)
Actually Great Egret split was postponed for a year allowing European/Asian
record groups to work out subspecies therein.
Undoubtedly it will be split next year. Not a big deal.
Bob OBrien Portland.
On Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM Matt Bartels via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi all -
> Last weekend, the Washington Bird Records Committee [WBRC] met for its
> annual in-person meeting. I’m happy to share-out the results here.
> Before long, more detailed updates will be posted on the WOS website at:
> https://wos.org/records/ >
>
> A summary of our results:
>
> · 49 reports were accepted as valid new records.
> · 2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of
> records previously accepted at earlier meetings.
> · 18 reports were not accepted.
> · 1 report was tabled for further review
>
> One species was added to the official Washington state list:
> · Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026
>
> Two species were moved off the sight-only list with photographic
> documentation:
> · Common Ringed Plover and White-eyed Vireo
>
> In addition, a change to our state list came from taxonomic updates by
> the American Birding Association Checklist Committee this year:
> · Great Egret was split. Most Washington records were assigned to
> American Egret but two records were previously accepted to the subspecies
> now assigned to Great White Egret, the Eurasian species, adding another
> species to the state list
>
> Finally, the state list is updated to incorporate a few name changes that
> don’t affect the number of species on the list:
> · Whimbrel was split, with all Washington records assigned to
> Hudsonian Whimbrel.
> · Willet was split, with all Washington records assigned to Prairie
> Willet.
> · Great Egret was split, as mentioned above, with most of our records
> assigned to American Egret.
> · Marsh Wren was split, with all Washington records assigned to
> Western Marsh Wren.
> · Yellow Warbler was split, with all Washington records assigned to
> Yellow Warbler (note that in eBird, this is now called Northern Yellow
> Warbler).
> · Painted Redstart is renamed Painted Whitestart.
>
> The state checklist is now at 533 species, including 522 species fully
> accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 11 species
> which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).
>
> Key: Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)
> [Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]
>
>
> ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>
> COHU-2026-3, Costa's Hummingbird – 5-7 May 2026, Egg Lake Road, Friday
> Harbor, San Juan Island, San Juan County
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/2026,+Egg+Lake+Road,+Friday+Harbor,+San+Juan+Island,+San+Juan+County?entry=gmail&source=g>.
> Sara Hiebert Burch [w, v] (7-0-0).
>
> CRPL-2026-1, Common Ringed Plover – 28 Jul 2026, Moclips river mouth,
> Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of
> this species supported by photo documentation.
>
> CRPL-2026-2, Common Ringed Plover – 9-16 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot,
> Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p],
> Joshua Emm [p], Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>
> UPSA-2026-1, Upland Sandpiper – 23 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland,
> Pacific County. Cameron Cox [w] (6-1-0).
>
> UPSA-2026-2, Upland Sandpiper – 7 Sep 2026, Cedar River Mouth, Renton,
> King County. Matt Dalessio [w, a] (7-0-0).
>
> GRKN-2026-1, Great Knot – 12-17 May 2026, Ellen Sands, south of Tokeland,
> Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [p] (7-0-0).
>
> RNST-2026-1, Red-necked Stint – 8-18 Jul 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland,
> Pacific County. Bill Shelmerdine [w, p], Jake Bonello [p], Liam Hutcheson
> [p, v], Kari Kidd [p] (7-0-0).
>
> TESA-2026-1, Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026, Stanwood STP, Stanwood,
> Snohomish County. Michael Woodruff [w, p, v], Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes
> [p], Bruce LaBar [p], Lou Martineau [p], Jordan Roderick [p], Bill Tweit
> [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
>
> TBMU-2025-1, Thick-billed Murre – 28 Dec 2025, Roosevelt Beach, s of Ocean
> Grove, Grays Harbor County. Phoebe Wilcox [p] (6-0-1). NOTE: Found dead by
> COASST observers.
>
> GUMU-2026-1, Guadalupe Murrelet [2] – 29 Jul 2026, Westport Pelagic,
> 46.9320433, -125.0405891, Grays Harbor County. Steve Bell [p], Barry
> McKenzie [p], Ryan Merrill
> [p], Craig Miller [p] (7-0-0).
>
> CRAU-2026-1, Crested Auklet – 10 May 2026, off Discovery Park, Seattle and
> Burien, King and Kitsap Counties. John Puschock [w], Raphael Fennimore [w,
> p] (6-1-0).
>
> LETE-2026-1, Least Tern – 19 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, Walla Walla River
> Delta, Burbank, Walla Walla County. Jef Blake [p], MerryLynn Denny [p],
> Zeke VanZante [p] (7-0-0).
>
> LETE-2026-2, Least Tern – 7 Jul 2026, North Potholes SP, Grant County.
> Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>
> VEGU-2026-1, Vega Gull – 26 Jan 2026, Yellow Feight Building, Tukwila,
> King County. Eric Hope [w, p] (6-1-0).
>
> HAPE-2026-1, Hawaiian Petrel – 7 Jun 2026, Westport Pelagic offshore,
> Grays Harbor County. Jim Danzenbaker [w] (7-0-0).
>
> WTSH-2026-1, Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 12 Sep 2026, waters off Carkeek
> Park and Discovery Park, Seattle, King and Kitsap Counties. Matt D'Alessio
> [w], Ryan J Merrill [w], Melinda Milner [w], Nathan Wall [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> NABO-2026-1, Nazca Booby – 25 Aug - 1 Sep 2026, Smith Island, Island
> County. Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Tracee Geernaert [p], Kristen
> Hannon [p], Christopher Hearey [p], Steve Pink [p] (7-0-0).
>
> RFBO-2026-2, Red-footed Booby – 23 Aug - 2 Sep 2026, Westport Jetty,
> Westport, Grays Harbor County. Alex Gotz [p], Julian and Lin Ma [p], Mark
> Oberle [p], Hillary Smith [p], Bill Tweit [p], Charlie Wright [p] (7-0-0).
>
> LBHE-2026-1, Little Blue Heron – 22-24 Sep 2026, Bateman Island, Benton
> County. Jef Blake [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
>
> SNEG-2026-2, Snowy Egret – 11 Sep 2026, Klickitat River mouth, Klickitat
> County. David Wittrock [w] (6-0-1).
>
> WTKI-2026-1, White-tailed Kite – 10-12 Apr 2026, Johns River Wildlife
> Area, Grays Harbor County. Allison Anholt [p], Calvin Bobek [p], Liam
> Hutcheson [p], Ed Newbold [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat
> WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
>
> WTKI-2026-2, White-tailed Kite – 18-19 Apr 2026, Barlow Point Rd.,
> Longview, Cowlitz County. Eric Evans [p], Russ Koppendrayer [p], Nikki
> Perkins [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2
> as separate records.
>
> ALFL-2026-1, Alder Flycatcher – 16-30 Jun 2026, Kalispell Reservation Dike
> Road, Pend Oreille County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], David Poortinga [a], Ryan
> J. Merrill [p, a], Brad Waggoner [p], Dan Waggoner [p], Kevin Waggoner [p],
> Darchelle Worley [p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> WEVI-2026-1, White-eyed Vireo – 6 Jun - 25 Jul 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe
> Hills, Klickitat County. Jef Blake [w, p], Mike & Merry Lynn Denny [w, a],
> Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Michael Woodruff [w, p, a], Samuel Holman [a],
> Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Ellen
> Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by
> photo documentation.
>
> WEVI-2026-2, White-eyed Vireo – 15-19 Jun 2026, Aeneas Valley Rd.,
> Tonasket, Okanogan County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Calvin Bobek [a] (7-0-0).
>
> BRTH-2026-2, Brown Thrasher – 31 May 2026, Beaver Pond Trail, Winthrop,
> Okanogan County. Kenneth Showalter [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> WHWA-2026-1, White Wagtail – 3-5 May 2026, Ocean Shores Blvd., Point
> Brown Jetty Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Craig
> Miller [p], Bill Shelmerdine [p] (7-0-0).
>
> WHWA-2026-2, White Wagtail – 2 Jul - 7 Sep 2026, Neah Bay, Clallam
> County. Mike Andersen [p], Charlotte Byers [p], Jordan Gunn [p]. Roger
> Hoffman [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>
> RTPI-2026-1, Red-throated Pipit – 7 May 2026, Vancouver Lake lowlands,
> Vancouver, Clark County. Cindy McCormack [w] (6-0-1).
>
> CCLO-2026-1, Chestnut-collared Longspur – 12 May 2026, Midway Beach,
> Midway, Pacific County. Miles Heisel [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> GTGR-2026-2, Great-tailed Grackle – 17-24 May 2026, Hwy 17, Mesa, Franklin
> County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p], Jef Blake [p], John Grettenberger
> [p], Steven Kahl [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat
> GRGR-2026-2 and GTGR-2025-6 as separate records.
>
> GTGR-2026-3, Great-tailed Grackle – 27 May 2026, Kah Tai Lagoon, Port
> Townsend, Jefferson County. Miranda Maxwell [w, p], Clara Maxwell, Rose
> Maxwell, Dan Waggoner [p], Steve Hampton [p] (7-0-0).
>
> OVEN-2026-1, Ovenbird – 25 May 2026, Fletcher Bay Rd., Bainbridge Island,
> Kitsap County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Janine
> Schutt [p] (7-0-0).
>
> GWWA-2026-1, Golden-winged Warbler – 16 Sep 2026, Neah Bay STP, Neah Bay,
> Clallam County. Bennett Baynham [p], Alex Meilleur (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-2, Northern Parula – 26 May 2026, Queen Anne Playfield,
> Seattle, King County. Roger Dane [w, a] (6-0-1).
>
> NOPA-2026-3, Northern Parula – 30 May 2026, Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue,
> King County. Mason Maron [w, p], Raphael Fennimore [p], Alex Meilleur [p]
> (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-4, Northern Parula – 8 Jun - 3 Jul 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park,
> Yakima, Yakima County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Jef Blake [p, a],
> Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-5, Northern Parula – 19 Jun 2026, National Forest Development
> Road 9712, Cle Elum, Kittitas County. Dave Slager [w, a] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-6, Northern Parula – 26 Jun 2026, Umtanum Creek Trail, upper
> end, Yakima County. Manuel Silveira [p] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-7, Northern Parula – 6 Jun 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula,
> Pacific County. Jeff Gilligan [w] (6-0-1).
>
> NOPA-2026-8, Northern Parula – 30 Aug - 5 Sep 2026, Sentinel Bluffs,
> Mattawa, Grant County. Matt Yawney [p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> NOPA-2026-9, Northern Parula – 30 Jun 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park,
> Yakima, Yakima County. Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Additional
> NOPA found with NOPA-2026-4 on just this date treated as a separate record.
>
>
> MAWA-2026-1, Magnolia Warbler – 19 May 2026, ALE Pumphouse w of Richland,
> Benton County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> MAWA-2026-2, Magnolia Warbler – 27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage,
> Kittitas County. Charlotte Byers [w, p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>
> BLBW-2026-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 17 Sep 2026, Neah Bay town, Neah Bay,
> Clallam County. Ryan Merrill [w, p], Bennett Baynham [p] (7-0-0).
>
> BLPW-2026-1, Blackpoll Warbler – 6 Sep 2026, Neah Bay Junkyard, Neah Bay,
> Clallam County. Jason Vassallo [w], Will Brooks [p], Louis Kreemer [w, p]
> (7-0-0).
>
> SUTA-2026-1, Summer Tanager – 4 Jun 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills,
> Klickitat County. Mike Coulson [w, p, a] (7-0-0).
>
> SUTA-2026-2, Summer Tanager – 26 Jul 2026, central Vashon Island, King
> County. Martha Enson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>
> DICK-2026-1, Dickcissel – 5 Sep 2026, Nooksack River Mouth,
> Marietta-Alderwood, Whatcom County. Isaiah Nugent [w, a] (7-0-0).
>
>
> RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>
> King Eider at Westport – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of
> a King Eider (formerly treated as KIEI-2026-1) is best treated as a
> continuing record of KIEI-2025-1. The two records are merged and treated as
> KIEI-2025-1.
>
> Dated and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 1 May 2026, Westport
> Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Dick Carwright [p] (7-0-0).
>
>
> Lesser Nighthawk – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a
> Lesser Nighthawk in Kittitas County (formerly treated as LENI-2026-1) is
> best treated as a returning instance of LENI-2024-1. The two records are
> merged and treated as LENI-2024-1.
>
> Dates and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 22-27 May 2026,
> Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Dave Swayne [a], Victoria and Jeff
> Chaussee [p], Garrett Hughes [p], Ed Newbold [p], Darchelle Worley [p]
> (7-0-0).
>
>
>
> REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
>
> RTHU-2026-1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 9 Jun 20226, Loomis, Long Beach
> Peninsula, Pacific County (0-7-0).
> COHU-2026-1, Costa's Hummingbird – 10 Apr 2026, Cashmere, Chelan County
> (1-6-0).
> COHU-2026-2, Costa's Hummingbird – 3-4 Jul 2026, Loomis, Long Beach
> Peninsula, Pacific County (1-6-0).
> ALHU-2026-1, Allen's Hummingbird – 11 Aug 2026, Phinney Ridge, Seattle,
> King County (0-7-0).
> EUWH-2026-1, Eurasian Whimbrel – 4 May 2026, Beach near Willapa NWR,
> Ocean Park, Pacific County (0-7-0).
> COMG-2024-1, Common Greenshank – 19 Oct 2024, Tyson Blood Ponds, Burbank,
> Walla Walla County (0-7-0).
> ARLO-2026-1, Arctic Loon – 6 Jun 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific
> County (1-6-0).
> SNEG-2026-1, Snowy Egret (4) – 28 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, HQ trail,
> Burbank, Walla Walla County (2-5-0).
> STSE-2026-1, Steller's Sea-Eagle – 12 Jun 2026, Center Road, Lopez
> Island, San Juan County (0-7-0).
> YBFL-2026-1, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 6-8 Aug 2026, Coupeville,
> Whidbey Island, Island County (0-7-0).
> EAPH-2026-1, Eastern Phoebe – 7 Jul 2026, 12th St. NE, Everett, Snohomish
> County (0-6-1).
> BRTH-2026-1, Brown Thrasher – 2 Apr 2026, Cordata Park Trail, Bellingham,
> Whatcom County (0-7-0).
> BRTH-2026-3, Brown Thrasher – 5 Jul 2026, Fishing Pond and Park, Dayton,
> Columbia County (5-2-0).
> NOWH-2026-1, Northern Wheatear – 21 Aug 2026, 46.766000, -121.705000, Mt.
> Rainier NP, Lewis County (0-7-0).
> PSJU-2026-1, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco – 21 Aug 2026, Williams Lake
> Road, Evans, Stevens County (0-7-0).
> HOOR-2026-1, Hooded Oriole – 22 Jul 2026, Hayes Way, Shelton, Mason
> County (0-7-0).
> COGR-2026-1, Common Grackle – 30 May 2026, Palouse Trail, Ellensburg,
> Kittitas County (0-6-1).
> BLPW-2026-2, Blackpoll Warbler – 19 Sep 2026, Hooper, Adams County
> (5-2-0).
>
>
> REPORTS TABLED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:
>
> WISP-2026-1, Wilson's Storm-Petrel – 19 Sep 2026, Westport Pelagic, Grays
> Canyon, Grays Harbor County.
>
>
> Thanks everyone for documenting the surprising birds of WA - I’ll send
> another short note once all the checklists and online files are updated at
> the WOS website.
>
>
> Matt Bartels
> Secretary, WBRC
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
