Date: 11/1/26 1:11 pm From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Washington Bird Records Committee recent decisions (Oct 24, 2026 meeting)
Hi Bob -
I think you’ve got your checklists mixed up
The AOU did split the Great Egret, and that is the list we use for WBRC taxonomy.
I believe the Clements folks [the taxonomy used in eBird], are the one that delayed a decision on the split for a year to work out details.
Here’s the AOU supplement with the details: https://academic.oup.com/auk/article/143/4/1/8934017?login=false
So, on eBird you’ll still see just Great Egret, but for ABA checklists [including the WBRC] we now have Great White Egret and American Egret.
Best,
Matt Bartels
Secretary, WBRC
> On Nov 1, 2026, at 12:32 PM, Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
>
> Actually Great Egret split was postponed for a year allowing European/Asian record groups to work out subspecies therein.
> Undoubtedly it will be split next year. Not a big deal.
> Bob OBrien Portland.
>
> On Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>> Hi all -
>> Last weekend, the Washington Bird Records Committee [WBRC] met for its annual in-person meeting. I’m happy to share-out the results here.
>> Before long, more detailed updates will be posted on the WOS website at: https://wos.org/records/ >>
>>
>> A summary of our results:
>>
>> · 49 reports were accepted as valid new records.
>> · 2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of records previously accepted at earlier meetings.
>> · 18 reports were not accepted.
>> · 1 report was tabled for further review
>>
>> One species was added to the official Washington state list:
>> · Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026
>>
>> Two species were moved off the sight-only list with photographic documentation:
>> · Common Ringed Plover and White-eyed Vireo
>>
>> In addition, a change to our state list came from taxonomic updates by the American Birding Association Checklist Committee this year:
>> · Great Egret was split. Most Washington records were assigned to American Egret but two records were previously accepted to the subspecies now assigned to Great White Egret, the Eurasian species, adding another species to the state list
>>
>> Finally, the state list is updated to incorporate a few name changes that don’t affect the number of species on the list:
>> · Whimbrel was split, with all Washington records assigned to Hudsonian Whimbrel.
>> · Willet was split, with all Washington records assigned to Prairie Willet.
>> · Great Egret was split, as mentioned above, with most of our records assigned to American Egret.
>> · Marsh Wren was split, with all Washington records assigned to Western Marsh Wren.
>> · Yellow Warbler was split, with all Washington records assigned to Yellow Warbler (note that in eBird, this is now called Northern Yellow Warbler).
>> · Painted Redstart is renamed Painted Whitestart.
>>
>> The state checklist is now at 533 species, including 522 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 11 species which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).
>>
>> Key: Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)
>> [Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]
>>
>>
>> ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>>
>> COHU-2026-3, Costa's Hummingbird – 5-7 May 2026, Egg Lake Road, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, San Juan County <https://www.google.com/maps/search/2026,+Egg+Lake+Road,+Friday+Harbor,+San+Juan+Island,+San+Juan+County?entry=gmail&source=g>. Sara Hiebert Burch [w, v] (7-0-0).
>>
>> CRPL-2026-1, Common Ringed Plover – 28 Jul 2026, Moclips river mouth, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by photo documentation.
>>
>> CRPL-2026-2, Common Ringed Plover – 9-16 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p], Joshua Emm [p], Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> UPSA-2026-1, Upland Sandpiper – 23 Aug 2026, Graveyard Spot, Tokeland, Pacific County. Cameron Cox [w] (6-1-0).
>>
>> UPSA-2026-2, Upland Sandpiper – 7 Sep 2026, Cedar River Mouth, Renton, King County. Matt Dalessio [w, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> GRKN-2026-1, Great Knot – 12-17 May 2026, Ellen Sands, south of Tokeland, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> RNST-2026-1, Red-necked Stint – 8-18 Jul 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific County. Bill Shelmerdine [w, p], Jake Bonello [p], Liam Hutcheson [p, v], Kari Kidd [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> TESA-2026-1, Terek Sandpiper – 18-21 Jul 2026, Stanwood STP, Stanwood, Snohomish County. Michael Woodruff [w, p, v], Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Bruce LaBar [p], Lou Martineau [p], Jordan Roderick [p], Bill Tweit [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
>>
>> TBMU-2025-1, Thick-billed Murre – 28 Dec 2025, Roosevelt Beach, s of Ocean Grove, Grays Harbor County. Phoebe Wilcox [p] (6-0-1). NOTE: Found dead by COASST observers.
>>
>> GUMU-2026-1, Guadalupe Murrelet [2] – 29 Jul 2026, Westport Pelagic, 46.9320433, -125.0405891, Grays Harbor County. Steve Bell [p], Barry McKenzie [p], Ryan Merrill
>> [p], Craig Miller [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> CRAU-2026-1, Crested Auklet – 10 May 2026, off Discovery Park, Seattle and Burien, King and Kitsap Counties. John Puschock [w], Raphael Fennimore [w, p] (6-1-0).
>>
>> LETE-2026-1, Least Tern – 19 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, Walla Walla River Delta, Burbank, Walla Walla County. Jef Blake [p], MerryLynn Denny [p], Zeke VanZante [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> LETE-2026-2, Least Tern – 7 Jul 2026, North Potholes SP, Grant County. Greg Harrington [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> VEGU-2026-1, Vega Gull – 26 Jan 2026, Yellow Feight Building, Tukwila, King County. Eric Hope [w, p] (6-1-0).
>>
>> HAPE-2026-1, Hawaiian Petrel – 7 Jun 2026, Westport Pelagic offshore, Grays Harbor County. Jim Danzenbaker [w] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WTSH-2026-1, Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 12 Sep 2026, waters off Carkeek Park and Discovery Park, Seattle, King and Kitsap Counties. Matt D'Alessio [w], Ryan J Merrill [w], Melinda Milner [w], Nathan Wall [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NABO-2026-1, Nazca Booby – 25 Aug - 1 Sep 2026, Smith Island, Island County. Jef Blake [p], Sierra Downes [p], Tracee Geernaert [p], Kristen Hannon [p], Christopher Hearey [p], Steve Pink [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> RFBO-2026-2, Red-footed Booby – 23 Aug - 2 Sep 2026, Westport Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Alex Gotz [p], Julian and Lin Ma [p], Mark Oberle [p], Hillary Smith [p], Bill Tweit [p], Charlie Wright [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> LBHE-2026-1, Little Blue Heron – 22-24 Sep 2026, Bateman Island, Benton County. Jef Blake [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> SNEG-2026-2, Snowy Egret – 11 Sep 2026, Klickitat River mouth, Klickitat County. David Wittrock [w] (6-0-1).
>>
>> WTKI-2026-1, White-tailed Kite – 10-12 Apr 2026, Johns River Wildlife Area, Grays Harbor County. Allison Anholt [p], Calvin Bobek [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Ed Newbold [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
>>
>> WTKI-2026-2, White-tailed Kite – 18-19 Apr 2026, Barlow Point Rd., Longview, Cowlitz County. Eric Evans [p], Russ Koppendrayer [p], Nikki Perkins [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat WTKI-2026-1 and -2 as separate records.
>>
>> ALFL-2026-1, Alder Flycatcher – 16-30 Jun 2026, Kalispell Reservation Dike Road, Pend Oreille County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], David Poortinga [a], Ryan J. Merrill [p, a], Brad Waggoner [p], Dan Waggoner [p], Kevin Waggoner [p], Darchelle Worley [p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WEVI-2026-1, White-eyed Vireo – 6 Jun - 25 Jul 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills, Klickitat County. Jef Blake [w, p], Mike & Merry Lynn Denny [w, a], Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Michael Woodruff [w, p, a], Samuel Holman [a], Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Ellen Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: First record of this species supported by photo documentation.
>>
>> WEVI-2026-2, White-eyed Vireo – 15-19 Jun 2026, Aeneas Valley Rd., Tonasket, Okanogan County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Calvin Bobek [a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> BRTH-2026-2, Brown Thrasher – 31 May 2026, Beaver Pond Trail, Winthrop, Okanogan County. Kenneth Showalter [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WHWA-2026-1, White Wagtail – 3-5 May 2026, Ocean Shores Blvd., Point Brown Jetty Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Craig Miller [p], Bill Shelmerdine [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> WHWA-2026-2, White Wagtail – 2 Jul - 7 Sep 2026, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Mike Andersen [p], Charlotte Byers [p], Jordan Gunn [p]. Roger Hoffman [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> RTPI-2026-1, Red-throated Pipit – 7 May 2026, Vancouver Lake lowlands, Vancouver, Clark County. Cindy McCormack [w] (6-0-1).
>>
>> CCLO-2026-1, Chestnut-collared Longspur – 12 May 2026, Midway Beach, Midway, Pacific County. Miles Heisel [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> GTGR-2026-2, Great-tailed Grackle – 17-24 May 2026, Hwy 17, Mesa, Franklin County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p], Jef Blake [p], John Grettenberger [p], Steven Kahl [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The Committee voted to treat GRGR-2026-2 and GTGR-2025-6 as separate records.
>>
>> GTGR-2026-3, Great-tailed Grackle – 27 May 2026, Kah Tai Lagoon, Port Townsend, Jefferson County. Miranda Maxwell [w, p], Clara Maxwell, Rose Maxwell, Dan Waggoner [p], Steve Hampton [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> OVEN-2026-1, Ovenbird – 25 May 2026, Fletcher Bay Rd., Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Janine Schutt [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> GWWA-2026-1, Golden-winged Warbler – 16 Sep 2026, Neah Bay STP, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Bennett Baynham [p], Alex Meilleur (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-2, Northern Parula – 26 May 2026, Queen Anne Playfield, Seattle, King County. Roger Dane [w, a] (6-0-1).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-3, Northern Parula – 30 May 2026, Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue, King County. Mason Maron [w, p], Raphael Fennimore [p], Alex Meilleur [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-4, Northern Parula – 8 Jun - 3 Jul 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park, Yakima, Yakima County. Brad Waggoner [w, p, a], Jef Blake [p, a], Christopher Lindsey [p], Ryan J Merrill [p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-5, Northern Parula – 19 Jun 2026, National Forest Development Road 9712, Cle Elum, Kittitas County. Dave Slager [w, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-6, Northern Parula – 26 Jun 2026, Umtanum Creek Trail, upper end, Yakima County. Manuel Silveira [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-7, Northern Parula – 6 Jun 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County. Jeff Gilligan [w] (6-0-1).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-8, Northern Parula – 30 Aug - 5 Sep 2026, Sentinel Bluffs, Mattawa, Grant County. Matt Yawney [p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> NOPA-2026-9, Northern Parula – 30 Jun 2026, Yakima Sportsman Park, Yakima, Yakima County. Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Additional NOPA found with NOPA-2026-4 on just this date treated as a separate record.
>>
>>
>> MAWA-2026-1, Magnolia Warbler – 19 May 2026, ALE Pumphouse w of Richland, Benton County. Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> MAWA-2026-2, Magnolia Warbler – 27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Charlotte Byers [w, p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> BLBW-2026-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 17 Sep 2026, Neah Bay town, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Ryan Merrill [w, p], Bennett Baynham [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> BLPW-2026-1, Blackpoll Warbler – 6 Sep 2026, Neah Bay Junkyard, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Jason Vassallo [w], Will Brooks [p], Louis Kreemer [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> SUTA-2026-1, Summer Tanager – 4 Jun 2026, Rock Creek, Goodnoe Hills, Klickitat County. Mike Coulson [w, p, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>> SUTA-2026-2, Summer Tanager – 26 Jul 2026, central Vashon Island, King County. Martha Enson [w, p] (7-0-0).
>>
>> DICK-2026-1, Dickcissel – 5 Sep 2026, Nooksack River Mouth, Marietta-Alderwood, Whatcom County. Isaiah Nugent [w, a] (7-0-0).
>>
>>
>> RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
>>
>> King Eider at Westport – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a King Eider (formerly treated as KIEI-2026-1) is best treated as a continuing record of KIEI-2025-1. The two records are merged and treated as KIEI-2025-1.
>>
>> Dated and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 1 May 2026, Westport Jetty, Westport, Grays Harbor County. Dick Carwright [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>>
>> Lesser Nighthawk – The committee agreed that the May 2026 record of a Lesser Nighthawk in Kittitas County (formerly treated as LENI-2026-1) is best treated as a returning instance of LENI-2024-1. The two records are merged and treated as LENI-2024-1.
>>
>> Dates and observation info for May 2026 occurrence: 22-27 May 2026, Getty's Cove, Vantage, Kittitas County. Dave Swayne [a], Victoria and Jeff Chaussee [p], Garrett Hughes [p], Ed Newbold [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
>>
>>
>>
>> REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
>>
>> RTHU-2026-1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 9 Jun 20226, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (0-7-0).
>> COHU-2026-1, Costa's Hummingbird – 10 Apr 2026, Cashmere, Chelan County (1-6-0).
>> COHU-2026-2, Costa's Hummingbird – 3-4 Jul 2026, Loomis, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (1-6-0).
>> ALHU-2026-1, Allen's Hummingbird – 11 Aug 2026, Phinney Ridge, Seattle, King County (0-7-0).
>> EUWH-2026-1, Eurasian Whimbrel – 4 May 2026, Beach near Willapa NWR, Ocean Park, Pacific County (0-7-0).
>> COMG-2024-1, Common Greenshank – 19 Oct 2024, Tyson Blood Ponds, Burbank, Walla Walla County (0-7-0).
>> ARLO-2026-1, Arctic Loon – 6 Jun 2026, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific County (1-6-0).
>> SNEG-2026-1, Snowy Egret (4) – 28 Apr 2026, McNary NWR, HQ trail, Burbank, Walla Walla County (2-5-0).
>> STSE-2026-1, Steller's Sea-Eagle – 12 Jun 2026, Center Road, Lopez Island, San Juan County (0-7-0).
>> YBFL-2026-1, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 6-8 Aug 2026, Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Island County (0-7-0).
>> EAPH-2026-1, Eastern Phoebe – 7 Jul 2026, 12th St. NE, Everett, Snohomish County (0-6-1).
>> BRTH-2026-1, Brown Thrasher – 2 Apr 2026, Cordata Park Trail, Bellingham, Whatcom County (0-7-0).
>> BRTH-2026-3, Brown Thrasher – 5 Jul 2026, Fishing Pond and Park, Dayton, Columbia County (5-2-0).
>> NOWH-2026-1, Northern Wheatear – 21 Aug 2026, 46.766000, -121.705000, Mt. Rainier NP, Lewis County (0-7-0).
>> PSJU-2026-1, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco – 21 Aug 2026, Williams Lake Road, Evans, Stevens County (0-7-0).
>> HOOR-2026-1, Hooded Oriole – 22 Jul 2026, Hayes Way, Shelton, Mason County (0-7-0).
>> COGR-2026-1, Common Grackle – 30 May 2026, Palouse Trail, Ellensburg, Kittitas County (0-6-1).
>> BLPW-2026-2, Blackpoll Warbler – 19 Sep 2026, Hooper, Adams County (5-2-0).
>>
>>
>> REPORTS TABLED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:
>>
>> WISP-2026-1, Wilson's Storm-Petrel – 19 Sep 2026, Westport Pelagic, Grays Canyon, Grays Harbor County.
>>
>>
>> Thanks everyone for documenting the surprising birds of WA - I’ll send another short note once all the checklists and online files are updated at the WOS website.
>>
>>
>> Matt Bartels
>> Secretary, WBRC
>> _______________________________________________
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