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.
Date: 12/13/25 1:22 pm From: HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Barrows Goldeneye
Oddly, here on Budd Inlet our most common Goldeneye is Barrows with the occasional Common. Have a small flock here now.
Hal Michael Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) <ucd880...>
> On 12/13/2025 10:07 AM PST Odette James via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote: > > > If anyone cares, one of the Goldeneyes rummaging around at the edges of the mess of floating debris at the mouth of the Cedar River is a male Barrow's Goldeneye. There are, as usual this time of year, a number of Commons, but the Barrow's is a treat. > > As if the Cedar River Sockeyes were not in enough trouble, the flooding during this last storm should have pretty much done in this year's wild run. Fingers crossed for the survival of this year's hatchery run. > > Odette James, Lakeshore Retirement Community > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/13/25 10:18 am From: Odette James via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Barrows Goldeneye
If anyone cares, one of the Goldeneyes rummaging around at the edges of the mess of floating debris at the mouth of the Cedar River is a male Barrow's Goldeneye. There are, as usual this time of year, a number of Commons, but the Barrow's is a treat. As if the Cedar River Sockeyes were not in enough trouble, the flooding during this last storm should have pretty much done in this year's wild run. Fingers crossed for the survival of this year's hatchery run. Odette James, Lakeshore Retirement Community _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 12/13/25 7:22 am From: David Swinford via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Merlin mic
I am curious if the mic attachment to a phone improves the quality of your
spectrograms? I have a Google Pixel 8 pro and use Merlin and the Recorder
App to record, Audacity to edit. I'm not able to get spectrograms crisp
enough to get what I want, which is the ability to ID Red Crossbills by
their type of flight call. The spectrograms lack sufficient detail.
Some folks that do have success getting crisp spectrograms using basic gear
are using iphones. I wonder if the quality of the mic on a Pixel is less
than an iphone?
Thank you!
Dave Swinford
On Fri, Dec 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Thanks for that Mic info. I got Costco hearing aids a year or so ago and
> suddenly I was able to hear bids i had not heard in years
> BUT, it seemed impossible to determine the direction of the bird sound.
> AND Merlin with my Samsung S25+ still hears WAY more birds than I do. And
> I'm glad of it. I cannot hear Brown Creepers at all and it picks them up
> all the time.
> Always helpful to get more information about 'Hearing while Birding'.
> Thanks for posting
> Bob OBrien Portland
>
> On Fri, Dec 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I got all excited about using a mic with my phone for Merlin - I bought
>> both Sennheiser MKE 200 and 600's. To be honest, they help, but not in a
>> transformative way. That, combined with my wife's worry that someone would
>> think I have a gun in my hand (!) has resulted in me not using them much.
>> It does seem like the phone mics (mine a Samsung) do pretty well. I do
>> still wonder about a parabolic mic but that's going into full geekdom, and
>> I have enough of that elsewhere in my life.
>>
>> Brad Liljequist
>> Seattle, WA, USA
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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: 12/12/25 7:18 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Merlin mic
Thanks for that Mic info. I got Costco hearing aids a year or so ago and
suddenly I was able to hear bids i had not heard in years
BUT, it seemed impossible to determine the direction of the bird sound.
AND Merlin with my Samsung S25+ still hears WAY more birds than I do. And
I'm glad of it. I cannot hear Brown Creepers at all and it picks them up
all the time.
Always helpful to get more information about 'Hearing while Birding'.
Thanks for posting
Bob OBrien Portland
On Fri, Dec 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I got all excited about using a mic with my phone for Merlin - I bought
> both Sennheiser MKE 200 and 600's. To be honest, they help, but not in a
> transformative way. That, combined with my wife's worry that someone would
> think I have a gun in my hand (!) has resulted in me not using them much.
> It does seem like the phone mics (mine a Samsung) do pretty well. I do
> still wonder about a parabolic mic but that's going into full geekdom, and
> I have enough of that elsewhere in my life.
>
> Brad Liljequist
> Seattle, WA, USA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
I've got some eBird numbers in there - and some cool pics from local
birders.
By the way, today at Pt Wilson, Port Townsend, there were over 200 Ancient
Murrelets and the K-pod went by northbound.
No shearwaters; haven't seen them since mid-Nov.
Date: 12/12/25 6:18 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Short-tailed Shearwater photos
Elaine reminded me again that for those of you on the Digest mode, my email address doesn’t come through, so I’ve added it at the bottom here.
Sorry for the repetition for all others!
Dennis
-----------------
Christopher Dunagan is looking for photos from the Short-tailed Shearwater invasion. Here is his note to me:
I am a science writer with the Puget Sound Institute. I am looking for photographs of short-tailed shearwaters seen in Puget Sound this fall. Publication will be in my blog, Our Water Ways, as well as the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound. I am particularly seeking a photo showing large numbers of birds, one that depicts the surrounding landscape, or one that includes people, boats or other interesting features along with the birds. Thank you.
I have sent him a few photos, but you can see what he is still asking for. He needs photos of high resolution (300 dpi), as some of the photos may be printed.
You can send them to him at <chrisbdunagan...> <mailto:<chrisbdunagan...>, and please cc me, so I can see if this request bears fruit, er shearwaters. And thanks!
Date: 12/12/25 4:46 pm From: Joe Buchanan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wanted: Photos of Injured Dunlins
Hi Tweets -
This is a request for photographs to include in a manuscript that I will soon submit to an ornithological journal. I recently completed a five-year study that examined the seasonal frequency of injured Dunlins that overwinter in western Washington. The primary injury I documented was a broken (fresh or healed) tarsus. I don't have a camera and was therefore unable to get images of injured Dunlins.
If you have images of injured Dunlins that you would like to share, photo credit would be included for any images used.
Date: 12/12/25 3:15 pm From: BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Merlin mic
Hi,
I got all excited about using a mic with my phone for Merlin - I bought both Sennheiser MKE 200 and 600's. To be honest, they help, but not in a transformative way. That, combined with my wife's worry that someone would think I have a gun in my hand (!) has resulted in me not using them much. It does seem like the phone mics (mine a Samsung) do pretty well. I do still wonder about a parabolic mic but that's going into full geekdom, and I have enough of that elsewhere in my life.
Date: 12/12/25 12:27 pm From: Peter Wimberger via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] 2 East side bird counts next week
Hi Tweets, If anyone is in north central Washington and is jonesing to get out to do a CBC, there are two great counts happening. Sometimes those cool northern species like Bohemian Waxwings and Redpolls show up for us! The Bridgeport count often sports the highest counts of waterfowl in the state! This year the lack of snow and ice may change things - help us find out!
On Monday, Dec 15, the Twisp Bird Count is happening (contact: <spruettjones...>). The initial meeting will be at the Cinnamon Twisp at 7 AM. On Wednesday, Dec 17, the Bridgeport Bird Count is happening (contact <phwimberger...>). The initial meeting will be at the McDonalds in Brewster at 7 AM. Hope to see some of you there! Peter Wimberger Tacoma/Winthrop, WA
Date: 12/12/25 10:40 am From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2025-12-11
Tweets - Yesterday, it was just me and Matt Bartels. Everyone else had better things to do than walk around in the rain. (To be fair, many of them really *did* have better things to do). As it turned out, though, yesterday wasn't too bad. It did rain for much of the morning, but it was worst before dawn and in tapered off completely before 10 a.m. Brighter than last week, and a bit birdier too. Flooding was not as bad as we anticipated; the rain hasn't been that hard in Redmond, and the fields were not really flooded at all. Lake levels were up, but the boardwalk was only under a few inches of water.
Highlights: Barred Owl - Matt had one next to the boardwalk pre-dawn, our first Barred for November/December ever MERLIN - Taiga-type bird landed near the concert venue Purple Finch - Some really good, close looks while we were at the Rowing Club White-throated Sparrow - Two underneath the heronry Western Meadowlark - At least fourteen near the entrance to Lot G
Misses were notable yesterday, especially among geese and ducks, though part of the problem was our inability to identify silent fly-over flocks.
Misses yesterday included: Canada Goose !!! (though we had several flying flocks that were probably Canada and not Cackling, and one flock of 6 birds that were probably Greater White-fronted Goose), Gadwall, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal (though a flyby flock of ~30 was almost surely this species), Ring-necked Duck, Anna's Hummingbird, American Coot, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Downy Woodpecker (though we may have heard one), Northern Shrike, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, and Lincoln's Sparrow. I figure the waterfowl have so many other choices of wet areas right now that they don't need to hang out with the Bald Eagles at Marymoor.
Despite that extensive list of misses, we had 47 species we were able to identify yesterday. Not bad, given the circumstances.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 12/11/25 11:59 pm From: Kersti Muul via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Re mic-merlin
I purchased a TX tune last year and it's great for the price:
Lapel Microphone Wireless for Android Phone - USB C Lavalier Microphone for iPhone 16 15, Noise Cancelling Clip On Mic for Video Recording Vlogging, 24H Charging Case (USB Type-C)
Date: 12/11/25 5:48 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Short-tailed Shearwater photos
Christopher Dunagan is looking for photos from the Short-tailed Shearwater invasion. Here is his note to me:
I am a science writer with the Puget Sound Institute. I am looking for photographs of short-tailed shearwaters seen in Puget Sound this fall. Publication will be in my blog, Our Water Ways, as well as the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound. I am particularly seeking a photo showing large numbers of birds, one that depicts the surrounding landscape, or one that includes people, boats or other interesting features along with the birds. Thank you.
I have sent him a few photos, but you can see what he is still asking for. He needs photos of high resolution (300 dpi), as some of the photos may be printed.
You can send them to him at <chrisbdunagan...> <mailto:<chrisbdunagan...>, and please cc me, so I can see if this request bears fruit, er shearwaters. And thanks!
Date: 12/11/25 5:45 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: Nisqually Wednesday in December.
Atmospheric River or Pineapple Express? As predicted, it was steadily raining and windy as the day began. The birds were few and the birders even fewer. There were only 6 or 7 of us assembled on the Visitor’s Center deck when Glynnis came out of the office to say goodbye. Glynnis Nakai, the Refuge Manager for the last 12-13 years, (only the 4th Manager in the 51-year history of the refuge I believe.) is retiring at the end of the week. Her beneficial management, like her consistently positive presence, cannot be overstated or adequately described in this report. She will be missed for a long time to come.
A pair of Pied-billed Grebes were in the Visitor’s Center pond, and and Tim heard a Belted Kingfisher. A couple late arrivals swelled our ranks to 9 by the time we started on the usual route, all decked out in rain gear. Gray sky, mist, and steady light rain seemed at first to keep the birds quiet and out of sight. Some of the paths in the play area were flooded. In the orchard, a few crows flew westerly overhead. From the entrance road, the forbidden pond to the west was full of water but unusually empty of waterfowl. To the east a couple American Robins and a few Golden-crowned Sparrows caught our attention and a Northern Flicker sat solo in the top of a barren Pear tree. The flooded field south of the bend in the service road held about 25 Canada Geese, a few Mallards, Green-winged Teal, and American Wigeon.
A dark Red-tailed Hawk perched in the large Willow in the middle of the flooded fields west of the service road, the ponds were filled with Northern Shovelers, Mallards, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, and a few American Coots. In the brush along the east side of the road were Golden-Crowned and Song Sparrows and a Dark-eyed Junco. On the west side of the loop trail, the pond yielded only another Pied-billed Grebe and a Bufflehead female. The brush held Fox Sparrow, a few Golden-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Black-capped Chickadees, Bewick’s Wren, and a Downy Woodpecker.
Out on the dike, the rain had slackened. The tide was high and the entire surge plain covered in greenish milky water made opaque by runoff from McAllister Creek and the Nisqually River. In the Willow thicket along the south side of the dike, were Golden-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a couple American Goldfinch, a pair of Purple Finch, and a gray-headed Orange-crowned Warbler found by Heather. Close in, on the north side of the dike were a couple Northern Flickers, including a Yellow-shafted individual. Further out on the flooded surge plain were lots of ducks, Green-winged Teal, Pintail, Shovelers, Gadwall, Mallards, and Wigeon, including one Eurasian Wigeon spotted by Jon. A Peregrine Falcon perched in a snag near the Nisqually River, and we watched a Merlin hunting unsuccessfully for small birds. Once we were out of the shelter of the Willows, the wind really picked up causing raingear to flap in the wind and tugging at tripods. The wind was “warm”, an unseasonable 58°F. Jon found a single Western Meadowlark south of the dike. A large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds moved around, possibly wary of the Falcons. A single Dunlin walked on the gravel dike surface perhaps wary of the falcons or just sheltering near the vegetation on the side to get out of the wind. When we reached the start of the McAllister Creek boardwalk, we flushed an American Bittern from the base of the dike that then disappeared into the Canary grass/ Cattail marsh, the bird’s plumage a close match for the dying reeds.
Walking out the boardwalk, there was no mud to be seen, only a broad plain of greenish cloudy water surrounding us. The wind was kicking up some small whitecaps and the rain had stopped. There were a few Surf Scoters, and Common Goldeneye in the creek, some Greater Yellowlegs on the far shore. A less than usual number of Gulls were around, Short-billed, and Ring-billed being most common. Without islands, the Harbor Seals couldn’t congregate, but some heads appeared above the water. Out at the gated end, visibility was still limited. We couldn’t make out the Channel markers or most of the piling but did find a few Double-crested Cormorants, Goldeneye and a single, Red-breasted Merganser. To the east a flock of Dunlin swooped, occasionally settling down on narrow exposed grass humps only to pick up shortly after. When we returned to the beginning of the boardwalk, we again flushed a Bittern that again disappeared. The same bird? We couldn’t tell. We found a White-crowned Sparrow, and a White-throated Sparrow along the north side of dike.
At the Nisqually River Overlook, the river was running very high, the water a latte-brown, not quite dark enough for chocolate. But there were chunks. We watched several logs and stumps drift swiftly down river some colliding at the bend and rolling in the current. Three Common Mergansers, 2 males and a female, flew upriver, perhaps searching for a calmer place to land. Walking south on the east side of the loop trail we found Brown Creepers, a Pacific Wren, and a Hairy Woodpecker. Back at the Visitor’s Center for the final tally we found three Ring-necked Ducks and the pair of Pied-billed Grebes. The full checklist follows:
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Dec 10, 2025 8:00 AM - 2:28 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.319 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Moderate rain to begin with, slacking to light rain by mid-afternoon, with temperatures steady at 56-58º F throughout the day. Winds were 5-8 knots in the wooded areas, but were 15-30+ knots on the north dike and the estuary boardwalk. Unable to scope beyond the salt marsh to Nisqually Reach due to mist and wind waves. A -0.5-foot low tide at 3 a.m. flooded to a +14.9-foot high water at 10:30 before slowly ebbing toward a +6.3-foot low by 5:07 p.m. Mammals seen included Eastern Gray Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seal, and a Coyote.
62 species (+4 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 225
Canada Goose 75
Northern Shoveler 115
Gadwall 45
Eurasian Wigeon 1 Surge plain with American Wigeon, Pintails and Gadwalls
American Wigeon 1475
Mallard 170
Northern Pintail 885
Green-winged Teal 300
Ring-necked Duck 3 Visitors' Center Pond
Surf Scoter 30
Bufflehead 50
Common Goldeneye 11
Hooded Merganser 4
Common Merganser 3
Red-breasted Merganser 1 McAllister Creek
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 16 Entrance gate light standards
American Coot 9
Greater Yellowlegs 65 Flocks of 28 in flooded field and 33 in the surge plain, with others along McAllister Creek
Dunlin 650
Least Sandpiper 4 Vocalizing
Short-billed Gull 55
Ring-billed Gull 35
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 6
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 25
Pied-billed Grebe 3 Visitors' Center Pond
Double-crested Cormorant 9
American Bittern 1 At least one bird. As we went out toward the estuary boardwalk, a bittern flushed from the base of the dike at the south base of the estuary boardwalk and flew south into the marsh. As we returned, a(nother?) bittern flushed about 50 meters east of the boardwalk and also flew about 100 meters into the cattail marsh.
Great Blue Heron 18
Northern Harrier 3
Bald Eagle 14
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 1 Dark adult near the Visitors' Center
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 * Continuing female. Yellow flight feathers, buffy face and heavy red nape, seen in alders near the north dike just north of the Twin Barns
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Crow 25
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 18
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8
Golden-crowned Kinglet 16
Brown Creeper 3
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 3
Marsh Wren 1
Bewick's Wren 2
European Starling 35
American Robin 11
House Finch 1
Purple Finch 3
American Goldfinch 2
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 3
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 1 Adult with Golden-crowned Sparrows near Leschi Slough tide gate
Golden-crowned Sparrow 38
White-throated Sparrow 2 Tan striped bird with Golden-crowned Sparrows near Leschi Slough tide gate, and white striped bird further to the east along the north dike
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 16
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 14
Western Meadowlark 1
Red-winged Blackbird 140
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) 1 Found by Heather in the willows along the north dike near the Leschi Slough tide gate
Date: 12/10/25 2:57 pm From: Jay via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] New species of tinamous discovered
Hi Dan - If you click on the image in Flickr you can see the metadata
including camera, lens, exposure etc. For these I was using a Nikon z7ii
with a 500mm F mount lens and an adapter for the F to Z mount (FTZii). It
was very dark and I was hand-holding so I set the exposure at 1/125sec,
f/5.6 which was the biggest aperture available. The ISO still was 25600
so there was a lot of noise which I removed with Topaz Photo. The rest of
the processing was done in Lightroom. If I could go again, I would
probably use a tripod or monopod and shoot at a slower speed to reduce the
ISO. In any case, I was pretty happy with the noise reduction and
sharpness for these images.
Jay
On Wed, Dec 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> wrote:
> Great photos, Jay!
> What camera and lens were you using?
> Thanks,
> Dan Reiff
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 10, 2025, at 1:32 PM, Alan Roedell via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Beautiful, thanks for sharing.
>
> On Wed, Dec 10, 2025, 1:16 PM Jay via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> wrote:
>
>> Here is a link to two pictures of the Little tinamou I took in Colombia
>> last year. They were pretty elusive so we sat for a while until they came
>> close to our blind. I know these are not the same ones to which the
>> article refers. There are quite a few Tinamou species.
>>
>> https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCDk2E >>
>> Jay
>> Bellingham, WA
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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: 12/10/25 1:45 pm From: Jeff Borsecnik via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Merlin app - mic
I'd like to get a small directional microphone to use with an Android phone and the Merlin app to improve call IDs as a gift for somebody. I want it to be pretty compact so it's convenient. Has anybody use a mic with a phone like this, and if so which model and does it help much?
Date: 12/10/25 1:42 pm From: Alan Roedell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] New species of tinamous discovered
Beautiful, thanks for sharing.
On Wed, Dec 10, 2025, 1:16 PM Jay via Tweeters <tweeters...>
wrote:
> Here is a link to two pictures of the Little tinamou I took in Colombia
> last year. They were pretty elusive so we sat for a while until they came
> close to our blind. I know these are not the same ones to which the
> article refers. There are quite a few Tinamou species.
>
> https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCDk2E >
> Jay
> Bellingham, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/10/25 1:21 pm From: Jay via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] New species of tinamous discovered
Here is a link to two pictures of the Little tinamou I took in Colombia last year. They were pretty elusive so we sat for a while until they came close to our blind. I know these are not the same ones to which the article refers. There are quite a few Tinamou species.
It’s a chicken sized flightless bird that can fly but would rather not. 2106???? are hanging out in an elevation restricted range of a far western area of the Amazon basin. Closest relative is the Ostrich (maybe). Easy to catch. Good to eat. Closest airport is probably Lima.
See you there. I’ll be bicycling down. Maybe we can put you on the handlebars.
Date: 12/9/25 11:32 am From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] New fieldtrips, CBCs, birding tools, and news articles on wos.org
Dear Tweetsters - I wanted to alert you to some updates to the WOS website that might interest you:
1. Upcoming Field Trips -- We've got four field trips coming up in January and February. (One is filled but you can get on the waiting list.) And one scheduled for early June. https://wos.org/field-trips/
2. Christmas Bird Counts -- Want to get out birding this month? Choose among dozens of bird counts around the state, including some new ones to the list. https://wos.org/cbc/
3. Birding Resources -- Brad Liljequist's website educating people on how and why to reduce their climate harm has been added to the Birding Resources webpage, which features links to a variety of helpful birdwatching tools for Washington birders. https://wos.org/birding-resources/
Date: 12/9/25 7:49 am From: Samara Hoag via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Seeking binoc donation
Hello Tweets I am going to Colombia in January. I hope to take 1-3 new or slightly used binocs as donations for local guides. If you have any high quality, good condition binocs I would be happy to take them. I live in Seattle and can pick them up. Sami Hoag
Date: 12/9/25 6:11 am From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Green Lake Wigeons
Note that male Eurasian Wigeons often show some green around the eye. I
think this information has been slow in percolating to North American
birders, but Brits are familiar with it. The rest of the head will still be
copper (with the buttery forehead), the breast will be brown, but the body
and flanks will be silver (not an American feature), with a strong
demarcation between the brown breast and silver flanks.
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/292992921
A hybrid adult male should show extensive green by the eye, AND also dark
flecking on the face and a blend of silver and brown on the breast, flanks,
and body, with little demarcation.
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/646270453
On Tue, Dec 9, 2025 at 12:21 AM Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I scan our American Wigeon flock here at Lake Lorene in Twin Lakes,
> Federal Way daily for a Eurasian with a red head. The body on male Eurasian
> Wigeons is gray, but that is not always easy to pick out, especially when
> they are feeding on the lawn. Currently we have a hybrid which is mainly
> Eurasian but still has green on the red head.
>
> Good Birding !
>
> Hans
>
> On Mon, Dec 8, 2025 at 2:34 AM Carolyn Heberlein via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> There are a lot of wigeons at Green Lake. Because of their Buffy
>> foreheads, I thought they were mostly Eurasians.
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
>
> --
> *Hans Feddern*
> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
> <thefedderns...>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/9/25 12:32 am From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Green Lake Wigeons
I scan our American Wigeon flock here at Lake Lorene in Twin Lakes, Federal
Way daily for a Eurasian with a red head. The body on male Eurasian Wigeons
is gray, but that is not always easy to pick out, especially when they are
feeding on the lawn. Currently we have a hybrid which is mainly Eurasian
but still has green on the red head.
Good Birding !
Hans
On Mon, Dec 8, 2025 at 2:34 AM Carolyn Heberlein via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> There are a lot of wigeons at Green Lake. Because of their Buffy
> foreheads, I thought they were mostly Eurasians.
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
--
*Hans Feddern*
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA
<thefedderns...>
Date: 12/8/25 9:02 am From: Kathleen Snyder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Panama: 2006, 2012, 2025 - Thursday December 11th 7 pm Olympia or via Zoom
Jerry Broadus and Clarice Clark will present their impressions and their
photographs of three birding trips to Panama. This country has long been a
favorite tropical birding area. The country is easy to access and explore
even if you don’t speak much Spanish; there are lots of good accommodations
and guides; and the varied terrain has a fascinating history. The
presentation will be live at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE Olympia
with social time at 6:30 pm. You can also watch from home via Zoom.
Registration
is required, below. This is a free program from South Sound Bird Alliance
(formerly Black Hills Audubon).
Date: 12/7/25 5:25 pm From: BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding and carbon - a resource
Ann, that's great. I would love it if there was a link on the SAS website. I have enjoyed your programs!
I'm with you on packaging! Endless.
________________________________
From: Ann Kramer <lens4birds...>
Sent: Sunday, December 7, 2025 3:39 PM
To: BRAD Liljequist <bradliljequist...>
Cc: via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding and carbon - a resource
Thank you Brad. This is a very extensive website. If we can even do one thing on the options, we are helping our carbon footprint.
I am on the board of directors at Skagit Audubon. If I have your permission, I would like to run this by the board to see if we can put this link on our website and in our newsletter.
Packaged food is a hard one for me. We are vegetarian and I grow a lot of our summer food, but it's difficult to get around packaging, which is dreadfully plastice. I am over the top flabbergasted by big plastic boxes used to package lettuce!!! Unbelievable.
Ann
On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
Hi all,
I hope you don't mind me reposting the site I created to help folks reduce their climate harm: www.climateresponsible.org<http://www.climateresponsible.org>.
I have been somewhat amazed by its lack of use - it is really hard to get the word out and capture eyeballs. Unfortunately all the search algorithms default to large orgs, or pay to play...the internet ain't the same as it used to be. So - appreciate you sharing it with you circles.
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. Eurasian wigeon (Zora Monster via Tweeters) 2. birding and carbon (Dennis Paulson via Tweeters) 3. Re: birding and carbon (Kevin Lucas via Tweeters)
Message: 3 Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2025 11:52:37 -0800 From: Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <tweeters...> To: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] birding and carbon Message-ID: <CA+YY600eQmeMjD3G8Nn2neaGqu+<nB-cLymfNLx-6W74TVwrspQ...> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Thank you Dennis. That is a good read. He would be great to have as a friend.
*Qui tacet consentire videtur* *I prefer truth and decency to lies, hate mongering, cruelty, genocide, self-dealing, and theft of billions of dollars by an oligarchy of addled-brained selfish felons and billionaires.*
On Sat, Dec 6, 2025 at 9:25?AM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters < <tweeters...> wrote:
Date: 12/7/25 3:51 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding and carbon - a resource
Thank you Brad. This is a very extensive website. If we can even do one
thing on the options, we are helping our carbon footprint.
I am on the board of directors at Skagit Audubon. If I have your
permission, I would like to run this by the board to see if we can put this
link on our website and in our newsletter.
Packaged food is a hard one for me. We are vegetarian and I grow a lot of
our summer food, but it's difficult to get around packaging, which is
dreadfully plastice. I am over the top flabbergasted by big plastic boxes
used to package lettuce!!! Unbelievable.
Ann
On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I hope you don't mind me reposting the site I created to help folks reduce
> their climate harm: www.climateresponsible.org.
>
> I have been somewhat amazed by its lack of use - it is really hard to get
> the word out and capture eyeballs. Unfortunately all the search algorithms
> default to large orgs, or pay to play...the internet ain't the same as it
> used to be. So - appreciate you sharing it with you circles.
>
> Brad Liljequist
> Seattle, WA, US
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/7/25 3:30 pm From: Scott Ramos via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding and carbon
I met Dorian Anderson at Oyhut Wildlife area at Ocean Shores during his big
year and was impressed with his dedication to such a grand ambition, but
also at his birding skill. But as Bob points out, this is unlikely to
become a regular endeavour. On the other hand, local big days or even
simple birding trips can be done mostly carbon-free with not that much
effort.
Several years ago, I participated in what was labeled a Big Day Birding by
Bus. It was fun and I decided to continue the concept, leading Seattle
Audubon Birding Big Day by Bus trips for several years. The plan was to
meet at either a central location to begin the bus trips, or at least meet
at the first birding hotspot to join the group. From then on, we would bird
at least 3 prime locations and take public transport to get to each of
them. The route usually started at Discovery Park, where at least 4-5 hours
were spent on a full park traverse, ending the morning by crossing the
Ballard Locks on foot. Some years, we allowed enough time for a burger
break at the Red Mill in Ballard. Next was a bus trip to Husky Stadium
where we continued on foot along the Montlake cut to the boat rental dock
and on to the 'Fill' and Yesler Swamp, a route of at least a couple more
hours. A walk up to Sand Point Way and then another bus to Magnuson where
we used what time was left to mop up species missed elsewhere. Logistics
were sometimes a challenge but we once had a group of 12 people and a best
year of 109 species. It can be done.
And before that, when backpacking was still more of a focus than birding, I
had done some sector hikes on the PCT and worried about my carbon footprint
because I needed rides to and from the starting and ending trailheads. With
just a little research, I devised a carbon-free trip to hike sector L of
the PCT from Stehekin to Manning Park: Metro bus from home to Amtrak where
Mark Crawford joined me, train to Wenatchee, walk to a hotel, then in the
morning, walk to a county bus stop for transit to the Lady of the Lake
terminal, a boat trip to Stehekin, a local school bus to the PCT trailhead,
then 8 days of backpacking, ending in Manning Park, Canada, with a walk to
a hotel (to spend some carbon on clothes washing and drying--wet gear was
hung in our room--as well as on nice burgers!), then in the morning flag a
Greyhound to Vancouver, walk to the train station, Amtrak to Seattle and a
metro bus to home. Again, it can be done.
On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Carried to the extreme limits of the public transportation approach is:
> "Birder bicycle big year" refers to Dorian Anderson's groundbreaking 2014
> 'Biking for Birds' project, where he completed the first North American
> Big Year (seeing the most bird species in a year) entirely by bicycle,
> without fossil fuels, covering 18,000 miles.
> His trip was several years ago and the book had to wait to more recently
> to appear. I just read it and am glad that I did. *Birding Under the
> Influence*. There is somewhat more coverage of how he recovered from a
> variety of personal bad habits/addictions, and I would have liked to have
> seen more birding details as well. But there are quite a few as it is. *Well
> worth the read.* And with some time spent going through Washington. But
> this is unlikely to become a regular thing. Especially since he saw ~620
> species. in the 48 states. AND, no pelagics. They use fossil fuels. I
> doubt anyone would try to beat this. But State, County, City, etc. are
> available for a much greater audience. And then there's walking. And then
> there's the Big Sit which doesn't even involve walking, other than to the
> sit spot.
> Bob OBrien Portland
>
>
Date: 12/7/25 2:16 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding and carbon
Carried to the extreme limits of the public transportation approach is:
"Birder bicycle big year" refers to Dorian Anderson's groundbreaking 2014
'Biking for Birds' project, where he completed the first North American Big
Year (seeing the most bird species in a year) entirely by bicycle, without
fossil fuels, covering 18,000 miles.
His trip was several years ago and the book had to wait to more recently
to appear. I just read it and am glad that I did. *Birding Under the
Influence*. There is somewhat more coverage of how he recovered from a
variety of personal bad habits/addictions, and I would have liked to have
seen more birding details as well. But there are quite a few as it is. *Well
worth the read.* And with some time spent going through Washington. But
this is unlikely to become a regular thing. Especially since he saw ~620
species. in the 48 states. AND, no pelagics. They use fossil fuels. I
doubt anyone would try to beat this. But State, County, City, etc. are
available for a much greater audience. And then there's walking. And then
there's the Big Sit which doesn't even involve walking, other than to the
sit spot.
Bob OBrien Portland
On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 1:50 PM Nancy Morrison via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> When the Red-flanked Bluetail showed up at my house, I was introduced to
> the world of listers. I was freaked out at the number of people who flew
> across the country, or drove for two days to get to my backyard. There was
> one gentleman, however, who took all public transportation from the Kitsap
> Peninsula. It was getting close to sunset, and I offered to drive him to
> the ferry in my EV, but he declined. He was determined to do the entire
> trip on public transit. Can you just imagine if everyone did that, how much
> better the world would be??
>
> Nancy Morrison
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/7/25 2:00 pm From: Nancy Morrison via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birding and carbon
When the Red-flanked Bluetail showed up at my house, I was introduced to the world of listers. I was freaked out at the number of people who flew across the country, or drove for two days to get to my backyard. There was one gentleman, however, who took all public transportation from the Kitsap Peninsula. It was getting close to sunset, and I offered to drive him to the ferry in my EV, but he declined. He was determined to do the entire trip on public transit. Can you just imagine if everyone did that, how much better the world would be??
Date: 12/7/25 12:25 pm From: BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birding and carbon - a resource
Hi all,
I hope you don't mind me reposting the site I created to help folks reduce their climate harm: www.climateresponsible.org.
I have been somewhat amazed by its lack of use - it is really hard to get the word out and capture eyeballs. Unfortunately all the search algorithms default to large orgs, or pay to play...the internet ain't the same as it used to be. So - appreciate you sharing it with you circles.
Date: 12/7/25 12:16 pm From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] RE-POST TUVU report
This is a re-post of Diann MacRae's December 3 message, on Turkey Vultures and their recent movements. Thank you, Diann.
Sent: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 11:34 AM
To: tweeters t <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] TUVU reports
Hi, Tweets
Just a note to say no vulture report for November (not much flying around, vulturewise) but I'll do an end-of-year report later and then probably in Jan/Feb a winter report. A few winter over and there are always a few heading north in late January. Plus, so far we haven't had much in the way of weather, so who knows.
Have a great holiday season and thanks for all your reports through the years.
Date: 12/6/25 2:05 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] birding and carbon
Indeed, I often reflect on the impact we have while ‘loving nature’. It’s a bit of a dilemma for me. Carbon offsets are a temporary solution, but ultimately we need to reduce our footprint. Yeah, hybrids and EVs help, a bit. Maybe a bit less chase and a lot more local will help more? What about ways to improve virtual birding to meet some of the need for discovery?
Date: 12/6/25 1:28 pm From: Diane Yorgason-Quinn via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] birding and carbon
I agree. Food for thought, and also a reason to not feel so guilty about SOME of our behaviors, just concentrate on the stuff a person can actually do.
Diane Yorgason-Quinn
Gig Harbor, WA
<Avosetta...>
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Saturday, December 6, 2025 9:24 AM
To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] birding and carbon
Heres an interesting blog written by a friend of mine:
*Qui tacet consentire videtur*
*I prefer truth and decency to lies, hate mongering, cruelty, genocide,
self-dealing, and theft of billions of dollars by an oligarchy of
addled-brained selfish felons and billionaires.*
On Sat, Dec 6, 2025 at 9:25 AM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
Date: 12/4/25 1:26 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2025-12-04
Tweets - It was dark and wet today, with mizzle, drizzle, and rain. And except for Short-billed Gulls (~250), American Robins, and Dark-eyed Juncos, it wasn't very birdy at all. My fingers are still cold from the combination of temps in the low 40's and wet, wet, wet.
Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - Eight out near the Model Airplane Field Common Goldeneye - Quick flyby, with three heading up the slough. First of Winter (FOW) Common Merganser - 5-6 drakes seen from the Lake Platform. We've had very few this fall California Gull - Amongst the hordes of Short-billed, we found 2-3 California, just our 17th December record for this species White-throated Sparrow - Two with a flock of juncos in the Dog Area Western Meadowlark - Remain active on the grass/gravel parking area in the NE part of the park
We also had a COYOTE trot across the grass fields while we were still in the parking lot, and an AMERICAN BEAVER swimming in the slough.
Misses today were numerous: American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Anna's Hummingbird, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Shrike, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, Pine Siskin, and American Goldfinch.
Date: 12/4/25 11:31 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 12/3/2025
Dear Tweets,
The Refuge delivers again another wonderful day of Autumn Birding as
approximately 25 of us enjoyed a dry but cold and cloudy day with
temperatures in the 40's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a high Low 7'7"
Tide at 9:48am and a High 14'10" Tide at 2:52pm. Highlights included BARN
OWL seen from the Twin Barns Overlook, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in a Pear
Tree between the Technician Building and Maintenance Road just east of the
Orchard; WILSON'S SNIPE roosting in the flooded field just west of the west
side parking lot; NORTHERN SHRIKE perched above the BALD EAGLE nest next to
the Twin Barns (currently being renovated by a bonded pair of Bald Eagle);
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on the mudflats just north of the dike (Nisqually
Estuary Trail) and west of Leschi Slough; continuing YELLOW-SHAFTED
NORTHERN FLICKER where Leschi Slough runs parallel to the dike; two
EURASIAN WIGEON among the 2,000-3,000 AMERICAN WIGEON visible on a high
tide; PIGEON GUILLEMOT scoped from the closure gate at the end of the
Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail off Luhr Beach; two First of Year
CANVASBACK Ducks seen swimming in flooded mudflats just north of the dike
and west of Leschi Slough on the High Tide; and relocated WHITE-THROATED
SPARROW on the south side of the dike, just east of the Leschi Slough
Aqueduct under the dike, along the Bramble and young Riparian Stand between
the slough and the dike.
For the day, we observed 74 species. With FOY Canvasback, we now have seen
179 species this year.
Please see our eBird Report pasted below with additional details and photos.
Other fun sightings included Eastern Gray Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed
Deer, Harbor Seal, California Sea Lion in McAllister Creek, numerous
Steller Sea Lions on the wreck off McNeil Street Trail/Dupont, and two
Muskrats from the Visitor Center Pond Overlook in the afternoon.
Note Leschi Slough is the largest slough on the Refuge and runs from the
Twin Barns, under the dike via an aqueduct, and straight out the middle of
the Refuge. The tidal area between Leschi Slough and the Nisqually River
just north of the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail is known as the 'Surge
Plain', the tidal area between Leschi Slough and the McAllister Creek just
north of the dike and on the inside of the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk
Trail is known as the Mudflats. There are three additional sloughs on the
Refuge, the second largest is Shannon Slough which starts along the
Entrance Road and empties into McAllister Creek at their confluence just
adjacent to the McAllister Creek/Medicine Creek Viewing Platform. Just
east of the Puget Sound Viewing Platform is a 'mud box' where the old 5
mile loop dike was originally breached, and east of that between the
Platform and Leschi Slough is a smaller 'Madrone Slough'. Between Leschi
Slough and the Mouth of the Nisqually River is another small slough known
as 'Animal or Six Gill Slough' which proceeds south to the area of the old
'ring dike' when the 5 mile dike still existed. Many have speculated that
the Nisqually River may breach the old ring dike area and run into the
Animal or Six Gill Slough in the future.
The Access Road or Maintenance Road runs from across the Orchard out to the
Twin Barns. There are three flooded fields along the Access Road: 1) one
between the Access Road and the Entrance Road, 2) another on the south side
of the old McAllister Creek Access Road, and 3) a third between the old
McAllister Creek Access Road and the Twin Barns. The old McAllister Creek
Access Road travels between the closure gate along the Access Road and
joins up with the new dike south of the Green Closure Gate at the end of
the Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Finally, I'll be away for the remainder of December. I'm headed to
Tanzania for some African Birding, and should return at the beginning of
January. Ken Brown, Pet Kilburn, Jim Pruske, Ed Beck, Rob Chrisler and an
excellent group of regular attenders will continue the Wednesday Walk while
I'm away. I hope everyone has a nice December and Happy Holidays.
Be well, and happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Dec 3, 2025 7:42 AM - 4:22 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.886 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with temperatures in the
40’s degrees Fahrenheit. A high Low 7’7” Tide at 9:48am and a High 14’10”
Tide at 2:52pm. Others seen Eastern Gray Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed
Deer, Harbor Seal, California Sea Lion, Steller Sea Lion, and Muskrat.
74 species (+8 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 500
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 10
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 23
Trumpeter/Tundra Swan 2 Spotted by Anders flying over the Refuge and
headed south.
Northern Shoveler 60
Gadwall 25
Eurasian Wigeon 2 One spotted by Nathanael from the Observation Tower
in the southwest corner of the flooded mudflats along Shannon Slough. The
other spotted by Jon north of the dike just west of Leschi Slough.
American Wigeon 2500
Mallard 150
Northern Pintail 500
Green-winged Teal (American) 2000
Canvasback 2 Great find by Tom, male and female, mingling with
dabbling ducks north of dike and west of Leschi Slough.
Ring-necked Duck 2 Visitor Center Pond.
Surf Scoter 15
White-winged Scoter 10
Bufflehead 100
Common Goldeneye 30
Common Merganser 2 One spotted by Laurie in McAllister Creek, the
other spotted by Jim in Nisqually River.
Red-breasted Merganser 12 Mouth of McAllister Creek.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 45
Anna's Hummingbird 1 Orchard.
Virginia Rail 1 Heard only in afternoon south of dike in freshwater
marsh.
American Coot 10
Black-bellied Plover 1 Mudflats just north of dike west of Leschi
Slough.
Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher 4 Fly over with no vocalization.
Most likely LBDO.
Wilson's Snipe 1 Spotted by Kathleen in flooded field west of west
side parking lot.
Greater Yellowlegs 60 Counted in groups of 10 to 40. Large number
flushed from freshwater marsh on high tide.
Dunlin 300
Least Sandpiper 25
Pigeon Guillemot 1 Scoped from closure gate at end of Nisqually
Boardwalk Trail. On Nisqually Reach beyond mouth of McAllister Creek
foraging near RBME.
Bonaparte's Gull 4 Foraging along the south side of Anderson Island.
Short-billed Gull 50
Ring-billed Gull 25
Glaucous-winged Gull 6
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 12
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 20
Pied-billed Grebe 2 Visitor Center Pond.
Horned Grebe 12
Common Loon 3 One seen from the McAllister Creek Viewing Platform.
Brandt's Cormorant 13 Channel Marker at mouth of Nisqually River.
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Blue Heron 35
Northern Harrier 3
Bald Eagle 11 Nest building in Cottonwoods above Twin Barns.
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 3
American Barn Owl 1 Spotted by Steve at 7:06am from the Twin Barns
Observation Platform.
Belted Kingfisher 4
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Orchard.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Northern Flicker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Continuing female bird. Red-nape,
brown face, and yellow shafts. First reported by Laurie but seen by many
along Leschi Slough were it runs parallel to the dike.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted x Red-shafted) 1 Red nape and red
malar. Male.
Peregrine Falcon 1
Northern Shrike 1 Reported earlier in the week on the inner dike in
the sanctuary by the bird survey crew. Seen flying along the access road
south from the Twin Barns to the Cottonwoods west of the west side parking
lot.
American Crow 200
Common Raven 1 Heard along McAllister Creek Hill
Black-capped Chickadee 15
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3
Bushtit (Pacific) 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 2
Marsh Wren 10
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 4
European Starling 30
Varied Thrush 1 Orchard in an Apple Tree.
American Robin 16
Purple Finch 1
Pine Siskin 2
American Goldfinch 4
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 8
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 2
Golden-crowned Sparrow 30
White-throated Sparrow 1 Spotted by Jim along the Nisqually Estuary
Trail or dike just east and south of Aqueduct.
Savannah Sparrow 1 Seen along the dike.
Song Sparrow 22
Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Seen along the dike.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 6
Red-winged Blackbird 60
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1
Date: 12/4/25 10:32 am From: <byers345...> via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Off topic--trip to Chiapas, Mexico
Hello Tweeters,
A while back I noticed a birding tour to Chiapas, Mexico was being offered. I'd always wanted to visit Chiapas—it's an epicenter of marimba playing, for instance—so Bill and I signed up. We finally did the tour last month and were not disappointed. Aside from the beauty of the area, and the friendliness of everyone we encountered, Chiapas is also close to Guatemala. So Chiapas gets quite a few birds that also occur in Guatemala and farther south. But a number of these birds, particularly those that live at higher altitudes, don't make it farther north in Mexico. This is because of a geographical feature known as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a lowland that extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, preventing the higher altitude birds from moving north.
I had a longish list of birds I was hoping to see in Chiapas. I didn't see them all and we didn't get photographs of all the ones we did see, but the opportunities for taking reasonable photos were fairly good. The link below takes you to the Flickr album with our Chiapas pictures. These are mostly birds with a sprinkling of other subjects.
Date: 12/3/25 4:34 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] FORBES: She’s Back! Wisdom The Incredible Laysan Albatross Has Returned
Date: 12/1/25 11:15 pm From: Alan Roedell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Action. Common Mergansers eating Kokanee salmon
Wow! Great photos and videos!
On Mon, Dec 1, 2025, 10:40 PM Eric Ellingson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Tis the season for the Kokanee to be spawning up small streams from lakes
> just like their relatives, Sockeye salmon. Kokanee and sockeye salmon are
> the same species, but kokanee never make the journey to the ocean. They
> spend their entire lives in lakes, migrating to tributary streams to spawn
> in the fall. What does this have to do with birds? The Kokanee get eaten by
> Common Mergansers, Bald Eagles, Gulls, and their eggs get eaten by
> Bufflehead and American Dippers. As the Kokanee concentrate in shallow
> waters they can easily become prey to many others.
>
> Like other birds that catch & eat fish, the fish needs to go down the
> throat head first. So the real action begins after a merganser catches one
> & brings it to the surface. Gulls & other mergansers will chase it trying
> to steal the food out of their mouth. So if they grab it by the tail, they
> have to maneuver it around to get it in its mouth going head first before
> it is stolen or dropped. I've seen both happen.
>
> Here are a few shots of them in my online album:
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ >
> FYI: These birds are VERY skittish. The slightest disturbance and
> especially one's presence sends them rapidly flying off. It can take 30-60
> minutes for them to return IF they feel the coast is clear. I hope you
> enjoy these. Many hours were spent sitting low on the ground out of sight
> waiting for them to return, then a couple hours to catch the action. More
> later. Cheers
>
> Eric Ellingson
>
> 360-820-6396
> <esellingson...>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 12/1/25 10:50 pm From: Eric Ellingson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Action. Common Mergansers eating Kokanee salmon
Tis the season for the Kokanee to be spawning up small streams from lakes just like their relatives, Sockeye salmon. Kokanee and sockeye salmon are the same species, but kokanee never make the journey to the ocean. They spend their entire lives in lakes, migrating to tributary streams to spawn in the fall. What does this have to do with birds? The Kokanee get eaten by Common Mergansers, Bald Eagles, Gulls, and their eggs get eaten by Bufflehead and American Dippers. As the Kokanee concentrate in shallow waters they can easily become prey to many others.
Like other birds that catch & eat fish, the fish needs to go down the throat head first. So the real action begins after a merganser catches one & brings it to the surface. Gulls & other mergansers will chase it trying to steal the food out of their mouth. So if they grab it by the tail, they have to maneuver it around to get it in its mouth going head first before it is stolen or dropped. I've seen both happen.
FYI: These birds are VERY skittish. The slightest disturbance and especially one's presence sends them rapidly flying off. It can take 30-60 minutes for them to return IF they feel the coast is clear. I hope you enjoy these. Many hours were spent sitting low on the ground out of sight waiting for them to return, then a couple hours to catch the action. More later. Cheers
Date: 12/1/25 3:40 pm From: mark girling via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birch Bay report
This weekend it's all been about Common Goldeneyes. Good numbers have moved into the Bay.White-winged Scoters still seem to be the largest Scoter numbers. A lone Western Grebe was spotted by the Park boat launch.Harlequin ducks still in good numbers. Common Loons interspersed amongst the flocks. Terrell Creek has a mix of Mallards and American Wigeon but a lone Eurasian Wigeon was amongst a small group in the Creek behind the Cabana Club Condos. Hooded Mergansers and Buffleheads could also be seen.Semiahmoo Spit was where the Surf Scoters could be found. And a mix of White-winged and Black Scoters scattered in the mix. Drayton Harbour side saw a Red-throated Loon.CBC will be here before long and there's alot to count. I'll keep my eyes peeled for something rare.
<markgirling...>
Date: 12/1/25 3:01 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Mid-winter Swan Survey volunteers needed
The Mid-winter swan survey, conducted each year by WDFW, is needing more volunteers on various count days. I am coordinating Snohomish and King counties, and part of Skagit County. As an observer you will need to know swan identification and age (adult vs juvenile, although not all swans will be able to be sorted to species if they are far off in the field. There is information on swan ID on the web as well as in various books. Resources given below. Contact Martha Jordan 206-713-3684 (text or phone) for more info or to sign-up or if you have questions. The official count dates are (assuming no snow or ice): Yes, these are weekdays. Whatcom County Mon Jan 12 Skagit County Tues Jan 13 Snohomish County-north Wed Jan 14 Snohomish County-south Thurs Jan 15 King County Fri Jan 16
Date: 11/30/25 10:04 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Why cherry growers are turning to a tiny predator for help
I sent this article and the question regarding how to keep the starlings out of the kestrel boxes to a recently retired professor friend from TWU in BC who lives and farms in Whatcom County. She’s been working on this project for approximately 20 years. I’ve included her comments below:
“The linked article out of Michigan State University is from my collaborator Catherine Lindell. Cherry growers there, and in E Washington, have enthusiastically embraced kestrel nest boxes as a solution for quite a few years now.
We have definitely seen some starlings move into our boxes locally over the years. Climbing up to oust the eggs (or young) is no picnic. However, one can also just block the box entrance for a year if no kestrels seem interested. If kestrels are around and want the box, they will oust the starlings themselves.
It is worth mentioning that ½ mile between boxes is rather arbitrary. It all depends on the quality of the habitat, and resulting food that kestrels can obtain for their young in that vicinity. Here in Whatcom County, dairy pasture is ideal habitat with plenty of voles, insects, and birds.”
Don Aupperlee, DVM
Lynden, Washington
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Steve Hampton via Tweeters
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2025 4:27 PM
To: <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Why cherry growers are turning to a tiny predator for help
They don't mention how they keep the starlings out of the kestrel boxes. It is such a problem that the guidance I have read simply says, "don't put up kestrel boxes if there are starlings around." The solution is to check the box every week and then eject the starlings. This is rather onerous, especially because kestrel boxes are typically situated quite high.
I'd love to put up a box or two at a certain place (they recommend 1/2 mile apart from each other), but until I find a better solution, I'm holding off.
On Sun, Nov 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM Gene Beall via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...> > wrote:
Date: 11/30/25 4:37 pm From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Why cherry growers are turning to a tiny predator for help
They don't mention how they keep the starlings out of the kestrel boxes. It
is such a problem that the guidance I have read simply says, "don't put up
kestrel boxes if there are starlings around." The solution is to check the
box every week and then eject the starlings. This is rather onerous,
especially because kestrel boxes are typically situated quite high.
I'd love to put up a box or two at a certain place (they recommend 1/2 mile
apart from each other), but until I find a better solution, I'm holding
off.
On Sun, Nov 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM Gene Beall via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
Date: 11/28/25 3:49 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Snow Geese - western arctic population
Yes, there are a lot of snow geese in this population. Keep in mind that Washington State's wintering snow geese are NOT part of the WAP. They are from Wrangle Island, north of Siberia in the Chukchi Sea. Only a few (100+ or so maybe a tad more) of the WAP winter in eastern WA, the rest are from Wrangel. The Audubon magazine article was a good one with the exception that they interviewed a Skagit Valley farmer about issues with snow geese in western WA. And both the Fraser Delta and western WA snow geese are all from Wrangel Island. They are not in an expansion phase, more like a stable or slight decline phase. Also of note, the mid-Continent Population of snow geese are managed under a completely different plan (Central Flyway) and those birds do not come here. We are in the Pacific Flyway. There is a lot to know about all this, and fluctuations are happening each year. What I do know is that some misinformation is out there in regards to populations, wintering areas, hunting regulations and pressures, and major shifts in agricultural practices that are shifting our winter snows from western WA to the east side.
Date: 11/27/25 8:35 pm From: Bob Boekelheide via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Hello, Julia, Teresa, and Tweeters,
In winter on the north Olympic Peninsula, small numbers of Savannah Sparrows occur at brushy edges of coastal grasslands and marshes, maybe because temperatures close to salt water are relatively more balmy than elsewhere. We sometimes see them in flocks with other sparrows, but much of the time they are by themselves.
On the Sequim-Dungeness CBC, we typically record them at places around Dungeness Bay, like Cline Spit, Dungeness Landing Park, Three Crabs, Jamestown, Graysmarsh Beach, and on Dungeness Spit. There aren’t a lot of them — the average annual number for the last 30 years of the SDCBC is only 24, and the high count since the SDCBC started in 1975 is 77.
Every so often Savannah Sparrows have a big year when they’re pretty easy to find, like 2004 (77), 2013 (57), and 2021 (55), but they also have very low years, like we only recorded 2 in 2012. We've recorded fewer than 10 Savannah Sparrows five times in the last 30 years, so it certainly helps to be in the right place at the right time. The last time we missed Savannah Sparrow on the SDCBC was 1985.
Examples of other places where we sometimes see Savannah Sparrows around here in winter are on Ediz Hook in Port Angeles and the Waatch River Valley at Neah Bay. Any coastal grassy marsh might be worth a look, though.
In winter along the Hood Canal, maybe look for them at the brushy edges of marshy river mouths, like the Dosewallips and Duckabush River mouths, and Theler Wetlands.
Bob Boekelheide
Dungeness
From: Teresa Michelsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Date: November 27, 2025 at 8:57:41 AM PST
Just out of curiosity, have there been any sightings in winter on the Olympic Peninsula? Feel free to send one my way up on the slopes above Hoodsport :D
Teresa Michelsen
Hoodsport
From: Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> Subject: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Date: November 26, 2025 at 2:02:22 PM PST
To: <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...> Reply-To: Julia H <azureye...> <mailto:<azureye...>>
I was surprised to see an ebird checklist for a local (Seattle) park that included savannah sparrow.
In my experience I never see savannah sparrows in Seattle in winter, which would seem to make sense based on their feeding patterns (I'm not sure how they'd survive winter!), and this range map from Cornell seems to agree: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/maps-range
But when I look at the range map for savannah sparrow based on ebird-reported observations, one gets the impression that there's quite a lot of savannah sparrows in western Washington in winter
Should I be looking harder for this sparrow in winter? Or is that aggregated data just likely a lot of rather mistaken birders?
Date: 11/27/25 11:18 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 11/26/2025
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 25 of us enjoyed a misty bird walk with temperatures in the
40's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit and a High 13'11" Tide at 10:30am.
Highlights included two WHITE-THROATED SPARROW - tan striped in the Orchard
and a white striped along the Nisqually Estuary Trail/dike north of the
Twin Barns, WILSON'S SNIPE in the flooded field west of the west side
parking lot, continuing VIRGINIA RAIL along the west side of the Twin Barns
Loop Trail, EURASIAN WIGEON from the Twin Barns Overlook, continuing
NORTHERN FLICKER - yellow shafted from the dike, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER from
the McAllister/Medicine Creek Viewing Platform, upwards of 6
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS on the far east side of the surge plain north of the
dike on a falling tide, and both lutescens and gray-headed variety of
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER between the Twin Barns and the honey-buckets.
A retraction/correction to last week's report, our Trumpeter Swans turned
into FOY TUNDRA SWANS on closer inspection of photographs.
For the day we tallied 68 species, and with FOY Tundra Swans from 11/19, we
now have observed 178 species so far this year. See our eBird report below
for further details and photos.
Other notables seen included Muskrat, Douglas Squirrel, numerous Columbian
Black-tailed Deer and Harbor Seal.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook, happy birding,
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Nov 26, 2025 7:14 AM - 4:14 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy skies with mist and
temperatures in the 40’s to 50’s. A High 13’11” Tide at 10:30am. Others
seen included Muskrat, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Douglas Squirrel, Eastern
Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Townsend’s Vole, Harbor Seal, and Columbian
Black-tailed Deer.
68 species (+6 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 1000
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 30
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 25
Northern Shoveler 150
Gadwall 30
Eurasian Wigeon 2 One seen from the Twin Barns Observation Platform,
the other seen from the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail just north of the
Twin Barns in the surge plain north of the barns and dike.
American Wigeon 2500
Mallard 100
Northern Pintail 500
Green-winged Teal (American) 750
Ring-necked Duck 1 Flooded field south of the Twin Barns.
Surf Scoter 20
White-winged Scoter 1 Seen from McAllister/Medicine Creek Viewing
Platform on the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail in the confluence of
Shannon Slough with McAllister Creek.
Bufflehead 100
Common Goldeneye 12
Hooded Merganser 3
Red-breasted Merganser 11 McAllister Creek and Nisqually Reach.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 40
Anna's Hummingbird 2
Virginia Rail 2 Visitor Center Pond and freshwater Marsh.
American Coot (Red-shielded) 10
Black-bellied Plover 1 Flew over Observation Tower at start of
Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail heading north along Leschi Slough.
Semipalmated Plover 6 Counted individually. Seen at 2pm on surge plain
on far right side on falling tide. Small one banded plover.
Wilson's Snipe 1 Seen in flooded field west of west side parking lot
and just south of the old McAllister Creek Access Road.
Greater Yellowlegs 35
Least Sandpiper 75
Short-billed Gull 100
Ring-billed Gull 32
California Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 12
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 25
Pied-billed Grebe 2 Visitor Center Pond.
Horned Grebe 1 McAllister Creek.
Common Loon 3 One Loon showed nicely on our return approximately at
1:30pm in the confluence of Shannon Slough with McAllister Creek from the
McAllister/Medicine Creek Viewing Platform.
Double-crested Cormorant 20
Great Blue Heron 30
Cooper's Hawk 1 Orchard.
Northern Harrier 3 Two female, one male.
Bald Eagle 6
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Belted Kingfisher 4
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 3
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Northern Flicker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Previously reported. Seen by some
of the Wednesday Walk on the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail. Near where
Leschi Slough meets the dike at the aqueduct.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1
American Kestrel (Northern) 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Crow 80
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 25
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Bushtit 15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet 20
Brown Creeper 5
Pacific Wren 4
Marsh Wren 9
Bewick's Wren 3
European Starling 50
American Robin 30
Purple Finch 1 West end of parking lot.
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1 Orchard.
Golden-crowned Sparrow 30
White-throated Sparrow 2 One spotted by Bruce in Orchard, tan strip
variety. Another found by Jim along the Nisqually Estaury Trail or new
dike, white striped variety.
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 15
Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Off dike.
Spotted Towhee 4
Western Meadowlark 4 Along Leschi Slough.
Red-winged Blackbird 75
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) 1 Spotted by Heather between the
Twin Barns and the Honey Buckets.
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1 Spotted by Heather between the
Twin Barns and the Honey Buckets.
Date: 11/27/25 9:09 am From: Teresa Michelsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Just out of curiosity, have there been any sightings in winter on the Olympic Peninsula? Feel free to send one my way up on the slopes above Hoodsport :D
Teresa Michelsen
Hoodsport
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Gary Bletsch via Tweeters
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2025 4:55 AM
To: Julia H <azureye...>
Cc: Tweeters Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Dear Julia,
This is an interesting question. I always consider it a banner day, when I find a Savannah Sparrow in winter. Your question led me to check on this.
Here is what my own birding data reveals. In Skagit County, I have seen the Savannah Sparrow 66 times during the months of December, January, and February. Over that same span of time, I saw the Song Sparrow 3058 times. It appears that one's chances of finding a Savannah Sparrow in winter, at least in Skagit County, where I've done most of my Washington State birding, would be around one-fiftieth that of finding a Song Sparrow!
On reflection, I'd say that the chances are probably even slimmer than that. Quite a few of those 66 Savannah Sparrow sightings were the result of my following up on a sighting that someone else had reported, often in a place where I probably would not have gone birding, had I not been trying to find my first Savannah of the year, or my last.
Yours truly,
Gary Bletsch
On Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 05:03:53 PM EST, Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
I was surprised to see an ebird checklist for a local (Seattle) park that included savannah sparrow.
In my experience I never see savannah sparrows in Seattle in winter, which would seem to make sense based on their feeding patterns (I'm not sure how they'd survive winter!), and this range map from Cornell seems to agree: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/maps-range
Date: 11/27/25 5:06 am From: Gary Bletsch via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Dear Julia,
This is an interesting question. I always consider it a banner day, when I find a Savannah Sparrow in winter. Your question led me to check on this.
Here is what my own birding data reveals. In Skagit County, I have seen the Savannah Sparrow 66 times during the months of December, January, and February. Over that same span of time, I saw the Song Sparrow 3058 times. It appears that one's chances of finding a Savannah Sparrow in winter, at least in Skagit County, where I've done most of my Washington State birding, would be around one-fiftieth that of finding a Song Sparrow!
On reflection, I'd say that the chances are probably even slimmer than that. Quite a few of those 66 Savannah Sparrow sightings were the result of my following up on a sighting that someone else had reported, often in a place where I probably would not have gone birding, had I not been trying to find my first Savannah of the year, or my last.
Yours truly,
Gary Bletsch
On Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 05:03:53 PM EST, Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Date: 11/27/25 2:04 am From: Matt Dufort via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Hi Julia et al.,
Savannah Sparrows are definitely present near Seattle in winter, but many
of the sightings in eBird are undoubtedly misidentifications. They are much
more regular in open grassy areas like the Snoqualmie Valley, but even
there they're pretty low density in winter.
Interestingly, they often move locally in response to snowfall, showing up
on the shores of Puget Sound and local lakes after snow covers their
preferred habitat. Other species that are relatively rare in Seattle in
winter but get driven here by snow include pipits, meadowlarks, and
shorebirds including Least Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher.
Good birding,
Matt Dufort
On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM Kim Thorburn via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Western Washington, yes. I was quite surprised, though, by a couple of
> Savannah Sparrows (mixed in with a few American Tree Sparrows) on a cold,
> foggy day last week on the northern end of the Douglas Plateau . The
> habitat was right. Maybe distracted by the mild fall weather.
>
> Kim
>
>
>
> Kim Marie Thorburn, MD, MPH
>
> Spokane, WA
>
> (509) 465-3025 home
>
> (509) 599-6721 cell
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 26, 2025 2:18 PM
> *To:* Julia H <azureye...>
> *Cc:* TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
>
> Julia, small numbers of Savannah Sparrows winter widely in western
> Washington (like the alliteration?), all the way north into southwestern
> BC. I would expect them only in wide-open grassy areas, but if those are
> present, there could be Savannahs there.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> On Nov 26, 2025, at 2:02 PM, Julia H via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I was surprised to see an ebird checklist for a local (Seattle) park that
> included savannah sparrow.
>
> In my experience I never see savannah sparrows in Seattle in winter, which
> would seem to make sense based on their feeding patterns (I'm not sure how
> they'd survive winter!), and this range map from Cornell seems to agree:
> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/maps-range >
> But when I look at the range map for savannah sparrow based on
> ebird-reported observations, one gets the impression that there's quite a
> lot of savannah sparrows in western Washington in winter:
> https://ebird.org/map/savspa?neg=true&<env.minX...>&<env.minY...>&<env.maxX...>&<env.maxY...>&zh=true&gp=false&ev=Z&excludeExX=false&excludeExAll=false&mr=12-2&bmo=12&emo=2&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2025 >
> Should I be looking harder for this sparrow in winter? Or is that
> aggregated data just likely a lot of rather mistaken birders?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Julia
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/26/25 3:29 pm From: Kim Thorburn via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Western Washington, yes. I was quite surprised, though, by a couple of Savannah Sparrows (mixed in with a few American Tree Sparrows) on a cold, foggy day last week on the northern end of the Douglas Plateau . The habitat was right. Maybe distracted by the mild fall weather.
Kim
Kim Marie Thorburn, MD, MPH
Spokane, WA
(509) 465-3025 home
(509) 599-6721 cell
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 2:18 PM
To: Julia H <azureye...>
Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Julia, small numbers of Savannah Sparrows winter widely in western Washington (like the alliteration?), all the way north into southwestern BC. I would expect them only in wide-open grassy areas, but if those are present, there could be Savannahs there.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
On Nov 26, 2025, at 2:02 PM, Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
I was surprised to see an ebird checklist for a local (Seattle) park that included savannah sparrow.
In my experience I never see savannah sparrows in Seattle in winter, which would seem to make sense based on their feeding patterns (I'm not sure how they'd survive winter!), and this range map from Cornell seems to agree: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/maps-range
Date: 11/26/25 2:28 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
Julia, small numbers of Savannah Sparrows winter widely in western Washington (like the alliteration?), all the way north into southwestern BC. I would expect them only in wide-open grassy areas, but if those are present, there could be Savannahs there.
Date: 11/26/25 2:13 pm From: Julia H via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Savannah sparrows in winter?
I was surprised to see an ebird checklist for a local (Seattle) park that included savannah sparrow.
In my experience I never see savannah sparrows in Seattle in winter, which would seem to make sense based on their feeding patterns (I'm not sure how they'd survive winter!), and this range map from Cornell seems to agree: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/maps-range
Date: 11/26/25 2:11 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2025-11-26
Tweets - Another day with better weather than we have a right to expect at this time of the year. Temps in the high 40's with no wind or rain. It was a rather dark overcast, though, which made viewing a bit difficult. It was alternatingly birdy and quiet, except for the robins. There were just about always robins. Possibly even too many robins.
Highlights: Common Merganser - Just one high flyby, at 7:30. But first COME since early October Cooper's Hawk - Adult at Pea Patch stirred up a cloud of juncos Barn Owl - Two sightings pre-dawn (6:27 and 6:39 a.m.) from the model airplane field parking lot Hairy Woodpecker - One next to the dog swim beach at Dog Central gave great looks! Merlin -Quick flyby from the east end of the boardwalk Cedar Waxwing - One, with robins. Sightings of Cedars are sparse from late November to early May WHITE-THROATED SPARROW - Three seen simultaneously under the NW corner of the heronry. One had been seen moving away from that area a minute before, which might make four birds "EASTERN" Song Sparrow - Near the sheds on the east side of the East Meadow, where one was seen January through March this spring. American beaver - Three swimming around in the slough south of the Dog Area
Misses today included Cackling Goose, Common Goldeneye, Anna's Hummingbird, Killdeer, Pine Siskin, and American Goldfinch.
For the day, 53 species.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/gmail.com
Date: 11/26/25 11:04 am From: Steve Loitz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Washington State counties - totem birds
For Kittitas County, maybe Sage Thrasher, Prairie Falcon and Williamson's
Sapsucker (or White-headed Woodpecker), although I would expect pushback
from Yakima County and Chelan County.
Steve Loitz
Ellensburg
On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 8:49 AM Tim Brennan via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Howdy!
>
> A good birding friend and I have talked about this 117-questions-in-one
> question: If each county in our state had a totem pole with three birds on
> it... what would those birds be? An extra constraint we added - no birds
> can be on more than one totem! It seems like it would call for at least one
> specialty bird (if you want to see a __________, you really want to go to
> __________ county), and some combination of other birds that paint a good
> picture of the county.
>
> Even without the no-shared-birds constraint, it would be interesting to
> hear what birds come to mind for different counties!
>
> But ultimately, we may need to set up a mock draft for this...
>
> Cheers!
>
> Tim Brennan
> Renton
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/26/25 10:45 am From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Washington State counties - totem birds
On Nov 26, 2025 at 08:49:21, Tim Brennan via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> If each county in our state had a totem pole with three birds on it...
> what would those birds be?
>
I’ll take a crack at Kitsap. If I were doing a pole for my driveway, it’d
definitely be a Bald Eagle on top with Raven underneath (and as someone who
collects first nations art, I’ve considered it). I expect, though, that
other counties have better challenges for this if we’re restricting things
to one county only, and I say that despite living 5 minutes from the
Seabeck eagle hangout.
For a county-wide pole, the first two birds I’d nominate are Pileated
Woodpecker and Red-Breasted Nuthatch (a species being monitored here in the
county for Audubon’s ongoing Climate Change survey). After that, I think
there are a number of good candidates: Black-capped Chickadee, Stellar’s
Jay, Spotted Towhee, Surf, Black and White-winged Scoter, Marbled Murrelet,
maybe Pigeon Guillemot. Man, so many choices — maybe Purple Martin? Maybe
Barred Owl? Limiting it to three is really tough.
As I think about it, I’m not sure I can there’s an obvious answer to “if
you are looking for this species, you have to bird Kitsap to find it”,
where back in California we had Yellow-billed Magpie as an obvious bird to
go for.
(Sidebar: these kinds of discussions always remind me that “rarity” is very
subjective to a person and locations: many years ago I was out birding
along San Francisco Bay, and I ran into a very nice birder who turned out
to be from Washington, and who really wanted to find Snowy Egrets, a lifer
for her. And a bird that to me, in that location, was very common and easy
to find. I was happy to help her find one, but I’ve always kept that in
mind as a reminder to not ignore the common or “trash” birds because there
will always be someone who really wants to see that species. Except maybe
Starlings… (grin))
chuq
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 11/26/25 10:43 am From: Brian Zinke via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Call for artists: Puget Sound Bird Fest Poster Art Contest
Hi Tweets,
Pilchuck Audubon and Puget Sound Bird Fest have opened our annual poster
art contest for the 2026 festival! We invite Puget Sound area artists to
showcase their creativity and love of local bird life by entering the 2026
Puget Sound Bird Fest poster art contest. The winning design will become
the signature image for this beloved community festival, held June 6–7,
2026, in Edmonds—and seen by thousands of bird lovers, nature enthusiasts,
and regional visitors.
This year’s contest is proudly sponsored by Cole Gallery
<https://colegallery.net/> and ARTspot <https://artspotedmonds.com/>, two
cornerstones of Edmonds’ vibrant arts scene. The selected artist will
receive a $500 cash prize, a featured spot as ARTspot’s May Art Walk
artist, and additional promotional opportunities tied to the festival.
The 2026 theme— “Every Bird Has A Song” —invites artists to interpret the
voices, beauty, and presence of our region’s avian residents.
The entry period is open now through January 31, 2026.
Full contest details and the entry form are available at
www.pilchuckaudubon.org or by emailing <director...>
Date: 11/26/25 10:33 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - October 2025
Hi Tweeters,
With October additions we have reached 181 for our Edmonds 2025 list. In taxonomic order, the new species are:
Black-bellied Plover (code 4), 6 flying along the waterfront, 10-13-25.
Northern Fulmar (code 5), 1 flying along the waterfront, 10-20-25 (reported by three observers).
Short-tailed Shearwater (code 4), first reported along the waterfront, 10-4-25, and with continuing sightings throughout the month by multiple birders. This was part of an ongoing irruption of this seabird in the Salish Sea. The shearwaters were seen throughout Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Georgia Strait.
Other birds of interest: There was a second sighting of the year for an American Kestrel (code 4), this one at the marsh (ID photos), 10-5-25. A California Scrub-Jay(code 4) in a neighborhood north of the ferry dock, 10-7-25. An American Coot (code 2), was at the waterfront (ID photos), 10-12-25, and one at Edmonds marsh (ID photo), 10-19-25. There was a second sighting for the year of a Western Meadowlark (code 3) at the waterfront, 10-18-25. There were reports of White-throated Sparrow (code 3) in four yards and at the marsh. This may be a good winter for that species. There were no October reports of Turkey Vulture (code 3) in Edmonds. Only one vulture has been reported this year and that was last March. If they migrated through Edmonds this fall, no one saw or reported them.
Declined species (due to lack of any documentation): A report of 9 Tundra Swans (code 4) from the waterfront, a report of a Eurasian Wigeon (code 3) at the marsh, multiple reports of American Herring Gull (code 4) on the waterfront and even one in the marsh (!).
As always, I appreciate it when birders get in touch with me to share sightings, photos, or recordings. It helps us build our collective year list. If you would like a copy of our 2025 city checklist, with 283 species, please request it from checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. The 2025 checklist, with sightings through October, is in the bird information box at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station at the base of the public pier.
Good birding,
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
cariddellwa at gmail dot com
Abundance codes: (1) Common, (2) Uncommon, (3) Harder to find, usually seen annually, (4) Rare, 5+ records, (5) Fewer than 5 records
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/26/25 10:24 am From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] REMINDER: WOS Monthly Meeting, December 1, 2025: (on-line only)
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, December 1, Larry Schwitters will present "Vaux's Happening: 27 million and Counting." The tiny, narrow-winged Vaux's Swift is found only in the western hemisphere. In the words of our speaker, Mr. Swift - Schwitters: "Because of its anatomy, a swift is unable to perch and so needs a rough, vertical surface to hook its claws into; it then puts its tail down like a kickstand." The high-flying lives of these long-distance migrants are largely spent coursing 'swiftly' (what else?) through the air, moving along routes that extend from British Columbia, through the western states and into at least Central America.
Following three decades as a teacher in the public schools, Larry Schwitters became totally engrossed with the Vaux's Swift, and for some 20 consecutive years, has carefully followed their movements (that's 36 migrations and documentation of 200 roost sites) and much more, assisted by an ever-expanding legion of volunteer observers. Since 2019, Larry has taken the lead in revising the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's chapter in Birds of the World on the Vaux's Swift. Birder's World magazine covered his work in an article titled, "46 Minutes of WOW." Larry is the recipient of the National Audubon Society's 2023 National Volunteer of the Year Award. We are in for a tour-de-force presentation on these wee birds whose territory ranges from the Yukon to Guatemala!
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: 11/26/25 9:39 am From: David Kreft via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Washington State counties - totem birds
Excellent challenge. I think the one-time only constraint will be
impractical if not impossible. But still an interesting discussion. Mock
draft with trades and cash offers!
Dave Kreft
Kettle Falls
On Wed, Nov 26, 2025 at 8:49 AM Tim Brennan via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Howdy!
>
> A good birding friend and I have talked about this 117-questions-in-one
> question: If each county in our state had a totem pole with three birds on
> it... what would those birds be? An extra constraint we added - no birds
> can be on more than one totem! It seems like it would call for at least one
> specialty bird (if you want to see a __________, you really want to go to
> __________ county), and some combination of other birds that paint a good
> picture of the county.
>
> Even without the no-shared-birds constraint, it would be interesting to
> hear what birds come to mind for different counties!
>
> But ultimately, we may need to set up a mock draft for this...
>
> Cheers!
>
> Tim Brennan
> Renton
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/26/25 9:23 am From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Washington State counties - totem birds
Howdy!
A good birding friend and I have talked about this 117-questions-in-one question: If each county in our state had a totem pole with three birds on it... what would those birds be? An extra constraint we added - no birds can be on more than one totem! It seems like it would call for at least one specialty bird (if you want to see a __________, you really want to go to __________ county), and some combination of other birds that paint a good picture of the county.
Even without the no-shared-birds constraint, it would be interesting to hear what birds come to mind for different counties!
But ultimately, we may need to set up a mock draft for this...
Date: 11/25/25 6:56 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Monarch Butterflies
Growing up I was well aware of Monarch's famous and fabulous migrations.
But I lived in Norrh Florida on a small lake in college. I was initially
shocked that many migrating species (not just monarchs) were traveling
south over the lake where there was excellent visibility. Monarch's get
all the credit though. But likely because the longest and the most
spectacular congregations are in their wintering quarters.
Bob OBrien Portlan
On Sun, Nov 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Robert Michael Pyle, a Washington resident and renowned lepidopterist,
> published a great read in 1999 about the migration of Monarch populations
> in the Western States. It ultimately came out in paperback and is also
> available as an eBook. It is one of the better travel/nature books I have
> enjoyed. Title: Chasing Monarchs: Migrating with the Butterflies of
> Passage.
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/25/25 6:21 pm From: AMK17 via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Eastern kingbird AM
About 750 am as I joined the line of cars at the I5 50th st on ramp, an eastern kingbird flew up from the blackberries in the I5 ROW and landed within 8 ft of my car next to me. Lighting was not great but markings clear - white undersides, dark upper with black head and black through face under eyes, black bill, black legs. I did not see the white tail tip mostly because I was surprised to see the bird and fumbled with my phone trying to get a picture (car was not moving). But no photo as cars in front of me moved forward quite a bit...
Date: 11/25/25 9:30 am From: Neil Johannsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] California Scrub-Jay
We have private well-vegetated 1/2-acre property a scant 1/4 mile from Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal and yesterday had our first ever California Scrub-Jay visit our suet station.
Neil C. Johannsen
Retired state park director
Date: 11/25/25 2:27 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] The five great forests that keep North America’s birds alive | ScienceDaily
Date: 11/24/25 5:46 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Snowy Owl at Shilshole (was)
I had a third-hand report of one Saturday, sitting on a rooftop and seen
from Sunset Hill Park in Ballard. It apparently left by Sunday morning.
Maybe then went to Shilahole?
- Michael Hobbs
On Mon, Nov 24, 2025, 5:01 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> A friend of ours, Barb Lowe, sent us a photo she took of a Snowy Owl near
> the south end of the rock breakwater outside the Shilshole Marina. She took
> it at around 4:20 pm yesterday, 11/23. We went there in late morning today
> (11/24) and searched the entire length of the breakwater without seeing it.
> Thus I didn’t bother posting it earlier. From the plumage, it could have
> been the same one that was at Edmonds two days ago, perhaps continuing
> south along the east side of Puget Sound.
>
> Check the rock jetties and breakwaters!
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/24/25 5:12 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Snowy Owl at Shilshole (was)
A friend of ours, Barb Lowe, sent us a photo she took of a Snowy Owl near the south end of the rock breakwater outside the Shilshole Marina. She took it at around 4:20 pm yesterday, 11/23. We went there in late morning today (11/24) and searched the entire length of the breakwater without seeing it. Thus I didn’t bother posting it earlier. From the plumage, it could have been the same one that was at Edmonds two days ago, perhaps continuing south along the east side of Puget Sound.
Date: 11/24/25 2:21 pm From: Elaine Chuang via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] RE-POST November 2025 TUVU report
This is a re-post of Diann MacRae's November 23 message, sharing her data on Turkey Vultures and their movements. Thank you, Diann.
Hi, Tweets - my, where does the time go? Some interesting sightings plus a lot of single sightings all up and down from British Columbia through Oregon. I try just to include local reports plus a few interesting ones from ebird. Sounds like a normal migration year all around. Thanks for the great reports.
SEPTEMBER
No date, just Sept: two turkey vultures in a Stanwood pasture, Snohomish County.
25 -- 209 turkey vultures at Sooke-Whiffin Spit Park, B.C.
OCTOBER
01 -- Three turkey vultures over Shine Road/Squamish Harbor, Jefferson County in late morning; four near Lynden in a loose kettle with ravens and a harrier, seemed interested in a corn field being harvested; one turkey vulture at the weekly walk at the Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR, Thurston County.
02 -- Seven+ waiting for warm air in tall trees near the lake at Marymoor Park, Redmond, King County, weather pleasant; first time with vultures in the trees; all days with 5+ vultures have been between 21 Sept and 06 Oct.; 54 turkey vultures seen at Cassimer Bar, Okanagon County roosting in large trees and on the river bank feeding.
03 -- 350 turkey vultures at the Sea Scout Base, Multnomah County, Oregon.
04 -- 550 seen from Race Rocks, British Columbia (photos); 23 at the Sechelt Airport, Wilson Creek, Sunshine Coast, B.C.
05 -- 75 seen over the Lyre Conservation Area, Clallam County.
09 -- 29 at Sooke-Whiffin Spit Park, B.C.
11 -- 25 at William O. Finley NWR, Cabell Marsh, Benton County, Oregon.
13 -- 80 turkey vultures at the Jackson Bottoms Wetland Preserve, Washington County, Oregon.
22 -- One at Nanoose Estuary/Bay, Nanaimo, B.C.; one over Lake Union, Seattle, King County.
29 -- Four at Friday Harbor, San Juan County, ca noon.
Sorry this is so late - we lost our internet for almost a week due to a tree falling on the cable, etc. Thanks again for the reports and have a great Thanksgiving.
Date: 11/23/25 3:51 pm From: Michael Price via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] New York Times Paywall (was: Tracking Butterflys)
I'm happy to report that the New York Times paywall is restricted to
articles and commentary the NYTimes deems premium: a surprising amount of
their online content is now open access (at least in Canada). The only way
to tell is to click on the article and they'll let you know.
Date: 11/23/25 2:56 pm From: Shelf Life Community Story Project via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] White-throated Sparrow
We had one here about a month ago. Only stuck around for a few days. White Crowned and Golden Crowned are plentiful now.
Jill
Seattle / Central District
> On Nov 23, 2025, at 2:05 PM, Stef Neis via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> We have a pair of white-throated sparrows returning here for over 4 years now. Rarely any white-crowned and only an occasional golden-crowed in early spring here at our forested property.
> Stef Neis
> Whidbey Island
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Nov 23, 2025, at 1:27 PM, Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I was pleased to find a White-Throated Sparrow in my yard today, among the numerous Juncos and a few Golden-Crowned Sparrows. Anyone else seeing White Throats?
>>
>> Joan Miller
>> jemskink at gmail dot com
>> 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: 11/23/25 2:14 pm From: Stef Neis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] White-throated Sparrow
We have a pair of white-throated sparrows returning here for over 4 years now. Rarely any white-crowned and only an occasional golden-crowed in early spring here at our forested property.
Stef Neis
Whidbey Island
Sent from my iPad
> On Nov 23, 2025, at 1:27 PM, Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> I was pleased to find a White-Throated Sparrow in my yard today, among the numerous Juncos and a few Golden-Crowned Sparrows. Anyone else seeing White Throats?
>
> Joan Miller
> jemskink at gmail dot com
> West Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/23/25 1:45 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Monarch Butterflies
Robert Michael Pyle, a Washington resident and renowned lepidopterist, published a great read in 1999 about the migration of Monarch populations in the Western States. It ultimately came out in paperback and is also available as an eBook. It is one of the better travel/nature books I have enjoyed. Title: Chasing Monarchs: Migrating with the Butterflies of Passage.
Date: 11/23/25 1:38 pm From: Joan Miller via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] White-throated Sparrow
I was pleased to find a White-Throated Sparrow in my yard today, among the numerous Juncos and a few Golden-Crowned Sparrows. Anyone else seeing White Throats?
Joan Miller jemskink at gmail dot com West Seattle
Date: 11/22/25 5:31 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tracking Butterflys
Larry knows this, of course. But for Washington and Oregon,Monarchs are
uncommon and found, either resident or migrating, mostly East of the
Cascades. One story is that their Milkweed food sources are only found
'East'. As a colorrary, planting milkweed to attract or sustain them is
not really realistic 'West'.
I've lived SE of Portland for 50+ years on a rural property and only seen a
Monarch a single time, long ago, and that was likely in retrospect a
misidentification on my part. There are 'look-a-likes'.
Here are the iNaturalist sightings for Washington State.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=46&subview=map&taxon_id=48662 Bob OBrien Portland
Of course, as Larry says, this is indeed a big deal for the eastern 1/2 of
the US
On Sat, Nov 22, 2025 at 4:48 PM Larry Schwitters via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
>
> This news just came out in the New York Times which you need a
> subscription to read on line. This link takes you to CTT where they got the
> story from.
> https://celltracktech.com/pages/project-monarch-collaboration-2025 >
> I’ve got a lot to understand here but this is a big deal. Researchers have
> been tracking Monarchs for years but this is a game changer. Want to see
> their transmitter specs but article says personal smartphones can be used
> as receivers.
>
> Did I say this is a big deal. And…..Standing ovation for WA Fish & Wild
> for removing the fresh dead Cackling Goose from Issaquah Sunset Beach same
> day they got the report.
>
> Larry Schwitters
> Issaquah
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
I’ve got a lot to understand here but this is a big deal. Researchers have been tracking Monarchs for years but this is a game changer. Want to see their transmitter specs but article says personal smartphones can be used as receivers.
Did I say this is a big deal. And…..Standing ovation for WA Fish & Wild for removing the fresh dead Cackling Goose from Issaquah Sunset Beach same day they got the report.
Date: 11/22/25 10:45 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk for Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR on 11/19/2025
Dear Tweets,
Approximately 25 of us had a really nice Autumn day at the Refuge with
cloudy skies and temperatures in the 40's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit.
There was a Low 7'7" Tide at 11:15am and a High 12'8" Tide at 3:52pm which
was really nice for keeping plenty of waterfowl within the inner Refuge
during our regular route. Highlights included First Of Year NORTHERN
SHRIKE spotted along the Nisqually Estuary Trail as well YELLOW-SHAFTED
NORTHERN FLICKER. The Orchard was good for RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and
PILEATED WOODPECKER. The flooded fields along the Access or Maintenance
Roads were good for CACKLING GEESE and WILSON'S SNIPE. We had good
diversity of shorebirds at the Twin Barns Overlook Platform and on the
Nisqually Estuary Trail. AMERICAN BITTERN was seen in the freshwater marsh
and a late BARN SWALLOW briefly showed foraging low. We had a three
species of falcon day and 4 TRUMPETER SWANS flying and swimming in Shannon
Slough.
For the day we observed 78 species. With FOY Northern Shrike, we now have
observed 177 species thus far for 2025. See our eBird Report below with
awesome photos embedded.
Other fun sightings included 4 point Columbian Black-tailed Deer partaking
in the flehman display, Great Blue Heron catching and eating a Townsend's
Vole and a Muskrat at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook, happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Nov 19, 2025 7:01 AM - 4:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.038 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with Temperatures in the
40’s to 50’s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low 7’7” Tide at 11:15am and a High 12’8”
Tide at 3:52. Others seen Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Eastern Gray
Squirrel, Douglas Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Puget Sound Garter
Snake, Townsend’s Vole, Harbor Seal, California Sea Lion, and Muskrat.
78 species (+6 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 1500
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 50
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 40
Trumpeter Swan 4 Spotted flying over Nisqually River, then over Refuge
into Shannon Slough. Photos.
Northern Shoveler 150
Gadwall 20
American Wigeon 2000
Mallard 200
Northern Pintail 1000
Green-winged Teal (American) 2000
Greater Scaup 30
Surf Scoter 25
White-winged Scoter 3
Bufflehead 300
Common Goldeneye 2
Hooded Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 35
Mourning Dove 1
Anna's Hummingbird 1
Virginia Rail 2
American Coot (Red-shielded) 5
Black-bellied Plover 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 5
Wilson's Snipe 4 Spotted by Jon in the flooded field south of the Twin
Barns.
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 50
Dunlin 300
Least Sandpiper 125
Bonaparte's Gull 10 Viewed from the end of the Nisqually Estuary Trail
flaring south of Anderson Island.
Short-billed Gull 100
Ring-billed Gull 150
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 6
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 15
Larus sp. 100
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Horned Grebe 6
Common Loon 2
Brandt's Cormorant 5
Double-crested Cormorant 25
American Bittern 1 Spotted by Craig in the Freshwater Marsh along the
Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 51
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Northern) 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Northern Harrier 3
Bald Eagle 8
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 Orchard.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 3
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Orchard.
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Spotted by Mary Linders on the
Nisqually Estuary Trail on either side of the dike. Female, red on nape,
brown face, and yellow shafts. Photos taken. Observed for over 20 minutes
on either side of the dike foraging with other Northern Flickers.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted x Red-shafted) 2
American Kestrel 1 Spotted by Laurie at the green closure gate for the
old McAllister Creek Access Road.
Merlin 1 Spotted by Miles in tree along Nisqually River.
Peregrine Falcon 2
Northern Shrike 1 Spotted by Janel and Mary along Leschi Slough and in
the Freshwater Marsh along the Nisqually Estuary Trail.
American Crow 75
Common Raven 4
Black-capped Chickadee 20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4
Barn Swallow 1 Observed for 10-15 seconds at 1/4 mile with 10x
binoculars flying/foraging over freshwater marsh from Nisqually Estuary
Trail or dike. Dark throat and back with light cream colored breast and
belly. Seen by other birders on dike.
Bushtit 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
Brown Creeper 4
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 6
Marsh Wren 8
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 6
European Starling 125
American Robin 30
Purple Finch 1 West End Parking Lot.
Pine Siskin 2
American Goldfinch 10
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 4
Golden-crowned Sparrow 15
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 18
Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Spotted by Jon along the Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 4
Western Meadowlark 2
Red-winged Blackbird 100
Date: 11/21/25 6:43 pm From: Bob Boekelheide via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bonaparte's extravaganza
Hello Dennis and Tweeters,
The Bonaparte’s bonanza has also come to Sequim Bay, where last Sunday (Nov 16, 2025) I think there was the largest number of Bonaparte’s Gulls (57) that I’ve seen there since the 1990s. Nothing like the thousands you saw, but very lovely to see.
Bob Boekelheide
Dungeness
From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> Subject: [Tweeters] Bonaparte's extravaganza
Date: November 19, 2025 at 8:48:44 AM PST
To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> Reply-To: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> <mailto:<dennispaulson...>>
Hello, tweets.
Elaine Chuang, Netta Smith and I visited Blaine yesterday, and I saw something I have never seen before: a spectacular show by Bonaparte’s Gulls foraging over Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo Bay. From the pier at Blaine we saw that the gulls extended in all directions, as far as we could see with binoculars and scope, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds, surely a thousand or more. They flew rapidly over the water and dipped to the surface at intervals.
Apparently the reason for this was the presence of dense schools of many thousands of herrings. They were going by the pier in dense rivers, hundreds of individuals deep and wide, and extending that to the whole area where the gulls were foraging, there were surely many millions of them. We could only conclude that as the gulls were foraging in the same way everywhere, there must have been herrings everywhere.
There were other gulls, Horned Grebes, and cormorants also foraging in the same area, but nothing like the numbers of Bonaparte’s. They were roosting by the hundreds with shorebirds on the mudflats on the north side of the road out to the pier, presumably their bellies full of herrings.
The neatest thing was that there were herrings below us as we stood on the edge of the pier, and adult and the occasional immature Bonaparte's came in after them, dropping to the water also right below us. Most of them came up empty, but when a gull would catch a fish, it stopped on the surface to swallow it, and we could take photos. The photos showed the herring prey clearly, all the fish no larger than 2 inches in length. As Pacific Herring can reach a length of a foot or more, these were all quite young ones,
We also saw the same numbers from the end of Semiahmoo Spit, although the gulls weren’t as close there. And some Bonaparte’s were even at the south end of Drayton Harbor as we drove around to the spit. I don’t know how long this will continue, but anyone living in the area might want to head over there to experience this wonderful spectacle. It would be interesting to know how long it continues.
Date: 11/21/25 11:48 am From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 11-20-2025
Tweeters,
The 22 birders that toured the Eagle's Pride GC on a fine day (44-56degF) were just topped by the number of species - 27 - that we tallied. (This wasn't the fewest species seen here in November, but close. See below.) The number individual birds, however, was very low (134 individual birds) compared with previous years. The only outstanding count was for ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS - 11 - including a couple of sightings of two Anna's in close proximity to each other with no aggressive behavior noted. Thanks to the five members of Vancouver (WA) Audubon Society that toured with us before they headed to Billy Frank, Jr., Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
Of concern was the fact we had no (!) waterfowl seen at Hodge Lake. This is usually the most productive area for waterfowl at Eagle's Pride in the winter.
For what it's worth, here's a wrap-up of low species counts in November since we started this birdwalk in 2013:
24 - 2019
25 - 2022 and 2017
26 - 2016
27 - 2013
Mammals seen: Three Townsend's chipmunks.
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:
* December 18
* January 15
* February 19
From the eBird PNW report:
27 species
Mallard 9
Ring-necked Duck 2
Bufflehead 1
Hooded Merganser 11 8 females and 1 male at the maintenance pond. Two more at the 9th hole pond.
Date: 11/21/25 11:06 am From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Avian Influenza more info
There is more on AI: WDFW has a website page where they are asking people to report sick/dead birds that might be avian influenza related. There is a form on line for reporting and this is the preferred method for reporting. If it is a swan, please also call the swan hotline number: 360-466-0515 Avian Influenza URL is:
Date: 11/21/25 10:41 am From: Nagi Aboulenein via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yayyy! Wisdom is back on Midway Atoll
Hi Ronda,
As I recollect the Bolsa Chica crash was due to operator error - whether deliberate or not, is probably immaterial from the perspective of the impact it had on the colony.
But even without any operator error, if the drone experiences a technical problem and crashes, the end results might stil be the same - that’s the part that worries me. Murphy’s law can strike even with the most experienced and knowledgeable drone operators.
For what it’s worth, I’ll try to reach out to the FOMA folks.
Thanks.
—
Nagi Aboulenein
> On Friday, Nov 21, 2025 at 09:44, Ronda Stark <rondastark18...> (mailto:<rondastark18...>)> wrote:
> Hi Nagi,
>
> I hope you will consider sending email directly to Friends of Midway Atoll. They have raised $75,000 for the drone project and they are seeking an additional $25,000 in funding for the project. The website suggests that if the human census and the drone census produce similar results that there will be a more permanent change for how counts are conducted.
> The assumption seemed to be that this would be less intrusive for the albatross and that was why I raised the question.
>
> I remember the Bolsa Chica crash and I believe that was deliberate-- teenagers who thought it was acceptable to disturb the colony?
>
> Thank you,
> Ronda
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM Nagi Aboulenein <nagi.aboulenein...> (mailto:<nagi.aboulenein...>)> wrote:
> > Sorry, didn’t include Tweeters in my original reply. Here it is again, with Tweeters now included.
> >
> > Usage of drones would be very worrisome - there was an incident a few years ago, where a drone crashed into an Elegant Tern nesting colony at Bolsa Chica in southern California, resulting in a total nesting failure for the entire colony for that year.
> >
> > Drones don’t just crash because of stupid operator mistakes - drones can also crash due to technical failure, power loss, etc. Results of a drone crash on nesting success would worry me a lot.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> > —
> > Nagi Aboulenein
> >
> >
> > > On Friday, Nov 21, 2025 at 08:35, Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> > > Thank you to everyone for taking the time to share their experiences!
> > >
> > > On the website, I see they are planning to conduct the usual census and they are also raising funds to purchase drones to conduct an aerial census and compare results. Can anyone comment on that approach?
> > >
> > > Bob, were you part of a scientific study? I thought visitation to the area was greatly restricted.
> > >
> > > Ronda
> > > On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 12:17 AM Carla Conway <mikiconway...> (mailto:<mikiconway...>)> wrote:
> > > > Hi Ronda,
> > > > Thank you so much for planning a gift to FOMA, it will be greatly appreciated. FOMA also supports scientific research and conservation by providing funding for projects such as the annual nesting albatross census. They covered the cost of meals for our group when I was a nest census volunteer in 2021-22 and it helped a lot!
> > > > Smiles,
> > > > Carla
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM Scott Richardson via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> > > > > I’ve appreciated FOMA’s dedication to both the natural history and cultural history of the atoll. The umbrella makes a lot of sense for the place. Their website covers a lot!
> > > > >
> > > > > Scott
> > > > >
> > > > > > On Nov 20, 2025, at 19:05, Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thank you for posting about Wisdom. I am planning to gift to Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. If you happen to know anything about their work please contact me.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Ronda
> > > > > > On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM Ellen Blackstone via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> > > > > > > Wisdom, the Laysan Albatross that is at least 75 years old, is back on Midway Atoll!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > https://friendsofmidway.org/ > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Cheers all around!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Ellen Blackstone
> > > > > > > Edmonds WA
> > > > > > > ellenblackstone AT gmail DOT COM
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > > > Tweeters mailing list
> > > > > > > <Tweeters...> (mailto:<Tweeters...>)
> > > > > > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > > Tweeters mailing list
> > > > > > <Tweeters...> (mailto:<Tweeters...>)
> > > > > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Tweeters mailing list
> > > > > <Tweeters...> (mailto:<Tweeters...>)
> > > > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > _______________________________________________
> > > Tweeters mailing list
> > > <Tweeters...> (mailto:<Tweeters...>)
> > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/21/25 10:05 am From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yayyy! Wisdom is back on Midway Atoll
Hi Nagi,
I hope you will consider sending email directly to Friends of Midway Atoll.
They have raised $75,000 for the drone project and they are seeking an
additional $25,000 in funding for the project. The website suggests that if
the human census and the drone census produce similar results that there
will be a more permanent change for how counts are conducted.
The assumption seemed to be that this would be less intrusive for the
albatross and that was why I raised the question.
I remember the Bolsa Chica crash and I believe that was deliberate--
teenagers who thought it was acceptable to disturb the colony?
Thank you,
Ronda
On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM Nagi Aboulenein <nagi.aboulenein...>
wrote:
> Sorry, didn’t include Tweeters in my original reply. Here it is again,
> with Tweeters now included.
>
> Usage of drones would be very worrisome - there was an incident a few
> years ago, where a drone crashed into an Elegant Tern nesting colony at
> Bolsa Chica in southern California, resulting in a total nesting failure
> for the entire colony for that year.
>
> Drones don’t just crash because of stupid operator mistakes - drones can
> also crash due to technical failure, power loss, etc. Results of a drone
> crash on nesting success would worry me a lot.
>
> Thanks!
> —
> Nagi Aboulenein
>
>
> On Friday, Nov 21, 2025 at 08:35, Ronda Stark via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
> Thank you to everyone for taking the time to share their experiences!
>
> On the website, I see they are planning to conduct the usual census and
> they are also raising funds to purchase drones to conduct an aerial census
> and compare results. Can anyone comment on that approach?
>
> Bob, were you part of a scientific study? I thought visitation to the area
> was greatly restricted.
>
> Ronda
>
> On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 12:17 AM Carla Conway <mikiconway...>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Ronda,
>> Thank you so much for planning a gift to FOMA, it will be greatly
>> appreciated. FOMA also supports scientific research and conservation by
>> providing funding for projects such as the annual nesting albatross census.
>> They covered the cost of meals for our group when I was a nest census
>> volunteer in 2021-22 and it helped a lot!
>> Smiles,
>> Carla
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM Scott Richardson via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> I’ve appreciated FOMA’s dedication to both the natural history and
>>> cultural history of the atoll. The umbrella makes a lot of sense for the
>>> place. Their website covers a lot!
>>>
>>> Scott
>>>
>>> On Nov 20, 2025, at 19:05, Ronda Stark via Tweeters <
>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> Thank you for posting about Wisdom. I am planning to gift to Friends of
>>> Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. If you happen to know anything about
>>> their work please contact me.
>>>
>>> Ronda
>>>
>>> On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM Ellen Blackstone via Tweeters <
>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Wisdom, the Laysan Albatross that is at least 75 years old, is back on
>>>> Midway Atoll!
>>>>
>>>> https://friendsofmidway.org/ >>>>
>>>> Cheers all around!
>>>>
>>>> Ellen Blackstone
>>>> Edmonds WA
>>>> ellenblackstone AT gmail DOT COM
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>>> <Tweeters...>
>>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>
>> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Date: 11/21/25 9:22 am From: Nagi Aboulenein via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yayyy! Wisdom is back on Midway Atoll
Sorry, didn’t include Tweeters in my original reply. Here it is again, with Tweeters now included.
Usage of drones would be very worrisome - there was an incident a few years ago, where a drone crashed into an Elegant Tern nesting colony at Bolsa Chica in southern California, resulting in a total nesting failure for the entire colony for that year.
Drones don’t just crash because of stupid operator mistakes - drones can also crash due to technical failure, power loss, etc. Results of a drone crash on nesting success would worry me a lot.
Thanks!
—
Nagi Aboulenein
> On Friday, Nov 21, 2025 at 08:35, Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> Thank you to everyone for taking the time to share their experiences!
>
> On the website, I see they are planning to conduct the usual census and they are also raising funds to purchase drones to conduct an aerial census and compare results. Can anyone comment on that approach?
>
> Bob, were you part of a scientific study? I thought visitation to the area was greatly restricted.
>
> Ronda
> On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 12:17 AM Carla Conway <mikiconway...> (mailto:<mikiconway...>)> wrote:
> > Hi Ronda,
> > Thank you so much for planning a gift to FOMA, it will be greatly appreciated. FOMA also supports scientific research and conservation by providing funding for projects such as the annual nesting albatross census. They covered the cost of meals for our group when I was a nest census volunteer in 2021-22 and it helped a lot!
> > Smiles,
> > Carla
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM Scott Richardson via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> > > I’ve appreciated FOMA’s dedication to both the natural history and cultural history of the atoll. The umbrella makes a lot of sense for the place. Their website covers a lot!
> > >
> > > Scott
> > >
> > > > On Nov 20, 2025, at 19:05, Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thank you for posting about Wisdom. I am planning to gift to Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. If you happen to know anything about their work please contact me.
> > > >
> > > > Ronda
> > > > On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM Ellen Blackstone via Tweeters <tweeters...> (mailto:<tweeters...>)> wrote:
> > > > > Wisdom, the Laysan Albatross that is at least 75 years old, is back on Midway Atoll!
> > > > >
> > > > > https://friendsofmidway.org/ > > > > >
> > > > > Cheers all around!
> > > > >
> > > > > Ellen Blackstone
> > > > > Edmonds WA
> > > > > ellenblackstone AT gmail DOT COM
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Tweeters mailing list
> > > > > <Tweeters...> (mailto:<Tweeters...>)
> > > > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Tweeters mailing list
> > > > <Tweeters...> (mailto:<Tweeters...>)
> > > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > _______________________________________________
> > > Tweeters mailing list
> > > <Tweeters...> (mailto:<Tweeters...>)
> > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/21/25 8:54 am From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yayyy! Wisdom is back on Midway Atoll
Thank you to everyone for taking the time to share their experiences!
On the website, I see they are planning to conduct the usual census and
they are also raising funds to purchase drones to conduct an aerial census
and compare results. Can anyone comment on that approach?
Bob, were you part of a scientific study? I thought visitation to the area
was greatly restricted.
Ronda
On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 12:17 AM Carla Conway <mikiconway...> wrote:
> Hi Ronda,
> Thank you so much for planning a gift to FOMA, it will be greatly
> appreciated. FOMA also supports scientific research and conservation by
> providing funding for projects such as the annual nesting albatross census.
> They covered the cost of meals for our group when I was a nest census
> volunteer in 2021-22 and it helped a lot!
> Smiles,
> Carla
>
> On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM Scott Richardson via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> I’ve appreciated FOMA’s dedication to both the natural history and
>> cultural history of the atoll. The umbrella makes a lot of sense for the
>> place. Their website covers a lot!
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> On Nov 20, 2025, at 19:05, Ronda Stark via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Thank you for posting about Wisdom. I am planning to gift to Friends of
>> Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. If you happen to know anything about
>> their work please contact me.
>>
>> Ronda
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM Ellen Blackstone via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> Wisdom, the Laysan Albatross that is at least 75 years old, is back on
>>> Midway Atoll!
>>>
>>> https://friendsofmidway.org/ >>>
>>> Cheers all around!
>>>
>>> Ellen Blackstone
>>> Edmonds WA
>>> ellenblackstone AT gmail DOT COM
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
Date: 11/21/25 12:36 am From: Carla Conway via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yayyy! Wisdom is back on Midway Atoll
Hi Ronda,
Thank you so much for planning a gift to FOMA, it will be greatly
appreciated. FOMA also supports scientific research and conservation by
providing funding for projects such as the annual nesting albatross census.
They covered the cost of meals for our group when I was a nest census
volunteer in 2021-22 and it helped a lot!
Smiles,
Carla
On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM Scott Richardson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I’ve appreciated FOMA’s dedication to both the natural history and
> cultural history of the atoll. The umbrella makes a lot of sense for the
> place. Their website covers a lot!
>
> Scott
>
> On Nov 20, 2025, at 19:05, Ronda Stark via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Thank you for posting about Wisdom. I am planning to gift to Friends of
> Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. If you happen to know anything about
> their work please contact me.
>
> Ronda
>
> On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM Ellen Blackstone via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Wisdom, the Laysan Albatross that is at least 75 years old, is back on
>> Midway Atoll!
>>
>> https://friendsofmidway.org/ >>
>> Cheers all around!
>>
>> Ellen Blackstone
>> Edmonds WA
>> ellenblackstone AT gmail DOT COM
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/20/25 7:24 pm From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yayyy! Wisdom is back on Midway Atoll
Thank you for posting about Wisdom. I am planning to gift to Friends of
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. If you happen to know anything about
their work please contact me.
Ronda
On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM Ellen Blackstone via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Wisdom, the Laysan Albatross that is at least 75 years old, is back on
> Midway Atoll!
>
> https://friendsofmidway.org/ >
> Cheers all around!
>
> Ellen Blackstone
> Edmonds WA
> ellenblackstone AT gmail DOT COM
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/20/25 5:18 pm From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Christmas Bird Count information available now
Dear Tweetsters - Thanks to the considerable efforts of Jim Danzenbaker, the time, place and other details of this year's Christmas Bird Counts around the state are now available on the Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) website.
For the past eight years, Jim has volunteered to gather this information for more than 50 count circles touching some part of the state.
At least three counts are new to the CBC webpage this year: 1) Douglas Schonewald is sponsoring a test count for a potential new circle for Potholes-Moses Lake. 2) The White Rock count circle is centered in British Columbia but extends south to take in Blaine, Drayton Harbor and part of Semiahmoo Bay. 3) The Columbia Estuary CBC, which includes the mouth of the Columbia, takes in parts of extreme northwest Oregon and extreme southwest Washington. Dave Irons is recruiting for this territory.
Earliest count is the test count for Potholes-Moses Lake, which is set for Saturday December 13. Last counts are three on Sunday January 4, 2026. It looks as if the big day for counts this year is Saturday December 20 with 14 counts happening on that date.
There is an abundance of dates (13) and territories to choose among. Grab a friend and sign up!
Date: 11/20/25 1:55 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2025-11-20
Tweets - The night's rain ended around 6:30 a.m., and the weather was somewhere between really nice and delightful the rest of the morning. Temps averaged about 50 degrees, no wind :) It was birdy too, making for a wonderful fall survey.
Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - Six below the weir Trumpeter Swan - Three flew south, calling, heading over the Viewing Mound. First of Fall (FOF) Green-winged Teal - Two drakes at the Rowing Club were our first since mid-October Scaup sp. - Several seen briefly from the Lake Platform. Jordan thought Lesser based on his photos Short-billed Gull - Only mentioning because there were so many today Horned Grebe - One or two visible from Lake Platform Common Loon - A late scan of the lake turned up one. Right when we got to the slough, though, we may also have heard one. (FOF) Double-crested Cormorant - Flock after flock flying towards the lake. 40+ Sharp-shinned Hawk - Adult, seen twice, caused consternation amongst a variety of birds Barn Owl - I saw one just after 6:30 at the model airplane field American Robin - Utterly ubiquitous. Impossible to count, but over 100, and probably over 200 Cedar Waxwing - Three near the Dog Area portapotties Western Meadowlark - Three or more, with one singing BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD - Male near the Dog Area portapotties. Only our 2nd ever for November, and only our 5th ever for Oct-Feb.
We had no White-throated Sparrows, despite having had 3-4 last week (which I forgot to mention in my Tweeters post - we had three at the same moment near the Dog Area portapotties with another sighting 100 yards+ further north).
Misses today included Common Merganser, American Coot, Killdeer, Cooper's Hawk, Pine Siskin, and Lincoln's Sparrow.
For the day, 60 species.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 11/19/25 8:16 pm From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] RE Bonaparte's extravaganza
Some of the same going on in Port Townsend at Pt Wilson -- 175 Bonaparte's
Gulls feeding with several hundred Common and Red-br Mergansers on bait
fish (herring, maybe also sand lance) along the sandy beach, seemingly in
less than 3" of water. The feeding frenzies are quite ephemeral, lasting
less than 30 minutes.
On Wed, Nov 19, 2025 at 12:44 PM Kersti Muul via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Lots of Bonaparte's along the Kitsap peninsula for several weeks. When I
> observe them, (several days a week during work) they are mixed with several
> other gull sp. and skimming for fish, but these are pile perch they are
> grabbing where I am.
>
> *Nowhere near* the numbers you had, but fun to watch/listen to - and
> consistently there.
> Yesterday the light was exquisite and the water like fluid glass. With
> thousands of perch just under the surface.
>
> Thanks for sharing.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
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Date: 11/19/25 4:45 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Latest info on Bird Flu
The Washington State Dept. of Agriculture just released the latest information for the public to know to "Stop the spread of bird flu: Public asked not to touch wild birds and to take precautions handling domestic birds" You can read the news release here:
Date: 11/19/25 3:56 pm From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Did someone say underbirded counties?
Hey Tweets!
I just finally got blogging finished on wwccountybirding.blogspot.com for October<https://wwccountybirding.blogspot.com/2025/11/october-7-8-try-for-boreal-owls.html> (focus on a search for Boreal Owls in Columbia County), and November<https://wwccountybirding.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-3rd-walla-walla-finish-line.html> (a quick stop in Walla Walla County, and a little exploration along the Snake River in Columbia). I completely appreciate the year list information that Matt puts together, and especially in the questions it raises about underbirded places like Columbia. Columbia got some love this year, with some excellent birders (and me!) not only spending time in the county, but spending time in new places! Some paddling in kayaks has opened up some birding on the Tucannon River, and even out on the Snake (anyone else been to New York Island on the Columbia River?). 200 species is a pretty good year in Columbia for a county-wide total species found... this year, a birder is presently three species short of that mark! Second place (also not me!) is over a dozen species past the previous year list record.
So, for anyone interested in looking at the statistics of it, and total species found per checklist, or whatever, this year would provide a nice little outlier to play with! For people who overlap into baseball stats, I just give you the humorous question: "Yes, other birders had a higher OPS than Christopher Lindsey this year, but birding in Columbia County... Why aren't we looking at OPS+?" A good chuckle for that tiny part of the Venn diagram that is too far into both baseball and county birding. 😄
Date: 11/19/25 1:04 pm From: Kersti Muul via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] RE Bonaparte's extravaganza
Lots of Bonaparte's along the Kitsap peninsula for several weeks. When I observe them, (several days a week during work) they are mixed with several other gull sp. and skimming for fish, but these are pile perch they are grabbing where I am.
*Nowhere near* the numbers you had, but fun to watch/listen to - and consistently there. Yesterday the light was exquisite and the water like fluid glass. With thousands of perch just under the surface.
Date: 11/19/25 9:09 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bonaparte's extravaganza
Hello, tweets.
Elaine Chuang, Netta Smith and I visited Blaine yesterday, and I saw something I have never seen before: a spectacular show by Bonaparte’s Gulls foraging over Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo Bay. From the pier at Blaine we saw that the gulls extended in all directions, as far as we could see with binoculars and scope, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds, surely a thousand or more. They flew rapidly over the water and dipped to the surface at intervals.
Apparently the reason for this was the presence of dense schools of many thousands of herrings. They were going by the pier in dense rivers, hundreds of individuals deep and wide, and extending that to the whole area where the gulls were foraging, there were surely many millions of them. We could only conclude that as the gulls were foraging in the same way everywhere, there must have been herrings everywhere.
There were other gulls, Horned Grebes, and cormorants also foraging in the same area, but nothing like the numbers of Bonaparte’s. They were roosting by the hundreds with shorebirds on the mudflats on the north side of the road out to the pier, presumably their bellies full of herrings.
The neatest thing was that there were herrings below us as we stood on the edge of the pier, and adult and the occasional immature Bonaparte's came in after them, dropping to the water also right below us. Most of them came up empty, but when a gull would catch a fish, it stopped on the surface to swallow it, and we could take photos. The photos showed the herring prey clearly, all the fish no larger than 2 inches in length. As Pacific Herring can reach a length of a foot or more, these were all quite young ones,
We also saw the same numbers from the end of Semiahmoo Spit, although the gulls weren’t as close there. And some Bonaparte’s were even at the south end of Drayton Harbor as we drove around to the spit. I don’t know how long this will continue, but anyone living in the area might want to head over there to experience this wonderful spectacle. It would be interesting to know how long it continues.
Date: 11/19/25 6:31 am From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] WA County Year List Project updated through October 2025 [WA Birder]
Hi Dennis -
Interesting potential future projects for someone with some time and a bit of stats literacy.
On eBird, you can get a lot of interesting info w/o digging much.
If you go to the ‘Explore page’ for any county, right up top you’ll see the total # of species reported, # of checklists, and # of eBirders. A bit further down, the same figures for the current month are presented.
With just some time, you could pull all those markers for all the WA counties.
I assume there’s some point after which the # of birders is enough to reach ’saturation’ where more birders doesn’t continue to lead to more birds. At that point, I’d expect habitat to be a bigger factor in the # of birds found. these two factors are of not independent -
There’s huge variation in how heavily birded counties are - just a couple examples:
King County this month so far has reported 163 species on 2783 lists from 879 eBirders
Garfield Ccounty, by contrast, has reported 75 species on 37 lists from 9 eBirders
When King has 100x as many checklists and eBirders in a month as Garfield, it isn’t surprising more species have been found in King this month….
You could definitely build out that info - I’m sure there are worthwhile factors that would muddy the findings - Rather than hypothesize all the reasons this or that presentation of the data is flawed, I favor trying to use a bunch of different lenses to look at the data we have, knowing none will be ‘perfect’…
Interesting to noodle around on all this
Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
> On Nov 18, 2025, at 7:03 AM, Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> wrote:
>
> Matt, thanks as always for your thorough analyses.
>
> I wonder if a significant part of the analysis is missing, though—the number of birders who report those bird species.
>
> I don’t know any other way to do it relatively simply than to get a figure for the number of people who sent in eBird lists each year (for each county, even better) in recent decades. How about graphing that vs. number of species?
>
> Can we look at it thinking that as the number of birders go up, we should be seeing more species? Apparently not, but then what does that mean?
>
> It would also be interesting to analyze the species themselves. Which species have been reported in every single year for which you have been keeping records? Which species are missing in just a couple of those years, and any ideas why? How about volunteers to take on some of these analyses on winter days too rainy to go out birding?
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
>> On Nov 18, 2025, at 6:00 AM, Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Tweeters & InlandNW Birder
>>
>> An updated version of the 2025 County Yearlist Project is up and available at Washington Birder.
>> http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html >>
>> Thanks compilers for all your work, and thanks everyone who has contributed.
>>
>> This update, coming at the end of October and as Fall Migration has pretty much wrapped up, is a relatively stable point to check in - only a few late migrants and then winter birds left for the year lists.
>>
>> Here’s how things look compared with recent years:
>>
>> We’ve tallied 390 species statewide as of the end of October in 2025. That’s one higher (essentially the same) as we had at this point last year and the year before.
>>
>> For Western WA, our 361 total is 1 lower than last year, and 4 lower than 2023.
>>
>> For Eastern WA, our 319 total is 4 lower than last year, and 5 lower than 2023.
>>
>> Overall, we’re looking pretty similar to last year.
>>
>> Looking at the percentage of each county’s total list seen, 33 counties have seen between 60% and 75% of their county’s total list - a pretty consistent result saying about 2/3 of the birds on any county’s have been found The biggest outlier: Okanogan County, which has seen 81.6% of its list total already this year.
>>
>>
>> 34 counties have totals within 10 of their 2024 totals.
>> 18 counties have higher totals than this time last year, while 17 have lower totals than at this point last year.
>> Four counties have exactly the same total as at this point last year [Asotin, Pierce, San Juan and Walla Walla].
>>
>> 91 species have been seen in all 39 counties, and 168 species have been found in 30 or more counties.
>>
>> If you'd like to take a look at where things stand, the list and many other interesting files are at the Washington Birder website:
>>
>> http://www.wabirder.com/ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.wabirder.com/__;!!JYXjzlvb!zG34Bg6bHN7DFbBBUaTDwShMg1FqqyJYn5MFZzMWbfTt3uAOqMTkSTJu0EzT-2kdesFyODa5qw$> >>
>>
>> A direct link to the 2025 county yearlist & the list of county compilers contact info:
>> http://www.wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html__;!!JYXjzlvb!zG34Bg6bHN7DFbBBUaTDwShMg1FqqyJYn5MFZzMWbfTt3uAOqMTkSTJu0EzT-2kdesFgZPFJVA$> >>
>>
>> Thanks to all the compilers and all those pitching in to sketch a picture of another year's birds in WA.
>>
>> Good birding,
>>
>> Matt Bartels
>> [mattxyz at earthlink dot net]
>> Seattle, Wa
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/18/25 3:26 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Re WA County Year List Project updated through October 2025
Dennis,
Number of birders should track directly to the slightly different
"number of
eBirders". Which, probably in today's world, means "number of new
birders" ... which is unlikely to produce new/uncommon/rare species ... ?
And there seems, at least to me, to be a growing number (percentage?) of
birders who are simply uninterested in the unusual/rare birds - nor even
particularly interested in metrics such as Life Lists, etc. Most of the
"new
to birding people that I meet and talk to" are younger and simply don't
consider such things important ("I'm not a competitive birder.").
And let's not forget the kinds of attrition we are seeing where older
birders are no longer birding, experienced birders are moving away, etc.
I often meet people who don't even know about eBird and/or don't use it.
Date: 11/18/25 8:54 am From: David Swinford via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] WA County Year List Project updated through October 2025 [WA Birder]
Maybe hours spent looking vs. no. of birders.
On Tue, Nov 18, 2025 at 7:04 AM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Matt, thanks as always for your thorough analyses.
>
> I wonder if a significant part of the analysis is missing, though—the
> number of birders who report those bird species.
>
> I don’t know any other way to do it relatively simply than to get a figure
> for the number of people who sent in eBird lists each year (for each
> county, even better) in recent decades. How about graphing that vs. number
> of species?
>
> Can we look at it thinking that as the number of birders go up, we should
> be seeing more species? Apparently not, but then what does that mean?
>
> It would also be interesting to analyze the species themselves. Which
> species have been reported in every single year for which you have been
> keeping records? Which species are missing in just a couple of those years,
> and any ideas why? How about volunteers to take on some of these analyses
> on winter days too rainy to go out birding?
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> On Nov 18, 2025, at 6:00 AM, Matt Bartels via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hi Tweeters & InlandNW Birder
>
> An updated version of the 2025 County Yearlist Project is up and available
> at Washington Birder.
> http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html >
> Thanks compilers for all your work, and thanks everyone who has
> contributed.
>
> This update, coming at the end of October and as Fall Migration has pretty
> much wrapped up, is a relatively stable point to check in - only a few late
> migrants and then winter birds left for the year lists.
>
> Here’s how things look compared with recent years:
>
> *We’ve tallied 390 species statewide as of the end of October in 202*5.
> That’s one higher (essentially the same) as we had at this point last year
> and the year before.
>
> *For Western WA, our 361 total *is 1 lower than last year, and 4 lower
> than 2023.
>
> *For Eastern WA, our 319 total* is 4 lower than last year, and 5 lower
> than 2023.
>
> Overall, we’re looking pretty similar to last year.
>
> Looking at the percentage of each county’s total list seen, 33 counties
> have seen between 60% and 75% of their county’s total list - a pretty
> consistent result saying about 2/3 of the birds on any county’s have been
> found The biggest outlier: Okanogan County, which has seen 81.6% of its
> list total already this year.
>
>
> *34 counties *have totals within 10 of their 2024 totals.
> *18 counties* have higher totals than this time last year, while 17 have
> lower totals than at this point last year.
> Four counties have exactly the same total as at this point last year
> [Asotin, Pierce, San Juan and Walla Walla].
>
> *91 species have been seen in all 39 counties*, and 168 species have been
> found in 30 or more counties.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *If you'd like to take a look at where things stand, the list and many
> other interesting files are at the Washington Birder
> website: http://www.wabirder.com/ > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.wabirder.com/__;!!JYXjzlvb!zG34Bg6bHN7DFbBBUaTDwShMg1FqqyJYn5MFZzMWbfTt3uAOqMTkSTJu0EzT-2kdesFyODa5qw$> A
> direct link to the 2025 county yearlist & the list of county compilers
> contact info:http://www.wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html__;!!JYXjzlvb!zG34Bg6bHN7DFbBBUaTDwShMg1FqqyJYn5MFZzMWbfTt3uAOqMTkSTJu0EzT-2kdesFgZPFJVA$>Thanks > to all the compilers and all those pitching in to sketch a picture of
> another year's birds in WA. Good birding,Matt Bartels[mattxyz at earthlink
> dot net]Seattle, Wa*
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 11/18/25 7:23 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] WA County Year List Project updated through October 2025 [WA Birder]
Matt, thanks as always for your thorough analyses.
I wonder if a significant part of the analysis is missing, though—the number of birders who report those bird species.
I don’t know any other way to do it relatively simply than to get a figure for the number of people who sent in eBird lists each year (for each county, even better) in recent decades. How about graphing that vs. number of species?
Can we look at it thinking that as the number of birders go up, we should be seeing more species? Apparently not, but then what does that mean?
It would also be interesting to analyze the species themselves. Which species have been reported in every single year for which you have been keeping records? Which species are missing in just a couple of those years, and any ideas why? How about volunteers to take on some of these analyses on winter days too rainy to go out birding?
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Nov 18, 2025, at 6:00 AM, Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hi Tweeters & InlandNW Birder
>
> An updated version of the 2025 County Yearlist Project is up and available at Washington Birder.
> http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html <http://wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html> >
> Thanks compilers for all your work, and thanks everyone who has contributed.
>
> This update, coming at the end of October and as Fall Migration has pretty much wrapped up, is a relatively stable point to check in - only a few late migrants and then winter birds left for the year lists.
>
> Here’s how things look compared with recent years:
>
> We’ve tallied 390 species statewide as of the end of October in 2025. That’s one higher (essentially the same) as we had at this point last year and the year before.
>
> For Western WA, our 361 total is 1 lower than last year, and 4 lower than 2023.
>
> For Eastern WA, our 319 total is 4 lower than last year, and 5 lower than 2023.
>
> Overall, we’re looking pretty similar to last year.
>
> Looking at the percentage of each county’s total list seen, 33 counties have seen between 60% and 75% of their county’s total list - a pretty consistent result saying about 2/3 of the birds on any county’s have been found The biggest outlier: Okanogan County, which has seen 81.6% of its list total already this year.
>
>
> 34 counties have totals within 10 of their 2024 totals.
> 18 counties have higher totals than this time last year, while 17 have lower totals than at this point last year.
> Four counties have exactly the same total as at this point last year [Asotin, Pierce, San Juan and Walla Walla].
>
> 91 species have been seen in all 39 counties, and 168 species have been found in 30 or more counties.
>
> If you'd like to take a look at where things stand, the list and many other interesting files are at the Washington Birder website:
>
> http://www.wabirder.com/ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.wabirder.com/__;!!JYXjzlvb!zG34Bg6bHN7DFbBBUaTDwShMg1FqqyJYn5MFZzMWbfTt3uAOqMTkSTJu0EzT-2kdesFyODa5qw$> >
>
> A direct link to the 2025 county yearlist & the list of county compilers contact info:
> http://www.wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html__;!!JYXjzlvb!zG34Bg6bHN7DFbBBUaTDwShMg1FqqyJYn5MFZzMWbfTt3uAOqMTkSTJu0EzT-2kdesFgZPFJVA$> >
>
> Thanks to all the compilers and all those pitching in to sketch a picture of another year's birds in WA.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Matt Bartels
> [mattxyz at earthlink dot net]
> Seattle, Wa
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/18/25 6:21 am From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WA County Year List Project updated through October 2025 [WA Birder]
Thanks compilers for all your work, and thanks everyone who has contributed.
This update, coming at the end of October and as Fall Migration has pretty much wrapped up, is a relatively stable point to check in - only a few late migrants and then winter birds left for the year lists.
Here’s how things look compared with recent years:
We’ve tallied 390 species statewide as of the end of October in 2025. That’s one higher (essentially the same) as we had at this point last year and the year before.
For Western WA, our 361 total is 1 lower than last year, and 4 lower than 2023.
For Eastern WA, our 319 total is 4 lower than last year, and 5 lower than 2023.
Overall, we’re looking pretty similar to last year.
Looking at the percentage of each county’s total list seen, 33 counties have seen between 60% and 75% of their county’s total list - a pretty consistent result saying about 2/3 of the birds on any county’s have been found The biggest outlier: Okanogan County, which has seen 81.6% of its list total already this year.
34 counties have totals within 10 of their 2024 totals.
18 counties have higher totals than this time last year, while 17 have lower totals than at this point last year.
Four counties have exactly the same total as at this point last year [Asotin, Pierce, San Juan and Walla Walla].
91 species have been seen in all 39 counties, and 168 species have been found in 30 or more counties.
If you'd like to take a look at where things stand, the list and many other interesting files are at the Washington Birder website:
Date: 11/17/25 6:14 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] ot perhaps, bat
Rob and all,
Several years ago, when I was fly fishing for Steelhead , midday, 80° at the beginning of August, chest deep in the Skykomish river, a bat began flying around close by for about 30 minutes. Neat, but odd, atypical behavior.
I have spent thousands of hours fly fishing in rivers, and I had never seen that happen.
I did an online search and found that this is very unusual behavior and to be careful because the bat could have rabies which would result in the atypical behavior. The concern is that the atypical behavior could include biting a human.
Also, I do your round owl surveys in several locations.
There is one small bat species that I often see, even in cold weather, that will fly up and down paths in parks often passing me in the dark and seen in the flashlight beam.
I’m always pleasantly surprised when I see them in cold weather when it would seem like there is very little or no visible flying insect activity.
So, yes, some species of bats are active throughout the year.
And, be very careful if one is acting unusually, including flying and feeding during the daylight.
Dan Reiff, PhD
Sent from my iPhone
> On Nov 17, 2025, at 3:54 PM, HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Actually, there a lot of bats in western WA year around and they fly on warm days. Surprised me when my bat advisor told me that. have seen a few. We had three or four around the house a week ago and a few years ago we had one roosting in the Christmas decorations.
>
>
>
> Hal Michael
> Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/)
> Olympia WA
> 360-459-4005
> 360-791-7702 (C)
> <ucd880...>
>
>> On 11/17/2025 12:17 PM PST rob cash via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Yesterday there was a bat flying around in the late afternoon,
>> still quite light out. I don't recall seeing a bat here this
>> late.
>> Rob Cash
>> North Camano Island
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/17/25 4:14 pm From: HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] ot perhaps, bat
Actually, there a lot of bats in western WA year around and they fly on warm days. Surprised me when my bat advisor told me that. have seen a few. We had three or four around the house a week ago and a few years ago we had one roosting in the Christmas decorations.
Hal Michael Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/) Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) <ucd880...>
> On 11/17/2025 12:17 PM PST rob cash via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote: > > > Yesterday there was a bat flying around in the late afternoon, > still quite light out. I don't recall seeing a bat here this > late. > Rob Cash > North Camano Island > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 11/17/25 12:35 pm From: rob cash via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] ot perhaps, bat
Yesterday there was a bat flying around in the late afternoon, still quite light out. I don't recall seeing a bat here this late. Rob Cash North Camano Island
Date: 11/17/25 8:35 am From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] JBLM Eagles Pride Golf Course Monthly Birdwalk - Thursday, November 20 - 9:00AM Start
Hi Tweeters,
The next Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) birdwalk is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, at 9:00AM.
The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders meet 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. Please park reasonably close to other vehicles as this is a busy time of the year for both golfers and birders. ;>)
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 43-52degF (47-58 real feel) and partly sunny during the walk. As always, dress for success!
Date: 11/16/25 1:33 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Rustic Bunting seen at the zoo
Hello, tweets.
To quote Simon & Garfunkel, “It’s all happening at the zoo, I do believe it’s true."
As well as the fantastic show put on by their Wild Lanterns display, the best ever, a friend (Pat Miller) just sent me an email with photos of a Rustic Bunting that she found at Woodland Park Zoo on Monday, 10 November. She would have sent it earlier, but her internet was out until now, and she wanted the ID confirmed. Her photos do indeed confirm it.
It was traveling with a flock of juncos, feeding in an open area next to a long, dense laurel hedge. If you go in the south entrance (Lion parking lot) and turn left, you come quickly to that area. We went there this morning and had no luck finding it, but there is no way of knowing how large a range that junco flock has or whether it will stay with them. We didn’t see the juncos where she had seen them but did find a flock in the adjacent Rose Garden, no admission fee and often very birdy.
If you go into the zoo, you’ll have the chance to see the unlighted Wild Lanterns, still very impressive.
Date: 11/16/25 10:46 am From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Monthly Meeting, December 1, 2025: (on-line only)
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, December 1, Larry Schwitters will present "Vaux's Happening: 27 million and Counting." The tiny, narrow-winged Vaux's Swift is found only in the western hemisphere. In the words of our speaker, Mr. Swift - Schwitters: "Because of its anatomy, a swift is unable to perch and so needs a rough, vertical surface to hook its claws into; it then puts its tail down like a kickstand." The high-flying lives of these long-distance migrants are largely spent coursing 'swiftly' (what else?) through the air, moving along routes that extend from British Columbia, through the western states and into at least Central America.
Following three decades as a teacher in the public schools, Larry Schwitters became totally engrossed with the Vaux's Swift, and for some 20 consecutive years, has carefully followed their movements (that's 36 migrations and documentation of 200 roost sites) and much more, assisted by an ever-expanding legion of volunteer observers. Since 2019, Larry has taken the lead in revising the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's chapter in Birds of the World on the Vaux's Swift. Birder's World magazine covered his work in an article titled, "46 Minutes of WOW." Larry is the recipient of the National Audubon Society's 2023 National Volunteer of the Year Award. We are in for a tour-de-force presentation on these wee birds whose territory ranges from the Yukon to Guatemala!
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: 11/15/25 11:12 am From: Scott Ramos via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Peru trip blog: Cusco highlands
Part three of my reports on our Peru trip from earlier this summer is now
published. We made excursions out of Cusco over 5 days to regions of high
elevation with a whole new assortment of birds. It is always amazing to
observe the rich biodiversity in these cloud forests. The high point,
physically and literally, was at the Abra Málaga pass area where we were
hiking at elevations similar to that at the summit of Mt. Rainier. And
still finding birds, most of them lifers.
Definitely a region worth spending time, more than we had allotted. Many
bird species can be seen throughout the highlands but there are also many
species that are endemic to just a few municipalities within the Cusco
province.
Date: 11/14/25 5:37 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 11/12/2025
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 25 of us had a mostly dry day at the Refuge with cloudy skies
and occasional light rain, temperatures in the 40's to 50's degrees
Fahrenheit. There was a High 13'10" Tide at 12/17pm, so we did our usual
walk. Highlights included PILEATED WOODPECKER in the Orchard, upwards of
three HUTTON'S VIREO in the Orchard, Twin Barns Loop Trail and dike, BARN
OWL flushed form the closest barn to the Twin Barns Observation Platform
with numerous GREATER YELLOWLEGS and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER in the flooded
field below, first of season COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER in
McAllister Creek, as well nice looks of WHITE-WINGED SCOTER in McAllister
Creek.
For the day, we observed 72 species. See our eBird Report with additional
details pasted below.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook, happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Nov 12, 2025 7:24 AM - 4:26 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.979 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Mostly cloudy with occasional light
rain and Temperatures in the 40’s to 50’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 13’10”
Tide at 12:17pm. Others seen Muskrat, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern
Gray Squirrel, Douglas Squirrel, Pacific Chorus Frog, Townsend’s Chipmunk,
Paddle-tailed Darner, Harbor Seal.
72 species (+8 other taxa)
Cackling Goose 700
Cackling Goose (minima) 500
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 30
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 35
Northern Shoveler 50
Gadwall 15
Eurasian Wigeon 3 Flooded field, surge plain, and mudflats west of
Leschi Slough.
American Wigeon 5500 Counted in 10’s and in 100’s depending on
location and distribution of birds. Largest density of birds was on surge
plain and flooded mudflats during high tide.
Mallard 200
Northern Pintail 500
Green-winged Teal (American) 1000
Surf Scoter 40
White-winged Scoter 4 2-3 in McAllister Creek.
Bufflehead 150
Common Goldeneye 6 Spotted by Pete in Shannon Slough and by Jon on
Nisqually Reach.
Hooded Merganser 4
Common Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 9
Anna's Hummingbird 4
Virginia Rail 2 Heard only
American Coot 2
Black-bellied Plover 4 Surge Plain
Killdeer 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 25 Flooded field seen from Twin Barns
Observation Platform.
Wilson's Snipe 3 Spotted by Kathleen in flooded field on either side
of the old McAllister Creek Access Road.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 Spotted by Tom on West Bank of McAllister Creek
from McAllister Creek Viewing Platform.
Greater Yellowlegs 40
Dunlin 400
Least Sandpiper 40
peep sp. 1
Short-billed Gull 50
Ring-billed Gull 125
California Gull 2
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 25
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 20
Larus sp. 150
Pied-billed Grebe 3 Visitor Center Pond.
Horned Grebe 10
Common Loon 8
Brandt's Cormorant 11 Nisqually River Channel Marker.
Double-crested Cormorant 30
Great Blue Heron 30
Cooper's Hawk 1
Accipitrine hawk sp. (former Accipiter sp.) 1
Northern Harrier 3
Bald Eagle 12
Red-tailed Hawk 3
American Barn Owl 1 Flushed from Twin Barns closest to Twin Barns
Observation Platform.
Belted Kingfisher 4
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 3
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Orchard.
Northern Flicker 7
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 3
American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Tree in Visitor Center Pond.
Merlin 1 Surge plain and Nisqually Reach.
Hutton's Vireo (Pacific) 3 Observed at Flagpole, and west side of Twin
Barns Loop Trail south of Twin Barns cut-off, and along Nisqually Estuary
Trail just north of Twin Barns.
American Crow 30
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 30
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 11
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10
Golden-crowned Kinglet 20
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 4
Marsh Wren 10
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 4
European Starling 250
American Robin 40
Purple Finch 10
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 1 Orchard.
Golden-crowned Sparrow 15
Savannah Sparrow 1 Nisqually Estuary Trail in surge plain.
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 23
Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Surge plain from Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Spotted Towhee 6
Western Meadowlark 4 Along Leschi Slough were it runs parallel to the
dike.
Red-winged Blackbird 70
Date: 11/14/25 10:25 am From: Isabel Brofsky via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Puget Sound Shorebird Count 2025 - Announcement
(Trying this again - I removed the in-text links. Hopefully it's easier to
read now!)
I'm excited to announce that Ecostudies Institute will once again be
coordinating the annual Puget Sound Shorebird Count! This event is part of
the Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey, a long-term monitoring program for
wintering shorebirds led by Point Blue Conservation Science. The data
gathered from these counts helps provide a better understanding of
shorebird populations and the habitats they utilize along the Pacific
Flyway, while allowing for the creation of more effective conservation
management plans.
Last year, we counted a total of 8,770 shorebirds and 68 raptors with the
help of 30+ volunteers across 24 sites! Dunlin once again dominated the
shorebird count with over 7,550 individuals sighted, while the raptor count
was led by 48 Bald Eagles.
After reviewing tide predictions, we will be conducting the 2025 count the
morning (7:30-9am) of Saturday, November 29th across all sites. In the
event that the weather does not cooperate, our backup survey date will be
the morning of Saturday, December 13th.
If you are interested in helping with this year's survey, please fill out
our Google Form (linked below) indicating your availability. We also
recommend you review the protocols and other resources on our website and
information about the Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey. On the volunteer
resources page, you will also find a recording of a virtual training event
from 2020, which would be highly beneficial to review. If you are new to
this event or have any questions regarding this year’s count, training,
and/or protocols, please feel free to reach out to me Isabel Brofsky (
<ibrofsky...>).
Thank you for your interest! We will follow up with more information and
site coordination once we receive form responses. We hope to see you at the
count!
Date: 11/14/25 10:07 am From: Isabel Brofsky via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Puget Sound Shorebird Count 2025 - Announcement
Hello!
I'm excited to announce that Ecostudies Institute will once again be
coordinating the annual Puget Sound Shorebird Count
<https://ecoinst.org/conservation-programs/avian-conservation/puget-sound-shorebird-count/> ! This event is part of the Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
<https://data.pointblue.org/apps/pfss/>, a long-term monitoring program for
wintering shorebirds led by Point Blue Conservation Science. The data
gathered from these counts helps provide a better understanding of
shorebird populations and the habitats they utilize along the Pacific
Flyway, while allowing for the creation of more effective conservation
management plans.
Last year, we counted a total of *8,770 shorebirds and 68 raptors *with the
help of 30+ volunteers across 24 sites! Dunlin once again dominated the
shorebird count with over 7,550 individuals sighted, while the raptor count
was led by 48 Bald Eagles.
After reviewing tide predictions, we will be conducting the 2025 count the
morning (7:30-9am) of *Saturday, November 29th* across all sites. In the
event that the weather does not cooperate, our backup survey date will be
the morning of *Saturday, Decem**ber 13th.*
Thank you for your interest! We will follow up with more information and
site coordination once we receive form responses. We hope to see you at the
count!
Date: 11/14/25 9:20 am From: Kathleen Snyder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] "Life Histories" books
South Sound Bird Alliance was recently given nine books in the “Life
Histories” series by Arthur Cleveland Bent. We would love to find a new
home for them. They are free to whoever can pick them up in Olympia. They
include 1) Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings, Towhees, Finches, Sparrows, and
Allies Parts 1 and 3 2) Nuthatches, Wrens, Thrashers, and their Allies 3)
Petrels and Pelicans and their Allies 4) Wild Fowl: two volumes bound as
one 5) Wagtails, Shrikes, Vireos, and Their Allies 6) Woodpeckers 7) Marsh
Birds 8) Blackbirds, Orioles, Tanagers, and Allies.
