Date: 10/1/23 3:46 pm From: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters...> Subject: [Tweeters] 2 million swifts
This spring our Vaux’s Happening numbers were the lowest ever. (almost)
The southbound migration, that’s still going on, is already Vaux’s Happenings best with big numbers last night at Rainier, Eugene, and San Francisco. We've documented over two million swifts going into a roost since mid August. Any yes, most of them get counted more than once. More like ten times.
Are there more swifts? Are we getting better at finding them? Or something else?
Let me know if you would like to be involved next spring.
Our Monroe Wagner live cams have been put to sleep until next April.
A group of 16 birders from Washington and Vancouver, B.C. joined us for the
last Westport Seabirds pelagic trip of 2023 on Saturday, September 30th.
A messy forecast of strong northwest winds turned out to be mistaken, and
we enjoyed a wonderful, mostly sunny day offshore with temperatures in the
60’s, a gentle 4-6 ft swell, no spray, and minimal wind waves. Once on the
outer shelf and in deep water, we had good looks at the expected tubenoses
for this time of year, including Black-footed Albatross, Fork-tailed
Storm-Petrels, Northern Fulmar, and Pink-footed, Sooty, Buller’s, and
Short-tailed Shearwaters. Gulls observed both inshore and offshore
included Glaucous-winged/Western Gull hybrids, Heerman’s, Herring,
California, and small numbers of Short-billed, Sabine’s, and Black-legged
Kittiwakes. The Jaeger species seen included Pomarine and South Polar
Skuas, great looks at both. A few Red and Red-necked Phalaropes were also
seen, as well as a single Common Tern.
We ran into one fishing boat (a shrimper) on the shelf edge and waited
around for them to the pull their net. This turned out to be a good
decision as birds (mostly California Gulls and a mix of shearwaters)
streamed into the vessel from all directions. We worked this scene for a
good 45 minutes, when Spotter Scott Mills announced it was time to move
on. Immediately thereafter, a call of “Laysan Albatross” was heard as a
distant, large, bright white bird with dark wingtips flashed by the
shrimper. This was soon corrected by a shout of “NAZCA BOOBY!”. This
was the first sighting of this species on a Westport Seabirds trip. The
three previous Washington state records, all within the past few years,
have all been in Puget Sound. The Nazca Booby was incredibly cooperative,
flying and landing within feet of Monte Carlo for 15-20 minutes before we
motored away from it. The crisp, adult bird was well photographed (see the
Westport Seabirds ebird checklist for photos).
This booby sighting seemed like a fitting end to our 2023 season.
Highlights of which included: Parakeet Auklets in March (3/18); a Manx
Shearwater in May (5/13); Laysan Albatrosses in April (4/22), July (7/26
and 7/29), and August (8/12); Short-tailed Albatrosses in July (7/26) and
September (9/5); a Wilson’s Storm-Petrel in July (7/29); and a Nazca Booby
in September (9/30). On the mammal front, an amazing 59 Orca were counted
on August 23rd.
The September 30th trip was crewed captain Chris Sabin and first mate Chris
Anderson. Spotters were Scott Mills, Gene Revelas, and Ryan Merrill.
Finally, Westport Seabirds would like to thank everyone you joined us this
year to make these trips possible and so enjoyable. Our local customer
base, as well as folks far afar, are a joy to share the ocean with.
Date: 10/1/23 9:37 am From: Ronda Stark <rondastark18...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] trip thru oregon
Hi,
Can you tell us more about your sightings at Malheur or did you post that
somewhere else?
Thanks,
Ronda
On Sat, Sep 30, 2023 at 2:09 PM <ronpost4...> wrote:
> My friend Bill and I drove over to Pendleton last Monday and on Tuesday
> visited McKay Creek Refuge, driving all the way to its south end where we
> spent an hour or so watching two young golden eagles, likely siblings,
> tearing apart something resembling a long snake, and also turning our scope
> to the nearby three dozen white pelicans. Then we headed to Burns and the
> Malheur for two more nights and days. The Steens Mountain area was pretty
> windy but the lowlands – though a bit dry – produced good birding. On the
> way back thru western Oregon we visited the Fern Ridge wildlife area where
> we watched more than one family of Clark’s grebe, and parts of the
> Willamette Wildlife Refuge Complex, parts of which were closed for trail
> maintenance... I will be going back to these areas in the springtime, for
> sure!
>
> Ron Post
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 10/1/23 12:32 am From: Greg <gjpluth...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Painted Bunting at Cape Disappointment
Hi Ryan -
I’m hoping you will share more about your observation. Were you able to view the bird for any length of time? Quality of light, your distance, the bird’s activity if any, observable coloration/markings? Do you think adult or juvenile?
I am very intrigued with your sighting of one of my favorite species!
Thx,
Greg Pluth
University Place
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 29, 2023, at 12:35 PM, Ryan Merrill <rjm284...> wrote:
>
> Liam Hutcheson and I just found a Painted Bunting at Cape Disappointment about 100 yards before the boat launch.
>
> (46.2855196, -124.0525934)
>
> Good birding,
> Ryan Merrill
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 9/30/23 12:51 am From: Michael Price <loblollyboy...> Subject: [Tweeters] September Snow Geese (was Tweeters] off-topic RFI Cape Town)
Hi tweets
When I saw two subadult Snow Geese passing over Pt Grey on Vancouver BC's west side in week 4 some years ago, I thought them anomalously early. Turns out that southbound SNGO average arrival in Vancouver BC is *Sept *23, first birds back almost invariably as subadult pairs, with the first large *flocks* arriving week 2 October. Go figure.
Same thing with Rough-legged Hawks and mid- and late-August sightings. Not a fluke. I remember reading an article on the 'unusual' but regular pattern regarding RLHA (kinda like the annual 'freak blizzards' every May on the Prairies), but I forget the proposed mechanisms which get the immature hawks south so far in advance.
This is the reverse of shorebird migration in which the southbound arrival of most adults precede the precocial juveniles by three to four weeks on average. The exception being Bar-tailed Godwit, where southbound adults arrive on this coast at these latitudes usually in late July but the juveniles don't usually appear until Week 1 October, two *months* later. But that's another thread, possibly involving two very separate BTGO populations.
A young birder from today’s Westport Seabirds pelagic trip left his two field guides (Sibley and a Washington guide) at the Tokeland marina where a handful of us converged after our pelagic today. Unfortunately he realized this after he was back home near Seattle. If anyone is heading that way tomorrow and is able to snag them, I believe he said they were under a covered area? He’s not on Tweeters but I told him I’d post on his behalf.
Date: 9/29/23 5:34 pm From: Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker...> Subject: [Tweeters] Cowlitz County Turkey Vulture palooza!
Hi Tweeters,
I like spectacle birding. That is, I like seeing lots of something doing interesting things (like migrating). I enjoyed my experience today.
I had been looking forward to the end of this week's long bout of inclement weather because I knew that it had been backing up the migration of Turkey Vultures. Also, there were reports of vulture movements in the Puget Sound area (thanks Mary). Today's forecast looked promising - a northwest breeze at the north end of Woodland Bottoms (exit 22 off I-5 in Cowlitz County) and clear"ish" skies to the north. I wasn't disappointed.
Here are my highlights:
Turkey Vulture: *1,390*. This beat my previous personal record of 1,014 on October 8, 2022 at the same location.. Osprey: 10 Band-tailed Pigeon: 244 3 falcon species loads of migrating Robins and Varied Thrushes.
Date: 9/29/23 5:02 pm From: Eric Heisey <magicman32...> Subject: [Tweeters] Quick note on Lark Buntings
Hi all,
I have noticed that there have been an above-average number of reports of Lark Bunting from coastal Northern California this year… maybe something to keep on your mind this fall on the coast, especially in Neah Bay. Get out there and find one!
Date: 9/29/23 1:51 pm From: <cohenellenr...> Subject: [Tweeters] Museum exhibition
At the Washington State History Museum, Tacoma
AVIS MARVELOUS: Ornithology on the Western Frontier, 1776-1896
October 7, 2023–March 3, 2024
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, as Europeans and American explorers were documenting the natural history of the Western Hemisphere, avian artists created assemblages of their bird art for distribution. From their original artworks, prints were produced and disseminated to audiences that could
AVIS MARVELOUS, curated by Lee Silliman, features over 50 historic engravings that provide a glimpse into the documentation and art produced about birds in the North American West during this era. These images are juxtaposed with their historic context, information about various species pictured, and a discussion on the status of several of these species today.
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/29/23 9:25 am From: Ronda Stark <rondastark18...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2023-09-28
Hi Michael,
Can you tell if the remaining Osprey are juveniles or adults? Last year an
adult male was still fishing in the lake on October 2,2022 when I went for
my last swim of the season.
Thanks,
Ronda
On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 7:01 PM birdmarymoor <birdmarymoor...>
wrote:
> For a rainy day, we actually had some fairly nice weather at times this
> morning. And it was birdy, though the birds were often frustratingly hard
> to see.
>
> Highlights:
> Cackling Goose - Quite a number of smallish fly-over flocks
> Eurasian Collared-Dove - One flew down the Dog Meadow. Our 3rd
> sighting of the year
> Osprey - *STILL* activity at both nests
> Cooper's Hawk - Two juveniles chasing around the Pea Patch
> Merlin - One streaked across the East Meadow - 4th sighting in the
> last 7 weeks
> Violet-green Swallow - Maybe 20 total, in several sightings
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Tony saw one, First of Fall (FOF)
> Varied Thrush - Two heard clearly, Dog Meadow. (FOF)
> Swainson's Thrush - Tony heard a couple pre-dawn. Almost certainly
> last for the year
> Hermit Thrush - One seen well, Dog Meadow (FOF)
> CHIPPING SPARROW - Juvenile in Pea Patch presumably the same bird as
> last week
> Fox Sparrow - Several, some singing (FOF)
> Orange-crowned Warbler - At least 5, and possibly several more
> Wilson's Warbler - One in large cotton woods SE of Dog Central
>
> We had salmon swimming up towards the weir. And in the slough out from
> the start of the boardwalk, we had great looks at a 6"-long crayfish! In
> the Pet Memorial Garden, a crow caught some mouse-like critter while we
> watched.
>
> A late scan of the lake turned up a couple more First of Fall birds (FOF)
> birds - AMERICAN WIGEON (1 or 2), and LESSER SCAUP (3) with another scaup
> that looked to be GREATER, though too far away to be sure.
>
> Misses today included Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Green Heron, Downy
> Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, American Pipit (though might
> have heard), and Lincoln's Sparrow (also might have heard).
>
> For the day, counting the two lake ducks, 54 species.
>
> = Michael Hobbs
> = http://www.marymoor.org/birding.htm > = <BirdMarymoor...>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/29/23 9:24 am From: Ronda Stark <rondastark18...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hmmm, does this bug you also?
Thank you to everyone! It's great to get new ideas for helping wildlife.
Ronda
On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 6:07 PM Lynn Wohlers <wohlers13...> wrote:
> I'm another SLT supporter (and volunteer) because saving land is so
> important. Note that SLT operates an ongoing
> Great Blue Heron monitoring project at the huge GBH rookery on Route 20
> near Padilla Bay.
> If you're fond of marine mammals, Orca Network is a very good
> organization.
> For a slightly different slant on causes to support, the relatively new
> Salish Sea School is doing a great job educating
> kids and adults about all aspects of the Salish Sea, an important piece of
> the Skagit puzzle.
>
> Lynn
> Anacortes
>
> On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 1:55 PM <jimbetz...> wrote:
>
>> All,
>>
>> We are also strong supporters of Skagit Land Trust. It has been very
>> gratifying to see how they continue to acquire new lands that are put
>> into their "land bank" that prevents development. There have even been
>> some parcels that were "at risk" due to a developer that wanted to
>> acquire a property who have been thwarted by SLT. It is a great
>> group!
>> - Jim and Loretta
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
>
> --
> Lynn Wohlers
>
> Blogging at Bluebrightly <https://bluebrightly.com/> > Photography on Flickr <https://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnwohlers/> > And at Lynn Wohlers.com <http://lynn-wohlers.artistwebsites.com> >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Carole and I took a walk down to the beach at Dumas Bay Sanctuary in Federal Way today. Seems that bird activity is picking up. A somewhat late Osprey circling over the water with what appeared to be a flounder in its talons, while looking for a spot to consume its lunch. A single also seemingly late Caspian Tern was diving with big splashes. I never saw it catch its lunch, however a little later it was dive bombing the resident Bald Eagle patrolling the bay. Old Baldy was totally outclassed by the agile tern's aerobatics.
The American Wigeon wintering flock has grown to well over 200. Also on the water where a couple of rafts of mainly male Surf Scoters, a few Scaup ( Greater?), several Horned Grebes, 2 Western Grebes and a single Red-necked Grebe. A pair of Great Blue Herons were having a dispute over fishing rights. With spread wings, it was somewhat like dancing Sandhill Cranes.
At Lake Lorene/Treasure Island Park were 38 Cackling Geese - likely of the minima subspecies - resting on the water this evening. This is a first-of-season sighting at this location.
Good Birding!
Hans -- *Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA <thefedderns...>
Date: 9/28/23 7:54 pm From: Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker...> Subject: [Tweeters] September 22 Westport Seabirds trip report
Hi Tweeters,
When one arrives at the dock for a pelagic trip, one usually hopes for a smooth ride with no sea spray, boat rocking, or temporary queasiness. As fate would have it, today *was* one of those days. The *Monte Carlo* departed Westport marina with flocks of Marbled Godwits zigzagging over the water that were under the watchful eyes of cormorants, harbor seals, and a boatload of enthusiastic birders. We almost didn't realize that we had transitioned past the jetties and into the open ocean since the water was so calm - a great change from our trip the previous Friday!
Binoculars were soon focussing on the three species that are commonly seen on this leg of the trip: Sooty Shearwaters (222), Common Murres (304), and Rhinoceros Auklets (34). A few scoters and loons portended the changing of the season. Pink-footed Shearwaters (71) soon joined the Sooty Shearwaters which provided great comparisons of flight style and plumage differences. A nice surprise was our first Buller's Shearwater (11) of the day a bit earlier than anticipated. A Parasitic Jaeger (3) did a flyby but since we didn't have a California Gull contingent following our boat, it continued on. Dall's Porpoises (33) and Pacific White-sided Dolphins (275 - at one point they seemed to be everywhere) delighted all on board by bow riding our pressure wave - what a cool thing to watch! Several Humpback Whales (22) were 12 o-clock from the *Monte Carlo* and we were pleased to see that they were joined by a Minke Whale (1) which surfaced twice (which is about twice as many times as a usual sighting). They don't call them slinky Minkes for nothing!
We arrived at the edge of the shelf in good time on a flat calm sea and, since there were unfortunately no shrimp or other commercial boats to concentrate the birds, we realized that we had to create the bird flocks from scratch. Even though we hardly had any wind at our chosen spot, the chum did its job thanks in no small part to the number of gulls that spied a free meal. These were soon joined by close Northern Fulmars (12), Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels (19), stunning adult and immature Sabine's Gulls (19) and one Bullers's and Short-tailed (12), Sooty, and Pink-footed Shearwaters. The Short-tailed Shearwaters were real standouts and everyone got soul satisfying views. We had good views of several Pomarine Jaegers (with maximum spoonage) as well as a very dark tailless Pom Jaeger (4) which looked surprisingly similar to a South Polar Skua. A Long-tailed Jaeger (1) was seen but not by everyone and it became the dreaded "we need a better, closer one!". If you're keeping score, yes, we achieved skua slam! All that was wonderful but .... where were the albatrosses? Finally, we heard the call of "albatross" and we watched several Black-footed Albatrosses (4) fly in on 6.5 wingspan to check out the food offerings. No Westport trip is complete without an albatross. Whew, glad they found us!
Eventually, Captain Phil pointed the *Monte Carlo* southwestward into deeper water and we encountered small groups of diminutive Cassin's Auklets (23) and several Humpback Whales (can one ever get tired of whales - no way!). All good things must come to an end but our journey back to shore had many highlights including several flocks of three South Polar Skuas (11!) each (no Pink-footed Shearwaters were harmed when one skua went on a klepto parasitizing rampage). Could there possibly be a better behavior to witness? I think not. Further on, we encountered not one but two winter plumaged Tufted Puffins (2) which we circled amid the sound of pixels giving it their all. Red-necked Phalaropes (10) fed on unseen food on the surface of the glassy calm water. There was a surprising number of Brown Pelicans that were heading offshore - hope they knew of the forecasted incoming storms.
The tally of marine mammals for the day included Humpback (22) and Minke Whales (1), Pacific white-sided Dolphins (275), Dall's Porpoises (33), several Northern Fur Seals (4), Guadalupe Fur Seals (2), Harbor Porpoises (6), and both California (8) and Steller's Sea Lions (12). Both Blue Sharks (15) and every size of Ocean Sunfish (19) were seen well including one sunfish that could only be called *mola mola grande*! Schools of Pacific Saury cut the water's surface. 10 species of mammals (including the in harbor Harbor Seals) were definitely the icing to the pelagic cake!
The jetties extend quite a way's out and they always seem to hold something interesting. Today, we found a Surfbird (1), a Wandering Tattler (1) and some saw Ruddy Turnstone (4). Three late season Pigeon Guillemots were seen from the non-jetty side of the boat proving the adage that the new birds will always be on the side of the boat with the least amount of people viewing. Brown Pelicans and all three species of west coast Cormorants coated the south jetty. Just when we thought the trip was over, we entered the harbor and saw the flock of 900 Marbled Godwits murmurating overhead. It was magical to see them fly low over the *Monte Carlo* with attendant Short-billed Dowitchers (25) and two Willets mixed in. Oh, and last but not certainly not least, as Scott was giving the summary of the species and numbers seen, a Black-legged Kittiwake (1) flew over .... wow, that was a surprise! Always have your bins ready for use because you never know what will happen!
Westport Seabirds thanks all of the enthusiastic participants who make these trips a success. Also, thanks to Captain Phil and first mate Chris for their consummate professionalism, natural history knowledge and ginger cookies! Also, a shout out to Chazz and his banana nut bread and our guides Scott Mills, Bruce LaBar, and your trip reporter.
Even though the Westport Seabirds schedule ( http://westportseabirds.com/2023-schedule/) shows all trips as full, it's always a good idea to think of pelagic opportunities for next year!
I hope to see you onboard!
Jim Danzenbaker for Westport Seabirds. -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-702-9395 <jdanzenbaker...>
Date: 9/28/23 7:03 pm From: birdmarymoor <birdmarymoor...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2023-09-28
For a rainy day, we actually had some fairly nice weather at times this morning. And it was birdy, though the birds were often frustratingly hard to see.
Highlights:
Cackling Goose - Quite a number of smallish fly-over flocks
Eurasian Collared-Dove - One flew down the Dog Meadow. Our 3rd sighting of the year
Osprey - *STILL* activity at both nests
Cooper's Hawk - Two juveniles chasing around the Pea Patch
Merlin - One streaked across the East Meadow - 4th sighting in the last 7 weeks
Violet-green Swallow - Maybe 20 total, in several sightings
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Tony saw one, First of Fall (FOF)
Varied Thrush - Two heard clearly, Dog Meadow. (FOF)
Swainson's Thrush - Tony heard a couple pre-dawn. Almost certainly last for the year
Hermit Thrush - One seen well, Dog Meadow (FOF)
CHIPPING SPARROW - Juvenile in Pea Patch presumably the same bird as last week
Fox Sparrow - Several, some singing (FOF)
Orange-crowned Warbler - At least 5, and possibly several more
Wilson's Warbler - One in large cotton woods SE of Dog Central
We had salmon swimming up towards the weir. And in the slough out from the start of the boardwalk, we had great looks at a 6"-long crayfish! In the Pet Memorial Garden, a crow caught some mouse-like critter while we watched.
A late scan of the lake turned up a couple more First of Fall birds (FOF) birds - AMERICAN WIGEON (1 or 2), and LESSER SCAUP (3) with another scaup that looked to be GREATER, though too far away to be sure.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Green Heron, Downy Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, American Pipit (though might have heard), and Lincoln's Sparrow (also might have heard).
For the day, counting the two lake ducks, 54 species.
Date: 9/28/23 6:09 pm From: Lynn Wohlers <wohlers13...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hmmm, does this bug you also?
I'm another SLT supporter (and volunteer) because saving land is so
important. Note that SLT operates an ongoing
Great Blue Heron monitoring project at the huge GBH rookery on Route 20
near Padilla Bay.
If you're fond of marine mammals, Orca Network is a very good organization.
For a slightly different slant on causes to support, the relatively new
Salish Sea School is doing a great job educating
kids and adults about all aspects of the Salish Sea, an important piece of
the Skagit puzzle.
Lynn
Anacortes
On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 1:55 PM <jimbetz...> wrote:
> All,
>
> We are also strong supporters of Skagit Land Trust. It has been very
> gratifying to see how they continue to acquire new lands that are put
> into their "land bank" that prevents development. There have even been
> some parcels that were "at risk" due to a developer that wanted to
> acquire a property who have been thwarted by SLT. It is a great
> group!
> - Jim and Loretta
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
-----Original Message----- Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2023 14:27:20 -0700 From: <jimbetz...> To: <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Unknown - ID help requested ... Message-ID: <20230927142720.Horde.VfESE7xeYu1WXe3Yp6lMSrh...> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed; DelSp=Yes
Hi,
Would some kind soul help with the ID for this bird? I've searched Merlin using several different approaches and can not develop a certainty of sufficient strength. I have some guesses but am holding off on those until I hear from someone about their ID.
After what was numbers wise almost our worst Vaux’s Swift Northbound Migration ever the Southbound may turn out to be the best. But JBLM had a very discouraging year. We believe our new roost site in Rainier, OR is the reason. They just documented their 250,000th roosting event since August 18. The wee birds have taken to swiftly getting down to the SF Bay Area and hanging out for a long time. Last night The Brickyard broke a million.
Date: 9/28/23 2:25 pm From: Gary Bletsch <garybletsch...> Subject: [Tweeters] off-topic RFI Cape Town
Dear Tweeters, Next winter I'll be birding in Namibia with a friend, but am considering continuing on my own in Cape Town, since I have to fly through there anyway. I birded Kruger NP in 1999-2000 (Y2K), but that was in a small group, not solo. Even so, there were a few areas we visited, between Johannesburg and Kruger, that seemed sketchy, to say the least. Any advice as to a short soujourn in the Cape Town area with a local birding guide/driver would be appreciated. South Africa is not a country where I'd feel all that safe travelling solo with a bunch of expensive optics. Yours truly, Gary Bletsch PS Since there was a thread recently about Trumpeter Swans and Snow Geese in September, I will toss in my two cents' worth. In about 30 years of birding in Skagit County, I observed only two occurrences of lone Trumpeter Swans in September, plus one observance of three Tundra Swans. The Trumpeter stayed for about three weeks. Both occurrences were on the river bar in Lyman. By contrast, over the same three decades, I observed Snow Geese in nine different Septembers. The last few years, 2017-2021, I saw them every September. I think that an active observer who pays repeated September visits to Samish Flats and Fir Island would be likely to find a few small flocks of Snow Geese. We have already had one observation of Trumpeter Swans this month in Western New York, oddly enough. _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/28/23 1:58 pm From: <jimbetz...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hmmm, does this bug you also?
All,
We are also strong supporters of Skagit Land Trust. It has been very gratifying to see how they continue to acquire new lands that are put into their "land bank" that prevents development. There have even been some parcels that were "at risk" due to a developer that wanted to acquire a property who have been thwarted by SLT. It is a great group! - Jim and Loretta
Date: 9/28/23 1:33 pm From: mary hrudkaj <mch1096...> Subject: [Tweeters] Turkey Vulture Migration over Belfair late this morning
Around 11:45 this morning I stopped at Safeway in Belfair and noticed turkey vultures coming in low over the store. A look up turned up at flock of 19 which grew to 22 as more came in from the north and northeast. Most were following Hwy 3 south from where they often over-night in the Gorst area at the head of Sinclair Inlet near Bremerton and PSNS. That flock gained altitude and headed SW toward the Shelton area. As they moved on two more kettles of TV came in, gained altitude up to the bottom of the clouds before heading SW. In all I saw 44-45 TV. I just wish I had been there sooner as who knows how many had already passed through.
Considering the amount of forest cover on the route from Bremerton to Belfair then on toward Shelton I wonder if the TV are using thermals formed over Hwy 3 as I have seen them along this route from Bremerton to Belfair in the past. Other years when there is no wind or it's more from the north the TV will come down the east side of Hood Canal to the Tahuya area and catch thermals off the paved road which lies on the south side of a steep hill from Tahuya proper out to Menard's Landing County Park where they catch more thermals and head south.
So those turkey vulture watcher from Olympia south should keep an eye out for TV visitors soon.
Howdy Tweets:
Please join us at the 34th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival, this Saturday 9/30 10am-4pm at Billy Frank Jr., Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. For field trips, educational displays, and other fun events visit:
https://nisquallyriver.org Yours for the Birds n’ the Bees
Jim Ullrich
Date: 9/28/23 10:47 am From: Shep Thorp <shepthorp...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR for 9/27/2023
Hi Tweets,
Fifteen intrepid birders endured a wet and windy Wednesday at the Refuge
with rain in the morning, clouds in the afternoon and temperatures in the
50's to 60's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a Low -0'9" Tide at 10:31am and
a High 13'10" Tide at 5:20pm. There were some nice rewards for our
dedication including migrating HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER in the Orchard,
hundreds of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW swirling in high flying flocks, migrating
WARBLING VIREO along the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail, a large
flock of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on the surge plain north of the
Nisqually Estuary Trail (WESTERN MEADOWLARK as well), and a gorgeous adult
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK along the Nisqually River north of the dike. With the
blustery conditions, the RSHA seemed to fall off a perch providing some
interesting photos embedded in the eBird list.
For the day we observed 71 Species, and have seen 162 species this year.
There was some nice shorebird action as well on the incoming tide.
Numerous Red-legged Frogs were seen on the trail with our other expected
mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Until next week when we meet again at
8am...
Happy birding,
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Sep 27, 2023 7:30 AM - 4:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.586 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Rainy in the morning, cloudy in the
afternoon with sun breaks. Windy with gusts. Temperatures in the 50’s to
60’s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low -0’9” Tide at 10:31am and a High 13’10” Tide
at 5:20pm. Mammals seen Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray
Squirrel, and Harbor Seal. Numerous Red-legged Frogs, Pacific Tree Frog and
American Bullfrog. Red-eared Slider in borrow slough.
71 species (+3 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose 40
Cackling Goose (minima) 300
Northern Shoveler 50
Gadwall 2
American Wigeon 200
Mallard 100
Northern Pintail 600
Green-winged Teal 100
Hooded Merganser 12
Common Merganser 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
Virginia Rail 1
Black-bellied Plover 8
Killdeer 1
Least Sandpiper 150
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Western Sandpiper 100
Long-billed Dowitcher 15
Wilson's Snipe 1
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Greater Yellowlegs 30
Short-billed Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 300
California Gull 5
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 15
Larus sp. 200
Caspian Tern 1
Brandt's Cormorant 8
Double-crested Cormorant 175
Great Blue Heron 20
Turkey Vulture 11
Northern Harrier 2
Cooper's Hawk 2
Bald Eagle 9
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Observed flying, perched, and falling from perch
along the Nisqually River north of the Nisqually Estuary Trail for 5
minutes. Observed with bins and scopes, and interacting with Red-tailed
Hawk. Small buteo with banded tail and speckled wings, white crescents on
flight feathers, red head, body and shoulders. Photos of bird falling from
perch perhaps secondary to windy conditions.
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Northern Flicker 2
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Hammond's Flycatcher 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Steller's Jay 1
American Crow 75
Common Raven 6
Black-capped Chickadee 12
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1
Violet-green Swallow 175
Barn Swallow 125
Cliff Swallow 2 Seen foraging with Barn Swallows over fields from Twin
Barns Observation Platform. Dark throated swallow with buffy rump and light
forehead.
Bushtit 21
Golden-crowned Kinglet 8
Brown Creeper 3
Bewick's Wren 2
European Starling 75
Swainson's Thrush 1
American Robin 20
Cedar Waxwing 20
American Pipit 30
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 6
Dark-eyed Junco 1
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 2
Golden-crowned Sparrow 12
Savannah Sparrow 20
Song Sparrow 32
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Spotted Towhee 4
Western Meadowlark 2
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Common Yellowthroat 2
new world warbler sp. 2
Date: 9/28/23 10:10 am From: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hmmm, does this bug you also?
Your For the Birds Money may be better spent on many of the local Audubon Chapters. Pilchuck is top notch.
Larry Schwitters Issaquah
> On Sep 28, 2023, at 9:32 AM, <jimbetz...> wrote: > > Hi, > > I'm talking about the -endless- stream of emails asking for money > from Audubon. I'm getting more than one a day - probably more like > three or four. And they are -all- phrased as a "crisis" with very > little if any difference in the sense of urgency from one appeal to > the next. > > Yes, I know how to simply delete them - and I'm doing that. > > But the thing is that Audubon has become a "constant source of > irritation" ... and that makes me 'automatically delete and forget'. > I don't think that is the intent of their requests - I think they > genuinely want us to contribute and that they genuinely see the > need ... and urgency. But the effect of their emails, to me at > least, is to treat Audubon as just one more money-grubbing > company that wants to make money. Audubon gets paid - more > than you might think of any contribution we make ends up in > Audubon's pockets rather than getting to the actual organizations > that help our birds. > > Sorry for the rant. I know your time is precious to you and > reading stuff like this is something you'd rather not have to > spend it on. > > - go out and do some birding and ignore me ... Jim > > P.S. There are excellent -local- organizations that I do give > money to ... they also have their hands out a little more > often than I'd like but at least the amount of their > 'load' is considerably less than any national level > organization (like Audubon). And, yes, I do give some > money to Audubon - from time to time - just not 365 days > a year multiplied by how ever many emails I'm getting > from them. > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/28/23 9:52 am From: Thomas M Leschine <tml...> Subject: [Tweeters] New York Times/Cornell Lab project
Hello, Tweets.
This past summer the New York Times and the Cornell lab partnered on a project whose goal was to increase bird sighting reports from “ordinary” (i.e., non-hotspot) locations, especially in urban areas. Another important goal was to broaden participation in birding. Project participants were encouraged to report sighings on eBird and to take advantage of the Merlin app to help with bird identification. Participants were asked to rate their own bird ID abilities as part of signing up.
The New York Times today posted a story about results of the project, including a short video embedded at the attached link that is well worth watching to understand better what and who the project involved. There’s a participant’s survey at the end and among questions, whether the paper and Cornell Lab should continue with additional projects like this one.
Date: 9/28/23 9:46 am From: Ronda Stark <rondastark18...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hmmm, does this bug you also?
Hi Jim,
I would actually appreciate your sharing the names of local organizations
that you know of that help the birds in the Skagit. It is my favorite place
to bird and I think you are correct that national organizations waste a lot
of money on just perpetuating themselves.
Thanks,
Ronda
On Thu, Sep 28, 2023 at 9:33 AM <jimbetz...> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm talking about the -endless- stream of emails asking for money
> from Audubon. I'm getting more than one a day - probably more like
> three or four. And they are -all- phrased as a "crisis" with very
> little if any difference in the sense of urgency from one appeal to
> the next.
>
> Yes, I know how to simply delete them - and I'm doing that.
>
> But the thing is that Audubon has become a "constant source of
> irritation" ... and that makes me 'automatically delete and forget'.
> I don't think that is the intent of their requests - I think they
> genuinely want us to contribute and that they genuinely see the
> need ... and urgency. But the effect of their emails, to me at
> least, is to treat Audubon as just one more money-grubbing
> company that wants to make money. Audubon gets paid - more
> than you might think of any contribution we make ends up in
> Audubon's pockets rather than getting to the actual organizations
> that help our birds.
>
> Sorry for the rant. I know your time is precious to you and
> reading stuff like this is something you'd rather not have to
> spend it on.
>
> - go out and do some birding and ignore me ... Jim
>
> P.S. There are excellent -local- organizations that I do give
> money to ... they also have their hands out a little more
> often than I'd like but at least the amount of their
> 'load' is considerably less than any national level
> organization (like Audubon). And, yes, I do give some
> money to Audubon - from time to time - just not 365 days
> a year multiplied by how ever many emails I'm getting
> from them.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/28/23 9:35 am From: <jimbetz...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hmmm, does this bug you also?
Hi,
I'm talking about the -endless- stream of emails asking for money from Audubon. I'm getting more than one a day - probably more like three or four. And they are -all- phrased as a "crisis" with very little if any difference in the sense of urgency from one appeal to the next.
Yes, I know how to simply delete them - and I'm doing that.
But the thing is that Audubon has become a "constant source of irritation" ... and that makes me 'automatically delete and forget'. I don't think that is the intent of their requests - I think they genuinely want us to contribute and that they genuinely see the need ... and urgency. But the effect of their emails, to me at least, is to treat Audubon as just one more money-grubbing company that wants to make money. Audubon gets paid - more than you might think of any contribution we make ends up in Audubon's pockets rather than getting to the actual organizations that help our birds.
Sorry for the rant. I know your time is precious to you and reading stuff like this is something you'd rather not have to spend it on.
- go out and do some birding and ignore me ... Jim
P.S. There are excellent -local- organizations that I do give money to ... they also have their hands out a little more often than I'd like but at least the amount of their 'load' is considerably less than any national level organization (like Audubon). And, yes, I do give some money to Audubon - from time to time - just not 365 days a year multiplied by how ever many emails I'm getting from them.
Fascinating thread. Dennis mentions Red-breasted Sapsucker's occasional vertical winter movement from mountain to sea level in winter. The pattern in Vancouver BC is that this happens in severe winters but hardly ever in mild ones. As was explained to me by the late, irreplaceable Kevin Bell, the sapsuckers move down to sea level when the cold is sustained long enough to reach the roots to freeze the movement of sap in the trees. So that's why there's a two- or three day interval between the arrival of a sustained Polar regime and the sapsuckers heading downhill. If the Arctic air lasts long enough, you'll get an influx of RBSA at sea level.
Been around long enough to remember when you could still find some of our Sooty Grouse at sea level in North and West Vancouver BC. These guys bucked the trend by going up to the higher altitudes in winter where, like ptarmigan, they can stand atop the deep snow to feed on spruce buds. Which makes them taste like turpentine--what a friend told me. Gah.
I sent an inquiry to the WDFW asking "Any update on when Wiley will reopen?" and received an answer that isn't the best.
First of all "the project isn't going to finish until next year". Secondly, they have not yet established what kind of public access they will provide during the winter. Reading between the lines I think that means that their work on raising the dike is not complete and that the contractor will not be working thru the winter. Whether or not they provide -any- public access is yet to be known - and what that will/will not be is also an unknown. The WDFW has already requested the contractor to provide some kind of access ... but I don't think they have received an answer at this time.
She (Jenny Baker) essentially asked me to "check back with her in a few weeks".
I've attached Jenny's response so you have all the details I have.
- Sorry for the bad news ... Jim
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your inquiry. I don't have a great answer for you yet. The project will not be completed this year and we are working with the construction contractor on public access. I hope to know more in the next few weeks. Feel free to reach out again for updates.
Thank you, Gary! I hope you will receive this response along with everyone
else.
I will ask the owners of Snow Goose market whether they have ever seen
Trumpeters this early as they often have a good " overview" of all what's
happening in the area.
Best wishes,
Ronda
On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 3:44 PM Nancy Crowell <nkcrowell...> wrote:
> I noted snow geese in Skagit on 10/4 last year, so not that early. Just
> ran into a couple of people who said they saw snowgeese and white fronted
> geese flying over Fir Island this morning.
>
> Nancy Crowell
> La Conner
>
> Nancy
> "Images for the imagination."
> www.crowellphotography.com
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Ronda Stark <rondastark18...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 27, 2023 10:33:53 AM
> *To:* <jimbetz...> <jimbetz...>
> *Cc:* <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] FOF!
>
> Hi Jim,
>
> That is exciting news! Isn't it super early for both Snow Geese and
> Trumpeters?
>
> Thanks for the update,
> Ronda
>
> On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 10:30 AM <jimbetz...> wrote:
>
>
> First of Fall - about 100 Snow Geese in two wedges moving South over
> Gardner
> road area. Medium altitude (2 or 3 thousand feet at most), so perhaps,
> looking for somewhere to settle for the night/a few days/the season.
> Confirmed
> with binoculars as they flew close over our house.
>
> Not confirmed but possibly also 3 Trumpeter Swans this A.M. They
> disappeared
> from my view before I could get the binoculars working. They were flying
> South, low over Gardner road (a couple of hundred feet high at most). The
> only other bird(s) it could have been was some gulls ... but I rushed to
> get the binoculars only to loose track of them.
>
> We've seen at least two Turkey Vultures, some Juncos and Black-capped
> Chickadees, a plethora of Anna's including 3 very small ones, and other
> assorted birds today. Among them at least one Red-tailed Hawk.
>
> - Jim and Loretta
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Date: 9/27/23 5:08 pm From: Jeff Gilligan <jeffgilligan90...> Subject: [Tweeters] Willapa Bay Marsh Sandpiper
I had tried to send a message to Tweeters regarding this on SEP 22, but Tweeters had my old email address, and it bounced.
On SEP 22 while packing to start a birding cruise off the west coast, I noticed a smaller tringa near the small flock of Greater Yellowlegs. I looked at it with binoculars, and realized that it was a Marsh Sandpiper (MASA). I have seen the species many times on other continents, including last fall in NW Australia.
I took 4 photos from within the house, but forgot to zoom, so I only shot at 100. The photos show though what I saw: a delicate tringa, dull green legs (unlike the yellow that looked bright on the GRYLs, that the legs were very very long inrototion to the body, that the face was white, and that bill was thin.
I contcted an app for the northern regon coast and Pacific County, WA. I leter photoed one of the photos on my camera and sent it to the moderator of the app, and he put it on the app. I suggested that someone put it on Tweeters if my post failed, which I suspected it had.
Anothr. urder who lives up the bay from my house then reported that she had seen an identical bird on SEP 20, but had not identified it. She also had a Bar-tailed Godwit in her back yard with BBPLs and focused her attention on it, rather than the strange looking tringa.
The tide is nearly in right now, so I will look.
My sighting was near the vacant lot just south of 17304 Sndridge Rd., Long Beach address. The lot has a red and white contruction sign (DonneRight Construction). There is a narrow band of trees to the bay. There is no problem with parking in the lot and walking the short distance to the bay there.
The other sghting was at a residence on about 268th. and Sandridge.
The public clamming/oyster area at Nachotta might be a place to look. Others might ibnclude the ba access near the NWR HQ, or the two roads that go to the bay from Sandridge Rd. south of the public utilities building.
A flock of tringas also roost on a log near the bridge on HWY. 101 over the Chinook River.
It is a huge bay of course, and if the bird is still in the area it might be anywhere.
The cruise during the bomb cyclone off Pacific County on SEP 24 produced the following sightings:
1 South Polar Skua
1 Pomarine Jaeger
3 Long-tailed Jaegers
several Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters
4 Pink-footed Shearwaters
6 Buller’s shearwaters
6 Black-footed Albatrosses
Date: 9/27/23 4:50 pm From: Louise <louiserutter1000...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unknown - ID help requested ...
The bill does look slightly crossed, but I think that's a trick of the
angle. It doesn't look crossed enough to be a crossbill - I'm on the house
finch side.
Louise Rutter
Kirkland
On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 4:32 PM Mason Maron <mmaron101...> wrote:
Date: 9/27/23 4:39 pm From: Mason Maron <mmaron101...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unknown - ID help requested ...
This is a female House Finch beyond a shadow of a doubt. The most obvious field mark that would rule out Red Crossbill would be the chunky, uncrossed bill.
Mason Maron
On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 3:53 PM Larry Schwitters <leschwitters...> wrote:
Date: 9/27/23 4:37 pm From: Stephen Elston <stephen.elston...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unknown - ID help requested ...
Juvenile Red Crossbill. Notice the crossed bill and the marking on the
belly. Regards, Steve
On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 2:27 PM <jimbetz...> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Would some kind soul help with the ID for this bird?
> I've searched Merlin using several different approaches and
> can not develop a certainty of sufficient strength.
> I have some guesses but am holding off on those until I
> hear from someone about their ID.
>
>
>
> https://eamon.smugmug.com/Family-pics-from-jim/Birds-and-Stuff-from-Jim/n-4Cw3NF/Birds-Web/i-rPhWGVr/A >
> There are several other recent photos there that you might enjoy also.
> Just use the 'arrows' to move forward or backward in the gallery.
>
> - Jim
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/27/23 3:58 pm From: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unknown - ID help requested ...
How about a female house finch.
Larry Schwitters Issaquah
> On Sep 27, 2023, at 2:55 PM, <dgrainger...> wrote: > > That is a crossbill > > n 2023-09-27 14:27, <jimbetz...> wrote: >> Hi, >> Would some kind soul help with the ID for this bird? >> I've searched Merlin using several different approaches and >> can not develop a certainty of sufficient strength. >> I have some guesses but am holding off on those until I >> hear from someone about their ID. >> https://eamon.smugmug.com/Family-pics-from-jim/Birds-and-Stuff-from-Jim/n-4Cw3NF/Birds-Web/i-rPhWGVr/A >> There are several other recent photos there that you might enjoy also. >> Just use the 'arrows' to move forward or backward in the gallery. >> - Jim >> _______________________________________________ >> 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: 9/27/23 3:51 pm From: Steve Loitz <steveloitz...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unknown - ID help requested ...
Red Crossbill
Steve Loitz Eburg
On Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 2:27 PM <jimbetz...> wrote:
> Hi, > > Would some kind soul help with the ID for this bird? > I've searched Merlin using several different approaches and > can not develop a certainty of sufficient strength. > I have some guesses but am holding off on those until I > hear from someone about their ID. > > > > https://eamon.smugmug.com/Family-pics-from-jim/Birds-and-Stuff-from-Jim/n-4Cw3NF/Birds-Web/i-rPhWGVr/A > > There are several other recent photos there that you might enjoy also. > Just use the 'arrows' to move forward or backward in the gallery. > > - Jim > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
I noted snow geese in Skagit on 10/4 last year, so not that early. Just ran into a couple of people who said they saw snowgeese and white fronted geese flying over Fir Island this morning.
Nancy Crowell
La Conner
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Ronda Stark <rondastark18...>
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 10:33:53 AM
To: <jimbetz...> <jimbetz...>
Cc: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOF!
Hi Jim,
That is exciting news! Isn't it super early for both Snow Geese and Trumpeters?
First of Fall - about 100 Snow Geese in two wedges moving South over Gardner
road area. Medium altitude (2 or 3 thousand feet at most), so perhaps,
looking for somewhere to settle for the night/a few days/the season.
Confirmed
with binoculars as they flew close over our house.
Not confirmed but possibly also 3 Trumpeter Swans this A.M. They
disappeared
from my view before I could get the binoculars working. They were flying
South, low over Gardner road (a couple of hundred feet high at most). The
only other bird(s) it could have been was some gulls ... but I rushed to
get the binoculars only to loose track of them.
We've seen at least two Turkey Vultures, some Juncos and Black-capped
Chickadees, a plethora of Anna's including 3 very small ones, and other
assorted birds today. Among them at least one Red-tailed Hawk.
Any time you see several different species of water birds - all moving in the same direction and especially when some are flying from the rear to the front of the line ... they are following some kind of "bait ball" (a school of fish swimming in one direction often near the surface). Usually it is some kind of small fish - nothing as large as salmon (although they school in large numbers as well).
One of my most memorable times seeing this was in Monterey Bay when the herring (smelt?) were running. There were gulls, pelicans, cormorants, etc. that were "a dark cloud in the sky above the water". All of them were trying to stay ahead of the school - they would fly ahead, land, gorge, and repeat. Many got so full they couldn't fly any more and were coming ashore to just sit and recover from over-eating. These birds on the shore did not exhibit 'normal' fear of humans walking near them but instead were barely able to waddle ashore and would flop down and just sit there where you could walk right up to them. Much closer than any other time you might see a bird just out of the surf line. - Jim
Date: 9/27/23 2:33 pm From: <jimbetz...> Subject: [Tweeters] Unknown - ID help requested ...
Hi,
Would some kind soul help with the ID for this bird? I've searched Merlin using several different approaches and can not develop a certainty of sufficient strength. I have some guesses but am holding off on those until I hear from someone about their ID.
Having just learned of this myself - perhaps it is possible for you to use the "Bar Charts" feature of eBird's "Explore" to get the answers you want? I realize that it doesn't directly address the question of ver tical -vs- geographic migration ... but you should be able to use it to discover "what birds to expect - where?". I know that I intend to use it for just this kind of use myself. My idea is that I can "look at the bar charts -before- I go out birding" in order to have some idea of whether or not a particular bird(s) should be in my search for what to find ... and where.
As always - the largest percentage of bird behavior (including where they are/are not) is determined by either food availability or procreation. Both of which will influence "territorial behaviors".
Date: 9/27/23 10:42 am From: Ronda Stark <rondastark18...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOF!
Hi Jim,
That is exciting news! Isn't it super early for both Snow Geese and
Trumpeters?
Thanks for the update,
Ronda
On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 10:30 AM <jimbetz...> wrote:
>
> First of Fall - about 100 Snow Geese in two wedges moving South over
> Gardner
> road area. Medium altitude (2 or 3 thousand feet at most), so perhaps,
> looking for somewhere to settle for the night/a few days/the season.
> Confirmed
> with binoculars as they flew close over our house.
>
> Not confirmed but possibly also 3 Trumpeter Swans this A.M. They
> disappeared
> from my view before I could get the binoculars working. They were flying
> South, low over Gardner road (a couple of hundred feet high at most). The
> only other bird(s) it could have been was some gulls ... but I rushed to
> get the binoculars only to loose track of them.
>
> We've seen at least two Turkey Vultures, some Juncos and Black-capped
> Chickadees, a plethora of Anna's including 3 very small ones, and other
> assorted birds today. Among them at least one Red-tailed Hawk.
>
> - Jim and Loretta
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/27/23 10:34 am From: <jimbetz...> Subject: [Tweeters] FOF!
First of Fall - about 100 Snow Geese in two wedges moving South over Gardner road area. Medium altitude (2 or 3 thousand feet at most), so perhaps, looking for somewhere to settle for the night/a few days/the season. Confirmed with binoculars as they flew close over our house.
Not confirmed but possibly also 3 Trumpeter Swans this A.M. They disappeared from my view before I could get the binoculars working. They were flying South, low over Gardner road (a couple of hundred feet high at most). The only other bird(s) it could have been was some gulls ... but I rushed to get the binoculars only to loose track of them.
We've seen at least two Turkey Vultures, some Juncos and Black-capped Chickadees, a plethora of Anna's including 3 very small ones, and other assorted birds today. Among them at least one Red-tailed Hawk.
Date: 9/27/23 7:59 am From: Rob Faucett <robfaucett...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Brian Bell
Hi Folks - Could anybody take the tie send me the info for Brian’s memorial out at Marymoor?
Thanks and goo birding to all. Including Brian where ever he may be birding now.
Rob
--
Rob Faucett
206-619-5569
Seattle, WA
> On Aug 11, 2023, at 1:00 PM, <dschone8...> wrote:
>
> It was with great sadness I heard of Brian's passing. My thoughts immediately drifted back to a time when Brian and I were going to co-lead a WOS field trip. I had a pretty good idea of the route we would take since it was in my home territory and explained my thoughts to Brian. Ever the professional he agreed the route was a good one right up to the point where I noted it wouldn't likely even need scouting. Brian was not about to lead a trip on a route that had not been thoroughly scouted prior to the field trip.He came over the week before and stayed at our home for a couple of nights while we thoroughly scouted and timed the route. Brian made a couple of minor route changes so the time worked better and we spent an enjoyable day birding together. The most enjoyable part of the time was spent in the evenings as we ate, visited, and got to know one another better. The field trip was quite the success due in large part to Brian's minor changes. We saw tons of birds and had killer views of Grasshopper Sparrow which the majority of the group was keen to see close up and personal. At one point a grasshopper sparrow sat on a fence wire a few scant feet away. Brian quietly urged us to remain and watch until the bird flew off. That short interlude in time remains one of my fondest birding memories.
>
> Rest In Peace Brian
>
> Doug Schonewald
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
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Date: 9/27/23 7:49 am From: <meetings...> Subject: [Tweeters] REMINDER: WOS Monthly Meeting, Monday Oct 2, 2023
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) invites you to our first Monthly Meeting of the season. On Monday Oct 2, Rebecca Heisman will present "Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research." Rebecca has delved deeply into the varied and creative techniques scientists have used to study bird migration. Her fascination and studies have led to the authorship of her new book, Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration. In her talk, she'll share some surprising stories from the history of bird migration research and discuss why understanding migration is so crucial for bird conservation.
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
migration behavior is very much part of a species niche
resident birds have an advantage over migrants because they dont endure the hazards of migration
nesting sites may be the limiting factor causing birds to migrate; food not so much in the breeding season when food can be abundant
birds are especially suited to migrate because their physiology favors them
Jerry Tangren
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of David B. Williams <wingate...>
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2023 12:06:01 PM
To: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] mtn/urban birds
Greetings. I have been thinking about the relationship between urban birds and mountains birds. When I am up in the mountains, I often see some of the birds of my Seattle yard, such as juncos, robins, and black-capped chickadees. Its my understanding that my yard birds do not migrate up to the mountains. Is this correct?
In contrast, I believe that the varied thrushes I see in my yard do migrate up to the Cascades. Is this correct?
Any insights on the connection between birds seen in the Cascades ones in the urban/Puget lowland landscape would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
David
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David B. Williams
www.geologywriter.com
Free newsletter: https://streetsmartnaturalist.substack.com/ I live and work on the land of the Coast Salish peoples and am trying to honor with gratitude the land and those who have inhabited it since time immemorial. I know that I have much more to learn and hope to continue that journey.
Last week we spent three days in Skagit County visiting family, friends and
the never disappointing Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner. Oh, we also
birded!
While viewing American White Pelicans located on an island in Padilla Bay
we noticed 200+ Double-crested Cormorants swimming from the south towards
us. We had never seen this behavior before by a large group of
Double-crested Cormorants. Our guess is that they were feeding. Here is a
link to a video of what we watched.
(The video on Flickr may take awhile to load. Here is a link to the same
video on our YouTube channel. It might run more smoothly, but it might
also be preceded by an ad.)
Date: 9/26/23 6:00 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] AXIOS: Satellites are revolutionizing the way we see deforestation on Earth
Unfortunately, there is a paucity of research on this issue. Some Seattle
wintering birds are very likely vertical migrants which spend their summers
in the Cascades. Examples are Dark-eyed Junco, Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Townsend's Warbler, Hermit Thrush, both of our Kinglets, White-crowned
Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, American Pipit, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common
Merganser, Harlequin Duck and an occasional Townsend's Solitaire. For some
(most?) of these species, without banding info, it's impossible to say
whether an individual migrated vertically from the mountains or from the
north.
Vertical migrants are more apparent over here east of the Cascades, where
mountain hikers can directly observe summer mountain birds (sometimes in
mixed flocks) working downslope this time of year, some of them (e.g., Pine
Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Mountain Chickadee, Cassin's Finch, Townsend's
Solitaire, White-crowned Sparrows, American Dipper) settling in for the
winter closely east of the Cascades, while others (e.g., Gray-crowned Rosy
Finch) move to the Columbia Plateau for the winter. It's not unusual to see
a Clark's Nutcracker near Roslyn or Winthrop in mid-winter. Again, without
banding info, it is not possible to know where a wintering individual spent
the summer.
There are some wild cards, e.g., Pine Siskins and Red Crossbills, nomadic
species which move unpredictably to food sources but IME seem to tend to
move downslope in winter. Fox Sparrow movement baffles me. They sometimes
turn up in unexpected places in winter. A fellow Kittitas Audubon board
member saw a (rare for Eburg) sooty FOSP at his feeder last week.
Steve Loitz
Ellensburg, WA
> On Sep 26, 2023, at 3:06 PM, David B. Williams <wingate...> wrote:
>
> Greetings. I have been thinking about the relationship between urban birds
> and mountains birds. When I am up in the mountains, I often see some of the
> birds of my Seattle yard, such as juncos, robins, and black-capped
> chickadees. It’s my understanding that “my” yard birds do not migrate up to
> the mountains. Is this correct?
>
> In contrast, I believe that the varied thrushes I see in my yard do
> migrate up to the Cascades. Is this correct?
>
> Any insights on the connection between birds seen in the Cascades ones in
> the urban/Puget lowland landscape would be appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
> David
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> *David B. Williams*
> www.geologywriter.com
> *Free newsletter: *https://streetsmartnaturalist.substack.com/ > I live and work on the land of the Coast Salish peoples and am trying to
> honor with gratitude the land and those who have inhabited it since time
> immemorial. I know that I have much more to learn and hope to continue that
> journey.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
You are correct, although I wouldn’t have thought Black-capped Chickadees were very high in the mountains. How high have you seen them? Robins can be highly migratory, but I don’t know if our birds that are here only in the winter come from the north or—perhaps—some down from the mountains. It’s not good robin habitat up there in the winter!
We get other wintering birds in Seattle such as Sharp-shinned Hawks, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, Townsend’s and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and more. Again, I don’t know if some of them may be moving downslope as well as southward. Indeed Varied Thrushes are in that category, but do ours come from above or to the north?
Red-breasted Sapsuckers are not very migratory but are known to move down from higher elevations in some winters.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Sep 26, 2023, at 3:06 PM, David B. Williams <wingate...> wrote:
>
> Greetings. I have been thinking about the relationship between urban birds and mountains birds. When I am up in the mountains, I often see some of the birds of my Seattle yard, such as juncos, robins, and black-capped chickadees. It’s my understanding that “my” yard birds do not migrate up to the mountains. Is this correct?
>
> In contrast, I believe that the varied thrushes I see in my yard do migrate up to the Cascades. Is this correct?
>
> Any insights on the connection between birds seen in the Cascades ones in the urban/Puget lowland landscape would be appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
> David
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> David B. Williams
> www.geologywriter.com
> Free newsletter: https://streetsmartnaturalist.substack.com/ > I live and work on the land of the Coast Salish peoples and am trying to honor with gratitude the land and those who have inhabited it since time immemorial. I know that I have much more to learn and hope to continue that journey.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/26/23 3:09 pm From: David B. Williams <wingate...> Subject: [Tweeters] mtn/urban birds
Greetings. I have been thinking about the relationship between urban birds and mountains birds. When I am up in the mountains, I often see some of the birds of my Seattle yard, such as juncos, robins, and black-capped chickadees. It’s my understanding that “my” yard birds do not migrate up to the mountains. Is this correct?
In contrast, I believe that the varied thrushes I see in my yard do migrate up to the Cascades. Is this correct?
Any insights on the connection between birds seen in the Cascades ones in the urban/Puget lowland landscape would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
David
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David B. Williams
www.geologywriter.com
Free newsletter: https://streetsmartnaturalist.substack.com/ I live and work on the land of the Coast Salish peoples and am trying to honor with gratitude the land and those who have inhabited it since time immemorial. I know that I have much more to learn and hope to continue that journey.
Howdy Tweets; Great programs, displays and general environmental educational opportunities this Saturday at the Nisqually Billy Frank Wildlife Refuge. Visit: http://Nisqually river.org/festival/ Rain or Shine it is always fun at one of our favorite National Wildlife Refuges. See you this Saturday 10-4, Jim Ullrich
Date: 9/26/23 8:35 am From: Brian Zinke <zinke.pilchuck...> Subject: [Tweeters] Celebrating 50 years - Endangered Species Act and Pilchuck Audubon Society
Hi Tweets,
For Pilchuck Audubon's annual fundraising dinner, Feast in the Forest, we're highlighting the 50th anniversaries of the Endangered Species Act and our chapter's founding.
Dr. Todd Wildermuth from the University of Washington will be our featured speaker, and he'll be presenting, "The ESA at 50: What We Protect, How We Do It, And Why It Matters."
Dinner will be catered by the delicious Ryan's REZ-ipes.
We hope you'll consider joining us!
*Feast in the Forest* Saturday, October 7 6-9pm Floral Hall at Forest Park, Everett
Two or three of you took the trouble to send me a note about using the "bar graphs" feature in eBird. I did not know it even existed and so I thank you for that ... it is a great resource and I'm sad that I didn't learn of it and start using it several years ago. - Jim in Burlington
Date: 9/25/23 8:41 pm From: Brian Pendleton <kc7wpd...> Subject: [Tweeters] Broad-winged Hawk migration in Washtucna
On 21 and 22 September Darchelle and I witnessed a remarkable passage of Broad-winged Hawks and Turkey Vultures through the town of Washtucna in Adams County. Around 1 PM on the 21st we were watching the willows and Russian Olives just northeast of Bassett Park under an overcast sky when at least 70 Turkey Vultures flew in from the east and began circling above us. It was a spooky experience to have so many large birds flying so low over our heads. Among the vultures were several buteos which Darchelle photographed; her photos confirmed our suspicion that they were Broad-winged Hawks. Over the next 20 minutes 63 of the vultures flew off to the southwest in three separate kettles which also included 4 Broad-winged Hawks. Turkey Vultures continued to trickle into town over the next several hours so that by 4 PM at least 40 were roosting in a large willow east of the park with a few more in other trees around town. Darchelle also photographed a fifth Broad-wing as it flew into the large cottonwood in Snyder Park.
Dense fog blanketed the basin on the morning of the 22nd becoming a low stratus layer over Washtucna by 8 AM. The sun began to break through the stratus around 9:30 AM and by 10 AM the hawks were beginning to move. A kettle of about 30 Turkey Vultures and 4 Broad-winged Hawks formed on the south side of town and began drifting off to the south. Another Broad-winged Hawk followed them a few minutes later. Around 10:45 AM another kettle formed on the northeast side of town, this one composed entirely of buteos. We identified 1 Red-tailed Hawk and 7 Broad-winged Hawks in that kettle, which we believe moved off to the southeast though we lost track of it because our attention was diverted to two additional Broad-winged Hawks which began to circle upwards in the same area at 10:50 AM. They were the last to leave as far as we know.
Darchelle attempted to photograph as many individual Broad-winged Hawks as she could, and a back-of-camera review of her photos suggests that she documented a dozen or more, at least one of which was in town on both days. She also examined almost every individual buteo through the spotting scope, distinguishing the Broad-wings from Red-tails by their tail patterns and lack of dark patagial marks and from Swainson's by their uniformly pale uderwings and more conpact shape. In kettles the Broad-wings also exhibited a characteristic flight pattern of soaring interrupted now and then by three quick wingflaps.
Although we may revise these numbers slightly after further review of our photographs, we believe that we saw a total of 18 Broad-winged Hawks in Washtucna over the two days, of which about two thirds were juveniles and two were dark-phase birds. One key assumption behind our counts is that after we watched a bird leave the area in a kettle, it did not return and get counted again. Given that several likely Broad-wings left town without our being able to verify them, and that several others may have departed undetected, the actual count could be in the low 20s.
Brian Pendleton
<kc7wpd...>
Seattle
Date: 9/25/23 7:27 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] ‘They used to blacken the sky’: the siren song of the magnificent Carnaby’s cockatoo | Australian bird of the year 2023 | The Guardian
Date: 9/25/23 7:27 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] ‘In total shock’: birdwatchers amazed as ‘uber-rare’ American birds land in UK | Birds | The Guardian
Date: 9/25/23 7:21 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] How ducks, geese and swans see the world—and why this puts them at risk in a changing environment. “According to our latest research, the answer lies in how they see the world. We found that looking directly ahead is simply not that impo
Date: 9/25/23 7:13 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] “On his first voyage to the Caribbean in 1492, Christopher Columbus noted that flocks of parrots were so abundant they "obscured the sun." Today, more than half of parrot species in the Caribbean have gone extinct, from large particolored mac
Date: 9/25/23 10:58 am From: Tom and Carol Stoner <tcstonefam...> Subject: [Tweeters] Amazing Cooper's Hawk
Our suet feeder is enclosed in a cage to deter the starlings. I just watched a Cooper's Hawk successfully snag a Bushtit from the group feeding at our suet. It flew in, clung to the cage and managed to grab one bird while the rest scattered. It's now feeding deep in a Big Leaf Maple.
A jaw-dropping demonstration of skill-- Carol Stoner West Seattle
It lists:
1. David Benson, 373 species (100.27% of total species reported in the
state this year), 5 checklists
2. Liam Hutcheson, 364 species (97.85%), 847 checklists
There is nothing nefarious here; it's simply a data entry quirk. As
Benson's profile is public, you can see that his 5 lists curiously come
from 6 counties. You can also see he's a birder from out of state who has
made only a few visits here. These somewhat non-sensical results are likely
a product of the eBird system and incorrect data entry when entering one's
life list (or state list) and not following the eBird protocol to avoid
having the entire life list becoming connected to one time and place. I'm
sure he'll correct it at some point. Ideally, eBird would somehow
automatically notify him (and make entering life lists a little less
quirky).
Rest assured, young Liam is in the lead, and is a great example of how
these "top 100s" serve as a driver for learning more about our avifauna, as
well as developing friendships across multiple generations. Yes, there is
competition, but that takes a back seat to cool birds and great
experiences. Though Liam doesn't yet have a driver's license (kudos here to
his mom and friends for driving at times!), his quest has taken him to all
corners of the state, learning a ton about bird distribution and habits in
the process. In the few days I've had the privilege of birding with him, he
shared some of the things he's learned about certain species, for which I'm
grateful. Previous big year efforts by Brian Pendleton and Darchelle Worley
(376 in 2022) and Will Brooks (376 in 2021) were also inspiring in their
own ways.
Go Liam and good birding to all!
On Sun, Sep 24, 2023 at 5:16 PM Karen Wosilait <karen.w.mobile...>
wrote:
> Jim, eBird can do what you’d like, produce a bar chart for a county for a
> range of years (or a part of the year).
>
> On the Explore page, type (for example) your county of interest. It will
> default to last seen sightings, but on the left, then choose “bar charts.”
>
> If you want a shorter time interval, there’s a “change date” option.
>
> Karen Wosilait (she/her)
> Seattle, WA
> <karen.w.mobile...>
>
> > On Sep 24, 2023, at 12:51 PM, <jimbetz...> wrote:
> >
> > Ed,
> >
> > I share your disappointment with eBird. It is a great tool for
> > recording what you saw/heard - and for keeping personal records
> > over time. Beyond that there are many things it does not do
> > well ... such as any "research". Try and get eBird to tell you
> > when a particular species is likely to be in your area for example.
> > Big picture research is "fairly good" but as soon as you want to
> > get down to questions such as "what's been seen recently, and
> > where, in my "county"? ... it leaves a lot to be desired.
> >
> > Yes, I know how to use eBird to get county level info - but
> > "last seen" or "high count" aren't what I need. I'd like to see a
> > graph of the presence of a species over the past few years for a
> > particular date range ... for instance.
> >
> > I'm not into "competitive birding" - at any level (don't even
> > keep a life list) so I can't say if the Top-100 list is useful -
> > or not.
> > - Jim in Burlington
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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: 9/24/23 8:47 pm From: Bruce LaBar <blabar...> Subject: [Tweeters] Westport Pelagic, September 29
The Sept. 29 pelagic trip is now full. Thanks to all who signed up! You still can contact www.westportseabirds.com to get on a waiting list, in case of cancellations. Bruce LaBar _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Thanks compilers for all your work, and thanks everyone who has contributed.
This update, coming at the end of August and as Fall Migration was just beginning, is less ’stable’ in timing that some of the other updates - some migrants might show up just a little earlier or later and bend the numbers - nevertheless, it is interesting to see where things stand.
Here’s how things look compared with recent years:
We’ve tallied 373 species statewide as of the end of August in 2023. That’s 8 below last year at this point, 1 above 2021 and 5 below 2020’s total.
For Western WA, our 344 total is 7 lower than last year, and 4 higher than 2021.
For Eastern WA, our 308 total is 8 lower than last year, and 9 lower than 2021.
Overall, we’re doing a bit low compared to last year when it comes to diversity of species seen.
15 Counties have higher totals than this time last year, while 23 have lower totals than at this point last year. One county has exactly the same total as at this point last year [go Jefferson!].
72 species have been seen in all 39 counties, and 158 species have been found in 30 or more counties.
A handful of species new to the year list have come in since the end of August- It looks like we’ll add Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, maybe Blue-headed &/or, Philadelphia Vireo, Canada Warbler and others in September. But things like Scripps’s Murrelet, Brown Booby & Blackpoll Warbler might go missing on the year totals this time around. We’ve still got plenty of time for more fall vagrants to pop up, along with winter surprisesl. And Neah Bay season is just coming up…., who knows what surprises remain….
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: 9/24/23 5:18 pm From: Karen Wosilait <karen.w.mobile...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Does E-bird have a top-100 problem? (Ed Newbold)
Jim, eBird can do what you’d like, produce a bar chart for a county for a range of years (or a part of the year).
On the Explore page, type (for example) your county of interest. It will default to last seen sightings, but on the left, then choose “bar charts.”
If you want a shorter time interval, there’s a “change date” option.
Karen Wosilait (she/her)
Seattle, WA
<karen.w.mobile...>
> On Sep 24, 2023, at 12:51 PM, <jimbetz...> wrote:
>
> Ed,
>
> I share your disappointment with eBird. It is a great tool for
> recording what you saw/heard - and for keeping personal records
> over time. Beyond that there are many things it does not do
> well ... such as any "research". Try and get eBird to tell you
> when a particular species is likely to be in your area for example.
> Big picture research is "fairly good" but as soon as you want to
> get down to questions such as "what's been seen recently, and
> where, in my "county"? ... it leaves a lot to be desired.
>
> Yes, I know how to use eBird to get county level info - but
> "last seen" or "high count" aren't what I need. I'd like to see a
> graph of the presence of a species over the past few years for a
> particular date range ... for instance.
>
> I'm not into "competitive birding" - at any level (don't even
> keep a life list) so I can't say if the Top-100 list is useful -
> or not.
> - Jim in Burlington
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 9/24/23 1:25 pm From: Odette B. James <o.b.james...> Subject: [Tweeters] Cedar River delta
For the last week or more, gulls have been mostly absent from the sandbars and logs of the delta, probably because the airport noisemaker has been very effective. But over the last several days, a few gulls have been coming back, mostly closer in toward the boathouse than previously. And today (Sunday) at 11:30, there is a Franklin's, once again. Not much in the way of shorebirds except Killdeer and what probably were Western Sandpipers. Lot and lots of American Coots. On Friday at about 1:30 there was a single Cackling Goose, with two Canadas at the edge of a raft of coots. And a few Double-crested Cormorants have arrived for the winter.
Odette James, from the Lakeshore Retirement Community
Date: 9/24/23 1:11 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] From bin chickens to gang-gangs: Australian bird of the year is a celebration and a call to action | Australian bird of the year (2023) | The Guardian
Date: 9/24/23 12:58 pm From: <jimbetz...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Does E-bird have a top-100 problem? (Ed Newbold)
Ed,
I share your disappointment with eBird. It is a great tool for recording what you saw/heard - and for keeping personal records over time. Beyond that there are many things it does not do well ... such as any "research". Try and get eBird to tell you when a particular species is likely to be in your area for example. Big picture research is "fairly good" but as soon as you want to get down to questions such as "what's been seen recently, and where, in my "county"? ... it leaves a lot to be desired.
Yes, I know how to use eBird to get county level info - but "last seen" or "high count" aren't what I need. I'd like to see a graph of the presence of a species over the past few years for a particular date range ... for instance.
I'm not into "competitive birding" - at any level (don't even keep a life list) so I can't say if the Top-100 list is useful - or not. - Jim in Burlington
My wife and I just returned from a quick trip to SE Alaska. We flew to Juneau, stayed 4 days, then got on the Columbia (Alaska Ferry) and went to Haines, Skagway, Juneau (again), Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan, and then down the Inside Passage to Bellingham (4+ days on the ferry). This was not "a birding trip" but we did do some birding.
We saw gulls almost everywhere - especially any place where humans are gathered. A few Bald Eagles, a few more Great Blue Herons, -very- few passerines, Pelagic Cormorants, a few Oystercatchers. And Humpback Whales, spawning salmon (especially in Ketchikan), seals, seal lions, otter (a few), and even some Orca (Ketchikan). We did not see any bear or moose - but they were out there because there were hunters everywhere.
I did get a few good pics of birds/birds in flight. This new camera is a dream for birding/wildlife photography.
And lots of Cruise Ships as well. I worked in SE Alaska for 2 summers in the 60's. The growth in tourism is staggering and in places such as Skagway it is beyond belief ... so many people crowded into so many shops. If there was a cruise ship in town (there were often 2 or 3) you couldn't get served at a restaurant anywhere near the port. *Sigh*. - Jim in Burlington
Date: 9/24/23 12:29 pm From: Bruce LaBar <blabar...> Subject: [Tweeters] Westport Seabirds, September 29.
After more weather related cancellations, there is a new pelagic scheduled on this coming Friday. There are still a few spots left for one of our last trips of the year. Still a lot of migrating seabirds from all parts of the world. Mammal numbers have been huge lately with hundreds of Pacific White-sided Dolphins highlighting. For reservations and further information, please visit www.westportseabirds.com. Hope to see you this Friday! Bruce LaBar _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/24/23 7:36 am From: Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Nuthatch dispersal
oops, I meant Type 2 (Ponderosa) Red Crossbills. We've also had some Type 4
(Doug-firs).
On Sun, Sep 24, 2023 at 7:28 AM Steve Hampton <stevechampton...>
wrote:
> Adding to this thread -- a White-br Nuthatch was photographed in the
> Sequim area yesterday.
>
> We've had some Type 4 (Ponderosa) Red Crossbills around Port Townsend.
>
> good birding,
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 23, 2023 at 12:57 PM Eric Heisey <magicman32...>
> wrote:
>
>> Apologies for my tardy reply, I have been out of service lately. Thank
>> you to the many who have commented and contributed to the conversation, I
>> especially want to thank Bill Tweit for his in-depth commentary on the
>> matter. I want to add in a couple more thoughts that I omitted from my
>> initial brief message.
>>
>> In Yakima Co, I have spent a ton of time at Clear Lake over the past
>> decade. Pygmy Nuthatches are typically quite rare here, I have only
>> recorded them a couple of times in the past despite the presence of
>> Ponderosa Pines, always in the second half of July. This year I have
>> encountered small groups of PYNU at Clear Lake on at least six occasions
>> between 27 Jul and 21 Aug, further evidence of their dispersal from the
>> core parts of their range, at least along the east flank of the cascades.
>> My encounter of White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches right along the county
>> line in Lewis Co suggest that the fringes of westside counties, such as the
>> far eastern edges of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, or King Cos may be good
>> areas to search for dispersing nuthatches. I would wager that we will see
>> at least a couple of nuthatches further afield on the westside as we
>> continue to transition into fall (though, maybe I am wrong and this will
>> end up being the primary dispersal window and later in fall will furnish
>> few records).
>>
>> A White-breasted Nuthatch was photographed on the Hurricane Hill Trail in
>> Olympic NP a few days ago (Charlie & Linnea Wright, Ryan Shaw;
>> https://ebird.org/checklist/S147728940?fbclid=IwAR3BYD3oPhH4pjZ7hwnlHbRimlbzUDP1hN6AU3v-_KaPKeVNes698AiclNk),
>> while a Pygmy Nuthatch was reported recently (though not documented) by a
>> reliable observer, David Bell, at Rocky Point Bird Observatory on Vancouver
>> Island, BC. This to me suggests that there is good potential for both
>> White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches showing up along the coast. Tatoosh
>> Island offshore Neah Bay has a record from 1970 (Dennis Paulson), and Neah
>> Bay may be a prime locale to seek displaced nuthatches. I would postulate
>> that Leadbetter Point (Grassy Island) or Cape Disappointment SP may also
>> present ideal places to search for coastal p-nuts and WBNU, though it seems
>> that with the relative lack of concentrating geography on the Washington
>> coast away from these traps one might show up anywhere. The Olympic NP WBNU
>> may suggest that wandering birds that make it to the coast may find the
>> Olympic Mountains more to their liking, who knows. Keep an eye out wherever
>> you may be!
>>
>> I have heard of out-of-place crossbills in many places. While I have
>> observed Crossbills virtually annually at this time of the year in the
>> Columbia basin and lowland Yakima Co, it does seem that they are straying
>> more this fall than in years past. I will be curious to see the proportions
>> of type 2 crossbills recorded on the westside through the fall. This is the
>> type which is most reliant on Ponderosa Pines, and I suspect they might
>> wander widely this fall. I have alerted several of my friends out east to
>> take care in searching for type 2s this fall and winter, I will be curious
>> to see how widely they wander/irrupt.
>>
>> Good luck, this should be a very interesting fall, what with this
>> phenomenon as well as with the approaching downstream effects of the strong
>> El Niño.
>>
>> Eric Heisey
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
>
> --
> Steve Hampton
> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>
>
>
Date: 9/24/23 7:32 am From: Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Nuthatch dispersal
Adding to this thread -- a White-br Nuthatch was photographed in the Sequim
area yesterday.
We've had some Type 4 (Ponderosa) Red Crossbills around Port Townsend.
good birding,
On Wed, Aug 23, 2023 at 12:57 PM Eric Heisey <magicman32...>
wrote:
> Apologies for my tardy reply, I have been out of service lately. Thank you
> to the many who have commented and contributed to the conversation, I
> especially want to thank Bill Tweit for his in-depth commentary on the
> matter. I want to add in a couple more thoughts that I omitted from my
> initial brief message.
>
> In Yakima Co, I have spent a ton of time at Clear Lake over the past
> decade. Pygmy Nuthatches are typically quite rare here, I have only
> recorded them a couple of times in the past despite the presence of
> Ponderosa Pines, always in the second half of July. This year I have
> encountered small groups of PYNU at Clear Lake on at least six occasions
> between 27 Jul and 21 Aug, further evidence of their dispersal from the
> core parts of their range, at least along the east flank of the cascades.
> My encounter of White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches right along the county
> line in Lewis Co suggest that the fringes of westside counties, such as the
> far eastern edges of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, or King Cos may be good
> areas to search for dispersing nuthatches. I would wager that we will see
> at least a couple of nuthatches further afield on the westside as we
> continue to transition into fall (though, maybe I am wrong and this will
> end up being the primary dispersal window and later in fall will furnish
> few records).
>
> A White-breasted Nuthatch was photographed on the Hurricane Hill Trail in
> Olympic NP a few days ago (Charlie & Linnea Wright, Ryan Shaw;
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S147728940?fbclid=IwAR3BYD3oPhH4pjZ7hwnlHbRimlbzUDP1hN6AU3v-_KaPKeVNes698AiclNk),
> while a Pygmy Nuthatch was reported recently (though not documented) by a
> reliable observer, David Bell, at Rocky Point Bird Observatory on Vancouver
> Island, BC. This to me suggests that there is good potential for both
> White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches showing up along the coast. Tatoosh
> Island offshore Neah Bay has a record from 1970 (Dennis Paulson), and Neah
> Bay may be a prime locale to seek displaced nuthatches. I would postulate
> that Leadbetter Point (Grassy Island) or Cape Disappointment SP may also
> present ideal places to search for coastal p-nuts and WBNU, though it seems
> that with the relative lack of concentrating geography on the Washington
> coast away from these traps one might show up anywhere. The Olympic NP WBNU
> may suggest that wandering birds that make it to the coast may find the
> Olympic Mountains more to their liking, who knows. Keep an eye out wherever
> you may be!
>
> I have heard of out-of-place crossbills in many places. While I have
> observed Crossbills virtually annually at this time of the year in the
> Columbia basin and lowland Yakima Co, it does seem that they are straying
> more this fall than in years past. I will be curious to see the proportions
> of type 2 crossbills recorded on the westside through the fall. This is the
> type which is most reliant on Ponderosa Pines, and I suspect they might
> wander widely this fall. I have alerted several of my friends out east to
> take care in searching for type 2s this fall and winter, I will be curious
> to see how widely they wander/irrupt.
>
> Good luck, this should be a very interesting fall, what with this
> phenomenon as well as with the approaching downstream effects of the strong
> El Niño.
>
> Eric Heisey
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/23/23 7:04 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] EARTH.COM: Endangered red-crowned parrots are thriving and beloved in urban Texas areas
Date: 9/23/23 5:41 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] Alcohol-loving hummingbirds drink and fly. But a new study shows they know their limits - Discover Wildlife
Date: 9/23/23 4:36 pm From: Tim Brennan <tsbrennan...> Subject: [Tweeters] Not a bad trip to Skamania - September 22nd
Hey Tweets!
I made a run for it, down to Killen Creek Trail, hiking the trail up to the PCT, and later driving some of the roads in the area. Can one have a good birding trip in that area without finding Spruce Grouse? I think this is a yes, although I was surprised to come back with 6 new birds for my Skamania year (Merlin, Mountain Chickadee, Clark's Nutcracker, Cassin's Finch, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak) without any of those cute little chickens. Other eBird reports from the area have also included Spruce Grouse, and I even talked with a . . . hiker? Horser? A person on horseback on the trail who said that they had not seen any grouse, but that they had seen "prairie chickens" near Keene Horse Camp. So, I'm sure the getting is good for them. Roads were clear, and the hike up Killen Creek Trail was pleasant.
Date: 9/23/23 2:30 pm From: Ed Newbold <ednewbold1...> Subject: [Tweeters] Does E-bird have a top-100 problem?
Hi all,
Does E-bird have a top-100 problem?
This is not a criticism of anyone because it is most certainly not clear to me what is going on, who is involved or what even is happening.
But there has to be vast skepticism that anyone could be at #1 in WA if they didn't get their first Pacific Loon until September.
(I should say now that it's possible there could be something that explains this and the other apparent contradictions of this listing that might be revealed to us all in the future. The world is strange.)
But assuming there is a prankster, we have friends who may have figured out how this is being done and therefore possibly how it could be fixed.
In my own personal view it is fairly important for E-bird to deal with this ASAP. Top-100 may feel superficial to some, and others may feel it encourages unseemly competitiveness and others that it has the unintended consequence of appearing to the uninitiated as a ranking of birding-skill when it is most certainly not. For my part, I see all these points but I land squarely in the opposite court and I feel that the integrity of Top-100 must be maintained. I see Top-100 as the Holy Grail--perhaps even the only hope--for birds and birding as it taps into whatever it is in the human spirit that allows or causes--for example-- billions to live and die over the minutia of which young person kicks a ball between two posts during various specified time-periods.
If birding ever caught on big time we can absolutely be certain there would be downsides. But I feel it would be a vast improvement over the current state of the culture where in I could say to a person "I saw a Vireo," and they wouldn't know what I was talking about (I have done this).
Thanks all,
Ed Newbold
.The migration trickles on at Butyl Creek where today Delia and I have had three visits by Orange-crowned Warblers and one by a Hermit Thrush.
Beacon Hill Seattle <ednewbold1...>
Date: 9/23/23 7:54 am From: AMK17 <amk17...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fall yard birds
Since I've lived in phinney here in Seattle it's been interesting to see how the bird seasons transition. Last week, the first fall juvenile golden crowned sparrow arrived and today a single yellow rumped warbler.
Looking forward to the influx of migrants throughout this cooler period.
Date: 9/22/23 12:43 pm From: James Ullrich <jimullrich...> Subject: [Tweeters] 34th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival – Nisqually River Council
Hello Tweets: Looking ahead to next Saturday 9/30, hope many of you can include our 34th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival in your weekend fun educational opportunities. Yours for the Birds & the Bees Jim Ullrich
Date: 9/22/23 10:52 am From: Robert Gray <robertgary02...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Townsend's Solitaire at South Meadow, Discovery Park
Could have been two birds.
On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 01:09:39 PM PDT, Thomas M Leschine <tml...> wrote:
Dave Galvin and I led a Birds Connect Seattle outing this morning at Discovery Park’s (Seattle) South Meadow where we found a Townsend’s Solitaire. We got a brief view of the bird atop a tall conifer but then about 20 minutes later a much better view in a low, fruit-bearing tree along “Bird Alley” most of the way to the sandy bluff. Seeing the bird twice suggested to us at least that it may be ensconced in the South Meadow (though seemingly driven off its perch by an Anna’s Hummingbird on our second viewing!)
Three different Cooper’s Hawks also sighted, a pair making a rather acrobatic display just overhead. Our eBird checklist can be found at S150427121
Tom LeschineSeattle_______________________________________________
Tweeters mailing list
<Tweeters...>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/22/23 10:43 am From: Denis DeSilvis <avnacrs4birds...> Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 9-21-2023
Tweeters,
A baker's dozen of us toured the JBLM Eagle's Pride GC forests and fairway edges on Thursday, which started out cool (43degF - all folks dressed for success and several of us with gloves on), but finished fairly warm (61degF) after a fine day with some new seasonal birds. The major highlight came at Hodge Lake where we saw three GREATER YELLOWLEGS (GRYE) feeding at the muddy edges. These were the first GRYE we've seen on the ground feeding in the 10 years of this walk; all others were flyovers.
Other highlights included several first-of-season (FOS) sightings:
- VARIED THRUSH: 3 - FOS
- FOX SPARROW: 2 - FOS
- GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW: 1 - FOS
- BAND-TAILED PIGEON: 54 - and likely more on back of trees, but these were the ones we could see.
- PILEATED WOODPECKER: 1 - This wouldn't be such a highlight except we saw this one flying; we usually only hear them.
- RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER: 4 - a high count for this site
- HOODED MERGANSER: 18 - They seemingly like Hodge Lake in the early spring and fall
Mammals include 10 (!) black-tailed deer (9 near the 9th-hole pond); one rabbit and several Douglas squirrels.
The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM. Starting point is Bldg # 1514, Driving Range Tee, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. Upcoming walks include the following:
* October 19
* November 16 (start time will change to 9am) * December 21 (9am start time) Everyone is welcome to join us!
From the eBird PNW report:
36 species
Canada Goose 13
Wood Duck 10 Seven at the 9th-hole pond and 3 at Hodge Lake
Mallard 30
Hooded Merganser 18 At Hodge Lake
Pied-billed Grebe 3 At Hodge Lake
Band-tailed Pigeon 54 Most in trees near the Dupont housing area
Anna's Hummingbird 4
Greater Yellowlegs 3 Feeding at Hodge Lake - in 10 years, all other sightings have been flyovers. Well seen by all.
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Red-breasted Sapsucker 4 High count for Eagle's Pride GC
Date: 9/21/23 8:27 pm From: birdmarymoor <birdmarymoor...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2023-09-21
Tweets - Our fall equinox walk, in honor of Brian Bell, was even foggier than last week. It was almost torture walking the loop, hearing tiny untraceable calls from birds and seeing very little. We weren't even very successful at birding by ear. And when birds actually *were* seen, it was often by only one or two people. The fog didn't lift until we were almost all the way around to the East Meadow. Birding got quite a bit better after that.
Highlights:
CACKLING GOOSE - First of Fall (FOF), one in a flock of Canadas on the grass fields. On the early side
Vaux's Swift - Still one; should be gone soon
Wilson's Snipe - One or two flying the East Meadow during the main walk (not pre-dawn)
Osprey - Still one young bird on one of the nests!
Cooper's Hawk - Two or more birds, several sightings, including a juvenile doing stupid juvenile things (Sure, Mallard and Kingfisher are prey, right???)
Merlin - One around the mansion
Peregrine Falcon - One flew past the west end of the Pea Patch. First of Year (FOY)
Willow Flycatcher - One in the willows between the 1st and 2nd Dog Beaches. Only 3 later fall sightings ever
Swainson's Thrush - One seen, a few more heard pre-dawn, but they should be replaced by Hermit Thrush soon
CHIPPING SPARROW - Juvenile in Pea Patch, identified in the field as Brewer's, but photos showed a rather plain-faced Chipping, still showing a lot of juvenal plumage (FOF)
Golden-crowned Sparrow - Several spread around, (FOF)
Savannah Sparrow - All over the trails in the Dog Area, as if they couldn't find the East Meadow in the fog
Orange-crowned Warbler - Near East Footbridge - one of the first birds we saw when the fog lifted
Yellow-rumped Warbler - A half-dozen at the Rowing Club (FOF)
Townsend's Warbler - Carl saw one near the first Dog Beach
Black-throated Gray Warbler - Scott Ramos saw one at the Rowing Club, with the Yellow-rumps
Western Tanager - One or two at the Rowing Club
Mason had a BLACK BEAR on the Interpretive Trail pre-dawn! Only the 3rd record I know of for the park! But one of the other two sightings was from September 30, 2015, so only a week later. Fall movement of bears???
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Green Heron, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Barn Swallow (did have Swallow sp., but Mason felt they didn't look like Barns), Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Marsh Wren, European Starling, and Fox Sparrow
Despite the very long list of misses, we still managed 51 species (though that includes gull sp. and swallow sp.)
We had a very nice gathering in honor of Brian after the survey. We will miss him!
= Michael Hobbs
= Birding at Marymoor Park
= <BirdMarymoor...>
Date: 9/21/23 1:12 pm From: Thomas M Leschine <tml...> Subject: [Tweeters] Townsend's Solitaire at South Meadow, Discovery Park
Dave Galvin and I led a Birds Connect Seattle outing this morning at Discovery Park’s (Seattle) South Meadow where we found a Townsend’s Solitaire. We got a brief view of the bird atop a tall conifer but then about 20 minutes later a much better view in a low, fruit-bearing tree along “Bird Alley” most of the way to the sandy bluff. Seeing the bird twice suggested to us at least that it may be ensconced in the South Meadow (though seemingly driven off its perch by an Anna’s Hummingbird on our second viewing!)
Three different Cooper’s Hawks also sighted, a pair making a rather acrobatic display just overhead. Our eBird checklist can be found at S150427121 <https://ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S150427121>
Date: 9/21/23 8:41 am From: J. Acker <Owler...> Subject: [Tweeters] Saw-whets are back!
Good morning Tweeters!
This year is looking to be a big year for saw-whets. I opened up my banding station last night and banded 3 saw-whets and heard several more. Rocky Point, BC opened up last Friday and broke a 20 year record with 61 banded in one night.
J. Acker
<Owler...>
Bainbridge Island, WA
Sent from Mail for Windows
Date: 9/21/23 8:33 am From: Andy Stepniewski <steppie...> Subject: [Tweeters] "Odd Knot" at Bottle Beach-followup
Hi Tweeters,
On 9 September, a number of birders caught brief sightings of a shorebird at Bottle Beach in Grays Harbor County that seemed a little odd. There were some thoughts on the Thurston chat group it might be something cosmic like a Great Knot. Ellen obtained id. photos which clearly reveal it was a molting adult Red Knot. Dennis Paulson viewed Ellen's shot and concurs. I apologize if this topic has already been resolved.
Date: 9/20/23 10:48 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] Advanced listing: Spotting scope not needed. I’m not sure how to think about this, but it is creative. “Woman ‘catches birds on her face”
Date: 9/20/23 8:54 pm From: Shep Thorp <shepthorp...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 9/20/2023
Hi Tweets!
thirty-five of us had a great 'last day of summer' bird walk at the Refuge
with temperatures in the 50's to 60's degrees Fahrenheit and cloudy skies
in the morning giving way to sunny skies in the afternoon, Highlights
included FOY PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER (photos) relocated in the marsh plane
just west of Leschi Slough and north of the Nisqually Estuary Trail, return
of CACKLING GEESE, minima's, a big push -high count- of migrating SAVANNAH
SPARROWS and AMERICAN PIPIT, return of wintering species VARIED
THRUSH/RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET/GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, nice looks of
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, numerous raptors and shorebirds. We observed
83 species for the day and picked up a late FOY HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER thanks
to Jason's early morning efforts along the west side of the Twin Barns Loop
Trail. A BARRED OWL was briefly relocated by Laurel along the east side of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail just south of the double bench overlook. So far
we have seen 162 species this year.
See our eBird report pasted below with locations of sightings. Until next
time when we meet again at 8am, happy birding!
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Sep 20, 2023 7:28 AM - 5:29 PM
Protocol: Traveling
8.091 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday walk. Cloudy in the morning with sunny
skies in the afternoon. Temperatures in the 50’s to 60’s degrees
Fahrenheit. A High 11’10” Tide at 10:12am. Mammals seen Eastern
Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal, Coyote.
83 species (+2 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose 1 Fly over spotted by Laurel. Nisqually
Estuary Trail.
Cackling Goose (minima) 200
Wood Duck 1
Northern Shoveler 5
American Wigeon 25
Mallard 50
Northern Pintail 300
Green-winged Teal 20
Hooded Merganser 3 Tributary off Shannon Slough along Estuary
Boardwalk Trail
Common Merganser 1 Nisqually River Overlook.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 25
Band-tailed Pigeon 1
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2
Anna's Hummingbird 1
Sora 1 Heard by Liam, freshwater marsh.
Black-bellied Plover 3 Mudflats west of Leschi Slough.
Pacific Golden-Plover 1 Previously reported rarity. Photos. Seen at
300 feet north of Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike in the marsh plain west
of Leschi Slough between the slough and Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
Relocated today by Jason, observed by many with 60x spotting scope. Overall
golden yellow color with prominent ear spot and relatively short primary
projection beyond tertials on folded wing. Looked like 2-3 flight feathers
in primary projection. Roosting and feeding. Observed for 15-20 minutes.
Semipalmated Plover 5 Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail north of
McAllister Creek Observation Platform.
Killdeer 2
Least Sandpiper 150
Pectoral Sandpiper 2 Heard only from the Nisqually Estuary Trail along
the freshwater marsh.
Western Sandpiper 300
Long-billed Dowitcher 8 Seen by some of our group in the Visitor
Center Pond and north of the Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike west of Leschi
Slough.
Wilson's Snipe 1 Freshwater marsh.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 Nisqually River Overlook.
Greater Yellowlegs 25
Ring-billed Gull 350
California Gull 20
Glaucous-winged Gull 15
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 2
Larus sp. 400
Caspian Tern 1
Brandt's Cormorant 3 Nisqually River Channel Marker from the Puget
Sound Observation Platform.
Double-crested Cormorant 250
Great Blue Heron 30
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 2
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Line of trees along the central access road
between fields and marsh.
Cooper's Hawk 1 Freshwater marsh.
Bald Eagle 5
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Barred Owl 1 Relocated by Laurel just south of the double bench
observation platform on the east side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail. Flew
from outside the old Nisqually River Dike over the Boardwalk within the
Loop Trail.
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 Foraging at the base of Maple Trees on the
inside of the Loop Trail just north of the Beaver Deceiver.
Downy Woodpecker 5
Northern Flicker 3
Merlin 1 Hunting the tide flats.
Peregrine Falcon 2 Hunting the freshwater marsh.
Western Wood-Pewee 3
Hammond's Flycatcher 1 Spotted by Jason west side of the Twin Barns
Loop Trail just south of the first double bench observation platform.
Steller's Jay 1
American Crow 50
Common Raven 4
Black-capped Chickadee 20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 10
Violet-green Swallow 25
Barn Swallow 75
Bushtit 16
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10
Golden-crowned Kinglet 15
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 8
Marsh Wren 3
Bewick's Wren 6
European Starling 250
Varied Thrush 4 Visitor Center Pond Overlook. East side of Twin Barns
Loop Trail.
Swainson's Thrush 6
American Robin 12
Cedar Waxwing 8 West parking lot.
American Pipit 75
American Goldfinch 7
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 6
Golden-crowned Sparrow 10
Savannah Sparrow 65
Song Sparrow 15
Lincoln's Sparrow 5 Visitor Center Pond.
Spotted Towhee 4
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 15
Yellow Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 1
Black-throated Gray Warbler 2 West side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
The Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagles Pride Golf Course (GC) birdwalk is scheduled for Thursday, September 21. The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM<outlook-data-detector://2>. Starting point is Bldg # 1514, Driving Range Tee, Eagles Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. When you turn into the course entrance, take an immediate left onto the road to the driving range - that's where we meet. Also, to remind folks that haven't been here before, you don't need any ID to attend these birdwalks. Hope you're able to make it!
Weatherwise, looks like a nice day: it should be dry with temperature cool at the start but trending toward the mid-60s as we progress on the route.
Date: 9/20/23 12:06 pm From: Toby Ross <tobeross...> Subject: [Tweeters] The Puget Sound Seabird Survey needs volunteers
The Puget Sound Seabird Survey, now in its 16th year, is looking for volunteers to join this community science program. We specifically need volunteers willing to conduct surveys at the following locations: - Port Orchard: Sinclair Inlet and Harper Pier - Sequim: Diamond Point - Port Angeles: Twin River - Lacey: Zittel's Marina - Steilacoom: Anderson Island - Whidbey Island: Deception Pass and Moran Beach - Vashon Island: various locations - Lopez Island: various locations
Ideally we're looking for birders with good seabird identification skills. Training sessions on survey protocol will take place on Sep 24 in Port Townsend, Sep 25 in Tacoma, and Sep 27 in Seattle. For more information, please reach out to Toby Ross - PSSS Program Manager <t_ross...>
-- Toby Ross Puget Sound Bird Observatory Seattle Email: <t_ross...> <tross...> -- Toby Ross Seattle Sustainable Ecotourism Tours www.alighttours.com
Date: 9/19/23 5:46 pm From: Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker...> Subject: [Tweeters] September 15 Westport Seabirds trip report
Hi Tweeters,
When one arrives at the dock for a pelagic trip, one usually hopes for a smooth ride with no sea spray, boat rocking, or temporary queasiness. As fate would have it, today would not be one of those days. The *Monte Carlo* departed Westport marina with the nocturnal flight calls of Yellow Warblers and Swainson's Thrushes overhead and eager birders aboard from near and far. The Marbled Godwit flock was in the corner of the harbor but low light prevented us from a closer inspection. We headed out to sea under a clear sky and a few Gray Whales to our right and left and a distant Mt. Rainier from the stern.
The waters over the Continental Shelf are fairly consistent birdwise with Sooty Shearwaters (234), Common Murres (50), and Rhinoceros Auklets (16) being the most common species encountered. These were soon joined by several flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes (39). Pink-footed Shearwaters (690), visitors to our area from Chile, soon became the predominant species which dotted the sea in all directions. Participants were able to get comfortable with the habits of all these species which made identification of later species easier. Captain Phil had the *Monte Carlo* pointed in the direction of a lone shrimp boat and we anticipated a new collection of seabirds as we neared the boat. A distant Pomarine Jaeger (2) cruised by, Cassin's Auklets (8) skittered along the surface of the water, and, then, a surprise, a flock of three South Polar Skuas (4) took off near the bow of the boat giving everyone a chance to view this flying tank of a bird that passes through these waters on their way back to Antarctica.
The shrimper lived up to expectations - a few Black-footed Albatrosses (4) searched for food amid a growing flock of Pink-footed Shearwaters, a Buller's Shearwater (1) and Northern Fulmars. Diminutive Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels (86) made some very close passes which let everyone appreciate this smallest of our locally occurring tubenoses. A single Long-tailed Jaeger (1) flew several circles over the shrimp boat for everyone to see - our only one of the day. Several sharply marked Sabine's Gulls (4) joined the fray.
Captain Phil had an unfortunate updated weather forecast which included a building sea with accompanying wind waves so we reluctantly started our journey back to Westport.
Marine mammals for the day included Humpback (2) and Gray Whales (2), a few Pacific white-sided Dolphins (7), bow riding Dall's Porpoises (8), and several Northern Fur Seals (3) and Steller's Sea Lions (2).
The jetties extend quite a way's out and they always seem to hold something interesting. Today, we were glad to see two Parasitic Jaegers (2) klepto parasitizing nuerous gulls near the tip of the south jetty. We earned our skua slam for the day! Brown Pelicans and all three species of west coast Cormorants coated the south jetty but we weren't able to locate any rocky shorebirds. A mixture of gulls lined the outer harbor and a Harbor Seal (1) head bobbed to observe our entry into the marina and the end of our trip.
Westport Seabirds thanks all of the enthusiastic participants who make these trips a success. Also, thanks to Captain Phil and first mate Chris for their consummate professionalism, natural history knowledge and ginger cookies! Also, a shout out to our guides Bruce LaBar, Gene Revelas and me.
Even though the Westport Seabirds schedule ( http://westportseabirds.com/2023-schedule/) shows all trips as full, it's always a good idea to get on a waitlist and hope.
I hope to see you onboard!
Jim Danzenbaker for Westport Seabirds. -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-702-9395 <jdanzenbaker...>
Date: 9/19/23 9:06 am From: Michael Price <loblollyboy...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeters] rare birds are too conspicuous!
Hey tweets
Scene: a flooded plowed field at the south end of 104th St at Boundary Bay BC., January.
Close to the road a fairly large, dark first-cycle Glaucous Gull and a Def Basic Slaty-backed*, both winter rarities in Van BC (though at the time, early Nineties, the Slaty was the far rarer) were fossicking about agreeably almost shoulder-to-shoulder in a large puddle. We all happily watched them for about twenty minutes when another winter rarity suddenly appeared, this one with intent, a grey-morph Gyrfalcon coming in low and hot from the east, which, ignoring the Glaucous and all the GW's and Olies in the flock, singled out the Slaty and took a serious rip at it it, missed, and flew on.
Likewise a few winters on in Ladner BC, where an overwintering Cattle Egret and a bunch of GW's and Olies were foraging in a pasture, and a (possibly same) Gyr suddenly boomed in at fence-top level and went for the egret specifically. It barely missed and went over our heads close enough we (field trip---lifer sighting for some!) all could hear the *whoof*ing of its wingbeats. Nothing if not discerning, those gyrfalcons...
best, m
*we were seeing the Slaty in late-afternoon light: looking at the bird itself, its mantle didn't seem particularly dark---*occidentalis *Western dark maybe (and therefore easier to miss)---but its reflection in the water showed how much darker it *actually* was. Unfortunately for us, we didn't have Sir Isaac on hand to explain the optical science of it all for us.
Date: 9/19/23 8:20 am From: Bruce LaBar <blabar...> Subject: [Tweeters] Westport Pelagic Trip, Re-Scheduled
After canceling Tuesday's and today's scheduled pelagic trips, there is openings on this coming Friday's trip. The weather didn't cooperate these past two days for successful birding. However, this Friday, September 22, the weather looks very favorable. Late September is one of the best times for numbers and diversity of pelagic birds. If interested please check our website for information on signing up. www.westportseabirds.com Hope to see you on Friday! Bruce LaBar _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/19/23 7:55 am From: Desmul, Lindsey M (DFW) <Lindsey.Desmul...> Subject: [Tweeters] Spencer Island Restoration Project public input
Some of you may have seen the article in the Everett Herald on 9/16 about the restoration project WDFW is planning on Spencer Island, a popular birding destination in the Snohomish river estuary. There is a public comment period about the project that runs through October 8th, following a public meeting that was held on August 31st. As part of the project team, I wanted to make sure we get as many comments as possible from people who use Spencer Island. Your input is important to us in making the decision about future restoration and recreation on the site. You can find more information here: wdfw.wa.gov/spencerisland. Thank you!
Lindsey Desmul | Restoration Project Coordinator | Department of Fish and Wildlife, Region 4
16018 Mill Creek Blvd, Mill Creek WA 98012
206-496-9142 | <lindsey.desmul...>
Date: 9/19/23 6:50 am From: Cara Borre <cmborre1...> Subject: [Tweeters] Westport Seabirds Trip Report Saturday, September 16, 2023
Westport Seabirds closed out a challenging weather weekend offshore with a
very successful trip Saturday, September 16, despite some squirrely seas.
Our bar crossing and the trip out involved some moderate waves and swells,
but it was the quick frequency of the waves, more than the height, that
created a bumpy ride. Thankfully, as is typical, the trip back was much
smoother.
We did not have a fishing boat to target so we headed toward the edge of
Grays Canyon in search of whatever adventure the ocean had in store. Sooty
Shearwater and Common Murre were the first “pelagic species” we
encountered. The further offshore we got, our numbers of Pink-footed
Shearwater increased to overtake the Sooty numbers.
Time passed on our slow progression west and we happened upon a dragger
fishing boat that had a good number of gulls around it. This is where we
caught sight of our first Black-footed Albatross. We lingered and chummed
a bit near the boat and added Northern Fulmar, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel,
and worked on improving our shearwater tally. This time of year we have
the best chance at seeing 5 of our 6 possible shearwaters, and as luck
would have it, on this less than ideal day for spotting birds, we managed
to see several Short-tailed Shearwater, had a couple near passes in flight
from two Flesh-footed Shearwater, and several looks at Buller’s Shearwater,
with one quite cooperative bird circling and finally landing not far from
the boat.
We had glimpses of several phalaropes, both Red-necks and Reds, but only in
flight as they were difficult to see on the water under these sea
conditions. We did manage good looks at two Sabine’s Gull on the water
resting near some floating kelp, as well as a couple of birds in flight.
We had excellent looks at several South Polar Skuas throughout the day
including a killer view of a close fly by while we were chumming. Our only
other “skua” for the day was Pomarine Jaeger who presented an equally
stunning appearance at close range flying by sporting “full spoons” on the
tail.
In addition to Common Murre, our alcid tally included the highly sought
after Tufted Puffin with nice views on the water, Rhinoceros Auklet, and
less than desirable looks at distant flying Cassin’s Auklet.
Our fabulous mammal year continued with appearances from Gray Whale and a
very cooperative Humpback Whale. We watched this whale for well over 2
minutes repeatedly surfacing and breathing before taking its departing dive
and displaying its fluke. We had sightings of both Guadalupe and Northern
Fur Seals which allowed us to contrast the differences in head shape and
digit length of the hind flipper. Guadalupe has a longer, dog-like snout
and shorter digits on the hind flipper. We had Dall’s Porpoise join the
boat briefly for excellent looks as they rode our bow and a crowd pleasing
appearance of a large pod of Pacific White-sided Dolphins who accompanied
us for quite some time, bringing a group of gulls and Pink-footed
Shearwater flying above our procession.
If all that wasn’t enough, the rarest bird of the day came just before we
brought the Monte Carlo back to the marina, when spotter Ryan Merrill
called out “Yellow-billed Loon”. Captain Phil quickly brought the boat
around and we examined the large loon, with the long, yellow bill, tipped
skyward ever so slightly. Photographers likely got their closest ever
pictures of this rare species, while others added an unanticipated lifer,
or state bird, to their lists.
Our voyage was masterfully captained by Phil Anderson aided by First Mate
Chris Anderson. Spotters including Scott Mills, Ryan Merrill, and me.
Thanks to the hardy group of birders who joined us for this experience.
Not unusual, but always a welcome treat to see a PIWO in our yard too.
Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA
> On Sep 18, 2023, at 20:21, Jenn Jarstad <jennjarstad...> wrote: > > Maybe this isn't so unusual, but today was the first time I've ever seen a pilated woodpecker in my yard in the Green Lake neighborhood of Seattle. I used to get them all the time at my house in Bothell, but never in Seattle, until today. > Jenn Jarstad > Seattle, WA
Maybe this isn't so unusual, but today was the first time I've ever seen a pilated woodpecker in my yard in the Green Lake neighborhood of Seattle. I used to get them all the time at my house in Bothell, but never in Seattle, until today. Jenn Jarstad Seattle, WA
Date: 9/18/23 11:03 am From: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Vaux's Happening
Tweeters,
The swifts have now pretty much migrated through Washington State and Monroe Wagner continues to host more going North than it does going South. The 2023 Northbound saw super low numbers. Low enough to send many a Swift Seeker into the fetal position with concerns of a massive winter die off. The project coordinator said no problem, Southern California eBird data shows better than average numbers. Since mid-August we have been documenting the wee birds roosting in record numbers. JBLM got left out probably because the swifts wanted to send the night at the Rainier, OR Riverside Church instead. The center of the migration the last two nights has been the North San Francisco Bay where 65-70 thousand have been going into three large smoke stacks. Very proud of the crew we have down there clicking them off through scopes.
Last weekend our project was front page of the Portland Oregonian with their major focus on Rainier Riverside.
Date: 9/17/23 9:18 pm From: B B <birder4184...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] rare birds are too conspicuous!
Reminiscent of the demise of the Ross's Gull. There were other gulls around. That one stood out.
On Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 11:38:37 AM PDT, Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> wrote:
Hello tweets,
I was among a large group of birders at Tokeland yesterday who witnessed a Peregrine Falcon scare up the big flock of godwits at the marina at 11:25 am. The falcon singled out a bird from the flock and pursued it. The godwit dropped into the water and the falcon missed, but it made a long circling flight and came back after it, pursuing it along the water and then up and up into the air, heading to the south until both were out of sight. There was some thought that it was the single Hudsonian Godwit that had been with the flock, but we weren’t absolutely sure.
I took very distant photos of the whole affair, and looking at them just now, I can confirm that it was in fact the Hudsonian that the Peregrine was after. The white rump and black tail are clearly visible as the godwit flew away, the falcon in hot pursuit.
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) invites you to our first Monthly Meeting of the season. On Monday Oct 2, Rebecca Heisman will present Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research. Rebecca has delved deeply into the varied and creative techniques scientists have used to study bird migration. Her fascination and studies have led to the authorship of her new book, Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration. In her talk, she'll share some surprising stories from the history of bird migration research and discuss why understanding migration is so crucial for bird conservation.
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: 9/17/23 4:56 pm From: Robert O'Brien <baro...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] rare birds are too conspicuous!
Here is another Merlin feeding tactic that I've seen on the coast down
here. There's a large flock of mostly Western sandpipers and a Merlin comes
in up high and flushes the flock that then flies around. The Merlin shows
no particular interest and eventually flies off. 5 to 10 minutes later it's
back, but this time flying 10 inches above the beach for about 300 yards
and moving really fast. It's in the flock before they realize what's going
on, grabbing one. I would guess this was an experienced bird .
And here's sort of a humorous one. My family was staying in a small house
in Ilwaco which belonged to a friend. We are headed to the beach about 9:00
or 10:00 in the morning and as I stepped out onto the covered front porch,
a Merlin passing by swerved upward dropping a starling at my feet. Better
than drone delivery had I been interested in Starling pie. I wasn't so I
just put the dead Starling on a Ledge of the porch. When we returned late
that afternoon the Starling was still there. I guess there were plenty more
where that one came from.
Bob O'Brien Portland
On Sunday, September 17, 2023, Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> wrote:
> Hello Dennis,
>
> Thank you for the post.
> That must have been a great thing to experience!
> I hope the godwit made it!
> Was it a juvenile or adult Peregrine?
> I hope it was a hatch year bird with less hunting experience.
>
> Also, someone reported seeing an unusually large number of Willets there.
> Did you?
>
> I understand a hunting falcon will have a higher probability of success If
> one of the birds in the flock is acting differently from the others, breaks
> from the group or has noticeably different size and coloration.
>
> In the past, I’ve spent many days filming Merlin and Peregrine falcon
> hunting groups of shorebirds on the coast. One of my observations was that
> when a falcon first attacked multiple species flocks-feeding together-they
> panicked and flew out over the ocean waves, they would immediately form
> species specific groups, independent of the others.
> When a falcon would pursue one species group, the others would return to
> the beach, and again begin feeding.
> On one occasion, as I was filming a large group of Godwits , Dunlin and
> Semipalmated Plovers feeding together at OS, a Merlin passed me from behind
> and put up the whole group. The falcon targeted the Dunlin, which had in
> panic, broken into two groups,
> Up to 200 feet apart. Even as the nearer group was being repeatedly
> stooped, the second group, instead of flying away, came back to rejoin the
> first group as the Merlin continued to stoop and eventually isolated an
> individual and flew away with it to eat it-150 feet away-from all of the
> species groups which resumed feeding together at the same location.
> I found that to be very interesting.
>
> Thanks again,
> Dan Reiff
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Sep 17, 2023, at 11:38 AM, Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hello tweets,
> >
> > I was among a large group of birders at Tokeland yesterday who witnessed
> a Peregrine Falcon scare up the big flock of godwits at the marina at 11:25
> am. The falcon singled out a bird from the flock and pursued it. The godwit
> dropped into the water and the falcon missed, but it made a long circling
> flight and came back after it, pursuing it along the water and then up and
> up into the air, heading to the south until both were out of sight. There
> was some thought that it was the single Hudsonian Godwit that had been with
> the flock, but we weren’t absolutely sure.
> >
> > I took very distant photos of the whole affair, and looking at them just
> now, I can confirm that it was in fact the Hudsonian that the Peregrine was
> after. The white rump and black tail are clearly visible as the godwit flew
> away, the falcon in hot pursuit.
> >
> > Dennis Paulson
> > Seattle
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...>
> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/17/23 4:21 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] rare birds are too conspicuous!
Hello Dennis,
Thank you for the post.
That must have been a great thing to experience!
I hope the godwit made it!
Was it a juvenile or adult Peregrine?
I hope it was a hatch year bird with less hunting experience.
Also, someone reported seeing an unusually large number of Willets there. Did you?
I understand a hunting falcon will have a higher probability of success If one of the birds in the flock is acting differently from the others, breaks from the group or has noticeably different size and coloration.
In the past, I’ve spent many days filming Merlin and Peregrine falcon hunting groups of shorebirds on the coast. One of my observations was that when a falcon first attacked multiple species flocks-feeding together-they panicked and flew out over the ocean waves, they would immediately form species specific groups, independent of the others.
When a falcon would pursue one species group, the others would return to the beach, and again begin feeding.
On one occasion, as I was filming a large group of Godwits , Dunlin and Semipalmated Plovers feeding together at OS, a Merlin passed me from behind and put up the whole group. The falcon targeted the Dunlin, which had in panic, broken into two groups,
Up to 200 feet apart. Even as the nearer group was being repeatedly stooped, the second group, instead of flying away, came back to rejoin the first group as the Merlin continued to stoop and eventually isolated an individual and flew away with it to eat it-150 feet away-from all of the species groups which resumed feeding together at the same location.
I found that to be very interesting.
Thanks again,
Dan Reiff
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 17, 2023, at 11:38 AM, Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> wrote:
>
> Hello tweets,
>
> I was among a large group of birders at Tokeland yesterday who witnessed a Peregrine Falcon scare up the big flock of godwits at the marina at 11:25 am. The falcon singled out a bird from the flock and pursued it. The godwit dropped into the water and the falcon missed, but it made a long circling flight and came back after it, pursuing it along the water and then up and up into the air, heading to the south until both were out of sight. There was some thought that it was the single Hudsonian Godwit that had been with the flock, but we weren’t absolutely sure.
>
> I took very distant photos of the whole affair, and looking at them just now, I can confirm that it was in fact the Hudsonian that the Peregrine was after. The white rump and black tail are clearly visible as the godwit flew away, the falcon in hot pursuit.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/17/23 11:40 am From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> Subject: [Tweeters] rare birds are too conspicuous!
Hello tweets,
I was among a large group of birders at Tokeland yesterday who witnessed a Peregrine Falcon scare up the big flock of godwits at the marina at 11:25 am. The falcon singled out a bird from the flock and pursued it. The godwit dropped into the water and the falcon missed, but it made a long circling flight and came back after it, pursuing it along the water and then up and up into the air, heading to the south until both were out of sight. There was some thought that it was the single Hudsonian Godwit that had been with the flock, but we weren’t absolutely sure.
I took very distant photos of the whole affair, and looking at them just now, I can confirm that it was in fact the Hudsonian that the Peregrine was after. The white rump and black tail are clearly visible as the godwit flew away, the falcon in hot pursuit.
Date: 9/16/23 7:38 pm From: Ted Ryan <ted...> Subject: [Tweeters] Tree roosting ducks?
We’ve had 8 or so ducks that are roosting in some mixed alder/fir between us and a neighbor (and the neighbor has a pond). They whistle, no other vocalizations that sound like a duck. They are predominately gray with rusty/rufous breasts. Their bills are small. They are longer and skinnier than a mallard. They fly over our property in the evening and we haven’t been able to scope them in the trees despite a few attempts.
Any ideas? I know it’s silly to suggest a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck but when everyone in the family has looked at photos of those they said, “yes, like that!”
Admittedly, my waterfowl identification isn’t expert but I didn’t know we had whistling ducks in Washington.
The band reporting site is not working for me at the moment, but I will
try again later. From the middle of July to the middle of August there
were regularly around 300 terns on the beach near Etta Turner Park in
Port Orchard. The numbers are down, but included a juvenile and the 3
banded birds. I spent a lot of time there this summer photographing
the terns and the herons, and I always counted the terns by ones, so I'm
surprised I never noticed the bands before. I found a banded bird on
9/5/2020, so is it possible these birds just moved in?
John Riegsecker
Gig Harbor
On 9/16/2023 3:48 PM, Kersti Muul wrote:
> 38-40 CATE on the flats this week, several banded.
>
> Also some successful nesting. Fledglings and juvs seen. For what it's
> worth :/
>
>
>
> Kersti E. Muul
> 360-317-4646
>
> Urban Conservation & Wildlife Specialist - Response and Rescue
>
> Wildlife Field Biologist IV Marbled murrelet forest certified
>
> Neighborhood Bird Project Site Leader,
> Climate Watch Coordinator
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Does anyone have experience with a Hutton's vireo that just won't quit?
For a decade I could count on one calling daily in early spring, at my place in mixed woods a few miles SE of Port Angeles -- and by Memorial Day, nothing much. But this year I've been hearing this bird most days, all summer. Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience with this species.
Date: 9/16/23 4:30 pm From: Bruce LaBar <blabar...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Question for Bruce LeBar
They tend to be far out between McNeil and Fox Islands . Scope is needed.
> On Sep 16, 2023, at 10:12 AM, Christina T bean 4 ever <joannabird413...> wrote:
>
>
> Hello, I saw you had a common mure on your walk at Chambers Bay. Did you have a spotting scope or good binoculars? Also where abouts did you see it? I would like to check for it
> Happy birding Christina of Tacoma
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/16/23 12:56 pm From: Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker...> Subject: [Tweeters] 2 Clark County Code 5 birds at Migration Corner!
Hi Tweeters,
I ventured up to Migration Corner (extreme east edge of Clark County) this morning not expecting much as the northeast wind of the last two days subsided overnight. The northeast/east wind is the mechanism that allows for the funneling of birds through this area with sometimes incredible results.
The first shocker was in the form of two orange eyes that were on the road when I was about a third of a mile west of Migration Corner - a COMMON POORWILL! It disappeared quickly but then I saw it flying to reveal the short round wings that lacked any white and just a bit of white on the tail of this obvious *Caprimulgid*. That was thrilling! This was only my second sighting in Clark County and I believe there are less than 5 records overall.
As I had anticipated, Migration Corner was quite slow compared to the two previous mornings (reference Cindy McCormack's report from yesterday). After a while, I sat in my chair and hoped that something would happen. It did but not what I was anticipating. I saw a woodpecker fly in and I thought that it looked a bit small for a flicker. I managed to see it in the scope and noted the barring above and below and the white rump. Whoa - it's a WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER! Before I could set up my phone for digiscoping, it flew off but landed in a large hemlock nearby. I scanned the tree up and down almost in a panic that I wouldn't be able to document it. Several minutes later, it emerged onto a horizontal branch and in the open so I was able to get a few photos. That was a total rush! It only stayed for about 7-8 minutes and then flew out of the tree and continued on, its stay all too brief probably because of the two Sharp-shinned Hawks that had been cruising around all morning. This was a new county bird for me!
Amazing how things change from one day to the next. Location information in the ebird reports.
Date: 9/16/23 10:14 am From: Christina T bean 4 ever <joannabird413...> Subject: [Tweeters] Question for Bruce LeBar
Hello, I saw you had a common mure on your walk at Chambers Bay. Did you have a spotting scope or good binoculars? Also where abouts did you see it? I would like to check for it Happy birding Christina of Tacoma
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of <garrettwhaynes...> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2023 8:04 PM To: <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] 3 White Doves
Hello Tweeters,
I was driving past the Weyerhaeuser property this afternoon to my haircut place when 3 completely white doves flew across the road in front of me from the pond side north across the big open field. They flew very straight and fast maybe about 20 feet in the air.
I've seen white rock pigeons before mixed in with wild flocks, but to see 3 all white ones flying together like that seems really unusual.
Thoughts? Maybe someone was out in the field and were working with the doves? Training them as racers or homing pigeons? Maybe a magician was doing a party at the Weyerhaeuser property and had just let them fly out of his coat or hat?
I was driving past the Weyerhaeuser property this afternoon to my haircut place when 3 completely white doves flew across the road in front of me from the pond side north across the big open field. They flew very straight and fast maybe about 20 feet in the air.
I've seen white rock pigeons before mixed in with wild flocks, but to see 3 all white ones flying together like that seems really unusual.
Thoughts? Maybe someone was out in the field and were working with the doves? Training them as racers or homing pigeons? Maybe a magician was doing a party at the Weyerhaeuser property and had just let them fly out of his coat or hat?
Date: 9/15/23 6:58 pm From: Christopher Clark <cjbirdmanclark...> Subject: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
I was in the same boat, no WA rare bird alerts since Sept 7th, though county alerts still came through. Ultimately my fix was to unsubscribe to the state alert and the resubscribe, which fixed the issue. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get out birding much lately but I still enjoy those alerts, as well as reading up here on Tweeters!
Date: 9/15/23 4:40 pm From: Philip Dickinson <pdickins...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Leucistic Killdeer at Hayton Reserve
This bird has been seen previously, and I think someone reported it on
eBird as a Snowy Plover.
Phil Dickinson
On Fri, Sep 15, 2023 at 3:42 PM Kenneth Trease <krtrease...> wrote:
> I photographed a leucistic Killdeer this morning at the Fir Island Farm
> game reserve (Hayton) in Skagit County. I don't know how rare this is but
> it is the first one I have ever seen. If interested you can see the photo
> on my Flickr acct at:
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/cavuken/ >
> Ken Trease
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
I photographed a leucistic Killdeer this morning at the Fir Island Farm game reserve (Hayton) in Skagit County. I don't know how rare this is but it is the first one I have ever seen. If interested you can see the photo on my Flickr acct at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cavuken/
Date: 9/15/23 3:40 pm From: Nathaniel Peters <ncpeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Sharp-tailed Sandpiper still at Hoquiam STPs
Hello Tweets,
Bruce Labar, Jim Danzenbaker, Gene Revelas, and myself just re-found the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper with two Pectoral Sandpipers at the NW corner of the east ponds just west of the roosting gulls.
Monroe Wagner is now having Zero roosting Swifts. JBLM has been having zeros all migration. Numbers at Selleck took a big hit last night. So go to Rainier Riverside Church which had 10,000 last night, but all could be gone tonight.
Date: 9/15/23 11:10 am From: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...> Subject: [Tweeters] Renton Common Tern Continuing
Several of us have been watching for a while and the Common Tern finally arrived about 11 a.m. at the Cedar River mouth. It is perched atop a log beyond one of the outer gravel bars.
Date: 9/14/23 7:52 pm From: Odette B. James <o.b.james...> Subject: [Tweeters] Common Tern on Cedar River delta
At 7:30 pm on Thursday September 14 - a Common Tern, standing on the sandbar along with the gulls and coots. The light was fading, but I could see a distinct dark carpal bar, and the bird appeared to have legs of significant length (hard to see in fading light), so not Arctic Tern. Of course black bill, dark hind crown, and tiny size in comparison to gulls. Did not see the bird in flight so did not see the wing patterns. The bird occasionally got poked by the gulls and had to move, but the bullying was not bad enough to drive it off. Hope it is still there Friday morning.
Early this morning, as I was taking video of a pair of juvenile golden-plovers at Hayton Reserve in Skagit County, a SHORT-TAILED WEASEL appeared and stole the show. And that's tough to do when it comes to golden-plovers. Here's a video of the weasel: https://flic.kr/p/2p34qk5
Back to the juvenile golden-plovers. Based on both plumage and structure, i am convinced that one is an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and one is a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER. I am working on videos and will have them up on Flickr as soon as I can. With the weasel.
Later this morning the RUFF continued at Channel Drive with one STILT SANDPIPER and many dowitchers and yellowlegs.
Date: 9/14/23 1:53 pm From: Nathaniel Peters <ncpeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Request for owl intel at Discovery Park
Hello Tweets,
I will be leading an “Owl Prowl” at Discovery Park this coming Monday
evening for Birds Connect Seattle as part of Bird-Safe Seattle Week. We
had one Barred Owl fly-by during last year’s prowl near the cottages
bordering the main meadow, but the view was brief and the bird seen only by
a few. The participants are informed that we might not actually find any
owls, but it is always nice to be able to show the group the subject of an
intended walk.
If any of you are willing to share any recent owl sightings within the
park, please email me at <ncpeters...> I also understand if you wish to
keep any owl locations private.
In the event of an owl sighting during our walk, we will be very careful to
keep our distance and try to not disturb the bird. I will be talking about
this and setting intention and guidelines during our walk's opening
discussion.
Date: 9/14/23 1:10 pm From: birdmarymoor <birdmarymoor...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2023-09-14
Tweets - We where hoping for a better day than last week, but our success was hampered by significant fog that lasted until we got to the Lake Platform. Seeing was very problematic, and the fog even seemed to be muting the calls to a great extent. We are on the cusp of the change-over from lingering summering birds to returning winter birds, though it seems as if the former have been leaving early while the latter are taking their time showing up. And random migrants and vagrants are not yet to be found.
Highlights:
Eurasian Collared-Dove - One flew down the East Meadow
Vaux's Swift - 10-12 near the lake
Osprey - Saw one of this year's young perched over the slough
Barn Owl - A couple of East Meadow sightings before 6:30. Third week in a row
American Pipit - Several flyovers
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2+, First of Fall (FOF)
Black-throated Gray Warbler - At least one, but our only warbler species besides Common Yellowthroat
Overall numbers seemed very low today.
Misses included Hooded Merganser, Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Willow Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Golden-crowned Sparrow (often back this week), Orange-crowned Warbler, and Yellow Warbler.
For the day, 48 species. Still a super low count, but better than last week.
The Celebration of Life for Brian Bell is next Thursday, after the survey (11 a.m., at the Velodrome Shelter).
Date: 9/14/23 10:47 am From: Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker...> Subject: [Tweeters] More Clark's Nutcrackers in Clark County
Hi Tweeters,
If this looks like a copy and paste from a previous report, it is with updated sightings from today.
Highlights from a very productive trip to Clark County's newest ebird hotspot, Mountain View 4x4 Trailhead (Migration Corner) located along the eastern edge of the county included a flock of *17* southbound CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, several (or maybe just one) CASSIN'S FINCH and a Black-chinned Hummingbird. Noteworthy was the passage of both kinglets and the first Varied Thrushes and Fox Sparrows for the Fall. Again, the place rocked!
Date: 9/14/23 10:30 am From: Shep Thorp <shepthorp...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 9/13/2023
Hi Tweets!
Approximately 28 of us had a beautiful Autumn Day at the Refuge with foggy
conditions early clearing to sunny skies and temperatures in the 50's to
70's degrees Fahrenheit. Highlights included continuing SOLITARY SANDPIPER
foraging near WILSON'S SNIPE at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, LINCOLN'S
SPARROW x 3 along the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail, numerous
COOPER'S HAWK x 3 perched and soaring around the recently mowed fields and
Twin Barns, and continued sightings of GREAT HORNED OWL on the inside of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail just north of the Riparian Forest cut-off. The
Refuge has started to flood the fields and water can be seen in the field
between the Access and Entrance Road. We split the walk into a morning
session and afternoon session to catch the evening high tide, where good
numbers of returning waterfowl, mostly in eclipse or non-breeding plumage,
could be enjoyed. We were not able to relocate a Great Egret seen by some
other birders earlier at the Riparian Forest Overlook, however this slough
does have Pink or "Humpy" Salmon residing during the record Nisqually River
Pink run this year. A Mink was observed at the Nisqually River cut-off.
For the day, we observed 69 species and have seen 160 species this year.
See eBird lists attached with additional information.
Until next week, when we meet again at 8am, happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Sep 13, 2023 7:32 AM - 2:05 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.275 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Foggy in the early morning, sunny
late morning with temperatures in the 50’s to 70’s degrees Fahrenheit. A
Low 0’6” Tide at 11:32am. Mammals seen Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit,
Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal, Mink.
57 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 1
Wood Duck 5 Visitor Center Pond.
American Wigeon 30
Mallard 8
Hooded Merganser 2 Shannon Slough.
Common Merganser 1 Nisqually River.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 50
Band-tailed Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 1
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Semipalmated Plover 2 Mudflats west of Leschi Slough.
Killdeer 3
Least Sandpiper 8 North of dike, west of Leschi Slough.
Wilson's Snipe 1 Visitor Center Pond Overlook.
Solitary Sandpiper 1 Visitor Center Pond Overlook.
Greater Yellowlegs 6 Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
Ring-billed Gull 4
California Gull 1
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 15
Cooper's Hawk 3 Twin Barns Overlook and Freshwater Marsh.
Bald Eagle 6
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Great Horned Owl 1 Inside Twin Barns Loop Trail just north of Riparian
Forest Cut-off.
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 Twin Barns picnic area.
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 3
Peregrine Falcon 1 Freshwater marsh.
Western Wood-Pewee 3 Twin Barns Overlook.
Steller's Jay 2
California Scrub-Jay 3 Orchard.
American Crow 8
Common Raven 1 Nisqually River Overlook.
Black-capped Chickadee 30
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 20
Violet-green Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 50
Cliff Swallow 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Conifers adjacent to green gate across from
Education Center.
Brown Creeper 6
Marsh Wren 2
Bewick's Wren 4
European Starling 800
Swainson's Thrush 4
American Robin 4
American Pipit 8 Fly over Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Fox Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Golden-crowned Sparrow 3
Savannah Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 15
Lincoln's Sparrow 3 Visitor Center Pond.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 4
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 20
Common Yellowthroat 12
Western Tanager 1 East side of Twin Barns Loop Trail near Beaver
Deceiver.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Sep 13, 2023 3:24 PM - 6:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.793 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk - afternoon. Sunny with temperatures
in the 70’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 12’11’’ Tide at 6:27pm.
41 species (+3 other taxa)
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 10
Northern Shoveler 6
Gadwall 3
American Wigeon 150
Mallard 10
Northern Pintail 700
Green-winged Teal (American) 40
Hooded Merganser 6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 10
Semipalmated Plover 8
Killdeer 2
Least Sandpiper 25
Western Sandpiper 4
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 9
Short-billed Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 50
California Gull 10
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 1
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 5
Larus sp. 200
Caspian Tern 6
Brandt's Cormorant 8
Double-crested Cormorant 30
Great Blue Heron 30
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 2
Peregrine Falcon 2
American Crow 4
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Tree Swallow 1 Photo. Single juvenile. White throat/breast/belly. No
hip patches or white behind eye.
Barn Swallow (American) 150
Brown Creeper 1
Marsh Wren 1
Bewick's Wren 1
European Starling 300
American Robin 2
American Pipit 2
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Date: 9/14/23 10:13 am From: Michael Price <loblollyboy...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bird Choreography (was: Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
Hi Tweets
Pachelbel's Canon is maybe the most covered/adapted piece of music in history. It's become the musical equivalent of duct tape, adaptable to almost anything short of stomach flu. (don't think so? Check out Coolio's 'C U When You Get There', coming two cuts after 'Stick 'em!', one of the nastiest prison raps ever, and at any given time right now, there's between four and five contemporary pop songs piggybacking on that oh-so-familiar chord-sequence). But this thread is about bird choreography, so here's a couple more suggestions.
I'd submit that any violin solo by Stefan Grappelli would perfectly describe the flight of a Barn Swallow over a pond, pure dancing-on-the-clouds delight.
To musically describe the frisbee forever-glide of a shearwater or jaeger over calm water, what better than Boston's high-note sustain of 'More Than a Feeling'? which just goes on foreverrrrrrrrr....
Just a couple of suggestions. But I'd also suggest there is no bird behavior that can't be analogized to some piece of music of whatever genre.
Date: 9/14/23 8:26 am From: Doug Santoni <dougsantoni...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
Penny — I agree with you about the value of knowing that an unusual bird is no longer present.
Also, one has to be careful in looking a e-bird postings, because although the postings will show the date of the sighting, the e-mails are sometimes sent days after the sighting actually occurred. When a rare Ross’ Gull showed up in Seattle a few years ago, and was eaten by a Bald Eagle within hours of its initial appearance, e-bird sightings continued to roll in for many days afterwards. (Not only was that bird gone, it was dead!!). I guess people are not always timely in their submissions, but it does create some confusion when those e-mails appear.
Doug Santoni
Seattle, WA
> On Sep 14, 2023, at 8:14 AM, Penny L Koyama <plkoyama...> wrote:
>
> Another thing I like about Tweeters is that people often post when they DON’T see a bird, sometimes indicating that it is gone from that area.
>
> Something that’s annoying about eBird is when there are 40 postings on the same bird on the same day. I do love it, though, for using on Birders Dashboard with recent sightings and directions via Google Maps!
> Penny Koyama,
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Sep 13, 2023, at 10:58 PM, Greg <gjpluth...> wrote:
>>
>> Concur! Tweeter’s share!
>> Greg Pluth
>> University Place
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Sep 13, 2023, at 9:15 PM, Hal Opperman <hal...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Thank you Bob for this pertinent reminder that Tweeters is a good place to share real-time updates of rarities sightings.
>>>
>>> Here’s another reminder. Not every Tweeters subscriber is active on eBird, which receives a great share of the initial rarity sighting reports. With that in mind, a Tweeters update that “…the Fork-tailed Flycatcher is still being seen this morning” will be way more useful if it goes on to say “…at Bassett Park in Washtucna.”and points to eBird for further details.
>>>
>>> That would be one I might even chase!
>>>
>>> Good birding!
>>>
>>> Hal Opperman
>>> Seattle
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I’ll take this occasion to add another reminder. Not every Tweeters subscriber is also active on eBird, where a great share of the initial rarities reports occur.
>>>
>>>
>>> Good birding!
>>>
>>> Hal Opperman
>>> Seattle, WA
>>>
>>>
>>>>> On Sep 13, 2023, at 10:12 AM, Bob Flores <rflores_2...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Yes post to tweeters! Ebird is a research tool not real conducive to birding. It is a good tool do not get me wrong but it is not timely or when misidentified birds are listed all too long. Tweeters although not perfect does allow quicker posting, ability to interact with the poster and timelier confirmation of a rare bird. My 2 cents. Happy birding!
>>>>
>>>> Bob Flores
>>>> Duluth, WA
>>>>
>>>>>> On Sep 11, 2023, at 07:01, Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Tweeters,
>>>>>
>>>>> As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird Alerts has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse time - so many birds are on the move right now.
>>>>>
>>>>> Two solutions:
>>>>> 1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark juvie Parasitic.
>>>>>
>>>>> 2) Only eBird's email function is down. The rarities are still findable at https://ebird.org/alerts. This will lead you to your own notification settings. You can click on the blue letters and get a summary from the past 7 days.
>>>>>
>>>>> good birding,
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Steve Hampton
>>>>> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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 >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/14/23 8:18 am From: Penny L Koyama <plkoyama...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
Another thing I like about Tweeters is that people often post when they DON’T see a bird, sometimes indicating that it is gone from that area.
Something that’s annoying about eBird is when there are 40 postings on the same bird on the same day. I do love it, though, for using on Birders Dashboard with recent sightings and directions via Google Maps!
Penny Koyama,
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 13, 2023, at 10:58 PM, Greg <gjpluth...> wrote:
>
> Concur! Tweeter’s share!
> Greg Pluth
> University Place
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Sep 13, 2023, at 9:15 PM, Hal Opperman <hal...> wrote:
>>
>> Thank you Bob for this pertinent reminder that Tweeters is a good place to share real-time updates of rarities sightings.
>>
>> Here’s another reminder. Not every Tweeters subscriber is active on eBird, which receives a great share of the initial rarity sighting reports. With that in mind, a Tweeters update that “…the Fork-tailed Flycatcher is still being seen this morning” will be way more useful if it goes on to say “…at Bassett Park in Washtucna.”and points to eBird for further details.
>>
>> That would be one I might even chase!
>>
>> Good birding!
>>
>> Hal Opperman
>> Seattle
>>
>>
>>
>> I’ll take this occasion to add another reminder. Not every Tweeters subscriber is also active on eBird, where a great share of the initial rarities reports occur.
>>
>>
>> Good birding!
>>
>> Hal Opperman
>> Seattle, WA
>>
>>
>>>> On Sep 13, 2023, at 10:12 AM, Bob Flores <rflores_2...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Yes post to tweeters! Ebird is a research tool not real conducive to birding. It is a good tool do not get me wrong but it is not timely or when misidentified birds are listed all too long. Tweeters although not perfect does allow quicker posting, ability to interact with the poster and timelier confirmation of a rare bird. My 2 cents. Happy birding!
>>>
>>> Bob Flores
>>> Duluth, WA
>>>
>>>>> On Sep 11, 2023, at 07:01, Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Tweeters,
>>>>
>>>> As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird Alerts has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse time - so many birds are on the move right now.
>>>>
>>>> Two solutions:
>>>> 1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark juvie Parasitic.
>>>>
>>>> 2) Only eBird's email function is down. The rarities are still findable at https://ebird.org/alerts. This will lead you to your own notification settings. You can click on the blue letters and get a summary from the past 7 days.
>>>>
>>>> good birding,
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Steve Hampton
>>>> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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: 9/14/23 2:43 am From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] Lawsuit Targets Utah State Government for Failing to Protect the Great Salt Lake - American Bird Conservancy
Date: 9/13/23 10:55 pm From: Greg <gjpluth...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
Concur! Tweeter’s share!
Greg Pluth
University Place
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 13, 2023, at 9:15 PM, Hal Opperman <hal...> wrote:
>
> Thank you Bob for this pertinent reminder that Tweeters is a good place to share real-time updates of rarities sightings.
>
> Here’s another reminder. Not every Tweeters subscriber is active on eBird, which receives a great share of the initial rarity sighting reports. With that in mind, a Tweeters update that “…the Fork-tailed Flycatcher is still being seen this morning” will be way more useful if it goes on to say “…at Bassett Park in Washtucna.”and points to eBird for further details.
>
> That would be one I might even chase!
>
> Good birding!
>
> Hal Opperman
> Seattle
>
>
>
> I’ll take this occasion to add another reminder. Not every Tweeters subscriber is also active on eBird, where a great share of the initial rarities reports occur.
>
>
> Good birding!
>
> Hal Opperman
> Seattle, WA
>
>
>> On Sep 13, 2023, at 10:12 AM, Bob Flores <rflores_2...> wrote:
>>
>> Yes post to tweeters! Ebird is a research tool not real conducive to birding. It is a good tool do not get me wrong but it is not timely or when misidentified birds are listed all too long. Tweeters although not perfect does allow quicker posting, ability to interact with the poster and timelier confirmation of a rare bird. My 2 cents. Happy birding!
>>
>> Bob Flores
>> Duluth, WA
>>
>>>> On Sep 11, 2023, at 07:01, Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Tweeters,
>>>
>>> As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird Alerts has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse time - so many birds are on the move right now.
>>>
>>> Two solutions:
>>> 1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark juvie Parasitic.
>>>
>>> 2) Only eBird's email function is down. The rarities are still findable at https://ebird.org/alerts. This will lead you to your own notification settings. You can click on the blue letters and get a summary from the past 7 days.
>>>
>>> good birding,
>>>
>>> --
>>> Steve Hampton
>>> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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: 9/13/23 9:18 pm From: Hal Opperman <hal...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
Thank you Bob for this pertinent reminder that Tweeters is a good place to share real-time updates of rarities sightings.
Here’s another reminder. Not every Tweeters subscriber is active on eBird, which receives a great share of the initial rarity sighting reports. With that in mind, a Tweeters update that “…the Fork-tailed Flycatcher is still being seen this morning” will be way more useful if it goes on to say “…at Bassett Park in Washtucna.”and points to eBird for further details.
That would be one I might even chase!
Good birding!
Hal Opperman
Seattle
I’ll take this occasion to add another reminder. Not every Tweeters subscriber is also active on eBird, where a great share of the initial rarities reports occur.
Good birding!
Hal Opperman
Seattle, WA
> On Sep 13, 2023, at 10:12 AM, Bob Flores <rflores_2...> wrote:
>
> Yes post to tweeters! Ebird is a research tool not real conducive to birding. It is a good tool do not get me wrong but it is not timely or when misidentified birds are listed all too long. Tweeters although not perfect does allow quicker posting, ability to interact with the poster and timelier confirmation of a rare bird. My 2 cents. Happy birding!
>
> Bob Flores
> Duluth, WA
>
>> On Sep 11, 2023, at 07:01, Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> wrote:
>>
>> Tweeters,
>>
>> As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird Alerts has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse time - so many birds are on the move right now.
>>
>> Two solutions:
>> 1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark juvie Parasitic.
>>
>> 2) Only eBird's email function is down. The rarities are still findable at https://ebird.org/alerts. This will lead you to your own notification settings. You can click on the blue letters and get a summary from the past 7 days.
>>
>> good birding,
>>
>> --
>> Steve Hampton
>> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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: 9/13/23 5:45 pm From: Bob Flores <rflores_2...> Subject: [Tweeters] Harlequin Duck Ritzville WA Adams Co
I located the hadu found by Liam, thanks Liam, it is not easy. Viewing from the cemetery and found in second pond. Not good viewing conditions but able to see stubby bill short up turned tail. Smaller than the many shovlers seen. The two spots behind the eye were seen white belly noted. First seen flying it caught my eye. It landed in the water for maybe 5-10 minutes then flew again to the second ponds south dike at water level. Last seen there at the dike. It was too far by especially with heat waves so I am leaving
Thank you and you’re absolutely correct. Please allow me to add the details I should have included in the original post including my location, which is provided below.
I am familiar with the range of the this pipit and was surprised to hear it’s call following it around my backyard through the front yard and into the greenbelt next-door, but could not get a visual.
Listening to the bird, at first, I thought it was a Black-capped chickadee, but it had a couple of notes that were different, which caught my attention.
I have observed and photographed the this species in the Olympic mountains, and in Nome Alaska.
Respectfully, Marty Port Orchard
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:31:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
To: Marty <namaste...>, <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] American pipit
Message-ID: <1557217185.376077.1694557891738...>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Merlin is a wonderful app, but it makes mistakes all too regularly, especially confusing similar species. I have never taken it out for a day without detecting mistakes such as misidentifying a bird I'm looking at or not even recording a prominent song going on.
American Pipits have a two-noted call, not a single peep, so I wonder what else that might have been. And they are birds of wide-open country, never encountered in a wooded area and usually only vocalizing when in flight over that open country.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On 09/12/2023 2:43 PM PDT Marty <namaste...> wrote:
>
>
> Every morning before I get up I place my phone on the window sill with the Merlin app turned on to Sound Recording,
> This morning I woke up to single note peeping I first thought was a House finch, but after listening for a few minutes, I realized it was not. I had Merlin app tuned on to sound recording and was surprised to see that as a peeping continued, the American pipit illuminated up every time.
>
> Marty
Date: 9/13/23 11:29 am From: Ed Newbold <ednewbold1...> Subject: [Tweeters] Common Tern is back at Mouth of the Cedar
Hi all, We just got back from Mouth of the Cedar (south end of Lake WA in Renton) and the Common Tern was there resting, sometimes out of sight, on one of the spits. Franklin's Gull also. Cheers, Ed Newbold (and Delia Scholes)
Date: 9/13/23 10:51 am From: Sara Blauman <sblauman1...> Subject: [Tweeters] Alki Pygmy Nuthatch
A Pygmy Nuthatch was seen at the end of Benton Pl SW at 8:00 AM today with a flock of Red-breasted Nuthatches. There were a couple of Orange-crowned Warblers with them too. Sara BlaumanSeattle _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/13/23 10:18 am From: Bob Flores <rflores_2...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
Yes post to tweeters! Ebird is a research tool not real conducive to birding. It is a good tool do not get me wrong but it is not timely or when misidentified birds are listed all too long. Tweeters although not perfect does allow quicker posting, ability to interact with the poster and timelier confirmation of a rare bird. My 2 cents. Happy birding!
Bob Flores
Duluth, WA
On Sep 11, 2023, at 07:01, Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> wrote:
Tweeters,
As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird Alerts has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse time - so many birds are on the move right now.
Two solutions:
1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark juvie Parasitic.
2) Only eBird's email function is down. The rarities are still findable at https://ebird.org/alerts. This will lead you to your own notification settings. You can click on the blue letters and get a summary from the past 7 days.
Date: 9/12/23 10:44 pm From: Lin Stern <lindseysarahstern...> Subject: [Tweeters] Spots available on Sept 16th shorebird trip
Hello all!
I am leading a trip to the Washington coast this weekend and still have spots available.
We will depart from Mud Bay Park and Ride in Olympia, WA at 8am and will visit Tokeland Marina, Westport, and Bottle Beach. The order of those will be time dependent, since we will aim to visit Bottle Beach as the tide is coming in. If there is time, we may visit some other spots too.
I've had huge numbers of birds on this route during spring migration and more recent trips out have been fruitful. I would not be surprised if we had sightings such as Laughing Gull, Hudsonian Godwit, and Bar-tailed Godwit on this trip, since all have been seen in the area.
Please email me if you are interested in registering. Hope to see some of you there!!
Thanks for those details, Mark. I do have an experience with a Merlin
versus a mourning dove. I was in a residential area of Southeast Portland
when I noticed off in the distance to the east two birds coming fairly
fast. They were at an altitude of several hundred feet. One obviously
pursuing the other, Merlin after morning dove. They were pretty much neck
and neck, but probably the Merlin trailing by 50 ft to 100' when they
encountered a very large pine tree right opposite me, perhaps 150 ft tall,
maybe more. The dove dove into the center of the tree while the Merlin
circled round and round the perimeter, looking for an opening. After a few
minutes of this when the Merlin's Circle was on the east side, the dove
decided to go for it and continued west over the valley. Of course as the
Merlin came around again it spotted the dove and headed out in Pursuit once
more. This was over a deep valley and pretty soon there are probably a
thousand feet elevation. They disappeared off into the distance, outcome
unknown. Quite an experience. For me and the birds. Bob O'Brien Portland
On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, Mark Borden <markbordenmd...> wrote:
> Hi Jim,
>
> Crow’s definitely have territories, though if a reliable food source is no
> longer producing, they can give up a territory and relocate.
>
> The flock of about a dozen crows that is often present in my pasture
> was/is reliably identifiable by one member with a leg injury. They spend
> their morning hours flipping through piles of horse manure looking for
> insect larvae. They also go into the neighbors yard at intervals to check
> for scraps that she puts on a platform. In the evening they join a larger
> group and head down toward the Port Townsend Ferry to roost.
>
> Even a large Merlin Falcon poses no significant threat to a crow. The
> Merlin is sometimes colloquially referred to as the “Pigeon Hawk,” though
> they rarely capture and consume “Pigeons” (as Rock Doves…Columbia livia are
> often erroneously called) A Rock Dove is a real handful for a Merlin,
> though manageable by a large aggressive falcon (female).
>
> Other factors are at play as well. A crow is a very long lived, sturdily
> built bird, whereas a dove is much easier for a falcon to kill, pluck, and
> eat, not to mention much tastier. A Merlin prefers to pluck and eat in a
> treetop. Thus small passerines, up to and including starlings and robins
> are preferred. A male (Jack) Merlin will not normally capture prey larger
> than a starling. A large Merlin falcon is hard pressed to carry a Mourning
> Dove to any height.
>
> Carrying is a problem for the falconer, as you can imagine, and the strong
> tendency to carrry is one of the things that makes hunting with a Merlin a
> challenge.
>
> A dove or pigeon meal is a peaceful one for a raptor, whereas eating crow
> is difficult since the whole flock is incensed and will literally try to
> tear a raptor apart if he/she is anchored to the ground by the weight of a
> crow.
>
> Mark Borden
> Coupeville, WA.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Sep 12, 2023, at 12:05 PM, <tweeters-request...>
> washington.edu wrote:
> >
> > Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to
> > <tweeters...>
> >
> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> > <tweeters-request...>
> >
> > You can reach the person managing the list at
> > <tweeters-owner...>
> >
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of Tweeters digest..."
> >
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1. Re: Raptors at Play ... and crows (<jimbetz...>)
> > 2. August 2023 TVU report (Diann MacRae)
> > 3. formatting issues on Tweeters list (rrowland)
> > 4. USA TODAY: New 'hybrid' hummingbird with unusual glittering
> > gold feathers puzzles scientists (Dan Reiff)
> > 5. Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch (Samuel Terry)
> > 6. Re: Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch (Michael Hobbs)
> > 7. Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds (Nancy Morrison)
> > 8. Re: Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
> > (Dennis Paulson)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2023 12:55:27 -0700
> > From: <jimbetz...>
> > To: <tweeters...>
> > Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Raptors at Play ... and crows
> > Message-ID:
> > <20230911125527.Horde.5SFeQWCCOVCpWlcx5WoFITy...>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed; DelSp=Yes
> >
> > Hi - continuing the thread ...
> >
> > Late last week there was an 'encounter' between what was probably a
> Merlin
> > and a Crow. The crow was mobbing/harassing the Merlin which was
> > sitting on the
> > roof ridge right below our house. Finally the Merlin moved but the crow
> > continued to hassle it. Then the Merlin went after the crow ... which
> flew
> > into a tree and the Merlin broke off and perched in the same tree several
> > branches below. The crow then took flight and turned and went after the
> > Merlin (below). The Merlin took off and chased the crow. Back and forth
> > two more times for 3 or 4 total 'encounters' (exchanges) between these
> two
> > birds. Finally the Merlin left the area and the crow didn't pursue.
> >
> > I interpreted this as "territorial" ... although it makes little sense
> > since there are no active crows nests in the area. (Sorry, couldn't
> > resist using "Crows Nest" - my nautical background kicking in.) But
> > crows do -seem- to be territorial from time to time without an active
> > nest.
> > In fact, I saw a pair of crows in New Westminster just yesterday and
> I'd
> > swear on a stack of bibles that it was the same two birds I'd seen at the
> > same location (street in front of home in residential area) months ago.
> > The "bibles" comes from the way these two 'related' to each other with
> > one clearly the dominant and the second 'fawning' to its object of
> > interest (the dominant one) and following it around and doing the same
> > stuff it did months ago at the same location. Both times I was parked
> > on the same street in the same location and there were two crows that
> > were 'messing about' (not courting - just "doing stuff") and were
> > clearly 'together'. Perhaps a more accurate description would be that
> > one was following the other around and the one being followed was
> > tolerating the other. But then, every once in a while you would see a
> > "bill clattering" between the two of them.
> >
> > Q: Do crows take up residence in an area that is fairly specific? And
> > stay there/reappear there over a period of months?
> >
> > The encounter(s) reported above did not -seem- to be play. They seemed
> > to be "reciprocative mobbing" in the first case and 'hanging out
> together'
> > in the second case.
> > - Jim
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:08:16 +0200
> > From: Diann MacRae <tvulture...>
> > To: tweeters t <tweeters...>
> > Subject: [Tweeters] August 2023 TVU report
> > Message-ID:
> > <trinity-0ad86151-365d-456e-b1da-67a5376ee1d0-
> 1694470096256@3c-app-mailcom-bs10>
> >
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/ > tweeters/attachments/20230912/9cbaf577/attachment-0001.html>
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:47:36 +0000 (UTC)
> > From: rrowland <bobr3531...>
> > To: <Tweeters...>
> > Subject: [Tweeters] formatting issues on Tweeters list
> > Message-ID: <1434659910.105125.1694497656341...>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > Hello,
> > Is there anything that can be done by the people that post messages that
> are basically unreadable.
> > For example from a day or so ago:--------------------------
> ----------------------
> > =E2=80=9CConstruction of the proposed new border barrier system would b=
> e expected to take up to two years,=E2=80=9D the proposal stated.
> =E2=80=9C= Maintenance would be expected upon completion of
> construction.=E2=80=9D=20
> > =20Thanks to everyone who is willing to comment on this.=20
> > =20Jon. Anderson=20OlyWA=20festuca at comcast net=20As I was going over
> the bridge between Bottle Beach and the coast, I saw 5 G=
> > reat Egrets at Brady=E2=80=99s Oysters. One flew off as we were driving
> in, b=
> > ut all were confirmed as GREG. =20
> > Great start to the day!
> > Karen Wosilait (she/her)
> > ------------------------------------------
> > Thanks for any possible solution.?Robert?
> > -------------- next part --------------
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/ > tweeters/attachments/20230912/0acff68f/attachment-0001.html>
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 4
> > Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 06:09:18 -0700
> > From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...>
> > To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> > Subject: [Tweeters] USA TODAY: New 'hybrid' hummingbird with unusual
> > glittering gold feathers puzzles scientists
> > Message-ID: <3929C0EB-783B-4B79-A494-F7E7FF0387B3...>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/ > tweeters/attachments/20230912/209c7618/attachment-0001.html>
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 5
> > Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:19:10 -0700
> > From: Samuel Terry <samgterry...>
> > To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> > Subject: [Tweeters] Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch
> > Message-ID:
> > <CAGBiMZF-ZFGtPy-HDaeSYWbvBcu47YDsX5pe7UTm3aiPifCcTA...>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > Hi tweeters -
> >
> > I just found a Pygmy Nuthatch in the pines on Benton Place SW by the
> > treatment plant at Alki in West Seattle. It?s possible there?s two birds
> > but not sure. Hanging out with a couple of RBNU and OCWA. Vocalizing on
> and
> > off - which is how I found it. Tough to see but i was able to get a
> couple
> > good looks.
> >
> > Good birding,
> >
> > Sam Terry
> > Seattle
> > -------------- next part --------------
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/ > tweeters/attachments/20230912/d7a7a27b/attachment-0001.html>
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 6
> > Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:27:35 -0700
> > From: Michael Hobbs <birdmarymoor...>
> > To: Samuel Terry <samgterry...>
> > Cc: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> > Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch
> > Message-ID:
> > <CAPO=BqvWjX=<bDO68ujh9UMZA_JjoNY21aH877XLwEUMGSteOBQ...>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > Pygmy Nuthatch still present on Benton Place near the Alki STP. Last
> seen,
> > towards the end of the street.
> >
> > - Michael Hobbs
> >
> >> On Tue, Sep 12, 2023, 10:20 AM Samuel Terry <samgterry...>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi tweeters -
> >>
> >> I just found a Pygmy Nuthatch in the pines on Benton Place SW by the
> >> treatment plant at Alki in West Seattle. It?s possible there?s two birds
> >> but not sure. Hanging out with a couple of RBNU and OCWA. Vocalizing on
> and
> >> off - which is how I found it. Tough to see but i was able to get a
> couple
> >> good looks.
> >>
> >> Good birding,
> >>
> >> Sam Terry
> >> Seattle
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Tweeters mailing list
> >> <Tweeters...>
> >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > >>
> > -------------- next part --------------
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
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> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 7
> > Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:35:56 -0700
> > From: Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...>
> > To: <tweeters...>
> > Subject: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
> > Message-ID:
> > <CAGUv7SqHSMU+GNc0nN+7NugCu2a_pcwcSVQ9PDT_-tCYmqqd+<w...>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great
> > Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned
> > that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of
> > watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I
> > could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tii_We-3izs > >
> > Nancy Morrison
> > -------------- next part --------------
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> > URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/ > tweeters/attachments/20230912/d64cca8f/attachment-0001.html>
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 8
> > Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:53:03 -0700 (PDT)
> > From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
> > To: Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...>, <tweeters...>
> > Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding
> > grounds
> > Message-ID: <361547777.368801.1694544783899...>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > Nancy, that is just wonderful; thanks for the music. In all the years
> I've been watching Great Blues, I've never seen that either. I have seen a
> lot of overt aggression instead of that beautiful display.
> >
> > Dennis Paulson
> > Seattle
> >
> >> On 09/12/2023 11:35 AM PDT Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great
> Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned
> that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of
> watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I
> could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
> >>
> >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tii_We-3izs > >>
> >> Nancy Morrison
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Tweeters mailing list
> >> <Tweeters...>
> >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > >>
> > -------------- next part --------------
> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
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> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Subject: Digest Footer
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...>
> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 229, Issue 12
> > *****************************************
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/12/23 8:48 pm From: Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding while cycling..
I love birding by bike and have done so for years. I've done the CBC by
bike most of the past 20 years. Compared to a car, I can hear everything,
note mixed species flock and stop quickly, and pretty much park anywhere.
Compared to walking, I can cover much more ground. Even if biking out to
the lighthouse or some other destination, I can pick up flyby crossbills,
Evening Grosbeak, or even a Townsend's Warbler chip, whereas by car I would
never have heard them.
On Tue, Sep 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM HAL MICHAEL <ucd880...> wrote:
> While I don't bike much I do a whole lot of birding while running.
> Probably added at least half a dozen lifers. Plus I have "run" into quite a
> few mammals from shrews up to bison. I just find keeping m eyes and ears
> open is rewarding.
>
> Hal Michael
> Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders <http://ecowb.org/> > Olympia WA
> 360-459-4005
> 360-791-7702 (C)
> <ucd880...>
>
>
>
> On 09/12/2023 6:58 PM PDT Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> wrote:
>
>
> Tom,
>
> Details --
>
> I am actually birding while I'm pedaling my bicycle. Before the
> hit-and-run that shut down then greatly reduced my bicycling for years, I'd
> named areas along the Yakima Greenway Path, where I bicycled, for birds --
> 'kestrel field', 'flicker field', 'egret slough',.... I have a nice quiet
> bicycle that fits me well. Even drivetrain noise is quite low. It's well
> adjusted, I wax my chain, and I ride on pavement. I whistle back to birds
> whose calls I can imitate passably. When my wife rides with me, I'm always
> pointing out birds, most of which I've first heard. I'm typically going 12
> to 20 mph, and with my current helmet, wind noise is negligible. A slight
> turn of my head can help when needed.
> My high pitch hearing is still good. It used to be painfully good. There
> is a great amount of high frequency noise from electronics in our world
> that doesn't seem to bother most people. I rarely carry my binoculars with
> me. I tried carrying small ones, but I'm spoiled on my Canon Image
> Stabilzer binoculars, and rely on their stabilization even more so when my
> heartrate is elevated. If I were to stop to view, I'd want them, but
> they're big and heavy, so I need a knapsack for them. I like to ride
> without that encumbrance when I don't need to carry food and liquids for
> all day rides.
>
> When I lived in Alaska, though I hated the noise, I found that travelling
> by tremendously noisy air boat, Bald Eagles were unlikely to flush as we
> passed. When in my canoe or raft on the same rivers, they usually flushed
> as I passed silently by. I figured they thought I was trying to sneak up on
> them. It was not a small sample size. Thousands were around.
>
> Crippled, I wandered on foot clumsily on the Yakima Greenway Path. I was
> amazed at the close looks afforded me by little brown jobs, started to see
> their plumage well, and I got into identifying birds. It seemed to me they
> were pretty sure I had no chance of trying to catch and eat them with my
> slow and awkward movements. Similarly with my bike, it seems I often am not
> part of birds' perceived imminent threats. I also have a high vantage point
> on my bike.
>
> A couple of years ago while bicycling I heard an Ovenbird singing away. I
> stopped and tried to spot it without binocs to no avail. It was singing
> again or still when I pedaled back past the spot. That was my rarest
> bicycling find, but I also often heard and saw Lesser Goldfinches along my
> rides long before their "rare" eBird designation was dropped locally. I get
> joy from all sorts of birds while I ride, and often say to the Turkey
> Vultures that I'm not ready for them yet, while hoping that the diclofenac
> I've used for pain reduction wouldn't kill them if they ate me, as it has
> done to vultures in India and Pakistan.
>
> In a noisy, echo-y room, I'd have a tremendously hard time picking out
> bird vocalizations. Echoes and peoples voices wipe out bird sounds to my
> ears. The loud yammering of a local prominent bird lister always trashed my
> ability to hear birds at stops on his field trips. When he'd loudly schuss
> others, I'd laugh with a big smirk. Another lister makes loads of noise,
> clanking his tripod and talking, flushing birds all around. In addition to
> his carelessness and selfishness, I attribute his noisiness to his impaired
> hearing -- not realizing how much noise he is making. Their noise
> contributes to our desire and efforts to stay far from them. Even the noise
> of someone walking alongside me can obliterate many bird sounds to my ears.
> But the noise of my biking doesn't wipe out nearly as much. I don't hear
> most of the quietest chips and peeps and such, so there's the effective low
> sound pressure level notch filter that's built in to bicycling, but I hear
> enough to keep me happy and attentive while I ride.
>
> Since I bicycle at an aerobic pace, when I stop I can often hear the sound
> of the blood coursing through my ears if I try to listen intently, so stops
> aren't the greatest birding opportunities for me, other than the final stop
> at our home.
>
> Good Birding,
> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ > Kevin Lucas
> Yakima County, Washington
> *Qui tacet consentire videtur*
>
> On Tue, Sep 12, 2023 at 4:58 PM Tom Benedict <benedict.t...>
> wrote:
>
> On Sep 12, 2023, at 16:34, Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> wrote:
>
>
> Lately I've finally been able to return to enjoying birds while bicycling,
> something I thought I'd never be able to do again. It helps me get my fix
> of hearing and seeing birds with a much smaller turbine/lithium/carbon
> footprint.
>
>
> I’m interested in details Kevin. I have a hard time birding while walking,
> much less while bicycling. Or am I jumping to the conclusion that you are
> birding _while_ cycling rather than cycling between stops where you bird?
>
> Tom Benedict
> Seahurst, 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: 9/12/23 8:13 pm From: Mason Maron <mmaron101...> Subject: [Tweeters] Washington Birding Discord Server
Hello, everyone!
I have an interesting development in the world of birding communication to share with you all. As I watched many of our fellow birding communities in the Eastern US develop new group communications in the form of discord servers, I figured it might be worth giving it a try ourselves. A discord server is essentially a large online community that features smaller, more specific chats, allowing users in the server to utilize whichever chats they want to and ignore the ones they do not. Think of it as a hub for local bird discussion, rarity sharing, bird identification, and much more.
I am aware many of the birders here feel that current communication methods are good and there is no reason to change them or abandon old ways. I completely understand that sentiment, and want to reassure everyone that I'm not suggesting you all leave behind listservs, Facebook groups, or similar communities. In fact, I think that continuing to use these resources is important for the birding community as a whole. That said, I believe I don't just speak for myself when I say it can often be tricky trying to keep track of all the individual sources of information coming in about birds in the state, especially when there are so many eBird alerts, listserv emails, regional WhatsApp groups, Facebook ID groups, and who knows what else. I hope that this server will perform similarly to how it has in some states like Ohio and Michigan and allow for a more unified way for birders to access and interact with the community in Washington State.
Realistically, I see this as sort of a test run. Join the server whether you're optimistic or apprehensive about it and see how it goes; maybe it will be great and maybe we'll find out it just isn't going to work out, but at least we will have tried something new in an effort to improve everyone's experience. The link to join is here: https://discord.gg/VhfwsJessW. You just make a discord account and the rest should fall into place, but feel free to reach out and ask me questions if you have any. I hope to see you all there and look forward to seeing how it goes!
Date: 9/12/23 7:57 pm From: HAL MICHAEL <ucd880...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding while cycling..
While I don't bike much I do a whole lot of birding while running. Probably added at least half a dozen lifers. Plus I have "run" into quite a few mammals from shrews up to bison. I just find keeping m eyes and ears open is rewarding.
Hal Michael
Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
<ucd880...>
> On 09/12/2023 6:58 PM PDT Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> wrote:
>
>
> Tom,
>
> Details --
>
> I am actually birding while I'm pedaling my bicycle. Before the hit-and-run that shut down then greatly reduced my bicycling for years, I'd named areas along the Yakima Greenway Path, where I bicycled, for birds -- 'kestrel field', 'flicker field', 'egret slough',.... I have a nice quiet bicycle that fits me well. Even drivetrain noise is quite low. It's well adjusted, I wax my chain, and I ride on pavement. I whistle back to birds whose calls I can imitate passably. When my wife rides with me, I'm always pointing out birds, most of which I've first heard. I'm typically going 12 to 20 mph, and with my current helmet, wind noise is negligible. A slight turn of my head can help when needed.
> My high pitch hearing is still good. It used to be painfully good. There is a great amount of high frequency noise from electronics in our world that doesn't seem to bother most people. I rarely carry my binoculars with me. I tried carrying small ones, but I'm spoiled on my Canon Image Stabilzer binoculars, and rely on their stabilization even more so when my heartrate is elevated. If I were to stop to view, I'd want them, but they're big and heavy, so I need a knapsack for them. I like to ride without that encumbrance when I don't need to carry food and liquids for all day rides.
>
> When I lived in Alaska, though I hated the noise, I found that travelling by tremendously noisy air boat, Bald Eagles were unlikely to flush as we passed. When in my canoe or raft on the same rivers, they usually flushed as I passed silently by. I figured they thought I was trying to sneak up on them. It was not a small sample size. Thousands were around.
>
> Crippled, I wandered on foot clumsily on the Yakima Greenway Path. I was amazed at the close looks afforded me by little brown jobs, started to see their plumage well, and I got into identifying birds. It seemed to me they were pretty sure I had no chance of trying to catch and eat them with my slow and awkward movements. Similarly with my bike, it seems I often am not part of birds' perceived imminent threats. I also have a high vantage point on my bike.
>
> A couple of years ago while bicycling I heard an Ovenbird singing away. I stopped and tried to spot it without binocs to no avail. It was singing again or still when I pedaled back past the spot. That was my rarest bicycling find, but I also often heard and saw Lesser Goldfinches along my rides long before their "rare" eBird designation was dropped locally. I get joy from all sorts of birds while I ride, and often say to the Turkey Vultures that I'm not ready for them yet, while hoping that the diclofenac I've used for pain reduction wouldn't kill them if they ate me, as it has done to vultures in India and Pakistan.
>
> In a noisy, echo-y room, I'd have a tremendously hard time picking out bird vocalizations. Echoes and peoples voices wipe out bird sounds to my ears. The loud yammering of a local prominent bird lister always trashed my ability to hear birds at stops on his field trips. When he'd loudly schuss others, I'd laugh with a big smirk. Another lister makes loads of noise, clanking his tripod and talking, flushing birds all around. In addition to his carelessness and selfishness, I attribute his noisiness to his impaired hearing -- not realizing how much noise he is making. Their noise contributes to our desire and efforts to stay far from them. Even the noise of someone walking alongside me can obliterate many bird sounds to my ears. But the noise of my biking doesn't wipe out nearly as much. I don't hear most of the quietest chips and peeps and such, so there's the effective low sound pressure level notch filter that's built in to bicycling, but I hear enough to keep me happy and attentive while I ride.
>
> Since I bicycle at an aerobic pace, when I stop I can often hear the sound of the blood coursing through my ears if I try to listen intently, so stops aren't the greatest birding opportunities for me, other than the final stop at our home.
>
> Good Birding,
> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ > Kevin Lucas
> Yakima County, Washington
> Qui tacet consentire videtur
>
> On Tue, Sep 12, 2023 at 4:58 PM Tom Benedict <benedict.t...> mailto:<benedict.t...> wrote:
>
> > On Sep 12, 2023, at 16:34, Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> mailto:<vikingcove...> wrote:
> >
> > > Lately I've finally been able to return to enjoying birds while bicycling, something I thought I'd never be able to do again. It helps me get my fix of hearing and seeing birds with a much smaller turbine/lithium/carbon footprint.
> > >
> >
> > I’m interested in details Kevin. I have a hard time birding while walking, much less while bicycling. Or am I jumping to the conclusion that you are birding _while_ cycling rather than cycling between stops where you bird?
> >
> > Tom Benedict
> > Seahurst, WA
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/12/23 7:01 pm From: Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding while cycling..
Tom,
Details --
I am actually birding while I'm pedaling my bicycle. Before the hit-and-run
that shut down then greatly reduced my bicycling for years, I'd named areas
along the Yakima Greenway Path, where I bicycled, for birds -- 'kestrel
field', 'flicker field', 'egret slough',.... I have a nice quiet bicycle
that fits me well. Even drivetrain noise is quite low. It's well adjusted,
I wax my chain, and I ride on pavement. I whistle back to birds whose calls
I can imitate passably. When my wife rides with me, I'm always pointing out
birds, most of which I've first heard. I'm typically going 12 to 20 mph,
and with my current helmet, wind noise is negligible. A slight turn of my
head can help when needed.
My high pitch hearing is still good. It used to be painfully good. There is
a great amount of high frequency noise from electronics in our world that
doesn't seem to bother most people. I rarely carry my binoculars with me. I
tried carrying small ones, but I'm spoiled on my Canon Image Stabilzer
binoculars, and rely on their stabilization even more so when my heartrate
is elevated. If I were to stop to view, I'd want them, but they're big and
heavy, so I need a knapsack for them. I like to ride without that
encumbrance when I don't need to carry food and liquids for all day rides.
When I lived in Alaska, though I hated the noise, I found that travelling
by tremendously noisy air boat, Bald Eagles were unlikely to flush as we
passed. When in my canoe or raft on the same rivers, they usually flushed
as I passed silently by. I figured they thought I was trying to sneak up on
them. It was not a small sample size. Thousands were around.
Crippled, I wandered on foot clumsily on the Yakima Greenway Path. I was
amazed at the close looks afforded me by little brown jobs, started to see
their plumage well, and I got into identifying birds. It seemed to me they
were pretty sure I had no chance of trying to catch and eat them with my
slow and awkward movements. Similarly with my bike, it seems I often am not
part of birds' perceived imminent threats. I also have a high vantage point
on my bike.
A couple of years ago while bicycling I heard an Ovenbird singing away. I
stopped and tried to spot it without binocs to no avail. It was singing
again or still when I pedaled back past the spot. That was my rarest
bicycling find, but I also often heard and saw Lesser Goldfinches along my
rides long before their "rare" eBird designation was dropped locally. I get
joy from all sorts of birds while I ride, and often say to the Turkey
Vultures that I'm not ready for them yet, while hoping that the diclofenac
I've used for pain reduction wouldn't kill them if they ate me, as it has
done to vultures in India and Pakistan.
In a noisy, echo-y room, I'd have a tremendously hard time picking out bird
vocalizations. Echoes and peoples voices wipe out bird sounds to my ears.
The loud yammering of a local prominent bird lister always trashed my
ability to hear birds at stops on his field trips. When he'd loudly schuss
others, I'd laugh with a big smirk. Another lister makes loads of noise,
clanking his tripod and talking, flushing birds all around. In addition to
his carelessness and selfishness, I attribute his noisiness to his impaired
hearing -- not realizing how much noise he is making. Their noise
contributes to our desire and efforts to stay far from them. Even the noise
of someone walking alongside me can obliterate many bird sounds to my ears.
But the noise of my biking doesn't wipe out nearly as much. I don't hear
most of the quietest chips and peeps and such, so there's the effective low
sound pressure level notch filter that's built in to bicycling, but I hear
enough to keep me happy and attentive while I ride.
Since I bicycle at an aerobic pace, when I stop I can often hear the sound
of the blood coursing through my ears if I try to listen intently, so stops
aren't the greatest birding opportunities for me, other than the final stop
at our home.
On Tue, Sep 12, 2023 at 4:58 PM Tom Benedict <benedict.t...> wrote:
> On Sep 12, 2023, at 16:34, Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> wrote:
>
>
> Lately I've finally been able to return to enjoying birds while bicycling,
> something I thought I'd never be able to do again. It helps me get my fix
> of hearing and seeing birds with a much smaller turbine/lithium/carbon
> footprint.
>
>
> I’m interested in details Kevin. I have a hard time birding while walking,
> much less while bicycling. Or am I jumping to the conclusion that you are
> birding _while_ cycling rather than cycling between stops where you bird?
>
> Tom Benedict
> Seahurst, WA
>
Date: 9/12/23 5:11 pm From: Steve Loitz <steveloitz...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding while cycling..
Very cool! I first got into birding on my four trans-U.S. bicycle tours
during and immediately after my college years in the mid- to late 1970s. In
1981, on a bicycle tour from Missoula MT to Anchorage AK, we saw a Marbled
Murrelet perched in a big Western Hemlock. I realized years later that was
a once-in-a-lifetime ID!
Steve Loitz
Ellensburg
On Tue, Sep 12, 2023 at 4:58 PM Tom Benedict <benedict.t...> wrote:
> On Sep 12, 2023, at 16:34, Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> wrote:
>
>
> Lately I've finally been able to return to enjoying birds while bicycling,
> something I thought I'd never be able to do again. It helps me get my fix
> of hearing and seeing birds with a much smaller turbine/lithium/carbon
> footprint.
>
>
> I’m interested in details Kevin. I have a hard time birding while walking,
> much less while bicycling. Or am I jumping to the conclusion that you are
> birding _while_ cycling rather than cycling between stops where you bird?
>
> Tom Benedict
> Seahurst, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/12/23 5:01 pm From: Tom Benedict <benedict.t...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birding while cycling..
On Sep 12, 2023, at 16:34, Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> wrote:
>
> Lately I've finally been able to return to enjoying birds while bicycling, something I thought I'd never be able to do again. It helps me get my fix of hearing and seeing birds with a much smaller turbine/lithium/carbon footprint.
I’m interested in details Kevin. I have a hard time birding while walking, much less while bicycling. Or am I jumping to the conclusion that you are birding _while_ cycling rather than cycling between stops where you bird?
Date: 9/12/23 4:38 pm From: Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
Nancy,
Beautiful video, wonderful to see, and without having to drive there. No
apology needed for setting it to Pachelbel's Canon in D. Well done.
I loved that melody as a child, and was first aghast, then amused when in
the early seventies I heard the commercial for Burger King using that tune.
-~ Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us, have
it your way, at Burger King, have it your way at Burger King....
It sure did popularize the tune, and helped fit my classical music
upbringing into my high school world, so a combination not all bad.
Lately I've finally been able to return to enjoying birds while bicycling,
something I thought I'd never be able to do again. It helps me get my fix
of hearing and seeing birds with a much smaller turbine/lithium/carbon
footprint.
So here's a translation into Kevin -- my opined captioning for your video
lyrics:
Mud worms tickled
And you fed us
Slimy frogs and goldfish, let us
Thank the voice of Gretel, so far away
Asking us to drive less often
Habitat should not be coffin
Carbon footprint checklists
Skipped for today
Give us chance to breathe more freely
Gain due pride in sightings really
Contributing science
In positive ways
Habitat Day, Make it your thing
Habitat Day, Make it your think
On Tue, Sep 12, 2023 at 11:36 AM Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...> wrote:
> I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great
> Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned
> that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of
> watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I
> could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tii_We-3izs >
> Nancy Morrison
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/12/23 3:36 pm From: <houstojc...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
Nancy, it is beautiful!! And perfect music choice that enhances the ceremonial quality of their display.
Janeanne Houston
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Nancy Morrison
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 11:36 AM
To: <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
Date: 9/12/23 3:35 pm From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] American pipit
Merlin is a wonderful app, but it makes mistakes all too regularly, especially confusing similar species. I have never taken it out for a day without detecting mistakes such as misidentifying a bird I'm looking at or not even recording a prominent song going on.
American Pipits have a two-noted call, not a single peep, so I wonder what else that might have been. And they are birds of wide-open country, never encountered in a wooded area and usually only vocalizing when in flight over that open country.
Dennis Paulson Seattle
> On 09/12/2023 2:43 PM PDT Marty <namaste...> wrote: > > > Every morning before I get up I place my phone on the window sill with the Merlin app turned on to Sound Recording, > This morning I woke up to single note peeping I first thought was a House finch, but after listening for a few minutes, I realized it was not. I had Merlin app tuned on to sound recording and was surprised to see that as a peeping continued, the American pipit illuminated up every time. > > Marty > > @ http://www.martykramerimages.com/ > Every day is an opportunity to do, touch and taste something new. > - My bucket list - > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/12/23 3:23 pm From: J Christian Kessler <1northraven...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
Pachelbel was excellent choice!!
Chris
On Tue, Sep 12, 2023 at 11:36 AM Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...> wrote:
> I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great
> Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned
> that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of
> watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I
> could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tii_We-3izs >
> Nancy Morrison
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
--
"moderation in everything, including moderation"
Rustin Thompson
Date: 9/12/23 2:20 pm From: Laurel Parshall <knasnan...> Subject: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons no pas(s) de deux
The Nisqually Walk has had views of this as well as Theler Wetlands Walk. However, Nancy's orchestrated background music for her lovely video definitely elevates a fascinating behavior! Laurel Parshall kehlilanasnan at Yahoo dot com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Zora Monster <zoramon...>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 12:58 PM
To: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
Cc: Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...>; <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
I saw this type of display a few years ago at Golden Gardens and wondered why the two herons were doing it. It really is something to see. Love the music with your video.
Zora Dermer
Seattle
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 12, 2023, at 11:54 AM, Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> wrote:
Nancy, that is just wonderful; thanks for the music. In all the years I've been watching Great Blues, I've never seen that either. I have seen a lot of overt aggression instead of that beautiful display.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
On 09/12/2023 11:35 AM PDT Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...> wrote:
I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
Crow’s definitely have territories, though if a reliable food source is no longer producing, they can give up a territory and relocate.
The flock of about a dozen crows that is often present in my pasture was/is reliably identifiable by one member with a leg injury. They spend their morning hours flipping through piles of horse manure looking for insect larvae. They also go into the neighbors yard at intervals to check for scraps that she puts on a platform. In the evening they join a larger group and head down toward the Port Townsend Ferry to roost.
Even a large Merlin Falcon poses no significant threat to a crow. The Merlin is sometimes colloquially referred to as the “Pigeon Hawk,” though they rarely capture and consume “Pigeons” (as Rock Doves…Columbia livia are often erroneously called) A Rock Dove is a real handful for a Merlin, though manageable by a large aggressive falcon (female).
Other factors are at play as well. A crow is a very long lived, sturdily built bird, whereas a dove is much easier for a falcon to kill, pluck, and eat, not to mention much tastier. A Merlin prefers to pluck and eat in a treetop. Thus small passerines, up to and including starlings and robins are preferred. A male (Jack) Merlin will not normally capture prey larger than a starling. A large Merlin falcon is hard pressed to carry a Mourning Dove to any height.
Carrying is a problem for the falconer, as you can imagine, and the strong tendency to carrry is one of the things that makes hunting with a Merlin a challenge.
A dove or pigeon meal is a peaceful one for a raptor, whereas eating crow is difficult since the whole flock is incensed and will literally try to tear a raptor apart if he/she is anchored to the ground by the weight of a crow.
Mark Borden
Coupeville, WA.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 12, 2023, at 12:05 PM, <tweeters-request...> wrote:
>
> Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to
> <tweeters...>
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> <tweeters-request...>
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
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>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Tweeters digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Raptors at Play ... and crows (<jimbetz...>)
> 2. August 2023 TVU report (Diann MacRae)
> 3. formatting issues on Tweeters list (rrowland)
> 4. USA TODAY: New 'hybrid' hummingbird with unusual glittering
> gold feathers puzzles scientists (Dan Reiff)
> 5. Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch (Samuel Terry)
> 6. Re: Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch (Michael Hobbs)
> 7. Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds (Nancy Morrison)
> 8. Re: Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
> (Dennis Paulson)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2023 12:55:27 -0700
> From: <jimbetz...>
> To: <tweeters...>
> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Raptors at Play ... and crows
> Message-ID:
> <20230911125527.Horde.5SFeQWCCOVCpWlcx5WoFITy...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed; DelSp=Yes
>
> Hi - continuing the thread ...
>
> Late last week there was an 'encounter' between what was probably a Merlin
> and a Crow. The crow was mobbing/harassing the Merlin which was
> sitting on the
> roof ridge right below our house. Finally the Merlin moved but the crow
> continued to hassle it. Then the Merlin went after the crow ... which flew
> into a tree and the Merlin broke off and perched in the same tree several
> branches below. The crow then took flight and turned and went after the
> Merlin (below). The Merlin took off and chased the crow. Back and forth
> two more times for 3 or 4 total 'encounters' (exchanges) between these two
> birds. Finally the Merlin left the area and the crow didn't pursue.
>
> I interpreted this as "territorial" ... although it makes little sense
> since there are no active crows nests in the area. (Sorry, couldn't
> resist using "Crows Nest" - my nautical background kicking in.) But
> crows do -seem- to be territorial from time to time without an active
> nest.
> In fact, I saw a pair of crows in New Westminster just yesterday and I'd
> swear on a stack of bibles that it was the same two birds I'd seen at the
> same location (street in front of home in residential area) months ago.
> The "bibles" comes from the way these two 'related' to each other with
> one clearly the dominant and the second 'fawning' to its object of
> interest (the dominant one) and following it around and doing the same
> stuff it did months ago at the same location. Both times I was parked
> on the same street in the same location and there were two crows that
> were 'messing about' (not courting - just "doing stuff") and were
> clearly 'together'. Perhaps a more accurate description would be that
> one was following the other around and the one being followed was
> tolerating the other. But then, every once in a while you would see a
> "bill clattering" between the two of them.
>
> Q: Do crows take up residence in an area that is fairly specific? And
> stay there/reappear there over a period of months?
>
> The encounter(s) reported above did not -seem- to be play. They seemed
> to be "reciprocative mobbing" in the first case and 'hanging out together'
> in the second case.
> - Jim
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:08:16 +0200
> From: Diann MacRae <tvulture...>
> To: tweeters t <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] August 2023 TVU report
> Message-ID:
> <trinity-0ad86151-365d-456e-b1da-67a5376ee1d0-1694470096256@3c-app-mailcom-bs10>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20230912/9cbaf577/attachment-0001.html> >
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:47:36 +0000 (UTC)
> From: rrowland <bobr3531...>
> To: <Tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] formatting issues on Tweeters list
> Message-ID: <1434659910.105125.1694497656341...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hello,
> Is there anything that can be done by the people that post messages that are basically unreadable.
> For example from a day or so ago:------------------------------------------------
> =E2=80=9CConstruction of the proposed new border barrier system would b= e expected to take up to two years,=E2=80=9D the proposal stated. =E2=80=9C= Maintenance would be expected upon completion of construction.=E2=80=9D=20
> =20Thanks to everyone who is willing to comment on this.=20
> =20Jon. Anderson=20OlyWA=20festuca at comcast net=20As I was going over the bridge between Bottle Beach and the coast, I saw 5 G=
> reat Egrets at Brady=E2=80=99s Oysters. One flew off as we were driving in, b=
> ut all were confirmed as GREG. =20
> Great start to the day!
> Karen Wosilait (she/her)
> ------------------------------------------
> Thanks for any possible solution.?Robert?
> -------------- next part --------------
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 06:09:18 -0700
> From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...>
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] USA TODAY: New 'hybrid' hummingbird with unusual
> glittering gold feathers puzzles scientists
> Message-ID: <3929C0EB-783B-4B79-A494-F7E7FF0387B3...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:19:10 -0700
> From: Samuel Terry <samgterry...>
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch
> Message-ID:
> <CAGBiMZF-ZFGtPy-HDaeSYWbvBcu47YDsX5pe7UTm3aiPifCcTA...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi tweeters -
>
> I just found a Pygmy Nuthatch in the pines on Benton Place SW by the
> treatment plant at Alki in West Seattle. It?s possible there?s two birds
> but not sure. Hanging out with a couple of RBNU and OCWA. Vocalizing on and
> off - which is how I found it. Tough to see but i was able to get a couple
> good looks.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Sam Terry
> Seattle
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:27:35 -0700
> From: Michael Hobbs <birdmarymoor...>
> To: Samuel Terry <samgterry...>
> Cc: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch
> Message-ID:
> <CAPO=BqvWjX=<bDO68ujh9UMZA_JjoNY21aH877XLwEUMGSteOBQ...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Pygmy Nuthatch still present on Benton Place near the Alki STP. Last seen,
> towards the end of the street.
>
> - Michael Hobbs
>
>> On Tue, Sep 12, 2023, 10:20 AM Samuel Terry <samgterry...> wrote:
>>
>> Hi tweeters -
>>
>> I just found a Pygmy Nuthatch in the pines on Benton Place SW by the
>> treatment plant at Alki in West Seattle. It?s possible there?s two birds
>> but not sure. Hanging out with a couple of RBNU and OCWA. Vocalizing on and
>> off - which is how I found it. Tough to see but i was able to get a couple
>> good looks.
>>
>> Good birding,
>>
>> Sam Terry
>> Seattle
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:35:56 -0700
> From: Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...>
> To: <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
> Message-ID:
> <CAGUv7SqHSMU+GNc0nN+7NugCu2a_pcwcSVQ9PDT_-tCYmqqd+<w...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great
> Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned
> that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of
> watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I
> could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tii_We-3izs >
> Nancy Morrison
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:53:03 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
> To: Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...>, <tweeters...>
> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding
> grounds
> Message-ID: <361547777.368801.1694544783899...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Nancy, that is just wonderful; thanks for the music. In all the years I've been watching Great Blues, I've never seen that either. I have seen a lot of overt aggression instead of that beautiful display.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
>> On 09/12/2023 11:35 AM PDT Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tii_We-3izs >>
>> Nancy Morrison
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> ------------------------------
>
> End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 229, Issue 12
> *****************************************
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/12/23 1:08 pm From: Zora Monster <zoramon...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
I saw this type of display a few years ago at Golden Gardens and wondered why the two herons were doing it. It really is something to see. Love the music with your video.
Zora Dermer
Seattle
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 12, 2023, at 11:54 AM, Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> wrote:
>
>
> Nancy, that is just wonderful; thanks for the music. In all the years I've been watching Great Blues, I've never seen that either. I have seen a lot of overt aggression instead of that beautiful display.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>> On 09/12/2023 11:35 AM PDT Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tii_We-3izs >>
>> Nancy Morrison
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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: 9/12/23 11:56 am From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
Nancy, that is just wonderful; thanks for the music. In all the years I've been watching Great Blues, I've never seen that either. I have seen a lot of overt aggression instead of that beautiful display.
Dennis Paulson Seattle
> On 09/12/2023 11:35 AM PDT Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...> wrote: > > > I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I could not avoid the temptation to put it to music. > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tii_We-3izs > > Nancy Morrison > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/12/23 11:42 am From: Nancy Morrison <weedsrus1...> Subject: [Tweeters] Great Blue Herons defending their feeding grounds
I was in the Sammamish River Slough recently when I witnessed two Great Blue Herons doing this wonderful slow motion dance. I have since learned that this is how they defend their feeding grounds. In all my years of watching GBH, I had never seen this display before. My apologies, but I could not avoid the temptation to put it to music.
Date: 9/12/23 11:30 am From: Michael Hobbs <birdmarymoor...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch still present on Benton Place near the Alki STP. Last seen,
towards the end of the street.
- Michael Hobbs
On Tue, Sep 12, 2023, 10:20 AM Samuel Terry <samgterry...> wrote:
> Hi tweeters -
>
> I just found a Pygmy Nuthatch in the pines on Benton Place SW by the
> treatment plant at Alki in West Seattle. It’s possible there’s two birds
> but not sure. Hanging out with a couple of RBNU and OCWA. Vocalizing on and
> off - which is how I found it. Tough to see but i was able to get a couple
> good looks.
>
> Good birding,
>
> Sam Terry
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/12/23 10:22 am From: Samuel Terry <samgterry...> Subject: [Tweeters] Alki West Seattle Pygmy Nuthatch
Hi tweeters -
I just found a Pygmy Nuthatch in the pines on Benton Place SW by the
treatment plant at Alki in West Seattle. It’s possible there’s two birds
but not sure. Hanging out with a couple of RBNU and OCWA. Vocalizing on and
off - which is how I found it. Tough to see but i was able to get a couple
good looks.
Date: 9/12/23 6:12 am From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] USA TODAY: New 'hybrid' hummingbird with unusual glittering gold feathers puzzles scientists
Date: 9/11/23 10:50 pm From: rrowland <bobr3531...> Subject: [Tweeters] formatting issues on Tweeters list
Hello,
Is there anything that can be done by the people that post messages that are basically unreadable.
For example from a day or so ago:------------------------------------------------
=E2=80=9CConstruction of the proposed new border barrier system would b= e expected to take up to two years,=E2=80=9D the proposal stated. =E2=80=9C= Maintenance would be expected upon completion of construction.=E2=80=9D=20
=20Thanks to everyone who is willing to comment on this.=20
=20Jon. Anderson=20OlyWA=20festuca at comcast net=20As I was going over the bridge between Bottle Beach and the coast, I saw 5 G=
reat Egrets at Brady=E2=80=99s Oysters. One flew off as we were driving in, b=
ut all were confirmed as GREG. =20
Great start to the day!
Karen Wosilait (she/her)
------------------------------------------
Thanks for any possible solution. Robert
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/11/23 12:58 pm From: <jimbetz...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Raptors at Play ... and crows
Hi - continuing the thread ...
Late last week there was an 'encounter' between what was probably a Merlin and a Crow. The crow was mobbing/harassing the Merlin which was sitting on the roof ridge right below our house. Finally the Merlin moved but the crow continued to hassle it. Then the Merlin went after the crow ... which flew into a tree and the Merlin broke off and perched in the same tree several branches below. The crow then took flight and turned and went after the Merlin (below). The Merlin took off and chased the crow. Back and forth two more times for 3 or 4 total 'encounters' (exchanges) between these two birds. Finally the Merlin left the area and the crow didn't pursue.
I interpreted this as "territorial" ... although it makes little sense since there are no active crows nests in the area. (Sorry, couldn't resist using "Crows Nest" - my nautical background kicking in.) But crows do -seem- to be territorial from time to time without an active nest. In fact, I saw a pair of crows in New Westminster just yesterday and I'd swear on a stack of bibles that it was the same two birds I'd seen at the same location (street in front of home in residential area) months ago. The "bibles" comes from the way these two 'related' to each other with one clearly the dominant and the second 'fawning' to its object of interest (the dominant one) and following it around and doing the same stuff it did months ago at the same location. Both times I was parked on the same street in the same location and there were two crows that were 'messing about' (not courting - just "doing stuff") and were clearly 'together'. Perhaps a more accurate description would be that one was following the other around and the one being followed was tolerating the other. But then, every once in a while you would see a "bill clattering" between the two of them.
Q: Do crows take up residence in an area that is fairly specific? And stay there/reappear there over a period of months?
The encounter(s) reported above did not -seem- to be play. They seemed to be "reciprocative mobbing" in the first case and 'hanging out together' in the second case. - Jim
Date: 9/11/23 11:41 am From: Diane Yorgason-Quinn <avosetta...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Monroes Swift Night Out
My opinion is to have it Labor Day Weekend and make it a part of the holiday. Saturday or Sunday of that weekend.
Diane
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Larry Schwitters <leschwitters...>
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2023 10:28 AM
To: Northwest e-mail <Tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Monroes Swift Night Out
When should Monroes Swift Night Out happen? Pilchuck Audubon was considering the end of August or first of September. Somebody suggested having it in the spring. Spring came and went. It was warm and dry. Migration was late and numbers wise our Vauxs Happenings
worst migration ever. But our Wagner observers documented the most roosting wee birds of any of the 31 sites that were involved. By far.
Saturdays in May 2023.
13th 13 swifts
20th 29 swifts
27th 7 swifts
Maybe we should have had it in June. Did we say migration was late?
June 10th 4800 swifts.
Southbound Swift migration was early his year.
Saturdays in August 2023
19th 0 swifts Not quite that early. A thousand plus 3 days later
26th 106 5 thousand plus 3 days later
Date: 9/11/23 11:06 am From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Raptors at play -Falconer/Raptor Breeders Viewpoint
And I will add that we have frequently seen Sharp-shinned Hawks and crows doing the same sorts of things, diving on each other and then reversing. That’s how I knew Sharp-shins were declining in the area, because we used to see that (we would always hear the crow racket first) every winter but haven’t for maybe five years now.
Dennis Paulson
Maple Leaf, Seattle
> On Sep 11, 2023, at 10:33 AM, Dianna Moore <osdlm1945...> wrote:
>
> I very much enjoyed this post as it demonstrated to me a behavior I have observed in my own yard in Ocean Shores. We have some very large crows out here and I have seen them interacting with a local Cooper's (or maybe more than one) several times. It struck me as play, with one bird chasing another then reversing the role. I never saw aggressive behavior during those incidents. This interaction was the first time I had seen the behavior, and this post is the first time I have seen anyone else mention it.
> Thanks for sharing and enlightening me!
> Dianna Moore
> Ocean Shores
>
> On Sun, Sep 10, 2023 at 11:58 PM Mark Borden <markbordenmd...> <mailto:<markbordenmd...>> wrote:
> Hello from Whidbey Tweeters,
>
> For the last 17 years I have witnessed (almost every year) a passage (imm.) female Coopers Hawk playing with the flock of crows on the eastern fence of our horse pasture. The coops will take turns chasing the crows, then being chased by them. It is always an immature coopers, and always a female. I have many videos of this behavior if anyone is interested.
>
> Three years ago I witnessed a daily play session involving a Merlin falcon, a male kestrel, and an immature female Sharp Shinned Hawk. I watched in awe for about 30 minutes the first time before remembering to video record, but then got some good “footage.” I was a bit concerned that the kestrel might be in danger initially, as it was just the Kestrel and sharpie, but then the Merlin (in a tree all along) joined in.
>
> I have raised (from young Downey stage) Coopers and Goshawks, and as big downies and branchers both species are more playful (video available on request) than either young peregrines or Prairie Falcons. Gyrfalcons are more playful than either of those falcon species. I cannot speak on Merlins, never having raised an eyass Merlin.
>
> The Peregrine/Prairie hybrids I have raised seemed more playful than either of their parents, but there is substantial variation between hybrids (as with mules).
>
> As a falconer I treasure the inter species interaction, as it shows me what the birds are capable of, and makes comparisons otherwise unavailable, possible.
>
> Mark Borden MD
> Coupeville, WA.
> 360-632-7484
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters> > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/11/23 10:36 am From: Dianna Moore <osdlm1945...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Raptors at play -Falconer/Raptor Breeders Viewpoint
I very much enjoyed this post as it demonstrated to me a behavior I have
observed in my own yard in Ocean Shores. We have some very large crows out
here and I have seen them interacting with a local Cooper's (or maybe more
than one) several times. It struck me as play, with one bird chasing
another then reversing the role. I never saw aggressive behavior during
those incidents. This interaction was the first time I had seen the
behavior, and this post is the first time I have seen anyone else mention
it.
Thanks for sharing and enlightening me!
Dianna Moore
Ocean Shores
On Sun, Sep 10, 2023 at 11:58 PM Mark Borden <markbordenmd...> wrote:
> Hello from Whidbey Tweeters,
>
> For the last 17 years I have witnessed (almost every year) a passage
> (imm.) female Coopers Hawk playing with the flock of crows on the eastern
> fence of our horse pasture. The coops will take turns chasing the crows,
> then being chased by them. It is always an immature coopers, and always a
> female. I have many videos of this behavior if anyone is interested.
>
> Three years ago I witnessed a daily play session involving a Merlin
> falcon, a male kestrel, and an immature female Sharp Shinned Hawk. I
> watched in awe for about 30 minutes the first time before remembering to
> video record, but then got some good “footage.” I was a bit concerned that
> the kestrel might be in danger initially, as it was just the Kestrel and
> sharpie, but then the Merlin (in a tree all along) joined in.
>
> I have raised (from young Downey stage) Coopers and Goshawks, and as big
> downies and branchers both species are more playful (video available on
> request) than either young peregrines or Prairie Falcons. Gyrfalcons are
> more playful than either of those falcon species. I cannot speak on
> Merlins, never having raised an eyass Merlin.
>
> The Peregrine/Prairie hybrids I have raised seemed more playful than
> either of their parents, but there is substantial variation between hybrids
> (as with mules).
>
> As a falconer I treasure the inter species interaction, as it shows me
> what the birds are capable of, and makes comparisons otherwise unavailable,
> possible.
>
> Mark Borden MD
> Coupeville, WA.
> 360-632-7484
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/11/23 10:36 am From: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Monroes Swift Night Out
When should Monroes Swift Night Out happen? Pilchuck Audubon was considering the end of August or first of September. Somebody suggested having it in the spring. Spring came and went. It was warm and dry. Migration was late and numbers wise our Vaux’s Happening’s
worst migration ever. But our Wagner observers documented the most roosting wee birds of any of the 31 sites that were involved. By far.
Saturdays in May 2023.
13th 13 swifts
20th 29 swifts
27th 7 swifts
Maybe we should have had it in June. Did we say migration was late?
June 10th 4800 swifts.
Southbound Swift migration was early his year.
Saturdays in August 2023
19th 0 swifts Not quite that early. A thousand plus 3 days later
26th 106 5 thousand plus 3 days later
Date: 9/11/23 10:23 am From: Ronda Stark <rondastark18...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Ecology of our Endangered “Regal” Hawk Thursday Sept 14th 7 pm via Zoom
Hello,
I was wondering if you might be planning to make a tape or recording
available for those who can not " attend."
I am traveling to Colorado to see Ferruginous Hawks at the end of this
month-- I have had incredible luck there in the past.
Thank you,
Ronda
On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 8:54 AM Kathleen Snyder <ksnyder75...> wrote:
> Jim Watson will be speaking on the impressive Ferruginous Hawk. Jim is a
> Wildlife Research Scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and
> Wildlife and the lead researcher for statewide raptor studies. Please
> join us for discussion of this fascinating raptor, what has been learned
> from research, and how we are working together to recover the species. This
> free program from Black Hills Audubon requires registration at:
>
>
>
> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82646260939?pwd=eVNPTVJSNE1ub3NwMDVXSklFczZPQT09 >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/11/23 9:08 am From: Beverly Choltco-Devlin <bcholtcodevlin...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
I still have not received an alert since last week. I will give it a few
hours.
Thanks for the updates.
Best, Beverly
On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 8:45 AM Mark M. Walton <waltom...> wrote:
> Yeah the problem seems to have been resolved. I just got RBA emails for
> both Snohomish and King counties and they seemed to cover the whole “down”
> period.
>
> Mark Walton
>
>
>
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> *On Behalf
> Of *Philip Dickinson
> *Sent:* Monday, September 11, 2023 8:26 AM
> *To:* Steve Hampton <stevechampton...>
> *Cc:* TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
>
>
>
> I just received an email rare bird alert for King Co. , so maybe the
> problem has been resolved. Phil Dickinson On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 7: 57 AM
> Philip Dickinson <pdickins@ gmail. com> wrote: Some people have told me
> they continue to receive
>
> ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart
>
> *This Message Is From an Untrusted Sender *
>
> You have not previously corresponded with this sender.
>
> See https://itconnect.uw.edu/email-tags for additional information.
> Please contact the UW-IT Service Center, <help...> 206.221.5000, for
> assistance.
>
> ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
>
> I just received an email rare bird alert for King Co., so maybe the
> problem has been resolved.
>
>
>
> Phil Dickinson
>
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 7:57 AM Philip Dickinson <pdickins...>
> wrote:
>
> Some people have told me they continue to receive alerts. I have not
> received any since 9/8, although I did receive my daily county needs alert.
>
>
>
> Phil Dickinson
>
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 7:01 AM Steve Hampton <stevechampton...>
> wrote:
>
> Tweeters,
>
>
>
> As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird
> Alerts has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse
> time - so many birds are on the move right now.
>
>
>
> Two solutions:
>
> 1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good
> habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from
> Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone
> Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark
> juvie Parasitic.
>
>
>
> 2) Only eBird's email function is down. The rarities are still findable at *https://ebird.org/alerts > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ebird.org/alerts__;!!K-Hz7m0Vt54!gr_P4dGvgLEvsctP3WDwdkkP7g3rBWCnDFjPvd6kCDMXyOAe2JY8rTggN3MnlNj_FfeQlzfhneGGl-6Xxe-RZA$>*.
> This will lead you to your own notification settings. You can click on the
> blue letters and get a summary from the past 7 days.
>
>
>
> good birding,
>
>
>
> --
>
> Steve Hampton
>
> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 9/11/23 9:03 am From: Kathleen Snyder <ksnyder75...> Subject: [Tweeters] The Ecology of our Endangered “Regal” Hawk Thursday Sept 14th 7 pm via Zoom
Jim Watson will be speaking on the impressive Ferruginous Hawk. Jim is a Wildlife Research Scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the lead researcher for statewide raptor studies. Please join us for discussion of this fascinating raptor, what has been learned from research, and how we are working together to recover the species. This free program from Black Hills Audubon requires registration at:
Date: 9/11/23 8:47 am From: Mark M. Walton <waltom...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
Yeah the problem seems to have been resolved. I just got RBA emails for both Snohomish and King counties and they seemed to cover the whole “down” period.
Mark Walton
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Philip Dickinson
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2023 8:26 AM
To: Steve Hampton <stevechampton...>
Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
I just received an email rare bird alert for King Co. , so maybe the problem has been resolved. Phil Dickinson On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 7: 57 AM Philip Dickinson <pdickins@ gmail. com> wrote: Some people have told me they continue to receive
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I just received an email rare bird alert for King Co., so maybe the problem has been resolved.
Phil Dickinson
On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 7:57 AM Philip Dickinson <pdickins...><mailto:<pdickins...>> wrote:
Some people have told me they continue to receive alerts. I have not received any since 9/8, although I did receive my daily county needs alert.
Phil Dickinson
On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 7:01 AM Steve Hampton <stevechampton...><mailto:<stevechampton...>> wrote:
Tweeters,
As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird Alerts has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse time - so many birds are on the move right now.
Two solutions:
1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark juvie Parasitic.
Date: 9/11/23 8:30 am From: Philip Dickinson <pdickins...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
I just received an email rare bird alert for King Co., so maybe the problem
has been resolved.
Phil Dickinson
On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 7:57 AM Philip Dickinson <pdickins...> wrote:
> Some people have told me they continue to receive alerts. I have not
> received any since 9/8, although I did receive my daily county needs alert.
>
> Phil Dickinson
>
> On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 7:01 AM Steve Hampton <stevechampton...>
> wrote:
>
>> Tweeters,
>>
>> As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird
>> Alerts has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse
>> time - so many birds are on the move right now.
>>
>> Two solutions:
>> 1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good
>> habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from
>> Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone
>> Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark
>> juvie Parasitic.
>>
>> 2) Only eBird's email function is down. The rarities are still findable
>> at *https://ebird.org/alerts <https://ebird.org/alerts>*. This will lead
>> you to your own notification settings. You can click on the blue letters
>> and get a summary from the past 7 days.
>>
>> good birding,
>>
>> --
>> Steve Hampton
>> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
Date: 9/11/23 8:01 am From: Philip Dickinson <pdickins...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
Some people have told me they continue to receive alerts. I have not
received any since 9/8, although I did receive my daily county needs alert.
Phil Dickinson
On Mon, Sep 11, 2023 at 7:01 AM Steve Hampton <stevechampton...>
wrote:
> Tweeters,
>
> As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird
> Alerts has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse
> time - so many birds are on the move right now.
>
> Two solutions:
> 1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good
> habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from
> Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone
> Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark
> juvie Parasitic.
>
> 2) Only eBird's email function is down. The rarities are still findable at *https://ebird.org/alerts > <https://ebird.org/alerts>*. This will lead you to your own notification
> settings. You can click on the blue letters and get a summary from the past
> 7 days.
>
> good birding,
>
> --
> Steve Hampton
> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/11/23 7:04 am From: Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> Subject: [Tweeters] eBird rare bird alerts are down -- two solutions
Tweeters,
As some of you may be aware, eBird's email notification of Rare Bird Alerts
has been down since about Sept 7. Yes, it couldn't come at a worse time -
so many birds are on the move right now.
Two solutions:
1) PLEASE POST RARITIES HERE ON TWEETERS. Old school, but always a good
habitat. Perhaps someone from each county can give a summary. Speaking from
Jefferson Co, a juv Long-tailed Jaeger was well-described from Marrowstone
Pt a week ago, though recent searches have just turned up the same dark
juvie Parasitic.
2) Only eBird's email function is down. The rarities are still
findable at *https://ebird.org/alerts <https://ebird.org/alerts>*. This will lead you to your own notification
settings. You can click on the blue letters and get a summary from the past
7 days.
Date: 9/11/23 12:01 am From: Mark Borden <markbordenmd...> Subject: [Tweeters] Raptors at play -Falconer/Raptor Breeders Viewpoint
Hello from Whidbey Tweeters,
For the last 17 years I have witnessed (almost every year) a passage (imm.) female Coopers Hawk playing with the flock of crows on the eastern fence of our horse pasture. The coops will take turns chasing the crows, then being chased by them. It is always an immature coopers, and always a female. I have many videos of this behavior if anyone is interested.
Three years ago I witnessed a daily play session involving a Merlin falcon, a male kestrel, and an immature female Sharp Shinned Hawk. I watched in awe for about 30 minutes the first time before remembering to video record, but then got some good “footage.” I was a bit concerned that the kestrel might be in danger initially, as it was just the Kestrel and sharpie, but then the Merlin (in a tree all along) joined in.
I have raised (from young Downey stage) Coopers and Goshawks, and as big downies and branchers both species are more playful (video available on request) than either young peregrines or Prairie Falcons. Gyrfalcons are more playful than either of those falcon species. I cannot speak on Merlins, never having raised an eyass Merlin.
The Peregrine/Prairie hybrids I have raised seemed more playful than either of their parents, but there is substantial variation between hybrids (as with mules).
As a falconer I treasure the inter species interaction, as it shows me what the birds are capable of, and makes comparisons otherwise unavailable, possible.
This is mainly for the keeper of Pacific County's year list. I had a female/immature Yellow-headed Blackbird at the Toleland Marina yesterday afternoon. I wasn't able to get any pictures before it flew.
I photographed at least two Barred-tailed Godwits in with the Marbled Godwits. The Laughing Gull wad also observed.
Well, I was pretty surprised this morning when the bird I thought at first glance was a delightful Warbling Vireo turned out to be an even more thrilling Red-eyed Vireo! (Photo<https://www.instagram.com/p/CxBjRUlyvEX/> in my Instagram stream.) This is a lifer for me and Im delighted.
But I was surprised to see when I posted the sighting to eBird that this appears to be the first reported Red-eyed Vireo in West Seattle. This seems really unlikely, even given the birds scarcity and reclusiveness. Anyone else seen one here?
Date: 9/10/23 12:15 pm From: Lin Stern <lindseysarahstern...> Subject: [Tweeters] Odd Knot at Bottle Beach, WA
Hello all!
Yesterday while leading a group, we came across an odd looking Knot at Bottle Beach. It was originally spotted by Ellen and Andy (not sure of their last names) but I had a great time chatting with them. Our initial impression was Red Knot due to size, legs, and that being the most likely option. Additionally, the bird had a red breast but we are mostly certain that this is due to some kind of stain. The bird seemed funky and I shared with with the Thurston&Gray's Harbor RBA Whatsapp group, which spurred lots of discussion. Firstly, the bill seemed very odd. It was a bit too long, narrow, and perfectly straight or even slightly upturned at the tip at some angles. WhatsApp group members pointed out that the black centers of the feathers on the back. I have attached an eBird link with photos to this message (which I hope will work, if not I'm the list is visible from eBird and has the bird listed as shorebird sp.).
I am thinking it is him just a funny Red Knot, but there was some discussion that it could be promising for Great Knot. I would like further confirmation and discussion to see what others think, since that would be absolutely wild if it were.
Looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say. Thank you Ellen and Andy for getting our eyes on this odd bird!
Date: 9/10/23 6:47 am From: Elaine Chuang <elc...> Subject: [Tweeters] "The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge"
Have you been hearing bird song or observing somewhat unseasonal behavior lately? Over the last month or so, we have begun to enjoy an annual avian phenomenon based upon partial reactivation of breeding behavior. Whether triggered by the effects of changing light levels on birdy hormones (the prevailing explanation) or other factors, the shift has poetically become known as,"The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge.” This year, may we honor Susan Stiles, who 30 years ago gave us this lovely bit of verse (thank you Dennis Paulson and Teri Martine):
"The Autumnal Recrudescence of the Amatory Urge" - by Susan Stiles (December 1973)
When the birds are cacaphonic in the trees and on the verge
Of the fields in mid-October when the cold is like a scourge.
It is not delight in winter that makes feathered voices surge,
But autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge.
When the frost is on the punkin' and when leaf and branch diverge,
Birds with hormones reawakened sing a paean, not a dirge.
What's the reason for their warbling? Why on earth this late-year splurge?
The autumnal recrudescence of the amatory urge.
In my humble opinion, the scientifically best and yet ‘readable’ article (2016) on the general topic, is by the wonderful “GrrlScientist: ”Why do songbirds sing in autumn? Many songbirds sing in autumn. If these birds aren’t breeding in the autumn, then why are they singing?
Date: 9/9/23 8:38 pm From: Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Photo of Tringa Reported This Morning as a Possible Spotted Redshank at Eide Road, Snohomish County
Carol,
I thank you and applaud your efforts to share and inform. I'm in Yakima and
have no delusions or intentions of chasing that tringa, but am interested.
I just did a google search to no avail using "eBird checklist S149487506 ".
I'd like to see the pictures if you're game for sending them to me. If
someone comes up with a more graceful way, for mere mortals, of seeing that
S149487506 checklist, I'd be interested in the technique/method they used.
I think it quite likely I could -- by viewing one of my own checklists,
substituting your checklist ID string for mine, and thus be able to see
yours,....
I just tried that. It worked.
But it would be nice to have a plug and play solution for future use of
eBird checklist ID viewing for all of us.
On September 9, 2023 6:55:18 PM Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...> wrote:
> Well I tried to post a message with a link to my eBird checklist that
> contains a photo of the Tringa with reddish legs that we think is a Lesser
> Yellowlegs with unusually colored legs. It was rejected as way beyond the
> size of messages that can be posted to Tweeters. I don’t understand why a
> link would show an unusually large size. If you use eBird, the checklist
> number is S149487506. If you are interested in seeing a photo but cannot
> access this checklist, shoot me an email and I will forward the photo file.
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/9/23 8:34 pm From: Robert O'Brien <baro...> Subject: [Tweeters] Falcons at Play (was Re: Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr)
Peregrine & bald eagle: I may have told this one before but it's such a good story here it is again. I didn't see this, it was reported on o b o l. A bald eagle was flying casually across Yaquina Bay. A Peregrine came up and started dive bombing it. Over and over, up and down, up and down. The bald eagle wasn't in for playfulness. As the Peregrine came rocketing past for the nth time, the bald eagle simply flipped upside down and grabbed it. Literally out of mid-air. R. I. P. The Peregrine, no more fun and games for that one. Who says bald eagles are simply scavengers and klepto parasites Bob O'Brien Portland
On Saturday, September 9, 2023, Michael Price <loblollyboy...> wrote:
> Hi tweets > > What makes the idea of raptors engaging in interspecies play seems > incongruous with general raptor behavior which, it's got to be said, seems > to me on the whole to be rather dourly, even calvinistically singleminded. > But falcons are different in that they have a capacity for play which all > other raptors seem to lack. How come? > > Then the of-course moment. Falcons are not even closely related to other > raptors; they're related most closely to *parrots. *And parrots *love* to > play. There's even two geographically widely-separated species that are so > similar in ecology, psychology and behavior you'd swear they'd been > separated at birth: New Zealand/Aotearoa's mountain parrot, the Kea (*Nestor > notabilis*), notorious for its (sometimes) destructive playfulness, and > the Striated Caracara (*Phalcoboenus australis*) or 'Johnny Rook', a > falcon of extreme southern Patagonia and the Falkland Islands/Malvinas. > Parenthetically, there's a marvelously informative and very well written > book on Johnny Rook, *A Most Remarkable Creature*, by Brad Meiburg (who's > a pretty remarkable guy in his own right), published in 2021, in which the > close, almost identical behavioral and ecological similarities between the > two birds is simply stunning. > > Common to both is that they have replaced both inner hierarchy and > within-species aggression with playfulness and curiosity. Granted that both > species are probably at the far end of the behavioral spectrum, our own > observed falcon behaviors (eg, Merlins fooling around with crows and > swallows, peregrines with ravens) suggest our own falcons as somewhere not > too distant on that same spectrum. What fun. > > Now, since it's been established that parrots and falcons are so closely > related, if I could only get my peregrine to duet with my African Gray on > the opening bars of 'Up in the Air, Junior Birdman....' > > best, m >
Date: 9/9/23 7:37 pm From: Ed Newbold <ednewbold1...> Subject: [Tweeters] Let's get some more up-to-date info on the threat to Salineno
Hi Jon Anderson and everyone,
Delia and I tried to figure out what the new threat is to Salineno Refuge, which is owned and operated by the Valley Land Fund and has faced eminent domain threats over the border wall in the recent past.
This is a small but crucial remnant of the wild habitat in the Rio Grande Valley.
Apparently there is a letter which we should write now or soon, can you help us with pertinent recent details?
And Jon, thanks so much for alerting us.
Cheers,
Date: 9/9/23 6:58 pm From: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...> Subject: [Tweeters] Photo of Tringa Reported This Morning as a Possible Spotted Redshank at Eide Road, Snohomish County
Well I tried to post a message with a link to my eBird checklist that contains a photo of the Tringa with reddish legs that we think is a Lesser Yellowlegs with unusually colored legs. It was rejected as way beyond the size of messages that can be posted to Tweeters. I don’t understand why a link would show an unusually large size. If you use eBird, the checklist number is S149487506. If you are interested in seeing a photo but cannot access this checklist, shoot me an email and I will forward the photo file.
Steve — There's a great tool (a birder-friendly dashboard!) that uses eBird data. You can specify a species and a recent time period (e.g., the last 14 days). https://birddash.net/us/wa/. Use the “look for a species” feature. Looks like there are some recent Black-backed Woodpecker sightings in the vicinity of Mount Rainier.
Doug Santoni
Seattle WA
> On Sep 9, 2023, at 3:51 PM, Steve Krival <stevekrival...> wrote:
>
> Has anyone seen any Black-backed Woodpeckers in the Cle Elum to Ellensburg area recently? Or anywhere in WA within 3-4 hours of Seattle?
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/9/23 3:28 pm From: Michael Price <loblollyboy...> Subject: [Tweeters] Falcons at Play (was Re: Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr)
Hi tweets
What makes the idea of raptors engaging in interspecies play seems incongruous with general raptor behavior which, it's got to be said, seems to me on the whole to be rather dourly, even calvinistically singleminded. But falcons are different in that they have a capacity for play which all other raptors seem to lack. How come?
Then the of-course moment. Falcons are not even closely related to other raptors; they're related most closely to *parrots. *And parrots *love* to play. There's even two geographically widely-separated species that are so similar in ecology, psychology and behavior you'd swear they'd been separated at birth: New Zealand/Aotearoa's mountain parrot, the Kea (*Nestor notabilis*), notorious for its (sometimes) destructive playfulness, and the Striated Caracara (*Phalcoboenus australis*) or 'Johnny Rook', a falcon of extreme southern Patagonia and the Falkland Islands/Malvinas. Parenthetically, there's a marvelously informative and very well written book on Johnny Rook, *A Most Remarkable Creature*, by Brad Meiburg (who's a pretty remarkable guy in his own right), published in 2021, in which the close, almost identical behavioral and ecological similarities between the two birds is simply stunning.
Common to both is that they have replaced both inner hierarchy and within-species aggression with playfulness and curiosity. Granted that both species are probably at the far end of the behavioral spectrum, our own observed falcon behaviors (eg, Merlins fooling around with crows and swallows, peregrines with ravens) suggest our own falcons as somewhere not too distant on that same spectrum. What fun.
Now, since it's been established that parrots and falcons are so closely related, if I could only get my peregrine to duet with my African Gray on the opening bars of 'Up in the Air, Junior Birdman....'
Date: 9/9/23 1:44 pm From: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: eBird Report of Spotted Redshank at Eide Road—Update
Several of us got very close views of this bird along with lots of yellowlegs. It definitely has reddish legs but size, plumage, and bill, along with white tail patch in flight indicate a Lesser Yellowlegs with very interesting legs.
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...>
> Date: September 9, 2023 at 12:02:21 PM PDT
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: eBird Report of Spotted Redshank at Eide Road
>
> Reported this morning on the river. Several of us are searching and coming up with nothing. If that changes, I’ll update.
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
Date: 9/9/23 1:23 pm From: Rachel Lawson <rwlawson5593...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Mega migration day at Clark County's newest ebird hotspot
Hi Jim,
I am currently traveling in Indonesia with a friend of yours, Jenny Bowman. She says hi!
Rachel
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker...>
Sent: Sunday, September 3, 2023 5:42:06 AM
To: tweeters tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Mega migration day at Clark County's newest ebird hotspot
Hi Tweeters,
Highlights from a very productive trip to Clark County's newest ebird hotspot, Mountain View 4x4 Trailhead (Migration Corner) located along the eastern edge of the county included a flock of 9 migrating CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, a single CASSIN'S FINCH and a conservatively counted 475 individual warblers of 8 species. Also, a record 63 Red-breasted Nuthatches in active migration. The place rocked!
Date: 9/9/23 11:09 am From: Odette B. James <o.b.james...> Subject: [Tweeters] Franklin's Gulls, Cedar River Delta
Two Franklin's Gulls on the big sandbar at the Cedar River Delta at 11 am today, Saturday Sept. 9. Looks like they may be planning to winter here - if the airport noisemakers don't eventually drive them away. There were very few gulls on the delta last winter, probably partly because of the efforts of the noisemakers - gunshots and smoke canisters.
Odette James, from my balcony at the Lakeshore Retirement Community, on the shore of Lake Washington
Date: 9/9/23 8:28 am From: Karen Wosilait <karen.w.mobile...> Subject: [Tweeters] Great Egrets at Brady’s Oysters (Grays Harbor)
As I was going over the bridge between Bottle Beach and the coast, I saw 5 Great Egrets at Brady’s Oysters. One flew off as we were driving in, but all were confirmed as GREG.
Date: 9/9/23 5:20 am From: Jon. Anderson and Marty Chaney <festuca...> Subject: [Tweeters] Salineño Preserve - Please take a few minutes to write an email
Date: 9/8/23 12:38 pm From: john dantoni <dantonijohn...> Subject: [Tweeters] And speaking of playing birds...
I was at Diablo Dam about 6 years ago and there was a strong, consistent wind coming over the top of the structure. I watched one lone swallow fly to the edge of the dam to be blown back over the lake. The bird would then circle around out of the draft and repeat the same behavior. Interesting to watch!
All the best, John D'Antoni
Wenatchee Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Hello Tweets:
Come join us this weekend for the Edmonds WA., “Puget Sound Bird Fest”,
www.edmundswa.gov or visit Pilchuck Audubon Website for events description.
Jim Ullrich
Date: 9/8/23 7:19 am From: Roger Craik <r_craik...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR
Hi All
I had the occasion to spend 10 minutes watching a similar interaction between a Merlin and 3 crows. What was interesting was that the crows were *not* in mob mode. All very casual until the Merlin got tired of the game and left.
All this almost at ground level in some roadside trees. I just sat in my truck and enjoyed. No binos needed.
Roger Craik Maple Ridge BC
On 2023-09-08 1:32 a.m., Michael Price wrote: > Hi tweets, > > > > Many years later, I watched a Merlin and two crows similarly taking > alternating turns chasing, with at least /four/ iterations. Both > parties could have left at any point, but didn't. Tell me that's not play. > > > best, m > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/8/23 6:53 am From: Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR
Last summer Merlins nested near my house (Port Townsend). One day I managed
this two-minute audio of the interchange between the pair and several
crows. Either the Merlin fledge was leaving the nest for the first time or
an eagle was nearby. I couldn't see exactly, but the audio was great.
On Fri, Sep 8, 2023 at 2:28 AM Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
> I've seen exactly the situation multiple times. A couple memorable ones
> were: two crows versus a Merlin in South Florida. It's hard to know which
> was the aggressor here, they took turns. Initially the crows were diving at
> the Merlin which retaliated. This went on for about 10 minutes before the
> Merlin moved on. A migrant heading south likely over the Gulf. The crows
> residents. Another time it was a Raven versus a Peregrine in the Hills
> above Alviso California. Once again they switched places first The Raven
> going after the Peregrine then the reverse. Back and forth back and forth.
> Both of them masters of the air. Bob O'Brien Portland
>
> On Friday, September 8, 2023, Michael Price <loblollyboy...> wrote:
>
>> Hi tweets,
>>
>> Shep Thorpe writes: We had nice looks of a MERLIN
>> unsuccessfully chasing swallows.
>>
>> Maybe not unsuccessful. One time in September, Mike Force and I were at
>> Jericho Park on the west side of Vancouver BC's West side. There was a tall
>> long-dead cottonwood snag on its south side containing a Merlin and an
>> American Kestrel. For the next half-hour several times we witnessed these
>> two suddenly start chasing each other. First, Merlin chasing Kestrel,
>> return to the snag, rest, then Kestrel chased Merlin, return to snag, rest,
>> a few minutes, rinse and repeat, the two of them alternating the
>> chaser/chased roles at least three times. Tell me that's not play.
>>
>> Jericho is longer east-west than wide north-south, about a kilometer and
>> a half long. An unwitting Cliff Swallow (remember Cliff Swallows?) entered
>> the park at the eastern end. The Merlin immediately rocketed off to
>> intercept it. People, we then witnessed that Merlin literally toying with
>> the terrified swallow *the entire length *of Jericho Park before *allowing
>> it to go its way and returning to the snag.* At any moment that
>> swallow's life was forfeit to the the little falcon: it could have easily
>> slain the swallow at any point. I've seen that. But it *didn't*. Tell me
>> that's not play.
>>
>> Many years later, I watched a Merlin and two crows similarly taking
>> alternating turns chasing, with at least *four* iterations. Both parties
>> could have left at any point, but didn't. Tell me that's not play.
>>
>> So, Shep, it may be less a case of an incompetent Merlin than one of a
>> Merlin simply mucking about ('mookin abaht', as me old Lancashire gaffer
>> would have said) in its just-screwing-around rough humor.
>>
>> best, m
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 9/8/23 2:30 am From: Robert O'Brien <baro...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR
I've seen exactly the situation multiple times. A couple memorable ones were: two crows versus a Merlin in South Florida. It's hard to know which was the aggressor here, they took turns. Initially the crows were diving at the Merlin which retaliated. This went on for about 10 minutes before the Merlin moved on. A migrant heading south likely over the Gulf. The crows residents. Another time it was a Raven versus a Peregrine in the Hills above Alviso California. Once again they switched places first The Raven going after the Peregrine then the reverse. Back and forth back and forth. Both of them masters of the air. Bob O'Brien Portland
On Friday, September 8, 2023, Michael Price <loblollyboy...> wrote:
> Hi tweets, > > Shep Thorpe writes: We had nice looks of a MERLIN > unsuccessfully chasing swallows. > > Maybe not unsuccessful. One time in September, Mike Force and I were at > Jericho Park on the west side of Vancouver BC's West side. There was a tall > long-dead cottonwood snag on its south side containing a Merlin and an > American Kestrel. For the next half-hour several times we witnessed these > two suddenly start chasing each other. First, Merlin chasing Kestrel, > return to the snag, rest, then Kestrel chased Merlin, return to snag, rest, > a few minutes, rinse and repeat, the two of them alternating the > chaser/chased roles at least three times. Tell me that's not play. > > Jericho is longer east-west than wide north-south, about a kilometer and a > half long. An unwitting Cliff Swallow (remember Cliff Swallows?) entered > the park at the eastern end. The Merlin immediately rocketed off to > intercept it. People, we then witnessed that Merlin literally toying with > the terrified swallow *the entire length *of Jericho Park before *allowing > it to go its way and returning to the snag.* At any moment that swallow's > life was forfeit to the the little falcon: it could have easily slain the > swallow at any point. I've seen that. But it *didn't*. Tell me that's not > play. > > Many years later, I watched a Merlin and two crows similarly taking > alternating turns chasing, with at least *four* iterations. Both parties > could have left at any point, but didn't. Tell me that's not play. > > So, Shep, it may be less a case of an incompetent Merlin than one of a > Merlin simply mucking about ('mookin abaht', as me old Lancashire gaffer > would have said) in its just-screwing-around rough humor. > > best, m >
Date: 9/8/23 1:35 am From: Michael Price <loblollyboy...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR
Hi tweets,
Shep Thorpe writes: We had nice looks of a MERLIN unsuccessfully chasing swallows.
Maybe not unsuccessful. One time in September, Mike Force and I were at Jericho Park on the west side of Vancouver BC's West side. There was a tall long-dead cottonwood snag on its south side containing a Merlin and an American Kestrel. For the next half-hour several times we witnessed these two suddenly start chasing each other. First, Merlin chasing Kestrel, return to the snag, rest, then Kestrel chased Merlin, return to snag, rest, a few minutes, rinse and repeat, the two of them alternating the chaser/chased roles at least three times. Tell me that's not play.
Jericho is longer east-west than wide north-south, about a kilometer and a half long. An unwitting Cliff Swallow (remember Cliff Swallows?) entered the park at the eastern end. The Merlin immediately rocketed off to intercept it. People, we then witnessed that Merlin literally toying with the terrified swallow *the entire length *of Jericho Park before *allowing it to go its way and returning to the snag.* At any moment that swallow's life was forfeit to the the little falcon: it could have easily slain the swallow at any point. I've seen that. But it *didn't*. Tell me that's not play.
Many years later, I watched a Merlin and two crows similarly taking alternating turns chasing, with at least *four* iterations. Both parties could have left at any point, but didn't. Tell me that's not play.
So, Shep, it may be less a case of an incompetent Merlin than one of a Merlin simply mucking about ('mookin abaht', as me old Lancashire gaffer would have said) in its just-screwing-around rough humor.
Tuesday’s excursion included several familiar faces among the
Pacific-Northwesterners, as well as birders from Utah, Texas, Indiana,
Illinois, and the UK. Everyone seemed excited about the day ahead,
especially with a great forecast. After the orientation, we motored out of
the marina in the dark (no fog!), with only a few ghostly shapes of the
“big guy” gulls flying over.
The light increased enough to see as we approached the bar, with frequent
encounters of SOOTY SHEARWATERS (1010) and COMMON MURRES (218). As we
entered offshore waters, the first FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS (98),
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS (592), and BULLER’S SHEARWATERS (12) made an
appearance. Some of the Buller’s were quite cooperative, remaining on the
water to allow for some comparison with the other shearwaters before taking
flight, showing their striking wing pattern.
We hit the lottery with a lone shrimper (pink shrimp), which had just
brought in its catch as we neared. Numerous small orange fish (young
rockfish) happened to be in the by-catch and were attracting a lot of
attention. Shearwaters, including a few SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (19),
gorgeous SABINE’S GULLS (92) and loads of BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (116) were
picking away at the bonanza. This activity also attracted the attention of
SOUTH POLAR SKUAS (3) and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS (9), providing us with
incredible repeat views as they circled around the boat. We had already
encountered several POMARINE JAEGERS (7) and would later find PARASITIC
JAEGER (5) for the coveted Skua Slam!
By the time we stopped for a bit of chumming in the deepwater canyon, many
on board were shedding layers in the warm sun with little wind. With only
light winds, the chum did not attract much. Some distant albatrosses
sitting on the water were quite unimpressed. As one finally ventured over
to investigate, Captain Phil got out his bait fish to entice it close to
the delight of everyone on board as it gobbled down several of the silvery
fish. A few of the other Black-footed Albatrosses finally decided it might
be worthwhile to venture over to check out the activity, but most ended up
rejecting the offerings.
After leaving the deep water, we found the shrimper again and the boat’s
fanbase had increased greatly! They were again pulling in the nets (the
first hauled on deck was reported as 8000 lbs—that’s a lot of shrimp
salad!), which explained the boat’s popularity. One of the banquet
attendees was a big, burly bird sitting amidst a flotilla of shearwaters,
dwarfing them all. A *SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS*! Woo-hoo! This young bird was
in all-dark brown plumage and had the characteristic massive pink bill,
tipped in bluish-gray. Everyone on board got great views of it sitting and
in flight—what a treat!
Phalarope migration seems to be winding down, but we were still finding a
few of both RED-NECKED (11) and RED PHALAROPE (7). It’s always fun to see
these petite birds making a living on the open sea!
Calmer waters made finding BLUE SHARKS (24) and OCEAN SUNFISH (Mola mola)
(14) easier to spot at some distance.
The mammal show was fantastic, with some great close views of PACIFIC
WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN (33), some even performing some aerial acrobatics! A
bonus--NORTHERN RIGHT-WHALE DOLPHINS (12) were traveling with them. A few
observers on the bow called out a pair of distant ORCAS (2) but were
unfortunately not seen again. HUMPBACK WHALES (12) proved to be popular
with several close surfacing views and some spectacular fluke displays.
GRAY WHALE (2), HARBOR PORPOISE (9) and DALL’S PORPOISE rounded out the
cetaceans for the day.
Thanks to the great group of birders, Phil and Chris Anderson, and fellow
spotters Bill Tweit and Gene Revelas—we had some great birding and we
couldn’t have asked for better sea conditions or weather!
Date: 9/7/23 4:22 pm From: birdmarymoor <birdmarymoor...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2023-09-07
Tweets - It was as quiet as it's ever been at Marymoor. A low overcast and heavy still air is never good for birding, but even so it was just D. E. A. D.
Highlights:
Killdeer - Suddenly, about 35 total, up from 1-2
Osprey - Still young on both nests, calling incessantly
Barn Owl - Like last week, two in the East Meadow right after 6:00 a.m.
Hairy Woodpecker - Several glimpses, plus one real sighting near the windmill
Pileated Woodpecker - One just NW of the mansion
Willow Flycatcher - One, SE of East Meadow
AMERICAN PIPIT - Matt and Lee saw one, heard more, in Dog Meadow. First of Fall (FOF)
Western Tanager - Two, SE of East Meadow
The bigger highlight was a day with SIX MAMMAL SPECIES: Eastern Gray Squirrel, DOUGLAS SQUIRREL (only our 6th sighing ever!), American Beaver, Eastern Cottontail, four River Otters on and above the weir, and three Mule Deer (Black-tailed).
Misses were also notable: Hooded Merganser, Vaux's Swift, Green Heron, Cooper's Hawk, Warbling Vireo, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Marsh Wren, HOUSE FINCH, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird (may have seen some distantly), Orange-crowned, Yellow, and Black-throated Gray Warblers, and Black-headed Grosbeak. My fingers are tired from typing them all.
For the day, a pathetically low count of 44 species.
Date: 9/7/23 11:28 am From: Shep Thorp <shepthorp...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 9/6/2023
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 25 of us had really nice day of birding at the Refuge with
mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 50's to 70's degrees
Fahrenheit. There was a High 11'6" Tide at 12:33pm providing a nice tidal
push so we did our routine walk. Highlights included SOLITARY SANDPIPER
continuing at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, three different GREAT
HORNED OWLS and a BARRED OWL on the Twin Barns Loop Trail, MERLIN hunting
swallows, SANDERLINGS and BAIRD SANDPIPERs continuing on the mudflats west
of Leschi Slough, PARASITIC JAEGER off Luhr Beach visible from the Puget
Sound Observation Platform and GREAT EGRET continuing at the Riparian
Forest Overlook.
Starting out at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at 8am we observed the
continuing SOLITARY SANDPIPER roosting and foraging along the watersedge.
This species can be very hard to find if roosting near grassy clumps. We
also had nice looks of WOOD DUCK.
Two GREAT HORNED OWL were seen during morning scouting, one next to Twin
Barns Observation Platform and the other on the east side of the Twin Barns
Loop Trail just north of the twin bench overlook on the inside of the
trail. We decided to start are walk relocating the owl seen on the loop
trail. On our way along the south east side of the loop trail the front of
our group located a BARRED OWL, which eventually flushed and flew into the
stand adjacent to the Education Center. While trying to relocate the
Barred Owl a third Great Horned Owl was located south of the Riparian
Forest Overlook cut-off. An exciting morning to have four different owls
observed!
The Orchard was good for CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY, MOURNING DOVE, CEDAR
WAXWING, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.
The Access Road along the fields is where we picked up high flying BARN
SWALLOWs and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWs. We had nice looks of a MERLIN
unsuccessfully chasing swallows. RED-TAILED HAWK was seen south between
McAllister Creek and I5. Both Coyote and Columbian Black-tailed Deer were
seen in the fields. A single RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER flew west over the
parking lot and field.
The west entrance to the Twin Barns Loop Trail was good for numerous COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT. We also observed YELLOW WARBLER and a NORTHERN HARRIER flew
over. Pre-walk sightings included WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER
and WARBLING VIREO, but all these species are much harder to observe.
LINCOLN'S SPARROW was heard, "zeet" contact call.
Out on the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail, early birders were rewarded
with six SANDERLINGS and three BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. There were good numbers
of LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Ducks are
starting to return to the Refuge and we had several hundred NORTHERN
PINTAIL. We also had dozens of AMERICAN WIGEON, AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED
TEAL, and AMERICAN WIGEON. A few GADWALL were seen in the freshwater
marsh. BALD EAGLE, OSPREY, PEREGRINE FALCON and MERLIN were seen hunting
the tidal estuary. A few SAVANNAH'S SPARROWS were heard and seen, as well
AMERICAN PIPIT.
The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail was good for Gulls and up close looks
at LEAST SANDPIPER. A few CASPIAN TERN continue to roost and forage.
HOODED MERGANSER and DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT were foraging the sloughs and
McAllister Creek. Numerous Harbor Seals were sleeping and foraging.
BELTED KINGFISHER was seen as well. From the Puget Sound Observation
Platform we observed a FOY PARASITIC JAEGER off Luhr Beach associated with
a mixed feeding flock of Gulls, Cormorants and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS.
Breeding plumage COMMON LOON was also seen. A nice group of COMMON
MERGANSER were roosting on the marsh plain at the mouth of McAllister
Creek. On our return we had a flyover of four GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE!
On the northeast corner of the Twin Barns Loop Trail we located a mixed
flock of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER,
YELLOW WARBLER, WILSON WARBLER and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.
On our return through the Riparian Forest Overlook, the front part of our
group relocated the GREAT EGRET foraging in the slough. The bird flushed
closer to the Nisqually River out of view, so it is easily startled.
We observed 79 species for the day, and have seen 260 species this year
with FOY Solitary Sandpiper, Parasitic Jaeger, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Great
Egret. Mammals seen included Townsend's Chipmunk, Coyote, Columbian
Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel, and Harbor Seal. Not to mention
plenty of Pacific Tree Frogs and Painted Turtles.
A special thank you to all the volunteers who helped to cover my sick leave
the last two walks. I'm grateful and it's nice to be back.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am, happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Sep 6, 2023 7:04 AM - 4:59 PM
Protocol: Traveling
8.193 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Mostly sunny with temperatures in
the 50’s to 70’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 11’6” Tide at 12:33pm. Mammals
seen Townsend’s Chipmunk, Coyote, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray
Squirrel, Harbor Seal.
79 species (+2 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose 4 Flew over Refuge at 2pm.
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 100
Wood Duck 5
Northern Shoveler 30
Gadwall 3
American Wigeon 45
Mallard 40
Northern Pintail 450
Green-winged Teal 50
Hooded Merganser 4
Common Merganser 12 Marsh plain at mouth of McAllister Creek.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 14
Band-tailed Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 3 Orchard.
Anna's Hummingbird 2
Killdeer 8
Sanderling 6 Observed by some at 10am outside (salt side) of Nisqually
Estuary Trail or new dike.
Baird's Sandpiper 3 Observed by some at 10am on the outside or salt
side of the Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Least Sandpiper 200
Western Sandpiper 75
Solitary Sandpiper 1 Staging at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook.
Medium sized shorebird with green legs, distinct eye ring, medium sized
straight bill and prominent carpal contrast on folded wing. Photo.
Greater Yellowlegs 30
Parasitic Jaeger 1 Observed off Luhr Beach from the Puget Sound
Observation Platform on the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail. Observed
flying towards feeding birds on bait ball and bathing on surface of water.
Dark arial waterbird with pointed wings and ‘Falcon’ look. Smaller than
gulls in area. When wings opened up and flapped light patch inner
primaries. Observed by several experienced birders at 1/2 mile with 40-60 x
spotting scopes for 5 minutes. First identified flight style and wing
shape, then further confirmation with size and pattern at base of primaries.
Rhinoceros Auklet 4
Short-billed Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 400
California Gull 30
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 20
Caspian Tern 5
Common Loon 1 Foraging in Puget Sound, seen from Puget Sound
Observation Platform.
Brandt's Cormorant 1 Nisqually River channel marker.
Double-crested Cormorant 60
Great Blue Heron 40
Great Egret 1 Riparian River Overlook. Observed by some.
Osprey 2
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 10
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 1
Great Horned Owl 3 One observed at Twin Barns Overlook at 8am.
Another observed on the inside of the Twin Barns Loop Trail, on the east
side just north of the Twin Bench Overlook at 8:30am. A third bird found
just south of the Riparian Forest Overlook cut-off at 8:30am.
Barred Owl 1 Seen by several at 8:15am along the southeast section of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Belted Kingfisher 3
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Flew over the west side parking lot across
field south of the McAllister Creek Access Road.
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 4
Merlin 2 One hunting swallows in the morning. The other hunting
shorebirds in the afternoon.
Peregrine Falcon 1 Seen from the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail
just south of confluence with shannon slough.
Western Wood-Pewee 1 Twin Barns, vocalizing.
Willow Flycatcher 1 Seen in the morning along the west side of the
Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Warbling Vireo 3 Seen and heard in the morning along the west side of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Steller's Jay 1
California Scrub-Jay 2 Orchard.
American Crow 50
Common Raven 1 Hoffman Hill.
Black-capped Chickadee 30
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 10
Purple Martin 1
Violet-green Swallow 4
Barn Swallow (American) 50
Brown Creeper 6
Bewick's Wren 4
European Starling 400
Swainson's Thrush 5
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 3
American Pipit 3 Fields and fresh water marsh.
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 4
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 6
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 5
Song Sparrow 17
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 1
Red-winged Blackbird 10
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Common Yellowthroat 15
Yellow Warbler 6
Black-throated Gray Warbler 3
Wilson's Warbler 2
Date: 9/6/23 11:07 am From: B B <birder4184...> Subject: [Tweeters] Blog Post - Birding Trip to Sulawesi and Halmahera in Indonesia
I visited Sulawesi and Halmahera in Indonesia las month on a Rockjumper birding trip. No mishaps and some great birds but it was challenging and difficult birding that I found to be not what I mostly enjoy about bird travel. Stories, reflection and photos in the blog post below.
https://blairbirding.com/2023/09/06/indonesia-mixed-feelings/
Wicky Shelter: Black-backed Woodpecker and Williamson's Sapsucker, both right in the shelter area. Calling for a Northern Pygmy Owl was successful in bringing one in, and countless Red-breasted Nuthatches, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. House Wren and Cassin's Vireo were kind enough to sing in September, previously missing from the year list in Skamania. Similarly, some finches (Red Crossbills and Pine Siskin) were everywhere after a start of the year when they were scarce.
FR 66: Mostly quiet, although at South Prairie Lake, the air was filled with the sounds of whirring wings as juncoes and warblers flitted around in the bushes lining the road and the lake. A few Townsend's Warblers were mixed in with the many Yellow-rumped Warblers. Huckleberries were found here and there, and were delicious.
Little White Salmon Fish Hatchery: Many Common Mergansers, no Harlequin Ducks. They may just be a miss this year.
Home Valley Park: Shorebird bonanza, by Skamania measures, with a couple of Western Sandpipers and a Least.
Strawberry Island: finally, some Northern Shovelers on the Columbia! These seem a bit uncommon for a code 1 bird, but maybe they'll pack Skamania in October?
Skamania Landing: Too much water for shorebirding, but a Green Heron was a nice surprise.
Clark County:
Shilapoo Lake: Lots of Shorebirds still, including at least one Baird's Sandpiper, and some Semipalmated Plovers. A California Quail was surprising!
Year totals: Cowlitz (147), Clark (146), Skamania (140), Wahkiakum (139). It's going to be a tough run for it in Skamania and Wahkiakum! There are still enough possibilities out there for both of them to still work out, but it's going to be. . . interesting. 🙂
Some years back, on a very brisk, clear January day, I was birding Blackie Spit, which is at the eastern end of Boundary Bay, BC. The tide was low, so extensive mudflats. I was scoping along the opposite shore when I spotted a pink dot among what looked like a flock of Canada Geese. Cranked up the zoom: it's a flamingo. Jeez, I thought, some silly knothead has planted a lawn flamingo at the water's edge. Then it began feeding.
Its provenance was no mystery. There'd been a Great Escape of flamingos at Vancouver's Stanley Park zoo (now closed). Well, they'd all been pinioned, so the next day the workers simply had to collect all the flamingos aimlessly wandering around the zoo grounds wondering what to do next. But when they did a head-count, they were one short. A few days later, the missing flamingo showed up on the shores of Boundary Bay. The explanation? When the zoo techs were pinioning the birds, they had somehow missed this guy and it had simply cashed in its 'Get out of Jail' card and flown off.
It had attached itself to the Canada Geese flock (they were Pacific Flyway migrant geese, not the local '*canadensis*' layabouts imported from Back East in the Fifties). And for the next several years, it apparently trundled up and down the Pacific coast, earning double-takes from Alaska to Oregon.
Date: 9/5/23 9:56 pm From: Diane Yorgason-Quinn <avosetta...> Subject: [Tweeters] Safety precautions for Avian flu bird and mammal deaths in Washington and Oregon
The avian flu is a sad situation, but the danger to us and our pets hasn't been stressed enough. From WDFW:
Additionally, recent detections of infected Caspian terns have been documented near the Port of Everett, Port of Tacoma, and along the lower Columbia River.
Date: 9/5/23 7:33 pm From: Kathleen Snyder <ksnyder75...> Subject: [Tweeters] From Paul Hicks - Hudsonian Godwit in Tokeland
Tweets,
Some observations of *Hudsonian Godwit* on Friday, September 1 at the
Tokeland Marina: Overall gray and noticeably smaller than Marbleds (and
Bar-taileds) with more contrasty pale supercilium. From the rear the
tail-tip is obviously solid black with no barring on tail-side (different
from other godwits’ alternate dark bars on pale background). Fairly fine,
curved barring on lower flanks behind thighs. During a very brief wing-flip
I saw the white tail-base. Upperparts have a “feathered” appearance
(sizable feathers neatly laying down) in comparison with the “marbled” or
spotted appearance of Marbleds. Some of the larger feathers had a darker
center; nearly all were fringed with a dull rufous or warm brown --
probably highlighted some by the close-to-setting sunlight (2 hours before
sunset). Other birders (eg Kameron Lantor) note that the black underwing is
the most distinctive field mark in flight. *Timing:* Mid-tide, either
rising or falling, is the best time for close-up viewing of the feeding
godwits (per Bill Shelmerdine). Friday the godwit flock left the breakwater
(where they rest during high tide) at 5:55pm to feed on the exposed shore
in front of the marina office. This was 3 hours after a relatively high
high tide of 9 ft, when the tide had receded to a mid-tide level of 4.5
feet. For some reason this Hudsonian is apparently not always present with
the other godwits, or at least not detected. The previous Tuesday less than
a third of our group of 15 spotted it among the hundreds of Marbleds.
Good birding!
Paul Hicks
Tenino/St George, Utah
paulhicks7373 AT gmail DOT com
Date: 9/5/23 8:39 am From: Susan Goebel <sheirah11...> Subject: [Tweeters] Pinky in St. Marks NWR
Good Evening Treeters from Dunedin, FL,
The recent flamingo arrivals are doing well on the west coast of FL. One local bird was taken to a local rehab center and they expect it will be released soon and will join the others. There have been 2 birds locally that were banded and were identified as coming from the Yucatan Peninsula.
As for the question...can they survive, please see the link below about FL's most Famous Flamingo...Pinky. He or she was brought to the FL panhandle by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and has thrived there and has also afforded many US birders good looks at an American Flamingo.
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/entertainment/things-to-do/2023/08/12/after-5-years-fans-still-flock-to-see-celebrity-flamingo-in-the-pink/70569584007/
S. Dale Goebel
(FL/WA birder. Daughter lives on Whidbey Island.)
Any day birding is a Great Day!
Date: 9/4/23 10:33 pm From: Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...> Subject: [Tweeters] Mount Olympus gull?
Saturday Mary & I saw a quite white gull on the mud at Indianola (Kitsap County, east of Poulsbo, north of Bainbridge Island, northwest across Puget Sound from the Space Needle). Several outer primaries had some gray. Otherwise its plumage was entirely white. Outermost 3 primaries tattered. Likewise outermost secondaries tattered. Irises dusty yellow. Orbital rings white. Feet pink. Bill yellow and stout. Gonydeal spot red.
I suppose it's leucistic, and some sort of Olympic Gull. I'm calling it a Mount Olympus gull. Or a Leucas gull.
I'm out of practice, having not picked up my camera since early June, but posted a couple flight photos on Flickr tonight.
I really enjoyed watching it feed. Once it picked up a clam (or such), flew towards me, circled me casually twice as I took photos, maybe trying to get me to fall down in the mud, then flew back a bit and dropped it, cracking it open, then landed to feed on it.
I welcome comments and identification help from well-intentioned and ethical people.
It’s been a big night for the little birds. 6300 pretending to sleep in the Monroe roost. 10,000 in Rainier Riverside. 8,000 have made it all the way down to the SF Bay. Probably the earliest ever for that many.
Date: 9/4/23 2:02 pm From: Hubbell <ldhubbell...> Subject: [Tweeters] Union Bay Watch - Simply Secretive - VIRA
Friends,
This post is about a bird that I have seldom seen. Last month, I was very fortunate to makes some news friends and enjoy a new avian experience all at the same time. I hope you find the story and the photos compelling.
Date: 9/4/23 1:33 pm From: Ilene Samowitz <rockawaybirder...> Subject: [Tweeters] OT: Birding Books for Sale
Please let me know if this is not ok to do... I have three birding books currently on Ebay: A birder's Guide to the Rio Grande Valley by Lockwood et alMARK LOCKWOOD A BIRDER'S GUIDE TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY SOFTCOVER - shrink wrap | eBay
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| | | | MARK LOCKWOOD A BIRDER'S GUIDE TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY SOFTCOVER - shri...
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MARK LOCKWOOD A BIRDER'S GUIDE TO THE RIO GRANDE V... |
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Birding in Seattle and King County by Eugene HunnBirding in Seattle and King County: Site Guide and Annotated List | eBay
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| | | | Birding in Seattle and King County: Site Guide and Annotated List | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Birding in Seattle and King County: Site Guide and... |
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Birding in Snohomish County by Pilchuck Audubon SocietyBirding in Snohomish County - out of print classic | eBay
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| | | | Birding in Snohomish County - out of print classic | eBay
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Thanks, Ilene SamowitzSouth Beach, OR Ilene Samowitz www.ilenesamowitz.com
Date: 9/4/23 9:53 am From: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - August 2023
Hi Tweets,
We ended August with 180 species on the Edmonds year list. New species, in order by date, include:
Green Heron (code 3), 1 at Edmonds marsh, 8-2-23. Many subsequent sightings throughout the month, including reports of 2 herons.
Cassin’s Auklet (code 4), 2 southbound at the waterfront, 8-11-23.
Lesser Yellowlegs (code 4), 1 at Edmonds marsh, 8-23-23. Seen by multiple birders.
Great Egret (code 4), 1 at Edmonds marsh, 8-23-23.
Pectoral Sandpiper (code 3), 1 at Edmonds marsh, 8-26-23.
Wandering Tattler (code 4), 1 at waterfront (marina north breakwater), 8-26-23. Subsequent sightings on both breakwaters and at Marina Beach.
Ruddy Turnstone (code 5), 1 at waterfront (marina south breakwater), 8-27-23.
Parasitic Jaeger (code 3), 2 at waterfront, 8-30-23.
Single Wandering Tattlers were last seen on the marina breakwaters in 2017 and 2020. Prior to that it had been many years since that species has been reported on the waterfront. There have only been three previous records of Ruddy Turnstone in Edmonds. Surprisingly, one appeared in the Edmonds marsh in 1997. There were two subsequent reports, a number of years ago, from an experienced birder on walks from Brackett’s Landing to Shell Creek. This year’s turnstone was captured on camera by someone looking for the tattler. It was far down the south breakwater. It makes one wonder if this species is in Edmonds a bit more frequently but just too distant to be seen from the south end of the public pier.
As always, I appreciate it when birders get in touch with me to share sightings, photos, or audio. It helps us build our collective year list. If you would like a copy of our 2023 city checklist, please request it from checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. (It reflects a species total of 280, including the Nazca Booby.) If eBirders will use the details field to add critical field mark for unusual Edmonds birds (code 3 or rarer), it will help us build the city year list. Photographs or recordings are also helpful. The 2023 checklist is posted in the bird information box at the Visitor Station at the base of the public pier and is up to date through August.
Good birding,
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
Abundance codes: (1) Common, (2) Uncommon, (3) Harder to find, usually seen annually, (4) Rare, 5+ records, (5) Fewer than 5 records
Date: 9/4/23 7:53 am From: Jerry Tangren <kloshewoods...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] USA TODAY: Flamingos are showing up all over the East Coast after Idalia
The sorry question is will they survive. Individuals are already showing signs of distress!
Jerry Tangren
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...>
Sent: Monday, September 4, 2023 6:13:27 AM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] USA TODAY: Flamingos are showing up all over the East Coast after Idalia
Flamingos are showing up all over the East Coast after Idalia
Flamingos have been spotted in six states from Florida to Virginia after Hurricane Idalia came through last week. Will they stay?
Date: 9/4/23 12:49 am From: Tom Benedict <benedict.t...> Subject: [Tweeters] How Late Do Barn Swallows Fledge?
I saw a Barn Swallow family of 5 fledglings and 2 parents today, Sep 3, 2023 in Port Ludlow, WA. I was surprised to see fledglings this late in the summer. I found this Washington Breeding Phenologies <https://www.burkemuseum.org/sites/default/files/2019-07/BreedingPhenologyProject_sm.pdf> document which shows that egg laying peaks in May and June, followed by a secondary peak in late July and early August, likely representing a second brood. Given that incubation can take 12-17 days and fledging another 19-24 days, the eggs for these young birds were likely laid in the last week of July. So this family is well within the normal range.
I guess there is sufficient food (insects) around in September to support these youngsters, but they must be starting to think about migration soon.
Date: 9/3/23 9:08 pm From: Ed Newbold <ednewbold1...> Subject: [Tweeters] Strongly recommend Chirstian Cooper's Extraordinary Birder series
Hi All,
We haven't stayed even with the way people are doing things in the real world and haven't watched anything resembling TV since we saying good bye to our old vaccuum-tube-type TV, so it was only thanks to being cajoled by non-birder-friends that we just watched an episode of Christian Cooper's National Geographic TV series earlier this evening.
I absolutely without any reservations recommend going out of your way to watch this series, he is doing a fantastic job representing and promoting birds and birding, is a great host, and the film quality is quite amazing.
Cheers,
Ed Newbold
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 9/3/23 7:11 pm From: Kersti Muul <kersti.e.muul...> Subject: [Tweeters] Re Caspian terns ( supplemental info from my research)
Jill/All,
Here is some [lengthy] supplemental info regarding further questions I've seen popping up regarding HPAI in the CATE and Seattle fragment colony questions. 2021 was a hard year, but it was the chicks that were impacted, adults were still 4000 strong.
In 2021 after the catastrophic heat event taking the lives of over 200 CATE chicks (deaths directly from heat, flesh burns, broken legs and/or wings, getting run over, etc.), there were still around 4000 adults on the roof at T106. Previous counts have same numbers divided amongst Kimberly Clarke, T106, and Rat Island since 2015.
Last year my drone studies counted around 1200 adults at the Coast Guard, three weeks after the novel peregrine interaction I witnessed on June 5, 2022 (which I surmise flushed them). They laid eggs hundreds of eggs 2.5 months late; perhaps heat impacted embryonic development as was a complete nesting failure there after laying hundreds of eggs. Or, perhaps they were flushed. I did drone studies weekly and the numbers dwindled and eggs disappeared.
I monitored Kimberly Clarke and Magnolia, no nesting in Everett and sloped roof in Magnolia would not allow for nesting, just hanging out. They were chickless and nomadic and spent a lot of time at Kellogg island. Kellogg island is also not conducive to nesting as it is tidal and lots of predators, including an eagle nest. 500 or so nested on Rat island with two nesting disturbances as Steve has noted (July total nesting failure - human interaction, and August- coyote predation resulted in only 10 successful chicks). 2022 Seattle fragment colony seemed about 2000 less CATE than usual.
In January 2022 their historic nesting site was demolished at T106. They arrived in Seattle in April about a week late, in very small numbers. Only about 100 or so at any time here. They went to coast guard, and I had arranged to study there again, but learned roof drain work was to be done at the same time as nesting. I approached NOAA about possibly stopping that work if they looked they were going to nest. Unfortunately the Coast guard informed me shortly after that they had USDA install deterrents due to the complaints from employees. After that not much presence at all. I went out with the Port of Seattle and went way up river to check derelict barges for nesting, but there were none. I then checked Everett again but nothing. Learned some nesting on Rat Island.
And then the HPAI outbreak. There were around 1500 CATE at Rat Island (most nesting ever there) but that is yet again significantly reduced fragment colony numbers. Im sure the T106 fragment colony makes up some of what is/was nesting at Rat Island. This is why I say we are down 3000 or so birds. Nobody knows where they are. Three successive years of nesting catastrophes for the CATE.
My excerpts from *2022* timeline colab with NOAA/Port of Seattle:
7 April - Arrival time for CATE in 2022 6AM flying east towards port vocalizing (Kersti Muul)
5 June - Peregrine disturbances/attacks documented in T106 CATE colony. Chasing individuals as well as flushing entire colony multiple times. Can provide photo documentation (Kersti Muul.)
10 June- Suspicion that CATE nesting on Coast Guard building. Tern activity high at CG Warehouse (Kersti Muul.)
1 July. To document/confirm CATE on CG Warehouse, and get counts, did first drone survey. Survey showed ~1,130 individuals centralized on the North side of roof. No chicks or eggs present. Many individuals bringing in fish Can provide photo documentation. (Kersti Muul)
11 July. Accessed CG Warehouse roof to check for nesting status. Confirmed hundreds of eggs scattered everywhere, concentrated near drains (probably due to slope) and majority concentrated on north side of building. No hatchlings at this point. Adults aggressively defending colony from gulls, many individuals bringing in fish. One gull nest present on NW corner by door. Can provide photo documentation. (Kersti Muul)
16 July. Second drone survey of CG Warehouse. ~800 individuals, (less than July 11 but different time of day could account for this )no hatchlings. Documented a lot of terns chasing eachother, specifically those with very full crops; making it difficult for those individuals to return to the colony with the fish. Individuals are a lot more spread out. Fecal matter a lot more widespread over roof than 11 July. Can provide photo documentation. (Kersti Muul)
16 July. Drone survey of T106. Found multiple gull chicks. No CATE present. (Kersti Muul)
16 July. Drone survey of Kimberly Clark building in Everett to check for nesting/occupancy of CATE. Since numbers at CG are half of 2021, thought they might be there. Survey showed no CATE present. Can provide photo documentation. (Kersti Muul)
26 July. Third drone survey of CG Warehouse. Only ~97 individuals present. Most or all eggs are gone as well. Fecal matter shows utilization of much larger area than before. Suspect nesting failure. The majority of CATE colony has abandoned this building. Can provide photo documentation. (Kersti Muul)
26 July. Second drone survey of T106. ~ (less than 200 individuals but need to grid count). This number does not reflect a colony shift from CG Warehouse. The majority of the colony is at this time MIA. Can provide photo documentation. (Kersti Muul)
Drone survey 1 august-7 to check for hatchlings and numbers in both CG and T106 (Kersti Muul)
3 August. Drone study of former Northwestern Industries building. High occupancy. Not nesting (roof is slanted and it is too late anyway) Can provide photo documentation. (Kersti Muul)
8 August. Drone study of Kellogg Island, T106, CG, Barges and Kellogg Island. Scant presence on T106, 0 at CG, 0 on barges. High occupancy at Kellogg Island. Can provide photo documentation. (Kersti Muul)
15 August. CATE have abandoned Northwestern Industries building. (Kersti Muul)
15 August. CATE have abandoned Northwestern Industries building. (Kersti Muul)
15 September. CATE have migrated, no presence here. I will arrange with Coast Guard for fish bone collection for NOAA Fisheries diet analysis (Kersti Muul)
5 October 6300. Collected fish bones from Coast Guard warehouse roof. Found multiple shells of CATE eggs, predominantly in NE sector. Can provide photo documentation. (Muul/Good)
Kersti E. Muul 360-317-4646
Urban Conservation & Wildlife Specialist/Biologist - Response and Rescue
Wildlife Field Biologist IV Marbled murrelet forest certified
Date: 9/3/23 1:17 pm From: <jimbetz...> Subject: [Tweeters] Caspian Terns on Whidbey and Fidalgo
Hi,
To add to the thread about the Terns ...
Caspian Terns are frequent visitors to the West Beach area of Whidbey Island (the part of it that is just South of the base golf course. When I've seen them in this location they are not simply passing thru - they are actively hunting for fish (and sometimes successful). They work back and forth along the shore - sometimes close in and sometimes fairly far out (100 yards or so) ... "where ever the fish are today/now".
I have also seen Caspian Terns on the West side of Fidalgo Island in locations such as Bowman's Bay Head, Rosario Head, and Sharpe's Park. And then further North at Ship Harbor and all along Guemes Channel and the West side of Guemes. I even saw three or four one time at Cap Sante.
And we saw a few the last time we went to Smith Island (just a couple of weeks ago). And an as yet unconfirmed sighting near the mouth of the Samish River about 3 years ago. One bird, to far away for positive ID, that was diving down near the river mouth, then climbing back up, pausing for just a bit (almost a hover) and then diving down again. Never did get all the way to the water ("false sighting of fish") - while I was watching it. The West side of Samish Island seems like probable habitat ... ?
Some of these might be visitors from the colony at Rat Island ... ? But the further away you get the more likely they are from some other source ...
Is it possible that there are other colonies that just haven't been mentioned in the recent thread? There is a colony of White Pelicans on the spit at the North end of the Swinomish Slough right now that would certainly be probable habitat for Caspians ... - Jim
Date: 9/2/23 9:21 pm From: Andy Stepniewski <steppie...> Subject: [Tweeters] Black Swifts at the Cascade Pass Trailhead-2 September
Tweeters,
We car camped at the Cascade Pass Trailhead 23 miles up the Cascade River Road from Marblemount on the North Cascade Highway. The morning dawned mostly clear and quite warm. Soon, we spotted Black Swifts high in sky between us and towering north flanks of Johannesburg Mountain. The dramatic north face of this peak rises more than a mile in one fantastically rugged slope, over-steepened by Pleistocene glaciers. These ramparts are just one of many such imposing mountainsides in the North Cascades. A number of small waterfalls make this a probable nesting site for Black Swifts. Over 20 years ago, Ellen and I camped here in midsummer and awoke to the chattering calls of Black Swifts wheeling, gliding, diving, and flapping about the cliffs and waterfall spray. I was entranced by the wild and rugged scene, punctuated by falling rock and ice thundering down steep couloirs. Indeed, avalanches descend down to below 3,000 feet elevation with such frequency that a mini glacier lies at the bottom, directly across from the trailhead. It is heavily crevassed; proving it is moving ice.
This was only our second visit here and the swifts were still here, though quiet now. The Black Swifts hung out within binocular view of the trailhead for more than an hour, then seemed to disappear. Several times I watched several of these birds together, one seeming to chase the other. I wondered if the juvenile bird had fledged and was perhaps after a free meal from their parent. These birds were too distant to ascertain if they were juveniles or adults, though.
If you want a chance to see these birds in this breathtaking setting, go now because they will be departing south very soon! Too, avoid the weekend because this is the very popular trailhead to Sahale Arm and traffic along the road was hectic on our Labor Day weekend visit.
Date: 9/2/23 4:52 pm From: Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Caspian Terns and avian flu update
Jill,
I don't think we've seen any band returns from there -- though I've not
heard there was any banding there -- but I'd say, yes, almost certainly
this colony involved birds that have nested anywhere in Puget Sound in the
past. We have documented birds banded from Bellingham to Columbia River
mouth (including a 15-yr old live adult the other day). I've not heard any
results from banded birds collected dead, though I assume that will come
out with time.
On Sat, Sep 2, 2023 at 12:04 PM Jill Freidberg <jill.freidberg...>
wrote:
> Thank you for this Steve. Is this refugee colony also made up of the terns
> that used to nest along the Duwamish and that suffered such a huge loss
> during the 2021 heat wave?
>
> Jill
>
> On Sep 2, 2023, at 12:17 AM, Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> wrote:
>
> Great, comprehensive and informative writing, Steve.
> Thank you for sharing it.
> Also, great to see you have a blog, which I will now be looking forward to
> reading. Please add me to your list.
> Dan Reiff, PhD
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 1, 2023, at 6:20 PM, Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> wrote:
>
>
> All,
>
> Here is an update of the Caspian Tern colony at Rat Island near Fort
> Flagler on Marrowstone Island near Port Townsend, which has been
> stricken by avian flu.
>
> Short version: WDFW has collected over 1,100 dead adults and 400 dead
> chicks. Smaller numbers of dead gulls and one to three dead Harbor Seals
> have tested positive as well. That said, there are still 200+ adult terns
> present and they have chicks that are now capable of flight, so there is
> some successful breeding.
>
> There are some pics as well.
>
>
> https://thecottonwoodpost.net/2023/08/21/after-hazing-and-avian-flu-will-the-last-colony-of-caspian-terns-in-the-salish-sea-survive/ >
> good birding,
>
> --
> Steve Hampton
> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 9/2/23 1:45 pm From: Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker...> Subject: [Tweeters] Mega migration day at Clark County's newest ebird hotspot
Hi Tweeters,
Highlights from a very productive trip to Clark County's newest ebird hotspot, Mountain View 4x4 Trailhead (Migration Corner) located along the eastern edge of the county included a flock of 9 migrating CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, a single CASSIN'S FINCH and a conservatively counted 475 individual warblers of 8 species. Also, a record 63 Red-breasted Nuthatches in active migration. The place rocked!
Date: 9/2/23 1:44 pm From: Sally Alhadeff <sallya...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: Notes on Hudsonian Godwit in Tokeland
Posting for Paul Hicks.
Sally
Begin forwarded message:
From: Paul Hicks <paulhicks7373...>
Date: September 2, 2023 at 12:59:24 PM PDT
To: Sally Alhadeff <sallya...>
Subject: Notes on Hudsonian Godwit in Tokeland
Thanks, Sally!
====================
Notes on Hudsonian Godwit in Tokeland
Tweets,
Some observations of Hudsonian Godwit on Friday, September 1 at the Tokeland Marina: Overall gray and noticeably smaller than Marbleds (and Bar-taileds) with more contrasty pale supercilium. From the rear the tail is obviously solid black with no barring on tail-side (different from other godwits’ alternate dark bars on pale background). Fairly fine, curved barring on lower flanks behind thighs. During a very brief wing-flip I saw the white rump. Good view of upperparts: Has a “feathered” appearance (sizable feathers laying down) in comparison with the “marbled” or spotted appearance of Marbleds. Some of the larger feathers had a darker center; nearly all were fringed with a dull rufous or warm brown -- probably highlighted some by the close-to-setting sunlight (2 hours before sunset). Other birders (eg Kameron Lantor) note that the black underwing is the most distinctive field mark in flight. Timing: Mid-tide, either rising or falling, is the best time for close-up viewing of the feeding godwits (per Bill Shelmerdine). Friday the godwit flock left the breakwater (where they rest during high tide) at 5:55pm to feed on the exposed shore in front of the marina office. This was 3 hours after a relatively high high tide of 9 ft, when the tide had receded to a mid-tide level of 4.5 feet. For some reason this Hudsonian is apparently not always present with the other godwits, or at least not reported. Last Tuesday less than a third of our group of 15 spotted it among the hundreds of Marbleds.
Good birding!
Paul Hicks
Tenino/St George, Utah
paulhicks7373 AT gmail DOT com
Date: 9/2/23 12:08 pm From: Shelf Life Community Story Project <info...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Caspian Terns and avian flu update
Thank you for this Steve. Is this refugee colony also made up of the terns that used to nest along the Duwamish and that suffered such a huge loss during the 2021 heat wave?
Jill
> On Sep 2, 2023, at 12:17 AM, Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> wrote:
>
> Great, comprehensive and informative writing, Steve.
> Thank you for sharing it.
> Also, great to see you have a blog, which I will now be looking forward to reading. Please add me to your list.
> Dan Reiff, PhD
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Sep 1, 2023, at 6:20 PM, Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> All,
>>
>> Here is an update of the Caspian Tern colony at Rat Island near Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island near Port Townsend, which has been stricken by avian flu.
>>
>> Short version: WDFW has collected over 1,100 dead adults and 400 dead chicks. Smaller numbers of dead gulls and one to three dead Harbor Seals have tested positive as well. That said, there are still 200+ adult terns present and they have chicks that are now capable of flight, so there is some successful breeding.
>>
>> There are some pics as well.
>>
>> https://thecottonwoodpost.net/2023/08/21/after-hazing-and-avian-flu-will-the-last-colony-of-caspian-terns-in-the-salish-sea-survive/ <https://thecottonwoodpost.net/2023/08/21/after-hazing-and-avian-flu-will-the-last-colony-of-caspian-terns-in-the-salish-sea-survive/> >>
>> good birding,
>>
>> --
>> Steve Hampton
>> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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: 9/2/23 9:32 am From: Eric Heisey <magicman32...> Subject: [Tweeters] Cassimer Bar Field Trip
Hi everyone,
Since my return to Washington, I have found myself inundated with busywork and without a car, itching to get out and do some birding. So, what a great relief it was to lead a field trip on Thursday for North Central Audubon Society at Cassimer Bar! I had a few late cancellations which whittled our group down to a nice size of six in total, and we had a great time!
The first thing that we were struck by when we arrived at Cassimer was the sheer number of swallows clouding the sky over the south part of the bar. Most of these were of the Violet-green variety, though we managed to find at least one of each regularly occurring species and one Vaux's Swift swirling around in the swarm. In total, I estimated that the flock consisted of almost 1500 individuals, with roughly 1300 being Violet-green Swallows. Funnily, swallows are often quite pish-able, and we were able to call in the swallows until they were flying close over our head. An amazing spectacle, and perhaps my highlight of the day!
Birding around the parking lot, we encountered our first migrants, noticing Purple Finch, Spotted Towhee, Lark Sparrows, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lazuli Bunting, Wilson's Warbler, and a calling White-breasted Nuthatch (unusual for the location, dispersing in response to poor conifer cone crops in the mountains). We started south towards the southernmost tip of the bar, still being barraged by swallows while Soras called from the marshes. The Russian Olives on the south side of the bar are often where I have the best luck with songbirds, and today was no different. We managed to find a Say's Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Chipping Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, two Steller's Jays (unusual at Cassimer), Hammond's Flycatcher, Pine Siskin, MacGillivray's, Orange-crowned, Yellow and Yellow-rumped warblers, and Black-headed Grosbeak. We also managed to track down the Mountain x Black-capped Chickadee hybrid which I have now seen three times at Cassimer; all of us had excellent looks at this unique individual. Raptors seemed to be moving overhead in small numbers, and we observed a Merlin, Cooper's Hawk, and Northern Harrier through the morning along with the typical residents.
We popped out of the trees along the Columbia River where there were many birds on the water with excellent calm conditions for scoping. We missed very few of the regularly occurring species, with four Blue-winged Teal, two Greater Scaup, a Western Grebe, 19 Red-necked Grebes, and 19 Common Loons (many still in breeding colors) presenting the most noteworthy waterfowl. The rarest bird of the morning was a Great Egret at the tip, mingling with the Pelicans. While this species is tending to expand northwards, they are still somewhat unusual in Okanogan county. Also at the tip were a flyover Yellow-headed Blackbird and Red-necked Phalarope.
We looped back to the car, getting better looks at some of the birds listed above, and enjoying the lovely weather. It was a very comfortable temperature (mid 70s) with sun – perfect! As we walked back to the car, I tallied up the list for the morning. We had seen a very good diversity of birds for the morning, but still I was shocked to find that the total for the morning was 99 species by the time we made it back to the car! This was the most I have seen in a morning at Cassimer, but it wouldn't be good enough until we reached 100! We searched frantically for a little while, and were eventually able to turn up a Vesper Sparrow along the access road to hit the century mark. What a morning! Below is a link to the eBird list.
Afterwards, half of the group split off while the other half of us went to the Douglas county side of the river to scan a huge flock of over 2000 birds. One of the first birds I put my scope on was an adult male White-winged Scoter – sweet! It was very evasive, but I believe all three of us got looks at it eventually. Also in the flock were a few Redheads, which we missed at Cassimer Bar. Calling from around where we were scoping was another White-breasted Nuthatch, a Canyon Wren, Mountain Chickadee, Hairy Woodpecker, and a Townsend's Warbler, most of them new for the day.
We ended the trip with 108 species for the day – not too shabby for ending before 3pm in August! It was a great time, and I hope that all of the participants were inspired to bird Cassimer Bar some more.
On my way home to Yakima, I stopped at Getty's Cove in Kittitas county and managed to pish in a Northern Waterthrush, a very nice bird for the county. Also present were a good diversity of flycatchers, including Gray, Dusky, Hammond's and Western Flycatcher, Say's Phoebe, and Western Wood-Pewee. It was a good day for migrants, and clearly it is a good time to be looking for vagrants! Get out there and see what you can find.
Date: 9/2/23 7:25 am From: MARVIN BREECE <marvbreece...> Subject: [Tweeters] Channel Drive, Skagit County, 9.1.23
Yesterday , 9.1.23, was the most spectacular day of shorebirding I have experienced in 18 years of visiting Channel Drive in Skagit County. Both in terms of number of species and total number of birds. I observed 12 species of shorebirds, as well as 2 juv PEREGRINES. I saw one RUFF. Other birders saw 2 together. I have never seen so many LESSER YELLOWLEGS in one place in my 45 years or so of birding. Here's a list:
Killdeer - 1 Usually in greater numbers at this location and often the only shorebird at all Short-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs - I gave up on trying to count them Semipalmated Sandpiper -1 (and I suspect there were more) Western Sandpiper - numbers Least Sandpiper - 6 or so Baird's Sandpiper - 1 made a very brief showing Pectoral Sandpiper - 3 Stilt Sandpiper - 3 Ruff - 1
Date: 9/2/23 12:20 am From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Caspian Terns and avian flu update
Great, comprehensive and informative writing, Steve.
Thank you for sharing it.
Also, great to see you have a blog, which I will now be looking forward to reading. Please add me to your list.
Dan Reiff, PhD
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 1, 2023, at 6:20 PM, Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> wrote:
>
>
> All,
>
> Here is an update of the Caspian Tern colony at Rat Island near Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island near Port Townsend, which has been stricken by avian flu.
>
> Short version: WDFW has collected over 1,100 dead adults and 400 dead chicks. Smaller numbers of dead gulls and one to three dead Harbor Seals have tested positive as well. That said, there are still 200+ adult terns present and they have chicks that are now capable of flight, so there is some successful breeding.
>
> There are some pics as well.
>
> https://thecottonwoodpost.net/2023/08/21/after-hazing-and-avian-flu-will-the-last-colony-of-caspian-terns-in-the-salish-sea-survive/ >
> good birding,
>
> --
> Steve Hampton
> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
A female Cooper’s Hawk at Saint Mary’s Church, hiding in a Birch tree.
Bright sun in late afternoon. The hawk left the tree to fly at about 30
feet altitude over open territory to reach an evergreen tree and swoop
upward to the top. The wing beats were stiff and rapid. The action was from
the shoulder. Cheers. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes.
Date: 9/1/23 7:40 pm From: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: Lost Item at Veazie Marsh near Enumclaw—FOUND
I hope I did not inconvenience anyone today who might have been at Veazie. The headphones travel case is black and the carpet in my car is black. It was about the fifth search with daylight hitting it just so. I saw it and all is well in my headphones world.
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...>
> Date: September 1, 2023 at 7:31:28 AM PDT
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: Lost Item at Veazie Marsh near Enumclaw
>
> I'm pretty sure the black oval shaped box for my Beats headphones fell out of my car yesterday afternoon at Veazie Marsh. I have the headphones but the box contains two cords that I need. If someone sees it and picks it up, please email me and I will come wherever to retrieve it. Thanks.
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
Date: 9/1/23 6:23 pm From: Steve Hampton <stevechampton...> Subject: [Tweeters] Caspian Terns and avian flu update
All,
Here is an update of the Caspian Tern colony at Rat Island near Fort
Flagler on Marrowstone Island near Port Townsend, which has been
stricken by avian flu.
Short version: WDFW has collected over 1,100 dead adults and 400 dead
chicks. Smaller numbers of dead gulls and one to three dead Harbor Seals
have tested positive as well. That said, there are still 200+ adult terns
present and they have chicks that are now capable of flight, so there is
some successful breeding.
Date: 9/1/23 4:24 pm From: Michael Price <loblollyboy...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] @gmail.com> To: Tweeters Subject: Why Baseball and Birding Go Together Like Peanuts and Cracker Jacks |
Hi Tweets,
I would have thought golf to be a more apt combination.
best m
Michael Price Vancouver BC Canada <loblollyboy...>
Date: 9/1/23 2:00 pm From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...> Subject: [Tweeters] lost lens cap
Hi Tweeters,
Lost a Canon lens cap at the end of Channel Drive this morning, didn’t realize it untll we got home.
If anyone finds one, please email me.
BTW, shorebirds were great there this morning, including two Ruffs, three Stilt Sandpipers, several Pectorals, at least one Semi. Sandpiper, hordes of Westerns and Leasts, and ditto for both yellowlegs (mostly Lesser) and dowitchers (mostly Short-billed).
Date: 9/1/23 7:34 am From: Carol Riddell <cariddellwa...> Subject: [Tweeters] Lost Item at Veazie Marsh near Enumclaw
I'm pretty sure the black oval shaped box for my Beats headphones fell out of my car yesterday afternoon at Veazie Marsh. I have the headphones but the box contains two cords that I need. If someone sees it and picks it up, please email me and I will come wherever to retrieve it. Thanks.
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