From tcstonefam at gmail.com Wed Feb 1 13:01:54 2023 From: tcstonefam at gmail.com (Tom and Carol Stoner) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bald Eagles Message-ID: Just watched 6 Bald Eagles (4 adults, 2 juveniles) circling and gaining altitude west of Gatewood Hill in West Seattle. Most I've seen at one time here. Carol Stoner West Seattle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From meetings at wos.org Thu Feb 2 11:27:04 2023 From: meetings at wos.org (meetings@wos.org) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?REMINDER=3A__WOS_Monthly_Meeting=2C_Mon=2E?= =?utf-8?q?=2C_Feb=2E_6=2C_7=3A30=2C_Ferruginous_Hawk=2C_Status_and?= =?utf-8?q?_Ecology_with_Jason_Fidorra?= Message-ID: <20230202192705.10526.qmail@s401.sureserver.com> The Washington State Ornithological Society is delighted to invite you to our next Monthly Meeting when Jason Fidorra will present The Ferruginous Hawk:??Status and Ecology.??In this talk, Jason Fidorra will discuss the ecology, threats, survey results and future of the Ferruginous Hawk in Washington. Jason is a Wildlife Biologist for the WDFW in the Tri-Cities working on the front lines of conservation of shrub-steppe., a habitat that is critical for many of Washington?s species of greatest concern.?? The meeting will be conducted via Zoom.??Please go to http://wos.org/about-wos/monthly-meetings/ for instructions on participation and to get the Zoom link.??Sign-in will begin at 7:15 pm. This meeting is open to all as WOS invites everyone in the wider birding community to attend.?? If you are not yet a member, I hope you will consider becoming one at http://wos.org/about-wos/membership/. Please join us! Vicki King WOS Program Coordinator From shepthorp at gmail.com Thu Feb 2 13:45:03 2023 From: shepthorp at gmail.com (Shep Thorp) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 2/1/2023 Message-ID: Hi Tweets, Approximately 28 of us enjoyed another fine day at the Refuge with temperatures in the 30's to 40's degrees Fahrenheit, partly sunny skies and a Low 8.7ft Tide at 9:54 and High 12ft Tide at 1:40pm. Highlights included ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS foraging off sapsucker wells with nearby RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, large flock of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (Audubon's variety) foraging in Water Plantain over the water in the flooded fields, nice Accipiter show with good looks of COOPER'S HAWK and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (relocated along Central Access Road in the freshwater marsh), a funky looking CACKLING GOOSE that had us puzzled over Taverner's vs Aleutian vs other, and WILSON SNIPE making an afternoon showing at the spring to the right of the Visitor Center Pond Overlook. Starting out at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, we had excellent looks at BUFFLEHEAD and MALLARD that are acclimated to visitors making for nice photography. A PACIFIC WREN was calling from around the platform. A river of AMERICAN CROWS was seen heading southwest in the morning and northeast in the late afternoon. The Orchard was good for DOWNY WOODPECKER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. We relocated the RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in the fruit trees near the USGS Technician Building, and were rewarded with great looks of two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER foraging around the sap wells on the opposite side of the tree from the sapsucker. A deceased dark morph immature RED-TAILED HAWK was found as well. The Access Roads were fun with a large flock of 20+ YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Audubon's variety) foraging just above the water in the flooded field in the Water Plantain. We had great looks at an immature male COOPER'S HAWK and HAIRY WOODPECKER. We enjoyed lots of waterfowl including NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and AMERICAN COOT. The west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail was good for FOX SPARROW, MARSH WREN, and a bachelor flock of RING-NECKED DUCK. VIRGINIA RAIL was heard east of the Twin Barns Cut-off. We were not able to relocate the American Bittern reported in the slough adjacent to the Twin Barns Overlook, but did have nice looks of NORTHERN HARRIER and additional waterfowl. The Nisqually Estuary Trail or new dike was great for raptors, waterfowl and shorebirds. Most notable was that some of our group was able to relocate the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in the line of trees along the Central Access Road through the freshwater marsh between the Twin Barns and the old McAllister Creek Access Road. The Refuge was holding a monthly bird survey, so we enjoyed numerous waterfowl, CACKLING GEESE (mostly minimas but good numbers of taverners too) and GREAT BLUE HERONS being flushed from the sanctuary and moving around the Refuge. Several folks had nice looks of LINCOLN'S SPARROW along with GOLDEN-CROWNED, WHITE-CROWNED and SONG SPARROW. There was a funky looking Cackling Goose that has been hanging around the dike just south of the green gate adjacent to the entrance of the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail, photos embedded in eBird list, that I suspect may be a Taverner's Cackling Goose. We emailed the eBird monitors some digiscoped photos to help confirm our identification. Overall the GREEN-WINGED TEAL and AMERICAN WIGEON numbers were much lower than expected. Typically we have seen 1000 birds plus, and on our walk we only had a few hundred. A nice sized flock, approximately 1000, DUNLIN could be seen foraging the mudflats. We had very nice up close looks of a small flock of LEAST SANDPIPER and several GREATER YELLOWLEGS. The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail was good for COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, GADWALL, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, HORNED GREBE, SURF SCOTER and both HOODED MERGANSER and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (30 plus). Ellen picked out a SPOTTED SANDPIPER for us along the west side of the McAllister Creek, as well BELTED KINGFISHER was seen. From the closure gate we were able to scope COMMON LOON and BRANDT'S CORMORANT. We did not relocate the Brant Geese reported earlier in the week. There has been a nice sized flock of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS in the reach off Luhr Beach which we have enjoyed for the last several weeks. Gulling is always good from the boards with nice looks of SHORT-BILLED GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and Olympic or WESTERN X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL Hybrid. Hunting season ends 2/4/2023, hopefully the end of the boardwalk will be opened up in the next 1-2 weeks. The Nisqually Overlook was good for COMMON MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEAD and COMMON GOLDENEYE. The Common Merganser stage here in the winter and are pretty reliable. We ended the day with a sighting of the WILSON'S SNIPE at the spring of the Visitor Center Pond just right of the observation deck. The bird was not apparent in the morning. We observed 66 species for the day, and have seen 89 species for the year. Mammals seen included Coyote, Columbian Black-tailed Deer and Harbor Seal. The eBird list is pasted below. Until next week, happy birding. Shep -- Shep Thorp Browns Point 253-370-3742 Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US Feb 1, 2023 7:39 AM - 4:17 PM Protocol: Traveling 6.433 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Partly sunny with temperature in the 30?s to 40?s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low 8.7ft Tide at 9:54am and a High 12ft Tide at 1:40pm. Mammals seen Coyote, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, and Harbor Seal. 66 species (+5 other taxa) Cackling Goose 1 Cackling Goose (minima) 1000 Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 100 Canada Goose 10 Northern Shoveler 118 Gadwall 25 American Wigeon 300 Mallard 200 Northern Pintail 450 Green-winged Teal 200 Ring-necked Duck 10 Surf Scoter 40 White-winged Scoter 20 Bufflehead 150 Common Goldeneye 35 Hooded Merganser 2 Common Merganser 15 Red-breasted Merganser 40 Horned Grebe 10 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 10 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Virginia Rail 1 American Coot 150 Killdeer 4 Dunlin 1000 Least Sandpiper 100 Wilson's Snipe 1 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 20 Short-billed Gull 50 Ring-billed Gull 25 Glaucous-winged Gull 2 Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 46 Larus sp. 100 Common Loon 2 Brandt's Cormorant 5 Double-crested Cormorant 15 Great Blue Heron 30 Northern Harrier 3 Cooper's Hawk 2 Accipiter sp. 1 Bald Eagle 20 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Seen by some of our group along the central access road south of the dike or Estuary Trail perched in a tree. Buteo sized raptor with black and white barred and spots on back. Observed at 1/4mile with spotting scopes. Previously reported rarity. Red-tailed Hawk 3 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 8 Peregrine Falcon 1 American Crow 100 Common Raven 3 Black-capped Chickadee 18 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 Golden-crowned Kinglet 10 Brown Creeper 3 Pacific Wren 2 Marsh Wren 6 Bewick's Wren 4 European Starling 60 American Robin 100 Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2 White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 2 Golden-crowned Sparrow 20 Song Sparrow 22 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Spotted Towhee 6 Western Meadowlark 6 Red-winged Blackbird 20 Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 30 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S127430990 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From clmssh at comcast.net Thu Feb 2 15:04:47 2023 From: clmssh at comcast.net (Sharon Howard) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Varied thrushes visiting Ballard Message-ID: <270F20D5-51DE-435B-92B2-708BACD10E75@comcast.net> We were delighted to see a pair of varied thrushes at our bird feeders the last two days. Rarely have we seen them in lower Sunset Hill at our house. Sharon Howard Seattle From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Thu Feb 2 23:58:13 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?Inside-out=3A_=E2=80=9CNew_research_turns_wh?= =?utf-8?q?at_we_know_about_bird_window_strikes_inside-out=3A_Bird_decals_?= =?utf-8?q?must_be_placed_on_the_outside_of_windows_to_deter_bird_collisio?= =?utf-8?q?n_--_ScienceDaily=E2=80=9D?= Message-ID: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230202081822.htm Sent from my iPhone From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Fri Feb 3 00:00:01 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] To know where the birds are going, researchers turn to citizen science and machine learning: Scientists unveil BirdFlow, a new predictive model that anticipates migratory patterns -- ScienceDaily Message-ID: <6DA68F24-2597-4CC6-BA2F-BAD6A9839E3C@gmail.com> https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230201102837.htm Sent from my iPhone From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Fri Feb 3 00:18:12 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?Owl_research-_Northern_Pygmy_owl=3A_?= =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=9CSongbird_species_work_together_to_mob_predator_owls=2C?= =?utf-8?q?_but_only_strike_when_the_time_is_right=E2=80=9D?= Message-ID: <47E351E3-1114-456E-80E2-5C64A8CA34B3@gmail.com> https://phys.org/news/2023-01-songbird-species-mob-predator-owls.html Sent from my iPhone From cariddellwa at gmail.com Fri Feb 3 08:05:38 2023 From: cariddellwa at gmail.com (Carol Riddell) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pine Siskins in Tucson Message-ID: <9B35C391-7D17-4124-B82A-2EF5A1F9CC6A@gmail.com> Hi Tweets, I was reading this morning on the AZNM list serv a report of a flock of nine Pine Siskins coming to a thistle feeder in Tucson. Has the great Canada cone crop of this winter has been played out by the siskins and they are starting to move around? Perhaps we should all start keeping a closer eye out for them. Carol Riddell Edmonds, WA From cohenellenr at yahoo.com Fri Feb 3 09:08:14 2023 From: cohenellenr at yahoo.com (cohenellenr@yahoo.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?NYTimes=3A_Those_Window_Stickers_to_Prevent_?= =?utf-8?q?Bird_Strikes=3F_There=E2=80=99s_a_Catch=2E?= References: Message-ID: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/02/climate/bird-window-strikes-stickers.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare Those Window Stickers to Prevent Bird Strikes? There?s a Catch. Sent from my iPhone From weedsrus1 at gmail.com Fri Feb 3 13:22:42 2023 From: weedsrus1 at gmail.com (Nancy Morrison) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Dunlin Flocking Defense Message-ID: I have observed many many instances of Dunlin murmurating, but it is a very small percentage of the time they are actually evading a predator. I always presumed that the interim activity was "practice". You have got to hone your skills before that Peregrine arrives. The murmuration takes on a different form during these "practice sessions". They are much less complex and less likely to split into separate groups. Lately I have had my best viewing on inland flooded farm fields. The Dunlin move in there during high tide. Nancy Morrison -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdmarymoor at gmail.com Fri Feb 3 16:21:03 2023 From: birdmarymoor at gmail.com (Michael Hobbs) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Test post Message-ID: Testing to see if this is flagged as spam From birdmarymoor at gmail.com Fri Feb 3 16:40:40 2023 From: birdmarymoor at gmail.com (Michael Hobbs) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Explanation of test post Message-ID: Tweets - sorry about having to do the test post just now, but somewhere in the system my Marymoor report from yesterday is being flagged as "apparent spam" I'm trying to figure out if that's based on content or formatting or what. Assuming this goes through, I'll try reposting yet again. But maybe it's flagging the word Marymoor, or Great Horned Owl. IDK. Has anyone else had some post just not go through to Tweeters, with a message back to you saying it was rejected? Oh, and I have already been in contact with the Tweeters list managers, so far without a workaround. = Michael From elc at uw.edu Fri Feb 3 18:37:31 2023 From: elc at uw.edu (Elaine Chuang) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2023-02-02 [ ... for Michael Hobbs ] Message-ID: Tweets - It was a gorgeous day for our Imbolc/Groundhogs Day visit this morning. Sunrise was stunning! This being February, it wasn't terribly birdy today, but it wasn't boring and dull either. Once the morning freeze warmed up a bit, it was a real delight to walk around. Highlights: Cooper's Hawk - juvenile at NW corner of Pea Patch all morning, adult seen from boardwalk Great Horned Owl - calling continuously from SE part of park pre-dawn. About 6:45 a.m., it made its way NE towards the mansion Merlin - One atop tall fir NE of the mansion. First of Year (FOY) Hermit Thrush - One just south of Dog Area on slough trail (FOY) Varied Thrush - Probably two birds, one a gorgeous male, near the windmill Purple Finch - Twice observed flocks of ~5 birds, at least one bird singing Yellow-rumped Warbler - At least three (all "Myrtle" type) at Rowing Club ponds (FOY) A late scan of the lake turned up our only RING-BILLED GULL and about three HORNED GREBES in the NE corner of the lake. Misses today included American Wigeon, Short-billed Gull, and Marsh Wren. Several times, Matt or I thought we heard or saw House Finch, but I'm not sure any of those instances was sure enough to put them on today's list, and thus House Finch is also a Miss. Once, I was almost positive I heard one call of an American Goldfinch, but nothing more was seen/heard. So, we definitely had Purple Finch, plus one or two individuals of one or two other finch species. Sometimes birding can be frustrating. Yesterday, though, Mark and Lee had HOUSE FINCH and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, both in the Pea Patch I believe So for the day, 55 species, and for the week, at least 57. = Michael Hobbs = BirdMarymoor@gmail.com = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ethomas at salud.unm.edu Fri Feb 3 20:44:29 2023 From: ethomas at salud.unm.edu (Elaine Thomas) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hawaii bird help? Message-ID: Tweeters, help me with an ID? East end of Molokai, in jungly habitat, I got a brief look at a bird smaller than a robin, bigger than a warbler, plain above (maybe grayish?), thin pointy bill, salmon-washed underneath kinda like a say's phoebe, rusty patch on shoulder. I can't find it in any resources. Any ideas? Thanks! Elaine, West Seattle Get Outlook for iOS -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ethomas at salud.unm.edu Sat Feb 4 09:20:53 2023 From: ethomas at salud.unm.edu (Elaine Thomas) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Molokai bird - thanks all! Message-ID: Yep, female white-rumped shama. I'd seen males in the area, didn't realize she has different colors, and her long tail was hidden so I had her shape wrong! Thus we learn... thanks! Get Outlook for iOS -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From benedict.t at comcast.net Sat Feb 4 09:48:29 2023 From: benedict.t at comcast.net (Tom Benedict) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Molokai bird - thanks all! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <8A554966-3C9C-4E7E-969C-35EC32440DC9@comcast.net> FYI, Hawaii has many introduced avi-fauna species. The White-rumped Shama was originally brought to the Hawaiian Islands around 1931. It was first reported on Molokai in 1997. Details here . Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA > On Feb 4, 2023, at 09:20, Elaine Thomas wrote: > > Yep, female white-rumped shama. I'd seen males in the area, didn't realize she has different colors, and her long tail was hidden so I had her shape wrong! Thus we learn... thanks! > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From treesyes at gmail.com Sat Feb 4 12:43:34 2023 From: treesyes at gmail.com (treesyes) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] RFI Belize Message-ID: <85387CC1-D6CA-40D8-92BC-75863BB8DA3B@gmail.com> Can anyone recommend a useful field guide for Belize? I?ll be there for a month next year, but not on a bird tour. Also has anyone hired a guide service? I?m thinking about one to three day side trip. Appreciate your help. Please contact me directly, off list. treesyes@gmail.com Thank you, Tina Seattle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From max.kingsbury at gmail.com Sat Feb 4 12:50:51 2023 From: max.kingsbury at gmail.com (Max Kingsbury) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Escaped Little corella at Green Lake?! Message-ID: Hey folks. I was just running around green lake and while passing the pull up bars just north of the boat rental building, I saw what at first looked like a large white pigeon/dove fly across the path. When I got a second look I saw it had the distinctive crest and bill of a parakeet or parrot! My wife and I just took a trip to Australia and it reminded me most of the Little Corellas we saw all over the place, because it was pretty much all white. I looked up a reference photo and I'm pretty sure that's what it was. I was very intent on my run so I didn't stop to get a picture of the bird, and it flew south along the path as I left, being chased by a crow. If anyone else is out birding this weekend at Green Lake, please keep an eye out and record the sighting. I imagine it's someone's pet and they'd love information about its whereabouts. Regards Max -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From pdickins at gmail.com Sat Feb 4 13:52:54 2023 From: pdickins at gmail.com (Philip Dickinson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] RFI Belize In-Reply-To: <85387CC1-D6CA-40D8-92BC-75863BB8DA3B@gmail.com> References: <85387CC1-D6CA-40D8-92BC-75863BB8DA3B@gmail.com> Message-ID: <7742825F-4D85-452F-9F4D-5F0F8C9CF6E7@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From linda_phillips1252 at msn.com Sat Feb 4 13:18:47 2023 From: linda_phillips1252 at msn.com (Linda Phillips) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Kenmore Herons Message-ID: Can spring be far away? Great Blue Herons have returned to their heronry at the Kenmore Park-n-Ride. I counted 35-40 before the light near Mary?s Place turned green. Linda Sent from Mail for Windows -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From matt.dufort at gmail.com Sat Feb 4 17:37:55 2023 From: matt.dufort at gmail.com (Matt Dufort) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Escaped Little corella at Green Lake?! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Max et al., There's a person who walks around Green Lake with a free-flying pet corella. The bird often wanders far enough away that you'd think it was wild, but then returns to the owner. We had a similar experience to yours a few weeks ago, thought the bird was off on its own, then it flew back and landed on the shoulder of the owner as they continued on their walk. Good birding, Matt Dufort On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 12:51 PM Max Kingsbury wrote: > Hey folks. I was just running around green lake and while passing the pull > up bars just north of the boat rental building, I saw what at first looked > like a large white pigeon/dove fly across the path. When I got a second > look I saw it had the distinctive crest and bill of a parakeet or parrot! > My wife and I just took a trip to Australia and it reminded me most of the > Little Corellas we saw all over the place, because it was pretty much all > white. I looked up a reference photo and I'm pretty sure that's what it > was. I was very intent on my run so I didn't stop to get a picture of the > bird, and it flew south along the path as I left, being chased by a crow. > > If anyone else is out birding this weekend at Green Lake, please keep an > eye out and record the sighting. I imagine it's someone's pet and they'd > love information about its whereabouts. > > Regards > Max > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From max.kingsbury at gmail.com Sat Feb 4 19:05:41 2023 From: max.kingsbury at gmail.com (Max Kingsbury) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Escaped Little corella at Green Lake?! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Ah that makes sense. I looked around at the nearby walkers and nobody seemed to be paying that close attention to the bird, but I didn't stop to check so I likely missed them. Thanks for letting me know! I was really worried about that little guy! Max On Sat, Feb 4, 2023, 17:38 Matt Dufort wrote: > Max et al., > > There's a person who walks around Green Lake with a free-flying pet > corella. The bird often wanders far enough away that you'd think it was > wild, but then returns to the owner. We had a similar experience to yours > a few weeks ago, thought the bird was off on its own, then it flew back and > landed on the shoulder of the owner as they continued on their walk. > > Good birding, > Matt Dufort > > On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 12:51 PM Max Kingsbury > wrote: > >> Hey folks. I was just running around green lake and while passing the >> pull up bars just north of the boat rental building, I saw what at first >> looked like a large white pigeon/dove fly across the path. When I got a >> second look I saw it had the distinctive crest and bill of a parakeet or >> parrot! My wife and I just took a trip to Australia and it reminded me most >> of the Little Corellas we saw all over the place, because it was pretty >> much all white. I looked up a reference photo and I'm pretty sure that's >> what it was. I was very intent on my run so I didn't stop to get a picture >> of the bird, and it flew south along the path as I left, being chased by a >> crow. >> >> If anyone else is out birding this weekend at Green Lake, please keep an >> eye out and record the sighting. I imagine it's someone's pet and they'd >> love information about its whereabouts. >> >> Regards >> Max >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From benedict.t at comcast.net Sat Feb 4 19:19:45 2023 From: benedict.t at comcast.net (Tom Benedict) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? Message-ID: Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown?s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that?s what I called them. I?m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around. However, now that I?m home and reviewing my observations, I?m wondering if it?s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the ?variable? or ?smudgy? plumage of a winter PIGU. Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and white" or ?smudgy?? Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA From benedict.t at comcast.net Sat Feb 4 19:29:26 2023 From: benedict.t at comcast.net (Tom Benedict) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Shortly after posting I found this report from last Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 at Race Rocks, off of Victoria, BC. It includes a photo of 8 PIGU titled ?Shifting from winter plumage to summer plumage". Most are still ?variable? and ?smudgy?, but a couple are quite ?black and white?. So I guess it?s not too early for our ?resident? PIGU in the southern Puget Sound to be putting on their new suits. Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA > On Feb 4, 2023, at 19:19, Tom Benedict wrote: > > Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown?s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that?s what I called them. I?m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around. > > However, now that I?m home and reviewing my observations, I?m wondering if it?s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the ?variable? or ?smudgy? plumage of a winter PIGU. > > Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and white" or ?smudgy?? > > Tom Benedict > Seahurst, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stephen.elston at gmail.com Sat Feb 4 19:40:44 2023 From: stephen.elston at gmail.com (Stephen Elston) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I was at several saltwater sites along the Eastern shore of Puget Sound today and saw quite a few PIGus in breeding plumage and a number of others that were still molding into breeding plumage. Given my experience, I would not be surprised to see a few at Brown's Point. On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:30 PM Tom Benedict wrote: > Shortly after posting I found this report > from last > Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 at Race Rocks, off of Victoria, BC. It includes a > photo of 8 PIGU titled ?Shifting from winter plumage to summer plumage". > Most are still ?variable? and ?smudgy?, but a couple are quite ?black and > white?. > > So I guess it?s not too early for our ?resident? PIGU in the southern > Puget Sound to be putting on their new suits. > > Tom Benedict > Seahurst, WA > > On Feb 4, 2023, at 19:19, Tom Benedict wrote: > > Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown?s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 > meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the > shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that?s what I > called them. I?m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head > and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around. > > However, now that I?m home and reviewing my observations, I?m wondering if > it?s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like > breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the ?variable? > or ?smudgy? plumage of a winter PIGU. > > Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and > white" or ?smudgy?? > > Tom Benedict > Seahurst, WA > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dennispaulson at comcast.net Sun Feb 5 08:04:20 2023 From: dennispaulson at comcast.net (Dennis Paulson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Alcids are the only group among our birds that may molt into breeding plumage very early in spring, i.e., mid- to late winter. I have seen this in Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and Rhinoceros Auklets in this area, always a surprise. I wish I knew why they were the exception, as I don?t think they are ready for breeding yet. They are not appearing at breeding sites. Usually the molt into breeding plumage is moderated by day length and hormones, but something else seems to be going on here. Dennis Paulson Seattle > On Feb 4, 2023, at 7:40 PM, Stephen Elston wrote: > > I was at several saltwater sites along the Eastern shore of Puget Sound today and saw quite a few PIGus in breeding plumage and a number of others that were still molding into breeding plumage. Given my experience, I would not be surprised to see a few at Brown's Point. > > On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:30 PM Tom Benedict > wrote: > Shortly after posting I found this report from last Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 at Race Rocks, off of Victoria, BC. It includes a photo of 8 PIGU titled ?Shifting from winter plumage to summer plumage". Most are still ?variable? and ?smudgy?, but a couple are quite ?black and white?. > > So I guess it?s not too early for our ?resident? PIGU in the southern Puget Sound to be putting on their new suits. > > Tom Benedict > Seahurst, WA > >> On Feb 4, 2023, at 19:19, Tom Benedict > wrote: >> >> Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown?s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that?s what I called them. I?m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around. >> >> However, now that I?m home and reviewing my observations, I?m wondering if it?s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the ?variable? or ?smudgy? plumage of a winter PIGU. >> >> Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and white" or ?smudgy?? >> >> Tom Benedict >> Seahurst, WA > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From garybletsch at yahoo.com Sun Feb 5 08:05:03 2023 From: garybletsch at yahoo.com (Gary Bletsch) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1671731427.261314.1675613103112@mail.yahoo.com> Dear Tom and Tweeters, I've moved out of the area, so I cannot comment about what the Pigeon Guillemots look like right now. However, I just checked my Salish Sea records of Pigeon Guillemots for the period of 21 January through 15 February. I see notations about plumage dating back to 2006; earlier than that, I had not noted anything about plumages. Out of 53 records of PIGU from third week of January through mid-February, I had made notes about plumage 21 times. Out of those 21 field notes, 18 mentioned birds in breeding plumage, or? moulting into it. 23 Jan 2009, one observed, and it was in breeding plumage; 28 Jan 2017, "a few of the 8" observed were nearly finished moulting into breeding plumage": 26 Jan 2019, "some of the 6" moulting into breeding plumage; 29 Jan 2021, "3 or 4 of the six" nearly finished moulting into breeding plumage"; 21 Jan 2022, "3 of the 3 observed" were in breeding plumage; 5th Feb 2006, "some" of the 10 birds observed were in breeding plumage; 15th Feb 2009, one observed, and it was in breeding plumage; 7th Feb 2010, "most of the 8" in breeding plumage; 13th Feb 2010, "some of the 8" in breeding plumage; 5 Feb 2011, "all 5" moulting into breeding plumage; 5 Feb 2011 [separate observation in a different place], "most of the 10" in breeding plumage; 13 Feb 2011, one observed, and it was in breeding plumage; 13 Feb 2011 [separate observation in a different place], "3 of 5" in breeding plumage; 12 Feb 2016, 20 observed, all either in breeding plumage or mostly done moulting into it; 9? Feb 2019, "5 of 6" in breeding plumage; 1 Feb 2022, "2 of 4" in breeding plumage; 1 Feb 2022 [separate observation], one bird observed, and it was moulting into breeding plumage; 8 Feb 2022, "10 of 11" in breeding plumage. Also of note was that, out of the three notes that mentioned winter, rather than breeding plumage, two involved single birds; those were on 3 Feb 2022 and 14 Feb 2022. On 25 Jan 2009, I saw 6 Pigeon Guillemots, and all six were in winter plumage. This is a small set of data, but the observations suggest that Pigeon Guillemots in the Salish Sea start moulting into breeding plumage in late January, and that it is reasonable to expect many, if not most, would be finished or nearly finished moulting by mid-February. I also did a quick check of Pigeon Guillemots later in February, and most of the birds were done moulting by late February. Yours truly, Gary Bletsch On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 10:20:08 PM EST, Tom Benedict wrote: Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown?s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that?s what I called them.? I?m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around. However, now that I?m home and reviewing my observations, I?m wondering if it?s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the ?variable? or ?smudgy? plumage of a winter PIGU. Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and white" or ?smudgy?? Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From shelley.a.evans at gmail.com Sun Feb 5 08:35:20 2023 From: shelley.a.evans at gmail.com (Shelley Evans) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:51 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: During the PSSS Survey yesterday, we saw a pigeon guillemot in breeding plumage from Point Robinson on Vashon Is. The cormorants (both Pelagic and Brandt's) at the Vashon Ferry Terminal were showing some breeding plumage. I saw the white flank patches on Pelagic Cormorant, and you could see some of the white, whisker-like plumes in the faces of the Brandt's Cormorants. I don't know whether this is typical for this time of year. In both cases, it seems like signs of spring and the breeding season to come. Shelley Evans Seattle On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 8:05 AM Dennis Paulson wrote: > Alcids are the only group among our birds that may molt into breeding > plumage very early in spring, i.e., mid- to late winter. I have seen this > in Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and Rhinoceros Auklets in this area, > always a surprise. > > I wish I knew why they were the exception, as I don?t think they are ready > for breeding yet. They are not appearing at breeding sites. Usually the > molt into breeding plumage is moderated by day length and hormones, but > something else seems to be going on here. > > Dennis Paulson > Seattle > > On Feb 4, 2023, at 7:40 PM, Stephen Elston > wrote: > > I was at several saltwater sites along the Eastern shore of Puget Sound > today and saw quite a few PIGus in breeding plumage and a number of others > that were still molding into breeding plumage. Given my experience, I > would not be surprised to see a few at Brown's Point. > > On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:30 PM Tom Benedict > wrote: > >> Shortly after posting I found this report >> from last >> Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 at Race Rocks, off of Victoria, BC. It includes a >> photo of 8 PIGU titled ?Shifting from winter plumage to summer plumage". >> Most are still ?variable? and ?smudgy?, but a couple are quite ?black and >> white?. >> >> So I guess it?s not too early for our ?resident? PIGU in the southern >> Puget Sound to be putting on their new suits. >> >> Tom Benedict >> Seahurst, WA >> >> On Feb 4, 2023, at 19:19, Tom Benedict wrote: >> >> Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown?s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 >> meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the >> shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that?s what I >> called them. I?m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head >> and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around. >> >> However, now that I?m home and reviewing my observations, I?m wondering >> if it?s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like >> breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the ?variable? >> or ?smudgy? plumage of a winter PIGU. >> >> Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and >> white" or ?smudgy?? >> >> Tom Benedict >> Seahurst, WA >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dennispaulson at comcast.net Sun Feb 5 10:43:17 2023 From: dennispaulson at comcast.net (Dennis Paulson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <40AA7196-49A7-4408-8E9C-26FE10DDFC09@comcast.net> Thanks, Shelley. Not as extensive a molt as in the alcids, but indeed all three of the cormorants start putting on breeding plumes surprisingly early in the year, well before their breeding seasons. Someone should be taking blood samples to see if their hormone levels are rising already. Dennis Paulson Seattle > On Feb 5, 2023, at 8:35 AM, Shelley Evans wrote: > > During the PSSS Survey yesterday, we saw a pigeon guillemot in breeding plumage from Point Robinson on Vashon Is. > > The cormorants (both Pelagic and Brandt's) at the Vashon Ferry Terminal were showing some breeding plumage. I saw the white flank patches on Pelagic Cormorant, and you could see some of the white, whisker-like plumes in the faces of the Brandt's Cormorants. I don't know whether this is typical for this time of year. > > In both cases, it seems like signs of spring and the breeding season to come. > > Shelley Evans > Seattle > > On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 8:05 AM Dennis Paulson > wrote: > Alcids are the only group among our birds that may molt into breeding plumage very early in spring, i.e., mid- to late winter. I have seen this in Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and Rhinoceros Auklets in this area, always a surprise. > > I wish I knew why they were the exception, as I don?t think they are ready for breeding yet. They are not appearing at breeding sites. Usually the molt into breeding plumage is moderated by day length and hormones, but something else seems to be going on here. > > Dennis Paulson > Seattle > >> On Feb 4, 2023, at 7:40 PM, Stephen Elston > wrote: >> >> I was at several saltwater sites along the Eastern shore of Puget Sound today and saw quite a few PIGus in breeding plumage and a number of others that were still molding into breeding plumage. Given my experience, I would not be surprised to see a few at Brown's Point. >> >> On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:30 PM Tom Benedict > wrote: >> Shortly after posting I found this report from last Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 at Race Rocks, off of Victoria, BC. It includes a photo of 8 PIGU titled ?Shifting from winter plumage to summer plumage". Most are still ?variable? and ?smudgy?, but a couple are quite ?black and white?. >> >> So I guess it?s not too early for our ?resident? PIGU in the southern Puget Sound to be putting on their new suits. >> >> Tom Benedict >> Seahurst, WA >> >>> On Feb 4, 2023, at 19:19, Tom Benedict > wrote: >>> >>> Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown?s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that?s what I called them. I?m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around. >>> >>> However, now that I?m home and reviewing my observations, I?m wondering if it?s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the ?variable? or ?smudgy? plumage of a winter PIGU. >>> >>> Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and white" or ?smudgy?? >>> >>> Tom Benedict >>> Seahurst, WA >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From andy_mcc at hotmail.com Sun Feb 5 11:13:03 2023 From: andy_mcc at hotmail.com (Andy McCormick) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Eared Grebe at Redondo Pier area Message-ID: Hello Tweets, Yesterday while conducting our Puget Sound Seabird Survey in the Redondo area, Jeanelle Richardson, Margaret Snell, and I found an Eared Grebe. It was north of Salty's restaurant at the northern end of the sea wall close to but not joining a flock of 25 Horned Grebes. Andy McCormick Bellevue, WA Get Outlook for iOS -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Sun Feb 5 11:21:18 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemots in Breeding Plumage -- and MAMU surge In-Reply-To: <40AA7196-49A7-4408-8E9C-26FE10DDFC09@comcast.net> References: <40AA7196-49A7-4408-8E9C-26FE10DDFC09@comcast.net> Message-ID: I've seen many PIGU in nearly full breeding plumage for the last few weeks, though the majority are still more white than black. This morning there was a significant movement of Rhino Auklets around Pt Wilson, the first in months. At least one had full breeding plumes. A repeat of last year's surge of Marbled Murrelets looks to be underway. They were southbound at a constant rate of about 7/minute this morning for the 30 minutes I was there (so 210 birds, and probably many more before and after). The MAMU were all in basic plumage. Full list here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S127675954 good birding, On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 10:44 AM Dennis Paulson wrote: > Thanks, Shelley. Not as extensive a molt as in the alcids, but indeed all > three of the cormorants start putting on breeding plumes surprisingly early > in the year, well before their breeding seasons. Someone should be taking > blood samples to see if their hormone levels are rising already. > > Dennis Paulson > Seattle > > On Feb 5, 2023, at 8:35 AM, Shelley Evans > wrote: > > During the PSSS Survey yesterday, we saw a pigeon guillemot in breeding > plumage from Point Robinson on Vashon Is. > > The cormorants (both Pelagic and Brandt's) at the Vashon Ferry Terminal > were showing some breeding plumage. I saw the white flank patches on > Pelagic Cormorant, and you could see some of the white, whisker-like plumes > in the faces of the Brandt's Cormorants. I don't know whether this is > typical for this time of year. > > In both cases, it seems like signs of spring and the breeding season to > come. > > Shelley Evans > Seattle > > On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 8:05 AM Dennis Paulson > wrote: > >> Alcids are the only group among our birds that may molt into breeding >> plumage very early in spring, i.e., mid- to late winter. I have seen this >> in Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and Rhinoceros Auklets in this area, >> always a surprise. >> >> I wish I knew why they were the exception, as I don?t think they are >> ready for breeding yet. They are not appearing at breeding sites. Usually >> the molt into breeding plumage is moderated by day length and hormones, but >> something else seems to be going on here. >> >> Dennis Paulson >> Seattle >> >> On Feb 4, 2023, at 7:40 PM, Stephen Elston >> wrote: >> >> I was at several saltwater sites along the Eastern shore of Puget Sound >> today and saw quite a few PIGus in breeding plumage and a number of others >> that were still molding into breeding plumage. Given my experience, I >> would not be surprised to see a few at Brown's Point. >> >> On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:30 PM Tom Benedict >> wrote: >> >>> Shortly after posting I found this report >>> from last >>> Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 at Race Rocks, off of Victoria, BC. It includes a >>> photo of 8 PIGU titled ?Shifting from winter plumage to summer plumage". >>> Most are still ?variable? and ?smudgy?, but a couple are quite ?black and >>> white?. >>> >>> So I guess it?s not too early for our ?resident? PIGU in the southern >>> Puget Sound to be putting on their new suits. >>> >>> Tom Benedict >>> Seahurst, WA >>> >>> On Feb 4, 2023, at 19:19, Tom Benedict wrote: >>> >>> Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown?s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 >>> meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the >>> shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that?s what I >>> called them. I?m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head >>> and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around. >>> >>> However, now that I?m home and reviewing my observations, I?m wondering >>> if it?s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like >>> breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the ?variable? >>> or ?smudgy? plumage of a winter PIGU. >>> >>> Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and >>> white" or ?smudgy?? >>> >>> Tom Benedict >>> Seahurst, WA >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Tweeters mailing list >>> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- Steve Hampton Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mj.cygnus at gmail.com Sun Feb 5 15:34:16 2023 From: mj.cygnus at gmail.com (Martha Jordan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Digital billboard potentially coming at Skagit Conway exit Message-ID: I just learned this morning of a fast-tracked proposal to put up a big, bright, digital billboard at the Conway interchange of I-5. I understand it would be off the southeast corner, I think by the 76 gas station. The station has a tall ?76? sign, which I assume is lit at night, but it isn?t on the scale of the proposed bill board. Tim Manns of Skagit Audubon alerted me today. If anyone would like to comment on this please read the following document. Here?s the minimal information on the Skagit County website: MITIGATED DETERMINATION OF NONSIGNIFICANCE (MDNS) (skagitcounty.net) There is a lot of information on the web related to these bright abominations. One thing for sure, this will not be good for the birds: swans, geese, ducks, raptors, etc. And the people who live in this area on the hill. Thanks for taking the time to learn more and send in comments. And perhaps those in the County could talk with their County representative. Martha Jordan Everett, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Sun Feb 5 16:52:30 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Rates of hatching failure in birds almost twice as high as previously estimated Message-ID: <1A45E8FE-E2AA-45B6-8E32-58C5043EB6C8@gmail.com> https://phys.org/news/2023-02-hatching-failure-birds-high-previously.html Sent from my iPhone From ucd880 at comcast.net Sun Feb 5 17:08:49 2023 From: ucd880 at comcast.net (HAL MICHAEL) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Rates of hatching failure in birds almost twice as high as previously estimated In-Reply-To: <1A45E8FE-E2AA-45B6-8E32-58C5043EB6C8@gmail.com> References: <1A45E8FE-E2AA-45B6-8E32-58C5043EB6C8@gmail.com> Message-ID: <1475795228.1699538.1675645729201@connect.xfinity.com> At least is a cursory reading I didn't see a discussion of inbreeding and other genetic issues. Rare species, especially those with small populations and/or fragmented ranges are likely to have a great load of genetic issues. I used to raise Nene (Hawaiian Geese). Most often, could most easily obtain brother/sister pairs of pairs that were almost that closely related. Nests had low hatching success, about 25%. I traded for a male from back east and the hatch rate jumped to 75-100%. Also, captive breeding programs provide protection so that individuals that would not survive in the wild do in captivity. We should be looking at the F2 and F3 generations where natural selection has had a chance to remove less well adapted individuals. Hal Michael Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/) Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) ucd880@comcast.net > On 02/05/2023 4:52 PM Dan Reiff wrote: > > > https://phys.org/news/2023-02-hatching-failure-birds-high-previously.html > > > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From benedict.t at comcast.net Sun Feb 5 17:48:01 2023 From: benedict.t at comcast.net (Tom Benedict) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: <40AA7196-49A7-4408-8E9C-26FE10DDFC09@comcast.net> References: <40AA7196-49A7-4408-8E9C-26FE10DDFC09@comcast.net> Message-ID: Many thanks for all the responses. It's particularly satisfying when I?m able to post something that stimulates interesting discussion. BTW, I also spotted two Rhinoceros Auklets off Brown?s Point, still very much in winter plumage. Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA > On Feb 5, 2023, at 10:43, Dennis Paulson wrote: > > Thanks, Shelley. Not as extensive a molt as in the alcids, but indeed all three of the cormorants start putting on breeding plumes surprisingly early in the year, well before their breeding seasons. Someone should be taking blood samples to see if their hormone levels are rising already. > > Dennis Paulson > Seattle > >> On Feb 5, 2023, at 8:35 AM, Shelley Evans > wrote: >> >> During the PSSS Survey yesterday, we saw a pigeon guillemot in breeding plumage from Point Robinson on Vashon Is. >> >> The cormorants (both Pelagic and Brandt's) at the Vashon Ferry Terminal were showing some breeding plumage. I saw the white flank patches on Pelagic Cormorant, and you could see some of the white, whisker-like plumes in the faces of the Brandt's Cormorants. I don't know whether this is typical for this time of year. >> >> In both cases, it seems like signs of spring and the breeding season to come. >> >> Shelley Evans >> Seattle >> >> On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 8:05 AM Dennis Paulson > wrote: >>> Alcids are the only group among our birds that may molt into breeding plumage very early in spring, i.e., mid- to late winter. I have seen this in Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and Rhinoceros Auklets in this area, always a surprise. >>> >>> I wish I knew why they were the exception, as I don?t think they are ready for breeding yet. They are not appearing at breeding sites. Usually the molt into breeding plumage is moderated by day length and hormones, but something else seems to be going on here. >>> >>> Dennis Paulson >>> Seattle >>> >>>> On Feb 4, 2023, at 7:40 PM, Stephen Elston > wrote: >>>> >>>> I was at several saltwater sites along the Eastern shore of Puget Sound today and saw quite a few PIGus in breeding plumage and a number of others that were still molding into breeding plumage. Given my experience, I would not be surprised to see a few at Brown's Point. >>>> >>>> On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:30 PM Tom Benedict > wrote: >>>>> Shortly after posting I found this report from last Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 at Race Rocks, off of Victoria, BC. It includes a photo of 8 PIGU titled ?Shifting from winter plumage to summer plumage". Most are still ?variable? and ?smudgy?, but a couple are quite ?black and white?. >>>>> >>>>> So I guess it?s not too early for our ?resident? PIGU in the southern Puget Sound to be putting on their new suits. >>>>> >>>>> Tom Benedict >>>>> Seahurst, WA >>>>> >>>>>> On Feb 4, 2023, at 19:19, Tom Benedict > wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Today, Feb 4th, 2023, at Brown?s Point Lighthouse I spotted, about 300 meters offshore, two black seabirds with white wing patches. They had the shape, bill and general disposition of a Pigeon Guillemot, so that?s what I called them. I?m quite sure these were not White-Winged Scoters. The head and bill were not the right shape, and there were no other scoters around. >>>>>> >>>>>> However, now that I?m home and reviewing my observations, I?m wondering if it?s reasonable to have a Pigeon Guillemot in what looked to me like breeding plumage in early February? The were definitely not the ?variable? or ?smudgy? plumage of a winter PIGU. >>>>>> >>>>>> Anyone else seeing Pigeon Guillemots these days? Are they "black and white" or ?smudgy?? >>>>>> >>>>>> Tom Benedict >>>>>> Seahurst, WA >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Tweeters mailing list >>>>> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >>>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Tweeters mailing list >>>> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Tweeters mailing list >>> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Sun Feb 5 18:24:50 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Songbird species work together to mob predator owls, but only strike when the time is right Message-ID: https://phys.org/news/2023-01-songbird-species-mob-predator-owls.html Sent from my iPhone From esellingson at gmail.com Sun Feb 5 19:22:07 2023 From: esellingson at gmail.com (Eric Ellingson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bird decals must be placed on the outside of windows Message-ID: I could not read the article as I'm not subscribed to the magazine/paper referenced or have used up my allotted free article reads. However, I do know very firsthand the perspective of birds when they hit windows being a window cleaner for 27 years. Looking at a window from a specific angle one only sees a reflection. That can be the sky, a tree, a building, or whatever. If it's the sky or some far-off tree it looks like a clear path to fly, until it isn't. One cannot see thru the panes of the window to the inside piece of glass where these stickers are often placed. Some angles make the inside sticker more visible than others, but outside placement is by far the best, though usually not the easiest. Ask your window cleaner to put them on for you on their next visit! I've done this before for customers and it does not take long. Eric Ellingson 360-820-6396 | esellingson@gmail.com https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ Create your own email signature -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Sun Feb 5 20:34:07 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Spring is in the Air? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230205203407.Horde.M_Dvuaa3pyBIt-f_hOGZwG9@webmail.jimbetz.com> Hi, Just read thru the digest reports of PIGUs and other Alcids that are showing plumage changes. Today I went to visit a friend in New Westminister, B.C. I arrived a few minutes early and hadn't had lunch so I took a few minutes to just sit in my car and eat a package of granola bars. While sitting there in the car a -pair- of crows flew up onto the wire just above me and proceeded to make me feel like "the old man on the park bench watching young lovers make their first 'hook ups'. They were preening each other, staying in contact (actually even sidling next to each other and literally rubbing bodies), and other such preambles. I'd call it "pair bonding". But not actually mating. This went on for the entire five minutes or so it took me to eat my snack. So the Corvids seem to be "feeling frisky". **** BTW - if you are interested ... the border crossing in both directions was painless and quick. Just showed my "passport card" and answered a couple of quick questions. No car search, guards didn't even step out of their booths. Neither direction was quicker/slower/easier than the other. Didn't even ask about vaccinations. **** Oh yes, Saturday we went on the Skagit Audubon Field Trip to the Samish Flats. A cold wind kept making me value the times we drove between stops more than the times we were stopped. Highlights were a medium sized flock of Dunlins very close to Bayview-Edison road (near D-Arcy Rd), a goodly number of Bald Eagles (both adults and not), a long-tailed duck on Samish Island, some Pipits near Thompson Rd., and ... FOY huge numbers of Snow Geese. As in stings/vees of them in the distance covering an arc of more than 45 degrees ... we're talking tens of thousands of birds over about an hour or so. They were flying, more or less, West to East but we didn't see them landing ... perhaps they moved to the Skagit Flats area or Fir Island? Also quite a few Meadow Larks at the West 90. Neil was a very gracious trip leader and the group was very knowledgeable, upbeat, friendly, and FUN. - Jim in Burlington From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Sun Feb 5 23:21:31 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Great News!!: CNN POLITICS: Biden administration restores protections for Alaska's Tongass forest Message-ID: <58D149E5-161F-4DA4-9E87-C04BF9E9BC70@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ksnyder75 at gmail.com Mon Feb 6 07:44:42 2023 From: ksnyder75 at gmail.com (Kathleen Snyder) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Casual Birding - A Practice of Being in Nature. Thu. Feb 9th 7 pm via Zoom Message-ID: Casual birding is an introduction to a deeper connection with nature. Once experienced, it is difficult to interact with the natural world in any other way. Join Faraaz Abdool, author and birding guide from Trinidad & Tobago, as he delves into the preparation process, how one can become truly open and receptive to learning from birds, what constitutes the casual in casual birding, and some lessons learned along the way. This is a free program from Black Hills Audubon but registration is required: https://blackhills-audubon.org/event/casual-birding/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From elaooh at hotmail.com Mon Feb 6 12:43:50 2023 From: elaooh at hotmail.com (S Burkemoore) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] ID help - Brambling? Message-ID: Hey birders, I saw a new backyard bird I need help confirming ID on. I'm in Seattle. It was on ground under our seed feeder with a small group of dark eyed juncos. Very pinky-orange chest with pale belly. Had dark (black?) spots on flanks - didn't notice these right away. The crown was dotty but flanked by two black stripes that oddly (to me) went all the way down the back of the neck! The back was very orange/rusty and had deep broad black stripes. Bill was pale and triangular, without a curved culmen or overlap at bill tip. The tail when it perched looked heart-shaped. I have some not fantastic photos through my scope and a video which has more diagnostic info, but I couldn't get a good shot of its back or the spots on its flanks before it flew away - harassed by an Anna's. What do you think, please? Brambling? Stephanie Burkemoore Seattle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mollycvetovac at gmail.com Mon Feb 6 13:09:34 2023 From: mollycvetovac at gmail.com (Molly Cvetovac) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Suggestions for road trip down the coast Message-ID: Hi all, I am considering a road trip down the coast of Washington/Oregon/California in the Spring. Does anyone have suggestions of good birding places to go in Oregon and California (I think I've got Washington covered). I would be ending the trip near Los Angeles. Thanks, Molly -- Molly Cvetovac Pronouns: She/They www.wildlifewanderingsphotography.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From anne27m at yahoo.com Mon Feb 6 14:33:54 2023 From: anne27m at yahoo.com (Anne Millbrooke) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Duck identification References: <747999232.621143.1675722834095.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <747999232.621143.1675722834095@mail.yahoo.com> "Cornell Lab of Ornithology?s Kevin McGowan boils waterfowl identification down to one simple question: Where?s the white? "As an example of putting his ?Where?s the White?? method to use, McGowan offers the Green-winged Teal?a small dabbler that?s similar in shape and color pattern to Northern Shoveler and American Wigeon.?? "The diagonal white stripe running up toward a Green-winged Teal?s shoulder stands out, even at a distance. ?The Northern Shoveler has a prominent white patch near its rump and a fully white breast. ?The American Wigeon lacks any white in its chest area and also has a white crown." Source:?https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/wheres-the-white-a-simple-question-can-be-the-key-in-waterfowl-id/?_hsmi=244561451&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_gvk_jpC9kt3UiOOhkBE2MYQay1eqTTNc2sSENS1xNTBtgdpCwieDjUKKYLOhzjTJEY0eUp9XYcgKIrs_KDBEIi5DgTQ From wim.van.dam at gmail.com Mon Feb 6 14:47:33 2023 From: wim.van.dam at gmail.com (Wim van Dam) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Suggestions for road trip down the coast In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: What are you most interested in: target species? unique habitats? something else? (*) California birding has several active mailing groups: http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/california.php If you ask your questions there, you probably will get the best information. Wim van Dam Solvang, CA (*) I recommend that you put Yellow-billed Magpie on your wishlist. On Mon, Feb 6, 2023 at 1:10 PM Molly Cvetovac wrote: > Hi all, > > I am considering a road trip down the coast of > Washington/Oregon/California in the Spring. Does anyone have suggestions of > good birding places to go in Oregon and California (I think I've got > Washington covered). I would be ending the trip near Los Angeles. > > Thanks, > > Molly > > -- > Molly Cvetovac > Pronouns: She/They > > www.wildlifewanderingsphotography.com > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From loblollyboy at gmail.com Mon Feb 6 23:55:33 2023 From: loblollyboy at gmail.com (Michael Price) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? Message-ID: Dennis Paulson writes: With greatest respect, Dennis, not the only group. In the mid-90s, I did personal-interest surveys around the Stanley Park seawall on (weather and work permitting) a daily basis for several years. Of the Pelagic Cormorant (PECO) wintering population at Prospect Point usually numbering about 50-60 birds, about a third would disappear in late November, only to reappear (same birds? if so, average return date over a three year stretch, Jan 19) in full Alternate/Breeding plumage. No idea where they went to complete their pre-alternate molt; but it can't have been far. Because there's no visible sexual dimorphism in PECO, there was no way to tell what age/sex ratios there might have been in that absconding third, and I'm still kinda unsure whether to whether call the returning birds actual migrants. This molt-timing mirrors that of West Coast alcids, and I wouldn't be surprised if it applies to Brandt's Cormorant (BRCO) as well. Would it apply to Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO) (which, god help me, is still think of an eastern species come west) too? best, m -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ucd880 at comcast.net Tue Feb 7 07:39:14 2023 From: ucd880 at comcast.net (HAL MICHAEL) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <557296227.386034.1675784354704@connect.xfinity.com> The birds being talked about (Alcids, corms) are piscivores. I wonder if changes in fish spawning, species compositions, and timing have not made some high quality food available in mid-winter. In its native range, the Nene nests in the fall. It is the only waterfowl to nest on declining day length. But, captive birds here on North America, and probably Europe, nest in spring on an increasing day length. It looked to me like spring bloom in grass growth in the temperate northern hemisphere actually triggered egg production. The last few decades have seen massive increases in chum and pink slamon fry and conversion from herring to anchovy. All may be more available now. Hal Michael Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) ucd880@comcast.net > On 02/06/2023 11:55 PM Michael Price wrote: > > > Dennis Paulson writes: > > With greatest respect, Dennis, not the only group. In the mid-90s, I did personal-interest surveys around the Stanley Park seawall on (weather and work permitting) a daily basis for several years. Of the Pelagic Cormorant (PECO) wintering population at Prospect Point usually numbering about 50-60 birds, about a third would disappear in late November, only to reappear (same birds? if so, average return date over a three year stretch, Jan 19) in full Alternate/Breeding plumage. No idea where they went to complete their pre-alternate molt; but it can't have been far. Because there's no visible sexual dimorphism in PECO, there was no way to tell what age/sex ratios there might have been in that absconding third, and I'm still kinda unsure whether to whether call the returning birds actual migrants. > > This molt-timing mirrors that of West Coast alcids, and I wouldn't be surprised if it applies to Brandt's Cormorant (BRCO) as well. Would it apply to Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO) (which, god help me, is still think of an eastern species come west) too? > > best, m > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dennispaulson at comcast.net Tue Feb 7 08:28:50 2023 From: dennispaulson at comcast.net (Dennis Paulson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Michael, we did add cormorants to that earlybird list after my original post. The molt is just a lot more dramatic in alcids, at least in guillemots and murres, as it brings on a substantial change in plumage color. In all three regional cormorants, the only visible sign of it are breeding plumes and bare-skin color, not so obvious except at close range but indeed very dramatic then. This isn?t the first time I have wished I could add photos to a post! ;-) Dennis Paulson Seattle > On Feb 6, 2023, at 11:55 PM, Michael Price wrote: > > Dennis Paulson writes: > > With greatest respect, Dennis, not the only group. In the mid-90s, I did personal-interest surveys around the Stanley Park seawall on (weather and work permitting) a daily basis for several years. Of the Pelagic Cormorant (PECO) wintering population at Prospect Point usually numbering about 50-60 birds, about a third would disappear in late November, only to reappear (same birds? if so, average return date over a three year stretch, Jan 19) in full Alternate/Breeding plumage. No idea where they went to complete their pre-alternate molt; but it can't have been far. Because there's no visible sexual dimorphism in PECO, there was no way to tell what age/sex ratios there might have been in that absconding third, and I'm still kinda unsure whether to whether call the returning birds actual migrants. > > This molt-timing mirrors that of West Coast alcids, and I wouldn't be surprised if it applies to Brandt's Cormorant (BRCO) as well. Would it apply to Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO) (which, god help me, is still think of an eastern species come west) too? > > best, m > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From cariddellwa at gmail.com Tue Feb 7 12:58:42 2023 From: cariddellwa at gmail.com (Carol Riddell) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds 2023 Checklist Available Message-ID: <47B361FA-63ED-49EA-B2EF-BD192BAD6424@gmail.com> Hi Tweets, I am slowly pulling together data for a January Edmonds Roundup. In the meantime, if anyone would like a copy of the revised 2023 Edmonds checklist, please request it at checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. We revised a couple of abundance codes and added the Nazca Booby, bringing our total number of species to 280. The checklist is always posted in the bird information box at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station at the base of the public pier. But if you want to help us develop our year list by knowing which species need good documention or a photo (usually abundance code 3 or higher), it can be handy to keep the checklist on your computer of mobile device. Good birding, Carol Riddell Edmonds, WA From amk17 at earthlink.net Tue Feb 7 16:02:16 2023 From: amk17 at earthlink.net (AMK17) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Brambling? Message-ID: <49706052-8fe8-e389-9d25-13a29ea97c69@earthlink.net> Hi Just wondered if the brambling(s) has been observed after this morning in a Seattle? Thanks, AKopitov AMK17 From treesyes at gmail.com Tue Feb 7 16:26:24 2023 From: treesyes at gmail.com (tina cohen) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] RFI Belize - thanks everyone Message-ID: <0D90F38F-6D5D-49F5-B338-0F9CBC3CADF6@gmail.com> Tweeterdom is a great resource. Thank you for all your recommendations. Now to finish my research! Tina Seattle From daupperlee at comcast.net Tue Feb 7 16:48:37 2023 From: daupperlee at comcast.net (Don Aupperlee) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] RFI Belize - thanks everyone In-Reply-To: <0D90F38F-6D5D-49F5-B338-0F9CBC3CADF6@gmail.com> References: <0D90F38F-6D5D-49F5-B338-0F9CBC3CADF6@gmail.com> Message-ID: <396BCB00-D3B2-294E-BDFA-6D5177A9F0A7@hxcore.ol> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From loblollyboy at gmail.com Tue Feb 7 23:23:48 2023 From: loblollyboy at gmail.com (Michael Price) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? Message-ID: Dennis Paulson writes: Likewise, Dennis. I have to take mild issue with the contention that all cormorants show only plumes and bare-skin color changes when in Alternate plumage. In such plumage, Pelagic and Red-faced (RFCO) both show quite conspicuous white flank patches. So when about a third of the Prospect Point lot disappear in all-dark nonbreeding plumage in mid-November and reappear in mid-January with big white bum-patches characteristic of breeding plumage--well, what's a boy to do but conclude these (returning?) birds are rarin' to go, reproductively? Otherwise, what's their flash new plumage for? Such an early initiation of breeding display would inspire the question that Hal Michael raises, of piscivores taking advantage of a mid- to late-winter fishery to promote breeding success. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Wed Feb 8 07:32:41 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: eBird enables one to add photos as well as to add comments and to document stage of breeding (via the breeding code feature). Last year I added a few comments re: PIGU in breeding plumage. Jan 24: one in full breeding plumage Feb 9: many in breeding plumage Due to considerable interest and research into changes (or lack thereof) in breeding timing with climate change, I strongly recommend people to note breeding timing, especially appearance of first fledges or nest with eggs or young. >From high to low, eBird breeding codes are: - *NY Nest with Young (Confirmed)* -- Nest with young seen or heard. - *NE Nest with Eggs (Confirmed)* -- Nest with eggs. - *FS Carrying Fecal Sac (Confirmed)* -- Adult carrying fecal sac. - *FY Feeding Young (Confirmed)* -- Adult feeding young that have left the nest, but are not yet flying and independent (for some projects should not be used with raptors, terns, and other species that may move many miles from the nest site; often supersedes FL). - *CF Carrying Food (Confirmed)* -- Adult carrying food for young (for some projects should not be used for corvids, raptors, terns, and certain other species that regularly carry food for courtship or other purposes). - *FL Recently Fledged Young (Confirmed)* -- Recently fledged or downy young observed while still dependent upon adults. - *ON Occupied Nest (Confirmed)* -- Occupied nest presumed by parent entering and remaining, exchanging incubation duties, etc. - *UN Used Nest (enter 0 if no birds seen) (Confirmed)* -- Nest is present, but not active. Use only if you are certain of the species that built the nest. - *DD Distraction Display (Confirmed)* -- Distraction display, including feigning injury. - *NB Nest Building (Confirmed/Probable)* -- Nest building at apparent nest site (should not be used for certain wrens, and other species that build dummy nests; see code "B" below for these species). - *CN Carrying Nesting Material (Confirmed/Probable)* -- Adult carrying nesting material; nest site not seen. - *PE Physiological Evidence (Probable)* -- Physiological evidence of nesting, usually a brood patch. This will be used only very rarely. - *B Wren/Woodpecker Nest Building (Probable)* -- Some species, including certain wrens (e.g., Marsh Wren), woodpeckers, and certain other cavity nesters (e.g., barbets) may build dummy nests and thus nest building activity cannot be considered confirmation. Use this category in those cases. - *A Agitated Behavior (Probable)* -- Agitated behavior or anxiety calls from an adult. This excludes responses elicited by "pishing", playing recordings, or mobbing behavior that species engage in year-round (for instance, mobbing an owl). - *N Visiting Probable Nest Site (Probable)* -- Visiting repeatedly probable nest site (primarily hole nesters). - *C Courtship, Display or Copulation (Probable)* -- Courtship or copulation observed, including displays and courtship feeding. - *T Territorial Defense (Probable)* -- Permanent territory presumed through defense of breeding territory by fighting or chasing individuals of same species. - *P Pair in Suitable Habitat (Probable)* -- Pair observed in suitable breeding habitat (for some projects only during breeding season). - *M Multiple (7+) Singing Birds (Probable)* -- At least 7 singing birds present in suitable nesting habitat (for some projects only during breeding season). - *S7 Singing Bird Present 7+ Days (Probable)* -- Use only if you have observed a singing bird at the same spot (not elsewhere) one week or more earlier in the season. - *S Singing Bird (Possible)* -- Singing bird present in suitable nesting habitat (for some projects only during breeding season). - *H In Appropriate Habitat (Possible)* -- Adult in suitable nesting habitat during its breeding season. On Tue, Feb 7, 2023 at 11:24 PM Michael Price wrote: > Dennis Paulson writes: sign of it are breeding plumes and bare-skin color, not so obvious except > at close range but indeed very dramatic then. > > This isn't the first time I have wished I could add photos to a post! ;-) > > > Likewise, Dennis. I have to take mild issue with the contention that all > cormorants show only plumes and bare-skin color changes when in Alternate > plumage. In such plumage, Pelagic and Red-faced (RFCO) both show quite > conspicuous white flank patches. So when about a third of the Prospect > Point lot disappear in all-dark nonbreeding plumage in mid-November and > reappear in mid-January with big white bum-patches characteristic of > breeding plumage--well, what's a boy to do but conclude these (returning?) > birds are rarin' to go, reproductively? Otherwise, what's their flash new > plumage for? > > Such an early initiation of breeding display would inspire the question > that Hal Michael raises, of piscivores taking advantage of a mid- to > late-winter fishery to promote breeding success. > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ucd880 at comcast.net Wed Feb 8 07:48:33 2023 From: ucd880 at comcast.net (HAL MICHAEL) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1931864071.2362333.1675871313721@connect.xfinity.com> There was a part I forgot to add about food supply initiating breeding. In some Australian waterfowl breeding commences following sufficient rainfall. The way the information was phrased, the rains are not necessarily seasonal, so it overrides day length. Hal Michael Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) ucd880@comcast.net > On 02/07/2023 11:23 PM Michael Price wrote: > > > Dennis Paulson writes: > This isn't the first time I have wished I could add photos to a post! ;-) > > > Likewise, Dennis. I have to take mild issue with the contention that all cormorants show only plumes and bare-skin color changes when in Alternate plumage. In such plumage, Pelagic and Red-faced (RFCO) both show quite conspicuous white flank patches. So when about a third of the Prospect Point lot disappear in all-dark nonbreeding plumage in mid-November and reappear in mid-January with big white bum-patches characteristic of breeding plumage--well, what's a boy to do but conclude these (returning?) birds are rarin' to go, reproductively? Otherwise, what's their flash new plumage for? > > Such an early initiation of breeding display would inspire the question that Hal Michael raises, of piscivores taking advantage of a mid- to late-winter fishery to promote breeding success. > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dennispaulson at comcast.net Wed Feb 8 09:14:55 2023 From: dennispaulson at comcast.net (Dennis Paulson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Pigeon Guillemot in Breeding Plumage in Early February? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1399568592.2525179.1675876495589@connect.xfinity.com> You're so right, Michael; my bad. I don't know where my head was when I wrote that, not that I haven't seen so many of those white-flanked birds every year. If only tweeters accepted photos, I would have of course remembered that as soon as I picked out photos to illustrate my comments. So next question: when do these gorgeous birds go to their breeding sites? I assume they don't pair up until they are at their nest sites. And why do Pelagics signal from their flanks, when the other cormorants don't seem to need that? Something about a big white spot at a cliff nest site showing that it's inhabited? Dennis > On 02/07/2023 11:23 PM Michael Price wrote: > > > Dennis Paulson writes: > This isn't the first time I have wished I could add photos to a post! ;-) > > > Likewise, Dennis. I have to take mild issue with the contention that all cormorants show only plumes and bare-skin color changes when in Alternate plumage. In such plumage, Pelagic and Red-faced (RFCO) both show quite conspicuous white flank patches. So when about a third of the Prospect Point lot disappear in all-dark nonbreeding plumage in mid-November and reappear in mid-January with big white bum-patches characteristic of breeding plumage--well, what's a boy to do but conclude these (returning?) birds are rarin' to go, reproductively? Otherwise, what's their flash new plumage for? > > Such an early initiation of breeding display would inspire the question that Hal Michael raises, of piscivores taking advantage of a mid- to late-winter fishery to promote breeding success. > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jeffo4297 at gmail.com Wed Feb 8 17:06:18 2023 From: jeffo4297 at gmail.com (jeff o) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wiley Slough near Conway will have limited access for a week. Message-ID: Hi Tweeters, I spoke with Greg Meis, area manager for WDFW, who reports that they are having some construction there this week. *WDFW construction crew is here at the Headquarters Unit repairing the spur dike and around the boat launch parking lot. The crew is requesting no public entry from our log gate southward on the dike top trail towards the Spur dike and the west dike. So I posted some signs of the closure. The crew will be on site from Nov.7 through Nov. 17. This area will be closed during their working hours (8 AM-5:00 PM) but the site will be open for this coming weekend. * Also, the area will be closed from late March through part of November. Skagit Audubon will host an informational field trip on March 11 to listen to Mr. Meis talk about the planned work and how it will impact the Wiley area. Stand by for details to come soon. Jeff Osmundson Stanwood Wa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jeffo4297 at gmail.com Wed Feb 8 18:27:10 2023 From: jeffo4297 at gmail.com (jeff o) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wiley Slough near Conway - CORRECTION Message-ID: Sorry for the confusion, Wiley will be closed Feb 7-17th JeffO Stanwood Wa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gene.beall at gmail.com Thu Feb 9 11:10:08 2023 From: gene.beall at gmail.com (Gene Beall) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The Biggest Penguin That Ever Lived - The New York Times Message-ID: <21456e09-c289-9200-e841-f36187539538@gmail.com> Fossils found in New Zealand highlight an era when giant penguins, some as heavy as 340 pounds, prowled the seas. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/08/science/giant-penguin-fossil.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20230209&instance_id=84883&nl=from-the-times®i_id=140569775&segment_id=124838&te=1&user_id=e1185d1c695e6f6265d291d685ab6a21 From marvbreece at q.com Fri Feb 10 05:44:08 2023 From: marvbreece at q.com (MARVIN BREECE) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Kent E Wigeons, etc Message-ID: <4JE4MTC95JU4.OTN7KXIGTQ0F2@luweb02oc> Yesterday (2.9.23) there were 8 EURASIAN WIGEONS at the flooded field along S204th St, west of Frager Rd, in Kent. There were 5 males and 3 females. In the past I have had to go to Skagit County to see that many E wigeons in the same place. There was also a first year male COMMON GOLDENEYE on the Green River, as well as a first year NORTHERN SHRIKE. videos: https://flic.kr/ps/376fhN Marv Breece Tukwila, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdmarymoor at frontier.com Fri Feb 10 08:15:34 2023 From: birdmarymoor at frontier.com (birdmarymoor) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park yesterday References: <586329814.1730843.1676045734506.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <586329814.1730843.1676045734506@mail.yahoo.com> Tweets - We had a great day at Marymoor yesterday, with ridiculously?good weather.? Temps were in the high 40's, no wind, thin high?overcast, essentially no precipitation (about two dozen drops per?person, spread out over time).? It was birdy too.? Most of the birds?were the expected ones, but we did have some nice surprises too. Highlights: -> Trumpeter Swan - Six silent swans over the start of the boardwalk.?Neck extension appeared too long for Tundras (and Trumpeter area the?expected species at Marymoor)? First of Year (FOY) -> Northern Pintail - One flyby female at the Lake Platform (FOY) -> Great Blue Heron - Quite a few on the nests, with one bird?adjusting some twigs.? Nest rebuilding will begin in earnest soon. -> Western Screech-Owl - One heard, seen predawn.? Then during the?main walk, one sitting in the nest hole, nicely visible in daylight! -> Northern Flicker - Large amounts of calling, interacting, drumming,?etc.? Quite a few birds total, I believe -> Marsh Wren - One sang a partial song predawn from along the boardwalk -> Varied Thrush - One, maybe two, at the start of the boardwalk -> Cedar Waxwing - Flock of eleven atop tall cottonwood at Dog Central (FOY) -> NO FINCHES AGAIN -> Lincoln's Sparrow - One in Pea Patch We also had RIVER OTTER on the far side of the slough, and a RACCOON?(FOY) high up in a cottonwood near the east end of the boardwalk For the day, 54 species. = Michael Hobbs =?BirdMarymoor@gmail.com =?www.marymoor.org/birding.htm | | | | | | | | | | | Birding at Marymoor Park | | | -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fleckenstein1 at COMCAST.NET Fri Feb 10 12:45:22 2023 From: fleckenstein1 at COMCAST.NET (Fleckenstein) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Salton Sea Message-ID: Friends, My wife and I are going to spend a few days at the Salton Sea. Looks like California Audubon has a good web site for locating birds (along with eBird). Any suggestions for don?t miss locations? I?m also looking for a spot to park our travel trailer. We can dry camp or have utilities. I?m more concerned about not being in a dust bowl especially if the wind is off the water. Any suggestions? John Fleckenstein From shepthorp at gmail.com Fri Feb 10 12:50:23 2023 From: shepthorp at gmail.com (Shep Thorp) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 2/8/2023 Message-ID: Dear Tweets, approximately 35 of us enjoyed a really nice day at the Refuge with temperatures in the 30's to 40's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a High 14.4ft Tide at 7:41am and a Low 5.4ft Tide at 1:47pm, so we skipped the Orchard and South Access Road in the morning to go chase the falling tide. Highlights included hunting Coyote, FOY SEMIPALMATED PLOVER X 6 in the surge plain, FOY SAVANNAH SPARROW along the dike, FOY BRANT GEESE on the Nisqually Reach from the now open Puget Sound Viewing Platform, and great looks of the adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, California type, from the Nisqually Estuary Trail north of the Twin Barns along the long line of trees between the Nisqually River and surge plain. Starting out at the Visitor Center Overlook at 8am, we had great looks of BUFFLEHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, and SONG SPARROW. A large flock of 20+ GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW forage the bramble on the west side of the west parking lot. The flooded fields on either side of the old McAllister Creek Access Road were good for AMERICAN COOT, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. A Coyote was observed hunting voles/moles along the far side of the field just south of the road. It's nice to observe this species without fear of being shot. The west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail was great for PIED-BILLED GREBE, GREAT BLUE HERON, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and PACIFIC WREN. We were not able to relocate the American Bittern which was seen over the weekend in the slough next to the Twin Barns. The Twin Barns Overlook was good for RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, SOOTY FOX SPARROW and additional waterfowl. Out on the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail we had additional nice sparrows with heard and seen LINCOLN'S SPARROW and SAVANNAH SPARROW. The Savannah only showed briefly for some, and the Lincoln's remained very shy, occasionally vocalizing with a buzzy zeep, and popping up for brief looks. A group of predominantly Intergrade NORTHERN FLICKERS were frolicking in the trees/snags/grass between the dike and the surge plain. We had great looks of WESTERN MEADOWLARK, NORTHERN HARRIER, and several BALD EAGLE. In the far right corner of the surge plain FOY SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER x 6 were seen foraging on the mud flats. West of Leschi Slough we had good viewing of LEAST SANDPIPER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. A distant flock of 100+ DUNLIN were reported by some, but did not fly in close enough for all to see. Upwards of 3 WILSON SNIPE were observed roosting and foraging in the freshwater marsh in grasses where waterfowl were roosting. The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail is now open to the very end, or Puget Sound Observation Platform. This allowed us to get looks of FOY BRANT GEESE on the Nisqually Reach. We also had good scope views of WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, COMMON LOON, and a couple of SCAUP. Distant BRANDT'S CORMORANT and PELAGIC CORMORANT could be seen on the Channel Marker at the mouth of the Nisqually River. The Boards along Shannon Slough and McAllister Creek were great for SHORT-BILLED GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, WESTERN X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HOODED MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, SURF SCOTER and HORNED GREBE. Good numbers of AMERICAN WIGEON foraged the tidal estuary and we located two male and one female EURASIAN WIGEON. Tom located a SPOTTED SANDPIPER along the west side of McAllister Creek. On our return, Tom and Anders relocated the adult California type RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in the long line of trees between the Nisqually River and the surge plain that runs north-south from the Nisqually River Overlook out to the old Ring Dike. A photograph is embedded in our report. I had to peel off at this time for an appointment in Tacoma, so Jon started a second list for the day. COMMON MERGANSER were seen at the Nisqually River Overlook as they stage here in late winter. On there return the group picked up CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, DOWNY WOODPECKER and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail, the Orchard and the South Access Road. We observed 65 species for the day, and have seen 92 species for the year. Mammals seen included COYOTE, EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, and HARBOR SEAL. I've been choosing a species to count weekly with a clicker, and this week I counted American Green-winged Teal. I only counted approximately 100 Teal which seems really low to me. Usually in the winter we will seen 1000-2000 GWTE on a Wednesday walk. Perhaps they have moved out early or are having a bad year, but I thought it was unusual to only count 100 GWTE on a Winter Day walk at the Refuge. Until next week, happy birding, Shep -- Shep Thorp Browns Point 253-370-3742 Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US Feb 8, 2023 7:47 AM - 1:47 PM Protocol: Traveling 4.504 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Partly cloudy with temperatures in the 30?s to 40?s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 14.4ft Tide at 7:41am and a high Low 5.4ft at 1:47pm. Mammals seen Coyote, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal. 58 species (+8 other taxa) Brant 35 Cackling Goose (minima) 600 Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 2 Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 22 Northern Shoveler 100 Gadwall 40 Eurasian Wigeon 3 American Wigeon 700 Mallard 200 Northern Pintail 400 Green-winged Teal (American) 100 Ring-necked Duck 5 Greater/Lesser Scaup 2 Surf Scoter 25 White-winged Scoter 3 Bufflehead 125 Common Goldeneye 30 Hooded Merganser 2 Red-breasted Merganser 30 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Horned Grebe 10 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5 American Coot (Red-shielded) 125 Semipalmated Plover 6 Observed at a 1/4 mile with 60x spotting scope foraging on mud flats in the south east corner of the surge plain. Observed by many. Peep sized plover with one collar band on neck. Observed for 15 minutes. Dunlin 100 Least Sandpiper 70 Wilson's Snipe 3 Spotted Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 20 Short-billed Gull 100 Ring-billed Gull 50 Glaucous-winged Gull 1 Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 5 Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 20 Larus sp. 150 Common Loon 6 Brandt's Cormorant 12 Pelagic Cormorant 1 Double-crested Cormorant 25 Great Blue Heron 25 Northern Harrier 2 Accipiter sp. 1 Bald Eagle 15 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Northern Flicker 1 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted x Red-shafted) 4 American Crow 125 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Pacific Wren 2 Marsh Wren 3 Bewick's Wren 2 European Starling 25 American Robin 30 Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 3 Golden-crowned Sparrow 30 Savannah Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 25 Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Spotted Towhee 2 Western Meadowlark 1 Red-winged Blackbird 8 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 20 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S127915412 Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US 8 Feb, 2023 1:48 PM - 4:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 1.55 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Finished the Wednesday Walk route from the Twin Barns to the River Overlook, then south on the east side of the boardwalk loop to the Orchard, and looped back to the parking lots via the gravel service road. Did not re-count waterfowl from the service road Green Gate where we started this morning. Clouds breaking up, light south breeze, and 47 ?F. 22 species Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 8 East side boardwalk loop Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 9 Service road south pond Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 4 River overlook Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 4 River overlook Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 6 River overlook Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 4 River overlook Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1 * Continuing adult seen from the dike north of the Twin Barns. Bird perched in snags along the river. Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) (Buteo jamaicensis calurus/alascensis) 2 Pale immature near the twin barns and dark adult west of the visitor center parking lot Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) (Dryobates pubescens gairdnerii/turati) 1 Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 6 Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 9 Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 7 Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus) 2 Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 4 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2 One 'piebald' female in the orchard Fox Sparrow (Sooty) (Passerella iliaca [unalaschcensis Group]) 1 White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) (Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis) 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) 12 Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) (Pipilo maculatus [oregonus Group]) 4 Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) (Leiothlypis celata lutescens) 2 View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S127906777 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Fri Feb 10 16:36:56 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Harlequin ducks Message-ID: Six Harlequin ducks in the small cove at Washington Park Anacortes? at the boat launch area. At about Three pm. Nelson Briefer - Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From loblollyboy at gmail.com Fri Feb 10 20:37:19 2023 From: loblollyboy at gmail.com (Michael Price) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Dunlin Flocking Defense Message-ID: I know this an old thread but it's been nagging me. I remember somewhere in the mists of the 80s or 90s reading an article on this subject in (I think, British Birds, but have unable to find a reference), in which the author distinguishes between what he called 'dreads' and 'panics'. I've had several seances with madame Google but no luck. But I did hit some paydirt on New Zealand Birds Online, where there was this, from its entry on Whiskered Tern: "At colonies, social flights, called MASS FLIGHTS, DREADS, PANICS, or UPFLIGHTS, common. In these displays, some or all members of a colony take flight and fly round in dense flock. Many authors use the terms interchangeably. Others distinguish between Mass Flights and Dreads: In Dreads, birds take off and fly low over colony for some distance without calling, then fly upwards calling loudly; Dreads an escape response but may also be used to help synchronize breeding. In Mass Flights, all birds take off and fly upwards, calling loudly from outset; Mass Flights most common before laying and are used to help synchronize breeding cycles of individuals; resurgence of Mass Flights occurs when chicks being fed, mostly by non-breeding birds visiting colony, at least some of which are preparing to breed in the next breeding season (K. Hulsman, 1977. Emu 77: 49-60). The distinction is often not clear in published descriptions of flock behavior, etc." When I entered the search terms, "avian flock defenses against raptorial attacks", a wealth of rabbit-holes on the subject came up. Have fun. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dgrainger at birdsbydave.com Sat Feb 11 15:38:06 2023 From: dgrainger at birdsbydave.com (dgrainger@birdsbydave.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Salton Sea In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <835ca693346f1a3fcbce3dc1f5a5ebcc@birdsbydave.com> Don't miss going to the Sonny Bono wildlife preserve while you are down there! There is also a nice set of RV parks and campgrounds over at Borrego Springs where a number of people from Port Townsend go to stay for January and February On 2023-02-10 13:45, Fleckenstein wrote: > Friends, > My wife and I are going to spend a few days at the Salton Sea. Looks > like California Audubon has a good web site for locating birds (along > with eBird). Any suggestions for don?t miss locations? I?m also > looking for a spot to park our travel trailer. We can dry camp or have > utilities. I?m more concerned about not being in a dust bowl > especially if the wind is off the water. Any suggestions? > > John Fleckenstein > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From dennispaulson at comcast.net Sat Feb 11 16:39:06 2023 From: dennispaulson at comcast.net (Dennis Paulson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush Message-ID: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> Hello tweets, We?ve had Varied Thrushes in the yard ever since that cold, snowy spell in late December, and it?s interesting to have them around so much. One thing I noted is how they do well in very low light levels. I think that?s true for other thrushes as well?they seem to have big eyes. They begin to feed before it is light out, when I can barely see a movement in the grass. Yes, they feed on our ?lawn? where we sprinkle millet seeds regularly. And they feed on those seeds everywhere we put them, including in the shrubbery. They remain in the yard feeding until very late in the afternoon, too. I?ve noticed that Spotted Towhees do the same thing, often not appearing in the yard until it is getting dark. Of course they can be present at any time of day, but they are definitely the last bird to feed on some afternoons. With the short days in the winter, feeding at 3:30 pm can be almost dark. Varied Thrushes of both sexes also bathe in our fountain just before it gets dark, too dark to see anything but a silhouette splashing in the water. Has anyone else noticed this? Dennis Paulson Seattle From ronpost4 at gmail.com Sat Feb 11 17:26:23 2023 From: ronpost4 at gmail.com (ronpost4@gmail.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> References: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Sat Feb 11 17:48:46 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> References: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> Message-ID: Very much so. Hermit and, in summer, Swainson's Thrushes are always the last bird to visit my backyard pond as dusk turns to dark. They come in solo and quiet after everyone else has headed home. On Sat, Feb 11, 2023 at 4:39 PM Dennis Paulson wrote: > Hello tweets, > > We?ve had Varied Thrushes in the yard ever since that cold, snowy spell in > late December, and it?s interesting to have them around so much. One thing > I noted is how they do well in very low light levels. I think that?s true > for other thrushes as well?they seem to have big eyes. > > They begin to feed before it is light out, when I can barely see a > movement in the grass. Yes, they feed on our ?lawn? where we sprinkle > millet seeds regularly. And they feed on those seeds everywhere we put > them, including in the shrubbery. They remain in the yard feeding until > very late in the afternoon, too. I?ve noticed that Spotted Towhees do the > same thing, often not appearing in the yard until it is getting dark. Of > course they can be present at any time of day, but they are definitely the > last bird to feed on some afternoons. With the short days in the winter, > feeding at 3:30 pm can be almost dark. > > Varied Thrushes of both sexes also bathe in our fountain just before it > gets dark, too dark to see anything but a silhouette splashing in the water. > > Has anyone else noticed this? > > Dennis Paulson > Seattle > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From paq at olypen.com Sat Feb 11 18:03:36 2023 From: paq at olypen.com (Patricia Quyle Grainger) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> References: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> Message-ID: <68A4D95D-00F2-466D-A008-8A12FF857CC9@olypen.com> We, too, still have many Varied Thrushes visiting. However, besides our lawn, I?ve seen them feeding in the gravel driveway and, after rain, on the street, collecting worms. I see them early in the day, but not late. Maybe I?m not looking as the sun sets. They certainly have been a joy this winter! Pat Grainger Port Townsend Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 11, 2023, at 4:40 PM, Dennis Paulson wrote: > > ?Hello tweets, > > We?ve had Varied Thrushes in the yard ever since that cold, snowy spell in late December, and it?s interesting to have them around so much. One thing I noted is how they do well in very low light levels. I think that?s true for other thrushes as well?they seem to have big eyes. > > They begin to feed before it is light out, when I can barely see a movement in the grass. Yes, they feed on our ?lawn? where we sprinkle millet seeds regularly. And they feed on those seeds everywhere we put them, including in the shrubbery. They remain in the yard feeding until very late in the afternoon, too. I?ve noticed that Spotted Towhees do the same thing, often not appearing in the yard until it is getting dark. Of course they can be present at any time of day, but they are definitely the last bird to feed on some afternoons. With the short days in the winter, feeding at 3:30 pm can be almost dark. > > Varied Thrushes of both sexes also bathe in our fountain just before it gets dark, too dark to see anything but a silhouette splashing in the water. > > Has anyone else noticed this? > > Dennis Paulson > Seattle > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From tomboulian at comcast.net Sat Feb 11 20:11:20 2023 From: tomboulian at comcast.net (tomboulian@comcast.net) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> References: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> Message-ID: <6795F6B649C14801B6F49FFA0CA69B58@markPC2> I too have been treated to regular varied thrushes this winter--currently two males and probably 5 females, though not in the flocks just following the snow. Previously, any varied thrush meant a grab for the camera; now they're just always around. Eating millet--which was new for me--usually it was just the attraction of running water and some snowberries. I use food-grade millet on the ground, so no shells, no mess, no sprouting, no sales tax--and they lap those up with their very long tongues. First in the morning for sure, with the towhees. Around all day , but more actively singing in almost crepuscular hours. I wonder if the robins and varieds look at each other and wonder what the other's secret weapon is. They certainly are built differently and forage differently, but look the same flying and flocking. Thrushes really are low light birds--the robins start singing at 430 am in the spring. Growing up in Michigan I had wood thrushes first and last in the day. On the East side of the mountains here, the Veeries and Swainson's are all-day singers, but only in the deep thickets except at dawn and dusk. In Costa Rica the Clay-colored thrushes (national bird) were their equivalent to our robin, as well as nightingale thrushes. And the Hwamei of Asia (and Hawaii). And don't forget the nightingale itself, as well as "blackbird singing in the dead of night" from the Beatles' England...their blackbird being a Turdus thrush as well. Mark Tomboulian Shoreline, WA -----Original Message----- From: Dennis Paulson Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2023 4:39 PM To: TWEETERS tweeters Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush Hello tweets, We?ve had Varied Thrushes in the yard ever since that cold, snowy spell in late December, and it?s interesting to have them around so much. One thing I noted is how they do well in very low light levels. I think that?s true for other thrushes as well?they seem to have big eyes. They begin to feed before it is light out, when I can barely see a movement in the grass. Yes, they feed on our ?lawn? where we sprinkle millet seeds regularly. And they feed on those seeds everywhere we put them, including in the shrubbery. They remain in the yard feeding until very late in the afternoon, too. I?ve noticed that Spotted Towhees do the same thing, often not appearing in the yard until it is getting dark. Of course they can be present at any time of day, but they are definitely the last bird to feed on some afternoons. With the short days in the winter, feeding at 3:30 pm can be almost dark. Varied Thrushes of both sexes also bathe in our fountain just before it gets dark, too dark to see anything but a silhouette splashing in the water. Has anyone else noticed this? Dennis Paulson Seattle _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From nightwings406 at aol.com Sun Feb 12 08:17:40 2023 From: nightwings406 at aol.com (nightwings406@aol.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> References: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> Message-ID: <1048173204.330476.1676218660437@mail.yahoo.com> The quail at my house do this.Donna FerrillSnohomish, WA? On Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 04:39:38?PM PST, Dennis Paulson wrote: Hello tweets, We?ve had Varied Thrushes in the yard ever since that cold, snowy spell in late December, and it?s interesting to have them around so much. One thing I noted is how they do well in very low light levels. I think that?s true for other thrushes as well?they seem to have big eyes. They begin to feed before it is light out, when I can barely see a movement in the grass. Yes, they feed on our ?lawn? where we sprinkle millet seeds regularly. And they feed on those seeds everywhere we put them, including in the shrubbery. They remain in the yard feeding until very late in the afternoon, too. I?ve noticed that Spotted Towhees do the same thing, often not appearing in the yard until it is getting dark. Of course they can be present at any time of day, but they are definitely the last bird to feed on some afternoons. With the short days in the winter, feeding at 3:30 pm can be almost dark. Varied Thrushes of both sexes also bathe in our fountain just before it gets dark, too dark to see anything but a silhouette splashing in the water. Has anyone else noticed this? Dennis Paulson Seattle _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From benedict.t at comcast.net Sun Feb 12 08:37:52 2023 From: benedict.t at comcast.net (Tom Benedict) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> References: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> Message-ID: This reminds me of a magic moment some years ago during the CBC at Discovery Park. My 14 year old son and I arrived about two hours before sunrise for the ?Owl Prowl? portion. No owls were encountered but as we returned to the parking lot about a 30 minutes before daybreak, we heard the whistle of a VATH. Following that flute-like call we could barely make out the faint profile of two birds scratching and poking the margins of the underbrush. BTW, we still have a few in our yard, gorging on pyracantha berries, along with their cousins the American Robins. Nowhere near the numbers we saw during the ?big freeze?, though. Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA > On Feb 11, 2023, at 16:39, Dennis Paulson wrote: > > We?ve had Varied Thrushes in the yard ever since that cold, snowy spell in late December, and it?s interesting to have them around so much. One thing I noted is how they do well in very low light levels. I think that?s true for other thrushes as well?they seem to have big eyes. > > Varied Thrushes of both sexes also bathe in our fountain just before it gets dark, too dark to see anything but a silhouette splashing in the water. > > Has anyone else noticed this? > > Dennis Paulson > Seattle From nearpost at gmail.com Sun Feb 12 08:57:44 2023 From: nearpost at gmail.com (Scott Ramos) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> References: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> Message-ID: Thrushes do seem to have crepuscular habits. Camping in the mountains and beyond is a good way to experience this. Below about 3000 ft, one of the first birds to call and sing, even before dawn, is Swainson's Thrush, often accompanied by Robins. And, the last bird singing at dusk is ... Swainson's. Above 3000 feet, Hermit Thrush takes on these duties. I have had them still singing way past nightfall while listening for owls. For many years, I have run a Breeding Bird Survey near Liberty (thanks, Sharon!) and at our first stop at the designated start time--4:34 am--the most reliable singer is Veery. Listening to any of the Turdidae is always a highlight of trips to the mountains. Scott Ramos Seattle On Sat, Feb 11, 2023 at 4:39 PM Dennis Paulson wrote: > Hello tweets, > > We?ve had Varied Thrushes in the yard ever since that cold, snowy spell in > late December, and it?s interesting to have them around so much. One thing > I noted is how they do well in very low light levels. I think that?s true > for other thrushes as well?they seem to have big eyes. > > They begin to feed before it is light out, when I can barely see a > movement in the grass. Yes, they feed on our ?lawn? where we sprinkle > millet seeds regularly. And they feed on those seeds everywhere we put > them, including in the shrubbery. They remain in the yard feeding until > very late in the afternoon, too. I?ve noticed that Spotted Towhees do the > same thing, often not appearing in the yard until it is getting dark. Of > course they can be present at any time of day, but they are definitely the > last bird to feed on some afternoons. With the short days in the winter, > feeding at 3:30 pm can be almost dark. > > Varied Thrushes of both sexes also bathe in our fountain just before it > gets dark, too dark to see anything but a silhouette splashing in the water. > > Has anyone else noticed this? > > Dennis Paulson > Seattle > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From canyoneagle at mycci.net Sun Feb 12 09:47:53 2023 From: canyoneagle at mycci.net (LMarkoff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> References: <782959E9-26BB-4F29-8A48-694F9B041F62@comcast.net> Message-ID: <004001d93f0a$23b33430$6b199c90$@mycci.net> Where I lived in Eugene, OR, Varied Thrushes nested at higher elevations nearby. During winter they would come down in elevation to my yard and feeders, especially during snow storms. My high count during a snow storm was 24. They ate sunflower seed, but their favorite food was shelled peanuts. They were the first birds that I heard in the early-morning darkness, and were the last to leave in the evening, similar to the behavior of Cardinals in my yard when I lived in the east. Lori Markoff -----Original Message----- From: Tweeters On Behalf Of Dennis Paulson Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2023 4:39 PM To: TWEETERS tweeters Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush Hello tweets, We?ve had Varied Thrushes in the yard ever since that cold, snowy spell in late December, and it?s interesting to have them around so much. One thing I noted is how they do well in very low light levels. I think that?s true for other thrushes as well?they seem to have big eyes. They begin to feed before it is light out, when I can barely see a movement in the grass. Yes, they feed on our ?lawn? where we sprinkle millet seeds regularly. And they feed on those seeds everywhere we put them, including in the shrubbery. They remain in the yard feeding until very late in the afternoon, too. I?ve noticed that Spotted Towhees do the same thing, often not appearing in the yard until it is getting dark. Of course they can be present at any time of day, but they are definitely the last bird to feed on some afternoons. With the short days in the winter, feeding at 3:30 pm can be almost dark. Varied Thrushes of both sexes also bathe in our fountain just before it gets dark, too dark to see anything but a silhouette splashing in the water. Has anyone else noticed this? Dennis Paulson Seattle _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Sun Feb 12 10:00:51 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The Next Level Info? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230212100051.Horde.uhCzm8gTheopkHmo6ugoapJ@webmail.jimbetz.com> Hi, I -often- have questions that are not being answered by my useual sources (eBird, Cornell, Audubon, field guides, etc.). As just one example how do I answer the question - at what age/in what season do Flickers change from juvenile patterns to adult? When I go to any of the above usually they only have the highest level of info (a few pictures, range maps, and recent/historical sightings). I guess I'm finding my way into the areas of ornithological info ... ? I have posted questions to this group - maybe once or twice a quarter - that are along these lines and haven't gotten what I consider "the answers I was looking for" ... don't get me wrong, I value this community highly - just for different purposes. Since we live in Skagit County most of my "deeper questions" are about the birds that show up here ... in all seasons. - Jim P.S. I had a first ever sighting event this morning. Early on, before they flew off to where ever they went to today, there was a group of swans (probably all Trumpeters) that had obviously spent the night on a bend of the Skagit River! We look down on that large S-curve in the Skagit that is East of the Gardner Road Launch Ramp and there they were in a 'line' on the slow side of the sand bar. Water does flow thru that area but it is not the primary path for the flow - that's on the other side of the same bar (just East of where I saw them). I'm seeing about 4 or 5 birds "just lifting off and moving" from that location right now. Sorry, too far away for a picture. From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Sun Feb 12 10:09:30 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Does anyone make such a thing? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230212100930.Horde.wKR15xQMHxnGDzUZJ3xA7op@webmail.jimbetz.com> Hi again, I do a lot of "close work" and use an Optivisor for same. One of the best aspects of the Optivisor is that you can flip it up out of the way or down to use it. ===> Does anyone make something similar for birding? Even a relatively low power device would help. Maybe I'm asking for too much? Is there an opthamologist out there that does "binoplasty"? **** As long as I'm dreaming about stuff I'd like to own ... I have a spotting scope, I have an iPhone 13 ... I'd like to have a way to use my iPhone camera thru the spotting scope. I've tried a couple of brands and they didn't work out. And then Apple keeps changing the camera set up on the phones (almost every new release) so what might work for an iPhone 10 most certainly won't work for an iPhone 13/14 and so the mfgrs of smart phone adapters are always behind the curve in terms of being able to develop and bring to market a device that works for the latest and greatest iPhone/android. - Jim From wim.van.dam at gmail.com Sun Feb 12 10:24:15 2023 From: wim.van.dam at gmail.com (Wim van Dam) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The Next Level Info? In-Reply-To: <20230212100051.Horde.uhCzm8gTheopkHmo6ugoapJ@webmail.jimbetz.com> References: <20230212100051.Horde.uhCzm8gTheopkHmo6ugoapJ@webmail.jimbetz.com> Message-ID: Hi Jim I wholeheartedly recommend getting a subscription to "Birds of the World" ($49/year): https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/subscribe To your case: for Northern Flicker it has a very detailed article on "Plumages, Molts, and Structure". Wim van Dam Solvang, CA On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 10:01 AM wrote: > Hi, > > I -often- have questions that are not being answered by my useual > sources > (eBird, Cornell, Audubon, field guides, etc.). As just one example how do > I > answer the question - at what age/in what season do Flickers change from > juvenile patterns to adult? > > When I go to any of the above usually they only have the highest level > of info (a few pictures, range maps, and recent/historical sightings). > I guess I'm finding my way into the areas of ornithological info ... ? > I have posted questions to this group - maybe once or twice a quarter - > that are along these lines and haven't gotten what I consider "the > answers I was looking for" ... don't get me wrong, I value this > community highly - just for different purposes. > > Since we live in Skagit County most of my "deeper questions" are about > the birds that show up here ... in all seasons. > - Jim > > P.S. I had a first ever sighting event this morning. Early on, before > they flew off to where ever they went to today, there was a group of > swans (probably all Trumpeters) that had obviously spent the night on a > bend of the Skagit River! We look down on that large S-curve in the > Skagit that is East of the Gardner Road Launch Ramp and there they were > in a 'line' on the slow side of the sand bar. Water does flow thru > that area but it is not the primary path for the flow - that's on the > other side of the same bar (just East of where I saw them). I'm seeing > about 4 or 5 birds "just lifting off and moving" from that location > right now. Sorry, too far away for a picture. > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Sun Feb 12 11:56:06 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The Next Level Info? In-Reply-To: References: <20230212100051.Horde.uhCzm8gTheopkHmo6ugoapJ@webmail.jimbetz.com> Message-ID: Birds of the World comes complimentary if you join Washington Ornithological Society, which is only $25/yr ($15 for students). https://wos.org/membership/ On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 10:25 AM Wim van Dam wrote: > Hi Jim > > I wholeheartedly recommend getting a subscription to "Birds of the World" > ($49/year): > https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/subscribe > > To your case: for Northern Flicker it has a very detailed article on > "Plumages, Molts, and Structure". > > Wim van Dam > Solvang, CA > > On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 10:01 AM wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> I -often- have questions that are not being answered by my useual >> sources >> (eBird, Cornell, Audubon, field guides, etc.). As just one example how >> do I >> answer the question - at what age/in what season do Flickers change from >> juvenile patterns to adult? >> >> When I go to any of the above usually they only have the highest level >> of info (a few pictures, range maps, and recent/historical sightings). >> I guess I'm finding my way into the areas of ornithological info ... ? >> I have posted questions to this group - maybe once or twice a quarter - >> that are along these lines and haven't gotten what I consider "the >> answers I was looking for" ... don't get me wrong, I value this >> community highly - just for different purposes. >> >> Since we live in Skagit County most of my "deeper questions" are about >> the birds that show up here ... in all seasons. >> - Jim >> >> P.S. I had a first ever sighting event this morning. Early on, before >> they flew off to where ever they went to today, there was a group of >> swans (probably all Trumpeters) that had obviously spent the night on a >> bend of the Skagit River! We look down on that large S-curve in the >> Skagit that is East of the Gardner Road Launch Ramp and there they were >> in a 'line' on the slow side of the sand bar. Water does flow thru >> that area but it is not the primary path for the flow - that's on the >> other side of the same bar (just East of where I saw them). I'm seeing >> about 4 or 5 birds "just lifting off and moving" from that location >> right now. Sorry, too far away for a picture. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dkreft052 at gmail.com Sun Feb 12 12:07:15 2023 From: dkreft052 at gmail.com (David Kreft) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The Next Level Info? In-Reply-To: References: <20230212100051.Horde.uhCzm8gTheopkHmo6ugoapJ@webmail.jimbetz.com> Message-ID: Better yet, join the Washington Ornithological Society and get Birds of the World tor free with your membership! And WOS individual membership is half the price of a full subscription to Birds of the World! https://wos.org/membership/ Dave Kreft Kettle Falls, WA On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 10:25 AM Wim van Dam wrote: > Hi Jim > > I wholeheartedly recommend getting a subscription to "Birds of the World" > ($49/year): > https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/subscribe > > To your case: for Northern Flicker it has a very detailed article on > "Plumages, Molts, and Structure". > > Wim van Dam > Solvang, CA > > On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 10:01 AM wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> I -often- have questions that are not being answered by my useual >> sources >> (eBird, Cornell, Audubon, field guides, etc.). As just one example how >> do I >> answer the question - at what age/in what season do Flickers change from >> juvenile patterns to adult? >> >> When I go to any of the above usually they only have the highest level >> of info (a few pictures, range maps, and recent/historical sightings). >> I guess I'm finding my way into the areas of ornithological info ... ? >> I have posted questions to this group - maybe once or twice a quarter - >> that are along these lines and haven't gotten what I consider "the >> answers I was looking for" ... don't get me wrong, I value this >> community highly - just for different purposes. >> >> Since we live in Skagit County most of my "deeper questions" are about >> the birds that show up here ... in all seasons. >> - Jim >> >> P.S. I had a first ever sighting event this morning. Early on, before >> they flew off to where ever they went to today, there was a group of >> swans (probably all Trumpeters) that had obviously spent the night on a >> bend of the Skagit River! We look down on that large S-curve in the >> Skagit that is East of the Gardner Road Launch Ramp and there they were >> in a 'line' on the slow side of the sand bar. Water does flow thru >> that area but it is not the primary path for the flow - that's on the >> other side of the same bar (just East of where I saw them). I'm seeing >> about 4 or 5 birds "just lifting off and moving" from that location >> right now. Sorry, too far away for a picture. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dick at dkporter.net Sun Feb 12 13:22:30 2023 From: dick at dkporter.net (dick@dkporter.net) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Salton Sea In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <123801d93f28$1dcd5d20$59681760$@dkporter.net> We were Snowbirds for 6 winters in the Coachella Valley and I birded the Salton Sea quite a bit. Here's a list of Ebird Hotspots that would give you almost all the birds seen on or around the Sea in February/March. We were last there in 2020 and I know the Sea continues to recede. There is a full-service campground at the State Park headquarters on the NE side and camping also available at a couple of sites (Covina and Mecca) just south of there. A Scope is necessary to view out on the Sea and up and down the shoreline. And don't be afraid to follow the paved areas or solid roads to get closer to the water (don't try driving the dikes on the South End nor going on the sand - I've been stuck!) NORTHEAST BEST - Salton Sea SRA - Headquarters and Campground (look for birds around the Entrance Kiosk area also) Also - Salton Sea - Northshore Marina And - Salton Sea SRA - Salt Creek Beach (check out towards the North where the creek came in .) EAST SIDE BEST - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR - Union Tract/Visitor Center (take the Rock Hill trail out to the sea and towards the North, worth 2 hours of your time.) Also - Salton Sea - Garst Rd/Morton Bay And - there are numerous hotspots around the Southeast side and South end, you can drive along the breakwaters and between the agricultural fields, check Ebird for recent rarities, including Plovers. SOUTH END BEST - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR - Vendel Road BEST - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR - Unit 1 WEST SIDE Nothing worth spending your time on unless you want to see remnants of a 1950s recreation land boom. NORTHWEST CORNER BEST - Salton Sea - 84th Ave (the sea used to come right up to the road end, now you will have to walk out a fair bit to get a look at the birds - best views to the North. Also - Oasis - Aqua Farming Technology Ponds. Just drive in the driveway, park and look around for workers. I was never accosted, I just asked politely if I could bird - no problem For some much prettier birding Hotspots north and west of the Coachella Valley try Whitewater Preserve, Big Morongo Preserve and San Jacinto Wildlife area. Good birding, Dick -----Original Message----- From: Tweeters On Behalf Of Fleckenstein Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 12:45 PM To: tweeters@u.washington.edu Subject: [Tweeters] Salton Sea Friends, My wife and I are going to spend a few days at the Salton Sea. Looks like California Audubon has a good web site for locating birds (along with eBird). Any suggestions for don?t miss locations? I?m also looking for a spot to park our travel trailer. We can dry camp or have utilities. I?m more concerned about not being in a dust bowl especially if the wind is off the water. Any suggestions? John Fleckenstein _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From vikingcove at gmail.com Sun Feb 12 14:07:38 2023 From: vikingcove at gmail.com (Kevin Lucas) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Does anyone make such a thing? In-Reply-To: <20230212100930.Horde.wKR15xQMHxnGDzUZJ3xA7op@webmail.jimbetz.com> References: <20230212100930.Horde.wKR15xQMHxnGDzUZJ3xA7op@webmail.jimbetz.com> Message-ID: For phone digiscoping, I now use a Novagrade phone digiscoping adapter - double gripper version. It's well built, holds my phone securely, and is adjustable in many respects: diameter of scope/binocular eyepiece, the phone dimensions, and the position of the phone camera lens you want to use with it. The phone may be vertical, horizontal, or any other rotation desired. It takes just a few seconds to adjust it, without tools, for a different phone. Novagrade also makes a tablet digiscoping adapter. Compression rings for 39mm - 60.75mm scope/binocular eyepiece are included. A compression ring for smaller than 39mm is available separately. It accepts phones up to 4-3/8" (110mm) wide. Customer/tech support was extremely helpful. I use my phone's stylus button to wirelessly trigger the phone camera shutter. That eliminates the vibration of triggering by touching the phone. Any of many inexpensive Bluetooth triggers also work well as a wireless shutter trigger. Because my current phone case has a QuadLock bulge in the rear of the case, I added 3 rubber pads to keep it from teetering. I also replaced the easily adjustable upper stop with a wider fixed aluminum bar. This certainly isn't necessary. It just makes it easier for me to position my current phone/case. I'd be glad to send a photo of mine, with its pads & different bar, to anyone interested. Not just for photos, I love using my phone on the scope to give live views of birds to those who find scope use difficult or impossible as I bird watch on the Yakima Greenway. And at the Cowiche Canyon Earth Day celebration, I keep my phone & adapter on one of my scopes. That with a sturdy platform stool affords great live views for people of all sizes and vision abilities wherever I'm stationed. It's currently $169 directly from Novagrade.com. I don't anticipate ever needing to replace mine. Good birding, https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ Kevin Lucas Yakima County, Washington *Qui tacet consentire videtur* On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 10:09 AM wrote: > Hi again, > > I do a lot of "close work" and use an Optivisor for same. One of > the best aspects of the Optivisor is that you can flip it up out > of the way or down to use it. > > ===> Does anyone make something similar for birding? > > Even a relatively low power device would help. Maybe I'm asking > for too much? Is there an opthamologist out there that does > > "binoplasty"? > > **** > > As long as I'm dreaming about stuff I'd like to own ... I have > a spotting scope, I have an iPhone 13 ... I'd like to have a way to > use my iPhone camera thru the spotting scope. I've tried a > couple of brands and they didn't work out. And then Apple keeps > changing the camera set up on the phones (almost every new > release) so what might work for an iPhone 10 most certainly > won't work for an iPhone 13/14 and so the mfgrs of smart phone > adapters are always behind the curve in terms of being able to > develop and bring to market a device that works for the latest > and greatest iPhone/android. > - Jim > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rob.britschgi at gmail.com Sun Feb 12 15:08:53 2023 From: rob.britschgi at gmail.com (Rob Britschgi) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Salton Sea In-Reply-To: <123801d93f28$1dcd5d20$59681760$@dkporter.net> References: <123801d93f28$1dcd5d20$59681760$@dkporter.net> Message-ID: Just came from the Big Morongo Preserve and can?t agree more that it is truly a sweet spot!! The phainopepla are just one species that never disappoint Sent from my iPhone > On 12-Feb-2023, at 13:22, dick@dkporter.net wrote: > > ?We were Snowbirds for 6 winters in the Coachella Valley and I birded the Salton Sea quite a bit. Here's a list of Ebird Hotspots that would give you almost all the birds seen on or around the Sea in February/March. We were last there in 2020 and I know the Sea continues to recede. There is a full-service campground at the State Park headquarters on the NE side and camping also available at a couple of sites (Covina and Mecca) just south of there. A Scope is necessary to view out on the Sea and up and down the shoreline. And don't be afraid to follow the paved areas or solid roads to get closer to the water (don't try driving the dikes on the South End nor going on the sand - I've been stuck!) > > NORTHEAST > BEST - Salton Sea SRA - Headquarters and Campground (look for birds around the Entrance Kiosk area also) > Also - Salton Sea - Northshore Marina > And - Salton Sea SRA - Salt Creek Beach (check out towards the North where the creek came in .) > > EAST SIDE > BEST - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR - Union Tract/Visitor Center (take the Rock Hill trail out to the sea and towards the North, worth 2 hours of your time.) > Also - Salton Sea - Garst Rd/Morton Bay > And - there are numerous hotspots around the Southeast side and South end, you can drive along the breakwaters and between the agricultural fields, check Ebird for recent rarities, including Plovers. > > SOUTH END > BEST - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR - Vendel Road > BEST - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR - Unit 1 > > WEST SIDE > Nothing worth spending your time on unless you want to see remnants of a 1950s recreation land boom. > > NORTHWEST CORNER > BEST - Salton Sea - 84th Ave (the sea used to come right up to the road end, now you will have to walk out a fair bit to get a look at the birds - best views to the North. > Also - Oasis - Aqua Farming Technology Ponds. Just drive in the driveway, park and look around for workers. I was never accosted, I just asked politely if I could bird - no problem > > > For some much prettier birding Hotspots north and west of the Coachella Valley try Whitewater Preserve, Big Morongo Preserve and San Jacinto Wildlife area. > > Good birding, > Dick > > -----Original Message----- > From: Tweeters On Behalf Of Fleckenstein > Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 12:45 PM > To: tweeters@u.washington.edu > Subject: [Tweeters] Salton Sea > > Friends, > My wife and I are going to spend a few days at the Salton Sea. Looks like California Audubon has a good web site for locating birds (along with eBird). Any suggestions for don?t miss locations? I?m also looking for a spot to park our travel trailer. We can dry camp or have utilities. I?m more concerned about not being in a dust bowl especially if the wind is off the water. Any suggestions? > > John Fleckenstein > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From info at shelflifestories.com Sun Feb 12 15:13:49 2023 From: info at shelflifestories.com (Shelf Life Community Story Project) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Salton Sea In-Reply-To: References: <123801d93f28$1dcd5d20$59681760$@dkporter.net> Message-ID: <0315F39A-FA14-40E4-B98F-1407AEF0FDDB@shelflifestories.com> If you pass through Palm Springs, there is a very reliable Vermillion Flycatcher in Wellness Park in the Movie Colony neighborhood. Always hangs out near the sports field fence, where an elementary school borders on the park. Last month he was there hanging out with a Black Phoebe. Jill > On Feb 12, 2023, at 3:08 PM, Rob Britschgi wrote: > > Just came from the Big Morongo Preserve and can?t agree more that it is truly a sweet spot!! The phainopepla are just one species that never disappoint > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On 12-Feb-2023, at 13:22, dick@dkporter.net wrote: >> >> ?We were Snowbirds for 6 winters in the Coachella Valley and I birded the Salton Sea quite a bit. Here's a list of Ebird Hotspots that would give you almost all the birds seen on or around the Sea in February/March. We were last there in 2020 and I know the Sea continues to recede. There is a full-service campground at the State Park headquarters on the NE side and camping also available at a couple of sites (Covina and Mecca) just south of there. A Scope is necessary to view out on the Sea and up and down the shoreline. And don't be afraid to follow the paved areas or solid roads to get closer to the water (don't try driving the dikes on the South End nor going on the sand - I've been stuck!) >> >> NORTHEAST >> BEST - Salton Sea SRA - Headquarters and Campground (look for birds around the Entrance Kiosk area also) >> Also - Salton Sea - Northshore Marina >> And - Salton Sea SRA - Salt Creek Beach (check out towards the North where the creek came in .) >> >> EAST SIDE >> BEST - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR - Union Tract/Visitor Center (take the Rock Hill trail out to the sea and towards the North, worth 2 hours of your time.) >> Also - Salton Sea - Garst Rd/Morton Bay >> And - there are numerous hotspots around the Southeast side and South end, you can drive along the breakwaters and between the agricultural fields, check Ebird for recent rarities, including Plovers. >> >> SOUTH END >> BEST - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR - Vendel Road >> BEST - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR - Unit 1 >> >> WEST SIDE >> Nothing worth spending your time on unless you want to see remnants of a 1950s recreation land boom. >> >> NORTHWEST CORNER >> BEST - Salton Sea - 84th Ave (the sea used to come right up to the road end, now you will have to walk out a fair bit to get a look at the birds - best views to the North. >> Also - Oasis - Aqua Farming Technology Ponds. Just drive in the driveway, park and look around for workers. I was never accosted, I just asked politely if I could bird - no problem >> >> >> For some much prettier birding Hotspots north and west of the Coachella Valley try Whitewater Preserve, Big Morongo Preserve and San Jacinto Wildlife area. >> >> Good birding, >> Dick >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Tweeters On Behalf Of Fleckenstein >> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 12:45 PM >> To: tweeters@u.washington.edu >> Subject: [Tweeters] Salton Sea >> >> Friends, >> My wife and I are going to spend a few days at the Salton Sea. Looks like California Audubon has a good web site for locating birds (along with eBird). Any suggestions for don?t miss locations? I?m also looking for a spot to park our travel trailer. We can dry camp or have utilities. I?m more concerned about not being in a dust bowl especially if the wind is off the water. Any suggestions? >> >> John Fleckenstein >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From mattxyz at earthlink.net Sun Feb 12 19:03:54 2023 From: mattxyz at earthlink.net (Matt Bartels) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] 2022 Washington Birder List and Big Day Reports Message-ID: <04E2DE17-D99D-4241-9D8D-DB57B096A888@earthlink.net> Hi all - Happy to announce the 2022 Year List & Big Day report for Washington Birder is up and available. It is always fun to pull together this glimpse of our community. Check out the files at the following link to see how everyone did in 2022 - http://wabirder.com/online.html Highlights for the year include: The State Big Year record was tied, with Brian Pendleton and Darchelle Worley matching Will Brooks?s 2021 mark of 376. 5 new county big year records and one tie w/ a previous county big year. Russ Koppendrayer in Cowlitz County (199) Steve Hampton in Jefferson County (211) Timothy Brennan in Klickitat County (188) Jacob Miller in Mason County (200) Mark Selle in Spokane County (241) MerryLynn Denny in Walla Walla County (263) (matching Mike Denny?s previous record) Greg Harrington became only the 36th person to reach 100+ species in all 39 counties. County Big Day records were set in Clallam County (126), Columbia County (101) and San Juan County (118). All that and more is compiled in this year?s report. A direct link to the list report with all the state & county life and year list totals can be found here: http://www.wabirder.com/docs/listreport2022.pdf And a direct link to the Big Day report from 2022 is here: http://www.wabirder.com/docs/BigDayReport2022.pdf Thanks to everyone who sent in your totals, and here?s to many more updates and surprises in 2023. Matt Bartels Washington Birder -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gjpluth at gmail.com Sun Feb 12 21:42:59 2023 From: gjpluth at gmail.com (Greg) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: <004001d93f0a$23b33430$6b199c90$@mycci.net> References: <004001d93f0a$23b33430$6b199c90$@mycci.net> Message-ID: <26C57E8A-92A1-42A2-B6CF-098FA2A6968D@gmail.com> Yes. I have had one male VATH showing up at my suet and beneath my seed feeder EVERY day for nine weeks now. During the last week, a female has become regular as well. Since reading this thread, I can say I have not noticed any appearances past 1pm. It has been special because this is my 11th winter here in my condo and I?ve had only two fleeting observations of this species. (I have no where near the proper habitat.) Quite remarkable. Tribute to what other bird activity can accomplish! Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 12, 2023, at 9:48 AM, LMarkoff wrote: > > ?Where I lived in Eugene, OR, Varied Thrushes nested at higher elevations nearby. During winter they would come down in elevation to my yard and feeders, especially during snow storms. My high count during a snow storm was 24. They ate sunflower seed, but their favorite food was shelled peanuts. They were the first birds that I heard in the early-morning darkness, and were the last to leave in the evening, similar to the behavior of Cardinals in my yard when I lived in the east. > > Lori Markoff > > -----Original Message----- > From: Tweeters On Behalf Of Dennis Paulson > Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2023 4:39 PM > To: TWEETERS tweeters > Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush > > Hello tweets, > > We?ve had Varied Thrushes in the yard ever since that cold, snowy spell in late December, and it?s interesting to have them around so much. One thing I noted is how they do well in very low light levels. I think that?s true for other thrushes as well?they seem to have big eyes. > > They begin to feed before it is light out, when I can barely see a movement in the grass. Yes, they feed on our ?lawn? where we sprinkle millet seeds regularly. And they feed on those seeds everywhere we put them, including in the shrubbery. They remain in the yard feeding until very late in the afternoon, too. I?ve noticed that Spotted Towhees do the same thing, often not appearing in the yard until it is getting dark. Of course they can be present at any time of day, but they are definitely the last bird to feed on some afternoons. With the short days in the winter, feeding at 3:30 pm can be almost dark. > > Varied Thrushes of both sexes also bathe in our fountain just before it gets dark, too dark to see anything but a silhouette splashing in the water. > > Has anyone else noticed this? > > Dennis Paulson > Seattle > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From TRI at seattleu.edu Mon Feb 13 07:20:53 2023 From: TRI at seattleu.edu (Tucker, Trileigh) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The Next Level Info? Message-ID: And if you join the Sno-Isle library system (don?t have to live there to do so), Birds of the World is available for free?though without the many other benefits offered by WOS. Good birding to all, Trileigh Trileigh Tucker, PhD Professor Emerita, Environmental Studies, Seattle University Pelly Valley, West Seattle NaturalPresenceArts.com From: Steve Hampton Date: Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 11:56 AM To: tweeters@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The Next Level Info? Birds of the World comes complimentary if you join Washington Ornithological Society, which is only $25/yr ($15 for students). https://wos.org/membership/ On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 10:25 AM Wim van Dam > wrote: Hi Jim I wholeheartedly recommend getting a subscription to "Birds of the World" ($49/year): https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/subscribe To your case: for Northern Flicker it has a very detailed article on "Plumages, Molts, and Structure". Wim van Dam Solvang, CA On Sun, Feb 12, 2023 at 10:01 AM > wrote: Hi, I -often- have questions that are not being answered by my useual sources (eBird, Cornell, Audubon, field guides, etc.). As just one example how do I answer the question - at what age/in what season do Flickers change from juvenile patterns to adult? When I go to any of the above usually they only have the highest level of info (a few pictures, range maps, and recent/historical sightings). I guess I'm finding my way into the areas of ornithological info ... ? I have posted questions to this group - maybe once or twice a quarter - that are along these lines and haven't gotten what I consider "the answers I was looking for" ... don't get me wrong, I value this community highly - just for different purposes. Since we live in Skagit County most of my "deeper questions" are about the birds that show up here ... in all seasons. - Jim P.S. I had a first ever sighting event this morning. Early on, before they flew off to where ever they went to today, there was a group of swans (probably all Trumpeters) that had obviously spent the night on a bend of the Skagit River! We look down on that large S-curve in the Skagit that is East of the Gardner Road Launch Ramp and there they were in a 'line' on the slow side of the sand bar. Water does flow thru that area but it is not the primary path for the flow - that's on the other side of the same bar (just East of where I saw them). I'm seeing about 4 or 5 birds "just lifting off and moving" from that location right now. Sorry, too far away for a picture. _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hal at catharus.net Mon Feb 13 12:18:29 2023 From: hal at catharus.net (Hal Opperman) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5ED1B45F-4264-4D81-88FC-ABBC910C4CC2@catharus.net> Bicknell?s Thrush also goes beyond crepuscular, singing on into the late evening. On June 4, 1995, as part of a quick New England expedition to see three soon-to-be new splits, Bob Morse and I found ourselves part way up the Mt. Washington toll road in New Hampshire in can?t-see-your-hand-in-front-of your face darkness, in good krummholz habitat. Over a stretch of road between mileposts 3 and 4 past the toll gate we were treated to an estimated thirty birds in full, loud song, for over an hour, well past nightfall under heavy low cloud cover. A few even paraded on the pavement for good flashlight viewing. These bird had probably only arrived over the previous week or ten days and had not yet settled down to nest, making for a very special, and especially memorable, choral life-bird experience. By the way we also found the Nelson?s and Saltmarsh Sparrows on their breeding grounds, and published a little finding guide for all three species in the ABA?s "Winging It" newsletter. My copy?s in a box somewhere in a storage unit, and the typescript still on my computer is in some no longer openable runic version of Word. The newsletter archive is accessible, and searchable, online at the ABA website (members only), if anyone wants to see more details. Hal Opperman Seattle > On Feb 12, 2023, at 12:02 PM, tweeters-request@mailman11.u.washington.edu wrote: > > From: Scott Ramos > Subject: Re: [Tweeters] the almost crepuscular thrush > Date: February 12, 2023 at 8:57:44 AM PST > Cc: TWEETERS tweeters > > > Thrushes do seem to have crepuscular habits. Camping in the mountains and beyond is a good way to experience this. Below about 3000 ft, one of the first birds to call and sing, even before dawn, is Swainson's Thrush, often accompanied by Robins. And, the last bird singing at dusk is ... Swainson's. Above 3000 feet, Hermit Thrush takes on these duties. I have had them still singing way past nightfall while listening for owls. For many years, I have run a Breeding Bird Survey near Liberty (thanks, Sharon!) and at our first stop at the designated start time--4:34 am--the most reliable singer is Veery. Listening to any of the Turdidae is always a highlight of trips to the mountains. > > Scott Ramos > Seattle > From avnacrs4birds at outlook.com Mon Feb 13 13:59:01 2023 From: avnacrs4birds at outlook.com (Denis DeSilvis) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] JBLM Eagles Pride Golf Course Monthly Birdwalk - Thursday February 16 - 9am start Message-ID: Tweeters, The Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagles Pride Golf Course (GC) birdwalk is scheduled for Thursday, February 16. START TIME CHANGE - SEE BELOW. 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! FOR FEBRUARY, THE MEETING TIME WILL CHANGE FOR THE JBLM EAGLES PRIDE BIRDWALK (SEE BELOW): Upcoming walks include the following: * February 16 (Start 9am) * March 16 (Start at 8am) * April 20 (Start at 8am) Anyone is welcome to join us! May all your birds be identified, Denis Denis DeSilvis Avnacrs 4 birds at outlook dot com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From avnacrs4birds at outlook.com Mon Feb 13 14:18:28 2023 From: avnacrs4birds at outlook.com (Denis DeSilvis) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The Great Backyard Bird Count: What's in your PNW yard? (Zoom presentation - Wed February 15) Message-ID: Tweeters, New or experienced Great Backyard Bird Count observer? Join Leica Nature Optics Manager Whitney Lanfranco and Leica Store Bellevue on Wednesday, February 15th, at 6:00 p.m. PST for a free Zoom presentation "The Great Backyard Bird Count: What's in your PNW yard?" to learn more about the count, how to participate, and the birds you might see. Here is the link where you can register: https://linktr.ee/leicastorebellevue. May all your birds be identified, Denis Denis DeSilvis Avnacrs 4 birds at outlook dot com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jstephens62 at comcast.net Mon Feb 13 14:53:58 2023 From: jstephens62 at comcast.net (Jack Stephens) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The owl and the harrier Message-ID: Earlier this winter I was up at the East 90 on the Samish Flats photographing Short-eared Owls. As often happens, they were skirmishing with the Northern Harriers there that occupy a similar ecological niche. These two birds spared briefly before flying off in opposite directions. Only when I reviewed the images later did I realize that the harrier had flipped completely upside down in flight, to meet the attacking owl with her talons. I thought this was too cool to not share. https://jackstephens.zenfolio.com/p763235708/e57c27b2e Jack Stephens Edmonds, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From baro at pdx.edu Mon Feb 13 17:38:05 2023 From: baro at pdx.edu (Robert O'Brien) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The owl and the harrier In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Cool indeed Decades ago, at the Nehalem Sewage ponds.over at the coast from Portland, as I was driving out I noticed a pair of birds coming 500 yards off to my left. It was a Peregrine after a Rock Pigeon. Rock Pigeons can fly pretty fast and as I slowed down, my car and the pair appeared to be on a collision course. Sure enough, just as I came to a stop, right in front of my windshield, the Peregrine was overtaking the Pigeon & at that point also turned upside down, to capture the pigeon from below. But my car intervened and disrupted the capture at the last second. The peregrine then veered off and disappeared. The Pigeon, however, continued on, crashing at 60+mph into the large Blackberry Hedge lining the road. I got out and photographed the pigeon down inside the tangle. It wasn't coming out for anything. Bob OBrien Portland On Mon, Feb 13, 2023 at 2:55 PM Jack Stephens wrote: > Earlier this winter I was up at the East 90 on the Samish Flats > photographing Short-eared Owls. As often happens, they were skirmishing > with the Northern Harriers there that occupy a similar ecological niche. > These two birds spared briefly before flying off in opposite directions. > Only when I reviewed the images later did I realize that the harrier had > flipped completely upside down in flight, to meet the attacking owl with > her talons. I thought this was too cool to not share. > > https://jackstephens.zenfolio.com/p763235708/e57c27b2e > > Jack Stephens > Edmonds, WA > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From baro at pdx.edu Mon Feb 13 19:44:09 2023 From: baro at pdx.edu (Robert O'Brien) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The owl and the harrier In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Just recalled a more amazing story. Heard this on OBOL a few years back. A Peregrine was harassing a Bald Eagle at Yaquina Bay, Newport OR. Repeatedly dive-bombing an eagle just cruising through. Flew back up, dove again. Feisty. After a few such passes, the Eagle got fed up (literally) On the next pass the Eagle simply flipped upside down, grabbing the peregrine. Lunch had been served. (Actually lunch had _been_ the server!) Bob OBrien Portland PS Honest, I'm no making this stuff up. On Mon, Feb 13, 2023 at 6:40 PM Alan Roedell wrote: > Wow! Right in front of you. You had a front row seat. Amazing! > > On Mon, Feb 13, 2023, 5:38 PM Robert O'Brien wrote: > >> Cool indeed >> Decades ago, at the Nehalem Sewage ponds.over at the coast from Portland, >> as I was driving out I noticed a pair of birds coming 500 yards off to my >> left. It was a Peregrine after a Rock Pigeon. Rock Pigeons can fly pretty >> fast and as I slowed down, my car and the pair appeared to be on a >> collision course. Sure enough, just as I came to a stop, right in front of >> my windshield, the Peregrine was overtaking the Pigeon & at that point also >> turned upside down, to capture the pigeon from below. But my car >> intervened and disrupted the capture at the last second. >> The peregrine then veered off and disappeared. The Pigeon, however, >> continued on, crashing at 60+mph into the large Blackberry Hedge lining the >> road. I got out and photographed the pigeon down inside the tangle. It >> wasn't coming out for anything. >> Bob OBrien Portland >> >> On Mon, Feb 13, 2023 at 2:55 PM Jack Stephens >> wrote: >> >>> Earlier this winter I was up at the East 90 on the Samish Flats >>> photographing Short-eared Owls. As often happens, they were skirmishing >>> with the Northern Harriers there that occupy a similar ecological niche. >>> These two birds spared briefly before flying off in opposite directions. >>> Only when I reviewed the images later did I realize that the harrier had >>> flipped completely upside down in flight, to meet the attacking owl with >>> her talons. I thought this was too cool to not share. >>> >>> https://jackstephens.zenfolio.com/p763235708/e57c27b2e >>> >>> Jack Stephens >>> Edmonds, WA >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Tweeters mailing list >>> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vikingcove at gmail.com Mon Feb 13 20:18:53 2023 From: vikingcove at gmail.com (Kevin Lucas) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bad Birder Billboard Message-ID: Using Washington State Highway 12 westbound 40th Avenue exit ramp in Yakima to bird is not legal, is not safe, is contagious, and makes you a Bad Birder Billboard for all of the already annoyed drivers who've just been anxiously jockeying for exit ramp pole position as they approach you. Less than six hundred feet away, Highway 12 shoulder is posted "EMERGENCY PARKING ONLY" for the safety of ALL motor vehicle operators and passengers. Those who would like to view the birds or "get" a tic on their list at the beaver pond there, can access that pond via well worn trails from the 16th Avenue Greenway Path parking lot. That walk is about one and one-third miles. When I hiked in the other day, two motor vehicle operators used the 40th Avenue exit shoulder to "get" a duck on their checklist. The first that stopped agitated the birds. The next flushed the birds, birds I'd been watching from the cover of vegetation as they'd been peacefully foraging. I realize it is a common practice for some listers to use the shoulder there to list birds. It should not be. Please do not endanger and anger other drivers and their passengers and set such bad examples. Let's get bad birders off YouTube's dashcam dangerous highlights reel. On my hike to that pond I was treated to scenes of fifty crows taking baths and preening and playing in the river edge cobbles, of a gorgeous male Anna's Hummingbird singing and flashing his gorget, and of waterfowl peacefully foraging in the pond,..., until the billboards arrived, and flushed that last scene down the tubes. Instead of putting forth tainted checklists and lame excuses, put forward your better foot -- Take A Hike. Good Birding, https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ Kevin Lucas Yakima County, Washington *Qui tacet consentire videtur* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From downess at charter.net Mon Feb 13 21:08:16 2023 From: downess at charter.net (Scott Downes) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bad Birder Billboard In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <3427B6E6-3FE4-4E93-89A0-E3D0C67C9E8C@charter.net> Tweeters, To clarify I?m not sure which birders Kevin is talking about, but wanted to clarify that it is NOT Sierra or I. There has been a male Eurasian Wigeon at this series of ponds at the off ramp for a couple of winters now, first found by Sierra during a Yakima CBC. I can?t speak for how other birders are birding, but our sightings have NOT been stopped or pulled over, which yes, is not legal. If the passenger in a vehicle is able to scan quickly as the vehicle exits onto the off ramp, you can do a quick scan of the ducks there with no need to break any rules. It was important to clarify this as Kevin did not, yet we are the observers of this bird in eBird and it could be implied, which is not proper or correct. I would also not recommend using the trails identified in this post as they are not official greenway trails and thus not recommended for use by the greenway. Scott Downes Downess@charter.net Yakima Wa > On Feb 13, 2023, at 8:20 PM, Kevin Lucas wrote: > > ? > Using Washington State Highway 12 westbound 40th Avenue exit ramp in Yakima to bird is not legal, is not safe, is contagious, and makes you a Bad Birder Billboard for all of the already annoyed drivers who've just been anxiously jockeying for exit ramp pole position as they approach you. Less than six hundred feet away, Highway 12 shoulder is posted "EMERGENCY PARKING ONLY" for the safety of ALL motor vehicle operators and passengers. Those who would like to view the birds or "get" a tic on their list at the beaver pond there, can access that pond via well worn trails from the 16th Avenue Greenway Path parking lot. That walk is about one and one-third miles. > > When I hiked in the other day, two motor vehicle operators used the 40th Avenue exit shoulder to "get" a duck on their checklist. The first that stopped agitated the birds. The next flushed the birds, birds I'd been watching from the cover of vegetation as they'd been peacefully foraging. I realize it is a common practice for some listers to use the shoulder there to list birds. It should not be. Please do not endanger and anger other drivers and their passengers and set such bad examples. Let's get bad birders off YouTube's dashcam dangerous highlights reel. > > On my hike to that pond I was treated to scenes of fifty crows taking baths and preening and playing in the river edge cobbles, of a gorgeous male Anna's Hummingbird singing and flashing his gorget, and of waterfowl peacefully foraging in the pond,..., until the billboards arrived, and flushed that last scene down the tubes. > > Instead of putting forth tainted checklists and lame excuses, put forward your better foot -- Take A Hike. > > Good Birding, > https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ > Kevin Lucas > Yakima County, Washington > > Qui tacet consentire videtur > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sweeneyfit at mac.com Tue Feb 14 07:27:19 2023 From: sweeneyfit at mac.com (Joe Sweeney) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Hummingbird nests at Edmonds Marsh Message-ID: <11BC1562-68B7-459F-86B5-CB7CC19567A8@mac.com> Yesterday, Feb 13, I stumbled upon a second hummingbird nest at Edmonds Marsh in Edmonds, WA. (I found one near the tennis court on Feb 8). If you will be in the area and would like to try to find one or both nests, click on my eBird checklist below, which provides directions to each nest (and photos). https://ebird.org/checklist/S128291237 Happy hummingbird nest hunting, Joe Sweeney NE Seattle sweeneyfit at mac dot com sweeneyfit.wordpress.com http://joe-sweeney.fineartamerica.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From robertgary02 at aol.com Tue Feb 14 09:12:10 2023 From: robertgary02 at aol.com (Robert Gray) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bad Birder Billboard In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1160210823.878181.1676394730502@mail.yahoo.com> The bird paparazzi find comfort in their numbers. Awfulness always finds acceptance in this way. -----Original Message----- From: Kevin Lucas To: Tweeters Sent: Mon, Feb 13, 2023 8:18 pm Subject: [Tweeters] Bad Birder Billboard Using Washington State Highway 12 westbound 40th Avenue exit ramp in Yakima to bird is not legal, is not safe, is contagious, and makes you a Bad Birder Billboard for all of the already annoyed drivers who've just been anxiously jockeying for exit ramp pole position as they approach you. Less than six hundred feet away, Highway 12 shoulder is posted "EMERGENCY PARKING ONLY" for the safety of ALL motor vehicle operators and passengers. Those who would like to view the birds or "get" a tic on their list at the beaver pond there, can access that pond via well worn trails from the 16th Avenue Greenway Path parking lot. That walk is about one and one-third miles. When I hiked in the other day, two motor vehicle operators used the 40th Avenue exit shoulder to "get" a duck on their checklist. The first that stopped agitated the birds. The next flushed the birds, birds I'd been watching from the cover of vegetation as they'd been peacefully foraging. I realize it is a common practice for some listers to use the shoulder there to list birds. It should not be. Please do not endanger and anger other drivers and their passengers and set such bad examples. Let's get bad birders off YouTube's dashcam dangerous highlights reel. On my hike to that pond I was treated to scenes of fifty crows taking baths and preening and playing in the river edge cobbles, of a gorgeous male Anna's Hummingbird singing and flashing his gorget, and of waterfowl peacefully foraging in the pond,..., until the billboards arrived, and flushed that last scene down the tubes. Instead of putting forth tainted checklists and lame excuses, put forward your better foot -- Take A Hike. Good Birding,https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/Kevin LucasYakima County, Washington Qui tacet consentire?videtur_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From csimonsen52 at gmail.com Tue Feb 14 09:15:55 2023 From: csimonsen52 at gmail.com (Cynthia Simonsen) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Blue morph in flock of snow geese at the Samish Flats East 90 Message-ID: Hello tweeters, The usual suspects have been hanging around the East 90, Short-eared owls, Western meadowlarks, Northern Harriers, Snow Geese and lots of birders. We were lucky to spot a blue morph in the the snow geese flock. Second blue morph for us this year. Pictures in my eBird checklist. https://ebird.org/checklist/S128321891/media We also had to drive around a birder who stopped on the road for at least 15 minutes. Fussing with equipment, in and out of the car, and blocking the traffic heading to Samish Island. We?ve been birding in these spots for over 15 years. Only recently have people been parking on the road itself! Perhaps we need some clarifying signage before birders have regulations that limit access. Happy birding! Cindy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From robertgary02 at aol.com Tue Feb 14 09:20:53 2023 From: robertgary02 at aol.com (Robert Gray) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bad Birder Billboard In-Reply-To: <3427B6E6-3FE4-4E93-89A0-E3D0C67C9E8C@charter.net> References: <3427B6E6-3FE4-4E93-89A0-E3D0C67C9E8C@charter.net> Message-ID: <764364483.876783.1676395253434@mail.yahoo.com> Bird paparazzi excuses are unnecessary. They are going to do what they want regardless of the cost to the birds or anyone else so why bother??Tromping through the very fields that Owls are trying to find food in so they can get a better shot at E-90 is typical. ? -----Original Message----- From: Scott Downes To: Tweeters Sent: Mon, Feb 13, 2023 9:08 pm Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bad Birder Billboard Tweeters,To clarify I?m not sure which birders Kevin is talking about, but wanted to clarify that it is NOT Sierra or I. There has been a male Eurasian Wigeon at this series of ponds at the off ramp for a couple of winters now, first found by Sierra during a Yakima CBC. I can?t speak for how other birders are birding, but our sightings have NOT been stopped or pulled over, which yes, is not legal. If the passenger in a vehicle is able to scan quickly as the vehicle exits onto the off ramp, you can do a quick scan of the ducks there with no need to break any rules. It was important to clarify this as Kevin did not, yet we are the observers of this bird in eBird and it could be implied, which is not proper or correct. I would also not recommend using the trails identified in this post as they are not official greenway trails and thus not recommended for use by the greenway. Scott DownesDowness@charter.netYakima Wa On Feb 13, 2023, at 8:20 PM, Kevin Lucas wrote: ?Using Washington State Highway 12 westbound 40th Avenue exit ramp in Yakima to bird is not legal, is not safe, is contagious, and makes you a Bad Birder Billboard for all of the already annoyed drivers who've just been anxiously jockeying for exit ramp pole position as they approach you. Less than six hundred feet away, Highway 12 shoulder is posted "EMERGENCY PARKING ONLY" for the safety of ALL motor vehicle operators and passengers. Those who would like to view the birds or "get" a tic on their list at the beaver pond there, can access that pond via well worn trails from the 16th Avenue Greenway Path parking lot. That walk is about one and one-third miles. When I hiked in the other day, two motor vehicle operators used the 40th Avenue exit shoulder to "get" a duck on their checklist. The first that stopped agitated the birds. The next flushed the birds, birds I'd been watching from the cover of vegetation as they'd been peacefully foraging. I realize it is a common practice for some listers to use the shoulder there to list birds. It should not be. Please do not endanger and anger other drivers and their passengers and set such bad examples. Let's get bad birders off YouTube's dashcam dangerous highlights reel. On my hike to that pond I was treated to scenes of fifty crows taking baths and preening and playing in the river edge cobbles, of a gorgeous male Anna's Hummingbird singing and flashing his gorget, and of waterfowl peacefully foraging in the pond,..., until the billboards arrived, and flushed that last scene down the tubes. Instead of putting forth tainted checklists and lame excuses, put forward your better foot -- Take A Hike. Good Birding,https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/Kevin LucasYakima County, Washington Qui tacet consentire?videtur_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vikingcove at gmail.com Tue Feb 14 09:38:40 2023 From: vikingcove at gmail.com (Kevin Lucas) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Blue morph in flock of snow geese at the Samish Flats East 90 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Nice photos Cynthia. The link you included, with the trailing /media doesn't work for me. Lopping off that part gives access to view your checklist and the included photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S128321891/ Good Birding, Kevin Lucas Yakima County, Washington *Qui tacet consentire videtur* On Tue, Feb 14, 2023 at 9:16 AM Cynthia Simonsen wrote: > Hello tweeters, > > The usual suspects have been hanging around the East 90, Short-eared owls, > Western meadowlarks, Northern Harriers, Snow Geese and lots of birders. We > were lucky to spot a blue morph in the the snow geese flock. Second blue > morph for us this year. Pictures in my eBird checklist. > > https://ebird.org/checklist/S128321891/media > > We also had to drive around a birder who stopped on the road for at least > 15 minutes. Fussing with equipment, in and out of the car, and blocking the > traffic heading to Samish Island. We?ve been birding in these spots for > over 15 years. Only recently have people been parking on the road itself! > Perhaps we need some clarifying signage before birders have regulations > that limit access. > > Happy birding! > Cindy > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From csimonsen52 at gmail.com Tue Feb 14 09:44:02 2023 From: csimonsen52 at gmail.com (Cynthia Simonsen) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Blue morph in flock of snow geese at the Samish Flats East 90 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Thanks Kevin for fixing the bad link I sent! https://ebird.org/checklist/S128321891 On Tue, Feb 14, 2023 at 9:39 AM Kevin Lucas wrote: > Nice photos Cynthia. > > The link you included, with the trailing /media doesn't work for me. > Lopping off that part gives access to view your checklist and the included > photos: > https://ebird.org/checklist/S128321891/ > > Good Birding, > Kevin Lucas > Yakima County, Washington > *Qui tacet consentire videtur* > > > On Tue, Feb 14, 2023 at 9:16 AM Cynthia Simonsen > wrote: > >> Hello tweeters, >> >> The usual suspects have been hanging around the East 90, Short-eared >> owls, Western meadowlarks, Northern Harriers, Snow Geese and lots of >> birders. We were lucky to spot a blue morph in the the snow geese flock. >> Second blue morph for us this year. Pictures in my eBird checklist. >> >> https://ebird.org/checklist/S128321891/media >> >> We also had to drive around a birder who stopped on the road for at least >> 15 minutes. Fussing with equipment, in and out of the car, and blocking the >> traffic heading to Samish Island. We?ve been birding in these spots for >> over 15 years. Only recently have people been parking on the road itself! >> Perhaps we need some clarifying signage before birders have regulations >> that limit access. >> >> Happy birding! >> Cindy >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nreiferb at gmail.com Tue Feb 14 14:31:33 2023 From: nreiferb at gmail.com (Nelson Briefer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Peregrine Falcon Message-ID: A Peregrine Falcon- flapping very low. Flapping strangely, very low. At Marihugh Road, Padilla Bay. About 1 o?clock. Bright sun. The ventral area was bright silvery gray. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rondastark18 at gmail.com Tue Feb 14 14:41:40 2023 From: rondastark18 at gmail.com (Ronda Stark) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Peregrine Falcon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi, Please keep an eye on the Falcon if you can. I understand there has been a huge outbreak of avian flu in that area and Washington Fish and Wildlife recently removed two truckloads of dead snow geese from Fir Island. Ronda On Tue, Feb 14, 2023 at 2:32 PM Nelson Briefer wrote: > A Peregrine Falcon- flapping very low. Flapping strangely, very low. At > Marihugh Road, Padilla Bay. About 1 o?clock. Bright sun. The ventral area > was bright silvery gray. Nelson Briefer- Anacortes. > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From avnacrs4birds at outlook.com Tue Feb 14 15:32:27 2023 From: avnacrs4birds at outlook.com (Denis DeSilvis) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Great Backyard Bird Count presentation - time correction Message-ID: Hi Tweeters, I received a new time for the Leica-sponsored Zoom GBBC presentation: it's 7:00pm and not 6:00pm tomorrow February 15. Please see below for link. New or experienced Great Backyard Bird Count observer? Join Leica Nature Optics Manager Whitney Lanfranco and Leica Store Bellevue on Wednesday, February 15th, at 7:00 p.m. PST for a free Zoom presentation ?The Great Backyard Bird Count: What's in your PNW yard?? to learn more about the count, how to participate, and the birds you might see. Here is the link where you can register: https://linktr.ee/leicastorebellevue. May all your birds be identified, Denis DeSilvis avnacrs 4 birds at outlook dot com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From festuca at comcast.net Tue Feb 14 15:33:58 2023 From: festuca at comcast.net (Jon. Anderson and Marty Chaney) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Okanogan-Waterville Plateau Message-ID: <555821648.13088.1676417638134@connect.xfinity.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From fleckenstein1 at COMCAST.NET Tue Feb 14 19:14:42 2023 From: fleckenstein1 at COMCAST.NET (Fleckenstein) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Salton Sea Message-ID: Friends, Thank you for the great information about the Salton Sea. There should be some fun birds there. I?m a little distressed that my wife, a non-birder, saw the note that the CA bird guide says ?this is not a place to bring a non-birding spouse?. My wife is a great photographer, so we?ll see what comes of the visit. :) Anza-Borrego may be in good bloom now. John -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From loblollyboy at gmail.com Wed Feb 15 00:56:05 2023 From: loblollyboy at gmail.com (Michael Price) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The owl and the harrier Message-ID: As we watch a harrier flopping seemingly listlessly over the marsh, we can easily fall into underestimating it. I certainly did. It took a face-off between a harrier and a stonking-big gyrfalcon to change my mind. The place was the Martindale Flats in North Saanich, on the Saanich Peninsula north of Victoria BC. The time sometime in the early 1980s and Mike Force and I had met Mike Shepherd and a few other Victoria birders whose names I am, sorry to say, no longer able to recall. We were chasing a gyrfalcon reported hanging about the flats for that winter. We spotted it, studied it, revelled in the sighting (my second-ever, and by far my closest), and watched it suddenly rise up and start tooling off toward a cottonwood copse at the SE corner of the field. They may not look it, but in level flight, boy howdy, gyrfalcons can cover real estate seriously quickly. The copse was right beside a side-road. Pile in the cars, boys. The gyr's interest was hijacking a female harrier's kill. The harrier had taken it into the copse to feed undisturbed. Good luck with that. The gyr had landed on the ground about ten feet away. When we all got there, they were standing a few feet apart staring at each other. What happened next is the part you'd disbelieve except there were credible witnesses. The gyrfalcon literally stood up as tall as it could reach and strutted menacingly toward the harrier until they were until about an inch apart then they each rose until they were at their maximum standing heights, literally chest-to-chest glaring and daring each other. I almost laughed out loud: I've seen guys in bars doing this kind of "Oh yeah?" "Yeah! wachoo gonna do about it?" routine a hundred times. Here's the thing. The harrier stared the gyr down. After a minute, the gyr suddenly remembered a previous appointment and backed away, figuring honor had been served, and took off. And, me, I have never taken harriers for granted since. best, m -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From marcydaddio89 at gmail.com Wed Feb 15 14:24:52 2023 From: marcydaddio89 at gmail.com (Marcy D'Addio) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Nest box question Message-ID: My husband found a dead Chestnut-backed Chickadee in a nestbox on a tree in our backyard. Both the bird and the nest material appear fresh, not what I would expect if last year's nest. We had been observing nesting activity by 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadees. We thought it was early and checked out the box. He found grass, green moss, animal fur, and cotton from the hummingbird ball in the nest, box is not damaged.. Bird has no signs of trauma, is dessicated, eyes missing. Questions What could cause this? Could it be Avian flu? How should we clean the box? Should we report or send for testing? Marcy D'Addio Redmond, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ucd880 at comcast.net Wed Feb 15 15:52:45 2023 From: ucd880 at comcast.net (HAL MICHAEL) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Nest box question In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1481484107.2777373.1676505165322@connect.xfinity.com> Lots of possibilities. Simply death from the cold, Avian flu, or other disease is a possibility. Another could be attack from another species like House Sparrow. They are notorious for it. Other less likely possibilities, since it wasn't eaten, would be rodents or other mammals. Hal Michael Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) ucd880@comcast.net > On 02/15/2023 2:24 PM Marcy D'Addio wrote: > > > My husband found a dead Chestnut-backed Chickadee in a nestbox on a tree in our backyard. Both the bird and the nest material appear fresh, not what I would expect if last year's nest. We had been observing nesting activity by 2 Chestnut-backed Chickadees. We thought it was early and checked out the box. He found grass, green moss, animal fur, and cotton from the hummingbird ball in the nest, box is not damaged.. Bird has no signs of trauma, is dessicated, eyes missing. > Questions > What could cause this? Could it be Avian flu? How should we clean the box? Should we report or send for testing? > Marcy D'Addio > Redmond, WA > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From JeffBorsecnik at msn.com Wed Feb 15 16:20:26 2023 From: JeffBorsecnik at msn.com (Jeff Borsecnik) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] seek birding guide (book) for Ecuador Message-ID: I read online that this is the best guide available (first listing below), but it's not available (or very expensive used). https://notyouraverageamerican.com/identification-bird-guides-ecuador/#:~:text=With%20over%2081%20reviews%20and%204.7%20stars%20on,guides%20as%20of%20the%20date%20of%20this%20publication. [https://uploads.notyouraverageamerican.com/2018/04/DSC_6185.jpg] Useful Bird Guides For Your Trip To Ecuador - Not Your Average American Looking for bird guides for your next trip to mainland Ecuador? Avid birdwatcher and photographer, Angie Drake, reviews her favorites. notyouraverageamerican.com Anyone have an alternative to suggest or a used version of this one to sell? thanks! jeff b, bellingham -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From gm72125 at bellsouth.net Wed Feb 15 16:38:00 2023 From: gm72125 at bellsouth.net (G M ARCHAMBAULT) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] seek birding guide (book) for Ecuador In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <31623587.2373779.1676507880208@mail.yahoo.com> I always rely upon the Nigel Wheatley series, "Where to Find Birds in ... " for each continent / region. ?Some are a little dated, but they are extremely useful, with useful maps and access info, and endemic & specialty species listed for each site covered. ?If you use these and carefully study your destination on eBird, using the "Hotspots" feature, you really do not need anything else. ?The bar graphs on eBird give you a good idea of what you can expect to find at each site. ?Best, -Ken Archambault, Birmingham, Alabama On Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 06:22:54 PM CST, Jeff Borsecnik wrote: #yiv4618071707 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}I read online that this is the best guide available (first listing below), but it's not available (or very expensive used). https://notyouraverageamerican.com/identification-bird-guides-ecuador/#:~:text=With%20over%2081%20reviews%20and%204.7%20stars%20on,guides%20as%20of%20the%20date%20of%20this%20publication. | | Useful Bird Guides For Your Trip To Ecuador - Not Your Average AmericanLooking for bird guides for your next trip to mainland Ecuador? Avid birdwatcher and photographer, Angie Drake, reviews her favorites.notyouraverageamerican.com | Anyone have an alternative to suggest or a used version of this one to sell? thanks!? jeff b, bellingham_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From thomasgdorrance at gmail.com Wed Feb 15 17:44:41 2023 From: thomasgdorrance at gmail.com (Thomas Dorrance) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Nesting Coot? Message-ID: Tweets, For a week a lone coot has been paddling around a marshy pond where mallards and wood ducks are the usual fare. Never had a coot before. Very close by there are the usual rafts of coots on Lake Washington, but the subject bird appears to remain solo when it's out on the lake. Question: could this bird be considering nesting here in North Seattle at this time of year? No sign of a partner but there's lots of cover. Thanks, Tom Dorrance -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From weedsrus1 at gmail.com Thu Feb 16 13:05:55 2023 From: weedsrus1 at gmail.com (Nancy Morrison) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Nesting Coot? Message-ID: I kayak a lot in the north end of Lake Washington. Coots do nest here, but in very small numbers. Most often when I see a lone bird, I can see that it is injured. As far as I can tell, they leave the flock to go to quieter waters to recover from their wounds. There are lots of other possibilities here, but that is my main experience. Nancy Morrison -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdmarymoor at frontier.com Thu Feb 16 15:53:02 2023 From: birdmarymoor at frontier.com (birdmarymoor) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park 2023-02-16 References: <364163645.1590000.1676591582358.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <364163645.1590000.1676591582358@mail.yahoo.com> Another day of overly-good weather.? It was quickly above freezing after sunrise, and there was just a high, thin, wispy overcast keeping us from having shadows.? No wind, no precip.? Fairly birdy at times.? Lake and river levels remain unseasonably low; we expected to see more snipe in the exposed flats below the weir, but we had only about three. Highlights: ? ? Wood Duck - Two males from the Lake Platform - first in a month ? ? Northern Pintail - One bright male with Mallards below the weir ? ? Horned Grebe - One way out there, visible from the Lake Platform ? ? Herring Gull - One adult on Fields 7-8-9, First of Year (FOY) ? ? Cooper's Hawk - Juvenile at the Pea Patch again ? ? Hairy Woodpecker - One seen near the east end of the boardwalk, high in the trees ? ? House Finch - It was amazing - we saw around three, including a singing male SE of the mansion ? ? Purple Finch - And, we heard a singing Purple Finch.? Still only four finch individuals today ? ? Lincoln's Sparrow - One seen briefly at the Pea Patch This is the 7th time we've had HERRING GULL in Week 7 of the year.? It's the only week we've had more than three sightings, so apparently it's the best week for seeing them at Marymoor.? But we've had fewer than 25 records for this species ever, so it's always a surprise. We also had a vole in the East Meadow; my current belief is that it was a Townsend's Vole but my ability to identify voles is very sketchy.? The tail seemed all-brown rather than bicolored, which favors Townsend's over Long-tailed.? I think those would be the two most likely voles at Marymoor, but what do I know? For the day, 55 species plus Lonesome George II, the Ring-necked Pheasant. - Michael Hobbs ???? From cjbirdmanclark at gmail.com Thu Feb 16 16:24:47 2023 From: cjbirdmanclark at gmail.com (Christopher Clark) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Thurston County Goodies Message-ID: Hello everyone, This morning I spent a couple of hours birding in Thurston County and ended up adding 5 species to my county list! You see, my go to spot in the county is Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR, but some species are hard to find or downright rare, that are easy to find elsewhere. With this in mind, I decided to check out a couple of new spots. Today I had a desire to see the dippers at Tumwater Falls Park (now called Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, at least according to Google Maps). One of the first birds to greet me was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, which was a wonderful surprise. It was loosely associating with a flock of White-crowned Sparrows, and was quite photogenic! HOUSE SPARROWS were also present, a long overdue addition to my county list. There was a pair of dippers that put on quite a show - I find it fascinating how they just dive under the rushing water and have no problem navigating the water. Me personally? I would've drowned, lol. I did not find the Black Phoebe that was reported recently, unfortunately. I also checked out Capitol Lake, specifically Marathon Park, where the female REDHEAD continues on the north pool. On the south side, a flock of 80+ CANVASBACKS was a neat sighting, and 4 TRUMPETER SWANS were hanging out nearby. As time goes on I'm hoping to visit some more of Thurston County's great birding spots. Scatter Creek and Mima Mounds are some target spots, but if you know of any other "must visit" spots, feel free to let me know. On the way back, I stopped at the McNeil St. Trail in Dupont. I did see several Brant, but they were all on the Thurston side of the river. I did pick up FOY Common Raven though. I also stopped by the WDFW American Lake Boat Launch, or the Camp Murray Boat Launch as seen on eBird (Discover Pass required) and picked up FOY Killdeer and a couple of "Myrtle" Warblers. Also present were dozens of coots but sadly no Redheads (this spot is a known location for the species). Oh well, maybe next time! All in all it was an enjoyable day! Christopher Clark Puyallup, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From benedict.t at comcast.net Thu Feb 16 16:35:20 2023 From: benedict.t at comcast.net (Tom Benedict) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Seahurst Park Harlequins and Goldeneyes Message-ID: Nothing spectacular or unusual today at the beach at Seahurst Park in Burien this afternoon, but the Harlequin Ducks and Common and Barrow?s Goldeneye were fun to see. 10 Harlequins (6 male, 4 female) and 12 to 15 mixed Goldeneye were foraging along the shore. At one point they were on the beach sipping from a stream. The sea was calm and it was a treat to watch these birds. No obvious courtship behavior yet from the Goldeneyes. And much too early for any dancing from the Harlequins, which may not happen until they leave for their breeding grounds along mountain streams. Does anyone know? Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA From avnacrs4birds at outlook.com Thu Feb 16 16:57:41 2023 From: avnacrs4birds at outlook.com (Denis DeSilvis) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 2-16-2023 Message-ID: Tweeters, Twelve of us worked our way around the JBLM Eagle's Pride Golf Course on a cool (33degF-41degF) but rather nice outing. Note: The JBLM Morale, Welfare, and Recreation powers that be have changed "Eagles" Pride GC to "Eagle's" Pride GC. After (number??) years that this golf course has been named "Eagles" Pride? How droll! Nonetheless, after nearly 10 years of birdwalk postings, we're not changing our site name designation on eBird. At any rate, we all had a good time seeing some nice winter birds. Highlights include the following: * RED CROSSBILLS - 9 - and one of us had a great view for a lifer! * MOURNING DOVE - 10 - down from 25 last month and 45 in December, but in the same tree * RED-TAILED HAWK - flying over us at about 30 ft - the only raptor today The only mammals today were a few Douglas squirrels. This was the last birdwalk of the winter that started at 9am. In March, and until next November, we're starting at 8am. The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM. Starting point is Bldg # 1514, Driving Range Tee, Eagles Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. Upcoming walks include the following: * March 16 * April 20 * May 18 Anyone is welcome to join us! >From the eBird PNW report: 26 species Canada Goose 7 American Wigeon 8 Mallard 6 Ring-necked Duck 4 Bufflehead 23 All but 3 at Hodge Lake Pied-billed Grebe 1 Mourning Dove 10 Anna's Hummingbird 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Northern Flicker 1 Steller's Jay 11 Black-capped Chickadee 11 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 36 Golden-crowned Kinglet 12 Red-breasted Nuthatch 12 Pacific Wren 2 Bewick's Wren 4 Varied Thrush 3 American Robin 120 House Finch 4 Red Crossbill 9 Dark-eyed Junco 49 Golden-crowned Sparrow 11 Song Sparrow 6 Spotted Towhee 5 Red-winged Blackbird 47 43 landed in a tree at the Dupont housing area near where we've seen the Mourning Doves View this checklist online at https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS128478174&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cbcabbe0ae3714a95ea5c08db107e8ed4%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638121907962042846%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3bRKlAkyM8CG6DOs3C7HBPoSh4zJeaMcP97Q8CqNZP0%3D&reserved=0 May all your birds be identified, Denis Denis DeSilvis Avnacrs 4 birds at outlook dot com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From avnacrs4birds at outlook.com Thu Feb 16 17:09:42 2023 From: avnacrs4birds at outlook.com (Denis DeSilvis) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Amendment (golf ball count) to the Eagle's Pride Golf Course birdwalk report Message-ID: Tweeters, I forgot to mention that our golf-ball gleaners snagged 220 (!) "lost" golf balls today to give to one of our participants, Pete, who cleans them up and donates them to a veteran's organization. Last month, he donated 68 POUNDS of golf balls. May all your birds be identified, Denis Denis DeSilvis Avnacrs 4 birds at outlook dot com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jimbetz at jimbetz.com Thu Feb 16 20:37:06 2023 From: jimbetz at jimbetz.com (jimbetz@jimbetz.com) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Followup - Trumpeters in the Skagit In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20230216203706.Horde.B6SfAG7EVP_v7QwSyXEXUD8@webmail.jimbetz.com> Hi all, Every morning since the first time earlier this week there have been some swans over nighting on the Skagit (instead of at Barney Lake?). The location is East of the Gardner Road boat launch where that large S-curve is. It is an easy walk on the dike to get there - probably about 1/4 to 1/2 mile. I recommend you go carefully as you get near the big bend because they are just around the corner and you may flush them before you want to. They also go up river in the same backwater and get well behind the trees. You will have to be there early. They leave for their day in the flats (usually they go to the Burler Flats) and they are gone by 8:30 or so. At least one morning we could see them early - and then fog came in and covered that part of the river and by the time the fog cleared they were gone. Nope, didn't see them emerging out of the fog ... yet. As I said before - this is the first time I've ever seen any swans in this particular section of the river ... and they seem to like it and have decided "it's a good place to spend the night". It is my opinion that there are as many as 40% to 60% more swans here in Skagit County than any of the previous 3 years. Question - does a group of swans spending a night on this part of the river mean they've gone round the bend? *G* - Jim From JeffBorsecnik at msn.com Fri Feb 17 12:15:23 2023 From: JeffBorsecnik at msn.com (Jeff Borsecnik) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] bird lodge near Quito / regional side trips Message-ID: Anyone have a modestly(?) priced lodge to recommend in the cloud forest accessible from Quito? ... And/or any (other) suggested birding trips that work in few-day window from that city, other than the islands? (The lodges I've seen so far are too expensive for me, especially on top of Galapagos trip, so this add-on trip leg has to be relatively "budget.") thanks, jeff b -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ucd880 at comcast.net Fri Feb 17 12:23:48 2023 From: ucd880 at comcast.net (HAL MICHAEL) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] bird lodge near Quito / regional side trips In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <609884123.74803.1676665428947@connect.xfinity.com> We have used both Alambi and Tandayapa; both north of Quito. I think both can connect you with local guides. Hal Michael Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) ucd880@comcast.net > On 02/17/2023 12:15 PM Jeff Borsecnik wrote: > > > Anyone have a modestly(?) priced lodge to recommend in the cloud forest accessible from Quito? ... And/or any (other) suggested birding trips that work in few-day window from that city, other than the islands? > > (The lodges I've seen so far are too expensive for me, especially on top of Galapagos trip, so this add-on trip leg has to be relatively "budget.") > > thanks, jeff b > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louiserutter1000 at gmail.com Fri Feb 17 12:24:45 2023 From: louiserutter1000 at gmail.com (Louise) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] bird lodge near Quito / regional side trips In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I stayed 3 nights at San Isidro, which was an absolutely fantastic location. I don't remember now though how much that was as part of the whole trip cost (definitely a lot less than anything in the Galapagos!) https://www.cabanasanisidro.com https://lodgesecuador.com/birding-lodges/san-isidro-lodge/ Louise Rutter Kirkland On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 12:16 PM Jeff Borsecnik wrote: > Anyone have a modestly(?) priced lodge to recommend in the cloud forest > accessible from Quito? ... And/or any (other) suggested birding trips that > work in few-day window from that city, other than the islands? > > (The lodges I've seen so far are too expensive for me, especially on top > of Galapagos trip, so this add-on trip leg has to be relatively "budget.") > > thanks, jeff b > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From toddsahl at yahoo.com Fri Feb 17 13:24:40 2023 From: toddsahl at yahoo.com (Todd Sahl) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] bird lodge near Quito / regional side trips In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1315795943.2730171.1676669080212@mail.yahoo.com> What you want to do is stay in the Yellow House in Mindo:?Yellow House Trails & Lodge, Mindo, Ecuador.? Hacienda ?San Vicente?.? Garzon Jaramillo Family. ~ Lodge ~ Forest Trails ~ Birds ~ Tranquility ~ Quietness ~? Soft Nature Sounds 24/7 ~ Nature/Mountain views from every cabin window. (ecuadormindobirds.net) Ideally if you can afford it hire Julia as a day trip guide for the days you're there. She can also arrange transport to/from Quito for a modest price if you need that:?Julia Pati?o Birding Guide - Review of Mindo Bird Guide, Mindo, Ecuador - Tripadvisor | | | | | | | | | | | Julia Pati?o Birding Guide - Review of Mindo Bird Guide, Mindo, Ecuador ... Mindo Bird Guide: Julia Pati?o Birding Guide - See 25 traveler reviews, 10 candid photos, and great deals for Mi... | | | Todd SahlBellevue WA On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 12:16:05?PM PST, Jeff Borsecnik wrote: Anyone have a modestly(?) priced lodge to recommend in the cloud forest accessible from Quito? ... And/or any (other) suggested birding trips that work in few-day window from that city, other than the islands? (The lodges I've seen so far are too expensive for me, especially on top of Galapagos trip, so this add-on trip leg has to be relatively "budget.") thanks, jeff b_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdbooker at zipcon.net Fri Feb 17 21:02:28 2023 From: birdbooker at zipcon.net (Ian Paulsen) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Burlington "Glaucous" Gull Message-ID: <6648ed9a-f1ea-9ede-bf90-44ec9923eb39@zipcon.net> HI ALL: I heard back today from gull expert Amar Ayyash (who's currently writing a book on the gulls of North America) that the above gull ISN'T a Glaucous and CAN'T even be identified to species or hybrid type! Sorry folks! sincerely Ian Paulsen Bainbridge Island, WA, USA Visit my BIRDBOOKER REPORT blog here: https://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/ From stevechampton at gmail.com Fri Feb 17 21:29:06 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Burlington "Glaucous" Gull In-Reply-To: <6648ed9a-f1ea-9ede-bf90-44ec9923eb39@zipcon.net> References: <6648ed9a-f1ea-9ede-bf90-44ec9923eb39@zipcon.net> Message-ID: Let me add to this. The bird appears to be a large leucistic gull with a pale eye. Its mantle is not a typical Glaucous blue-gray, however pale. It has some tan tones of other creamy white aberrant plumages. Its body proportions, head shape, and bill shape (large and blob-ended with strong gonydeal angle in some photos) are similar to the adjacent Olympic Gulls. The one interesting thing is the pale eye, which is similar to the palest Western Gull eyes. My guess is that it's a leucistic Olympic Gull, possibly from the Western end of the spectrum. Another option is that the eye color is somehow affected by whatever is going on with the plumage. Some good pics of this interesting gull are here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S128455800 https://ebird.org/checklist/S128408545 On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 9:02 PM Ian Paulsen wrote: > HI ALL: > I heard back today from gull expert Amar Ayyash (who's currently writing > a book on the gulls of North America) that the above gull ISN'T a Glaucous > and CAN'T even be identified to species or hybrid type! Sorry folks! > > sincerely > Ian Paulsen > Bainbridge Island, WA, USA > Visit my BIRDBOOKER REPORT blog here: > https://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/ > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From vikingcove at gmail.com Sat Feb 18 08:08:24 2023 From: vikingcove at gmail.com (Kevin Lucas) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Burlington "Glaucous" Gull In-Reply-To: References: <6648ed9a-f1ea-9ede-bf90-44ec9923eb39@zipcon.net> Message-ID: Thank you Steve and Ian for not only graciously letting us know the gull couldn't be correctly identified as a Glaucous Gull, but also giving us some explanation why. I'd looked at the image of the gull and thought it didn't look right, but shook my head and accepted the identification and figured I just had to learn more to have a chance to identify most gulls. I remain mostly ignorant about gull identification, but I have one less bit of incorrect information, and have one more helpful description to guide me with gulls. Sincerely, Kevin Lucas Yakima County, Washington *Qui tacet consentire videtur* On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 9:29 PM Steve Hampton wrote: > Let me add to this. The bird appears to be a large leucistic gull with a > pale eye. Its mantle is not a typical Glaucous blue-gray, however pale. It > has some tan tones of other creamy white aberrant plumages. Its body > proportions, head shape, and bill shape (large and blob-ended with strong > gonydeal angle in some photos) are similar to the adjacent Olympic Gulls. > The one interesting thing is the pale eye, which is similar to the palest > Western Gull eyes. My guess is that it's a leucistic Olympic Gull, possibly > from the Western end of the spectrum. Another option is that the eye color > is somehow affected by whatever is going on with the plumage. > > Some good pics of this interesting gull are here: > https://ebird.org/checklist/S128455800 > https://ebird.org/checklist/S128408545 > > > On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 9:02 PM Ian Paulsen wrote: > >> HI ALL: >> I heard back today from gull expert Amar Ayyash (who's currently >> writing >> a book on the gulls of North America) that the above gull ISN'T a >> Glaucous >> and CAN'T even be identified to species or hybrid type! Sorry folks! >> >> sincerely >> Ian Paulsen >> Bainbridge Island, WA, USA >> Visit my BIRDBOOKER REPORT blog here: >> https://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/ >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > > > -- > ?Steve Hampton? > Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From margeecooper at gmail.com Sat Feb 18 10:52:29 2023 From: margeecooper at gmail.com (Margee Cooper) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] 1st Wood Duck of the Year Message-ID: The canal behind my house in West Longview WA. A hen. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From WEGENER2511 at msn.com Sat Feb 18 20:15:46 2023 From: WEGENER2511 at msn.com (Phil Wegener) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Burlington Glaucous Message-ID: Could this be the same bird from 2021 at the bar between the Burlington bridges? I posted it figuring I would let the editors decide. ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S83348910 Phil Wegener Sent from Mail for Windows -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Sat Feb 18 20:29:33 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Burlington Glaucous In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Seems like it to me. On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 8:16 PM Phil Wegener wrote: > Could this be the same bird from 2021 at the bar between the Burlington > bridges? I posted it figuring I would let the editors decide. > ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S83348910 > > Phil Wegener > > > > Sent from Mail for > Windows > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rposmantur at comcast.net Sat Feb 18 21:47:42 2023 From: rposmantur at comcast.net (Comcast) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Safari in Africa Message-ID: <1F8F4D6D-280A-4398-9E34-B405BBE007FE@comcast.net> Wondering if people have input about a combined bird and animal Safari in Africa in Late January. I?ve been to Tanzania and the Serengeti, so interested in another place. I was looking at Botswana and the Okavango Delta. Does anyone have experience going there in late January? Thanks Sent from my iPhone From ucd880 at comcast.net Sat Feb 18 22:12:13 2023 From: ucd880 at comcast.net (HAL MICHAEL) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Safari in Africa In-Reply-To: <1F8F4D6D-280A-4398-9E34-B405BBE007FE@comcast.net> References: <1F8F4D6D-280A-4398-9E34-B405BBE007FE@comcast.net> Message-ID: <65084856.79311.1676787133638@connect.xfinity.com> We've been to Botswana, primarily the Okavongo, in November. Need to check on water levels as Novemebr is, I think, the end of the dry. Loved to me like it would be really different with more water. Lots of interesting birds and mammals. Next ('24) June we will be doing a mammal and then a bird tour in Kenya.About 20 days mostly west of Nairobi with the majority to the north but some south. Really small group and we know the guide already. Hal Michael Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/) Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) ucd880@comcast.net > On 02/18/2023 9:47 PM Comcast wrote: > > > Wondering if people have input about a combined bird and animal Safari in Africa in Late January. I?ve been to Tanzania and the Serengeti, so interested in another place. I was looking at Botswana and the Okavango Delta. Does anyone have experience going there in late January? Thanks > > Sent from my iPhone > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From ednewbold1 at yahoo.com Sun Feb 19 08:36:41 2023 From: ednewbold1 at yahoo.com (Ed Newbold) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] We dip on Ancients in Admiralty but see a Bull Elephant Seal References: <1596444765.3078059.1676824601309.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1596444765.3078059.1676824601309@mail.yahoo.com> Hi all, We were aware of the existence of a beachhead colony of Elephant Seals near Deception Pass, but never expected what we saw on Friday Feb 17. Delia Scholes and I were up to Gamble and Pt Wilson and then took the Keystone Ferry in an attempt to recreate for ourselves the great lists we've been seeing from others watching from the point and taking the ferry. At Pt. Wilson we had good numbers of Marbled Murrelet pairs and were happy to see Long-tailed Ducks at Gamble. We missed Ancients, let's hope we can chalk that up to inadequate surveillance ability. But something new for us was a Mammal we saw from the ferry that at first confused us and made me ask out loud "Is that a Humbback Whale?" A bull Elephant Seal is gangly and seemingly (probably deceptively) slow when traveling on the surface. You can see the huge nose, though, a giveaway, and huge body and it doesn't really look like a Steller's Sea Lion, too much above the surface and none of the Sea Lion's easy grace in the water. It was traveling south. Add this to the list of side=benefits you can enjoy while looking for seabirds in the Salish Sea. Cheers, Ed Newbold? ednewbold1@yahoo.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tvulture at gmx.com Sun Feb 19 09:05:25 2023 From: tvulture at gmx.com (Diann MacRae) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] TUVU'S etc. Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From qblater at yahoo.com Sun Feb 19 14:12:27 2023 From: qblater at yahoo.com (Qblater) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: bird lodge near Quito / regional side trips References: <5DCC4C3A-3174-4182-B5A8-160AF573C398@yahoo.com> Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cariddellwa at gmail.com Sun Feb 19 14:33:13 2023 From: cariddellwa at gmail.com (Carol Riddell) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - January 2023 Message-ID: Hi Tweets, There were 110 species reported in Edmonds in January 2023. That is 20 species higher than in January 2022. Most expected waterfowl were reported in January, including Trumpeter Swans (code 4). A few missed species were Cackling Goose (code 3), Tundra Swan (code 4), Wood Duck (code 3), Northern Shoveler (code 1), Eurasian Wigeon (code 3), and Long-tailed Duck (code 3). The expected grebes were Pied-billed (seen in the marina), Red-necked, and Western. Among the pigeons and doves, only Rock Pigeon and Band-tailed Pigeon were seen in January. Last year there had been a January Mourning Dove but not this year. A Virginia Rail was seen in the marsh near the tennis court viewing platform on 1-1-23. American Coot was also seen in the marsh. Shorebird sightings included Killdeer, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Sanderling and Dunlin. The expected winter alcids were reported: Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Ancient Murrelet, and Rhinoceros Auklet. Along with the expected species gulls and hybrid gulls, there was one Iceland Gull (code 4) and one Western Gull (code 4) reported on the wharf roof at Haines Wharf Park. A ring-billed Gull (code 3) was on the Edmonds part of Lake Ballinger 1-21-23. All three loon species (Red-throated, Pacific, Common) were reported at various sites along the Edmonds shoreline on the first two days of the year. All three cormorant species (Brandt?s, Pelagic, Double-crested) were reported 1-1-23. Birds of prey included Sharp-shinned and Cooper?s Hawks, Bald Eagle, and Red-tailed Hawk. Two owl species were observed: Barred Owl (Pine Ridge Park) and Great Horned Owl (Seaview neighborhood). For the falcons, a Peregrine was reported at the marsh and Merlins were seen at a north Edmonds home and in Yost Park. All of the expected woodpeckers were seen in January: Red-breasted Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, as well as Hairy, Downy, and Pileated Woodpeckers. Hutton?s Vireo was heard several times during the month at the marsh and Pine Ridge Park. Northern Shrike (code 3) was reported 1-11-23 along the Edmonds portion of the Interurban Trail. Steller?s Jay, American Crow, and Common Raven (code 3) were all reported. The ravens are being heard at a number of locations. They seem to either be moving around more than in the past or their numbers are increasing. Ground Zero for the ravens appears to be Pine Ridge Park and its vicinity where they are frequently heard calling. All of the expected smaller birds were reported: chickadees, kinglets, nuthatch, creeper, and wrens. Cedar Waxwing was reported 1-2-23 at the marsh. American Robin and Varied Thrush were the most frequently reported thrushes in January. Hermit Thrush was noted at the Willow Creek Hatchery 1-1-23. Surprisingly, the Townsend?s Solitaire (code 4), first reported in December, has been continuing in the Edmonds Lake Ballinger neighborhood throughout January. There were also sightings of single solitaires at Haines Wharf Park (1-1-23) and near Water Street (1-15-23). January reports of finches included House Finch, one Pine Siskin at Seaview Park, and American Goldfinches. All of the expected sparrows appeared. The best were the continuing Swamp Sparrow (code 5) at the marsh, White-throated Sparrow (code 3) at the Willow Creek Hatchery, and a Lincoln?s Sparrow (code 3) at the marsh. Red-winged Blackbirds have been reported at Pine Ridge Park, the marsh, and the Edmonds Lake Ballinger area. There were no reports of Brewer?s Blackbird or Brown-headed Cowbird. Among the warblers there was one report of one Orange-crowned Warbler (code 1) 1-23-23 at 84th Ave SW & SW 238th St. Townsend?s Warblers (code 2) were seen in the Lake Ballinger neighborhood, Pine Ridge Park, and at a north Edmonds home. Yellow-rumped Warblers (code 1) were at multiple locations throughout the month. Please be careful with gulls. There are pretty high numbers of Glaucous-winged Gulls being reported in eBird checklists. Most of these are probably the much more common Western x Glaucous-winged hybrids. Western, Herring, and Iceland Gulls are code 4 species, difficult to see in Edmonds. There are documented reports of one each of Western and Iceland Gulls. There are multiple undocumented reports of Herring and Western Gulls. These are rarely seen here. Ring-billed Gull is a challenging code 3 species in Edmonds, seen annually but sometimes only a single bird. This gull does not favor exposed shorelines such as Edmonds, particularly in winter. The most promising winter location is the Edmonds portion of Lake Ballinger where one was seen in January. Early cycle Short-billed Gulls get mistaken for Ring-billed Gulls in winter when a birder only notes a ring on the bill. We would not add any of these gulls to our year list without documentation of multiple field marks or a photo. We look for evidence-based sightings. Remember that just because a species is on a county basic checklist, it does not suggest even distribution throughout the county or even particularly high numbers. As always, I appreciate it when birders get in touch with me to share sightings, photos, or recordings. It helps us build our collective year list. If you would like a copy of our 2023 city checklist, please request it from checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. I will post a checklist with the January sightings in the bird information box at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station at the base of the public pier. 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 From meetings at wos.org Mon Feb 20 08:15:35 2023 From: meetings at wos.org (meetings@wos.org) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] =?utf-8?q?WOS_Monthly_Meeting=2C_Mon=2E_Mar=2E_6=2C_7?= =?utf-8?q?=3A30_pm=2C=C2=A0=C2=A0George_Divoky_to_present_The_Bird?= =?utf-8?q?watcher_Who_Saw_the_Future_Looks_Back_on_Half_a_Century_?= =?utf-8?q?of_Arctic_Change?= Message-ID: <20230220161535.57195.qmail@s401.sureserver.com> The Washington Ornithological Society is delighted to invite you to our next Monthly Meeting on March 6 when George Divoky will be our presenter.?? Divoky began studying Alaskan seabirds in 1970 and, somewhat serendipitously, began to document the story of a species that nests on Cooper Island off Barrow, Alaska:??Mandt?s Black Guillemot.??Mandt?s Black Guillemot is a circumpolar seabird whose Arctic populations are dependent on sea ice throughout the year.??George's annual research pilgrimages to Cooper Island have afforded the longest continuous study in existence of Arctic seabirds.??His research on the Black Guillemots of Cooper Island and the impact of climate change on this population have been highlighted in cover stories in the New York Times magazine ?George Divoky?s Planet,? and Audubon?s ?Can These Seabirds Adapt Fast Enough to Survive a Melting Arctic???? On Tues, March 7, George will deliver a parallel but different presentation at Town Hall.??Come to one, come to both! Attendance details:??WOS is excited to announce that this meeting will be conducted as a hybrid event.?? ? ??You are welcome to join us at the University of Washington?s Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St. in Seattle.??Doors will open at 6:30.??Wearing of masks indoors will be required.?? ? ??You are also invited to attend on-line.??Please go to http://wos.org/about-wos/monthly-meetings/ for instructions on participation and to get the Zoom link.??Sign-in will begin at 7:15 pm. This meeting is open to all as WOS invites everyone in the wider birding community to attend.??If you are not yet a member, I hope you will consider becoming one at http://wos.org/about-wos/membership/. Please join us! Vicki King WOS Program Coordinator From TRI at seattleu.edu Mon Feb 20 11:25:24 2023 From: TRI at seattleu.edu (Tucker, Trileigh) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Best source for local phenology? Message-ID: Hi Tweets, I?m wondering if somewhere out there is an all-in-one guide to W Wash/Salish Sea area/Seattle bird phenology. I have Morse et al.?s Birds of the Puget Sound Region, Hunn?s Birding in Seattle and King County, and Fisher?s Birds of Seattle?all excellent guides for their own purposes, but none of which includes the kind of chronology I?m looking for. The Burke Museum has a nicely done summary of first-egg dates for local species here, and Seattle Audubon?s BirdWeb has tons of useful information, but it?d be great to have more detailed phenology data. Of course I can look up phenology online on a species-by-species basis, and there are some rich databases out there, but I?d love to get a single guide that shows all local species? annual patterns for nest-building, egg-laying, fledging, migration, etc. I?m picturing something like a bar chart for each species with Jan-Dec along the top line, and lower lines for each behavior, but I?ll take whatever I can get. ? Does such a thing exist? Thanks much and good birding to all, Trileigh Trileigh Tucker Pelly Valley, West Seattle NaturalPresenceArts.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From robfaucett at mac.com Mon Feb 20 11:27:34 2023 From: robfaucett at mac.com (Rob Faucett) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Best source for local phenology? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <513A9EE6-8D6B-4305-9071-B328849BC4A0@mac.com> Gimme a ring. -- Rob Faucett 206-619-5569 Seattle, WA > On Feb 20, 2023, at 11:25 AM, Tucker, Trileigh wrote: > > Hi Tweets, > > I?m wondering if somewhere out there is an all-in-one guide to W Wash/Salish Sea area/Seattle bird phenology. I have Morse et al.?s Birds of the Puget Sound Region, Hunn?s Birding in Seattle and King County, and Fisher?s Birds of Seattle?all excellent guides for their own purposes, but none of which includes the kind of chronology I?m looking for. > > The Burke Museum has a nicely done summary of first-egg dates for local species here , and Seattle Audubon?s BirdWeb has tons of useful information, but it?d be great to have more detailed phenology data. Of course I can look up phenology online on a species-by-species basis, and there are some rich databases out there, but I?d love to get a single guide that shows all local species? annual patterns for nest-building, egg-laying, fledging, migration, etc. I?m picturing something like a bar chart for each species with Jan-Dec along the top line, and lower lines for each behavior, but I?ll take whatever I can get. ? > > Does such a thing exist? > > Thanks much and good birding to all, > Trileigh > > Trileigh Tucker > Pelly Valley, West Seattle > NaturalPresenceArts.com > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Mon Feb 20 11:33:57 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Best source for local phenology? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I'd love to know what you find about breeding timing data. This is of great relevance to studying changes wrt climate change. Regarding migration, eBird bar charts are pretty good. eBird maps allow you to zero in only by month, but the bar charts are by week. Note the wave of Barn Swallows at the moment! On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 11:26 AM Tucker, Trileigh wrote: > Hi Tweets, > > > > I?m wondering if somewhere out there is an all-in-one guide to W > Wash/Salish Sea area/Seattle bird phenology. I have Morse et al.?s *Birds > of the Puget Sound Region*, Hunn?s *Birding in Seattle and King County*, > and Fisher?s *Birds of Seattle*?all excellent guides for their own > purposes, but none of which includes the kind of chronology I?m looking > for. > > > > The Burke Museum has a nicely done summary of first-egg dates for local > species here > , > and Seattle Audubon?s BirdWeb has > tons of useful information, but it?d be great to have more detailed > phenology data. Of course I can look up phenology online on a > species-by-species basis, and there are some rich databases out there, but > I?d love to get a single guide that shows all local species? annual > patterns for nest-building, egg-laying, fledging, migration, etc. I?m > picturing something like a bar chart for each species with Jan-Dec along > the top line, and lower lines for each behavior, but I?ll take whatever I > can get. ? > > > > Does such a thing exist? > > > > Thanks much and good birding to all, > > Trileigh > > > > *Trileigh Tucker* > > *Pelly Valley, West Seattle * > > *NaturalPresenceArts.com * > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ucd880 at comcast.net Mon Feb 20 12:21:25 2023 From: ucd880 at comcast.net (HAL MICHAEL) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Best source for local phenology? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1809727663.2870983.1676924485119@connect.xfinity.com> I look at my nest box data. It is, obviously, only for hole nesting birds but over 30 years some trends should emerge. Nesting phenology is something that will require long-term data sets. I was looking at my boxes and there seems to be a trend to actually nesting later. While I think this is because of (ultimately) food resources this did not correlate with rainfall or temperature during the nesting period (Spring). A number of species (certainly waterfowl) seem to nest in response to food availability. That is, there is some trigger that tells them good food will be available for the hatchlings. I have read (somewhere) that warming spring temperatures have induced plants to bud out and grow earlier. Probably increases bug emergence. But migratory birds are tied more strongly to daylength and thereby arrive on the grounds after bug emergence and consequently miss the bug bloom, so less food is available. Lots of variables to consider but you'll need really long (multi decadal) data sets for it. Hal Michael Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) ucd880@comcast.net > On 02/20/2023 11:33 AM Steve Hampton wrote: > > > I'd love to know what you find about breeding timing data. This is of great relevance to studying changes wrt climate change. > > Regarding migration, eBird bar charts are pretty good. eBird maps allow you to zero in only by month, but the bar charts are by week. Note the wave of Barn Swallows at the moment! > > > > On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 11:26 AM Tucker, Trileigh wrote: > > > > > > Hi Tweets, > > > > > > > > I?m wondering if somewhere out there is an all-in-one guide to W Wash/Salish Sea area/Seattle bird phenology. I have Morse et al.?s Birds of the Puget Sound Region, Hunn?s Birding in Seattle and King County, and Fisher?s Birds of Seattle?all excellent guides for their own purposes, but none of which includes the kind of chronology I?m looking for. > > > > > > > > The Burke Museum has a nicely done summary of first-egg dates for local species here https://www.burkemuseum.org/sites/default/files/2019-07/BreedingPhenologyProject_sm.pdf , and Seattle Audubon?s BirdWeb http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/birds has tons of useful information, but it?d be great to have more detailed phenology data. Of course I can look up phenology online on a species-by-species basis, and there are some rich databases out there, but I?d love to get a single guide that shows all local species? annual patterns for nest-building, egg-laying, fledging, migration, etc. I?m picturing something like a bar chart for each species with Jan-Dec along the top line, and lower lines for each behavior, but I?ll take whatever I can get. ? > > > > > > > > Does such a thing exist? > > > > > > > > Thanks much and good birding to all, > > > > Trileigh > > > > > > > > Trileigh Tucker > > > > Pelly Valley, West Seattle > > > > NaturalPresenceArts.com http://naturalpresencearts.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Tweeters mailing list > > Tweeters@u.washington.edu mailto:Tweeters@u.washington.edu > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > > > > > -- > Steve Hampton > Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Mon Feb 20 12:44:49 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Best source for local phenology? In-Reply-To: <1809727663.2870983.1676924485119@connect.xfinity.com> References: <1809727663.2870983.1676924485119@connect.xfinity.com> Message-ID: Yes, the research on breeding time wrt climate change is a bit mixed. I talked about this in my presentation to Black Hills Audubon a couple months ago (video on their webpage) and in a recent article in *Birding *magazine (the one with the tern on the cover). In general, long-distance migrants seem to be wired more to day length than weather. But resident species (e.g. chickadees, etc) are possibly more flexible. They need 6,000 moth caterpillars to fledge a nest, and these are in general coming earlier now. I'd be curious to compare breeding phenology (e.g. egg laying, chick hatching, chick fledging dates) between resident species and long-distance migrants. Of course, each species has a typical uniqueness! On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 12:21 PM HAL MICHAEL wrote: > I look at my nest box data. It is, obviously, only for hole nesting birds > but over 30 years some trends should emerge. > > Nesting phenology is something that will require long-term data sets. I > was looking at my boxes and there seems to be a trend to actually nesting > later. While I think this is because of (ultimately) food resources this > did not correlate with rainfall or temperature during the nesting period > (Spring). A number of species (certainly waterfowl) seem to nest in > response to food availability. That is, there is some trigger that tells > them good food will be available for the hatchlings. > > I have read (somewhere) that warming spring temperatures have induced > plants to bud out and grow earlier. Probably increases bug emergence. But > migratory birds are tied more strongly to daylength and thereby arrive on > the grounds after bug emergence and consequently miss the bug bloom, so > less food is available. > > Lots of variables to consider but you'll need really long (multi decadal) > data sets for it. > > Hal Michael > Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders > Olympia WA > 360-459-4005 > 360-791-7702 (C) > ucd880@comcast.net > > > On 02/20/2023 11:33 AM Steve Hampton wrote: > > > I'd love to know what you find about breeding timing data. This is of > great relevance to studying changes wrt climate change. > > Regarding migration, eBird bar charts are pretty good. eBird maps allow > you to zero in only by month, but the bar charts are by week. Note the wave > of Barn Swallows at the moment! > > > > On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 11:26 AM Tucker, Trileigh > wrote: > > Hi Tweets, > > > > I?m wondering if somewhere out there is an all-in-one guide to W > Wash/Salish Sea area/Seattle bird phenology. I have Morse et al.?s *Birds > of the Puget Sound Region*, Hunn?s *Birding in Seattle and King County*, > and Fisher?s *Birds of Seattle*?all excellent guides for their own > purposes, but none of which includes the kind of chronology I?m looking > for. > > > > The Burke Museum has a nicely done summary of first-egg dates for local > species here > , > and Seattle Audubon?s BirdWeb has > tons of useful information, but it?d be great to have more detailed > phenology data. Of course I can look up phenology online on a > species-by-species basis, and there are some rich databases out there, but > I?d love to get a single guide that shows all local species? annual > patterns for nest-building, egg-laying, fledging, migration, etc. I?m > picturing something like a bar chart for each species with Jan-Dec along > the top line, and lower lines for each behavior, but I?ll take whatever I > can get. ? > > > > Does such a thing exist? > > > > Thanks much and good birding to all, > > Trileigh > > > > *Trileigh Tucker* > > *Pelly Valley, West Seattle * > > *NaturalPresenceArts.com * > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > > > -- > ?Steve Hampton? > Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mikiconway at gmail.com Tue Feb 21 06:30:46 2023 From: mikiconway at gmail.com (Carla Conway) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Safari in Africa In-Reply-To: <65084856.79311.1676787133638@connect.xfinity.com> References: <1F8F4D6D-280A-4398-9E34-B405BBE007FE@comcast.net> <65084856.79311.1676787133638@connect.xfinity.com> Message-ID: Hello, You may also want to consider visiting Uganda. Over 1,000 species of birds have been recorded in its diverse and relatively easy-to-reach habitats.Three friends and I are leaving on March 1 for ten days of guided birding and hope to see shoebills and other amazing wildlife. Hope you have a wonderful time wherever you decide to go. January through March is also the calving season so expect to see calves, foals, cubs and piglets. Smiles, Carla On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 10:13 PM HAL MICHAEL wrote: > We've been to Botswana, primarily the Okavongo, in November. Need to check > on water levels as Novemebr is, I think, the end of the dry. Loved to me > like it would be really different with more water. Lots of interesting > birds and mammals. > > Next ('24) June we will be doing a mammal and then a bird tour in > Kenya.About 20 days mostly west of Nairobi with the majority to the north > but some south. Really small group and we know the guide already. > > > Hal Michael > Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/) > Olympia WA > 360-459-4005 > 360-791-7702 (C) > ucd880@comcast.net > > > On 02/18/2023 9:47 PM Comcast wrote: > > > > > > Wondering if people have input about a combined bird and animal Safari > in Africa in Late January. I?ve been to Tanzania and the Serengeti, so > interested in another place. I was looking at Botswana and the Okavango > Delta. Does anyone have experience going there in late January? Thanks > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > _______________________________________________ > > Tweeters mailing list > > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From shepthorp at gmail.com Tue Feb 21 18:23:40 2023 From: shepthorp at gmail.com (Shep Thorp) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Winter Trip to Okanogan Highlands and Waterville Plateau 2/17-2/20/2023 Message-ID: Hi Tweets, We had great weather and some awesome sightings for this year's WOS Winter Trip to OHWP. Highlights included WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, SNOWY OWL, SNOW BUNTING, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, RED CROSSBILL, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, PILEATED WOODPECKER, GOLDEN EAGLE, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, CANYON WREN, and PRAIRIE FALCON. Dips included Sharp-tailed Grouse, Chukar, Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, Northern Pygmy Owl, and low numbers of Gray Partridge and California Quail. Overall we observed 86 species. The majority of our group met up in Cle Elum at the Pioneer Cafe for a warm up of coffee. Cashmere was great for LESSER GOLDFINCH. We got to enjoy a large variety of DARK-EYED JUNCO, mostly Oregon variety, but two Slate-colored variety with gray concave breast lines, and one or two light gray headed-light throated Pink-sided variety. An adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWK showed up as well. Walla Walla Point in Wenatchee had hundreds of AMERICAN WIGEON where we spotted a single EURASIAN WIGEON. Many good looks at other ducks and a single SNOW GOOSE hanging out with CANADA GOOSE. Badger Mountain was great for open pine forest birds with numerous CLARK'S NUTCRACKER and great looks at a WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER. We located SNOWY OWL at both the Atkins Lake area and on H Road NE of Mansfield. Yesterday there were two owls south of 1 Rd NE on both the east and west side of K Rd NE/L Rd NE/Woods Rd (Heritage Road) simply sitting in the middle of snow covered fields. Friday we observed an owl on the east side of H Rd NE just south of 15 Rd NE, NE of Mansfield. There were numerous HORNED LARK on K Rd NE/L Rd NE/Woods Rd north of 1 Rd NE, and picking through the flocks we found several SNOW BUNTING and one LAPLAND LONGSPUR. We were able to find small numbers of SNOW BUNTING scattered throughout the Plateau. Friday there was a good size group of GRAY PARTRIDGE on Heritage Rd between 12 Rd and SR 172. There were numerous ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and we had good looks of GOLDEN EAGLE and PRAIRIE FALCON along SR172 east of Mansfield. Thanks to the helpful tips of many, we were able to relocate NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL in Bridgeport SP along with a breeding pair of GREAT HORNED OWL. The Saw-whets were not in their usual roost trees, so it took some time to find new roost sites and then try and find the little owl tucked deeply into the boughs of the conifer branches. Note: the Breadline Cafe is only open Tuesday through Friday, they have changed their days open and would not take a reservation for Friday night. Interestingly, we observed NO Chukar at the butte on Fancher Road, other birders did hear a few and parties from the previous weekend reported a single sentinel. There were numerous BALD EAGLE and a GOLDEN EAGLE in the area. We were not able to find Chukar on our winter trip and Scott and I only observed 5-6 on the butte off the Riverside Cutt-off Road during our scout trip in January. Siwash Creek Road was great for RUFFED GROUSE and RED CROSSBILL. We dipped on Sharp-tail, but had really nice looks of expected little guys like MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, PYGMY NUTHATCH, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. The Highlands Sno-Park in Havillah was good for CANADA JAY and GREAT HORNED OWL. We did not hear the Great Gray Owl like we had during our scout trip. The intersection of Havillah Road and Hungry Hollow Road was great for RUFFED GROUSE, RED CROSSBILL, PINE SISKIN and expected little guys. We were unable to relocate the White-winged Crossbill previously reported in this area, but it was nice to see the Siskins. Thanks to the tip of another birder we observed approximately 30 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at the Nealy Road Feeder (Highland Meadows) and dropped off a bag of seed as per the usual. Along Davies Road west of Fields Road we relocated a PILEATED WOODPECKER. Throughout our trip we had nice views of HAIRY WOODPECKER. Conconully was great for BOHEMIAN WAXWING, CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, and a single TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. There is a Mountain Ash at the back of the post office that has been bringing in the Juncos and Solitaire. The Waxwings had been previously reported and we observed them in a Box Elder type tree on Main Street. I've observed high counts of Nutcracker in the Ponderosa Pine harvesting nuts from ripe cones. Again, we dipped on Sharp-tailed Grouse at Scotch Creek Wildlife area, but Happy Hill Road and Salmon Creek Road were great for little guys, Hairy Woodpecker and Ruffed Grouse. No Chukar did we observe at the butte along Riverside Cut-off, but we had great looks at CANYON WREN. There have been a few wonderful reports of Gyrfalcon on the north side of Cameron Lake Road. Unfortunately, we were not able to relocate the bird, but did manage to find a few SNOW BUNTINGS mixed in with HORNED LARK. Other birders had reported large flocks of Snow Bunting on the north side of the road, which we did not see. We did have nice looks of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, and BALD EAGLE. Washburn Island was good for waterfowl, we observed a single CACKLING GOOSE. We followed up on two tips for Sharp-tailed Grouse in Central Ferry Canyon, but were unsuccessful. The habitat is great for the Grouse to feed on Water Birch when the hills are snow covered, but we missed them. I'm encouraged to hear that other birders have observed them in Central Ferry Canyon after the burn on Bridgeport Hill Road and the loss of the Water Birch in West Forster Creek Wildlife Area. We were rewarded with plenty of noisy PYGMY NUTHATCH down hill from the Packwood Cemetery and a few of us got a quick look at a nice adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK that flushed from the side of the road. As with our scout trip, I thought the birding was a little slow as we observed no Cassin's Finch, Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, American Tree-Sparrow, and Common Redpoll. We dipped on really fun birds like White-winged Crossbill and Pine Grosbeaks. My major target species Sharp-tailed Grouse was only seen once on the scout and not on the field trip. I also thought it was unusual to see so few California Quail, and Chukar. We did have really nice experiences with Snowy Owl, Bohemian Waxwing, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Red Crossbill, Clark's Nutcracker, Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco, White-headed Woodpecker, and all the little forest birds you would expect to see. Many thanks to all the wonderful participants on the WOS Winter Trip. They were a joy to bird with and did a great job of spotting and sharing their knowledge. I think there is plenty of good birding to be enjoyed on the Plateau, around Lake Pateros, on Cameron Lake Road, Conconully and of course the Okanogan Highlands. Happy birding, and be safe! Shep -- Shep Thorp Browns Point 253-370-3742 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From stevechampton at gmail.com Wed Feb 22 13:35:36 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] bird molts, pics on eBird, and Peter Pyle Message-ID: Last night renowned ornithologist Peter Pyle gave a wonderful webinar on the history of bird identification (for banders) and a very deep dive into all we've learned about bird molting in recent years. One interesting take-home is that he wants birders to post more pics of scrappy molting birds on eBird. He just re-wrote the book (literally) on the molt sequences of hummingbirds by studying thousands of online pics from the Macauley Library (eBird). So cool. He bemoaned that 71% of the pics were of beautiful males. He encouraged us to take pics of molting adults, immatures, and females to tell the story. The talk has been posted. The hummingbird part starts around 41:30 in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD8Kpt-U1ww good birding, -- Steve Hampton Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Wed Feb 22 13:42:01 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Why Are Purple Martins Declining in the United States? | Science| Smithsonian Magazine Message-ID: <8386DA3C-6FD9-4AB3-9703-54863B7893CE@gmail.com> https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-are-purple-martins-declining-in-the-united-states-180981600/ Sent from my iPhone From ldhubbell at comcast.net Wed Feb 22 15:16:03 2023 From: ldhubbell at comcast.net (Hubbell) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Union Bay Watch - Do Eagles Dream? - BAEA Message-ID: <767C8BD1-482A-4606-9A98-A6FA0B1D705E@comcast.net> Tweeters, Sadly, I cannot answer the question, Do eagles have dreams when they sleep? On the other hand, they obviously have aspirations like mating, nesting, feeding their offspring, and defending their territories. These seem pretty similar to our dreams of having a home, a family, and a career. This is the sense in which I feel comfortable in suggesting that eagles have dreams. This post also reinforced for me the that eagles have individual personalities, similar to humans. I hope you find the post interesting. https://unionbaywatch.blogspot.com/2023/02/dreaming-eagles.html Have a great day on Union Bay, where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome! Sincerely, Larry Hubbell ldhubbell at comcast dot net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From seattlebirdpod at gmail.com Wed Feb 22 15:44:10 2023 From: seattlebirdpod at gmail.com (Seattle Bird) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Seattle Bird Podcast Message-ID: Hello! I'm Leo, an 8th grader and host of the Seattle Bird Podcast. I started it a few months ago and would like to get the word out about my new podcast. Each week, I choose a new "Spotlight Bird" and post a new episode focusing on it. Episodes are bite-sized and informative. Check out the podcast at anchor.fm/seattle-bird or search "*Seattle Bird Podcast*" in your favorite podcast app. If you have any episode/series suggestions email me at seattlebirdpod at gmail dot com. Leo -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From benedict.t at comcast.net Wed Feb 22 15:24:49 2023 From: benedict.t at comcast.net (Tom Benedict) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] An Icelandic Town Goes All Out to Save Baby Puffins Message-ID: <7F76D5DC-9A81-49C0-A6AA-7F2D74441DB7@comcast.net> Note to moderator: I?m resending with a plain link since the earlier message was too large for the mailserve. Here?s an interesting article in Smithsonian Magazine. Evidently the town lights confuse the pufflings and they fly toward town rather than sea when they leave the nest burrow. The Icelanders collect the young birds and point them in the right direction. Seems to be an annual event. The article doesn?t mention if they also turn off town lights or otherwise dim or shroud them during the period. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/icelandic-town-goes-all-out-save-baby-puffins-180981518/ Tom Benedict Seahurst, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cma at squeakyfiddle.com Wed Feb 22 19:07:09 2023 From: cma at squeakyfiddle.com (Catherine Alexander) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] ID help please? Message-ID: <1848574E-8948-498B-81D4-A44201F48909@squeakyfiddle.com> This morning caught a flash of flight out of the corner of my eye and followed the bird for about 30 sec before it dove out of sight. You know that thing that happens when you see something you don?t quite understand? This was it. The flight was swallow like - nimble and quick. The bird, only in silhouette and in the company of a crow and some starlings, was closer to the size of a starling and again, swallow like in form. I remember sharp, narrow, longish wings and it cutting through the air like an acrobat, but this time not swallow like and so incredibly fast. It dropped out of sight just as I blinked. The weird thing was that it flew right next to the crow and that crow immediately peeled off in a different direction. Could it have been a Kestrel? Catherine Alexander Lakewood Neighborhood South Seattle Sent from my telegraph machine From ucd880 at comcast.net Wed Feb 22 19:11:54 2023 From: ucd880 at comcast.net (HAL MICHAEL) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] ID help please? In-Reply-To: <1848574E-8948-498B-81D4-A44201F48909@squeakyfiddle.com> References: <1848574E-8948-498B-81D4-A44201F48909@squeakyfiddle.com> Message-ID: <38280790.177543.1677121915011@connect.xfinity.com> I don't think that Kestrel would be viewed as any sort of threat by most birds. Maybe a Merlin, if you got the general sizes right. Hal Michael Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/) Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) ucd880@comcast.net > On 02/22/2023 7:07 PM Catherine Alexander wrote: > > > This morning caught a flash of flight out of the corner of my eye and followed the bird for about 30 sec before it dove out of sight. > > You know that thing that happens when you see something you don?t quite understand? This was it. The flight was swallow like - nimble and quick. The bird, only in silhouette and in the company of a crow and some starlings, was closer to the size of a starling and again, swallow like in form. I remember sharp, narrow, longish wings and it cutting through the air like an acrobat, but this time not swallow like and so incredibly fast. It dropped out of sight just as I blinked. > > The weird thing was that it flew right next to the crow and that crow immediately peeled off in a different direction. > > Could it have been a Kestrel? > > Catherine Alexander > Lakewood Neighborhood > South Seattle > > Sent from my telegraph machine > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters From stevechampton at gmail.com Wed Feb 22 19:36:20 2023 From: stevechampton at gmail.com (Steve Hampton) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] ID help please? In-Reply-To: <38280790.177543.1677121915011@connect.xfinity.com> References: <1848574E-8948-498B-81D4-A44201F48909@squeakyfiddle.com> <38280790.177543.1677121915011@connect.xfinity.com> Message-ID: If it was blasting thru, mostly horizontal (and often quite low), at 80 mph, then peeling up into the sky, it was a Merlin. One nearly hit me in the head the other day in my backyard as I was coming around the corner of the house. On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 7:12 PM HAL MICHAEL wrote: > I don't think that Kestrel would be viewed as any sort of threat by most > birds. Maybe a Merlin, if you got the general sizes right. > > Hal Michael > Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/) > Olympia WA > 360-459-4005 > 360-791-7702 (C) > ucd880@comcast.net > > > On 02/22/2023 7:07 PM Catherine Alexander wrote: > > > > > > This morning caught a flash of flight out of the corner of my eye and > followed the bird for about 30 sec before it dove out of sight. > > > > You know that thing that happens when you see something you don?t quite > understand? This was it. The flight was swallow like - nimble and quick. > The bird, only in silhouette and in the company of a crow and some > starlings, was closer to the size of a starling and again, swallow like in > form. I remember sharp, narrow, longish wings and it cutting through the > air like an acrobat, but this time not swallow like and so incredibly fast. > It dropped out of sight just as I blinked. > > > > The weird thing was that it flew right next to the crow and that crow > immediately peeled off in a different direction. > > > > Could it have been a Kestrel? > > > > Catherine Alexander > > Lakewood Neighborhood > > South Seattle > > > > Sent from my telegraph machine > > _______________________________________________ > > Tweeters mailing list > > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- ?Steve Hampton? Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From shepthorp at gmail.com Thu Feb 23 13:27:39 2023 From: shepthorp at gmail.com (Shep Thorp) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 2/22/2023 Message-ID: Hi Tweets, Approximately 20 of us bundled up and enjoyed a cold and windy day at the Refuge with temperatures in the 30 degrees Fahrenheit and a very chilly breeze from the north making birding on the dike and estuary boardwalk a challenge. There was a High 15.3ft Tide at 7:14am, so I had the not so well thought out idea of skipping the Orchard and Access Road Fields in the morning to chase the falling tide. Getting out to the dike to enjoy the waters edge did not work out well as we needed to split our group into extreme birders and comfortable birders. Highlights for the day included FOY EARED GREBE in McAllister Creek north of the McAllister Creek Observation Platform. COOPER'S HAWK eating a GREEN-WINGED TEAL on the old McAllister Creek Access Road that is restricted sanctuary. Male and Female EURASIAN WIGEON in flooded field south of the old McAllister Creek Access Road. Good numbers of COMMON MERGANSER seen from the Nisqually River Observation Platform. And a reliable RED-BREASTED MERGANSER in the Pear Tree by the Technician Building in the Orchard Area. Please see eBird list pasted. Visitor Center Pond: RING-NECKED DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER, PIED-BILLED GREBE, BUFFLEHEAD. Flooded Fields: NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN and EURASIAN WIGEON, AMERICAN COOT, MALLARD, RED-TAILED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK. West side of Twin Barns Loop Trail: FOX SPARROW, HAIRY WOODPECKER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, PACIFIC WREN. Dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail: DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, GREAT BLUE HERON, CACKLING GEESE. Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail: COMMON GOLDENEYE, SURF SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE, EARED GREBE, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, AMERICAN WIGEON, EURASIAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BRANT GEESE, LEAST SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, SHORT-BILLED GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, GLAUCOUS WINGED/WESTERN GULL, BRANDT'S CORMORANT. Nisqually River Overlook: COMMON MERGANSER. North/East Twin Barns Loop Trail: BROWN CREEPER, CHESTNUT BACKED CHICKADEE, PACIFIC WREN, RED-TAILED HAWK. Orchard: ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. We observed 60 species for the day, with FOY Eared Grebe we now have seen 99 species for the year. After the walk I went out to unsuccessfully twitch the EAGR, and located a male American Green-winged Teal X Eurasian Green-winged Teal Intergrade in Shannon Slough south of the Observation Tower or start of the Estuary Boardwalk Trail. Mammals seen included Eastern Gray Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer and Harbor Seal. 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 Feb 22, 2023 7:10 AM - 12:16 PM Protocol: Traveling 5.0 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cold, cloudy and breezy with temperatures in the 30?s degree Fahrenheit. A High 15.3ft Tide at 7:14 am and a Low 3.4ft Tide at 1:26pm. Mammals seen Eastern Gray Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, and Harbor Seal. The dike was cold and windy making birding challenging. I, Shep, elected to turn the group back towards the Riparian Forest at Leschi Slough to keep the group intact. Ken Brown and James Horan were the only two of the group to go all the way out. Matt Curtis went as far as the McAllister Creek Viewing Platform. This is a consolidated list. 60 species (+5 other taxa) Brant (Black) 8 Seen from the Puget Sound Observation Platform Cackling Goose (minima) 1200 Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 85 Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 8 Northern Shoveler 50 Gadwall 25 Eurasian Wigeon 3 Two observed in the flooded field west of the west side parking lot and south of the old McAllister Creek Access Road which is now restricted. American Wigeon 300 Mallard 150 Northern Pintail 200 Green-winged Teal 50 Ring-necked Duck 7 Visitor Center Pond Surf Scoter 15 Shannon Slough, Confluence of Slough and McAllister Creek, McAllister Creek. Bufflehead 82 Common Goldeneye 44 Confluence, McAllister Creek and Nisqually River Overlook. Hooded Merganser 6 Visitor Center Pond Common Merganser 12 Nisqually River Overlook Red-breasted Merganser 75 McAllister Creek Pied-billed Grebe 1 Visitor Center Pond Horned Grebe 2 McAllister Creek. Eared Grebe 1 Observed in McAllister Creek on a high tide just north of the McAllister Creek Observation Platform. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5 Twin Barns and Light Post at Entrance Gate Anna's Hummingbird 1 Orchard American Coot 50 Killdeer 2 Slough along entrance Road Dunlin 200 Least Sandpiper 80 Spotted Sandpiper 2 West side of McAllister Creek. Greater Yellowlegs 35 Short-billed Gull 50 Ring-billed Gull 25 Glaucous-winged Gull 2 Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 1 Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 40 Brandt's Cormorant 9 Channel Marker at mouth of Nisqually River Double-crested Cormorant 6 Great Blue Heron 30 Northern Harrier 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 Old McAllister Creek Access Road in restricted area beyond green gate. Bald Eagle 10 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Orchard Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2 Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1 West side of Twin Barns Loop Trail between Twin Barns Cut-off and double bench observation platform south. Northern Flicker 2 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted x Red-shafted) 3 American Crow 150 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 10 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet 8 Brown Creeper 6 Pacific Wren 4 Marsh Wren 1 Bewick's Wren 5 European Starling 10 Varied Thrush 1 Orchard American Robin 50 Golden-crowned Sparrow 30 Song Sparrow 20 Spotted Towhee 2 Red-winged Blackbird 10 Yellow-rumped Warbler 12 Along southern Access Road and around Visitor Center Pond. View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S129391228 This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tsbrennan at hotmail.com Thu Feb 23 14:51:53 2023 From: tsbrennan at hotmail.com (Tim Brennan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Southwest Washington Birding Blog update Message-ID: Heya Tweets, It took a couple weeks to get caught up, but I have finally gotten the first day and change blogged for a trip I made back on Feb 6-8 to the southwest corner of the state. The Skamania County bit can be found at www.southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com. Clark and Cowlitz will come when I can get a little free time to blog them! Nothing super surprising down in Skamania, but I did have Lesser Goldfinches on Strawberry Island, California Quail (but no turkeys!) on Cook-Underwood Road, and the usual swans at Franz Lake and Skamania Landing. I was pretty happy with the day, and even got a picture or two taken when it wasn't pouring. Cheers! Tim Brennan Renton, WA Southwest Washington Birding A monthly swing through the southwest corner of Washington state, including Cowlitz, Clark, Wahkiakum, and Skamania Counties, with a goal of finding 150 species of birds in each by year's end. www.southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From prelson at yahoo.com Thu Feb 23 20:56:38 2023 From: prelson at yahoo.com (Peter Relson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] An Icelandic Town Goes All Out to Save Baby Puffins References: <307586783.239680.1677214598430.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <307586783.239680.1677214598430@mail.yahoo.com> >https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/icelandic-town-goes-all-out-save-baby-puffins-180981518/ You might check out the book Night of the Pufflings by Bruce McMillan, published in 1995. That book almost got us to take a trip to Iceland back then (we finally made it in 2022). Peter RelsonUlster Park, NY -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mj.cygnus at gmail.com Fri Feb 24 08:16:30 2023 From: mj.cygnus at gmail.com (Martha Jordan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] sharp-shinned hawk Message-ID: The sharpy that has been in my south Everett urban area the past several weeks gave an amazing aerial display yesterday. It was avoiding two crows, darting and diving, pulling up and turning sideways. The crows stopped and left when the sharpy flew into a tall conifer in my yard. I look forward to seeing more of this bird while it remains around here. And yet another feather trail found in my front yard near the feeder. I certainly have an all inclusive bird feeder. Martha Jordan Everett -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mj.cygnus at gmail.com Fri Feb 24 08:54:17 2023 From: mj.cygnus at gmail.com (Martha Jordan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bald eagle live cam Message-ID: The power of nature is amazing. Lest we need more reminders of the cold and snow, here is a link to a live cam of a nesting bald eagle in Big Bear Valley, CA. You can subscribe to the channel if you want. Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest - Cam 1 - YouTube Martha Jordan Everett, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdmarymoor at frontier.com Fri Feb 24 09:17:22 2023 From: birdmarymoor at frontier.com (birdmarymoor) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park 2023-02-23 References: <519074385.286015.1677259042230.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <519074385.286015.1677259042230@mail.yahoo.com> Tweets - It was a nippy 28 degrees yesterday when we started out, and it only got to 31 degrees by the end.? Throw in a biting breeze, and it felt downright cold at times.? We barely ventured onto the Lake Platform because it was just too painful.? Not very birdy yesterday, though we did find more birds around the mansion and at the Rowing Club. Highlights: ? ? Virginia Rail - heard at least four from the boardwalk ? ? Hairy Woodpecker - one from the Rowing Club dock ? ? Merlin- flying fast downstream past the weir ? ? Varied Thrush - a couple near the mansion ? ? Purple Finch - one singing at the Rowing Club was our only finch of any kind ? ? Fox Sparrow - about a dozen, after having been a rare Miss last week ? ? White-crowned Sparrow - ditto Very little singing yesterday, following a week with a great many birds and species singing.? Must have bene the cold. We did have 4 or 5 RIVER OTTERS in the slough. ? Misses included Short-billed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Cooper's Hawk, Marsh Wren, and House Finch. For the day, 51 species, and nothing new for the year. - Michael Hobbs From jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com Fri Feb 24 09:26:42 2023 From: jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com (Jeff Gilligan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Gyrfalcon - Willapa Bay Message-ID: <49373619-789E-46DF-9E30-97A1D4982536@gmail.com> A dark one. Flew along the bay flushing ducks, several miles south of Nachotta. I have probably seen about 25 through the years in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, but this one was new to my yard list, which is extra fun.. Jeff Gilligan From tvulture at gmx.com Fri Feb 24 12:00:56 2023 From: tvulture at gmx.com (Diann MacRae) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] bald eagle cams Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From wagen at uw.edu Fri Feb 24 12:53:43 2023 From: wagen at uw.edu (Mike Wagenbach) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The non-crepuscular thrush Message-ID: I enjoyed some loud calls from Varied Thrush this morning in Ballard from a few minutes after sunrise continuing to 9:15 AM. Perhaps they were also enjoying the bright sunshine. Mike Wagenbach Seattle -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From baro at pdx.edu Fri Feb 24 17:43:47 2023 From: baro at pdx.edu (Robert O'Brien) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Bald eagle live cam In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Great Live Video. But there are a lot of slow times, as one would assume with a brooding bird. For an excellent synopsis, with vignettes see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny11Q, On Fri, Feb 24, 2023 at 8:55 AM Martha Jordan wrote: > The power of nature is amazing. Lest we need more reminders of the cold > and snow, here is a link to a live cam of a nesting bald eagle in Big Bear > Valley, CA. You can subscribe to the channel if you want. > > Big Bear Bald Eagle Live Nest - Cam 1 - YouTube > > > Martha Jordan > Everett, WA > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From drisseq.n at gmail.com Fri Feb 24 21:14:25 2023 From: drisseq.n at gmail.com (N D) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] SE Arizona trip Message-ID: Hi tweeters! I am simply OVERWHELMED by how many sites and hotspots there are to visit in SE Arizona. Can someone who really knows the area please tell me which ones to go to. (I won't post my vacation dates to the list.) I have never been before so any birds endemic or migrating to SE AZ including rarities will be lifers (unless it's a Harris' Sparrow). I'm reading as much as I can and it seems as though you'd have to spend months there to see all the great hotspots - wow, but I bet there are maybe 5-10 "absolute must visit" sites for a 4.5 day vacation. I appreciate that I can't see it all at once but I can try :). I will probably return for another vacation there later on but this is all I can do right now. Day 1: Arrive at 11am in Phoenix and get birding! Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water RanchBoyce Thompson Arboretum Day 2 Ramsey Canyon Garden Canyon Day 3 Scheelite Canyon Trail Huachuca Canyon . Day 4 Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve / Patagonia PIcnic area Day 5 Madera Canyon then return to Tuscon Flight departs 4pm I've booked flights starting with a Phoenix arrival and a Tuscon departure. This is because most flights on my airline seem to have a 6 hour layover (I'm using rewards and going via AA) and so I just want to know, am I covering all my bases regarding seeing as many lifers as possible by visiting these sites? I've researched using google searches and web resources, and ebird.org for the time of year I'm going but I would be thrilled to see a lot of these birds. I can't seem to find any kindle books for the area. I would buy one otherwise. Also wondering if this itinerary is DO-ABLE for someone who is definitely not 21 anymore? :) I am also checking in to see if anyone knows any airbnb's or hotels to stay which have SOFT beds. I cannot sleep on firm beds at all. So ANY help there, greatly appreciated. (I will bring a pillowtop or three but sometimes they make it worse.) (BTW It doesn't help to call these places, they will tell you what they think you want to hear regardless of what your needs are. The best I can do is look at reviews but folks just say the bed was ocmfy and that can mean ANYTHING to anyone.) Thank you so much in helping an old broken, bird travel. I haven't been anywhere for 3 years. Nadine. From dick at dkporter.net Fri Feb 24 23:40:07 2023 From: dick at dkporter.net (dick) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] SE Arizona trip In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <3nyb870jc2-1@m0247470.ppops.net> SEAZ Great choice for a very birdy vacation#1 Check ebird Rare Bird Alerts for Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties just before you go - you may be able to see some high-value rarities.Day 1 Gilbert Riparian - yes. Boyce-Thompson is wonderful botanical but better birding at Tuscon's Sweetwater Preserve.?Day 2/3 Less time in Mountains. Include San Pedro House and Ash Canyon site. Only 1 of Garden, Huachuca and Scheelite canyons but make Elegant Trojan a priority if its being seen while you are there.Ramsey Canyon good, add Ash Canyon and, if time,, Miller Canyon trail.Day 4 Near Patagonia the State Park is an absolute must and also is Paton House. Rest Stop or Nature Conservancy if time.?Day 5 Madera Canyon is right on. If time check Canon Preserve ParkHave funDick Porter?Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message --------From: N D Date: 2/24/23 9:16 PM (GMT-08:00) To: tweeters@u.washington.edu Subject: [Tweeters] SE Arizona trip Hi tweeters!I am simply OVERWHELMED by how many sites and hotspots there are tovisit in SE Arizona. Can someone who really knows the area please tellme which ones to go to. (I won't post my vacation dates to the list.)I have never been before so any birds endemic or migrating to SE AZincluding rarities will be lifers (unless it's a Harris' Sparrow).I'm reading as much as I can and it seems as though you'd have tospend months there to see all the great hotspots - wow, but I betthere are maybe 5-10 "absolute must visit" sites for a 4.5 dayvacation. I appreciate that I can't see it all at once but I can try:). I will probably return for another vacation there later on butthis is all I can do right now.Day 1:Arrive at 11am in Phoenix and get birding!Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water RanchBoyce Thompson ArboretumDay 2Ramsey CanyonGarden CanyonDay 3Scheelite Canyon TrailHuachuca Canyon .Day 4Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve / Patagonia PIcnic areaDay 5 Madera Canyon then return to Tuscon Flight departs 4pmI've booked flights starting with a Phoenix arrival and a Tuscondeparture. This is because most flights on my airline seem to have a 6hour layover (I'm using rewards and going via AA) and so I just wantto know, am I covering all my bases regarding seeing as many lifers aspossible by visiting these sites?I've researched using google searches and web resources, and ebird.orgfor the time of year I'm going but I would be thrilled to see a lot ofthese birds. I can't seem to find any kindle books for the area. Iwould buy one otherwise.Also wondering if this itinerary is DO-ABLE for someone who isdefinitely not 21 anymore? :)I am also checking in to see if anyone knows any airbnb's or hotels tostay which have SOFT beds. I cannot sleep on firm beds at all. So ANYhelp there, greatly appreciated. (I will bring a pillowtop or threebut sometimes they make it worse.) (BTW It doesn't help to call theseplaces, they will tell you what they think you want to hear regardlessof what your needs are. The best I can do is look at reviews but folksjust say the bed was ocmfy and that can mean ANYTHING to anyone.)Thank you so much in helping an old broken, bird travel. I haven'tbeen anywhere for 3 years.Nadine._______________________________________________Tweeters mailing listTweeters@u.washington.eduhttp://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rogermoyer1 at hotmail.com Sat Feb 25 11:26:21 2023 From: rogermoyer1 at hotmail.com (Roger Moyer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow-billed Loon Message-ID: The YB Loon is still present at the time of this post just east of Pier 4. Roger Moyer Chehalis, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rogermoyer1 at hotmail.com Sat Feb 25 12:47:04 2023 From: rogermoyer1 at hotmail.com (Roger Moyer) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Westport Yellow-billedLoon Message-ID: The Loon mentioned is at Westport. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tsbrennan at hotmail.com Sat Feb 25 13:38:58 2023 From: tsbrennan at hotmail.com (Tim Brennan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Southwest Washington Birding blog - February updates Message-ID: Hello! I've finally gotten the blog fully updated at www.southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com with a Feb 8th trip to Ridgefield in Clark County, and to Kalama. Which I can pronounce now. Tallies for the year: Cowlitz - 83 species; Wahkiakum 73; Clark 64; Skamania 60. Cheers, Tim Brennan Renton, WA Southwest Washington Birding A monthly swing through the southwest corner of Washington state, including Cowlitz, Clark, Wahkiakum, and Skamania Counties, with a goal of finding 150 species of birds in each by year's end. www.southwestwashingtonbirding.blogspot.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com Sat Feb 25 14:55:25 2023 From: dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com (Dan Reiff) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From hadleyj1725 at gmail.com Sat Feb 25 15:38:45 2023 From: hadleyj1725 at gmail.com (Jane Hadley) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Tweeters Archives 2022 Message-ID: <7631d1d1-8533-8293-f496-43e20e7d1fe8@gmail.com> Dear Tweeters - As many know, the University of Washington, which hosts the Tweeters email listserv stores only the most recent two years of messages. Several years ago, the Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) board under the leadership of Cindy McCormack agreed to establish a website to store the archives of all Tweeters messages up to and including? the most completed year of messages. Volunteer Randy Robinson has just completed adding the messages for 2022 to the archives, which now hold all Tweeters messages from 1994 through 2022. You can either search or browse WOS's Tweeters archives at https://tweetersarchives.org/ To see messages for 2023, go to the UW's Tweeters archives at: http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/ Thanks to Steve Hallstrom, Dan Victor, Hal Opperman, and, most recently, Elaine Chuang for their important work as list managers. Jane Hadley Seattle, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From rflores_2 at msn.com Sat Feb 25 15:58:24 2023 From: rflores_2 at msn.com (Bob Flores) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Tweeters Archives 2022 In-Reply-To: <7631d1d1-8533-8293-f496-43e20e7d1fe8@gmail.com> References: <7631d1d1-8533-8293-f496-43e20e7d1fe8@gmail.com> Message-ID: Many thanks to all of you who worked on this! Bob Flores Duluth, WA On Feb 25, 2023, at 15:39, Jane Hadley wrote: ? Dear Tweeters - As many know, the University of Washington, which hosts the Tweeters email listserv stores only the most recent two years of messages. Several years ago, the Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) board under the leadership of Cindy McCormack agreed to establish a website to store the archives of all Tweeters messages up to and including the most completed year of messages. Volunteer Randy Robinson has just completed adding the messages for 2022 to the archives, which now hold all Tweeters messages from 1994 through 2022. You can either search or browse WOS's Tweeters archives at https://tweetersarchives.org/ To see messages for 2023, go to the UW's Tweeters archives at: http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/ Thanks to Steve Hallstrom, Dan Victor, Hal Opperman, and, most recently, Elaine Chuang for their important work as list managers. Jane Hadley Seattle, WA _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list Tweeters@u.washington.edu http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dennispaulson at comcast.net Sat Feb 25 16:01:08 2023 From: dennispaulson at comcast.net (Dennis Paulson) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Tweeters Archives 2022 In-Reply-To: <7631d1d1-8533-8293-f496-43e20e7d1fe8@gmail.com> References: <7631d1d1-8533-8293-f496-43e20e7d1fe8@gmail.com> Message-ID: <6E8E0D83-1D70-41D6-BF5D-72AC2CB21C71@comcast.net> Jane and Randy, thanks so much, and a big thank you to all the list managers who have kept this forum going. And of course we should be grateful to the University of Washington for hosting it. I think it is wonderful that tweeters has been available as a resource for birders in this area for such a long time, and it has done so much to promote birds and birding and good communication among its many users. We are all so grateful! Dennis Paulson Seattle > On Feb 25, 2023, at 3:38 PM, Jane Hadley wrote: > > Dear Tweeters - As many know, the University of Washington, which hosts the Tweeters email listserv stores only the most recent two years of messages. Several years ago, the Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) board under the leadership of Cindy McCormack agreed to establish a website to store the archives of all Tweeters messages up to and including the most completed year of messages. > > Volunteer Randy Robinson has just completed adding the messages for 2022 to the archives, which now hold all Tweeters messages from 1994 through 2022. > > You can either search or browse WOS's Tweeters archives at https://tweetersarchives.org/ > To see messages for 2023, go to the UW's Tweeters archives at: http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/ > Thanks to Steve Hallstrom, Dan Victor, Hal Opperman, and, most recently, Elaine Chuang for their important work as list managers. > > Jane Hadley > > Seattle, WA > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From steamboatwilleys at yahoo.com Sat Feb 25 21:16:57 2023 From: steamboatwilleys at yahoo.com (stan willey) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] RFI SE AZ References: <397095272.588963.1677388617743.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <397095272.588963.1677388617743@mail.yahoo.com> Nadine, I hope you have a wonderful trip.? Irene and I have spent 2-3 weeks in Sierra Vista in winter for the past dozen years or so.? It's a great area.Gilbert Water Park is a great choice, also Chandler's Veteran Oasis Park is just S of Gilbert, you can easily do them both in a day.In Tucson, Sweetwater Wetlands Park is good; Sweetwater Preserve is also but a lot more hiking.? On the other side of town, Agua Caliente Park is very nice with mixed habitat.Southeast of that, I would agree that San Pedro House near Sierra Vista is a must; also Ash Canyon House run by Tucson Audubon.? That's the late Mary Jo Ballator's place, the locals still refer to it as "Mary Jo's".? While there, you can probably talk to Tim, who was at Malheur when the thugs took it over.? If anything's happening, Tim will know it.? Also while you're there, you might call Tony Battiste at Battiste BB&B.? Tony will let you sit in his garden and see the birds.? You can check out Battiste BB&B on the web.? A fine, gracious, man, Tony also will know what's happening.Based on the limits of your trip, I would forget all three canyons on Fort Huachuca (Garden, Sheelite, and Huachuca).? They are a lot of work and results come slowly.? It's been quite cold down there this winter and I didn't hear of anyone getting a trogon, and a Mexican spotted owl probably would require that you have a guide to find where one is these days.? Madera Canyon on the other side of the mountains is also very good, but Paton's (also operated by Tucson Audubon) in Patagonia is the best choice by far of the places on the Green Valley side.? Do Paton's first, then the Nature Conservancy as your schedule permits. I am not crazy about the N.C.; check with the volunteer at Paton's for any rarities or significant sightings in the area. Happy Trails, you've got your work cut out for you!Stan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From xjoshx at gmail.com Sat Feb 25 22:31:23 2023 From: xjoshx at gmail.com (Josh Adams) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] Off-topic: Cruise-ship birding the Pacific coast of Mexico Message-ID: Hello Tweets, This is a bit off-topic for Tweeters, but I don?t recall ever seeing a write-up on cruise ship birding off the Mexican coast before so I thought it might be interesting to share my experience. Last week my family took a cruise on the Norwegian Joy out of Long Beach, California with stops at Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatl?n, and Ensenada, Mexico. For me, the major draw of this cruise was the significant amounts of daylight hours spent at sea in prime areas for Pelagic birding as well as the chance to see some lifers on shore. This was my third cruise in the Pacific where I?ve been able to do significant amounts of pelagic birding, the other two being a spring repositioning cruise from LA to Vancouver and an Alaskan cruise last summer. Birding from a cruise ship can be quite enjoyable, but it is very different from a pelagic trip on a small boat like the excellent ones run by Westport Seabirds. A large ship allows you to use a spotting scope which combined with the added height of the outside floors of a cruise ship allow you to see and identify birds much, much further than possible from a small boat with binoculars. The flipside of this is that you?re often looking at birds that are very distant and a very keen eye, a lot of knowledge, and more than a bit of luck is required for identification of often similar looking seabirds. The experience is very similar to seawatching from land with a bit of complexity added by the ship?s movement. Like seawatching, the experience rewards a patient observer. There are often long periods of very few birds, and you occasionally end up with 30-minute checklists with only a couple individual birds. On the topic of movement, the relative stability of a large ship makes it a more attractive option for birders who may have issues with seasickness. I personally have been lucky enough to never have had issues with seasickness, even in extreme circumstances, but the gentle rolling movement of a large ship in normal seas is completely different than a small pelagic boat and I have never heard anyone on any of the cruises I?ve been on having issues. We departed on Sunday evening and at dawn Monday morning we were about 75 miles west of Puerto Canoas placing us roughly on the drop off to extremely deep waters. The first bird of the day was the trip?s only Least Storm-Petrel, one of many lifers, which paced the boat fairly close just before dawn. This first hour was excruciatingly slow, by far the worst of the trip, and the only other birds seen were a shearwater sp. and a single Northern Fulmar. After breakfast I returned to much better birding. Red Phalaropes (identified by range, at this time of year Red-necked should be well south of here, but on closer birds the lighter gray backs were visible) were the most numerous species. At one point I had probably 200+ birds visible at one time, all flying parallel to the boat. The tubenose numbers were still low, but diversity improved dramatically. Both Pink-footed and Black-vented Shearwaters were seen as well as several Black-footed Albatross. The highlight of the day was a Laysan Albatross seen very well for several minutes. This species now breeds not far from here (as Albatross travel goes at least) so it may have been a bird from that colony. I only spent a few hours birding this day and spent the rest of the day with my family, but it was quite enjoyable. The next morning found us just offshore from Los Cabos. I didn?t see many birds offshore in my brief time spent outside, but the number of whales, mostly Humpbacks from what I saw, was quite impressive. For whatever reason the Humpbacks were breaching way more than I?ve ever seen anywhere else. Later in the day we took a sightseeing tour on a small boat and saw both Grays and Humpbacks extremely close (too close, frankly, presumably due to either lax local laws or enforcement). I didn?t have any time to do any landbirding, but with some walking or a taxi ride local specialties like Belding?s Yellowthroat, Gray Thrasher, and Xantu?s Hummingbird should have been possible. In the bay Brown Pelicans and Magnificent Frigatebirds were ubiquitous. The next dawn found us off shore of Puerto Vallarta. We weren?t scheduled to dock until just before noon so we were slowly cruising into port. Here I found the first Brown Booby?s of the trip as well as my lifer Red-billed Tropicbird, which flew past very close and at eye level. Puerto Vallarta was the only port where I had significant birding planned on land. I?d tried and failed to hire a guide, so I ended up scouring eBird and finding a trail within walking distance along a nearby river that appeared to have good bird diversity. I was relieved to arrive and find that the trail was not only well maintained and safe, but also extremely birdy even at midday. Lifers included Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Russet-crowned Motmot, Zone-tailed Hawk, Lineated Woodpecker, Mexican Parrotlet, Blue Mockingbird, Rufus-backed Robin, Streak-backed Oriole, Cinnamon-bellied Saltator, and Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater and several others. My big target of the day was Squirrel Cuckoo, a bird I?ve missed on two other trips in Mexico. We ran into a couple photographers (one from Spokane) who said it had indeed been seen that day and gave us a rough location. They also found a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl while we were with them. Alas, despite several hours specifically looking for the Cuckoo I struck out yet again. The next day we arrived in Mazatl?n at 7am. The family plan for the day was to walk to the nearby lighthouse, perched on a tall hill roughly a mile and a half away. The walk and the hill were quite birdy and I picked up Sinaloa Crow, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Happy Wren, Broad-billed Hummingbird and had much better views of Mexican Parrotlets. On the nearby rocks, both Blue-footed and Brown Boobies were distantly visible flying. I was still missing Cinnamon Hummingbird, the statistically most common species of hummingbird according to eBird and felt confident I could pick it up just walking the neighborhoods around the port, but my wife was not super excited about me wandering around alone so I?ll just have to save that species for another trip. On the plus side, while we debated the issue a Crested Caracara flew over us. I spent several hours birding the Gulf of California as we left Mazatl?n. I finally got some close views of Blue-footed Boobies as we left port. Further out I picked up my second Red-billed Tropicbird of the trip and my lifer Masked Booby. Also seen were several Black-vented Shearwaters, a Parasitic Jaeger, and yet more Red Phalaropes. Alas, I was still missing Black Storm-petrel, which is supposed to be most common in these more protected waters in winter. Friday I spent most of the day hoping to pick up some of the species I was still missing from the trip. Once again, the first bird of this sea-day was a pre-dawn Storm-petrel, but the view was too brief and the light too poor to identify it to species. Thankfully, not long after sunrise a Black Storm-petrel paced the boat fairly close for several minutes, allowing me to feel confident in identifying it. The number of birds throughout the morning was low, but the species continued to change. Multiple Pomarine Jaegers were seen, as well as several more Masked Boobies (and possibly Nazca, I still need to review photos). The best surprise of the day was several Cook?s Petrels, a species which I didn?t even know was a possibility here in February. My only other experience with this species was very poor views on another cruise off California years ago, so getting to study them close up next to Shearwaters was an excellent treat. Later in the day Northern Fulmars become the most common species. According to eBird this species is not expected off the southern Baja coast and my records are some of the most southernly in the eastern Pacific. Other species included more Pinked-footed Shearwaters and Black-footed Albatross as well as a single Creveri?s Murrelet, my last lifer of the trip. Mammals also put on an excellent show. In the morning numerous pods of dolphins were seen, likely Short-beaked or Long-beaked Common Dolphins, but despite them surfacing very close to the ship at times, I was unable to obtain good photos. Several whales were seen throughout the day. Most were Humpback?s but a few tiny blows were likely from a species of beaked whales. As we got further north Guadalupe Fur Seals became quite common, laying on the surface with their fins in the air just like Northern Fur Seals do off the Washington coast. As we pulled into Ensenada on the final day, there were a few interesting birds offshore. Rhinoceros Auklet?s, Cassin?s Auklet, and Creveri?s Murrelet were all seen along with good numbers of Black-vented Shearwaters. The most intriguing sighting of the day, and possibly the entire trip, were two whales seen close to the boat. I?d seen so many Humpback whales on this trip that I didn?t even think of ID until I realized that neither of these whales had dorsal fins. Gray?s can show a very minimal bump, but these were all dark with completely dark tails and obviously not Gray Whales. The only match I can really come up with is Northern Pacific Right Whale, but that?s one of the rarest species of whale in the world and would be an exceptional sighting. I?ve created trip reports for all my eBird checklists, in case anyone wants to see everything that was seen, photos, or exact locations visited. Seabird Checklists: https://ebird.org/tripreport/109512 Land Checklists: https://ebird.org/tripreport/109515 Josh Adams Cathcart, WA From mch1096 at hotmail.com Sun Feb 26 10:40:37 2023 From: mch1096 at hotmail.com (mary hrudkaj) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] FOY Band-tailed Pigeon Message-ID: Just had a first of the year (season) Band-tailed pigeon in the bird feeding area next to my house. We had 4 inches of snow overnight and the area is shoveled and stocked with food so he should be able to handle the weather. The flock that comes back to my place every year overwinter in NW California. I know they had snow in Humboldt County the other day so I hope this guy wasn't trying to escape that weather only to end up in the snow field that is my yard this morning. Also, I've had a Slate-colored Junco all winter. He's kept company with the 2-3 dozen resident juncoes. The only good thing about snow is getting to see al the skulkers that hang out on the forest floor and we don't get to see that often like the Varied Thrush and the dozen plus Spotted Towhees. Mary Hrudkaj Belfair/Tahuya -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From birdbooker at zipcon.net Sun Feb 26 17:23:45 2023 From: birdbooker at zipcon.net (Ian Paulsen) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] The Birdbooker Report Message-ID: <658d21d9-d364-e918-1395-24b4fdb73f18@zipcon.net> HI ALL: I posted about 3 bird and 6 non-bird books at my blog here: https://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/2023/02/new-titles.html sincerely Ian Paulsen Bainbridge Island, WA, USA Visit my BIRDBOOKER REPORT blog here: https://birdbookerreport.blogspot.com/ From thefedderns at gmail.com Sun Feb 26 20:30:00 2023 From: thefedderns at gmail.com (Hans-Joachim Feddern) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] ID help please? In-Reply-To: References: <1848574E-8948-498B-81D4-A44201F48909@squeakyfiddle.com> <38280790.177543.1677121915011@connect.xfinity.com> Message-ID: Maybe a Sharpie?? Hans On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 7:36 PM Steve Hampton wrote: > If it was blasting thru, mostly horizontal (and often quite low), at 80 > mph, then peeling up into the sky, it was a Merlin. One nearly hit me in > the head the other day in my backyard as I was coming around the corner of > the house. > > > On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 7:12 PM HAL MICHAEL wrote: > >> I don't think that Kestrel would be viewed as any sort of threat by most >> birds. Maybe a Merlin, if you got the general sizes right. >> >> Hal Michael >> Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/) >> Olympia WA >> 360-459-4005 >> 360-791-7702 (C) >> ucd880@comcast.net >> >> > On 02/22/2023 7:07 PM Catherine Alexander >> wrote: >> > >> > >> > This morning caught a flash of flight out of the corner of my eye and >> followed the bird for about 30 sec before it dove out of sight. >> > >> > You know that thing that happens when you see something you don?t quite >> understand? This was it. The flight was swallow like - nimble and quick. >> The bird, only in silhouette and in the company of a crow and some >> starlings, was closer to the size of a starling and again, swallow like in >> form. I remember sharp, narrow, longish wings and it cutting through the >> air like an acrobat, but this time not swallow like and so incredibly fast. >> It dropped out of sight just as I blinked. >> > >> > The weird thing was that it flew right next to the crow and that crow >> immediately peeled off in a different direction. >> > >> > Could it have been a Kestrel? >> > >> > Catherine Alexander >> > Lakewood Neighborhood >> > South Seattle >> > >> > Sent from my telegraph machine >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Tweeters mailing list >> > Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> Tweeters@u.washington.edu >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > > > -- > ?Steve Hampton? > Port Townsend, WA (qat?y) > > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > Tweeters@u.washington.edu > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > -- *Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA thefedderns@gmail.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From wnoble at uw.edu Sun Feb 26 21:59:52 2023 From: wnoble at uw.edu (William Stafford Noble) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] hanging cormorant Message-ID: I am sure others have likely noticed the cormorant that has been hanging by the neck from a poplar along the Ship Canal Trail for about two weeks now. This is a popular roost for cormorants, but I can't figure out how it could have died and ended up hanging like that. Anyone have a theory? An admittedly rather grim photo (from a cell phone, so not high quality) can be seen here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KaM7JXUAnm8HYy6c7 The location is (47.6490056,-122.3541111). Bill Noble -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mj.cygnus at gmail.com Mon Feb 27 13:24:47 2023 From: mj.cygnus at gmail.com (Martha Jordan) Date: Fri Mar 22 11:41:52 2024 Subject: [Tweeters] dead cormorant Message-ID: The photo tells the story. It likely hit the power lines and fell into the tree. Electrocuted or from line trauma that was fatal. Thank you for posting the photo. I work with a lot of power line collision issues with swans and some other birds. Sometimes the birds end up in trees. Thank you for posting this. Martha Jordan Everett, WA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: