[Tweeters] Bird behavior in winter, FOSP

[gaknip at gmail.com]

Linda, 
The FOSP warming the leaf litter etc is very interesting!  
 I saw a FOSP this morning scratching and pecking in an area so intensively he appeared to have created a depression as deep as half his height.  
Gretchen
Sent from my iPad


> On Jan 16, 2024, at 12:07 PM, tweeters-request at mailman11.u.washington.edu wrote:

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> Today's Topics:

> 

>   1. Yellow Shafted flicker (Adrienne Dorf)

>   2. Re: Yellow Shafted flicker (Paul Bannick)

>   3. Re: Yellow Shafted flicker (Adrienne Dorf)

>   4. Alaska ravens (Martha Jordan)

>   5. Bird behavior in winter (Linda Phillips)

>   6. Song Thrush karma points in Port Angeles (Steve Hampton)

>   7. Re: Hummingbird in house (Marcy D'Addio)

>   8. Cold Weather behavior (Tom and Carol Stoner)

>   9. Re: Cold weather bird behavior - RCKI's (Scott Ramos)

>  10. Re: Hummingbird in house (Jenn Jarstad)

>  11. Today's Highlights in Asotin County (Alex Sowers)

>  12. Kent Red Fox Sparrow (MARVIN BREECE)

> 

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

> 

> Message: 1

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 13:30:52 -0800

> From: Adrienne Dorf <adrienne at nwveggie.com>

> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: [Tweeters] Yellow Shafted flicker

> Message-ID:

>    <CABwpgzsdPyVBexq4r16Zf6pHPNt9sjSJH7ojFi2nqNaFfZzvuw at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> I just had a "Yellow Shafted" flicker at my suet feeder in North Seattle. I

> have never seen one before. Are they often in the PNW in the winter?

> 

> Adrienne Dorf

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> ------------------------------

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> Message: 2

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 14:57:46 -0800

> From: Paul Bannick <paul.bannick at gmail.com>

> To: Adrienne Dorf <adrienne at nwveggie.com>

> Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yellow Shafted flicker

> Message-ID:

>    <CAAb_2hiR-oK0SypzELqG4yhHzXO953FcX5+g_r0nNrP8GyJwuQ at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Hi Adrienne,

> What a wonderful surprise that must have been.  You may have had a

> Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, but you more likely had an intergrade

> between the Red-shafted and Yelllow-shafted races showing more

> yellow-shafted features.

> 

> These intergrades are quite common during the winter as the ranges between

> the two blend in band of area straddling the Great Plans and the Rocky

> Mountains moving North and West from the Mexican Border to Alaska.  During

> the winter some of the interegradeds from that "band" migrate into our

> area.   Over the time since I was a boy intergrades have become more

> common in all seasons but the most dramatically mixed ones are still winter

> visitors.

> 

> You can see a couple of my examples here:

> https://paulbannick.photoshelter.com/image?&_bqG=2&_bqH=eJxzC8oIK4mwDDcw8wqJcPJxC8hOTE8JccwrNc.3MrMyNDAAYSDpGe8S7GybmVeSWpRelJiSquYZHxrsGhTv6WIbClJQ4WvomeuX7pgS5akW7.gcYlucmliUnAEAcfodcA--&GI_ID=

> 

> https://paulbannick.photoshelter.com/image?&_bqG=1&_bqH=eJxzC8oIK4mwDDcw8wqJcPJxC8hOTE8JccwrNc.3MrMyNDAAYSDpGe8S7GybmVeSWpRelJiSquYZHxrsGhTv6WIbClJQ4WvomeuX7pgS5akW7.gcYlucmliUnAEAcfodcA--&GI_ID=

> 

> Regards,

> 

> Paul

> 

>> On Mon, Jan 15, 2024 at 1:31?PM Adrienne Dorf <adrienne at nwveggie.com> wrote:

>> 

>> I just had a "Yellow Shafted" flicker at my suet feeder in North Seattle.

>> I have never seen one before. Are they often in the PNW in the winter?

>> 

>> Adrienne Dorf

>> _______________________________________________

>> Tweeters mailing list

>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>> 

> 

> 

> --

> Now Available:

> Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls at:

> http://paulbannick.com/shop/owl-a-year-in-the-lives-of-north-american-owls/

> 

> 

> Paul Bannick Photography

> www.paulbannick.com

> 206-940-7835

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> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 3

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 16:33:28 -0800

> From: Adrienne Dorf <adrienne at nwveggie.com>

> To: Paul Bannick <paul.bannick at gmail.com>

> Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Yellow Shafted flicker

> Message-ID:

>    <CABwpgzutVwkpQakxfZFLfdxbQxAzJYS7q2HjJBDmrH_VUAnx+A at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Very interesting Paul!  The flicker was a female and I also noted that her

> face was more buff than grey.  She was very beautiful and I am thrilled

> that I got to see her.

> 

> Adrienne

> 

>> On Mon, Jan 15, 2024, 2:57?PM Paul Bannick <paul.bannick at gmail.com> wrote:

>> 

>> Hi Adrienne,

>> What a wonderful surprise that must have been.  You may have had a

>> Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, but you more likely had an intergrade

>> between the Red-shafted and Yelllow-shafted races showing more

>> yellow-shafted features.

>> 

>> These intergrades are quite common during the winter as the ranges between

>> the two blend in band of area straddling the Great Plans and the Rocky

>> Mountains moving North and West from the Mexican Border to Alaska.  During

>> the winter some of the interegradeds from that "band" migrate into our

>> area.   Over the time since I was a boy intergrades have become more

>> common in all seasons but the most dramatically mixed ones are still winter

>> visitors.

>> 

>> You can see a couple of my examples here:

>> 

>> https://paulbannick.photoshelter.com/image?&_bqG=2&_bqH=eJxzC8oIK4mwDDcw8wqJcPJxC8hOTE8JccwrNc.3MrMyNDAAYSDpGe8S7GybmVeSWpRelJiSquYZHxrsGhTv6WIbClJQ4WvomeuX7pgS5akW7.gcYlucmliUnAEAcfodcA--&GI_ID=

>> 

>> 

>> https://paulbannick.photoshelter.com/image?&_bqG=1&_bqH=eJxzC8oIK4mwDDcw8wqJcPJxC8hOTE8JccwrNc.3MrMyNDAAYSDpGe8S7GybmVeSWpRelJiSquYZHxrsGhTv6WIbClJQ4WvomeuX7pgS5akW7.gcYlucmliUnAEAcfodcA--&GI_ID=

>> 

>> Regards,

>> 

>> Paul

>> 

>> On Mon, Jan 15, 2024 at 1:31?PM Adrienne Dorf <adrienne at nwveggie.com>

>> wrote:

>> 

>>> I just had a "Yellow Shafted" flicker at my suet feeder in North Seattle.

>>> I have never seen one before. Are they often in the PNW in the winter?

>>> 

>>> Adrienne Dorf

>>> _______________________________________________

>>> Tweeters mailing list

>>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>>> 

>> 

>> 

>> --

>> Now Available:

>> Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls at:

>> http://paulbannick.com/shop/owl-a-year-in-the-lives-of-north-american-owls/

>> 

>> 

>> Paul Bannick Photography

>> www.paulbannick.com

>> 206-940-7835

>> 

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> ------------------------------

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> Message: 4

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 16:39:11 -0800

> From: Martha Jordan <mj.cygnus at gmail.com>

> To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: [Tweeters] Alaska ravens

> Message-ID:

>    <CAPbe3Q4nT7nXjorSkAn9+8W_XzcQjXO01BmeNu2ibXN=-BmBPw at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> My friend is spending time in Juneau, AK this week. It snowed and is still

> snowing...likely about 3 feet total. Meanwhile, while is shoveling the

> driveway, the ravens have been around and appearing to be having a bit of

> play:

>    They call as they fly through the big trees, landing on a branch

> covered with snow. Landing enough to cause the branch to move as much as

> possible. They appear to be hoping that the snow will fall from the branch

> and create a "snow bomb" that splats on the ground or on an object or a

> person. What my friend also noted was that the ravens who land on a branch

> and no snow falls off will grab the branch with their feet and flap hard to

> raise the branch then let it go to dislodge the snow.  Snow bombs.  At

> least one raven seems to do this over a person or at least near them. When

> a snow bomb happens the raven's call changes, other ravens chatter in and

> they fly to a new spot for another try.  They sometimes play like this in

> the trees for hours.

> 

> Has anyone else observed this behavior in ravens here in WA or elsewhere?

> 

> Martha Jordan

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> ------------------------------

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> Message: 5

> Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2024 01:14:08 +0000

> From: Linda Phillips <linda_phillips1252 at msn.com>

> To: "tweeters at u.washington.edu" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: [Tweeters] Bird behavior in winter

> Message-ID:

>    <BYAPR06MB4342B9020DF69328C299F854EB732 at BYAPR06MB4342.namprd06.prod.outlook.com>

>    

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"

> 

> 

> Hello Tweeters,

> 

> I have enjoyed reading people?s observations of odd bird behavior during this cold snap.

> My story relates to Fox Sparrows. For the most part FOSP in my yard keep a low profile at the edge of the woods. The past few days they have joined my regular back yard birds around the feeder. Most of the time I see a single bird but lately 3 have been foraging in the wood chips under my sunflower seed feeders.

> This morning I observed a FOSP flatten its breast against the frozen chips (as if incubating) then step back and pick food up from the surface it had just defrosted.

> 

> Enjoying the birds in Kenmore,

> Linda Phillips

> 

> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows

> 

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> ------------------------------

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> Message: 6

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 18:01:08 -0800

> From: Steve Hampton <stevechampton at gmail.com>

> To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: [Tweeters] Song Thrush karma points in Port Angeles

> Message-ID:

>    <CAM1wzcNFMY+=-TgV2spauibqD1pX_Mq_a4Ruu9_ptmFesDHknQ at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Barry McKenzie and I spent much of the day canvassing the neighborhood in

> Port Angeles where the Song Thrush was photographed on Friday. We covered

> roughly the square cornered by 10th & A and 7th & E, twice. There are

> scattered groups of Am Robin and Varied Thrush feeding frenzies at various

> apple trees and berry bushes. I suspect the Song Thrush is still in the

> area, or perhaps a little beyond that perimeter.

> 

> I understand from European friends that, in winter, they can often be solo,

> though are not shy like a Hermit Thrush, and are often on lawns, under

> suet, and call frequently. The photographed bird was in the company of

> juncos and Varied Thrushes - and there are plenty of other species around.

> 

> Our most interesting bird was a stunning pied leucistic robin. Pics at

> https://ebird.org/checklist/S159004671.

> 

> The original Song Thrush report (with photos) is here:

> https://ebird.org/checklist/S158946747

> 

> good birding,

> 

> --

> Steve Hampton

> Port Townsend, WA  (qat?y)

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> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 7

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:15:40 -0800

> From: "Marcy D'Addio" <marcydaddio89 at gmail.com>

> To: Carla Conway <mikiconway at gmail.com>

> Cc: Dear Tweeters <Tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummingbird in house

> Message-ID:

>    <CAG_2S=_PpsPpxPP__bRBR_AU-55miBOdXQXvmkZBpHVJG7chmQ at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Carla, thank you so much for the informative link.  I've bookmarked it for

> reference and shared with a friend who had an at risk hummer this am.

> 

> Secondly, my husband and I transported our female hummer to PAWS in

> Lynnwood. Ours was one of 10 hummers received at the wildlife center on

> Sunday. Doing good work there.

> Marcy D'Addio

> Redmond. WA

> 

>> On Sun, Jan 14, 2024, 5:58 PM Carla Conway <mikiconway at gmail.com> wrote:

>> 

>> Hi Marcy and Tweeters,

>> 

>> This message and link were posted on the Oregon Birds Online listserv

>> today. I hope the information is helpful.

>> 

>> Carla

>> 

>> Hi all,

>>   This is a blog post about all things winter hummingbirds. One of my

>> hummingbird rehabilitator mentors provided much of this information. She

>> had rescued hummers for 20 years.

>>   Other information is gleaned from Birds of the World resources and from

>> rescuing these birds myself for the last 15 years.

>>   Please know that hummingbirds are far less tough than we give them

>> credit

>> for. Many who overwinter (at least those dealing with cold temps and snow),

>> don't always make it.

>>   A 25-watt bulb, even in the valley, is a good idea. In Central Oregon, a

>> 25-watt bulb right now means you would be wise to bring the feeder in at

>> night, as it cannot keep the feeder from going to slush overnight.

>>   Anyhoo. Read it if interested.

>> 

>> Caring for Winter Hummingbirds

>> <http://www.nativebirdcare.org/blog/caring-for-winter-hummingbirds>

>> 

>> Elise Wolf

>> Native Bird Care

>> Sisters, OR

>> 541-728-8208

>> 

>> On Sun, Jan 14, 2024 at 3:31?PM Shelf Life Community Story Project <

>> info at shelflifestories.com> wrote:

>> 

>>> If she won't fly, but her in a box with good ventilation and a little bit

>>> of warmth underneath the box (like a heating pad on low). Put some sugar

>>> water in there in a jar lid. Put the box somewhere quiet and leave her

>>> alone while you call PAWS for their advice.

>>> 

>>> On Sun, Jan 14, 2024, 3:07?PM Marcy D'Addio <marcydaddio89 at gmail.com>

>>> wrote:

>>> 

>>>> I found a hummer in my house after being away about 4 hrs. She is alive

>>>> and can grasp the perches on a feeder.

>>>> What can I do?

>>>> I have tried drops of sugar water on her beak but she doesn' stick out

>>>> her tongue.

>>>> Marcy D'Addio

>>>> Redmond WA

>>>> _______________________________________________

>>>> Tweeters mailing list

>>>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>>>> 

>>> _______________________________________________

>>> Tweeters mailing list

>>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>>> 

>> 

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> Message: 8

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:20:45 -0800

> From: Tom and Carol Stoner <tcstonefam at gmail.com>

> To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: [Tweeters] Cold Weather behavior

> Message-ID:

>    <CAOVv5Lx38i01i9_npqf-0dHVvqkUUe2-EBz9-UFfoBt+pTfrhg at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> I've been enjoying all the observations of birds coping with our cold

> weather.  Our neighborhood crows have been coming down to the wooden

> railing and standing flat-footed, crouched down to warm their toes while

> they scan for food.

> 

> Carol Stoner

> West Seattle

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> ------------------------------

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> Message: 9

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:17:30 -0800

> From: Scott Ramos <nearpost at gmail.com>

> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Cold weather bird behavior - RCKI's

> Message-ID:

>    <CANqMoant7jxjddcSLUi6ZhjQzx_Rw-+cYSEWfAZ5PRmkq87=2Q at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> This past Sunday, it was in the high teens at Magnuson Park and the cold

> certainly did seem to modify some bird behavior. As Eric mentioned,

> Ruby-crowned Kinglets--at least half the birds I saw--were foraging on the

> ground, some walking toward me to the point I could no longer focus my

> camera. They only seemed to notice my presence when I attempted to drop to

> a lower profile.

> RCKI - https://flic.kr/p/2psBtci

> Along the Lake Washington shoreline, while overhanging branches were laden

> with icicles built from splashing waves, the ground up to about a meter

> above the water line was not frozen, unlike the rest of the open areas. As

> a result, there were several species that came to feed along the shore that

> are normally not seen there. Well, Song Sparrows were abundant as they

> always are, but there were also several Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned

> Sparrow, even a Bewick's Wren feeding around the pebbles.

> The hard freeze over the weekend softened some of the rose hips and a

> couple of Spotted Towhee were taking advantage. Normally, no one bothers

> with rose hips, they are just too hard.

> SPTO - https://flic.kr/p/2psG7tt

> There are often many Killdeer along the cobble beach adjacent the Sail

> Pavilion in the north end of the park. On Sunday, there were none. Instead

> several Killdeer were out in the middle of the grassy sportfields. Why?

> These fields were frozen solid.

> And, the huge flocks of Short-billed Gulls, sometimes numbering ~200 birds,

> that normally cruise the sportsfields looking for worms, were absent. Why?

> Because these fields were frozen solid. A few dozen were on the swim

> platform but all the others were AWOL.

> 

> Scott Ramos

> Seattle

> 

> On Sun, Jan 14, 2024 at 9:41?PM Eric Ellingson <esellingson at gmail.com>

> wrote:

> 

>>  Most Ruby-crowned Kinglets I've seen are usually quickly going about in

>> bushes and trees, sometimes way high up, other times closer to eye level.

>> However, even at eye level, they can be difficult birds to get a photo of.

>> Also, the scarlet crown is not always seen on the males or if seen just as

>> a red flash.

>> 

>> So it was fascinating to see two of these hopping along the ground on the

>> trail at Point Whitehorn. They seemed oblivious to us standing in the

>> middle of the path. They would come toward us passing by our feet and

>> continuing along the path.

>> 

>> The scarlet on the head was very visible but not raised as when agitated.

>> This and the behavior of feeding and hopping along on the ground are not

>> the norm.   My guess about this ground-level feeding is that with the high

>> winds and freezing weather (into single digits) their food of insects was

>> blown to the ground out of the shrubs and trees they would have been in.

>> Who, knows? Also, maybe a way to conserve energy?

>> 

>> Camera in hand, as usual, I could not pass up the opportunity.  I took

>> many shots and videos of them hopping and foraging. Often they would come

>> toward me getting too close for my camera to focus on them.  If I had a

>> small insect in my hand I'm guessing they would have hopped into my had to

>> eat it.

>> 

>> The 29-second video is comprised of some close-ups showing the scarlet

>> crown and foraging successes.  Watch it here: https://flic.kr/p/2pswNca

>> Enjoy.

>> 

>> What unusual behaviors have you seen during this very cold and windy past

>> few days?

>> 

>> 

>> Eric Ellingson

>> 

>> 360-820-6396

>> esellingson at gmail.com

>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/

>> 

>> 

>> 

>> 

>> _______________________________________________

>> Tweeters mailing list

>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>> 

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> Message: 10

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 22:03:23 -0800

> From: Jenn Jarstad <jennjarstad at gmail.com>

> To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummingbird in house

> Message-ID:

>    <CAA7ZgntqAUNh-KPsjnh6YD=oPmXY7pKP+Ajb8nNVtn7tdkDDwA at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> So heartbroken when a friend told me a hummingbird entered her apartment

> Friday night. I went over early Saturday morning to help lure it out. I

> brought a feeder from my backyard (torn about taking a food source from my

> super territorial yard), but very much wanted to help her situation. I left

> her place a couple hours later, as my friend was not fond of having her

> front door open allowing super cold temps inside. The bird flew in front of

> the door numerous times, but did not want to exit.

> 

> When I returned hours later, she told me the Anna's had died. Don't think

> there was much hope even if I had successfully set her outside, but still

> found it heartbreaking. I feel gratitude for those who have published

> similar posts.

> Jenn Jarstad

> Seattle, WA

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> Message: 11

> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2024 23:08:12 -0800

> From: Alex Sowers <sowersalexander1 at gmail.com>

> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: [Tweeters] Today's Highlights in Asotin County

> Message-ID:

>    <CABvutv0GYCo0suQ+x-BB4+x7mviqSWzB87yGaB-ZY4XzanNYAQ at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Hey Tweets,

> 

> Today Jacob Miller, Luiz Stern, Sara Schneider, and I, headed down to the

> Clarkston area in hopes of finding a continuing Glaucous Gull and escaping

> the monotony that is birding Pullman in the winter. It was a clear day

> though the single digit temperature didn't help. We ended up birding around

> Asotin county the whole day and ended up with a pretty nice list of

> highlights starting around sunrise. Here's a recap of some of the nice

> finds and the itinerary:

> 

> Hells Canyon Marina:

> - As we entered Clarkston around sunrise I scanned a flock of gulls from

> the car with my bins. It soon became apparent that our GLAUCOUS GULL was

> waiting for us right at Hells Canyon Marina! As it was 3 degrees and the

> Snake was mostly frozen over, we were able to walk out and get decent looks

> of it napping with some other gulls on the ice.

> 

> Chief Timothy Park:

> - Sometime after crossing the bridge to the island, Jacob and I heard some

> tapping from a nearby Ponderosa. Hoping it was the Red-breasted Sapsucker

> that Dave Koehler had reported the day before, Jacob walked over to

> investigate. He declared it was a WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER and soon the whole

> group had views of an adult male flying tree to tree away from us. We

> caught up with it and were rewarded with nice views. It was in the same

> area (east end of campground) when we left. While I expected Red-breasted

> to be pushed to the interior following the cold front so I was quite

> surprised to see that a Williamson's had also been seen the same day on the

> Idaho side of the Snake!

> - After tracking down the Williamson's at the east end of the campground,

> we happened upon the rather loud continuing RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. This is

> the first Asotin county record on eBird. Always nice to find two sapsuckers

> out here!

> - Other notables included nice Aythya numbers with Canvasback (25), Redhead

> (12), and Ring-necked Ducks (310) notably present. Two BARN OWLs and three

> chickadee species were also seen.

> 

> Swallows Park

> - Having found two in the same location last December, it was no

> surprise to come to stumble upon a small flock (4) of CHESTNUT-BACKED

> CHICKADEEs in a wooded row along the river. Chestnut-backed Chickadees

> appear to be a lowland rarity in Asotin county, though this winter has

> seemingly been good for them.

> - Ice appeared to have brought in a fair number of ducks as well as a small

> gull flock to the inlet. There were two THAYER'S GULLs in this flock - a

> first winter and adult. While flagged in the county, they seem pretty

> regular in small numbers.

> 

> Anatone Flats

> - No Gyrfalcon though we had nice looks at a PRAIRIE FALCON chasing a

> smaller bird. Maybe a Merlin? Also quite a few Gray Partridge, Wild

> Turkeys, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, plus the county high count of Red-tailed Hawks

> (26)! Notably few Rough-legged Hawks (1) which seems about right

> considering what we've been seeing Whitman this winter. I'll note that the

> Gray Partridge were doing the interesting behavior of burying themselves in

> the snow up to their necks. Jacob made a nice catch spotting them as their

> floating heads simply looked like rocks to me.

> 

> Snake River Rd.

> - Common Goldeneye was the most abundant duck on the river with only a few

> Barrow's nearby. A calling Canyon Wren was nice to get but did not make up

> for the unfortunate miss of Golden Eagle.

> 

> Asotin Regional Landfill

> - Refound the continuing first winter GLAUCOUS GULL with a flock that

> included two adult THAYER'S GULLs. We're assuming this Glaucous is the same

> one we saw earlier at the marina. There was also a first winter

> GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL which seems typical for large gull flocks in the area.

> Right before heading out Jacob and I got on a bird flying away from us with

> a few other gulls. There is a very low chance this bird wasn't an adult

> Lesser Black-backed Gull, though we only saw it flying directly away.

> Around 150 Horned Larks were also present which seems about typical from

> what we observed throughout the day.

> 

> Peola Rd.

> - Got our target SHORT-EARED OWL while driving Peola Rd at sunset. A few

> had been seen the previous day so we had our hopes up and fortunately

> spotted one on a distant post. Driving these rural roads this time of year

> around dusk always proves to be productive for gallinaceous birds. We

> counted the county high count of 107 GRAY PARTRIDGE while scanning the

> fields for owls.

> 

> All in all a pretty productive day and a nice break from Pullman with 82

> species.

> 

> Good birding,

> Alex Sowers

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> Message: 12

> Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2024 09:39:31 -0800

> From: MARVIN BREECE <marvbreece at q.com>

> To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu

> Subject: [Tweeters] Kent Red Fox Sparrow

> Message-ID: <HHZGM6TF1MU4.N6XXQWE79H3U1 at luweb02oc>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Yesterday (1.15.24) I got a better look at presumably the same RED FOX SPARROW I saw a few days ago in Kent.  Although the wing bars and the streaking on the back are faint, other field marks look very good for Red Fox Sparrow.

> 

> 

> video:  https://flic.kr/p/2psH1sK

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> Marv BreeceTukwila, WA

> marvbreece at q.com

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> End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 233, Issue 16

> *****************************************