Michael,

I have twice seen what I presumed to be the nominate race of the
Gray-crowned Rosy Finch in western Washington, both in the mid-1970s,
once in a flock of Hepburn's at Everett, Washington and I believe the
other time was in a flock on Sandy Pt. nw of Bellingham. I suspected
then they may have come south from the Juneau, AK area.

Gene Hunn.

On Tue, 6 Dec 1994, Michael Price wrote:

> Hi Tweeters,
>
> There's an adult EMPEROR GOOSE in the vicinity of Beach Grove Lagoon at the
> E end of 12th Avenue in the Beach Grove area of Tsawwassen in the
> municipality of S Delta. This is all about 25 km (15 mi) S of Vancouver BC.
> The bird showed yesterday (Sunday) and was present again today, but had the
> misfortune to fly into a wire and injure its right leg (what a welcome;
> hope it's not a severe injury). It sometime associates with Canada Geese,
> and occasionally has flown to the golf course nearby before returning to
> the foreshore.
>
> To reach the area, take Hwy 99 to Hwy 17, go S on 17 to 56th St, go S on
> 56th to 12th St, turn L onto 12th and go about 1 km until the road curves
> off to the R; go straight at that point to the parking lot at the curve.
> Park there (free) and go through gate; the lagoon is on your L. Continue to
> the pumphouse and check the sloughs and pools in the vicinity, then check
> the foreshore. With its head down, it can resemble one of the many gulls
> which hang around there.
>
> The 4 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches have been loitering for a week now on the
> Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Jetty at the end of the gravel road which runs
> about half its length along its S side. These birds like to forage beneath
> any cars parked at the end of this road, and will hop up into the wheel
> wells and engine compartments (do they smell salt? Porcupines do this, too.
> No fooling). You can access this road by turning L onto what looks like a
> gravel parking lot with parked semi trailers and a couple of small
> buildings at the base of the jetty. Turns out they're using the westerly
> building as a roost, up under the ea ves. For bare-country birds, they sure
> like to get *under* and *into* things.
>
> To reach this area, take Highway 17 S. Period. Then turn L onto the gravel
> road at the base of the jetty. Be patient: they're not conspicuous, but you
> can safely assume that three or four birds fossicking about under parked
> cars will be the rosy finches. Tame as heck. And just *beautiful*.
>
> And--personal brag--a 10-year jinx life bird, the tick of which completes
> for me the 'regularly-occurring species' section of the Vancouver BC
> Checklist (not counting the Spotted Owl, which nests in local watersheds in
> the northern part of Vancouver from which the non-logging public is banned.
> I'm not making this up). Nothing but Casuals and Accidentals from now on!
> Bring 'em on! More! More! I'm still not satisfied! (T. Lehrer)
>
> Query: these birds seem to be (3 male, 1 female) of the Gray-cheeked race
> 'littoralis', also known as 'Hepburn's'. Do we in this part of the world
> ever get any other race(s)?
>
> Michael Price
> Vancouver BC Canada
> michael_price at mindlink.bc.ca
>