Dennis, who apparently isn't omniscient after all, says:
>I don't know the status of WEKI in the extensive pinyon/juniper woodland of
>the Great Basin, but when I was in southwestern Texas they were in farmland
>with scattered trees and at the edge of oak woodland, not in the open
>juniper of the Edwards Plateau.

My experience in the Great Basin, which is considerable, though not
all-inclusive in geographical terms, is in accordance with your comments
regarding Texas. Not farmland, but open land and near water.

I don't recall ever seeing one in the Goshute Mountain range, which
is single-leaf pinyon/utah juniper at the bottom and bristlecone/white fir/
limber pine at the top. In fact, I don't recall even seeing them
in the town of Wendover, UT/NV. Makes me wonder about their
distribution in the really dry parts of the Great Basin.

We get a good selection of migrants in the Goshutes, so I'm surprised
actually that I've never seen one, since I've seen such oddities
(for the Great Basin) as varied thrush (every year) and purple finches
(once or twice) there.

Something, perhaps, to look for if I get out there early enough. Most
years I've been out there by August 15th or so, but last year and
this coming fall it's more like Sept 1.

Dennis, do you know how late WEKI hang out in fall? Since they
arrive early, I suspect they leave early.

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>