This morning in the Lake Hills Greenbelt in E. Bellevue I was walking the
boardwalk west of 148th Ave. SE when a bird flew across the walk and into a
willow thicket. This part of the boardwalk goes thru a dense thicket of
willows average about 15-20' high. There are tall cottonwood trees about
20-40 yds away. The leaves were quite dense which precluded real good long
looks. But what I first noticed was overall gray head and back with a light,
not bold, eye stripe, light gray or dirty white breast and belly with a
yellow wash along flanks. Got one look at upper tail and it appeared a
little darker than back and had a greenish-black color. It never did sing or
call, but was moving about feeding in the willow brush. It was about 8-10'
above ground level. In checking my bird books, the only bird that looked
close was a Warbling Vireo. I had first thought about a flycatcher when I
noticed the yellow wash, but the other characteristics did not fit. Does
anyone else have any ideas other than a Warbling Vireo.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
hughbirder at aol.com