My first bird for '98 was a male Downy Woodpecker which visited a suet cake
feeder in Magnolia. I love watching these little guys!

A few days later I had a couple of "yard" firsts. On Saturday January 3, 1998
in Burien Washington we had a Townsend's Warbler and a female Anna's
Hummingbird. Both of these birds were feeding in the lush foliage of our
well-landscaped apartment. The front porch extends into a large pine which
the birds were in. At one point the Anna's lit on a branch so I could see its
green back and tail. Then it took off and came up within 3 feet of me looking
me directly in the eye and displaying its red throat. I was wearing a bright
red vest so I guess it thought I might be full of nectar!

I've read a number of reports on the Townsend's Warbler. Are we seeing an
"invasion" year?

Tom Benedict