On Wed, 14 Oct 1998, ian paulsen wrote:

> Hi Chris:
> On your Tatoosh Island trip list you list 3 Palm Warblers. Are you aware
> that Palm Warblers are rare in this state. How many did you see in total?
> What kind of habitat were they in? In other places in WA they seem to
> prefer Scot's Broom. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Sincerely
> Ian Paulsen
> Bainbridge Is., WA
> ipaulsen at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us
> "Rallidae all the way"

Thanks for the feedback, Ian. I was not aware that Palm Warblers were
rare in the state. These were certainly Palm Warblers, though, feeding in
the grass, wagging their tails incessantly, and with prominent yellow
undertail coverts. There were a couple Yellow-rumps in the same area,
feeding along the edge of the bushes nearby.

The PAWAs were foraging in an open grassy area by the lighthouse,
bordering a dense area of salmonberry (most of the island is covered by
dense salmonberry, except the parts that are kept grassy by mowing). I
don't think Scotch Broom is established there.

Total was three birds, on one day, 10/21. I can't remember if I saw them
again on the following day or not.

Christopher E. Hill
Department of Zoology
University of Washington
P. O. Box 351800
Seattle, WA 98195-1800