Hi Tweets,

I had an excellent morning at Shoreview, despite leaving my binoculars
at home (I wasn't anticipating going).

Anyway, highlights of the morning included my first Pacific-Slope
Flycatchers of the year. The Swainson's Thrush which I first reported
last week was also present. Atleast I think it was the same bird
because it was singing from the same tree.

I do have a sighting which could be called problematic at best. I saw
what is possibly a Veery. I suppose I should outline my points for and
against this I.D.

I got fairly close to this bird. At one point I was almost 6 feet
directly under it. Again, I did not have my bins with me. The bird
did not have an eye-ring (that I could see). In addition it was not
very streaked/spotted. Atleast it wasn't nearly as much as I would
expect to see on a Hermit Thrush or a Swainson's thrush. The breast
was also a warm buffy color which rules out hermit but not Swainson's.
What little streaking was there was not dark, they were faint and
somewhat indistinct. The back (which incidentally enough I saw the
most of, next to the belly and breast) was a warmer color than I would
expect on a Swainson's. Finally, I would just like to say that it
looked like the Veerys which I saw when I used to live in St. Louis.

On the other hand...points why I don't feel very comfortable calling
this a Veery...

It never made a noise so I couldn't even compare contact notes or songs
with other thrushes or previous experience. I didn't have my bins with
me. Veery is rare on this side of the mountains (and uncommon at best
in most of eastern Washington as well.)

I can say that I am sure it was not a Hermit Thrush and 99% sure it
wasn't a Swainson's Thrush. What else does that leave? Anyway, my
sister is bringing my bins by from home, so I'll be going back out to
look for it here in about another 10 minutes.

Michael Dossett
Bothell
Phainopepla at yahoo.com

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