99-01-10, godwit at worldnet.att.net writes:

<< The immature male RUSTIC BUNTING, initially present since November, and
only recently comfirmed was again seen and photographed today for about one
hour between 8:25am-9:15am.... >>

9:15am ehh?!? Oh just fine; I arrive at 9:20am, and 5 minutes too late.
People are gleeful, some giddy, others leaving after having seen the now to
become famous Leavenworth RUSTIC BUNTING. Meanwhile I'm full of optimism
figuring this little birdie was as good as in the bag, and so, from 9:20
onwards, I take up a spot in one of three bathrooms which offer the best
overview of the bunting's preferred feeding grounds. I must tell you, I've
never spent sooo long in a bathroom, nor with soooo many people. Hmmm...
interesting.... At least there was a place it sit down :-)) The flock of
juncos and finches would come and go. Flock departure was often abrupt with
the periodic passing Cooper's Hawk and Northern Pygmy Owl patroling the area.
4 hours into this, my butt's tired and the final straw was with the
simultaneous arrival of the Pygmy Owl AND Cooper's Hawk, both of which
descended abruptly into the middle of the yard and precipitating the explosive
immediate departure of every little finchy thing in the neighborhood.

Still, not a bad consolation prize just the same. I think I've never seen a
Northern Pygmy Owl so close and so well for so long (except for the one that
got loose inside my car once-upon-a-time). Only about 10-12 inches off the
snow covered ground at 20-30 feet. In the scope (Leica of course) at that
range, every minute feather filament was sharply discernable. Ruth of course
was just totally beside herself with the exquisite photo opportunity which
indeed 'twas! The Cooper's Hawk, an immature (female I think) put on a
spendid show as well a few feet further away spreading and preening it's
disproportionate long and rounded white tipped tail and showing off it's other
key field marks. Okay, so no lifer Rustic Bunting for Pterodroma-san. Oh
well, there's always next time ...maybe; I hope that mean ol' Pygmy Owl didn't
snatch it up when we weren't looking. Oh horrors... what if... caput...
gone... and I blew it by 5 minutes! The trip to Leavenworth was still a
delight and the warm hospitality of the Rustic Buntings host, Connie McCauley,
was most splendid.

Richard Rowlett (Pterodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA, USA)