Lazuli Buntings have been seen at Marymoor Park in Redmond. I have had them
at my place in Monroe, which isn't too far north. Years ago when I first
started birding, a friend told me that we didn't have Lazulis in this area.
The field guides' maps certainly show them to be in this area, and I have
heard of other sightings from fellow birders as well. I just don't think
the population is that high in this area. Like the bluebirds, I wish there
were more of them. I would never grow tired of seeing them.

Patti Brent, Monroe, WA. p.brent at worldnet.att.net

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>Jim Elder writes:
I was surprised yesterday (Sunday) to find Lazuli Buntings in King County.
I saw one singing male and heard at least one other singing simultaneously
a couple hundred yards away across a field on the other side of the road.
This was in South Kent along 78th Ave a bit north of 277th St S in the
Green River Valley. This is privately owned agricultural land. The bird
that I saw acted as if it was establishing or defending a territory as it
flew from corner to corner of a weedy field and sang continuously for the
half hour or so that I was there. I have never been in this area before
and maybe I was just lucky to catch a couple stray birds passing through
but perhaps there is a small, unknown (at least to me) breeding population
in King County.


..

Jim Elder ( jelder at sea-dmi.com )
SEA Inc.
7030 220th St. SW
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043