Subject: Warbler mini-wave plus arrivals..Seahurst Park, 10-03-99
Date: Oct 3 12:54:36 1999
From: Maureen Ellis - me2 at u.washington.edu


Hello All,
Continuing to survey the near-woodland from my top floor condo windows:
Several warblers flew through today. A 'pure' (no apparent Hermit
characteristics) TOWNSEND'S, and an exquisitely-colored TOWNSEND'S x
HERMIT HYBRID warbler, both males, were spotted in the canopy. The hybrid
had very white sides up to the throat, with the black striping, but a
fairly extensive dark throat, darkish cap, and a blackish 'mask'
(excluding the possibility that it was a Black-throated Green, despite the
fact that the back seemed only faintly streaked.) Jon Dunn/Garrett's
"Warblers" book is quite good on showing the variety of plumages in these
hybrids. I'm wondering if enough field research has been done to document
any regional distribution of any particular morph of the T x H hybrid
warblers? Townsend's is present some years in the winter in Seahurst
Park; I'll hope to study and note any/all morphs through this season. In
the mishmash of the Townsend's wave was also a tag-along WILSON'S warbler.

Our wintering condo-feeder JUNCOES, 'Oregon' arrived today. There was
also a noticeable influx of BLACK-CAPPED chickadees, more than the usual
resident numbers. Many people in our complex have seed and nectar feeders
here, so accounting the winter resident birds is easy! Speaking of nectar
feeders, I have noticed that the local bees are able to somehow circumvent
and drink from my 'bee-guarded' feeders after all. I wonder if there
would be a market for 'Perky Pet' Honey?

Cheers,
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu U of WA & Burien-Seahurst Park, WA

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