Hi, Tweeters,

Thank you, everyone, especially Ted and Charles, for all the info on
Kirtland's Warblers. Now I have to figure out how to tell Mom that of the
four days I"m going to be home in Michigan, at least one is going to spent
chasing a BIRD. (or maybe two...Ted mentioned Cerulean Warblers.)

I seem to live my birding life backwards. Last year my life list bird of
the year was a Bushtit. Such a common bird...........
Well, today I bagged another lifer, all in happenstance..I was checking
bluebird houses on Ft. Lewis and was suddenly in the middle of a war of
Townsend Warblers, all males, all fighting over turf. Yes, again, it's my
first time ever seeing a Townsend's Warbler. I may as well have been a fence
post for all the attention they paid to me.

I seem to have gotten the rarities checked on my list first in my birding
career, and only now am getting to the common ones. Wow. Maybe next time I'll
see a....a....a robin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But that's why I love birding. A Townsend's Warbler is a very common and
fearless bird, and today I saw a couple of them. Made the whole day
worthwhile.
Michelle Blanchard
MBlanchrd at aol.com