I just had a call from Tom Eckert who is on a photo and birdsong
recording expedition near Packwood, Lewis County. This morning he
found a singing OVENBIRD. The bird is several miles in on an
unmarked road off of FR 5290, northwest of Packwood. Tom feels that
giving accurate directions to this spot would be impossible.
However, if anyone wants to go look for the bird he would be glad to
meet them in Packwood and take them there. Call his wife, Edith, at
(206) 524-3993 to make arrangements. Tom checks in with Edith by
phone every evening. He plans to remain in the Packwood area through
the weekend and probably next week if the weather holds.

Tom obtained audio recordings of the bird, and it is very responsive
to tapes but difficult to photograph. Given the time of year it is
probably on territory and may remain staked out for a while yet.

Through 1999, the Washington Bird Records Committee had accepted 12
records of this species: four in May, five in June, and one each in
July, September, and November. All except two were reported for one
day only. Nine of the 12 records are from east of the Cascade crest
in Spokane, Whitman, Benton (2), Kittitas (2), Lincoln (2), and
Yakima Counties. The westside records are from King (Seattle, 26 Jun
1980), San Juan (Friday Harbor, 17 Jun 1983) and Whatcom (Ross Lake,
8 Jun 1992) Counties.

Hal Opperman
Medina, Washington
mailto:halop at accessone.com