Dear Tweeters

I hope this message reaches any "experts" on spotted-breasted thrushes
that may be lurking out there in computer land. It is also aimed at
anyone who may be interested in the identification or misidentification
of a possible Veery.

Twice in 1999 and once during the summer of 2000 I reported a Veery
among the birds that I observed near the mouth of the Siletz River in
Lincoln county, Oregon. Recently Joel Geier informed me that so far as
he is aware there is no records of this bird in Lincoln county before my
reports. This raised the possibility that perhaps the Veery(s)? I
reported might, if fact, be a local race of Swainson's thrush. Being an
acknowledged novice birder with a track record of multiple
identification errors on both sides of the Cascades, I immediately
turned to my video tapes to provide whatever support exits for my
tentative identification. Within 1000' of the sightings of the Lincoln
county Veery? I have also recorded several Hermit Thrushes (primarily
during the winter months) and an occasional "typical" Swainson's
Thrush. I have posted images of these on my web site at
http://www.angelfire.com/wa/minkgi

Recently I posted 4 of the best images I could find (unfortunately not
near National Geographic quality) of the bird(s) in question that was
observed in July this year. The first image was take while the bird
was on a telephone line just as it flew into a bush. The remaining 3
images are of a bird (I thought of the same bird) in the bush. I cannot
be absolutely positive that there were not two birds present.
Nevertheless, the 4 images illustrate the range of characteristics I
attributed to the Veery?

I have no problem admitting to an identity error if in fact I have made
one. On the other hand I would like feel a bit more confident about
what I saw. I have very thick skin to technical criticism; relatively
thin skin to personal criticism.

If you are interested in helping resolve this minor identity crisis
please visit the above site and let me know what you think.

--
Gaylord Mink
Prosser, Wa
mailto:gmink at bentonrea.com
http://www.angelfire.com/wa/minkgi