Hello Tweets,

This morning my mother and I joined Sam Agnew in search of the 2 Soras he reported on the Tacoma CBC last Saturday(December 21st)at Morey Pond on McChord AFB. Our main purpose was to confirm his sighting,as Sam originally saw both birds along with 2 other CBC counters at Morey Pond,but today my mother and I confirmed his sighting along with photographs taken of both birds,but not together like Sam observed on the 21st. Upon our arrival to Morey Pond we quickly heard 1 single Sora call immediately from the thick vegetation of the man-made freshwater Morey Pond,but it was not seen until later during our visit. The other Sora was observed and photographed much closer and also call briefly,but the initial bird was more active calling along with up to 2 nearby Virginia Rails. The behavior of both Soras was most noticeable as the birds would forage along the immediate cattail vegetation by swimming and plucking the surface of the water in search of any edible food in typical fashion,such as an Am.Coot. The birds were both adults,but one of the individuals was slightly duller than the other bird,showing duller gray-brown underparts and a duller short,yellow bill. Both birds called giving the typical Sora call to an extent,but at a point the birds were less vocal due probably to the fairly constant winds at times and our presence too. The area is relatively undisturbed so these birds may overwinter at this location which seems highly appropriate in habitat and the location being a suitable area in which the birds could remain throughout the year. We were very happy to not only document both Soras for possibly the first Tacoma CBC record to date,but to also to observe this species which is quite rare in winter in western WA with normally very few if any records. We were very fortunate to have Sam access to this location and for the birds to be cooperative enough for us to observe and photographs them,despite the windy conditions. Other birds of note we observed at the same location were up to 6 Western Scrub Jays,being more evidence of their range expansion. There were up to 20+ Western Scrub Jays on the Tacoma CBC this year,being the highest ever.


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net