Hello Tweets,

This afternoon after receiving a call from Dave Hayden,then seeing Marv
Breece's message onto Tweeters Dave Hayden,and my mother and I attempted to
relocate the Brown Booby on two seperate occasions during the day with our
first visit at the Tyee Marina/Corinthian Boat Club along Commencement Bay
at 11:45am-1:30pm along with 7 other birders after we arrived at the
location. During our first visit to the location we carefully searched the
general area,checking the waterways and any obstruction the bird may be on
including boats,barges,docks and pilings,BUT we could NOT relocate the bird.
Our second attempt took place on our return trip from Mike Wile's home after
observing and photographing the adult male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD east of
Redmond. Our second search took place from 5:15pm-7pm with a more extensive
scouting of the shoreline and general waterway in the immediate area north
to Browns Point,then searching the waterway along Ruston Way and Pt.Defiance
area in North Tacoma,checking ALL exposed pilings and obstructions,as well
as looking for foarging gull flocks within Commencement Bay and Dalco
Passage. Perhaps the bird rested enough after being last seen at 7:30am then
continued north,only to be refound at some other coastal location in the
possible next few days. We do expressively thank Marv Breece for posting
this sighting from his birding friend who saw the bird last,despite the bird
not being refound today,BUT for getting the word out to birders. A few
species noted during our morning visit to the Tyee Marina and vicinity
included:

4 Barrow's Goldeneyes
1 Osprey
1 Spotted Sandpiper
8-10 Caspian Terns
1 Hutton's Vireo(heard only)
1 Warbling Vireo(heard only)
1 Western Tanager(heard only)


Despite not being able to reloacte the Brown Booby,Dave and my mother and I
had an enjoyable and worthwhile visit to Mike Wile's residence east of
Redmond while watching the Costa's Hummingbird from 2:45pm-4:15pm and his
interactive behavior with several male and female Rufous Hummingbirds,as it
visited 2 of his 3 hummingbird feeders. We were joined by 5 other birders
during our visit,and were astounded to the surrounding habitat with the Wile
residence which showed great potential for producing many migrants,with a
fairly notable list of species during our entire visit including the
following:

1 pair of California Quail
15+ Band-tailed Pigeons(flying over)
10+ Rufous Hummingbirds
1 Pacific-slope Flycatcher(heard only)
5+ Violet-green Swallows
2-3 Black-capped Chickadees
4 Chestnut-backed Chickadees
2 Red-breasted Nuthatches
1 Bewick's Wren(heard only)
1 Swainson's Thrush(heard only)
1 Western Tanager(heard only)
4(2 pair)of Black-headed Grosbeaks
4(2 pair)of Spotted Towhees
3+ Song Sparrows
6 Dark-eyed"Oregon"Juncos
3 Red-winged Blackbirds(flying over)
10+ Purple Finches
2 Red Crossbills
6 Pine Siskins


We enjoyed visiting with Mike Wile and his wife,along with other birders as
the Costa's Hummingbird would come to the feeder(s)at varying times between
5-15 minutes during our entire visit,but each time would be chased off or
become interactive with 1 or 2 Rufous Hummingbirds then eventually fly over
the property to the south. The bird most often visited the hummingbird
closest to Mike's glorious home,allowing great views and photographs of the
bird at different angles and in flight,showing ALL the main features with
the deep to metallic purple flared gorget,short slightly decurved bill,and
white lower cheek patch. During one observation a female Rufous Hummingbird
flew into the hummingbird feeder closest to the home,then pursued the
Costa's Hummingbird for a brief second,then the interaction was reversed as
the Costa's chased the female Rufous off to a location further away from the
home,where the two birds interacted in circles close to the ground,but then
the female Rufous obtained control and the Costa's flew off to it's normal
departure route. We also expressivly thank Mike Wile and his wife for
providing exceptional oudoor accomidations for birders to view the adult
male Costa's Hummingbird behind his residence,hoping birders and all who
visit Mike's home will respect his great property while viewing the Costa's
Hummingbird,as long as it remains.

On our second search for the Brown Booby at previously listed locations Dave
and my mother and I encountered small numbers of alcid within Commencement
Bay and Dalco Passage off Pt.Defiance including: Rhino.Auklets,Pigeon
Guillemots,and Common Murres in that order of abundance with NO other
species of interest noted. We briefly checked the Titlow Beach waterfront on
our way home and noted a pair of possible nesting Purple Martins,where
numbers appear to be decreasing unlike past years.


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net