WOW, all this Plumbeous talk is interesting. I had a bird I initially
called a Plumbeous at Washtucna, Bassett Park, Adams Co, eastern Washington
on Saturday the 18th. I discounted it because I did not see any wash-color
to it's undersides and no clear view of the wings. But, the bird was mixed
in a group of warbling vireos, a Cassin's vireo and Townsend's warblers. It
was so gray I almost scanned over it believing I had seen one more warbling
vireo. I tried to get a photo but conditions prevented it.

Those eastern washington birders if you visit Bassett Park keep your eyes
open for this individual.

Bob Flores
Othello, WA
rflores at qosi.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wink Gross" <winkg at hevanet.com>
To: "Obol" <obol at lists.orst.edu>
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2002 6:09 PM
Subject: re: Plumbeous Vireos


> Up at Pittock Mansion this morning I had a good look at a vireo
> (30 ft, 30 seconds, bird was below me on the slope below the parking lot)
> that, at the time, I was quite certain was a PLUMBEOUS: no trace of
> green or yellow except perhaps the very faintest wash on the flanks,
> spectacular bright spectacles, white throat. However, when I got home
> and checked Sibley, as often happens, I decided I could not be sure.
> (I think Sibley is really a guide to the "Deidentification" of birds.)
> He shows a drab Cassin's Vireo as having greenish edges to the
secondaries,
> and, although I recall no green in the wings, I can not swear that it was
> absent. So I was going to let it pass.
>
> Gerard's posting compels me to suggest that perhaps Plumbeous Vireos are
> participating in the "Great Left Shift" this spring that is bringing
interior
> migrating species west of the Cascades. To me it seems unlikely that the
> Plumbeous Vireo he saw today at Mt Tabor is the same one seen 8 days ago
by
> Jeff. Why would it stick around that long? Seems more likely that
multiple
> Plumbeous Vireos are coming through Portland this spring.
>
> Wink Gross
> Portland
> winkg at hevanet.com
>
>