Greetings,
On this mighty fine day I went down to the Foothills Trail, an area of lush
cover south of my house along Pioneer Hwy (SR 162). I was with my dad and
younger brother. We parked at the trailhead in the tiny town of Crocker,
walking northeast for almost 4 miles towards South Prairie, then turned
back. This area I've found to be more productive in the fall, at least for
numbers of migrant passerines, but today was exceptional nonetheless. Had a
total of 69 species between 9:00am and 1:30pm. Warbler numbers were very
low, but diversity was quite good. A couple of raptors were taking advantage
of the fine thermal weather, including the best bird of the day. Finally, in
the afternoon there were plenty of butterflies around to distract me.

Ring-necked Pheasant (1)
Turkey Vulture (3)
Osprey (1)
Cooper's Hawk (1)-migrating.
SWAINSON'S HAWK (1): decent look at an adult bird about 1.5 miles west of
South Prairie in the late morning, seen for 5 minutes or more near a pair of
Red-tails down lower, until it finally soared extremely high and moved on,
last seen heading due north along Prairie Ridge.
Red-tailed Hawk (4)
Spotted Sandpiper (1)-on river, breeding plumage.
Least Sandpiper (1)-flew over lake.
Mourning Dove (3)
Vaux's Swift (2)-over lake.
Red-breasted Sapsucker (5)
Downy Woodpecker (3)
Hairy Woodpecker (2)
Pileated Woodpecker (1)
Pacific-slope Flycatcher (6)-males on territory now, late arrival date.
Cassin's Vireo (2)-singing males.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
Winter Wren (2)
Marsh Wren (1)
American Dipper (3): one in Carbon River; pair in South Prairie Ck.
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE (1)-singing up on hillside.
American Robin (30): including a pair w/2 fledglings.
Cedar Waxwing (10): my first of the spring.
Orange-crowned Warbler (5)
NASHVILLE WARBLER (1)-singing just north of Carbon Rvr crossing.
Yellow Warbler (1)-singing, my first of the year.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (15: 11-Audubon's; 4-Myrtle)
Black-throated Grey Warbler (6): all singing males.
Wilson's Warbler (3): all singing.
Lincoln's Sparrow (1)-a singing migrant.
Golden-crowned Sparrow (4)
Brown-headed Cowbird (12)
Red Crossbill (4)
Evening Grosbeak (5)
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Anise Swallowtail (1)
Margined White (2)
Cabbage White (5)
Spring Azure (9)
Mylitta Crescent (12)
California Tortoiseshell (1)
Painted Lady (5)
Red Admiral (1)
Ochre Ringlet (2)
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Yesterday at a place called Longfellow Creek in Seattle, there were quite a
few migrants. A dozen or so Yellow-rumped including one apparent intergrade,
a singing Cassin's Vireo, and a Hermit Thrush were the highlights.

Last night btwn 11:50pm and 12:30am I could hear 7 warbler notes overhead.
This morning there was a Lincoln's Sparrow around the yard.

That's all for now
cheers and good birding,
--
Charlie Wright
Sumner, WA
charlie at birdwright.com