Subject: [Tweeters] HUTTON'S VIREO-WW CBC
Date: Dec 19 11:59:03 2004
From: mike denny - m.denny at charter.net


Hello All,

Yesterday morning at about 11 AM I came across a mixed feeding flock of Black-capped Chickadees, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Mountain Chickadees and a lone Hutton's Vireo! These birds were located at the Blue Mountain Archery Range off Blue Creek Rd. in the foothills of the Blue Mountains east of Walla Walla. My digital camera was in the van with MerryLynn way down the road. This bird popped up right in front of me and I was able to get an outstanding view in good light. Still not believing what I was looking at, I called MerryLynn on our FRS radio and told her to get down to the archery range as I was looking at a Hutton's Vireo! While I was talking to MerryLynn the flock moved off into a large stand of dense hawthorn and out of sight. I moved down hill and pished and once again the flock popped up in front of me along with the Hutton's Vireo. Just as MerryLynn arrived the flock again moved off to our SW and was gone , so MerryLynn missed them.

This morning we mounted an expedition to relocate this Hutton's Vireo. Shirley Muse, Ginger and Rodger Shoemake and MerryLynn and I returned to the archery range site. Nothing save for some juncos and a winter wren. So we all walked east up Blue Creek Rd. after about an hour of scrutinizing two small feeding flocks near the Klicker Mountain turnoff I drifted back down the road towards the van when right beside me in a small ponderosa pine was a chickadee and the Hutton's Vireo.
This time I was ready with the camera. Soon everyone arrived and outstanding views were had by all. This is the first Walla Walla Co. Hutton's Vireo record and also the first winter record I am aware of in Southeastern Washington. DATES THIS BIRD HAS BEEN SEEN........18,19 Dec.2004. Please contact us if anyone relocates this vireo.
Thank-you!

OTHER OUTSTANDING SPECIES found on the Walla Walla CBC are.........

Blue Jay........1 bird
Pine Grosbeak.......3 birds
White-throated Sparrow....1 bird
Bohemian Waxwings........1000+ birds
Orange-crowned Warbler....1 bird
American Pipit...............84 birds
White-breasted Nuthatch.....5 birds in Walla Walla in one area together in the Walla Walla City Cemetary.

Later Mike

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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
1354 S. E. Central Ave.
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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