I guess I need to think and speak on a state wide scale. To those of us who
reside in metropolitan King County that which lies East of Lake Washington is
spoken of as the "East Side". I may try to find this bird again tomorrow.

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah

Stewart Wechsler wrote:

> An Issaquah Vesper Sparrow is not an "East Side" Vesper Sparrow. It would
> be a WEST SIDE Vesper if that is indeed what it was. I believe I saw a true
> "East Side" Vesper (identified by my friend) yesterday near Vantage in
> Kittitas County by Schnebly Coulee in Sagebrush, along with Sage and
> Brewer's Sparrows, so I wasn't excited at first when I read you saw an "East
> Side" Vesper. If the identification was correct it is a noteworthy
> sighting, as the race of Vesper Sparrows that normally occurrs west of the
> cascades - Oregon Vesper Sparrow - Pooecetes gramineus affinis is a
> threatened (sub)species or ("species of concern") that survives in our
> vanishing western Washington and Western B.C. prairie habitats. I suppose
> it might also be the race from East of the Cascades migrating through to
> Canada.
>
> Stewart Wechsler
> West Seattle
> mailto:ecostewart at quidnunc.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
> [mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Larry Schwitters
> Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 4:04 PM
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: East Side Vesper Sparrow
>
> This AM behind (West of) Issaquah's new Microsoft campus was a single
> "different", pale streaky Sparrow. It showed some white outer tail
> feathers when it flew. I'm pretty weak on Sparrow I.D. but it must have
> been a Vesper.
>
> Larry Schwitters
> Issaquah
>
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