Subject: migrants in SE WA
Date: Sep 13 20:38:49 2004
From: Maureen Ellis - mj2ephd at u.washington.edu


Gene,
Vesper Sparrow is a reasonable alternative to consider because it is a
good-sized sparrow, but the birds I saw seemed more heavily streaked and
a bit bigger billed than a Vesper Sparrow. I was trying to sort out the
American Pipets that were on the exposed rock levee around the small
artificial pond. The bird calls that were not the House Finch and the one
bird with a distinctive, large pale wing patch caught my attention to the
top of the small trees near the water. My immediate impression was Lark
Bunting.

SE WA is remote and wild country. I can imagine that small numbers of
some species that usually follow the plains migration routes probably
venture further west, and the rarity of experienced birdwatchers in these
areas leave gaps in reporting. I was in the right place at the right time to
view a small flock of Lark Buntings. I think 'pure luck' to see these
birds as I was on a non-birding family trip, and just routinely binoc'd
any birds during every rest stop. I'm hoping now that the buntings
have been reported, birders living in SE WA will have some expectation,
and survey frequently enough to have a chance of spotting some. The
buntings need confirmation by other experienced birders to become a part
of the formal public ornithology record. I am confident enough for my
personal documentation, and hope that the birds will be confirmed by
others.

Good Luck and good birding, me2
****************************************
Maureen Ellis, PhD, Research Scientist
Woods Lab, Toxicology Group at Roos 1, Box 354695
Lab/Office phone: 206-685-1938 Email: mj2ephd at u.washington.edu
DEOHS, SPHCM, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
****************************************

"To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities
as you do at conclusions." ____Ben Franklin

"Be the change you want to see in the world." ____Ghandi

On Mon, 13 Sep 2004, Eugene and Nancy Hunn wrote:

> Maureen et al.,
>
> Lark Buntings are indeed very rare with perhaps less than 10 state records.
> I hesitate to suggest Vesper Sparrow as an alternative.
>
> Gene Hunn.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Maureen Ellis" <mj2ephd at u.washington.edu>
> To: "Scott Atkinson" <scottratkinson at hotmail.com>
> Cc: "Tweeters News Group" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 3:40 PM
> Subject: RE: migrants in SE WA
>
>
> Hello Scott and Everyone,
> I am astounded that Lark Buntings are not seen more often in fall
> migration in eastern WA, and was unaware that they were considered so
> rare in WA. Having seen them in mobs of thousands in SE AZ in winter
> covering corrals, fields, shrubbery, fences, etc., finding a small flock,
> presumably migrating, in the high desert of SE WA did not seem so odd.
>
> They remind me of small streaked grosbeaks. I could not confirm bluish
> bills; the bills looked medium gray in the bright light at the top of
> Umtanum Ridge. Every other feature about these birds: The
> flocking behavior in the top of a shrub, twittering and whistling and
> musical chattering, plumpish and a little bigger compared to nearby House
> Finches, fairly dark and crisp streaking, and one bird having a
> distinctive, large pale wing patch---all indicated Lark Bunting id from
> past experience.
>
> I'm hoping someone can get a confirmation on this species. If what I saw
> is correct, then a flock of 4 or 5 may mean other flocks are also
> migrating through, not jst a single stray off-courser.
>
> Good Luck, me2
> ****************************************
> Maureen Ellis, PhD, Research Scientist
> Woods Lab, Toxicology Group at Roos 1, Box 354695
> Lab/Office phone: 206-685-1938 Email: mj2ephd at u.washington.edu
> DEOHS, SPHCM, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
> ****************************************
>
> "To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities
> as you do at conclusions." ____Ben Franklin
>
> "Be the change you want to see in the world." ____Ghandi
>
> On Mon, 13 Sep 2004, Scott Atkinson wrote:
>
>> Maureen:
>>
>> Was that a typo, or did you really mean 4-5 Lark Buntings? Such a
>> concentration would be a first for WA, the most we've ever had at any one
>> time is a single bird, this being a very rare/casual species here, can't
> even
>> remember the last one we had here but I recall June records on both sides
> of
>> Cascades, as well as a couple fall-winter ones. I recall someone had one
> at
>> the coast in late Oct. one year.
>>
>> Scott Atkinson
>> Lake Stevens
>> mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com
>>
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>
>