Tweeters:

Seems we have some definite trends emerging from the results of the CBCs
this season. A number of counts achieved high or record-high species
counts--Grays Harbor hit a surprising state-record 149 (the last time they
were over 140 was 1975), Sequim broke the old (our old) state record by one
at 147, Victoria BC had 154 for a new Canadian high. Everett had 137, well
above the old high of 132. Perhaps all would not have faired nearly so well
had the present freeze been underway.

One has to wonder especially about certain species, like Barn Swallow. We
had unprecedented numbers on the CBCs this year--I'm aware of at least
Sequim, Skagit Flats (6 birds!), Grays Harbor, and Kent-Auburn having
birds--but I wonder how those birds are fairing now. I don't know about
others, but seeing Barn Swallows at this time of year, at this latitude,
seems downright weird--I mean, almost not real. It seems clear to this
observer that--recalling the Tweeters polemic some time back about where the
birds come from--that they don't suddenly execute reverse migration from the
tropics, they linger here beyond fall migration. It justs seems strange
that they elect to do so here, when seemingly more hospitable places south
of us aren't getting so many on their CBCs. The nomadic wanderings of our
winter Barn Swallows reminds one of the old adage that truth is stranger
than fiction.

Other CBC rarities showed trends. Kent-Auburn had YH Blackbird, we had our
first CBC bird at Sequim. Blue-winged Teal was reported more widely--we had
(at least) 2 at Graysmarsh for the Sequim CBC, Kent-Auburn had one, and 6
were reported for the Everett CBC. Kent-Auburn, Everett, and Victoria all
had N. Goshawk that I'm aware of, and Com. Redpolls seemed to be scattered
around a number of CBCs in singles-small numbers.

Also reflecting a mild year, the warbler action was better than the norm, we
had four species at Sequim, including a huge count of 4 Orange-crowns.
Grays Harbor, Seattle, Victoria and Everett were all higher than average on
Orange-crowned, and Grays Harbor lists 47 Townsend's, almost like you'd
expect on the s. OR coast. Overwintering Com. Yellowthroats were at least
on the Everett CBC, and single Wilson's Warblers were on at least a couple
counts.

Some of the less common wintering sparrows at the north end of their
wintering ranges were also record-high: we hit a massive 77 Savannahs, more
than double our previous high, for the Sequim CBC, but 73 and 89 Lincoln's
Sparrows at the Everett and Victoria CBCs respectively seems even more
impressive.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com