Tweeters:

Spent about an hour on Spencer I. last night and had a couple nice finds. I
was heading out on the crossdike when a small bird flew in, with undulating
finch flight, to land in some low weedy/aldery growth. The first glimpse
gave the impression of a lutescens Orange-crowned Warbler: entirely rich
yellow underparts with indistinct greenish striations at the flanks, and
dull green above, and although the face was not seen so well, I got a
suggestion of dull green face but yellow again about the eye.

Imagine my amazement then, when the bird popped into the open to reveal a
jet black triangular finch bill, rich yellow underparts (including the
undertail coverts), white wing bars & tertial edging, and a white spot at
the base of the primaries! The back, crown, scapulars, uppertail coverts
and face were even olive green, but there was a small yellow area around the
eye/edge of lores as I had glimpsed the first time.

I followed the bird aways down the dike, and I was struck by how in flight
it had a stubby short tail and dark underwings; it also twice gave a three
or four note flight call, lower-pitched and a bit raspier than the sweeter,
higher-pitched notes of Am. Goldfinch. It finally departed from the dike,
flying southward over the marsh toward Everett.

This was a female LESSER GOLDFINCH. I believe there is just one other entry
for the species in Snohomish County, a Sept 3 bird from the same area about
15 years ago (Steve Mlodinow if memory serves). I've encountered this
species many times in my birding life, but never so far north before.

Also of note: there were two EASTERN KINGBIRDS still hanging in there by
the Spencer bridge; one bird cooperatively sat perched atop an alder snag
just south of the bridge along the edge of the slough. Several more typical
species were also in the area: Willow Flycatcher, 3 Black-headed Grosbeaks,
Yellow Warbler and Com. Yellowthroat, and perhaps 1000 swallows, the lion's
share of them being Barn. Also, over Marine View Drive in north Everett
near the overlook, four PURPLE MARTINS were soaring in close company with
six OSPREY.

All in all it seemed a pretty productive hour or so in early August for this
area.

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