Hello Tweets,

Today we enjoyed a wonderful visit to Sandy Daniel's home in the Newaukum area of King Co.,where the GRAY-HEADED JUNCO continues and was observed off and on during our visit between 11am-3:30pm. Our main intention was not only to see this recent junco subspecies for Washington,but to get good photos of it too! We arrived just before 11am under mostly clear skies,where a friend of Sandy's greeted us at her gate along the road. We soon drove into her property,then were graciously allowed inside to view her backyard feeding area from her living room. We remained here during most of the day,as well as checked the front yard feeding area from inside her house too. Both areas held good feeding activity,but the Gray-headed Junco was viewed only from the backyard today. We were first treated to great views of the bird just after 11am,where the bird made a short visit before flying a short distance to Rhododendron bushes on the north side of her backyard. We were soon joined by Ryan Merrill,then shortly by Keith Brady,as we all enjoyed eachother's company as well as waited patiently for the Gray-headed Junco to return. The bird made another visit at 11:30am as skies clouded up considerably,then again at 12:30pm,where it foraged for the longest time of the day under a birch tree near a couple of hanging feeders. The bird soon flew off to the south side of the house and did not return until 3pm. It was sure a treat to see this unique bird,as well as Sandy being most hospitable to us all and allowing us to stay for a length of time in her home. Throughout the day most of the birds were quite jumpy after 1pm or so,which was possibly due to the presence of a Merlin and the adult Cooper's Hawk. The Gray-headed Junco came and went more or less on it's own,but it did associate freely with other birds on the ground including "Oregon"Juncos and House Finches. On a few occasions we did view the bird in trees and bushes near feeders,as well as on her backyard fence too. Her Australian Sheppard named Bear was also friendly and enjoyed our presence too,as we waited for the Gray-headed Junco and at times he begged for attention. As mentioned our primary goal of the visit was to get some photos of the Gray-headed Juno and we did manage a few photos,despite our camera acting up at times. In the end we were still very pleased at the outcome,as not all was lost and we thank Sandy again for allowing us warm accommodations for viewing her great bird,the Gray-headed Junco.

We have placed 4 photos of the Gray-headed Junco onto our website,which can be accessed from the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recnt_photos/

*****A NOTE TO ALL BIRDERS*****

If you wish to view the Gray-headed Junco please e-mail Sandy privately for permission and directions to her nice country home. Her e-mail address is ladyhawk707 at msn.com


Sandy has a great yard that was always filled with birds,as well a excellent views of the nearby foothills of the Cascades and Mt.Rainier too. During our visit we logged 31 species of birds including the following noteworthy species:

1 Red-tailed Hawk
2 adult Bald Eagles
1 adult Cooper's Hawk
1 Merlin
20+ California Quail
1 Red-breasted Sapsucker
2 Downy Woodpeckers
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Varied Thrush
25+ Golden-crowned Sparrows
1 White-crowned Sparrow
5+ Purple Finches
8 Am.Goldfinches
1 female Evening Grosbeak


Before 11am we made a morning walk along 276th Street just south of Sandy's home,where an adult AM.TREE SPARROW was viewed from a hedgerow! This was an unexpected species given the location,but good winter sparrow habitat does exists in this immediate area.



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com