Tweets,
I was pleasantly surprised to find 69 species around Tenino on Monday, many
of which were vocalizing--including all the expected warblers (6) except
Yellow (hard to find here past June), at multiple locations. Highlights: N
Pygmy-Owl (2, perhaps juvenile; soft, high-pitched trill not unlike the
Bay-breasted) on Vantine Rd; two singing Vesper Sparrows at Weir Prairie
(just north and east of Rainier x Military Rds) near the snags in the "fir
island"; and the Clay-colored Sparrow still singing away on Melville St in
the NW corner of Rock Prairie west of Tenino.
Sunday morning I noticed a Yellow Warbler in my yard. It appeared to be
young or molting. I'm assuming from the very soft and infrequent call note
that this is a post- nesting/dispersal bird, first of the season. They
typically show up, singly, in late summer low in our trees and are nearly
silent. Tuesday morning I heard another soft nondescript "tsip" from a
warbler high in one of our trees as it flew off to destination unknown.
Something facinating Bob Sundstrom suggested: by vocalizing at this season
the birds (we were talking warblers) may be instinctively imprinting the
young with their song. Thought I'd pass along this pedagogical tidbit.
Good birding!
Paul Hicks
Tenino, s. Thurston Co
phicks AT accessgrace.org