Hello Birders,

The male BAY-BREASTED WARBLER was again present today in southern Lewis Co.(Washington State),as it made a great showing for 25+ birders during our visit between 6am-1pm. The bird was very elusive at times,but when it sang it was fairly easy to locate atop several different conifer trees as we stood along both FR 1901 and 1909. The bird was also moved around more than on our visit on the 8th of June,but it always returned to the area forest patch between FR 1901 and 1909. Birders came from across Washington and a few birders from Oregon,but everyone was treated to great scoping views of this distinctive bird! Our main efforts of this 2nd trip was to try and get better photos of the bird,which we seemed to manage although the bird was still most often observed high atop treetops with a great deal of backlighting. The bird on a few occasions was observed briefly much lower in trees,where it foraged nervously before moving back to the treetops. We also witnessed on a few occasions the bird chasing away a male Rufous Hummingbird,as well as an Oregon Junco that ventured too close into it's territory.

During our entire stay the conditions remained cloudy with some light morning drizzle at times,but also some minor clearing too. There was a small amount of traffic along FR 1901 as we watched the bird,which was non logging truck related. We left the bird for others arriving to see and watch it in the general vicinity north of the FR 1901 and 1909 intersection. We have placed 8 new photos of the bird onto our website,which can be accessed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recent_photos/


A few other notable species encountered in the general vicinity of this "birdy" area while watching the Bay-breasted Warbler included the following:

1 Wood Duck(flyover)
3 Turkey Vultures
1 immature Bald Eagle
3 Red-tailed Hawks
1 Belted Kingfisher(flyover)
1 Red-breasted Sapsucker
2 Pacific-slope"Western"Flycatchers
1 pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS(observed along FR 1901 in a clear-cut area with 3 fledglings at a natural nestsite in a cut off stump)
5 Hutton's Vireos
6+ Hermit Warblers
1 CHIPPING SPARROW(clear-cut area along FR 1901)
2 Evening Grosbeaks


On our way home at 2:30pm we stopped along Melville Street west of Tenino in Thurston Co.,where the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was again observed at the northwest corner of a large Scot's Broom thicket. Although we observed the bird it was quite elusive and only allowed brief views,as well as sang only occasionally. A single Green Heron was noted flying along Hwy.99 on our way back to I-5 from Melville Street,which was a nice way to end our day.


Good birding,

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