Tweeters,
Things really warmed up this weekend in Roy, WA (south of Ft Lewis),
both in the weather and bird activity. Two weeks ago I reported that
Black-capped Chickadees usurped one of the Tree Swallow nestboxes. Well,
the BCCHs fledged, and a pair of Tree Swallows has now occupied that
nest box and the female appears to be on the eggs.

Willow Flycatchers were "fitz-bewing" as darkness dropped in on Friday.
A Barn Owl, the first I've seen on the property, flew north below the
house just at late dusk, and Swainson's Thrushes provided a melodious
backdrop to the twilight.

A pair of Purple Martins, which were around aperiodically over the
weekend, were investigating the gourds to the east of the house near our
wetlands. It appears the the Tree Swallows that are nesting in one of
the gourds actively defended the remaining gourds as the martins flew
nearby. In their turn, the Purple Martins flew harassing attacks at a
recently fledged Red-tailed Hawk after it displaced them from their
perch on the tallest Douglas-fir beside the wetlands. (Five swallow
species on the property on Friday was fun to see.)

I know the cowbirds have been active in our area, but Saturday I found
one of the results: a female Dark-eyed Junco feeding a begging cowbird.
Other junco nests made it past the nest-parasites and many
recently-fledged juncos have been foraging around the house.

On Saturday, I saw a Lazuli Bunting singing from one of the noble firs,
but I didn't see or hear it Sunday.

A male California Quail foraged around one of the boulders near the
house, mostly eating miner's lettuce. We startled a couple of adult
female California Quail on Sunday, which may be an indication the family
groups are gathering together. Saturday night we spotted over 10 young
quail flying into an area of young Douglas-firs just below the house.

Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches, the first I've
seen for well over a month, visited the bird baths. Could be an
indication of the lack of surface water in the area.

Notably lacking were waterfowl and accipters, although a lot of birds
were sounding off during a short period on Sunday, which could have
indicated an accipter nearby.

Birds seen during this weekend:
California Quail
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Barn Owl
Rufous Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

45 spp for the weekend; 76 spp YTD; 87 spp site-to-date

May all your birds be identified,

Denis DeSilvis
Seattle, WA
mailto:denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com