Hello Tweeters,

Has anyone seen a Palm Warbler around the Puget Sound area?

While out birding today I noticed a different looking bird that at
first resembled
a Savannah Sparrow but had a rufous cap, yellow throat, yellow around
base of
tail, white eye ring and slender bill. When I got home I reviewed
the photo to
find it is a Palm Warbler. The Sibley Field Guide of western North
America
says it is rare around here. I also reviewed Cornell's "Birds of
North America" website
and found it to be a match to their photos.

Also spotted on Whidbey Island:

1 Palm Warbler (Coupeville)
2 Whimbrel (Ebey's Landing)
5 Ruddy Turnstones (Coupeville)
12 Western Grebe (Possession Beach)
1 Red-necked Grebe (Possession Beach)
2 Marbled Murrelet (Possession Beach)
1 Great-horned Owl (Fort Casey State Park)
1 Peregrine Falcon (Possession Beach)
1 Common Loon (Coupeville)
1 Black Oystercatcher (Keystone Ferry Terminal)
2 Rhinoceros Auklet (Beach near Keystone Landing)
1 Merlin (Crockett Lake)
1 Black-headed Grosbeak (Bush Point)
and more...

I have photographs of all these birds.

Craig Johnson
Bush Point, Whidbey Island